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 | SPORTS SATURDAY INTERVIEW ‘Democracy is above royalty’ WORLD EDITORIAL Broken chain Trump administration imposes new tariffs Page 7 Page 6 BRIEFLY Bangladesh President Md Shahabuddin resigns: Dhaka: Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin has tendered his resignation citing health complications, ending his term prematurely. “I am suffering from various health complications,” Shahabuddin told The Daily Star when asked about his decision. “I have nothing more to add at this moment.” According to The Daily Star, officials left Bangabhaban carrying the president’s resignation letter to parliament shortly after the announcement. The resignation came in the wake of media reports saying that Shahabuddin spoke by telephone to the currently-banned Awami League leader and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during a visit to London for medical treatment in May. Page 9 New Delhi, 24 July Sonam Wangchuk ended his 26- day hunger strike on Thursday night after receiving assurances from the BJP-led government, declaring, “End of hunger... beginning of accountability.” The activist said that the government had agreed to hold a parliamentary discussion on accountability and reforms in the national examination system, assured compensation for the families of students who died by suicide following the recent NEET paper leak controversy and promised that no cases would be registered against students and youth who participated in peaceful protests. Regarding the demand for Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation, Mr Wangchuk said he chose to end his fast to continue the larger fight while protecting students from legal action and ensuring their voices are heard after breaking his fast in the presence of Union Ministers J P Nadda and Jitendra Singh, following a day of intense negotiations with the government. Although Mr Wangchuk and the Cockroach Janta Party share the broader goal of examination reforms and government accountability, his decision to end the fast without first securing Mr Pradhan’s resignation surprised many. It also renewed discussion over his decision to join the CJP-led protest ~ a campaign launched by the satirical movement’s founder Abhijeet Confident India targets series victory against Zimbabwe Page 12 Page 9 Cabinet clears Bill imposing tougher paper leak penalties STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 24 July T he Union Cabinet on Friday approved a draft bill proposing significantly stricter punishments for examination paper leaks as the Centre seeks to restore public confidence in the country’s examination system following a series of controversies over competitive examinations. As per media reports, the proposed legislation provides for a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 10 crore. It also seeks to increase the minimum imprisonment for individuals convicted in paper leak cases from the current three years to five years. Government sources said the legislation, cleared by the Cabinet, is likely to be introduced in Parliament next week. The proposed law also provides for faster prosecution of offenders through mecha- Will ensure students’ voices are heard: Sonam Wangchuk after ending his 26-day fast VIBHA SHARMA Saturday, 25 July 2026 Dipke in the wake of the NEET-UG paper leak. After weeks of digital campaigns and small demonstrations, the group set up a permanent protest site at Jantar Mantar but initially struggled to attract widespread public attention. Mr Wangchuk’s arrival transformed the movement. Supporters describe his hunger strike as a strategic alignment with students seeking accountability and systemic reforms. As an education reformer, Mr Wangchuk said he was moved by the plight of millions of students affected by recurring examination irregularities. Before his participation, the agitation was largely a youthled, social media- driven campaign. His presence gave it national visibility and significantly increased pressure on the government. According to Mr Wangchuk, his foremost priority was ensuring that students were not subjected to police action. He said the Centre provided written assurance that peaceful protesters would not face FIRs or criminal cases and agreed to a formal parliamentary debate on examination accountability. However, his decision also appeared to be at odds with the CJP movement. Welcoming Mr Wangchuk’s decision to end fast and expressing relief over his health, the CJP maintained that its principal demand ~ the resignation of Mr Pradhan ~ remains unchanged. Mr Wangchuk, too, clarified that he has ended only his personal fast and not the broader movement. People continue to participate in the Cockroach Janta Party’s protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged examination irregularities on Friday. SUBRATA DUTTA nisms such as fast-track courts, reflecting the government’s effort to ensure swift justice and create a stronger deterrent against organised examination fraud. The Cabinet decision came hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the government would strengthen the legal framework against paper leaks and that a draft bill would be considered by the Cabinet before being brought before Parliament during the ongoing Monsoon Session. In a post on social media platform X on Thursday night, the Prime Minister had said: “More strict actions against paper leaks to come in tomorrow’s Cabinet!” In a separate message, Mr Modi described examination paper leaks as a matter of deep concern for students and asserted that protecting the future of the country’s youth remained the government’s highest priority. “Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth! We have decided to set up fast-track courts to ensure swift and stringent punishment for those involved in paper leaks. Have directed the concerned authorities and officials to take all necessary steps in this regard. This continues our series of steps for safeguarding the interests of students,” he said. The Prime Minister added: “Those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared.” Besides enhancing punishments, the proposed law is expected to streamline investigations and trials through fast-track judicial mechanisms to ensure quicker convictions. Govt agreed in principle to two demands, sought time on Pradhan’s resignation, says CJP STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 24 July The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Friday claimed that the government agreed in principle to two of its key demands during talks over the ongoing student protests but sought more time to decide on the demand for the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The CJP later in the day warned of a much larger nationwide movement if Mr Pradhan does not resign by Saturday. The meeting between government representatives and the CJP was held at the Constitution Club here at around 12 p.m. The government side included Union Health Minister J P Nadda and the Minister of State in the PMO, Jitendra Singh, while the CJP delegation included its spokesperson Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka. Speaking after the meeting, Mr Nadda said the discussions covered three principal demands and five suggestions related to examination reforms. “The meeting lasted almost two hours. They had three main demands and five reform suggestions for exams. We told them we will meet again tomorrow afternoon to discuss what we decided within the government,” he added. Mr Ranka said the government sought time until 2 p.m. on Saturday to respond to the demand for Pradhan’s resignation. “The government has asked for time till tomorrow afternoon on our demand for Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation. We hope the government will remove him soon,” he added. He further said that the Centre conveyed in-principle approval to two other demands ~ compensation for the