THURSDAY 26 JUNE 2025 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR ‘EVERY INCH OF ENCROACHED LAND WILL BE RECLAIMED’ ‘COUNTRY FACING UNDECLARED EMERGENCY’ P5 SENSEX 82,755.51 p700.40 WEATHER LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN/THUNDERSTORM/ LIGHTNING ACCOMPANIED WITH GUSTY WINDS (SPEED 30-40 KMPH). THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 34 AND 27 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: 000.0 Mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 88% Min. 66% TEMPERATUR Max: 34.9°C (-2.3) SUN RISES 05:26 hrs MOON RISES 07:03 hrs Min: 29.6°C (+1.7) SUN SETS 19:23 hrs MOON SETS 20:37 hrs THUMBNAILS Security personnel conduct checks on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Ramban ahead of Amarnath Yatra on Wednesday. nANI Over 3,900 Indian nationals evacuated from Iran, Israel till date: More than 3,900 Indian nationals have been brought back from Iran and Israel till date under Operation Sindhu. The Indian govt launched Op Sindhu to evacuate all the Indian nationals from Iran and Israel amidst the escalating tensions between both countries, which had gripped the region for the past couple of weeks before a ceasefire was agreed on Tuesday. TRUMP FACES AN ALLIANCE ‘INDIAN TEAM STICKS SHAPED TO HIS LIKING AS HE TO BUMRAH’S PLAN’ ATTENDS THE NATO SUMMIT P4 NIFTY 25,244.75 p200.40 ` vs $ 86.09 GOLD `99,990 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 66.69 PM Modi’s plea: Share experiences of Emergency era on social media He is travelling to the ISS on an American commercial mission with 3 other astronauts STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE President, PM hail successful launch of Axiom-4 space mission NEW DELHI, 25 JUNE A fter several delays, Axiom Mission 4 or Ax-4 carrying IAF pilot Shubhanshu Shukla along with others lifted off to the International Space Station on Wednesday. Shukla, who is the mission pilot, is India's second astronaut going into space -- four decades after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma made history in 1984. The 39-year-old fighter pilot was chosen by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) as the prime astronaut for this historic flight. The Indian astronaut is travelling to the International Space Station (ISS) on an American commercial mission with three other astronauts, carrying the dreams of 1.4 billion Indians to send a second 'Gaganyatri' to space after a gap of over 40 years. “The 14-day Ax-4 mission will realize the return to human spaceflight for India, Poland, and Hungary, with each nation’s first government-sponsored flight in more than 40 years. While Ax-4 marks these countries' second human spaceflight mission in history, it will be the first time all three nations will execute a mission on board the International Space STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 25 JULY STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 25 JUNE Station. This historic mission underscores how Axiom Space is redefining the pathway to lowEarth orbit and elevating national space programs globally,” said Axiom Mission on its website. The Ax-4 crew also includes Sławosz Uzna ski, European Space Agency (ESA) project astronaut, the second Polish astronaut since 1978 to achieve this feat. Tibor Kapu will be the second national Hungarian astronaut since 1980. “Peggy Whitson will command her second commercial human spaceflight mission, adding to her standing record for the longest cumulative time in space by an American astronaut,” it said. The Axiom-4 mission necessitates an approximate travel duration of 28.5 to 29 hours to traverse the distance from Earth to the International Space Station (ISS), despite the latter’s orbital altitude of around 400 km above the Earth's surface. This time frame is not solely attributable to the linear distance but rather to the intricate orbital mechanics that govern the process of rendezvousing with the ISS. The Axiom Mission 4 had faced a series of delays due to weather and technical issues. The mission is a commercial venture between the Houston-based Axiom Space and NASA. Sindoor. Mr Kharge’s remarks came amid growing attention surrounding an article written by Mr Tharoor about India’s outreach in the wake of Operation Sindoor. In the piece, published in The Hindu newspaper, he stated that Prime Minister Modi’s energy, dynamism, and willingness to engage remain a “prime asset” for India on the global stage and deserve greater support. His comments angered the Congress and deepened the rift between the leadership and the diplomat-turnedpolitician. The principal Opposition party, which has been consistently targeting the government, was not pleased that Mr Tharoor failed to echo the party’s stance. At an event in Moscow, Mr Tharoor clarified that his article was not an indication of his "leaping to join" the BJP, but rather a statement of national unity, national interest, and standing up for India. The Congress on Tuesday distanced itself from Mr Tharoor’s remarks. “It may be his personal opinion, but it is not the opinion of the Congress party. It is not the party’s view, as we have presented our stance with evidence and proof,” party spokesperson Supriya Shrinate told the media. Mr Kharge, speaking today, said that Mr Tharoor is very fluent in English. "I cannot read English well. His language is very good. That is why we have made him a member of the Congress Working Committee," he remarked. The Congress chief further stated that in the wake of the Pahalgam attack, which claimed the lives of 26 innocent people, the entire Opposition expressed solidarity with the Army. "We said the country comes first, the party comes second. Some people feel 'Modi first, country later'. What can we do?" Mr Tharoor has been articulating New Delhi’s position to both national and international media in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s counter-strike, Operation Sindoor. His forthright statements earned him praise even from critics, who commended him for setting aside party differences during a national crisis. The Congress, which initially pledged full support to the Centre’s response to those behind the Pahalgam terror attack, later shifted its position, calling on the government to clarify the circumstances that led to the ceasefire and questioning the role the United States may have played. 