Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Basavaraj Bommai on Monday, 11 May strongly defended Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for austerity measures amid the ongoing global crisis, accusing the Congress party of opposing the Prime Minister purely for political reasons and lacking any understanding of sacrifice or patriotism. Bommai made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Gadag, Karnataka.

The Context: Modi's Austerity Appeal

PM Modi, while addressing a large gathering in Bengaluru on Sunday, 10 May, called upon citizens to remain united and patient amid global uncertainties. He specifically cited the ongoing crisis in West Asia — involving Iran, Israel, and the United States — as a factor impacting the entire world, including India. He reportedly urged people to reduce unnecessary fuel consumption, limit foreign travel, cut down on gold purchases, and shift toward organic farming over chemical fertilisers.

What Bommai Said

Bommai argued that the Prime Minister's message was a precautionary and responsible step in the face of a worsening global energy situation. "The wars involving Iran, Israel, and the United States are still continuing, and the conflict in the Gulf region does not appear to be ending anytime soon. When the Russia-Ukraine war broke out earlier, it created severe problems related to fertilisers and raw materials. Now the world is facing issues related to petrol, diesel, and oil supplies," he said.

He further stated that India remains dependent on Iran for a portion of its energy needs, and credited PM Modi's international stature and diplomatic engagement for preventing major shortages of petrol, diesel, or cooking gas over the past two months. "Oil companies continued distribution despite losses because there was hope that the war would end soon. But the conflict has not ended. In the coming days, India could face shortages of petrol, diesel, and gas. International prices have increased nearly tenfold," Bommai said.

He noted that countries such as the United States, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Pakistan had already seen sharp fuel and commodity price increases, while India had so far managed to avoid major hikes. "If people stop buying gold for one year, nothing will happen. Large-scale gold imports put pressure on foreign exchange reserves," he added.

Congress Draws Comparison, BJP Invokes Shastri

Bommai drew a historical parallel to underscore his argument, recalling that during the India-Pakistan war, then Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri had appealed to citizens to observe fasting once a week to address food shortages. "Only a leader with moral strength can make such an appeal. Congress leaders will never understand this because they neither know sacrifice nor patriotism," he said.

He also claimed that during the Iraq war, petrol and diesel stocks ran out within three days under Congress rule, leading to long queues at fuel stations from Gadag to Delhi. Referencing public cooperation during the Covid-19 pandemic, Bommai expressed confidence that citizens would respond positively to PM Modi's latest appeal as well.

Congress Pushback

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar had earlier on Monday criticised PM Modi's appeal to citizens to conserve resources, questioning the Centre over rising prices of gold and fuel. The Congress has framed the appeal as an attempt to deflect from domestic price pressures rather than a genuine call for national solidarity.

BJP's 2028 Karnataka Ambitions

Bommai also responded to a question about PM Modi's statement that the BJP would return to power in Karnataka, expressing confidence that the party would form the government again in the 2028 Assembly elections. "The BJP has already come to power in West Bengal, and its roots are strong in Karnataka as well. People are angry with the present Congress government and will bless the BJP again in 2028," he said, also citing the earlier government formed under the leadership of B.S. Yediyurappa. The remarks signal that the BJP intends to mount an early and aggressive campaign for the next state election.