NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday cautioned that a petrol and diesel crisis was developing worldwide as ongoing conflicts continued to affect key energy regions.Speaking during the 132nd episode of Mann Ki Baat, he said, “This month of March has been extremely eventful on a global level. We all remember that, in the past, the entire world faced numerous problems for a long time due to Covid. We all expected that, after emerging from the Covid crisis, the world would move forward on the path of progress with a fresh start, but in the different regions of the world, conditions of war and conflict continued to emerge.”Referring to the ongoing war between US, Israel and Iran, he said, “Currently, a fierce war has been going on for the past one month in our neighbourhood. Relatives of lakhs of families reside in these countries, particularly working in the Gulf regions. “I am very grateful to the Gulf countries for providing every kind of assistance to over 1 crore Indians there. The region where the war is underway is a major hub of our energy needs. Due to this, a petrol and diesel crisis is developing worldwide,” he added.Despite the challenges, the Prime Minister said India was in a stronger position to deal with the situation. “India is resolutely facing these challenges because of its global relations, assistance from different countries, and the capability the country has built over the past decade,” he said. Calling it a difficult time, PM Modi urged people to stay united. “This is undoubtedly a challenging time. I once again urge countrymen to get united and overcome this challenge,” he said.“I am confident that just as we have always overcome past crises, through the collective strength of the country’s 140 crore citizens, this time too, we will overcome these difficult circumstances with great success,” he added.Hitting out at the opposition’s criticism of the government’s alleged mishandeling of the crisis, PM Modi said, “All those who are politicising the issue should not do it. This is an issue related to the interests of 140 crore citizens. There is no place for self-serving politics in this.”“All those who are spreading rumours are causing great harm to the country. I would appeal to all the countrymen to remain aware and not get misled by rumours. The government is continuously providing information. Trust that and take steps based on it only,” he added. Gyan Bharatam SurveyPM Modi also spoke about public participation and highlighted the Gyan Bharatam Survey, which aims to collect information about manuscripts across the country. “The Gyan Bharatam Survey, which is related to our great culture and rich heritage. Its objective is to collect information about manuscripts across the country. One way to join this survey is through the Gyan Bharatam app. If you have any manuscript or any information about it, then do share its picture on the ‘Gyan Bharatam App’, PM Modi said.Cricket win and J&K pushReferring to recent achievements in sport, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi said March had been an exciting month for cricket fans across the country. “India’s historic victory in the T20 World Cup brought joy across the country. We are all proud of our team’s exemplary success,” he said. Speaking about sports in Jammu and Kashmir, he said the region had always shown strong passion for games. “People of Jammu and Kashmir have always been extra passionate for sports. I am happy that now this is becoming a hub for big sporting events,” he said, adding that Gulmarg had already gained recognition through the Khelo India Winter Games, and noted that football was also popular among the youth. “I hope that in the coming days, the winning streak of Jammu and Kashmir will continue like this,” he said.PM also said sports were becoming more popular among young people, including in disciplines that were not widely followed earlier. “I often say, those who play will prosper. I feel happy seeing that the youth of the country are now taking up sports which were not so popular earlier,” he said. He also referred to the Asmita Athletics League and said, “It is good to see that the women of India are playing an important role in this sporting transformation taking place in the country.”Fit IndiaPrime Minister Narendra Modi stressed the importance of fitness and healthy habits, saying, “I have always urged that you all must focus on fitness. Less than 100 days are now left for the International Day of Yoga.”He further urged people to adopt small lifestyle changes. “I would urge all of you to reduce your sugar intake also, and, as I have said earlier, we also need to cut down on cooking oil by 10%. These small efforts will keep you away from obesity and lifestyle diseases,” he said.Focus on educationMoving to education, PM Modi spoke about the value of continuous learning. “There is an old saying, ‘Karat Karat Abhyas Ke, Jadmat Hot Sujan,’ which means that the more we practice continuously, the more intellect we keep acquiring,” he said. He highlighted an initiative in Bengaluru, saying the Prayoga Institute of Education Research had launched a programme called Anveshana. “It provides students from 9th to 12th standard the opportunity to innovate in areas like Chemistry, Earth Science, and Wellness. This gives students valuable research experience and a platform to publish their projects,” he said. He also spoke about efforts by the Naga community to preserve knowledge through education. “The Naga tribes had a traditional system of Morung learning, in which elders would share traditional knowledge, history, and life skills with the youth,” he said. He added that this system had evolved over time. “With time, this system has now converted into the Morung concept of education. Through this system, interest in children in subjects like mathematics and science is instilled. Elders in the community teach them life skills through stories, folk songs, and traditional games,” he said.This is a developing story