PM Modi’s Appeal to Conserve Foreign Exchange.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued seven specific appeals to Indians on May 10, 2026, urging resource conservation and self-reliance in response to global challenges like West Asia tensions, rising fuel prices, inflation, and US tariffs. The appeal was issued May 10, 2026, during a Hyderabad rally. The appeal is stated to be a response to immediate oil shocks and mark the first anniversary of “Operation Sindoor,” leveraging national unity.
These appeals, themed “Nation First, Duty Above Comfort,” address economic pressures from imported fuel, oil, gold, and chemicals, aiming to save foreign exchange and boost domestic resilience.
The Seven Appeals
- Prioritize work-from-home to cut fuel use and traffic.
- Avoid gold purchases for one year to ease import burdens.
- Reduce petrol/diesel via public transport, carpooling, metro, or EVs.
- Cut cooking oil consumption for health and lower imports.
- Shift to natural farming, reducing chemical fertilizers.
- Adopt Swadeshi/local products over foreign brands.
- Postpone non-essential foreign travel for a year.
Why this Appeal and Why Now?
Politicians never tell the truth. Not the whole truth in any case. The timing of the appeal is crucial. Reference to west Asia is symbolic. The low intensity war with Iran is likely to continue for ever. USA and none of its allies are ready to put boot on ground and Iran is not ready to accept defeat. USA can not advance its ship as it is skeptical of Iran’s nuclear capability and its hypersonic missiles. Its ships are located in gulf of Omen and are nowhere near Harmuz. Ships of India do pass through Harmuz, albeit with lot of diplomatic efforts with Iran as well as USA.
The interesting point is India now sources its energy requirement from 40 other countries away from West Asia. India’s close ally UAE has resigned from OPEC and is likely to sell its oil to India from its port out of Harmuz.
The point is that situation in West Asia is not a rosy picture but it is not critical and is certainly not becoming worse any time soon.
West Bengal Win
The appeal was made on 10th May, just a day after BJP government was sworn in West Bengal after a historic win by BJP. The victory was so historic that President Trump also congratulated PM Modi.
If we look at the geopolitics of the region in east of India, the influence of USA is waning. Many Americans, who we suspected to be CIA operatives, were found dead in Bangladesh. Puppet Government of Mohammad Yunus is gone. An elected government is in place in Bangladesh. India has appointed a political person, as envoy to Bangladesh replacing career diplomat.
Many Ukrainians and one American spy has been arrested. These were fomenting trouble in Manipur by training and by providing equipment like Starlink and drones. Now, about 300 armored vehicles have been deployed in Manipur which means some upcoming military action to curb violence (allegedly sponsored by church). Myanmar remains in flux and its different portions are being controlled by different groups if not warlords.
The victory in West Bengal becomes very important. From the videos released online by Jamat-e-Islami leaders in Bangladesh reveal that Mamata Benerjee has their sympathy. These leaders even called upon her to declare independence of West Bengal away from union of India. Foolish as it may sound on logic but the emotion behind that appeal is significant. The illegal immigration from Bangladesh to India is now documented after SIR. Mamata’s sympathy for illegals is no secret. It shows some kind of close cooperation between Mamata’s administration and Jamat in Bangladesh. Her loss in West Bengal means a closed border. New Government has already announced the release of land to the Central Forces to ensure fencing and sealed border with Bangladesh.
Now let us focus back to geopolitics.
Geopolitics
The war across the Strait of Hormuz is a war between members of BRICS. Iran as well as gulf States or Kingdoms are members of BRICS. Iran continue to attack these with missiles. It was an opportunity for BRICS to rise to occasion and end this attack but it failed. This did not bode well for the stature of BRICS.
With its high debt and waning influence on world politics, USA has waged a war on the world as a whole. It is a last desperate attempt by the declining Empire. To restore its influence USA want to monopolize oil trade in the world. Presently it has monopoly on just one product. US Dollar. The divided BRICS can not pose an alternative to Dollar as it was projected before start of Iran War. The economic benefit to USA, from the Iran war have been discussed in detail here. India never stopped buying oil from Russia. It may start buying oil from Iran as well. Therefore, the last weapon in the armory of USA, to be used against defiant India is ‘Dollar’.
Rupee has fallen by about 5% in recent months. It is trading at 95 per dollar now and may soon touch 100. The manipulation of foreign currency by USA has been documented by in detail in my book Accidental Empire. All wars fought by USA after 1971 are for protection of monopoly of dollar. This war in Hormuz is no different.
To conclude, the appeal of PM Modi is on this backdrop of falling Rupee. This is something he can not say publicly as falling rupee is a politically sensitive matter but something opposition has not ‘noticed’ so far. But it will get there soon.
A public appeal to reduce foreign exchange outflow is also a signal that India has already mapped the playbook. It says: we know the dollar weapon is coming, we are already mobilizing civilian behavior against it, your leverage is smaller than you think. That makes the appeal simultaneously domestic policy, economic defense, and diplomatic messaging. All three without saying any of it explicitly.
The Tariff war by USA was ended by USA Supreme Court. Now is the time to be prepared for another phase of war with USA.
References:
- Appeal by PM
- US President Donald Trump has congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on what the White House described as a “historic, and decisive election victory” in West Bengal
- Matthew VanDyke, an American, was arrested in India for allegedly training communities in terrorism and authoritarian regime resistance.
- Arrest of foreign spies in India
- Mysterious death of US Special Forces officer Terrence Jackson in Dhaka
- Articles about Iran.
- Articles about USA.