Month: March 2026

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Wednesday announced the establishment of a Special Control Room in view of the evolving situation in West Asia and the Gulf region, providing multiple helpline numbers for Indian nationals.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared the update on X, stating that a dedicated Control Room has been set up to assist citizens amid the ongoing tensions.

According to the official release, the Control Room will operate from 9 am to 9 pm and can be reached at the following numbers: 1800118797 (Toll Free), +91 11 2301 2113, +91 11 2301 4104, and +91 11 2301 7905.

In addition, the MEA provided emergency contact numbers for Indian embassies across the region.

For Bahrain, it is +973 39418071.

For Iran, the numbers are +98 9128109115 / +98 912810910 / +98 932179359.

For Iraq, the numbers are +964 771 651 1185 / +964 770444 4899.

For Israel, the numbers are +972 54 7520711 / +972 54 2428378.

For Jordan, it is +962 770 422 276.

For Kuwait, it is +965 65501946.

For Lebanon, it is +961 76860128.

For Oman, the numbers are +968 98282270 (WhatsApp) / 80071234 (Toll free).

For Qatar, it is +974 55647502.

For Ramallah, Palestine, it is +970 592916418.

For Saudi Arabia (Riyadh), the numbers are +966 11 4884697 / 800 247 1234 (Toll free).

For Saudi Arabia (Jeddah), the numbers are +966 126648660 / +966 12 2614093.

For the United Arab Emirates, the numbers are +971 543090571 (WhatsApp) / 800 46342 (Toll free).

The MEA said the step has been taken in light of the current security situation in West Asia and the Gulf, as tensions continue to escalate across the region.

Indian nationals have been advised to remain in touch with the respective embassies and monitor official updates for further advisories.

Earlier, the Consulate General of India, Jeddah, on Tuesday said it is extending full support to Indian nationals travelling on special flights from Jeddah amid regional travel disruptions due to the ongoing conflict in the West Asia region.

The Consulate said Consul General Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri, accompanied by senior officials, visited King Abdulaziz International Airport to review arrangements for Indian passengers departing on non-scheduled flights to various destinations in India.

These special flights are being operated by Indian carriers to mitigate the impact of recent regional travel disruptions and facilitate the return of affected passengers.

“Consul General, Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri, accompanied by Consulate officials, visited King Abdulaziz International Airport today to meet Indian nationals travelling on non-scheduled flights from Jeddah to various destinations in India. These flights are being operated by Indian carriers to address recent regional travel disruptions. He reviewed on-ground arrangements, interacted with passengers and airline staff, and assured them of the Consulate’s full support,” the Consulate posted on X.

Suri interacted with passengers and airline staff, assessed on-ground arrangements, and assured travellers of the Consulate’s full support. The Consulate said its staff are deployed round-the-clock at airports in Jeddah and Madinah to provide necessary assistance and address passenger concerns. (ANI)

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has claimed that they control the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for oil and gas, and any vessels seeking to pass through the waterway risk damage from missiles or stray drones.

Earlier, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) claimed that it had struck an American destroyer in the Indian Ocean. The Corps said the warship had been hit using “Ghadr-380” and “Talaieh” missiles. The Ghadr missile is a medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM) with a range of up to 2,000 kilometres, designed for precision strikes and rapid deployment.

Talaeieh is a strategic cruise missile system capable of reaching targets up to 1,000 kilometres away. It is a smart missile that can change targets mid-mission, adding to its strategic capabilities.

IRGC claimed that the destroyer was refuelling from an American tanker while it was hit, it added. The strike, the Corps concluded, triggered “widespread fires” on board both the vessels.

The IRGC has launched an operation codenamed True Promise 4 in retaliation against US-Israeli assets after they struck Iran. IRGC claims that they have struck numerous sensitive and strategic targets deep inside the occupied territories, besides staging counterattacks against many American interests throughout the West Asia region, including those lying in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait.

