FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 16 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA LC | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR | SPORTS WORLD MISCELLANY Historic food practices for the everyday Bengali BRIEFLY Curtains fall on Monsoon session of Parliament: New Delhi: The Monsoon session of Parliament came to a close on Thursday, with both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha being adjourned sine die. During the session marred by repeated disruptions by the Opposition over various issues, including the special intensive revision of Bihar's electoral rolls, a total of 12 Bills were passed, with 14 government Bills introduced. The Opposition's repeated disruptions hindered smooth functioning of the House, with members engaging in heated exchanges and tearing up papers. Page 5 No user fees for two-wheelers at toll plazas on nat’l highways: New Delhi: The Central government on Thursday clarified that reports doing the rounds on social media platforms that user fees would be charged even from two-wheelers at the toll plazas on National Highways and National Expressways are not true. Four dead in Maharashtra gas leak mishap: Mumbai: Four people died and two others were in a serious condition after they inhaled nitrogen gas that leaked at a pharmaceutical company in Tarapur-Boisar industrial area of Maharashtra's Palghar district, officials have said. The incident occurred in the afternoon at Medley Pharma, located in the industrial area of Boisar. China, Pak to launch new economic corridor projects Assam sets one-month deadline for Aadhaar enrolment above 18 years STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE AGENCIES • The proposal, placed before the six-member GoM led by Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, aims to replace the current four rates of 5, 12, 18 and 28 per cent with just two main slabs, 5 and 18 per cent. New Delhi, 21 August A Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chairs a meeting of the Consultative Committee attached to the Ministry of Finance at New Parliament House, in New Delhi on Thursday. MoS Finance Pankaj Chaudhary and others are also present. ANI such goods. The purpose is to discourage people from using them and to reduce the harm they can cause. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, addressing the two-day GoM meeting earlier, had said that a simplified system would benefit the common man, farmers, the middle class and small businesses, while also making GST more transparent and growth-oriented. As part of the changes, almost all items currently in the 12 per cent category will move to the 5 per cent slab. Similarly, most products taxed at 28 per cent will shift to the 18 per cent bracket, which the Centre believes will improve compliance and reduce complexity. The GoM also reviewed the Centre’s suggestion to exempt GST on individual health and life insurance premiums. While most states supported the idea, they flagged the need China biggest purchaser of Russian oil: EAM on US tariffs NIKHIL VYAS New Delhi, 21 August External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday asserted that China and the European Union were the biggest purchasers of Russian oil and LNG, not India, and that the logic of the United States singling out the country for secondary tariffs in perplexing. In a joint press interaction with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow following their talks, Mr Jaishankar stressed that India is not the biggest purchaser of Russian oil. He said India also buys oil from the US, and that amount has increased. "We are not the biggest purchasers of Russian oil, that is China. We are not the biggest purchasers of LNG, that is the European Union. We are not the country Page 16 Page 5 which has the biggest trade surge with Russia after 2022; I think there are some countries to the South. We are a country where the Americans have said for the last few years that we should do everything to stabilise the world energy market, including buying oil from Russia. Incidentally, we also buy oil from the US, and that amount has increased. So honestly, we are very perplexed at the logic of the argument that you (the media) had referred to," the EAM said. Opposition candidate B Sudershan Reddy files nomination for VP post Satish Golcha appointed Delhi Police Commissioner STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 21 August DEEPSHIKHA VERMA New Delhi, 21 August Former Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy, the INDIA bloc's nominee for the Vice President of India, filed his nomination papers Thursday. He filed his nomination in Parliament House, with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Nationalist Congress Party (SP) Sharad Pawar, Samajwadi Party’s Ramgopal Yadav, Rashtriya Janata Dal’s Prem Chand Gupta, and a host of INDIA Bloc leaders in attendance. The Vice Presidential election is scheduled for 9 September, following the sudden resignation NDA doubts its VP candidate getting majority: Sanjay Raut GoM accepts two-slab GST structure proposal key meeting of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on GST rate rationalisation on Thursday ended with state finance minister accepting the Centre’s plan to reduce the number of tax slabs. The proposal, placed before the six-member GoM led by Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, aims to replace the current four rates of 5, 12, 18 and 28 per cent with just two main slabs. Under the new structure, 'merit' goods and services will attract 5 per cent GST, while most other items (standard) will come under an 18 per cent standard rate. A higher 40 per cent levy will remain on a small set of so-called sin goods. Examples include alcohol, tobacco, drugs, gambling, soft drinks, fast food, coffee, sugar, and even pornography. A sin tax is a special tax that the government puts on Rahane relinquishes Mumbai captaincy NATION Page 11 Page 14 Friday, 22 August 2025 US President Donald Trump announced 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods in July, even as there were hopes of an interim India-US trade deal that would have helped avoid elevated tariffs. A few days later, he imposed another 25 per cent tariff, taking the total to 50 per cent, citing India's continued imports of Russian oil. Mr Jaishankar later in the day called on Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin (photo). “Honored to call on President Putin at the Kremlin today. Apprised him of my discussions with First DPM Denis Manturov & FM Sergey Lavrov. The preparations for the Annual Leaders Summit are well underway. Appreciate his sharing perspectives on the global situation and recent developments on Ukraine,” Mr Jaishankar posted on X. • A higher 40 per cent levy will remain on a small set of so-called sin goods. Examples include alcohol, tobacco, drugs, gambling, soft drinks, fast food, coffee, sugar, and even pornography. for strict oversight to make sure insurance companies actually pass on the benefit to customers. The exemption is estimated to cost about Rs 9,700 crore in annual revenue. The final decision on the recommendations will be taken by the GST Council in its next meeting slated for September. Modi, Macron discuss steps to end Ukraine conflict The Assam government has announced sweeping new restrictions on first-time Aadhaar card applications for individuals above 18 years, a move Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma says is aimed at closing avenues for illegal immigrants to secure Indian identity documents. Under the new policy, citizens above 18 years who have never enrolled for Aadhaar will have just one month ~ till the end of September 2025 ~ to apply. After this period, fresh applications will be accepted only in “exceptional cases,” and only with the approval of district commissioners (D Cs). The D Cs will b e mandated to seek verification from the Special Branch and even the Foreigners Tribunal before approving an Aadhaar card, which the chief minister described as a safeguard against infiltration. “We want to ensure that no illegal foreigner can obtain an Aadhaar card in Assam of incumbent Jagdeep Dhankhar on 21 July 2025, citing health reasons. The NDA has nominated CP Radhakrishnan, the Governor of Maharashtra, as its candidate. The opposition parties, including the Congress, Samajwadi Party, DMK, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), Nationalist Congress Party (SP), CPI(M), RJD, JMM, AAP, & IUML, have unanimously agreed to support Sudershan Reddy's candidature. HIMANTA BISWA SARMA, ASSAM CHIEF MINISTER and later claim Indian citizenship. We have completely closed that route,” Mr Sarma told reporters after the cabinet meeting. He added that Assam has “continuously pushed back Bangladeshi nationals along the border” and that the Aadhaar policy was part of a larger strategy to prevent demographic shifts caused by illegal migration. Recognising the v ulnerability of cer tain groups, the government STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 21 August Prime Minister Narendra Mo di on Thursday discussed the Ukraine c o n f l i c t w i t h Fre n c h P re s i d e n t E m m a n u e l Macron during a phone call. The two leaders also re aff irme d th eir commitment to further strengthen the India-France strategic partnership. "Had a ver y go o d conversation with my friend President Macron. Exchanged views on efforts for the p eaceful resolution of conflicts in Ukraine and in West Asia. Reaffirmed our commitment to further strengthen the India-France strategic partnership," Mr Modi said on X. has extended Aadhaar enrollment for another year ~ without restrictions ~for tea garden workers, and individuals belonginng to Scheduled C astes, and Scheduled Tribes above 18 years of age. Mr Sarma said this exemption was designed to protect disadvantaged communities who often face delays in accessing documentation. Assam shares a 263-km international border with Bangladesh, making it