www.thestatesman.com | @TheStatesmanLtd FOLLOW US: India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 16 8th Day | @thestatesmanltd ` 5.00 | People’s Parliament, Always in Session thestatesman1875 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR Evolve Gas Guys: Sought-after entities of the day | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI | 15 MARCH 2026 S P O RT S Cherubic children & colour Sabalenka tops Linda Noskova to reach her 3rd final at Indian Wells Page 16 BRIEFLY Acclaimed Tamil poet and lyricist Vairamuthu conferred Jnanpith Award: Countdown has begun for the Mamata government: PM Modi STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 14 March P Chennai: Noted Tamil poet and acclaimed film lyricist Vairamuthu has been conferred the Jnanpith Award, the pinnacle of honour in Indian literature. The 72-year-old author of nearly 40 books, including Kavirajan Kathai, a poetic work on freedom fighter and modernist Tamil poet C. Subramania Bharath as well as travelogues and translations, is the third literary personality from Tamil Nadu to receive this honour. Earlier, novelists Akilan and Jayakanthan had been conferred the award. Page 8 rime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused the ruling Trinamul Congress of opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to “protect its vote bank of infiltrators,” alleging that unchecked illegal immigration under the party’s rule had altered the demographic balance in several parts of West Bengal. Addressing a massive rally at the Brigade Parade Ground in the city, Mr. Modi launched a sharp attack on the state government led by Mamata Banerjee, accusing it of encouraging infiltration, undermining constitutional institutions and fostering a climate of intimidation in the state. He also asserted that the “countdown has begun” for the ruling party ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Mr Modi alleged that demographic changes had already taken place in several districts due to illegal immigration and claimed that Bengali Hindus were “deliberately being made minorities” in certain areas. He also accused the state government of opposing citizenship for Hindu refugees who had fled religious persecution in neighbouring countries. “The TMC opposes the SIR exercise because they want to protect the names of infiltrators in the voter list,” the prime minister said. “They do not want illegal voters to be removed and the voter list purified. They are not even willing to remove the names of those who have already died.” According to official figures released after the voter list revision exercise, about 63.66 lakh names ~ nearly 8.3 per cent of the electorate ~ have been deleted since the process began in November last year. The revision has reduced the total number of voters in West Bengal from approximately 7.66 crore to just over 7.04 crore. In addition, more than 60.06 lakh electors have been placed in the “under adjudication” category, meaning their eligibility will be determined through legal scrutiny in the coming weeks. The Prime Minister said Two Indian-flagged LPG tankers cross Hormuz, to reach port on 16-17 March: Govt UNITED NEWS OF INDIA New Delhi, 14 March Two Indian-flagged LPG tankers ~ Shivalik and Nanda Devi ~ have safely transited through the Strait of Hormuz and are on their way to India carrying approximately 92,700 metric tonnes of LPG, the government said on Saturday. Rajesh Kumar Sinha, special secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said during an inter-ministerial briefing here that the tankers safely crossed the Strait early Saturday. Their ports of arrival will be Mundra and Kandla, with expected arrival dates of 16 and 17 March, respectively. “Consequently, there are now 22 Indian-flagged vessels remaining in the Persian Gulf, carrying a total of 611 seafarers,” he said. Shivalik and Nanda Devi are owned by state-run Shipping Corporation of India Limited. Sinha further said that all Indian seafarers in the Persian Gulf region are safe. Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, affirmed on Saturday said that Tehran has allowed some Indian vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking at a media conclave being organised in the national capital, the Iranian Ambassador said: “We have allowed some ships to pass through Hormuz, but we can't tell how many at this moment. I will follow up on this issue in the future. Iran and India have historical relations and common interests.” The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most vital shipping lanes through which 20 per cent of the world's oil and gas exports transit. We have allowed some ships to pass through Hormuz, but we can’t tell how many at this moment. I will follow up on this issue in the future. Iran and India have historical relations and common interests. MOHAMMAD FATHALI, IRAN’S AMBASSADOR TO INDIA Underscoring the need to boost and enhance the relations between Iran and India, Ambassador Fathali said: “If there is any rift, the enemies will use it to their effect. Both sides have the maturity to handle these political and social issues.” Defending Tehran’s decision to target US bases in Gulf nations, the