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US–Iran war timeline: Khamenei killed, Iran attacks US bases, oil crisis fears grow, Iranian ship sinks in Indian Ocean and more

Aditi
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US–Iran war timeline: Khamenei killed, Iran attacks US bases, oil crisis fears grow, Iranian ship sinks in Indian Ocean and more

As the US-Israel-Iran war entered its ninth day on Sunday (8th March), the tensions in the Middle East do not appear to be subsiding anytime soon. At least 1,332 people have reportedly been killed in Iran since the beginning of the conflict on February 28th, 2026. The ongoing military conflict involving the United States and Israel on one side and Iran on the other has gripped the entire West Asia.

The conflict further escalated after the US-Israeli strikes on Iran killed its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. After this, Iran responded more aggressively, drawing several other Middle Eastern countries, which were US allies or had US military assets, into the conflict. Iran launched air strikes on many countries in the Gulf region, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar, which has adversely affected global trade and fuel supplies.

Here is a timeline with details of all the events that have unfolded so far in the US-Israel-Iran war:

The Why and How of the current conflict

Prior to the 1979 Iranian Revolution, relations between Israel and Iran were cordial and Iran was the second Muslim country to recognise Israel in 1948. However, following the 1979 Revolution, the Iranian political landscape changed drastically with the overthrow of the Shah’s regime. The Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini regime that replaced the Shah in Iran was openly hostile towards Israel. The same hostility towards Israel continued in the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei regime as well.

Iran nurtured several terrorist groups, such as Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis, in the Middle East, which abhor Israel’s existence. It has also been aiding proxy wars against Israel. In addition to that, Iran has been violating the terms of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which set limits on its nuclear programme. The Iranian nuclear programme, which Israel views as a threat to its existence, has been a major factor behind Iran’s ongoing conflict with the US and Israel.

Iran’s current military hostilities with the US and Israel began last year when Israel warned Iran that the latter’s nuclear enrichment efforts could attract military action. Subsequently, on June 13th, 2025, Israel launched a 12-day war against Iran, during which it attacked Iran’s nuclear facilities, killing its senior commanders and nuclear scientists. Justifying its strikes on Iran, Israel said that the country was closer than ever to obtaining nuclear weapons.

Iran responded with ballistic missile strikes on Israel. This was followed by the US military striking between June 21st, 2025 and June 22nd, 2025, on Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. On June 23rd, 2025, Iran struck a US air base in retaliation in Qatar, which was followed by the announcement of a ceasefire by the US.

A timeline of the fresh US-Israel-Iran conflict

As an extension of last year’s military action against Iran, the US and Israeli defence forces launched fresh strikes on Iran on February 28th, 2028, under two separate coordinated military operations, viz. ‘Operation Epic Fury’ and ‘Operation Lion’s Roar’ (aka ‘Roaring Lion’). Israeli Defence Forces’ (IDF) Operation Lion’s Roar aims to completely annihilate Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities. On the other hand, the US military’s Operation Epic Fury has a broader objective of weakening Iran’s military infrastructure and disabling its terror funding.

February 28th, 2026: The Killing of Khamenei and other Iranian leadership, Iranian strikes on Gulf countries

The US and Israel launched a coordinated strike against Iran, killing Iran’s top leadership, including its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and some of his family members. The Iranian casualties included Iranian Defence Minister Nasirzadeh, the Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, Abdol Rahim Mousavi, and the head of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and security adviser Ali Shamkhani. Several sites across Iran, such as Tehran, Qom, Kermanshah, Isfahan, and Karaj, were targeted by the US and Israeli forces. While people opposed to the Khamenei regime celebrated Khamenei’s death, widespread protests were witnessed among the Shia Muslims in India against his death.

Responding to the US-Israeli strikes, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Israel and the US military bases, such as Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, and the US Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters in Qatar. Iran also attacked the Middle Eastern countries of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

Iranian missiles hit several parts of Abu Dhabi, including the Al-Dharfa US Base in the Southern part of the city. Similarly, 5 major blasts caused by Iranian strikes shook Dubai, leading to the closure of its airspace, which left many passengers stranded. One of the blasts damaged the Dubai International Airport, injuring four people. Zayed International Airport in the UAE’s Abu Dhabi also suffered damage. The landmark Burj Al Arab hotel also sustained severe damage and was engulfed in flames after debris from an intercepted drone struck the building.

March 1st, 2026: IRGC attack vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, UAE warns Iran against attacking its neighbours

The US and Israel launched strikes on hospitals and the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) headquarters in Tehran. They also targeted sites in Natanz city in the Isfahan province. Israeli forces bombed Beirut, Lebanon, killing the head of Hezbollah’s intelligence chief, Hussein Makled. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) attacked vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil shipping route. This affected global trade and energy supplies. The attack damaged several tankers and disrupted maritime traffic. This led to crude oil prices shooting up globally. While the petrol and diesel prices in India remain stable, the prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas registered a surge.

After Iranian strikes on Gulf countries, the UAE warned Iran against targeting its neighbours. Anwar Gargash, the diplomatic advisor to the UAE President, said that Iran’s attack on the Gulf countries is a “miscalculation”.

The same day, the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer gave the US permission to use RAF bases in Cyprus to tackle the growing threat from Iran. As the conflict in the Middle East escalated, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and condemned the attacks on the UAE.

March 2nd, 2026: Iran blocks the Strait of Hormuz, Israel attacks Hezbollah

In retaliation for the killing of the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Hezbollah launched strikes on Israel. In addition to that, Iran launched airstrikes on the US embassy in Kuwait and at the Bahrain port. Explosions caused by Iranian missiles were also reported in Jerusalem, Dubai, Abu Dhabi in the UAE, Doha in Qatar, and Manama in Bahrain. Notably, Iran completely blocked the Strait of Hormuz, followed by Qatar announcing a full halt to the production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and associated products.

The conflict further escalated as Israel launched a wave of airstrikes on the Hezbollah-controlled southern suburbs of Beirut in Lebanon and ordered evacuations. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz declared Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem a “target for elimination”. The statement came after Hezbollah launched strikes on Israel.

March 3rd, 2026: Iran continues to hit several regions in the Middle East

Iran attacked the US embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a drone, while hitting several sites in the region. Subsequently, the US State Department ordered a precautionary evacuation of non-emergency personnel and family in Kuwait after an Iranian strike in Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar and Jordan. Meanwhile, the US and Israel continued to launch strikes on Iran, particularly targeting its nuclear facilities and missile infrastructure. Israel also carried out strikes in Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah.

As the conflict in West Asia continued to deteriorate, PM Modi had telephonic conversations with Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, King of Bahrain, Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, and King Abdullah II of Jordan. He expressed his concern over the situation and reaffirmed India’s support for peace, security and well-being of the people in the Middle East.

March 4th, 2026: US sinks Iranian ship, Trump directs DFC to provide insurance for maritime trade

Iran denied attacking Turkey, a NATO member, after a ballistic missile entered its airspace. Meanwhile, the US and Israel continued to launch airstrikes in Iran, and Israel bombed multiple parts of Lebanon. Apart from that, a US submarine sank an Iranian warship, IRIS Dena, in the Indian Ocean Region, resulting in the death of 87 people out of 180 people onboard.

As the war in West Asia escalated, US President Donald Trump directed the United States Development Finance Corporation (DFC) to provide immediate political risk insurance and financial guarantees for maritime trade moving through the Gulf. The announcement came after concerns were raised regarding the security of keyshipping lanes amid the conflict.

As the Iranian ship came under the US attack near Sri Lanka’s coast, an attempt was made by the leftist media portals and the Congress ecosystem to suggest that India was supporting the US in attacking Iran. The leftist media portals and the Congress ecosystem widely shared a false statement made by former US Army Colonel Douglas Macgregor on a US news channel, where he claimed that the US was using Indian naval bases to attack Iran. However, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs intervened and strongly rejected the claims as “fake and false,” adding, “We caution you against such baseless and fabricated comments.”

March 5th, 2026: Azerbaijan accuses Iran of firing drones in its territory

As the US-Israel-Iran war entered its sixth day, Azerbaijan accused Iran of firing drones at its territory and ordered its southern airspace closed for 12 hours. Two drones reportedly landed on an airport and close to a school. The Azerbaijan government warned Iran that the attack would “not remain unanswered.” Following the previous day’s attack on the Iranian ship, Sri Lanka began offloading the 208-member crew of a second Iranian vessel, the IRIS Bushehr, off its coast.

The United States said that it sank more than 30 Iranian ships during the ongoing war.

March 6th, 2026: Israel continues strikes on Hezbollah sites in Beirut

Israel continued to attack Hezbollah in Beirut’s southern suburbs in a wave of airstrikes, after asking people to evacuate. According to the Israeli military, 26 waves of strikes were carried out overnight in the southern suburbs in Beirut, with targets including Iran-backed Hezbollah militia command centres and weapons.

March 7th, 2026: The US military claims to have hit 3000 targets in Iran

On the eighth day of the conflict, the US military’s Central Command said that it had struck over 3,000 targets in Iran and destroyed 43 Iranian warships since the beginning of the conflict on February 28th. US President Donald Trump asked Iran to surrender unconditionally.

On the other hand, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Saeed Khatibzadeh, said that the European nations that they will become “legitimate targets” for Iranian retaliation if they join the US and Israel, as Iran continued to attack, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

In response to Israel’s strikes in Beirut, Hezbollah fired rockets at multiple locations in northern Israel. Besides, Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, Amir-Saeid Iravani, accused Israel and the US of recognising “no red line” and committing war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Meanwhile, the UK extended support to Saudi Arabia as Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Qatar’s Hamad International Airport partially resumed operations via dedicated emergency routes. As flight disruptions occurred across the Middle East due to the ongoing conflict, Indian retail giant Lulu Group sent dedicated chartered cargo flights carrying fresh food supplies to the United Arab Emirates. The shipment was part of several more such shipments being arranged by the Group for transporting to the Gulf country.  

March 8th, 2026: Bahrain accused Iran of striking a desalination plant

On the ninth day of the conflict, Bahrain accused Iran of striking a desalination plant, as the Iranian President vowed to intensify attacks on the US sites across the region. Meanwhile, Israel carried out strikes at various sites in Iran, where an oil facility was attacked, and in Lebanon.