Meanwhile, Times of Israel reported that Israel had led a covert extraction of part of its embassy staff in the United Arab Emirates after two Iranian terror plots targeting the diplomatic team were foiled in recent days. The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the evacuation, stating that “in light of concrete threats against Israeli missions in the UAE, and at the request of security authorities, non-essential staff were evacuated from the United Arab Emirates.”

The Times of Israel also reported that US President Donald Trump had ordered strikes on Iran after Tehran demonstrated during three rounds of nuclear talks last month that it was not serious about giving up the capacity to produce a nuclear weapon.

Trump had described the Islamist Regime as ‘crazy people’ who would have used a nuclear weapon had they had access to it.

“If we didn’t do what we’re doing right now, you would’ve had a nuclear war and they would’ve taken out many countries because you know what? They’re sick people. They’re mentally ill, sick people. They’re angry. They’re crazy. They’re sick. These people are crazy — and if they had a nuclear weapon, they would’ve used it,” he said in a news conference on Tuesday night (local time)

The conflict in the Middle East is now in Day 5 following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region. (ANI)

Congress MP Manickam Tagore on Wednesday hinted at accepting an alliance with coalition partner Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) amid discussions over a seat-sharing pact for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

In an X post amid ongoing seat-sharing discussions, Manickam Tagore said that party workers in Tamil Nadu will accept the high command’s decision.

“Individuals may have differences, but the party is bigger than any one of us. When leadership decides, we accept it with discipline — because unity is our greatest strength. Good Friends,” the Congress MP wrote.

Following initial objections and rumours of the party joining hands with the debutant Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), the Congress MP’s post highlighted that he has fallen in line with the party’s high command.

This comes after senior Congress leader P Chidambaram and State Congress President K Selvaperunthagai met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday.

Selvaperunthagai said the alliance between the DMK and Congress remains intact and discussions are progressing without friction ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

“Everything is going on smoothly. I am a soldier of the party. Whatever the high command says, I will follow. AICC will make the final decision,” Selvaperunthagai told reporters after the meeting.

Downplaying speculations over seat-sharing talks, he added, “This was just a courtesy call, and we went there. There are no speculations and no negotiations.”

The tussle to finalise the seat-sharing for the alliance emerged when the DMK offered Congress 25 seats, while the party was expecting to get to contest on more. On March 1, All India Congress Committee (AICC) In-Charge for Tamil Nadu Girish Chodankar told ANI, “They offered us 25 seats, but that is not acceptable to us. Whatever we want, we have given to them.”

Notably, the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly will go to the polls in the first half of 2026, where the MK Stalin-led alliance will look to project the ‘Dravidian Model 2.0’ for the win against the BJP-AIADMK alliance. (ANI)

Actor Yash’s fans may have to wait a little longer to watch his upcoming film ‘Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups’ in theatres. The film, which was earlier slated to release on March 19, will not hit cinemas as planned.

The makers have decided to push the release date of the action-thriller to June 4, 2026, due to rising tensions in the Middle East.

The team had already planned a big trailer launch event in Bengaluru on March 8, with media from across the country. Promotions were in place, and the first song, titled ‘Tabaahi,’ was also ready to release on March 2. However, the makers decided to pause all promotional activities in view of the situation.

In an official statement, the production houses shared that after years of “dedicated labor,” they were excited to release the film in March. However, they said the “current uncertainty, especially in the Middle East,” has affected their plan to reach the widest audience.

“After years of dedicated labor, we were excited to share our film with you all on the 19th of March. However, the current uncertainty, especially in the Middle East, has created a situation that impacts our goal to reach and connect with the widest possible audience,” the statement read.

“Therefore, in the interest of our partners and our audience, we have made the difficult but carefully considered decision to reschedule our release,” it added.

‘Toxic: A Fairy Tale for Grown-ups’ will now be released in cinemas across the globe in English and Indian languages on June 4, 2026. “See you at the movies,” the statement further read.

