The austerity measure taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi after asking Indians to tighten their belts
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has “significantly” reduced the size of his official motorcade to save fuel, a government source said on Wednesday, days after he urged fellow citizens to tighten their belts amid rising energy prices sparked by the Iran war.
Modi on Sunday called on people to adopt austerity measures such as avoiding unnecessary travel abroad, using public transport, cutting back on gold purchases and cooking oil consumption, amid pressure on the country's foreign exchange reserves from rising global energy prices.
Following the call, some critics on social media questioned the numerous official columns by senior Indian politicians, Modi's domestic flights and his upcoming visit to Europe by official jet.
The number of vehicles in Modi's official motorcade has been reduced while ensuring essential security components, in line with the protocol of the Special Protection Group that guards the prime minister, the source said, without specifying the actual size of the motorcade.
Modi enjoys the highest level of personal security in the country, and is known to have had around a dozen vehicles in his official motorcade before the cut.
Modi has reduced the number of vehicles in the official motorcade for this week's visits to his home state of Gujarat and the northeastern state of Assam, the source said, adding that the prime minister has also called for electric vehicles to be included in his official motorcade where possible, but without making any new purchases.
The Reuters source declined to be named because she is not authorized to speak to the media. The prime minister's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
India, the world's third-largest oil importer and consumer, depends heavily on the Strait of Hormuz, closed by the US-Israeli war with Iran, for supplies of crude oil, liquefied natural gas and cooking gas.
