Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a videoconference with chief ministers on Friday to assess how states are preparing for the fallout of the Middle East conflict. According to NDTV, the focus of the discussion will be on tighter coordination between the Centre and the states, with officials describing it as a “Team India” effort to handle the wider impact of the crisis.
The meeting comes at a time when the Strait of Hormuz has become a major worry for India because of its importance to crude imports and energy supplies. Reuters reported that Modi recently discussed keeping the waterway open in a phone call with Donald Trump, and a day earlier he told Parliament that India’s economic fundamentals remain strong and that the country has enough petroleum, fertiliser and coal to manage the disruption.
There is also a clear operational response underway. Reuters reported that India has started loading liquefied petroleum gas onto stranded vessels in the Persian Gulf as shipments have been affected by the conflict, with authorities trying to keep supplies moving despite the pressure on routes through Hormuz.
On the ground, public anxiety is already visible. Reuters reported queues at petrol stations in Ahmedabad as people worried about possible supply problems, even though authorities said there was no actual shortage. That reaction shows how quickly rumours and global uncertainty can affect consumer behaviour, even before any real disruption reaches the pump.
