FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 16 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA LC | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI Page 5 Israel says it killed two top Iranian security officials Page 6 Ukraine protests arrest of its nationals: New Delhi: Days after six of its nationals were arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on charges of conspiring to carry out terrorist activities against India, Ukraine has lodged an official protest with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), demanding the immediate release of its citizens and access to them. The NIA has alleged that the group, which also included an American national, also arrested, was plotting terror strikes, and their movements had raised alarm over cross-border threats. According to the NIA, the accused were involved in illegally “importing huge consignments of drones from Europe to Myanmar via India” for the use of “ethnic armed groups”. These groups were allegedly also supporting some proscribed “Indian Insurgent Groups by way of supplying weapons and other terrorist hardware and training them”, the NIA said. New Delhi, 17 March The Lok Sabha on Tuesday revoked the suspension of eight Opposition MPs, who had been barred for “unruly” behaviour, through a voice vote, restoring calm after days of disruptions and volley of allegations during the Opposition’s no-confidence motion against Speaker Om Birla last week. The move followed a meeting in the Speaker’s chamber on Monday and a consensus among floor leaders to uphold parliamentary decorum by observing a “Lakshman Rekha” during proceedings ~ a commitment from both Treasury and Opposition benches to maintain dignity and avoid disruptions ~ though not before a brief war of words in the House. Congress chief whip K. Suresh urged Speaker Birla to lift the suspension, citing the meeting where it was decided that the suspension should be revoked. Expressing regret for the “inadvertent indiscretion” by some of the members, he added that the Opposition had withdrawn protests and removed placards. Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav supported the move but stressed that responsibility for maintaining order lies with both sides. He accused the ruling party of “dictating terms” and called for equal accountability, prompting brief exchanges. “We will never cross the dignity of the House. But the ruling party should also resolve to do this. Without it, the House won’t function. Nishikant Dubey should improve his behaviour,” he said. Mr Birla intervened, appealing to members not to debate the issue. Mr Dubey, meanwhile, responded saying that he had never crossed the line in the House. “They should apologise, and if they don’t, this House won’t run,” he said while NCP Page 16 WORLD ‘Let it be a democratic fight’: Mamata targets BJP, ECI after releasing TMC list STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 17 March T rinamul Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday called on the BJP to contest the upcoming Assembly elections democratically, cautioning against the misuse of central agencies and the Election Commission of India to undermine the country’s long-cherished democratic spirit. In the same breath, she asserted that despite the BJP’s efforts to capture Bengal, the Trinamul Congress would secure more than 226 seats. “Whatever you do, Trinamul Congress will win over 226 seats in the 2026 Assembly election,” she declared while announcing her party’s candidate list at her Kalighat residence this afternoon. Miss Banerjee announced candidates for 291 seats, while three constituencies ~ Kalimpong, LS sets ‘Lakshman Rekha’, revokes suspension of 8 MPs VIBHA SHARMA Neymar left out of Brazil World Cup warm-ups; eyes WC return despite snub Page 11 India, China emerge as key mediators in Hormuz crisis With Vijay preparing to go solo, TN in for four-cornered contest in Assembly polls BRIEFLY Wednesday, 18 March 2026 SPORTS NATION NATION | MP Supriya Sule urged members on both sides to refrain from personal remarks. “The decision yesterday was ‘Lakshman Rekha’ should not be crossed. We will try... but the Treasury Bench is not ready,” she said, pointing to ministers who had got up to counter her. Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh agreed: “You can’t clap with one hand.” Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, too, emphasised the need for a “Lakshman Rekha” for the smooth functioning of the House, a sentiment shared across party lines. “We have followed rules in the past and will continue to do so,” he said, adding that the government remained open to discussion. Mr Birla, meanwhile, reiterated that all parties had agreed to uphold parliamentary dignity and cautioned against displaying placards, posters, or AI-generated images inside the House or Parliament complex. The suspensions had been imposed following chaos over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s attempt to raise the 2020 eastern Ladakh border tensions with China during the first half of the ongoing Budget session of Parliament. MPs were accused of violating rules, including throwing papers toward the Chair. Sources said the floor leaders’ meeting chaired by Mr Birla on Monday led to the breakthrough, with members agreeing that no one would enter the Well of the House, approach opposite benches, tear papers, or climb on officials’ tables. