On May 11, 2026, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his recent remarks urging citizens to make sacrifices in response to the challenges posed by the West Asia conflict. Gandhi described Modi as a 'compromised PM' who is no longer capable of effectively running the country. He argued that the Prime Minister's suggestions, which included limiting gold purchases, foreign travel, and fuel consumption, are indicative of a failure in governance. Gandhi stated that after 12 years in power, the government should not be shifting responsibility onto the public. The Congress party further condemned Modi's approach as 'shameless and reckless,' asserting that he should be developing contingency plans instead of inconveniencing citizens. In contrast, Modi emphasized the need for judicious use of resources, advocating for reduced consumption of petrol, chemical fertilizers, and edible oils to strengthen the economy amid rising prices linked to the ongoing US-Iran war. He called for a collective effort to conserve foreign exchange and suggested using public transport and working from home as part of this initiative.