FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 16 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA LC | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW | MUMBAI Govt to sign India-Germany pact today BRIEFLY 12 dead in Sikkim NHPC tunnel collapse: New Delhi: At least 12 people were killed after a section of the under-construction Head Race Tunnel (HRT) of the NHPC Teesta Stage-VI Hydroelectric Project collapsed at Samardung, Jholungey, in Sikkim's Namchi district on Monday afternoon. Rescue operations continued through Tuesday amid fears that the death toll could rise further. According to officials, the tunnel collapse was followed by a suspected methane gas leak, filling the tunnel with dense fumes and toxic gases. Twenty-five workers were trapped inside after the incident, while two others managed to escape. Rescue teams initially brought out 16 workers alive after hours of strenuous efforts on Monday night. They were admitted to hospitals for treatment. (See Page 2) SC panel invites public suggestions on Aravalli issues: New Delhi: A High-Powered Committee (HPC) constituted by the Supreme Court has invited suggestions and representations from the public and stakeholders on issues related to the Aravalli Hills and Ranges, officials from the Environment Ministry said on Tuesday. The committee has sought inputs from residents, environmentalists, NGOs, farmers, mining lease holders, local communities and other interested persons from Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat and other concerned states, the statement said. Representations, preferably supported by relevant documents, may be submitted via email or through a designated Google Form within 21 days of the publication of the notice (July 21), it added. The committee will examine the submissions before handing over its report to the Supreme Court by August 31, 2026. US and Iran dig in over the Strait of Hormuz NATION Delhi HC clears Wangchuck’s transfer to Medanta hospital Page 5 Page 11 Page 12 PM calls for toughest action on NEET leak VIBHA SHARMA New Delhi, 21 July S tudent protests over the NEET-UG paper leak and farmers' march against the proposed India-US trade deal were among the issues Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on at the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting on Tuesday—now called Mangal Milan. According to those present at the meeting, he called for the strictest action against those responsible for examination paper leaks. Addressing the NDA meeting a day after thousands led by the Cockroach Janta Party (C JP) marched towards Parliament demanding action against Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and bringing parts of New Delhi to a standstill, the Prime Minister said those arrested in the NEET-UG paper leak case should face the toughest possible punishment. While defending the government's swift action in the NEET-UG paper leak case, he also stressed the need to "win the trust of the youth." According to sources, Modi said no injustice should be done to students and described the issue as one concerning the nation rather than political partisanship. “It is easy to mislead the youth but difficult to show them the right path,” he was quoted as saying. A source added that the Prime Minister remarked that “some have ganged up to mislead them,” in an apparent reference to Opposition parties. The sources said that the Prime Minister urged NDA MPs to reach out to students and assured them that all those involved in the paper leak racket would be brought to justice. He also said paper leaks were not merely a Centre-versus-state issue and called for a foolproof system to prevent such incidents across the country. Speaking to the media, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said the PM highlighted the government’s prompt response after reports Parliament: Both Houses adjourned for second consecutive day India soon to get first dengue vaccine for people aged 4-60 years STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 21 July Both Houses of Parliament—the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha—were adjourned for the second consecutive day on Tuesday amid unrelenting protests by Opposition MPs. After re p e ate d adjournments, both Houses were adjourned for the day. The proceedings today were also marked by continued uproar and sloganeering, w i t h O p p o s i t i o n M Ps demanding discussions on the NEET paper leak issue and the police crackdown on the Cockroach Janata Party-led protest on Monday. Ahead of the day's session, Leader of the Opposition Wednesday, 22 July 2026 SPORTS WORLD BUSINESS | Rahul Gandhi, along with several Opposition MPs, met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, urging him to allow a discussion in the House on the “brutality unleashed” on students and the government’s “c omplete lack of a c c o u n t a b i l i ty ” f o r t h e examination crisis. O p p o s i t i o n M Ps a l s o protested outside the premises, raising slogans against the police crackdown on CJP protesters on Monday. With the deadlock showing no signs of easing, Parliament is expected to witness further disruptions in the coming sittings unless the government and the Opposition reach a consensus on the demand for a discussion on the issues. of the leak surfaced, noting that 13 accused had been arrested and jailed. To safeguard students' interests, he said, the NEET re-examination was