Nagrik Devo Bhava – Citizen Divine Like By PM Modi

 Modi had recalled and explained how his government had tackled successfully the biggest energy crisis of the 21st Century due to blockade of movement of shipe through Strait of Hormuz. 

Modi said: India took the right decisions at every level, assessed the crisis in time, devised effective strategies, used resources in a balanced way, and positively leveraged its diplomatic power. That is how India overcame the crisis. 

While some forces were busy spreading rumors and fear publicly, behind the scenes, immense work was being done day and night.

The patience, the effort, the sensitive steps taken at the policy and diplomatic levels - history will one day record them as unprecedented. 

Let me give one example: 

LPG, or cooking gas. We all know that about 60 percent of our LPG needs were imported, and 90 percent of that came from Gulf countries through the Strait of Hormuz. Suddenly, the war conditions nearly stopped that supply. You can imagine the chaos that could have erupted in our country. 

But Rajasthan’s soil has taught us to challenge challenges. That is why, as soon as the crisis began, we focused on the capacity of refineries. Industrial-use gas production was redirected to produce LPG. Within just seven days, LPG production increased - from 35,000 metric tons earlier to 54,000 metric tons during the crisis. Refineries that had never produced LPG before were configured to do so.

To ensure the entire demand load did not fall only on LPG, the government also expanded PNG connections - piped natural gas for kitchens. In a very short time, India connected more than 11 lakh households to PNG. 

On one hand, we ensured supply. On the other, we did not let domestic consumers bear too heavy a burden. In those conditions, the price of a domestic gas cylinder could have gone up to ₹2,000 - that was the estimate of major market experts. But even now, domestic LPG cylinders are being provided for less than ₹950. For the poor, Ujjwala cylinders cost less than ₹650. Just two days ago, the government also made a major cut in commercial gas prices. This shows how sensitively our government is working. 

The war also created a major crisis for diesel and petrol. Our country does not have large oil wells. When the crisis deepened, crude oil prices rose from $70 per barrel to $120 per barrel. Import routes were blocked. In many countries, diesel and petrol prices increased by 40 to 50 percent. In some countries, fuel was even rationed. But in India, not for a single day did such conditions arise. Rumors were spread, people were frightened, politics was played, but those with wrong intentions did not succeed. Even in remote areas, apart from minor hurdles, there was no major supply challenge. Between April and June alone, oil companies bore losses of more than ₹75,000 crore in diesel and petrol. That is equivalent to the cost of building a new refinery. The government treasury bore this burden. We also reduced excise duty by ₹10 per liter, ensuring that the public did not face excessive strain. 

During this time of war, India’s friendships with other countries proved invaluable. Before the crisis, India imported fuel and energy from about 25–26 countries. But during the crisis, India’s diplomacy shone. Our strong relations with other nations helped us greatly. India began importing fuel from more than 40 countries. India sent a clear message to the world: for us, national interest and the welfare of our citizens are paramount.

 Nagrik Devo Bhava - this is our mantra.