New Delhi, March 27 -- After Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri rejected speculation of a nationwide lockdown, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday moved to firmly dispel the rumours, assuring citizens that there is no such proposal under consideration even as fuel supply concerns mount.

Seeking to calm public fears, Sitharaman described claims of an impending lockdown and fuel shortages as unfounded.

"I want to reassure people that there shall not be any lockdown. I am surprised that some leaders are saying there will be a lockdown and there will be shortages of fuel. These are baseless. Such remarks coming from those in political domains are worrisome. There will be no lockdown such as we saw during Covid. I want to reassu...