RAEBARELI, 19 May: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday warned of an economic storm headed towards the country, as he slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for flying off to Norway right after his appeal to the people to refrain from going abroad.

He also said that inflation will continue to rise until the current government is changed.

Gandhi was addressing a function after the inauguration of a wedding hall in Bachhravan here.

“A war broke out between Iran and the United States. During the conflict, Iran seized control of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic location through which a significant portion of the world’s oil passes, and declared that it would not loosen its hold. Consequently, the entire world is now rapidly beginning to face severe shortages of oil, fertilisers, and diesel,” Gandhi said on the West Asia crisis.

He then opened a broadside to Modi.

Gandhi said Modi urges the citizens not to purchase gold, to switch to electric vehicles, and to refrain from travelling abroad, yet immediately after, he departs on a foreign tour.

“The sad thing is that a severe economic storm is coming, which no one can stop, which we have never experienced in our lives,” he said, adding that tycoons will be untouched.

“Who will get hurt, not Ambani or Adani. They will remain in their palaces, secured from all four sides. It is the farmers of India, labourers, youths, the small businessmen and small industries, who generate employment (who would get hurt),” the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha said.

Gandhi said he has been warning about an “economic storm” for some time, and it will deal the people a massive blow.

“Petrol prices are set to rise, and inflation will skyrocket. Yet they say Rahul Gandhi has no understanding. Even today, we continue to tell them: Take action. Protect the public, protect the farmers. But they have nothing to do. Sometimes they fly off to Norway, then to Japan, and then somewhere else. Why?” he said.

 “Day after day, we have been urging Narendra Modi to start protecting the workers and the small traders. Yet, what does he do! He flies off to Norway. And in Norway, he says, brother! Help Adani, help Ambani,” Gandhi said.

The Lok Sabha member from Raebareli alleged that under the current central dispensation schemes like MGNREGA will gradually be dismantled.

“Adani and Ambani will grow richer. Your entire money will go into their pockets. Grand houses and palaces will be built. And the entire system will be made solely to siphon money out of your pockets. We stand firmly by your side. Wherever you wish, whenever you need me, you can call me,” he said.

Gandhi said Modi, Amit Shah, and union minister Nitin Gadkari attended a wedding in the family of Mukesh Ambani, but not him.

“Did Rahul Gandhi go? I want to attend your wedding. I want to come to your house, I do not want to go there,” he told the gathering.

Gandhi alleged that over the last 10 years, public money, farmers’ money, was stolen to give to “two billionaires” and as a result, “all wealth in the country now rests entirely in the hands of just two individuals.”

“Look at the airports, ports, power stations and the cement industry. Look at the industries critical to the nation’s defence. Narendra Modi has handed every single one of them over to a select few,” he said.

Later, replying to a question on the use of electric vehicles, Gandhi said the problem lies not with the vehicles, but inflation and unemployment.

“Very soon, there is going to be a shortage of fertilisers. I do not know in which world they are living, and telling people to use electric vehicles,” he said.

“The country’s labourers, farmers, youths, poor people and small business owners must be protected. We are telling them that a storm is approaching, yet you have made a mockery of it,” he said.

Asked about Modi’s appeal against foreign travel, Gandhi said, “Where is he, where has he gone?” (PTI)