Fuel Conservation Call by PM Modi Must Be Followed by All Citizens: Karnataka BJP Chief B.Y. Vijayendra

Bengaluru, May 2026 : Karnataka BJP State President B.Y. Vijayendra on Saturday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for fuel conservation should be seriously adopted by citizens across the country, especially in view of global economic uncertainty, ongoing geopolitical tensions, and rising fuel prices in international markets.

Speaking in Bengaluru while travelling by Metro rail to attend official party engagements, Vijayendra said that the global economic environment had been deeply affected by war-like situations in different regions, and India was no exception to the ripple effects being felt worldwide.

“Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a call for conservation. At a time when the world is facing economic challenges, every citizen in the country should think about this and act responsibly,” he said.

He emphasised that reducing dependence on private vehicles and promoting public transport would not only help ease fuel consumption but also contribute to environmental protection and urban sustainability.

Referring to the Prime Minister’s personal example, Vijayendra said that Modi had already reduced the number of vehicles in his convoy, setting an example for political leaders and citizens alike.

“The Prime Minister has reduced the number of vehicles in his convoy. Following his call, even the BJP National President is practising the same discipline. It is a good thought and we need to minimise the use of vehicles wherever possible,” he said.

Vijayendra added that he himself had opted to travel by Metro to attend a party programme in Kumbalagodu on the outskirts of Bengaluru and also planned to visit the Art of Living Centre to seek blessings of spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

“I am travelling by Metro to the venues and will also return by Metro. This is a small step in supporting the Prime Minister’s vision,” he added.

Responding to criticism from opposition parties over rising fuel prices, Vijayendra questioned their stance and accused the Congress-led Karnataka government of repeatedly increasing fuel taxes, thereby burdening citizens at the state level.

He argued that opposition parties were selectively targeting the Centre while ignoring decisions taken by their own state governments.

“If opposition parties are demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister over petrol price hikes, then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar should have resigned last year itself,” he said.

Vijayendra alleged that the Karnataka government had increased fuel prices multiple times through taxation even when there was no comparable rise at the national or global level.

“The Congress government in Karnataka has increased fuel prices several times by imposing higher taxes. They have done it repeatedly. How many times would the Chief Minister have resigned then? They should not speak merely for political convenience,” he said.

He further said that the Prime Minister’s appeal for conservation must be viewed in the context of global energy challenges and rising crude oil volatility. According to him, responsible fuel usage is now a national necessity rather than a political issue.

Vijayendra also rejected allegations that the Centre delayed fuel price revisions for electoral gains. Instead, he highlighted what he called the Union government’s focus on long-term economic reforms.

“For the benefit of the middle class, there were demands to revise income tax slabs. The government increased the exemption limit up to Rs 12 lakh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not time decisions based on elections, but took them in the interest of the people,” he said.

He asserted that the Centre’s policies were aimed at easing financial pressure on citizens, particularly the poor and middle class, rather than creating political advantage.

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka also defended the Union government, stating that the Narendra Modi-led administration had maintained fuel price stability for nearly 49 months despite global crises, wars, and oil market volatility.

In a statement, Ashoka said India had performed better than several countries in controlling fuel inflation.

“Fuel prices increased by 89.7 per cent in Myanmar, 54.9 per cent in Pakistan and 44.5 per cent in the United States, whereas in India the increase was only 3.2 per cent. This reflects the efficiency of Modi’s governance,” he said.

He also accused the Karnataka Congress government of increasing prices of essential services such as milk, electricity, transport fares, water charges, property tax, and Metro fares.

“On one hand, they offer guarantees of Rs 2,000, but on the other hand, they are taking away more than Rs 4,000 monthly from citizens through repeated price hikes,” Ashoka alleged.

The political exchange comes amid renewed national debate on fuel prices, taxation policies, and the impact of global energy instability on Indian households.

Team Maverick