Padma Shri's Shashi Soni backs Modi's gold, fuel appeal amid West Asia crisis
Synopsis
Padma Shri awardee and industrialist Shashi Soni has thrown her weight behind PM Modi's advisory to skip gold purchases and conserve fuel, framing it not as panic-mongering but as strategic national preparedness. With India heavily dependent on gold imports and crude oil, the appeal carries real economic weight — and Soni's endorsement gives it a business credibility angle mainstream coverage has largely overlooked.
Key Takeaways
Padma Shri awardee Shashi Soni on 12 May backed PM Modi 's appeal to citizens to avoid buying gold for one year and conserve fuel.
Soni clarified the advisory is not a ban — gold purchases for essential occasions like weddings remain appropriate.
She advocated carpooling and public transport as practical fuel-saving measures, noting not all households can afford electric vehicles.
Soni supported work-from-home and online classes as additional conservation measures, citing the Covid-19 lockdown as a successful precedent.
The advisory is framed as crisis preparedness in the context of the ongoing West Asia conflict and its potential impact on global oil and commodity supply chains.
Padma Shri awardee and entrepreneur Shashi Soni on Tuesday, 12 May voiced strong support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to citizens to refrain from buying gold for one year and conserve fuel as much as possible, saying the advice is not meant to alarm the nation but to prepare it for any potential disruption stemming from the West Asia crisis.
What Shashi Soni Said
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Soni was unequivocal in her defence of the Prime Minister's advisory. "The appeal made by the Prime Minister is not meant to frighten the country. It is a warning before a storm arrives. It may be that, looking at the situations developing around the world — wars in some places, storms in others, and changing global conditions — we need to safeguard our country," she said.
She was careful to clarify that the gold advisory does not amount to a blanket prohibition. "People should certainly buy gold if they need it for their daughter's wedding or other necessities. But if we do not keep accumulating gold in our homes, then that gold can strengthen and empower the country's economy," Soni added.
On Fuel Conservation and Carpooling
On the question of fuel savings, Soni pointed to the common practice of family members owning multiple vehicles and commuting separately. "If we save fuel, then we will not have to depend on other countries or worry that our nation is running short of petrol or gas. The Prime Minister's appeal is aimed at preventing such a situation," she said.
Acknowledging that electric vehicles remain out of reach for many households, Soni advocated carpooling as a practical alternative. "An entire family can use a single vehicle. People should go out only when absolutely necessary, or use public transport, which the government has made widely available in every city and metro area," she added.
Work From Home and Online Classes
Soni also endorsed PM Modi's suggestion that schools consider online classes, drawing a parallel with the Covid-19 lockdown period. "Back then, children studied and passed as well. That can be done again if needed," she noted.
On offices, she said a shift to work-from-home mode — where feasible — could yield significant savings. "If employees work from home, that too will save petrol and diesel. So many office lights remain on, so much water is used, and so much commuting happens — all of that can also be reduced. As an industrialist myself, I have seen how much savings this can bring into the country and how productivity can even improve," she said, while acknowledging that factory operations cannot be similarly shifted.
Broader Context and Significance
This comes amid heightened concern over the West Asia conflict and its potential ripple effects on global oil supply chains and commodity prices, both of which directly impact India's import-heavy energy and gold consumption. India is the world's second-largest gold consumer and one of the largest importers of crude oil, making both advisories economically significant beyond their symbolic value.
Soni reiterated her confidence in the Prime Minister's track record: "Whenever the Prime Minister has shown direction in the past, it has benefited the country. There is nothing to fear in this." She asserted that if Modi believes the country should be strengthened in advance to avoid panic during a crisis, "then that is the right approach."
With geopolitical uncertainty showing no signs of abating, the government's preparedness messaging is likely to intensify in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
Save fuel — is unusual in its directness, and the establishment's rush to frame it as prudent preparedness rather than alarm is telling. India's structural dependence on gold imports and crude oil means these are not symbolic gestures; they are pressure valves for a current-account deficit that worsens sharply in times of global commodity stress. What is missing from the conversation, however, is any institutional mechanism: no policy lever, no incentive structure, just an appeal to voluntary restraint. Historically, such appeals in India have had limited traction without accompanying fiscal nudges. Soni's endorsement adds social credibility, but the real question is whether a voluntary ask — however well-intentioned — can move the needle on India's gold import bill or fuel consumption at a time of genuine external stress.
NationPress
27 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is PM Modi's appeal regarding gold and fuel?
PM Modi has urged Indian citizens to refrain from purchasing gold for one year and to conserve fuel as much as possible, citing the potential economic impact of the ongoing West Asia crisis on India's import-dependent economy.
Why did Shashi Soni support PM Modi's advisory?
Padma Shri awardee and entrepreneur Shashi Soni said the advisory is a precautionary measure, not a cause for fear. She argued that reducing gold accumulation and fuel consumption would reduce India's dependence on imports and strengthen the national economy during a period of global uncertainty.
Does PM Modi's gold advisory mean people cannot buy gold at all?
No. Shashi Soni clarified that people should buy gold when genuinely needed — such as for a daughter's wedding or other necessities. The appeal is directed at discretionary or speculative gold accumulation, not essential purchases.
What fuel-saving measures did Shashi Soni recommend?
Soni recommended carpooling, using a single family vehicle, relying on public transport, and avoiding unnecessary travel. She also backed work-from-home arrangements for office employees and online classes for schools as ways to reduce fuel and energy consumption.
What is the broader context behind these advisories?
The advisories come against the backdrop of the West Asia conflict, which poses risks to global oil supply chains and commodity prices. India is one of the world's largest importers of crude oil and the second-largest consumer of gold, making both areas of significant vulnerability to external shocks.
