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 | Friday, 16 January 2026 SPORTS WORLD Iran protests increasingly smothered PERSPECTIVE EDITORIAL PAGE Gig workers are recognised, at last, as human The rules-based order Page 9 Page 6 BRIEFLY X tightens Grok AI rules amid concerns over inappropriate content: New Delhi: Social media platform X has rolled out new safeguards for its AI chatbot Grok following complaints about inappropriate content. The updates include blocking the editing of images of real people in revealing clothing, restricting image creation to paid users, and introducing geoblocking in jurisdictions where such content is illegal, reinforcing the platform’s commitment to user safety and legal compliance. In a statement, X said: “We have implemented technological measures to prevent the Grok account from allowing the editing of images of real people in revealing clothing such as bikinis.” The restriction applies to all users, including paid subscribers. Additionally, image creation and editing through Grok are now limited to paid accounts. Arsenal edge thriller to take narrow lead over Chelsea in League Cup SF Page 12 Page 7 SC stays FIRs against ED officers over I-PAC raid PM Modi: Democratic spirit runs in India’s veins & minds PARMOD KUMAR Highlighting the strength of Indian democracy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the country has proved that democratic institutions and democratic processes provide stability, speed and scale to democracy. He recalled that when the country attained independence, apprehensions were expressed that democracy would not survive in a country with such diversity. But India turned this very diversity into the strength of its democracy, he said. The PM was inaugurating the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) at the historic Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan in the Parliament House Complex. The conference, being attended by top parliamentarians from the Commonwealth countries, will deliberate on a wide range of contemporary parliamentary issues, including New Delhi, 15 January T he Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice to the West Bengal government on petitions filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), alleging obstruction of the agency’s search operations at the Kolkata office of political consultancy firm I-PAC and the residence of its co-founder, Pratik Jain last week. A Bench comprising Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Vipul Pancholi also imposed a stay order on the four FIRs filed by the West Bengal police against ED officers in connection with the raids. The Bench also sought responses from the Bengal government on the ED’s plea seeking registration of FIR and probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee addresses the media after the hearing in the ED’s case against the Bengal government over alleged interference during the I-PAC raids in New Delhi. AGENCIES into the alleged obstruction in its search and investigation operation. Observing that the ED’s petitions raised serious questions, the Court said it was prima facie satisfied that the matter warranted judicial scrutiny. “We are of the prima facie view that the present petition has raised a serious issue relating to the investigation by the ED or other central agencies and interference by State agencies. According to us, for adherence of rule of law in country and to allow each organ to function independently, it is necessary to examine the issue so that offenders are not allowed to be protected under the seal of law enforcing agencies of a particular State,” the Bench observed. The Court also said that while central agencies cannot interfere with electoral processes, political parties and State authorities cannot obstruct bona fide investigations by statutory agencies. Apart from seeking a CBI probe, the ED has also sought directions for the return of documents and electronic devices allegedly removed by Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from the searched premises. Taking cognisance of the matter, the Supreme Court directed Miss Banerjee and other respondents to file their replies to ED’s petition within two weeks. “In the meanwhile, it is directed that the respondents shall preserve the CCTV cameras and other storage devices containing the footage of both the premises searched and the CCTV cameras and other storage devices containing the footage of near areas,” the Bench ordered. The matter has been listed for further hearing on 3 February. ASHOK TUTEJA New Delhi, 15 January the role of Speakers and Presiding Officers in maintaining strong democratic institutions, the use of artificial intelligence in parliamentary functioning, the impact of social media on Members of Parliament, innovative strategies to enhance public understanding of Parliament, and citizen participation beyond voting, among others. The PM noted that another major concern after Independence was that even if democracy somehow survived in India, development would not be possible. “India has proved that democratic institutions and democratic processes provide stability, speed, and scale to democracy,” he underlined. Mr Modi highlighted that today India is the fastestgrowing major economy in the world, it has the world’s largest digital payment system through UPI, is the largest vaccine producer, the secondlargest steel producer, the third-largest startup ecosystem, the third-largest aviation market, the fourth-largest railway network, the thirdlargest metro rail network, the largest milk producer, and the second-largest rice producer. “In India, democracy means last-mile delivery,” he said, adding that the country works with a spirit of public welfare, ensuring benefits reach every individual without discrimination. He highlighted that due to this spirit of welfare, 25 crore people have come out of poverty in recent years. “In India, democracy delivers,” he remarked.