Due to the ongoing tension in West Asia, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been affected, due to which the pressure on gas supply in India has increased. Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary of the Petroleum Ministry, clarified things regarding the current situation of oil and gas in a press conference on Wednesday (March 18). He said, sufficient reserves of crude oil are available. Domestic LPG production from refineries has been increased by about 40%.

What did Sujata Sharma say?

Sujata Sharma said, ‘There is no shortage (dry out) at any retail outlet or LPG distributorship. 100% supply to domestic PNG and CNG transport consumers is being ensured. However, the situation of LPG is still worrying. Priority has been given to supply to domestic LPG consumers. Sales of commercial LPG cylinders, which were earlier limited to give preference to domestic LPG, have now been partially restored.

He said, ‘We have adequate reserves of aviation turbine fuel and there has been no increase in prices by oil marketing companies. There has been no increase in the prices of petrol and diesel so far.

#WATCH | Delhi: Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary (Marketing & Oil Refinery), Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, says, “We have sufficient stocks of aviation turbine fuel and no price increase has been done by the oil marketing companies…Till now, there has been no increase in… pic.twitter.com/zk4KZR6li0

— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2026

Joint Secretary said, ‘The government has written a letter to the states, in which it has been said that additional 10 percent commercial LPG will be given if they help in long-term LPG to PNG transition. Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said, ‘Yesterday (March 17), more than 2300 surprise inspections were conducted on LPG distributors by OMC.’

#WATCH | Delhi: Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary (Marketing & Oil Refinery), Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas, says, “More than 2300 surprise inspections carried out by OMCs on LPG distributors yesterday.” pic.twitter.com/N3J8Sr9epq

— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2026

While returning from India, America had sunk Iran’s IRIS Dena warship in the Indian Ocean, whose emergency call was received by the Sri Lankan Navy. The Sri Lankan Navy had rescued about 30 people on board the ship, but 87 people on board had died. Now an official statement has been issued by the Indian National Congress on this.
According to the statement, ‘The Indian National Congress expresses deep concern over the attack on the Iranian frigate IRIS DENA in the international waters of Sri Lanka, in which at least 87 people have lost their lives and many others are still missing. This incident has worryingly extended the conflict to our immediate areas, threatening to further escalate tensions in our neighbourhood.

(This is a breaking news story and is being updated. Please refresh for the latest updates)

Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia have been acquitted by Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court in the liquor scam case. Congress’s first reaction has come to light on this. Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that in a democracy, allegations cannot be a substitute for evidence.

The discharge of @ArvindKejriwal and @msisodia by th Court is a telling reminder that in a democracy, allegations cannot substitute evidence. Institutions must act with fairness, not fervour. Rule of law must prevail over rule by insinuation.

— Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) February 27, 2026

Former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was acquitted by the court in the excise policy case. When Kejriwal came to talk to journalists after the court’s decision, he became emotional and started crying.

Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal said that the way they were calling it a liquor scam and accusing us, today the court has dismissed all the allegations and rejected all the charges. Truth prevails. I want to thank the judge who did justice to us. God did justice to us. Azad Bharat sitting CM was dragged out of the house by Modi ji and Amit Shah ji, the whole case was fake.

Delhi Liquor Policy Case Live

Crying Arvind Kejriwal said that Kejriwal is not corrupt. He filed a false case, the court said that Kejriwal is staunchly honest. I want to tell the PM not to play with the Constitution like this for the sake of power.

What does the court say on Delhi excise policy?

Let us tell you that in the alleged excise policy scam case, the special court of Rouse Avenue Court has given a big verdict and has acquitted Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia. This order was passed by Special Judge Jitendra Singh. The court made a strong comment on the CBI investigation and said that Kejriwal and Sisodia were accused in the case without concrete material. According to the court, there are many shortcomings in the detailed charge sheet filed by the CBI and the allegations made in it are not supported by any witness or statement.

The court clearly said that CBI has failed to establish a prima facie case against Manish Sisodia. The judge also commented that Arvind Kejriwal was also dragged into the case without any solid and credible evidence. The court acquitted all 23 accused in this case and refused to frame charges against anyone. In the decision, the court termed the investigation process of CBI as flawed and also reprimanded the agency.

The court has acquitted Manish Sisodia in the Delhi Excise Policy case. After this decision, AAP leader Manish Sisodia said that today he is feeling proud because today truth has won.

Manish Sisodia wrote on his

On this decision of the court, the Aam Aadmi Party said, “Truth is immortal, truth is indelible. Today, the court has permanently banned BJP’s lies by clearing all AAP leaders including Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia in the fake liquor scam.

It was further written on behalf of AAP, “Heartfelt thanks to the crores of countrymen who supported us in this fight. We have been fighting with full honesty for the country and will continue to fight.”

