CPI(M) Polit Bureau member B.V. Raghavulu has said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu should devise strategies to provide relief to the common people from the current crisis rather than giving sermons on adhering to austerity measures.

Addressing the media here on Thursday, Mr. Raghavulu, along with party district secretary M. Jaggunaidu and District Secretariat member B. Jagan, said Mr. Modi’s remarks indicate that prices of LPG, petrol, and diesel were set to increase.

Asserting that problems cannot be resolved by mere sermons like a spiritual guru, he said political leaders must focus their efforts on finding practical solutions to these issues.

Mr. Raghavulu pointed out that before advising people to refrain from purchasing gold, the government should also consider the families of artisans and laborers whose livelihood depended entirely on gold-related trades.

“Mr. Modi, who is advocating natural farming, is failing to acknowledge the potential consequences and the looming challenges such as food security issues that can arise from such a transition,” he alleged.

The CPI(M) leader said U.S. President Donald Trump and Mr. Modi must be held accountable for the shortage of LPG, diesel, and petrol. “India stands to suffer severe losses due to the U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran and the U.S.-imposed blockade on oil supplies. It is regrettable that Mr. Modi has remained silent on these issues,” Mr. Raghavulu said, and called upon the Prime Minister to prevail upon the U.S. to lift the blockade and seek a resolution to this issue.

He also demanded action against those responsible for the leakage of NEET question papers and called for the dissolution of the agency responsible for conducting the examination.

On the issue of Panchagramalu lands in Visakhapatnam, Mr. Raghuavlu reminded that the NDA had promised to resolve the issue within one hundred days of coming to power, but failed to do so. He urged Mr. Naidu to intervene and resolve the issue.

He also demanded that the Centre provide ₹10,000 crore for modernisation of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. Upon modernisation, allocation of captive mines, and filling of vacant positions, the plant would operate with success and growth, he observed.