THURSDAY 19 `6,969 cr MARCH, 2026 TO BUILD 4-LANE ACCESSCONTROLLED HIGHWAY IN UTTAR PRADESH epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard GOVT APPROVES `33,660-CR SCHEME TO DEVELOP 100 INDUSTRIAL PARKS CUBA The Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Bharat Audyogik Vikas Yojna (BHAVYA) to develop 100 plug-and-play industrial parks across the country PREZ SLAMS DON’S REMARKS PLUG-AND-PLAY MODEL FOR FASTER GROWTH Cuban President Miguel DíazCanel has lashed out after US President Donald Trump suggested he can do “whatever he wants” with the island. A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS PAGE 9 NEW DELHI P R A B H A K A R TA M I L A R A S U & S K U M A R E S A N @ Chennai Th AFTER days of negotiations, the CPI settled for five seats, one less than the number of seats it contested in the 2021 Assembly elections, as a part of the DMKled Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) on Wednesday . However, the state committee of CPM, the other Left ally of the DMK, has decided not to accept anything less than the six seats that the party had contested in 2021. The party said it may even go it alone if the seat count goes below six. The CPM committee, which met on Wednesday, discussed the DMK’s offer of five seats. A member, speaking on anonymity, said that none of the state committee members were in favour of accepting five seats. The committee also discussed the probability of contesting alone. “If our demand is not met, the committee has decided not to accept any seats from the DMK and to contest on its own in a limited number of constituencies where its winnability is high,” a committee member told TNIE. The member also referred to the 1998 Lok Sabha elections when the party contested in two seats and supported the DMK-led alliance in the remaining 37 seats. The member said it was not new for the party to contest in such a manner and support the alliance elsewhere. CPM, which originally demanded seat in two digits, later lowered its demand to seven seats. Earlier on Wednesday, DMK president and Chief Minister MK Stalin and CPI state secretary M Veerapandiyan signed the seat-sharing agreement at the DMK headquarters. ed eR S ea ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS MADURAI CENTRAL MAY SEE A TOUGH FIGHT I P5 MAJOR SETBACK TO ASSAM CONGRESS I P8  PAGES 12 Gulf oil sites on edge as Iran’s gas field hit Syria Israeli strike prompts Tehran to warn UAE, Saudi, Qatar AGENCIES World’s largest natural gas deposit @Tehran /Tel Aviv/Dubai/ Washington IN a major escalation in the ongoing war in West Asia, Israel on Wednesday bombed Iran’s huge South Pars natural gas field, prompting an angry Tehran to threaten to retaliate by striking the energy assets in United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar “in the coming hours”. The strike on South Pars has the potential to set off a chain reaction that could stifle the entire Gulf region’s economic lifeline amid disruption in oil production and movement. A Qatari foreign ministry spokesperson ter med the strike—carried out by Israel with the concurrence of the US—a “dangerous and irresponsible” escalation that put global energy security at risk. Iran’s Tasnim news agency, quoting Iranian officials, said Tehran would strike Saudi Arabia’s Samref refinery and Jubail petrochemical complex, UAE’s Al Hosn gasfield, and Qatar’s Ras Laffan refinery and Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding Company . South Pars, located off the coast of southern Iran’s Bushehr province, is the world’s largest natural gas deposit which Iran shares with Qatar. Targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure is seen as a major escalation as the US and Israel have till now held back on any move that could invite an Iranian retaliation against other producers in the region, which could set oil prices on fire. On Wednesday, Brent prices hovered over $108 per barrel— up from $70 just weeks ago. Israel on Wednesday said it also eliminated Iran’s intelligence minister Esmail Khatib in overnight strikes. On Tuesday, Iran’s national security chief Ali Larijani was killed in a targeted Israeli strike. In a first, Israel publicly stated that all senior Iranian officials would be its military’s targets from now on. “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I have authorised the Israel Defense Forces to target any senior Iranian official for IRAN South Pars gas field Strait of Hormuz QATAR DAY Locals look on amid rescue efforts to save the family members trapped in a blaze that broke out on Wednesday morning in Palam | SAYANTAN GHOSH Gulf of Oman 9 of trader family charred to death in Palam market inferno UAE 19 Afghanistan CPI settles for 5 seats, CPM weighs solo run inIsrael poll TN J8.00 Turkmenistan Caspian Sea Turkey  Pakistan DMK ALLIANCE  Under the scheme, industrial