Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reduced his convoy by 50% as part of wider austerity and fuel-saving measures amid the US-Iran war, ANI reported on Wednesday, citing sources.
The Special Protection Group (SPG), the elite unit responsible for the Prime Minister’s security, has been directed to reduce the size of PM Modi’s convoy without compromising mandatory security protocols.
Modi has also called for greater use of electric vehicles (EVs) in the convoy, while making it clear that no new vehicles should be purchased to avoid additional expenditure.
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The downsizing of the Prime Minister’s convoy was implemented during his recent domestic visits.
Earlier this week, Modi made seven major appeals — described as austerity measures — aimed at cushioning India from the economic uncertainties arising from the prolonged West Asia war.
These included conserving petrol and diesel by using public transport and metro services, avoiding the purchase of gold for a year, and restricting foreign travel to conserve foreign exchange reserves.
Several BJP leaders, including Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, backed Modi’s call to save fuel.
In a post on social media platform X, she wrote:“In internalizing this important appeal of Honourable Prime Minister ji, a decision has been taken to limit the number of vehicles for departmental work. I and all my Cabinet colleagues, all MLAs of the Bharatiya Janata Party, public representatives, officers of the Delhi government, and all departments will also use the minimum number of vehicles as required and prioritize carpooling and public transport.”
On May 12, the opposition Congress party in Madhya Pradesh criticized the BJP after some of its leaders, newly appointed to state corporations, arrived in large convoys despite Modi’s appeal to reduce fuel consumption.
The state government recently made political appointments to various corporations and boards.
Saubhagya Singh Thakur, who was appointed chairman of the Madhya Pradesh Textbook Corporation, arrived in Bhopal from Ujjain on Monday with supporters to assume office.
Videos of his convoy, consisting of several vehicles, later went viral.
Similarly, Rakesh Singh Jadon, newly appointed Vice President of the Khadi Village Industries Board, also arrived with a large convoy from Vidisha.
State Congress President Jitu Patwari said: “PM Modi should first follow his own message and ensure that BJP leaders also follow it. Crores of rupees worth of petrol and diesel were spent on his roadshow yesterday. Forty chartered planes are being sent for BJP leaders and chief ministers to attend the swearing-in ceremony in Assam. Why is the Prime Minister’s message only for the public?”
He added that the war in West Asia has caused greater economic harm to India than to Iran and the United States, noting that the Indian rupee continues to weaken against the US dollar.
He blamed the Union government for the situation.
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