PM Modi to chair virtual meeting with CMs on West Asia war

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to chair a crucial review meeting via video conferencing with Chief Ministers at 6.30 pm on Friday to assess India's preparedness amid the ongoing West Asia conflict. The meeting aims to coordinate a unified national response strategy across states, focusing on energy security, safety of Indian residents in the Gulf region, and preventing panic buying and hoarding of LPG cylinders. Chief Ministers from election-bound states including Mamata Banerjee, Pinarayi Vijayan, MK Stalin, N Rangasamy, and Himanta Biswa Sarma will not attend due to the model code of conduct; a separate meeting with Chief Secretaries will be held through the Cabinet Secretary. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju dismissed lockdown rumours as completely false and misleading. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has assured that energy supplies remain stable with no shortage of petrol, diesel or LPG currently. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated the government is in continuous contact with suppliers from different countries to ensure uninterrupted oil and gas supplies, emphasising the need for unity and preparedness.