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 LC | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI | Thursday, 11 June 2026 Nation was pushed into despair, inferiority complex during Congress rule: PM Modi NIKHIL VYAS New Delhi, 10 June P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the Congress, saying that one of the greatest achievements of the NDA's 12 years of governance is that the country Abhishek skips Kolkata return amid CID summons Kolkata: Trinamul Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee did not return to Kolkata with party chairperson Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday after their three-day visit to New Delhi, triggering fresh speculation over his next move in connection with the alleged signature forgery case being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). According to sources, Abhishek Banerjee had reached the Delhi airport and was initially scheduled to board the same flight as the former Chief Minister. However, he reportedly changed his plans at the last moment and decided to remain in Delhi. Page 2\ has broken free from the vicious cycle imposed by the grand old party. He was speaking at the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) conclave held at Bharat Mandapam in the national capital that marked 12 years of NDA rule and celebrated Mr Modi’s milestone of becoming the country's longest continuously serving elected Prime Minister. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister said: “Under Congress rule, the nation was pushed into despair and an inferiority complex. Citizens were led to believe that development could only occur slowly, with this stagnation cleverly labelled as the ‘Hindu New Delhi, 10 June With the Trinamul Congress navigating an unprecedented crisis following its defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections, the Mamata Banerjee-led party is reportedly weighing the option of a formal alliance with the Congress party. Both Mamata and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee, who are in the national capital, held meetings with top Congress leaders on Wednesday. While Mamata met UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, to discuss Article 370. We removed Article 370 and implemented the Constitution uniformly across the nation,” PM Modi asserted. He further said that in the past, violence in North-east India was rampant, but the government has restored peace and stability to the region. “Previously, India would endure terrorist attacks in silence. Now, we have responded with surgical and airstrikes against terrorists, showcasing India's resolve and strength to the world, as demonstrated in Operation Sindoor,” PM Modi stated. Earlier, the NDA leaders unanimously passed a formal resolution congratulating PM Modi on becoming the longest serving continuously elected Prime Minister of India at the NDA conclave. NDA Chief Ministers and leaders hailed PM Modi’s leadership which has transformed India’s developmental journey in the last twelve years. “We, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), express our heartfelt gratitude to the people of India and congratulate Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on becoming the longestserving democratically elected Prime Minister of India in consecutive terms,” the resolution said. “Today, on 10th June 2026, having completed 4,399 days in office, PM Modi surpasses a milestone that had stood for 62 years. In the intervening period, India witnessed 13 Prime Ministers, underscoring the exceptional nature of PM Modi’s accomplishment. He has won the confidence of the people repeatedly as his leadership is anchored in a deep commitment to fulfilling the aspirations (or Jan Akansha) of each and every Indian. His leadership epitomises delivery, accountability and integrity,” the resolution further said. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 10 June India on Wednesday summoned Jason Meeks, Chargé d’Affaires of the United States, to lodge a formal protest after a US attack on a mainly-Indian crewed commercial vessel off the coast of Oman. At least three Indians are missing after the commercial ship Settebello was hit in a US missile strike, while 21 Indians were rescued. This comes days after another ship, MT Marivex, was attacked with 24 Indian sailors on board. The MEA’s Additional Secretary (Americas) Nagaraj Naidu summoned the US Charge d'Affaires to protest the attack on the ship. “We condemn the attack on the commercial vessel Settebello off the coast of Oman, earlier today. Of the 24 Indian crew onboard, 21 Indians have been rescued thus far and three Indians are An image of the Settebello released by the US military. reportedly missing. Our Embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation,” the MEA said. It said that the continuing incidents of attacks on shipping in the region are deeply worrisome and reiterated its call for de-escalation, protection of commercial shipping, and restoration of safe navigation. The US military confirmed the attack, stating that an aircraft disabled the tanker by firing precision munitions into the engine room “after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with directions from American forces”. It said the vessel was attempting to transport oil from Iran. Cabinet portfolios announced: CM retains home, finance goes to Swapan Dasgupta, Tapas Roy gets industries STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 10 June The allocation of portfolios in the West Bengal government led by Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has been finalised after a series of consultations among the BJP central leadership, the state Chief Minister and state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya. The official notification detailing the distribution of departments was issued from Nabanna on Wednesday. TMC weighing option of alliance with Congress; ‘no question of merger’ STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Growth Rate.’ In reality, this term reflected the Congress work culture, its lack of responsibility, and repeated failures, while unfairly stigmatising the Hindu community.” “This period of poor governance should have been more accurately described as the ‘Congress Growth Rate’, characterised by an absence of effective governance, clear policy, genuine intent, and decisive action,” PM Modi stated. Talking about the key decisions taken during the NDA's 12 years of governance, the Prime Minister said the nation is greater than any political party, and when we work with the spirit of “Nation First” no decision is too difficult. “We have taken bold and thoughtful actions on decisions once deemed impossible but necessary for the country's secure future. Previous governments hesitated even 3 Indians missing after US attack on tanker; MEA protests Abhishek had a 90-minute, closed-door meeting with Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. Mrs Gandhi reportedly advised the beleaguered former Chief Minister not to become despondent and to continue her fight against the BJP. She also reportedly told Mamata that nothing new was happening in her party, as all political organisations experience dissensions when they lose elections. Mamata, for her part, said she was keen to ensure the Opposition puts up a united fight against the Narendra Modi government at the Centre. According to sources, there was no discussion between the TMC leadership and the Congress party regarding a formal merger of the TMC into the grand old party. TMC sources, dismissing speculations of a merger between the parties, said that there is no such plan and the recent discussions focussed only on strengthening the INDIA bloc coordination. Congress sources also said there has been no such proposal from either side, nor any discussions on the subject. Mamata has left the national capital for Kolkata. Meanwhile, TMC Rajya Sabha member Sushmita Dev resigned from the party and the Upper House today. She said she does not want to remain a member of the Rajya Sabha since she is no longer a TMC member, like Sukhendu Shekar Roy. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has retained the Home Department. He will also oversee the departments of Law and Justice, Land and Land Reforms, Power, Information and Culture, Refugee Relief and Rehabilitation, Personnel and Administrative Reforms, and Hill Affairs. Earlier on Wednesday, while visiting the Ram Temple in New Town, the Chief Minister publicly announced the appointment of physician Sharadwat Mukhopadhyay as the state's Health Minister. Veteran politician and Maniktala MLA Tapas Roy has been entrusted with the Industries and Commerce Department along with the Non-Conventional Energy portfolio. In a significant development, senior BJP leader Swapan Dasgupta has been appointed Finance Minister. Earlier speculation had suggested that the finance portfolio would remain with the Chief Minister, while Mr Dasgupta was expected to head Higher Education. However, the final allocation places Mr Dasgupta in charge of finance. Jagannath Chattopadhyay has been appointed Higher Education Minister, while former state BJP general secretary Deepak Barman will head the School Education Department. The move marks a departure from the BJP’s usual practice at the Centre and in several states, where the education portfolio is generally handled by a single minister. Party sources indicated that the decision reflects the importance the BJP leadership attaches to reforming West Bengal’s education system, particularly in the wake of recruitment-related controversies and concerns regarding curriculum and institutional standards. Both Jagannath Chattopadhyay and Deepak Barman are long-time members of the Sangh Parivar and are regarded as ideologically aligned with the party's educational vision. Shankar Ghosh, who had also been considered for an education portfolio, has been assigned the Tourism Department. Kalyan Chakraborty, an academic and agricultural scientist, has been given charge of Food Processing and Horticulture, Science and Technology, Biotechnology, Information Technology and Electronics. The portfolios of ministers sworn in alongside the Chief Minister on 9 May had already been allocated earlier. Dilip Ghosh will oversee Panchayats, Agricultural Marketing and Animal Resources Development. Ashok Kirtania has been assigned the Food and Supplies Department, while Khudiram Tudu will head Tribal Development. Agnimitra Paul, who had initially been given Urban Development and Municipal Affairs along with Women, Child and Social Welfare, will no longer oversee the latter department. Women, Child and Social Welfare has now been assigned to Minister of State (Independent Charge) Malati Rava Roy, who will also handle Self-Help Groups and Project Monitoring. Another Minister of State (Independent Charge), Indranil Khan, has been given the Sports and Youth Affairs Department, which was previously under Nishith Pramanik. He will also oversee Consumer Affairs. Nishith Pramanik will now be responsible for North Bengal Development and Water Resources Development. Arjun Singh has been entrusted with the Transport and Labour Departments, while veteran BJP leader and Mayureswar MLA Dudhkumar Mondal has been appointed Agriculture Minister. The remaining 35 members of the Adhikari Cabinet were sworn in on 1 June at Lok Bhavan. • See Page 3 PM eats ‘Jhal Muri’ once again, this time served by CM Adhikari as TMC rebel bloc set to join NDA JAYANTA ROY CHOWDHURY New Delhi, 10 June At a gathering of leaders from the National Democratic Alliance here on Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paused to enjoy a serving of ‘jhal muri’ offered by West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. Mr Modi’s public appearance with ‘jhal muri’ in hand comes about a month and half after he was seen eating the snack at a wayside shop in West Bengal’s Jhargram. Wednesday’s ‘Jhal muri’ episode symbolically underscores not only the victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Bengal but also the coming importance of Bengal within the NDA where rebel TMC MPs have formed a separate bloc and sought to join the BJP, buttressing the strength of the alliance which stands at 313 in the Lower House of Parliament. A list of the score or so MPs is being sent to the Lok Sabha Speaker, on Wednesday itself according to TMC leader Shatabdi Roy. Wednesday’s brief exchange between Mr Modi and Mr Adhikari with ‘jhal muri’ as the main bond, captured on video, has gone viral on social media. Behind the lighter moment, the NDA meeting was focused on the next phase of the BJP’s expansion across India, according to sources. Party leaders discussed how the organisation’s approach which has evolved from a highly visible, campaign driven politics of yesteryears to a quieter strategy focused on consolidation through a mix of governance, development and administrative delivery in states under its control. The conversation reflected a broader reassessment within the political grouping as it seeks to consolidate its position while expanding into regions where it has traditionally struggled to gain a foothold. Leaders examined electoral road maps for several states, including Punjab, where the BJP is increasingly seeking to establish itself as the principal alternative to both the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal. The discussions suggested that the BJP sees its future growth not merely in mobilising existing supporters, but in persuading new voters that it can serve as a credible governing alternative in states where regional and opposition parties have long dominated the political landscape.