PM witnesses signing of the historic agreement between Government of India and NSCN
Naga courage and commitment are legendary. Equally, they represent highest levels of humanism: PM
Peace, security, economic transformation of North East is amongst my highest priorities: PM Modi
Shri Rajnath Singhji, Home Minister
Shri Muivah and all senior leaders of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland.
My warm greetings to all those present here today on this historic occasion!
I wish that Shri Isak Swu, who played a leading role in reaching this agreement, was present today. He could not be here because of poor health. I wish him speedy recovery. Just as his contribution to this agreement has been huge, his guidance will remain crucial in the times ahead.
The Naga political issue had lingered for six decades, taking a huge toll on generations of our people.
I sincerely thank Shri Isak Swu, Shri Muivah and other Naga leaders for their wisdom and courage, for their efforts and cooperation, which has resulted in this historic agreement.
I have the deepest admiration for the great Naga people for their extraordinary support to the peace efforts. I compliment the National Socialist Council of Nagaland for maintaining the ceasefire agreement for nearly two decades, with a sense of honour that defines the great Naga people.
My relationship with the North East has been deep. I have travelled to Nagaland on many occasions. I have been deeply impressed by the rich and diverse culture and the unique way of life of the Naga people. It makes not only our nation, but also the world a more beautiful place.
The Naga courage and commitment are legendary. Equally, they represent the highest levels of humanism. Their system of village administration and grass-root democracy should be an inspiration for the rest of the country.
The respect for the infirm and elders, the status of women in society, sensitivity to Mother Nature, and the emphasis on social equality is a natural way of Naga life. These are values that should constitute the foundation of the society that we all seek.
Unfortunately, the Naga problem has taken so long to resolve because we did not understand each other. It is a legacy of the British Rule. The colonial rulers had, by design, kept the Nagas isolated and insulated. They propagated terrible myths about Nagas in the rest of the country. They deliberately suppressed the reality that the Nagas were an extremely evolved society. They also spread negative ideas about the rest of India amongst Naga people. This was part of the well known policy of divide and rule of the colonial rulers.
It is one of the tragedies of Independent India that we have lived with this legacy. There were not many like Mahatma Gandhi, who loved the Naga people and was sensitive to their sentiments. We have continued to look at each other through the prism of false perceptions and old prejudices.
The result was that connectivity between Nagaland and the rest of India remained weak across this divide. Economic development and progress in Nagaland remained modest; and, durable peace was elusive.
Since becoming Prime Minister last year, peace, security and economic transformation of North East has been amongst my highest priorities. It is also at the heart of my foreign policy, especially the ‘Act East’ Policy.
I have been deeply concerned about resolving the Naga issue. Soon after entering office, I appointed an interlocutor for talks with the Naga leaders, who not only understood the Naga people as also their aspirations and expectations, but has great affection and respect for them.
Given the importance of this initiative, I asked my office to supervise these talks; and I personally kept in touch with the progress. I want to especially thank my senior colleague, Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singhji, whose support and advice was invaluable in bringing us here today.
Today’s agreement is a shining example of what we can achieve when we deal with each other in a spirit of equality and respect, trust and confidence; when we seek to understand concerns and try to address aspirations; when we leave the path of dispute and take the high road of dialogue. It is a lesson and an inspiration in our troubled world.
Today, we mark not merely the end of a problem, but the beginning of a new future. We will not only try to heal wounds and resolve problems, but also be your partner as you restore your pride and prestige.
Today, to the leaders and the people of Nagaland, I say this: You will not only build a bright future for Nagaland, but your talents, traditions and efforts will also contribute to making the nation stronger, more secure, more inclusive and more prosperous. You are also the guardians of our eastern frontiers and our gateway to the world beyond.
Equally, the rest of the nation will join you in shaping a future of dignity, opportunity and prosperity for the Naga people.
Today, as you begin a new glorious chapter with a sense of pride, self-confidence and self-respect, I join the nation in saluting you and conveying our good wishes to the Naga people.
