Kamal Ghorui
Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said the Centre is “committed to safeguard the Indian people” as the government stepped up monitoring of energy supplies and essential commodities amid the ongoing West Asia conflict.In a post on X after chairing a high-level review, Singh wrote: “A meeting of an IGoM (Informal Group of Ministers) constituting several senior ministers was held today to review the risks to energy supplies, domestic availability of essential commodities, critical infrastructure resilience and robustness of India’s supply chains in the wake of the ongoing conflict in West Asia.”He added, “There was in-depth discussion on all the measures being taken by the Government of India. The NDA Government under the leadership of PM Shri @narendramodi is closely monitoring the situation and it is committed to safeguard the Indian people from any impact of the conflict.”The meeting marked the first formal review by the informal Group of Ministers as concerns grow globally over supply disruptions linked to the conflict. Officials assessed vulnerabilities across fuel supplies, logistics networks and key infrastructure, even as the government continued to reassure citizens over availability.Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a virtual meeting with chief ministers and lieutenant governors, focusing on preparedness and coordination between the Centre and states. He called for vigilance and a unified approach, drawing parallels with India’s handling of past global disruptions such as the Covid-19 pandemic.The Prime Minister said the situation remains dynamic and requires constant monitoring, noting that an inter-ministerial mechanism has already been reviewing developments on a daily basis. He stressed that maintaining energy security, stabilising trade, and protecting citizens remain top priorities.Singh, during the discussions, also pointed to measures being taken to ease pressure on households, including ensuring timely LPG availability and reducing excise duties on petrol and diesel. He urged states and Union Territories to work closely with the Centre to ensure seamless implementation on the ground.The Centre has maintained that there is no immediate shortage of fuel or essential goods, while the ministry of external affairs continues to monitor the safety of Indian nationals in the region.
