Modi's LS Speech on West Asia: Highlights | Hormuz Strait disruption not acceptable, says PM, lists govt efforts

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PM Narendra Modi spoke of India's diplomatic role in the ongoing West Asia war as he briefed the Lok Sabha on Monday.

“From the outset, we have expressed our deep concern about this conflict. I myself have spoken to all relevant leaders in West Asia. I have urged everyone to de-escalate tensions and end this conflict. India condemns attacks on civilians, energy, and transport infrastructure. Attacks on commercial vessels and the blockage of international waterways like the Strait of Hormuz are unacceptable. India, through diplomacy, continues to ensure the safe passage of Indian ships, even in a warlike environment,” he said.

“India has always advocated for peace and the welfare of humanity. I reiterate that dialogue and diplomacy are the only solutions to this problem. Our efforts are directed toward de-escalating tensions and ending this conflict. Endangering the lives of anyone in this war is not in the best interests of humanity, so India's efforts are to encourage all parties to seek a peaceful resolution as soon as possible,” he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke pointedly on the impact of the West Asia conflict on Indian farmers.

“A big question is, what impact will the war have on agriculture. The country's farmers have filled up our food reserves, so India has sufficient food grains. We are also trying to ensure proper sowing of the Kharif season,” he said.

“In past years, the government has made adequate arrangements for fertilisers to deal with emergencies. Our government has not allowed the burden of global crises to fall on farmers. During the corona (pandemic) period and the wars of that time, there was a disruption in the global supply chain. A bag of urea reached ₹3,000 in the world market, but the same bag was made available to Indian farmers for less than ₹300,” he said.

PM Narendra Modi argued that the country has managed well amid the West Asia war because “the fundamentals of India's economy are strong”.

“We are discussing with stakeholders from every sector and providing necessary support wherever needed. The Indian government has also formed an inter-ministerial group. This group meets daily to assess every issue facing our import and export sectors and is continuously working on necessary solutions. I am confident that with the joint efforts of the government and industry, we will be able to better cope with the situation,” he told the Lok Sabha.

Mentioning further steps of the past that have come in hand now amid the West Asia crisis, PM Modi said, “The electrification of railways is also providing significant benefits. Without such electrification, approximately 1.8 billion litres of diesel would be consumed annually. Similarly, we have expanded the metro rail network. In 2014, the metro network in the country was less than 250 km, but today it has increased to nearly 1,100 km.”

He noted that his government has placed emphasis on electric mobility too. “The central government has provided 15,000 electric buses to the states for operation. The scale at which work on alternative fuels is being done today will further secure India's future.”

“We know that energy is the backbone of today's economy, and West Asia is a major source of global energy needs. Naturally, the current crisis is affecting the global economy, and continuous efforts are being made to minimize its impact on India. The government is working with a strategy to address all such short-term, medium-term, and long-term impacts,” he further said.

PM Narendra Modi listed his government's energy security initiatives taken over the past decade that, he said, “have become even more relevant”.

“India has diversified its energy imports over the past 11 years. Previously, crude oil, LNG, and LPG were imported from 27 countries for their energy needs. Today, India imports energy from 41 countries,” he noted.

“Over the past decade, India has prioritised crude oil storage for times of crisis. Today, India has strategic petroleum reserves of over 5.3 million metric tons and is working to create reserves of over 6.5 million metric tons. The reserves held by our oil companies are separate. Our refining capacity has also grown significantly over the past 11 years,” he added.

He said the government is in constant contact with suppliers from various countries. “Efforts are being made to ensure that oil and gas supplies continue to flow from wherever possible. The Government of India is constantly monitoring the Gulf and surrounding shipping routes. Our effort is to ensure that ships carrying essential goods, be it oil, gas, or fertiliser, reach India safely.”

He added that, due to such efforts, “many of our ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz have returned to India in the recent past”.

PM Modi noted, “India receives large quantities of essential commodities such as crude oil, gas, and fertilisers through the Strait of Hormuz. Since the war, shipping through the strait has become extremely challenging. Despite this, our government has strived to ensure that the supply of petrol, diesel, and gas is not significantly affected. Our focus has been on minimising inconvenience to ordinary families.”

He added, “As we all know, the country imports 60% of its LPG needs. Due to uncertainty in its supply, the government has prioritised domestic LPG use and is also increasing its domestic production. Continuous efforts have been made to ensure the smooth supply of petrol and diesel throughout the country.”

“Ever since this war began, every Indian in the affected countries has been provided with necessary assistance. I personally have had two rounds of phone conversations with the heads of state of most of the West Asian countries. All have fully assured the safety of Indians. Unfortunately, some people have tragically died and others have been injured during this period. In these difficult circumstances, necessary assistance is being provided to their families. Those who are injured are being ensured the best possible treatment,” PM Modi told the Lok Sabha.

“All our missions in affected countries are continuously engaged in assisting Indians. Whether Indians working there or visiting tourists, everyone is being provided with all possible assistance. Our missions are regularly issuing advisories; 24x7 control rooms and emergency helplines have been established both in India and in other affected countries. Through these, all affected people are being provided with prompt information,” he added.

“In times of crisis, the safety of Indians at home and abroad has always been a top priority for us. Since the war began, more than 375,000 Indians have returned safely to India. Nearly 1,000 Indians have returned safely from Iran alone. More than 700 of these are young medical students. Thousands of students study in Indian schools in Gulf countries. The CBSE has canceled the scheduled Class 10 and 12 examinations in all such Indian schools. The CBSE is taking appropriate steps to ensure that these children's education continues uninterrupted. This means the government is sensitive, vigilant, and ready to provide any assistance,” he further said, speaking in Hindi.

