07032026-TTB-01.qxd 3/7/2026 12:02 AM Page 1 c m y b 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 146 NO. 64 | 24 PAGES | ~7.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  DELHI CURBS STILL IN PLACE, FRIDAY PRAYERS PASS OFF PEACEFULLY J&K /thetribunechd FIIs DUMP ~17,000-CR IT STOCKS AMID AI DISRUPTION BUSINESS JAB KHULI KITAAB: AN OPEN BOOK ON LOVE, LIFE, HOPE REVIEW saturday | 7 march 2026 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com US allows India 30-day waiver to buy Russian oil as West Asia crisis rages Says move aimed at preventing energy supply snags OP EPIC FURY Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 6 The Congress on Friday accused the Narendra Modi government of compromising India’s foreign policy after the United States announced a temporary 30day waiver allowing Indian refiners to buy Russian oil, triggering a sharp political exchange ahead of the second half of Parliament’s Budget Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 6 Amid escalating tensions in West Asia, the US has granted India a temporary 30-day waiver allowing Indian refiners to continue purchasing Russian crude oil that is currently stranded at sea. Opposition parties sharply criticised the US move, saying it raised questions about India’s strategic autonomy. The announcement was made by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who said the decision was aimed at preventing disruption in global energy markets at a time when the region was grappling with heightened conflict and supply uncertainties. The development underscores the complex balancing act India faces as it navigates its energy security needs while maintaining strategic ties with both Washington and Moscow. “President Donald Trump’s continued on page 6 Mamata begins sit-in against voter roll deletions NEW DELHI: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday launched a dharna in central Kolkata against largescale deletions in the state’s voter rolls following the SIR exercise, escalating the TMC’s confrontation with the EC weeks before the Assembly polls. Banerjee accused the BJP and the EC of conspiring to “disenfranchise Bengali voters”, signalling that the voter roll controversy would form a central political plank of the TMC. INSIDE Courtordersframing of charges against FarooqinJKCA case SRINAGAR: A local court here has directed the framing of charges against National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and other accused in the alleged Jammu and Kashmir Cricket Association (JKCA) scam. In the order, Chief Judicial Magistrate of Srinagar, Tabasum, directed that the matter be listed on March 12 for the framing of charges. It rejected a plea by the ED seeking to be made a party in the case. INSIDE Mahaclearsdraft anti-conversionBill; mulls registration The Maharashtra Cabinet has cleared a draft anti-conversion Bill, which makes it mandatory to seek permission from a competent authority before converting to another religion. A person who wants to convert must give a 60-day notice and seek permission from the designated authority before converting, an official said on Thursday, sharing details of the proposed legislation. A conversion must be registered within 25 days. BACK PAGE PM ‘compromised’ ceded , national interests: Rahul Shekhar Singh Ujwal Jalali NEW DELHI: EAM: ERA OF GREAT POWER BARGAINS OVER, WORLD MULTIPOLAR BACK PAGE session beginning next week. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said the development showed how India’s foreign policy decisions were increasingly being shaped by external pressures rather than national interests. In a post on X, he said India’s foreign policy must reflect the collective will of its people and remain rooted in the continued on page 6 Didn’t brief Modi ahead of Tehran strikes: Israel Tribune News Service A damaged car near destroyed buildings after an Israeli strike in Beirut. REUTERS ANOTHER IRANIAN WARSHIP DOCKED IN KOCHI Amid criticism of the government over the sinking of Iranian warship IRIS Dena by the US, it now emerges that India has allowed shelter to another Iranian frigate in Kochi since March 4. Sources said Iran had made the request for docking of IRIS Lavan on Feb 28. BACK PAGE New Delhi, March 6 Israel did not brief Prime Minister Narendra Modi about its preemptive strikes on Tehran even though he had just concluded a two-day state visit to the country days before the operation, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on Friday. Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, Saar said the decision to launch the operation was taken only hours before the strikes, making it impossible to inform the Indian side in advance. “We have great relations with PM Modi and with India, and we have deepened our ties,” Saar said during an interaction at the conference. continued on page 6 In a first, Karnataka, Andhra ban social media for children Surya S Pillai Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 6 In a historic move aimed at curbing the adverse effects of increasing screen time, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh on Friday became the first two Indian states to ban the use of social media for children in different age groups. The Karnataka Government announced a ban on the use of social media by children below 16 years. Presenting the Budget 2026-27 in the state Assembly, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said: “With the objective of preventing adverse effects of increasing use of mobile phones on children, social media will be banned for children under the age of 16.” Later, talking to the media, he said children below 16 years could keep a mobile phone, but they could not use social media. “We will ban social media for them,” he said. Responding to queries on how the use will be regulated in schools, colleges or at home, Siddaramaiah said, “We will formulate a programme for that. Once the programme is finalised, we will inform you.” In January, Karnataka Electronics Minister Priyank Kharge had informed the Assembly that the state was holding consultations on DIGITAL ADDICTION ■ The Economic Survey tabled in Parliament in January this year had recommended age-based access to online platforms and cutting down online teaching to avoid digital addiction ■ In 2025, Australia became the first country to ban social media for children under 16 by blocking access to platforms, including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook. Indonesia has also banned social media for under-16s measures to ensure the responsible use of artificial intelligence and social media, especially among children. Following suit, the Andhra Pradesh Government said social media would be prohibited for children below 13 years of age. Speaking in the state Assembly, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said the social media restrictions would be in place for children under 13 in the state in the next 90 days. He added the government was deliber- ating whether the ban should be extended for teenagers between 13 and 16 years. Referring to a proposal suggested by IT Minister Nara Lokesh, the Chief Minister said his government was committed to ensuring that children were not negatively affected by social media, and assured that steps would be taken to protect their well-being. The Central Government’s Economic Survey tabled in Parliament in January this year said age-based access to online platforms should be considered while also cutting down online teaching to avoid digital addiction. BJP Rajya Sabha MP from the state Lahar Singh Siroya, however, welcomed the move in a social media post on ‘X’ saying he had raised this issue in Parliament. “Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi had also spoken about securing the interest of our younger generations at the AI summit, recently. I had further asked for restrictions on smartphone use among children in my Parliament speech. I hope this too will be looked into seriously,” he said. Australia and Indonesia have effected similar bans, amid a global debate over the need to safeguard children from the addiction to social media. Gurugrampilotamong2killedinAssamSukhoicrash Rajasthan doctor tops Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 6 Squadron Leader Anuj Vashisht of Gurugram was among the two IAF pilots who died when a Sukhoi30MKI jet crashed near Chokihola in Assam’s Karbi Anglong district. The IAF in a post on Friday , morning, said Squadron Leader Vashisht and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar sustained fatal injuries in the crash. The jet was on a training sortie and disappeared from radar shortly after taking off from Jorhat airbase on Thursday. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he “is deeply saddened” by the deaths of the IAF pilots. “Their courage and service to the nation will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families,” he said in a post on social media. The IAF operates around Ahead of poll, Punjab lowers power tariff by 50 paise-~1.55 per unit Ruchika M Khanna Tribune News Service Chandigarh, March 6 In the run-up to the Assembly elections, the Punjab Government has reduced the power tariff for all categories of consumers by 50 paise to Rs 1.55 per unit for the 2026-27 financial year, with the revised rates coming into effect from April 1. Just as the previous Congress and SAD-BJP governments did, the ruling AAP has also lowered the tariff in its last year in office. The Congress government had reduced the tariffs by 0.89 per cent in 202122 and the SAD-BJP coalition by 0.65 per cent in 2016-17. The new tariff order, announced by the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission (PSERC) on Friday, shows that the average cost of power supply will come down from Rs 7.15 per kWh to Rs 6.15 per kWh. The tariff order has been announced two days before the presentation of the Punjab Budget for 2026-27 on March 8, probably to take into account the reduction in power subsidy burden on the state exchequer. The cut in tariffs for domestic and agriculture Upgrade decision for IAF’s fleet still pending Sqn Ldr Anuj Vashisht (left) and Flight Lieutenant Purvesh Duragkar SQN LDR ANUJ VASHISHT WAS SET TO MARRY THIS YEAR INSIDE 260 Sukhoi 30MKI jets, which played a major role in Operation Sindoor, including the delivery of the air launched version of the BrahMos missile on Pakistan’s air bases on May 10. There have been 13 accidents involving Sukhoi-30K jets between 2009 and 2026, and five pilots, including the two who died today, lost their lives. A massive upgrade has been planned for the jets, including modern avionics, a latest generation radar, better engines and a 78 per cent indigenous content. India aims to increase local components in the upgraded aircraft to boost domestic manufacturing and reduce dependency on foreign suppliers. The IAF is awaiting a final nod for upgrading of the fleet. In February last year, Russia offered the engine that powers its latest stealth fighter jet, the Sukhoi 57, for the continued on page 6 ‘BAND BAAJA’ PROTEST SHOT AT ‘POWER’ CATEGORY NEW TARIFF REDUCTION Domestic ~3.85-~7.04 ~0.55-~1.55 Commercial ~5.7-~10 ~0.50-~0.79 Industrial ~5.50-~6.57 ~0.12-~0.74 TARIFF PER UNIT pumpset (AP) consumers, who account for the largest share of power subsidy, will lower the state’s total subsidy burden by around Rs 4,500 crore — from Rs 19,657.36 crore to Rs 15,200.55 crore. Similarly, the reduction in tariff for industrial consumers will bring down the industrial subsidy bill from Rs 2,385 crore to Rs 927 crore. Domestic consumers will get relief in the range of 55 paise to Rs 1.55 per unit, depending on categorisation and consumption. AP consumers will witness tariff reduction by Rs 1.32 per unit. For commercial and non-residential consumers, the rates will decline by 50 paise to 79 paise a unit. For industrial consumers, the relief is in the range of 12 paise to 74 paise per unit. The tariff for electric vehicle charging has been cut from Rs 6.20 per kVAh to Rs 5 per kVAh—the continued on page 6 Band players in tow, AAP minister Harbhajan ETO protests outside the Punjab Assembly in Chandigarh on the first day of the Budget session against the alleged derogatory “band baaja” remarks passed by Congress MLA and Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa against him last month. RAVI KUMAR Civil Services exam; Hry BJP leader’s son third Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 6 Rajasthan doctor Anuj Agnihotri has topped the coveted Civil Services Examination 2025. The results were declared by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Friday. Rajeshwari Suve and Akansh Dhull have got the second and third ranks, respectively. Agnihotri secured the first rank, with medical science as his optional subject, in his third attempt. He has done MBBS from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur. Second rank holder Suve is an engineering graduate from Tamil Nadu. Dhull, from Haryana, is a commerce graduate and the son of state-level BJP leader Krishan Dhull. Suve was serving as a deputy collector (training) at the District Collector’s Office in Dindigul under the Tamil Nadu Government. Raghav Jhunjhunwala, who completed BA (Hons) in economics from the University of Delhi, secured the fourth rank, with economics as his optional subject. Ishan Bhatnagar, who holds BA LL.B Anuj Agnihotri (Hons) from National Law University, Delhi, secured the fifth rank with sociology as his optional subject. Among the finally qualified candidates, top five comprises one woman and four men. A total of 958 candidates — 659 men and 299 women — have qualified the examination. A total of 317 candidates from the general category, 104 from economically weaker sections, 306 OBC, 158 SC and 73 ST candidates have been selected. Of the vacancies, 180 are to be filled in the IAS, 55 in the IFS and 150 in the IPS. “Congrats to all successful candidates. For those who did not make it, the learning from this journey will guide you in the paths ahead,” UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar said in a post on X. Gen Z-backed ex-rapper’s party set to sweep Nepal poll Kathmandu, March 6 Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah’s newly formed Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) was on Friday heading towards a sweeping victory in Nepal’s first general election since the violent Gen Z protests, shattering the dominance of established political parties in the politically fragile nation. According to the Election Commission’s data available from 161 of the total 165 con- stituencies, the RSP has won four seats and is ahead in 110 others. Balendra Shah, who was the Mayor of Kathmandu till recently, is leading by more than 10,000 votes in Jhapa-5 constituency against four-time prime minister and CPN-UML chair KP Sharma Oli in the latter’s stronghold. Popularly known as ‘Balen’, the 35-year-old engineer is expected to be the next PM of Nepal, reflecting a public mood of Today’s issue is of 24 pages, including four-page Delhi Tribune. c m y b Balendra Shah’s RSP wins 4 seats, ahead in 110 of 165 others in trends rejection of established parties. Nepal has had 14 governments in the last 18 years. The election was being closely watched by India, which hopes for a stable government in the politically fragile Himalayan nation to take forward the developmental partnership between the two sides. “We look forward to working with the new Government of Nepal to further build on the robust multifaceted ties between our two countries and peoples for mutual benefit,” Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Thursday. He stressed India has “consistently supported peace, progress and stability in Nepal and in keeping with our commitment, provided logistical supplies as per request from Government of Nepal for these elections”. The Nepali Congress has won two seats and is leading in 13 others, continued on page 6