particularly sensitive to cross-border migration. PM to unveil Metro, road projects worth `5,200 crore in Bengal today UNITED NEWS OF INDIA Kolkata, 21 August Weeks ahead of West Bengal's biggest festival, Durga Puja, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on yet another major infrastructure push in the state. Mr Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for road and railway projects worth over Rs 5,200 crore in Kolkata, including the commissioning of three crucial Metro Railway routes. Ahead of his visit, the Prime Minister posted on the X social media platform in Bengali: “The city for whose development we are resolute, coming to the people of that Kolkata is always a joy for me. The events in Kolkata tomorrow are primarily related to transportation. The metro services on the Noapara-Jai Hind Airport, SealdahEsplanade, and Beliaghata-Hemanta Mukhopadhyay routes will be inaugurated. This will make commuting to the airport and the IT hub more convenient.” As per the Prime Minister’s Office, Mr Modi will arrive in Kolkata on Friday afternoon after visiting Bihar earlier in the day. The PM will flag off Kolkata Metro services on the section between Howrah and Sealdah of the East-West Metro, allowing the commencement of services along the entire stretch of the Green line. Mr Modi will also undertake a Metro ride from Jessore Road Metro Station to Jai Hind Biman Bandar (Kolkata Airport) in North 24-Parganas, and is expected to address a public gathering during the event. Asia Cup on, but no bilateral sporting ties with Pakistan: Sports Ministry TRIDIB BAPARNASH New Delhi, 21 August A day after the alleged attack on Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta in the national capital, Satish Golcha, a senior IPS officer, was app ointed as the new Commissioner of Police, Delhi, on Thursday. The Ministry of Home Affairs issued an order that G olcha wo uld b e serving as the 26th Commissioner of Delhi Police. The 1992-batch IPS officer will take over from SBK Singh, who had been holding additional charges as the Commissioner since 31 July, following the retirement of Sanjay Arora. We want to ensure that no illegal foreigner can obtain an Aadhaar card in Assam and later claim Indian citizenship. We have completely closed that route. Guwahati, 21 August The Union Sports Ministry on Thursday ended speculation over India’s sporting engagements with Pakistan, announcing a new policy that bars all bilateral competitions between the two nations, while allowing participation in multilateral events such as next month’s cricket Asia Cup. “India's approach to sports events involving Pakistan reflects its overall policy in dealing with that country,” states the Ministry policy. “In so far as bilateral sports events in each other's country are concerned, Indian teams will not be participating in competitions Fans show flags of India and Pakistan before a match. ANI FILE in Pakistan. Nor will we permit Pakistani teams to play in India,” it added. However, the ministry clarified that this restriction does not extend to multilateral tournaments organised by international bodies. “With regard to international and multilateral events, in India or abroad, we are guided by the practices of international sports bodies and the interests of our own sportspersons. It is also relevant to take into account India’s emergence as a credible venue to host international sports events.” “Accordingly, Indian teams and individual players will take part in international events that also have teams or players from Pakistan. Similarly, Pakistani players and teams will be able to participate in such multilateral events hosted by India,” the ministry added. The ministry’s announcement comes amid growing public reaction to the 14 September match between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup. Steps towards preferred global sporting destination: The government also underlined its efforts to make India a preferred global sporting destination. This includes simplifying visa processes for foreign athletes, officials, and administrators. The policy also ensures that heads of international sports organisations get proper treatment when they visit India. They'll receive standard protocol and courtesies, following established practices. This approach helps India maintain good relationships with global sports bodies while protecting its national interests.
The Statesman is one of India's oldest English newspapers. It was founded in Kolkata in 1875 and is directly descended from The Friend of India (founded 1818). The Englishman (founded 1821) was merged with The Statesman in 1934. The Delhi edition of The Statesman began publication in 1931. The Statesman Weekly is a compendium of news and views from the Kolkata and Delhi editions. Printed on airmail paper, it is popular with readers outside India. The Statesman (average weekday circulation approximately 180,000) is a leading English newspaper in West Bengal. The Sunday Statesman has a circulation of 230,000.