THURSDAY 07 AUGUST 2025 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00 X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 SINCE 1818 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR RAHUL GRANTED CONDITIONAL BAIL BY CHAIBASA COURT NETANYAHU HINTS AT EXPANDED WAR IN GAZA P5 SENSEX 80,543.99 q166.26 WEATHER Generally cloudy sky with a few spells of Light to moderate rain/ thundershower very likely to occur. RAINFALL: 025.4 mm NUCLEAR SHOWMANSHIP P9 NIFTY 24,574.20 q75.35 ` vs $ 87.71 P6 Attack on Bengali identity won’t be tolerated: Mamata BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 69.13 PM Modi may visit China for SCO summit, first since 2020 Galwan valley clashes The CM accused the BJP of weaponising bureaucratic exercises like the SIR of voter rolls to stoke fear “ BISWABRATA GOSWAMI Min. 89% The ploy behind SIR is to bring NRC in disguise. People are dying by suicide out of fear,‰ Miss Banerjee thundered from the stage, her voice cutting through the monsoon air thick with slogans of „Bangla Banchao.‰ JHARGRAM, 6 AUGUST TEMPERATURE Max: 29.2 ˚C (-2.8) Min: 23.5 ˚C (-3.0) SUN RISES 05:10 hrs MOON RISES 16:09 hrs SUN SETS 18:15 hrs MOON SETS 01:53 hrs Full Moon on 9 August THUMBNAILS An evening view of Lal Chowk’s illuminated Iconic Clock Tower with bustling shoppers and tourists on the sixth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, in Srinagar on Wednesday. nANI Uttarkashi rescue operations: Agencies were unable to ascertain the death toll in the flash flood at Dharali Market near Harsil in Uttarkashi since an all-out rescue operation could start only on Wednesday afternoon after additional NDRF, SDRF, and other teams sent from Delhi and Dehradun to the disaster site. A statement issued by the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) in Dehradun, said 130 victims of the disaster were rescued safely under highly-adverse weather conditions at Dharali. The arrival of rescue teams was hampered by the debris blocking Gangotri highway leading to Dharali at Netala Gameshpur near Sukhi Tal. C hief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday led a massive protest rally through the forested heartland of Jhargram, vowing to shield the Bengali identity and language from what she termed a “systematic assault” by the BJPled Centre. Brandishing portraits of Rabindranath Tagore, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, and Kazi Nazrul Islam, Miss Banerjee marched with thousands, sending a clear message: “If you attack Bengal and its people, I will not remain silent.” Addressing a massive crowd comprising migrant workers, students, and tribal families, the Trinamul Congress (TMC) chief accused the BJP of weaponising bureaucratic exercises like the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls to stoke fear, erase legitimate voters, and smuggle in the National Register of Citizens (NRC) “through the backdoor.” “The ploy behind SIR is to bring NRC in disguise. People are dying by suicide out of fear,” Miss Banerjee thundered from the stage, her voice cutting through the monsoon air thick with slogans of “Bangla Banchao.” Miss Banerjee minced no words in condemning what she described as a targeted campaign against Bengali-speaking citizens, both within and outside West Bengal. “How can someone be branded Bangladeshi simply for speaking Bengali?” she asked, slamming the BJP for painting Bengalis with a foreign brush. “This is nothing but a conspiracy to erase our identity.” Drawing parallels with Assam, where several Bengalis have received NRC-related notices in recent years, Miss Banerjee expressed solidarity with those affected and lashed out at the BJP-led Assam government. “Shame on the Assam BJP government,” she declared, “for daring to insult the language of Rabindranath, Nazrul, and Vidyasagar.” In an emotional crescendo, she proclaimed: “India cannot exist without Bengal. You cannot break the spine of this land by sowing fear.” Turning her ire towards the Election Commission of India (ECI), Miss Banerjee alleged that the SIR process is being manipulated to selectively delete names from voter rolls. “They are not creating a voter list; they are creating a BJP list,” she claimed. “Not a single voter’s name should be dropped. If one is omitted, they will have to walk over our dead bodies.” Her comments came a day after the ECI ordered the suspension of four West Bengal government officials ~ two Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and two Assistant EROs ~ on charges of electoral roll irregularities. Miss Banerjee made it unequivocally clear that she would stand by state officers, declaring: “I will not suspend a single one. Protecting government employees is my responsibility, and I will not abandon them.” Ridiculing the BJP's demands for documentary proof of citizenship, Miss Banerjee asked pointedly: “Do BJP leaders themselves have their birth certificates? Trump hikes tariff to 50 per cent; unjustified, says India STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 6 AUGUST US President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order imposing an additional 25 per cent tariff on imports from India, taking the total tariff on Indian goods to 50 per cent, citing New Delhi's continued purchase of Russian oil. Reacting sharply to the move, New Delhi on Wednesday reiterated that these actions are “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable” and said the government will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests. While the initial