FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 12 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI | Tuesday, 10 March 2026 SPORTS WORLD BUSINESS Stock market continues sell-off amid war Page 10 BRIEFLY Indian carriers plan 50 flights between India, West Asia region: New Delhi: Indian carriers have planned 50 flights for Monday between India and the West Asia region amid ongoing conflict in Iran and the Gulf region. The Ministry of Civil Aviation is closely monitoring the evolving situation in West Asia affecting air travel between India and the West Asia region. "Airlines are undertaking necessary operational adjustments in view of the prevailing conditions to ensure passenger safety and orderly conduct of flight operations," the Ministry said in a statement. Passenger movement data for Saturday shows that a total of 51 inbound flights operated by Indian carriers arrived in India from the region carrying 8,175 passengers. Moreover Indian carriers are continuously assessing the ground situation in other airports of the region, so that more flights can be operated by Indian carriers from these places. PAGE-05 Olympic Gold next, says Suryakumar The cleric who studied in Qom now leads Iran NATION Manipur CM presents state budget Page 4 Page 9 Page 12 PM calls for innovation-driven growth and holistic health STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 9 March P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said India is working towards a vision of preventive and holistic healthcare while simultaneously pushing for an innovation- driven economy, as he addressed a post-Budget webinar themed “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas — Fulfilling Aspirations of People”. The webinar was the fourth in a series organised by the government to deliberate on the effective implementation of key announcements made in the Union Budget. Modi said sectors such as education, skill development, healthcare, tourism, sports and culture would play a critical role in meeting the aspirations of citizens and accelerating the country’s development. “Fulfilling public aspirations is not just a subject; it is the core objective of this budget and the resolution of this government,” the Prime Minister said, urging experts and policymakers participating in the webinar to contribute ideas for translating policy announcements into tangible outcomes. Highlighting the government’s focus on healthcare, Modi said India was steadily moving towards a preventive and holistic health model while strengthening its medical infrastructure across the country. “India is working today on a vision of preventive and holistic health,” he said. The Prime Minister noted that health services had expanded significantly in recent years, with new medical colleges opening in hundreds of districts and healthcare access improving through flagship initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat Yojana and the establishment of Arogya Mandirs in villages. PM holds high-level security review New Delhi: PM Modi on Monday chaired a high-level meeting with senior members of the government and security establishment to assess the rapidly evolving conflict in West Asia and its possible implications for India’s strategic and economic interests. The review meeting, held in New Delhi, was attended by Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and Chief of Defence Staff Anil Chauhan. Officials familiar with the discussions said the leaders reviewed the security situation in the region, potential risks to Indian citizens abroad, and the broader impact the conflict could have on energy supplies and global trade routes. TMC, ECI trade charges over voter roll revision during meet in Delhi: New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) and the Trinamul Congress (TMC) were locked in sharp exchange of words over the SIR of electoral rolls during a meeting between the poll panel’s full Bench and political parties in West Bengal on Monday. After the meeting, members of the TMC delegation expressed strong dissatisfaction with the conduct of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging that he did not allow them to fully present their views. Senior TMC leader and state minister Chandrima Bhattacharya claimed that she was asked not to raise her voice during the discussion, which she said reflected a lack of respect towards women. “I am a woman and he told me, ‘don’t shout’. They actually have no respect for women. That is why women’s names are also being struck off from the voter list,” Bhattacharya said. Committed to well-being of Indians in West Asia: EAM Demand for discussion on West Asia crisis sidelines move against Speaker Om Birla STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE VIBHA SHARMA New Delhi, 9 March Emphasising that the ongoing conflict in West Asia is an issue of particular concern for India, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday asserted that the well-being and security of the Indian community is the government’s priority and it will continue to work with countries in the region towards that end. Making a suo motu statement in Parliament on “The Situation in West Asia’’, he also stated that the government is committed to protecting the interests of the Indian consumer in the backdrop of the implications of this conflict for the country’s energy security. "For us, the interests of the Indian consumer has and will always be the overriding priority. Where required, Indian diplomacy has supported the endeavours of our energy enterprises in this volatile situation,’’he added. Jaishankar noted that the conflict has continued to intensify and the security situation in the region has deteriorated significantly. ‘’We have noted that, in fact, the conflict spread to other nations with mounting destruction and deaths. Normal life and economic activities in the entire region are visibly affected and, in some cases, had come to a halt,’’ he added. He told Parliament that while any development that negatively impacts peace and security in the world is deeply troubling, this ongoing conflict is an issue of particular concern for India. “We are a neighbouring region and understandably, have obvious stakes that West Asia remain stable and peaceful. There are almost one crore Indian citizens who live and work in the Gulf nations. In Iran too, there are a few thousand Indians who are there for study or for employment. The region is key to our energy security and includes many important suppliers of oil and gas,’’ he added. New Delhi, 9 March The Lok Sabha on Monday could not take up the resolution moved by Congress members — Mohamed Jawed, K. Suresh and Mallu Ravi — seeking the removal of Speaker Om Birla after the Centre rejected the Opposition’s demand for a discussion on tensions in West Asia in Parliament. Dismissing the statement made by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on the issue, Opposition leaders demanded a detailed discussion, arguing that a mere statement was insufficient given the potential impact on India’s security, economy and the safety of its citizens in the region. The Congress had given a Suspension of Business notice under Rule 267 seeking an urgent and comprehensive debate on the escalating conflict in West Asia in both Houses. