Raj Thackeray, the president of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), has openly criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent appeal for austerity, questioning the sincerity of the government's message. In a social media post, Thackeray challenged Modi to lead by example, particularly by canceling his upcoming foreign tour scheduled for May 15, before asking citizens to cut down on expenses such as gold purchases and fuel consumption. He pointed out that while crude oil prices are high, the government has benefited from heavy fuel taxation, raising questions about where the revenue has gone. Thackeray also condemned the 'freebie culture' in politics and urged for a halt to competitive populism that strains state finances. He noted the significant withdrawal of foreign institutional investments from Indian markets, estimating that nearly ₹1.5 lakh crore has exited recently. Thackeray emphasized the need for accountability in governance, arguing that the economy appears strong superficially but is vulnerable underneath. He concluded by calling for a transparent parliamentary discussion to address the economic challenges facing India.