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 | Friday, 31 July 2026 SPORTS WORLD Cap 278 signing off: Ajinkya Rahane EDITORIAL US, Iran trade missile barrages as hopes dim for a quick resolution PERSPECTIVE Beyond relief Page 10 Paradox of Chinese power Page 7 Page 6 Parliament passes anti-paper leak Bill, headed to President STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 30 July P arliament on Thursday passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, with the Rajya Sabha also clearing the legislation by voice vote amid a walkout by some Opposition parties, including the Congress. The Opposition’s walkout took place as Union Health Minister JP Nadda was getting up to reply to the nearly eight-hour-long debate in the House on the Bill, causing him to brand it “highly irresponsible behaviour”. “I condemn the Opposition's walkout and strongly censure it. The manner in which they have exposed themselves should be seen and understood by the entire country,” he said “I had said this morning itself that the Opposition has Govt defends ethanol blends: New Delhi: The government on Thursday said E20 offers a “higher-octane rating, superior anti-knock characteristics, cleaner combustion and smoother engine performance,” but also admitted a 2-6 per cent “reduction in fuel efficiency in certain E10-designed vehicles”. More than 20 crore two-wheelers and over 3 crore petrol cars have been operating on ethanolblended fuel without any verified evidence of widespread engine failure or vehicle breakdown attributable to ethanol blending, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari told the Lok Sabha. He also said that studies by government agencies indicate that the “reduction in fuel efficiency in certain E10-designed vehicles is limited to about 2-6 per cent,” adding that “the same is influenced by several factors, including driving conditions, driving habits and vehicle maintenance.” LS passes Bill to criminalise insults to Vande Mataram amid Oppn protests: New Delhi: The Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which criminalises insults to the national song Vande Mataram, despite persistent and vociferous protests by Opposition members that disrupted the House multiple times throughout the day. The Bill was approved by a voice vote amid continuous sloganeering and demands for discussions from Opposition MPs, who raised various political and policy-related issues. Following the passage of the Bill, the House adjourned until 11 a.m. on Friday. become issue-less, and today, through its conduct and actions, it has proved that. The Opposition no longer has any issue to raise. The discussion went on for nearly eight hours, and every member was given a full opportunity to speak. The Treasury Benches listened to every point with sensitivity. However, when the minister rose to reply, the Opposition behaved irresponsibly by walking out, that is why I say they have no interest in the discussion,” Mr Nadda said. Minister of State Jitendra Singh said the Opposition hasn’t been able to authenticate the number of paper leaks which they claimed to have happened since 2014 and listed the efforts by the BJP-led NDA to prevent such incidents and reform the education system in the country. “I would like to say that we brought this Bill with all humility. I have taken very careful note of each and every word that has been said. As I said at the very beginning, we do not stand on prestige, we have come here with the expectation that we would benefit from healthy, constructive suggestions. But, as the Leader of the House, JP Nadda ji, has already mentioned, it is unfortunate that many of the honourable members who were most vociferous in raising objections chose to walk out Pellet guns permitted only under exceptional circumstances: SC PARMOD KUMAR New Delhi, 30 July Observing that pellet guns are permitted only in exceptional circumstances, the Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Delhi government to ensure that protesters injured during the 20 July police crackdown at Jantar Mantar, including those who allegedly suffered pellet gun injuries, receive the necessary medical treatment. A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohan observed that the use of pellet guns is allowed only in exceptional circumstances and cannot be termed as illegal as the rules authorising their use are there. “Police rules allow the use in exceptional circumstances unless you challenge the rules itself. One of the steps of graded approach is use of pellet guns,” Justice Bagchi observed. “In light of alleged excessive use, your prayer should be that the court lays down a protocol regarding the use,” added CJI Kant. “The Government of Delhi shall provide medical treatment to the injured,” the Court said in its order. The observations came while the Court was hearing a petition filed by Yashovardhan Azad, former Special Director of the Intelligence Bureau and former Central Information Commissioner under the Right to Information Act. Mr Azad has sought a ban on the use of pellet guns and wholly or partly metallic kinetic projectiles, including pellets fired from pump-action rifles or projectile action guns (PAG), for dispersing protesters and other civilian assemblies. He has also sought compensation for victims of the 20 July police crackdown on students protesting at Jantar Mantar and demanding the resignation of the then Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET-UG 2026 question paper leak. On 27 July, while hearing a batch of petitions, the Supreme Court had observed that the right to hold peaceful protests is guaranteed under the Constitution and that