Sharad Yadav says people depressed, business down in Diwali

New Delhi, Oct 18: Rajya Sabha MP Sharad Yadav on Wednesday said people were feeling "completely depressed" and "alienated" this festive season, reflecting the economic situation following demonetisation and GST.

He claimed that people were also feeling unsafe due to the activism of "communal forces" in the name of "gau raksha", "ghar vapsi" and love jihad over the last three years. "On the occasion of festive season, especially Diwali, it is for the first time in independent India people are completely depressed, and feeling unsecured and alienated.

It is a reflection on the economic situation of the country which has been adversely affected after demonetisation and later GST," he said in a statement. There is a lull in markets, Yadav added. Traders and small businessmen were unhappy as their business was down, said the former JD(U) chief, who parted ways with the party following differences with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

While farmers were crying for remunerative prices for their produce, consumers were also facing the bite of price rise in the country, Yadav said. The Modi government, he said, was not passing on benefits of a fall in global fertilizer prices to farmers.

For consumers, the prices of most services have gone up as they are now taxed at 18 per cent from the earlier 15 per cent. The government was not concerned with the grievances of the masses, Yadav said in the statement.

According to him, the government should not be too concerned with fiscal deficit. "Heavens will not fall if the fiscal deficit increases, but at least our people should feel comfortable in their own country," he said, asking the government to take measures to help people.

PTI