I am not corrupt- Kejriwal

On being acquitted by the court, Arvind Kejriwal said that I am not corrupt. I have only earned honesty in my life. They filed a false case and today it has been proved. The court said that Kejriwal is staunchly honest. Manish Sisodia is staunchly honest. Aam Aadmi Party is staunchly honest. He said that for the last few years, Bharatiya Janata Party was doing liquor scam and was accusing us. Today the court rejected all the charges. All the accused were acquitted.

Truth has won – Kejriwal

Kejriwal further said, “We always said that truth prevails. We have faith in the Indian justice system. I am very thankful to the judge who did justice to us. Truth prevailed. I always said that God is with us. He said that PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah together hatched the biggest political conspiracy of independent India. To destroy the Aam Aadmi Party, the five biggest leaders of the party were put in jail.”

Senior Congress leader and MP Jairam Ramesh has praised the US Supreme Court while posting on X. He wrote, ‘Salute to the US Supreme Court, which overturned Trump’s entire tariff strategy! This decision is surprising considering its ideological structure. The 6-3 decision is decisive. The American check and balance system is still working.

Hats off to the US Supreme Court for striking down President Trump’s entire tariff strategy! Quite an amazing decision given its ideological composition. A 6-3 verdict is decisive. The American system of checks and balances still seems to be working.

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) February 20, 2026

Why did India abandon the initial strategy: Pawan Kheda

Congress leader Pawan Kheda tweeted on X saying, ‘Haste is the devil’s work.’ The US Supreme Court has canceled Donald Trump’s so-called global tariff. If India had waited just 18 more days, perhaps we would not have found ourselves trapped in a one-sided, anti-India trade deal. Why did PM Modi call Washington late at night on 2 February 2026? Why did India today abandon its initial strategy of waiting for the US Supreme Court’s decision? Is this the revelation of General Manoj Mukund Naravane? Is this the shadow of the Jeffrey Epstein files? Is this a US criminal case related to Gautam Adani? Or is it everything? Today, Congress has been saved because Narendra Modi has compromised.

Trump’s policy put a break after controversies

This decision has come at a time when Trump’s tariff policy was already in controversy. Recently, at the Board of Peace Summit, Trump had claimed that he had stopped the 2025 conflict between India and Pakistan by threatening 200% tariff. But India’s Foreign Ministry rejected this and said that the ceasefire was achieved through direct negotiations between the two countries.

What did the Trump administration say on the Supreme Court’s decision?

The Trump administration has called this decision ‘shameful’. The White House said they would try to reimpose many of the tariffs using other laws. Posting on social media, Trump said, ‘This decision is against American workers. We will keep fighting. Legal experts believe that Trump is not going to abandon his tariff policy and may now try to get Congress’s approval.

What decision has the US Supreme Court given?

The US Supreme Court has completely canceled President Donald Trump’s comprehensive tariff strategy, declaring it unconstitutional. This decision has come with a majority of 6-3, which is being considered a major blow to Trump’s economic agenda. The court said that Trump abused the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which allows to control some international transactions in a national emergency, but not to impose tariffs on such a large scale.

The decision came on February 20, 2026, when Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion. Justices Amy Coney Barrett, Neil Gorsuch and the court’s three liberal judges agreed with him. The dissenting judges included Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh. The court clarified that a 1977 law like IEEPA does not give the President the power to impose such broad tariffs.

US President Donald Trump threatened to impose 100 percent tariff on Canada if it makes a trade deal with China, after which the first reaction of Canadian PM Carney has come to light. By releasing the video, he has responded to America in gestures. He appealed to the people of his country to buy products made in Canada only. This step of PM Carney is indicating towards focusing on being self-reliant instead of being overly dependent on international trade.

Trump had threatened to impose 100 percent tariff on Canada

Trump had posted on Truth Social and threatened Canada with 100 percent tariff. He said that if Canada makes a trade deal with China, America will impose 100 percent tariff on his country.

The US President wrote, ‘If Governor Carney thinks that he is going to make Canada a ‘drop off port’ for China to send goods to America, then he is making a big mistake. China will eat Canada alive, swallow it whole. In which his business, social fabric and way of life will all be destroyed.

Trump threatened Canada and said that if Canada signs a deal with China, 100 percent tariff will be immediately imposed on all Canadian goods coming to America.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has clarified that the Ministry had no interference or role in the press conference held by the Afghan Foreign Minister in Delhi on Friday (October 10). The ministry also clarified that it was not MEA’s decision to not include women journalists in this press interaction. This comment of MEA has come amid criticism over the absence of women journalists during the press conference of the Afghan Foreign Minister. The ministry said that the issue was decided only by the press conference organizers and MEA had no role.

(This is a breaking news story and is being updated. Please refresh for the latest updates)