Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Talking in Parliament on Monday about the “unprecedented challenges” being faced by India because of the West Asia conflict, PM Modi underlined the country’s opposition to attacks on citizens and energy and transport infrastructure, and said strikes on commercial ships and obstacles to international trade are unacceptable.Modi said that as far as diplomacy was concerned, India’s role was clear. “We have expressed our deep concern about this conflict from the very beginning. I have also spoken to all the representatives of the West Asian nations. I have urged everyone to reduce tensions and end this struggle,” he said, noting that the conflict has now persisted for over three weeks, with deeply adverse consequences for the global economy and human lives. The PM said India continued to strive for the safe passage of Indian ships through diplomacy, adding that Iran had already allowed several Indian carriers to cross the Strait of Hormuz.On the challenges confronting India, he said that the war has created “unprecedented economic, national security, and humanitarian pressures”. He said India has “extensive trade relations with the warring and war-affected countries, that the conflict zone straddles critical trade routes, and that a large share of India’s crude oil and gas needs is met by this very region.” tnnPM: In touch with partners to ensure maritime safetyIndia has always raised its voice for the benefit of humanity and for peace, the PM said, reiterating that dialogue and diplomacy are the solution to the problems in West Asia. “In this war, no one’s life should be in danger, for the benefit of humanity. Therefore, India’s effort is to encourage all parties to reach a peaceful solution as soon as possible,” he said in his first statement on the crisis in Parliament.The movement of ships through the strait had become difficult after the war began, Modi said. He also recalled his conversations with leaders of GCC and other West Asian countries.“The attempt is to continue to receive oil and gas from wherever possible. The Indian govt is constantly keeping an eye on the shipping routes in the Gulf. Our attempt is to ensure the security of all essential goods such as oil, gas and fertilisers. We are in constant contact with our international partners to ensure the safety of our maritime corridors. Because of such efforts, many of our ships have come to India in the past few days,” Modi said.Drawing attention to the nearly one crore Indians who live and work in the Gulf countries, as well as the significant number of Indian crew members aboard commercial ships in those waters, Modi said, “India’s concerns are naturally greater, and therefore, it is essential that a united and unanimous voice goes out to the world from India’s Parliament on this crisis.”Foreign minister S Jaishankar had earlier said that India would focus on talks with Iran to facilitate the movement of its ships. This was in the middle of US President Donald Trump’s efforts to stitch together a coalition for deployment of warships in the strait, an idea that gained little currency with even the US’ allies.
