At Hyderabad Rally, Modi Sweet Talks Public To Avoid Gold, Fuel Use After Oil Firms Bore Election Season Losses

Prime Minister Narendra Modi , during a politically charged public rally at the Parade Grounds in Hyderabad on Sunday evening, urged citizens to reduce fuel consumption, avoid unnecessary gold purchases, postpone foreign travel, and even consider reviving work-from-home practices , citing the economic impact of the ongoing West Asia conflict and rising global oil prices.

The remarks came weeks after state elections concluded and after public sector oil marketing companies reportedly absorbed significant losses by holding domestic fuel prices steady despite rising international crude prices during the election season.

Addressing BJP workers and supporters after inaugurating development projects earlier in the day at the HITEX International Convention Centre (HICC) , Modi said imported petroleum products should be used “only as required” to protect India’s foreign exchange reserves and reduce vulnerability to global conflicts.

He appealed to citizens to avoid “non-essential” purchases of gold for at least a year, prefer local products, use public transport and carpooling wherever possible, and reduce edible oil consumption. He also suggested companies could revisit Covid-era work-from-home arrangements to cut fuel use.

The Prime Minister highlighted India’s push toward solar energy , expansion of CNG , piped gas infrastructure, and increased ethanol blending in petrol as part of the government’s long-term energy strategy.

Earlier at the official HICC event, Modi virtually launched and laid foundation stones for projects worth around Rs 9,400 crore in Telangana, including the four-laning of NH-167 under the Hyderabad–Panaji Economic Corridor, the PM MITRA textile park in Warangal, the Kazipet–Vijayawada railway multi-tracking project , and a new Greenfield POL Terminal in Hyderabad.

The Prime Minister also used the occasion to sharpen his political messaging, praising the BJP’s “historic victory” in West Bengal and suggesting the momentum was energising BJP cadres in Telangana as well.

Welcoming Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s statement that development should rise above politics, Modi said the Centre was willing to work closely with Telangana and claimed the state’s highway network had doubled over the last 11 years, while railway allocations had increased from under Rs 1,000 crore during the UPA era to around Rs 5,500 crore now.

Chief Minister Revanth Reddy , meanwhile, sought central support for the expansion of the Hyderabad Metro Rail , the Future City project , and the Musi River rejuvenation programme , while pitching Telangana’s “Telangana Rising 2047” vision aligned with the Centre’s “Viksit Bharat 2047” roadmap.