In Rajya Sabha, PM Modi warns of prolonged disruption

NEW DELHI: Amid continuing uncertainty over the likely course of the war in West Asia, PM Modi on Tuesday warned of prolonged disruption, saying its adverse effects could last for a long time.

Speaking in RS a day after President Trump said negotiations have started with Iran, Modi cautioned that conflict could continue, leading to an energy crisis and serious consequences for the global economy. "In the coming times, this crisis will be a major test for our country, and the cooperation of states will be crucial."Modi: Iran war will be a major test for IndiaThis crisis will be a major test for our country,” said Modi, his tone appearing to share the widespread scepticism about the prospects of cessation of hostilities anytime soon.

He reiterated that attacks on commercial ships and blockade of the Strait of Hormuz — the maritime conduit for oil and gas for India — was unacceptable, and emphasised that India has condemned attacks on civilians, civil infrastructure and energy and transport-related infrastructure.Modi said India was making continuous diplomatic efforts to ensure safe passage of its ships in the prevailing situation. “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,” the PM said.Modi said the situation would be a major test for the country and made a strong pitch for redoubling the effort for self-sufficiency in order to guard against contingencies. “Ninety percent of ships carrying supplies to India are foreign-owned and this is not a very happy situation,” the PM said, as he referred to efforts during his tenures to overcome dependency on others for critical materials like active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), and defence imports.Modi sought cooperation from states to cushion the impact on the poor by ensuring regular supply, saying they would be affected the most during the crisis. “Therefore, it must be ensured that the benefits of the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana reach them on time,” he said.“The fundamentals of our economy are strong, and govt is closely monitoring the rapidly changing situation,” he said. “I assure the people that the govt is alert, ready, and working with full seriousness on strategy, taking every necessary decision.

The welfare of the people is paramount for us.”Modi said govt is also working to ensure that farmers receive adequate fertilisers in the upcoming sowing season and that ships carrying essential goods reach safely, warning that prolonged disruption would have serious consequences.