Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced the formation of seven empowered groups to deal with the potential long-term implications of the West Asia war and urged countries to work with the Center in a “Team India” approach to stave off the crisis.
He pointed out that the situation is constantly changing in West Asia, and said that its negative effects are likely to continue for a long time, and called on citizens to remain prepared for all eventualities.
Noting the “serious side effects of war”, the Prime Minister pointed to the national response to Covid-19, when empowered expert groups helped address challenges, and said the seven empowered groups would deal with the consequences of war and develop strategies on fuel, fertilisers, gas, supply chains and inflation.
In a statement delivered in the Rajya Sabha, he reiterated India’s position of dialogue and diplomacy as the only solutions to restore peace in West Asia.
He also said that India is in constant contact with all parties, including Iran, Israel and the United States, to ensure de-escalation.
While acknowledging the unprecedented challenges the war poses to India in terms of supplies of essential commodities, including crude oil, gas and fertilisers, the Prime Minister said that going forward, “self-reliance is the only option”.
Noting that the war has created a serious energy crisis globally, he also warned miscreants against exploiting the crisis and asked state governments to check black marketing and hoarding.
Modi said that in such a critical situation, it is necessary for a unified voice for peace and dialogue to come out to the whole world from the upper house of the Indian Parliament.
He stressed that the government is trying to purchase gas and crude oil from all available sources, and efforts will continue in this regard during the coming days to ensure that the general public is not affected.
Modi also said that necessary preparations have been made to provide adequate supplies of fertilisers, as he assured farmers that no burden of war falls on them.
He added, “The government is working according to a comprehensive strategy to address all aspects of this crisis, whether its effects are in the short, medium, or long term.”
The Prime Minister said that the government has already formed a ministerial group that meets regularly to evaluate any difficulties in import and export operations and work to find the necessary solutions.
“Just like the Empowered Groups, comprising experts and officials, were formed during the Covid-19 pandemic to address challenges in various sectors, seven new Empowered Groups were formed just yesterday.
“These groups will be tasked with taking action, guided by immediate and long-term strategies, on critical issues, such as supply chains, oil, diesel, fertilisers, natural gas and inflation. I am fully confident that through these collective efforts, we will be able to effectively deal with the prevailing conditions,” Modi said.
Pointing out that the West Asian crisis is of a unique nature, the Prime Minister said that its solutions are being developed in a distinct way.
“We must face all challenges with patience, self-control and a calm mind,” he said.
He also emphasized that the safety of life and livelihood of about one crore Indians in the Gulf countries is also a matter of very great concern for India.
He said about 375,000 Indians have returned safely from the Gulf region so far, including 1,000 from Iran.
The Prime Minister pointed out that the coming period will constitute a great test for the nation, and the cooperation of countries will be indispensable for achieving success.
He urged all state governments to ensure that the benefits of the Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana continue to reach the beneficiaries on time, as the crises disproportionately affect the poor, laborers and migrant workers.
He also called on them to take proactive steps to establish special monitoring mechanisms and act quickly on complaints of black marketing and hoarding.
“The uninterrupted supply of essential commodities should be the top priority of every state, and I strongly appeal to all state governments to make special arrangements to ensure this,” he said.
Invoking the spirit of cooperative federalism, the Prime Minister called on the state governments to ensure that India’s strong growth trajectory is maintained regardless of the scale of the crisis, and implement every necessary step and reforms quickly.
Recalling the exemplary Team India spirit that emerged during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the Center and states, despite rule by different political parties, cooperated seamlessly in testing, vaccination and supply of essential goods, the Prime Minister said this same spirit should now guide the nation.
“With the joint efforts of all state and central governments, the country will be able to effectively confront this serious global crisis. We must move forward with the same spirit as Team India,” he asserted.
While he warned that the negative effects of this war were likely to last for a long time, he said: “The government is vigilant, it is ready, it is formulating its strategy and taking every decision with the utmost seriousness. The well-being of the people of this country is of the utmost importance to us; this is our identity, and this is our strength.”
If the West Asia crisis continues for a longer period, dire consequences will be imminent, he said, adding that efforts are being made through diplomacy to ensure safe passage of Indian ships even during a war.
He added that India’s goal is to stop the escalation of the war and open the Strait of Hormuz, adding that the country’s attempt is to encourage all parties to resolve all issues peacefully.
He said that attacks on commercial ships and disruption of international waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz are unacceptable.