There is no sign of the conflict coming to an end anytime soon, as US President Trump and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu resolved to carry on the offensive against Iran. Trump made it clear that he is not willing to negotiate with Iran and hinted that the ongoing war would end only when Iran no longer has a functioning military or leadershipin power.

Modi govt planning to introduce different levels of restrictions on social media use by minors: Read how research highlights risks for children and why regulation is the need of the hour

Shriti Sagar
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Modi govt planning to introduce different levels of restrictions on social media use by minors: Read how research highlights risks for children and why regulation is the need of the hour

The Modi government is not in favour of imposing a blanket ban on social media for children. Instead, it is considering a more nuanced and graded approach that would introduce different levels of restrictions for users below the age of 18.

According to a report by the Indian Express, policymakers are planning to impose a framework that would classify children into different age groups and impose different restrictions on social media sites accordingly.

“There will be a certain set of restrictions for those in the 8-12 years age bracket, another set for 12-16 year olds, and different measures for those aged 16-18 years,” said a senior government functionary.

According to reports, the government may impose a new law to regulate social media sites used by children. This law may be introduced during the monsoon session of Parliament. This proposal is still under consideration within the government circles, and discussions may take place with all the stakeholders before the framework is prepared accordingly.

Sources said that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has already considered what can be done on the issue during internal meetings. Some of the measures that the government may adopt include restricting children’s access to social media during specific hours of the day or limiting the period that children can stay on social media.

According to one of the officials, the government is planning to adopt a policy that is similar to that of some other countries that restrict children’s access to social media during specific hours of the day. “Like how China has placed a strict one-hour period per day for children to access online gaming services… of course, all this will be linked to platforms also being required to gather parental consent,” said the official.

However, the government is keen to spark a discussion among the public on the issue before making any decisions on the same. The government’s major concern is to ensure that children’s security is guaranteed.

“We are in favour of restrictions, but not a ban,” said the government official.

The move comes at a time when several states and countries around the world are debating stricter controls on children’s access to social media.

Research studies highlight risks of social media for children

The growing debate over restricting social media for children is also supported by several academic studies and research papers that highlight its potential risks.

One such study published by researchers from Gujarat University titled “Studies on Social Media and Its Impact on Youth: Exploring Real-World Consequences” concluded that social media can have a significant negative impact on young people’s mental health and behaviour.

According to this research, excessive social media usage has been found to be linked to various mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and social isolation among young people using these social media sites. Other factors such as cyberbullying, addiction, sleep disorders, and negative body images have also been highlighted in this study as issues faced by teenagers using social media.

Researchers have found that social media sites are filled with carefully selected images and content, and this could create a sense of aspiration among young people using these sites. When young people constantly compare their lives with these images, they may end up feeling disappointed and dissatisfied with their own lives.

The study also found that many young people feel constant pressure to remain active on social media. This pressure, combined with the fear of missing out (often referred to as FOMO), can negatively affect their emotional well-being.

Another research paper published in the National Library of Medicine in the United States, titled, “The Use of Social Media in Children and Adolescents: Scoping Review on the Potential Risks” examined the potential risks of social media use among children and adolescents.

The findings of the research indicated that while social media may sometimes provide benefits like communication and information sharing, overuse or uncontrolled use may sometimes pose a risk to the mental and physical health of the user.

According to the findings of the research, overuse of social media has been linked to depression, anxiety, and addiction among young people. It has also been linked to unhealthy eating habits because of the exposure to junk foods that are advertised on social media.

The researchers also pointed out that children who spend more time on social media often develop unhealthy lifestyles that may lead to obesity.

In addition to the mental and physical health problems that may arise from social media use among children, the research identified several risks that children face while using social media. These risks include cyberbullying, online grooming, exposure to pornography, and exposure to inappropriate or harmful content.

The research also noted that overuse of social media may sometimes lead to physical problems like eye strain, headaches, and sleep problems. For many teenagers, social media may sometimes interfere with sleep because of the late hours spent on social media. This may then impact their physical and mental health negatively.

Researchers stressed the need for greater awareness among parents, healthcare professionals, and policymakers about these risks. They also recommended educating families about responsible internet usage and encouraging more face-to-face communication among young people.

Overall, the findings of these studies suggest that stronger regulations and guidance may be necessary to protect children from the harmful effects of uncontrolled social media use.

Australia becomes the first country to ban social media for children

Globally, several governments have already begun taking strong action to regulate children’s access to social media. Australia has emerged as the first nation in the world to impose a social media ban on children below the age of 16.

Under a landmark law that came into effect on 10th December last year, major social media platforms were required to block users below the age of 16 from creating accounts or accessing their services.

Companies that fail to comply with this law will be liable to pay a penalty of up to 49.5 million Australian dollars.

This ban includes a number of social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube, Reddit, Twitch, and Kick.

Children below 16 are not allowed to create accounts on these social media platforms, and their existing accounts have also been deactivated.

This ban has been imposed by the Australian government after expressing concerns over social media platforms, as they encourage users to spend more time online. Officials said these platforms frequently expose children to content that could negatively affect their mental health and overall well-being.

A study conducted by the Australian government in 2025 revealed that “96% of children aged between 10 and 15 years old were already using social media.” The study also revealed that “seven out of ten of these children had already been exposed to harmful online content.”

The harmful online content included “violent or misogynistic material, as well as posts glorifying eating disorders or self-harm.”

The study also revealed that “one in seven children had been subject to grooming behaviour by adults or older individuals online, while more than half of the children had been the victims of cyberbullying.”

To enforce the ban, the Australian government has put the responsibility on the shoulders of the social media companies instead of the children or the parents. “To enforce the ban, social media companies would be required to take ‘reasonable steps’ to ensure that minors cannot access their sites.”

Several countries are considering similar bans

Following Australia’s move, many other countries have started discussing similar measures to regulate social media access for children.

Denmark is reportedly preparing to introduce a ban on social media for children under the age of 15. The proposed legislation could be implemented by mid-2026, and the government has already secured support from both coalition and opposition parties.

France has also taken steps toward similar regulation. Lawmakers in the country’s lower house passed a bill in January that would ban social media for children under 15. French President Emmanuel Macron has supported the proposal as a way to address excessive screen time among young people.

In Germany, a proposal has been introduced to ban social media use for children below the age of 16. However, discussions are still ongoing within the country’s coalition government, and some political leaders remain cautious about introducing a complete ban.

Greece is also reportedly preparing to announce restrictions on social media use for children under 15, although no formal legislation has been introduced yet.

In Asia, Indonesia has announced plans to ban children under 16 from accessing major online platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X, Bigo Live, and Roblox.

Malaysia has also indicated that it plans to implement a similar ban on social media usage for children under 16 within the next year.

Meanwhile, Slovenia is drafting legislation that would restrict children under 15 from accessing popular social media platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram.

Spain has also announced plans to introduce a ban for users under 16, although the proposal still requires parliamentary approval before it can become law.

The United Kingdom is also studying the possibility of introducing similar restrictions. Officials have said the government will first consult parents, young people, and civil society organisations before making a final decision.

The debate around social media restrictions for children is increasingly gaining momentum not just in India but across the world. Experts believe that regulating children’s access to digital platforms may now be the need of the hour, given the rapid rise in screen time among young users.

Many psychologists and education experts have warned that excessive use of social media can significantly affect children’s attention span and concentration levels. With constant exposure to short videos, notifications, and rapidly changing content, children may find it difficult to focus on long-form learning activities such as reading, studying, or even classroom discussions.

OpIndia Exclusive: Network facilitating marriages between Muslim men and Hindu women exposed at Ahmedabad court? Registrar Syed faces serious allegations

લિંકન સોખડિયા
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OpIndia Exclusive: Network facilitating marriages between Muslim men and Hindu women exposed at Ahmedabad court? Registrar Syed faces serious allegations

A recent case from Ahmedabad’s Gheekanta Court has raised serious questions after a Muslim youth and a Hindu girl reportedly arrived at the marriage registration office dressed as lawyers so that no one could recognise them. The incident has now taken a more troubling turn after details emerged suggesting that the registrar himself may have been involved in facilitating the marriage. Registrar MM Syed had allowed the couple to enter the marriage registration office through a back door nearly two hours before the office was scheduled to open.

OpIndia Gujarati’s investigation into the matter has revealed further details suggesting that registrar Syed was helping Muslim youths not only from Ahmedabad but also from other districts and states to register marriages with Hindu girls at the same court office. The matter first came to light on 4 March and since then several details have continued to emerge.

Mother says daughter was taken away months earlier

In this case, the Hindu girl’s mother said that the accused Salman is a resident of Pethapur and that he had taken her daughter away several months earlier. According to her, when Salman came to the court in 2026 to register the marriage, it came to light that the Hindu girl was pregnant.

She further said that Salman was pressuring her daughter to perform nikah with him. The incident created tension inside the court premises and members of the legal fraternity began examining the matter more closely.

Data suggests several such marriages were registered

To understand the matter further, OpIndia visited the Gheekanta Court and examined available records. During the examination of data from the last four months, details emerged indicating that registrar Syed was extensively involved in facilitating marriages between Muslim men and Hindu girls.

Records from December 2025 to January 2026 showed that in just this two month period, 11 marriages were registered where the groom was Muslim and the bride Hindu.

The matter did not stop there. Some of these cases involved individuals coming from outside Gujarat. According to the data available, some Muslim youths had come from Uttar Pradesh while others had travelled from Mumbai to register marriages with Hindu girls at this same registration office.

After the recent incident came to light, lawyers submitted a complaint demanding that registrar Syed be made a co accused in the case and dismissed from his post. OpIndia spoke to one of the lawyers who was part of the complaint.

Lawyer recounts what happened inside the registrar’s office

Sudha Christian, a lawyer and notary working at the Gheekanta Court, spoke to OpIndia about what happened on the day of the incident.

She said that on the day of the incident the girl’s family members had arrived outside the court around 10 am and were asking to go inside the registrar’s office. They were told that the office would open at 11 am. However, the family insisted that their daughter was already inside the office.

Christian said she had some work inside the office and therefore went inside. When she entered, she saw a Hindu girl and a Muslim youth standing inside the registrar’s office dressed in lawyers’ clothes. Another woman lawyer named Manisha and a police constable were also present there.

