NEW DELHI 15 MARCH 2026 SUNDAY `12 PAGES 24  facebook/TheMorningStandard  X.com/TheMornStandard https://epaper.morningstandard.in PLUS: 12 PAGES MAGAZINE In Search of Lost Homes Devdutt Pattanaik Ravi Shankar Prabhu Chawla Neha Sinha Shankkar Aiyar Shampa Dhar-Kamath Geetha Ravichandran Poverty and Other Writerly Pursuits EXCLUSIVE VOICES HAUTE BY HAND The Slash that Became a Language Scanning the Odds Against Cancer MAX EXPORT VIA KHARG Kharg Island, targeted in US air strikes on Saturday, is a scrubby stretch of land in the Gulf that handles almost all of Iran’s crude exports.The island is located around 30 km off the Iranian mainland. Kharg underwent major developments during Iran’s oil expansion in the 1960s and 1970s, with much of the country’s coast too shallow for supertankers. Old beach park KHARG ISLAND Airport Hospital Gas power plant Old boulevard IRAN BANDAR ABBAS T Jetty Oil and gas exploration service 2 LPG tankers clear Hormuz Day begins with America carpet-bombing Kharg island, Iran’s biggest oil export hub R A K E S H K U M A R @ New Delhi WITH two LPG cargoes crossing the troubled Strait of Hormuz after Iran assured their safe passage, they are expected to reach Indian ports by March 16–17. Each of the vessels — Shivalik and Nanda Devi — are carrying more than 46,000 metric tonnes of LPG, with a combined cargo of around 92,700 tonnes. The shipments will be discharged at Kandla and Mundra ports. As per ship-tracking data, Shivalik is currently travelling under Indian Navy’s escort. Six other LPG carriers are arriving from different parts of the world. They will be given priority berthing to ensure faster unloading and distribution, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Shipping Ministry informed. Besides, one LNG cargo and four crude oil shipments are scheduled to arrive. Daily LPG bookings have surged to around 8.8 million, compared with about 6 million before the crisis, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Petroleum Ministry said, indicating panic buy, ing. “Regarding LPG supply it remains a matter , of concern for us in light of the prevailing geopolitical situation; however, no stockouts have been reported thus far,” Sharma said. Of the 22 Indian-flagged vessels currently stuck in the Persian Gulf, Sinha said six are LPG tankers, four crude oil tankers, three container ships and dry docks, two bulk carriers, one LNG carrier, one chemical products tanker, one empty ballast vessel and one dredger. As for the booking portal conking, Sharma said attempts to book before the minimum refill period will not be accepted by the system. She urged people to use digital booking platforms instead of visiting distributors and standing in queues. P7 1 Commercial LPG supply now under the purview of state govts to prioritise them 2 Commercial users urged to contact state govt for their LPG refill 3 Joint raids by Central and state teams on curb black marketing of cooking gas 4 Online booking currently accounts for about 84% of LPG bookings US embassy in Iraq hit by drone A G E N C I E S @ Tel Aviv, Tehran, Dubai ISRAEL on Saturday said the war against Iran was entering its “decisive phase”, as explosions rocked cities across West Asia amid strikes on the US embassy in Baghdad, a major energy facility in UAE, apart from Tel Aviv and Tehran. Washington’s embassy in Iraq’s Baghdad was hit by a drone, the second time it has been targeted since February 28, when US and Israel attacked Iran and plunged the Gulf into a mindless conflict. Clouds of smoke rose over Fujairah, home to a major Emirati oil storage and DAY export ter minal, shortly after Iran warned UAE civilians to avoid ports. President Donald Trump said US forces had struck Iran’s Kharg Island, its biggest oil export hub. Iranian media confirmed the island’s oil facilities were unaffected. Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas urged Iran to refrain from targeting Gulf neighbours, many of which have supported its cause. Beyond the Gulf, Turkey said NATO forces shot down a ballistic missile launched from Iran. Oil-rich Qatar said it intercepted two missiles over Doha on Saturday The UAE slammed the targeting of its . consulate in Iraqi Kurdistan for the second time in a week, the foreign affairs ministry said. P9 I F R A H M U F T I @ New Delhi We cannot cook for customers anymore. We somehow served lunch today. I had to serve the staff also, which is why I had to bring cylinder from home A shop owner Narrow lanes serve as a lifeline to travellers, daily-wagers, auto and bus drivers and workers, who seek affordable meals throughout the day and night | PARVEEN NEGI inders and were forced