VHP threatens agitation if militant tag not removed
New Delhi, June 15: The Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Friday demanded an apology from the CIA for classifying it along with Bajrang Dal as "militant religious outfits" and threatened global protests if the tag is not removed.
In a statement, the VHP called the classification in the CIA's World Factbook "objectionable", "disrespectful" and "non-factual".
It said the CIA, which was responsible for the creation of Osama Bin Laden, had no rights to comment on the saffron outfit that worked for India's welfare.
VHP leader Surendra Jain said there were "vested interests" behind the move and the CIA's "anti-India mindset" could be seen from the fact that some parts of Jammu and Kashmir were shown in Pakistan in the maps used in the Factbook.
He urged the Indian government to take up the matter with the US government in order to pressurise the CIA to "rectify the errors" in the Factbook.
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Middle East crisis: Oil prices cross $83 per barrel as Strait of Hormuz disruption hits supply
New Delhi: Global crude oil prices rose sharply on Thursday, crossing $83 per barrel, following Iran’s move to shut down the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Oil prices have increased by more than 2 per cent due to concerns over supply disruptions in the region, which is a key route for global energy shipments.
A sustained rise in crude prices could significantly affect India’s import bill. Government estimates indicate that an increase of $1 per barrel in crude oil prices for a full year could raise India’s import bill by around Rs 16,000 crore.
However, government sources said India remains in a relatively comfortable position in the short term. The country currently has crude oil reserves sufficient for about 25 days, along with an additional 25 days’ supply of petroleum products, including shipments already in transit to Indian ports.
India imports nearly 85 per cent of its crude oil requirements from the Middle East, with much of the supply traditionally passing through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes.
Officials said India has strengthened its energy security in recent years by diversifying its sources of crude oil imports. Supplies have increasingly been sourced from countries such as Russia, African nations and the United States, reducing dependence on Gulf routes.
As a result, a portion of India’s oil imports now bypasses the Strait of Hormuz.
India spent about $137 billion on crude oil imports in the financial year ending March 31, 2025. In the current financial year, from April 2025 to January 2026, the country spent approximately $100.4 billion to import 206.3 million tonnes of crude oil.
