Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called on citizens to remain united in the face of a “challenging” situation arising from the ongoing war in West Asia, while cautioning against politicisation and the spread of rumours.
Addressing his monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat, Modi said the conflict in India’s neighbourhood had created difficult circumstances over the past month and required collective resolve.
“Presently, a fierce war is going on in our neighbourhood for a month. These certainly are challenging times. Today, through 'Mann Ki Baat', I would once again urge all my countrymen that we must unitedly overcome this challenge,” the Prime Minister said.
He cautioned against attempts to politicise the crisis, stressing that it concerns the interests of the entire nation. “Those who are politicising this issue should refrain from doing so as this is a matter concerning the interests of 140 crore citizens. There is no place for self-serving politics,” he said.
The PM also warned against misinformation, urging citizens to rely only on official communication. “I would also appeal to all citizens to remain vigilant and not be misled by rumours. Trust only the continuous information provided by the government and take action based only on that,” he added.
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Expressing confidence in the country’s resilience, he said India would overcome the situation through collective strength, as it had during past crises.
The Prime Minister noted that millions of Indians live and work in Gulf countries, acknowledging the support extended by host nations. “I am deeply grateful to the Gulf countries, which are providing all kinds of assistance to more than 1 crore such Indians living there,” he said.
Highlighting the broader implications, Modi pointed out that West Asia remains central to India’s energy security, and the conflict has triggered global concerns over petrol and diesel supplies.
He also referred to the broader global context, stating that March had been marked by turbulence and recalling the prolonged challenges posed by the Covid pandemic. He said expectations of global recovery after the pandemic had been disrupted by recurring conflicts.
The conflict, which began on February 28, has seen escalating hostilities involving Iran, Israel and the United States, with tensions affecting critical energy routes such as the Strait of Hormuz.
Modi has held discussions with several world leaders, including Donald Trump, and leaders from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan, Iran, France, Israel and Malaysia, on the evolving situation.
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