The film stars Yash in the lead role, along with Nayanthara, Kiara Advani, Huma Qureshi, Rukmini Vasanth, and Tara Sutaria. It is written by Yash and directed by Geetu Mohandas. The movie has been shot in Kannada and English, with dubbed versions in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam. (ANI)

Holi’s here, and the B-town celebs are making sure we get a front-row seat to all the fun! If your Instagram looks like a colour explosion today, you’re definitely not alone. Bollywood celebrities are out in full force to enjoy the festival with family, friends, and of course, a lot of colours.

From adorable family moments to star-studded gatherings, the stars make sure to mark the special day with joy and, of course, plenty of colours. From Katrina Kaif to Varun Dhawan, Bollywood celebs flooded social media with pictures and heartfelt wishes, giving fans a peek into the festive fun with their loved ones.

Katrina Kaif took to her Instagram account to share an adorable picture from her Holi celebration with her husband, Vicky Kaushal, his brother Sunny Kaushal, and her sister Isabelle Kaif. The family was seen covered in colours and smiling brightly. Along with the photo, she wrote, “The Happiest Happy Holi.”

Kriti Sanon celebrated the festival with her parents, her sister Nupur Sanon, and her brother-in-law Stebin Ben. She posted group pictures from the day. Sharing the photos, she wrote, “Happy Holi from our fam to yours.” The actress looked cheerful as she posed with her family.

Varun Dhawan, too, made sure to share selfies with his wife Natasha Dalal after their Holi celebration. The couple looked relaxed and happy. In his caption, Varun wrote, “Happy Holi to everyone around our planet. Praying for peace and brotherhood.”

Apart from family celebrations, Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi hosted a Holi party at their home. Many film personalities attended the gathering. Urmila Matondkar, Ali Fazal, and Richa Chadha were among those seen at the celebration. (ANI)

The Director General of the International Atomic Energy Association appeared to have contradicted views put forth by the Donald Trump administration that Iran was intending to build nuclear weapons, but clarified that Iran’s stock of nuclear grade Uranium was of concern.

In a post on X, Rafael Grossi said, “I have been very clear and consistent in my reports on Iran’s nuclear programme: while there has been no evidence of Iran building a nuclear bomb, its large stockpile of near-weapons grade enriched uranium and refusal to grant my inspectors full access are cause for serious concern. For these reasons, my previous reports indicate that unless and until Iran assists the IAEA in resolving the outstanding safeguards issues, the Agency will not be in a position to provide assurance that Iran’s nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful.”

Earlier, in an interview to CNN, Grossi said that the IAEA had no indication of a systematic program to build a nuclear weapon.

“While there are many elements there that were of serious concern: accumulation, unjustified accumulation of huge amounts of almost military-grade material, lack of transparency in inspections, and so on, we never had information indicating that there was a structured, systematic program to build, to construct a nuclear weapon. So we have to balance the two things. Yes, many reasons for concern, but there wasn’t to be a bomb tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Obviously, countries, and that is the case for the United States or Israel, and perhaps others, may have the impression that all these activities are aimed directly and straight into the manufacturing of a nuclear weapon. We from the IAEA are not in the business of judging intentions. But yes, there were reasons for concern, but these timelines are perhaps a bit subjective,” he told CNN.

The IAEA DG’s comments come even as US President Trump claimed that had they not targeted Iran now they would have got their hands on nuclear weapons. Trump who described the Islamist Regime as ‘crazy people’ who would have used a nuclear weapon had they had access to it.

“If we didn’t do what we’re doing right now, you would’ve had a nuclear war and they would’ve taken out many countries because you know what? They’re sick people. They’re mentally ill, sick people. They’re angry. They’re crazy. They’re sick. These people are crazy — and if they had a nuclear weapon, they would’ve used it,” he said in a news conference on Tuesday night (local time).

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the world would be a better place once the radicals had no access to weapons of destruction.

