Mumbai, Sep 28: India is exploring the possibility of strengthening its energy partnership with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by sourcing more liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from the Gulf nation, while also working on expanding strategic petroleum reserves to bolster the country’s energy security, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Monday.

Addressing the media after the 14th meeting of the India-UAE High-Level Joint Task Force on Investments here, Goyal said that India is engaging with the UAE to enhance cooperation across the energy sector as part of efforts to diversify supply arrangements and safeguard domestic energy availability amid continuing uncertainties in global energy markets.

“India is exploring the possibility of using the United Arab Emirates as a key source of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), while also working with Abu Dhabi to expand petroleum reserves,” the minister stated.

The discussions build on agreements announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UAE in May 2026, when both countries unveiled plans for deeper cooperation in crude oil storage, strategic reserves, LNG and LPG infrastructure, and long-term LPG supply arrangements.

As part of the collaboration, Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd (ISPRL) and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) signed a strategic agreement under which the UAE could store up to 30 million barrels of crude oil in India’s strategic petroleum reserve facilities. The proposed arrangement includes potential participation in storage sites located at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Chandikhol in Odisha.

The two sides are also examining the possibility of storing a portion of India’s strategic crude reserves in Fujairah, a key UAE oil hub located outside the Strait of Hormuz. Such an arrangement is expected to improve supply-chain resilience and provide greater flexibility in managing energy inventories during periods of geopolitical uncertainty.

Mumbai, Sep 26: The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday trained guns on the Election Commission of India, issuing a joint call to the people of Maharashtra and announcing a grand public protest rally in Mumbai on October 4.

Launching a blistering attack, the Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS accused the Election Commission of deceiving voters and functioning as an extended wing of the ruling party at the Centre.

While the MNS and Shiv Sena UBT are leading the organisational groundwork for the demonstration, the leaders emphasised that the protest goes beyond partisan politics.

Framing the October 4 rally as a mass public movement, the organisers confirmed plans to engage in dialogue with all political parties across the spectrum to forge a unified opposition front.

“This is a rally of the people. To ensure it does not remain confined to a single party but becomes the collective voice of the entire political system and the citizenry, we will reach out to all political parties to join this front,” the statement read.

The statement framed the upcoming agitation as a decisive battle to safeguard the nation’s democratic framework and institutional integrity.

Calling upon citizens to flood the streets of Mumbai, the movement aims to register a strong protest against what the leaders term institutional bias and voter list manipulation under the SIR process. The venue and exact time for the October 4 Mumbai rally will be officially announced shortly.

The statement concluded with a direct appeal to the public to “participate in this rally in large numbers. Come together to save the democracy of this country and the Constitution of this nation!”

Earlier, launching a scathing attack on the BJP and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, Raj Thackeray demanded the immediate cancellation of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process.

He accused the ruling party of leveraging key institutional figures to maintain an “endless grip on power” and called upon all opposition parties across the country to unite for a massive agitation to bring back paper ballots.

Mumbai: The All India Muslim Women’s Association organized a two-day seminar at the Saboo Siddik Musafir Khana in Mumbai to foster awareness among Muslim women and take significant steps toward their empowerment and self-reliance. During this gathering, women were apprised of matters concerning religion, worldly affairs, and current events. Addressing the assembly, Dr. Asma Zehra stated that the event was organized in response to the pressing need for awareness in these turbulent times; educational awareness, in particular, is crucial, so the seminar highlighted the true purpose and significance of education. The event saw the participation of female educators not only from Mumbai but also from across Maharashtra and other parts of the country. Dr. Zehra emphasized that education is what brings about awareness in our generations; thus, the seminar was held to enlighten young women and girls, familiarizing them with professional dynamics and societal roles. She noted that while the government attempts to marginalize minorities—pushing for new laws and the implementation of measures like the Uniform Civil Code (UCC)—this very pressure has awakened the Muslim community. The government’s persistent targeting of Muslims has served to fully alert the community, making them vigilant and wary of every maneuver. The seminar aimed to promote education, foster self-reliance among women and girls, and raise awareness regarding women’s rights in society. Farid Shaikh, head of the Mumbai Peace Committee, played a leading role in this event. He stated that the objective of the seminar was to empower women and boost their morale; consequently, this two-day event was organized in Mumbai, drawing the participation of over 500 teachers, women from various fields, and prominent figures from across the country, ultimately proving to be a success.