Amidst the ongoing tension in West Asia, the Indian government has made it clear that the welfare of the common Indian consumers is its biggest priority. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told in the Rajya Sabha that due to the war, the supply chain is being seriously affected due to which there is a danger of inflation and increase in crude oil prices. The government is constantly monitoring the safety of Indians living in Gulf countries and till now 67,000 Indians have returned to their homes safely.
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Effect of war on supply chain and common man
The situation in West Asia is directly impacting India’s trade and crude oil prices. The Foreign Minister said that the government is assessing the disruptions in the supply chain. Some important figures related to trade and logistics are as follows:
The price of crude oil has crossed $114 per barrel. About 45,000 Indian containers are stranded at different places. Due to the threat of war and change in routes, the cost of export has increased five times.
The government is taking all necessary steps to ensure energy security so that the direct impact of market fluctuations on the general public is minimal.
Steps taken for Indians living in Gulf countries
About 1 crore Indians live and work in Gulf countries. Apart from this, several thousand students and employees are also present in Iran. The Indian Embassy is continuously helping the people living there.
The Indian Embassy in Tehran has helped in the safe evacuation of students and repatriation of business travelers via Armenia. The government had also issued advisories in January and February in which people were asked to take precautions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself is monitoring this entire situation.
Why was the Iranian warship allowed to stop in Kochi?
In the Rajya Sabha, the External Affairs Minister also informed about the decision to allow Iranian warship IRIS Lavan to stop at Kochi Port. He said that this decision was taken completely on humanitarian grounds and under the United Nations Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Permission was given on 1 March after the ship developed technical snag and on 4 March the ship reached Kochi for repairs. On the same day, another Iranian ship IRIS Dena sank off the coast of Sri Lanka. India clearly believes that this war can be resolved only through dialogue and diplomacy.