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to parliamentary norms. The Lok Sabha Secretariat issued a bulletin reiterating rules on decorum, highlighting provisions banning placards, banners, sticks, and derogatory or AI-generated images, and warning that violations would invite disciplinary action. Kurseong and Darjeeling ~ have been reserved for BGPM. Seventy-five sitting MLAs have been dropped. The list includes 52 women candidates and 47 from minority communities. Ninety-five candidates belong to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, of whom 78 are SC and 17 ST. Miss Banerjee accused the BJP of being “mortally scared” and resorting to extra-legal tactics. “The ECI has changed the Chief Secretary, Home Secretary, Commissioner of Police and Director General of Police without consulting the state government. SPs and DMs have also been replaced. You may change all of them, but BJP’s seats will go down. Despite the Supreme Court’s order, the Tribunal has not yet been formed,” she said, adding that officers were transferred because they tried to curb the influx of money and muscle power. Miss Banerjee further alleged that the BJP seeks to erase Bengal’s identity. “They have attacked our language and shown no respect for Bengal’s great sons ~ Rabindranath Tagore, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. The people will resist any attempt to disturb Bengal’s cultural fabric. Communal peace and harmony are our cherished legacies. Never mistake our sobriety for weakness—if needed, we can resist in the hardest way. Bengal produced the highest number of revolutionaries who laid down their lives in the freedom movement,” she said. “The BJP has targeted Bengal, but the people will give a befitting reply in the forthcoming Assembly election. Across the country, there has been no development~ only loot and untold misery.” TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee confirmed that 75 sitting MLAs have been dropped. Former Rajya Sabha MP Ritabrata Banerjee will contest, alongside state secretary Kunal Ghosh and journalist Devadeep Purohit. Rajib Banerjee, who had left the Trinamul to join the BJP and lost in the 2021 Assembly election, has rejoined the party and been given a ticket. Former cricketer Shiv Shankar Pal and Dr Tanushree Hansda, who joined Trinamul Congress this morning, have also been nominated. “We have nominated many young leaders, as the younger generation deserves a chance. It is a balanced candidate list, and we remain committed to Ma, Mati, Manush. We will continue to work for them,” Miss Banerjee said. (Photo by Biswajit Ghoshal) • Related reports: Page 3 Around 400 killed, 250 wounded in Pak airstrikes on Afghan drug rehab centre India condemns Pakistani attack on hospital in Kabul: UNITED NEWS OF INDIA Kabul/New Delhi, 17 March At least 400 people were killed and more than 250 injured after Pakistan's military carried out airstrikes on a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul on Monday night. Local Afghan media quoted Mullah Hamdullah Fitrat, Deputy Spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, as saying the attack took place on Monday night at around 9:00 p.m, targeting a 2,000-bed drug treatment hospital 'Omid', with large parts of the facility destroyed. He said the number of casualties could rise further. So far, the death toll has reached 400, and up to 250 others have been wounded, according to Afghan news agencies Pajhwok and Tolo News. Zabihullah Mujahid, Chief Spokesman for the Afghanistan government said: "We strongly condemn this crime and consider such an act to be against all accepted principles New Delhi: India on Tuesday strongly condemned Pakistan’s “barbaric” attack on the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital in Kabul in which about 400 people were killed and over 250 wounded, calling it a blatant assault on Afghanistan’s sovereignty and a direct threat to regional peace in the holy month of Ramzan. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said the attack was a “cowardly and unconscionable act of violence’’ that has claimed innocent civilian lives in a facility which can by no means be justified as a military target. New Delhi said the attack reflects Pakistan’s persistent pattern of reckless behaviour. and an inhumane act." He warned that the attack would not go unanswered. On Saturday night, he added, the Pakistan military carried out airstrikes on civilian areas in eastern Kunar and southern Kandahar provinces. However, no casualties were reported. Pakistan, meanwhile, has denied Afghanistan’s accusation that it targeted a hospital, insisting that its strikes, which were also conducted in eastern Afghanistan on Monday, were aimed at military facilities. It dismissed Afghanistan’s claims of hundreds of casualties from the strike on the hospital as propaganda. EAM, EU foreign ministers call for dialogue, diplomacy to end conflict in West Asia STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 17 March External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the foreign ministers of the European Union (EU) had an in-depth discussion on the situation in West Asia, including its effects on energy security, and underlined the need for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the crisis in the region. Mr Jaishankar, who was in Brussels on a two-day visit, participated in an interaction with the EU Foreign Affairs Council comprising the foreign ministers of EU member states. Mr. Maroš Šefčovič, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, also joined the session. The Ministry of External Affairs said Mr Jaishankar also discussed with the EU ministers the situation in Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific. He highlighted the strong momentum following the India-EU Summit in January 2026, calling to unlock the full potential of the FTA, deepen defence industrial collaboration and maritime co - operation under the Security and Defence partnership, to transform the Trade and Technology Council into a more outcome - driven forum integrated with industry, advance sustainable development and green and clean energy collaboration, and strengthen mobility frameworks. He urged the EU foreign ministers to realise synergies between India’s relations with the European Union and with member states– a sentiment that was fully reciprocated by his EU counterparts. Mr Jaishankar’s visit, coming within six weeks of the historic State Visit of EU leaders to India as Guests of Honour for India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations and the successful 16th India–EU Summit, is reflective of India’s sustained high-level engagement with the EU, the MEA said. During the visit, he called on Antonio Costa, President of the European Council and Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. Jaishankar conveyed the warm greetings of President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the EU leaders. The discussions centred on India-EU relations following the recent summit and on priorities identified in the joint India-EU Comprehensive Strategic Agenda, including early signing of the landmark India-EU FTA, as well as the situation in West Asia, Ukraine and the IndoPacific, the MEA added. Apex court strikes down restriction on Another LPG tanker arrives in India maternity benefits for adoptive mothers after crossing Strait of Hormuz PARMOD KUMAR New Delhi, 17 March The Supreme Court on Tuesday struck down a provision of the Social Security Code, 2020 that limits maternity benefits for adoptive mothers to cases where the adopted child was below three months of age, holding the restriction to be arbitrary and violative of the right to equality under Article 14. The Court found that adoptive mothers, irrespective of the age of the child ~ below three months or above three months ~ perform similar roles and responsibilities, and that the needs of an adopted child are no different from those of a biological child. A Bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan observed that the law created an artificial classification between adoptive mothers based solely on the age of the adopted child, without any reasonable justification. It noted that the objective of maternity benefits is linked to caregiving and integration of the child into the family, rather than the biological process of childbirth. The Court also took into account the practical realities of adoption in India, pointing out that in most cases, a child is declared legally free for adoption only after crossing the age of three months. As a result, the restriction rendered the provision largely ineffective and deprived a significant number of adoptive mothers of maternity benefits. Holding that the provision failed to meet the test of reasonable classification, the Court read down Section 60(4) and expanded its scope. It ruled that all adoptive mothers, as well as commissioning mothers, would be entitled to STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 17 March maternity benefits for a period of twelve weeks from the date the child is handed over to them. The judgment further emphasised that reproductive autonomy is not confined to biological motherhood and includes the decision to form a family through adoption. It noted that the law must recognise the emotional, psychological and practical adjustments involved in adoptive parenting, particularly in cases involving older children or special needs. The second Indian flagged liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker, Nanda Devi, arrived at Vadinar Port in Gujarat on Tuesday with about 46,500 metric tonnes of LPG from Qatar after crossing the Strait of Hormuz in war-affected West Asia even as the government sought to allay fears about the shortage of LPG. Earlier on Monday, the first Indian-flagged tanker, Shivalik, docked at Mundra Port in Gujarat, carrying a total cargo of about 46,000 metric tonnes (MT) of LPG, with 20,000 MT set to be unloaded at Mundra and the remaining 26,000 MT to be discharged at Mangalore. Another ship, Jag Laadki, carrying nearly 81,000 tonnes of crude oil from the UAE, is also reported en route to India. At a media briefing here, officials said nearly 3 lakh metric tonnes of liquefied pet- roleum gas (LPG) is currently stranded at the Strait of Hormuz. Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said multiple vessels carrying LPG are unable to move due to the situation in the crucial shipping route. Six ships are currently stuck in the Strait of Hormuz, with each vessel carrying around 45,000 metric tonnes of LPG. The officials said gauthorities conducted 12,000 raids and seized more than 15,000 LPG cylinders across the country to curb hoarding. Availability of LPG remained adequate despite increased demand, they said. PM speaks with UAE president: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spoke with Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan over the phone, exchanging Eid greetings while discussing the evolving security situation in West Asia, with a focus on regional stability and maritime safety. A key point of the conversation was the importance of ensuring uninterrupted maritime trade, especially through the Strait of Hormuz.