New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the difficult global conditions caused by the West Asia conflict are likely to persist for a long time and called upon the nation to remain prepared and united, just as it had stood together during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a statement in the Lok Sabha, Modi addressed concerns related to the impact on fuel, fertilisers, national security and other areas in India as well on its nationals residing in the West Asia region, detailing steps taken by the government to ensure that “ordinary families face as little trouble as possible”, and said a unanimous voice should go out to the world from India’s Parliament on this crisis. Modi reaffirmed India’s unwavering commitment to humanity and peace.
The Prime Minister said the dialogue and diplomacy remain the only path to resolution and every Indian effort is directed at de-escalation and the cessation of hostilities.
Informing the House that he has engaged with all relevant West Asian leaders and urged them to reduce tensions and end the conflict, Modi emphasised that attacks on commercial ships and obstruction of international waterways like the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 per cent of the world’s energy is transported, are “wholly unacceptable”.
He said endangering any life in this war runs counter to the interests of humanity and “India’s effort is to encourage all parties to arrive at a peaceful resolution as soon as possible”.
On India’s diplomatic response to the West Asia conflict, the Prime Minister said India’s stand has been clear from the very beginning, when the US and Israel attacked Iran and the latter retaliated by targeting its Gulf neighbours and Israel, “one of expressing deep concern, advocating de-escalation, and opposing attacks on civilians and on energy and transport infrastructure”.
“India, through diplomacy, is making continuous efforts for the safe passage of Indian ships even amidst the war environment. Due to such efforts, several of our ships that were stuck in the Strait of Hormuz have also arrived in India in recent days,” he said.
The Prime Minister also drew the attention of the House to the internal security dimension of the crisis, warning that certain elements attempt to exploit such situations.
He said all security agencies have been placed on alert and that security across all domains, coastal, border, cyber, and strategic installations, is being further strengthened.
“Whether it is coastal security, border security, cyber security, or strategic installations, the security of all is being reinforced,” he said.
Urging patience, restraint, and vigilance, and cautioning against those who may seek to exploit the situation by spreading falsehoods, engaging in black-marketeering, or hoarding, Modi appealed to all state governments to ensure strict monitoring and swift action against such elements.
Expressing his abiding faith in the collective resolve of the nation, the Prime Minister said that when every government and every citizen of this country walk together, “we can challenge every challenge, this is our identity, and this is our strength”.
Two Indian LPG tankers sail through Strait of Hormuz
New Delhi: Two more Indian-flagged LPG tankers, carrying roughly a day’s supply of the country’s cooking gas, have safely navigated through the war-hit Strait of Hormuz and are expected to reach Indian shores over the next two days.
LPG tankers Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, sailing close to each other, started from the Persian Gulf on Monday morning before crossing the strait, ship tracking data showed.
The two ships are carrying over 92,000 tonnes of LPG, said Rajesh Kumar Sinha, special secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, at a news briefing. “The movement has started.”
Without disclosing the final port of destination, he said the ship typically took two to two-and-a-half days to transit from the Gulf to India.
Both the LPG tankers sailed through waters between Iran’s Larak and Qeshm islands – possibly to make their identity clear to Iranian authorities before they cross the Strait, ship tracking data showed.
The two ships were among the 22 Indian flagged vessels that were stranded in the Persian Gulf after the war in the Middle East nearly closed the Strait of Hormuz – the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman that connects the oil and gas-producing Gulf countries to the rest of the world.
