New Delhi, May 11 -- Union Minister for Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday backed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to reduce fuel consumption and avoid buying gold jewellery for a year amid global uncertainties and the ongoing energy crisis.

Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of the CII Annual Business Summit in New Delhi, Vaishnaw said the country must focus on conserving foreign exchange by reducing avoidable expenditure on imports such as diesel and petrol.

"Our foreign exchange can be conserved. For example, our expenditure on diesel, petrol and any expenditure that has implications on foreign exchange should be reduced wherever possible," Vaishnaw told ANI.

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