BJP strips elderly, poor of economic dignity while spending on political spectacle: Congress

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge connected Wednesday (May 13, 2026) attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for preaching austerity to citizens contempt spending immense amounts connected self-promotion and said the authorities has not bothered to summation aged property pensions for the past 12 years.

In a station connected X, Mr. Kharge accused the authorities of snatching the dignity of India's elderly, widows and radical with disabilities by not raising their paltry pensions.

Also Read | PM austerity entreaty row: BJP hits backmost astatine Rahul Gandhi; cites Jawaharlal Nehru speech

"Narendra Modi ji, you lecture the state connected austerity and sacrifice portion snatching dignity from India's elderly, widows, and persons with disabilities. Why? For 12 years, the BJP has refused to summation aged property pensions, adjacent by a SINGLE PAISA, arsenic Price Rise crushes our poor," helium said successful his post.

"After a 45 per cent erosion successful purchasing power, the Rs 200 pension is efficaciously worthy astir Rs 110 successful today’s terms, the Rs 300 pension astir Rs 165, and the Rs 500 pension astir Rs 275. But this shameless authorities would alternatively walk astir Rs 1.5 Cr each azygous time connected advertisements and lofty self-promotions!

"Between 2014-15 and 2024-25, the BJP Government spent a full of Rs 5,987.46 Cr connected self-promotion successful the signifier of advertisements," helium alleged.

The Congress main alleged that portion crores of aged citizens are forced to past connected debased pensions that cannot adjacent screen basal medicines and food, the Modi authorities and the BJP proceed to splurge connected extravagant predetermination campaigns, expansive convoys, monolithic events, and nonstop publicity.

"This cruel BJP exemplary strips disadvantaged citizens of their economical dignity portion spending extravagantly connected governmental spectacle," helium said.

Congress' onslaught comes aft Prime Minister Modi made an entreaty to Indians to adhere to austerity successful the aftermath of the West Asia situation by redeeming substance and not buying golden oregon making overseas tours, to assistance fortify the nation's economy.