www.thestatesman.com India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 16 | | FOLLOW US: ` 5.00 | @TheStatesmanLtd KOLKATA | 8th Day @thestatesmanltd NEW DELHI People’s Parliament, Always in Session thestatesman1875 | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW Evolve SILIGURI | 29 March 2026 S P O RT S Lake Como: Where Water Dreams in Stone A Special Session; Zeena with Julie Mehta | Argentina beats Mauritania 2-1 as fans roar for Messi to chase a sixth WC Page 16 BRIEFLY India denies reports of Elon Musk joining Trump-Modi call: PM Modi inaugurates first phase of Noida Int’l Airport New Delhi: Reacting to media reports that Elon Musk joined a recent call between US President Donald Trump and PM Narendra Modi, India on Saturday asserted that the telephonic conversation was only between the two leaders. “We have seen the story. The telephone conversation on 24 March was between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump only. As has been stated earlier, it provided the opportunity for exchange of views on the situation in West Asia,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. New Delhi’s clarification came after The New York Times reported that “Musk participated in a phone call on Tuesday with President Trump and Prime Minister Modi of India, an unusual appearance by a private citizen on a call between two heads of state during a wartime crisis.” creating crises of essential commodities, including food, petrol, diesel, gas, and fertilisers, in many countries. He noted that India imports a very large quantity of crude oil and gas from the conflict-affected region. “The government is taking every possible step to ensure that the burden of this crisis does not fall on ordinary families and farmers,” Mr Modi affirmed. He noted that India's largest state has now become one of the states with the highest number of international airports. PM Modi shared that he felt doubly proud, first, for having laid the foundation stone of this airport and now inaugurating it, and second, because the name of this grand airport is linked to Uttar Pradesh. “This is the state that chose me as its representative and made me a Member of Parliament, and its identity is now associated with this magnificent airport,” he remarked. This is the state that chose me as its representative and made me a Member of Parliament, and its identity is now associated with this magnificent airport. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Jewar (Greater Noida), 28 March C alling for collective effort and national unity in the face of global challenges during the ongoing crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while inaugurating the first phase of Noida International Airport here on Saturday, said: “I am fully confident that all political parties will lend strength to the country's united efforts.” Expressing his pride and joy on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that the day marks a new chapter in the Viksit UP, Viksit Bharat Abhiyan. In his speech, the Prime Minister said he had spoken at length in Parliament and held detailed discussions with Chief Ministers on tackling the crisis arising from the ongoing conflict. Mr Modi appealed to the people to face this crisis with a calm mind and patience, calling it the greatest strength of Indians. Reiterating the government's stance, he said NARENDRA MODI, PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA that what serves the interest of Indians and of India alone guides the policy and strategy of the Government of India." I am fully confident that all political parties will lend strength to the country's united efforts,” he stressed. Speaking about the current global situation, the Prime Minister observed that the entire world is deeply concerned today, with a war raging on in West Asia for over a month, Shah unveils BJP’s ‘people’s charge sheet’, targets TMC STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 28 March Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the ruling Trinamul Congress government in West Bengal, alleging “systemic neglect” of backward communities and presenting what the BJP termed a “people’s charge sheet” ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Addressing a Press conference at a hotel in New Town, Mr Shah claimed that many members of the backward classes, including the Matua community, had faced negligence as the West Bengal government hasanti backward class people policy. He accused the state government of showing “extreme apathy and discrimination” towards backward sections and urged voters to “exercise their democratic rights and bring an end to the present regime.” Mr Shah also alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had “distorted even the name of the Matua community’s revered deity,”. The event marked the formal release of the BJP’s symbolic Janaganer Charge sheet (people’s charge sheet), which, according to party leaders, compiles allegations of corruption, administrative failures and erosion of democratic rights under 15 years of TMC rule. State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said the document was based on “ground realities of misgovernance and suppression of democratic institutions.” Presenting the