www.thestatesman.com | FOLLOW US: India’s National Newspaper since 1818 @TheStatesmanLtd | Pages 16 | 8th Day @thestatesmanltd ` 5.00 | People’s Parliament, Always in Session thestatesman1875 KOLKATA LC | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR Evolve LUCKNOW | SILIGURI | 29 March 2026 S P O RT S Lake Como: Where Water Dreams in Stone A Special Session; Zeena with Julie Mehta | Argentina beats Mauritania 2-1 as fans roar for Messi to chase a sixth WC Page 16 BRIEFLY India denies reports of Elon Musk joining Trump-Modi call: New Delhi: Reacting to media reports that Elon Musk joined a recent call between US President Donald Trump and PM Narendra Modi, India on Saturday asserted that the telephonic conversation was only between the two leaders. “We have seen the story. The telephone conversation on 24 March was between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump only. As has been stated earlier, it provided the opportunity for exchange of views on the situation in West Asia,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. New Delhi’s clarification came after The New York Times reported that “Musk participated in a phone call on Tuesday with President Trump and Prime Minister Modi of India, an unusual appearance by a private citizen on a call between two heads of state during a wartime crisis.” Mamata alleges EC bias, flags SIR irregularities UNITED NEWS OF INDIA Kolkata, 28 March B engal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Election Commission, alleging that several experienced officers were deliberately moved out of the state to weaken the local administrative grip and allow the BJP to exploit the situation by pushing unaccounted money, liquor and external elements into West Bengal during the elections. Addressing a rally in Raniganj, Miss Banerjee said: “Those who were familiar with the local areas ~ around 50 to 100 officers ~ have been sent to Kerala and Tamil Nadu. This is being done so that anonymous BJP money can enter, drugs can enter, goons can enter, bulldozers can enter, and riots can be triggered.” She also had a message for Voter list pruning crosses 77 lakh; ECI releases fourth list UNITED NEWS OF INDIA Kolkata, 28 March The Election Commission of India late Saturday night released the third supplementary voter list for West Bengal, even as the ECI’s data indicates that the cumulative figure of deletions during the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls for the state has climbed to approximately 77 lakhs. Earlier, the ECI released a second supplementary voter late on Friday, following the release of the first supplementary list on Monday (23 March). Detailed figures for the third supplementary list were not immediately available, but as of the second supplementary list, released late on Friday, close to 44 per cent of the scrutinised entries ~ amounting to around 14 lakh names ~ have been struck off the rolls. According to sources within the ECI, a total of 31 lakh names (10 lakh and 21 lakhs respectively for the first and second supplementary lists) have already been processed by nearly 700 judicial officers reviewing about 60 lakh entries placed under adjudication. This follows the final electoral roll published on 28 February, when 63.66 lakh names were removed. The sources also said that while lists covering 31 lakh names have been made public, another 29 lakh entries are still pending scrutiny, with estimates suggesting the overall deletions could eventually approach 90 lakhs. the newly posted officers, urging them to act in the interest of the people and not under any political pressure. “To those who have received new postings, I would say ~ you are part of the state administration. If you want to work properly, then look towards the people. There is no need to look at me,” she said. The Chief Minister alleged large-scale irregularities in voter lists in SIR, claiming Kathmandu, 28 March Police have arrested former prime minister KP Sharma Oli and Nepali Congress leader and former home minister Ramesh Lekhak in connection with a culpable homiciderelated case linked to the alleged suppression of the September Gen Z protests. Mr Oli was taken into custody from his residence in Gundu, Bhaktapur, on Saturday morning. Mr Lekhak was arrested earlier the same morning from his residence in Suryabinayak, Bhaktapur, around 5 a.m, his personal secretary Janak Bhatta said. The arrests follow a formal complaint filed by the Home Ministry, which triggered an investigation and led to the issuance of arrest warrants. Police officials said the action is being carried out to implement recommendations made by a commission led by former Special Court judge Gauri Bahadur Karki. The commission has recommended that Mr Oli, Mr Lekhak and then Inspector General of Police Chandra Kuber Khapung be charged under Sections 181 and 182 of STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 28 March Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the ruling Trinamul Congress government in West Bengal, alleging “systemic neglect” of backward communities and presenting what the BJP termed a “people’s charge sheet” ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Addressing a Press conference at a hotel in New Town, Mr Shah claimed