'On a very important foreign visit': BJP justifies PM's 5 nation tour amid save fuel appeal after opposition's 'where's Modi' question

NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday justified Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 5 nation tour amid "save fuel" appeal from the PM and criticsm from the opposition parties."In the current global circumstances, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a very important foreign visit to safeguard the interests of every Indian with great wisdom and foresight," said BJP national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi.The opposition has criticised PM Modi for departing on a foreign tour after urging the people to reduce travels abroad and take measures to save fuel amid the Middle East crisis. His absence from the country during NEET paper leak, which has been heavily criticised, was also under attack. "Where is Modi? He is on a foreign tour of seven countries," Raut said. "The BJP is in a state of happiness, celebrating his welcome in the Netherlands. But Modi should come here--our culture is going into the abyss," ANI quoted Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut saying. "He will complete the century in getting awards. He gets the highest award in whatever country he visits... What will he do with this award?... He is telling us not to go on foreign trips, and he himself is visiting countries," Raut added, referring to Sweden conferring the 'Royal Order of Polar Star Commander Grand Cross' on PM.Defending the award, Trivedi said that PM Modi has received 31 international honours during his tenure, and is ounted among the "world’s most popular leaders for many years"."PM Modi, who has consistently been counted among the world’s most popular leaders for many years, has now received 31 international honours during his tenure. As the name itself suggests, the ‘Royal Order of the Polar Star’, the Polar Star is known in Hindi as ‘Dhruv Tara’. In the same way, it is a steadfast truth that under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, India has achieved a position in the world that fills every Indian with pride. This honour is not merely an honour for Narendra Modi as an individual," he said.This comes amid PM Modi’s voluntary austerity push through his “seven appeals” to citizens in the wake of the West Asia crisis. The ongoing conflict has disrupted movement through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for nearly one-fifth of global energy supplies, triggering a surge in crude oil prices, weakening the rupee, and mounting pressure on India’s foreign exchange reserves.PM Modi’s seven-point appeal urges people to adopt work-from-home practices, defer gold purchases, cut down on foreign travel and destination weddings, reduce edible oil consumption and chemical fertiliser use, prioritise ‘Swadeshi’ products, and rely more on railways for logistics and transport.