to shut shop early “Today was the last . day of the cylinder,” said a vendor on Saturday, who usually serves dozens of plates of rotisabzi during the afternoon rush. With no replacement cylinder arriving, his stall remained closed. At the back side of the front lane, however, a small flame bur ned, just enough to cook food for the staff of seven members. At another shop, the owner had rushed to his house to bring a cylinder so that at least his workers could eat. Vijay Sood, owner at the Vaishno Bhandar, said, “We cannot cook for customers anymore. We somehow served lunch today I . had to serve the staff also, which is why I had to bring the cylinder from home.” Arvind, who runs a keemaparatha stall in the back lanes, said, “For many of the small vendors like me, the LPG crisis is a disruption to our daily survival. And for thousands who rely on these stalls for cheap food, the empty stoves have left these streets unusually silent.” A few coal-fired tandoors , however, could be seen simmering, baking occasional rotis, but the overall scene had become subdued. CONTINUED ON P3 Kitchens shut, agony all over Shopkeepers sat idle on plastic chairs, watching passersby search for food stalls. Frustration was evident on their faces as potential customers walked away after finding the kitchens shut, making the overall scene completely subdued. AMMA SPEAKS Strengthening Faith in an Uncertain World NSA off, Wangchuk free days before SC hearing Govt calls for dialogue Reiterating its “commitment” to provide all necessary safeguards for Ladakh, the government expressed hope that the issues concerning the region will be resolved through constructive engagement and dialogue ‘Big victory’ The Leh Apex Body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance, which are spearheading the agitation over demands for statehood for Ladakh termed Wangchuk’s release a “big victory” R A J E S H A S N A N I @ Jaipur ACTIVIST Sonam Wangchuk was released from Jodhpur jail on Saturday after the Centre revoked his detention under the National Security Act (NSA). His release, after six months in custody comes days before the , Supreme Court’s final hearing of a petition by his wife, Geetanjali Angmo, against his detention. On Saturday mor ning, Angmo arrived at the Jodhpur jail to receive Wangchuk. After completing the formalities, the two left together in a private vehicle under police protection. Wangchuk was taken into custody by the Ladakh administration on September 24, 2025, and was transferred to the Jodhpur jail two days later. Authorities had accused him of “inciting violence” during protests demanding statehood for Ladakh and the implementation of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. The unrest reportedly left four dead and more than 150 injured. In a social media post ahead of his release, Wangchuk reiterated his commitment to Ladakh, saying, “I have not backed down from activism. Our struggle was and will continue to be for the security, dignity, and future of Ladakh.” Experts said the government may now initiate fresh talks with leaders of Ladakh through a high-powered committee. The Cong ress said the Centre should apologise not just to Wangchuk and his family , but also to the people of Ladakh. Congress leader and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot said while Wangchuk’s release is welcome, the entire episode raises serious questions about the functioning of the Central government. “It is ironic that Wangchuk, who once supported the policies of the prime minister, was booked under stringent provisions of the National Security Act when he raised his voice for the rights of Ladakh and environmental protection, and was sent to jail in Jodhpur,” Gehlot said. I have not stepped away from activism. My commitment to Ladakh remains unchanged... But activism must serve a larger purpose: a just, lasting future for Ladakh Sonam Wangchuk SPECIAL SESSION HC to hear plea against ‘illegal detention’ of students today 15 Empty stoves await hungry souls after long train journey at ‘bustling’ Paharganj lanes THE LPG shortage in the national capital is changing the character of some of its busiest areas. Imagine stepping out of the crowded platforms of New Delhi Railway Station from the Paharganj side after a long train journey and finding the usually bustling food lanes unusually quiet. The familiar aroma of hot rotis, spicy sabzi and fried snacks that typically welcomes thousands of passengers every day has gone missing. Now, rows of half-open or shuttered stalls signal a story coming straight out of the West Asia crisis, as the LPG cylinder shortage has brought small eateries to a