FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 BRIEFLY Zubeen death probe: MLAT invoked with Singapore, says Assam CM: | Pages 12 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA SILIGURI Modi welcomes Gaza peace plan SHAHID K ABBAS New Delhi, 30 September S President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister B e n j a m i n Netanyahu have announced a 20-point plan to end the war in Gaza, with Trump expressing confidence that Hamas would accept the proposal. "I'm hearing Hamas wants to get this done," Trump said during a press briefing at the White House. The plan calls for an immediate halt to all military operations in Gaza, with Israeli forces withdrawing to agreed-upon lines. All Israeli hostages, alive and deceased, would be returned within 72 hours, with Palestinian prisoners released in exchange. Gaza would be transformed into a "deradicalized terror-free zone" with Arab and Muslim countries contributing to security efforts. A temporary international authority would oversee Gaza's administration, with a Palestinian technocratic authority implementing policies on the STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 30 September ground. Unrestricted humanitarian aid would be allowed into Gaza, with international organizations overseeing distribution. Netanyahu expressed regret over an Israeli strike in Qatar that killed a Qatari serviceman, and pledged not to conduct similar attacks in the future. He has also agreed to the 20-point plan, according to Trump. As per media reports, Hamas has not officially responded to the plan, but a spokesperson indicated that the group had not received the proposal and would evaluate it based on Palestinian interests. Arab and Muslim leaders have reportedly committed to demilitarizing Gaza and supporting the peace plan. The plan's success depends on Hamas' acceptance and implementation, which remains uncertain. Netanyahu faces opposition from far-right ministers in his government, who have set conditions for any agreement, including the destruction of Hamas and no role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza's governance. The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant humanitarian suffering, with over 66,000 Palestinians killed and widespread destruction in Gaza. Curfew relaxed in Leh for seven hours AGENCIES Jammu, 30 September Following former Union Minister P. Chidambaram’s revelation that the then United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government considered military retaliation after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks but refrained due to US pressure and diplomatic advice, BJP leaders on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, demanding an apology from Chidambaram and Sonia Gandhi. Reacting to Chidambaram’s comments, senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “This is not shocking at all. We have been saying this for a long time. This was their weakness. Why did Chidambaram suddenly | | BHUBANESWAR | Wednesday, 1 October 2025 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Apologise to nation: BJP to Cong on Chidambaram’s 26/11 revelation on US intervention New Delhi, 30 September NEW DELHI Trump announces 20-point Ahead of Bihar polls, ECI peace plan to end war in Gaza publishes final electoral list U Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that the Union Government has invoked the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) with Singapore in connection with the FIR lodged by Assam Police regarding the unfortunate demise of the iconic singer Zubeen Garg. Sarma while conveying the development on his social media handle also posted the letter of the Union Home Ministry. In the wake of the incident, the Assam Police also constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. (P8) | REACTING TO CHIDAMBARAM’S COMMENTS, SENIOR BJP LEADER RAVI SHANKAR PRASAD SAID, “THIS IS NOT SHOCKING AT ALL. WE HAVE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR A LONG TIME. THIS WAS THEIR WEAKNESS. WHY DID CHIDAMBARAM SUDDENLY REMEMBER ALL THIS AFTER SO MANY YEARS?” remember all this after so many years?” BJP MP Arun Sao criticised Congress' handling of national security, saying, “If there’s a terror attack on the country, the government should not come under pressure. Under Prime Minister Modi, India is giving a befitting reply to cross-border terrorism. It’s all about leadership capability. Congress appears to stand with Pakistan; they question theArmy,disregardtheConstitution, and show no concern for national security.” In a recent interview, Chidambaram stated, “Two or three days after I took over, Condoleezza Rice came to meet me and the Prime Minister to say, ‘Please don’t react.’ I said it’s a decision for the government to take. But an act of retribution did cross my mind.” He further revealed that then PM Manmohan Singh had discussed potential retaliation while the attacks were still ongoing. However, the UPA government was ultimately advised by the Ministry of External Affairs and senior diplomats not to react militarily. