FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 12 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR Raut alleges `50k crore land scam BRIEFLY India Asia Cup 2025 squad announced US plans for Putin, Zelenskyy meeting PERSPECTIVE Monk who means business Page 07 Page 09 Page 05 India-China stability key to global peace: PM NIKHIL VYAS New Delhi, 19 August Mumbai at Standstill: Mumbai: Normal life was been disrupted in Mumbai and adjoining areas on Tuesday due to cloudburst-like heavy downpour at many places in Maharashtra since two days. Some villages in Vidarbha have been cut off due to flooding in rivers and drains. The Meteorological Department has warned of heavy rains in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Raigad districts. Heavy rains continued overnight disrupting the suburban local train service, known as the lifeline of Mumbai, due to which people are stranded at various places. Mauritius PM to have bilateral talks with Modi: Varanasi: Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam will visit Varanasi on September 11, where he will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the first time. There will be talks on cooperation in important areas like trade, technology, and tourism. Counseling for admissions in MBBS & BDS postponed: Kolkata: The state health department headed by the chief minister Mamata Banerjee has postponed NEET UG 2025 counseling process for admissions in MBBS and BDS courses for an indefinite period. P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday welcomed the steady and positive progress in bilateral ties between India and China since his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan last year, guided by mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity, including the resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra. PM Modi also underlined that stable, predictable, and constructive ties between India and China will contribute significantly to regional and global peace and prosperity. In a post on X after visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on him at the Prime Minister's official residence this evening, PM Modi said: "Glad to meet Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Since my meeting with President Xi in Kazan last year, India-China relations have made steady progress guided by respect for each other's interests and sensitivities." Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi calls on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on Tuesday. ANI "I look forward to our next meeting in Tianjin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit. Stable, predictable, constructive ties between India and China will contribute significantly to regional as well as global peace and prosperity," the Prime Minister further said in the post on X. During the meeting, Wang Yi, who is a Member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China, handed over a message and invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping to PM Modi for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit being held in Tianjin in China. The Prime Minister thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for the invitation to the SCO Summit and conveyed his acceptance. The SCO summit will be held in Tianjin from 31 August to 1 September. "Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Mr Wang Yi, Member of the Saradha chit fund owner Sudipta Sen, director Debjani Mukherjee acquitted in three cases AGENCIES Kolkata, 19 August Saradha chit fund company owner Sudipta Sen (photo left) and a director in the Saradha Group, Debjani Mukherjee (photo right), were on Tuesday acquitted in three cases in the chit fund scam. In 2013, three FIRs were registered against them at the Hare Street police station in central Kolkata. There were allegations of fraud of about Rs 10-15 lakh against them in the three cases. Later, the West Bengal government filed a case against them. On Tuesday, the Bankshall court acquitted Sen and Mukherjee in the three cases. However, despite their acquittal, they will not be released from jail as there are many pending cases against them related to fraud. There are more than 200 cases of fraud against the Saradha chit fund company. Apart from this, there are also cases against them by two Central investigation agencies ~ the CBI & the ED. Lawyers Shuvojit Bal and Abhijit Bal argued in the court on behalf of Mukherjee. Lawyer Shuvojit claimed that although 50 people were named as witnesses in these three cases, no testimony was received from about 15. The lawyer claimed that those who had alleged that they were cheated could not prove fraud and breach of trust. “That is why the court acquitted Sudipta and Debjani in the three cases of Hare Street Police Station. These three cases are the first cases against Sudipta and Debjani,” said the lawyer. Politburo of the Communist Party and Foreign Minister of China," the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement. According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Chinese Foreign Minister also shared his positive assessment of bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and 24th Meeting of the Special Representatives, which he co-chaired with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval during his visit. "The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity on the border, and reiterated India's commitment to a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question," the PMO said in a statement. "The Prime Minister welcomed the steady and positive progress in bilateral ties since his meeting with President Xi in Kazan last year, guided by mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity, including the resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra," the statement said. Nehru admitted that IWT brought no benefit: PM AGENCIES New Delhi, 19 August PM Narendra Modi, chairing