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 | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI ‘Delhi Assembly is showing the way’ Trump announces Hamas disarmament deal NATION Om Birla cautions MPs against banners, costumes in LS Page 9 PM Modi, UK PM Burnham pledge to deepen strategic ties New Delhi, 31 July S Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said he had a telephonic conversation with newly-elected United Kingdom Prime Minister Andy Burnham. During the call, the two leaders agreed to deepen cooperation across sectors and fully leverage the opportunities created by the recently operationalised India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). “Delighted to speak with Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Andy Burnham. Congratulated him on assuming office and conveyed my best wishes for a successful tenure,” Mr Modi said in a post on social media platform X. Mr Modi said both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to expanding the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership by strengthening collaboration in key areas including technology, innovation, defence, security, clean energy and education. He also said India and the United Kingdom would work closely to maximise the benefits of the recently operationalised India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, focusing on boosting trade, investment and economic growth in both countries. ix years after Intelligence Bureau (IB) officer Ankit Sharma was killed during the 2020 north-east Delhi riots, a Delhi court on Friday sentenced former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillor Tahir Hussain (photo) and four others to life imprisonment. The court observed that “the barbarity with which this horrendous crime was committed is nauseating and sickening,” while ruling that the convicts were not beyond reformation and therefore did not deserve the death penalty. Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh of the Karkardooma Court sentenced Hussain, along with Nazir, Asim, Javed and Anas, after convicting them of murder and other offences under the Indian Penal Code, including rioting, promoting enmity between groups, unlawful assembly, kidnapping and disobedience of prohibitory orders. Rejecting the Delhi Police’s plea for capital punishment, the court ruled that although the murder was exceptionally brutal, the prosecution had failed to establish that the convicts were beyond reform. Describing the circumstances surrounding Sharma’s death, the court said: “The savagery did not end there. Instead, the body was strapped like an MEA: Govt has secured release of 139 Indians working for Russian Army Back in Bengal Exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasrin arrives at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata on Friday, marking her return to the city after nearly 20 years. BISWAJIT GHOSHAL New Delhi: The government on Friday said it has succeeded in securing the release of 139 Indian nationals who were working with the Russian Army. “We have been following up with the Russian side for the release of the remaining Indian nationals in the Russian Army. So far, our efforts have led to the release of 139 Indian nationals. We continue to pursue the release of the remaining two dozen Indian nationals who are reportedly in the Russian Army,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. He also cautioned Indian nationals against job offers that are fraught with risk and made by unscrupulous individuals and agencies. Hockey India chief Tirkey says saffron jersey switch approved without Executive Board’s knowledge STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 31 July Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey (photo) on Friday questioned the decision to replace the Indian hockey team’s traditional blue jersey with a saffron kit for the upcoming FIH Hockey World Cup, saying the move was implemented without the knowledge or approval of the federation’s Executive Board. In emails sent to senior office-bearers and Executive Board members on Friday, Mr Tirkey said the decision was taken without being discussed by the elected leadership. A screenshot of one of the emails has since surfaced on social media. “I wish to bring to your attention the recent change in the colour of the Indian national team's jersey. This decision appears to have been taken and implemented without being placed before Page 16 Tahir Hussain gets life term for Ankit killing STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 31 July Tripura judoka Asmita Dey wins historic gold Page 12 Page 12 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Saturday, 01 August 2026 SPORTS SATURDAY INTERVIEW WORLD | the Executive Board for discussion and without my prior knowledge,” Mr Tirkey wrote. He clarified that his objection was not to the saffron jersey itself but to the process through which the decision was made. “...a decision of this significance, involving the identity and representation of our national team, should ideally have been discussed with the elected leadership and the Executive Board before implementation,” he said. “The matter has since attracted considerable media attention and, unfortunately, political interpretation in certain quarters. With the World Cup approaching, I have publicly clarified that the change was purely a sporting decision so that the focus remains on the team and its preparations,” he wrote. The issue has also drawn criticism from former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who has been instrumental in the growth of Indian hockey. Mr Patnaik questioned the decision to move away from the iconic blue jersey and alleged that it was an attempt to politicise a national sporting symbol. Mr Tirkey further revealed that the Odisha government had sought an explanation over the matter. In a separate email to Hockey India Executive Director Commander Srivastava, Tirkey directed that a detailed note explaining the jersey change be circulated to all Executive Board members by 5 p.m. on 31 July. The communication sought details on “The background and rationale for changing the traditional colour of the Indian national team jersey. The authority under which the decision was taken and the process followed in arriving at the decision including the officers, committees or other persons involved.” animal as if the hatred had still not been satiated. The body was then thrown into the nallah (drain). The barbarity with which this horrendous crime was committed, is nauseating and sickening. Therefore this is an aggravating circumstance of immense magnitude... The crime test, thus, tilts the case towards the rarest of rare cases.” However, while acknowledging the gravity of the offence, the judge held that the evidence did not justify imposing the death sentence. “It has also not been shown that any of the convicts were previously involved in any violent crime. The conduct of convicts, Tahir Hussain, Nazir, Asim, Javed and Anas, while in custody, except for minor infractions, has been entirely satisfactory. This indicates that they can be disciplined and made to follow rules,” the court observed. On that basis, the court concluded that the possibility of reformation could not be ruled out and awarded life imprisonment to all five convicts. The Delhi Police argued that Sharma’s murder was a calculated killing deserving maximum punishment. Sharma, a 26year-old Intelligence Bureau security assistant, was killed on 25 February 2020, during the communal riots that engulfed Delhi following clashes between supporters and opponents of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act. India asks int’l community to hold Pak accountable for atrocities in PoK: New Delhi: India on Friday strongly condemned the “ruthless use of force” by the Pakistani establishment against civilians in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and asked the international community to scrutinise Islamabad’s actions. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the Pakistani crackdown has resulted in the death of over 40 people. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “It is the establishment’s absolute disdain for the innocent people of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir that was laid bare when their Defence Minister branded the protesting civilians as enemies.”