‘Bring 5 foreign families on India trip’: Amid austerity push, PM Modi urges diaspora to promote tourism | Watch

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged Indians living abroad to bring at least five foreign families to India for a trip as he pushes austerity measures in the face of the Iran war.

During a rally in Gujarat's Vadodara, PM Modi said, "There are a lot of us liv­ing over­seas. It is your respons­ib­il­ity to bring at least five for­eign fam­il­ies to visit India. Encour­age fam­il­ies you are con­nec­ted with to visit the Statue of Unity. Motiv­ate them for at least one trip."

Amid growing concerns over the economic fallout of the escalating West Asia conflict, PM Modi, earlier this week, urged citizens to adopt measures including reviving work-from-home practices, reducing unnecessary foreign travel and avoiding non-essential gold purchases to help protect India’s economy and foreign exchange reserves.

The prime minister also pitched the Statue of Unity as an ideal destination for weddings. He said, "There are many wonderful places in India for weddings, and we should choose from among them. In Gujarat, I would like to say that you should decide to hold your weddings at the Statue of Unity itself."

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Austerity measures

Addressing a rally in Telangana on Sunday, PM Modi said people must place the country above all else during the global crisis and “take resolutions” to overcome emerging challenges.

The prime minister said patriotism was not limited to sacrificing one’s life for the country, but also meant living responsibly and fulfilling duties toward the nation during difficult periods.

He urged people to reduce petrol and diesel consumption through practical lifestyle changes, including using metro systems and public transport wherever possible, opting for car-pooling and preferring railways for transportation of goods.