www.thestatesman.com | @TheStatesmanLtd FOLLOW US: India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 20 | 8th Day @thestatesmanltd ` 5.00 | People’s Parliament, Always in Session thestatesman1875 KOLKATA LC | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR Evolve LUCKNOW | SILIGURI | 22 March 2026 S P O RT S Bhagvad Gita: It is still relevant today Sitaram Sharma: The founder of TIPs | Another setback for KKR: Akash Deep ruled out of IPL 2026 Page 20 CM Mamata vows to protect people’s rights, targets BJP, ECI STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 21 March Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said that her government would not allow the rights of the people of Bengal to be taken away, as she launched a sharp attack on the BJP-led Centre and the Election Commission of India (ECI) during Eid celebrations at Red Road in Kolkata. Addressing the annual Eid congregation, Miss Banerjee said many names had been deleted from the SIR list, but expressed hope that people’s Opposition parties condemn police action at UNI office dignity would be protected. “The ongoing SIR has already deleted many names to disenfranchise people. I have been fighting this battle alone, moving both the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court seeking redress. We must reclaim our right to vote. Still, New Delhi, 21 March New Delhi, 21 March The Congress, AAP and Left parties on Saturday strongly condemned the manhandling of journalists and other employees at the United News of India (UNI) office at 9 Rafi Marg in New Delhi yrsterday evening and called the police action a direct assault on press freedom. In an unprecedented development, the premises of one of the country's oldest news agencies, the United News of India, were forcibly vacated on Friday evening without any prior notice, with a heavy deployment of Delhi Police and paramilitary forces. Reacting strongly to the sealing of the news agency's office, Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala in a post on X in Hindi said: "The way the media was treated by the police and paramilitary forces at the UNI (United News of India) premises, one thing is clear that the BJP government has issued a Hitler-like decree for the media fraternity." “In 2016, the central government imposed a one-day ban on NDTV Group's Hindi news channel NDTV India for reporting that was exposing the government," he added. Former Delhi Minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj also condemned the incident. In a post on X, Mr Bhardwaj said: "This is wrong and unprecedented. This is happening to UNI right here in Delhi. Media bodies slam action against UNI: New Delhi: The manhandling of female journalists and staff of United News of India (UNI) and subsequent sealing of its office by authorities in the national capital on Friday night, has triggered sharp condemnation from media bodies across the country. Several journalist organisations including Press Club of India, Editors Guild of India, Indian Journalists Association, Delhi Union of Journalists, Mumbai Press Club, Indian Women’s Press Corps, and Ranchi Press Club condemned the action and demanded accountability over the incident Page 7 Police cannot use force and threats against Press. Police has no right to abuse anyone." The Communist Party of India (Marxist) also strongly condemned the alleged conduct of police forces during the operation, with party General Secretary M A Baby terming the incident “shocking” and “unacceptable in a democracy.” In a statement, Mr Baby criticised the role of the Delhi Police and accompanying paramilitary personnel, alleging that journalists were “dragged out and manhandled” during the action. many remain under scrutiny. The Trinamul Congress has been consistently alleging that the Election Commission is acting in favour of the BJP-led Central government. Referring to the issue, Miss Banerjee said she had already visited Delhi to place her concerns before the ECI. “We are not afraid. We will continue to fight,” she asserted. Taking a dig at PM Modi’s foreign visits, she said: “You shake hands in Saudi Arabia and Dubai, but once you return to the country, you remember deleting names.” “You are the biggest infiltrator,” she alleged, while also calling the BJP a “party of thieves and goons.” Miss Banerjee further alleged that the Prime Minister and the Union Home Ministry were issuing diktats to delete names and even sending 20 lakh CAPF jawans to the state to conduct proxy voting in booths. US getting ‘very close’ to ‘winding down’ military operations against Iran: Trump UNITED NEWS OF INDIA STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE the SIR continues, and lakhs of names remain under adjudication, with document verification underway. I have learnt that about 10 lakh names may be deleted from the adjudication list. It is for you to cross-check. My battle will continue,” Miss Banerjee said. “Our fight will continue for you. We are with every person of Bengal. We will not allow our rights to be snatched away,” she said. She reiterated that her government would stand united with the people and resist any attempt by the Centre to snatch their rights. Miss Banerjee also issued a strong warning, stating, “Those who target Bengal will go to hell,” and added that her party’s only objective was “BJP hatao, desh banchao.” Her remarks come amid controversy over the publication of the final SIR list in the state, where lakhs of names have reportedly been deleted and Hinting at wrapping up military operations against Iran in the near future, US President Donald Trump claimed on Saturday that the United States is 'getting very close' to meeting objectives of 'winding down' military efforts in the Middle East. He said the US is ‘completely