Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the government is committed to ensuring the safety of Indian citizens amid the ongoing conflict in West Asia and urged people not to spread or believe rumours about LPG shortages.
Addressing public events in Kochi and Tiruchirappalli, Modi said the Centre was closely monitoring the situation and working with friendly nations to safeguard Indians living in the region.
"I understand that you may be concerned about the prevailing situation in the Gulf and West Asia, particularly about the safety of our citizens. You must remember that we have a government at the Centre committed to ferrying Indians to safety," the prime minister said during a public address in Kochi.
He added that several partner countries were assisting Indian citizens and that the government remained grateful for their support.
PM accuses opposition of spreading panic
Modi also criticised the Indian National Congress and other opposition groups, accusing them of creating panic during a time of international tension.
“Even at the time of war, the Congress and the Left ecosystems are creating panic and fear,” he said, urging people to remain cautious about misinformation. Later in Tiruchirappalli, Modi appealed to the public to rely only on verified information and avoid spreading rumours about fuel supplies or the safety situation in West Asia.
"There is no need to panic or pay attention to rumours. Let us spread only correct and verified information," he said.
The remarks came amid concerns about disruptions in LPG supply and global energy markets following the escalating conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States.
Campaign remarks in Tamil Nadu and Kerala
During the visit, Modi also addressed campaign events linked to upcoming assembly elections and criticised the governments in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
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He accused the ruling alliances in the two states of corruption and called on voters to support the National Democratic Alliance in the elections.
The Prime Minister also referred to the Centre’s decision to approve the proposal to rename Kerala as “Keralam,” calling it a tribute to the state’s history and the Malayalam language. During the trip, Modi inaugurated development projects related to petroleum, railways and road infrastructure worth around ₹10,000 crore and also took part in a roadshow in Kochi.
