Tighten Belts, Put Nation First: Modi

PM Modi declares war on forex drain, asks every Indian to:

Revert to work from home, video meetings

Stop buying gold, going on foreign vacations for one year

Cut down use of petrol, diesel, use of private vehicles

Use public transport like Metro Rail, opt for carpooling

Those who have EVs, must use them to the most

Shun foreign products, buy Swadeshi

Transport goods on trains, costs less, saves diesel

HYDERABAD: In an unprecedented move, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called on the people to adopt a slew of measures to help India overcome the impact of the ongoing war in West Asia, including considering work from home, and avoid purchasing gold for a year or going on holidays abroad.

Making it clear that the war in West Asia was placing a strain on India’s foreign exchange reserves due to rising cost of imports of crude oil and gas, among several others, Modi said people must change their habits, adopt austerity, learn to live conservatively, and shun foreign made products.

“The government,” Modi said, “over the past five to six years, has been working to overcome challenges arising from disruption of world supply chains.” India faced challenges beginning from the Covid pandemic, then came the war in Ukraine, Modi said and cited the example of how despite rising global prices of chemical fertilisers that cost ₹3,000 a bag in other countries, the Centre India was selling it for just around ₹300 in the country.

Expanding on this theme, Modi called on farmers to cut down use of chemical fertilisers which were also destroying soil productivity, and impacting crop output. He urged farmers to begin using solar powered pumps instead of diesel pumps in their fields.

“The major war in our neighbourhood has worsened the supply chains, prices have shot up. Not just shot up, but they are touching the sky. The impact of the war has been on the whole world, and India has been impacted more,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister’s call to the nation to tighten its belt in practically any which way possible to conserve the country’s foreign exchange reserves and to people to do their duty towards the country, was the focus of a major part of his speech at a large BJP public meeting in Hyderabad.

Modi said among the goods that place a strain on India’s forex reserves is import of gold. “There was a time during trouble, or wars, people would donate gold to the government. But now, there is no need for such donations, but in the interest of the country, we must decide that we will not buy gold for one year. Irrespective of which function at home, we must make a firm resolve that we will not buy gold. Our Desh Bhakti is challenging us on this front, for us to save our forex reserves,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister also talked about how a culture of destination weddings, or conducting marriages abroad is increasing in the middle class families. “This is a time for change. For at least one year, we should resolve to postpone foreign visits. India has many places that we can visit, hold weddings. We have to take every possible step to conserve foreign exchange,” he said.

“We must be united, we have to fight as one to keep our country’s interests as the paramount goal. When supply chains are constantly under strain, irrespective of the best plans, difficulties will arise. Desh Bhakti does not mean giving up life for the country. To do our duty is also Desh Bhakti. We must remember our responsibilities and duties towards the country in times of such global crises. We must take a solemn vow to do our duty for the nation,” Modi said.

Declaring that “even small steps by everyone will help the government,” Modi said “I appeal to people to find solutions when the country is facing challenges.” He also appealed to the media to join in this movement “to save the country, to inculcate Desh Bhakti, and help India overcome the crisis that gripped the globe, and even benefit from it.”

Modi said India relied on heavy imports of petrol, diesel, fertilizer, but for many other products, people have the option of purchasing made in India products.

“Even during Covid I said we must be vocal for local, buy made in India products of which there are no shortages. I am not calling for throwing away foreign products you already have. But now on, we must not buy foreign products.”

Modi said “we have no concept of how many daily use products are videshi. How many foreign goods and products have entered our homes, including even scissors, toothpicks, shoes, or bags. When I talk of Swadeshi, people think buying Diwali diyas locally made is good enough. We must stop buying foreign goods, and must do so as soon as possible.”

Making it clear that his call to adopt conservative lifestyles, cut down on using petrol, diesel, and using public transport like Metro Rail trains, or carpooling when use of private transport is inevitable, was not just political rhetoric, Modi said “this is not about a party, or one government or one person saying this. This is a national issue, India must conserve its forex reserves. Every citizen, every group, must join this effort.”

The Prime Minister called on people to adopt what they had learned during the Covid crisis such as working from home. “The system of work from home, online video conferences, these systems must be brought back. They must be given importance. This will be in national interest. This is the demand of the time,” Modi declared.

The Prime Minister also touched upon potential industrial unrest amidst the challenges the country is facing and gave the example of how India, once a copper exporter, has turned into a copper importer. “Hartals and strikes resulted in shutting down of copper plants, we now spend forex importing the metal. I ask all labour unions and mazdoor sanghs to pay attention. Keep a close watch on those trying to create unrest. We must resist any step that affects our efforts towards Atmnirbhar Bharat,” Modi said.

“Only if all citizens join this effort, will India succeed. I am confident every citizen will join in this effort,” Modi said.

Modi on Saturday implored people to cut down use of cooking oils, a significant portion of which are imported requiring foreign exchange spending, and pointed out how this can be good not only for the country but also for the people.

In his speech at a huge BJP public meeting here, Modi, who spoke extensively on the challenges India was facing on its forex reserves front as a result of the war in West Asia and the consequent strain on global supply chains, said: “if every family, even if it cuts is cooking oil use by even 10 per cent, means that is Desh Bhakti.”

Modi added: “By doing so, you can contribute to Desh Seva. And not just Desh Seva, but also Deha Seva. Both personal and national health will improve.”