Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting with Chief Ministers and Governors of States and Union Territories on 27 March to review preparedness in light of the emerging situation arising out of the ongoing war in West Asia and its potential impact on India.
During the virtual meeting, the prime minister said India has previous experience in dealing with similar global disruptions, a government statement said. He also recalled the collective response during the COVID-19 pandemic six years ago, when the Center and states worked together as “Team India” to mitigate the impact on supply chains, trade and daily life, the statement said.
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It was the first time the prime minister had held such a meeting with chief ministers on the war in West Asia, which began on February 28 with the US-Israeli attack on Iran.
PM Modi emphasized that the same spirit of cooperation and coordination remains India’s greatest strength in coping with the current circumstances.
“The Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for the valuable suggestions shared by all the Chief Ministers and noted that these inputs will be helpful in effectively managing the evolving situation. He emphasized the need for vigilance, preparedness and coordinated action to address future challenges.” the statement said.
Chief Ministers who attended the meeting 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 Hinguimach Khrunachal Sukhu (Achrunchal Sukhu) Pradesh), among others.
Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah also attended the meeting.
The CMs of the states that are bound to vote did not participate
The chief ministers of the states where the elections will be concerned did not attend this meeting because of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). The Cabinet Secretariat will hold a separate meeting with the Chief Secretaries of Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry.
The meeting comes in the middle escalating tensions in West Asiawhich disrupted critical maritime corridors and raised concerns about the security of Indian citizens in the Gulf countries.
The conflict in West Asia entered its fourth week, disrupting trade routes through the Strait of Hormuz. Tensions escalated after the killing of Iran’s 86-year-old supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khameneiin joint US-Israeli military strikes on February 28.
In retaliation, Iran targeted Israeli and US assets in several Gulf countries, causing further disruption to the waterway and affecting international energy markets as well as global economic stability.
On 25 March, the government held an all-party meeting to brief political party leaders on the situation in West Asia, during which a detailed presentation was given on the steps the government had taken to address it.
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The prime minister emphasized that the government’s priorities are maintaining economic and trade stability, ensuring energy security, protecting citizens’ interests and strengthening industry and supply chains, the statement said.
Emphasizing the critical role of the states, the Prime Minister called for constant communication and coordination between the Center and the states, along with timely information sharing and joint decision-making, so that responses are swift and well-coordinated.
Follow-up government meetings have sparked online speculation about a possible “lockdown” announced in India amid the escalating conflict in India. Western Asia. However, the government clarified that the rumors of a lockdown in India were completely false,
“At times like these, it is important that we remain calm, responsible and united. Attempts to spread rumors and create panic in such a situation are irresponsible and harmful,” Hardeep Puri, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, said earlier in the day.
Focus on the agriculture sector
The Prime Minister urged states to ensure smooth functioning of supply chains and take strict measures against hoarding and profiteering. He stressed the importance of activating state and district-level control centers and maintaining administrative alertness to avoid disruption. He also emphasized the need for advance planning in the agriculture sector, especially in monitoring the storage and distribution of fertilizers so that farmers do not face hardships during the upcoming Kharif season.
Reiterating that addressing this challenge is a shared responsibility, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that working together as ‘Team India’, the nation will overcome the situation successfully.
During the meeting, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh emphasized that the Prime Minister-led government is actively working to resolve this crisis and is taking positive steps such as ensuring timely availability of LPG and reducing excise duty on petrol and diesel. He further emphasized the need for collective action from all states, UTs and the center to resolve the ongoing situation.
Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan gave a presentation on the current situation and listed steps and recommendations for states to address it.
What did they say to the CM?
The heads of government appreciated the steps taken by the central government under the leadership of the prime minister to resolve the situation, the statement said. They also appreciated the Prime Minister’s diplomatic outreach to various countries in the midst of this crisis to ensure the welfare of Indian citizens abroad.
Ministers of all states expressed their belief that the situation remains stable, with sufficient availability of petrol, diesel and LPG and with continuous monitoring mechanisms to ensure continuous supply of basic commodities. They widely welcomed the decision to reduce excise duty on fuel, noting that it would provide significant relief to citizens amid global uncertainty, the statement said.
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“The Chief Ministers also welcomed the decision to increase the commercial allocation of LPG to states and Union Territories to 70% of the pre-crisis level, up from 50%. They reaffirmed their commitment to work in close coordination with the Center to effectively manage the evolving situation and protect the interests of citizens,” he added.
Addressing this challenge is a shared responsibility and I am confident that working together as an “Indian Team” we will overcome the situation successfully.
Key things
- The importance of coordinated responses between central and state governments during crises.
- Lessons from past global disruptions can inform effective strategies today.
- Proactive measures are essential to ensure stability in supply chains and protect the interests of citizens.
The government said on Thursday that fuel supplies across the country remained stable and fuel retail outlets were operating normally despite continued developments in West Asia, urging the public not to believe rumors and resort to panic buying.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, “All retail outlets are operating as normal across the country,” although there have been reports of panic buying in some areas due to rumours.
