www.thestatesman.com | FOLLOW US: India’s National Newspaper since 1818 @TheStatesmanLtd | Pages 20 8th Day | @thestatesmanltd ` 5.00 | People’s Parliament, Always in Session thestatesman1875 KOLKATA LC | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR Evolve Embracing divinity: Rath Yatra 2026 | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI | 12 July 2026 S P O RT S Radio’s golden vibe goes digital Merino seals Spain’s semi-final berth Page 20 India, NZ strategic partnership sets roadmap for deeper ties by 2030 SHAHID K ABBAS New Delhi, 11 July P rime Minister Narendra Modi and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on Saturday announced a historic upgrade in bilateral ties by elevating the India-New Zealand relationship to a Strategic Partnership, adopting a comprehensive Roadmap to 2030, setting a target to double two-way trade by the end of the decade, and significantly expanding cooperation across multiple sectors. The announcement came during Mr Modi’s ongoing official visit to Auckland ~ the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in four decades ~ which both leaders described as a defining moment in the evolution of bilateral relations. Prime Minister Modi was accorded a traditional Maori welcome at Government House, featuring customary rituals symbolising peace, respect and hospitality, before inspecting a ceremonial Guard of Honour. He later held extensive restricted and delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Luxon covering the full spectrum of bilateral engagement. Following the discussions, the two leaders agreed to elevate the relationship to the level of a Strategic Partnership and endorsed the India-New Zealand Strategic Partnership: Roadmap to 2030, which will provide the framework for expanding political engagement, strengthening institutional mechanisms and broadening cooperation across key sectors over the coming years. Sharing details of the discussions on social media platform X, Mr Modi said: “We have taken the historic decision to elevate India-New Zealand relations to the level of a ‘India-New Zealand strategic partnership opens new chapter in bilateral relations,’ says PM: New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hailed the elevation of India-New Zealand ties to a Strategic Partnership as the beginning of a “new chapter” in bilateral relations, saying the upgraded relationship would provide fresh impetus to cooperation across sectors and enhance the two countries’ contribution to peace, stability and security in the Indo-Pacific. Noting that the visit was the first bilateral trip by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in 40 years, Mr Modi said: “It is a matter of great happiness for me that, after 40 years, an Indian Prime Minister has visited New Zealand. By hosting this programme in your country’s economic capital, you have created an opportunity to inject new momentum into India-New Zealand relations,” he said. Describing the Strategic Partnership as a landmark achievement, Mr Modi said it reaffirmed the two countries' commitment to expanding their friendship and cooperation. “This is a historic milestone in our bilateral relationship. It marks a new chapter of energy and reaffirms our shared commitment to friendship,” he said. Strategic Partnership.” “Under this partnership, we will move forward in every sector with clear objectives and tangible outcomes,” he added. Highlighting the growing economic relationship, Mr Modi said the recently con- CM orders statewide crackdown on illegal liquor and drug dens after Baruipur horror STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 11 July Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari directed the state police to launch a special statewide drive against illegal liquor dens and the sale of cannabis and other narcotic substances, linking such activities to the recent gang rape and murder of a minor in Baruipur. Speaking after inaugurating a new police outpost at Suryapur in Baruipur on Saturday, the chief minister said illegal liquor and drug dens had played a major role in creating the conditions that led to the gruesome crime. He urged residents to report such illegal activities to the police. “Every incident has its causes. I believe illegal liquor dens and the illegal sale of ganja, charas and other narcotics played a major role behind this heinous crime. Inform the police if you know about such places,” Mr Adhikari said. In the presence of Director General of Police Siddhanath Gupta and senior district police officers, the Chief Minister instructed the DGP to conduct a special statewide operation over the next two weeks. He asked police to deploy additional personnel and as- sign circle officers to districts to intensify the crackdown on illegal liquor and drug dens. Mr Adhikari said the State STF regularly conducts raids and arrests against such illegal activities in border areas, railway stations and bus terminals. However, he stressed the need to extend the drive to rural areas. “These illegal operations must be completely uprooted from villages as well so that society can be protected from this social menace,” he said. Earlier in the day, the chief