that many members of the backward classes, including the Matua community, had faced negligence as the West Bengal government hasanti backward class people policy. He accused the state government of showing “extreme apathy and discrimination” towards backward sections and urged voters to “exercise their democratic rights and bring an end to the present regime.” Mr Shah also alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Rajnath Singh chairs first IGoM meet on West Asia, calls for long-term preparedness UNITED NEWS OF INDIA New Delhi, 28 March Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday chaired the first meeting of the Informal Empowered Group of Ministers (IGoM) to review the evolving situation in West Asia and assess its implications for India, stressing the need for a proactive and coordinated national response. The meeting, held at Kartavya Bhawan, was attended by senior ministers including Nirmala Sitharaman, Kiren Rijiju, Hardeep Singh Puri, Manohar Lal Khattar, J P Nadda, Prahlad Joshi, K Rammohan Naidu, and Jitendra Singh. Constituted to closely monitor developments in West Asia, the IGoM carried out a comprehensive assessment of the situation and its potential Nepal ex-PM , former home minister detained over Gen Z protest crackdown THE KATHMANDU POST/ANN that names were being deleted arbitrarily and questioning the manner in which discrepancies were being identified. “From what I am hearing, if there are 500 names in a booth, 400 are being deleted. Is this a joke? What is happening? There is always a Lakshman Rekha, but the BJP is crossing all limits. Where is the first supplementary list?” she said. “At the very beginning, 58 lakh names were removed without even being opened. Then they say 60 lakhs ‘logistical discrepancies. What does that mean? You have made mistakes using your AI. Aren’t you ashamed?” she added. Addressed the long-standing issue of land subsidence in Raniganj, Miss Banerjee said the state government has already spent around Rs 700 crore to construct 6,000 flats, with another 4,000 currently under construction. She urged residents to relocate in the interest of safety, promising financial and housing support. “Raniganj is a subsidenceprone area. We have already spent around Rs 700 crore to build 6,000 flats, and another 4,000 flats are being constructed,” she said. “The government will give you not one, but two flats if you shift. The cost of shifting will also be covered. A total of Rs 10 lakh per family has been allocated,” she added. Shah unveils BJP’s ‘people’s charge sheet’, targets TMC the National Penal Code for criminal negligence, with a proposed prison sentence of up to 10 years. The report also recommends action against then-home secretary Gokarna Mani Dawadi, Armed Police Force chief Raju Aryal, former head of the National Investigation Department Hutaraj Thapa, and then-chief district officer of Kathmandu Chhabi Rijal, suggesting prosecution under Section 182 of the code. It further recommends that other officials found responsible be dealt with under the respective laws governing their organisations. In the case of Nepal Police Additional Inspector General and current Inspector General Dan Bahadur Karki, the report suggests a formal reprimand, which legal experts say could affect future promotions. Similarly, Armed Police Force official Narayan Dutta Poudel, who is in line for future leadership, has also been named for such a reprimand. impact on sectors such as energy, trade, and public welfare. Officials said the group also reviewed existing preparedness measures and discussed additional steps to mitigate emerging risks. Highlighting the uncertain global environment, Rajnath Singh emphasised the importance of vigilance and preparedness. “We must adopt a medium- to long-term preparedness strategy while ensuring swift decision-making,” he said, adding that policy measures should remain aligned and implemented within defined timelines. During the meeting, seven Empowered Groups of Secretaries (EGoS) presented detailed reports on sector-specific challenges and actions already underway. Discussions also focused on assessing the broader impact across industries to minimise disruptions. Meanwhile, issuing a detailed statement outlining its preparedness measures in response to the evolving situation in West Asia, the government said that energy supplies remain stable, maritime operations are functioning normally, and evacuation and assistance efforts for Indian nationals in the region are progressing without interruption. According to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, all domestic refineries are operating at high capacity, supported by adequate crude inventories and increased LPG production to meet heightened demand. As part of measures to reduce pressure on commercial LPG, states are being offered an additional 10 per cent commercial LPG allocation linked to reforms that promote PNG expansion. Commercial LPG allocation has been progressively restored to 70 per cent of pre-crisis levels. had “distorted even the name of the Matua community’s revered deity,”. The event marked the formal release of the BJP’s symbolic Janaganer Charge sheet (people’s charge sheet), which, according to party leaders, compiles allegations