NEW DELHI DAILY - 7 MARCH 2026
JAISHANKAR Defends IRIS Lavan Docking On Humanitarian Grounds; Commerce Minister GOYAL Asserts India Got 'Best Trade Deal' With US; Opposition Rejects 'Permission' Framing As Government Reaffirms Energy Autonomy
India asserts strategic autonomy rejecting need for US permission on Russian oil purchases
Senior Indian official stated India never depended on permission from any country for oil purchases after US Treasury Secretary's remarks on Russian oil waiver. This pushback signals India's resistance to perceived infringement on energy security decisions.
EAM Jaishankar defends Iran warship docking at Kochi citing humanitarian grounds
External Affairs Minister justified allowing Iranian naval vessel IRIS Lavan with 183 sailors to dock at Kochi on humanitarian grounds despite ongoing Middle East conflict. Jaishankar emphasized India's approach from point of humanity while explaining Indian Ocean realities.
Government invokes Essential Commodities Act as LPG prices surge Rs 60 per cylinder
Centre hiked domestic LPG prices by Rs 60 following global energy price increases from West Asia conflict while invoking Essential Commodities Act for supply management. Opposition criticized the hike questioning government's adequate stock claims amid regional crisis.
DRIVING THE DAY
SUMMARY: External Affairs Minister S. JAISHANKAR defended India's decision to allow Iranian naval vessel IRIS Lavan to dock in Kochi on March 4, telling the Raisina Dialogue March 7 that the ship was "caught on the wrong side of events" and India approached the situation "from a point of humanity," per NDTV and News18, as he urged critics to "understand the reality of the Indian Ocean." Commerce Minister Piyush GOYAL asserted March 7 that India secured the "best trade deal" with the United States among competing nations, according to Business Standard, even as opposition leaders and government officials rejected framing of US sanctions relief as requiring American "permission." A senior Indian official told Mint March 7 that India "never depended on permission from any country" to purchase oil, responding to US Treasury Secretary Scott BESSENT's March 6 remarks describing Indians as "very good actors" while explaining the Russian oil waiver. Squadron Leader Anuj VASHISHT, one of two Indian Air Force pilots killed March 6 in a Sukhoi Su-30MKI crash in Assam's Karbi Anglong district, was scheduled to marry in coming days, per India Today and News18, with his family unaware of the accident as they prepared wedding celebrations. END SUMMARY.
