Daijiworld Media Network – Chandigarh

Chandigarh, May 16: Bhagwant Mann on Saturday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his recent appeal urging people to postpone foreign travel and reduce fuel consumption amid the ongoing crisis in West Asia.

Reacting to the Prime Minister’s call for austerity measures, Mann said Modi himself continues to undertake foreign visits despite advising citizens to avoid overseas travel.

“First the prime minister should stop his foreign visits. Where is he now? He has gone to the Netherlands. He will visit 3-4 more countries. He has asked people to avoid but he still went on foreign visits,” Mann said while addressing reporters.

The Punjab chief minister also mocked the Centre’s advisory asking people to avoid gold purchases, work from home, use metro rail services, adopt carpooling and switch to electric vehicles to conserve fuel and foreign exchange.

“You are shutting down everything... do not buy gold, do not undertake foreign visits, work from home. Why doesn't the PM work from home?” Mann asked.

Targeting the BJP-led Centre over the hike in fuel prices, Mann said India was supposed to become a “vishwaguru” but had instead become a “vishwachele”.

“The war is happening somewhere else but restrictions are being imposed here. Why has no other country implemented such restrictions?” he questioned.

Petrol and diesel prices were increased by Rs 3 per litre each on Friday, marking the first fuel price hike in more than four years amid mounting losses faced by fuel retailers due to rising global crude oil prices.

Following his public appeal for austerity, Modi reportedly reduced the size of his convoy, with several BJP chief ministers and party leaders also adopting similar measures.

The Prime Minister has left on a six-day foreign tour covering the United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy to strengthen bilateral relations amid the ongoing geopolitical situation.