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 | Monday, 25 May 2026 SPORTS EDITORIAL Unsafe plates NATION WORLD Nabin steps up attack on K’taka govt, calls for WB-style agitation Suspect shot dead in firing incident near White House Page 6 Page 4 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 24 May I ndia and the United States on Sunday signalled fresh “momentum” in their expanding strategic partnership, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressing confidence that the two sides would conclude a bilateral trade agreement “soon”, while External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar underscored New Delhi’s policy of maintaining strong ties across multiple global power centres. Following wide-ranging talks in New Delhi, the two leaders highlighted growing cooperation in trade, defence, energy, critical minerals, technology, and counterterrorism, reflecting the broadening scope of a relationship that both sides described as increasingly consequential for regional and global stability. “We hope to seal a trade agreement with India soon,” Mr Rubio said, while reaffirming that India remains one of America’s most important strategic partners and a key actor in addressing major international challenges. Mr Jaishankar, meanwhile, said India’s foreign policy is guided by a doctrine of “multialignment”, enabling it to pursue strong partnerships with the USA, Europe, Russia, West Asia, and other stakeholders without viewing global affairs through a zero-sum lens. Both countries have pushed in more efforts to deepen BJP sweeps Falta repoll by 1.09 lakh votes, TMC in fourth place STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 24 May The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) registered a landslide victory in the Falta Assembly repoll on Sunday, defeating its nearest rival by 1,09,021 votes votes in a contest marked by the conspicuous absence of the Trinamul Congress (TMC) from the field. With this, the BJP’s tally in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly has now risen to 208 seats. According to the Election Commission of India, BJP candidate Debanshu Panda, after a total of 22 rounds of counting, secured 1,49,666 votes defeating his nearest rival, CPI-M candidate Shambhunath Kurmi, by a margin of 1,09,021 votes. The CPI-M candidate polled 40,645 votes to finish second. The Congress’ Abdur Razzak Molla was third with 10,084 votes. Trinamul Congress candidate Jahangir Sheikh (Jahangir Khan) finished fourth and forfeited his security deposit after polling only 7,783 votes. He had earlier announced that he was withdrawing from the contest. • Details: Page 2 commercial engagement as global supply chains undergo significant realignment. Mr Rubio described India as one of Washington’s most important strategic partners and rejected suggestions that bilateral ties required a “reset” or “reinvigoration” following recent trade frictions and tariff-related debates. “This is not about restoring or reinvigorating. I’ve seen people use that terminology. This is about continuing to build on what is already a very solid and strong strategic partnership ~ one of the most important ones that we have,” he said. Emphasising the strategic depth of the relationship, Mr Rubio said India-US ties were fundamentally different from many other international partnerships because they were rooted in shared democratic values and converging long-term interests. Speaking alongside Mr Rubio, Mr Jaishankar said India's foreign policy is based on managing multiple strategic relationships without viewing international affairs as a "zerosum game". He noted that India maintains strong ties simultaneously with the United States, Israel, Iran, Gulf countries, Russia, Europe, and Ukraine. “Today's India has that range of interests which require us to manage multiple accounts,” he said, describing the approach as one of multi-alignment. • Related reports: Pg 5,10 Rubio: US ties with Pak ‘not at the expense’ of strategic alliance with India New Delhi: Seeking to allay concerns in New Delhi over Washington’s expanding engagement with Islamabad, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday asserted that America’s relations with Pakistan would not come “at the expense” of its strategic alliance with India, stressing that the India-US partnership remains strong, steady and poised to deepen further in the years ahead. Responding to a media query, along with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Rubio declined to be drawn into military matters but firmly defended Washington’s broader diplomatic approach in South Asia. Page 5 UNITED NEWS OF INDIA Washington, 24 May US President Donald Trump said that a deal between the USA and Iran has been “largely negotiated,” raising cautious hopes that months of conflict could finally be winding down and that one of the world's most critical shipping lanes Strait of Hormuz might soon reopen. Mr Trump shared the update on Truth Social, saying the agreement involves the US, Iran, and several other countries, though he acknowledged some details still need to be worked out. “Final aspects and details of the Deal are currently being discussed and will be announced shortly,” he wrote. “In addition to many other elements of the Agreement, the Strait of Hormuz will be opened.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed this earlier Sunday while speaking in New Delhi, indicating that “significant progress” had been made in the negotiations, and suggesting that a breakthrough could be announced within hours ~ though he was careful to note that nothing is finalised yet. People familiar with the talks say the deal would pause hostilities, gradually reopen the Strait of Hormuz, ease restrictions on Iranian ports, and unlock some Iranian assets frozen overseas. It would also kick off a fresh round of talks on Iran’s nuclear programme, which remains the thorniest issue on the table. One sticking point is what to do with Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium. The current proposal reportedly STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 24 May AGRAJ PRATAP SINGH New Delhi, 24 May No. L-II(B)-17(9)99/137 of Mr. Suchit Goyal, Competent Authority, Deputy Land & Development Office.’’ The governing body of the club is also sending a communication to the Housing & Urban Affairs Ministry, seeking an urgent meeting with ministry officials. The institution that came into being in 1913 has elaborate sports facilities, including grass tennis courts, squash courts, billiards room, swimming Bengal govt orders ‘holding centres’ for illegal foreigners to be set up RAJIB CHAKRABORTY Kolkata, 24 May The West Bengal government has directed all district administrations to set up “holding centres” for foreign nationals residing illegally in the state and for prisoners awaiting deportation after completion of their jail terms, according to an urgent communication issued by the state home and hill affairs department. The directive, sent on 23 May by the Foreigners Branch (SAARC Visa Section) of Writers’ Buildings to all district magistrates, stated that the move was being initiated in accordance with guidelines issued by the Foreigners Division of the Union ministry of home affairs on 2 May 2025. Officials said the holding centres would function as temporary accommodation facilities for foreign nationals detained on charges of illegal entry into India as well as convicted foreign prisoners who have completed their sentences but are yet to be repatriated or deported to their respective countries. The state government has asked district magistrates to take immediate steps for identifying suitable infrastructure and creating such centres in every district. Along with the order, an eight-page guideline detailing the operational procedures for the proposed facilities was also circulated among district authorities. According to the order issued by the home department, foreign nationals detained for illegal infiltration or those awaiting deportation after serving prison terms would be kept in these centres until the process of repatriation is completed. Administrative sources said the move is aimed at strengthening the state’s monitoring and rehabilitation mechanism for illegal immigrants before their formal deportation through legal and diplomatic channels. The directive comes amid heightened political focus on infiltration and undocumented migration in Bengal. Illegal immigration from Bangladesh and the presence of Rohingya nationals have repeatedly emerged as contentious political issues in the state, particularly during election campaigns. Political observers said the latest move reflects the state government’s decision to align more closely with the Centre’s policy framework on illegal immigration. The policy has often been described in political circles as the “three-D” approach ~ “Detect, Delete and Deport”. According to officials familiar with the matter, the holding centres are intended to function on the lines of detention facilities where identified illegal immigrants can be housed temporarily after being apprehended by law enforcement agencies or border security personnel. Trump says US-Iran agreement largely negotiated, signals reopening of Strait of Hormuz Gymkhana Club weighs options No UCC restrictions to after govt notice to vacate premises be imposed on tribal society: Amit Shah Members of the prestigious Delhi Gymkhana Club are in a state of shock after the Central government issued a notice to the club to vacate its premises located close to the Prime Minister’s residence in Lutyens’ Delhi by 5 June for defence-related projects. Sources said the club members and the governing body held a meeting today to consider various legal and other options to deal with the situation. The meeting authorised club member Vijay Khurana ‘‘to appear in all Tribunals/ Courts/ Judicial/ Quasi-judicial/ other Forums/ Public or other Authorities in India and to sign papers for consulting and defending legal proceedings, civil or criminal, and to make personal appearances before all Tribunal/Courts/ Judicial/Quasi-Judicial/ other Forums/Public or other Authorities in India in actions arising out of order Page 12 Page 9 Fresh momentum in ties: Rubio says India-US trade deal soon Archer’s brilliant all-round show seals playoff berth for Rajasthan Royals pool, lounge bars, and cottages. It is considered a preferred destination for bureaucrats, industrialists, and the elite, with the membership considered highly prestigious, and something not very easy to get. The notice from the Land and Development Office says since the site is located in a highly sensitive and strategic area, it is required for institutional and governance-related purposes. Union Home Minister Amit Shah assured tribal communities that no restrictions will be imposed on the ‘Vanvasi’ world and the Vanvasi society under the Union Common Civil Code (UCC) nor will there to be any encroachment on their rights. Addressing a large gathering of tribals from different parts of the country at the Janjati Sanskriti Samagam, organised by Janjati Suraksha Manch at the Red Fort grounds here on Sunday to mark celebrations of Birsa Munda’s 150th birth year, Mr Shah said the government will make all efforts to preserve and protect tribal culture. Remembering Birsa Munda, Mr Shah stated that despite there being no communication facilities available in his times, he conveyed this message to the tribes across India, “this is our country, our religion is the true religion, and no one can occupy our forests.” Lashing out at the Congress party, Mr Shah alleged that during its regime, the total budget for tribal welfare was just Rs 28,000 crores, whereas the Modi government has increased it to Rs 1,50,000 crores. The conclave was held under the chairmanship of National Convenor of Janjati Suraksha Manch Ganesh Ram Bhagat in the presence of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. On the occasion, the Union home minister reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to connect tribal society with the mainstream of the country’s development. carves out at least 30 days for continued diplomacy on that and other unresolved questions. Iran, for its part, has pushed back on parts of Mr Trump’s framing. State-affiliated Fars News Agency said the claim that the Strait would be “fully reopened” overstates what Iran has actually agreed to. According to the agency, Tehran has only committed to restoring shipping to pre-conflict levels, which isn’t the same as unrestricted passage. The deal is said to roll out in two stages. In the first, Iran would bring maritime traffic through the Strait back to pre-war levels, pledge not to pursue nuclear weapons, and resume fuel and oil exports. A second phase, expected to run 30 to 60 days, would dig into the harder questions around Iran’s nuclear programme and the broader regional picture. The push got a boost after mediators from Qatar and Pakistan reportedly sat down with Iranian officials in Tehran on Saturday. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised Mr Trump’s “extraordinary efforts to pursue peace” after what he described as a productive call with leaders from several Gulf nations, plus Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Pakistan. Mr Trump also mentioned a separate call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, which he called constructive. Israeli officials, though, are uneasy, worried that any interim deal might focus too narrowly on the ceasefire and sanctions relief without locking down commitments on Iran’s nuclear programme. Washington has reportedly been reassuring Israel that the nuclear question isn’t being sidelined. Mr Trump had previously put the odds of reaching a deal at “a solid 50-50,” warning that failed diplomacy could lead back to military action. But for now, the mood among US, Iranian, and regional officials seems guardedly optimistic, more so than at any point in recent months.