79 per cent of policyholders unsure about insurance coverage in India, reveals survey STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 25 JUNE A recent nationwide survey has revealed a sharp disconnect between insurance ownership and policy awareness among Indian policyholders, raising fresh concerns about underinsurance and financial vulnerability. Conducted by consumerfocused InsurTech firm CoverSure, the survey covered 5,000 respondents across the metro, Tier 2, and Tier 3 cities. It found that 79% of policyholders are unsure whether their existing insurance offers adequate coverage. The findings show that 71% of respondents own between two to five active insurance policies, with life insurance (63%) being the most commonly held, followed by health (24%) and motor insurance (13%). P12 SILVER `1,08,000 140 cr aspirations soar with Shukla into space Tharoor’s cryptic post after Kharge’s snub Hours after Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge rebuked party leader Shashi Tharoor over his praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Thiruvananthapuram MP posted a message on X that was widely seen as a response to his party colleagues' criticisms. "Don't ask permission to fly. The wings are yours. And the sky belongs to no one," read the post, accompanied by a photograph of a bird. Commenting on the ongoing discussion regarding Mr Tharoor’s praise for Prime Minister Modi, party chief Kharge remarked today, "For us, it is country first, but for some people, it is Modi first." This stands as the strongest rebuke to Mr Tharoor from the Congress leadership to date. Previously, Mr Tharoor’s party colleagues had directed sharp criticism at him over his comments following the Pahalgam attack and Operation P9 Despite this, only 35% claimed to fully understand their policy terms, benefits, and exclusions. A significant 65% admitted to having limited or no understanding, exposing a critical gap in insurance literacy. The knowledge gap extends beyond the policyholders themselves. The survey found that 60% of dependents were unaware they were covered under any insurance policy, and only 1 in 10 could accurately describe the coverage or ben- efits available to them. This lack of awareness frequently leads to missed claims, rejected submissions, and underutilized policies, according to the report. Policyholders also face challenges in how they manage their insurance documents and records. The survey revealed that 29% rely on physical files, 26% use spreadsheets, 24% track through SMS alerts, and 21% store documents in digital folders. These fragmented and out- dated systems often hamper access to critical information, especially during claims or policy renewals. Despite clear gaps in understanding, 38% of respondents believe they need no assistance managing their insurance. Meanwhile, 36% preferred human advisors and 26% were open to digital tools. CoverSure said this overconfidence—combined with low actual policy comprehension—signals a serious disconnect between perceived and actual insurance literacy in India. The company stressed the need for stronger consumer education, centralized digital management tools, and advisory support to bridge this gap. Without these measures, many Indian families may remain financially vulnerable despite owning multiple insurance products. President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday hailed the successful launch of the Axiom-4 space mission carrying Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla. They wished Group Captain Shukla, who is on the way to become the first Indian to go to the International Space Station. President Murmu said the whole nation was excited and proud of an Indian’s journey into the stars. Welcoming the successful launch of the Space Mission, PM wrote on X: ''We welcome the successful launch of the Space Mission carrying astronauts from India, Hungary, Poland, and the US. The Indian Astronaut, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, is on the way to become the first Indian to go to the International Space Station. He carries with him the wishes, hopes, and aspirations of 1.4 billion Indians.” (See more reports page 8) STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 25 JUNE Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called upon citizens who lived through the Emergency period in India between 1975 and 1977 to share their experiences on social media. This appeal comes as his own experiences during that time have been compiled into a book titled “The Emergency Diaries — Years that Forged a Leader. “ The Prime Minister on Wednesday (June 25), marking the 50th anniversary of the Emergency, said that no Indian will ever forget how the spirit of the Constitution was violated and the voice of Parliament muzzled. He called it ''one of the darkest chapters'' in India’s democratic history. In a series of posts on handle X, he said: “Today marks fifty years since one of the darkest chapters in India’s democratic history, the imposition of the Emergency. The people of India mark this day as Samvidhan Hatya Diwas. On this day, the values enshrined in the Indian Constitution were set aside, fundamental rights were suspended, press freedom was extinguished, and several political leaders, social workers, students, and ordinary citizens were jailed. It was as if the Congress Government in power at that time placed democracy under arrest. “ “The Emergency Diaries chronicles my journey during the Emergency years. It brought back many memories from that time,” PM Modi said.