SATURDAY 09 AUGUST 2025 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00|LC X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR GEHLOT DEFENDS RAHUL ON ‘VOTE CHORI’ ALLEGATION MOS BANDI SANJAY DEMANDS CBI INQUIRY IN PHONE-TAPPING CASE P5 P4 SENSEX 79,857.79 q765.47 WEATHER PARTLY CLOUDY SKY.VERY LIGHT TO LIGHT RAIN/THUNDERSHOWERS. THE MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WOULD BE AROUND 33 AND 25 DEGREES CELSIUS RESPECTIVELY. RAINFALL: 000.0 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 77% TEMPERATURE Max: 36.2 °C (+0.6) SUN RISES 05:48 hrs MOON RISES 19:21hrs Min. 50% Min: 26.8 °C (2.0) SUN SETS 19:06 hrs MOON SETS 06:31 hrs THUMBNAILS German Member of Parliament Jurgen Hardt visits Lal Chowk during his visit to India, in Srinagar on Friday. nANI Delhi court rejects Christian Michel's plea for release: A Delhi court has rejected the plea of Christian Michel James, a British national and the alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam, who sought release on the grounds that he has already served the maximum punishment of seven years for the offences he was extradited for. NIFTY 24,363.30 q232.85 ` vs $ 87.61 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE In a social media post on 'X' later, the PM said, ''Had a very good and detailed conversation with my friend President Putin. I thanked him for sharing the latest developments on Ukraine. We also reviewed the progress in our bilateral agenda, and reaffirmed our commitment to further deepen the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. NEW DELHI, 8 AUGUST D uring a telephonic conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India's consistent position for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Europe, and invited him to India later this year for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit. An official statement here said President Putin briefed PM Modi on the latest developments concerning Ukraine. "The two leaders also reviewed progress in the bilateral agenda, and reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia," it said. In a social media post on 'X' later, the PM said, ''Had a very good and detailed conversation with my friend President Putin. I thanked him for sharing the latest developments on Ukraine. We also reviewed the progress in our bilateral agenda, and reaffirmed our commitment to further deepen the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership. I look forward to hosting President Putin in India later this year." The phone conversation came amid the ongoing trade tensions between India and the United States over India's oil purchases from Russia. National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval met President Putin in Moscow on Thursday. US President Donald Trump recently increased tariffs imposed on Indian goods to 50 per cent, in what is seen as a sign of his frustration over failing to stop the RussiaUkraine war. PM Modi has already made it clear that his government is committed to prioritising farmers' welfare and will never compromise on their interests by opening up certain sectors of the Indian economy for American businesses even if he has to personally pay a political price for it. In recent days, President Trump has been quite vocal in his criticism of BRICS, a grouping which brings together India, China, Russia, Brazil, South Africa and some other countries. Apart from India, he has imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Brazil. Yesterday, the PM received a telephone call from Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da The Union Home Minister also criticised the previous UPA governments at the Centre, asserting that terrorist attacks were „frequent in India‰ during the regime. Taking on the RJD, Shah also alleged that the RJD "encouraged hooliganism" during its rule in the state. and read it. They are opposing SIR because infiltrators are their vote bank,” the Union Home Minister added. The minister also urged Gandhi to stop his vote bank politics. “Rahul Gandhi must stop his vote bank politics. The Special Intensive Revision is not a new process, your late great-grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru started it, and it was last conducted in 2003," Shah said. “Now that you are losing elections one after another, you are already trying to justify your loss in the Bihar election in advance,” the minister added. The Union Home Minister also criticised the previous UPA governments at the Centre, asserting that terrorist attacks were “frequent in India” during the regime. "But now India is different under the regime OF Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Our soldiers killed terrorists in their hideouts. But the RJD and Congress leaders are opposing Operation Sindoor,” India, US in ‘full and frank dialogue’ amid tariff tensions, says State Dept The US administration is engaged in an "honest, full, and frank