FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 16 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA LC | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR Trust deficit biggest challenge: PM STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 16 June P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday called for rebuilding trust in international relations, telling world leaders at the G7 Summit's Outreach Session in Evian, France, that the world today is grappling not with a shortage of resources but with a growing deficit of trust, and that the future of global partnerships depends on restoring confidence and solidarity among nations. Addressing the session on ‘Forging New Partnerships and Rebuilding International Solidarity’, Mr Modi said that in an increasingly interconnected and interdependent world, meaningful partnerships can succeed only when they are founded on mutual trust. “Mutual trust is the most important strategic asset today,” the Prime Minister said. “But, sadly, today, the world does not suffer from a shortage of resources; it suffers from a shortage of trust. And the future of our partnerships depends on rebuilding this trust.” His remarks came at a time when the international community is confronting multiple crises, including geopolitical conflicts, economic uncertainty, climate challenges, supply-chain disruptions and growing divisions between developed and developing nations. Against this backdrop, Mr Modi argued that global cooperation must be anchored in trust, inclusivity and respect for the aspirations of all countries. PM Modi also addressed the deaths of Indian seafarers Mamata Banerjee moves Calcutta HC challenging Assembly election results STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 16 June Trinamul Congress chairperson and former chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday moved the Calcutta High Court, challenging the Assembly election results of the Bhowanipore constituency. She reached the High Court on Tuesday afternoon and filed an election petition, challenging the victory of Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari in the seat. She was accompanied by Trinamul MLA Kunal Ghosh and party leader Dola Sen. She was present at the High Court for a brief time and left after filing the petition. In this year’s Assembly elections, Miss Banerjee was defeated by Suvendu Adhikari in Bhowanipore by a margin of 15,105 votes. Kalyan Banerjee, counsel for Miss Banerjee, told newspersons that she was challenging the Bhowanipore results because the counting of votes in the constituency was manipulated after the completion of 12 rounds. Also, Mr Banerjee said, the person who was the returning officer in the 2021 Assembly polls for Nandigram Assembly Constituency where Miss Banerjee was defeated by Suvendu Adhikari, had been tasked with the job of returning officer at Bhowanipore for this year’s elections. Further, Miss Banerjee and her election agents were beaten and thrown out, Mr Banerjee said. in a US military strike in the Persian Gulf during his address to the G7 leaders, which included US President Donald Trump. “We welcome the progress made in peace efforts in West Asia. This conflict has caused loss of life and property in our friendly countries in the region. Disruptions to maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz have adversely affected the global economy,” the PM said. "Several Indian civilians have also lost their lives. The safety of seafarers, who connect nations through global maritime trade, is our responsibility. We must ensure that sea routes New Delhi, 16 June The Central government on Tuesday banned the over-the-counter (OTC) sale of syrup-based medicines, including cough syrups, without a doctor's prescription. The change comes after the government amended the Drugs Rules, 1945, through the Drugs (Fifth Amendment) Rules, 2026, notified on 9 June. The move is aimed at strengthening regulatory control over the manufacture, sale and distribution of syrup formulations. The amendment removed the word “syrups” from a category of exempted drugs under Schedule K. Schedule K lists categories of medicines that are exempt from certain provisions of Chapter IV of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, governing their manufacture, sale and distribution, subject to specified conditions. These exemptions were originally introduced to facilitate easier access to certain medicines by relaxing some compliance requirements under defined circumstances. With the omission of syrups from the list, such medicines will now be subject to the applicable regulatory requirements. Consumers will now need a valid prescription from a registered medical practitioner to purchase such medications. Furthermore, before the amendment, the provision allowed cough syrups to be sold in villages with a population of less than 1,000 without requiring compliance with certain retail sale licensing norms. With the latest change, the exemption will no longer apply to cough syrups. Accordingly, the sale and dispensing of cough syrups in LUCKNOW | SILIGURI | Wednesday, 17 June 2026 CM Adhikari targets Mamata in Kurseong, says she neglected hills MANAS R BANNERJEE Siliguri, 16 June Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee while addressing a large public gathering at Monteviot Ground in Kurseong, accusing her government of neglecting the Darjeeling Hills, the Terai and Dooars regions and the tea garden economy of North Bengal. Addressing the gathering, Mr Adhikari contrasted his visit to the hills with those of his predecessor. “The former Chief Minister used to come to the hills as a tourist. I have come here within months of assuming office to work, to deliver development and to fulfil the aspirations of the people of the hills,” he said. The Chief Minister alleged that Miss Banerjee had little interest in the development of the hills because the region did not traditionally vote for her party. “The people of the hills have waited for years for change and development. Ahead of NEET re-test, govt blocks Telegram to curb leak rumours and cheating frauds MUSKAN BHATIA New Delhi, 16 June The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has temporarily suspended access to the Telegram app in India until 22 June, as fresh rumours of a paper leak linked to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test - Undergraduate (NEET-UG) re-examination surfaced recently. The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday welcomed the decision taken by the government as a precautionary measure to curb examination-associated malpractices less than a week before the re-test of the national-level medical exam, scheduled on 21 June. The original exam conducted on 3 June this year was cancelled following the widespread allegations of a question paper leak. Govt bans over-the-counter