Christian said she questioned why the Hindu girl had been allowed entry in a lawyer’s coat and why the registrar was not objecting. At that moment, the police constable closed the office door and said that the door would not be opened until the marriage was completed because opening it could create a commotion outside.

Plan was to disguise the couple as lawyers

Christian said she immediately informed her friend, lawyer Meena. Following this, advocate Meena Barot arrived and informed others that a girl had entered the registrar’s office disguised as a lawyer.

Christian said the plan had been devised by registrar M. M. Syed and advocate Mittal Jadeja. According to her, they planned that if the couple entered in the guise of lawyers no one would question them and the marriage would take place quietly. She further said that advocate Mittal Jadeja had withdrawn the marriage vakalatnama.

She said this amounted to fraud because only licensed advocates are permitted to wear the lawyer’s coat inside court premises. Christian also said that despite the girl’s parents being present outside, registrar Syed did not allow the girl to meet them. She said that once she took photographs and circulated them, people gathered there and the matter came to light.

‘Fraud committed while wearing a lawyer’s coat’

Another lawyer and notary, Ragini Dave, also spoke about the complaint filed by advocates. Dave said that on the day of the incident the girl’s parents, several lawyers and members of Hindu organisations were present in the court premises. According to her, the issue was not merely about a marriage but about fraud committed by wearing the black coat associated with the legal profession.

She said that police personnel from Karanj, Madhupura and Shahpur police stations were present there and a large number of advocates protested. Dave said that the police inspectors and the DySP of the concerned police stations were present and demands were placed before them for action.

She said that during the confrontation the couple started claiming that the coat worn by the girl was not a lawyer’s coat but that of a waiter. Dave pointed out that there is a clear difference between the coat worn by a waiter and that worn by a lawyer.

The lawyer community submitted an application demanding action against the accused and registration of an FIR. The complaint was submitted at Karanj police station. Dave further said that normally on the day of marriage girls wear traditional attire such as choli and sari and that people do not get married wearing black coats and uniforms. According to her, the arrangement indicated an attempt to mislead people.

She said that advocate Mittal Jadeja had brought the couple to the registrar’s office and that the entire plan was designed to mislead those present.

Couple was taken inside the ‘green corridor’

Dave further explained that normally when couples arrive for marriage registration they are made to stand outside registrar Syed’s glass cabin. In this case, however, the couple had been seated inside the cabin.

She said they were taken inside what is referred to as the “green corridor”. No lawyers were allowed to enter that area, and the girl was also not allowed to meet her family members waiting outside.

Sudha Christian said that the application submitted by lawyers mentioned Section 319(2) of the BNS, under which disciplinary action can be taken by the Bar Council and complaints of cheating can be registered.

She said that appearing inside court premises as a bogus lawyer should attract punishment. Christian also questioned how the registrar allowed unknown individuals to enter the office where even lawyers are normally not permitted and where important documents are stored.

Questions over challan payment timing

Christian also raised questions regarding the payment of the challan in the case. She said that challans are not normally accepted after 4 pm, yet in this case the payment was made around 6 pm. She said this also raises questions about the manner in which the process was carried out.

She further said that another person named Wasim was also connected to the matter. Wasim had earlier worked at the office but had been transferred. According to Christian, he still functioned as an administrator for Syed.

Christian said that Syed and Mittal Jadeja together planned the entire arrangement and that both should be removed from their positions. She added that it is possible that similar arrangements may have been carried out elsewhere by registrars and lawyers who guide such cases.

She also said that the girl’s parents had been visiting the office for about a month and had requested the registrar to inform them if their daughter appeared there. According to her, Syed had told them that he would inform them.

However, when the girl eventually came to the office, she was kept inside the green corridor and was not allowed to meet her parents.

Registrar stopped cases involving Muslim girls and Hindu boys

During the investigation, OpIndia also received information suggesting that when cases involved a Muslim girl and a Hindu boy, registrar Syed would not allow the marriage to take place.

According to advocates, he would somehow inform the Muslim girl’s parents or relatives and in many instances the marriage would be stopped. OpIndia spoke to advocate Abhi Rajput, who said he had witnessed one such case.

Rajput said that two months earlier a Hindu boy and a Muslim girl had approached him and both wanted to marry each other of their own free will. However, as the end of the mandatory 30 day notice period approached and the wedding date drew closer, the Muslim girl’s parents were incited not to allow the marriage.

Rajput said that when the couple reached the registrar’s office on the day of the marriage, the girl’s parents suddenly arrived and took her away. He said the boy was not financially strong and therefore did not pursue further legal action.

Rajput said that when a person holds a registrar level post, which is a Class 2 government position, people expect fairness and justice. In such circumstances, he said, cases should not be handled in a one sided manner on the basis of religion.

Advocates demand action against registrar

Rajput further said that when such actions take place, fundamental rights are also affected. He said that registrars who behave in such a manner should be removed from service and legal action should be initiated against them.

Rajput also said that after his experience he posted a video about the matter on social media. Following this, several advocates commented that when the girl is Muslim and the boy Hindu, the registrar obstructs the process.

He said that in such cases Syed creates problems during documentation and harasses applicants over documents. Rajput said that he had also received information suggesting that many cases involving Muslim boys and Hindu girls from different places had been registered at this same office.

Questions raised about loopholes in the marriage registration process

The developments surrounding this case have raised larger questions about the functioning of the marriage registration system. Advocates said that if government officials begin showing bias on the basis of religion and if the uniform of lawyers, who are expected to protect the legal system, is misused to deceive others, it undermines the credibility of the legal framework itself.

Lawyers also said that the incident highlights how loopholes in the current marriage registration process may be exploited by officials and intermediaries.

Against this backdrop, the proposed reforms and new marriage registration laws being considered by the Gujarat government are being seen by some as necessary steps. Measures such as greater transparency in the registration process, mandatory presence or notification of parents or guardians and restrictions on the discretionary powers of registrars may be required to prevent such networks from operating.

Advocates said that unless strict legal safeguards are implemented, the court premises, which are considered a place of justice, could continue to be misused for such activities.

This report was originally published in OpIndia Gujarati which can be checked here.

India provides safe harbour to Iranian Navy ship Lavan in Kochi, while IRIS Dena was made to wait for 11 hours after requesting to berth at Galle Port in Sri Lanka

Shriti Sagar
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India provides safe harbour to Iranian Navy ship Lavan in Kochi, while IRIS Dena was made to wait for 11 hours after requesting to berth at Galle Port in Sri Lanka

The US-Iran war has already claimed one Navy vessel outside of the Persian Gulf, in the Indian Ocean Region, when a US submarine torpedoed and sank the IRIS Dena on March 4. In the latest development, Sri Lanka has taken control of an Iranian warship, the IRIS Bushehr, on late Thursday, 5th March, after the vessel sought emergency assistance while anchored outside the nation’s territorial waters.

The move came just a day after a US submarine sank another Iranian warship, IRIS Dena, on Wednesday, 4th March, in the same region, resulting in the deaths of at least 32 crew members.

Sri Lankan Navy officials started transferring more than 200 crew members from the seized IRIS Bushehr to the mainland on Friday, 6th March. Navy spokesman Commander Buddhika Sampath stated that the crew members were first transferred to the port city of Colombo before being taken to a naval base located at Welisara, 20 km north of the capital, after medical checks and immigration procedures.

“The disembarkation is in progress,” Sampath said while confirming the operation.

Sri Lankan authorities said the ship had initially requested permission to dock on Wednesday, 4th March, after one of the engines on the ship had malfunctioned. However, after several hours of negotiations with the Iranians and the captain of the ship, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake granted permission for the ship to dock at the eastern port of Trincomalee instead of the commercial port in Colombo.

In a statement on the matter, the President said, “Our position has been to safeguard our neutrality while demonstrating our humanitarian values.” 

He added that Sri Lanka had intervened to protect lives while following international maritime conventions. “SriLanka intervened in a way that demonstrated our commitment to international conventions, protecting the reputation and dignity of our country, and protecting human lives,” he said.

There are 53 officers, 84 cadet officers, 48 senior sailors, and 23 sailors on the Bushehr ship. Some of the crew will remain on the ship while it is being taken to Trincomalee by the Sri Lankan authorities, while the rest will be hosted at naval facilities.

India shelters Iranian ship IRIS Lavan at Kochi

Another Iranian naval vessel had already received assistance from India earlier in the week.

Days before the sinking of IRIS Dena, Iran approached India requesting urgent docking permission for another ship, IRIS Lavan, which had also been present in the region for the International Fleet Review and the MILAN-2026 naval exercise hosted by India.

According to media reports, Iran sent the request on 28th February, the same day that the United States and Israel launched the first wave of strikes on Iran under their “Epic Fury” offensive, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran told Indian authorities that the ship had developed “technical” issues and needed immediate docking. India approved the request on the next day on 1st March, allowing the vessel to enter Kochi port.

The IRIS Lavan eventually docked at Kochi on Wednesday, 4th March. Its crew of 183 sailors has since been accommodated at naval facilities in the city.

As per reports, India’s decision may have saved the ship and its crew from the fate that later befell IRIS Dena. While the Lavan was safely docked in Kochi, the Dena was torpedoed by a US submarine in international waters south of Sri Lanka.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi later said that IRIS Dena had been a “guest of the Indian Navy” before it was attacked.

IRIS Dena was offered safe harbour too, says report

The Iranian frigate had participated in the MILAN multilateral naval exercise organised by India and attended by warships from dozens of countries.

The warship had left Visakhapatnam after taking part in the International Fleet Review and the MILAN-2026 naval exercise, which concluded on 25th February. The ship then headed towards international waters on its way back to Iran.

According to a report by the Indian Express, New Delhi had offered the vessel shelter at one of its ports as the situation in the region became increasingly tense after the first round of US-Israeli strikes on Iran on 28th February.

However, the Dena continued its journey instead of taking shelter.

IRIS Dena was made to wait hours in Galle, Opposition asks the Lankan govt ‘why’?

On the early morning of Wednesday, 4th March, the frigate was sailing about 20 nautical miles off the coast of Galle, in Sri Lankan waters, when it was attacked.

