New Delhi: The Indian National Congress on Monday intensified its attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his recent appeal urging citizens to reduce fuel consumption, postpone foreign travel and limit non-essential spending, claiming the government is attempting to hide the seriousness of the country’s economic condition.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the Prime Minister’s remarks during a rally in Hyderabad indicated that the economic situation may be far more challenging than what official figures and government statements suggest.
In a post on social media platform X, Ramesh alleged that the Centre could be preparing the public for possible austerity measures in the coming months. He claimed that rising economic pressure may lead to decisions such as fuel price increases and tighter spending controls.
The Congress leader argued that ordinary citizens are already facing economic distress reflected in stagnant wages, increasing household debt and weak private investment growth. According to him, the gap between official economic messaging and ground realities has become increasingly visible.
The opposition party also criticised the Centre’s handling of the ongoing West Asia crisis, saying the government should focus on protecting the economy instead of asking citizens to alter their lifestyles. Congress accused the Prime Minister of failing to ensure energy security despite months of geopolitical tensions affecting global fuel markets.
The criticism came a day after Modi, while addressing a public gathering organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party in Hyderabad, urged citizens to adopt measures aimed at conserving foreign exchange and reducing pressure on imports.
The Prime Minister called on people to use petrol and diesel carefully, prefer metro rail and railway transport, adopt carpooling and increase the use of electric vehicles. He also encouraged companies and employees to resume work-from-home practices introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic in order to reduce fuel consumption.
Modi further appealed to citizens to postpone foreign travel and gold purchases for at least one year, saying the country must prioritise saving foreign exchange amid continuing instability in West Asia.
The Prime Minister noted that global tensions had significantly increased prices of crude oil, fertilisers and other commodities, placing additional pressure on supply chains despite government intervention.
He also advocated reducing edible oil consumption, encouraging natural farming and promoting Swadeshi products to strengthen self-reliance and reduce import dependency.
Congress leaders, however, described the appeal as an indication that the government may be struggling to manage the economic consequences of rising global instability. The party argued that citizens should not be burdened because of inadequate economic planning and policy preparedness.
Political observers believe the exchange reflects growing political debate over inflation, energy prices and economic management as geopolitical tensions continue affecting global markets.
Economists say India remains vulnerable to fluctuations in crude oil prices due to its heavy dependence on energy imports. Any prolonged disruption in West Asia could increase inflationary pressure and widen fiscal challenges for the government.
Despite opposition criticism, the Centre maintains that precautionary measures and public cooperation are essential to shield the Indian economy from external shocks and maintain long-term economic stability.