The ongoing Middle Eastern conflict is already affecting multiple countries, and India is no exception. In Lok Sabha, PM Modi explained the potential dangers to India regarding the ongoing regional war over oil resources, including threats to India economically, insecurely, or to Indian citizens living outside of India.
In a powerful segment of his speech, the Prime Minister made a comparison to the COVID-19 pandemic by issuing a warning that when there are crises & unanticipated events, there exist opportunities for hoarding, spreading false information & participating in illegal activity on the black market.
The Prime Minister’s message to the political party leaders and state governments was solid… “to be vigilant in order to protect India politically and militarily since things are constantly changing worldwide”.
A Warning Echoing The Pandemic Years
Prime Minister Modi reminded members of Parliament of how India managed the chaos during the height of Covid by keeping all levels of government and institutions coordinated and directed. With regard to the current conflicts in the Middle East, he advised using the same approach going forward, as we cannot see any resolution to these conflicts for some time due to the harsh global conditions.
As such, misinformation and panic can be spread very quickly in today’s world, so all authorities around the globe should be careful to monitor the market and supply chain closely and take steps necessary to stop anyone from profiting from this crisis.
The government has put several different agencies on alert, including coastal security forces, border control and cybersecurity teams.
The intent behind this action is to prevent secondary threats such as disruptions to the economy or cyber attacks and to maintain internal stability as a result of geopolitical conflicts around the world.
Food Security Takes Centre Stage
The speech also addressed another key issue—food security. Modi pointed out that the agricultural supply chains we rely on are disrupted by wars and global upheaval. During times of conflict, such as now, fertiliser prices, energy prices, and routes for transporting food can be disrupted without warning.
However, Modi informed Parliament that India has adequate food in storage and, as a result, India can buffer itself from any supply-side interruptions that may occur as a result of conflict.
Additionally, Modi informed Parliament that farmers in India have provided national granaries with additional food reserves since they have generated large quantities of agricultural production so far. In addition, Modi stated that the government was equally focused on ensuring a smooth Kharif harvest in India and developing options to protect farmers from uncertain global conditions.
Modi further noted that India had experienced extreme pressure on its agricultural sector during the pandemic but was able to maintain its agricultural productivity throughout the COVID pandemic.
Fertiliser Crisis And Massive Subsidies
Among the most notable remarks made by the Prime Minister was the scale of support provided by the Government of India to farmers over the last two years.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple global conflicts, the price of fertilisers has increased significantly in international markets. Many countries also immediately began to experience shortages.
Mr Modi noted that a bag of urea costs approximately ₹3000 in the international market, but due to the government’s subsidy programme, Indian farmers continue to be able to buy it at approximately ₹300.
However, to maintain that price difference — that is, to prevent the price of a bag of urea from increasing to the international price — the Government of India has spent more than ₹ 12,00,000 crores on supporting fertiliser prices.
According to the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister’s intervention was necessary to prevent a larger agricultural crisis and to continue to produce food at stable levels.
Safety Of Indians Abroad
Indian nationals living in the Middle East may be facing heightened risk following the outbreak of hostilities in the region, with Prime Minister Modi estimating that there are approximately one crore (10 million) Indian nationals across many of the West Asian countries, with many employed in the construction, energy and service sectors.
PM Modi said that all of the Indian missions in the region are available day and night to assist Indian citizens and respond to emergencies.
PM Modi indicated that he had also spoken with several of the West Asian leaders (twice) during telephone conversations and that during those calls, the leaders assured PM Modi that Indian nationals will be safe.
As of now, over 300,000 Indian nationals have returned to India since the start of the conflict.
Meanwhile, the Indian government is continuing to provide emergency relief, medical assistance and logistical support to Indian nationals who have been affected by the conflict.
Energy and Economic Risks
The Prime Minister has also recognised the larger economic implications of the ongoing conflict, in addition to the humanitarian concerns. India is very dependent on the Middle East for energy, with a large portion of both crude and natural gas that India imports being from the Middle East. If there were to be a disruption for an extended period, this would impact how the supply chain looks and global prices. The Prime Minister indicated that the Government of India is monitoring developments closely and will do everything possible to minimise any economic shock. The government’s primary objective is to minimise the hardships for its citizens while also providing for national security and economic stability.
A Call For Unity
Modi ended his speech with a reiteration of the core message. Crises are a test of the strength of countries. During a crisis, a country cannot be weak due to political division. India was able to get through the COVID-19 pandemic through cooperation and discipline. That same cooperation among countries will be necessary as the world now faces another period of geopolitical uncertainty. The Indian government has indicated that it is still continuing to monitor this conflict closely and is prepared to take action if necessary.
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