tariff of 25 per cent becomes effective on 7 August, the additional levy will come into effect after 21 days and will be imposed P12 SILVER `1,16,000 GOLD `1,03,195 RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 98% GILL NOMINATED FOR PLAYER OF THE MONTH on all Indian goods imported to the USA, except for goods already in transit or those meeting specific exemptions. Last week, the US president had announced a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods. According to the White House, the latest executive order is aimed at strengthening measures taken under earlier sanctions against Russia following its actions in Ukraine. In New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement: “We have already made clear our position on these issues, including the fact that our imports are based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of India." It is therefore extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest, Mr Jaiswal said. “We reiterate that these actions are unfair, unjustified and unreasonable. India will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests,” the MEA spokesperson added. What right do they have to demand proof from others?” She accused the saffron party of launching a “linguistic purge” in the name of national security, stating that the central leadership was attempting to redraw the fabric of Indian identity by marginalising languages like Bengali. “Just because someone speaks Bengali, you call them Bangladeshi? Are you going to divide India on the basis of language now?” she asked. The choice of Jhargram ~ a region once marked by Maoist insurgency and state neglect ~ as the venue for the protest was strategic and symbolic. In her speech, Miss Banerjee reminded the gathering of the transformation the district has seen under her leadership. “During the Left regime, no one dared visit Jhargram. People were afraid to travel from Lalgarh to Belpahari,” she said. “But today, development has reached every corner. People are living in peace. This is our real achievement.” As tribal drums reverberated across the rally site and women raised cries of “Joy Bangla,” the TMC’s message was unmistakable: the battle ahead is not just for votes—it is for identity, dignity, and language. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 6 AUGUST Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to travel to Japan and China on a twonation tour, beginning around 29 August, according to reliable sources. The prime minister is expected to first visit Japan to hold an annual IndiaJapan summit. From there, he is likely to travel to China to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), scheduled to be held in the city of Tianjin from 31 August to 1 September. According to the sources, PM Modi will first visit Japan on 30 August and will leave for China on 31 August. There is no official word yet, however, on the proposed trip. This would be Mr Modi's first visit to China since the Galwan valley clashes between Indian Army personnel and Chinese PLA soldiers in 2020. He had last met Chinese PM Modi will first visit Japan on 30 August and will leave for China on 31 August. There is no official word yet, however, on the proposed trip. President Xi Jinping in 2024 on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia. Earlier in July this year, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar had also visited China. This was also Mr Jaishankar’s first trip to India’s northern neighbour since the 2020 military standoff between the armies of the two countries. Mr Modi’s visit to China, if it materialises, will come amid strain in India's ties with the USA in the wake of President Donald Trump's imposition of enhanced tariffs on India in addition to threatening penalties for purchasing Russian oil. RBI MPC keeps repo rate unchanged, Governor says gold pushed core inflation up STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Mr Trump cited matters of national security and foreign policy concerns, as well as other relevant trade laws, for the increase, claiming that India's imports of Russian oil pose an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to the United States. "Accordingly, and as consistent with applicable law, articles of India imported into the customs territory of the United States shall be subject to an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 25 per cent," the order reads. The new tariffs will be applied to all eligible Indian goods entering the US from 21 days after the order’s signing, except for shipments already in transit before the deadline and cleared before 17 September. NEW DELHI, 6 AUGUST RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Wednesday announced that the central bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) unanimously decided to keep the policy rate unchanged at 5.5 per cent, continuing the neutral stance. The standing deposit facility (SDF) rate under the liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) remains unchanged at 5.25 per cent, and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the Bank Rate at 5.75 per cent. On GDP growth, the RBI Governor said the projection for real GDP growth for 202526 has been retained at 6.5 per cent, with Q1 at 6.5 per cent, Q2 at 6.7 per cent, Q3 at 6.6 per cent, and Q4 at 6.3 per cent. Real GDP growth for Q1 of 2026-27 is projected at 6.6per cent. Further, he said CPI headline inflation declined for the eighth consecutive month to a 77-month low of 2.1 per cent (y-o-y) in June 