“Over the past two to three weeks, (foreign minister) S Jaishankar and (oil minister) Hardeep Singh Puri have provided the House with important information on this subject (of West Asia war). This crisis has now been ongoing for more than three weeks. It is having a profound impact on the global economy and people's lives. Therefore, the entire world is urging all parties to resolve this crisis as soon as possible,” PM Modi said in the Lok Sabha.

“This war has also posed unprecedented challenges for India. These challenges are economic, national security-related, and humanitarian. India has extensive trade relations with the countries at war and affected by the conflict. The region where the conflict is unfolding is also a vital route for our trade with other countries around the world. This region, in particular, meets a large portion of our crude oil and gas needs. This region is also important for us for another reason: Nearly 10 million Indians live and work in the Gulf countries. Commercial ships plying there also have a significant number of Indian crew members. Due to these diverse factors, India's concerns are naturally high. Therefore, it is essential that a unanimous and unified voice be expressed to the world from the Indian Parliament regarding this crisis,” he added.

PM Narendra Modi told the Lok Sabha on Monday that, in the last 11 years, India's refining capacity has also increased significantly.

“In this time of crisis, another preparation of the country is proving very useful: in the last 10-11 years, unprecedented work has been done on ethanol production and blending. A decade ago, the country had a capacity of only 1% ethanol blending. Today, we are close to achieving 20% ethanol blending in petrol. Due to this, in the last year, we have had to import about 4.5 crore barrels less oil.”

In his speech on the West Asia conflict, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave some key figures. “In the last decade, India has prioritised storage of crude oil for times of crisis. Today, India has a strategic petroleum reserve of more than 53 lakh metric tonnes, and work is underway to create reserves of more than 65 lakh metric tonnes,” he told the Lok Sabha, “The reserves held by our oil companies are separate.”

On PM Modi's statement in Parliament on the West Asia conflict, BJP MP Rajiv Pratap Rudy told news agency ANI outside the House: "The PM's approach was like a statesman. He came to the House and gave all the information. The PM has told the world today that India is prepared, while we want this conflict to end."

On the West Asia conflict, speaking in the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Since the war began, more than 3,75,000 Indians have returned safely to India. From Iran, nearly 1,000 Indians have returned safely so far, of which over 700 are medical students. In view of the situation, CBSE has cancelled Class 10 and 12 exams in the schools in Gulf countries and is taking necessary steps to ensure students’ education continues without disruption.”

He also noted that large quantities of crude oil, gas, fertilisers and many essential items come to India through the Strait of Hormuz route. “Since the war began, the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz has become very challenging. Despite this, our government has made efforts to ensure that the supply of petrol, diesel, and gas is not severely impacted. As we all know, the country imports 60% of its LPG requirement. Due to uncertainty in supply, the government has prioritised domestic LPG consumers. At the same time, domestic production of LPG is also being increased. Continuous efforts have also been made to ensure that the supply of petrol and diesel across the country remains smooth,” he said.

PM Narendra Modi said India is making diplomatic efforts as it wants to stop the war in West Asia. “We believe, and we have said this, that dialogue and diplomacy are the only solutions,” he told the Lok Sabha.

"War is not in the interest of humanity. India is encouraging all sides to end it peacefully" he further said.

PM Modi in his speech in the Lok Sabha, about the effects of the West Asia war in India, noted that 60% of LPG in India imported, hence the govrenment is “giving priority to domestic use”.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his address in about 20 minutes. “The government is alert, empathetic and eager to extend all help,” he said.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla then asked finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman to place finance-related matters before the House, moving forward in the Budget Session.

PM Modi said he'd seen “some people spreading lies” and there are reports of black marketeering. “I have asked state governments to ensure strictest action in such cases,” he said.

On diplomatic efforts, PM Modi said India has made diplomatic efforts towards peace. “But attacks in commercial shipping, and the disruption of Hormuz Strait are not acceptable,” he said.

“I want to tell farmers that the government will continue to make every effort to help them,” PM Modi said in light of the West Asia conflict.

“At present, we have enough coal stocks,” he said, promising that power supply won't be disrupted.

PM Narendra Modi told the Lok Sabha that the government has already ensured enough stocks of food grains. “Even during corona(virus) pandemic, when there was a disruption in the supply lines, we ensured our farmers did not suffer,” he claimed.

He noted that six urea plans have been set up in recent years.

“The whole world is affected, and we are making efforts that India feels the effect the least,” PM Modi told the Lok Sabha. “Indian economy's fundamentals are strong, and that has helped.”

“I have spoken to leaders in West Asia in two rounds of phone calls, all of whom promised safety of Indian nationals,” PM Modi told the Lok Sabha.

“The government is keeping an eye on shipping routes in the Gulf so that oil, gas or fertiliser ships for these products reach India safely,” he added.

He noted that some Indian nationals have died, and those injured are receiving treatment.

“Earlier, for energy needs, we made imports from 27 countries. Now, India imports energy from 41 countries,” PM Modi said on diversification of sources in past 11 years.

53 lakh metric tonnes of strategic petrol reserve, he added.

PM Modi said 1,000 Indians have returned safely from Ira. These include over 700 medical students.

West Asia is a major supplier of crude oil for India, noted PM Modi. “We need to ensure we speak in one voice,” he said, noting that 1 crore Indians live in the Gulf region.