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 | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW Page 10 Building IP awareness Page 9 Page 6 CM Mamata slams ECI over ‘BJP stamp’ row UNITED NEWS OF INDIA Kolkata, 24 March W supremo further questioned the Election Commission of India’s explanation of a “clerical mistake.” “This letter is not only about Kerala. It clearly mentions that it applies to all states and Union Territories. Is this a clerical mistake or a political agenda?” she asked. Appealing to opposition parties to stand united against the EC, Banerjee urged unity against what she termed “one-sided functioning” of the Commission. “I appeal to all opposition parties to protest together against this. We must unite beyond political colours,” she said. The controversy dates back to 2019, when a letter sent by the Election Commission President Trump calls PM Modi, underlines importance of keeping Strait of Hormuz open United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday telephoned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed the ongoing war in West Asia. “Received a call from President Trump and had a useful exchange of views on the situation in West Asia. India supports de-escalation and restoration of peace at the earliest. Ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure and accessible is essential for the whole world. We agreed to stay in touch regarding efforts towards peace and stability,’’ PM Modi later wrote on X. According to US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, the two leaders discussed the situation in West Asia and emphasised the importance of keeping open the Strait of Hormuz. The telephonic conversation between the two leaders came Received a call from President Trump and had a useful exchange of views on the situation in West Asia. India supports de-escalation and restoration of peace at the earliest. NARENDRA MODI, PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA as the war in US-Israel war against Iran entered its fourth week with no sign of hostilities coming to an end. The war has greatly affected global energy markets, impacting supply lines of key commodities like crude oil, gas and fertiliser, to India and all nations in the region. was made public by the CPI-M in Kerala. The document, which surfaced on social media on Monday, allegedly carried a BJP symbol and stamp, triggering widespread debate. Leaders, including Abhishek Banerjee, also shared the letter online, reiterating allegations of a nexus between the Commission and the ruling party at the Centre. “I brought this to show all of you. Look carefully, the Election Commission sent a letter with a BJP stamp. The truth is now exposed,” Banerjee said, holding a paper clipping in front of everyone. She also raised concerns over the late-night publication of an additional voter list on Monday. “Why was the list released at midnight? What is the fear? There is clearly a lack of transparency. What names have been removed? Have any been added unilaterally?” she questioned. Two ships carrying LPG on way to India from Hormuz: New Delhi: The government on Tuesday said that two LPG carriers, Pine Gas and Jag Vasant, have safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz and are on their way to India. Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said during an inter-ministerial briefing that the Pine Gas vessel will arrive at New Mangalore port on March 27, which carries 45,000 metric tonnes of LPG. “Jag Vasant will arrive at Kandla port on March 26, carrying 47,600 metric tonnes of LPG. Twenty Indian-flagged vessels remain to the west of the Strait of Hormuz,” Sinha informed. Harish Rana, first to get passive euthanasia nod in India, dies ASHOK RANA, FATHER OF HARISH RANA SAID, “WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR THIS. NO PARENTS WOULD EVER WANT SUCH A SITUATION FOR THEIR SON. WE HAVE BEEN PURSUING THIS CASE FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS. HE WILL BE TAKEN TO AIIMS. HE WAS A TOPPER AT PUNJAB UNIVERSITY.” STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 24 March Harish Rana, the first person in India permitted passive euthanasia, passed away at AIIMS Delhi, according to sources on Tuesday. On March 11, the Supreme Court of India permitted the withdrawal of medical treatment for 32-year-old Harish Rana from Ghaziabad, who had been in a vegetative state for 13 years with almost no chance of recovery. Ashok Rana, father of Harish Rana said, “We have been fighting Wednesday, 25 March 2026 Stock market rebounds, Sensex up nearly 1400 pts Page 12 BUSINESS EDITORIAL PAGE New Delhi, 24 March | Payne replaces Edwards at SRH; KKR pick left-armer Dubey for injured Akash Why Trump blinked on Iran STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE SILIGURI SPORTS WORLD est Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission, alleging bias after a controversy over a letter purportedly bearing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stamp. Speaking to the media at Dum Dum airport before leaving for a campaign tour in North Bengal, Banerjee displayed a copy of the contentious letter, claiming it pointed to alleged links between the poll body and the BJP. “The cat is out of the bag. It is clear who is behind all this. The Election Commission’s functioning and whose directions it follows are now evident. Why act from behind? Come and fight openly,” she said. The Trinamul Congress | for this. No parents would ever want such a situation for their son. We have been pursuing this case for the past three years. He will be taken to AIIMS. He was a topper at Punjab University.” Passive euthanasia is the act of withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining medical treatment, allowing a patient with no realistic chance of recovery to die naturally. On March 11, the Supreme Court of India directed the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi, to admit Rana and facilitate the process of withdrawing the life support system with full medical support. A bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Vishwanathan permitted the withdrawal of clinically assisted nutrition and hydration (CANH) for Harish Rana, who has been in a vegetative state since a fall from a building in 2013. Following the Supreme Court’s verdict, Advocate Manish Jain stated that under Article 21, the court recognized Rana’s right to euthanasia. Outlining the next steps, the advocate said on March 11 that within a week, Rana would be moved to AIIMS, where all life-support tubes would be removed, allowing him to pass away naturally without further medical intervention. The advocate said that this decision follows the 2018 guidelines laid down in the Common Cause v. union of India ruling, which outline how individuals in a palliative state with complete immobility should be treated. He added that while passive euthanasia is more widely practiced globally, the ruling represents a modest yet meaningful advancement in India, noting that the Supreme Court of India has also instructed all state Chief Medical Officers to set up primary and secondary euthanasia review boards and to submit regular reports to their respective ministries. PM warns of prolonged energy crisis, assures adequate oil supply SHAHID K ABBAS New Delhi, 24 March Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday briefed the Rajya Sabha that the ongoing conflict in West Asia has triggered a “serious energy crisis” globally and could have long-term consequences, even as he assured that India has sufficient crude oil reserves and is taking urgent steps to secure supplies and protect its citizens. Speaking during the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament, Modi said the war, now in its fourth week, has begun disrupting critical trade routes and the supply of essential commodities such as petrol, diesel, gas and fertilisers. “This war is affecting our trade routes. The regular supply of essential commodities… is being disrupted,” he said, adding that the situation is “a matter of concern for India.” The Prime Minister underscored the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, where shipping disruptions have intensified amid escalating hostilities involving Iran, Israel and the United States. The narrow maritime corridor, which carries roughly a fifth of the world’s crude oil, has seen multiple vessels stranded, including ships with Indian crew members on board. “Many ships from around the world are stranded… and a large number of Indian crew members are on them. This is a significant concern for India,” Modi said, while stressing that attacks on commercial shipping and disruptions in international waterways are “unacceptable.” India on high alert, Defence Minister leads West Asia review: New Delhi: With the West Asia conflict grinding into its fourth week and tensions showing no signs of easing, the Centre has moved into sharper crisis-monitoring mode. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday convened a high-level meeting with the top military brass to review the rapidly evolving situation. The meeting was attended by the three service chiefs: General Upendra Dwivedi, Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Air Marshal AP Singh, along with Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, DRDO Chief Dr Samir V Kamat, and Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh.