FRIDAY 18 JULY 2025 www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 Pages 12 |` 5.00 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR P5 SENSEX 82,259.24 q375.23 WEATHER Generally Cloudy sky with one or two spells of light to moderate rain/ thundershower very likely to occur. RAINFALL: 00.0 mm SHUKLA IN STABLE CONDITION: ISRO ‘INDIA BUYS OIL FROM 40 NATIONS, NOT WORRIED ABOUT U.S. THREATS’ UDDHAV, AADITYA THACKERAY MEET DEVENDRA FADNAVIS DASGUPTA BACKS BUMRAH FOR MANCHESTER TEST P10 NIFTY 25,111.45 q100.60 P4 ` vs $ 86.10 P12 SILVER `1,14,000 GOLD `1,00,330 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 68.47 PM to unveil development projects worth over `12,000 crore in West Bengal, Bihar Cannot simply delete people’s names: Didi Mamata again attacks Central govt over harassment of Bengali speakers RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 98% Min. 76% TEMPERATURE Max: 33.2˚C (+0.4) SUN RISES 05:02 hrs MOON RISES 22:51 hrs Min: 26.6˚C (-0.3) SUN SETS 18:24 hrs MOON SETS 10:57 hrs New Moon on 25 July THUMBNAILS Navy warship INS Nilgiri arrives in Chennai for her maiden visit, on Thursday. The ship is equipped with cutting-edge weapons and sensors, significantly enhancing the operational might of the Indian Navy. nANI One killed as eviction drive turns violent in Assam's Paikan Reserve Forest: A forest eviction drive in Assam's Goalpara district turned violent when clashes broke out between security personnel and alleged illegal settlers in the Paikan Reserve Forest on Thursday. One person was killed and another critically injured after police reportedly opened fire on a group of residents resisting the eviction operation. The deceased has been identified as Shakuar Hussain, while the injured individual, Kutubuddin Sheikh, is undergoing treatment at a local hospital. (Page 8) STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 17 JULY C hief Minister Mamata Banerjee again attacked the BJP-led Central government on Thursday over the mistreatment of Bengali speaking migrant workers in BJPruled states. Denouncing the harassment of Bengali speakers as “unfortunate”, she said that those targeting migrants should recognise Bengali is the second most spoken language in Asia and the fifth globally. Speaking at an event, Miss Banerjee noted that linguistic variation is inherent across West Bengal. “While we speak Bengali with Kolkata diction, regions such as Purulia, Bankura, Birbhum, and North Bengal have distinct variations,” she said. “Many families who settled here post-Independence in 1947 or after the 1971 Indira–Mujib Pact have retained ancestral dialects.” Without naming the BJP, she countered claims equating Bengali speaking migrant workers with Rohingyas. “Rohingyas are from Myanmar and do not speak Bengali. Those making such statements lack basic knowledge,” Banerjee said. She also rejected suggestions that 17 lakh names could be removed from the voters' list. “Who are they to say this? These individuals hold valid identity documents. Their names cannot simply be deleted,” she said. Miss India, UK likely to sign FTA next week, to eliminate taxes on 99 pc of Indian exports STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 17 JULY India and the United Kingdom are likely to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) next week, which is expected to eliminate import taxes on nearly 99 per cent of Indian exports to the UK, reports said. The agreement has been under negotiation for several months and finalised in May. It aims to ease tariffs and increase investment between the two countries. The FTA will eliminate taxes on labour-intensive goods such as leather, footwear, and clothing. In return, India will reduce tariffs on high-value British imports like whisky and luxury cars. India will gradually lower import duties on British whisky from 150 per cent to 40 per cent over a 10-year period. Taxes on imported cars from the UK will also drop ~ currently over 100 per cent, they are set to come down to just 10 per cent. Both India and the UK hope this FTA will double bilateral trade to $120 billion by 2030. Apart from goods, the deal is expected to encour- age investment, enhance professional mobility, and improve access to tech services. The FTA is a cornerstone of post-Brexit UK trade strategy, aligning with India’s aim to diversify trade beyond RCEP. It serves as a platform for future cooperation in technology, defence, education, Gunmen storm Patna hospital, kill undertrial IMRAN MOJIB PATNA, 17 JULY In yet another shocking incident in Patna, a group of men stormed into a prominent private hospital located close to the state police headquarters in Patna early on Thursday and gunned down a patient. The attackers, reportedly five in number, fired multiple rounds at Chandan Mishra, an undertrial prisoner who was on parole for medical treatment in Paras Hospital. The assailants fled the scene immediately after the attack, causing panic and chaos in the hospital. A resident of Buxar, Chandan Mishra, the victim, had several murder cases registered against him. He had been imprisoned in Beur Jail, Patna, since 2024. He later succumbed to his injuries. Following the incident, police from the Shastri Nagar police station, Inspector General of Police (Patna Range) Jitendra Rana, and Patna SSP Kartikey Sharma reached the scene and began an investigation. The police are examining the CCTV footage from the hospital. Patna SSP Kartikey Sharma told mediapersons that multiple rounds were fired at Mishra. He said: “This appears to be a case of gang rivalry. Efforts are underway to identify the shooters. Photos have been shared with local police stations.” This incident came close on the heels of the killing of BJP leader and prominent businessman Gopal Khemka in the state capital. Khemka’s murder was followed by the killing of another BJP leader, Surendra Kewat, prominent businessman Vikram Jha, and sand dealer Ramakant Yadav. The series of murders have raised serious questions about the law and order situation in the state, evoking sharp criticism from the Opposition. Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, Tejashwi Yadav, in a message posted on ‘X’, said: “Government criminals stormed into the ICU and shot a patient admitted to the hospital. Is anyone anywhere safe in Bihar?” Taking a dig at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Mr Yadav said: “2005 se pahale aise hota tha jee?” Independent MP Pappu Yadav also reached the hospital, but the police stopped him outside the hospital. On Wednesday, Bihar ADG (Law and Order) Kundan Krishnan had announced that Bihar Police will form a ‘Shooter Cell’ and SPs and SSPs of all districts have been instructed to prepare detailed data of notorious shooters in their jurisdictions. tourism, and Indian-diaspora engagement. After the signing, the deal won't be implemented immediately. It will need formal approval from the British Parliament and India's Cabinet, a process that could take up to a year. Notably, the formal negotiations for the FTA began in January 2022, with both countries expressing optimism and targeting a deal by Diwali 2022. However, talks extended well beyond that deadline due to complexities around key issues. India pushed for greater market access for its goods ~ especially textiles, gems and jewellery, leather, and engineering products ~ while the UK sought tariff reductions on items such as Scotch whisky, luxury cars, and certain food items. Banerjee reiterated Bengal’s legacy of religious inclusivity. “Our festivals include those of Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and Jains. I personally participate in celebrations of all faiths,” she stated. “We do not discriminate based on religion, caste, or creed. We have welcomed 1.5 crore migrant workers, many of whom are employed for their skills across industries.” During her visit to New Town, the Chief Minister inaugurated multiple infrastructure projects. She also unveiled, via videoconference, a bridge over the Jarda River in Jalpaiguri, connecting to the Jalpesh Temple. Notably, she ordered that no vehicles be permitted on the bridge. “We’ve developed religious sites like Tarapith, Tarakeshwar, Kalighat (including a new skywalk), and Furfura Sharif. We make no distinction among faiths,” she said. Miss Banerjee further inaugurated two sevenstorey housing complexes for low-income families— Nijonno and Sujonno— along with a multi-level car park named Susampanno. A new 200-seat open-air theatre, Aranya, complete with a children’s play area and landscaped garden, was also opened to the public. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 17 JULY Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stones for several new development projects and dedicate to the nation completed ones during a visit to Durgapur in West Bengal, a government statement said on Thursday. The projects, valued at over Rs 5,000 crore, span key sectors including oil and gas, power, road, and rail infrastructure, and are aimed at boosting connectivity, clean energy, and industrial development in the state. During the visit, Mr Modi will launch Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd’s City Gas Distribution (CGD) project for Bankura and Purulia districts. The Rs 1,950 crore project will supply piped natural gas (PNG) to households, commercial, and industrial units, and compressed natural gas (CNG) to trans- port networks. The initiative is expected to generate employment and improve clean fuel access in the region. The Prime Minister will also dedicate the Durgapur–Kolkata section of the Durgapur-Haldia Natural Gas Pipeline to the nation. The 132-km stretch, developed under the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga project, cost more than Rs 1,190 crore and runs through the districts of Purba Bardhaman, Hooghly, and Nadia. It aims to deliver natural gas to thousands of homes and industries, creating jobs during both construction and operational phases. In a push for cleaner energy, Mr Modi will dedicate Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD) systems at the Durgapur Steel Thermal Power Station and Raghunathpur Thermal Power Station, developed by Damodar Valley Corporation. The pollution Air India crash: AAIB slams ‘selective and unverified reporting’ by international media AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 17 JULY The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) on Thursday cautioned against “selective and unverified reporting”, regarding the Air India Ahmedabad crash, particularly by international media outlets, calling such coverage “irresponsible and potentially damaging to the probe’s integrity”. The AAIB reacted after the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that a cockpit recording of dialogue between the two pilots of the ill-fated Air India flight, that crashed last month indicates the captain cut the flow of fuel to the plane's engines. “It has come to our attention that certain sections of the international media are repeatedly attempting to draw conclusions through selective and unverified reporting,” said AAIB in a statement. “Such actions are irresponsible, especially while the investigation remains ongoing. We urge both the public and the media to refrain from spreading premature narratives that risk undermining the integrity of the investigative process,” the probe agency added. “At this stage, it is too early to reach any definite conclusions. The investigation by AAIB is still not complete. The