Sharad Pawar (leader of the Nationalist Congress Party) has called for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to hold an all-party meeting to discuss the economic implications of the ongoing conflict in West Asia. Pawar expressed concerns that Modi's recent austerity appeal, which urges citizens to reduce consumption of fuel, gold, and edible oil, could lead to significant long-term effects on the Indian economy. He noted that such sudden announcements have created unease among the public, businesses, and investors. Pawar emphasized that leaders from all parties should be involved in decision-making processes regarding national interests. Raj Thackeray, chief of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, echoed these sentiments by highlighting the withdrawal of approximately ₹1.5 lakh crore (roughly $180 billion USD) from Indian markets, linking it to Modi's austerity measures. He criticized the government for its inconsistent stance on fuel prices, referencing past crises and questioning the management of fuel tax revenues. In contrast, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defended Modi's approach, asserting that India is performing better than neighboring countries facing higher fuel prices.