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 | SILIGURI | Wednesday, 22 April 2026 SPORTS WORLD Kharge’s remark on PM sparks row; Congress chief clarifies When identity becomes destiny 14 killed, several injured in blast at fireworks unit in Kerala : Thiruvananthapuram: At least fourteen people were killed and over 40 are injured on Tuesday in a powerful explosion at a firecracker manufacturing unit at Mundathikode near Thrissur in Kerala. The accident occurred during preparations for the fireworks display at the Pooram to be held on Sunday. Initial reports suggest that more than forty people have been injured. There are reports that many of them are in serious condition. The injured have been shifted to Thrissur Medical College Hospital and other Hospitals in Thrissur. The condition of six people is reportedly critical. State Health Minister Veena George has directed that all possible treatment be provided to the injured. The accident took place at the fireworks shed of Thiruvambadi fireworks licensee Mundathikode Satheesh. (Page 8) Page 10 Tamil Nadu, West Bengal Phase 1 campaigning ends VIBHA SHARMA New Delhi, 21 April C ampaigning for the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and Phase-1 in West Bengal ended on Tuesday, with top political leaders holding highpitched rallies and making last-minute appeals ahead of the 48-hour silence period before voting on 23 April. Tamil Nadu and West Bengal ~ two politically complex states with strong regional identities ~ are key battlegrounds where the BJP is seeking a breakthrough in 2026. Strict security measures are in place. All 234 constituencies in Tamil Nadu will vote in a single phase in a contest primarily between the DMK-led alliance and the AIADMK-BJP alliance, with actor Vijay’s TVK adding another dimension to the multi-cornered contest. In West Bengal, 152 of 294 seats across 16 districts will vote in Phase 1, while the remaining 142 constituencies will go to the polls on 29 April. The main contest is between the ruling TMC, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and the BJP. The campaign there has seen considerable drama, including over issues related to voter rolls and SIR. The Congress and Left parties are also in the fray, but West Bengal is largely being seen as a one-on-one between the regional satrap and the national party, with the BJP leaving no stone unturned in its all-out push to unseat the TMC. The BJP has never been in power in either state and the 2026 outcome can have farreaching consequences for national politics as well as the two regional players. Counting of votes for both states will take place on 4 May, along with results for Assembly elections in Assam, Kerala, and Puducherry. In the 2021 Bengal elections, the incumbent TMC won by a landslide despite predictions of a close race, with the BJP becoming the official Opposition with 77 seats. Contesting solo Cong moves privilege notice against PM for ‘partisan’ address STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 21 April The Congress on Tuesday sharpened its offensive against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with senior leader Jairam Ramesh announcing that the party has moved a question of privilege in the Lok Sabha over his recent address to the nation. In a statement, Ramesh said his “senior colleague in the Lok Sabha,” KC Venugopal, had submitted the notice, alleging that the Prime Minister’s remarks came after what he described as the “defeat of his nefarious designs in the Lok Sabha” due to “absolute Opposition unity and solidarity.” IN A STATEMENT, JAIRAM RAMESH SAID HIS “SENIOR COLLEAGUE IN THE LOK SABHA,” KC VENUGOPAL, HAD SUBMITTED THE NOTICE, ALLEGING THAT THE PRIME MINISTER’S REMARKS CAME AFTER WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS THE “DEFEAT OF HIS NEFARIOUS DESIGNS IN THE LOK SABHA” DUE TO “ABSOLUTE OPPOSITION UNITY AND SOLIDARITY.” Taking aim at the tone of the speech, Mr Ramesh argued that such addresses are meant to rise above partisan considerations. “A sitting PM’s address to the nation has always been reserved for the overriding purpose of national unity and confidence-building,” he said. He further accused Mr Modi of engaging in “unabashed partisan demagoguery,” claiming the address contained “59 different attacks on the Congress party,” and said it would remain “yet another permanent stain on his record as Prime Minister.” The development comes amid political tensions between the Congress and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, with both sides trading sharp accusations over parliamentary conduct and public messaging. While the Congress has alleged misuse of official plat- New Delhi, 21 April Amid the ongoing global disruptions due to the Iran war, the United Nations has revised India's growth outlook saying the country is projected to grow at 6.4 per cent this year and 6.6 per cent in 2027. Inflation for the country is projected to be 4.4 per cent this year and 4.3 per cent in 2027. The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) said in a report said the economies in South and South-West Asia grew by 5.4 per cent in 2025, compared to 5.2 per cent in 2024, driven largely by strong growth in India. India's growth edged up to 7.4 per cent in 2025, supported by robust consumption, especially from the rural economy along with goods and services tax rate cuts, and export frontloading ahead THE UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (ESCAP) SAID IN A REPORT THE ECONOMIES IN SOUTH AND SOUTH-WEST ASIA GREW BY 5.4 PER CENT IN 2025, COMPARED TO 5.2 PER CENT IN 2024, DRIVEN LARGELY BY STRONG GROWTH IN INDIA. INDIA'S GROWTH EDGED UP TO 7.4 PER CENT IN 2025, SUPPORTED BY ROBUST CONSUMPTION, ESPECIALLY FROM THE RURAL ECONOMY ALONG WITH GOODS AND SERVICES TAX RATE CUTS, AND EXPORT FRONTLOADING AHEAD OF THE UNITED STATES' TARIFFS, THE REPORT SAID. of the United States' tariffs, the report said. In 2025, the economic activities moderated in the second half of 2025 as exports to the United States declined by 25 per cent following the introduction of 50 per cent tariffs in August 2025. On the Foreign Direct and leveraging anti-incumbency through grassroots campaigns centred on illegal immigration and national security against the ruling TMC, this time the BJP added another election plank ~ Opposition “resistance” to the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill ~ which the party has used in both West Bengal and Tamil Nadu to target the TMC and the DMK. In 2021, the DMK led by M.K. Stalin swept Tamil Nadu, winning 133 seats on its own. The DMK, along with Congress and other partners in the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), secured 159 out of 234 seats. The key question, therefore, is: Will