parks ranging from 100 to 1,000 acres will be taken up for development with financial support of up to `1 crore per acre. BHAVYA’s plug-and-play model with pre-approved land, ready infrastructure, and integrated services, will significantly reduce entry barriers for investors, the government said. | P7 OMAN SAUDI ARABIA Arabian Sea N I T I N R A W AT @ New Delhi Yemen Gulf of Aden Smoke rises from a building following an Israeli strike in central Beirut, Lebanon on Wednesday | AP whom an intelligence and operational opportunity arises, without the need for additional approval,” Israel’s defence minister Israel Katz said. Meanwhile, in a body blow to US President Donald Trump’s justification for starting the war with Iran, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said that Iran was not trying to rebuild its nuclear enrichment capacities that were destroyed in a June 2025 US-Israeli attack, under Operation Midnight Hammer. “As a result of Operation Midnight Hammer, Iran’s nuclear enrichment programme was obliterated. There have been no efforts since then to try to rebuild their enrichment capability,” Gabbard said in a written testimony to the Senate intelligence committee. P7 & P9 DAY’S DEVELOPMENTS  Iran confirms assassination of top intelligence official Esmail Khatib in an Israeli strike  India to prioritise domestic fuel demand amid requests from neighbours Indian vessel ‘Jag Laadki’ carrying over 80,000 MT crude oil reaches Gujarat’s Mundra Port A fire in southwest Delhi’s Palam area killed nine people and injured three others on Wednesday morning. The family of Rajender Kashyap, a local market leader, was especially affected. The fire started at WZ-124A, Ram Chowk Market, where Kashyap’s cloth and cosmetic shop was on the lower floors, and his family lived upstairs. Around 6:30 am, a flower seller noticed thick smoke and warned the neighbours. By 7 am, someone called the fire department for help. Thirty-one fire trucks arrived quickly, along with teams from BSES, Air Force Police, and NDRF. However, rescue efforts were slowed because a hydraulic ladder failed to work and some equipment malfunctioned, making it harder to reach people inside. Vimal, who saw what happened, KABUL Afghanistan Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani on Wednesday promised retribution for this week’s Pakistani air strike that killed hundreds at a Kabul drugs rehabilitation centre. “We will take revenge,” the Taliban government minister said. | P9 8 of a family killed in massive Indore blaze Eight members of a family were charred to death in a massive fire at their three-storey house in Indore early Wednesday. The fire was caused due to an electric short circuit during the charging of an electric vehicle and fuelled further due to a blast in LPG cylinders kept in the house. P8 No extra fee for 60% of seats on domestic routes for fliers S L A L I T H A @ New Delhi VOWS TO AVENGE PAKISTANI STRIKE ON DRUG REHAB CENTRE said, “The shutter of the shop would not open initially, despite repeated and desperate efforts by those present. The smoke was so thick you couldn’t see anything at all.” Police and locals broke parts of the wall, but it was still almost impossible to get through. Indu Singh, another resident, said, “Two people were spotted on the balcony of the third floor, barely AMID complaints about airlines levying high additional charges for allocating seats on flights, the Union civil aviation ministry on Wednesday directed that a minimum of 60% of seats on all domestic flights be allocated free of charge. In another passengerfriendly measure, the ministry asked airlines to ens u re t h at p a s s e n g e r s traveling on the same PNR (Passenger Name Record) are seated together. “Passengers travelling on the same PNR are to be seated together, preferably in adjacent seats,” the ministry said in a release. The airlines were also directed to bring out clear, transparent policies for carrying pets on board. Besides, they must ensure that car- riage of sports equipment and musical instruments on board are facilitated in a transparent and passenger-friendly manner without compromising on applicable safety and operational regulations. Additionally, all airlines must strictly adhere to the passenger rights framework, particularly in cases of delays, cancellations, and denial of boarding. The rights of passengers must be prominently displayed across the airline’s websites, mobile applications, booking platforms, and airport counters, the ministry said. “60 per cent seats free of charge, assured seating together for families, and clear, transparent norms for carriage of sports equipment, musical instruments & pets,” Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu said in a post on X. LOTTERY BARON SON’S PARTY EVENING SHOWER A man carries a covered package on his head