Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha on Monday regarding the escalating conflict in West Asia, describing the situation as “worrisome.” Drawing a direct parallel with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Prime Minister urged the nation to remain prepared and united to face the long-term economic repercussions of the war. He emphasized that the global supply chain disruption requires the same level of national resilience that India displayed during the pandemic years.

“We successfully navigated the COVID era by standing together. Today, the West Asia war presents unprecedented challenges to our energy and food security, but I assure the nation that we are ready,” PM Modi stated. He informed the House that India has strategically diversified its energy imports from 27 nations to 41 nations in the last decade. To tackle potential LPG shortages, the government is prioritizing domestic production and sourcing shipments from alternative partners like Argentina and the USA.

The Prime Minister also highlighted that India maintains a strategic petroleum reserve of 5.3 million metric tonnes to prevent fuel shocks. He warned against hoarding and black marketing of essential commodities, directing state governments to take swift action against exploiters. Recalling the pandemic-era support for farmers, he promised that the government would continue to provide subsidies on fertilizers despite rising global costs. PM Modi concluded by calling for a “unified national voice” to deal with the humanitarian and economic aspects of the ongoing international crisis.