Deve Gowda welcomes PM Modi’s call for fuel savings, forex conservation
Bengaluru (PTI): JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda on Sunday said PM Narendra Modi’s appeal for fuel savings and foreign exchange conservation amid the impact of the West Asia conflict should be welcomed.
The former PM said Modi had advised caution in consumption amid the global crisis triggered by the conflict.
“The PM gave some suggestions in Telangana yesterday. Due to the adverse impact of the conflict between Iran and the US-Israel, there has been a disruption in the movement of vessels carrying fuel. In this backdrop, Modi has advised caution in consumption,” Gowda said.
Speaking to reporters, he said the PM’s appeal was addressed to about 150 crore people of India.
“The appeal is not for any other reason. It is because of the impact of the conflict at the international level. We must welcome it,” he added.
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Emphasising that the Centre is trying to shield people from the adverse impact of the West Asia conflict, Modi on Sunday in Hyderabad called for judicious use of fuel, postponement of gold purchases, and reduced foreign travel, among other measures, to strengthen the economy.
Addressing a rally organised by the Telangana BJP, he suggested reducing petrol and diesel consumption, using metro rail services in cities, carpooling, increasing the use of electric vehicles (EVs), utilising railway services for parcel movement, and working from home to conserve foreign exchange amid the crisis in West Asia.
Stressing the need to save foreign exchange due to the crisis, Modi called for postponing gold purchases and foreign travel for one year.
Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje said the PM’s appeal is in the interest of the country and aimed at conserving foreign exchange reserves amid the West Asia conflict.
“The PM, over the last two years, has been talking about reducing consumption of edible oil because we are not self-reliant in it. We import 70 per cent of edible oil from outside. Reducing it will help us save foreign exchange and is also beneficial for health,” she told reporters.
The country is not self-reliant in petroleum products and fertilisers, she added, saying their judicious use would help conserve foreign exchange reserves.
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NEET student hangs self in Rajasthan's Sikar
Jaipur (PTI): A student preparing for the NEET examination allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself in a rented room in Rajasthan's Sikar on Friday, police said.
According to the police, the student allegedly hanged himself from a ceiling fan using his sister's scarf while one sister was attending coaching classes and the other was in the bathroom.
He had appeared in the NEET UG exam 2026, which was cancelled due to paper leak, they said.
Udyog Nagar SHO Rajesh Kumar said that the deceased, identified as Pradeep Meghwal, was a resident of Kanika ki Dhani village in Jhunjhunu's Gudha Gaudji area.
He had been living in a rented room in Sikar's Jaldhari Nagar area with his two sisters while preparing for NEET over the last three years.
His elder sister later found him hanging and informed the landlord and police after bringing him down, officials said.
The SHO said the body was kept at SK Hospital mortuary, and a postmortem had not been conducted.
The student's father, Rajesh Kumar Meghwal, told police that Pradeep's NEET examination had gone well and the family was expecting him to score around 650 marks.
Former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot expressed grief over the incident and linked it to anxiety among students after reports of irregularities and paper leaks in NEET 2026.
Pilot said repeated paper leak incidents and cancellation of examinations were affecting students' mental health and demanded a time-bound investigation and strict action against those responsible.
