New Delhi: Amid mounting Opposition criticism over India’s response to the Iran-US war, the government has convened an all-party meeting on Wednesday to brief political parties on the escalating West Asia conflict and its implications for the country.
The meeting, slated for 5 pm in the Parliament complex, will brief parties on the security, economic and diplomatic stakes of the conflict, including the risk of disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow corridor through which a large share of India’s crude oil, gas and fertiliser imports moves. According to government sources, leaders will also be updated on contingency measures as the war between Iran and the West Asia conflict reshapes the regional security architecture.
The political outreach comes in the wake of a high-level security review meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday to assess the fast-evolving situation and India’s readiness to deal with it. At the meeting, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi and Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) Chairman Samir Kamat, among others, presented assessments of possible threat scenarios and measures to shield India’s strategic and economic interests.
On Monday, delivering his first statement in Parliament since the war began, PM Narendra Modi described the developments in West Asia as “worrisome” and said the government was working “relentlessly” to limit their impact on India. He termed attacks on commercial ships and any obstruction in the Strait of Hormuz “unacceptable”, flagging the risks they pose to fuel and fertiliser supplies as well as national security.
“As far as diplomacy is concerned, India’s standing has been very clear. From the beginning, we had expressed our deep concern on this conflict. I spoke to all leaders of West Asia and urged everyone to reduce tension and end this conflict. We have opposed attacks on people, transport and energy. Attacks on commercial ships and obstructions in Hormuz strait are unacceptable,” he said.
Opposition parties have criticised the Prime Minister for not plainly denouncing the US-Israeli joint strike on Iran, which they argue triggered the latest escalation.
Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi accused Modi of lacking independence, claiming US President Trump knows Modi’s limits and that India’s stance on the West Asia crisis is a structural blunder. He plans to skip Wednesday’s all-party meeting on the conflict due to Kerala election commitments.
“I would not be able to attend because I have a programme in Kerala. All-party meeting should take place, but a structural blunder has been made… And this cannot be fixed, especially the Prime Minister cannot. He will do whatever America says and will not work in the interest of the farmers and the country. He will do whatever America and Israel say,” he said.
