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 | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR Sanjay Raut alleges `50k crore land scam Page 05 BRIEFLY India Asia Cup 2025 squad announced US plans for Putin, Zelenskyy meeting PERSPECTIVE Monk who means business Page 07 Page 09 India-China stability key to global peace: PM NIKHIL VYAS New Delhi, 19 August Mumbai at standstill: Mumbai: Normal life has been disrupted in Mumbai and adjoining areas on Tuesday due to cloudburst-like heavy downpour at many places in Maharashtra since two days. Some villages in Vidarbha have been cut off due to flooding in rivers and drains. The Meteorological Department has warned of heavy rains in Mumbai, Thane, Palghar and Raigad districts. Heavy rains continued overnight disrupting the suburban local train service, known as the lifeline of Mumbai, due to which people are stranded at various places. Mauritius PM to have bilateral talks with Modi: Varanasi: Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam will visit Varanasi on September 11, where he will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the first time. There will be talks on cooperation in important areas like trade, technology, and tourism. MEA busts fake fund-raising claims in Nimisha Priya case: New Delhi: The MEA on Tuesday termed ‘fake’ the claims made on social media that government is seeking monetary contributions for the case relating to Indian nurse Nimisha Priya who is currently lodged in a jail in Yemen. P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday welcomed the steady and positive progress in bilateral ties between India and China since his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Kazan last year, guided by mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity, including the resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra. PM Modi also underlined that stable, predictable, and constructive ties between India and China will contribute significantly to regional and global peace and prosperity. In a post on X after visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on him at the Prime Minister's official residence this evening, PM Modi said: "Glad to meet Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Since my meeting with President Xi in Kazan last year, India-China relations have made steady progress guided by respect for each other's interests and sensitivities." Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi calls on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday. ANI "I look forward to our next meeting in Tianjin on the sidelines of the SCO Summit. Stable, predictable, constructive ties between India and China will contribute significantly to regional as well as global peace and prosperity," the Prime Minister further said in the post on X. During the meeting, Wang Yi, who is a Member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China, handed over a message and invitation from Chinese President Xi Jinping to PM Modi for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit being held in Tianjin in China. The Prime Minister thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for the invitation to the SCO Summit and conveyed his acceptance. The SCO summit will be held in Tianjin from 31 August to 1 September. "Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received Mr Wang Yi, Member of the EAM embarks on 3-day visit to Russia amid ongoing tariff tensions with USA STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 19 August Amid ongoing tariff tensions between India and the United States, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar will undertake a three-day official visit to Russia beginning Tuesday, aimed at deepening the longstanding India-Russia 'Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership'. Mr Jaishankar's visit comes amid escalating trade tensions between India & the USA over India's oil purchases from Russia. US President 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 Russia-Ukraine war. "At the invitation of First Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Mr Denis Manturov, the External Affairs Wednesday, 20 August 2025 SPORTS WORLD NATION | Minister, Dr S Jaishankar, will undertake an official visit to Russia on 19-21 August 2025 to co-chair the 26th Session of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC) scheduled for 20 August 2025," a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement said on Tuesday. Mr Jaishankar will address the India-Russia Business Forum meeting in Moscow. During the visit, the EAM will also meet the Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, Mr Sergey Lavrov, and review the bilateral agenda and share perspectives on regional and global issues. "The visit aims to further strengthen the longstanding and time-tested India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership," the statement added. Mr Jaishankar's visit follows NSA Ajit Doval's recent trip to Moscow, where he held discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, First Deputy Prime Minister Manturov, and Secretary of the Security Council Sergei Shoigu. The upcoming talks also come close on the heels of the Jaishankar-Lavrov meeting at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Foreign Ministers' meet on 15 July, and their engagement during the BRICS Summit last month. Politburo of the Communist Party and Foreign Minister of China," the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement. According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Chinese Foreign Minister also shared his positive assessment of bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and 24th Meeting of the Special Representatives, which he co-chaired with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval during his visit. "The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity on the border, and reiterated India's commitment to a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable resolution of the boundary question," the PMO said in a statement. "The Prime Minister welcomed the steady and positive progress in bilateral ties since his meeting with President Xi in Kazan last year, guided by mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity, including the resumption of the Kailash Manasarovar Yatra," the statement said. Page 12 Justice BS Reddy named INDIA bloc’s VP candidate INDIA bloc Vice-Presidential candidate and former Supreme Court Judge B. Sudershan Reddy (centre) arrives at the IGI airport in New Delhi on Tuesday. ANI STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 19 August Former Supreme Court Judge Justice B Sudershan Reddy (Retd) was announced as the Vice-Presidential candidate by the INDIA Bloc, today. The Vice-Presidential election is slated for 9 September. Justice Reddy would be contesting against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA)’s C P Radhakrishnan for the post. While announcing Justice Reddy’s candidature, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge described him as one of the nation’s most eminent and forward-thinking jurists. “All Opposition parties have nominated Shri B Sudershan Reddy as their joint candidate for the position of the Vice President of India. B. Sudershan Reddy is one of India’s most distinguished and progressive jurists. He has had a long and eminent legal career, including as Judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court, and Judge of the Supreme Court. He has been a