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 SATURDAY INTERVIEW ‘Tourism about building pride’ NATION BRIEFLY Bihar Assembly Elections 2025 nomination process begins: Assam CM Sarma sparks new controversy Page 9 Page 13 India, Taliban govt reset ties after 4 years ASHOK TUTEJA New Delhi, 10 October I New Delhi: The nomination process for the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections kicked off on Friday. The 243-member Assembly will have elections in two phases, with the first phase covering 121 seats across 18 districts. The formal notification of the first phase of the election was issued on Friday, with filing of nominations running from 10 to 17 October, followed by scrutiny on 18 October, and the last date for withdrawal of nominations fixed as 20 October. Voting for the first phase will take place on 6 November. SIT to probe suicide of IPS officer: Chandigarh: Chandigarh’s Director General of Police (DGP) Sagar Preet Hooda on Friday constituted a six-member special investigation team (SIT) to probe the alleged suicide by 2001-cadre Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of Haryana cadre Y. Puran Kumar on October 7. A day earlier, the Chandigarh Police registered a first information report (FIR) with charges of abetment to suicide and provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, based on a “final note” by the IPS officer, who named Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Singh Kapur and Rohtak Superintendent of Police Narendra Bijarniya among 11 serving and retired officials for allegedly harassing him. n a significant development, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday announced the upgrading of India's technical mission in Kabul to a full-fledged embassy, while Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi reiterated his government's commitment to not allowing any group or individual to use Afghan territory against India. In a clear message to Pakistan, the two countries unequivocally condemned all acts of terrorism emanating from regional countries. They underscored the importance of promoting peace, stability, and mutual trust in the region. Mr Jaishankar held wide-ranging talks with the Afghan minister, who is on a week-long visit to India after obtaining a temporary exemption from international travel restrictions from the United Nations Security Council. This is the first visit to this country by a top Taliban leader since it EAM S. Jaishankar exchanges a handshake with Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi during a bilateral meeting in New Delhi on Friday. AGENCIES returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. “India is fully committed to the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and independence of Afghanistan. To enhance that, I am pleased to announce today the upgrading of India's Technical Mission in Kabul to the status of Embassy of India," the Indian minister said in his opening remarks at the meeting with Mr Muttaqi. He also announced a series of development and humanitarian initiatives, including a commitment to six new development projects in Afghanistan. The Indian minister appreciated the solidarity expressed by Afghanistan in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack and Afghanistan's sensitivity towards India's security concerns. “India has long extended support for the health security of Afghanistan, including during the Covid pandemic. We are now ready to commit to six new projects, whose details ‘India, Australia poised to become natural allies in defence industry’ STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 10 October Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has stated that India is globally the fourth-largest economy and the fastest-growing large economy in the world. Addressing the maiden India-Australia Defence Industry Business Roundtable in Sydney today, Singh reaffirmed the growing synergy between the two nations across strategic, industrial, and technological domains. “Under the banner of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, established in 2020, we stand at a pivotal juncture to re-position our defence relations, not merely as partners, but as co-creators of a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” stated the defence minister. He also added that the Round Table is not merely a dialogue, it is a declaration of intent to make India and Australia natural allies in business, industry and innovation. “Both India and Australia are part of the Commonwealth of Nations. Our shared history is built on democracy, diversity, liberty, and similar governance structures,” he added. Highlighting that strong Govt opens senior leadership positions in public banks to private-sector professionals STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 10 October For the first time, the Government of India has opened senior leadership positions in public sector banks (PSBs) to private-sector