Vadodara (Gujarat) [India], May 12 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Monday that the government is making continuous efforts to minimize the impact of the West Asia war crisis on citizens. He urged the public to cut down on imported product consumption and avoid personal spending that requires foreign exchange.
During the inauguration of the Sardardham Hostel in Vadodara, PM Modi remarked that while the COVID-19 pandemic was the greatest crisis of this century, the situation stemming from the war in West Asia represents one of the major crises of the decade.
He expressed confidence that, just as the nation united to combat the pandemic, “we will undoubtedly overcome this crisis too.”
PM Modi noted that in past decades, during wars or significant crises, citizens have responded to the government’s call by fulfilling their responsibilities. He highlighted the soaring prices of imported goods and the severe disruptions in global supply chains due to the West Asia crisis.
“Today, too, there is a need for all of us to come together and fulfill our responsibility to reduce the burden on the country’s resources. 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. 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 stated.
The Prime Minister urged citizens to minimize petrol and diesel usage and suggested adopting virtual meetings and work-from-home arrangements in both government and private sectors.
He pointed out that a significant amount of the nation’s money is spent on gold imports and encouraged people to delay gold purchases until the situation stabilizes.
“I appeal to every citizen of my country to reduce the use of petrol-diesel as much as possible. Use the metro, make greater use of electric buses and public transport, and promote carpooling. Those who have a car should take more people along in one vehicle. Digital technology has now made so many things easy that technology’s assistance will also be very beneficial for us. It is essential that priority be given to virtual meetings and work from home in both government and private offices,” he added.
“A huge amount of the country’s money also goes abroad on gold imports. Therefore, I would urge all of you, my fellow countrymen, to postpone the purchase of gold until the situation returns to normal. Today, the need of the hour is that we turn ‘Vocal for Local’ into a people’s movement. Instead of foreign goods, adopt local products. Empower the entrepreneurs of your village, your city, your country,” he emphasized.
PM Modi had made a similar appeal in Telangana the previous day. He also advised against foreign travel for tourism, highlighting the many attractions within India. He discouraged destination weddings abroad, proposing the Statue of Unity as a wedding venue in Gujarat.
“The moment the holidays begin, children are handed tickets to go abroad. The trend nowadays is to travel overseas–often for destination weddings. There are many people here who do not send me invitations anymore; they used to send them in the past because they would hold their weddings abroad, but now they are stopping that practice. This trend of destination weddings abroad is growing rapidly; however, consider the fact that this entails a significant expenditure of foreign currency,” he remarked.
“Ask yourselves: are there no places within India where we can spend our vacations, where we can teach our children about our history, where we can take pride in our own local sites? It is essential that we celebrate our vacations right here in India; furthermore–even when it comes to weddings–I do not believe there could be any place more beautiful or sacred for us than our own India,” he added.
PM Modi also praised the ‘Gujarat Model’, emphasizing that the involvement of women is crucial for societal progress. He noted that the country’s achievements over the last 10 to 12 years, spanning various fields, serve as proof of this.
He highlighted the provision of facilities such as toilets, tap water connections, and gas connections, noting that under the Mudra Yojana, women are becoming self-reliant.
“Previously, the doors to many sectors were completely closed to daughters; today, in those very same sectors, daughters are stepping forward to assume leadership roles. Today, women cadets are undergoing training at the National Defence Academy. Our daughters are becoming fighter pilots. Continuous efforts are also being made to increase women’s participation in politics,” he stated.
Referring to the Constitutional (131st Amendment) Bill 2026 aimed at early implementation of women’s reservation, which failed to pass in the Lok Sabha, he assured that efforts would continue despite the setback.
“Through the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan’ Amendment, we made yet another effort in this direction. Due to political reasons, it could not be passed. However, I assure women across the entire country that we will continue to make relentless efforts in this direction,” he said.
He also mentioned the enthusiasm generated by the results from the West Bengal, Assam, and Puducherry Assembly Elections across the country.
During the event, Prime Minister Modi was awarded the ‘Sardar Gaurav Ratna’ award. Following his address, he participated in a roadshow in Vadodara alongside Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy CM Harsh Sanghvi.
