India news: Opposition criticizes Modi over Iran crisis

With that, it's past 1:30 a.m. in New Delhi and we'll sign off for the day. Thanks from all of us at DW in Delhi, Bonn and beyond for joining our coverage. 

Dharvi was able to take a well-earned rest a few hours ago, but our Delhi bureau will be back in business in the morning to make a start on Tuesday's coverage. 

See you then!

The West Indies and Zimbabwe cricket teams said on Monday that they had delayed their return from India after elimination from the Twenty20 World Cup. 

They are unable to arrange flights home because of the international airspace closures amid the conflict in the Middle East. 

Hosts India dashed the West Indies' hopes of a semifinal berth on Sunday thanks in large part to a man-of-the-match performance from wicket keeper Sanju Samson to ensure they would progress to the final four. 

Zimbabwe, meanwhile, lost all three of their games in the so-called Super Eights stage and therefore never really threatened to claim a semifinal spot. 

"The Zimbabwe men's team remains safe and well in India," Zimbabwe Cricket said in a social media post. "The squad was scheduled to return home via Dubai." 

Cricket West Indies (CWI) said they were working with the International Cricket Council, the sport's global governing body, to make safe travel arrangements for the players and staff.

The ICC is headquartered in Dubai and it had earlier said it was activating contingency plans for their personnel, who were scheduled to travel through Dubai and then on to their home countries. 

"The safety and well-being of our playsers, coaches, and officials remain our highest priority," CWI said. 

India's Ministry of Civil Aviation said on Monday that although the country's biggest airline IndiGo was continuing its disruptions to certain regular services, it would operate 10 special relief flights out of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia on March 3. 

These flights would aim "to facilitate the return of stranded passengers, subject to required approvals and prevailing airspace conditions," the ministry said. 

"IndiGo is coordinating with the Consulate General of India at Jeddah for passenger facilitation. Foreign carriers operating between India and the Gulf region are also undertaking limited operations, subject to operational and airspace considerations," it said. 

Several hours earlier on Monday, IndiGo had confirmed that its temporary suspensions to regular services would remain in effect on March 3. 

"As part of our continued precautionary approach, the temporary suspension of select international flights operating through parts of the Middle Eastern airspace has been extended," the airline said. "Additionally, certain other international services may be impacted as we align operations with evolving conditions." 

Air India Express said late on Monday that its flights to and from Oman's capital Muscat would restart as of Tuesday, March 3. 

However, flights to and from Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates would remain suspended for at least one more day, the airline said on X. 

"Guests are advised to check their flight status and ensure their contact details are updated in their PNR for the latest notifications," the carrier recommended. 

Air India, meanwhile, said that its services to the Middle East would remain suspended for the time being. 

Indians make up by far the largest expatriate community in Oman, thought to number over half a million people and to constitute somewhere in the region of 20% of the country's population. The last Omani census was in 2010, making precise figures difficult to come by.

Many Omani citizens are also of Indian descent, a legacy of the period of the colonial British Raj and its widespread influence in the Gulf. 

An Indian mariner has died following an attack on an oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman, 52 nautical miles off the coast of Muscat, Oman's Maritime Security Centre said in a statement on Monday. 

The vessel MKD VYOM, flying the flag of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, was struck by an unmanned boat, the statement said.

It was not immediately clear who carried out the attack, as war erupts in the Middle East.

The center said that the tanker was carrying some 59,463 metric tons of cargo. 

"The attack resulted in a fire and explosion in the main engine room, leading to the death of one crew member of Indian nationality," it said.

The tanker had 21 crew members on board, including 16 Indian nationals, 4 Bangladeshi nationals, and one Ukrainian national, the Omani centre said.

The crew was evacuated by commercial ship MV SAND, which flies the flag of the Republic of Panama, it added.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that they would aim to conclude a free trade pact by the end of 2026.

Last year, they had agreed to resume negotiations on a proposed free-trade deal, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

"Our target is to reach $50 billion (€42 billion) in bilateral trade," Modi said on Monday.

"This is why we have decided to finalise a comprehensive economic partnership soon," he added, saying it "will open new opportunities to invest and create jobs in both countries."

Carney said India and Canada were entering "a new era of partnership," as he shared a montage of his meeting with Modi on X.

The Chatlam Wetland near Srinagar is a crucial stop for millions of migratory birds, but shrinking wetlands and rising pollution are threatening their habitat.

Birdwatcher Seerat Ul Nisa teaches young people about conservation, while scientists warn of severe ecological loss. Restoration at protected sites like Hokersar offers hope, and experts urge Ramsar status for Chatlam to help safeguard Kashmir’s wetlands.

 

Curbs were in place in parts of Srinagar, in India-administered Kashmir, after protests erupted over the killing of Iran's supreme leader and Shiite cleric Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Indian media reports said on Monday.

Police fired tear gas to disperse thousands of demonstrators protesting in the city for a second straight day.

The protesters clashed with security forces when they were stopped from marching to the main square in Srinagar, news agency AFP reported. 

Meanwhile, mobile internet speeds have been restricted as part of what officials call a "precautionary measure" to maintain law and order in the region. News agency PTI reported.