Our united voice for peace and dialogue should resonate across the world: PM Modi in Rajya Sabha on West Asia conflict
March 24, 2026
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Many ships are stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, with a large number of Indian crew members on board. This is a major cause of concern for India: PM
In such a critical situation, it is essential that a united voice of peace and dialogue goes out to the entire world from this Upper House of India's Parliament: PM
Around one crore Indians live and work in the Gulf countries, The safety of their lives and livelihoods is also a very big concern for India: PM
More than three weeks have passed since this war began in West Asia , This war has created a serious energy crisis across the entire world: PM
Attacks on commercial ships and disruption of international waterways like the Strait of Hormuz is unacceptable: PM
India has condemned attacks on civilians, on civil infrastructure, and on energy and transport-related infrastructure: PM
Since the start of the war, I have held two rounds of phone conversations with the heads of state of most countries in West Asia: PM
We are in constant touch with all the Gulf countries, We are also in contact with Iran, Israel, and the United States: PM
Our goal is to restore peace in the region through dialogue and diplomacy: PM
We have also discussed de-escalation and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz with them: PM
India is making continuous efforts, through diplomacy, to ensure the safe passage of Indian ships even in this atmosphere of war: PM
युद्ध शुरू होने के बाद से होर्मुज स्ट्रेट मैं जहाजों का आना-जाना बहुत चुनौतीपूर्ण हो गया है, लेकिन विपरीत परिस्थितियों के बावजूद हमारी सरकार ने संवाद और कूटनीति के माध्यम से रास्ता बनाने का प्रयास किया है: प्रधानमंत्री
The effort is to ensure that oil and gas supplies reach India from wherever possible, The country is witnessing the results of every such effort: PM
In the past few days, ships carrying crude oil and LPG have arrived in India from many countries around the world, Our efforts in this direction will continue in the coming days: PM
The fundamentals of our economy are strong,the government is closely monitoring the rapidly changing situation: PM
The government is working with a strategy to address every impact in the short term, medium term, and long term: PM
The government has made the necessary preparations to ensure an adequate supply of fertilizers: PM
The government is making continuous efforts to ensure that farmers do not bear the burden of any crisis: PM
I would like to reassure the farmers of the country once again that the government stands with them to resolve every challenge: PM
Honourable Chairman,
We are all familiar with the war currently taking place in West Asia and the circumstances arising from it. Today, I stand before the Upper House of Parliament and before my fellow citizens to share the government’s position on these grave circumstances. This war has now continued for more than three weeks. It has created a severe energy crisis across the world. For India too, this situation is worrisome. Our trade routes are being affected. Routine supplies of essential goods such as petrol, diesel, gas, and fertilizers are disrupted. Nearly one crore Indians live and work in Gulf countries. Ensuring their safety and livelihood is a major concern for India. Many ships are stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, with a large number of Indian crew members aboard. This too is a matter of serious concern for India. In such dire circumstances, it is essential that from this Upper House of Parliament, a united voice for peace and dialogue reaches the entire world.
Honourable Chairman,
Since the beginning of the war, I have spoken twice on the phone with the heads of most countries in West Asia. We are in continuous contact with all Gulf countries. We are also in touch with Iran, Israel, and the United States. Our goal is to restore peace in the region through dialogue and diplomacy. We have spoken with them about de-escalation and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Attacks on commercial ships and obstruction in international waterways like the Strait of Hormuz are unacceptable. India has opposed attacks on civilians, civil infrastructure, and energy and transport-related infrastructure. Through diplomacy, India is making continuous efforts to ensure the safe passage of Indian ships even in this war-like environment. India has suggested dialogue as the only path to resolving this problem. Any threat to human life in this war is not in the interest of humanity. Therefore, India’s constant effort is to encourage all parties to reach a peaceful solution as soon as possible.
Honourable Chairman,
In times of crisis, the safety of Indians both at home and abroad is our highest priority. Since the war began, more than 375,000 Indians have safely returned to India. From Iran alone, more than 1,000 Indians have returned safely, including over 700 young students pursuing medical education. Our government is working with full sensitivity during this crisis. All countries have assured us of the safety of Indians present there. However, it is deeply saddening that some Indians have lost their lives due to attacks, and some have been injured. In such difficult circumstances, necessary assistance is being provided to their families. Those injured are being ensured the best possible medical treatment.
Honourable Chairman,
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the largest routes of global trade. In particular, the transport of crude oil, gas, and fertilizers takes place in huge quantities through this region. Since the war began, the movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz has become highly challenging. Yet, despite adverse circumstances, our government has tried to create pathways through dialogue and diplomacy. Our effort is to ensure that oil and gas supplies reach India from wherever possible. The results of these efforts are visible to the nation. In recent days, ships carrying crude oil and LPG from many countries have arrived in India. Our efforts in this direction will continue in the coming days as well.
Honourable Chairman,
India’s effort is to ensure that ships carrying essential goods such as oil, gas, and fertilizers reach India safely. But if the global circumstances created by this war persist for a long time, serious consequences are inevitable. Therefore, India is accelerating the resilience-building measures it has undertaken in recent years.
