US Israel Iran War: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during this speech in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday reminded the challenges faced by the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. The reminder prompted speculations about whether India could once again experience nationwide lockdowns due to the ongoing Middle East crisis.
Recently, the International Energy Agency (IEA) termed the prevailing energy crisis as one of the most severe crises in recent decades. It is believed that the world is losing approximately 11 million barrels every day.
PM Modi Urges Indians To Remain United And Prepared
Modi acknowledged the situation’s seriousness in his recent addresses in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. PM Modi however didn’t suggest or call for immediate lockdowns, urging the country to be prepared like the times of COVID-19 pandemic, promoting coordinated readiness and response.
DON'T MISS
This comparison has generated widespread discussion and, in some cases, confusion. To understand its implications, it is important to examine the context of the current conflict, the meaning behind the Prime Minister’s remarks, and the likelihood of restrictions similar to those seen during the pandemic.
Presently, India is leveraging its diplomacy channels to contain the impact of global energy crisis in the country. Moreover, India has been strengthening a series of institutional mechanisms and crisis-response capabilities.
US Israel Iran War-Several Countries On Fuel-Saving Mode
Several countries such as Pakistan and Philippines have declared nationwide emergencies. Meanwhile, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Sri Lanka are on a fuel-saving mode. Some of these countries have put severe restrictions on non-essential travel, four-day work week for many government offices and a series of energy-saving protocols for reducing fuel consumption.
For instance, Bangladesh has shifted offline education to the online mode while enforcing nationwide scheduled power cuts, Vietnam has urged businesses to operate remotely and Sri Lanka has brought in mandatory public holidays for specific sectors.
