NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the Congress in Assam, taking a swipe at Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi by calling him a “Rajkumar” and predicting a string of defeats for the grand old party, even as he expressed confidence that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA would secure a “hattrick” in the state, mentioning the strong state leadership under Sarbanand Sonowal and now of Himanta Biswa Sarma.Addressing a public rally in Gogamukh, the Prime Minister struck an aggressive tone, targeting former Congress president Rahul Gandhi with an indirect jibe, referring to him as a “self-proclaimed prince”.PM Modi said, “This is my first public meeting after the announcement of the Assam elections. This ocean of people in front of me, the enthusiasm of the youth, the blessings of the sisters and daughters, this love is an open declaration that this time a hat-trick is certain.”Reiterating his confidence, PM highlighted both his own electoral record and the party’s performance in the state.Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “With the blessings of all of you, I received the opportunity to achieve a hat-trick as Prime Minister. With your blessings, I also received the opportunity to hit a hat-trick on this ground. I have come here for the third time. And with your blessings, the government in Assam is also going to achieve a hat-trick.”He credited the state’s governance over the past decade to former chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal and incumbent CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, asserting that Assam had entered a new phase of development and stability.Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “First under the leadership of Sarbananda Sonowal and then under the leadership of Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam has witnessed a new era of service and good governance in the past 10 years. These Assam elections are the election to build a developed Assam for a developed India. This time, the BJP-NDA government is set to complete a hat-trick. And the Congress is also set to face a hat-trick of defeats... The self-proclaimed prince of Congress is set to score a century of defeats.”The Prime Minister also referred to the BJP’s recently released manifesto, describing it as a blueprint for the state’s future.Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “…The Assam BJP released a splendid manifesto yesterday. It was Tuesday yesterday, and this manifesto released on Tuesday is set to bring more ‘Mangal’ (auspiciousness) to Assam… This is the ‘Mangal Patra’ that arrived on Tuesday.”Highlighting key promises, Modi spoke about governance reforms and social initiatives, including the proposed implementation of a Uniform Civil Code in the state.PM Modi said, “To ensure that no deceit is done to our daughters, many major announcements have also been made to ensure the dignity, respect, and safety of our daughters’ lives. Implementing Uniform Civil Code in Assam and protecting the traditions of our tribal society, Sixth Schedule areas, or saving Assam’s identity are very big announcements. The BJP does what it says.”Drawing a contrast with past governments, the PM accused Congress of presiding over a period marked by instability and violence, while crediting the NDA for ushering in peace and development.Prime Minister Modi said, “In the past decade, Assam has traversed a long journey of development. These 20-25-year-old youngsters have only witnessed the good governance of BJP-NDA. They have not seen the dark era of Congress rule, when news from Assam was only about bombs, guns, riots, and curfews. The double-engine government has shown Assam a new path to lasting peace. Thousands of Assam’s sons and daughters have, in the past decade, put down the gun and connected to a new future.“He also outlined plans to position Assam as a hub for modern technology, including semiconductor manufacturing.PM Modi said, “There was a time when Assam was discussed in the world for its tea. Now, Assam will be recognised by the world not only for tea but also for chip. That day is not far when chip production will begin from Assam’s semiconductor plant. This will develop Assam as a major hub for modern technology. In the coming times, be it phones, cars, TVs, or fridges, all these products will run on chips from Assam. This is our roadmap for a developed Assam.“On infrastructure, PM Modi accused previous Congress governments of neglect, particularly in building connectivity over the Brahmaputra river.Prime Minister Modi said, “Assam has been gifted so much by nature; Assam has never lacked resources. But for the sake of power, Congress divided the society of Assam and never allowed the two banks of the Brahmaputra to connect. In 60-65 years, Congress built only 3 bridges over the Brahmaputra. Due to the lack of bridges, we lost so many people. The double-engine government understood this problem and completed 5 major bridges over the Brahmaputra in just 10-11 years.“The Prime Minister also took aim at Congress over the issue of illegal infiltration, asserting that the NDA government would continue strict action.Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Congress wants to settle foreigners in Assam and make the native sons and daughters of this land a minority…The BJP-NDA government will not allow the land of our farmers, tribals, and our forests to be under the occupation of infiltrators. Against illegal occupation, the BJP-NDA government’s action will continue. Assamese pride and identity will continue. This is Modi’s guarantee.“The rally marked a high-voltage campaign event in Assam, which is set to vote in a single phase on April 9, with results to be declared on May 4.

Representative image (AI-generated)

With the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz disrupting global oil supplies, several Asian countries are turning to Russian oil to fill the gap caused by the Iran war.Energy-starved nations in the region are taking advantage of US sanction waivers to secure Russian crude, Bloomberg reported. The Philippines recently received its first cargo of ESPO crude in nearly six years, while South Korea’s first Russian naphtha shipment of the year has arrived at Daesan port and is awaiting unloading. Sri Lanka and other countries are also in talks with Moscow over potential shipments.