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju slammed the Opposition, saying that the government was ready for a discussion on the resolution against Birla but that the Opposition had now changed the goalpost. “The Opposition is very confused. They have given a notice for a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. We are ready to start the discussion now. But now they want a debate on another issue,” Rijiju said. BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, who was chairing the proceedings, accused the Opposition of deliberately trying to prevent the House from functioning. “You want to discuss issues related to the Gulf region, energy security and the welfare of Indians living in the Gulf. The minister spoke about it in his statement, but you didn’t listen to him. You are trying to create new precedents,” Pal said. When the House reassembled at 3 p.m., he again urged Opposition leaders to take up the motion against the Speaker if they were “serious about it”. “Are you moving the resolution? You cannot say let someone else speak on my behalf,” he told Jawed. “Why don’t you want to move the resolution? What do you want? The Speaker has taken the high moral ground and is not coming to the House… This is irresponsible behaviour on the part of the Opposition. You don’t want to allow the House to function, whereas the government wants to… the entire country is watching,” Pal said, adjourning the House for the day. Opposition leaders told media persons that a statement without a discussion is “unfair” to MPs. The resolution against Birla on Monday’s agenda stated that the House after taking into consideration the conduct of the Speaker, including allegedly disallowing the Leader of the Opposition and other Opposition leaders from sp eaking , making unwarranted allegations against women MPs from the Opposition, suspending Opposition MPs for an entire session for raising issues of public concern, and not rebuking ruling party members for objectionable remarks against former Prime Ministers — felt that he had ceased to maintain the impartiality required to command the confidence of all sections of the House. Impact of global crude price rise on inflation Cheetah population grows to not estimated to be substantial: Sitharaman 53; Jwala gives birth to five cubs THE RECENT RALLY IN CRUDE OIL PRICES AND REFINING MARGINS IS CREATING CONDITIONS REMINISCENT OF THE DISRUPTIONS WITNESSED DURING THE 2022 OIL MARKET SHOCK. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 9 March Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said the impact of global crude price rise on inflation is not estimated to be substantial at this point as India's inflation is near the lower bound. In reply to a written question in the Lok Sabha, the Finance Minister said the price of both global crude oil and the Indian basket has been on a declining trajectory for the past one year, till the geo-political clashes commenced in West Asia on February 28, 2026. "Between the end of February and until March 2, 2026, the Crude Oil FOB Price (Indian Basket) rose from USD 69.01/barrel to USD 80.16/barrel. Given that India's inflation is near the lower bound, the impact on inflation is not estimated to be substantial at this point," she said. The minister further said that RBI's Monetary Policy Report in October 2025, had estimated that if crude oil prices are higher by 10% than the baseline assumptions, and assuming full pass-through to domestic prices, inflation could turn out to be higher by 30 basis points. Notably, the crude prices have been rising since February 28 when the US and Israel launched military strikes on Iran who retaliated with attacks on US positions in the region, as well as Israel. In a research note, UBS STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Global Research said India’s state-owned oil marketing companies (OMCs) could face mounting earnings pressure as crude oil market volatility intensifies amid escalating geopolitical tensions in West Asia. The brokerage warned that the recent rally in crude oil prices and refining margins is creating conditions reminiscent of the disruptions witnessed during the 2022 oil market shock. It noted that Indian OMCs remain structurally vulnerable to higher crude prices because a significant portion of their profitability depends on fuel marketing margins. New Delhi, 9 March Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Monday said that Namibian cheetah Jwala — a successful third-time mother — has given birth to five cubs at Kuno National Park. In a post on social media, the Minister said the number of thriving Indian-born cubs had risen to 33, marking the 10th successful cheetah litter on Indian soil. Calling it a moment of great pride for Project Cheetah, he added that the achievement reflects the dedicated efforts, skill and commitment of veterinarians, field staff, and all those working tirelessly on the ground. With the arrival of these cubs, the total cheetah population in India has reached 53, he added, describing it as a historic and heart-warming moment for wildlife conservation. The Minister also expressed hope that Jwala and her cubs would grow strong and carry India’s cheetah conservation story to even greater heights. Recently, Gamini, a South African cheetah, became a mother for the second time, giving birth to four cubs. In February, Yadav released nine cheetahs — six females and three males — received from Botswana into quarantine enclosures at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. The big cats are currently undergoing an acclimatisation and health-monitoring phase before their gradual release into larger habitats.