Prime minister (PM) Narendra Modi on Tuesday raised serious concerns over the impact of the ongoing West Asia conflict on India’s energy security, trade routes and the safety of Indian nationals, stating that several Indian crew members remain stranded in the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz.
Addressing the Rajya Sabha, the PM says the war, now entering its fourth week, has triggered a 'serious global energy crisis' and disrupted the movement of commercial vessels through key international waterways. He emphasised that attacks on shipping lanes and infrastructure are unacceptable and called for a united global push for peace and dialogue.
“India’s effort is to ensure that ships carrying essential goods such as oil, gas, and fertilisers reach India safely. But if the global circumstances created by this war persist for a long time, serious consequences are inevitable. Therefore, India is accelerating the resilience-building measures it has undertaken in recent years," he says.
Highlighting immediate concerns for India, PM Modi says a large number of Indian seafarers are currently aboard ships stuck in the Strait of Hormuz, making their safety a top priority. He also pointed to the presence of about 10mn (million) Indians living and working across Gulf nations, underlining that their lives and livelihoods remain a 'very big concern' for the government.
The prime minister informed the House that India has stepped up diplomatic engagement with key stakeholders in the region. "Since the beginning of the war, I have spoken twice on the phone with the heads of most countries in West Asia. We are in continuous contact with all Gulf countries. We are also in touch with Iran, Israel, and US. Our goal is to restore peace in the region through dialogue and diplomacy. We have spoken with them about de-escalation and reopening the Strait of Hormuz."
Despite the challenging environment, PM Modi says the government has been working to ensure continuity in energy supplies. He noted that ships carrying crude oil and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) have reached India from various countries in recent days, reflecting the success of India’s diversification strategy and diplomatic outreach.
"Our government is striving to ensure that there is no excessive dependence on any single source of fuel. Alongside LPG, the government is also emphasising PNG for domestic gas supply. In the past decade, unprecedented work has been done to expand PNG connections, and this effort has been further accelerated in recent days. At the same time, large-scale efforts are being made to increase domestic production of LNG," he told the upper house.
The prime minister sought to reassure the nation on fuel availability, stating that India has adequate crude oil reserves and robust systems in place to maintain an uninterrupted supply. He added that over the past decade, India has expanded its energy sourcing base from 27 to 41 countries, while also building strategic petroleum reserves and increasing refining capacity.
He also acknowledged that the conflict could have broader economic implications if prolonged, particularly on essential commodities such as petrol, diesel, gas and fertilisers. To address this, the government has put in place a multi-layered strategy covering short-term, medium-term and long-term impacts, including the formation of inter-ministerial and empowered groups to monitor supply chains, inflation and logistics.
Focusing on the agricultural sector, PM Modi assured farmers that adequate fertiliser supplies have been arranged ahead of the sowing season and that efforts are underway to ensure they do not bear the burden of the global crisis.
The prime minister also highlighted India’s push towards self-reliance in critical sectors, including a ₹70,000 crore initiative to build domestic shipping capacity, given that over 90% of India’s oil imports are currently transported on foreign-flagged vessels.
Calling for coordinated action, PM Modi urged state governments to ensure an uninterrupted supply of essential goods and take strict action against hoarding and black marketing. He invoked the 'Team India' approach seen during the COVID-19 pandemic and stressed that similar cooperation would be essential to navigate the current crisis.
Concluding his address, the prime minister cautioned that the situation remains fluid and its adverse effects could persist for some time. "As we can see, the situation regarding this war is changing moment by moment. Therefore, I would also say to my fellow citizens that we must be prepared for every challenge. There is a strong possibility that the adverse effects of this war will last for a long time. But I assure the people of the country that the government is alert, ready, and working with full seriousness on strategy, taking every necessary decision," he says.
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