the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Parliamentary meeting on Tuesday, said that former PM Jawaharlal Nehru had 'admitted' that the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan bought no benefit to India, according to sources. PM said that Nehru had partitioned the country twice, once with the Radcliffe line, and another during the treaty, which gave 80 per cent of the river's water to Pakistan. "Under the Indus Water Treaty, 80 percent of the water was given to Pakistan. Later, through his secretary, Nehru admitted his mistake, saying that it brought no benefit," PM Modi said according to sources. PM likely to attend high-level military meet in Kolkata to address infiltration issues MEENAKSHI BHATTACHARYA New Delhi, 19 August In a strategic shift aimed at curbing Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reportedly set to initiate a high-level military meeting in Kolkata next month. Traditionally, such meetings are held in New Delhi, making this relocation to Kolkata a notabledeparturefromprecedent. The decision is seen as reflecting growing security concerns in the eastern region, particularly along the borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar. India has long expressed apprehensions about Pakistan, frequently accusing its neighbour of supporting cross-border terrorism. Now, Bangladesh and Myanmar have emerged as additional focal points of concern, drawing the attention of national security agencies and the Prime Minister himself. Sources indicate that the Eastern Command—India’s largest military command—is headquartered in this region. Wednesday, 20 August 2025 SPORTS WORLD NATION | It includes the strategically sensitive Chicken’s Neck corridor, which borders Bangladesh and shares an extensive boundary with China. Given its geopolitical significance, the area is considered more vulnerable than other parts of the country. Military officials suggest that Prime Minister Modi is expected to address senior commanders during the proposed meeting in Kolkata. Discussions will centre on the current state of border security, anticipated threats, and the scale of military reinforcement required. Artillery deployment and tactical preparedness are also likely to be key agenda items. The issue of Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltration has become a prominent theme in the Prime Minister’s recent speeches, reflecting its importance to both the central government and the BJP. Compounding the challenge is a shift in leadership in Bangladesh, which has strained bilateral relations, while Myanmar remains under military rule. Several northeastern regions, including Bengal, are viewed by defence officials as potential transit routes for infiltrators. Additionally, China’s strategic posture in the region continues to be closely monitored. Although India’s diplomatic engagement with Beijing has evolved, defence sources stress that attention has not diverted from Arunachal Pradesh. The meeting, tentatively scheduled for the third week of next month, is expected to bring together commanders from the Eastern Command along with other senior military officials. However, an official announcement from New Delhi is still awaited. Page 12 Justice BS Reddy named INDIA bloc’s VP candidate INDIA bloc Vice-Presidential candidate and former Supreme Court Judge B. Sudershan Reddy (centre) arrives at the IGI airport in New Delhi on Tuesday. ANI STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 19 August Former Supreme Court Judge Justice B Sudershan Reddy (Retd) was announced as the Vice-Presidential candidate by the INDIA Bloc, today. The Vice-Presidential election is slated for 9 September. Justice Reddy would be contesting against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)’s C P Radhakrishnan for the post. While announcing Justice Reddy’s candidature, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge described him as one of the nation’s most eminent and forward-thinking jurists. “All Opposition parties have nominated Shri B Sudershan Reddy as their joint candidate for the position of the Vice President of India. B. Sudershan Reddy is one of India’s most distinguished and progressive jurists. He has had a long and eminent legal career, including as Judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court, and Judge of the Supreme Court. He has been a consistent and courageous champion of social, economic, and political justice. His judgments show how he stood for the poor, protected the Constitution, and upheld fundamental rights,” Mr Kharge said. Justice Reddy, hailing from Telangana, will file his nomination on 21 August. “He will file his nomination on August 21. Tomorrow, all opposition MPs are meeting in the Central Hall at 1 p.m,” Mr Kharge announced. Born on 8 July 1946, Justice Reddy started his legal career in 1971 after he registered himself as an advocate with the Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh. Previously, he held the position of Government Pleader at the Andhra Pradesh High Court from 1988 to 1990 and later served as Additional Standing Counsel for the Central Government in 1990. In 1995, Justice Reddy was elevated to the position of permanent judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. He later became Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court in 2005 and was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2008, where he served until his retirement in 2011. EAM embarking on 3-day visit to Russia STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 19 August Amid ongoing tariff tensions between India and the United States, EAM S Jaishankar will undertake a three-day official visit to Russia beginning Tuesday, aimed at deepening the longstanding India-Russia relationship. Mr Jaishankar's visit comes amid escalating trade tensions between India and the United States over India's oil purchases from Russia. He will address the India-Russia Business Forum meeting in Moscow.