2025. “This was driven primarily by a sharp decline in food inflation led by improved agricultural activity and various supply-side measures. Food inflation recorded its first negative print since February 2019 at (-) 0.2per cent in June,” the Governor said. Core inflation, which remained within a narrow range of 4.1-4.2 per cent during February-May, increased to 4.4 per cent in June, driven partly by a continued increase in gold prices, the Governor highlighted. He also said the CPI inflation, however, is likely to edge up above 4 per cent by Q4:2025-26 and beyond. (More reports on Pg 10) SIR cannot be discussed as the matter SC quashes Madras HC order restraining use of Stalin’s name in govt scheme is sub-judice: Kiren Rijiju in Lok Sabha The court also imposed a cost of PARMOD KUMAR NEW DELHI, 6 AUGUST AGENCIES NEW DELHI, 6 AUGUST Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday said the Special Intensive Review (SIR) of electoral rolls being conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI) cannot be discussed in Parliament as the matter is sub-judice and goes against the rules of procedural conduct of business in the House. Since the commencement of the Monsoon Session in Parliament, the Opposition MPs have been disrupting both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, demanding a discussion on the SIR, which is being conducted in Bihar by the ECI ahead of the Assembly elections in the state. The Opposition is alleging that the SIR exercise is a ploy to "disenfranchise genuine voters" in Bihar. Speaking in the Lok Sabha amid the Opposition's continuous sloganeering, Mr Rijiju said that even though for the past several days the Opposition has been "disrupting the House", the "government remains open to take up discussion on any matter." However, he said that any discussion in Parliament "has to be in accordance with constitutional provisions and also with the rules as prescribed in the rules of procedure and conduct of business in the Lok Sabha." "On the issue of SIR, the electoral rolls for which they are disturbing the House from the first day, we all know that the matter is under consideration of the honourable Supreme Court and as such it is sub-judice," he said. Mr Rijiju said that under Rule 186 of Part 8, "any matter can be discussed in the House only if it does not relate to a matter which is under adjudication by a court of law in a country." In a ruling that has far-reaching political and legal implications, the Supreme Court on Wednesday quashed the Madras High Court’s 31 July interim order that had restrained the Tamil Nadu government from using Chief Minister M K Stalin’s name and photograph in government welfare scheme advertisements. The court also imposed a cost of Rs 10 lakh on AIADMK Member of Parliament C V Shanmugam, who had filed the original petition before the high court. Dismissing the writ petition pending before the High Court, Chief Justice B R Gavai, heading a bench also comprising Justice K Vinod Chandran and Justice N V Anjaria, directed that the fine of Rs 10 lakh be utilised for welfare schemes benefitting the underprivileged in the state. “Time and again, we have observed that political battles should be settled before the electorate. Courts should not be used for this,” Chief Justice Gavai observed while pronouncing the order. The apex court was hearing an appeal filed by the Tamil Nadu government and the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party against the high court’s 31 July 2025, interim order, which had prohibited the use of names or portraits of living persons, former chief ministers, ideological leaders, or political party symbols in publicity material for government schemes. Criticising the selective nature of the challenge, the top court said it saw no justification in targeting only Rs 10 lakh on AIADMK Member of Parliament C V Shanmugam, who had filed the original petition before the high court. the Tamil Nadu government’s welfare schemes using the Chief Minister Stalin’s name and photographs in their publicity. “The planting of schemes in the name of political leaders is a phenomenon which is followed across the country. When such schemes are floated in the name of all leaders of political parties, we do not appreciate the anxiety of the petitioner to choose only one political party and one political leader. Singling out only one political leader shows the intentions of the petitioner,” the bench noted. Senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and P. Wilson appeared for the DMK, while Abhishek Manu Singhvi represented the Tamil Nadu government. They submitted that during the AIADMK regime, several schemes were also named after political leaders, and the current scheme ~ 'Ungaludan Stalin' ~ was a continuation of that political tradition. The high court had earlier accepted the plea by AIADMK MP Shanmugam, who alleged that the Tamil Nadu government was launching schemes in the name of the incumbent Chief Minister, using his photo, as well as symbols and imagery associated with the DMK and its ideological figures. In its 31 July order, the High Court had reasoned that the use of ideological leaders’ and former Chief Ministers’ photographs appeared prima facie contrary to the Supreme Court’s earlier directions. However, the top court on Wednesday clarified that its 2015 order ~ which initially restricted the use of photographs in government advertisements to only the President, Prime Minister, and Chief Justice of India ~ had been modified on 18 March 2016.