families of NEET aspirants who allegedly died by suicide and withdrawal of FIRs and legal cases registered against protesting students. SC seeks Centre’s response on NEET paper leak curbs, CBT plan PARMOD KUMAR New Delhi, 24 July Taking a stern view of recurring question paper leaks in the National Eligibility-cumEntrance Test (NEET), the Supreme Court on Friday sought a comprehensive response from the Central government on the steps taken to prevent future leaks, as well as its stand on suggestions to shift the examination to a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format. Observing that it could not allow the issue to continue unabated, the Court said it would closely monitor the matter and go the extra mile to ensure that a foolproof institutional mechanism is put in place to prevent future paper leaks. A Bench comprising Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Justice Alok Aradhe made it clear that it was looking beyond ad hoc measures and was focused on evolving permanent systemic safeguards. “We will monitor this. We will take that extra mile to ensure that things are put in place,” the Bench observed. Responding to the Court’s concerns, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that the government was treating the issue with the utmost seriousness. “The government is going ten extra miles. Children’s problems have to be addressed. Everything is being done under the supervision of the highest executive level,” Mr Mehta said. The Court, however, emphasised that temporary responses were no substitute for institutional reforms, observing that deploying extraordinary measures after every incident could not become the norm. Supreme Court to hear pleas on police excesses on 27 July: Kolkata: The Supreme Court on Friday said it will hear on 27 July two separate petitions alleging police excesses on students protesting NEET paper leak and other exam irregularities. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana agreed to hear the PILs after the matter was mentioned before it. The CJI said the pleas would be listed for hearing on 27 July. The CJI also took exception to what he termed as false reporting by the media of his remarks on the mentioning of a plea a day after the police crackdown on agitating students at Jantar Mantar and clarified that no petition had been filed and that there was only a representation. Stating that there was no petition but only a representation, Chief Justice Surya Kant said in open court: “Some person mentioned it. Media has falsely reported that I refused to list the matter. It was only a representation and people started recklessly reporting it. I checked with the registry, and not a paper was filed.” It noted that a permanent mechanism was required to ensure such incidents do not recur and asked the Centre to place before it the entire process, from the printing of Bill to grant ‘Vande Mataram’ equal legal protection as national anthem introduced in RS STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 24 July The Rajya Sabha on Friday introduced The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, seeking to make the intentional obstruction of or disturbance during the singing of the national song Vande Mataram a criminal offence and place it on the same statutory footing as the National Anthem under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. The Bill was introduced by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai (photo) through a voice vote amid noisy scenes in the Upper House after he moved for leave to introduce the legislation. The introduction took place despite protests from Opposition members, who have argued that the proposed law raises concerns about constitutional freedoms and the scope of criminalising conduct related to expressions of patriotism. The proposed amendment seeks to address what the government describes as a long-standing gap in the 1971 Act, which currently provides penal protection against disrespect to national symbols such as the National Flag, the Constitution and the National Anthem but does not specifically extend similar protection to the national song Vande Mataram. According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons accompanying the Bill, the legislation aims to fulfil the vision articulated by Constituent Assembly President Dr Rajendra Prasad on 24 January 1950, when he stated that Vande Mataram “shall be honoured equally with Jana Gana Mana and shall have equal status with it.” The Bill proposes substituting Section 3 of the 1971 Act so that both the National Anthem and the National Song receive identical legal protection. It provides that any person who intentionally prevents the singing of either the National Anthem or the National Song, or causes disturbance to an assembly engaged in such singing, shall be guilty of an offence punishable with imprisonment for a term extending up to three years, a fine, or both. The proposed legislation also incorporates a historical reference to Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s composition of Vande Mataram in 1875, later published in his novel Anandamath in 1882, noting its role in inspiring India's freedom movement and generations of freedom fighters. The government has maintained that the amendment is intended to provide explicit statutory recognition and protection to the national song in line with its historical significance and constitutional status. question papers until they reach candidates. The Bench specifically directed the government to file a comprehensive affidavit on the feasibility of shifting NEET to a CBT format, including issues relating to data transfer, cybersecurity, data protection and the overall technological framework. It observed that the exercise was aimed at institutionalising the examination process so that the system could move beyond the recurring cycle of paper leaks. The Solicitor General informed the Court that the Centre would shortly place a holistic response on record detailing the safeguards put in place. He also submitted that the recommendations of the Radhakrishnan Committee, constituted after the alleged NEET-UG 2024 paper leak, had been fully accepted. The matter was adjourned to next week. ‘There are Chinese projects on territories in J&K that belong to India,’ says MEA AGENCIES New Delhi, 24 July The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday accused China of infringing upon India’s sovereignty, asserting that Beijing is “illegally occupying” Indian territories in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, while raising firm objections against Chinese projects in these regions. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal underlined New Delhi’s consistent position regarding territorial integrity, reiterating that India has consistently raised sovereignty concerns with Beijing. “EAM said that when it comes to sovereignty issues, it is actually India that should be and is raising them. India does not violate China’s sovereignty in any manner and has been consistent,” Jaiswal stated. He further pointed to Beijing’s ongoing illegal presence and unilateral infrastructure initiatives in Indian territory. “But China has been in illegal occupation of Indian territories in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh since 1963, where India’s right is officially acknowledged even by China. There are Chinese projects on territories in Jammu and Kashmir that belong to India, and we object to that,” Jaiswal added. The strong statements from New Delhi came a day after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held discussions with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Manila. According to a readout released by the Chinese foreign ministry, Wang asserted that previous bilateral engagements between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kazan and Tianjin had “guided China-India relations onto the right track of improvement and development.”