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 RBI may cut repo rate to 5 pc in next MPC meet Top Russian general killed in Moscow car explosion NATION RSS has no political agenda: Bhagwat Page 9 Page 5 Page 10 BRIEFLY SC puts on hold conviction of Maharashtra MLA Kokate New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday granted interim relief to senior Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) leader and former Maharashtra minister Manikrao Kokate by staying his conviction in a long-pending cheating and forgery case arising out of a government housing scheme, thereby protecting him from disqualification as a sitting legislator. A vacation Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi issued notice to the Maharashtra government on Kokate’s plea seeking suspension of his conviction, while clarifying the limited nature of the relief granted. (P5) US Embassy in India issues global alert for H-1B and H-4 applicants: New Delhi: The US Embassy in India on Monday issued a worldwide alert for H-1B and H-4 visa applicants, advising them to apply at the earliest. “We encourage applicants to apply as early as they can and anticipate additional processing time for these visa classifications,” the US Embassy said in a post on X. The embassy stated that beginning December 15, the US Department of State has expanded online presence reviews to all H-1B and H-4 applicants as part of standard visa screening. “This vetting is being conducted globally for all applicants of all nationalities for H-1B and H-4 visas. It is an effort to address abuse of the H-1B program while still allowing companies to hire the best temporary foreign workers,” the embassy said. “US embassies and consulates continue to accept and process H-1B and H-4 non-immigrant visa applications,” it added in the post on X. India, New Zealand ink historic, ambitious FTA STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 22 December P rime Minister Narendra Modi and his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon on Monday announced the successful conclusion of a historic, ambitious and mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries. During a telephonic conversation, the two leaders noted that the conclusion of the FTA in a record time of nine months, with negotiations having been initiated during PM Luxon’s visit to India in March 2025, reflects the shared ambition and political will to further deepen ties between the two countries. ‘’The India-NZ partnership is going to scale newer heights. The FTA sets the stage for doubling bilateral trade in the coming 5 years. India welcomes investment worth over $20 billion from New Zealand across diverse sectors. Our talented youth, vibrant startup ecosystem and reform-driven economy offer a strong foundation for innovation, growth and long-term partnership. At the same time, we continue to strengthen cooperation in other areas like sports, education and cultural linkages,’’ PM Modi said in a social media post on ‘X’. He said the FTA ensures enhanced market access; deeper investment flows; and numerous opportunities for innovators, entrepreneurs, farmers, MSMEs, students and youth. The pact was concluded by holding continuous and intense discussions spread over 5 formal negotiation rounds, several in-person and virtual inter sessions. The FTA establishes a high- quality economic partnership that promotes employment, facilitates skill mobility, drives trade and investment-led growth, fosters innovation for agricultural productivity, and enhances MSME participation to strengthen long-term economic resilience, the Ministry of Commerce & Industry said in a statement. India has offered tariff liberalisation across 70% of tariff lines, covering 95% of bilateral trade between the two countries. New Zealand has committed to increase foreign direct investment (FDI) into India by $20 billion over 15 years. The FTA Opens Skilled Employment Pathways through a new Temporary Employment Entry Visa pathway for Indian professionals in skilled occupations, with a quota of 5,000 visas at any given time and a stay of up to three years. This pathway covers Indian professions such as AYUSH practitioners, yoga instructors, Indian chefs, and music teachers, as well as high-demand sectors including IT, engineering, healthcare, education, and construction, strengthening workforce mobility and services trade, Commerce Ministry said. Establishment of dedicated Agri-Technology Action Plans on kiwifruit, apples and honey, focus on productivity enhancement, technology, research collaboration, quality improvement and value-chain development, to strengthen domestic capabilities and supporting income growth for Indian farmers. UnionCommerce Minister Piyush Goyal said, “The India New Zealand FTA will unlock new opportunities to boost India’s pharma exports.” (More on P10) Australia, NZ gain upper hand in tight WTC 2025–27 contest Page 12 NCP-affiliated leader ‘out of danger’ after being shot AGENCIES Khulna, 22 December The National Citizen Party (NCP)-affiliated Jatiya Sramik Shakti leader Motaleb Shikdar, who was earlier shot in the head in broad daylight on Monday in Bangladesh's Khulna, is now out of danger, according to officials, bdnews245 reported. According to bdnews24, citing Khulna Medical College Hospital Superintendent Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman, Motaleb, who