professionals, the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) said in a notification. This also included the Managing Director (MD) post at the State Bank of India (SBI). The first vacancy for the SBI MD post under these guidelines will be treated as open, allowing private-sector professionals to apply, while subsequent vacancies will initially be reserved for internal PSB candidates. The guidelines also specify procedures for Jaiswal’s 173* lifts India to 318/2 on Day 1 of Delhi Test NATION Sabarimala ‘gold theft’: HC seeks SIT report in 6 weeks Page 6 Saturday, 11 October 2025 waiting lists, additional charge assignments, and penalty disqualifications. As per the new guidelines, candidates must have held at least two years at the board level or three years at the highest level below the board. The revised consolidated guidelines supersede all previous ACC directives on PSB appointments. It allows private-sector candidates with at least 21 years of professional experience, including 15 years in banking, to compete for top roles. Further, the terms of office, salary, and superannuation remain governed by existing laws, such as the SBI Act, 1955, and the Nationalised Banks (Management and Miscellaneous Provisions) Scheme. Selection for internal PSB positions like Deputy Managing Directors (DMDs), Executive Directors (EDs), and MD & CEOs with sufficient tenure remains eligible. Selection will be carried out through the Financial Services Institutions Bureau (FSIB), which may engage HR agencies for preliminary behavioural and competency assessments. bilateral ties rest on three essential pillars: a forward-looking government-to-government collaboration, people-to-people connect and convergence of business interests, the Union Minister said, “Our governmental frameworks are robust and getting further strengthened. On the people’s front, we have a large Indian diaspora in Australia, complemented by an increasing Australian presence in India. However, our defence industrial partnership, based on joint R&D, innovation, co-creation and co-production, still has untapped potential.” Speaking about the country’s recent economic and industrial achievements, the defence minister stated that India is on a transformative journey of structural reforms, particularly in manufacturing. can be announced after the conclusion of our talks. A gift of 20 ambulances is another gesture of goodwill, and I would like to hand over five of them to you personally as a symbolic step. India will also provide MRI and CT scan machines to Afghan hospitals and deliver vaccines for immunisation and cancer medicines. We have also supplied drug rehabilitation materials through UNODC and are open to doing more," the Indian minister said. Mr Muttaqi, addressing a press conference later, said that Kabul will not allow any foreign presence at the Bagram base. “Afghanistan is a witness to the fact that we have never accepted any (foreign) military there, and we certainly never will. We give you this advice: Afghanistan is a sovereign country, and it will remain so. If you want relations, you can engage through a diplomatic mission, but we do not accept anyone in military uniform." He further reiterated that Afghanistan will not allow its land to be used against others. Page 16 Ceasefire takes effect in Gaza Strip, raising hopes for end to war AGENCIES Wadi Gaza, 10 October A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect in Gaza on Friday, the Israeli military said, hours after the country's Cabinet approved a deal to pause the fighting and exchange the remaining hostages for Palestinian prisoners. Tens of thousands of people who had gathered in Wadi Gaza in central Gaza started walking north after the Israeli military’s announcement at noon local time. Beforehand, Palestinians reported heavy shelling in parts of Gaza throughout Friday morning, but no significant bombardment was reported after. The ceasefire marks a key step toward ending a ruinous two-year war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, reduced much of Gaza to rubble, destabilized the region, and left dozens of hostages, living and dead, in the territory. Still, the broader plan advanced by US President Donald Trump includes many unanswered questions, such as whether and how Hamas will disarm and who will govern Gaza. Despite those questions, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted in a televised statement Friday that the next stages would see Hamas disarm and Gaza demilitarized. “If this is achieved the easy way ~ so be it. If not ~ it will be achieved the hard way,” Mr Netanyahu said. He added that Hamas agreed to the deal “only when it felt that the sword was on its neck ~ and it is still on its neck.” On Friday, the military said Israeli troops had begun to withdraw to agreed-upon deployment lines. An Israeli security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the military would control around 50 per cent of Gaza in their new positions. The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into