‘What to buy, where to go’: Rahul Gandhi says Modi is controlling daily life after failing as PM

New Delhi: LoP and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the Prime Minister urged Indians to cut fuel consumption, delay gold purchases and avoid unnecessary foreign travel due to the economic impact of the ongoing Middle East conflict.

In a strongly worded social media post reposted by the All India Congress Committee communications department, Rahul Gandhi said the Prime Minister’s remarks reflected policy failure rather than leadership.

“Modi ji demanded sacrifices from the public yesterday — don’t buy gold, don’t go abroad, use less petrol, cut down on fertiliser and cooking oil, take the metro, work from home,” Rahul Gandhi wrote.

“These aren't sermons — these are proofs of failure,” he added.

Congress says government is shifting burden onto citizens

Rahul Gandhi accused the government of repeatedly transferring responsibility for economic difficulties onto ordinary citizens instead of accepting accountability.

“In 12 years, he's brought the country to such a pass that the public has to be told what to buy, what not to buy, where to go and where not to go,” he wrote.

“Every time, they shift the responsibility onto the people so they can escape accountability themselves.”

He further claimed that governance was now “beyond the reach of a compromised Prime Minister”.

The remarks came as opposition parties intensified criticism over inflation, fuel costs and India’s growing economic vulnerability amid disruptions caused by the US-Iran conflict.

Modi urges people to reduce fuel use amid global crisis

Speaking at a public gathering in Hyderabad, Prime Minister Modi defended the need for temporary public cooperation to manage the economic strain caused by the ongoing geopolitical crisis.

“We have to reduce our use of petrol and diesel,” Modi said, encouraging people to use metro rail systems, carpool, work from home and reduce unnecessary travel.

The Prime Minister also asked citizens to postpone gold purchases and non-essential foreign trips for one year in order to conserve foreign exchange reserves.

“We have to save foreign exchange by any means,” he said.

Modi additionally called for reduced consumption of edible oil and chemical fertilisers while promoting electric vehicles, rail transport and domestically manufactured products.

Oil companies under pressure as crude prices surge

The government’s appeal comes as India faces mounting pressure from rising global energy prices linked to instability around the Strait of Hormuz.

According to Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, Indian oil marketing companies are currently suffering losses of nearly Rs 1,000 crore per day while continuing to sell fuel at unchanged retail prices despite rising international crude costs.

Puri said oil companies were absorbing heavy financial losses to protect consumers from sudden price hikes.

He also noted that government tax reductions on petrol and diesel had resulted in revenue losses of nearly Rs 14,000 crore in a single month.

War-linked disruptions raise economic concerns

The ongoing conflict involving Iran and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have significantly affected global oil supply chains and energy markets.

India, one of the world’s largest energy importers, remains heavily dependent on imported crude oil, LPG and LNG supplies moving through the region.

The Prime Minister’s comments are being viewed by analysts as an attempt to prepare the public for prolonged global uncertainty and possible future economic measures if the crisis deepens further.

The issue is also expected to become a major political flashpoint between the BJP and Congress in the coming weeks as fuel prices, inflation and foreign exchange pressures continue dominating national debate.