14032026-TTB-03.qxd 3/14/2026 12:18 AM Page 1 c m y b 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 146 NO. 71 | 24 PAGES | ~7.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  DELHI CBI GRILLS ANIL AMBANI’S SON IN ~228-CR BANK FRAUD CASE BUSINESS /thetribunechd CENTRE APPROVES ~288-CR ADDITIONAL FLOOD ASSISTANCE HP SANKALP: LOTS OF VOWS, BUT NOT AS MANY WOWS REVIEW INDIA, US CLOSE TO FINALISING DEAL ON CRITICAL MINERALS, SAYS GOR BACK PAGE saturday | 14 march 2026 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com New Iran top leader hurt, likely disfigured, says US Secy of War Enjoying killings: Trump | 2 Indians die in Oman | Tehran flies out sailors from Kochi Iran allows ‘friend’ India’s ships safe Hormuz passage Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service Amid the LPG supply crisis, people queue up to get refilled cylinders at a gas agency in Anantnag, Jammu and Kashmir, on Friday. PTI Daily LPG bookingsrisefrom55Lto75L Ujwal Jalali Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 13 The Centre on Friday acknowledged that daily LPG bookings had jumped from an average of 50–55 lakh to nearly 75 lakh, attributing the spike to panic buying. Around 50 lakh cylinders continue to be delivered each day, said Petroleum Ministry Joint Secretary Sujata Sharma. The Centre urged house- Amid panic buying, govt pushes for PNG use to ease pressure holds to shift to piped natural gas (PNG) wherever available and warned of strict action against hoarding and black marketing of LPG as it sought to manage rising demand triggered by panic booking amid tensions in West Asia. At an inter-ministerial briefing, officials from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said domestic LPG consumers were being prioritised and supplies remained stable, even as bookings had surged in recent days. Sujata Sharma said nearly 1.5 crore households currently use PNG, while another 60 lakh homes located close to pipeline networks could easily continued on page 7 edit: hormuz shock ‘First’casualty:Man dies standing in LPG queue in Barnala BARNALA: In what appears to be the first casualty linked to the ongoing LPG shortage in Punjab, a 66-year-old man allegedly died after suffering a cardiac arrest while standing in a queue to get a domestic LPG cylinder at Sehna village here on Friday. — TNS New Delhi, March 13 US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Friday claimed that the new Iranian Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, had been injured during the ongoing conflict while President Donald Trump said the Iranian regime and its military had been decimated. In another development, two Indian nationals were killed and 10 others injured in an attack in Oman’s Sohar early on Friday. At press conference in Washington DC, Hegseth said, “We know the new so-called, notso-supreme leader is wounded and likely disfigured.” The US Secretary of War also threatened to carry out the largest wave of strikes against Iran since the conflict began. “Today will be the highest volume of US strikes on Iran yet,” he said, adding that Russia and China were not a “factor” in the Iran war. Hegseth emphasised that the US was executing a precise plan to defeat, destroy and disable Iran’s operational military assets at an unprecedented continued on page 7 Ujwal Jalali Tribune News Service US SETS ~92.47-CRORE BOUNTY ON MOJTABA KHAMENEI 6 US OFFICIALS KILLED IN IRAQ PLANE CRASH All six crew members aboard a US military KC-135 refuelling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq are confirmed to have been killed, the US military said. AFTER INDIA, US LETS OTHERS BUY RUSSIAN OIL After India, the US has temporarily allowed the sale of Russian crude oil and petroleum products that were already loaded on vessels before March 12 to other countries. INDIGO’S FUEL CHARGE ON TICKETS FROM TODAY IndiGo will levy fuel charges ranging from ~425 to ~2,300 on domestic and international flight tickets from March 14 amid the steep surge in jet fuel prices amid the conflict. New Delhi, March 13 Iran on Friday assured that Indian vessels will receive safe passage through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, describing New Delhi as a “friend” with shared regional interests, even as India has begun consultations with fellow members of BRICS to evolve a “consensus” position on the escalating conflict in West Asia. The twin developments reflect India’s parallel diplomatic and strategic efforts to navigate the fallout of the intensifying regional crisis that has raised concerns over energy flows and maritime security. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, Iran’s Ambassador to India Mohammad Fathali said Tehran recognised India’s importance and would facilitate unhindered navigation for its ships. “Yes, because India is our friend. You will see it within two or three hours. We believe Centre proposes new Industry to invest ~10,000cr in Punjab ~1 lakh cr fund to ward Govt rolls out red carpet for business doyens at investors’ summit off West Asia fallout Ruchika M Khanna Tribune News Service Arrest rapper Badshah: Women panel to police Mukesh Tandon Tribune News Service Panipat, March 13 Renu Bhatia, Chairperson, Haryana State Commission for Women, on Friday directed Panipat and Panchkula police to arrest rapper Badshah and seize his passport after he failed to appear before the panel regarding the controversy linked to his song ‘Tateeree’. Bhatia had summoned Badshah before the commission in Panipat by 3 pm on March 13. A panel of his advocates appeared before the commission and said that Badshah couldn’t come due to some professional engagements. Bhatia, while interacting with mediapersons, said that he was continued on page 7 Aditya Rangroo Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 13 The government on Friday proposed a Rs 1 lakh crore Economic Stabilisation Fund to offset any potential negative impact of the ongoing West Asia conflict and to navigate global headwinds. Announcing the fund in the Lok Sabha while replying to the debate on the second batch of supplementary demands, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the fund would provide fiscal headroom to India. “The Economic Stabilisation Fund will provide fiscal headroom to allow India to respond to global headwinds such as the recent crisis, unanticipated supply chain disruptions, unexpected shocks to sub-sectors in Indian economy and any other event that may have significant fiscal implications. So in anticipation of what cannot be anticipated, we are coming up with Economic Stabilisation Fund,” she said. Later, the Lok Sabha approved — by a voice vote — supplementary demands for grants totalling an additional Rs 2.01 lakh crore to be spent for the remaining period of 2025–26 fiscal year. This was marked by repeated Opposition protests in the Well of the House. The second batch of supplementary demands for grants provides for inter-account transfers of Rs 1 lakh crore for the creation of the Economic Stabilisation Fund. Total outgo towards the fund will be Rs 57,381.84 crore. The remainder will come from savings. The minister said additional expenditure would not impact the fiscal deficit for financial year 2025-26, which will remain within the Revised Estimates (RE). continued on page 7 Mohali, March 13 Doyens of the industry, who came from all over the world to participate in the inauguration of the three-day Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit here, have committed to invest Rs 10,000 crore in Punjab by expanding their operations. From ArcelorMittal to JSW Group and Tata Steels to the home-grown conglomerate, Trident Group, many industrial houses today not only gave a thumbs up to Punjab’s New Industrial and Business Development Policy, but buoyed by their experience, also announced plans to expand their operations in the state, in turn assuring to create thousands of jobs for the youth. As the Punjab Government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Industry and Investment Promotion Minister Sanjeev Arora, rolled out the red carpet for the industry, leaders of both large industrial houses and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) said it was the indomitable CM Bhagwant Mann (3L) and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal (4L) with ArcelorMittal executive chairman Lakshmi Mittal (L), Punjab Chief Secretary KAP Sinha (2L), JSW Steel MD Sajjan Jindal (2R) and Hero Enterprise chairman Sunil Kant Munjal at the Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit in Mohali. RAVI KUMAR Punjabi entrepreneurial spirit that drew them to the state and that they were all for a sustainable industrial development model. Mann, while welcoming the industry leaders, said, “We are creating an ecosystem that propels growth. Our policy is demand-driven and covers all industrial sectors”. Industry Minister Arora said the government did not believe in just showcasing big industry faces at the summit. “Only those industrialists are present here who continued on page 7 LPG crunch revives chullahs in hinterland ‘No one will hire women’: SC junks Aakanksha N Bhardwaj & Raghav Guleria Jalandhar/Dharamsala, March 13 A quiet calm prevails across most of the region’s rural scape as villagers turn to good old chullahs amid a raging LPG crunch. Dwellers across villages of Punjab and remote Himachal Pradesh have begun reviving their hearths with the government yesterday permitting a switch to alternative fuels like coal and firewood as cooking gas stocks are prioritised. A visit today to some villages in Jalandhar and Kangra revealed a clear contrast between the city where urban dwellers are consumed with panic booking of gas and vil- Punjab, HP villagers turn to firewood