MONDAY 21 JULY 2025 www.thestatesman.com Pages 16 |` 5.00 | LC X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR YOUTH IN BIHAR WANT JOB, NOT SPEECHES: RAHUL GANDHI A FIRM STAND P6 WEATHER Generally cloudy sky. Light to moderate rain/thundershowers likely. Maximum and Minimum Temperature likely to be around 33˚C and 27˚C respectively. RAINFALL: 8.9 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 97% TEMPERATURE Max: 32.0˚C (0.0) SUN RISES 05:03 hrs MOON SETS 15:16 hrs P5 A battle for democracy against authoritarianism: Mamata Banerjee Min: 26.7 ˚C (+0.2) SUN SETS 18:22 hrs MOON RISES 02:03 hrs New Moon on 25 July THUMBNAILS STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 20 JULY Passengers in large numbers wait to board a train as Police Constable Recruitment Exam aspirants return after their examination, at a railway station in Patna on Sunday. n ANI Odisha burn victim airlifted to AIIMS-Delhi: The 15-year-old girl from a village in Puri district, who suffered 75 per cent burn injuries after allegedly being set ablaze by unidentified miscreants near Bayabar village on Saturday, was airlifted to AIIMS-Delhi on Sunday. T he stage is set for the Trinamul Congress’ Martyrs’ Day programme scheduled to be held on Monday. TMC chairperson Mamata Banerjee will be the key speaker at the programme. TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee will also address the gathering. On 21 July 1993, Miss Banerjee, who was then the state Youth Congress president organised a march to Writers’ Buildings, the state administrative headquarters, demanding introduction of identity cards for voters during elections. The slogan was ‘No card, No vote’. The police opened fire and killed 13 Youth Congress supporters. In January 1998 Miss Banerjee floated the Trinamul Congress and the party since then has been observing 21 July as Martyrs' Day. The party is planning to make tomorrow’s event a show of strength, with Assembly elections in the state scheduled to be held in 2026. Miss Banerjee visited the venue of the event in the evening today and inspected the final preparations. Speaking to reporters, she said alleged that Opposition parties are trying to derail the event, referring PM to leave 23 July on UK, Maldives trip STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 20 JULY Comprehensive Strategic Partnership focusing on trade and economy, technology and innovation, defense and security, climate, health, education and people-to-people ties. PM Modi is also expected to call on King Charles III. In the second leg of his trip, PM Modi will undertake a state visit to the Maldives Charge sheet names Jagan as recipient of kickbacks in Andhra liquor ‘scam’ AGENCIES VIJAYAWADA, 20 JULY The preliminary charge sheet filed by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) in the alleged Rs 3,500 crore liquor scam during the YSRCP regime in Andhra Pradesh has mentioned the name of former Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy as one of the recipients of kickbacks. Though Jagan Mohan Reddy’s name figured in the 305-page charge sheet filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in a court here on Saturday, he has not been named as an accused in the case. The court has not yet taken cognisance of the charge sheet, which alleges that between 2019 and 2024, an average of Rs 50 to 60 crore was collected every month from distilleries and routed through a network of aides and shell companies. Citing a witness, the charge sheet explained how the kickbacks were routed through various accused and transferred to the then Chief Minister. Though the SIT has so far named 48 individuals and companies as accused, the chargesheet has named only 16. It told the court P13 Stage set for TMC’s Martyrs’ Day rally Min. 71% Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a visit to the UK and Maldives from 23 to 26 July, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Sunday. PM Modi will pay an official visit to the United Kingdom at the invitation of UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, from 23 to 24 July 2025, the MEA said. During the visit to the UK, PM Modi will hold discussions with Prime Minister Starmer on the entire gamut of IndiaUK bilateral relations as well as on issues of regional and global importance. Both sides will review progress of the JAPAN VOTES IN KEY ARSHDEEP SINGH ELECTION AS PM ISHIBA SUFFERS INJURY FACES POSSIBLE LOSS that another charge sheet will be filed in 20 days. According to the charge sheet, the liquor policy was designed by the YSRCP government to exert full control over alcohol distribution, allowing accused officials to extract hefty commissions. The majority portion of such kickbacks was received in cash, gold or bullion. The SIT claimed that kickbacks began at 12 per cent of the base price and were later increased to 20 per cent. Raj Kesireddy alias Kesireddy Rajashekar Reddy, advisor to the then Chief Minister, who is the accused number one in the case, has been named the mastermind and co-conspirator. He allegedly manipulated excise policy, replaced automated Order for Supply (OFS) systems with manual ones, and placed loyal officials within the Andhra Pradesh State Beverages Corporation Limited (APSBCL). from 25 to 26 July on the invitation of the President of the Republic of the Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu. This will be PM Modi's third visit to the Maldives. PM Modi will be the Guest of Honour at the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of Maldivian Independence on 26 July. He will also meet Mr Muizzu and hold discussions on issues of mutual interest. The two leaders will also take stock of the progress in the implementation of the India-Maldives Joint Vision for a ‘Comprehensive Economic and Maritime Security Partnership,’ adopted during the state visit of Mr Muizzu to India in October 2024. to the BJP’s plans to hold rallies in Siliguri and West Midnapore on the same day. “You called parallel rallies. Go ahead. But people are with us,” Miss