As the ongoing Strait of Hormuz crisis disrupts global supply chains, Prime Minister Narendra Modi requests citizens to cut reliance on imported products, save fuel and adopt cost – cutting measures; to prevent the effects of rising energy prices.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday urged citizens to reduce dependence on imported foreign products as the ongoing West Asia conflict continues to disrupt global supply chains and increase economic pressure worldwide.
Speaking at an event in Gujarat, Modi said India spends “lakhs of crores of rupees” on imports every year and stressed that the current global crisis makes it necessary for people to adopt responsible spending habits and conserve national resources.
🚨 Prime Minister Narendra Modi today:
— Indian Tech & Infra (@IndianTechGuide) May 10, 2026
– Stop buying gold.
– Bring back the work-from-home culture.
– Save petrol and diesel.
– Avoid foreign trips and destination weddings.
– Stop importing foreign products. pic.twitter.com/AqiT4RVpek
“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 while addressing the gathering.
“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,” he added.
PM Modi says West Asia conflict is among the decade’s biggest crises
The Prime Minister compared the ongoing turmoil with the challenges faced during the Covid-19 pandemic and described the West Asia conflict as one of the biggest crises of the decade.
“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.
Modi said every citizen has a responsibility to reduce pressure on the country’s resources during difficult times.
𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 🇮🇳
— BJP (@BJP4India) May 11, 2026
PM Modi’s 7 appeals to strengthen an #AatmanirbharBharat:
* Prioritise work from home wherever possible
* Reduce petrol and diesel consumption
* Use public transport and metro services
* Cut down the use of cooking oil
* Move towards natural farming
*… pic.twitter.com/1ikfZS4ykK
“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.
He also emphasised the need to increase the use of public transport to help save petrol and diesel amid rising fuel concerns.
PM Modi’s repeated appeals for energy conservation
Over the last few days, PM Modi has repeatedly appealed to citizens to adopt cost-cutting measures and use resources carefully as India faces the economic impact of the Iran-US war and the larger West Asia crisis.
As the crude oil prices are surging PM Modi urges the people of India to avoid purchasing gold for next one year, postpone foreign trips and switch to work from home (WFH).
During a BJP rally in Hyderabad, Modi stressed the need to conserve foreign exchange reserves and reduce fuel consumption as global supply chains remain under pressure due to tensions in West Asia.
One of the major impacts of the conflict has been the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil shipping routes, triggering fears of prolonged supply shortages.
The continued deadlock between Iran and the United States pushed global crude oil prices above $105 per barrel, increasing concerns around inflation and energy security worldwide. US President Donald Trump reportedly rejected Iran’s latest peace proposals, calling them “unreasonable”.
Iran had proposed transferring part of its enriched uranium stockpile to another country while refusing to dismantle its nuclear facilities, which remains a key US demand.
Modi’s roadshows amid ‘save petrol’ appeal draw criticism
PM Modi’s recent appeal asking citizens to reduce fuel consumption, avoid buying gold, and work from home wherever possible also triggered political criticism and coincided with a sharp stock market fall on Monday.
Took this photo while on the way from Somnath to Vadodara…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 11, 2026
On the shores of Prabhas Patan, the Somnath Temple stands tall as a radiant symbol of devotion, history and civilisational spirit. It has outlasted barbaric attacks, invasions and the passage of centuries. It is… pic.twitter.com/VPkF54tBJO
Critics questioned the contrast between Modi’s message of austerity and his packed schedule of public roadshows and convoys over the past few days.
On Monday, the Prime Minister conducted roadshows in Somnath before heading to Vadodara, marking three roadshows within 12 hours, according to reactions on X.
In the five days leading up to his latest speech, Modi had reportedly held five separate roadshows, including events in Patna and Kolkata.
