Vadodara, May 12 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called on citizens to reduce fuel consumption, use public transport and electric vehicles, and postpone gold purchases in view of the ongoing West Asia crisis that has disrupted global markets and supplies.
Addressing a gathering in Vadodara after inaugurating the Sardar Dham Hostel built by the Patidar community, Modi also urged people to adopt work-from-home practices wherever possible and limit foreign travel to conserve foreign exchange.
Describing the situation in West Asia as one of the most serious crises in the past decade, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that India would overcome the challenges just as it did during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Whenever India faced war or any major crisis, citizens have always fulfilled their responsibilities in response to the government’s appeal. We need to do the same today,” Modi said.
Highlighting India’s dependence on West Asia for crude oil and LPG imports, he stressed the importance of reducing imports and avoiding unnecessary expenditure involving foreign currency.
“We must make every effort to reduce the use of imported products and avoid personal activities that involve spending foreign currency,” he said.
The Prime Minister appealed to people to conserve fuel by opting for public transport and electric vehicles. He also urged citizens to defer gold purchases, noting that large amounts of foreign exchange are spent on importing the precious metal.
Modi had first spoken about these austerity measures during an event in Telangana on Sunday and reiterated the message in Gujarat a day later.