consistent and courageous champion of social, economic, and political justice. His judgments show how he stood for the poor, protected the Constitution, and upheld fundamental rights,” Mr Kharge said. Justice Reddy, hailing from Telangana, will file his nomination on 21 August. “He will file his nomination on August 21. Tomorrow, all opposition MPs are meeting in the Central Hall at 1 p.m,” Mr Kharge announced. Born on 8 July 1946, Justice Reddy started his legal career in 1971 after he registered himself as an advocate with the Bar Council of Andhra Pradesh. Previously, he held the position of Government Pleader at the Andhra Pradesh High Court from 1988 to 1990 and later served as Additional Standing Counsel for the Central Government in 1990. In 1995, Justice Reddy was elevated to the position of permanent judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court. He later became Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court in 2005 and was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2008, where he served until his retirement in 2011. Nehru admitted that Indus Water Treaty brought no benefit, says PM AGENCIES New Delhi, 19 August Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chairing the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Parliamentary meeting on Tuesday, said that former PM Jawaharlal Nehru had 'admitted' that the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan bought no benefit to India, according to sources. PM Modi said that Nehru had partitioned the country twice, once with the Radcliffe line, and another during the treaty, which gave 80 per cent of the river's water to Pakistan. The agreement was also anti-farmer, said PM Modi. "Nehru partitioned the country once, and then again. Under the Indus Water Treaty, 80 percent of the water was given to Pakistan. Later, through his PM Modi, along with Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of State (I/C) for Law & Justice Arjun Ram Meghwal, MoS Jitendra Singh & MoS L. Murugan, arrives to attend the NDA Parliamentary party meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday. ANI secretary, Nehru admitted his mistake, saying that it brought no benefit," PM Modi said according to sources. BJP MP Jagdambika Pal, who was present at the meeting, said it was a betrayal on Nehru’s part in signing the Indus Water Treaty, saying that the former PMshouldhavetakenParliament's approval for it. "The country has been betrayed. If he (Jawaharlal Nehru) were the prime minister in a democratic election, he should have taken the Parliament's approval for this. Without the trust of the cabinet and the Parliament, he went to Pakistan and came back alone after signing the agreement... This is a betrayal with our farmers," Mr Pal said. Hailing the Prime Minister's remarks, BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad criticised the Nehru-led government for giving "Rs 80 crore to Pakistan." "We are proud that the PM stated the facts. Nehru ji not only signed the treaty without cabinet approval or discussion, but also gave Rs 80 crore to them. Whenever a treaty is signed, it is done only after discussion in Parliament," the BJP leader said. SC dismisses NCPCR plea against HC ruling that Muslim girl can marry after attaining puberty PM likely to attend high-level military meet in Kolkata to address infiltration issues PARMOD KUMAR New Delhi, 19 August New Delhi, 19 August T h e S u p re m e C o u r t o n Tuesday dismissed a plea by the National Commission for Pro te c tion of Child Rights (NCPCR) challenging a 2022 Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling, which held that a 16 -year- old Muslim girl could enter into a valid marriage under Muslim personal law and granted protection to the couple. A Bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and R Mahadevan said the child rights body had no locus to file such an appeal. “NCPCR has no locus to challenge such an order... If two minor children are THE NCPCR CONTENDED THAT UNDERAGE MUSLIM GIRLS WERE BEING MARRIED IN VIOLATION OF STATUTORY PROTECTIONS, WITH FAR-REACHING CONSEQUENCES FOR THEIR HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND RIGHTS. IT MAINTAINED THAT PERSONAL LAW SHOULD NOT OVERRIDE SECULAR CHILD PROTECTION LAWS. protected by the High Court, how can NCPCR challenge such an order? It is strange that the NCPCR, which is meant to protect children, has filed this petition,” the Bench remarked. Counsel for the NCPCR argued that the matter raised a substantial legal question: whether a girl under 18 could be considered legally competent to marry merely on the basis of personal law. The Court, h oweve r, re j e c t e d t h i s contention, stating: “No question of law arises; you can challenge in an appropriate case.” Other similar petitions by the Commission against High Court orders were also dismissed. The 2022 High C our t judgment had ruled that a Muslim girl who had attained puberty ~ presumed to be a t t h e a g e o f 1 5 ~ wa s competent to marry under Muslim Personal Law. That order had been widely debated for appearing to clash with statutory provisions. MEENAKSHI BHATTACHARYA In a strategic shift aimed at curbing Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reportedly set to initiate a high-level military meeting in Kolkata next month. Traditionally, such meetings are held in New Delhi, making this relocation to Kolkata a notabledeparturefromprecedent. The decision is seen as reflecting growing security concerns in the eastern region, particularly along the borders with Bangladesh and Myanmar. India has long expressed apprehensions about Pakistan, frequently accusing its neighbour of supporting cross-border terrorism. Now, Bangladesh and Myanmar have emerged as additional focal points of concern, drawing the attention of national security agencies and the Prime Minister himself. Sources indicate that the Eastern Command—India’s largest military command—is headquartered in this region. It includes the strategically sensitive Chicken’s Neck corridor, which borders Bangladesh and shares an extensive boundary with China. Given its geopolitical significance, the area is considered more vulnerable than other parts of the country. Military officials suggest that Prime Minister Modi is expected to address senior commanders during the proposed meeting in Kolkata. Discussions will centre on the current state of border security, anticipated threats, and the scale of military reinforcement required. Artillery deployment and tactical preparedness are also likely to be key agenda items. The issue of Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltration has become a prominent theme in the Prime Minister’s recent speeches, reflecting its importance to both the central government and the BJP. Compounding the challenge is a shift in leadership in Bangladesh, which has strained bilateral relations, while Myanmar remains under military rule. Several northeastern regions, including Bengal, are viewed by defence officials as potential transit routes for infiltrators. Additionally, China’s strategic posture in the region continues to be closely monitored. Although India’s diplomatic engagement with Beijing has evolved, defence sources stress that attention has not diverted from Arunachal Pradesh. The meeting, tentatively scheduled for the third week of next month, is expected to bring together commanders from the Eastern Command along with other senior military officials. However, an official announcement from New Delhi is still awaited.