Kollam

N K Premachandran on Monday described Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal for self-imposed restrictions on fuel consumption as “unfortunate,” and accused the Centre of failing to take timely action despite the ongoing crisis in West Asia.

Speaking to reporters in Kollam, the Revolutionary Socialist Party leader and ally of the United Democratic Front said the conflict in West Asia had been continuing for several months, but the central government had not seriously examined the possibility of an oil or fuel crisis.

Premachandran questioned what concrete measures the Centre had taken to tackle the situation, saying no policy package or structured response appeared to have been announced despite the prolonged geopolitical uncertainty.

He argued that the financial burden arising from higher fuel prices should be borne by the government rather than being shifted to the public.

Premachandran also objected to suggestions that people adopt what he described as a “partial lockdown” approach to reduce fuel consumption.

On Sunday, while addressing a rally organised by the Bharatiya Janata Party in Hyderabad, Modi had urged citizens to reduce petrol and diesel consumption, use metro services, adopt carpooling, increase use of electric vehicles, utilise railways for freight movement and work from home where possible in order to conserve foreign exchange amid the West Asia crisis.

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The prime minister had also appealed to people to postpone purchases of gold and foreign travel for one year, stressing the need to preserve foreign exchange reserves.