'India managed Middle East situation well, but opposition wants to spread anarchy': PM Modi

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India had handled the fallout of the West Asia crisis “effectively”, while accusing the Opposition of attempting to “spread anarchy” by fuelling panic over fuel shortages and rising prices.Addressing a rally in Vav-Tharad in Gujarat, Modi said global disruptions caused by tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran had affected energy supplies worldwide, particularly diesel, petrol and gas. He said India, however, had managed to keep the situation under control due to “strong foreign policy and national unity”. “The situation unfolding in West Asia is impacting the entire world,” he said, adding that despite rising global difficulties, India had avoided major disruption. “But at a time when the country needs unity, Congress leaders are spreading rumours and fear, trying to incite people to queue at fuel pumps,” he said, accusing the party of seeking political gains from the crisis.Modi also said India was capable of handling any crisis and would emerge as a global leader in renewable energy, pointing to ongoing investments in transmission and infrastructure.The Prime Minister’s remarks came as he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development projects worth over Rs 20,000 crore across Gujarat, spanning sectors such as power, railways, road transport, health, urban development and rural infrastructure. Among the key projects was the Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway, built at a cost of over Rs 5,100 crore, along with multiple rail upgrades and urban initiatives aimed at improving connectivity and public services.He also referred to the strategic importance of Deesa, saying a long-pending airbase project had been stalled for years under previous governments. “Files were buried, but once you gave me responsibility, we revived the project. Today, a major Air Force base stands there,” he said.