A US submarine torpedoed the vessel, sinking it in one of the rare instances since the Second World War where a submarine destroyed a surface warship. The ship was carrying around 180 crew members.

Reports suggest that Iran has asked Sri Lanka to allow it to move the war vessel to a safer location. The Sri Lankan President, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, was holding talks with his team to decide the response to the request. The ship stayed about 40 nautical miles off Sri Lanka’s southern coast for “nearly 11 hours” awaiting clearance.

The attack occurred hundreds of miles from the Gulf region, where both US and Israeli forces are conducting attacks on Iran.

Sri Lankan naval authorities launched a search and rescue mission as soon as they received a distress call at about 5:30 am.

The Sri Lankan Navy managed to rescue 32 sailors from the sea. However, military rescuers later recovered 87 bodies from the wreckage. Around 60 people were believed to have gone missing following the attack.

Officials in the southern Sri Lankan city of Galle confirmed that the survivors were being treated in the hospital for serious injuries.

The Indian Navy aids in the search and rescue operation

After receiving the distress call from IRIS Dena on Thursday, 4th March, India initiated search and rescue operations in the area.

The Indian Navy deployed a P-8i long-range maritime patrol aircraft and INS Tarangini, a ship, for rescue operations. Additionally, another ship, INS Ikshak, also set off from Kochi towards the search operation for the missing crew members.

Indian officials stated that more aircraft with air-droppable life rafts were kept on standby in case they were needed for rescue operations.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Navy ships were scanning the waters for any signs of the missing crew members.

The sinking of IRIS Dena was a major escalation of the conflict between Iran, the US, and Israel.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi condemned the attack and described it as an “atrocity at sea”. He warned that the United States would “bitterly regret” the strike.

The incidents involving the Bushehr, Lavan and Dena illustrate how the ongoing conflict involving Iran is now spreading far beyond the Middle East.

The Indian Ocean, which is one of the busiest waterways in the world for international trade, has suddenly emerged as an important strategic area where many nations have to walk a tightrope between politics, humanitarian crises, and national security concerns.

The decision of India to allow IRIS Lavan to dock at Kochi was clearly an effort by India to prevent any further escalation of the conflict and protect life in the region.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, has attempted to maintain its policy of neutrality even as it responded to humanitarian crises in the Indian Ocean. Sri Lankan President Dissanayake made this position clear when he said, “We have followed a very clear stance. We will not be biased to any state, nor will we be submissive to any state.”

It is not clear why there was a delay in response from the Sri Lankan government when IRIS Dena requested to berth at Galle Port, though port berthing permission is usually subject to multiple factors.

Lankan leader Namal Rajapaksa has stated that the government should make its position clear on the issue. Speaking to the media, Namal referred to an instance during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, when the Sirimavo Bandaranaike government in the island nation had allowed refuelling for a Pakistani aircraft on humanitarian grounds after India closed its airspace.

US boasts about un-sanctioning its own sanction on Russian oil, admits that India buying Russian crude will keep global oil prices stabilised

Sanghamitra
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US boasts about un-sanctioning its own sanction on Russian oil, admits that India buying Russian crude will keep global oil prices stabilised

The US Treasury Department has been tying itself in knots trying to convince the world that they control India’s energy purchase priorities. On March 6, the Treasury Department issued a notice announcing that it is ‘allowing’ India a 30-day waiver to purchase Russian crude currently in tankers at sea.

Speaking at a news show, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright was seen explaining how the 30-day waiver ‘allowed’ by them was necessary for the stabilisation of global oil prices because Russian crude getting refined at India’s refineries reduces the burden on global refineries and keeps oil prices stabilised at a time when there is a supply crunch.

“China does not treat their suppliers well. So there is a bunch of floating barrels just sitting there. So we have reached out to our friends in India, we said ‘buy their oil, bring it into your rifineries. That puts stored oil into the Indian refineries and releases the pressure on other refineries around the world. …We have a number of measures like it that is short term and temporary. There is no change in our policy towards Russia. This is a very brief change in policy, just to keep oil prices down”, Chris Wright stated on ABC News Live.

On another news show, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox, “Yesterday, Treasury agreed to let our allies in India start buying Russian oil that is on the water. The Indians have been very good actors. We had asked them to stop buying sanctioned Russian oil, and they did. They are going to substitute it with US oil. But there is a temporary gap in oil around the world. So we have given them permission to accept Russian oil. We may un-sanction other Russian oil too. There is one thing Treasury can do here. There are hundreds of millions of barrels of sanctioned crude on the water, and in essence, by un-sanctioning them, the Treasury can create supply. We are looking at that. We are going to be announcing measures to bring relief to the market.”

He added that there is an ‘other side’ of this change in stand, that can keep oil prices sustainable. 

The US lies and hypocrisy

The only thing more glaring here than the obvious lie that the US controls India’s oil purchases is the sheer hypocrisy of the US government to insinuate that their sanctions are a blessing for the world, and when they pretend to un-sanction their own sanctions, it is again for the benefit of the world.

India never stopped buying Russian oil in the first place. India’s purchase has decreased or increased depending on supply and economy since it started purchasing Russian crude in large quantities in 2022 (because it was available at discounted prices). Regardless of US claims of making India “stop” buying Russian oil, India imported over 20% of its crude from Russia in February 2026.

The Indian government has told time and again, even in their parliament, that Indian purchase of crude, any crude, is a sovereign decision driven by national interest. India imports over 80% of its crude oil, and India buys wherever it is available cheaply. 

The US claims of ‘stopping’ and ‘allowing’ are both false 

Secondly, here, the Trump administration itself is admitting that India buying Russian crude keeps global prices down. This is something that was corroborated by India’s Ministry of External Affairs last year when it said that the USA government had conveyed to them that India should keep buying Russian oil to keep the global oil market sustainable. The US government flipped on its own stand when it slapped 25% additional tariffs on India for buying Russian oil.

Bessent and Wright may have to keep their domestic MAGA fanbase appeased, and for that, they need to proclaim time and again that they are the ones controlling the global oil purchase through sanctions. But the reality is India has always bought oil as per its needs and national interests. India may have avoided certain sanctioned entities due to legal issues, but Russian oil has been flowing into India consistently since 2022.

As of now, an increasing number of tankers carrying Russian crude are docking at Indian ports. The world is in the grip of a potential supply crunch of oil and gas because, in a sad irony, the USA has started another war.

Do Islamists wait for Hindu festivals? From India to the UK, Hindus attacked during Holi: Read 8 cases

सौम्या सिंह
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Do Islamists wait for Hindu festivals? From India to the UK, Hindus attacked during Holi: Read 8 cases

Attacks by Islamists on Hindus during their festivals have become a disgraceful norm over the years. On the occasion of Holi, reports of violence against Hindus emerged from various parts of the country. In some places, Hindus celebrating Holi were assaulted, while in others, Islamists rioted over Holi colours splashed on mosque walls.

Situations became tense as disputes escalated in some areas, including Bihar, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and even the United Kingdom’s London. In most areas, the situation could be brought under control only after police intervention.

Year changes, Hindu festival changes, but attacks by Islamists driven by intolerance and sheer hatred for Hindus don’t. OpIndia has been documenting such incidents over the years during Ram Navami, Hanuman Jayanti, Deepawali, Durga Pooja, and Holi, among other festivals.

The following is a detailed account of recent attacks on Hindus during Holi.

Clashes erupt in Bihar’s Munger over colour splashing on a Muslim man

On Holi, tensions erupted between Hindus and Muslim over the use of colours in Dom Tola, Rampur Colony, located in the Adarsh ​​police station area of ​​Munger district, Bihar. Hindu youths celebrating Holi splashed colours on some Muslim passersby, leading to a heated argument.

According to eyewitnesses, seeing the situation heating up, some anti-social elements tried to incite violence, and there was even the possibility of stone-pelting. Upon receiving information, Adarsh ​​Police Station Chief Pankaj Kumar Paswan arrived at the scene with police forces and calmed the situation by talking to both sides. Later, SDPO Abhishek Anand also arrived and appealed to the public to maintain peace. The administration has increased police patrols in the area.

Dehradun: Salim assaulted a vegetable seller

A case of assault on a vegetable vendor by some Muslim youths has been reported at Laxman Chowk in the Kotwali Nagar area of Uttarakhand’s Dehradun. According to the victim, Laxmi Devi Sonkar, a teenager, bought fruit and returned a short time later, abusing her.

It is alleged that he attacked her with fruit, slapped her, and threatened to kill her. When she resisted, he pushed her onto the road and ran away. The woman said that the accused had previously assaulted her mother.

Based on the complaint, police have registered a case against Salim, a resident of Shiv Nagar Colony, Kanwali Road. Police reinforcements were deployed in the area following the incident due to tensions.

Hindu man cleaning temple attacked in Mirzapur

A man and his mother were attacked while cleaning a temple on Holi in Raipur village, located in the Vindhyachal Kotwali area of ​​Mirzapur district in Uttar Pradesh. Village resident Anil Kumar Gupta, who is the cow protection chief of the Vindhyachal block of the VHP and Bajrang Dal, was cleaning around the ancient Shiva temple in the morning.

Meanwhile, some Muslim men attacked them with bricks, stones, and iron rods. Their 60-year-old mother, Budhni Devi, who arrived after hearing the commotion, was also beaten. Police rushed both injured to the hospital, but due to their critical condition, they were later referred to the district hospital.

Police have registered a case against Angoor Ali, Hasmat Ali, Saddam Ali, and Naushad Ali, among others, and arrested the accused. Given the seriousness of the incident, a police camp has been set up in the village as a precautionary measure.

Anil Gupta said that some Muslims are constantly encroaching on the temple grounds to build houses. He renovated the ancient temple two years ago. Ever since, they have been trying to attack him. Gupta added that Muslims even abuse him when he goes to the temple to clean it.

Communal tensions in Rajasthan’s Tonk

In the Sanghpura neighbourhood of the Old Tonk police station area of ​​Rajasthan’s Tonk city, an incident of violence, stone-pelting occurred on Holi night (4th March). The incident occurred when a Muslim family was returning home after prayers, and a quarrel broke out due to an old rivalry.

Following the incident, tension escalated in the area. Police from three police stations and RAC personnel were deployed to control the situation. DSP Mrityunjay Mishra stated that the situation is currently under control and urged people to ignore rumours.

