Desk Correspondent , New Delhi - Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent appeals for national sacrifice—including working from home and halting gold purchases—labeling them "proofs of failure" rather than leadership. Reacting to the PM’s Sunday address in Hyderabad, Gandhi asserted that the government’s shift of responsibility onto citizens demonstrates an inability to manage the economic fallout of the ongoing US-Iran war. The Congress leader argued that after 12 years in power, the Prime Minister has brought the country to a point where he must dictate personal consumption to avoid accountability for the energy crisis.

The controversy erupted after PM Modi urged Indians to adopt lifestyle changes to stabilize the economy as the conflict in West Asia chokes global energy supplies and closes the Strait of Hormuz. The Prime Minister’s "national interest" directives included carpooling, using public transport, postponing foreign travel, and avoiding gold for a year to conserve foreign exchange. While the government framed these as necessary measures to build resilience against global volatility, Gandhi reiterated his "compromised PM" jab, claiming the administration is "clueless" about ensuring India’s energy security.

Senior Congress leaders joined the attack, with KC Venugopal calling the appeals "reckless" and Karti Chidambaram demanding an emergency Parliament session. They argued that the government should focus on building fuel reserves and economic contingencies rather than pushing the common citizen into inconvenience. As global oil prices face pressure from the maritime blockade, the political divide in New Delhi has sharpened over whether the burden of the crisis should lie with state policy or public austerity.