“Iran is run by lunatics, religious fanatic lunatics. They have an ambition to have nuclear weapons. They intend to develop those nuclear weapons behind a program of missiles and drones and terrorism that the world will not be able to touch them for fear of those things. And this is the weakest they’ve ever been. Now is the time to go after them. The President made the decision to go after them, take away their missiles, take away their navy, take away their drones, take away their ability to make those things, so that they can never have a nuclear weapon… That’s why the President made this decision. It was the right decision and the world will be a safer place when these radical clerics no longer have access to these weapons. You see how they’re using them now. Imagine how they would use them a year from now if they had more of these,” he said.

The conflict in the Middle East is now in Day 5 following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region. (ANI)

Pre-wedding festivities have kick-started ahead of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar’s son, Arjun’s wedding and the celebrations are already turning into a star-studded affair.

On Tuesday, the family came together for a pre-wedding ceremony with high-profile guests and cricket icons like Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, and Ravi Shastri bringing in more glamour to the evening.

The Tendulkar family clearly stole the spotlight as Sachin Tendulkar, his wife Anjali Tendulkar, daughter Sara and son Arjun posed together for the media in stunning traditional ensembles.

Sachin Tendulkar chose a bright green kurta-pyjama set, which he paired with a printed jacket, while his wife Anjali went for a gorgeous blue outfit. She completed the look with heavy jewellery.

Sara Tendulkar looked glowing and beautiful in a pink lehenga.

The soon-to-be bride, Saaniya Chandhok, also joined the frame as she arrived with her family members for the celebrations. Saaniya opted for a pastel lehenga, looking pretty and adorable.

As the evening unfolded, former Indian cricket star Zaheer Khan arrived for the pre-wedding celebrations with his wife, actress Sagarika Ghatge. The couple appeared joyous as they happily posed for the cameras.

Harbhajan Singh was also spotted joining the family with his wife, Geeta Basra. Later in the evening, Irfan Pathan also arrived with his wife, Sara Baig.

Among other high-profile guests were Ravi Shastri, Yuvraj Singh and his wife Hazel Keech, and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, along with his family.

Earlier in February, Sachin Tendulkar and Anjali Tendulkar met Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at his official residence, Nandanvan, in Mumbai and extended an invitation for the wedding ceremony of his son.

Sachin Tendulkar has also extended invitations to President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for the wedding celebrations.

Arjun and Saaniya got engaged in August last year. (ANI)

Nepal is prepared for the general elections, with voting scheduled to take place on March 5. This election, being held after the Gen Z protests in September last year, is considered very significant. As a close neighbour, this election is equally important for India as well. India is providing necessary support to Nepal for these elections.

For Nepal’s general elections, India has provided a large number of vehicles to the Election Commission. Nepal Election Commission’s Information Officer, Suman Ghimire, while talking to ANI, said that, “India is our important neighbour, and we continue to receive assistance from India.”

Ghimire said, “Our friendly nation, India, has provided a large number of vehicles for our elections. These vehicles were given by the Government of India to the Government of Nepal, and from there they were made available to us for our election work. India is an important neighbour for us. Our country is connected to India on three sides. We have consistently received support from India.”

He further added, “In view of the elections, India is also cooperating from a security point of view. For security reasons, some border areas adjoining India have been sealed.”

Speaking about other neighbouring countries, Suman Ghimire said, “Countries like China, Korea and Japan are also supporting us. They provide assistance to us through the Government of Nepal.”

He informed that, “Voting will take place on March 5 from 7 am to 5 pm. A total of 18,903,689 eligible voters will participate in this election. This time, 1.1 million new voters have been added. We have also provided training to the new voters at the ward level regarding the voting process.”

