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 | Saturday, 29 August 2026 SPORTS EDITORIAL Water divide NATION SATURDAY INTERVIEW BJP’s ‘upper-caste’ dilemma: Nadda woos anti-quota protesters ‘Iran will continue to resist’ Page 6 Page 7 Page 5 BRIEFLY Nagendra resigns as minister, offers to step down as an MLA: Bengaluru: Karnataka Congress MLA B. Nagendra on Friday announced his resignation from the State Cabinet and offered to step down as an MLA, challenging BJP leaders to face him before the people and prove their allegations in the Valmiki Corporation controversy. Nagendra said he was voluntarily submitting his resignation to Chief Minister D K Shivakumar solely to ensure that the controversy did not cause embarrassment to the Congress party or hamper the functioning and development agenda of the government. “I am ready to sacrifice even my MLA position. Come, let us go to the Janata court. If I am at fault, I will lose,” Nagendra said. Praggnanandhaa becomes first Indian to win Grand Chess Tour title Page 12 Nepal flood toll crosses 550, 320 Indians still missing NIKHIL VYAS New Delhi, 28 August T he death toll from devastating flash floods in Nepal rose to over 550 on Friday as search and rescue operations entered their third day, while 320 Indian nationals remained out of contact. India has also further stepped up its humanitarian assistance to the neighbouring nation. According to reports from Kathmandu, the death toll from flash floods in Nepal rose to 553 on Friday and 977 people remain missing, while search and rescue operations continue in the affected areas. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in New Delhi that 320 Indian nationals remained out of contact following the deadly floods in Nepal, while 400 Indian nationals on the Chinese side were safe. Addressing a media briefing here, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India is sending a third aircraft carrying relief supplies for the neighbouring nation on Friday evening. The flight would carry 12-13 tonnes of essential supplies, including portable generators, dignity kits, food, water purification tablets and medicines, based on requirements conveyed by the Nepali side. He said 84 Indian nationals, including 63 who were working on the Trishuli-1 hydropower project, have been rescued so far. In addition, 96 Indian nationals who were stranded on the Chinese side have safely crossed into Nepal by land. The floods, believed to have been triggered by an avalanche on a transboundary river between Nepal and China upstream of the Bhote Koshi River, left a trail of destruction along the river banks downstream, sweeping away human settlements, roads, hydropower projects and transmission infrastructure. “First good news, 21 Indian nationals who had yesterday arrived in Kathmandu from the area that was affected by this flood, have today landed in Delhi. They have just landed. These 21 Indian nationals are from Tamil Nadu and they arrived by Indigo flight which just landed in Delhi. Yesterday our Ambassador had met them in Kathmandu and inquired about their well-being. In addition to these 21 Indian nationals, yesterday I had informed you, we had given you an update about 63 Indian nationals who are working at Trishuli-1 hydropower project, they were also rescued yesterday,” Mr Jaiswal said. “In addition to these 21 and 63, we have learnt that 96 Indian nationals who were stranded on the Chinese side have safely crossed into Nepal by land and efforts are underway to have them evacuated. We shall be sharing with you details about them as and when we have more information about the particulars etc,” he added. • Related report: Page 9 Penguin India clarifies Nitin Nabin kick-starts preparations for 2027 on Sonia memoir row elections with first meeting of general secretaries STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 28 August Penguin Random House India has confirmed that it is not the publisher in India of Congress leader Sonia Gandhi’s memoir Belonging, while dismissing media reports which claimed that the publishing house had withdrawn from releasing the book in the country because Mrs Gandhi rejected proposed editorial changes. “Penguin Random House India is not the publisher of Belonging in India. Any suggestion that Penguin Random House India decided not to publish Belonging because the author declined editorial changes does not accurately reflect the circumstances,” Penguin said in a statement. The publisher said it’s still “keen to publish the book”, while observing that fact-checking and suggesting editorial changes are both its prerogative and its responsibility. “This is a normal part of the publishing process. Throughout the relevant discussions, Penguin Random House India’s position was that we remained willing and keen to publish the book. We will not comment further on confidential discussions with the author,” the statement said. Mrs Gandhi has not released a statement on the issue. The memoir chronicles Sonia Gandhi’s remarkable journey, from her childhood in post-war Italy and her romance that brought her to India to the devastating personal losses that profoundly shaped her life and her relationship with her adopted country. Publisher Alfred A Knopf had announced on 18 August