New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Lok Sabha. PM Modi spoke on the issue of the Middle East in the Lok Sabha. He said that the entire world is requesting all parties to resolve this crisis as soon as possible regarding the ongoing war in the Middle East.
During his address, PM Modi said that this war has also posed unknown challenges in front of India. These challenges are also economic, related to national security and also humanitarian. On the restrictions imposed in the Strait of Hormuz, the Prime Minister said that obstruction there is unacceptable. Clarifying India's role, he said that the tension should end.
India has extensive trade relations with the war-affected countries. The region in which this war is taking place is an important route for our trade with other countries of the world. Especially, this region meets a large part of our needs for crude oil and gas.
PM Modi said that the situation in West Asia is worrying at the moment. This crisis, which has been going on for more than 3 weeks, is having a very negative impact on the economy and lives of the people of the entire world. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Hardeep Puri have already given necessary information to the Parliament about this.
The Prime Minister stressed that the safety of Indians living in the Gulf countries is our top priority. He said that a single and united voice should be raised by the Parliament of India about this crisis to the world. Every Indian in the affected areas is being provided with necessary help. The PM himself has spoken to most of the heads of state of West Asia on the phone and has assured the safety of those Indians. Since the war started, more than 3 lakh 75 thousand Indians have reached India safely. 24x7 control rooms and emergency helplines have been set up in India and the affected countries.
The government is sensitive as well as vigilant. Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has become challenging, yet efforts are being made to ensure that the supply of petrol, diesel and gas is not affected.
India currently has a strategic petroleum reserve of over 5.3 million metric tonnes. The government is working on arranging another 6.5 million metric tonnes of reserve. Refinery capacity has also increased significantly in the last 11 years.
The PM said that a lot of work has been done on ethanol production in the last 11 years. A decade ago, ethanol blending was only 1-1.5%, which is now reaching around 20%. Due to this, about 45 million barrels less oil has to be imported every year.