TUESDAY 03 JUNE 2025 www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 Pages 16 |` 5.00 | LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR KALESHWARAM COMMISSION: KCR SEEKS MORE TIME P6 SENSEX 81,373.75 q77.26 P5 NIFTY 24,716.60 q34.10 ` vs $ 85.38 KLASSEN RETIRES FROM INT’L CRICKET CONSERVATIVE KAROL NAWROCKI WINS POLAND’S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION LOP RAHUL GANDHI MOVES JHARKHAND HC P11 P16 SILVER `1,00,000 GOLD `99,505 RAINFALL: 00.0 mm India, Paraguay govts stand united in fight against terror RELATIVE HUMIDITY BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 63.49 Terror has a price: CDS Anil Chauhan blasts Pakistan’s duplicity on the global stage PM Modi also observed that Paraguay is an important partner of India in South America WEATHER Partly cloudy sky. Hot and humid weather likely. Max. 91% Min. 59% TEMPERATURE Max: 35.4˚C (-0.4) Min: 29.2˚C (+1.4) SUN RISES 04:52 hrs MOON RISES 10:48 hrs SUN SETS 18:18 hrs MOON SETS 23:48 hrs Full Moon on 11 June THUMBNAILS A volunteer from the Manipur Mountaineering & Trekking Association (MMTA) rescues an infant during the ongoing floods in Manipur. nSNS STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE IndiGo flight makes emergency landing in Ranchi: An IndiGo flight was forced to make an emergency landing at Ranchi's Birsa Munda Airport on Monday after a mid-air collision with a vulture triggered a safety concern. All 175 passengers and crew members on board escaped unhurt, officials said. NEET-PG 2025 exam deferred after SC ruling: The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) on Monday postponed the NEET-PG 2025 exam, following a Supreme Court directive to conduct the test in a single shift. The exam, originally scheduled for June 15, has been deferred to allow the Board to arrange additional test centres and the infrastructure required for administering the exam in a single shift, as per the court's order issued last Friday. NEW DELHI, 2 JUNE A ppreciating Paraguay for its strong condemnation of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said India and Paraguay stand united in the fight against the menace. He said there is an immense possibility of cooperation between the two countries to combat shared challenges such as cybercrime, organised crime, and drug trafficking. Welcoming the visiting President of Paraguay, Mr Santiago Pena, the PM also stated that India and Paraguay are integral parts of the Global South. ''Our hopes, aspirations and challenges are similar. And this is why we can learn from each other’s experiences to deal with these challenges effectively,'' he added. Briefing the media on the talks between the two leaders, Mr P. Kuamaran, Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, said, "This visit comes soon after the barbaric terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Prime Minister Modi expressed his deep appreciation to Paraguay for its strong condemnation of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, as well as for the sincere condo- lences and solidarity expressed with the people and the Government of India. Both leaders unequivocally condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all their forms and manifestations. On behalf of the Paraguayan people, President Pena expressed his deep solidarity with the victims and families of the terrorist attack." The PM observed that Paraguay is an important partner of India in South America. ''Our geographies may be different, but we share the same democratic values, and care for the well-being of people,'' he said. He said he could see new SC refuses to entertain plea over Assam deportation drive PARMOD KUMAR NEW DELHI, 2 JUNE The Supreme Court on Monday declined to entertain a plea alleging that the Assam government had launched an indiscriminate and sweeping drive to deport individuals suspected to be foreigners to Bangladesh, and directed the petitioner to approach the Gauhati High Court for relief. A vacation bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Satish Chandra Sharma asked the All BTC Minority Students Union (ABMSU) to pursue appropriate remedies before the High Court, noting that it was not inclined to entertain the matter under Article 32 at this stage. The petitioner organisation ABMSU claimed that in the aftermath of the Court’s earlier February 4, 2025, order which had permitted the deportation of 63 “declared foreigners” whose Bangladeshi nationality had been confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Bangladesh government, the state had gone “far beyond the mandate” and initiated a blanket deportation campaign. The plea alleged that the Assam government had launched a “sweeping and indiscriminate” deportation drive, targeting persons sus- pected of being foreigners without any judicial declaration, nationality verification, or exhaustion of legal remedies, particularly in the border districts of Dhubri, South Salmara, and Goalpara. It further submitted that the state government was engaging in extrajudicial “push backs” of individuals -- many of whom belong to marginalised communities -- in violation of their fun- damental rights under Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution. “This policy of push back— being executed in the border districts—is not only legally indefensible, but threatens to render stateless numerous Indian citizens, especially the poor and marginalised who were either declared foreigners ex parte or lacked access to legal aid,” the petition stated. The petitioner organisation had also sought directions declaring that deportation without judicial process, MEA clearance, and exhaustion of legal remedies was unconstitutional, and requested a stay on ongoing deportations. The top court, however, refused to intervene and said that the Gauhati High