Ruckus erupts during Holi procession in Rajasthan’s Bundi

After an incident of colour-throwing during a Holi procession in Alod village, Bundi district, Rajasthan, some local Muslims created a ruckus. Muslims alleged that Hindus deliberately threw black paint on the mosque. Upon receiving information, a large police force led by Additional Superintendent of Police Uma Sharma arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control.

The police are reported to have been deployed in the village as a precautionary measure. Previously, during the Ram Navami procession, the Muslims had created a ruckus over the DJ, leading to tensions.

Hindu women were prevented from praying in Gujarat’s Bharuch

In Gujarat’s Bharuch, Muslims created a ruckus and attempted to stop Hindu women who arrived to pray. Various sources state that the disputed mosque was built from the remains of Hindu and Jain temples.

In the viral video of the incident, women are seen praying within the disputed complex, carrying flowers, coconuts, and offerings. Muslims not only protested this but also demanded action. The disputed Jama Masjid is currently under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India. The Sant Samaj claims that the site was originally the ‘Samali Vihar’ Jain temple and the birthplace of Chakradhar Swami.

Hindus assaulted in Punjab’s Mohali

A dispute erupted during Holi celebrations in the Mataur village market in Sector 70, Mohali, Punjab. Anti-Ambedkarite activist Rajesh Valmiki Chauhan alleged that a group of approximately 15-16 extremists attacked him in the Mataur village market near the mosque.  

Speaking to OpIndia, Rajesh said that he was returning home with his brother when he saw some people creating a ruckus on the road and attacking migrants from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar who were returning home after celebrating Holi.

Rajesh alleged that they were also armed with sticks and rods. He said that when he questioned them and protested the attack, saying that people were only celebrating their festival and such actions were against the law and the Constitution, the situation escalated.

Attack on Holi celebrations in London

A controversy also erupted during a Holika Dahan event held in the Harrow area of ​​London, UK. Organised by the International Siddhashram Shakti Kendra, the event had received permission from the local council. During the event, some Islamic extremists from a nearby mosque disrupted the event.

They destroyed the sound system and began threatening people. Later, they returned with about 20 people and attacked worshippers again. Police arrived at the scene about an hour later and began investigating. Attending the event were prominent figures such as two mayors, the commander of the London Fire Brigade, the portfolio holder of Harrow Council, and the leader of the Labour group.

Despite such widespread civic and political support, extremists fearlessly targeted the event. The Hindu community in Britain is now demanding the same protection and respect as other communities.

Hindus have been targeted during festivals in the past as well

This isn’t the first time there’s been an attempt to incite tension around a Hindu festival. In previous years, violence targeting Hindus during Holi has been widespread. Sometimes threats are used, and sometimes Hindus celebrating Holi are directly attacked.

Nuh in Haryana has been in the news several times in the past few years due to reports of tension and communal violence. Incidents of unrest have occurred here, particularly during religious processions, forcing the administration to take steps such as curfews, internet shutdowns, and heavy police deployments.

Uttar Pradesh police have filed an FIR  against nine YouTubers and social media influencers for spreading false and misleading information on social media about Mathura’s world-famous Lathmar and Laddumar Holi. These individuals circulated controversial video clips from last year, linking them to Holi in 2026.

Similarly, an attempt was made to disrupt the atmosphere during Holi in 2025. On February 22, 2025,  reports emerged from the Baradari police station area of ​​Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, that some Islamic fundamentalists had threatened Hindu youths with corpses if they celebrated Holi. When the matter came to light, the police investigated and took action against Ayaan, Salman, Aman, and Rehan, among others.

Hindu students at Aligarh Muslim University requested permission to celebrate Holi, but the administration flatly refused, stating that they would not change the rules and that those who wanted to celebrate Holi should stay in the hostels. However, later reports emerged that after much effort, Hindu students were granted permission to play Holi. 

The examples above are just a glimpse of a few incidents, but the reality is far more disturbing. Despite there being a pattern of Muslims attacking Hindus using one excuse or another during Hindu festivals, several such incidents do not even make to media headlines, let alone a nationwide outrage and policymakers taking concrete action.

Regardless of what the US claims, India has continued purchasing Russian oil: Read how ‘wherever we find it cheap’ has been India’s consistent policy

Rukma Rathore
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Regardless of what the US claims, India has continued purchasing Russian oil: Read how ‘wherever we find it cheap’ has been India’s consistent policy

On 6th March (Indian Time), the United States gave a 30-day window to New Delhi to buy crude oil from Russian tankers already in the sea, as the Iran-Israel conflict has disrupted the international supply chains. The official order pertains exclusively to the shipments that are presently at sea. The statement further conveyed that it does not include the permission to obtain any such purchases from the heavily-sanctioned Iran.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent lauded President Donald Trump for making a significant decision to tackle the impending threat to global energy supply without offering any advantages to Russia. “His energy agenda has resulted in oil and gas production reaching the highest levels ever recorded. To enable oil to keep flowing into the global market, the Treasury Department is issuing a temporary 30-day waiver to allow Indian refiners to purchase Russian oil,” he wrote.

“Allow” was the most important word in that message. The Trump Administration has insisted that it is “allowing” India a waiver to make essential crude oil purchases from Russian tankers. To add to their boasting, Bessent even presented it as some wise benevolence from his President Donald Trump.

Bessent then tacitly told India to acquire oil from America by invoking the close ties between the two nations. He added, “This deliberately short-term measure will not provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government as it only authorises transactions involving oil already stranded at sea. India is an essential partner of the United States, and we fully anticipate that New Delhi will ramp up purchases of US oil. This stop-gap measure will alleviate pressure caused by Iran’s attempt to take global energy hostage.”

Nearly 40% of India’s oil imports come from the Gulf with a large amount being shipped through the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz which is currently controlled by Iran. The Modi government earlier announced that the country is in a very comfortable position with regard to energy security and is assessing its energy situation twice a day. The stock position is likewise comfortable with daily replenishments. Furthermore, India is also communicating with other sources to ensure an uninterrupted flow of oil.

The USA has no right to “allow” India to do anything. India buys oil wherever it is available cheaply

Interestingly, the fresh move from America has transpired following a series of unsuccessful pressure strategies, including an extra 25% tariff raising the total figure to 50% and forcing India to abandon Russian oil in the name of “funding the war in Ukraine.” On the other hand, New Delhi has repeatedly emphasised that its decisions are based on its sovereignty and interests, thereby refusing to succumb to the challenge.

The acquisition of oil from Moscow has fluctuated monthly due to various factors, but it was never “stopped” despite the assertions from Washington. In fact, India has been in constant touch with Russian vendors as an alternative to fulfil its energy needs following the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz.

Image via Reuters

A recent infographic shared by Reuters even made it quite clear. India’s oil purchase from Russia definitely increased after the start of the Russia-Ukraine war. But it wasn’t because India “wanted to fund a war”. India had nothing to do with that war. India bought Russian oil because Russian oil was offered cheap. And purchasing oil to meet national needs was a greater priority for the government of India than appeasing some NATO leaders and European media.

As shown in the Reuters infographic above, India’s Russian oil purchase declined slightly after October 2025, but it never “stopped”, as the USA would like to claim.

Therefore, this self-aggrandisement by the US is merely another attempt to claim hollow superiority while pretending to portray itself as a benevolent superpower, which is directly in contrast to reality.

Russian oil cargoes return to India even before the US waiver

India had already begun sourcing Russian oil from tankers in the sea to compensate for the loss of crude from the Middle East as tensions continue to mount in the region, even before the Trump administration’s so-called “permission” came. A considerable portion of the more than 10 million barrels that have previously been secured was likely taken before the latest declaration from the US, based on a piece on Bloomberg.

Sources in the Government of India have already stated that Russia was one of the top suppliers of energy to India in February. 1.04 million barrels of crude per day was imported by India in February.

The ship-tracking data of Bloomberg revealed that there are approximately 15 million barrels of Russian crude on tankers in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal while another 7 million are sitting close to Singapore. Within a week, all of them could end up in Indian ports. Furthermore, others are travelling toward the subcontinent via the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea.

Tankers with Russian oil commenced altering their routes to indicate Indian ports even before the “we are allowing” notice came from the White House. According to Kpler, at least 18 vessels holding Urals are demonstrating that they are progressing to India. Sumit Ritolia, an analyst ​at the company, mentioned that the development could “potentially push volumes back above 2 million barrels a day in the near term.”

According to a source, the Suezmax tanker Odune, which was carrying roughly a million barrels was spotted at the eastern Paradip port on 4th March to deliver it to the state refiner Indian Oil Corporation Limited, reported Reuters.

Additionally, IOC is expected to receive about 700,000 barrels of Russian oil from the Spring Fortune in the port of Vadinar in western India on 7th March (Saturday). An IOC source disclosed that the company is accelerating the procurement from Russia which comprises the containers placed on ships that are cruising around India.

An insider cited by the media house stated that approximately 9.5 million barrels of Russian crude are floating close to Indian waters and might arrive in a matter of weeks. Another Indian refiner has also shown interest in using this oil. Ritolia expressed, “Should Middle Eastern inflows tighten, Indian refiners could ​pivot back toward Russian grades relatively quickly.”

He observed that there are roughly 30 million barrels of Russian oil available and loaded on ships in the Singapore Strait, the Arabian Sea region and the Indian Ocean, including amounts in floating storage.

An analysis of tracking by Kpler and Vortexa informed that two tankers bringing a combined 1.4 million barrels of Urals crude are going to discharge in Indian ports this week after initially suggesting that they were bound farther east, according to a separate report in Bloomberg.

On 5th March, Matari, an Aframax with almost 700,000 barrels was scheduled to reach Vadinar. With over 730,000 barrels of Urals on board, Indri, another Suezmax in the Arabian Sea which was headed to Singapore, made a sudden detour north into India this week. Last year, the United Kingdom and the European Union slapped sanctions on all three ships.

India shapes policy prioritising its own interests, not ‘permission’ from White House

The aforementioned data has clarified that the US claims of granting a time period to India are nothing more than a desperate effort to give credit where it is undeserved. New Delhi neither sought to be allowed nor expected any such gesture because it was actively pursuing its sovereign energy interests in light of the ongoing tensions.

