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 | Wednesday, 26 November 2025 SPORTS WORLD Pak strikes have killed 10, mostly children, says Afghanistan NATION Assam CM tables Anti-Polygamy Bill Page 8 BRIEFLY Red Fort blast probe reveals fissures in terror group: NATION Bihar govt’s first cabinet meet unveils big jobs, tech push Page 5 Page 9 Page 12 Goal is to free India from mentality of slavery in next 10 yrs: PM Modi MANOJ BHADRA Ayodhya of the 21st century is emerging as the backbone of a developed India. Ayodhya, 25 November P New Delhi: The probe into the Delhi blast case has revealed fissures in the terror group behind the incident, sources in the NIA claimed, adding that Dr Umar Nabi -- the suicide bomber who exploded an i20 car outside the Red Fort -- followed the ISIS “Daesh” module, while the rest of his associates followed the Al-Qaeda module. They said this often led to clashes between them. The sources also said there were arguments over funds, specifically Rs 20 lakh received through hawala and Rs 40 lakh received from Jamat. In October, Umar went to Qazigund to resolve these internal disputes, but after some of his associates were arrested, he returned to Delhi. Page 3 10-man Everton beat Manchester United rime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called India the “mother of democracy”, and added that his government’s goal is to free the country from the “mentality of slavery” in the coming 10 years. He was speaking after hoisting the ‘Dharma Dwaja’ (saffron flag) on the ‘shikhar’ (top) of the Ram Temple here along with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. “… 190 years ago, in 1835, an Englishman named Macaulay laid the foundation of mental slavery in India. In the next 10 years, it will be 200 years and we have to remove this mentality,” Mr Modi said at the event. Emphasising that the coming era of the 21st century is very important, the prime minister highlighted that i n t h e 7 0 ye a r s a f t e r independence, India became the world’s 11th largest economy, but in the last 11 PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI A view of the Saffron flag on the top of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir during the Dhwajarohan Utsav, in Ayodhya on Tuesday. AGENCIES PM Modi speaks during the Dhwajarohan Utsav at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, in Ayodhya on Tuesday. AGENCIES years alone India has risen to become the fifth largest economy. He stated that the day is not far when India will also become the wo r l d ’s t h i r d l a r g e s t economy. Mr Modi further stressed that the ‘mentality of slavery’ kept reinforcing the notion t h a t I n d i a b o r r o we d democracy from abroad a n d t h a t e ve n t h e Constitution wa s foreign-inspired, whereas the truth is that India is the mother of democracy and democracy is in our DNA. The PM further stated that we must think about the present as well as future generations. "We must work with a vision. Because, this country existed even when we were not there, and it will exist even when we are gone. To achieve this, we must look to Ram. Ram means putting the happiness of the people first. Ram means the pinnacle of wisdom. Ram means firmness in gentleness. Ram means choosing the best company. Ram means an unwavering resolve for truth. Ram is not just a person, he is a person of dignity and a direction. If we want to empower society, we must awaken the Ram within ourselves,” he added. The right-angled triangular Dharma Dhwaj, measuring 10 feet in height and 20 feet in length, bears the image of a radiant Sun symbolizing the brilliance and valour of Lord Ram, with an ‘Om’ inscribed on it along with an image of Kovidara tree. The sacred saffron flag will convey a message of dignity, unity, and cultural continuity, embodying the ideals of Ram Rajya. The Ram temple complex features 87 intricately carved stone episodes from the life of Shri Ram based on the Valmiki Ramayana on the outer walls of the main temple, and 79 bronze-cast episodes from Indian culture placed along the enclosure walls. China denies harassment after Arunachal woman narrates ‘long ordeal’ at Shanghai Airport: New Delhi: China on Tuesday rejected allegations of harassment levelled by Indian national Prema Wangjom Thongdok, who hails from Arunachal Pradesh, and stated that "the lawful rights and interests of the person concerned were fully protected and no compulsory measures were taken on her". Thongdok had narrated her "long ordeal" and stated that she faced harassment from Chinese immigration officials at Shanghai Pudong Airport, who "mocked and raised questions" over her Indian citizenship and noted that her 18-hour ordeal came to an end with the help of officials from India's missions in Shanghai and Beijing. India issued a strong demarche to the Chinese side, both at the Embassy in New Delhi and the Foreign Ministry in Beijing, over the incident. 