TUESDAY 20 MAY 2025 www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 Pages 16 |` 5.00|LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR P6 SENSEX 82,059.42 q271.17 WEATHER Generally cloudy sky. Thunderstorm with light to moderate rain very likely. RAINFALL: 00.0 mm Min. 59% NIFTY 24,945.45 q74.35 ` vs $ 85.43 P11 GOLD `96,710 He clarified that Pakistan had reached out to India for a ceasefire after the precision strikes by the Indian armed forces hit Pak military installations, including a China-made missile defence system in Lahore and the strategically important Nur Khan air base. NEW DELHI, 19 MAY Max: 35.0˚C (-0.8) Min: 26.4˚C (-0.3) SUN SETS 18:11 hrs MOON SETS 10:16 hrs New Moon on 27 May THUMBNAILS A doe feeds milk to her babies inside their enclosure at Bikaner zoo, on Monday. nANI ED arrests former UCO Bank chairman in connection with bank fraud probe: The ED has arrested Subodh Kumar Goel, former chairman & MD of UCO Bank, in connection with a bank fraud probe, the investigation agency said on Monday. 'Russia is ready to work to end fighting in Ukraine': Moscow is ready to work toward ending the fighting in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday following a two-hour phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump. T he US had no role to play in clinching a ceasefire between India and Pakistan and that the plea had come from Pakistan's Director-General of Military Operations to his counterpart in Delhi, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri told a parliamentary panel on Monday on crossborder security challenges post Operation Sindoor, sources said. The Foreign Secretary appeared before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, headed by Congress Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor, to provide a comprehensive briefing on the Operation Sindoor and recent tensions between India and Pakistan. He clarified that Pakistan had reached out to India for a ceasefire after the precision strikes by the Indian armed forces hit Pak military installations, including a China-made missile defence system in Lahore and the strategically important Nur Khan air base. Foreign Secretary's clarifications that the US had no role in brokering India-Pak ceasefire assumes added significance as it comes amid persistent opposition parties' demand from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come clean on the repeated claims being bragged by US President Donald Trump that it was the US that brokered the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Speaking at the US-Saudi Arabia Investment Forum, Donald Trump had last Wednesday claimed that he persuaded both India and Pakistan to "trade goods, not nuclear missiles." Crediting trade diplomacy to be the crux of the efforts for easing tensions, Mr Trump also praised leaders of both countries as “smart and strong." Seeking clarification from the government, the Congress had questioned: “What do the typically loquacious PM and EAM have to say about this revelation? Did they mortgage India’s security interests in the face of US pressure.” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh had questioned in a post on social media handle X: “Americi Papa Ne War Rukwaa Di Kya? (Has the American Dad got the war stopped?)” However, the Ministry of External Affairs has since denied that trade played any part and the discussions only focused on the military situation. Last Tuesday the Congress had also alleged that the Prime Minister had “deeply disappointed the nation” as he did Cash at judge’s home: VP Dhankhar frowns over non-registration of FIR AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 19 MAY Training his guns on the judiciary over perceived wrongdoings hinted by the ‘cash at judge’s house’ episode, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday batted for greater accountability in democracy and the need for “the truth to come out” with the registration of an FIR in the matter. Speaking at the release of the book ‘The Constitution We Adopted (With Art Work),’ Dhankhar hit out at non-registration of an FIR even after burnt notes were recovered from a judge’s home in Lutyens’ Delhi. “We have the rule of law in our country and the criminal justice system, which requires an FIR. The rule of law is the very foundation of society,” he said. Referring to the ‘cash at judge’s house’, he said he has consciously held the fort on the issue as “every person in the country is waiting… they want nothing but the absolute truth to come out”. Talking about an individual’s right to innocence till proven guilty, the VP said, “I am casting no aspersions, but all I am saying is that when it comes to national interest, we cannot divide in compartments as insiders or outsiders.” He was talking about the episode involving Delhi High Court’s Justice Yashwant Varma, who had said the burnt money recovered from his official residence in March in Delhi did not belong either to him or members of his family. Justice Varma has since been shifted to the Allahabad High Court. During the book release event, on the one hand, the VP targeted the judiciary for perceived lack of accountability, on the other, he expressed solidarity with the head of the judiciary, Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai. He hailed the CJI for reminding officials, representing the Executive, during an event on Sunday that adherence to protocol is indispensable and reiterating the equal importance of the three pillars of democracy - Judiciary, Legislature, and Executive. Top court raps minister for Colonel Qureshi remark STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 19 MAY The Supreme Court on Monday came down heavily on Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah for his "filthy, crass and shameful" remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who recently briefed the media following Operation Sindoor. The Court ordered the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the FIR registered against him. Deriding Minister Shah’s comments and observing, “The nation is