Moreover, the utter inconsequentiality of these allegations, responses or tactics has been regularly proved as they never impact any decision made by the Modi government. Last month, the centre reaffirmed that it would keep importing crude oil from where it was affordable and of the highest quality.

Indian oil corporations would function, taking into account non-sanctioned sources and the geopolitical environment. This was shared by the senior representatives of the Ministries of Commerce and External Affairs with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, headed by Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor.

A similar episode unfolded when India countered the US assertion that it had agreed to “stop taking oil” from Russia. “National interests will be the guiding factor for us in our choices for energy procurement,” stated Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on February 9. He pointed out that sufficient availability, reasonable pricing and supply reliability are the main reasons which are behind the country’s buying policy.

According to the foreign secretary, India’s “foremost priority” is to protect Indian the interests of its citizens and guarantee that they get adequate energy at the correct price through dependable and secure outlets.

“Our import policy insofar as energy is concerned is therefore driven entirely by these objectives. We are neither dependent on any single source for this, nor do we intend to be. And it is natural for the mix of sources to vary from time to time, depending on objective market conditions,” the official remarked.

He added, “Our approach is to maintain multiple sources of supply and diversify them as appropriate to ensure stability. Therefore, I would say that the more diversified we are in this area, the more secure we are.” The powerful rebuttal occurred after Trump alleged that India would not acquire Russian oil and slashed the 25% tariff during an announcement of the trade arrangement framework between the two countries.

As if on cue, the Indian government sources have once again asserted that Russian crude will keep flowing to India. “Today, we have more energy sources than what is stuck in the Straits of Hormuz. We are in a comfortable position in Crude oil, Oil products and LPG. In terms of our current stock, we are in a comfortable position. We are going to ramp up our supplies from other parts of the geographies and make up for our supply crunch from the Straits of Hormuz”, GOI has stated.

“We have been buying crude oil from Russia since 2022. In 2022, we were importing 0.2 per cent of total imports from Russia. In February, we imported 20% of our total crude oil imports from Russia. In February, India imported 1.04 mn barrel per day from Russia,” the Indian government has stated.

Trump needs to appease his MAGA fan base, India does not

The Trump administration possesses a peculiar tendency to congratulate or commend itself without reason, leading to self-embarrassment following persistent counters from India.

Meanwhile, New Delhi has continuously worked to protect its own interests, unbothered by these antics which are largely unacknowledged by the Modi government. It has become a routine between the two parties, where Washington introduces an outrageous decree or complaint, only to be ignored or politely rejected by New Delhi.

Likewise, the present White House administration seems to have made “boastful grandstanding” a habit of sorts. Be it “stopping 8 global wars” or controlling the whole world’s economy through their sanctions, Trump’s claims and their actual impact on the ground often don’t align. The multipolar world does not get remote-controlled by sanctions and tariffs.

A sovereign nation’s policy works on sovereign interests. Sanctions or tariffs are just geopolitical hiccups that need occasional recalibration and working through. Be it crude oil, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), rare earths or any other commodity, the current global order is an intricate mesh of supply chains and logistical mechanics.

No single nation can control it all by bullying or throwing tantrums. India has navigated this complex grid for decades, and it will continue to do so. Moreover, the claims made by the Trump administration are to please their domestic MAGA fanbase.

The Indian government does not work like that. Through the Russia-Ukraine war, the Gaza-Israel conflict and multiple scenarios over the years, the Ministry of External Affairs in India has kept its communications strictly official and respectful of international laws and national priorities.

Unlike the Trump administration, the Indian MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) does not need to play a social media game to underline its priorities. They know what to do and where to prove their points.

Indian Express column by Samajwadi Party spokesperson goes on a speculation overdrive on Iran-US war, predicts doom and destruction in India, so BJP loses power

Shraddha Pandey
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Indian Express column by Samajwadi Party spokesperson goes on a speculation overdrive on Iran-US war, predicts doom and destruction in India, so BJP loses power

Narendra Modi has been India’s Prime Minister for over a decade now. The BJP-led NDA government has received immense public support, as evidenced by three consecutive general election victories. Until a slight setback in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where the BJP stopped short of a single-party majority, even the opposition had seemingly made peace with the fact that PM Modi is invincible.

In every issue, domestic or international, the opposition has since then been desperately hoping for a ‘Black Swan’ event that can lead to Modi-BJP’s downfall. For Samajwadi Party spokesperson, Ghanshyam Tiwari, the Iran war is that ‘Black Swan’ event.

In an opinion piece published in The Indian Express on 6th March, the ‘socialist’ politician demonstrated his sciolistic understanding of the impact of the ongoing Israel-US versus Iran war on India, particularly the BJP.

“From the lens of Indian politics, the dangerous, pre-planned and illegitimate attack of the US and Israel on Iran, leading to the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, could prove to be such a Black Swan event for the BJP,” Ghanshyam Tiwari wrote in the article titled, “West Asia crisis may just be the Black Swan Event that hurts the BJP in India”.

The Samajwadi Party spokesperson accused the Modi government of “failing to warn” nearly 1 million Indian expatriates in the Gulf, despite being in contact with the US President and officials, and having warm relations with the Israeli PM as well as the leaders of the Gulf countries.

“Yet, the Government of India did nothing to warn the nearly one crore Indians in Dubai and elsewhere in the Gulf. This has the makings of a black swan, where those impacted are blissfully unaware, and those who are aware and responsible do not warn,” Tiwari wrote.

This is a shrewd attempt by the Samajwadi Party leader to portray the Modi government’s balanced approach towards the conflict in the Middle East as incompetent. It is not just about the imaginary failure to warn Indian expatriates in the Gulf, but essentially a part of the Muslim-appeasing opposition’s pressure campaign to make India side with Iran in the ongoing conflict.

For now, however, we will stick to Tiwari’s core accusation that the Modi government “did nothing to warn or protect” nearly 10 million Indian expatriates, with around 4 million in the UAE alone.

Contrary to the false narrative peddled by the Samajwadi Party leader, the Modi government issued multiple travel advisories and warnings to Indians in Iran well before and immediately after the conflict’s escalation. The Indian government made perfect use of its friendship and contact with all the main parties involved in the conflict, demonstrating foresight and responsiveness.

In the second week of January this year, much before the fresh conflict between Iran and the US-Israel alliance began.  In a statement released on 14th January, the Indian embassy advised Indian citizens, including students, pilgrims, businesspersons, and tourists, to leave Iran by any available means of transport. This advisory followed a similar advisory issued to Indian nationals in Iran on 5th January this year. In a separate advisory, the Ministry of External Affairs has also strongly advised Indian nationals to avoid travelling to Iran.

Iran was the epicentre of the initial strikes, and the Indian Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Iran constantly urged and even assisted Indian nationals there to leave Iran as fast as possible. Indian students still stuck in Iran are being helped by the Indian authorities.

Misleading claims and hyperventilating speculations

For the UAE and the Gulf, advisories were issued immediately as the war spilt over with Iran’s retaliatory missile and drone attacks. Iran is reported to have fired 189 missiles and 941 drones targeting the UAE. On 28th February, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi, UAE, issued an advisory for citizens, asking them to remain vigilant and avoid travelling. A similar advisory was issued again on 3rd March, and the Indian officials are constantly assisting Indian nationals in the UAE.

While Ghanshyam Tiwari argued that Indian expatriates in the UAE and Gulf countries should have been pre-warned since Prime Minister Modi visited Israel right before Tel Aviv began its offensive against Iran, and the Indian government has been in touch with all the actors in the current war, the rapid extension of the Israel-US versus Iran war to the UAE’s doorstep was not expected even by the UAE authorities.

The UAE administration condemned Iran’s “blatant attack” and activated its defence and emergency measures following the Iranian attacks; however, no prior evacuation orders were issued by the Emirati government itself. Clearly, the administration in the UAE itself did not foresee an Iranian attack; how, then, was India expected to mandate evacuations from a stable and functional country like the UAE?

What was Ghanshyam Tiwari even expecting the Indian government to do?  Evacuate millions from a global financial hub like Dubai pre-emptively, even as this would have caused unnecessary panic and logistical chaos? Tiwari himself pointed out that Indian expatriates in the UAE form a significant portion of the UAE’s 11 million population. How could the Indian government have warned or evacuated Indian nationals in the UAE without clear, imminent threats, particularly when the Emirati government itself did not warn of the possibility of an Iranian attack?

Passing off his wishful thinking as ‘concern’, Tiwari fearmongered in addition to the possibility of a global oil crisis affecting the Indian economy, lakhs of travellers being stranded in the Gulf is raising expat distress and consequently putting the Indian government under pressure.

While the countries that came under attack from Iran have reported casualties and businesses have been affected, if we talk about the UAE or Qatar, life is going largely normal in these countries.

The UAE remains largely functional despite the disruptions. The airspace closures were a temporary security measure after strikes on the Dubai International Airport, and flights are now gradually resuming. Both Etihad and Emirates have slowly resumed flight operations from Abu Dhabi and Dubai. An Etihad flight recently landed in Delhi. Even the Indian nationals returning from the UAE confirmed that both the Emirati and Indian governments provided proper security and other assistance to them throughout.

IndiGo and Air India are also adding flights to bring back Indians stranded in the airports. Despite the instances of rocket debris falling near hotels and airports, the hubs like Dubai and Abu Dhabi are functional, not ‘shut down’ and are not ‘active war zones’ as Tiwari would like to believe.

This is a manageable regional crisis that is being dealt with through diplomacy, logistics and cooperation between India and the Gulf countries. As much as the Samajwadi Party spokesperson yearns for it, the conflict in the Middle East and its impact on Indians there is not a ‘Black Swan’ event that holds the potential of inflicting an electoral upset to the BJP.

“No Prime Minister can be immune to a crash in sentiment and popularity amongst his ardent followers. On the domestic front, a possible market crash, along with a falling rupee, could have a devastating domino effect on the economy. When millions of people lose their hard-earned money, go into debt due to EMIs and other loans, see the gains of real estate vanish, and face job insecurity, the language of politics changes. It is like the Titanic crashing into an iceberg,” Tiwari wrote.

