Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday criticised the Narendra Modi-led Union government over the depreciation of the Indian rupee, questioning the Prime Minister’s ability to lead the country.Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Raut recalled a remark made by PM Modi during his tenure as Gujarat chief minister, in which he had said that “when the rupee falls, the country’s credibility and reputation fall.” Raut accused the Prime Minister of focusing on election campaigning instead of addressing rising inflation and the weakening currency.“There will be a century…Abki baar, 100 ke paar. Where is Modi ji? He is in West Bengal, preparing for President’s Rule to defeat Mamata Banerjee. Modi ji and Shah ji are attempting to do ‘khela’ in West Bengal, and the value of the rupee is declining…Modi ji was saying that when the value of the rupee falls, the country’s prestige falls. What is it which is falling now?” Raut said. After the press conference, Raut dismissed the ongoing tensions in West Asia as a factor behind the rupee’s decline, asserting that the currency has been on a downward trajectory since PM Modi assumed office.“The government is silent, and it will remain silent. When the Rupee falls, it is not just the currency that declines, but it is the nation’s credibility and prestige also fall… Given the way India’s economy has faltered and the manner in which the Rupee is plummeting day after day, I feel that Narendra Modi is no longer capable of leading the nation. Yes, there is a war today, but there wasn’t a war yesterday, was there? The Rupee began its downward spiral precisely when PM Modi became the Prime Minister. The PM is still busy in the election campaign and does not care about the rupee. I have only one thing to tell him: ‘Modi Ji, ab jhola uthao or chale jaiye,” Raut added, as cited by ANI. His remarks came after the rupee fell below the 93 mark against the US dollar on Friday, indicating sustained pressure on the domestic currency.On Saturday, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the Centre over the weakening Indian rupee and the rise in industrial fuel prices amid the escalating conflict in West Asia.Raising concerns about the economic outlook, Rahul warned of possible inflationary pressures and accused the Narendra Modi-led government of relying on “empty rhetoric” instead of outlining a concrete economic strategy.“The rupee weakening against the dollar and heading towards 100, along with a sharp rise in industrial fuel prices–these aren’t just numbers; they’re clear signals of the inflation to come. The Modi government has neither direction nor strategy–just empty rhetoric. The question isn’t what the government is saying–it’s what’s left on your plate,” Rahul Gandhi said through a post on X.Forex traders said the Indian rupee is facing significant pressure due to surging crude oil prices and a growing shift toward risk aversion, which has dampened investor sentiment, as cited by PTI. They added that rising geopolitical uncertainties are pushing energy costs higher, a trend that could widen the trade deficit and further fuel inflationary pressures.