Why are countries looking towards alternatives?

The war in the Middle East, involving the US, Israel, and Iran, has created a severe energy crunch. The near-total closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key oil transit route, has left regional refiners scrambling for alternatives.India, for example, meets nearly 88% of its oil needs through imports and consumes about 5.8 million barrels per day, with 2.5–2.7 million barrels traditionally sourced from the Middle East. Shipments via the strait handle roughly 55% of India’s LPG imports and 30% of LNG used for power generation and fertilisers.“Incremental Russian crude imports in March could reach 1–1.2 million bpd, narrowing the shortfall from Hormuz exposure to around 1.6 million bpd,” said Sumit Ritolia, analyst at Kpler.Refineries are also optimising domestic LPG output, though even a 10–20% rise in production would only cover roughly half of total demand, making imports critical.

Middle East supply risks for Asia

Asia is heavily dependent on Middle Eastern energy, leaving it exposed to disruptions. Countries like China, Japan and South Korea face particular vulnerability:

India’s growing reliance on Russian crude

India’s purchases of Russian crude surged about 50% in March, rising to 1.5 million barrels per day from 1.04 million bpd in February. Refiners including Indian Oil Corporation and Reliance Industries have bought nearly all available cargoes on the spot market following US waivers.Russia’s oil has increasingly become a larger part of China’s oil mix, while India continues to source significant volumes from the Middle East where possible. Strategic reserves and a strong refining sector have helped cushion the supply shock.“There’s no other choice. Refineries that do not have much flexibility will be the first to look for Russian crude, as it is a relatively easy replacement for Middle Eastern supplies,” said June Goh, analyst at Sparta Commodities.Russia has emerged as a beneficiary of the conflict, with higher crude prices and US waivers increasing demand for its exports. The conflict in Iran has also shifted global attention away from Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.The Strait of Hormuz remains a vital maritime corridor, handling about 20% of the world’s oil trade and large portions of LPG and LNG imports for Asia. Any disruption threatens energy availability and shipping flows, intensifying pressure on governments and refiners to secure alternative supplies like Russian crude.

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GST collections: India’s net Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections increased to Rs 1.78 lakh crore in March 2026, marking a rise of 8.2% compared to the previous month, according to official figures released on Wednesday.Gross GST revenue for March stood at Rs 2 lakh crore, which is an 8.8% increase over the same month last year.Abhishek Jain, Indirect Tax Head & Partner, KPMG says, “GST collections continue to show steady 9% annual growth, supported by strong import activity this month and consistent compliance. While export refunds have eased this month but remain healthy overall for the year”Refunds during the month totalled Rs 0.22 lakh crore, up 13.8% on a year-on-year basis, which resulted in net GST collections of Rs 1.78 lakh crore.Domestic GST revenue reached Rs 1.46 lakh crore, registering a growth of 5.9%, while revenue from imports was recorded at Rs 0.54 lakh crore, rising sharply by 17.8% during the period.Post-settlement GST figures across states presented a varied trend. While industrially advanced states recorded strong growth, several others reported a decline.Maharashtra contributed the highest amount to the overall collections at Rs 0.13 lakh crore on a pre-settlement basis, followed by Karnataka and Gujarat.Among states showing an increase in post-settlement SGST collections were Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, among others.On the other hand, states such as Jammu and Kashmir, Chandigarh, Delhi, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Assam, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, among others, registered a decline in post-settlement SGST revenues.

South African allrounder Beyers Swanepoel’s proposed stint with Worcestershire has been thrown into uncertainty after he left his domestic side, the Lions, mid-match during a one-day cup final, triggering an investigation by Cricket South Africa (CSA).Swanepoel had played a key role in the final, picking up 3/44, before unexpectedly walking off the field with eight overs still remaining in the game. His sudden departure, reportedly to catch a flight to the United Kingdom for his county stint, left the Lions a player short at a crucial stage. Forced to continue with just ten players, the team went on to suffer a narrow defeat, intensifying scrutiny over his actions.The incident has not gone down well within the Lions camp, with team management expressing disappointment and terming the move as contrary to team values and professionalism.

NOC Under Review

CSA has since launched an inquiry into the matter, and Swanepoel’s No-Objection Certificate (NOC), a mandatory requirement for participation in overseas leagues, remains unsigned. “We are investigating the matter and following protocol as per NOC regulation. We will advise everyone accordingly on the way forward once the investigation is concluded within 48 hours,” Eddie Khoza, CSA executive, domestic cricket, told ESPNcricinfo.