Court was the appropriate forum for seeking relief in such matters. opportunities for cooperation in areas such as digital technology, critical minerals, energy, agriculture, healthcare, defence, railways, space, and overall economic partnership. He also noted that India has a Preferential Trade Agreement with MERCOSUR (a trading bloc in South America) and the two sides can work together to further expand it. The PM was happy that India could extend support to Paraguay by sharing its vaccines during the COVID pandemic. ''We look forward to continuing this spirit of cooperation by sharing more of our capabilities,'' he added. He was confident that the visit of the Paragyaun leader would add new strength to the pillars of trust, trade, and close cooperation in bilateral relations. It will also add new dimensions to India-Latin America relations. Earlier in the day, President Pena, who is in India on a threeday visit, paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat, laying a wreath at the memorial. He was accorded a ceremonial welcome along with a Guard of Honour at Palam Air Force Station. Sharing an update on X, Mr Randhir Jaiswal, Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, said, "Bienvenido, President @SantiPenap! President @SantiPenap of Paraguay has arrived in New Delhi on his first State Visit to India, to a ceremonial welcome & Guard of Honour. Warmly received by MoS Harsh Malhotra @hdmalhotra at the airport. This visit will provide an opportunity to strengthen the relationship." AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 2 JUNE The Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier security forum, witnessed a rare yet pointed exchange between military leaders of India and Pakistan, amid escalating tensions following the recent Pahalgam terror attack. According to high-level sources present at the event, India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Anil Chauhan, sent an unambiguous message that New Delhi’s patience with crossborder terrorism has reached its limit. General Chauhan, speaking in a closed-door session on regional security threats, made a forceful reference to India’s recent Operation Sindoor—a precision military campaign targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistanoccupied Kashmir and across the border. "This operation reflects a decisive shift in India’s posture," sources said, quoting General Chauhan. "A new red line has been drawn. The era of strategic restraint in the face of terrorism is Invest in India, the third-largest aviation market: PM to world’s top aviation cos STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 2 JUNE Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday invited world's leading aviation companies to invest in India, saying "India has emerged as the world’s third-largest domestic aviation market, driven by rapid growth in passenger numbers and transformational policy interventions like the UDAN scheme." Addressing the International Air Transport Association's 81st Annual General Meeting, the prime minister said following India's emergence as the world's third-largest domestic aviation market, fueled by initiatives like the UDAN scheme, the government aims to expand to over 350 airports by 2047. Asserting that "today, India is emerging as a leading force in the Global Space-Aviation convergence and is the world's third-largest domestic aviation market", the prime minister said, "The success of the UDAN scheme is a golden chapter in Indian civil aviation. For the world's leading aviation companies, India presents an excellent opportunity for investment." The World Air Transport Summit held its 81st Annual General Meeting on Monday with the focus on key issues facing the aviation industry, including the Economics of the Airline industry, Air Connectivity, Energy Security, Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production, Financing Decarbonization, and Innovations, among others. Asserting that “today’s India is filled with self-confidence and is a symbol of inclusive development", the prime minister underlined: "The speed of innovation and technological upgradation is unprecedented.” Emphasizing that this summit and dialogue serve as a platform not only for aviation but also for advancing global cooperation, climate commitments, and equitable growth, Prime Minister Modi highlighted that discussions at the summit had provided a new direction to global aviation, unlocking its infinite possibilities and optimizing its potential. Battle of Reds: RCB, Punjab Kings vie for maiden IPL crown TRIDIB BAPARNASH NEW DELHI, 2 JUNE The Indian Premier League is assured of a new champion for the first time since 2016, with Punjab Kings knocking out five-time title holders Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 on Sunday night in Ahmedabad to set up a mouthwatering final against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). Neither side has ever lifted the IPL trophy, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the title clash scheduled for Tuesday, also at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. RCB will be playing a fourth IPL final, having finished runners-up in 2009, 2011 and 2016 to Deccan Chargers, Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, respectively. On the other hand, Punjab’s lone IPL final appearance came in 2014, when they were known as Kings XI Punjab, and lost to Kolkata Knight Riders. The 2014 season was also the only time that PBKS had made the playoffs since the concept was introduced in 2011. Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer, who led the Kolkata Knight Riders to the title in 2024, is the first player to lead three different teams to the finals. He had earlier led the Delhi Capitals to the final in the 2020 edition. On Tuesday, as he leads his troops out against red-hot Royal Challengers Bengaluru, he will fancy his chances of emerging as the first man to lead two franchises to the ultimate prize. Both Punjab Kings and RCB enjoyed consistent campaigns in the league stage, finishing first and second respectively with identical records — nine wins, four losses, and one no result from 14 matches. Their net run rates were also nearly indistinguishable. In the headto-head league encounters, PBKS had beaten RCB in Bengaluru, while RCB got their revenge in Mullanpur. When the two sides met in Qualifier 1 on May 29 in Mullanpur, RCB dominated the contest, skittling PBKS for just 101 and chasing down the target with 60 balls to spare to book their spot in the final. With little turnaround time, PBKS swiftly overcame the scars to bounce back in style against MI in Qualifier 2. For the second time in a week, they came out on top against MI, this time delivering a composed five-wicket win to seal their place in the final. But beyond the team battle, a fascinating subplot adds to the intrigue, a clash between two top-order maestros — Virat Kohli, the undisputed master of chases in whiteball cricket and Shreyas Iyer, who is rapidly carving his own legacy as a finisher of similar pedigree, with each composed, match-winning knock. For the 30-year-old Iyer (603 runs), a second consecutive appearance in an IPL final speaks volumes of his leadership skills. While Iyer has also led from the front with his batting, he has been complemented well by two young opening batters — Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya at the top besides the likes of Josh Inglish, Shashank Singh and Marcus Stoinis providing adequate support to hold his fort staunchly and even lead aggressive attacks on the opposition camp. Punjab’s bowling, without Marcus Jansen, did look a little depleted but Yuzvendra Chahal and Arshdeep Singh have led the side without much fuss against a strong team like MI. For Virat Kohli and RCB, it’s been an endless wait of 18 years for that elusive trophy. Having recently retired from Test and T20 formats, the talismanic batter, who has been the face of the franchise since its inception in 2008, an IPL crown would be a fitting tribute to the legend. Phil Salt is a perfect foil for the Indian superstar who goes all-out in his attack, while Mayank Agarwal, skipper Rajat Patidar and Jitesh Sharma are the trusted lieutenants of that batting lineup. It remains to be seen if Tim David is fit for this contest as he forms a vital death overs batting pair with another burly hitter in Romario Shepherd. Like Kohli in their batting, the calm and composed Josh Hazlewood (21 wickets) has been at the helm of RCB's rise and the fourth highest wicket-taker and the Australian would want to add more to move up the ladder in one last game. Meanwhile, despite no rain being forecasted to disrupt the contest, measures have been put in place to ensure its completion, including an additional hour of play, extending the total duration to 120 minutes and the provision of a reserve day for the final. over." Sources say the Indian general stopped short of naming Pakistan directly but made clear references to its long-standing support for proxy terror elements. “We have endured over two decades of proxy war. The toll on civilian lives, our soldiers, and our economy is unacceptable,” Chauhan reportedly said. “Operation Sindoor was not just a tactical response, it was a strategic signal.” The comments came during concurrent sessions where Pakistan’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, took a more familiar route, calling for “conflict resolution” over Kashmir and warning of the risks of escalation. In a panel discussion on crisis-management mechanisms, Mirza argued that the absence of sustained dialogue could lead to uncontrollable conflict. He reiterated Pakistan’s longstanding position that the Kashmir issue must be resolved “in accordance with UN resolutions and the will of the people.” However, Indian defence officials dismissed Mirza’s remarks as “predictable deflection,” pointing to Islamabad’s continued patronage of terror outfits. “While Pakistan lectures on peace, it shelters those who orchestrate mass killings like Pahalgam,” said one official present in the Indian delegation. Bihar assembly polls likely to be held in 2-3 phases STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE PATNA, 2 JUNE As the Election Commission of India (ECI) is gearing up to hold assembly elections in Bihar before the term of the current assembly ends on 22 November, the state elections are expected to be conducted in two to three phases in October and November. However, sources said while finalising the dates, the election commission would consider important festivals like Chhatth and Diwali, which will be celebrated in October. Intensifying its preparations for the Bihar Assembly elections, the Election Commission has trained a team of Booth Level Officers (BLOs). They will soon go door-to-door to verify the voter list. A campaign will be launched on Tuesday to update the voter list in Bihar, so that the names of people above 18 years of age can be added to the voter list. Chief Election Commissioner of India Gyanesh Kumar is scheduled to visit Bihar later this month. He is expected to interact with national and state party presidents to share their suggestions and concerns to further strengthen the electoral process. Earlier in May, Election Commissioner Vivek Joshi had come here on a five-day visit. During the visit, he inspected the first level checking (FLC) centres of EVM/VVPAT. During the meeting with senior administrative officials, Joshi had asserted the need to increase the voting percentage. He gave instructions to make necessary arrangements to conduct the election in a fair and timely manner.