India, May 11 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Sunday appeal urging Indians to cut fuel consumption, avoid buying gold, and work from home wherever possible, predictably sparked a fierce political controversy. It also played a part in a sharp stock market fall on Monday, besides unleashing a wave of mockery on social media. Much of the mockery was centred on the stark contrast between his message of austerity and his own packed schedule of roadshows and convoys.

Speaking at a BJP rally in Hyderabad on May 10, Modi asked citizens to reduce petrol and diesel consumption, use metro services and carpool, shift to electric vehicles, work from home, postpone foreign travel, and avoid gold purchases for up to a year.

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