sale of cough syrups, doc’s prescription mandatory STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE remain secure and that seafarers can carry out their work without fear," he added. In his address, Mr Modi said development initiatives are most effective when they are closely linked to the needs and aspirations of people. He noted that this philosophy has shaped several major international initiatives launched or supported by India in recent years, such as the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, the Global Biofuels Alliance, Mission LiFE and the environmental campaign ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ (A Tree for Mother). The Prime Minister stressed that genuine partnerships should empower nations to chart their own development paths rather than create long-term dependencies. Highlighting India's approach to development cooperation, PM Modi said New Delhi's efforts have consistently focussed on capacity building, skill development and strengthening local capabilities in partner countries. Such initiatives, he noted, are designed to create sustainable growth and self-reliance rather than temporary assistance. Earlier in the day, PM Modi and President Trump shared a closely watched handshake and brief exchange as world leaders gathered for the opening session and traditional family photograph of the 52nd G7 Summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. Prime Minister Modi and President Trump will on Wednesday hold their first formal bilateral meeting in nearly sixteen months on the sidelines of the summit. | villages will now be allowed through licensed pharmacies in accordance with the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the Drugs Rules, 1945. The Health Ministry said the amendment has been introduced to strengthen regulatory oversight of syrup formulations and align the exemption framework with current public health and safety requirements. It said the measure is expected to promote responsible distribution and sale of cough syrups while ensuring greater compliance with regulatory standards across the country. The ministry advised manufacturers, distributors, and retailers dealing in cough syrups to ensure strict adherence to all applicable licensing and regulatory requirements under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and the Drugs Rules. In a statement, the NTA said that the government has directed the app to disable the message-editing feature of the app for previously posted messages until 30 June. This measure was aimed at preventing the abuse of the platform to fabricate the “paper leak” evidence after the conduct of the exam, stated the agency. The agency further added that both measures have been taken in the “interest of public order, in response to the organised use of the platform by cheating rackets to defraud candidates.” Investigations by NTA, Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), and state police forces have found Telegram channels, groups and bots, spreading fraudulent claims regarding access to NEET UG papers and misleading candidates, which Their aspirations will now be fulfilled,” he said. Claiming that the atmosphere in the hills had changed, Mr Adhikari said: “There is no fear in the hills anymore. Fear is out. Trust has returned. The BJP government is a government people can rely upon.” Referring to the devastating landslides that struck the hills in 2025, the Chief Minister alleged that Miss Banerjee had failed to visit the affected areas and remained occupied with the Durga Puja Carnival in Kolkata. He further accused the previous government of obstructing the implementation of welfare initiatives for tea garden workers. New Delhi, 16 June have been taken down by the government, noted the officials from the agency. In a statement, NTA stated that over the recent weeks, channels operating openly on the platform under names such as PAPER LEAKED NEET”, “Re-NEET 2026”, “Private Mafia”, “REE NEET MAFIAA” allegedly demanded amounts ranging from a few thousand to several lakhs of rupees from candidates and their families, in exchange for purported access to the re-examination paper. The agency reiterated that there is no such paper available outside the secured examination chain. “The promise of any such material is, in every instance, a fraud,” it added. • More reports: Pgs 2,3,4 TCS to pay $70 million after setback in US legal dispute STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Members of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI) stage a protest over the alleged NEET paper leak issue outside the National Testing Agency (NTA) office in New Delhi in May. FILE PHOTO Mr Adhikari alleged that the Prime Minister’s welfare scheme for tea garden workers could not be implemented in the tea estates of the Hills, Terai and Dooars due to opposition from the previous state government. Drawing a comparison with Assam, he said that while the neighbouring state had implemented tea garden welfare projects worth Rs 370 crore, similar benefits had not reached North Bengal. Highlighting the crisis in the tea industry, he said that 25 tea gardens in North Bengal remain closed, including 12 in the Darjeeling Hills. He announced that a Rs 330-crore package would be implemented under the PM Cha Samriddhi Yojana to address the problems of closed tea gardens and support affected workers. The Chief Minister also announced recruitment of 1,000 personnel in the Eastern Frontier Rifles (EFR), with 30 per cent reservation for women candidates. IT services major Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) on Tuesday said it will make an additional provision of $70 million towards damages, interest and legal costs after the United States Supreme Court declined to review a lower court judgment in its long-running legal dispute with Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC), now known as DXC Technology. In a regulatory filing, the company said the US Supreme Court denied its petition for a writ of certiorari seeking a review of the judgment passed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on 15 June. The latest development marks another setback for TCS in the litigation involving DXC Technology. TCS said it had already provided $150 million in relation to the matter in its books of accounts in accordance with applicable accounting standards. Following the Supreme Court's decision, the company will now make an additional provision of $70 million towards damages, interest and legal costs as a one-time exceptional expense in the first quarter of FY2026-27. The company had earlier updated investors on the case through regulatory filings in June 2024 and November 2025. Earlier, TCS had suffered a legal setback after the Fifth Circuit upheld a damages award of $194.2 million and ruled in favour of CSC in a long-running trade secrets dispute.