This is not India’s war, no matter how badly the Opposition wants to drag the Modi govt into it

Ghanshyam Tiwari also portrayed PM Modi’s recent Israel visit and the India-US trade agreement, which is not even officially signed yet, as India’s alignment with ‘aggressors’. He cited the sinking of the Iranian naval ship IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean and strikes on the Gandhi Hospital in Tehran, to contend that India’s silence “is being as submission to Israel and the US.”

Tiwari’s framing of the situation is nothing but a gross misrepresentation of India’s foreign policy. The Modi government has consistently emphasised strategic autonomy. Be it the Russia-Ukraine war, the Israel-Hamas war or the ongoing war between Israel and the US against Iran, India has never picked a side driven by emotions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself has been a vocal advocate of the peaceful resolution of disputes. India is arguably the only country that has managed to have good and balanced relations with Russia, Ukraine, US, Israel, Palestine, Iran, and the Arab states, all at once.

PM Modi’s balanced engagements demonstrate efforts to safeguard Indian interests amidst surging volatility; this is not blind submission. If India had actually submitted before the US and Israel, a nuclear-armed India would have been the launchpad for Israeli-American attacks on Iran.

If India’s foreign policy were governed by the whims of Muslim appeasing political parties like the Samajwadi Party, they would have deployed military assistance to Iran against Israel and the US, essentially dragging us into a war that isn’t ours because some Shias in Lucknow, Kargil and Kashmir are devastated over the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s assassination.

Tiwari also presented the sinking of the IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean as India’s ‘failure’ to protect the Iranian frigate that participated in India’s MILAN 2026 naval exercise. This alarming misrepresentation came even as the ship was operating approximately 20 nautical miles west of Galle, within the SAR region under Sri Lankan responsibility, nowhere near India’s territorial waters. Just because IRIS Dena partook in an Indian naval exercise, the Indian Navy was not obliged to provide a safe escort to the Iranian warship all the way back home. India could only have extended a humanitarian hand in the form of search and rescue operations, which the Indian Navy is already doing.

Tiwari’s fantasy: Market crash, rupee freefall, economic doom, anything, anything that will hurt the Modi govt

The Samajwadi Party spokesperson warned of a ‘ticking timebomb’ with oil price surges, market crashes, a falling rupee, and its eventual impact on Indians via debt due to EMIs and other loans, the vanishing of real estate gains, and job insecurity. He suggested that in such extreme situations, even the language of politics changes. “It is like the Titanic crashing into an iceberg,” Tiwari wrote.

However, contrary to the Samajwadi Party leader’s contention, there is no such evident ‘free fall’, and the Modi government has made preparations to mitigate risks. India has ample crude and fuel storage, providing a buffer against short-term disruptions caused by Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and Qatar’s discontinuation of LNG production after the Iranian attack on state-owned QatarEnergy facilities. India has also been buying Russian oil, much to America’s dismay, even though Tiwari suggests that the Modi government capitulated before Trump. Despite challenges, the Indian economy remains in good shape, with its growth trajectory heading in the upward direction.

While higher logistics costs and remittance dips, given that the Gulf accounts for India’s nearly 38% inflows, or export disruptions could be short-term challenges, these will not dent long-term momentum. India is not a ‘Titanic’, India is a juggernaut of its own kind that has mastered the art of balancing trade and strategic relations even with countries which are hostile to one another.

Contrary to Ghanshyam Tiwari’s portrayal, the Iran war and the resultant crisis, which is not India or Indians-exclusive, is not a BJP-toppling ‘Black Swan’, if it was a ‘Black Swan’ at all, the political leaderships in the Gulf countries attacked by Iran would be toppled first. The Samajwadi Party leader’s rhetoric in the Indian Express op-ed is akin to the doomsday media headlines that are largely divorced from reality. Just as the media hue and cry, Ghanshyam Tiwari’s ‘Black Swan’ analogy will certainly not age very well.

Looking for a Black Swan event to topple the Modi government in a situation as serious as a raging war, where countless innocent lives, Indian or not, are at stake, shows only the cynical political opportunism and desperation of the Samajwadi Party.

There are political and economic scenarios that may hurt the BJP. India is a democratic country. When a majority of the people of India decide that the BJP is falling short of their expectations, they will express their desire for change through the electoral process, and maybe someday, a different party, or a different political coalition, will come to power. That is how an electoral democracy works. But a distant war between Iran and the US-Israel is a geopolitical and economic challenge that all nations will have to navigate through. It is not likely to “cause” a regime change in India, no matter how desperately the Opposition wants it.

As Muslim mob attacks Hindus in London, here’s how the plight of Hindus has not changed in the UK since the 2022 Leicester riots

Shraddha Pandey
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As Muslim mob attacks Hindus in London, here’s how the plight of Hindus has not changed in the UK since the 2022 Leicester riots

With a rising Muslim population over the years, the United Kingdom is witnessing firsthand the Islamist intolerance of non-Muslims and their festivities. On 3rd March 2026, a group of Muslim youths who reportedly came from a nearby mosque created unrest in the former Harrow Civic Centre parking lot in London, obstructing a Holi festival that was attended by hundreds of Hindus.

The video of the incident has gone viral on social media. The authorities have apprehended a 14-year-old regarding the attack on Hindus. The captured footage featured shoving and scuffing as tensions intensified between the attendees and the intruding group. The Muslim youths attacked Hindus when the celebration of Holika Dahan was taking place at the International Siddhashram Shakti Centre. As per an eyewitness, the Muslim perpetrators approached the Hindu event and started interrupting it by abusing Hindus and hurling trash cans.

As per a report by UK-based Hindu rights group INSIGHT UK, the Muslim attackers initially created a ruckus and left the scene, only to return with around 20 other Muslim jihadists and attack Hindus.

The Muslim mob attack on Hindus in Harrow has reopened the wounds of the 2022 anti-Hindu Leicester violence. In recent years, Hindus have constantly been targeted and villainised by the Islamo-leftist cabal. Emboldened by the capitulation of the UK’s Muslim-appeasing government and law enforcement agencies before Muslim intransigence and tendency to unleash violence, Islamists have violently manifested their intolerance of Hindus in the UK.

2022 anti-Hindu Leicester violence

Since August 2025, the anti-Hindu attacks in the United Kingdom, especially in Leicester and Birmingham, increased by several folds. What appeared to be a reaction to the defeat Pakistan faced in the T20 Asia Cup match against India, it was later found that Islamists were just using the match as an excuse to attack the Hindus, as they did not stop even after Pakistan defeated India in the same series a week later.

The attacks intensified to the extent that Hindu families left Leicester, and some reportedly have not returned. The houses, businesses and properties of Hindus were vandalised. Contrary to what was happening, mainstream media and Islamists tried to cover up the anti-Hindu attacks and blamed Hindus for the clashes. Islamists like Majid Freeman, Mohammed Hijab, Ali Dawah, among others, were found to be the main provocateurs of the Islamist mob violence against Hindus.

On 17th September 2022, the Shivalaya Mandir on the Belgrave Road in Leicester was attacked by a Muslim mob wherein a Hindu religious flag was pulled down and burnt, in addition to smashing of windows and throwing of missiles.

Between 4th and 7th September, Hindus were attacked by Muslims. A local Ganesh Chaturthi celebration was disrupted by Muslim mobs, who threw eggs at Hindu sacred symbols. A Hindu man was attacked by Muslims.

However, the Islamo-leftist cabal blamed Hindus, Hindutva, and Indian Hindus, the BJP and RSS for the violence in Leicester. In a concerted effort to establish the false narrative that somehow Hindus were the main perpetrators and instigators of the violence in Leicester, the pro-Islamist propaganda machinery resorted to defaming even sacred slogans like Jai Shri Ram and Bhart Mata ki Jai, while conveniently downplaying the crimes of ‘Allahu Akbar’ screeching violent Muslim mobs.

Muslim mob encircled Durga Bhawan Hindu Centre in Birmingham

When Muslim mobs were running riots in Leicester in September 2022, on 20th September, a 200-strong mob of masked Islamists circled Durga Bhawan Hindu Centre located on Spon Lane in Smethwick town in West Midlands, England, after a call for “peaceful protests” was made on social media. The so-called protest, which was more of an intimidating tactic of the Islamists, was organised against the already-postponed event of Sadhvi Ritambhara.

In visuals that emerged from the spot, Islamists were seen hurling abuses toward the Hindus inside the Hindu temple premises. They were chanting Allah-Hu-Akbar, and some of them climbed the fence wall as well. There were Police present at the scene, but in the video, it was evident that the number of Police Personnel was far less and not adequately equipped to handle a 200-strong mob of Islamists. The majority of the Islamists were masked in the video. 

Islamist and full-time protestor Shakeel Afsar was seen in a video threatening the Hindu community with violence if Durga Bhawan Hindu Centre does not issue an official statement that they are not associated with the BJP/RSS. 

Although there were no reports of violence in this case, a Muslim mob encircling a Hindu temple, abusing Hindus and shouting Allahu Akbar, war cry essentially indicated their attempt at intimidating the Hindu community for merely inviting an unapologetically pro-Hindu leader. It was a show of strength, a warning that if Hindus do not remain meek, Islamists are capable and ready to resort to violence.

Muslim men attacked 3 Hindus after asking about their ethnicity in London

In June 2025, three young Hindu men in their early 20s were brutally thrashed by some Muslim men in a public park on 30th May. Among the victims, one was a British Indian Gujarati, while the remaining two were Sri Lankan.

The issue was highlighted by Tory MP Bob Blackman in the House of Commons. “Earlier this week, three young Indian boys were playing cricket in Headstone Park. They were approached by three men, slightly older. An altercation took place and the three young boys were hospitalised, one with a fractured eye socket. We understand that the police are dealing with it as an aggravated racial assault. This took place between young Hindu boys and older Muslim men,” Blackman said back then.

There have been several other incidents of Muslims targeting Hindus in the UK since the 2022 Leicester violence attack. From Leicester to Harrow, Hindus constantly face attacks, prejudice, and deliberate villainization by the Islamo-leftist coterie in the UK and India.

Attacks by Islamists on hand and political suppression of Hindus and their religiosity on the other by the Labour party show that Muslim appeasement is not unique to India. The Labour Party, in 2023, deselected 7 Indian-origin Hindu councillors in Leicester ahead of local elections in May 2023. In October 2025, the largest Diwali celebration outside India, hosted every year in Leicester were cancelled. Except for decorations, no fireworks and public events were allowed, indicating a clear case of discrimination.