conducted without delay, and the results declared promptly. The Prime Minister also addressed concerns raised by farmers protesting the proposed India-US trade deal, according to sources. As farmers from Punjab, Haryana and several other states marched towards Delhi for a Kisan Mahapanchayat, PM Modi assured the farming community that the government remained fully committed to protecting their interests. According to sources, the PM said that any Free Trade Agreement would prioritise farmers’ welfare while advancing the country's broader economic interests. Quoting the PM, Rijiju said farmers' welfare remained the government's top priority and that trade agreements would safeguard as well as strengthen their interests. Messi breaks silence after World Cup final heartbreak Page 16 Congress leaders detained outside PM’s residence STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 21 July The political confrontation over alleged irregularities in competitive examinations escalated dramatically on Tuesday when Delhi Police detained Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, party president Mallikarjun Kharge, general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several other senior opposition leaders during a sit-in protest near Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi. The leaders were detained along with several Congress Members of Parliament and party workers after they refused to disperse from the high-security zone, where they had marched demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the alleged police crackdown on students protesting against examination irregularities. The Congress leadership also reiterated its long-standing demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Adopt zero tolerance on power theft: CM Suvendu to officials STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 21 July New Delhi, 21 July India has approved its first vaccine for the prevention of dengue, with the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) granting marketing authorisation to Japanese drugmaker Takeda for its two-dose dengue vaccine, Qdenga, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday. The vaccine, manufactured by Takeda GmbH, Germany, has been approved for preventing dengue in individuals aged between four and 60 years. India continues to battle recurrent dengue outbreaks, with the disease now endemic across much of the country. holding him accountable for the alleged failures in the conduct of national competitive examinations, including the NEET-UG controversy. The demonstration marked a significant escalation in the Congress' campaign against the Centre, coming a day after police action against students participating in the "Chalo Sansad" march in Delhi. As the Congress leaders attempted to march towards the Prime Minister's residence, they were stopped by multiple layers of barricades and a heavy deployment of Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel around Lok Kalyan Marg. After staging a sit-in and raising slogans against the government, Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and several other MPs and party workers were escorted into waiting police buses as part of a security operation to clear the protest site. Several senior Congress leaders, including party general secretary K C Venugopal, media and publicity department chairman Pawan Khera, Punjab state president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, MP Deepender Singh Hooda, Karnataka CM D K Shivakumar among others, took part in the protests, underscoring the party's decision to combine parliamentary pressure with mass mobilisation during the Monsoon Session. During the sit-in, Union Minister Jitendra Singh met Rahul Gandhi and other Congress leaders outside the Prime Minister's residence. The interaction took place amid heightened political tensions, with the Congress leadership reiterating its demand that Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resign and urging the government to agree to a full discussion in Parliament on alleged examination irregularities and the treatment of student protesters. West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday ordered the officials to adopt a zero-tolerance approach towards power theft and recover outstanding arrears from industrial and commercial consumers. Adhikari, who has kept the power portfolio with himself, held a review meeting with senior departmental officials at Vidyut Bhavan in Salt Lake during the day. The Chief Minister told officials to go "all out and adopt a zero tolerance on hooking” and asked them not to “fall for any political interference in department proceedings." "No MLA, MP or ruling BJP leader will be allowed to influence departmental decisions," Adhikari said. "Zero political intervention" and strict action against illegal power connections were among the key instructions issued by the Chief Minister, who asked officials to disconnect illegal connections and recover pending electricity dues without succumbing to political pressure. Adhikari cited two instances of power connections being disconnected at establishments linked to influential political figures for non-payment of dues after his government took over. He said one of the cases involved a cashew processing factory in East Midnapore district, while the other one was a private educational institution in Malda district. According to Adhikari, some dues were