Leh, May 12 -- BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Tuesday launched a scathing historical critique of the Congress party to defend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent appeal for fiscal restraint.

Speaking with ANI in Leh, Dubey defended PM Modi's recent call for citizens to curb non-essential spending, contrasting it with what he described as the "draconian" legislative history of the Nehru-Gandhi era.

He said that the Prime Minister's request to curb gold purchases and limit unnecessary foreign travel was not a radical move, but as a mild "urge" compared to the stringent "Gold Control" laws enacted by the Nehru-Gandhi administrations.

"Two days ago, the Prime Minister made a good call - purchase less gold, do not travel abroad unnecessarily, ...