During a visit to Gorakhpur on Sunday, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh launched a scathing attack on the Central government, alleging that its ‘Bachat Utsav’ (Saving Festival) initiative was nothing more than a diversionary tactic. According to Singh, the festival aims to pull public attention away from the pressing issues of inflation and widespread economic hardship plaguing the nation.
Speaking to the media, Mr. Singh revisited past economic decisions, stating that the much-touted demonetization policy had failed to achieve its goals of eradicating black money and counterfeit currency. He further asserted that the Goods and Services Tax (GST), once heralded as an economic game-changer, had instead become a heavy burden on ordinary citizens.
He highlighted the stark reality of tax increases, noting, ‘Taxes have soared from 5% to 28%, yet the promise of “one nation, one tax” remains a distant dream.’ Singh criticized the Union government for accumulating a staggering ₹127 lakh crore through GST collection, only to then ‘deceive the public with hollow pledges of savings.’
The AAP MP pointed out that recent tax increases on essential commodities and sectors like coal, construction materials, and paper have directly contributed to the rising cost of living for common people. With a sharp retort, he declared, ‘This isn’t a “Bachat Utsav” (Saving Festival), but rather a “Chhapat Utsav” (Seizing Festival),’ underscoring his belief that no consumer goods had seen a price reduction following the recent budget announcement.
Shifting focus, Mr. Singh addressed the recent arrests in Bareilly, claiming they were orchestrated as part of a ‘deep conspiracy’ designed to falsely implicate innocent individuals. A 16-member team from the Aam Aadmi Party is scheduled to visit Bareilly on October 7 to meet with those affected by the recent events. This visit was announced via a tweet from Sanjay Singh’s official account:
Regarding the controversial ‘bulldozer actions,’ Singh condemned them, stating, ‘Disregarding Supreme Court directives and demolishing the homes of the poor is not a display of strength; it is a profound injustice.’ Reflecting on his own recent incarceration, he declared, ‘They jailed me for 183 days, but that won’t stop me from advocating for the people’s concerns.’ Concluding his remarks, Mr. Singh reiterated the demand for the reinstatement of the old pension scheme. He further criticized the government for allegedly prioritizing the interests of industrialists while neglecting the welfare of farmers and laborers.