Dealing with crisis guided by India’s interests, says PM | India News

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday said his government was dealing with the crisis caused by the war in West Asia using India’s interests as a guiding consideration. “We are with India, in India’s interest, with peace and with dialogue,” said the Prime Minister. The remarks, at an event hosted by the TV9 network, were seen by many as a response to daily attacks on Congress for not siding with Iran in its disputes with the United States and Israel. Modi said the posture of strategic restraint and diversification of relationships has stood India in good stead at a time when global supply chains have been strained, creating an unprecedented and severe crisis. “India presents a model of diversity and resilience, and it is our constant endeavor to ensure that our citizens face the least possible hardships”. He chided the Congress for seeking political advantage from the crisis that has affected India, saying, “This is the time for moderation and sensitivity; when countrymen come together to face a crisis, the results are always meaningful.” Modi also emphasized the government’s efforts to ensure that development projects are not disrupted due to war. “In these 23 days since February 28, India has demonstrated its relationship-building capabilities, decision-making capabilities and crisis management capabilities,” the Prime Minister said, explaining how the government has left behind pre-2014 conditions and is moving forward economically with renewed confidence. Despite mounting challenges from the Covid pandemic, 140 crore citizens have stood united, enabling India to overcome every adversity. He contrasted his government’s approach with that following the UPA, which, when faced with rising crude prices, opted to issue oil bonds to companies to avoid price hikes. Modi said the decision not to hike fuel prices was taken by “remote control”: his short hand for the Nehru-Gandhi family. When Manmohan Singh had to implement it, the former prime minister publicly expressed his displeasure by saying that the bonds were not a panacea as they only transferred the burden to future generations. The prime minister said it fell on his government to pick up the tab for the UPA’s folly, which has fetched over Rs 3 lakh crore with interest.