Mayawati urges govt to prioritize public welfare amid economic concerns

Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Wednesday called on the central government to focus on national and public welfare over political interests, following the downward revision of India's GDP growth estimate for the current fiscal.

Her appeal came as the Indian rupee hit a record low of 85.83 against the US dollar, and the GDP growth forecast for 2024-25 was revised to 6.4%, the lowest in four years. Addressing the situation on social media, Mayawati noted the hardship faced by the poor, who are deeply concerned about the nation’s economic health despite having no direct link to the rupee's depreciation.

"The GDP growth rate falling to 6.4% has been widely reported. The poor and hardworking citizens, who endure tough lives, are distressed by this news," she said in a post on X. She urged the government to respect public sentiment and shift focus from "narrow politics" to fulfilling promises of better days or 'Achhe Din.'

The GDP growth revision is attributed to the underperformance of the manufacturing and services sectors. This marks the slowest growth since the pandemic-struck year of 2020-21, when the GDP contracted by 5.8%, significantly below the 8.2% growth in FY 2023-24.

Mayawati's BSP, which has faced electoral setbacks in Uttar Pradesh, remains independent, not aligning with either the BJP-led NDA or the opposition INDIA bloc.