Israel on 7 October 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage. • More Reports: Page 11 • Fragile Dawn: Page 8 SC hints at easing firecracker ban in Delhi-NCR for Diwali A BENCH OF CHIEF JUSTICE B.R. GAVAI AND JUSTICE K. VINOD CHANDRAN RESERVED ITS ORDER ON THE MATTER, SAYING IT WOULD SOON DECIDE ON RELAXING THE BLANKET BAN EARLIER IMPOSED ON FIRECRACKERS IN DELHI–NCR. “FOR THE TIME BEING, WE WILL PERMIT THE LIFTING OF THE BAN DURING DIWALI,” THE BENCH OBSERVED ORALLY. PARMOD KUMAR New Delhi, 10 October The Supreme Court on Friday indicated that it may ease the curbs on bursting green firecrackers in the Delhi–National Capital Region (NCR) during Diwali, hinting at a move towards a more balanced regulatory approach ahead of the festive season. A Bench of Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran reserved its order on the matter, saying it would soon decide on relaxing the blanket ban earlier imposed on firecrackers in Delhi–NCR. “For the time being, we will permit the lifting of the ban during Diwali,” the Bench observed orally. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for Delhi–NCR and Haryana, requested the Court to allow limited use of certified green firecrackers during specified time slots — between 8 p.m, and 10 p.m. on Diwali, 11.45 p.m. and 12.30 a.m. on Christmas and New Year’s Eve, and one hour on Gurpurab. He said the suggestion aimed to adopt “a balanced approach” that respects both environmental concerns and citizens’ right to celebrate. The Solicitor General assured the Court that PESO (Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation) and NEERI (National Environmental Engineering Research Institute) would carry out periodic inspections to ensure that only authorised green crackers are produced and marketed. He added that joint or ladi firecrackers would continue to remain banned, and that all sales should be confined to licensed traders dealing exclusively in approved green variants. Mr Mehta further proposed that e-commerce websites such as Amazon and Flipkart be barred from accepting and processing online orders for firecrackers. “Manufacturers must also specify the composition and quantity on every green firecracker package,” he added. Amicus Curiae Aparajita Singh, assisting the Court in the matter, expressed concern about “fake green firecrackers” still being sold under misleading labels and containing banned chemicals. She emphasised that any relaxation should come with strict enforcement mechanisms to prevent violations. 2025 Nobel Peace Prize goes to Venezuelan rights champion, ‘snub’ for Donald Trump AGENCIES Oslo, 10 October The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize was on Friday awarded to Venezuelan politician and democracy activist Maria Corina Machado “for her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.” Terming her as a "brave and committed champion of peace," the Norwegian Nobel Committee said that the Prize has gone to a “woman who keeps the flame of democracy burning amid a growing darkness.” The announcement was taken as a snub to US Presi- dent Donald Trump, who had campaigned vocally for the Prize, by the White House, with communications director Steven Cheung saying members of “the Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace” because they didn’t recognise Mr Trump. “He has the heart of a humanitarian, and there will never be anyone like him who can move mountains with the sheer force of his will,” Mr Cheung wrote on social media. Ms Machado, in a post on the X platform, said the award was an "immense recognition of the struggle of all Venezuelans" and dedicated it to the “suffering people” of Venezuela ~ and to Mr Trump, for his "decisive support" for her country's pro-democracy movement. “We are on the threshold of victory, and today, more than ever, we count on President Trump, the people of the United States, the peoples of Latin America, and the democratic nations of the world as our principal allies to achieve Freedom and democracy," she added. Ms Machado has been in hiding in Venezuela for the past year since elections that authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro is accused of stealing. Ms Machado has spent years working for the freedom of the Venezuelan people, the Nobel Committee said in its statement. “Peace laureate Maria Corina Machado has shown that the tools of democracy are also the tools of peace. She embodies the hope of a different future, one where the fundamental rights of citizens are protected, and their voices are heard,” it said. This year’s Nobel Peace Prize announcement was preceded by persistent speculation about the possibility of the prize going to Mr Trump, fuelled in part by the president himself and amplified by this week’s approval of his plan for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. Mr Trump, who has made no secret of his desire for the award, claims to be the first “in history” to have “solved eight wars in a period of nine months”.