12 May,2026 04:40 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Union Minister of State Ramdas Athawale. Pic/ PTI
Union Minister of State Ramdas Athawale travelled from Vidhan Bhavan to BKC by Mumbai Metro, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to conserve fuel and promote public transport amid rising global energy prices.
Talking about the gesture, Athawale said, "Indian ranks fourth in economy. To stop it from sliding further the PM has appealed to reduce petrol, diesel usage, to not buy gold, to avoid unnecessary abroad travelâ¦I will try to use metro for commuting, and I'd request the mass to adhere to PM Modi's appeal."
The gesture comes in the backdrop of PM Modi's broader push for economic self-reliance, where he recently outlined seven key appeals while addressing a function in Hyderabad. Among them was a call to reduce fuel consumption, increase use of public transport and carpooling, and strengthen the âVocal for Local' initiative.
The Prime Minister stressed that self-reliance and organic farming are essential for achieving India's long-term goal of a "Viksit Bharat" by 2047. He also urged farmers to reduce dependence on imported chemical fertilisers and encouraged citizens to cut down on edible oil consumption.
Amid the West Asia crisis and volatile global crude prices crossing 100 US dollars per barrel and recently touching a 52-week high of 126 US dollars, PM Modi called on citizens to help conserve foreign exchange reserves by reducing reliance on imported fuel and adopting energy-efficient practices.
He further urged people to reconsider discretionary spending, including limiting foreign travel for a year, reducing destination weddings abroad, and cutting excessive gold purchases. The Indian Prime Minister also suggested a revival of work-from-home practices wherever feasible.
Meanwhile, the Congress party took a sharp dig at the Prime Minister over his appeal. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh alleged that the government itself had contributed to India's rising dependence on imported crude oil and natural gas.
In a post on X, he said the BJP-led government should first explain the outcomes of "fraudulent investments" in GSPC and its merger into ONGC, instead of shifting responsibility to consumers.
The political exchange has added a sharp edge to the government's fuel conservation and self-reliance messaging, even as global energy markets remain under pressure due to geopolitical tensions.