It, however, is not surprising that the Labour government appeases Muslims at the cost of exposing Hindus to the risk of Islamist mob violence, given the party has a history of shielding Pakistani Muslim rape gangs in the country for years.

Hindus continue to face targeted attacks and disruptions by Islamists and other anti-Hindu elements at their religious and cultural events, demonstrating unchecked Islamist aggression and the UK government’s disgraceful tolerance of the same. Ironically, when British Hindus or Hindus in India raise their voice against Islamic extremism, the left liberal lobby in both countries starts a propaganda campaign to vilify Hindus and Hindutva, label Hindus as ‘Islamophobes’ to whitewash Islamist crimes and shield the Jihadi perpetrators.

Despite there being a pattern of Muslim mobs attacking Hindus out of sheer hatred and intolerance towards the Hindu community, the Islamo-leftist cabal continues to spin a Muslim victimhood narrative. They concoct ‘research’ papers, articles, and organise seminars, and use myriad tactics to establish a false narrative where the roles of Hindu victims and Muslim perpetrators are reversed.

US sinks Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean: How Congress and the Islamo-left ecosystem are exploiting the incident to target PM Modi and drag India into a foreign conflict

Rukma Rathore
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US sinks Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean: How Congress and the Islamo-left ecosystem are exploiting the incident to target PM Modi and drag India into a foreign conflict

The conflict between the United States-Israel Alliance and Iran has been rapidly growing without any indication of subsiding, especially following the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior officials of the Islamic Republic. This crisis has resulted in significant security instability in the Middle East with a high potential to extend beyond the region. An American submarine has downed an Iranian warship with a torpedo in international waters near the southern coast of Sri Lanka in a fresh escalation.

On 4th March (Wednesday), the United States Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth described it as the “first such attack on an enemy since World War II,” during a Pentagon briefing. He declared, “Like in that war, back when we were still the war department, we are fighting to win.” The ship was also referred to as a “military target” and the action was termed as “quite death.”

According to the Sri Lankan navy, the event transpired merely outside the nation’s territorial waters, leading to the recovery of 87 bodies and the rescue of 32 personnel. The ship descended from its southern coastline by around 40 kilometres (25 miles). A search and rescue effort was ongoing.

The authorities informed that the frigate IRIS, also known as IRINS (Islamic Republic of Iran Ship or Islamic Republic of Iran Naval Ship) Dena, situated approximately 40 nautical miles (75 kilometres) off Galle, sent out a distress signal between 6 and 7 am (00:30 to 01:30 Greenwich Mean Time or GMT), reported Al Jazeera.

Sri Lankan officials mentioned that there were roughly 180 crew members on board the vessel. The Iranian frigate was on its way back from participating in the 2026 International Fleet Review at Vishakapatnam. The naval exercise took place in the Bay of Bengal from 18th to 25th February.

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath addressed the Parliament and stated the government dispatched ships and air force aircraft on a rescue effort after the navy received information that the ship was in difficulty. A spokesman for the Sri Lankan navy mentioned that no other planes or ships were seen in the vicinity of the sinking site.

Commander Buddhika Sampath conveyed that boats which arrived at the spot witnessed just an oil slick and expressed, “We found people floating in the water and rescued them. Afterwards, we found upon inquiring that they belonged to the Iranian ship.” The remains were wrapped in white sheets and transported by rescuers in a truck to the Karapitiya hospital in Galle, where they were taken to the mortuary.

The warship’s commander and a few senior officers managed to stay alive and told the Sri Lankan navy that they were hit by a submarine, unveiled insiders cited by Reuters.

The Department of War confirmed that a Soleimani-class corvette had also been destroyed in the Strait of Hormuz close to Iran’s shores in a separate move by the United States. The Pentagon has established the destruction of the Iranian navy among its primary objectives of the conflict which commenced on 28th February (Saturday).

Washington has been methodically eliminating Tehran’s warships in the Middle East. Joint Chiefs chairman General Dan Caine announced that more than 20 ships have been attacked. The US Central Command has vowed to continue the charge until Iran’s navy is obliterated.

MEA, PIB fact-checks bogus claims

The dissemination of details concerning the strike triggered a surge in rumour-mongering as bogus statements began to circulate, seeking to undermine the global image of India and the Modi government. However, Ministry of External Affairs intervened and strongly rejected the claims as “fake and false,” adding, “We caution you against such baseless and fabricated comments.”

The response came after US Army Colonel Douglas Macgregor insisted that his nation was employing Indian naval bases in its war with Iran.

Press Information Bureau (PIB) also fact-checked the remarked and asked people to “stay alert” along with “always verify information from official sources before sharing.”

“All of our bases have been destroyed. Our harbour installations are destroyed. We are actually having to fall back on India and Indian ports, which is less than ideal. That is what the navy says. And I guess. I think Iran, much to our disappointment, is stirring very, very well. The question is how long can we keep this up,” he alleged during an interview on One America News Network.

According to a segment on the channel, American naval ships were operating out of Indian naval facilities, including ports in Kochi and Mumbai. It talked about a secret strategic alliance in the Persian Gulf in the name of anonymous “military sources,” without offering any proof.

Congress, Islamo-leftist ecosystem want PM Modi to take sides, join the raging battle

India has maintained a long-standing foreign policy of multialignment and neutrality which balances its strategic ties with world powers while avoiding direct engagement in wars that do not directly jeopardise its national interests. Nevertheless, Congress and the Islamo-leftist coalition seized the opportunity to try to drag India by denouncing the Modi government for not interfering in the foreign dispute.

Rahul Gandhi outlined that India’s oil imports are at risk as over 40% of its imports use the Strait of Hormuz and the situation is even more dire for LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) and LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas).

“The conflict has reached our backyard with an Iranian warship sunk in the Indian Ocean. Yet the prime minister has said nothing. At a moment like this, we need a steady hand at the wheel,” he stated while claiming that the latter is “compromised” and “has surrendered our strategic autonomy.” The fabricated narrative has been persistently promoted by the party in a latest effort to remove the ruling government.

The sentiment was reiterated by another leader of the Indian National Congress, Pawan Khera, who questioned, “Does India have no influence left in its own neighbourhood? Or has that space also been quietly ceded to Washington and Tel Aviv?” This was retweeted by Arfa Khanum Sherwani, the chief propagandist of “The Wire.”

Rajdeep Sardesai commented that the ship had conducted a naval program with the Indian navy close to the nation’s coastline only days ago, in the presence of President Droupadi Murmu before it was targeted by the US. “The ship was not engaged in any war-like activity when attacked. We don’t have any legal responsibility but moral responsibility surely. Will we tell the Americans that they have crossed a line here,” he asked.

Jawhar Sircar, former Rajya Sabha MP and member of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC or TMC) posted an “The Indian Express” article written by C Uday Bhaskar, father of flop actress and full time propagandist Swara Bhaskar, to challenge India’s silence on the issue.

A member of this cabal went so far as to cry that the episode was “the biggest breach of trust in the history of friendships.” He then dramatically added, “A proper stab in the back. India will never be able to live it down.”

A person shared that the United States would not have had the audacity to take such an action within “India’s sphere of influence” under any prior government, including Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party or even Third Front. “That’s where we are today. I doubt Modi govt will react in any way,” he charged.

Another account alleged that the instance revealed India’s “ugly face,” insinuating that the government should have successfully prevented the strike because Iran was taking part in a naval drill in the country.

Congress and its leaders, alongside the Islamists and their liberal allies, have consistently lashed out at India and the Modi government for their reluctance to take a stance or engage in the issue. They have invoked moral duty, influence and various other arguments to pressure and even discredit the government on an international scale.

The intense push to entangle India in an unrelated struggle with other powers

The prospect of war resulting from such aggressive standoffs between nations is detrimental to all and has adverse global consequences, akin to the significant threat hanging over energy trade routes with the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz. Therefore, numerous countries have called for peace and restraint in response to the critical circumstances.

India too has appealed for peace and stated, “We are deeply concerned at the recent developments between Iran and Israel. India urges both sides to avoid any escalatory steps. Existing channels of dialogue and diplomacy should be utilised to work towards a de-escalation of the situation and resolving underlying issues.”

However, compelling New Delhi to take a position is not only politically sinister but might also pose a threat to its long-term strategic interests. Moreover, the allegations regarding India’s diminishing control are equally hollow as the ship was attacked in international waters which do not fall under the jurisdiction of the Modi government. The IRIS Dena sank outside the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of India.

This was a component of a series of actions by the United States, which aimed to eradicate Iran’s navy and was not connected to India. However, there is a deliberate intention to characterise it as a blot on the nation’s reputation, rather than another unfortunate aspect of the rivalry between the two foes.

Congress, which is even accused of colluding with figures like George Soros to undermine the current government has initiated a cacophony of criticism against PM Modi, disregarding the fact that he should prioritise his nation’s safety and interests rather than act to seek unnecessary accolades.

India has consistently adhered to its non-alignment policy and maintained a sovereign approach in relation to such affairs. It did not yield to the immense American pressure to align with Ukraine in the clash with Russia and urged both nations to end their hostilities. The centre has been particularly cautious during these critical times, given its friendly relations with both Israel and Iran as well as the United States. Who benefits if India is viewed as making a decision and forsaking its non-alignment stand?

Furthermore, the emotional appeals of justice and moral standing have no place in national interest or diplomacy, which is calculated and requires a careful balance. The government cannot abandon its extensive policies to appease ideological, political or religious zealots at home.

Does not every right-thinking and powerful nation conduct itself in this manner without the need for validation? Is Iran not striving for its best interests by blocking the Strait of Hormuz, thereby stopping the energy supply of massive economies like India? Notably, the Modi government has pointed out that there are enough fuel and crude oil stockpiles to last 6 to 8 weeks and it in a “reasonably comfortable” place to prevent shortages.

Conclusion

The repeated plots by these elements to pull India into every violent contest abroad, regardless of the legitimacy of their allegations or pronouncements, unveil a profoundly disturbing trend. They are eager to damage the country’s international reputation solely to discredit the Modi government. Their ambition for power and disdain for him have made the nation and its interests trivial in their larger scheme of things.

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