After Gold, WFH Push, PM Modi Makes Fresh Appeal To Save Fuel, Reduce Imports

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called on citizens to reduce dependence on imported goods and conserve resources as the ongoing conflict in West Asia continues to disrupt global supply chains and push up prices of essential imports. Addressing an event in Gujarat, Modi said the economic impact of the prolonged Iran-US conflict was being felt globally, including in India, and urged people to make "small efforts" that could collectively ease pressure on the economy.

PM Modi Urges Cut In Dependence On Imported Goods

Speaking at the Somnath Amrut Mahotsav in Gujarat, Modi said India spends "lakhs of crores" in foreign exchange on imported products and warned that prices of these goods are rising sharply because of the geopolitical crisis in West Asia.

"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 also been severely disrupted," PM Modi said.

He appealed to citizens to consciously reduce the use of foreign-made goods in their everyday lives and avoid unnecessary spending of foreign exchange.

"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, and also avoid such personal activities that involve spending foreign exchange," Modi added.

PM Links West Asia Crisis To Global Economic Pressure

The Prime Minister compared the current tensions in West Asia to one of the biggest global crises of the decade after the Covid-19 pandemic. He said India had successfully dealt with the pandemic and expressed confidence that the country would overcome the present economic challenges as well.

"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," the Prime Minister asserted.

He said citizens must collectively shoulder responsibility during difficult times and help reduce pressure on national resources.

"Even in the earlier decades, whenever the country has gone through war or any other major crisis, every citizen has fulfilled their responsibility in the same way in response to the government's appeal," he said.

"Today, too, there is a need for all of us to come together and fulfil our responsibility to reduce the burden on the country's resources," Modi added.

The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of using public transport more frequently to save diesel and petrol as fuel prices remain under pressure globally.

Repeated Appeals On Fuel Saving And Spending Cuts

Over the past several days, Modi has repeatedly appealed to people to adopt cost-cutting measures and conserve energy amid rising crude oil prices linked to the Iran-US conflict.

During a BJP rally in Hyderabad, he urged citizens to avoid buying gold for a year, postpone foreign travel plans and adopt work-from-home practices wherever possible in order to conserve foreign exchange reserves and reduce fuel consumption.

The conflict has intensified concerns over global energy security after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important oil shipping routes. The disruption has fuelled fears of prolonged supply shortages and inflationary pressures across economies.

The situation worsened after US President Donald Trump reportedly rejected Iran's latest peace proposals as "unreasonable". Iran had proposed transferring part of its enriched uranium stockpile to another country while refusing to dismantle its nuclear facilities, a key demand from the United States. Following the escalation, global crude oil prices reportedly crossed $105 per barrel.

Opposition Questions PM's Own Roadshows

Modi's recent "save petrol" appeal has also triggered criticism from opposition leaders and social media users, who questioned the contrast between his austerity message and his extensive political travel schedule.

Critics pointed out that despite urging citizens to reduce fuel consumption, the Prime Minister conducted multiple roadshows over the weekend. By Monday, Modi had held roadshows in Somnath and was headed to Vadodara, marking three roadshows within 12 hours, according to several users on X.

In the five days before his latest speech, Modi had already held five roadshows, including events in Patna and Kolkata, drawing criticism from opponents who accused the government of sending mixed signals on fuel conservation.