Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), the country’s top body that takes decisions on national security and strategic matters.
The meeting has been called in view of the current situation in West Asia after the United States and Israel reportedly carried out attacks on Iran and Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed.
According to sources, the Prime Minister returned to Delhi after completing his two-day visit to Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry. After returning, he scheduled the CCS meeting on Sunday. He is expected to reach his residence around 9:30 pm.
Who Will Attend the Meeting?
The CCS meeting is chaired by the Prime Minister. Its members include:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
Home Minister Amit Shah
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
Senior government officials are also usually invited to attend the meeting.
Sources say the safety of Indian citizens living or stranded in West Asia is likely to be discussed. The government may also review possible steps in case the situation worsens. At present, most of the airspace in West Asia is almost closed.
Hundreds of Indians Stranded at Airports
Due to rising tensions in West Asia, flight services have been disrupted. As a result, hundreds of Indians are stranded in Dubai and other major international airports. Many of them have appealed to the Government of India for help through social media.
How Many Indians Live in the Region?
Around 10,000 Indian citizens live in Iran, while more than 40,000 Indians live in Israel. In total, nearly 9 million Indians reside in Gulf countries and other parts of West Asia.
The government is closely monitoring the situation and may take further steps depending on how events unfold.