NEW DELHI DAILY - 13 MARCH 2026
Jaishankar holds fourth call with Iranian counterpart as 28 merchant vessels await Hormuz transit clearance; Opposition files impeachment notice against CEC Kumar
EAM Jaishankar holds fourth call with Iranian FM Araghchi on Strait of Hormuz crisis
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar conducted his fourth conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi amid escalating maritime tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. This sustained diplomatic engagement signals India's intensifying efforts to secure oil tanker transit and protect 9,000 Indian nationals in Iran as the West Asia conflict deepens.
India to repatriate 183 Iranian sailors from warship IRIS Lavan docked in Kochi
India will repatriate 183 Iranian sailors from warship IRIS Lavan currently in Kochi port. The vessel had participated in India's International Fleet Review and MILAN 2026 naval exercise in Visakhapatam in February, underscoring the delicate diplomatic balance India is maintaining with Tehran during the ongoing conflict.
Curbs imposed in Kashmir as Shia-dominated areas hold anti-US protests over Iran strikes
Authorities imposed restrictions in parts of Kashmir on Friday as protests erupted in Shia-dominated areas against US and Israeli aggression in Iran. Demonstrators shouted slogans supporting Palestine and opposing the West Asia conflict, signaling potential for broader unrest within Kashmir's Shia community.
Opposition MPs submit notice to remove CEC Gyanesh Kumar; first such motion in Parliament history
193 Opposition MPs submitted notice in Parliament seeking removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged partiality and proven misbehavior related to State of the Union Registry irregularities. This represents the first time such a removal notice has been tabled in Indian parliamentary history.
DRIVING THE DAY
SUMMARY: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi for the fourth time in two weeks as India works to secure passage for approximately 28 merchant vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, per Business Standard and India Today. The LPG shortage driven by panic buying intensified nationwide, forcing the government to extend the booking lock-in period for rural households to 45 days and deploy police at distribution centers, while 193 Opposition lawmakers submitted an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral roll irregularities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured the nation it would overcome the fuel crisis like it did during Covid, while Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told Lok Sabha that India's fiscal deficit would remain within revised estimates for FY26 despite the crisis.