charge sheet, Mr Shah said the upcoming election in Bengal was “not only crucial for the state but also linked to national security.” He alleged that while infiltration had been curbed in neighbouring Assam under BJP rule, Bengal had become the “only remaining corridor,” posing risks to the country’s security architecture. He further accused the TMC of fostering a political culture rooted in “fear, corruption, division, falsehood and violence” since 2011. “Industry has stagnated, development has slowed, and syndicate raj, cut-money practices and appeasement politics have made life difficult for ordinary citizens,” he said. Delhi-bound IndiGo Govt: India maintains uninterrupted energy PM Modi, Saudi Crown supplies as Strait of Hormuz remains closed Prince hold talks on flight lands safely West Asia tensions after engine failure UNITED NEWS OF INDIA New Delhi, 28 March UNITED NEWS OF INDIA Kolkata, 28 March A full emergency was declared on Saturday morning at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport after an IndiGo flight travelling from Visakhapatnam to the capital reported an engine failure mid-air. According to preliminary reports on the incident, IndiGo flight 6E 579, a Boeing 737-800 carrying 161 people, experienced an issue with one of its engines during the flight. A full emergency was declared at 10:39 a.m as the aircraft neared Delhi. The aircraft had ample fuel on board, with an estimated endurance of more than six hours, and was directed to land on Runway 28. It landed safely at 10:54 a.m. Airport sources stated that all standard emergency procedures were put into action, with rescue and firefighting teams deployed on standby as a precaution. No hazardous materials were reported to be on board. In a statement, an IndiGo spokesperson said a technical issue was identified shortly before flight 6E 579 landed at Delhi from Visakhapatnam on 28 March. “As a precaution and in line with standard operating procedures, the pilots requested priority landing, and the aircraft landed safely at Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi,” the statement read further. The Government of India on Saturday issued a detailed statement outlining its preparedness measures in response to the evolving situation in West Asia and the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The Centre said that energy supplies remain stable, maritime operations are functioning normally, and evacuation and assistance efforts for Indian nationals in the region are progressing without interruption. According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, all domestic refineries are operating at high capacity, supported by adequate crude inventories and increased LPG production to meet heightened demand. Retail fuel outlets continue to function normally across the country, the Ministry said, adding that despite isolated incidents of panic buying triggered by rumours, petrol and diesel stocks remain sufficient at all petrol pumps nationwide. The government reported that natural gas supplies for domestic PNG and CNG transport have been prioritised at 100 per cent, while industrial and commercial consumers connected to the grid are receiving 80 per cent of their average consumption. To reduce pressure on commercial LPG, city gas distribution companies have been advised to fast-track PNG connections for restaurants, hotels, canteens and other commercial establishments. Major CGD operators, including IGL, MGL, GAIL Gas and BPCL, have rolled out incentives to encourage PNG adoption. The statement highlighted that states are being offered an additional 10 per cent commercial LPG allocation linked to reforms that promote PNG expansion, with several states simplifying Right of User/Right of Way permissions and extending working hours to accelerate CGD rollout. Despite global constraints, domestic LPG supply remains steady, with no dry-outs reported at distributorships. Commercial LPG allocation has been progressively restored to 70 per cent of pre-crisis levels, with priority supply for sectors such as restaurants, hotels, industrial canteens, steel, textiles, chemicals and plastics. Since 14 March, commercial entities have lifted 33,781 metric tonnes of non-domestic LPG, while over 46,000 five-kilogram FTL cylinders were sold on Friday to support migrant labourers and small consumers. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 28 March Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman to discuss the escalating situation in West Asia and its broader implications for regional stability and global energy supplies. Sharing details of the conversation on X, Mr Modi said both leaders reviewed the ongoing conflict and stressed the importance of protecting key infrastructure. “Spoke with Crown Prince and PM of Saudi Arabia, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman and discussed the ongoing conflict in West Asia,” he said. Reaffirming India’s position, the Prime Minister underscored concerns over attacks targeting energy facilities amid rising tensions in the region. “I reiterated India’s condemnation of attacks on regional energy infrastructure,” he added. The two leaders also highlighted the importance of safeguarding critical maritime routes that are essential