is the Khulna divisional leader of the Jatiya Sramik Shakti, suffered a gunshot wound to the left side of his head and is now out of danger. "Motaleb is out of danger now. He received primary treatment in the dressing room of the hospital's surgery ward," Akhtaruzzaman said, as quoted by bdnews24. Sonadanga Police Station Inspector Animesh Mandal said the incident occurred around noon in Khulna's Sonadanga area. Motaleb was shot inside a house located behind Gazi Medical College Hospital and the bullet only skimmed his scalp, causing bleeding, but he survived, the police added. He was shot inside a house behind Gazi Medical College Hospital. The bullet grazed his scalp. He survived, although there was bleeding," Mandal said, as quoted by bdnews24. After being shot, the residents immediately took him to Khulna Medical College Hospital, after which he was sent to City Diagnostic Centre for a CT scan. Sonadanga Police Station Officer-in-Charge Rafiqul Islam said that no suspects had been arrested and that police were continuing their investigation, bdnews24 reported. Saif Newaz, organiser of the NCP's Khulna Metropolitan unit, stated that Motaleb was shot from close range, adding that Motaleb is a central organiser of Jatiya Sramik Shakti and had been overseeing preparations for an upcoming divisional workers' rally in Khulna. This is the second incident of a political leader being shot in Bangladesh this month. Earlier, Inquilab Moncho convenor Sharif Osman Hadi, who was a prominent figure in last year's 'July Uprising', which resulted in the fall of the former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's regime, was shot in Dhaka's Bijoynagar area. EAM Jaishankar to visit Sri Lanka on Tuesday as PM’s special envoy Nitish Kumar meets PM Modi in Delhi to align on Bihar’s development vision STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 22 December External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar will visit Sri Lanka on Tuesday as Special Envoy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and meet the island nation's leadership, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. According to MEA, the visit highlights India's Neighbourhood First Policy and comes amid ongoing relief efforts under Operation Sagar Bandhu, launched to assist Sri Lanka after the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah. "The visit underscores India’s Neighbourhood First Policy and takes place in the context of Operation Sagar Bandhu launched to address the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah," the MEA said in a statement on Monday. The External Affairs Minister's engagements are expected to strengthen ties between the two nations further, as India continues to coordinate humanitarian assistance and reinforce bilateral cooperation as the island nation recovers from the cyclone's impact. India launched Operation AI Mumbai flight returns to Delhi shortly after take-off due to tech issue; DGCA to probe incident NIKHIL VYAS New Delhi, 22 December An Air India flight AI887 operating from Delhi to Mumbai was forced to return to Indira Gandhi International Airport here on Monday shortly after take-off due to a technical issue. The aircraft landed safely at the airport in the national capital and the passengers and crew have disembarked, an Air India spokesperson said. “The crew operating flight AI887 from Delhi to Mumbai on 22 December decided to return to Delhi shortly after take-off due to a technical issue as per standard operating procedure. The aircraft landed safely at Delhi and the passengers and crew have disembarked. Tuesday, 23 December 2025 SPORTS WORLD BUSINESS | Air India sincerely regrets inconvenience caused due to this unforeseen situation,” the spokesperson said in a statement. The spokesperson further said the "aircraft is undergoing the necessary checks and that the ground team at Delhi is providing immediate assistance to passengers. Alternative arrangements have been made to fly them to their destination shortly. At Air India, the safety and well-being of our passengers and crew remain top priority." Meanwhile, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has sought a detailed report from Air India over the incident. In a post on X, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said, "The Ministry of Civil Aviation has taken note of the Air India flight AI-887 incident involving a technical issue shortly after take-off. The aircraft landed safely." "The Ministry has sought a detailed report from Air India, and DGCA has been directed to conduct a thorough investigation. The airline has been directed to extend all assistance to passengers and accommodate them on subsequent flights. Passenger safety remains paramount," the Ministry further said in the post on X. Sagar Bandhu on November 28, as the First Responder in the immediate aftermath of the devastating Cyclone Ditwah, to provide urgent Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) support to Sri Lanka. Last week, India delivered relief supplies to various regions of flood-hit Sri Lanka, reflecting its steadfast commitment in assisting the neighbouring nation in time of crisis during the Operation Sagar Bandhu. India has extended strong support to the island nation by providing relief and assistance in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah. As part of this humanitarian outreach, the Assistant High Commission of India in Kandy, under Operation Sagar Bandhu, distributed dry ration packets to 86 families affected by the cyclone last week. New Delhi, 22 December In his first visit to the national capital following a decisive win in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence in New Delhi on Monday. The meeting that lasted around 30 minutes was described by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) as a significant step toward aligning the “Double-Engine” government’s development roadmap for Bihar over the next five years. Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and Union Minister Lalan Singh accompanied Kumar. According to sources, the discussions primarily focused on implementing "Saat Nischay 3.0" (Seven Resolves 3.0), Bihar’s ambitious development plan for 2025-2030. The initiative aims to transform the state into a developed region by emphasising “Double Employment–Double Income,” infrastructure growth, and agricultural advancement. Bihar Minister Ashok Choudhary, speaking in Patna, termed the meeting a courtesy call and said detailed talks were held on how the Central government can further support Bihar’s development journey. The meeting also coincided with other pressing issues for the Bihar NDA government, including an anticipated cabinet expansion after Makar Sankranti, strategies for upcoming Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections in 2026, and plans to fill the vacancy left by Nitin Nabin’s recent resignation from the state cabinet. Prime Minister Modi acknowledged the meeting on social media, reinforcing the strong partnership between the Centre and Bihar. PM Modi had earlier attended Nitish Kumar’s swearing-in ceremony on November 20, 2025, marking the Chief Minister’s record tenth oath-taking. According to sources, Nitish Kumar also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss Bihar’s internal security and law and order roadmap. Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, echoing sentiments from the recent election campaign, said, “The people of Bihar have trusted the leadership of PM Modi and Nitish Kumar once again. Our focus is now entirely on delivering good governance and stability.” K’taka: Amid buzz of ‘Sankranti’ revolution, Siddaramaiah says committed to what Rahul, high command decide VIBHA SHARMA New Delhi, 22 December A day after Congress president Mallikarjun urged local leaders to take ownership of internal disputes, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday said that Rahul Gandhi and the high command should decide on any changes. At the same time, he also agreed with Kharge's assertion that no one is bigger than the party and that local leaders should resolve disputes. “I fully agree with AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge's statement that no one is bigger than the party. No one can be bigger than the party. Rahul Gandhi should decide on the leadership change. We are committed to whatever he decides. I have spoken to the party leaders about this and they have said that we will decide on this. We are all committed to their decision,” he said in response to a question on Kharge's statement. Notably, the third angle in the leadership row between Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar, Home Minister G Parameshwara, had waded in asking the high command to step in and settle the issue. Repeated and conflicting public statements are harming the government’s focus at a crucial time, said the senior Congress leader, who is believed to be supported by factions such as Tumakuru seers, Dalit groups and supporters of Siddaramaiah, as a potential alternative. Meanwhile, the CM also downplayed meetings between close confidante and senior leader K N Rajanna and Shivakumar which added to the buzz around “political revolution” after 'Sankranti'. “Let him meet. Shivakumar is the president of the party state unit. What is wrong with that?” “I’m saying it once for all, ultimately, the high command has to make a decision. Everyone will abide by whatever the high command decides,” Siddaramaiah said; adding that the “media is the one who is mostly discussing the leadership change”. On Shivakumar’s claim that he had made Rajanna the Apex Bank chairman during the S M Krishna-led Congress government, he said, “claiming credit for appointing some to some post while in power is not important. S.M. Krishna was the CM, the then government had appointed." Speaking in Kalaburagi on Sunday, Kharge said any confusion over the leadership issue exists only at the local level, not within the party high command. Local leaders should take ownership of internal disputes instead of blaming the high command, he also said, cautioning individuals claiming sole credit for the party’s electoral success. The Congress was built by party workers, he said. “The high command hasn’t created any confusion. The confusion exists at the local level. Is it right to put the blame on the high command?” he questioned. Notably after Punjab, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka is yet another Congress-ruled state witnessing mayhem amid local rivalries. Meanwhile, political circles are abuzz with solutions emerging from the upcoming Congress Working Committee meeting.