dialogue" with India despite recent tensions over tariffs, US State Department’s Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said on Friday (India time). He emphasised that addressing concerns about India's purchase of Russian oil and trade imbalances is part of having a frank dialogue. Pigott's comments came amid growing tensions between India and the US, with US President Donald Trump criticising India's oil trade with Russia despite ongoing sanctions. "What this is about is an honest, full, and frank dialogue about real concerns that this administration SILVER `1,15,000 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 66.78 President Putin also briefed PM Modi on the latest developments concerning Ukraine NEW DELHI, 8 AUGUST NEW DELHI, 8 AUGUST P12 PM speaks to Putin, reaffirms commitment to deepen ties STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE PARTHIV PATEL LAUDS GILL P9 GOLD `1,04,075 Rahul, others opposing SIR as infiltrators are their vote bank, says Amit Shah Terming the infiltrators as “a vote bank” for opposition political parties, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of engaging in politics over the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. Shah, addressing an election rally in Sitamarhi, alleged that Gandhi and other Opposition leaders were opposing SIR because “infiltrators are their vote bank”. With an aim to update the electoral roll in Bihar, the Election Commission of India launched the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the same in the state on June 24. “…should the names of infiltrators be removed from the voter list or not? The Constitution of India does not give the right to vote to those who are not born in India,” Shah observed. "Rahul Gandhi is roaming around carrying the Constitution, he should also open ISRAEL PLANS TO RETAKE GAZA CITY IN NEW WAR ESCALATION Pigott's comments came amid growing tensions between India and the US, with US President Donald Trump criticising India's oil trade with Russia despite ongoing sanctions. has, that the President has outlined very clearly – addressing those concerns through his actions," Pigott said. He added that having a frank dialogue is essential for advancing American interests and having a full diplomatic dialogue with partners. The tensions between the US and India have been escalating, with the US President doubling US tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent, up from 25 per cent, as additional penalties linked to India's purchase of Russian oil. The move was widely interpreted in Indian media as a response to New Delhi’s consistent emphasis on strategic autonomy and its rejection of third-party mediation. Pigott emphasised that the US President has been clear about his concerns regarding India's purchase of Russian oil and trade imbalances. "He's spoken about them, whether it's about the purchase of Russian oil, whether it's about the trade imbalance. Addressing those concerns is important, and that's part of what it means to have a frank dialogue – to address those concerns that you have – and then hopefully have conversations to see those concerns addressed," he said. he alleged. Taking on the RJD, Shah also alleged that the RJD "encouraged hooliganism" during its rule in the state. "The RJD did nothing for Bihar. Lalu ji, as central minister, sanctioned Rs 1,132 crore for railway infrastructure in Bihar, while our government provided Rs 10,066 crore in FY'26," the minister claimed. Shah also expressed confidence that the NDA will form the government in Bihar with a thumping majority in the upcoming assembly polls. Silva and discussed the tariffs issue in detail and how their two countries could enhance economic partnership. The PM recalled his visit to Brazil last month during which the two leaders agreed on a framework to strengthen cooperation in trade, technology, energy, defence, agriculture, health and people-to-people ties. Building on these discussions, they reiterated their commitment to take India-Brazil Strategic Partnership to new heights. The two leaders exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest. Provide electronic voter list & videos of 10 years, or you’re hiding a crime: LoP to EC AGENCIES BENGALURU, 8 AUGUST The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi on Friday demanded that the Election Commission of India (ECI) provide the electronic voters’ list for the past 10 years along with video recordings. He warned that failure to do so would amount to the ECI concealing electoral fraud and a crime. Addressing a massive gathering during the 'Our Vote, Our Right, Our Fight' rally against alleged election fraud, LoP Gandhi said that if the ECI is withholding data, it indicates collusion with the BJP in committing electoral fraud. “The Election Commis- sion must understand that it took six months to expose fraud in just one Lok Sabha seat. If you don’t provide the data, we can still