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 ‘US trade deal taking a little longer due to previous tariff’ US-Iran talks make progress, roadmap agreed for final deal within 60 days NATION Why TMC and Shiv Sena (UBT) rebels chose NDA allies over the BJP? Page 9 Page 10 BRIEFLY Keir Starmer announces resignation as UK PM: London: Keir Starmer on Monday announced his resignation as Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party in an emotional address outside 10 Downing Street. Starmer said that throughout his time in office, every decision had been made with the intention of “putting the country I love first.” Appearing visibly emotional, he thanked his wife, Victoria, describing her as his “rock,” and said he now looked forward to focusing on being a better father to his children after leaving office. He acknowledged that he was not the best person to lead Labour into the next general election, saying he accepted that view “with good grace.” Starmer confirmed he would remain in office on a temporary basis until the Labour Party elects a new leader. Tuesday, 23 June 2026 SPORTS WORLD BUSINESS | Salah makes history as Egypt secures its first-ever World Cup win in 92 years Page 12 Page 5 Major fire in Lucknow business complex; 14 dead, many injured 'Operation Tiger foolproof success': Maha Dy CM Shinde welcomes six ‘dhurandhar’ Shiv Sena (UBT) rebels Lucknow, 22 June New Delhi, 22 June STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE I n a major inferno that broke out in a three-storey building in the Aliganj area of the state capital on Monday, around 14 students were killed while four were critically injured. The fire broke out at around 2 pm. All the deceased were in the age group of 18 to 22 years and were attending coaching classes at an animation centre on the second floor. Smoke filled the building after the fire, causing a stampede among the students inside. Many students jumped from a height to save their lives, sustaining injuries. The four injured students were rushed to the Trauma Centre. Local residents first reported seeing smoke suddenly rising from the building. Nearby residents immediately informed the fire brigade and police. The fire quickly escalated, engulfing the entire premises. Five students jumped from the second floor. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was touring Aligarh on Monday, postponed the remainder of his tour and rushed back to Lucknow. Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak, who is at the spot, told reporters that 14 students were killed and four were critically injured in the incident. Pathak said that NDRF and SDRF teams had searched the entire building after breaking through walls and confirmed that no one remained inside. “Our priority is now to provide proper treatment to the four injured,” he said. Pathak said the Chief Minister would also visit the spot after his return from Aligarh. Reports said there were coaching and other centres in the building. One student jumped from the first floor to save his life, but fell onto a grill below and was seriously injured. Around 10 fire brigade vehicles are at the scene. A hydraulic platform is being used to extinguish the fire. The SDRF and NDRF have also arrived. Firefighters have broken down the rear wall of the building, through which the bodies are being pulled out. The building where the fire broke out is located in the Aliganj area. The basement, ground and first floors house a pet shop and a clinic. The second floor houses a library called Learning Space (for coaching) and Head Hopper Studio, which handles 3D art production and game asset outsourcing. According to eyewitnesses, there was panic in the area after the fire broke out. A large number of locals gathered at the scene. The cause of the fire is currently unknown. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condoled the deaths of the students in the fire and announced Rs 2 lakh for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for the injured. VIBHA SHARMA Ending speculation, six rebel Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs on Monday formally joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena ~ a move that has the capacity to further alter the political landscape of Maharashtra and future of Uddhav Thackeray, once considered an all-in-all of the party founded by his father, late Balasaheb Thackeray Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav, Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure, Omprakash Bhupalsingh Nimbalkar, Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Uttamrao Deshmukh and Nagesh Bapurao Patil Ashtikar joined the Shiv Sena in the presence of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who described it a “historic moment”. A beaming Shinde said the six grassroots leaders, “dhurandhars” as he called them, had joined the “original” Shiv Sena for the benefit of their constituencies, people and party workers, not for personal gain. “Today, we welcome these six ‘kattar Shivsainik MPs’ to the original Shiv Sena of Balasaheb Thackeray and Anand Dighe," he declared. “The Shiv Sena is now the second-largest party in Maharashtra. Not one, but six tigers are present here with me today. We have hit a six this time,” he added. Referring to the 2022 split in the Shiv Sena, Shinde said the rebellion was launched to protect Balasaheb’s legacy and the party’s Hindutva ideology and the bow-and-arrow symbol. “The decision taken in 2022 was supported by the people. The second phase is also to preserve the ideology of the Shiv Sena and Balasaheb. That is why these six MPs have decided to come to the original Shiv Sena of Balasaheb,” he said, calling “Operation Tiger” as a “foolproof success”. “We always conduct foolproof exercises. They are all our ‘dhurandhars’ from the grassroots. Those who say they have rebelled for personal gain or self-interest, instead of abusing them, need to introspect why they are leaving. They are leaving for the people of their constituencies,” he said.