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 Parl passes taxation bill to boost digital payments, investment An Islamic NATO Dhaka seeks Sheikh Hasina’s extradition: New Delhi: Amid fresh strain in ties over ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s virtual press meet in New Delhi, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka on Monday and reassured him of India’s commitment to strengthening ties with the neighbouring country. Bangladesh said it reiterated its demand for Sheikh Hasina’s extradition. Dhaka also sought the return of individuals it alleges were involved in the murder of Shahid Osman Hadi, one of the prominent figures behind the July uprising, who was shot at close range in December 2025. The Bangladesh PM emphasised the need to create a conducive environment to further advance ties between the two nations. 17kg lighter Sarfaraz Khan back in India contention NATION ‘Rahul shifting goalposts, does not want Parl to function’ Page 10 Page 12 Page 5 Page 6 BRIEFLY Tuesday, 11 August 2026 SPORTS BUSINESS EDITORIAL PAGE | JPSC-JSSC protesters reach Assembly, face police action SHASHI SINGH Ranchi, 10 August J PSC-JSSC protesters on Monday breached multiple police barricades and reached close to the Jharkhand Assembly during their proposed gherao, prompting police to use water cannons, tear gas and lathi-charge to disperse the demonstrators. A large number of students gathered near the old Assembly building before marching towards the new Assembly complex. Despite repeated attempts by the police to stop them, the protesters broke through barricades at several points and advanced towards the Assembly. The protesters eventually reached close to Gate No. 1 of the Assembly and continued raising slogans over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. Additional security forces were deployed around the Assembly premises. JPSC row: CID arrests ex-chairman Ranchi: The CID on Monday arrested former Jharkhand Public Service Commission chairman L Khiangte in connection with its investigation into alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations. Khiangte, a former chief secretary of Jharkhand, had earlier been questioned by the CID in connection with the case. The agency had conducted multiple rounds of questioning as part of its probe into alleged irregularities in the conduct of JPSC examinations. The arrest comes amid an intensified student agitation in Ranchi. Police used water cannons and later fired tear gas shells as the protesters attempted to breach the security cordon. Some students were injured during the police action and received medical assistance near the protest site. Ranchi Rural Superintendent of Police Gaurav Goswami said minimum force was used on the protestors after they attempted to cross the final barricade. He said the police continued to engage with the students while taking measures to maintain law and order. Student leader Devendra Nath Mahto, who has been on a hunger strike for nine days, also joined the Assembly march. He reached the protest site in an ambulance and participated in the march on a stretcher. Mahto alleged that the government was attempting to suppress the students' voice and criticised the use of barricades, water cannons and tear gas. He said the agitation had now taken the form of a people’s movement and would continue until the students’ demands were addressed. “The word ‘youth’ in reverse is ‘wind,’ and nobody can stop the wind,” he said, warning that the agitation would intensify if the government failed to accept students’ demands. The Assembly gherao came a day after the second round of talks between the government and the JPSC-JSSC Reform Manch failed to produce a final settlement. The government had agreed to cancel the 14th JPSC Preliminary Examination and the 2023 and 2025 JPSC backlog examinations. Parliament deadlock: Govt ready for debate on student protests, Oppn insists on Ram Mandir issue VIBHA SHARMA New Delhi, 10 August Responding to the persistent demand from Opposition parties for a statement from Home Minister Amit Shah on police action against students protesting at Jantar Mantar last month, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday said the government was ready for a debate and discussion in the Lok Sabha. However, Rijiju also said the Opposition should assure the government that it would not disrupt proceedings and would listen peacefully during the discussion. The decision followed a meeting of the Lok Sabha Business Advisory Committee (BAC), where a united Opposition reportedly said that no business would be transacted unless Shah responded to the issue. The Opposition also demanded a debate on alleged theft and mismanagement involving the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya. During the BAC meeting, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla made an emotional appeal to floor leaders, urging them to allow Parliament to function. “For democracy, for the people, please cooperate. Let the House function,” sources quoted Birla as saying. After the meeting, Rijiju said: “We have made it very clear that Home Minister Amit Shah will not only make a statement but also respond to the entire debate and discussion. We have already stated in the BAC meeting that the government is fully prepared for a comprehensive discussion on the student protests and is ready to address every single point. The Opposition should not create a ruckus or disrupt proceedings,” Rijiju said. “Now, there appear to be some differences between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party, which they need to resolve. As for the student issue, we are ready for a discussion. We have stated our position. Now it is up to the Samajwadi Party and the Congress to sort out their differences,” he added. On the Ram Mandir issue, Rijiju said the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Uttar Pradesh government was already conducting an inquiry.