for cooking Women cooking food on a traditional chullah in Kangra on Friday. lages where women are happily preparing traditional flavoured meals on their mud chullahs. “Saade layi koi khaas dikkat nahin aani, pareshani zyada shehar vaaleya nu aayegi (we won’t face much difficulty; it is the urban dwellers who will feel the pinch),” says Sarwan Singh, a resident of Lohian in Jalandhar, pointing to his family’s preferred meals — “makki di roti, kaali daal and sarson da saag”. Sarwan says even if the ongoing conflict prolongs, switching to chullahs won’t be a problem because almost every Punjab village household has a hearth even today. It’s just a question of reviving the traditional cooking practice that relies on firewood and coal — both permitted for use by the state pollution control boards after Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri yesterday said alternative fuels would be permitted. Puri also said rural and remote continued on page 7 petition on paid menstrual leave Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 13 The Supreme Court on Friday junked a PIL seeking an allIndia policy for paid menstrual leave for women, saying no one would give them jobs and that it would unintentionally reinforce gender stereotypes. “You don’t know the mindset of employers. They will not hire women if we make such a law,” a Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi told senior advocate MR Shamshad who represented petitioner Shailendra Mani Tripathi. As Shamshad said the Karnataka Government had for- Today’s issue is of 24 pages, including four-page Delhi Tribune. c m y b LAW CAN BE DAMAGING ❝ If they (employers) are giving (it) voluntarily, then it’s excellent. But the moment you introduce it as a compulsory condition in law, you do not know the damage it will do to the career of women. SC mulated a policy to allow menstrual leave for women and that the Kerala Government in 2013 granted menstrual leave for women students in all staterun universities, the Bench said such a decision could prove to be counter-productive. “Look at the practical reality in the job market. The more unattractive the human resource, the less is the possibility of assumption in the market. Will any employer be happy with the competing claims of other genders?” it asked. The petitioner wanted the top court to ensure that women students and working professionals were allowed period leave. Shamshad contended that many private organisations were voluntarily allowing period leave. “If they are giving (it) voluntarily, then it’s excellent. That’s a very good thing. But the moment you introduce it as a compulsory condition in law, you do not know the damage it continued on page 7 Delhi talks to BRICS members on conflict that Iran and India share common interests in the region,” Fathali said after attending the International Quds Day Conference in the capital. The assurance comes at a time when the Strait of Hormuz—through which a large share of global oil shipments passes—has emerged as a critical concern for India’s energy security amid the ongoing conflict. Meanwhile, one of the 28 Indian-flagged vessels stranded in the Strait of Hormuz during the ongoing hostilities in the region has since sailed away safely, a senior official said. The remaining 27 are operating near the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman, carrying 753 Indian seafarers. About 23,000 Indian seafarers are currently working across continued on page 7 Ambala STF nabs 3 men with 2 kg of suspected RDX AMBALA: The Ambala unit of the Special Task Force (STF), Haryana, arrested three persons and recovered around two kg of suspected RDX from their possession in the Barara area late Friday evening. The accused were identified as Ali Akbar, a resident of Ajmer; Anas, a resident of Meerut; and Jangveer of Barara. Ambala STF DSP Aman Kumar said the exact nature of the explosive would be ascertained after tests. INSIDE Shahlikelytosound pollbugleinMoga’s ‘BadlavRally’today CHANDIGARH: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to sound the BJP’s poll bugle during his maiden ‘Badlav Rally’ in Moga on Saturday. The party protocol and optics, besides the issues Amit Shah touches, were keenly discussed in the party on Friday. The arrangements are being put in place for langar to feed at least 60,000 persons, a massive stage to seat 80-odd leaders and 30 buses for each of the 117 Assembly segments to ferry supporters. INSIDE Oppositionsubmits noticesinParliament for removal of CEC NEW DELHI: Opposition parties on Friday submitted notices in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. According to a source, the notice lists seven charges against Chief Election Commissioner Kumar, including allegations of partisan and discriminatory conduct in office and deliberate obstruction of investigations into electoral irregularities. BACK PAGE