police excesses against peaceful demonstrators cannot be justified merely because there is an agitation. The Court had also called for a uniform protocol to regulate peaceful protests across the country. How a routine road stop led to one of Bengal’s largest seizures of illicit wealth STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Birbhum, 30 July It was a routine nakabandi and vehicle checking operation by Birbhum police that led to the state’s largest wealth seizure since the 2022 Enforcement Directorate raid on Partha and Arpita Chatterjee. According to the final seizure list, authorities confiscated Rs 28.5 crore in cash and 15 kilograms of 24-carat gold bars and biscuits valued at Rs 21.5 crore from the Deucha village residence of Minar Page 12 Mondal, a retired driver and close relative of TMC leader Anubrata Mondal’s aide Tulu Mondal, during a 20-hour operation that began late on Tuesday night. What set things in motion was the interception by Mohammad Bazar police of a suspicious vehicle carrying seven passengers during a routine vehicle checking operation in Deucha village. When the passengers’ explanations for travelling at night failed to convince, police searched them and recovered illegal firearms, leading to their arrest. The men ~ Arjun Lohar, Sheikh Giasuddin, Sheikh Farzudni, Sheikh Firoz Ahmed, Abhinabha Vatsa, Ravi Kumar Gupta, and Pulak Saha ~ were booked under the Arms Act and for attempted dacoity. During interrogation, the seven revealed plans to loot a “hidden treasure” in Deucha village. Local police immediately alerted their superiors. Acting on instructions, informants were deployed to gather intelligence. Following their feedback, Birbhum district police, CID, and Mohammad Bazar police jointly launched a raid after midnight. The marathon 20-hour search operation led to the seizure of nearly Rs 50 crore in cash and gold. The house owner, Minar Mondal, was arrested at the scene, and the property was sealed. Superintendent of Police Vidit Raj Bhundesh supervised the entire operation. The raid was spearheaded by Additional Superintendent of Police Nilesh Gaikwad and Deputy Superintendent of Police (Law & Order) Kunal Mukherjee. Search teams uncovered the hidden wealth inside four cupboards. Police had to procure weighing machines and iron trunks from the local market given the scale of the discovery. To ensure transparency, two local residents, including a woman, were brought in to witness the counting process. Minar Mondal, the property owner, is a retired driver of the North Bengal State Transport Corporation (NBSTC) and a close relative of TMC leader Anubrata Mondal’s aide, Tulu Mondal. Police said that Minar and Tulu Mondal, alias Mohammed Nazibul, jointly ran a business empire involving stone quarries, crushers, sand dealerships, and rice mills. when it was time for their issues and points to be responded to,” he added. The Bill will now be sent to President Droupadi Murmu for assent. Earlier Congress President and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, mounted a blistering attack on the government during the debate, demanding the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, whom he held accountable for the police crackdown on students protesting the NEET paper leak issue. Mr Kharge also described the proposed amendments in the new Bill as “hogwash”, and argued that the legislation merely prescribes harsher punishments after examination leaks occur while failing to address the systemic weaknesses that allow such irregularities to take place in the first place. PM Modi chairs fourth CCS meeting on West Asia conflict STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 30 July Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday chaired the fourth special meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security to review the evolving situation arising from the ongoing conflict in West Asia. He directed the government to adopt a unified and coordinated approach to safeguard Indian citizens, the diaspora, energy security and essential supplies. The meeting reviewed the measures taken by various ministries and departments in response to the geopolitical crisis, with the Prime Minister calling for regular monitoring of developments to ensure the swift implementation of steps necessary to protect national interests. According to an official statement, the Cabinet Secretary briefed the CCS on the prevailing geopolitical situation and outlined the initiatives undertaken to maintain adequate supplies of petroleum Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a special meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in New Delhi on 1 April 2026, to review the impact of the ongoing West Asia conflict, with a focus on energy security, LPG and PNG supplies, and fertiliser availability. AGENCIES products, including LNG, LPG and fertilisers. The committee also assessed fertiliser requirements for the forthcoming Rabi season and reviewed alternate sources of procurement in view of the conflict. The Prime Minister directed that all measures be taken for ensuring uninterrupted supply of fertilisers. The meeting also focused on the safety and welfare of Indian seafarers serving on domestic as well as foreign- flagged vessels operating in conflict zones. Mr Modi directed officials to establish “a mechanism to provide timely information, emergency assistance and counselling to seafarers and their families." Reiterating the government's commitment to protecting Indians overseas, the Prime Minister said: “All efforts must be made to safeguard the citizens as well as the Indian Diaspora from the impact of this conflict.”