the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Bihar formula’ can work against two strong regional leaders ~ Mamata Banerjee and M.K. Stalin ~ in states with entrenched political traditions. Will the Prime Minister’s “jhalmuri magic” work in Bengal? New Delhi, 21 April forms for political attacks, the BJP has consistently defended the Prime Minister’s outreach as part of his communication with citizens and dismissed the Opposition’s criticism as politically motivated. Investments, the UN report said the FDI inflows to developing Asian and Pacific economies declined amid trade tensions and geopolitical uncertainty. FDI inflows increased by 0.6 per cent in 2024, and declined by 2 per cent in 2025, even as global flows increased by 14 per cent. According to the UN report, the largest share of greenfield FDI in the first three quarters were India, Australia, the Republic of Korea and Kazakhstan with $50 billion, $30 billion, $25 billion and $21 billion. Personal remittances, sent by Asian and Pacific workers employed outside of their home countries, continued to rise. In India and the Philippines, about 40 per cent of the transfers are used for essential spending, including medical expenses, of recipient households, the report added. However, India could face a sizeable loss as the United States has levied a 1 per cent tax on all remittances since January 2026. ‘Goodbye Didi’: Shah signals regime change in Bengal BISWABRATA GOSWAMI Chandipur, 21 April Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday mounted an aggressive, multi-pronged attack on the ruling Trinamul Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal, using a charged campaign speech in Chandipur to frame the upcoming Assembly election as a decisive battle over “security, identity and governance,” while rolling out a mix of polarising rhetoric and expansive welfare promises. Addressing what he described as the “last rally of the first phase,” Mr Shah declared that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s tenure had “run its course,” asserting that the electorate was ready to usher in a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government. His speech, punctuated by slogans of “Jai Shri Ram” and “Vande Mataram,” sought to consolidate support by invoking nationalism, religious identity, and alleged administrative failures of the state government. Escalating his rhetoric, the Union Home Minister repeatedly targeted the TMC over infiltration, claiming that Bengal’s borders had been left “open” and promising that a BJP government would “seal the borders within 45 days.” He alleged that infiltrators were taking away jobs and resources, while also accusing the ruling party of enabling demographic and cultural threats ~ claims that have remained central to the BJP’s Bengal narrative. Mr Shah also sharpened his attack on what he termed the “syndicate raj” and “cut money culture,” alleging that ordinary citizens were forced to pay extortion for basic construction materials. He urged voters to back the BJP to dismantle these networks, warning that action would follow swiftly if his party came to power. Among a broad slate of welfare assurances aimed at key voter groups, Mr Shah promised monthly financial assistance of Rs 3,000 for women and unemployed youth, enhanced support for farmers, and increased pensions for the elderly, widows and the differently-abled. He also pledged large-scale job creation, claiming that a BJP government would generate up to five lakh government jobs over five years, alongside new national institutions such as AIIMS, IIT and IIM in Bengal. India maintains lower fuel prices than neighbours amid global volatility: Centre STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE India to grow at 6.4 per cent this year, 6.6 per cent in 2027: United Nations’ ESCAP STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Page 12 PERSPECTIVE Page 8 BRIEFLY Time in the middle was key: Tilak after maiden IPL ton halts MI’s losing run Page 7 NATION US, Iran signal new ceasefire talks in Islamabad as truce nears end The Centre on Tuesday stated that India continues to maintain relatively lower fuel prices compared to neighbouring countries despite the rise in global crude oil and LPG prices. Addressing an inter-ministerial briefing in the national capital on recent developments in West Asia, Sujata Sharma, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, said that despite sharp increases and volatility in global prices, India has managed to keep domestic fuel prices comparatively lower than Rajasthan: NIA probes refinery fire day before PM’s visit: Jaipur: The Union Home Ministry has taken seriously the incident of fire in the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) of the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery (HRRL) in Pachpadra on Monday that forced the postponement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit for the inauguration of the mega plant on Tuesday. According to official sources here the Ministry of Home Affair (MHA) has decided to send a special "factfinding team of the Ministry's officers" to the refinery to look into the causes and the circumstances of the fire even as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has initiated a probe in the incident at the newly built refinery-cum-petrochemic al complex, which is the largest of its kind in the country. A team of NIA officials landed in Pachpadra by a BSF helicopter Tuesday afternoon and proceeded to the incident site at the CDU unit of the plant. (Page 5) those of its neighbours. “Our prices among neighbouring countries are among the lowest,” she said. Highlighting the impact of the West Asia crisis, Ms Sharma noted that global energy markets have turned volatile, with the Indian crude basket rising from about $63 per barrel in January to $113 in March and approximately $116 in April. Despite this surge, domestic LPG supply remains stable with no reported shortages. She added that commercial LPG supply has recovered to around 70 per cent, with 1.23 lakh tonnes sold in the last 20 days and 8,822 tonnes supplied in a single day. Ms Sharma further stated that domestic PNG supply and CNG transport continue to remain stable, with over 5.68 lakh new PNG connections added and more than 39,400 consumers shifting from LPG. “More than 39,400 PNG consumers have surrendered their LPG connections. Retail supply is normal. No dry-outs of any product have been reported at petrol pumps. Our prices remain among the lowest compared to neighbouring countries,” she said. “Retail fuel supply remains normal with no shortages. Around 1,000 tonnes per day of C3 and C4 molecules are being supplied, and about 4,400 tonnes of propylene have been sold since 9 April,” she added.