Hyderabad, May 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called on citizens to save fuel, utilize public transport, and resume work-from-home arrangements. He urged people to avoid unnecessary purchases and foreign travel in light of the global crisis stemming from the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
In a video shared on the social media platform X, Modi addressed a gathering of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at Parade Ground in Secunderabad. He emphasized the need for collective participation to help India navigate rising prices caused by global economic disruptions, supply chain challenges, and international conflicts.
Modi highlighted that patriotism is not only about sacrificing one’s life for the country but also about living responsibly during tough times and fulfilling one’s duties toward the nation.
He stressed the importance of conserving foreign currency, particularly as petrol and diesel prices have soared worldwide. Saving fuel and thereby reducing foreign currency expenditure on these commodities is a shared responsibility, he noted.
The Prime Minister encouraged citizens to reduce petrol and diesel consumption by using metro rail and public transport whenever possible. For those needing private vehicles, he suggested carpooling, prioritizing rail transport for goods, and increasing the use of electric vehicles.
Modi also called for the revival of efficiency measures adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic. He mentioned that practices such as working from home, online meetings, and video conferencing had become familiar and should be prioritized again for national interest.
He appealed to citizens to help preserve foreign currency reserves by avoiding unnecessary foreign trips, vacations abroad, and foreign weddings, while promoting domestic tourism and events within India. Additionally, he advised people to refrain from non-essential gold purchases for a year to ease pressure on foreign currency outflows.
The Prime Minister encouraged prioritizing Made-in-India and locally produced products, including daily essentials like shoes, bags, and accessories. He urged families to reduce their consumption of cooking oil, emphasizing that this would benefit both national economic health and personal well-being.
Modi also called on farmers to cut chemical fertilizer use by 50%, adopt natural farming practices, protect soil health, and reduce dependency on imports. He encouraged the widespread adoption of solar-powered irrigation pumps over diesel pumps.
He noted that the world is grappling with a significant supply chain crisis due to COVID-19, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. The government has been continuously working to address this crisis for the past five to six years. While a bag of fertilizer costs around ₹3,000 globally, Indian farmers can purchase it for less than ₹300.
Modi remarked that the ongoing war in the neighborhood affects the entire world, with India being particularly impacted. He pointed out that the country lacks large oil reserves and must import petrol, diesel, and gas. Prices for these commodities and fertilizers have skyrocketed, and the government has been shouldering the burden to protect citizens from these impacts for the last two months.
He concluded by stating that as long as the supply chain crisis persists, challenges will continue to escalate, urging unity in overcoming these difficulties.
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