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 | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI Silent voter Trump says Lebanon and Israel agree to extend Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire by three weeks Page 6 Page 9 BRIEFLY Samrat Choudhary govt wins trust vote in Bihar: Patna: In a special session of the Bihar Legislative Assembly on Friday, the Samrat Choudhary government proved its majority, with the confidence motion being passed by voice vote in the 243-member House, where the BJP-led NDA enjoys a strength of 201. One seat is vacant following the resignation of BJP national president Nitin Nabin, the MLA from Bankipur, after his election to the Rajya Sabha. Outlining his government’s vision, Mr Choudhary said that, like the previous NDA dispensation, his administration would not compromise on the ‘Triple C’ - crime, corruption, and communalism. Mr Choudhary said the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) would directly monitor the functioning of police stations, block development offices and circle offices to strengthen administration at the grassroots level. Page 5 SATURDAY INTERVIEW ‘Politics must embrace spirituality’ Page 7 AAPocalypse in Rajya Sabha: 7 MPs join BJP VIBHA SHARMA New Delhi, 24 April I n a stunning political development that effectively gutted the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP in the Rajya Sabha, seven of its 10 MPs on Thursday joined the BJP, invoking the Constitutional provision that treats a two-thirds breakaway as a “merger” rather than a split. Addressing the media flanked by colleagues Sandeep Pathak and Ashok Mittal, Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha alleged that the party (AAP) he had “nurtured with blood and sweat” had deviated from its core principles, values, and morals. He said that four other MPs ~ Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Vikram Sahney and Swati Maliwal ~ were also with them, taking the total number to seven. Mr Chadha said the MPs, Saturday, 25 April 2026 SPORTS WORLD EDITORIAL | making up more than twothirds of AAP’s Rajya Sabha strength, had signed a letter submitted to the Chairman. “There are 10 AAP MPs in the Rajya Sabha, and more than two-thirds are with us. Seven MPs have submitted the required documents,” he added. Under the Tenth Schedule of the Indian Constitution (Anti-Defection Law), a merger is legally recognised, and members are not disqualified, if two-thirds or more of the members of a legislative party agree to merge with another party. Later, the three former AAP MPs also met BJP president Nitin Nabin in the party headquarters “I am telling you the real reason why I distanced myself from party (AAP) activities. I did not want to be part of their crimes. We had only two options ~ either quit politics or continue public service. We have decided that two-thirds of AAP’s Rajya Sabha MPs will exercise constitutional provisions and merge with the BJP,” Mr Chadha said. The AAP had 10 MPs in the Rajya Sabha, including the three remaining ~ Sanjay Singh, N D Gupta, and Balbir Singh Seechewal. In the Lok Sabha it is represented by Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer, Raj Kumar Chabbewal, and Malwinder Singh Kang. Political corridors in Punjab are abuzz with speculations of “another split in the pipeline.” AAP leaders reacted sharply, calling the move a “gaddari” (betrayal) that the people of Punjab who sent them to the Rajya Sabha will never forget. In a post on X, Mr Kejriwal said: “BJP ne phir kiya Punjabiyon ke saath dhakka.” “People of Punjab will never forgive this betrayal,” Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said, describing the seven MPs as “traitors” who would gain nothing in the BJP. Struggling Delhi Capitals face uphill task against unbeaten Punjab Kings Page 12 PM shares stage with RG Kar victim’s mother, attacks TMC over crimes against women RAJIB CHAKRABORTY Kolkata, 24 April Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday shared the stage with the mother of the RG Kar hospital victim, who has been fielded as the BJP candidate from Panihati, as he attacked the ruling Trinamul Congress over alleged crimes against women and “lawlessness” in Bengal. Addressing an election rally at Amrabati ground in Panihati in North 24-Parganas, the Prime Minister held up Ratna Debnath’s hand as he urged the electorate to vote for her in the ongoing Assembly elections. Mr Modi said: “This mother had raised her daughter to become a doctor. The ‘jungle raj’ of the Trinamul snatched her away. We have made her mother a candidate.” He reiterated his charge that the state government was “anti-women” and asserted that, if voted to power, the BJP would reopen all cases of crimes against women that were allegedly “abruptly shut down”. “After 4 May, every such file will be reopened. This is Modi’s guarantee,” he said. Citing figures released by the Election Commission, he said the turnout during the first phase of polling yesterday had touched a record 92.71 