Banerjee said. “When someone announces a rally to Nabanna, we don’t object. But when TMC calls for a democratic protest, you grow jittery.” she added. Describing tomorrow’s rally as a “battle for democracy against authoritarianism”, Miss Banerjee said the gathering would also serve to counter the BJP’s harassment of Bengali-speaking migrant workers in states ruled by the saffron party. “Being born a Bengali has become a crime in BJP states. They torture people just for speaking in Bengali. This is linguistic profiling and criminalisation of identity,” she said. Trinamul Congress leadership expects a record number of attendees tomorrow. Outstation party workers have arrived in the city and are being put up in various places like Milan Mela Prangan, Gitanjali stadium, Netaji Indoor stadium and other places . Seven major rallies from different places will converge at the venue opposite Victoria House. Earlier today, the Commissioner of Police Mr Manoj Verma and other senior police officers visited the venue and took stock of the arrangements. (SPECIAL PULL-OUT: Pgs 9-11) P16 Ready to discuss key issues, including Op Sindoor, in Monsoon Session: Govt STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 20 JULY The Monsoon Session of Parliament, kicking off Monday, by all expectations, would be a turbulent affair with stormy confrontations between the BJP-led government and the Opposition parties likely to dominate proceedings. With the Opposition seeking debate on various sensitive topics ~ like Operation Sindoor, US President Donald Trump's claim of mediating an IndiaPakistan ceasefire, and the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision in Bihar ~ the atmosphere can be expected to be surcharged. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said after an all-party meeting on Sunday that the government is prepared to hold discussions on all key issues, including Operation Sindoor, during the Monsoon session. “We are very much open to discussing important issues like Operation Sindoor in Parliament,” Mr Rijiju said. On the Opposition's plans to raise the controversy surrounding US President Donald Trump’s repeated claims that he brokered a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, Mr Rijiju said the government would address the matter on the floor of the House. “Government will respond appropriately in Parliament,” he said. As regards the Justice Yaswant Varma case, he said that the government plans to move an impeachment motion with over 100 MPs signing it. “In the Justice Varma case, the process will be undertaken together by all parties. This is not the move by the government alone," Mr Rijiju said. The session that begins Monday will conclude on 21 August, with 21 sittings scheduled across both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The government is planning to introduce eight new bills during the session. On the other hand, the Opposition is gearing up to put the government on the spot on several key issues. They are expected to seek answers on the government's handling of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. They will also seek clarity, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the US President's repeated claims of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. They are also expected to raise questions about the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. The demand for restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir is also expected to be raised, along with the still unresolved conflict in Manipur. Seeking presence of PM in House at all times is unfair: Rijiju STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 20 JULY Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday slammed the Opposition parties’ attempt to create an unnecessary row over Prime Minister Narendra Modi's presence during proceedings of Parliament, saying that seeking the presence of the Prime Minister in the House at all times, that too against the conventions, is unfair. Mr Rijiju said the Prime Minister makes it a point to attend proceedings unless he is visiting a state to attend an important event or is abroad. The Parliamentary Affairs Minister asserted that PM Modi is one among those who have registered the highest attendance in Parliament. Addressing mediapersons after chairing an all-party meeting on the eve of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said: “Seeking the presence of PM Modi in the House at all times, that too against the conventions, is unfair,” he said, hitting out an attempt to target the Prime Minister while ignoring the established system for proceedings. Mr Rijiju said: “Whenever there are questions taken up during Question Hour related to PM Modi’s ministry, he is there. He has not missed the proceedings even once.” “In the House, the Cabinet functionsonthebasisofcollective responsibility. The Cabinet minister concerned is always present in the House during Question Hour,” he said. As per the convention, the Minister related to the department on which a question is asked remains present in the House, and in addition to that, at least one Cabinet Minister and two Ministers of State are always present in Parliament, he said. Meanwhile, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has expressed hope that the Prime Minister will address critical issues in Parliament, particularly regarding defence, foreign policy, and electoral structure. Mr Gogoi emphasised the importance of PM Modi's presence in Parliament to provide clarity on the Pahalgam terror attack, responding to US President Donald Trump's claims about mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and the Election Commission's functioning, particularly about the special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar and its potential extension to other states. At the all-party meeting, a day before the monsoon session of Parliament, Mr Gogoi said that the government will have to put forth its point on the security lapse in the ghastly 22 April terror attack.