NewKerala.com

Rajnath Singh Halves Convoy Size After PM Modi's Fuel Appeal

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has downsized his convoy to less than half its original size, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to conserve fuel amid the West Asia crisis. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu ordered an immediate 50% reduction in his convoy during district tours. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has restricted his fleet to essential security vehicles and pledged to work without vehicles one day a week. PM Modi urged citizens to reduce fuel consumption, adopt public transport, and cut imports to save foreign currency.

Key Points: Rajnath Singh Downsizes Convoy to Conserve Fuel

  • Rajnath Singh cuts convoy to less than half
  • AP CM Chandrababu Naidu orders 50% reduction
  • Haryana CM Saini restricts fleet, pledges one vehicle-free day weekly
  • PM Modi urges work from home, cut fuel use, avoid foreign travel
2 min read

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh downsizes his convoy size to less than half, following PM Modi's appeal

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reduces convoy by over 50% following PM Modi's call to save fuel amid West Asia crisis. Other leaders follow suit.

"Until the next order, only essential security vehicles will be included in my cavalcade. - Nayab Singh Saini, Haryana CM"

New Delhi, May 14

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has decided to downsize his convoy to less than half its original size, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to conserve fuel amid the ongoing West Asia crisis.

Alongside the Defence Minister, several Ministers have moved to significantly downsize their security convoys to conserve fuel.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu ordered an immediate 50 per cent reduction in the number of vehicles in his convoy during district tours.

During a review meeting with the Director General of Police (DGP) and senior Intelligence officials, the CM directed that the restraint take effect immediately. He further instructed ministers, public representatives, and VIPs to minimise the use of official vehicles, emphasising that these savings measures are essential to navigate current fiscal pressures.

Similarly, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has decided to restrict his fleet to the bare minimum required for security.

"Until the next order, only essential security vehicles will be included in my cavalcade. I have also resolved to work without any vehicles for one day a week," CM Saini stated.

The Chief Minister directed all state ministers and departmental officers to limit vehicle use and urged MLAs to conduct maximum meetings via virtual mediums, travelling only when necessary. He also appealed to the citizens of Haryana to utilise public transport as much as possible to contribute to the national fuel-saving campaign.

Earlier, PM Modi, while addressing a gathering in Secunderabad, urged citizens to prioritise work from home, cut fuel consumption, avoid foreign travel for a year, adopt Swadeshi products, reduce cooking oil use, shift to natural farming and curb gold purchases.

He stressed the need to reduce dependence on imports and said every household should cut down on edible oil consumption and move towards natural farming to help save foreign currency and protect the environment.

Highlighting the burden of fertiliser imports, the Prime Minister said India spends a significant amount of foreign exchange on importing chemical fertilisers and urged farmers to reduce their usage.

To combat the volatility of fuel prices, PM Modi urged a shift in how India moves. He urged citizens to reduce petrol and diesel consumption by using the metro and public transport wherever available, opting for car-pooling when private vehicles are necessary, preferring railway transport for the movement of goods, and increasing the use of electric vehicles wherever possible.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Finally some practical leadership! 👏 Reducing VIP convoys is something we've been demanding for years. If our leaders can lead by example, maybe common people will also think twice before wasting fuel. But I wish they'd also focus on improving public transport in smaller cities 🤔
M
Michael C
As an expat working in India, I find this quite impressive. In my home country, politicians rarely make such symbolic sacrifices. The focus on reducing edible oil imports and promoting natural farming is also smart. India's agriculture sector needs to modernise without bankrupting the economy 🌾
K
Kavya N
While I appreciate the sentiment, I'm a bit skeptical. How many times have we seen such announcements and then nothing changes on ground? And asking people to reduce cooking oil consumption - that's a tall order for middle-class families who are already dealing with inflation. Show us the actual savings data first 📊
R
Ravi K
PM Modi's appeal for work from home and public transport is common sense 👍. But let's be real - how many Indian companies actually support WFH? And in Tier-2 cities, metro connectivity is still a dream. The government needs to walk the talk by expanding public infrastructure first. Still, good initiative overall 💪
S
Sarah B
I'm an American living in Delhi and I must say, this is refreshing. Back home, politicians never reduce their perks. But I wonder - if West Asia crisis is the reason, shouldn't we also look at long-term energy security? India has huge potential for solar and wind energy. That would be a more sustainable solution ☀️

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50