NEW DELHI 29 MARCH 2026 SUNDAY `12 PAGES 24  facebook/TheMorningStandard  X.com/TheMornStandard https://epaper.morningstandard.in THE GREY EMERGENCY PLUS: 12 PAGES The Slow Safari on the Fast Track MAGAZINE The Reluctant Maestro Devdutt Pattanaik Ravi Shankar Prabhu Chawla Sathya Saran Shankkar Aiyar S Vaidhyasubramaniam Madhavan Narayanan The Private Lives of Public Systems EXCLUSIVE VOICES All the Light We can See Red Sea worry as Houthis join conflict for first time Caspian Sea Turkmenistan Turkey Afghanistan Syria Choking Bab el-Mandeb Strait could haemorrhage economy Israel a Se ed eR Th 2nd chokepoint The Bab al-Mandeb Strait is a narrow waterway that controls traffic toward Suez Canal Bab al-Mandab Strait Strait of Hormuz Arabian Sea Yemen Gulf of Aden Ethanol blend eased fuel crisis pressure: Modi A G E N C I E S @ Tehran CAPITAL CITY House adopts resolution on Amaravati Y B R A H M A J I @ Vijayawada THE Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Saturday unanimously passed a landmark resolution seeking statutory recognition for Amaravati as the capital of AP . Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu moved the resolution during the sixth session of the Assembly urg, ing the Union Government to amend the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, to remove ambiguity surrounding the state capital. The resolution was passed after an extensive debate for nearly five and a half hours. The chief minister, the deputy chief minister, ministers and several legislators participated in the discussion, reflecting the broad political consensus on the issue. The resolution requests the Government of India to amend Section 5 of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014, by including the words “at Amaravati” in subsection (2), explicitly designating Amaravati as the capital of AP Further, it proposes . adding a clarification in the explanation to Section 5 stating that “Amaravati includes the capital city areas notified under the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority Act, 2014,” thereby extending the capital’s legal scope to the entire CRDA-notified region. After the passage of resolution, it was sent to the Ministry of Home Affairs. Copies of the resolution were also sent to the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, seeking consideration during the ongoing Parliament session. S L A L I T H A @ Noida YEMEN’S Houthi rebels entered the West Asia war on Saturday by launching a ballistic missile towards Israel, as the world struggled to contain the economic damage of a conflict on verge of entering into its second month. The intervention of Iran’s Yemeni allies into Tehran’s conflict with Israel and US raised concerns about disruption to Red Sea shipping, with trade from the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz already choked off. With no end to the conflict in sight, despite US President Donald Trump’s optimism that US forces have oblitDAY erated Iran’s military, a spokesman for the Houthis issued a video statement declaring that the group had launched Iran ballistic missiles at Israel. skeptical Israel’s military said it had on talks intercepted a missile. During Iran is skeptical Israel’s recent war on Gaza, about recent the Houthis, claiming solidardiplomatic ity with the Palestinians, atefforts to stop tacked shipping in the Red the war in the Sea and Gulf of Aden. But, Middle East, its until Saturday, had sat out Foreign Minister this conflict. Experts warn Abbas Araghchi that the Iran-backed Houthis told his Turkish have the potential to create a counterpart in disastrous economic shock a phone call around the world. Saturday | P9 If the Houthis ramp up their role in this conflict by targeting vessels in the narrow Bab el-Mandeb Strait off the Red Sea, it would not only further push up oil prices but destabilise “all of maritime security,” said Ahmed Nagi, a senior Yemen analyst at the International Crisis Group, a research institution. “The impact would not be limited to the energy market.” As Iran strangles Hormuz, countries have scrambled for alternative routes. Bab el-Mandeb is particularly crucial as it controls traffic for vessels heading to the Suez Canal through the Red Sea. PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the Centre was taking all possible steps to ensure that the ongoing West Asia conflict does not impact the common man. After unveiling the first phase of the Noida International Airport at Jewar, Modi commended sugarcane farmers for reducing India’s dependence on crude oil by helping scale up ethanol production. “Without the increase in ethanol production and its blending with petrol, India would have had to import an additional four-and-a-half crore barrels, approximately 