for global trade and energy movement. “We agreed on the need to ensure freedom of navigation and keeping shipping lines open and secure,” Mr Modi said. He also thanked the Saudi leadership for its support to the Indian community in the kingdom. “Thanked him for his continued support for the welfare of the Indian community in Saudi Arabia,” he added. Bengal CM alleges EC bias, flags SIR irregularities Nepal ex-PM , former home minister detained over Gen Z protest crackdown UNITED NEWS OF INDIA THE KATHMANDU POST/ANN Kolkata, 28 March Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission, alleging that several experienced officers were deliberately moved out of the state to weaken the local administrative grip and allow the BJP to exploit the situation by pushing unaccounted money, liquor and external elements into West Bengal during the elections. Addressing a rally in Raniganj, Miss Banerjee said, “Those who were familiar with the local areas ~ around 50 to 100 officers ~ have been sent to Kerala and Tamil Nadu. This is being done so that anonymous BJP money can enter, drugs can enter, goons can enter, bulldozers can enter, and riots can be triggered.” She also had a message for the newly posted officers, urging them to act in the interest of the people and not under any political pressure. “To those who have received new postings, I would say—you are part of the state administration. If you want to work properly, then look towards the people. There is no need to look at me,” she said. The Chief Minister alleged large-scale irregularities in voter lists in SIR, claiming that names were being deleted arbitrarily and questioning the manner in which discrepancies were being identified. “From what I am hearing, if there are 500 names in a booth, 400 are being deleted. Is this a joke? What is happening? There is always a Lakshman Rekha, but the BJP is crossing all limits. Where is the first supplementary list?” she said. “At the very beginning, 58 lakh names were removed without even being opened. Then they say 60 lakhs ‘logistical discrepancies. What does that mean? You have made mistakes using your AI. Aren’t you ashamed?” she added. Later in her speech, Miss Banerjee addressed the long-standing issue of land subsidence in Raniganj. Calling Raniganj a highly subsidence-prone region, she said the state government has already spent around Rs 700 crore to construct 6,000 flats, with another 4,000 currently under construction. She urged residents to relocate in the interest of safety, promising financial and housing support. “Raniganj is a subsidence-prone area. We have already spent around Rs 700 crore to build 6,000 flats, and another 4,000 flats are being constructed,” she said. Kathmandu, 28 March Police have arrested former prime minister KP Sharma Oli and Nepali Congress leader and former home minister Ramesh Lekhak in connection with a culpable homicide-related case linked to the alleged suppression of the September Gen Z protests. Mr Oli was taken into custody from his residence in Gundu, Bhaktapur, on Saturday morning. Mr Lekhak was arrested earlier the same morning from his residence in Suryabinayak, Bhaktapur, around 5 a.m, his personal secretary Janak Bhatta said. The arrests follow a formal complaint filed by the Home Ministry, which triggered an investigation and led to the issuance of arrest warrants. Police officials said the action is being carried out to implement recommendations made by a commission led by former Special Court judge Gauri Bahadur Karki. The commission has recommended that Mr Oli, Mr Lekhak and then Inspector General of Police Chandra Kuber Khapung be charged under Sections 181 and 182 of the National Penal Code for criminal negligence, with a proposed prison sentence of up to 10 years. The report also recommends action against then-home secretary Gokarna Mani Dawadi, Armed Police Force chief Raju Aryal, former head of the National Investigation Department Hutaraj Thapa, and then-chief district officer of Kathmandu Chhabi Rijal, suggesting prosecution under Section 182 of the code. It further recommends that other officials found responsible be dealt with under the respective laws governing their organisations. In the case of Nepal Police Additional Inspector General and current Inspector General Dan Bahadur Karki, the report suggests a formal reprimand, which legal experts say could affect future promotions. Similarly, Armed Police Force official Narayan Dutta Poudel, who is in line for future leadership, has also been named for such a reprimand, which could impact his promotion prospects if implemented. The report attributes the crackdown to criminal negligence and recklessness, citing failure to act on prior intelligence about possible escalation that led to multiple deaths. During the youth-led protests, a total of 77 people were killed, while government and private property worth billions were destroyed. Teams from the Bhaktapur District Police Range and the Kathmandu Valley Police Office were mobilised for the high-profile arrest, while security was tightened across the Kathmandu Valley. Home Secretary Raj Kumar Shrestha and Law Secretary Parashwor Dhungana visited Police Headquarters late Friday after police sought a written order to proceed.