“For this election, a total of 10,967 polling locations have been set up, comprising 23,112 polling centres. Arrangements have been made at the polling centres keeping in mind the convenience of the voters,” he added. (ANI)

Amid the escalating tensions across the West Asia region, the US State Department updated the travel advisory for Qatar, Kuwait and other Middle Eastern countries to reflect the ordered departure of non-emergency US government personnel and family members of government personnel.

Secretary Marco Rubio and the US Department of State have urged Americans across Middle Eastern countries to leave immediately due to “serious safety risks” amid the ongoing conflict with Iran.

“Secretary Marco Rubio and Department of State urges Americans to DEPART NOW from the countries below using available commercial transportation, due to serious safety risks. Americans who need State Department assistance arranging to depart via commercial means, CALL US 24/7 at +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad) and +1-888-407-4747 (from the U.S. and Canada). ENROLL in http://step.state.gov to get the latest security updates from the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate,” Assistant Secretary Mora Namdar posted on X.

The advisory includes countries such as Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Yemen.

The US Embassy in Jerusalem said that it was not in a position at this time to evacuate or directly assist Americans in departing Israel. The embassy informed that the Israeli Ministry of Tourism has initiated operating shuttles to the Taba Border Crossing as of March 2.

“To be added to the passenger list for a shuttle, you must register via the Ministry’s evacuation form. The US Embassy cannot make any recommendation (for or against) the Ministry of Tourism’s shuttle. If you choose to avail yourself of this option to depart, the U.S. government cannot guarantee your safety. The information is provided as a courtesy to those wishing to leave Israel. Passengers who wish to cross to Jordan may take the shuttle to Eilat and continue independently (by taxi) to the Yitzhak Rabin Border Crossing,” the embassy posted on X.

As this happened, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said that the Israeli Air Force (IAF) completed additional waves of strikes in western Iran targeting the Iranian regime’s missile launchers, defence systems, and live-fire arrays.

Meanwhile, the US embassy in Riyadh was hit by two drones, Al Jazeera reported Saudi authorities as saying. As this happened, the US Consulate in Dhahran urged citizens to take cover.

“There is a threat of imminent missile and UAV attacks over Dhahran. Do not come to the US Consulate. Take cover immediately in your residence on the lowest available floor and away from windows. Do not go outside. The U.S. Consulate in Dhahran urges US citizens in Dhahran to shelter in place, review security plans in the event of an attack, and to stay alert in case of additional future attacks. U.S. Consulate personnel are sheltering in place,” the embassy posted on X.

Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Doha on Tuesday issued an advisory for the Indian community in Qatar, asking them to remain indoors and stay safe.

The Indian Embassy said that residents are urged to rely only on verified information issued by the Qatari authorities through official channels.

“The Indian community is requested to closely follow news and guidance issued by Qatari authorities through official channels. Residents are urged to rely only on verified and official information. The Ministry of Interior of Qatar has emphasised the importance of remaining. indoors and staying in safe, enclosed places to safeguard public safety. Residents are advised not to go out except in cases of extreme necessity,” the Embassy of India in Doha posted on X.

The Indian Embassy urged all Indian nationals to adhere to the instructions provided by Qatar’s Ministry of Interior. It said that passengers should refrain from proceeding to the Hamad international airport without checking with their respective airlines for the latest updates.

“All Indian nationals are strongly urged to strictly adhere to these instructions. The Qatar Civil Aviation Authority has confirmed that Qatari airspace remains closed. Accordingly, operations at Hamad International Airport are suspended and will resume once the Authority announces the safe reopening of airspace. Passengers are advised not to proceed to the airport and to check with their respective airlines for the latest updates,” the embassy said.

“The Embassy remains in close contact with the concerned authorities and is committed to the safety and welfare of all Indian nationals. Indian nationals are advised to remain calm, stay indoors, follow local authority guidelines, and avoid unnecessary movement,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, Qatar has strongly condemned Iranian attacks on US Embassies in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said that the two embassies contravene international agreements and diplomatic norms.