2026 T20 World Cup: India to open title SC upholds dismissal of Army officer who declined to enter temple, gurdwara defence against USA on 7 February STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 25 November The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday announced the groups for the upcoming T20 World Cup, with co-hosts and defending champions India grouped alongside Pakistan. The global cricket body also named former India captain Rohit Sharma as the tournament’s brand ambassador. India will open their title defence with a marquee night fixture against the United States at Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium on 7 February, setting the tone for what promises to be a spectacular opening day of cricket across the subcontinent. Former champions Pakistan and the West Indies will also feature on day one, playing at the historic Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) in Colombo and the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, respectively. The world’s largest cricket venue, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, has been earmarked to host the final on 8 March, in a tournament that will span eight electrifying venues across India and Sri Lanka. The MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chennai), Arun Jaitley Stadium (New Delhi), Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai), Eden Gardens (Kolkata) R. Premadasa Stadium (Colombo), Sinhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground (Colombo) and Pallekele International Cricket Stadium (Kandy) round out the full list of host venues. The complete schedule was unveiled at a glittering ceremony in Mumbai on Tuesday. If Pakistan qualifies for the semi-finals, Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium will replace Kolkata as the host of Semi-Final 1. Should Pakistan reach the final, that venue will also shift from Ahmedabad to Colombo. If India and Pakistan meet in the semi-finals, that match will be staged in Colombo, while Mumbai will host Semi-Final 2 involving India if they face any team other than Pakistan. The tournament will follow the same successful format used in 2024, when India lifted the trophy in Barbados. Twenty teams have been divided into four groups of five, with the top two from each progressing to the Super Eights, where teams will be placed according to pre-determined seedings. Commenting on the event, Jay Shah, ICC Chairman, said, “The passion for cricket in this region is unmatched, and fans have been waiting eagerly for another global spectacle.” Groups: Group A: India, USA, Namibia, Netherlands, Pakistan Group B: Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Oman Group C: England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Italy, Nepal Group D: South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Canada, UAE. PARMOD KUMAR New Delhi, 25 November The Supreme Court on Tuesday affirmed the removal of Lieutenant Samuel Kamalesan from service, holding that his refusal to enter the regiment’s Mandir and Gurudwara during mandatory religious parades amounted to serious indiscipline incompatible with Army life. A Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi refused to interfere with the Delhi High Court’s order upholding the Army’s action. The High Court had earlier held that military discipline and unit cohesion must prevail in such settings, and that personal religious freedoms can be reasonably restricted under Article 33 of the Constitution. The Supreme Court echoed these principles. During the hearing, the Bench came down strongly on the officer’s conduct. Telling his counsel, “This is nothing but gross indiscipline… he is a cantankerous man and a misfit to be in Army… what kind of message is he sending?” The Court also noted that even his pastor had counselled him to comply. Lt Kamalesan, a Protestant Christian, argued that idol worship is prohibited in his faith and that while he always attended the mandatory parades, he stood respectfully in the courtyard and could not be compelled to enter the sanctum or perform rituals such as puja, havan or aarti. His counsel, senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, submitted that his client removed his shoes, wore a turban when required, and maintained complete decorum, adding that “Entry not a problem... conducting ceremonies? that cannot be forced on me… commandant said I have to hold thali etc.” The Army, however, viewed his stance as a refusal to follow long-standingregimentaltradition, especially in a combat unit comprising Rajput, Sikh and Jat troops. CJI Kant questioned the officer’s approach, observing: “As per records it’s a sarva dharma sthal… by refusing to enter are you not hurting the religious sentiments of your soldiers… you should have led by example.” According to the Army, Lt Kamalesan’s refusal, despite repeated counselling, amounted to non-compliance with military customs, particularly