per cent, describing it as an indicator of a political shift in the state. “Trinamul leaders are stunned seeing the turnout. A lamp flickers the brightest before it goes out. The same is happening with the Trinamul,” he remarked, expressing confidence that the BJP would form the next government in Bengal. Later, addressing another rally in Baruipur, Mr Modi expanded his attack to issues of higher education and campus politics, referring specifically to Jadavpur University. Alleging that “anti-national slogans” were being written on campus walls, he said the academic environment had deteriorated. Opposition intensifies pressure to oust Historic turnout, peaceful polling in West Bengal: SC CEC Gyanesh Kumar with fresh move expresses satisfaction, notes slow pace of SIR appeals STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE in office is an assault on the New Delhi, 24 April A group of 73 Opposition members in the Rajya Sabha has submitted a fresh notice of motion seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, alleging “proven misbehaviour” and accusing him of undermining constitutional principles. In a statement issued on Friday, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the notice had been submitted to the Secretary General of the Upper House, urging that an address be presented to the President of India for the CEC’s removal. The motion cites Article 324(5) of the Constitution, read with Article 124(4), along with Section 11(2) of the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, and the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968. Mr Ramesh said the notice details nine specific charges against the Chief Election Commissioner based on “acts and omissions committed on and after March 15, 2026.” He stated that the allegations have been “documented in great detail” and “cannot be denied or whitewashed away.” “The continuation of the Chief Election Commissioner Constitution,” Mr Ramesh said, adding, “it is an absolute disgrace that the man continues to be in office to do the bidding of the Prime Minister and the Home Minister.” The Opposition MPs have demanded a three-member inquiry committee with one sitting judge from the Supreme Court, a sitting chief justice from any of the high courts and other courts which must submit its report to the Rajya Sabha chairman. On 12 March, a total of 63 Opposition Rajya Sabha MPs had moved a motion to remove Kumar and a similar motion was moved in the Lok Sabha as well. In the fresh motion, the Rajya Sabha MPs have accused Mr Kumar of “continued partisan asymmetry in the enforcement of the model code of conduct.” PARMOD KUMAR New Delhi, 24 April The Supreme Court on Friday lauded the record voter turnout of around 92 per cent in the first phase of the West Bengal assembly election held on Thursday, 23 April, noting Indian delegation concludes USA visit, advances talks on bilateral deal STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 24 April An Indian delegation visited the United States for an in-person round of meetings to finalise the details of the India-US Interim Agreement on trade and take forward the negotiations under the broader Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), the Ministry of Commerce & Industry said in a statement on Friday. A 12-member Indian delegation, headed by Darpan Jain, Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce, engaged in detailed discussions with the US side, led by Brendan Lynch. During the meeting, multiple areas such as Market Access, Non-Tariff Measures, Technical Barriers to Trade, Customs and Trade Facilitation, Investment Promotion, Economic Security Alignment and Digital trade were discussed, the statement read. India and the USA had issued a Joint Statement on 7 February 2026 agreeing on a framework for an Interim Agreement regarding reciprocal and mutually beneficial trade. The framework reaffirmed the countries’ commitment to the broader India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement negotiations. "The meetings were conducted in a constructive and positive spirit with meaningful and forward-looking discussions enabling progress on key matters. Both sides agreed to remain engaged to maintain this momentum as they move forward," the Commerce Ministry said. Under the proposed interim trade deal, the USA lowered tariffs on India from 50 per cent to 18 per cent. India is seeking improved access to American markets, with both countries aiming to expand bilateral trade to $ 500 billion by 2030. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told lawmakers in Washington that negotiations were progressing but flagged longstanding sensitivities. “India is a tough nut to crack. They've protected their agricultural markets for a very long time,” Mr Greer told the Committee on Ways and Means of the US Congress. In August last year, US President Donald Trump had imposed a 25 per cent "reciprocal tariff" on India and later an additional 25 per cent penal tariff for India’s crude oil purchases from Russia. But the US Supreme Court on 20 February struck down the reciprocal tariffs introduced by Donald Trump under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which altered the proposed India-US deal's original framework. with satisfaction that the elections were largely peaceful with only stray incidents reported. Expressing satisfaction on the voters' turnout, Chief Justice Surya Kant, heading a bench also comprising Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi, said: “As a citizen of India, I was very happy to see the voting percentage. When people exercise right to vote, this strengthens the democratic setup,” Echoing the sentiment, Justice Bagchi noted the absence of violence during polling. “There have been no incidents of violence also,” he said, with Chief Justice Surya Kant observing that “When people acknowledge their power in the ballot, they do not indulge in violence.” The Court was informed that voters, including migrant workers, have come out to cast their votes, contributing to what was described as a historic turnout. The Bench noted this as a positive sign amid concerns raised earlier over the revision of electoral rolls. The previous highest turn out was about 84 per cent in 2011. However, the court was also informed of concerns over the slow progress in adjudication of appeals against the exclusion of names from the electoral rolls. The court was told that out of 27 lakh appeals only 136 have been decided. There are 19 Appellate Tribunals headed by former Chief Justices and senior judges of the Calcutta High Court hearing appeals against deletion from the voters list. These appeals arise from the adjudication of claims and objections of 60 lakh names categorised as ‘logical discrepancy’ and ‘unmapped’ voters. The adjudication was done by 700 judicial officers ~ 500 from West Bengal and 200 from Odisha and Jharkhand. Taking note of the situation, Chief Justice Kant said that the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court could be approached to address issues relating to the functioning and pace of the appellate tribunal. It reiterated that appeals involving exclusion from voter lists must be taken up urgently, particularly in view of the ongoing election process. The Bench also granted additional time to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to file its chargesheet in a separate case relating to the gherao of judicial officers engaged in the SIR process. The court was hearing petitions challenging the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. The matter will be taken up for further hearing on 11 May 2026. India, New Zealand to sign $20 billion FTA on Monday STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 24 April New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Friday announced that India and New Zealand are set to sign a historic Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on Monday. The FTA will provide tariff-free access for Indian goods in the New Zealand market and attract up to $20 billion in investment over the next 15 years. It will also eliminate duty on all Indian exports to New Zealand. Through the FTA, both the countries will collaborate with farmers to boost productivity and integrate them in the global value chains. The FTA boosts MSMEs and jobs through zero-duty access for labour-intensive sectors including textiles, apparel, leather, footwear, gems & jewellery, engineering goods and processed foods. India has offered market Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal meets New Zealand Minister for Trade and Investment Todd McClay on the sidelines of WTO MC14, in Yaoundé on 27 March 2026. FILE PHOTO access in 70.03 per cent of the tariff lines while keeping 29.97 per cent tariff lines in exclusion. There will be Immediate Elimination (EIF) on 30 per cent of tariff lines; the rest is phased. The 30 per cent of tariff lines that will have immediate duty elimination, cover wood, wool, sheep meat, leather-raw hides, etc; 35.60 per cent of tariffs are subject to phased elimination over 3, 5, 7, and 10 years, including petroleum oil, malt extract, vegetable oils, and selected electrical and mechanical machinery, peptones, etc, a government statement said. Further, 4.37 per cent of products will see tariff reductions, such as wine, pharmaceutical drugs, polymers, aluminium, iron and steel articles, etc; 0.06% fall under tariff rate quotas, including honey, apples, kiwi fruit, and albumins, including milk albumin. India and New Zealand announced negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) In March 2025. The trade negotiations by both the countries were concluded on 22 December last year, with the goal of doubling bilateral trade to $5 billion over the next five years. New Zealand is India’s second-largest trading partner in Oceania. At a GDP per capita of $49,380, New Zealand is among the higher-income economies in Oceania. New Zealand maintained tariffs around 10 per cent in around 450 lines of key Indian exports.