Schools and colleges have been ordered to close for two days, reports said.

On Sunday, protesters mourning Khamenei's death gathered on the streets of Srinagar.

Demonstrators were seen holding red, black, and yellow flags, along with photos of Khamenei at Srinagar's iconic square of Lal Chowk.

Protests were also held outside the headquarters of the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP), news agency ANI reported.

Chief Minister of the Jammu and Kashmir state, Omar Abdullah, called for calm following the demonstrations.

"We must also ensure that those who are mourning in Jammu and Kashmir are allowed to grieve peacefully. The police and administration should exercise utmost restraint and refrain from using force or restrictive measures," he said.

Shiite Muslims across India are mourning Khamenei's death.

The Iranian leader's supporters also demonstrated in Lucknow, the capital of India's most populous Uttar Pradesh state, New Delhi, Bihar, Jharkhand and Telangana.

Most of India's Muslims belong to the Sunni sect, while Shiite make up around 15% of the country's Muslim population.

India and Canada on Monday agreed a number of deals, including on critical mineral cooperation and a "landmark" uranium supply deal for nuclear power.

Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi announced the agreements at a meeting that is part of Carney's first official trip to India.

The visit comes as India and Canada work to reset ties that deteriorated in 2023 over the killing of a Canadian ​Sikh separatist.

Then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had alleged Indian involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was fatally shot in British Columbia in June 2023.

India refuted the claim, calling it  "absurd".

After Carney came to office, Canada has looked to mend its bilateral relations with India as it also faces tariff threats from the United States, its largest trading partner.

Canada is now on a quest to diversify from the US and find new markets for its exports.

Carney on Monday said that the two countries had agreed the launch of a "strategic energy partnership with significant potential" including a CAD$2.6 billion (US$1.9 billion, €1.6 billion) uranium supply agreement "supporting India's nuclear ambitions."

Modi announced that both sides will also work together on Small Modular Reactors and advanced reactors.

"In Civil Nuclear Energy, we have struck a landmark deal for long-term uranium supply," the Indian PM added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that the crisis unfolding in the Middle East was a matter of "deep concern" for India.

He emphasized India's stance towards maintaining peace and stability.

"India's position on the many ongoing tensions in the world is clear. We have always called for maintaining peace and stability, and when two democracies stand together, the voice for peace becomes even stronger," Modi said.

"The current situation in West Asia is a matter of deep concern for us. India supports the resolution of all disputes through dialogue and diplomacy. We will continue to work closely with all countries to ensure the safety of all Indian citizens in the region," he added. 

Late on Sunday, Modi spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a telephone call to discuss the tense situation in the Middle East. 

Modi said he urged Israel for an "early cessation of hostilities."

The Indian leader said he emphasized the safety of civilians as a priority, expressing his government's concerns over the latest developments in the region.

Modi was in Israel just last week during which he also delivered a speech at the Knesset, hailing the relations with Israel, one of India's closest allies.

Modi also condemned the attack on the United Arab Emirates  in a call to the Gulf nation's president, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. 

"India stands in solidarity with the UAE in these difficult times," he said.

India's main opposition party, Congress, condemned the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei in an Israeli strike and criticized the Modi government's response to the Middle East crisis.

"The Indian National Congress (INC) unequivocally condemns the targeted assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Hosseini Khamenei, in a military strike carried out without a formal declaration of war," party President Mallikarjun Mapanna Kharge said in a statement released on Sunday night. 

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi described Khamenei's killing as "despicable," in a post on the social media platform X.

She criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he aligned himself with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahyu and US President Donald Trump.

"I do hope that having genuflected before the Prime Minister of Israel and President Trump, our Prime Minister makes every effort to bring all Indian citizens in the affected countries back home to safety," Gandhi said on social media platform X. 

The Congress deemed the Modi government's response to the war on Iran as a betrayal of "India's values, principles, concerns, and interests."

The party also criticized Modi's visit to Israel last week, saying that it came at a time when the world was aware of an imminent US-Israel military attack for a regime change in Iran.

"The assault began just two days after Mr. Modi left Israel where his speech to the Knesset was a display of shameful moral cowardice." Congress  General- Secretary in-charge of Communication Jairam Ramesh wrote on X.

Good morning! This is Dharvi in New Delhi and I will be bringing you DW's latest offering — a daily wrap of news from India.

It will be your one-stop shop for what's making headlines in India. 

We'll unpack the country's biggest and trending stories with reports and analysis from our studio in New Delhi and our team of multi-lingual reporters on the ground. 

Daily temperatures are soaring in New Delhi — and so is the diplomatic heat. 

On the US-Israel war with Iran, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging an "early cessation of hostilities."

India has also condemned the Iranian attacks on UAE, expressing solidarity with the Emirates. 

Meanwhile, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney spent the weekend meeting business leaders in India's financial hub, Mumbai. He has now reached New Delhi where he is meeting Modi as part of a maiden visit to strengthen bilateral relations between India and Canada, which frayed in 2023.

Stay tuned to find out what India is talking about today.