degrading’ Iranian missile capability, launchers, and everything else pertaining to them and destroying Iran’s defence industrial base. The objectives of eliminating Iran’s Navy and Air Force, including anti-aircraft weaponry, never allowing Iran to get even close to nuclear capability, and always being in a position where the US can quickly and powerfully react to such a situation, should it take place, are also being achieved, he said on his social media platform. While hinting at a role for US in the future management of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, he said the Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed by other nations who use it. “The United States does not use it but If asked, will help these countries in their Hormuz efforts,' he added. He, however, said it shouldn’t be necessary once Iran’s threat is eradicated. “Importantly, it will be an easy Military Operation for them,” he said. Despite the comments, Washington is continuing to reinforce its presence in the region, with thousands of additional US Marines and sailors being deployed as the conflict with Iran enters its fourth week. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Kat also said on Saturday that joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran would “increase significantly” in the coming days. Sharing an update on on the developments in the past week, the US Department of War said that thousands of Iranian targets were hit in Operation Epic Fury. US forces have damaged or sunk more than 120 Iranian naval vessels, including all 11 of their submarines. "The targets pursued under Operation Epic Fury include command and control centres; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps headquarters and intelligence sites; air defence systems; ballistic missile, anti-ship missile and surface-to-air missile sites; weapon production and storage bunkers; military infrastructure and communications capabilities; and naval ships and submarines," the post said. • Related reports: Page 17 Indian firms looking to buy Iran oil JAYANTA ROY CHOWDHURY New Delhi, 21 March Amid indications that the US-Iran war may be winding down, Indian refiners are believed to be looking at buying Iranian oil through a combination of rupee payments, partial deferred accounting and even barters which could later help rebuild Iran's civilian infrastructure now that the US administration has given a 30-day sanctions waiver for the purchase of Iranian oil already at sea. Top sources in Indian refining firms said they were looking at "quick purchases" of Iranian crude, much of which is on the high seas in ships who are idling in the Indian Ocean. "We have a long tradition since the 1990s of buying Iranian oil … its natural that we should be among the first to try and corner stores from there," said Sandeep Johri, a commodities trader. At its peak, Iran supplied roughly 10 to 15 per cent of India's crude. The appeal was not merely geopolitical or price-wise, it was geological. "Iranian crude grades suit Indian refineries," averred Johri. According to estimates about 130-170 million barrels of Iranian crude are at sea, mostly in the Indian Ocean, but also in the Mediterranean and South China Sea. The US waiver announced Friday applies to oil loaded on or before 20 March, on ships, including sanctioned tankers. They must however be offloaded at the receiving port by 19 April. When Western sanctions against Tehran tightened between 2010 and 2012, targeting Iran's financial arteries, the problem for India was not access to crude but the means to pay for it. “So we invented ways • Turn to Page 7 SIR: First supplementary voter list likely on Monday: Kolkata: The first supplementary list of names of voters under adjudication under the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls will be published on Monday, sources at the CEO’s office confirmed. The release is likely after 7 p.m, the sources said. From that date onwards, additional supplementary lists will be released every Friday. Page 3 PM speaks to Iranian President, EAM talks to his counterpart on implications of war STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 21 March Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday and condemned attacks on critical infrastructure in the ongoing war in West Asia while underlining the importance of safeguarding the freedom of navigation. Later, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also spoke to his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, and discussed the implications of the conflict for the larger region. The PM conveyed his greetings to President Pezeshkian on the auspicious occasions of Eid and Nowruz. During the discussion, both leaders expressed their shared hope that this festive season would usher in a period of peace, stability, and prosperity for the West Asian region. Condemning the attacks on critical infrastructure, the PM observed that such actions threaten regional stability and disrupt vital global supply chains. He reiterated the critical importance of safeguarding the freedom of navigation and ensuring that international shipping lanes remain open and secure. Furthermore, Mr Modi expressed his sincere appreciation for Iran’s continued support in ensuring the safety and security of Indian nationals residing in the country. President Pezeshkian had briefed the Indian leader on the situation in Iran and shared his views on recent developments in the region. Soon after the PM’s telephonic talk, Mr Jaisahankar spoke to the Iranian foreign minister and later wrote on X: “Spoke this evening to FM @araghchi of Iran. Conveyed greetings for Navroz and Eid. Our conversation was on the latest developments regarding the conflict. And its implications for the larger region.”