recovered after the connections were disconnected. He alleged that officials had faced pressure when they attempted to act against the establishments, claiming that political leaders had intervened and asked officials to withdraw. He directed the department not to listen to such pressure and to proceed with the recovery of outstanding dues. The chief minister, however, urged officials to adopt a more compassionate approach towards domestic consumers facing genuine financial hardship, particularly families hit by serious illnesses. He said consumers' payment history should be examined and notices issued before disconnection, with cases involving genuine hardship handled with understanding. Adhikari also called for a gradual expansion of smart metres, but said the rollout should be accompanied by an effective grievance redressal mechanism, dedicated helpline and online complaint system. The West Bengal government also launched the ‘Bidyut Prahari’ mobile app, that will enable citizens to report electricity theft, illegal hooking and hazardous power infrastructure directly to the state power distribution company. Govt conveys displeasure to Russia over attack on commercial vessel which left four Indians dead A different 21 July as split Trinamul rewrites Martyrs’Day in Kolkata STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 21 July New Delhi, 21 July India on Tuesday conveyed to Russia its strong concern over the missile attack on commercial vessel MV Golden Leo when it was departing the port of Odesa in Ukraine in which at least four Indian nationals were killed. “Today Russian Chargé d’Affaires, Mr. Vladimir Ladanov, was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs. The Ministry conveyed India's grave concerns and unequivocal condemnation of the attack on the commercial vessel MV Golden Leo on 19 July, which resulted in the tragic loss of four Indian lives, emphasising that such AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THERE WERE 17 CREW MEMBERS ON BOARD, INCLUDING 5 INDIAN NATIONALS. WHILE INDIAN NATIONALS LOST THEIR LIVES, ONE IS HOSPITALISED IN A CRITICAL CONDITION. attacks undermine the safety, security, and stability of international maritime commerce,’’ the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. The Russian Chargé d’Affaires was asked to convey India’s strong concerns to his authorities that the targeting of commercial shipping and the resulting loss of innocent civilian lives are unacceptable and must be avoided, the MEA added. At the time of the incident, there were 17 crew members on board, including 5 Indian nationals. While Indian nationals lost their lives, one is hospitalised in a critical condition. “Our Mission in Ukraine is closely monitoring the situation and is making every effort to extend all possible assistance to those affected. We extend our de ep est condolences to the families of the deceased Indian nationals and wish the injured Indian national a speedy and full re cover y,” the MEA added. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE The familiar sea of people that traditionally engulfs central Kolkata every 21 July was missing this year as the split in the Trinamul Congress reshaped the party's flagship Martyrs' Day observance. Instead of one massive mobilisation, the city witnessed three separate political programmes — Mamata Banerjee's "Kalighat Trinamul" rally near Birla Planetarium, the Ritabrata Banerjee-led breakaway Trinamool's parallel gathering at Mayo Road, and the Congress programme in front of Shaheed Minar. While Mamata's meeting drew a sizeable gathering, the sparse turnout at Mayo Road underlined that the former chief minister continues to remain the principal crowd-puller in the Trinamul despite the organisational split. The changed political landscape was reflected not only in the divided stages but also on the city's streets. Unlike previous years, central Kolkata did not witness the massive influx of supporters, prolonged traffic snarls or large-scale disruption to normal life. Public transport operated largely without interruption, office -goers faced little inconvenience and business districts functioned almost normally. Addressing the rally near the planetarium, Mamata Banerjee lashed out against the BJP, saying “People, from Delhi to Kolkata, have witnessed fear and intimidation become political tools. If they cannot win through democratic norms, they try to silence voices through threats”. Saluting her loyalists for joining the rally “despite every challenge”, Banerjee said she would continue to stand with the people and start visiting the districts soon. Addressing the parallel rally at the Gandhi statue on Mayo Road, rebel Trinamul leader Ritabrata Banerjee launched a blistering attack on the Mamata Banerjee camp over the manner in which July 21 had been observed over the years. "Martyrs' Day is not a reality show or a catwalk," he said without naming the Kalighat camp, and demanded a white paper on the party's finances, besides promising that if the party's funds were brought under his camp's control, every martyr's family would receive monthly assistance of Rs 10,000. Meanwhile, at the nearby Congress rally, the former Leader of the party in the Lok Sabha Adhir Chowdhury lambasted Mamata Banerjee for “massively weakening the Congress”, and slapping false cases against its workers. He urged Congress workers in the state to fight against both the TMC and the BJP. (See Page 3)