Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday urged citizens not to pay attention to rumours, and asked them not to panic amid fears of LPG shortage in the wake of the widening conflict in West Asia.
Prime Minister Modi appealed to people only to “spread correct and confirmed information”. He expressed confidence that India, as a nation, “will handle all situations successfully.” Follow live updates of US-Iran war news
Addressing a huge NDA crowd in Tiruchi, Tamil Nadu, which was heading to the polls, he also reiterated that the Center always prioritizes the interests of the nation above all else.
Noting that the conflict in West Asia has affected the entire world’s energy supply chain, Prime Minister Modi stressed that the government “believes in the India First ideology.”
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This is not the first time the Prime Minister has assured the public amid the ongoing US-Iran war. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi, while speaking at an event in Kochi, said that India is not leaving its citizens stranded abroad, adding that the government is working to ensure all possible assistance to Indians in West Asia.
He also stressed that the Center is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating efforts to support Indian citizens living and working in conflict-affected areas.
Prime Minister Modi also expressed his gratitude to the Gulf countries for taking care of the Indian citizens residing there. He said: “The Gulf countries give the utmost care to the Indians working there. I am grateful to them for that.”
Crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas centre
In an inter-ministerial press conference on Wednesday evening, the Center revealed that India’s crude oil supplies remain safe and uninterrupted, even as concerns grow over global oil supplies as tensions rise in West Asia.
Read also | ‘Don’t panic, please’: Government urges consumers not to panic reserve LPG cylinders amid shortage fears
The country currently has access to about 55,000 barrels of crude oil per day, officials said, adding that the quantities secured today exceed what would normally have arrived through the Strait of Hormuz during this period.
In addition, the government also revealed that India imports about 60% of its LPG needs, 90% of which comes through the Strait of Hormuz.
However, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, urged the public not to panic and said the Center has taken several measures to deal with the supply disruption.