in a regiment where such rituals are seen as part of unit bonding and morale. It was argued that his refusal to participate could negatively affect cohesion within the regiment. Volcanic ash: DGCA issues advisory, BJP considers 'Bihar model' for Assam and Bengal Civil Aviation Ministry says flight ops VIBHA SHARMA PARTY LEADERS ASSOCIATED WITH BIHAR CAMPAIGN WILL across India remain smooth SHARE ON-GROUND New Delhi, 25 November STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 25 November Aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued an advisory to all airlines and airports after volcanic ash from Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi eruption drifted across parts of the Middle East, affecting routes that pass through the Muscat Flight Information Region. Ethiopia's Hayli Gubbi volcano erupted for the first time in nearly 10,000 years, prompting India to issue aviation alerts as ash clouds drifted across several northern states. Major carriers, including IndiGo and Akasa Air, adjusted their operations in response to the shifting plume as the impact on airspace became clearer. Authorities instructed airports to maintain heightened readiness as the ash cloud, travelling rapidly at high altitudes, entered Gujarat before moving over Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana and Punjab. At Delhi airport, several international flights bound for destinations such as Hong Kong, Dubai, Jeddah, Helsinki were delayed, reflecting the wider operational disruption. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Civil Aviation on Tuesday said flight operations across India remain smooth, with only a few flights rerouted or descended as a precaution. In a post on X, the Ministry said: "Following the 23 Nov volcanic eruption in Ethiopia and the eastward movement of the ash cloud, MoCA—along with ATC, IMD, airlines and international aviation agencies—is ensuring seamless coordination." "AAI has issued the necessary NOTAM and all affected flights have been kept informed. Operations across India remain smooth, with only a few flights rerouted or descended as a precaution. There is no cause for concern at this moment. We continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide timely updates to ensure passenger safety," the Ministry further said. Fresh from the Bihar victory, the BJP has now turned its focus on the next set of important poll-bound states ~ West Bengal, Assam, and Tamil Nadu ~ and it in this connection that BJP president JP Nadda's dinner meeting on Wednesday to felicitate all BJP leaders who played a key role in the elections is being viewed. The meeting aims to celebrate BJP’s Bihar victory and acknowledge the contributions of these leaders, in turn strengthening organisational preparedness for upcoming Assembly elections in these states, according to sources Drawing confidence from the ‘Bihar model’ ~ a multi-layered strategy of caste arithmetic blended EXPERIENCES AND STRATEGIC INSIGHTS AT NADDA’S FELICITATION DINNER ON WEDNESDAY with populist welfare schemes focussed on women, strong alliance management and a sprinkling of religion ~ which was the key to the decisive win, the saffron leadership believes it can be replicated in party campaigns in states like West Bengal and Assam. In fact, a large part of the credit for the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana in Bihar, which saw Rs 10,000 deposited in the accounts of 1.5 crore women during the polls and is considered one of the reasons for NDA’s clean sweep in the state, belongs to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, according to NDA leaders. The gathering at Mr Nadda’s place will include key leaders who shaped the Bihar campaign ~ including Home Minister Amit Shah, Bihar election in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan, and state in-charge Vinod Tawde. More than 50 MPs and senior leaders deployed during the Bihar campaign are also expected to attend, and the buzz is Prime Minister Narendra Modi may also join, but that is not confirmed. Leaders associated with the Bihar campaign will share their on-ground experiences and strategic insights, which can be used in shaping future poll strategies. The core agenda is to conduct a detailed review of the Bihar campaign, identify strategies that proved most effective, and chart out a roadmap to implement them in West Bengal and Assam ~ states where BJP has high hopes and tough opponents. According to sources, the top leadership wants booth management, social outreach, and grassroots mobilisation ~ the three pillars of the BJP’s success in Bihar ~ to be executed with greater intensity in the eastern states. For West Bengal, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav has been appointed the poll in-charge and the state divided into five strategic zones, each overseen by an organisational general secretary with additional reinforcements for all different regions.