Addressing a public gathering after inaugurating the refinery project, the Prime Minister said India did not merely recover from the unexpected crisis by chance but achieved stability through a decade of visionary policies implemented by his government. He said the country's diplomatic outreach, resource management, and policy decisions enabled India to withstand one of the biggest energy crises of the 21st century.
Describing the situation as unprecedented, PM Modi said India made the right decisions at every level by assessing the crisis in time, preparing an effective strategy, making balanced use of national resources, and positively using its diplomatic strength. He stated that these coordinated efforts enabled the country to successfully recover from the fuel shortages caused by the conflict in West Asia.
The Prime Minister said the war had created widespread disruption across the world, placing many countries under severe pressure due to fuel shortages. However, he said the determination and efforts of the new India of the 21st century prevailed over the crisis, allowing the nation to maintain stability despite global uncertainty.
Highlighting India's energy security strategy, PM Modi said the country expanded its fuel imports significantly during the crisis. He stated that before the conflict, India imported fuel from around 25 to 26 countries, but during the crisis, the number increased to more than 40 countries. According to him, India's diplomatic relations with friendly nations proved crucial during this period and demonstrated the strength of the country's foreign policy. He added that India sent a clear message to the international community that national interest and the welfare of its citizens remained its highest priority.
The Prime Minister further said that the government's guiding principle was to place citizens above all else. He noted that India's strong diplomatic ties helped secure energy supplies at a critical time, preventing any major disruption despite global instability.
Speaking about the financial impact of the crisis, PM Modi said oil companies incurred losses exceeding ₹75,000 crore on diesel and petrol between April and June. He stated that the government treasury assumed responsibility for covering these losses and also reduced excise duty by ₹10 per litre to ensure that the burden on the public did not become excessively heavy.
Targeting the Opposition, PM Modi alleged that rumours were deliberately spread to create fear and panic among the public during the fuel crisis. He said attempts were made to incite people and play political games, but such efforts failed. According to him, apart from minor disruptions in remote areas, there was no major challenge in fuel supply anywhere in the country.
The Prime Minister also claimed that while certain forces were engaged in spreading misinformation and fear, the government was working continuously at the policy and diplomatic levels to manage the crisis. He said the scale of the efforts undertaken and the sensitive decisions taken during the period would eventually become a significant chapter in history.
Referring to the refinery project inaugurated on Saturday, PM Modi said the Memorandum of Understanding for the project was signed in 2017. However, he alleged that the Congress government in Rajasthan between 2018 and 2023 did not cooperate, causing the project to remain stalled during that period. He said his government not only lays the foundation for development projects but also ensures their completion and inauguration.
The inauguration of the first greenfield integrated refinery-cum-petrochemical complex at Pachpadra in Rajasthan's Balotra district marks a major milestone in India's energy and petrochemical sector. Alongside highlighting the significance of the project, the Prime Minister used the occasion to present the government's handling of the West Asia fuel crisis as an example of strategic planning, economic resilience, and diplomatic strength in safeguarding the country's energy security during an unprecedented global challenge.
About The Author
Comment List