Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday chaired a meeting with chief ministers of states and union territories to review preparations to meet supplies of gas, fuel and other essentials affected by the ongoing conflict in West Asia and stressed the need for strong coordination at all levels for a quick response, people familiar with the details said. Track updates on the war between Iran and the United States
“The Prime Minister emphasized that meeting the challenge is a shared responsibility and expressed confidence that working together as Team India, the nation will successfully overcome the situation,” a statement from his office said.
The Prime Minister said there was a need to pay special attention to countries along border and coastal areas to address emerging challenges related to “shipping, essential supplies and maritime operations”.
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According to the statement issued by his office, the Prime Minister also warned against the spread of misinformation and rumours, and stressed the need to spread accurate and incredible information among the people.
“The chief ministers expressed their appreciation for the steps taken by the central government, led by the Prime Minister, to address the situation. They welcomed the decision to reduce customs duties on fuel amid global uncertainty and increase commercial LPG allocations to the states,” the statement said.
According to people familiar with the details, the meeting was called to reiterate the collaborative efforts of the Union and state governments to address the challenges raised by the crisis.
The meeting, which followed the prime minister’s statement in Parliament, was called to discuss a response to the challenges arising from the conflict in West Asia, people familiar with the details said.
Regarding the ongoing complex situation in the West Asia region, the Prime Minister is learned to have said that India has prior experience in dealing with similar global disruptions and referred to the collective response undertaken by the Union and the state government during the global Covid-19 pandemic. “He said that the same spirit of cooperation and coordination remains India’s greatest strength in dealing with the current circumstances,” the statement said.
Noting the current situation as dynamic and requiring continuous monitoring and adaptive strategies, the Prime Minister informed the Cabinet members that a joint ministerial group has been working since March 3 and is reviewing the situation on a daily basis and taking timely decisions.
The statement said that the government’s priorities are “maintaining economic stability, ensuring energy security, protecting the interests of citizens, and strengthening industry and supply chains.”
Reflecting on the crucial role played by state governments in confronting challenges, the Prime Minister called for continuous communication and coordination between the Center and states with timely information exchange and joint decision-making for a quick and well-coordinated response, the statement said.
He warned against black marketing and urged countries to ensure the smooth functioning of supply chains. The statement added: “He also stressed the need for advanced planning in the agricultural sector, especially in monitoring the storage and distribution of fertilizers so that farmers do not face difficulties during the upcoming fall season.”
The Prime Minister called for a parallel focus on immediate response and long-term preparedness and urged countries to accelerate efforts in promoting alternative energy sources such as biofuels, solar energy, and electric mobility, in addition to expanding natural gas connections via pipelines.
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He called for continued engagement with industry and micro, small and medium enterprises to address their concerns and ensure stability in production and employment.
Cabinet Secy TV Somanath gave a presentation on the current situation and the steps being taken to address the situation. Stressing that the government is actively working under the leadership of the Prime Minister to address this crisis, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh said there is need for collective action from all states and UTSs to address the ongoing situation.
Even as the Indian government asserts that there is no shortage of fuel and essential materials and that there are sufficient reserves, the meeting was called to assess the readiness of the states to deal with the shortage. Today, Friday, the government announced a reduction in customs duties on gasoline $3 liters and diesel are exempt from duties.
The meeting, which excluded the chief ministers of four poll-bound states and one union territory, was also attended by Union ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh.
Those present included N Chandra Babu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh), Yogi Adityanath (Uttar Pradesh), Revanth Reddy (Telangana), Bhagwant Mann (Punjab), Bhupendra Patel (Gujarat), Omar Abdullah (Jammu and Kashmir), Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (Himachal Pradesh), Pema Khandu (Arunachal Pradesh) and others.