700 crore litres of crude oil annually,” he said. “The hard work of our farmers has given the country PM speaks enormous relief during this time of crisis.” Ethanol has to Saudi not only benefited the country Prince but also the farmers, with apPrime Minister proximately `1.5 lakh crore Narendra Modi worth of foreign exchange bespoke to Crown ing saved, he elaborated. Prince and PM Stating that he discussed of Saudi Arabia, the West Asia crisis in detail Mohd bin Salman, in Parliament as also as with on the ongoing all chief ministers the previconflict in West ous day, he appealed to the Asia and agreed people to face the situation on the need to ensure freedom of with a calm mind and remain patient. “What is in the internavigation est of Indians and in the interest of India, that alone is the policy and strategy of the Government of India,” he said. He expressed confidence that all political parties would back the country’s efforts. As for the Noida airport, he said it is the symbol of a developed UP as it will connect North India to the entire world. “A plane would take off every two minutes from here in the future,” the prime minister said, adding, “the airport will benefit a vast region encompassing Agra, Mathura, Aligarh, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Etawah, Bulandshahr, and Faridabad.” 29 Prime Minister Narendra Modi with UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu and others, during the inauguration of the Noida International Airport, in Jewar on Saturday | PTI | P3 Knot Your Average Throwback E X P R E S S N E W S S E R V I C E @ Theni ELECTORAL battle is a family affair once again in Andipatti, as the constituency in Theni district gears up for a rare trilogy For the third time in seven . years, the political battleground is doubling up as a family fixture—albeit a competitive one—between DMK MLA A Maharajan (72) and his younger brother, AIADMK’s A Logirajan (67). While the siblings share the same surname, their political paths have been strictly parallel. Maharajan currently holds the upper hand in this highstakes rivalry, having defeated his brother in both the 2019 byeelection and the 2021 Assembly elections. In the 2019 bypoll, Maharajan defeated Logirajan, by a margin of 12,323. The brothers clashed again in 2021, when Maharajan won with a truncated margin of 8,523 votes. A farmer by profession, Ma- A Maharajan and A Logirajan | EXPRESS harajan began his political career in 1980 and rose to become the chairman of the Andipatti Union between 1996 and 2001. Logirajan, a civil contractor, entered politics in 1986 through AIADMK and has since held various party positions. The rivalry dates back to the 2019 byeelection, when DMK fielded Maharajan and AIADMK responded by nominating his younger brother. Expressing confidence, Logi- WHEN Ishan Kishan was appointed interim captain of the Sunrisers Hyderabad franchise in the lead-up to the 19th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), it was a small but significant in the competition’s history It meant captains of all . franchises would be Indians, at least to begin the season. Taken in isolation, it may not mean a lot. But pull back the curtains a little bit and analyse it at the macro level. It suggests several things. Mainly, the league, firmly in its adulthood from this year, is willing to experiment in terms of how they appoint captains. Earlier, captains and experience went hand in hand. Captains and the biggest overseas stars of those teams went hand in hand. Not anymore. Some franchises are beginning to get smarter. It’s not a surprise because this is how leagues evolve, mirroring the for mat’s inter national growth, penchant for data and the need to keep pushing the boundaries wherever possible. Of course, this doesn’t mean any Indian player will be considered for the post of captain but now Indians are more likely to be named as captains when compared to earlier. Then, there used to be a demand in franchise cricket to spend extra for the purpose of picking a captain. Boffins of teams in the bigger leagues have realised that specialist captains, in general, do not contribute ex- The Power of Gratitude rajan said that he is determined to break his brother’s winning streak. “We are fully prepared and have undertaken the necessary groundwork. I have met voters and assured them that all the pending issues will be addressed,” he said. On the other side, Maharajan is aiming for a hat-trick of wins. His son M Sethuraja highlighted the incumbent’s performance, particularly in rural development. “Ensuring access to drinking water, roads and streetlights has been my priority. We also enjoy strong support among women,” he said. ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS BENGAL CORRIDOR OF INFILTRATION: SHAH I P8 AIUDF’S AJMAL FACES TOUGH CHALLENGE I P8 `1K fine on owners if pet found without leash on city streets Additionally preventing a mu, nicipal official from entering THE fine for letting a pet ani- premises, which also carries a mal roam in a public street fine of `50, will increase to `500 without a leash, which is cur- after the bill is passed. rently `50 under the Delhi MuIn terms of sanitation, failnicipal Corporation Act, 1957, ing to arrange for garbage colwill increase to `1,000 if Parlia- lection, currently fined at Rs ment passes the Jan Vishwas 50, will be raised to Rs 500. AlBill, 2025. The bill was intro- lowing filth to flow into the duced by Minister of street and dumping Penalty up rubbish on the street, State for Commerce and Industry Jitin for defacing both currently fined at house no. Prasada in the Lok `50, will each attract a Sabha on Friday and it fine of `200 under the Fine will also proposes several new legislation. go up for amendments to the defacing house A d d i t i o n a l l y, i n Delhi Municipal Cor- numbers. Under terms of buildings, the poration Act. fine for failing to vathe proposed Under the proposed cate a dangerous strucamendments, amendments, the fine ture when ordered will the fine for for tethering cattle on tethering cattle increase from `200 to a public road will also on a public road `1,000. In a similar way , rise from `100 to `1,000. occupying a building will also rise In addition to that, dewithout obtaining a from `100 to facing or destroying a certificate of comple`1,000. house number, which tion will also rise from currently incurs a `50 fine, will `200 to `1,000. be increased to `1,000. Penalty under Section 465 for Apart from that, some other violations that do not have a fines are also expected to in- specific fine prescribed will increase. For example, discharg- crease from `100 to `500, with ing fireworks that may cause the daily continuing penalty danger will go from `50 to `500. going up from `20 to `50. A D I T I R AY C H O W D H U R Y @ New Delhi MUSK WAS NOT PRESENT AT PM-TRUMP TALK Centre has refuted a media report that the billionaire businessman joined a phone conversation between Modi and the US president | P7 Next-gen homegrown captains in focus as league enters new era @ Bengaluru AMMA SPEAKS Battle of brothers in fight between DMK and AIADMK in Andipatti MAKE IN INDIA S W A R O O P S W A M I N AT H A N ‘I am Always Pushing for Something Better’ The 11 seats reserved permanently at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in remembrance of lives lost during the stampede at RCB’s IPL celebrations in 2025 | KEVIN NASHON | P11 tra points in a season. It’s why, over the last few seasons, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Axar Patel and, recently, Rajat Patidar (Royal Challengers Bengaluru( and Kishan were handed the gigs. Outside Gill, none of them were the biggest names of the side when they were given the job for the first time. This is an intriguing development for a league which was infatuated with its biggest stars. But after 19 years, it doesn’t need hand-holding anymore. The IndiGo aircraft at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi | PTI Scare in the air for IndiGo flight after engine failure S L A L I T H A @ New Delhi AN IndiGo flight from Vishakapatnam to New Delhi, carrying 160 passengers, was forced to make a full emergency landing at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Saturday after one of its engines failed mid-air. All passengers and crew were evacuated safely from the Boeing 737 aircraft upon landing. Flight 6E 579 departed from the Visakhapatnam International Airport at 8.48 am. A full emergency was declared at 10.39 am after one of the engines failed. The pilots requested the Delhi Air Traffic Control for priority landing. “As soon as the message was received, Runway 28 was allotted for priority landing for the aircraft. Emergency was declared there from 10.45 am to 10.55 am. All necessary protocol was followed with fire and medical teams kept on standby an airport official said. ,” The plane landed at 10.54 am, the official said. After evacuation, passengers were assisted by the airline and airport staff, the official added. An IndiGo spokesperson said, “A technical snag was detected shortly before landing on IndiGo flight 6E 579 operating from Visakhapatnam to Delhi on 28 March. As a precautionary step and in accordance with the standard operating procedure, the pilots requested for priority landing and the aircraft arrived safely at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi.” All relevant authorities were promptly informed and the aircraft is undergoing necessary checks and maintenance, the airline added.