Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Tuesday expressed concern over the ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran, saying the uncertainty surrounding the war has triggered a serious energy crisis and raised concerns over the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
She urged both the central and state governments to take immediate steps in the public interest to provide relief to citizens.
In a statement issued here, Mayawati referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to citizens to exercise “restraint” and said it was evident that the crisis facing India would not remain confined to petroleum products such as petrol, diesel, and cooking gas, but could escalate into a major economic challenge.
She warned that the situation could severely affect the lives of millions of Indians and may worsen further if timely corrective measures are not taken.
The BSP supremo said that after the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly one billion people in the country were already struggling with livelihood-related hardships. In such circumstances, she noted, the public has little capacity left to bear additional economic pressure or continue exercising patience.
Mayawati appealed to the Centre as well as all state governments to extend support to poor and hardworking families by offering relief measures during this difficult period.
She said governments should take proactive and effective steps to help people overcome the crisis, adding that such action would be in the larger public and national interest and reflect the sentiments of the common people.