ashamed of you,” a bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh directed the Madhya Pradesh Director General of Police to constitute the SIT by May 20. The team must comprise three senior IPS officers of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, none of whom should be natives of the state. The Court further directed that at least one officer must be a woman, and that the SIT must be headed by an officer not below the rank of Inspector General (IG) or Director General of Police (DGP). While ordering the formation P16 SILVER `98,000 US had no role in India-Pak ceasefire: Misri to parl panel STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE TEMPERATURE SUN RISES 04:55 hrs MOON RISES 23:49 hrs P5 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 65.06 Centre cannot decide the name unilaterally: CM Mamata Banerjee The Foreign Secy appeared before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 92% BIDEN HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED RR FACE CSK IN WITH AGGRESSIVE PROSTATE BATTLE OF LAGGARDS CANCER EAM HOLDS TALKS ON INDIA-EU TIES WITH STRATEGIC EXPERTS WATER RELEASE FOR CAUVERY DELTA FROM METTUR RESERVOIR of the SIT, the Court remarked that this is a “litmus test” and added, “We want the State to submit the SIT report to us. We will maintain a very close watch.” Although the Court stayed Shah’s arrest for now, it emphasized that he must join and cooperate with the investigation. The bench clarified it would not monitor the probe directly but stated it would keep a close watch, directing the SIT to submit a status report by May 28. Rejecting Shah’s public apology as “insincere,” Justice Surya Kant, presiding over the bench, stated: “The nation is ashamed of you. Redemption is yours to seek. What kind of apology is this? Sometimes people apologise to wriggle out of legal liabilities. Sometimes they shed crocodile tears. What kind of apology is yours?” The bench continued: “What prevented you from making a sincere attempt? We don't require your apology. We know how to deal with it as per the law. You have said, ‘if somebody is hurt’… You are not even ready to take responsibility.” Justice Kant further noted that as a seasoned politician and public functionary, Shah ought to have been more mindful of his words: “You made crass comments thoughtlessly. Sentiments of the people were ruthlessly hurt. You are fully exposed to the public. We don't require your apology. We know how to deal with it as per law.” In a simultaneous and scathing indictment of the state machinery, the Court also questioned the lack of urgency shown by the police and the initial dilution of the FIR: “What have you done? When the High Court had to intervene and rewrite your FIR, what have you done? Has it been examined whether any cognisable offence is made out? People expect state action to be fair. The High Court did its duty; they thought suo motu action was needed… You should have done something more by now.” On May 14, the Madhya Pradesh High Court, taking suo motu cognisance, directed the police to register an FIR against Shah for his remarks. On May 15, the High Court slammed the police, calling the FIR a “gross subterfuge,” and said it would monitor the case without interfering in the investigation. On May 19, the Supreme Court rejected Shah’s apology and constituted the SIT, directing it to report back by May 28. not clarify the truth behind the US President's claim that it was the US that brokered the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Claiming that the Prime Minister in his address to the nation last Monday “did not clarify so many things for which the country was waiting to know,” senior party leader and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, had also alleged: “The government has lost both, the moral courage and moral authority… …. there was shock and surprise across the country over the sudden ceasefire which too was announced by the US President.” Mr Misri also pointed out that the allegations against External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar of informing Pakistan before launching an airstrike were misrepresentations of facts and that he has been misquoted. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 19 MAY West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday expressed her sympathy for the teachers affected by recent developments but emphasized that she would abide by the court’s decision. “I have deep sympathy for the teachers, but we have to follow the law. We have filed a review petition, but we cannot ignore the court's orders. Those who caused the job losses are now instigating others. The jobs were not lost because of us. We expect a minimum level of courtesy and dignity from teachers; they should work for the betterment of society,” said the Chief Minister, before departing for North Bengal from Kolkata airport. In relation to foreign policy matters, Banerjee clarified that her party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), supports the central government's stance on external affairs but opposes any unilateral decisions. She denied that her party had boycotted the multiparty diplomatic mission aimed at countering Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. “They (the Centre) cannot decide the name on their own. If they make a request to the parent party, the party will then decide the representative. That is the norm; that is the system. We support the Central Government’s external affairs policy and stand with them completely,” said Banerjee, commenting on the inclusion of TMC MP Yusuf Pathan in the all-party delegation visiting key partner countries to highlight India’s ongoing fight against terrorism and Operation Sindoor. Regarding the Supreme Court’s recent order directing the state government to immediately clear 25 percent of the dearness allowance dues owed to state employees, CM said: “I will not comment on a matter that is sub judice. However, I will act in accordance with legal procedures. I generally refrain from speaking on matters that are pending in court.”