standstill. On most days, the narrow lanes outside the station serve as a lifeline to travellers, daily-wage labourers, auto and bus drivers and workers, who seek affordable meals throughout the day and night. A tawa-roti with sabzi for `20 a plate, chole-kulche for `25 or a modest thali of dal, four rotis and sabzi for `50 keeps stomachs full without hurting pockets. But on Friday and Saturday evening, many of these meals disappeared from the menu. Stall owners said they had exhausted their stock of LPG cyl- Trimmed to Taste ‘I have Overcome Insecurities and I’m Rising’ U D AYA N K I S H O R E @ New Delhi ‘COUNTDOWN HAS BEGUN’ PM Narendra Modi waves during a rally at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata on Saturday | PTI | P8 Strict law against forced conversions in Punjab: Shah conversions. “We scrapped Article 370 in J&K. Naxalism is on the verge of its ENDING buzz over alliance with the end. If Punjab has to weed out drug Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in the 2027 menace, it needs BJP’s double-engine assembly elections, Union Home Min- government. If anybody can do it, it is ister Amit Shah on Saturday said that PM Modi. I came to seek blessings the BJP would contest the from the people of Punjab, inpolls to form its own governcluding mothers, sisters and ment and promised to introthe elderly he said. ,” duce a stringent law against Shah said that the Bhagforced religious conversions. want Mann-led AAP governAt the ‘Badlaav’ rally in ment is corrupt and has beMoga, Shah, wearing a safcome an “ATM” for Arvind fron turban, said that Punjab Kejriwal. “The Punjab govhas given chances to the Conernment is being run from gress, Akalis and the AAP, Delhi. Mann spends most of but they failed to deliver. his time accompanying KejriIf Punjab has to “Now, the BJP should get a wal across the country at the weed out drug chance. We will contest to expense of the state excheqmenace, it needs PM Modi. I came to uer,” the home minister said. form our own government.” Without naming any party seek blessings from , Shah began his address Shah said, “Earlier whenever people of Punjab, with slogans like “Jo Bole So we contested in Punjab, we including mothers, Nihal, Sat Sri Akal,” “Wahesisters and were ‘chhota bhai’ (younger guru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru the elderly brother). But we will contest Ji Ki Fateh,” and “Bharat Amit Shah to form our own government Mata Ki Jai.” in 2027. We are starting our Punjab BJP chief Sunil Japreparations from today .” khar, along with senior leaders from Shah announced that the party the state, was present at the rally but , would end drug menace in the state former CM Amarinder Singh was abwithin two years of forming the gov- sent. His wife and Patiala MP Preneet ernment and would bring an anti-con- Kaur and daughter Jai Inder Kaur version law to stop forceful religious were present at the venue, though. H A R P R E E T B A J W A @ Chandigarh THE Delhi High Court is scheduled to sit on Sunday to consider a batch of petitions alleging illegal “abduction” and “detention” of several student activists by the Delhi Police Special Cell on Friday . One of the habeas corpus petitions, filed by one Sagrika Rajora, has sought directions to the government and police to immediately produce her sister, Lakshita Rajora (22) before the court. The petition claimed that Lakshita had been missing since March 13 evening from the Vijay Nagar area near Delhi University. She became untraceable at around 8 pm and her phone was switched off, the petition claimed. The matter was mentioned before a bench of Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia, which said that the pleas will be heard on Sunday . Several others present at the Bhagat Singh Chhatra Ekta Manch (BSCEM) office have also similarly disappeared, raising suspicions of a coordinated and unrecorded raid by authorities, the plea claimed. “The Detenue has been untraceable and is strongly suspected to be under the illegal and unconstitutional detention of the personnel of the Respondents, specifically the Special Cell, Delhi Police, since the evening of March 13, 2026 (approx. 8:00 PM). The Detenue was last known to be at the office of the student organisation BSCEM in the Vijay Nagar, near Delhi University North Campus,” the petition claimed. The petition claimed that eight months ago, Lakshita was subjected to illegal abduction and custodial torture by Special Cell officials for over a week, the petition claimed. “Despite a written complaint to Respondent No. 3 (SHO PS Vijay Nagar) on March 14, 2026, no information has been provided,” the petitionar added.