Carpool, work from home: PM calls for Covid-like curbs
West Asia crisis: Says don’t buy gold, avoid foreign travel
Amid the raging West Asia crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday exhorted citizens to play their part in reducing fuel use by opting for carpools, public transport, avoiding foreign travel and resorting to Covid-time measures such as work from home and virtual meetings.
In his speech in Hyderabad today, the PM called for collective participation to help India face global economic disruptions, supply chain challenges and rising prices caused by international conflicts.
He said patriotism was not only about sacrificing one’s life for the nation, but also about living responsibly and fulfilling duties towards the country during difficult times.
2 gelatin sticks found near PM’s B’luru venue
Two gelatin sticks were found near the venue where Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to arrive for an event on the outskirts of Bengaluru, prompting heightened security measures and a police investigation into the source of the explosives.
The PM asked the citizens to reduce petrol and diesel consumption by using Metros and public transport, wherever available, opting for car-pooling when private vehicles are necessary, using the railway for the movement of goods, and increasing the use of electric vehicles, wherever possible. Modi urged the revival of Covid-era efficiency measures in national interest, including work from home, online conferences and virtual meetings.
He appealed to the citizens to help conserve foreign exchange reserves by avoiding unnecessary foreign travel, overseas vacation and foreign weddings, choosing domestic tourism and celebrations within India, and requested the people to avoid non-essential gold purchases for one year in order to reduce pressure on foreign exchange outflows. The PM also encouraged the citizens to prioritise made-in-India and locally manufactured products, including daily-use items such as shoes, bags and accessories.
He asked families to reduce edible oil consumption, stressing that it would benefit both national economic health and personal health.
PM Modi also requested farmers to reduce chemical fertiliser usage by 50 per cent and move towards natural farming practices.
