Jammu and Kashmir Cabinet Minister Satish Sharma on Saturday travelled in a traditional tonga (horse cart) in Kashmir to express support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s fuel-saving and austerity measures.
Posting a video on social media, the minister was seen urging people to back the austerity appeal issued by the Prime Minister to save fuel and advocating the use of public transport to reduce stress on the country’s fiscal health.
Sharma, while riding in the tonga, said, “Saving petrol is one of the most important ways to follow austerity measures. Instead of travelling in cars, people should stick to public transport and use traditional modes of transport.”
While the minister did not disclose how important it was for him to travel in a tonga to reach his destination, people working in government and private offices may find it difficult to adopt such measures as they are expected to reach their workplaces on time.
The minister was travelling during the ongoing tourism season in Kashmir, where he also welcomed tourists visiting Jammu and Kashmir.
While there is no doubt that the country is witnessing fuel shortages and other energy-related concerns, such calls for using traditional modes of transport. which take hours to reach from one place to another instead of minutes in energy-driven vehicles, may not be practical for large sections of society.
What is encouraging, however, is that the Jammu and Kashmir administration, including LG Manoj Sinha, along with senior police and administrative officials, has scaled down the number of vehicles in official convoys and movements to support the campaign.
It remains to be seen how long it will take the LG administration to announce more restrictions to curb the use of personal vehicles in the Union Territory before petrol pumps run dry in the coming days.
The fact remains that the general public does not pay heed to requests and general calls; they only follow when they are ordered and fear punishment if they violate those orders passed by the government.
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