Modi Chairs 'Team India' Meet With CMs On West Asia Crisis Impact

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday chaired a high-level video conference with Chief Ministers across the country, reviving the "Team India" coordination model used during the COVID-19 pandemic to mount a unified national response to the economic and security pressures generated by the escalating West Asia conflict.

The meeting's central focus was ensuring uninterrupted supplies of petrol, diesel, and LPG amid Strait of Hormuz disruptions. The PM directed Chief Ministers to crack down decisively on hoarding and black marketing of essential commodities, while reassuring states that India holds approximately 60 days of oil reserves — sufficient to prevent any supply emergency. Citizens were urged not to engage in panic buying. The Centre's recent excise duty reduction was cited as a precedent, with states encouraged to take similar citizen-centric measures on local taxes and logistics to contain inflation.

With approximately 10 million Indian nationals living across West Asia, the Ministry of External Affairs briefed the meeting on embassy-level assistance operations currently underway. States were asked to improve data coordination on citizens who may be stranded in conflict zones. A large-scale evacuation contingency plan was also discussed to ensure states are prepared to receive and assist returning nationals if the situation deteriorates further.

The PM flagged the cascading impact of surging crude prices on freight costs and food prices, urging states to manage their tax structures and distribution logistics in ways that minimise the inflationary burden on ordinary citizens.

Modi expressed serious concern over social media rumours relating to fuel shortages and potential lockdowns, directing Chief Ministers to keep police and district administrations on high alert to prevent social instability driven by misinformation. The meeting excluded Chief Ministers of election-bound states — Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry.