21032026-TTB-01.qxd 21-03-2026 00:18 Page 1 c m y b MUSK’S xAI SUED OVER ‘EXPLICIT’ IMAGES WORLD /thetribunechd 13 CHANDIGARH | GURUGRAM | JALANDHAR | BATHINDA | VOL. 146 NO. 78 | 20 PAGES | ~7.00 | REGD. NO. CHD/0006/2024-2026 ESTABLISHED IN 1881  HARYANA WAR TO PUSH PESTICIDE COST BY 25% BACK PAGE saturday | 21 march 2026 /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com SHANDAAR 4 SAAL, BHAGWANT MANN DE NAAL The work on 6,000 more playgrounds will start soon War shock: Premium petrol hiked by ~2/litre, industrial diesel ~22 No evidence of Indian link to violent crimes: Canada makes U-turn SNOWBOUND LPG situation ‘worrisome’| Another Indian killed in Saudi Regulator lists 11 Ujwal Jalali Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 20 Amid the escalating conflict in West Asia and the disruption of crude flows through the Strait of Hormuz, the price of premium or higher-grade petrol was on Friday increased by Rs 2 per litre while the rate of bulk diesel sold to industrial users was hiked by about Rs 22 a litre even as the toll of Indian nationals killed in the region rose to six. There is no change in rates of regular petrol and diesel for consumers. At an interministerial briefing here, Petroleum Ministry Joint Secretary Sujata Sharma said the hike applied only to premium variants of petrol, BUILDING MISSILES DESPITE WAR: IRAN Iran threatened to target world tourist sites and insisted it was building missiles despite being into war for three weeks. UP TO ~5/LITRE FUEL CESS IN HIMACHAL The HP Government has proposed a new cess of up to ~5 per litre on petrol and high-speed diesel to fund welfare schemes for widows and orphans. which constituted a small share of total consumption. “The price of the premium category of petrol has been increased. Normal petrol prices remain unchanged,” she said, reiterating that fuel pricing remained deregulated and was determined by oil marketing companies (OMCs) based on global trends. Industry sources said premium 95-octane petrol prices in Delhi had been raised by Rs 2 per litre, from Rs 99.89 to Rs 101.89. Bulk diesel supplied to industrial users has also seen a sharp increase of about Rs 22 per litre, rising to Rs 109.59. However, retail prices of normal petrol and continued on page 6 Ujwal Jalali Tribune News Service high-risk airspaces; fares likely to soar Shekhar Singh Tribune News Service New Delhi, March 20 With the conflict in West Asia intensifying, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has asked Indian airlines to avoid flying through 11 high-risk airspaces across West Vehicles move through snow-covered Atal Tunnel area of Kullu on Friday. The traffic has been restricted up to Nehru Kund on the Rohtang road. ANI Airlines oppose 60% free seat selection order ‘Serious lapses’: 2 Kashmiris let off in UAPA case after 8 yrs Asia and Persian Gulf, flagging a sharply deteriorating security environment following the recent US-Israel and Iran war. In an advisory issued late Thursday, continued on page 6 New Delhi, March 20 After nearly eight years of prosecution under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, a Delhi court has c m y b DIPR, Punjab 3,100 modern playgrounds are being built Tribune News Service acquitted two Kashmiri men accused of links with ISIS, underlining significant gaps in the investigation and failure to meet the standard of proof required in criminal trials. continued on page 6 New Delhi, March 20 In a significant shift from earlier allegations, Canada’s federal police have indicated that there is currently no evidence linking agents of the Government of India to clandestine operations or violent activities on Canadian soil. Speaking in an interview with a Canadian news channel, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Commissioner Mike Duheme said the ongoing investigations into transnational repression and foreign interference had not established any present connection to India. “What we’re seeing right now… in the files that we have that involve transnational MINISTERS TALK TIES External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday spoke with his Canadian counterpart Anita Anand. “Good to speak to Anand. Discussed the West Asia conflict and bilateral ties. Look forward to continuing our conversation,” the EAM posted on X. repression, we’re not seeing any connection right now with any foreign entity,” Duheme said, clarifying the force’s latest assessment based on available criminal intelligence. The remarks mark a notable departure from the RCMP’s position in 2024, when Duheme had publicly stated that Indian Government agents or proxies were linked continued on page 6