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 | Even strategic wars have long-term costs WORLD EDITORIAL Iran lists three conditions to end war with US, Israel Strategic Windfall Page 7 Page 9 Hardeep Puri: Crude supply status secure, LPG supply fully protected STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 12 March P etroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday assured the nation that India’s crude supply position is secure and volumes secured exceed what the Strait of Hormuz would have delivered and the domestic supply of LPG is also fully protected and the delivery cycle is unchanged despite the ongoing war in West Asia. In a statement in Parliament on the measures taken to address global energy supply disruptions arising from the conflict, he said: “There is no shortage of petrol, diesel, kerosene, ATF or fuel oil. The availability of petrol, diesel, aviation turbine fuel, kerosene, and fuel oil is fully assured. Retail outlets across the country are stocked and supply chains for these products are functioning normally. Additional allocation of PDS Kerosene has been issued to all the states.” Regarding petrol and diesel, Mr Puri said that because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s diplomatic outreach and goodwill, India has secured crude volumes that exceed what the disrupted Strait route would have delivered in the same period. “Non-Hormuz sourcing has risen to approximately 70 percent of crude imports, up from 55 per cent before the conflict began,’’ he added. He explained that India sources crude from 40 countries, against 27 in 2006-2007 and this structural diversification, built through sustained policy over successive years, has given the country options that other nations now find themselves without. “Refineries are operating at high capacity utilisation; in several cases, they are exceeding 100 per cent,’’ he added. Regarding LPG, the minister said the Modi government’s foremost priority is that the kitchens of India’s 33+ crore families, especially the poor and the underprivileged, do not face any shortage. “Domestic supply is fully protected and the delivery cycle is unchanged. The standard time from booking to delivery for domestic LPG cylinders remains 2.5 days, unchanged from pre-crisis norms. Hospitals and educational institutions have been placed on uninterrupted priority supply; their access to LPG is fully assured regardless of broader demand conditions,’’ he added. The minister said commercial LPG has been regulated to prevent black marketing and not to penalise the hospitality sector. Commercial LPG is sold in a completely deregulated, over-the-counter market at market price, without any government subsidy. Farooq escapes assassination bid; security lapses questioned STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Jammu, 12 March Political stalwart and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah survived an assassination attempt when a man fired at him from close range at a marriage function here last evening. The assassination bid failed due to the alertness shown by Dr Abdullah’s NSG bodyguards, who grabbed the assailant’s hand and deflected the firearm upwards. During interrogation, the assailant, who has been identified as Kamal Singh Jamwal, a 65-year-old, who lives in Jammu's Purani Mandi, told the police that for the last 20 years he was waiting for this moment. In a video of the scene, the man, is seen putting his pistol close to Dr Abdullah’s neck before opening fire. The shot missed and the NSG personnel seized the weapon after overpowering the attacker. Dr. Abdullah was attending the marriage ceremony of the kin of a leader of the ruling National Conference. Deputy CM Surinder Chaudhary and the Chief Minister’s advisor Nasir Aslam were with him at the time of the incident. “God saved me”, Dr Abdullah told reporters at his residence on Thursday morning. Sharing details about the incident at the wedding function in Jammu’s Greater Kailash area, he said, “I was walking out of the venue when I heard the sound of a firecracker. Immediately, I was rushed into a car. Later, I was told that there was a man with a pistol who had fired two shots. Neither do I know this man (the accused), nor do I have any information about him.” In a press release early this morning, the Jammu Police said, "An attempt was made on the life of Dr. Farooq Abdullah, former CM/President of J&K National Conference, when he was attending a marriage ceremony at Royal Park Greater Kailash, Jammu". "The security personnel of JKP and NSG, who were deployed with the protectee, immediately swung into action and thwarted the attempt. Further, the accused was taken into custody, who was later identified as Kamal Singh S/o Ajit Singh R/o Purani Mandi, Jammu. The firearm, used in the crime, has also been recovered from the possession of the accused," | Friday, 13 March 2026 SPORTS PERSPECTIVE Page 6 SILIGURI the statement said. Reacting to the incident, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah wrote on X; "Allah is kind. My father had a very close shave. The details are sketchy at the moment but what is known is that a man with a loaded pistol was able to get within point blank range & discharge a shot. It was only the close protection team that deflected the shot & ensured that the assassination attempt failed. There are more questions than answers at the moment including but not limited to how