Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged citizens to support the country during global disruptions caused by the ongoing conflict in West Asia by reducing fuel consumption and conserving foreign exchange reserves.
Addressing a public gathering in Hyderabad, Modi appealed to people to adopt measures such as using public transport, increasing the use of electric vehicles (EVs), reviving work-from-home arrangements and virtual meetings, avoiding unnecessary foreign travel and gold purchases for a year, and prioritising locally made products.
He encouraged citizens to use metros wherever available, opt for carpooling, and rely more on railways for transporting goods to reduce dependence on petrol and diesel imports. According to him, such steps would also help lower the country’s dependence on foreign currency.
Referring to the ongoing global uncertainty due to the West Asia conflict, Modi said the country must place national interest above everything else during difficult times.
Recalling practices adopted during the Covid-19 pandemic, he said people had become accustomed to working from home, virtual meetings, and video conferencing, and stressed that these methods should once again be widely used.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of conserving foreign exchange reserves. He urged citizens to postpone non-essential foreign trips, destination weddings, and overseas vacations for at least a year. He further appealed to people to avoid buying gold during festivals for the same period.
Modi also repeated his earlier call to reduce cooking oil consumption by 10%, saying it would not only help the nation during challenging times but also improve public health.
Promoting self-reliance, he asked people to examine the products they use daily and identify imported items. He clarified that foreign goods need not be discarded immediately, but efforts should be made to move towards self-reliance. He also recalled his earlier “Vocal for Local” campaign launched during the pandemic period.
The Prime Minister further called for reducing the use of chemical fertilisers and promoting natural farming practices to make the country more self-sufficient.
Remarks on Elections
Speaking about recent Assembly election results, Modi said the BJP had achieved major victories in several states. He mentioned that the party formed government in West Bengal for the first time, secured a third consecutive win in Assam, and returned to power in Puducherry under the NDA alliance.
He claimed that people across the country were supporting the BJP’s governance model and said the victory in Bengal was being discussed both nationally and internationally.
Targeting the Indian National Congress and the Trinamool Congress, Modi accused them of promoting dynasty politics and criticised their political approach. He also said the people of Telangana were looking for political change and would aspire to bring the BJP to power in the state.
The Prime Minister further criticised the Congress, alleging that the party had shifted towards Leftist and Muslim League-style politics, while also accusing it of supporting Naxal elements.