that Mrs Gandhi’s memoir, ‘Belonging: A Journey of Love’, will be published on 10 November. Alfred A Knopf is an imprint of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, which is a division of Penguin Random House, LLC. Their parent company is Bertelsmann AG, the international media company. VIBHA SHARMA New Delhi, 28 August BJP president Nitin Nabin on Thursday chaired his first meeting of the newly appointed general secretaries, focusing on the party’s poll plans for the upcoming Assembly elections in 2027. “Held detailed discussions on organisational preparations and the roadmap for the upcoming Assembly elections in various states,” Nabin said in a post following the meeting during which deliberations were held on preparations, particularly in high-stakes states such as Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, according to sources. Year 2027 will see elections in seven states~ Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur, Goa, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. The BJP is currently in power in five of these seven states ~ Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Goa ~ while the Aam Aadmi Party governs Punjab and the Congress rules Himachal Pradesh. The upcoming elections will be the first major test for Mr Nabin and his new team in a changed political atmosphere, with issues concerning youth and Gen Z, as well as growing discontent among ‘savarna’, or upper-caste, communities, potentially posing challenges for the saffron party, particularly in a key state such as Uttar Pradesh. Largely, the BJP is facing a mix of common and state-specific challenges ~ youth concerns, particularly unemployment, education and job opportunities. Amid student protests across the country, the Narendra Modi government is planning what could be one of its most extensive and innovative outreach efforts targeting Gen Z, a demographic whose support could help shape the political narrative in the elections ahead. Ahead of key Assembly polls in 2027 and 2028, followed by the big one ~ the 2029 General Election ~ Nabin is looking at strengthening the party’s grassroots organisational machinery and expanding its outreach among youth, women and other voter groups, sources said. Apart from engaging young voters, the BJP is also looking at increasing membership among younger generations. Sources said Mr Nabin sought updates from the general secretaries on organisational work being undertaken in the poll-bound states and on identifying issues that could form the BJP’s electoral strategy. In Punjab, for instance, drug abuse is one of the key issues. Countering the ruling AAP on governance delivery, law and order, and addressing the concerns of the farming community are also among the issues being prioritised by the BJP, which is preparing to contest all 117 Assembly seats in Punjab on its own. CM Adhikari vows drone surveillance at Jadavpur University West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari leads a massive demonstration outside the Jadavpur University campus where over 10,000 people gathered to collectively sing all six stanzas of India's national song, Vande Mataram. BISWAJIT GHOSHAL STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 28 August West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday vowed to deploy drones to monitor alleged drug trafficking at Jadavpur University and “clean up” the campus, in a sharp attack on the Left’s longstanding influence over the institution. Addressing a large gathering outside the university, Mr Adhikari said drones would be used to track the movement and storage of Phensedyl, ganja and heroin, while warning of action against what he termed “anti-national forces”. He also questioned the occupation of university hostels by former students and said the Higher Education Department was monitoring the issue. His remarks came days after clashes between Left-leaning student groups and ABVP supporters at Jadavpur University on 19 and 20 August, during which the university’s historic emblem, designed under the direction of artist Nandalal Bose, was damaged. The emblem was subsequently reinstalled. The Left and the ABVP have blamed each other for the damaged caused to the emblem. “We will fly drones. I will find out where Phensedyl, ganja and heroin are being taken, who is taking them and where they are keeping them,” Mr Adhikari told a large crowd in front of the varsity. Many had come sporting orange scarves and carried the tricolour in their hands. “I am the Police Minister. I know very well how to clean garbage,” he said, indicating his government would adopt a tougher approach towards activities it considers unlawful or disruptive. Mr Adhikari also holds the Home portfolio. He said the “nationalist awakening” witnessed at campuses including Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi University, Hyderabad University and Osmania University would now reach Jadavpur. “JNU, Delhi, Hyderabad, Osmania ~ you have set all these right. Now JU is left. This will also happen. The nationalist awakening has happened and nobody will be able to stop it,” he said, addressing ABVP activists at the programme. “How can you occupy a hostel after becoming an ex-student? The Higher Education Department is