PM Modi calls crucial ministers’ meeting as West Asia crisis intensify

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a crucial meeting of the Council of Ministers on May 21 evening at Seva Teerth, with all Union ministers asked to remain in the national capital amid heightened political and economic deliberations within the government.

The meeting comes shortly after Modi’s return from his foreign tour and is expected to be attended by Union Cabinet ministers, ministers of state with independent charge, and ministers of state.

West Asia conflict likely to dominate talks

The escalating West Asia conflict and its potential economic fallout for India are expected to feature prominently in the discussions, sources were quoted as saying.

The government has been closely tracking concerns around oil prices, fuel supply chains and inflation as regional tensions continue to rise.

Modi is expected to review the evolving geopolitical situation following his return, sources said. To address possible disruptions, the government has already constituted a high-level informal group of ministers led by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.

The group includes Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.

Rajnath Singh recently said the government was maintaining “round-the-clock monitoring” of the situation.

“Whether it is crude oil, energy, or LPG, even today we have enough stocks. There is no particular problem,” he had said.

Cabinet reshuffle speculation grows

The meeting has also acquired political significance amid mounting speculation over a possible Cabinet expansion and reshuffle in the Modi 3.0 government ahead of its first anniversary on June 10.

Last week, official sources indicated that discussions on a reshuffle and expansion had intensified, with changes in the Union Council of Ministers likely in the second week of June.

Sources also said the government leadership was reviewing the performance of ministries and organizational functioning before any possible exercise.