“The State of Qatar strongly condemns the Iranian attacks that targeted the embassies of the United States in Riyadh and Kuwait, deeming them a blatant violation of international conventions and laws. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stresses that the Iranian attacks on the two embassies contravene international agreements and diplomatic norms that criminalise assaults on diplomatic missions and grant immunity to their premises and staff,” Qatar’s MFA said in a statement.

“The Ministry affirms the State of Qatar’s full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Kuwait in all measures they take to safeguard their security and the safety of their territories,” the statement further said.

The conflict in the Middle East has entered its fourth day following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region. (ANI)

Iran signalled a willingness to talk to end the current conflict with the US and Israel, but only “with dignity” and without being dictated to.

Speaking to ANI, Abdul Majeed Hakeem Ilahi, Special representative of the supreme leader of Iran, said, “We are ready to stop the war. We are ready for negotiations. But the negotiating should be with dignity, not dictating something against Iran. We are defending ourselves. We are looking for our right and nothing else.”

He emphasised that Iran wants a guarantee of no future attacks and the removal of sanctions in exchange for peace

“No, in this circumstance, no one is ready for negotiation. Attacking us and we negotiate it? No. But if they stop the war and they have to give us the guarantee that they are not going to attack us again, and also to remove the sanctions against Iran, why are we not ready for negotiation? We are looking for the peace,” he said.

Ilahi further accused the US of starting the war and urged them to stop. “They are the ones attacking us and bombing our civilians; we are simply defending ourselves,” he stated. He emphasised that Iran did not start this war and insisted that the responsibility to end it lies with the US. “They started it, and they must be the ones to stop it; once they do, we will stop as well.”

Ilahi said that Iran was negotiating with the US through Oman before the recent attacks.

“We should look back at the events of last week. Iran had begun negotiating with America through Oman, and both parties were at the table. We were moving toward a conclusion. In fact, on the final day, the Omani Foreign Minister expressed his gratitude, noting that a significant opportunity had been provided. He stated that we had made substantial progress and achieved a great deal through these discussions. We were on the verge of issuing a joint statement, and we hoped the conflict would finally end. It was immediately after this that America and Israel attacked us,” he said.

The situation between Iran and the US-Israeli coalition is moving at a breakneck pace. As of Tuesday, the conflict has escalated from a diplomatic standoff into a high-intensity air campaign–Operation Epic Fury–that has fundamentally shifted the Iranian political landscape.

President Donald Trump dismissed these overtures as “too late.” He asserted that the Iranian military infrastructure–specifically its Navy, Air Force, and air defenses–has been largely “obliterated.”

Trump stated that while he may talk “eventually,” the military operation will continue until Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities are fully destroyed.

Defending Iran’s stance, Ilahi said that Tehran is seeking peace and prioritising national unity.

“We never left the negotiating table; they did. They were the ones to initiate this war against us. In times of conflict and crisis, security and peace are stripped away from everyone, and all are affected. I also want to address a second point: America’s ultimate goal is not just Iran. After targeting our government, they intend to move on to other nations. Investigations have indicated that, in the near future, there will be a significant shift of power toward other countries,” he said.

Ilahi further accused that the US is creating conflicts to prevent powerful countries like India, China, and Russia from rising. He also said the US wants to maintain its dominance and doesn’t want partners, especially powerful nations.

“In the near future, the world’s most powerful nations will be India, China, Russia, and the United States. However, America does not want any partners; it does not want to see India or China emerge as powerful peers. Consequently, they instigate these wars to prevent this shift and maintain their global dominance,” he said.

Meanwhile, Iran’s President, Masoud Pezeshkian, assured that the country is stable, with ongoing activities and swift decision-making despite the exceptional situation.

“We are in direct contact with the governors. The situation is exceptional, but the country has not come to a halt. Ongoing activities are continuing across the country. By delegating the necessary authorities to the provinces, decision-making is carried out swiftly and in proportion to local conditions. National unity is our primary asset.” (ANI)