of corruption, administrative failures and erosion of democratic rights under 15 years of TMC rule. State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said the document was based on “ground realities of misgovernance and suppression of democratic institutions.” Presenting the charge sheet, Mr Shah said the upcoming election in Bengal was “not only crucial for the state but also linked to national security.” He alleged that while infiltration had been curbed in neighbouring Assam under BJP rule, Bengal had become the “only remaining corridor,” posing risks to the country’s security architecture. He further accused the TMC of fostering a political culture rooted in “fear, corruption, division, falsehood and violence” since 2011. “Industry has stagnated, development has slowed, and syndicate raj, cut-money practices and appeasement politics have made life difficult for ordinary citizens,” he said. PM Modi, Saudi Crown Prince hold talks on West Asia tensions STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 28 March Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman to discuss the escalating situation in West Asia and its broader implications for regional stability and global energy supplies. Sharing details of the conversation on X, Mr Modi said both leaders reviewed the ongoing conflict and stressed the importance of protecting key infrastructure. “Spoke with Crown Prince and PM of Saudi Arabia, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman and discussed the ongoing conflict in West Asia,” he said. Reaffirming India’s position, the Prime Minister underscored concerns over attacks targeting energy facilities amid rising tensions in the region. “I reiterated India’s condemnation of attacks on regional energy infrastructure,” he added. The two leaders also highlighted the importance of safeguarding critical maritime routes that are essential for global trade and energy movement. “We agreed on the need to ensure freedom of navigation and keeping shipping lines open and secure,” Mr Modi said. He also thanked the Saudi leadership for its support to the Indian community in the kingdom. “Thanked him for his continued support for the welfare of the Indian community in Saudi Arabia,” he added. PM inaugurates first phase of Noida Int’l Airport, calls for collective effort and unity amid crisis STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Jewar (Greater Noida), 28 March Calling for collective effort and national unity in the face of global challenges during the ongoing crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while inaugurating the first phase of Noida International Airport here on Saturday, said: “I am fully confident that all political parties will lend strength to the country's united efforts.” Expressing his pride and joy on the occasion, the Prime Minister said that the day marks a new chapter in the Viksit UP, Viksit Bharat Abhiyan. In his speech, the Prime Minister said he had spoken at length in Parliament and held detailed discussions with Chief Ministers on tackling the crisis arising from the ongoing conflict. Mr Modi appealed to the people to face this crisis with a calm mind and patience, calling it the greatest strength of Indians. Reiterating the government's stance, he said that what serves the interest of Indians and of India alone guides the policy and strategy of the Government of India." I am fully confident that all political parties will lend strength to the country's united efforts,” he stressed. Speaking about the current global situation, the Prime Minister observed that the entire world is deeply concerned today, with a war raging on in West Asia for over a month, creating crises of essential commodities, including food, petrol, diesel, gas, and fertilisers, in many countries. He noted that India imports a very large quantity of crude oil and gas from the conflict-affected region. “The government is taking every possible step to ensure that the burden of this crisis does not fall on ordinary families and farmers,” Mr Modi affirmed. He noted that India's largest state has now become one of the states with the highest number of international airports. PM Modi shared that he felt doubly proud, first, for having laid the foundation stone of this airport and now inaugurating it, and second, because the name of this grand airport is linked to Uttar Pradesh. “This is the state that chose me as its representative and made me a Member of Parliament, and its identity is now associated with this magnificent airport,” he remarked. Highlighting the far-reaching impact of the new airport, the Prime Minister said that the Noida airport will benefit a vast region encompassing Agra, Mathura, Aligarh, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Etawah, Bulandshahr, and Faridabad. He emphasised that the airport will bring numerous new opportunities for the farmers, small and medium enterprises, and the youth of western Uttar Pradesh. Elaborating on the history of the airport project, the Prime Minister recalled that the Jewar Airport was approved by Atal Behari Vajpayee as early as 2003. “And as soon as the current government was formed here, the foundation was laid, construction happened, and now it has started operations," the PM said.