THURSDAY 10 JULY 2025 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00 X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR ‘NATURAL FARMING TO BE MY FAVOURITE PASTIME ONCE I RETIRE’ ‘CHOOSE GANDHI, AMBEDKAR, PERIYAR, NOT THE PATH OF GODSE’ P5 P8 SENSEX 83,536.08 q176.43 WEATHER GENERALLY CLOUDY SKY. MODERATE RAIN ACCOMPANIED WITH THUNDERSTORM/ LIGHTNING. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 32 AND 24 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: 006.0 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY P7 ` vs $ 85.69 GOLD `99,820 Min: 26.5°C (SUN SETS 19:22 hrs MOON SETS 05:34 hrs THUMBNAILS Vehicles pass through a waterlogged road amidst heavy rainfall in New Delhi on Wednesday.n SUBRATA DUTTA (SEE PAGE 3) Space regulator approves Musk's Starlink services for 5 years: The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe) on Wednesday announced that it has approved Elon Musk’s Starlink for a period of five years in the country. With this, the final regulatory hurdle for the cheaper internet service to start rolling out its commercial satellite broadband operations in India has been cleared. (P10) X CEO steps down: Linda Yaccarino on Wednesday announced she is stepping down as the CEO of Elon Musk-owned social media platform X, two years after joining the firm. Yaccarino, who issued a statement on X announcing the move, did not provide a reason for her departure, but said she is "immensely grateful to Musk". JAIPUR, 9 JULY Two pilots were killed when IAF Jaguar trainer aircraft crashed near Bhanuda village in Rajaldesar region of Ratangarh sub-division of Churu district in Rajasthan on Wednesday. The aircraft took off from Suratgarh air base around 1230 hrs or so, on a routine practice sortie. It caught fire mid-air and fell with a loud explosion in unmanned farm land on the outskirts of Bhanuda. Locals who reached the spot soon after found two burnt bodies. They informed the police and Army authorities, who later reached the spot along with fire tenders. Superintendent of Police Jai Yadav has confirmed the recovery of two bodies, which were of the two pilots. Former BJP MLA from Churu district Abhinesh Maharishi, who reached the crash site before the IAF officials, said quoting a couple of eyewitnesses: "They saw the low-flying Jaguar aflame mid air approaching the village. The pilot gave a steep turn to divert it away from the village onto farm land. We salute the spirits of the pilots who prevented loss of life and property in the populated areas at the cost of their own lives." The IAF, in a post on its X (formerly Twitter) handle said: "An IAF Jaguar Trainer aircraft met with an accident during a routine training mission and crashed near Churu in Rajasthan, today. Both pilots sustained fatal injuries in the accident. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 9 JULY “We value our relationship with India and look forward to working together to address common challenges and opportunities,” Namibia President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah said, welcoming PM Modi to the joint session of Parliament. M Modi earlier in the day held delegation-level talks with Mr Nandi-Ndaitwah, reviewing the full range of India-Namibia relations. Cooperation in key areas such as digital technology, defence, security, agriculture, healthcare, education, and critical minerals took centre stage in their discussions. “We also discussed how to boost linkages in trade, energy, and petrochemicals,” PM Modi said, taking to social media platform X. He expressed gratitude for Namibia's assistance in Project Cheetah, a conservation initiative aimed at reintroducing cheetahs in India. The two leaders agreed NEW DELHI, 9 JULY In a move aimed at protecting the independence of the legal profession, the Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the practice of investigating agencies summoning advocates who render legal advice or represent accused persons in ongoing investigations. The case, titled In Re: Summoning Advocates who give Legal Opinion or Represent Parties During Investigation of Cases and Related Issues, is set to be heard on 14 July – the day the top court reopens after its sevenweek long summer recess by a bench headed by Chief Justice BR Gavai and comprising Justice K Vinod Chandran and Justice NV Anjaria. The action comes in the wake of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) recently issuing summons to Senior Advocates Arvind Datar and Pratap Venugopal in connection with its probe into the grant of over 22.7 million Employee Stock Option Plans (ESOPs) ~ valued at more than 250 crore ~ by Care Health Insurance to former Religare Enterprises chairperson Rashmi Saluja. to enhance digital infrastructure and cooperation in the tech sector, strengthen bilateral defence ties and security cooperation, foster collaboration in agriculture and healthcare to promote mutual growth and promote educational exchanges and capacity-building initiatives. The two leaders also agreed to explore opportunities for cooperation in the critical minerals sector and boost trade linkages and cooperation in energy and petrochemicals. Later in the day, PM Modi was conferred with Namibia's highest civilian award, the Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis, in recognition of his distinguished service and leadership. India and Namibia have a long-standing relationship built on mutual respect and cooperation. India had supported Namibia's struggle for independence and played a key role in the country's transition to freedom. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva have highlighted the strengthening ties between India and Brazil. At a bilateral meeting, the two leaders underscored the importance of their strategic partnership in promoting mutual interests and addressing global challenges. Addressing a joint press meet on Tuesday, PM Modi and President Lula said they discussed enhancing cooperation in areas such as trade, defence, energy, space, technology, agriculture, health, and peopleto-people linkages. The two leaders emphasised the importance of their strategic partnership in promoting mutual interests and addressing global challenges. They also discussed various global issues, including climate change, sustainable development, and multilateralism. The meeting reflects the growing importance of India-Brazil ties and their shared vision for a more inclusive and sustainable world. Rahul, Tejashwi lead massive protest in Patna over electoral roll row IMRAN MOJIB PATNA, 9 JULY Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav led a massive protest march in Patna today along with other top leaders of the INDIA Alliance registering their protest against the Special Intensive Revision of voter list in Bihar. Rahul and Tejashwi were joined by CPI (ML) Liberation General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya, CPI General Secretary D Raja, VIP chief Mukesh Sahni and senior state leaders of other opposition parties. They were atop a vehicle during the protest march which started at Income Tax Roundabout in Patna. The protest march was supposed to culminate at the Election Commission’s office in Patna with submis- SC takes suo motu cognisance of agencies summoning lawyers representing clients PARMOD KUMAR 9 killed as bridge collapses in Gujarat’s Vadodara, vehicles fall into river PM Modi, Brazil’s Lula emphasise cooperation, zero tolerance for terrorism P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday addressed a joint session of the Namibian Parliament, emphasising the importance of strengthening bilateral ties between India and Namibia. During his address, PM Modi highlighted the shared values and historical bonds between the two nations. “We are committed to deepening our partnership and exploring new avenues for cooperation,” PM Modi said, emphasising: "Our collaboration in areas such as digital technology, defense, agriculture, and healthcare will not only benefit our nations but also contribute to the prosperity of our people." PM Modi highlighted the shared values and historical bonds between India and Namibia, underscoring the importance of mutual respect and cooperation. He also underlined the importance of people-centric development, ensuring that the benefits of cooperation reach the people of both nations. PM Modi's visit to Namibia marks a significant milestone in India-Namibia relations, with both nations committed to deepening their partnership. The visit underscores India's commitment to enhancing cooperation with African nations, particularly in areas of mutual interest. IAF Jaguar crashes in Rajaldesar-Churu in Rajasthan; pilots killed STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 67.16 In his address, PM highlights shared values, calls for stronger bilateral ties NEW DELHI, 9 JULY TEMPERATURE P12 SILVER `1,10,000 PM Modi addresses Namibian Parliament SHAHID K ABBAS Max. 81% Min. 62 % Max: 35.6°C (-1.0) 1.5) SUN RISES 05:32 hrs MOON RISES 19:20 hrs NIFTY 25,476.10 q46.40 LORD’S TEST: BUMRAH, ARCHER RETURN REVISITING A LEGEND Datar had given a legal opinion favouring the ESOP issuance, while Venugopal was the Advocate-on-Record in the matter. The ED’s move to summon the two senior lawyers drew sharp criticism from several Bar associations across the country, which condemned it as an attempt to intimidate members of the legal fraternity discharging their professional duties. Following the backlash, the ED withdrew the summons and issued an internal directive barring field offices from summoning advocates in contravention of Section 132 of the Income Tax Act. sion of a memorandum against the ongoing electoral rolls revision ahead of the Bihar Assembly polls. However, the march was stopped near the Bihar Assembly and only a delegation was allowed to meet the Chief Electoral Officer in Patna. Through this protest march and state-wide chakka-jam the INDIA Alliance successfully sent out the message ahead of the hearing in the Supreme Court on Thursday that the special voter list revision drive is not acceptable to the opposition parties. Rahul Gandhi once again hit out at the Election Commission and alleged that the institution is not performing its duty of protecting the constitution. He alleged that the Election Commission is helping the BJP. He once again raked up the issue of Maharashtra’s inflated voter list. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said: “I want to tell the people of India and Bihar that just like the Maharashtra elections were stolen, an attempt is being made to steal the Bihar elections too. They have realised that we have understood the Maharashtra model, so now they have come with the Bihar model.” AGENCIES VADODARA, 9 JULY A 43-year-old bridge over the Mahisagar River in Gujarat's Vadodara district collapsed early Wednesday morning, killing at least nine people and injuring several others. The collapse occurred around 7.30 a.m. on the Gambhira bridge located near Mujpur village in Padra taluka. This bridge served as a crucial link between the districts of Vadodara and Anand, and also formed a vital artery connecting Central Gujarat to Saurashtra. According to officials, multiple vehicles, including two trucks, an Eeco van, a pickup van, and an autorickshaw, were crossing the bridge when a large slab between two piers gave way, plunging the vehicles into the Mahisagar River. Videos from the site showed a fuel tanker dangling precariously from the edge of the collapsed bridge, twisted metal submerged in the river, and the desperate cries of a woman pleading for help for her trapped son. Visuals captured by locals depict the scale of the destruction and the chaotic rescue efforts underway. Teams from the Vado- dara Fire Department, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and local residents immediately launched rescue operations. Heavy machinery, divers, and cranes were deployed to locate missing persons and retrieve wrecked vehicles. As the hours passed, the operation turned from rescue to recovery, with emergency workers battling time and currents. Expressing deep sorrow over the loss of lives, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced ex gratia compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF). “The loss of lives due to the collapse of a bridge in Vadodara district is deeply saddening. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover soon,” the Prime Minister’s Office (@PMOIndia) posted on X. In response to the catastrophe, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has ordered a high-level probe. “Technical experts have been instructed to visit the site and conduct a detailed investigation to determine the reason behind the collapse,” said Mr Patel. While officials point to Govt moves to mobilise support for Justice Yashwant Varma’s impeachment STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 9 JULY The government has initiated efforts to gather signatures from 100 lawmakers, including Opposition members, to support the impeachment of Justice Yashwant Varma, who is accused in a cash scandal, a government source said Wednesday. The move comes ahead of the month-long monsoon session of Parliament, scheduled to begin on 21 July. According to the source, the government has reached out to Opposition parties in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, and they have assured their backing for the impeachment proposal. “Efforts are already underway to secure signatures from LS and RS MPs in favour of the proposal," the source said. The impeachment proposal will be presented in Parliament for approval during the Monsoon session. If passed, an investigative committee will be formed to further probe the allegations against Justice Varma. A minimum of 100 MPs' signatures is mandatory to move an impeachment motion. On 14 March, following a fire, a large amount of unaccounted cash was found at the official residence of Justice Varma, then a judge of the Delhi High Court, in the national capital. After this, Justice Varma was transferred to Allahabad High Court, and the then Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna, constituted a threemember committee to investigate the case. FATF report slams state-sponsored terrorism, puts spotlight on Pakistan SHAHID K ABBAS NEW DELHI, 9 JULY The Financial Action Task Force has released a groundbreaking report that introduces the concept of state-sponsored terrorism, marking a significant shift in the global counterterrorism discourse. The findings reinforce India's longstanding assertion that Pakistan sponsors cross-border terrorism. The FATF is the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog. It sets international standards that aim to prevent these illegal activities and the harm they cause to society. The FATF report acknowledges that certain terrorist organizations receive financial and other forms of support from national governments, a phenomenon India has been highlighting for years. India's National Risk Assessment 2022 had identified statesponsored terrorism from Pakistan as a key terrorist financing risk. The FATF report's findings corroborate India's position. The report highlights the funding patterns of Pakistanbased terrorist groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiyyaba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). The FATF report's findings have significant implications for global counter-terrorism efforts. The recognition of state-sponsored terrorism as a distinct and serious source of terror financing underscores the need for countries to take concrete actions to prevent and combat terrorist financing. routine maintenance being done “as and when required”, the sudden collapse of a major fourdecade-old structure has raised serious concerns about engineering oversight and systemic neglect. The 900-metre-long Gambhira bridge, which comprises 23 piers, was a key route for daily commuters and goods transportation. Its collapse has effectively cut off connectivity between Anand, Vadodara, Bharuch, and parts of Saurashtra, leading to traffic chaos and rerouting on a large scale. The opposition Congress party strongly reacted to the tragedy, calling it a reflection of the alleged corruption and decay behind the much-publicised “Gujarat Model”. Sharing videos of the collapsed structure on social media, the party posted: “In this accident, several vehicles fell into the river, resulting in tragic deaths and injuries. The Congress family expresses deep condolences and prays for the speedy recovery of the injured.” SC refuses to halt release of film Udaipur Files, to hear matter on 14 July PARMOD KUMAR NEW DELHI, 9 JULY The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to urgently hear a plea by one of the accused in the Kanhaiya Lal murder case seeking a stay on the release of the film Udaipur Files: Kanhaiya Lal Tailor Murder, stating that the petition can be mentioned before the appropriate Bench when the court reopens on 14 July. A vacation Bench of Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia and Justice Joymalya Bagchi refused early listing of the matter, effectively clearing the decks for the film’s release on Friday, 11 July. Appearing for accused Mohammed Javed, counsel argued that the trailer ~ released on July 4 ~ projects the film as a “true story” and presents only the prosecution’s version, thereby prejudicing the petitioner’s right to a fair trial. The Bench, however, was unmoved. “Mention before the court concerned on reopening. Let it be released,” it remarked. A separate plea has also been filed in the Delhi High Court by Jamiat Ulema-iHind President Maulana Arshad Madani, expressing concern that the film could incite communal unrest. Mr Madani has also written to the Information and Broadcasting Ministry seeking a halt to the trailer’s release. The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has informed the High Court that “offending portions” had been removed from the film.