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Amid mounting demands for a judicial probe into the police firing that claimed four lives, including that of a Kargil War veteran, and the release of those arrested after the September 24 violence in Leh, authorities on Tuesday relaxed curfew in the town for seven hours from 10 a.m. The easing of restrictions allowed markets to reopen gradually, offering relief to residents who had been under week-long curbs. However, the situation in Ladakh continues to be tense as the government has yet to announce effective measures to defuse the anger among the people. (P3) Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday extended India's supp or t to US President Donald Trump's comprehensive plan aimed at ending the Gaza conflict. In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: "We welcome President Donald J. Trump’s announcement of a comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict. It provides a viable pathway to long term and sustainable p eace, se c urity and development for the Palestinian and Israeli people, as also for the larger West Asian region." "We hope that all concerned will come together behind President Trump’s initiative and support this effort to end conflict and secure peace," PM Modi further added, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation in achieving peace in the region. CEC thanks electors, election officials, parties for completion of SIR of electoral rolls New Delhi, 30 September The Election Commission of India Tuesday released the final voter list for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, with over 7.24 crore names. The list was published after a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise aimed at ensuring greater accuracy in the electoral rolls. The SIR exercise, conducted from June 24 to July 25, resulted in the removal of approximately 65 lakh voters who were either deceased, had shifted elsewhere, or were listed in more than one place. This includes 22 lakh deceased voters, 36 lakh voters who had permanently shifted or could not be traced, and 7 lakh voters found enrolled in more than one place. Over 7.24 crore voters are included in the final list, while approximately 65 lakh voters were removed due to various reasons. About 16.59 lakh eligible citizens submitted Form-6 for inclusion in the electoral roll, while 2.17 lakh voters applied for deletion of names. Around 3 lakh voters were issued notices for not submitting required documents. Chief Election Commissioner STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 30 September Gyanesh Kumar, along with Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, will visit Bihar on October 4 and 5 to review preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections. The visit is expected to assess the readiness of administrative, sec urity, and logistical arrangements. The current term of the 243-member Bihar Assembly ends on November 22, making the elections imminent. Speculation has it that the formal announcement of the Assembly elections could follow within days after the EC team's visit. The final electoral roll will be available online on the Election Commission's official website. Physical copies will Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Tuesday thanked all electors of Bihar; all Booth Level Officers (BLOs), Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs), District Election Officers (DEOs) and Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the state; and all BLAs, District Presidents, State Presidents and National President of all political parties in Bihar for the successful completion of the SIR after a gap of 22 years on Tuesday. He also thanked each journalist from the print, television and Internet media for the coverage of the mega exercise. also be shared with District Election Officers-cum-District Magistrates and recognized national and state-level political parties. ‘True jointness minimises fratricide, ensures accuracy’ PARWINDER SANDHU New Delhi, 30 September Defence Minister Rajnath Singh Tuesday said that interoperability and jointness are no longer just desirable goals, but have become operational necessities. Stating that IAF’s Integrated Air Command and Control System (IACCS) worked in unison with the Indian Army’s Akashteer and the Indian Navy’s Trigun, which helped in taking command and control to a new level. “Through these, not only did situational awareness increase, but the risk of fratricide was also greatly reduced, which made every action accurate and effective. This is the true jointness, where our three services, coming together, achieve decisive outcomes with unity and clarity,” said the Defence Minister. Singh was addressing a seminar, themed ‘Fostering Greater Jointness - Synergy through Shared Learning in the domain of Inspection and Audits, Aviation Standards and Aerospace Safety’, organised by the Indian Air Force (IAF) at Subroto Park, here. About Operation Sindoor, the Defence Minister said, ''It was a testament to how our forces grow when they work together. If our inspection and safety standards are different, then there will be confusion in difficult times. On the other hand, decision-making will be slow in such a situation. Even a small technical mistake can cause a cascading effect. But when standards are aligned, when inspection and audit reports are universally accepted by all the services, then our coordination will also be smooth, and the confidence of our soldiers will also increase.” “Our forces, with years of experience, have developed their own inspection and audit systems. From the day-to-day preparedness of peacetime to the hard lessons learned during conflicts, these systems have evolved over time. But in today's era of integrated operations, it becomes