On Wednesday, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari made a significant move to conserve fuel by instructing officials to reduce the number of vehicles in his convoy. This decision follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent appeal to the public to adopt measures that could help India navigate the economic challenges stemming from a global rise in crude oil prices, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
Speaking to the media after being sworn in as the MLA from Kolkata’s Bhabanipur at the state legislative assembly, Adhikari emphasized his commitment to following the Prime Minister’s lead. “I watched Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message to the people. He has always set examples and shown us the way. I told the Directorate of Security that the number of vehicles used for my movements should not exceed the minimum requirement. No excess vehicles,” Adhikari declared.
The Prime Minister had urged citizens to embrace various austerity measures, such as car pooling, using public transport, working from home, reducing the purchase of gold, and limiting foreign travel, to mitigate the impact of rising oil prices on the national economy. Adhikari, aligning with this vision, took immediate steps to minimize the number of cars in his official convoy.
Typically, the Chief Minister’s convoy comprises eight to ten vehicles when traversing the city. However, on the day of the assembly, Adhikari arrived with just five vehicles. This reduction is part of a broader initiative where all Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs and ministers are expected to cut down on the number of vehicles they use.
Adhikari’s actions reflect a commitment to leading by example, inspired by Modi’s call for responsible resource usage. “The Prime Minister has always shown us the right path. It is not mandatory for all people to follow, but those who believe that it should be done will follow his example,” he explained, underscoring the voluntary nature of following Modi’s advised measures.
