HEART OF THE MATTER WHEN ICE ARRIVED IN CALCUTTA 25 MAY 2025 GT MEET CSK, EYE TOP-TWO FINISH www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 PAGE 16 SINCE 1818 PAGES 16 |` 5.00 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR WEATHER PARTLY CLOUDY SKY. POSSIBILITY OF VERY LIGHT TO LIGHT RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS TEMPORARILY REACHING TO 50 KMPH DURING THUNDERSTORM. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 38 AND 28 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: 000.0 Mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 71 % TEMPERATURE Max: 34.7°C (-5.5) SUN RISES 05:26 hrs MOON RISES 04:16 hrs Min. 49 % Min: 20.8 °C (-5.9) SUN SETS 19:11 hrs MOON SETS 17:21 hrs THUMBNAILS Tea garden workers pluck fresh tea leaves from a tea garden at Durgabari Tea Estate in Agartala on Friday. nANI X faces outage, users unable to access platform: Elon Musk-owned X (formerly Twitter) suffered a major outage with users across India and some other countries reporting difficulties in accessing the social media platform, according to Downdetector.com. Many users, attempting to use the microblogging platform, came across notification that read: "Cannot retrieve posts at this time. Please try again later." According to Downdetector.com, a website performance tracking tool, more than 2,000 users in India reported issues with the platform. PM pitches for ‘one state, New era begins: Shubman Gill named India’s Test one global destination’ captain; Pant appointed VC States should develop at least one tourist destination, suggests Modi STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 24 MAY P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday made a strong pitch for "one state, one global destination" stressing that states must work towards "future-ready" cities and develop at least one tourist destination with all global standards, facilities and infrastructure. Chairing the 10th Governing Council meeting of Niti Aayog under the theme - 'Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat 2047 - the Prime Minister said if the Union government and states work together like Team India, "no goal is impossible." The Prime Minister's pitch for the development of world standard tourist destination has significant connotations as it comes in the backdrop of the recent Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir in which 25 tourists and one local person were killed. The incident triggered an exodus of tourists and came as a severe blow to the combined efforts of both the government and private stakeholders in reviving Kashmir’s tourism sector. He suggested that states should develop at least one tourist destination at par with global standards and by providing all facilities and infrastructure. "One State, One Global Destination. It would also lead to the development of the neighbouring cities as tourist places," the Prime Minister further said, emphasizing, "We should work towards future-ready cities." Urging state chief ministers to step up the pace of development, Mr Modi said, "We have to increase the speed of development." “India is getting rapidly urbanised. We should work towards future-ready cities… We should have the aim of making each state viksit, each city viksit, each nagar palika viksit and each village viksit. If we work on these lines, we will not have to wait till 2047 to become Viksit Bharat,” he added. "We should work in a manner so that policies implemented bring change in the lives of common citizens. Only when people feel the change, it strengthens the change and transforms the change into a movement. We have a great opportunity as a team to fulfill the aspirations of 140 crore people," he added. The Governing Council is the apex body of Niti Aayog which includes all state chief ministers, lieutenant governors of Union Territories, and several Union ministers and the Prime Minister is the chairman. Growth, innovation and sustainability should be the engine for the development of India's cities, he added. Advocating the need to work towards the inclusion of women in the workforce, the Prime Minister said: "We must make laws and policies so that they can be respectfully integrated into the workforce." The 10th Governing Council meeting of Niti Aayog provided a platform for the Centre, states and UTs to deliberate on measures to advance the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 and build consensus on how states can be the building blocks for making India a developed nation. India rebuts Pak's disinformation on Indus Water Treaty at UNSC STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 24 MAY India has strongly refuted Pakistan's claims regarding the Indus Water Treaty at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), saying that the neighbouring country has violated the treaty's spirit by inflicting three wars and thousands of terror attacks on India, resulting in over 20,000 Indian lives lost in the last four decades. Accusing Pakistan of spreading disinformation over the Indus Water Treaty, India reiterated its commitment to responsible water management even amid