Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (March 11) said that India has taken several steps over the years to reduce its dependence on other countries
in the energy sector, including scaling up electric mobility and accelerating railway electrification.
Speaking at a rally in Kochi, Modi said the government is focusing on expanding electric mobility to reduce reliance on petrol and diesel.
“We have taken steps over all these years to reduce dependency on other nations in terms of the energy sector,” he said.
“To reduce dependency on petrol and diesel, we are focusing on electric buses and e-vehicles on a big scale. Railways are also being electrified,” the Prime Minister added.
Modi also highlighted the government’s efforts to ensure the safety of Indians caught in conflict zones abroad, particularly in West Asia.
“India of today does not leave its citizens stranded elsewhere. We are working to ensure that all help is provided to Indians in West Asia,” he said.
He added that the government is actively facilitating the return of Indians caught in the ongoing conflict.
“We are ensuring that people stranded abroad in this war situation are brought back and are given proper facilities,” Modi said.
The remarks come in the context of ongoing US–Iran war, which escalated after the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iranian military and government targets, triggering retaliatory missile and drone attacks by Iran across the region and heightening tensions in West Asia. Notably, an estimated 9.6 million Indians continue to reside in the conflict-affected countries.
Also read: PM Modi to visit Kerala, Tamil Nadu on March 11; launch projects worth ₹16,450 crore
The remarks came during the Prime Minister’s visit to Kerala and Tamil Nadu, where he is scheduled to launch development projects worth around ₹16,450 crore.
PM was addressing a gathering in Kochi, Kerala, on Wednesday, where hundreds of BJP workers greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The event was held ahead of the inauguration of developmental projects worth around ₹10,800 crore by Modi at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kaloor. Later in the day, at around 5:45 pm, he will visit Tiruchirappalli to unveil projects worth about ₹5,650 crore and interact with attendees.
During his speech, Modi also criticised the Indian National Congress, accusing the party of politicising the West Asia conflict. He further aimed at opposition leaders over what he described as their lack of awareness about India’s advances in drone technology.
“The people of Kerala have seen that the Congress prince is unaware of the remarkable achievements of India’s youth in drone manufacturing. Numerous companies in India are producing drones, and young entrepreneurs in Kerala are running startups in this sector. Someone confined to narrow thinking will never be able to see the country’s progress,” Modi said.
