Amid rising speculation over a possible lockdown in India due to the ongoing West Asia crisis, the Centre has firmly dismissed such claims as baseless. Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri clarified that there is “no proposal under consideration” for any lockdown.Addressing the rumours, Puri termed the spread of such information as “irresponsible and harmful,” emphasizing that the government is closely monitoring global developments related to energy, supply chains, and essential commodities. He assured that India remains resilient and is taking proactive steps to ensure uninterrupted availability of fuel and critical resources.Echoing similar sentiments, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman categorically ruled out any lockdown-like measures. She stated that comparisons with restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 lockdown in India were unfounded and misleading. “There will be no lockdown such as we saw during Covid,” she said, urging citizens not to be influenced by rumours.The ministers highlighted that recent measures, including cuts in excise duty on fuel, were aimed at shielding consumers from rising global crude oil prices. The current uncertainty stems from geopolitical tensions impacting the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy corridor.The government reiterated its commitment to maintaining stability and urged the public to avoid panic and rely on official information.
