While Modi Pitches Austerity Measures, Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri Says No Fuel Supply Issue |
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New Delhi: Although Prime Minister Narendra Modi has on two successive days asked citizens to adopt austerity measures amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia, Union minister for petroleum and natural gas Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday (May 12) said that there is no fuel supply shortage in the country, without ruling out the possibility of a fuel price hike.
While Modi has called for an end to foreign travel and buying gold for a year; and reducing petrol and diesel use by means like carpooling, using the metro, working from home, holding virtual meetings and even conducting school online, Puri said that the prime minister’s statements are borne out of the fiscal situation that calls for Indians to look at their “lifestyle”, while pointing to losses incurred by the oil companies.
“There are myths going around. India has refused to take LNG imports from Russia. India has never imported LNG from Russia at all. Or that a major lockdown is coming in the country. This false narrative needs to be debunked,” said Puri while speaking at the CII Annual Business Summit.
“We haven’t raised prices for the last four years. Somebody said elections are over now and prices will rise. After 2022, there have been general elections,........