amid downpour and thundershowers at a market near Jama Masjid on Wednesday evening | PTI | P4 EXPRESS READ Keep vigil on foreigners in 3 NE states, says MHA Bill to curb honour killing tabled in House The Union home ministry has directed Mizoram, Nagaland and Manipur governments to keep a close eye on all foreigners visiting the states following the arrest of six Ukrainian nationals and a US citizen who are accused of plotting terror activities using drones from Europe. The Karnataka Freedom of Choice in Marriage and Prevention and Prohibition of Crimes in the Name of Honour and Tradition Bill, 2026, was tabled in the Assembly on Wednesday. The bill aims to curb caste-based discrimination and protect inter-caste couples amid concerns over honour killings. P5 Vijay in play amid trouble in Pondy NDA D E B J A N I D U T TA @ Puducherry THE ruling NDA in Puducherry is facing trouble from within, as Chief Minister N Rangasamy visited Salem to seek spiritual guidance from his guru, Appa Paithiyam Swamigal, before taking the final call on the alliance’s future. He parallelly reached out to actor-turned-politician Vijay for a possible electoral understanding with the latter’s TVK. The current impasse revolves around dissonance over the BJP’s bid to induct a party floated by lottery baron Santiago Martin’s eldest son Jose Charles Martin, into the NDA. Martin’s Lakshya Jananayaga Katchi (LJK) was floated in December last. N Rangasamy Vijay However, Rangasamy does not want moneybag Martin’s party anywhere near him. He also wants clarity on Puducherry’s statehood, which he flagged during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit, but hasn’t got a clear word yet. Meanwhile, a few LJK functionaries have submitted their nomination papers. BJP MLA Vivilian Richards (son of BJP minister John Kumar) filed his papers as an LJK candidate from Bahour and so did his brother Villiam Regan from the same seat. Their mother J Justine filed her LJK papers from Nellithope. However, key figures like Jose Charles Martin and BJP minister John Kumar are yet to file nomination papers. Senior BJP leaders from Pondy are in Delhi for talks with the party high command to break the deadlock. Efforts are on to soften Rangasamy . Given the fluid situation, political realignment in Puducherry ahead of the elections cannot be ruled out. visible through the thick, billowing smoke. The ladder could only reach the second floor, leaving them trapped.” Those who died in the fire included 70-year-old Lado Kashyap, her sons Pravesh (33) and Kamal (39), Kamal’s wife Ashu (35), and their three daughters, aged 15, six, and three. Rajender’s daughters, Himanshi (22), and his daughterin-law Deepika (28) also lost their lives. Six family members survived because they were not at home. One of the injured, Rajender’s son Anil, tried to save his young daughter while they were trapped on the third floor. He tried to lower her to the ladder, but in the confusion, she slipped and fell. Anil then jumped down to join her. Both are now being treated in the hospital. Sachin, age 29, also jumped to escape and was injured. CONTINUED ON P3 Cong names 4 Haryana MLAs for cross-voting in RS elections H A R P R E E T B A J W A @ Chandigarh THE Congress has revealed the names of four of its Haryana MLAs who allegedly cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha elections in favour of the ruling BJP . Haryana Congress in-charge BK Hariprasad named Shalley Chaudhary from Naraingarh, Mohammad Ilyas from Punahana, Mohammad Israel from Hathin, and Renu Bala from Sadhaura and said show-cause notices would be sent to the MLAs soon. “Action will be taken based on the party’s disciplinary committee chairman report,” Hariprasad told reporters in Delhi on Wednesday . Hariprasad said along with LoP Bhupinder Singh Hooda, he reviewed the ballot papers as an authorised agent. “We had 37 votes, but 5-6 were declared invalid and after examining the ballots, it was confirmed that four MLAs cross-voted,” he said. Hariprasad alleged that the election process was influenced by “money, muscle power, and institutional pressure,” claiming that several votes were deliberately invalidated to alter the outcome. He said though the BJP lacked numbers, it supported an independent candidate to undermine the winning prospects of the Congress nominee. “A pattern similar to the 2016 Rajya Sabha elections emerged this time in the state,” he said. The BJP and Congress won one Rajya Sabha seat each in Haryana on Tuesday as the counting of votes ended past midnight following allegations of violation of vote secrecy. Former Lok Sabha MP Sanjay Bhatia of BJP and Dalit activist Karamvir Singh Boudh of the Congress won the polls. It was a narrow win for Boudh over Independent candidate Satish Nandal, as cross-voting dented the otherwise comfortable position of Congress.