Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call to strengthen India’s foreign exchange reserves and urged citizens to consider it a national mission.
Addressing the CII Annual Business Summit in New Delhi, he said the current geopolitical environment highlights the need for greater self-reliance and prudent use of resources, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said.
Referring to the national mission outlined by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, CM Chandrababu Naidu highlighted several key measures designed to address emerging global challenges.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to citizens to postpone gold purchases, encourage energy conservation, encourage use of public transport, adopt a work-from-home culture, reduce fertilizer use and switch to natural farming. He also called for reducing the consumption of cooking oil and avoiding unnecessary foreign trips for a year.
Chandrababu Naidu believes these measures are necessary given the current geopolitical environment, which includes fuel and energy crises caused by international conflicts, leading to a rise in prices of LPG, petrol and diesel.
Citizens are encouraged to reduce fuel consumption by using subways and public transportation, carpooling, moving freight to rail, and gradually increasing the use of electric vehicles. Adopting a work-from-home culture also helps reduce fuel consumption.
The reduction in gold purchases and cooking oil consumption is aimed at saving foreign currency. India spends a large amount of foreign exchange on imports and these measures help reduce import dependency and protect the environment.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas assures that India has sufficient oil reserves, refineries are operating efficiently and there is no nationwide fuel shortage despite disruptions to the global energy supply chain.
He again shared Prime Minister Modi’s call and said the Prime Minister called for postponing gold purchases, encouraging energy conservation, encouraging use of public transport, adopting a work-from-home culture, reducing fertilizer consumption and shifting to natural farming.
CM Naidu emphasized that these measures are necessary in the current global scenario marked by fuel and energy crisis caused by international conflicts.
He also pointed to the growing problems related to prices of LPG, petrol and diesel, saying that countries not directly involved in the wars were still suffering the consequences. In this regard, he said that working from home has become a practical solution as technology now allows people to work efficiently from anywhere.
CM Naidu addressed industrialists, especially business giants present at the summit and appealed to them to consider these reforms and safeguards as a national mission rather than the sole responsibility of the Prime Minister, the report said.
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Expressing his belief that every crisis creates new opportunities, he said that after overcoming the current global challenges, India will emerge stronger and become “unstoppable” on the global stage.
Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Naidu said, “The prime minister has given a national mission because of the geopolitical situation. Each of us must follow these principles.”
Addressing a rally in Secunderabad on Sunday, Prime Minister Modi urged citizens to prioritize working from home, reduce fuel consumption, avoid foreign travel for a year, adopt Swadeshi products, reduce consumption of cooking oil, switch to organic farming and limit purchases of gold.
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Emphasizing the need to reduce import dependence, he said every household should reduce consumption of edible oil and switch to natural farming to help save foreign exchange and protect the environment.
Highlighting heavy dependence on imported chemical fertilizers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India spends a lot of foreign exchange on importing fertilizers and urged farmers to reduce their use.
He also called for changes in travel and transport habits to cope with fluctuating fuel prices. He urged citizens to reduce gasoline and diesel consumption by using subways and public transportation wherever possible, adopting carpooling when private vehicles are necessary, shifting more freight to rail, and gradually increasing the use of electric vehicles.
