Have full fatith, centre will repair economy: Kejriwal

Yechury says govt pretends

Amid the Opposition and India Inc pounding on the government for the state of economy, the Narendra Modi-led BJP found an unlikely ally in Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who said he has "full faith" on the central government that it will take steps to deal with the issue.

Kejriwal said this is one situation where the country has to stand as one and repair the economy.

"I have full faith that in the coming times, the Centre will take concrete steps on it (economic slowdown). This is one situation where the country has to stand as one and repair the economy. Whatever steps the Centre will take to repair the economy, the Delhi government will give them full support. I am personally worried about the job losses," he said.

He admitted that it was a "matter of grave concern", especially for auto sector, textile, real estate and others where "we are seeing slowdown is becoming deeper".

Kejriwal's remarks, which surprised many of his supporters, is seen as avoiding "unnecessary" confrontation with the BJP ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections in the next six months.

However, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said, "when the Niti Aayog chief and two members of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council went public with the alarming situation in the economy it is a crisis of deep confidence in this government."

"Is anyone responsible on top even listening to their own appointees?... India is experiencing what it has not in decades as millions of livelihoods are destroyed. The government is busy pretending that all is well," he said.