Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann asked why Prime Minister Narendra Modi cannot work from home while visiting multiple countries this week [1].
The criticism highlights a growing political tension over the consistency of government appeals to the public during the West Asia crisis. Mann said the leadership should model the behavior it expects from citizens to maintain credibility during regional instability.
Speaking at a press conference in Chandigarh on Saturday, Mann said the Prime Minister should avoid foreign tours. He said that Modi is currently visiting three or four countries, including the Netherlands [1].
"He says: do not buy gold, avoid foreign travel, work from home. Why can’t the Prime Minister work from home?" Mann said [3].
Mann said that the Prime Minister's travel schedule contradicts official appeals for Indians to conserve fuel, and limit overseas movement [1], [2]. He said the leader should practice what he preaches and cut down on foreign travel first [4].
Critics of the Chief Minister have pointed to his own recent travel history. Records show that Mann visited the World Horti Centre in the Netherlands on April 20, 2026, to seek global farm technology ties [5].
Despite this, Mann said that the Prime Minister's current trips are inappropriate given the current climate. He said the Prime Minister should prioritize practical solutions in crisis management over international visits [2].
“Why can’t the Prime Minister work from home?”
This exchange reflects a strategic attempt by the Punjab government to frame the central leadership as disconnected from the austerity measures it suggests for the general public. By linking foreign travel to fuel conservation and the West Asia crisis, Mann is attempting to turn a diplomatic schedule into a domestic political liability regarding economic and regional security.
