Political reactions emerged on Monday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a high-level meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) to review India’s preparedness amid the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict, with Shiv Sena (UBT) welcoming the move while the Congress called for wider political consultation, reported news agency IANS.
Sena (UBT) backs Centre’s initiative
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi described the CCS meeting as timely and necessary, given the escalating geopolitical tensions and their global repercussions, reported IANS.
She said the conflict shows no signs of de-escalation, with continued exchanges of attacks between Israel and Iran, and warned of its cascading impact on global energy supplies.
“In India, we are already feeling the effects, especially since a large portion of our energy needs depends on imports,” she said, adding that the meeting was crucial to explore solutions, reported IANS.
Chaturvedi also expressed hope that India’s diplomatic outreach to West Asian countries would contribute to easing tensions.
Congress questions timing, seeks broader dialogue
While acknowledging the importance of the meeting, Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat criticised the timing, suggesting the government’s response appeared delayed, reported IANS.
He termed the CCS meeting a “firefighting exercise” and questioned whether adequate foresight had been exercised as the conflict has been unfolding for some time, reported IANS.
Demand for all-party meeting
Bhagat urged the government to convene an all-party meeting to ensure a more inclusive and coordinated response to the crisis.
“After the CCS meeting, there should also be an all-party consultation. A broader discussion is necessary to deal with such a serious situation,” he said, reported IANS.
Call for diversification of energy sources
The Congress leader also highlighted India’s dependence on West Asia for oil imports and suggested that the government should actively explore alternative sources, including Latin America and Russia, to reduce vulnerability, reported IANS.
Govt reviews preparedness
During the CCS meeting held on Sunday, senior officials presented a comprehensive review of the global situation and outlined mitigation strategies across sectors such as energy, food security, fertilisers, trade, and supply chains.
The government has emphasised coordinated action across ministries to minimise the impact of the conflict on citizens and ensure the availability of essential commodities.
Political consensus with differing expectations
While there appears to be broad agreement on the need for preparedness, differences remain over the scope and timing of the government’s response.
The developments come as the West Asia conflict continues to intensify, with potential implications for global markets and India’s economic stability.
(With inputs from IANS)