someone was able to get this close to a Z+ NSG protected former CM". Started cricket for tough jobs, says Bumrah after T20 WC final heroics Page 12 MEA confirms Jaishankar discussed India’s energy security, safety of shipping with Iran FM STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 12 March External affairs minister S Jaishankar has spoken to his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi thrice in recent days to discuss the safety of shipping and India’s energy security, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Thursday amid reports that Tehran has permitted two Indian-flagged oil tankers, Pushpak and Parimal, to safely pass through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. At a media briefing here, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the discussion between the two foreign ministers focused on ensuring the safe passage of ships and maintaining stable energy supplies through the region. “EAM (Jaishankar) and the FM of Iran have had three conversations in the last few days. The last one discussed issues pertaining to safety of shipping and India's energy security. Beyond that, it would be premature for me to say anything,” the spokesperson added. Iran’s permission to permit the two Indian tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz is being seen as a step that ensures the secure passage of energy supplies to India amid heightened tensions in the region due to the ongoing war in West Asia. The spokesperson confirmed that around 9,000 Indian nationals, including students, seafarers, professionals, business people, and pilgrims, are currently in Iran and are being assisted by the Indian authorities amid concerns about their safety back home. Mr Jaiswal said that several of these individuals, particularly students, have already left Iran and returned to India. Others, including students and pilgrims based in Tehran, have been shifted to safer locations and cities within the country. “We've had about 9,000 Indian nationals who were there or who are there in Iran. These 9,000 Indian nationals comprise students, seafarers, business people, professionals and some pilgrims. Several Indian nationals, mostly students, left the country and reached home. We have shifted several Indian nationals, including students and pilgrims, who were based in Tehran to other safer locations and cities in the country,” he said. “We are assisting Indian nationals who wish to travel to Azerbaijan and Armenia and from there take commercial flights to return home. We are providing help with visas and facilitating land border crossings,” Jaiswal said. He added that multiple Indians have approached the mission for help in crossing into neighbouring countries safely and have been successfully supported in doing so. The MEA spokesperson urged all Indian nationals desiring to leave Iran via land routes to strictly follow the advisory issued by the Indian embassy. Brent hits $100 amid West Asia supply concerns: Indian seafarer killed in attack on oil tanker near Iraq’s Basra; crew rescued: Mumbai: Global oil prices surged sharply on Thursday as markets remained worried about supply disruptions linked to the ongoing tensions in West Asia. The rally in crude prices came despite the announcement of the largest coordinated release of emergency oil reserves by the International Energy Agency. Benchmark crude prices climbed more than 8 per cent during the day. West Texas Intermediate rose around 8.8 per cent to trade near $95 per barrel, while Brent crude gained about 8.9 per cent to hover around $100 per barrel. The surge reflected strong concerns among traders that global supply could tighten if the conflict disrupts oil shipments. The International Energy Agency announced that its 32 member countries would release a combined 400 million barrels of crude oil from their reserves. Pg 10 New Delhi: A US-owned oil tanker, MT Safesea Vishnu, sailing under the Marshall Islands flag, was attacked near Basra, Iraq, triggering a major fire onboard and resulting in the death of one Indian seafarer. The remaining 15 Indian crew members were safely evacuated. The Directorate General of Shipping (DGS) said on Thursday that the tanker, MT Safesea Vishnu, was struck by an unidentified object at around 2100 hrs UTC while The Liberia-flagged Shenlong conducting ship-to-ship (STS) cargo loading operations Suezmax, carrying Saudi crude from off Khor Al Zubair Port. The vessel, flagged in the Ras Tanura port, arrives at Mumbai Port on Thursday after transiting Marshall Islands and carrying about 48,000 metric through the Strait of Hormuz. IANS tonnes of naphtha, caught fire following the impact. Preliminary reports indicate that a white-coloured unmanned speedboat carrying explosives approached the vessel from the starboard side and rammed into it, triggering a major blaze onboard, the DGS said in a statement. All crew members abandoned the vessel and jumped into the water to escape the fire. They were later rescued by a tug engaged in the STS operation nearby. The Iraqi Coast Guard evacuated the 28 crew members, including 16 Indian and 12 Filipino nationals, and transported them safely towards the Port of Basra. The DGS confirmed that one Indian seafarer died in the incident. Among those rescued are 15 Indian nationals, including the ship’s master. Officials said the rescued crew members are currently safe and have been taken to a small island near Basra. The