PM Modi Holds First-Ever CM Meeting On West Asia Conflict Amid Rising Tensions

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday evening convened a virtual meeting with chief ministers from across India, excluding those from poll-bound states, to review preparedness and coordinated plans in response to the ongoing conflict in West Asia. The meeting comes amid growing concerns over supply chain disruptions and energy security following recent military developments in the region.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh were among the senior leaders attending the meeting. Several state leaders joined via video conferencing, including Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav, Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel, and Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis.

The interaction marks the first time Prime Minister Modi has held a meeting specifically on the West Asia conflict, which began on February 28 following US and Israeli strikes on Iran. The attacks prompted retaliatory action from Iran, raising concerns over regional stability and potential disruptions to global energy supplies. The prime minister’s discussion with state leaders emphasized the importance of collaborative action under the “Team India” approach he had recently advocated.

Also Read: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Leads Inter-Ministerial Group to Monitor West Asia Developments

The meeting focused on assessing state-level readiness to address potential challenges arising from the conflict, including supply chain issues and constraints in the availability of cooking gas and fuel. Sources familiar with the discussions said the government is aiming to ensure a coordinated response between the central and state administrations to mitigate any impact on citizens and industries. The central government has already increased commercial LPG allocations to states by 20%, bringing the total quota to 70% of pre-crisis demand to support sectors such as steel and automobiles.

Chief ministers of states preparing for elections—Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, and the Union Territory of Puducherry—did not participate due to the Model Code of Conduct. Separate meetings with the chief secretaries of these regions are being held by the Cabinet Secretariat to ensure administrative preparedness without violating electoral regulations.

The CMs’ meeting follows an all-party discussion convened on Wednesday, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri in attendance. During that session, Puri also dismissed rumors of a nationwide lockdown, urging citizens to remain calm and describing such speculation as “irresponsible and harmful” amid the ongoing international crisis.

Also Read: PM Narendra Modi Highlights Risks To Poor, Migrants Amid West Asia Crisis, Urges State Action