Adopt work-from-home model: Modi urges austerity amid global tensions

Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to reduce fuel use, gold purchases and edible oil consumption due to global economic pressures while attacking Congress and expressing confidence that BJP would form the next government in Telangana.

Hyderabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday cited the prevailing geopolitical tensions and their impact on the economy to urge people to adopt austerity measures, including reducing fuel consumption, postponing foreign tours and cutting down on gold and edible oil purchases.

Addressing a public meeting in the city, Modi said after the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ukraine war had disrupted global supply chains and sharply increased the prices of fuel and fertilisers.

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He called for wider adoption of work-from-home practices, video conferences and online meetings to reduce fuel consumption. He also urged people to use Metro rail services and practice carpooling wherever possible.

“India imports large quantities of petrol and diesel from other countries. Due to the war, fuel prices increased significantly. We should minimise unnecessary use of petrol and diesel,” Modi appealed.

The Prime Minister stated that the Centre was absorbing the burden of rising fertiliser prices instead of passing it on to farmers. He said a fertiliser bag costing around Rs. 3,000 globally was being supplied to Indian farmers for less than Rs. 300.

Appealing for restraint in personal spending, Modi said middle-class families should postpone foreign vacations and avoid purchasing gold for weddings and functions for at least a year.

“Every family should reduce edible oil consumption by 10 percent. Even small measures can greatly help the country,” Modi said.

He stressed that prudent consumption would help conserve foreign exchange reserves and reduce the economic impact of ongoing global conflicts.

‘Bengal spirit now visible in Telangana’

Turning to politics, Modi said the BJP’s victories in Assam and West Bengal had energised party workers in Telangana as well. He claimed that people across the country were endorsing the BJP’s governance and development model, while accusing the Congress of promoting corruption, dynasty politics and suppressing democratic voices.

Referring to West Bengal, Modi said people had rejected what he described as the “dictatorship model” of the Trinamool Congress.

“In the past, Telangana gave BJP its second MP in Parliament. Today, the party has eight MPs from the State,” he said.

Expressing confidence about the party’s future prospects, Modi said the BJP would secure a “bumper majority” in the next Telangana Assembly elections. He alleged that people had got vexed with both the Congress and the BRS and were looking for political change focused on employment and development.

Criticising the Congress, the Prime Minister accused the party of making unrealistic promises before elections and later failing to fulfill them. He claimed that Congress governments in Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka had not delivered on their assurances and alleged that a similar situation existed in Telangana. Modi also targeted the Congress over its stand on Maoism, alleging that the party was attempting to protect extremist ideologies that were “on their last legs.”

Calling for a BJP government in Telangana, the Prime Minister said the party would govern with a new vision aimed at building a “Viksit Telangana.