envoy said Iran respects its neighbours but was forced to respond as attacks were being carried out from American bases stationed in those countries. “The Tomahawk missile that struck a girls’ school and killed around 170 students was launched from a US base in one of the West Asian countries,” he said. “We respect our neighbours, but what do you want us to do when our school is hit? Around 165 girls died when the school was struck by a Tomahawk missile. We respect our neighbours, but we will definitely hit US bases. The missile was launched from a US base in a neighbouring country,” he said. Sonam Wangchuk released from Jodhpur jail after 170 days STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Jodhpur/Jammu, 14 March Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk was released from the high-security Central Jail in Jodhpur on Saturday after the Union Home Ministry revoked his detention under the National Security Act (NSA) with immediate effect. The Ladakh activist, who has been in jail here since 26 September 2025, exited the jail gate with his wife Geetanjali around 1:15 p.m. and left in a private car. Before his release, his wife, Geetanjali, reached the jail at 10:00 a.m. to complete the paperwork, which took almost three hours. Mr Wangchuk has spearheaded a campaign for full statehood for Ladakh and the region's inclusion in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. During his protracted stir over his demands, a massive demonstration took place in Leh district on 24 September 2025, which turned violent, resulting in the death of four persons and injuries to several others. Mr Wangchuk was arrested two days later in connection with the incident. The National Security Act (NSA) was invoked against him, and he was sent to Jodhpur on the night of 26-27 September. His arrest under the NSA evoked protests and was also challenged in the Supreme Court. The court proceedings, which began in mid-October last year, are still ongoing. However, in the meantime, the Ministry of Home Affairs considered Mr Wangchuk's case at both political and administrative levels and decided to revoke action under the NSA against him and cancel his arrest order. The Home Ministry stated that the decision in favour of Mr Wangchuk was taken with the larger goal of creating an atmosphere in Leh-Ladakh that is conducive to peace, stability, and constructive dialogue. The Centre said that on issues concerning the infiltration had emerged as a major security and political concern in the state and accused the ruling party of encouraging the trend for electoral gain. “Due to unchecked infiltration under the TMC government, the demography of Bengal has changed in many places,” he said. “They are deliberately turning Hindus into a minority in several areas.” Mr Modi also alleged that the ruling party had opposed ‘Fuel, LPG adequately available, avoid hoarding’: Oil ministry New Delhi: The Petroleum Ministry on Saturday said that petrol and diesel are adequately available at retail outlets across the country, advising consumers to avoid hoarding. In a post on X, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) said all petrol pumps have sufficient stocks and there is no shortage of fuel. “Petrol and diesel are adequately available at retail outlets across the country. Consumers are advised not to take or store fuel in loose or inappropriate containers, as it poses serious safety risks,” the ministry said. granting citizenship to persecuted Hindu refugees because they did not form part of its electoral base. “When it comes to giving citizenship to persecuted Hindu refugees, the TMC opposes it because they do not consider them their vote bank,” he said. Sharpening his criticism, the Prime Minister accused the state government of functioning with the support of criminal networks. (Photo by Biswajit Ghoshal) Modi targets TMC over Murmu protocol row UNITED NEWS OF INDIA Kolkata, 14 March Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday sharpened his attack on the Trinamul Congress at the Brigade Parade Ground here, accusing the Mamata Banerjee government of insulting President Droupadi Murmu during her recent visit to north Bengal. Making the issue a key plank of his speech, Mr Modi said the state government had not only disrespected the President but also the Adivasi community, the Constitution and the country. “Our President, a daughter of the Adivasi community, Droupadi Murmu, came to Bengal to attend a Santhal programme, but the arrogant TMC government insulted her,” Modi said. He alleged that the ruling party was unwilling to accept that “a daughter from the Adivasi community” could occupy such a high constitutional office. “The TMC government was not ready to accept that a daughter from the Adivasi community is holding such a high post,” the Prime Minister said. “TMC should remember that by insulting Droupadi Murmu, they did not just insult Adivasi people of India, but also the Constitution of India, the President of the country and the nation itself,” he said. He further said the people of West Bengal would not forgive the ruling party for what he described as an assault on the dignity of the President. ‘India trying to develop