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Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday dismissed the recent pro-Khalistani protests in Canada ahead of the G7 Summit, calling the demonstrators hired stooges who should not be taken seriously.
“One more video is going viral in which these people are protesting against the neighbouring country after they did not get funding from them,” Mr Puri said.
“These are hired stooges. Don’t take them seriously,” he said.
The Minister made the remarks while inaugurating an exhibition marking 11 years of PM Narendra Modi’s Government and 100 days of the Delhi Government at the Delhi BJP headquarters.
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to arrive in Canada to attend the G-7 summit from Cyprus on the second leg of his visit, at the invitation of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Addressing concerns around rising fuel prices amid the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict, Mr Puri assured that India’s energy reserves remain robust.
“Today we have an energy situation where we have enough stocks, our own production is going up. Our bio-fuel blending was 1.4 per cent in 2014, now it has reached 20 per cent now,” he said.
The Minister also noted recent advancements in India’s green energy sector.
“Green hydrogen, which was thought to be the fuel of the future, is now becoming a reality. Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) has issued a tender for its Panipat refinery, and hydrogen-fuelled buses will run in the coming times,” Mr Puri added.
Meanwhile, the Iran-Israel tensions have rattled global markets, pushing oil and gold prices higher.
On Monday (June 16, 2025), U.S. benchmark crude oil rose by 20 cents to $73.18 per barrel, while Brent crude gained 95 cents to $75.18 per barrel. Asian markets responded cautiously, with mixed performance amid fears of a broader regional conflict and disruptions to global oil supply chains.
Published - June 16, 2025 10:11 pm IST
English (US) ·