minister met the family of the minor victim as well as the family of Indrajit Mondal, who was killed in mob violence following the incident. He assured both families of the government’s support. Mr Adhikari handed over a cheque of Rs 25 lakh to the family of Indrajit Mondal. He also announced a civic volunteer job for the victim’s elder brother, who has been posted at the newly inaugurated Suryapur police outpost. The Chief Minister said financial assistance had also been extended to the family of the minor victim but declined to disclose details, saying the family could do so if they wished. INS Mahendragiri joins Eastern Fleet, Rajnath Singh calls it symbol of Aatmanirbhar Bharat STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 11 July The Indian Navy on Saturday commissioned the indigenously-built advanced stealth frigate INS Mahendragiri into the Eastern Fleet at Visakhapatnam in the presence of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, marking another major milestone in India’s journey towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing. The sixth Project 17A stealth frigate, built by Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL), Mumbai, has more than 75 per cent indigenous content and is equipped with advanced weapons systems, modern sensors, network-centric combat capabilities and stealth features to counter aerial, surface and underwater threats. Addressing the commissioning ceremony, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described INS Mahendragiri as a symbol of India’s growing capabilities in indigenous warship design and construction. “This frontline warship is another symbol of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the nation’s commitment to building a technologicallyadvanced and combat-ready navy,” he said. The Defence Minister said the warship represented the combined strength of Indian design expertise, manufacturing capability, the expanding naval industrial ecosystem and the country’s ability to deliver sophisticated platforms within shorter timelines. “INS Mahendragiri will extend India’s blue-water reach and further consolidate its presence in the Indian Ocean Region,” Mr Singh said. Designed by the Indian Navy’s Warship Design Bureau, INS Mahendragiri is capable of undertaking a wide range of maritime missions, including fleet air defence, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, maritime interdiction, surveillance and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. With a displacement of approximately 6,670 tonnes, the warship can achieve speeds of up to 28 knots. It is armed with supersonic surface-to-surface missiles, medium-range surfaceto-air missiles, antisubmarine warfare systems and can operate a multi-role helicopter. Highlighting its combat capabilities, Mr Singh said: “INS Mahendragiri can be equipped with the BrahMos surface-to-surface missile, one of the world’s fastest and most lethal cruise missiles.” cluded Free Trade Agreement would become a major catalyst for growth. “This year, we concluded a Free Trade Agreement in record time. This achievement will open new opportunities for the industries, farmers, and youth of both countries,” he said. The two Prime Ministers welcomed the signing of the comprehensive India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement and pledged to ensure its early implementation. They also set an ambitious target of doubling bilateral trade in goods and services to NZ$7 billion (approximately Rs 35,000 crore) by 2030, while encouraging greater investment and deeper businessto-business engagement. Addressing business representatives in Auckland, Mr Modi said stronger economic integration would benefit entrepreneurs, innovators and young people in both countries. “A stronger economic partnership between India and New Zealand will create new opportunities for businesses, innovators and our youth,” he said. At least 15 Indian tourists killed after boat capsizes off Vietnam island: Hanoi: Fifteen people, all believed to be Indians, were killed after a tourist speedboat carrying 32 Indian tourists and four crew members capsized near Vietnam’s Phu Quoc island on Saturday. The vessel reportedly malfunctioned and overturned about 400 metres from Hon May Rut Ngoai Island. Twenty-one people were rescued. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the tourists were employees of a private mobile phone company attending a meeting and that Indian Embassy officials were at the scene. Vietnamese authorities have ordered an investigation into the cause of the accident. Page 17
The Statesman is one of India's oldest English newspapers. It was founded in Kolkata in 1875 and is directly descended from The Friend of India (founded 1818). The Englishman (founded 1821) was merged with The Statesman in 1934. The Delhi edition of The Statesman began publication in 1931. The Statesman Weekly is a compendium of news and views from the Kolkata and Delhi editions. Printed on airmail paper, it is popular with readers outside India. The Statesman (average weekday circulation approximately 180,000) is a leading English newspaper in West Bengal. The Sunday Statesman has a circulation of 230,000.