uncover irregularities in 15 to 20 Lok Sabha seats. We already have the information. You can’t hide and escape. One day, you will have to face the Opposition. Each officer and the Commission must be aware of this,” LoP Gandhi warned. He charged, “The result of one Lok Sabha seat in Karnataka was stolen. This is a criminal act against the people of the state. The state government must investigate and take action. The ECI officials who enrolled 1,000 to 15,000 fake voters on the rolls must be held accountable. The truth regarding the Mahadevapura Assembly segment must come out.” He further asserted, “We believe that the electronic data of all Indian voters constitutes vital evidence. If anyone destroys it, it amounts to destruction of evidence — a punishable crime.” False and fabricated: Defence Ministry denies reports of India pausing US arms talks PARWINDER SANDHU NEW DELHI, 8 AUGUST Issuing a strong rebuttal regarding news reports claiming that India has temporarily halted talks related to the defence deals with the US, the Ministry of Defence dubbed them as false and fabricated. A news report on Friday claimed that India has paused plans to purchase weapons and aircraft following US President Donald Trump's announcement of an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods. The report also claimed that India had intended to send Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Washington in the near future to announce certain defence procurements, but the visit was ultimately called off. Denying these reports, a source in the Defence Ministry stated, “The news claiming that India has paused talks related to defence purchases with the US is false and fabricated. It is clarified that the various procurement cases are being progressed as per the extant "The news reports on India pausing the talks related to defence purchases with the US are false and fabricated. It is clarified that the various cases of procurement are being progressed as per the extant procedures," a Defence Ministry source said. procedures.” As previously reported, these reports came in the wake of Trump signing an executive order imposing an additional 25 per cent penalty tariff on Indian goods. This comes on top of an earlier reciprocal 25 per cent tariff, effectively doubling the tariff rate on Indian exports to the US, India's largest export market. The move is widely perceived as a response to India's continued purchase of Russian oil, which the US President has linked to funding Russia's war against Ukraine. Government withdraws Income Tax Bill 2025, revised version could be introduced next week STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 8 AUGUST The government on Friday withdrew the Income-Tax Bill, 2025, which was initially introduced in the Lok Sabha to replace the Income-Tax Act, 1961. The decision was taken on Friday as there is a need to bring in a revised version of the legislation incorporating voluminous recommendations from the Parliament Select Committee. The report, of the Select Committee of Lok Sabha, chaired by Baijayant Panda, tabled in the Lok Sabha on July 21, observed that the Bill mainly seeks to simplify the language, and does not aim to bring any substantive changes. It noted several drafting issues and recommended addressing them. Some of the key recommendations made by the Select panel include reinstating deductions for intercorporate dividends for certain companies, aligning provisions with the 1961 Act, such as set-off of long-term capital losses and definition of associate enterprises, defining terms like "parent company" and "cooperative bank," and removing ambiguity around "beneficial owner," incorporating changes made by the Finance Acts of 2024 and 2025, such as changes to cap- ital assets and tax compliance and removing redundant text, correcting references, and addressing typographical errors. The Income Tax Bill 2025, aims to simplify tax compliance and reduce the complexity of current tax laws by up to 60 percent. The legislation introduced various restrictions on cash transactions to promote digital payments and curb tax evasion. Some key provisions included that no person shall receive an amount of two lakh rupees or more in a single transaction, in aggregate from a person in a day, or in respect of transactions relating to one event or occasion from a person. Also, repayments must be made through account payee cheque, account payee bank draft, electronic clearing system or other prescribed electronic modes. Expenses exceeding Rs 10,000 paid in cash per day will be disallowed from deductions while calculating taxable income. The revised bill is expected to address concerns and suggestions from various stakeholders. A parliamentary panel has proposed 285 amendments to the new Income Tax Bill 2025, indicating a significant overhaul of the existing tax laws. Government sources said that a revised bill would be moved in the Lok Sabha next week.