imperative that these systems remain seamlessly connected to each other,” he said. Stating that each service is unique and has its own working style, Singh said that the same procedure cannot be imposed on every service. He called on senior officers of the Armed Forces, Coast Guard, BSF, and DGCA to work towards creating a shared baseline that strengthens interoperability and mutual trust. He urged them to sit together, brainstorm, and develop a framework that ensures seamless coordination among services. Sangh@100 with people’s support DATTATREYA HOSABALE The work of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has now completed one hundred years. In this long journey, countless people have been companions, contributors, and well-wishers. This journey was full of hard work and challenges, but the unwavering support of ordinary citizens turned it into a fulfilling one. As we pause in the centenary year and look back, memories of many such moments and people come alive—those who devoted their everything to ensure the success of this mission. In the early years, young karyakartas set forth across the country like dedicated warriors, driven entirely by their love for the nation. Family man like Appaji Joshi or full-time pracharaks such as Dadarav Parmarth, Balasaheb and Bhaurao Deoras brothers, Yadavrao Joshi, Eknath Ranade—all of them, under the guidance of Dr. Hedgewar, took Sangh work as a sacred vow of lifelong service to the nation. The progress of the Sangh has always rested on society’s constant support. Because its work remained in tune with the spirit of the people, acceptance grew steadily over time. Once, Swami Vivekananda was asked during his foreign travels: “Most of your countrymen are uneducated, they don’t even know English, so how will they understand these profound things you talk about?” Swamiji had replied, “Just as ants do not need to learn English to find sugar, my people do not need foreign tongues to recognise a noble and spiritual cause. Their inner wisdom will guide them.” This statement turned out to be remarkably true. Similarly, despite the slow pace, society at large has continuously recognised and supported the Sangh’s sincere efforts. From the very beginning, Sangh Karyakartas received blessings, shelter, and encouragement from ordinary families. In fact, the households of swayamsevaks themselves became the foundational centres of the work. The contribution of mothers and sisters has been critical in giving completeness to this journey. Inspired figures like Dattopant Thengadi, Yashwantrao Kelkar, Balasaheb Deshpande, Eknath Ranade, Deendayal Upadhyaya, and Dadasaheb Apte drew strength from the Sangh and went on to build several organisations in different walks of social life. Today these organisations, with immense growth, have brought about constructive changes across many fields. Among women too, towering personalities like Mausiji Kelkar and Pramila Tai Medhe, through the Rashtra Sevika Samiti, have offered a motherly strength that has been central to this mission. Over the decades, the Sangh has raised several issues of national importance, always with society standing in support. At times even those publicly opposed have lent their voices for the larger Hindu cause. The Sangh consistently sought consensus and cooperation on matters of Hindu unity, national security, social harmony, democracy, and preservation of culture. Thousands of Swayamsevaks endured unimaginable hardships, and many laid down their lives. Through all this, society’s hand of support was always there. From the campaign for cow protection, to the Ram Janmabhoomi movement, Sant-samaj (saintly fraternity) has always given blessings to the Sangh swayamsevaks. Looking ahead, in this centenary year, Sangh Swayamsevaks will make a special effort to reach every household—across big cities, remote villages, and among all sections of society—to invite wider cooperation and participation in the mission of national service. With the coordinated effort of all well-meaning forces of society, the next stage of our nation’s journey—towards holistic development—will certainly be smoother and more successful. (The writer is the Sarkaryavah of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) PM to participate in RSS centenary celebrations as chief guest STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 30 September Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the centenary celebrations of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as the Chief Guest on October 1, at the Dr Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi. During the celebration, PM Modi will release a commemorative postage stamp and coin and will also address the gathering, highlighting the RSS's role in India's development. The event marks a significant milestone in the history of the RSS, which was founded in 1925 by Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar in Nagpur, Maharashtra. The RSS has played a pivotal role in various sectors, including education, health, social welfare, and disaster relief. Over the past century, RSS volunteers have actively participated in relief and rehabilitation efforts during natural disasters, including floods, earthquakes, and cyclones. Affiliated organizations have also contributed to empowering youth, women, and farmers, promoting public participation, and strengthening local communities.
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