HOT DAYS AHEAD INDIAN GIRL GOES GLOBAL 1 JUNE 2025 MI FACE PUNJAB KINGS IN QUALIFIER 2 www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 PAGE 20 SINCE 1818 PAGES 20 |` 5.00|LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR WEATHER Generally cloudy sky. Light rain / thundershower likely to occur. RAINFALL: 0.0 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 95% TEMPERATURE Max: 32.6˚C (-2.8) SUN RISES 04:53 hrs MOON RISES 02:16 hrs ‘India will no longer tolerate proxy wars’ PM emphasised that ‘Op Sindoor’ has demonstrated India’s resolve to strike back decisively Min. 62% Min: 25.8 ˚C (-1.1) SUN SETS 18:14 hrs MOON SETS 15:17 hrs Full Moon on 11 June THUMBNAILS SSB personnel participate in a march past during the Passing Out Parade Ceremony of the 262nd Basic Recruit Training Course of Head Constable (Commn), at Chhatrapati Shivaji Parade Ground in RTC Salonibari in Sonitpur on Saturday.nANI Thailand's Opal Suchata crowned Miss World 2025: In a dazzling culmination of grace, beauty, and strength, Thailand's Opal Suchata was crowned Miss World 2025 in a star-studded ceremony in Hyderabad, Telangana. The grand finale of the 72nd edition of the Miss World pageant saw reigning queen Krystyna Pyszkova from the Czech Republic pass on her crown to the new titleholder. Wearing a gown that symbolised both healing and strength, Opal walked across the stage in a delicate white fabric adorned with opal-like florals. GAURAV CHANDRA BHOPAL, 31 MAY I n a strong message against terrorism and those who support it, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared on Saturday that ‘Operation Sindoor’ stands as India’s most significant and successful operation against terrorism, stating that India will no longer tolerate Pakistan’s ‘proxy war’ disguised as terrorism. “Aaj 140 crore Bharatiya bol rahe hain ki agar tum goli chalaoge to uska jawab goley se diya jaega,” (Today 140 crore Indians are saying that if anyone fires a bullet at India, we will respond with a bomb),” the PM declared, receiving a rousing response from a large crowd at the Jamboree Ground in Bhopal. He was addressing a ‘Women Empowerment Mega Conference’ to mark the 300th birth anniversary of Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar, the renowned woman ruler of the Holkar dynasty. PM Modi emphasised that ‘Operation Sindoor’ has demonstrated India’s resolve to strike back decisively when provoked, asserting, “If anyone challenges us, we will hit them inside their own house.” He added that those who support terrorists and terrorism will face severe consequences, indi- rectly referring to Pakistan’s military and political leadership. The PM remarked that the terrorists not only attacked the people of Pahalgam but also targeted India’s cultural values and unity. "The terrorists attempted to divide our society through the Pahalgam attack," he said, adding, "They sought to challenge the women power of India, but that very challenge led to their downfall." Drawing a connection to India’s symbolism of strength, Modi stated, “Sindoor represents women’s power, and this Sindoor also became the symbol of India’s valour.” He also praised the role of the Border Security Force (BSF) India struck deep inside Pakistan, penetrated their defences: CDS STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 31 MAY Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan Saturday admitted losses of Indian aircraft in recent confrontation with Pakistan during Operation Sindoor but rejected as “absolutely incorrect” Islamabad’s claim of downing six jets. The Indian strikes were carried out under Operation Sindoor - a targeted military attack on terror infrastructures in Pakistan and PakistanOccupied Kashmir (PoK) in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people died. Chauhan also said the four-day confrontation never came close to the point of nuclear war. In an interview with Bloomberg TV on Saturday, while attending the ShangriLa Dialogue in Singapore, Chauhan said, “What is impor- tant is that, not the jet being down, but why they were being down.” The Chief of Defence Staff dismissed Pakistan’s claims that it shot down six Indian warplanes “absolutely incorrect,” though declined to specify how many jets India lost. “Why they were down, what mistakes were made — that are important,” Chauhan said when asked about the fighter jets. “Numbers are not important,” he added. “The good part is that we are able to understand the tactical mistake which we made, remedy it, rectify it, and then implement it again after two days and flew all our jets again, targeting at long range,” the Chief of Defence Staff said. Earlier, on May 11, Director General Air Operations Air Marshal Bharti, when commenting on Aircraft losses, had said, "I can't comment about loss of Aircraft as we are in a combat scenario and losses are part of combat". After India carried out strikes on Terror bases in Pakistan, the Pakistani side responded by attempting to target Defence and civilian installations in India. India then carried out another series of precision attacks, which saw the destruction of several Pakistani air bases. An understanding on the cessation of hostilities was then reached between the two sides on May 10. women personnel who played a key role in ‘Operation Sindoor.’ "BSF women not only managed the Command and Control Centre but also excelled in combat, destroying enemy posts from Jammu and Kashmir to Rajasthan," he highlighted. Reflecting on history, the PM celebrated Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar, who nearly 275 years ago formed an exclusive women’s squad in her army. "While the West points fingers at India’s women empowerment efforts, it is unaware of such historical facts," he noted. Praising Holkar’s life and governance, Modi quoted her belief that true governance lies in serving the people, ensuring their welfare, and bringing positive change. "Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar believed in the service of both God and humanity," he added, wearing a traditional Sindoori turban presented to him by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav at the start of the event. The PM also lauded the historic achievement of the first batch of 17 female cadets who graduated from the National Defence Academy (NDA) on 30 May. He further commended two women officers from the Indian Navy who successfully circumnavigated the globe in about 250 days under the ‘Navika Sagar Parikrama - 2’ mission. Addressing women’s welfare efforts, Modi reaffirmed, “Womenled development is our mission and commitment.” He noted that a tribal woman now serves as India’s President and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve tribal communities under her leadership. The PM highlighted several key accomplishments, including the appointment of India’s first full-time woman defence minister and finance minister, and the involvement of over 100 women scientists and engineers in India’s successful ‘Chandrayaan – 3’ mission. 26/11 warranted a response, times have changed now: Jaishankar STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE VADODARA, 31 MAY Emphasizing that safeguarding the nation’s interests remains paramount, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar strongly criticized Pakistan, asserting that India will never succumb to any form of nuclear blackmail. Speaking at the Convocation Ceremony for Foreign National Students at Parul University in Vadodara, Gujarat, Jaishankar reaffirmed New Delhi’s zero tolerance for terrorism, a stance clearly reflected in India’s actions. “We will never give in to nuclear blackmail. Any decisions necessary for India’s national interests have been taken and will continue to be taken,” he stated. Referring to the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir in April, which claimed 26 lives including that of a Nepali national, Jais- hankar described it as a deliberate attempt to cripple the region’s tourism economy and to incite religious discord. “Recently, we witnessed an attempt to devastate the tourism economy of Jammu and Kashmir and a malicious intent to sow seeds of religious division. The brutality of the killings warranted an exemplary response—and it was delivered. It is imperative that those who sponsor, support, and exploit terrorism face severe consequences. Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla to conduct exclusive food and nutrition experiments onboard space station: Jitendra Singh STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 31 MAY Indian Astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will conduct exclusive food and nutrition-related experiments onboard the International Space Station (ISS) as part of the upcoming Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), Union Minister for the Department of Space Jitendra Singh announced on Saturday. The experiments, developed under a collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), with support from NASA, aim to pioneer space nutrition and self-sustaining life support systems vital for future longduration space travel, he said during a media briefing. Dr. Jitendra Singh detailed that the first ISS experiment will examine the impact of microgravity and space radi- ation on edible microalgae— a high-potential, nutrientrich food source. The study will focus on key growth parameters and the changes in transcriptomes, proteomes, and metabolomes of various legal species in space compared to Earth conditions. Presenting an example of Atmanirbhar Bharat, he said the space biology experiments aboard the ISS will be conducted using indigenously developed biotechnology kits under the Department of Biotechnology (DBT). These specialised kits, tailored for microgravity conditions, have been designed and validated by Indian scientists to ensure precision and reliability in space-based research. Their deployment marks a major milestone in India’s ability to deliver world-class scientific tools for frontier research, underscoring the country’s growing self-reliance in critical technologies for space exploration and biotechnology. “Microalgae grow rapidly, produce high-protein biomass, absorb carbon dioxide, and release oxygen—making them perfect candidates for sustainable space nutrition and closed-loop life support systems,” said the minister. Some species can grow in as little as 26 hours, and when cultivated in photobioreactors, they produce more biomass per unit volume than traditional crops, crucial for space missions with tight space and resource constraints. The second experiment will investigate the growth and proteomic response of cyanobacteria—specifically Spirulina and Synechococcus—under microgravity, using urea- and nitrate-based media. Even after the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in 2008, the necessity for a forceful response has been widely acknowledged,” he added. “But times have changed, and our resolve is now much stronger. Terrorism epicentres are no longer beyond reach. India’s zero tolerance for terrorism is evident in its decisive actions,” Jaishankar emphasized. Turning to global challenges, he highlighted the pressing issues faced by nations of the Global South. “There are many urgent challenges confronting the world, especially our brothers and sisters in the Global South. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed our vulnerability in terms of health security. The Ukraine conflict underscored the fragility of energy security. Fertilizer shortages and food grain scarcity have severely impacted many economies,” he said. ‘India stays united in crisis because of the Constitution’ STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE PRAYAGRAJ, 31 MAY Chief Justice of India Justice BR Gavai on said on Saturday that India has remained united and strong during every crisis because of its Constitution. He was speaking at a function following the inauguration of advocates’ chambers and a multi-level parking facility at the Allahabad High Court. Justice Gavai recalled that when the Constitution was being framed and its final draft was presented before the Constituent Assembly, there were varied opinions— some said the Constitution was too federal, while others called it too unique. Quoting Dr BR Ambedkar, he said: “The Constitution is neither completely federal nor entirely unique. But I can say this: we have given a Constitution that will keep India united and strong, both in times of peace and war.” He emphasized that India has progressed steadily since Independence because of the Constitution, and compared the country’s developmental trajectory to that of its neighbors, suggesting that India’s path has been more stable and forwardlooking. The CJI underlined the responsibility of all branches of government—legislature, executive, and judiciary—to ensure that justice reaches the last citizen of the country. “It is our fundamental duty to serve the last citizen in need of justice. The chariot of justice cannot move forward unless the bar and the bench work in harmony,” he remarked. Speaking on the infrastructure at the Allahabad High Court, he commended the scale and planning of the newly inaugurated building, calling it a potential “role model” for courts worldwide. “To my knowledge, there isn’t such a large facility for lawyers anywhere else in the world,” he noted. He also appreciated the provisions made for litigants, especially plans for an adjacent crèche to support women with children. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Arjun Ram Meghwal also spoke at the event. He said that the construction of the new parking facility would significantly reduce parking-related disputes at the High Court. Praising Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the initiative, Meghwal said, “Everyone should learn from CM Yogi’s work ethic,” and lauded the excellent coordination witnessed during the Mahakumbh celebrations under the CM’s leadership. Colombia retracts statement on Pak, backs India after Tharoor’s disapproval STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 31 MAY All-Party Delegation leader and Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Saturday informed that Colombia has rolled back its statement expressing condolences over the deaths in Pakistan from 'Operation Sindoor'. In a diplomatic outreach following Operation Sindoor, the Modi government has formed seven multi-party delegations to inform different nations about Pakistan’s links to terrorism and India’s strong message of zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. According to Tharoor, Colombia’s Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio has said that her country was withdrawing its inadvertent statement expressing condolences over the deaths in Pakistan from 'Operation Sindoor'. In a post on X, Tharoor said, "Began today with an excellent meeting with the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio, and her senior colleagues dealing with the Asia-Pacific. I expressed India’s view of recent events and voiced disappointment at Colombia’s statement on 8 May conveying “heartfelt condolences” to Pakistan. The Minister assured me that the statement had been withdrawn and that our position was now properly understood and strongly supported." In a post on X, the Embassy of India in Colombia said, "The all-party Parliamentary Delegation met Colombia’s Vice Foreign Minister, Ms Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio, conveying India’s firm policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism and its proactive approach to counter crossborder threats. The Colombian side responded positively." “The vice minister very graciously mentioned they have withdrawn the statement that we had expressed concern about, and that they fully understand our position on the matter, which is something we really value,” the Congress MP told the media after their meeting in Bogota on Friday. With Tharoor standing alongside, Villavicencio said, “We are very confident that with the explanations that we received today and with the detailed information that we now have regarding the real situation on what happened in Kashmir, we can now follow and continue the dialogue”.