The North News
New Delhi, March 24
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday told the Rajya Sabha that the war in West Asia had triggered a global energy crisis and posed serious risks to India’s trade, fuel supplies and economic stability, while urging a united call for peace and diplomacy. Addressing the Upper House, Modi said the conflict, which he said had continued for more than three weeks, was disrupting vital shipping routes and affecting supplies of petrol, diesel, gas and fertilisers.
He said the safety of nearly 10 million Indians living and working in Gulf countries remained a major concern, along with Indian crew members stranded on vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz. Modi said India had been in constant touch with Gulf nations, as well as Iran, Israel and the United States, in an effort to push for de-escalation, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and ensure safe passage for Indian ships.
He said attacks on commercial vessels and disruption of international waterways were unacceptable, and reiterated India’s position that dialogue and diplomacy remained the only path to restoring peace in the region.
The prime minister said more than 375,000 Indians had returned safely since the conflict began, including more than 1,000 from Iran. Of those, he said, more than 700 were medical students.
He also said some Indians had died and others had been injured in the attacks, adding that the government was extending support to affected families and ensuring treatment for those hurt.
Modi said the government was working to secure uninterrupted supplies of crude oil, LPG and fertilisers, despite mounting difficulties in shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
He said India had diversified its energy imports over the past decade, increasing the number of source countries from 27 to 41, and had also strengthened emergency reserves.
According to Modi, India now has a strategic petroleum reserve of more than 5.3 million metric tonnes and is working to expand it to more than 6.5 million metric tonnes. He said the country also had adequate storage and supply arrangements to maintain crude oil availability.
The prime minister said the Centre had set up an inter-ministerial group to monitor the evolving situation and had formed seven new empowered groups to deal with key areas such as supply chains, fuel, fertilisers, gas and inflation.
He also sought cooperation from state governments, asking them to ensure uninterrupted distribution of food under the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, monitor the welfare of migrant workers, and act firmly against black marketing and hoarding.
Modi said the government was also making preparations to ensure adequate fertiliser availability for the upcoming sowing season, assuring farmers that they would not be left to face the crisis alone.
Calling the current conflict a major test for the country, he urged the Centre and states to work together in the spirit of “Team India”, saying India must remain patient, prepared and united as the global crisis continues to evolve.