watching, and I am also watching. I will see how long JUTA can save them,” he said, referring to the Jadavpur University Teachers’ Association. Calling Jadavpur “Lenin Nagar”, Mr Adhikari said the Left’s political influence on the campus would be challenged. Invoking his political battle against communists in Nandigram, he said: “I have stopped grants to the likes of Kishanji.” He urged students and the government to jointly confront what he called “anti-national forces”, asserting that the process of changing the political character of the university could not be stopped. The address ended with a mass rendition of Vande Mataram, with Mr Adhikari joining thousands gathered outside the university. India, US seal deal for over 100 ‘battle-tested’ PM marks Raksha Bandhan with children Javelin anti-tank guided missile systems STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE DURING THE INTERACTION, A CHILD ASKED MR MODI ABOUT HIS CHILDHOOD DREAM. HE REPLIED: “AAP LOGO KO MILNA” ~ TO MEET ALL OF YOU. THE EXCHANGE DREW SMILES FROM THE CHILDREN, WHO ALSO GREETED HIM WITH HIGH-FIVES AND LAUGHTER. MR MODI LATER POSTED IMAGES AND A VIDEO OF THE EVENT ON INSTAGRAM, WRITING: “HI5, SMILES AND MORE DURING TODAY’S RAKSHA BANDHAN CELEBRATIONS AT 7, LKM.” New Delhi, 28 August PARWINDER SANDHU New Delhi, 28 August India and the United States signed a deal worth more than USD 45 million for the Indian Army to acquire over 100 Javelin anti-tank guided missile systems. This marks a significant milestone in the growing defence partnership between the two countries and opens the way for deeper collaboration between their defence industries. India signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) with the United States to purchase the Javelin anti-tank guided missile system through the US Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process. In a post on X, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor described India’s planned acquisition of the “battle-tested” Javelin anti-tank system on Friday as “BIG news,” saying the move would mark a significant step forward in the US-India defence relationship. “This is a great step forward in the US-India defence relationship and opens the door to co-production possibilities,” Mr Gor said, adding that engagement between the two countries was at “record-high levels.” He also referred to remarks made by the US Secretary of Defence at the May 2026 Shangri-La Dialogue, saying the proposed acquisition could pave the way for greater defence industrial cooperation and co-production between India and the United States. With the signing of the LOA, India becomes a customer of the Javelin system, an advanced medium-range, fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile designed to engage a wide range of targets, including armoured vehicles and fortified positions. The system is used by the US Army, US Marine Corps and several international customers. The Javelin system is produced by the Javelin Joint Venture, a partnership between RTX and Lockheed Martin. The US Embassy said the latest agreement further strengthens the US-India Major Defense Partnership and opens discussions on mutually beneficial co-production as well as additional opportunities to strengthen the defence industrial bases of both countries. The signing follows a US decision in November 2025 to approve a possible Foreign Military Sale of the Javelin system and related equipment to India at an estimated cost of $45.7 million. On 19 November 2025, the US State Department announced that it had made the determination approving the possible sale, following which the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certification to the US Congress. Under the proposed sale notified by the DSCA, the Government of India requested 100 FGM-148 Javelin rounds, one Javelin FGM-148 missile for fly-to-buy purposes and 25 Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units (LwCLU) or Javelin Block 1 Command Launch Units. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hosted Raksha Bandhan celebrations at his official residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, where schoolgirls and women tied handmade rakhis on his wrist. Some of the rakhis carried the theme “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam”. During the interaction, a child asked Mr Modi about his childhood dream. He replied: “Aap logo ko milna” ~ to meet all of you. The exchange drew smiles from the children, who also greeted him with high-fives and laughter. Mr Modi later posted images and a video of the event on Instagram, writing: “Hi5, smiles and more during today’s Raksha Bandhan celebrations at 7, LKM.” Earlier in the day, he extended greetings on social media, wishing that the festival bring “happiness, prosperity and success” and that “the thread of affection, belonging and mutual trust always remain unbroken.” Raksha Bandhan, observed across India, is marked by sisters tying a sacred thread around their brothers’ wrists as a symbol of affection and protection. Families celebrate by exchanging sweets and gifts. At the Prime Minister’s residence, the occasion offered children a chance to meet him directly, while his public messages echoed the festival’s emphasis on trust and togetherness.