Kamal Haasan seeks CMs meet on West Asia crisis

(IANS)

Actor-politician Kamal Haasan has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convene a national summit of all Chief Ministers to address the economic impact of the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict on India. In a video message on X, he warned that disrupted sea trade routes and rising energy costs are affecting households, with fuel, oil, and fertiliser prices increasing globally.

Haasan supported Modi’s appeal for energy conservation, saying national responsibility should rise above politics during crises. He argued that governments must also share the burden on citizens and proposed immediate steps to ease inflationary pressure, including reducing state VAT on petrol and diesel and lowering metro and train fares to encourage public transport use.

He said global instability has led many countries to adopt energy-saving measures and stressed that India must respond collectively. Citing past national crises such as the 1962 and 1965 wars, he highlighted historical examples of public sacrifice and unity.

Haasan also praised the Modi government’s expansion of renewable energy, noting growth in solar and wind capacity, and emphasised the need to further reduce dependence on imported oil and gas through clean and nuclear energy. He concluded that coordinated action could help India withstand the crisis and emerge stronger.