Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged citizens to reduce dependence on imported goods and adopt austerity measures as the ongoing conflict in West Asia drives up prices and disrupts global supply chains.
Addressing an event in Gujarat, Modi said India spends vast amounts of foreign exchange on imports at a time when global prices are surging due to the more than two-month-long conflict in the region.
“India spends lakhs of crores of rupees in foreign exchange to import many products from abroad. At the same time, the prices of imported goods are soaring, and global supply chains have been severely disrupted,” he said.
Calling for collective efforts to ease pressure on the economy, the Prime Minister said even small individual steps could make a significant difference.
“Just as every drop fills a pot, every small and big effort matters. We must reduce the use of products that come from abroad and avoid unnecessary dependence on imported goods in our daily lives,” he said.
Modi described the West Asia conflict as one of the most serious global crises of the decade, comparing its scale to the economic disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The West Asia crisis is one of the worst in the decade. Just as we overcame the Covid-19 pandemic, we will come out of this also,” he said.
He urged citizens to help reduce pressure on national resources, saying public cooperation was crucial during periods of economic strain.
“Whenever the country has gone through war or any major crisis, every citizen has fulfilled their responsibility in response to the government’s appeal. Today too, there is a need for all of us to come together,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister also stressed greater use of public transport to reduce diesel and petrol consumption.
Repeated calls for conservation
In recent days, Modi has repeatedly appealed for prudent use of resources as India faces the economic fallout of the Iran-US conflict.
He has urged people to avoid purchasing gold for the next year, postpone foreign travel and work from home wherever possible to conserve fuel and foreign exchange reserves.
At a BJP rally in Hyderabad, he said India must focus on reducing fuel consumption and preserving reserves as global supply chains remain under pressure.
A major concern has been the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route, which has heightened fears of prolonged supply disruptions and sent crude oil prices soaring above $105 per barrel.
The escalation followed US President Donald Trump’s rejection of Iran’s latest peace proposals, intensifying concerns over inflation and energy security worldwide.
Opposition questions austerity message
Modi’s appeal has drawn criticism from opposition leaders and social media users, who pointed to what they described as a contradiction between his calls for restraint and his extensive campaign travel.
His “save petrol” message came even as he undertook multiple roadshows, including events in Somnath and Vadodara on Sunday and Monday.
Critics noted that Modi held three roadshows within 12 hours and had conducted five such events over the previous five days, including in Patna and Kolkata, questioning the optics of urging citizens to conserve fuel while maintaining a packed public outreach schedule.
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