BRICS position on conflict in West Asia’ STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 14 March Admitting that BRICS has not been able to forge a common position on the war in West Asia because some of its members are directly involved in it, India on Saturday confirmed that it is continuing discussions with member countries of the grouping to develop a common position on the conflict. At an inter-ministerial briefing on the situation arising from the conflict, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “Some members of BRICS are directly involved in the current situation… this has obviously impacted forging a common BRICS position on the conflict’’ He said India as the Chair of the BRICS has been facilitating discussions among members of the 11-nation grouping through the “Sherpa’’ channel. The last meeting of the BRICS “Sherpas’’ was held virtually on 12 March. The spokesperson said India has been trying its best to develop a common position but because of differing positions, a consensus has eluded the grouping so far. ‘’In addition, our leadership is in talks with BRICS member countries…we will continue to remain engaged with BRICS members to arrive at a common position.’’ The spokesperson’s remarks are significant since Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, during a telephonic conversation with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday night, demanded that BRICS condemn the US-Israel attack on the Islamic nation. BRICS is a major intergovernmental organisation that brings together 11 emerging economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Indonesia. The grouping is struggling to issue a joint statement on the conflict due to internal divisions between Iran and the Gulf states (Saudi Arabia and the UAE), leaving it paralysed on taking a unified position. Why the impeachment motion against CEC is more about optics, INDIA bloc unity VIBHA SHARMA New Delhi, 14 March Leh-Ladakh region, the process of dialogue with the high-powered committee will continue. “The Government has decided to revoke the detention of Sonam Wangchuk with immediate effect by exercising the powers available under the National Security Act,” the Home Ministry said in an announcement. The Ministry added: “The Government reiterates its commitment to providing all necessary safeguards for Ladakh. It remains hopeful that the issues concerning the region will be resolved through constructive engagement and dialogue, including through the mechanism of the High-Powered Committee as well as other appropriate platforms.” The NSA empowers authorities to detain an accused for up to one year. In Mr Wangchuk's case, he remained in jail for 170 days. Mr Wangchuk’s release coincided with the appointment of Vinai Kumar Saxena as the new Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh. Mr Wangchuk’s wife, Geetanjali J. Angmo, said in a recent interview that he would not pursue the path of agitation after his release from detention under the NSA, but would continue to remain part of the movement demanding constitutional safeguards for Ladakh through discussion and dialogue. Just like the Congress’s no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, the Trinamul Congress (TMC)-led move to bring an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar is unlikely to succeed. The move, however, scores high on optics and messaging and has also succeeded in bringing an uneasy INDIA bloc alliance onto common ground, again, against the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. Under Article 324(5) of the Constitution, the procedure for removing the Chief Election Commissioner is similar to that for the impeachment of a Supreme Court judge. A motion seeking removal must be signed by at least 100 members of the Lok Sabha or 50 members of the Rajya Sabha. Once the notice is submitted, the Lok Sabha Speaker or the Rajya Sabha Chairperson decides whether to admit the motion after examining the available material and consulting experts. A three-member committee is also formed to investigate the charges. The motion is debated and passed in both Houses of Parliament by a special majority — a majority of the total membership of the House and a two-thirds majority of members present and voting. The fact is that the Opposition does not have the numbers required to push the motion through Parliament if it reaches the voting stage. Even before that, the presiding officers of the two Houses have to admit the motion. Opposition leaders acknowledge that the initiative is intended to place their objections on record in Parliament. Not just that, the notice against Kumar — the first such move against a sitting Chief Election Commissioner — also marks an escalation in tensions between the Opposition and the government, much like the motion against Birla. It is meant to send a broader political message ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. Opposition leaders said, “It is only after challenging the SIR politically and legally that we have now raised the issue in Parliament.” As in the case of the no-confidence motion against Birla, the issue has also helped bring Opposition parties together on a common platform.