Indian Embassy in Baghdad is coordinating with Iraqi authorities to ensure the safety and welfare of the Indian nationals and to provide necessary assistance. Firefighting tugs remain deployed at the site and are working to contain the blaze on the vessel. The Directorate General of Shipping expressed condolences to the family of the deceased seafarer, and said the government is closely monitoring the situation in coordination with relevant authorities, noting that the incident underscores growing security risks for commercial shipping in the region. ‘Parliament rules apply to all, even PM’ Why BJP wants shorter Bengal polls, not a repeat of 2021’s prolonged elections STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE VIBHA SHARMA New Delhi, 12 March A day after a no-confidence motion against him was defeated in the Lok Sabha, Speaker Om Birla said the rules of Parliament apply to everyone, including the Prime Minister. “I stayed away from House proceedings on the day the Opposition gave notice of a motion seeking my removal as Speaker,” a solemn-looking Birla told members while chairing proceedings in the Lok Sabha. “Even the Prime Minister must obtain permission from the Speaker before delivering a speech,” Birla said, responding to accusations from Opposition members that the Chair had been partial in allowing discussions in the House. Mr Birla said it was the resp onsibility of every member to maintain the decorum of the House and added that the rules governing proceedings were part of established parliamentary traditions and had not been devised by him. All members have the freedom to speak within the framework of rules and procedures, he said. He added that as Speaker he has tried to ensure that all members get the opportunity to express their views in accordance with parliamentary procedures. India’s Parliament, he said, has a long tradition of both agree- ments and disagreements, which reflect the strength of democracy. Thanking the members for participating in the debate, Mr Birla said the discussion allowed representatives from across parties to raise their concerns. “Members of the House have strengthened its traditions and enhanced its prestige. I thank everyone for placing their trust in me. I assure you that I will always carry out my duties in an impartial and fair manner,” he said. Mr Birla also made a veiled reference to the Opposition’s demand to discuss an unpublished book by former Army chief M.M. Naravane on India’s face-off with China in the Galwan Valley in 2020. “Nobody has the special right to speak on any topic beyond the rules of the House,” he said, reminding that in the past lawmakers, including BJP's former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, submitted documents to the Chair before raising them for discussion. New Delhi, 12 March Amid anticipation over the announcement of election dates for the upcoming Assembly polls in West Bengal, three other states and a Union Territory, the BJP’s state unit is said to be rooting for a single-phase or, at most, a two-phase election, instead of a prolonged schedule that many believe amplified the ruling Trinamul Congress’s (TMC) advantages in 2021. During a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar earlier this week, majority of players, including the BJP, Congress and CPI(M), reportedly demanded that the polls be held in one or two phases. Apparently in 2021 the BJP had favoured a prolonged schedule. In fact, the eight-phase elections in West Bengal between 27 March and 29 April 2021 were among the longest election schedules in the history assembly elections in the country. Held amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the EC opted for staggered voting to manage logistics and health risks, it was said. However, while Bengal had an eight-phase schedule, elections in the other states were completed much more quickly. Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry voted in a single phase on 6 April 2021. Assam had three phases but they were completed in about 12 days. Officials say the ECI determines the number of polling phases for each state based on a specific set of administrative and security considerations. West Bengal required more phases due to its size, security deployment needs and logistical complexities. Political observers believe the extended schedule in 2021 favoured the incumbent TMC’s strong grassroots mobilisation to the disadvantage of the BJP. Led by Mamata Banerjee, the party won by a landslide, restricting the BJP, and for the first time in West Bengal’s political history, the Congress and the Left failed to win a single seat. Pointing to TMC’s deeply rooted grassroots force with extensive booth-level networks, analysts say now there are additional concerns due to the prevailing geopolitical situation that has led to disruptions in essentials such as LPG , triggering anxiety among consumers and businesses, sharpening and shaping political narratives. And amid the current geopolitical uncertainty, what happens in weeks is anyone’s guess. Apart from significantly increasing financial costs and added strain on security forces, extended campaigns also tend to intensify political rhetoric, as parties devise new ways to mobilise voters, often leading to sharper social or religious polarisation. Long schedules also cause voter fatigue, potentially lowering turnout in the final phases, in turn often favouring the party in power.