persistent crossborder terrorism. Delivering the statement at the Arria Formula Meeting on "Protecting Water in Armed Conflict - Protecting Civilian Lives", Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations Parvathaneni Harish highlighted Pakistan's violation of the treaty's spirit through its support for cross-border terrorism and its obstructionist approach to modifying the treaty. Harish affirmed that India has always acted responsibly as an upper riparian state and accused Pakistan of distorting facts. "India entered into the Indus Water Treaty 65 years ago in good faith," he said, recalling that the agreement was signed in a spirit of goodwill and friendship. "Pakistan has violated the spirit of the treaty by inflicting three wars and thousands of terror attacks on India. In the last four decades, more than 20,000 Indian lives have been lost in terror attacks, the most recent of which was a dastardly targeted terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam last month. India has shown extraordinary patience and magnanimity throughout this period. Pakistan's state-sponsored crossborder terrorism in India seeks to hold hostage the lives of civilians, religious harmony, and economic prosperity," he added. Harish added that Pakistan's state-sponsored terrorism threatens civilian lives, religious harmony, and economic prosperity. He emphasised that significant changes have taken place in the past 65 years, including escalating security concerns, growing requirements for clean energy, climate change, and demographic shifts. "In these 65 years, far-reaching fundamental changes have taken place not only in terms of escalating security concerns through cross-border terror attacks, but also growing requirements for producing clean energy, climate change, and demographic change. Technology for dam infrastructure has transformed to ensure safety and efficiency of operations and water use. Some of the old dams are facing serious safety concerns," he added. "Some old dams face serious safety concerns," he said, pointing out that terrorists even attacked the Tulbul Navigation Project in Jammu and Kashmir in 2012. "In fact, in 2012, terrorists even attacked the Tulbul Navigation Project in Jammu and Kashmir. These cynical acts continue to endanger safety of our projects and lives of civilians," added the Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations. TRIDIB BAPARNASH NEW DELHI, 24 MAY Marking the start of a new era in Indian Test cricket, the BCCI’s senior selection committee on Saturday unveiled Shubman Gill as the new captain while announcing the 18-member squad for the upcoming five-Test series in England, slated to begin on June 20. Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been named his deputy, ahead of premier quick Jasprit Bumrah, who was India's vice-captain at the BorderGavaskar Trophy and led in the two Tests former skipper Rohit Sharma had missed. The Statesman had on Friday reported that the 25-year-old was the frontrunner to the top job that emerged after the recent retirement of Rohit Sharma from the longest format. Announcing the squad, selection committee chief Ajit Agarkar said the decision to appoint Gill was after discussing every option at their disposal. “You discuss every option that's there. Over the last year, we've looked at Shubman. We've taken feedback from the dressing room as well. And we're hopeful we've picked the right guy,” Agarkar said in a press conference at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai shortly after the selection meeting on Saturday when asked about the decision to choose Gill. Exuding confidence on their selection of skipper, Agarkar emphasised that the elegant Punjab righthander was appointed with a long-term vision in mind. “You don't pick captains for one or two tours,” Agarkar said when asked about the future, especially keeping in mind the upcoming WTC cycle. "We've seen some progress [in Gill] over the last year or two. It is going to be as tough as it gets for five Tests in England; maybe he'll have to learn on the job. But we're very confident.” Gill’selevationtocaptaincy signals the dawn of a new era in Indian cricket. He will assumeleadershipofayouthful Indian side following the retirements of Ravichandran Ashwin last December and, more recently, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, bringing to a close a storied era in the nation’s Test cricket legacy. At 25 years and 258 days, Shubman Gill becomes the fifth-youngest player to lead India in Test cricket, following in the footsteps of Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi (21 years, 77 days), Sachin Tendulkar (23 years, 169 days), Kapil Dev (24 years, 48 days) and Ravi Shastri (25 years, 229 days). Having made his Test debut at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, on India’s previous tour of Australia in 2020-21, Gill has so far featured in 32 Tests, notching up 1893 runs at an average of 35.05. In all his 32 Tests, Gill has so far played as a top-order batter, initially starting off as an opener before being handed the No.3 spot. Shami left out, Arshdeep makes cut: Among notable absentees, pacer Mohammed Shami is not a part of the India setup. Agarkar revealed that Shami has been left out of the squad following advice from the medical team, which deemed him unfit to endure the rigours of Test bowling at this stage. The selectors also recalled Shardul Thakur, whose all-round capabilities are expected to be valuable in English conditions. He joins a group of all-rounders that includes Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar. Kuldeep Yadav, who was unfit for the Australia tour, returns as the lone frontline spinner. The five Tests against England will be India's first in the 2025-27 WTC cycle. They play the first Test at Headingley (from June 20), the second at Edgbaston (from July 2), the third at Lord's (from July 10), the fourth at Old Trafford (from July 23), and the final at The Oval (from July 31). They begin the tour with a four-day match against India A at Beckenham on the outskirts of London between June 13 and 16. India Test squad for England: Shubman Gill (capt), Yashasvi Pant (vc, wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Arshdeep Singh. Bangladesh’s Yunus cites ‘foreign conspiracy’ behind poor governance AGENCIES DHAKA, 24 MAY Confronting a major political crisis after a chaotic last few months, the interim government in Bangladesh led by Muhammad Yunus on Saturday blamed "defeated forces" and "foreign conspiracy" for obstructing the normal functioning environment and creating confusion and suspicion among the public. Yunus chaired a two-hourlong unscheduled meeting of the Advisory Council at the Planning Commission office in Dhaka on Saturday afternoon amid increasing political tensions and growing speculation over the stability and continuity of the interim government which had also reportedly led to him offering resignation from the post of Chief Advisor. "Despite all obstacles, the Interim Government continues to fulfil its responsibilities by putting national interests above group interests. However, if — under the instigation of defeated forces or as part of a foreign conspiracy — the performance of these responsibilities becomes impossible, the government will present all reasons to the public and then take the necessary steps with the people," read a statement issued by the Advisory Council after the meeting. "The Council discussed how unreasonable demands, deliberately provocative and jurisdictionally overreaching statements, and disruptive programmes have been continuously obstructing the normal functioning environment and creating confusion and suspicion among the public," the statement detailed. The meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council included detailed discussions on three primary responsibilities entrusted to the interim government – elections, reforms, and justice. "The Advisory Council believes that a broader unity is essential to maintain national stability, organise a free and fair elections, justice, and reform, and permanently prevent the return of authoritarianism in the country. On this matter, the Interim Government will listen to the views of political parties and clarify its own position," it added. Several political parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and even the newly-formed National Citizen Party (NCP) on Saturday demanded that the interim government announce a clear roadmap for upcoming national elections. As pressure increased on Yunus, he had also expressed his desire to resign out of frustration - a development that had created a huge buzz in political circles across the country. "The Interim Government upholds the public expectations of the July Uprising. But if the government's autonomy, reform efforts, justice process, fair election plan, and normal operations are obstructed to the point of making its duties unmanageable, it will, with the people, take the necessary steps," the statement issued by the Advisory Council added. Speaking to local media after the meeting, Planning Advisor Wahiduddin Mahmud stated that the interim government would not quit until completing its assigned responsibilities. "We are not going anywhere till our job is done. The future of the country for many years will depend on it. We cannot leave this responsibility," he added. In a separate development, BNP and Bangladesh Jamaate-Islami leaders stated that they will hold meetings with Yunus at his official residence Jamuna, on Saturday evening, a development which has been confirmed by the Chief Advisor’s press wing. Reports suggest that the meetings are being conducted as part of Yunus's efforts to defuse political tensions. “We have been invited by the Chief Advisor’s office to hold a meeting over the latest political situation,” Bangladeshi media outlet UNB quoted a BNP standing committee member as saying. The BNP leader further said that they would request Yunus to announce a roadmap for the election within 2025, and complete the reform process as soon as possible. Protests, political uncertainty and increasing incidents of crime and violence have gripped Bangladesh since the Yunus-led interim government assumed power, last August.