Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new terminal building at Jodhpur airport in Rajasthan on Saturday and handed the state several new projects at the same event. During the programme, he explained in detail how India tackled the biggest energy crisis of the 21st century and came out of it successfully.
New terminal expected to boost tourism and trade
PM Modi said the new terminal building would give passengers better facilities. He added that it would also boost tourism, trade and economic opportunities across Rajasthan.
West Asia war triggered the crisis, India's resolve pulled it through
PM Modi said the war that broke out in West Asia triggered the biggest energy crisis of the 21st century. But the strong resolve and continuous efforts of the new India brought this crisis under control. He said the government took the right decisions at every level at the right time, assessed the severity of the crisis in time, and built an effective strategy to deal with it. It was the balanced use of resources and the positive use of diplomatic strength that helped India come out of this difficult phase.
Direct attack on those spreading rumours
Modi said that at the very time some forces were publicly spreading fear and rumours, the government was taking extremely sensitive decisions through hard work, patience and steps at the policy and diplomatic level. He said this entire period was unprecedented and has now gone down in history.
Government itself absorbed a Rs 75,000 crore loss
PM Modi said that during the crisis, plenty of rumours were spread, people were scared and provoked, and politics was played over it extensively, but those with wrong intentions did not succeed. Even in far-flung areas, apart from minor hiccups, there was no major disruption in fuel supply. Between April and June alone, diesel and petrol companies suffered a loss of more than Rs 75,000 crore, and the government took full responsibility for making up this loss from its own treasury. The government also cut excise duty by Rs 10 per litre so that the burden did not fall too heavily on ordinary people.
Fuel imports rose from around 25 to more than 40 countries
PM Modi said India's friendship with other countries proved very useful during this period of war. Before the crisis began, India used to import fuel from around 25 to 26 countries, but during the crisis India's diplomatic strength truly came to the fore. Thanks to good international relations, India started importing fuel from more than 40 countries even during the war. He said India thereby sent a clear message to the world that national interest and the interest of its citizens are supreme, and that Nagrik Devo Bhava is the government's guiding mantra.