Honourable Chairman,
Every crisis tests both our courage and our efforts. To enable the country to face such crises better, continuous decisions have been taken over the past 11 years. Diversification of energy imports is part of these efforts. Earlier, India imported crude oil, LNG, and LPG from 27 countries. Today, India imports energy from 41 countries. In the past decade, India has also prioritized crude oil reserves for times of crisis. Our oil companies maintain significant reserves of petrol and diesel for emergencies. Over the past 11 years, more than 5.3 million metric tonnes of strategic petroleum reserves have been developed, and the country is working on arrangements for reserves exceeding 6.5 million metric tonnes. Alongside this, India’s refining capacity has also been substantially increased in the past decade. Through you, I wish to assure the House and the nation that India has adequate crude oil storage and arrangements for continuous supply.
Honourable Chairman,
Our government is striving to ensure that there is no excessive dependence on any single source of fuel. Alongside LPG, the government is also emphasizing PNG for domestic gas supply. In the past decade, unprecedented work has been done to expand PNG connections, and this effort has been further accelerated in recent days. At the same time, large-scale efforts are being made to increase domestic production of LNG.
Honourable Chairman,
In recent years, the government has consistently worked to minimize dependence on other countries in every sector. Becoming increasingly self-reliant is the only option. For example, more than 90% of India’s oil is transported on foreign ships, which makes India’s situation even more serious during any global crisis. Therefore, the government has launched a campaign worth about 70,000 crore rupees to build Made in India ships. India is now rapidly developing facilities for shipbuilding, shipbreaking, maintenance, and overhauling. India is also making its defense sector more resilient. Due to efforts made in the past decade, India today manufactures most of the weapons it needs domestically. There was a time when India was heavily dependent on other countries even for raw materials of life-saving medicines, namely APIs. In recent years, the country has made many efforts to build an API ecosystem within India itself. Similarly, major steps are being taken to reduce foreign dependence in rare earth minerals.
Honourable Chairman,
The current crisis has shaken the global economy. The damage already caused in West Asia will take the world a long time to recover from. Continuous efforts are being made to ensure that India suffers the least possible impact. The fundamentals of our economy are strong, and the government is closely monitoring the rapidly changing situation. The government is working with a strategy to address short-term, medium-term, and long-term impacts. An inter-ministerial group has also been formed, which meets regularly to assess every difficulty arising in our imports and exports, and continuously works on necessary solutions. Just as empowered groups of experts and officers were formed during the pandemic to tackle challenges in different sectors, yesterday seven new empowered groups were also constituted. These groups will act swiftly and strategically on issues such as supply chains, petrol and diesel, fertilizers, gas, and inflation. I am confident that through these collective efforts, we will be able to face the circumstances more effectively.
Honourable Chairman,
The government is also working to ensure that farmers receive adequate fertilizer in the upcoming sowing season. Necessary preparations have been made for sufficient supply of fertilizers. The government’s constant effort is that farmers should not bear the burden of any crisis. I once again assure the farmers of the country that the government stands with them in finding solutions to every challenge.
Honourable Chairman,
This is the House of States. In the coming times, this crisis will be a major test for our country, and the cooperation of states will be crucial for success. Therefore, through this House, I would like to make a few requests to all state governments. In times of crisis, the poor, workers, and migrant companions are most affected. Therefore, it must be ensured that the benefits of the PM Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana reach them on time. Proactive steps should be taken to ease the difficulties of migrant workers wherever they are employed. If state governments make special arrangements to monitor such situations, it will provide significant relief. State governments must also pay close attention to another challenge: in such times, black-marketeers and hoarders become very active. Wherever such complaints arise, immediate action must be taken. Ensuring uninterrupted supply of essential goods must be the top priority of every state.
Honourable Chairman,
I would also like to make another request to all state governments. No matter how severe the crisis, maintaining India’s rapid growth is our collective responsibility. For this, every necessary step and every necessary reform must be carried out swiftly. This is also a great opportunity for state governments. This is a major test for Team India. During the great crisis of the pandemic, the Centre and the states together presented an excellent model of COVID management. Despite governments of different political parties, testing, vaccination, and supply of essential goods were ensured through Team India’s efforts. We must continue to work in the same spirit. With the combined efforts of all state governments and the central government, the country will be able to face this grave global crisis effectively.
Honourable Chairman,
This crisis is of a different nature, and its solutions are also being determined in a different way. We must face every challenge with patience, restraint, and a calm mind.
Honourable Chairman,
As we can see, the situation regarding this war is changing moment by moment. Therefore, I would also say to my fellow citizens that we must be prepared for every challenge. There is a strong possibility that the adverse effects of this war will last for a long time. But I assure the people of the country that the government is alert, ready, and working with full seriousness on strategy, taking every necessary decision. The welfare of the people is paramount for us. This is our identity, this is our strength. With this spirit, I conclude my statement.