Final Investigation Report will come out with root causes and recommendations," it noted. Earlier in the day, the Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) said in a letter to the Civil Aviation Ministry that the AAIB preliminary report on the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad has failed to sufficiently consider two plausible and previously documented technical scenarios, either of which could have triggered an automated shutdown of both engines of the ill-fated Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Theassociation urged the Civil Aviation Ministry to include more subject matter experts in the investigation. The pilots’ association has alleged that the preliminary report appears to infer or suggest the possibility of pilot error, without presenting any conclusiveevidenceorexploring well-documented technical failure modes previously observed in a similar aircraft. RCB unilaterally invited people to IPL victory celebrations: K’taka govt in status report to HC AGENCIES BENGALURU, 17 JULY The Karnataka government in its status report submitted to the High Court regarding the 4 June stampede tragedy at the Chinnaswamy Stadium which claimed 11 lives in Bengaluru, has stated that the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) invited people to the IPL victory celebrations unilaterally, without consulting the police, sources confirmed on Thursday. The High Court recently issued an order to provide the status report on the stampede prepared by the state government to respondents i.e. the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), RCB and the DNA event management firm, setting aside the state's request to keep the report confidential. The report stated that the RCB invited people for the victory celebration event at the Chinnaswamy Stadium unilaterally and also without consultation and the required permission from the police department. The report further stated that RCB approached the Bengaluru police only on 3 June and informed them about organising a victory parade. The information was given as an intimation to the police rather than requesting the permission with the due procedure, sources stated. The report highlights that permissions are sought for such mega events seven days in advance. No application was submitted in a prescribed format. Without, the due procedure, the jurisdictional Cubbon Park police refused permission due to the lack of information on the expected gathering of fans. The report further stated that the RCB posted a photo on 4 June without consent of the police department on official handles announcing free entry for people and encouraged people to take part in the event. They also urged the public to take part in the victory parade between the Vidhana Soudha and the Chinnaswamy Stadium. control systems, valued at over Rs 1,457 crore, are expected to reduce sulphur emissions and contribute to air quality improvement in the region. On the rail front, the doubling of the 36-km Purulia–Kotshila rail line in Purulia district, built at a cost of Rs 390 crore, will also be inaugurated. The project is aimed at enhancing connectivity between key industrial hubs including Jamshedpur, Bokaro, and Dhanbad with Ranchi and Kolkata, enabling smoother freight movement. Additionally, the Prime Minister will inaugurate two road over bridges (ROBs) at Topsi and Pandabeshwar in Paschim Bardhaman district. The ROBs, constructed under the Setu Bharatam programme at a combined cost of Rs 380 crore, are expected to decongest traffic and enhance safety by replacing railway level crossings. Prior to arriving in Bengal, the Prime Minister will visit Motihari in Bihar, where he is scheduled to lay the foundation stones for and inaugurate and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects worth over Rs 7,200 crore. He will also address a public function. The PM is scheduled to reach Durgapur at 3 p.m. and will also address a public function there. India pushes back against NATO's sanctions warning on Russia trade STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 17 JULY The Ministry of External Affairs Thursday cautioned against "double standards" following NATO chief Mark Rutte's remarks on potential secondary sanctions for countries trading with Russia. In response to Rutte's warning that India, China, and Brazil could face "100 per cent secondary sanctions" for buying Russian oil, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal Thursday emphasised that securing India's energy needs is an "overriding priority.” India prioritises securing energy for its people, guided by market availability and global circumstances. Cautioning against double standards, Mr Jaiswal said:"We have seen reports on the subject and are closely following the developments. Let me reiterate and I have said this in the past as well that securing the energy needs of our people is, understandably, an overriding priority for us. In this endeavor, we are guided by what is available in the markets, as well as by the prevailingglobalcircumstances." "We would particularly caution against any double standards on the matter," the MEA Spokesperson further said. On the issue of diversified oil imports, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Puri has noted earlier that India has broadened its oil import network from 27 to 40 countries. As regards NATO's warning and US stance, the NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte echoed US President Donald Trump's position on imposing severe tariffs on countries trading with Russia. US Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal also pushed for the "Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025," which could impose penalties up to 500 percent.