Rajnath Singh Chairs All-Party Meeting on Middle East Crisis, India's Preparedness

Amid rising tensions in the Middle East, the central government has convened an all-party meeting on March 25 to brief political leaders on the evolving crisis and India's preparedness. The meeting will be held inside the Parliament complex and will bring together representatives from major political parties to review the situation and its potential impact on the country.

The discussion will be chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, while External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and senior government officials are expected to provide a detailed update on the developments in the region and the steps India is taking to safeguard its interests.

The meeting comes at a time when tensions in West Asia have escalated following military strikes involving the United States, Israel and Iran earlier this year. The conflict has raised global concerns about energy security, trade routes and the broader stability of the region - issues that could directly affect India's economy and supply chains.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier warned in Parliament that the fallout from the conflict could be prolonged and urged both citizens and state governments to stay prepared for possible challenges. In response, the Centre has already formed several monitoring groups to keep a close watch on key sectors such as fuel availability, fertiliser supply and essential imports.

Officials say the government wants to ensure that disruptions to global trade or energy supplies do not affect domestic availability of critical resources. States have also been asked to remain vigilant and be ready to support vulnerable communities if economic pressures increase.

However, the proposed briefing has also sparked political debate. Opposition leaders, including Mallikarjun Kharge, have argued that such an important international issue should ideally be discussed in an open parliamentary debate rather than a closed-door meeting.

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi had initially indicated he might skip the session due to a prior commitment, though his attendance remains uncertain after changes in his schedule. Meanwhile, leaders from the All India Trinamool Congress have also raised questions about the format of the discussion, saying a full debate in Parliament would be more appropriate.

Despite these differences, the government has stressed the need for political unity at a time when global tensions could affect India's economic stability. With fuel prices already under pressure and shipping routes in West Asia facing uncertainty, the Centre hopes the all-party meeting will help build a coordinated national response to the unfolding crisis.