FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 12 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR ‘This is racial profiling’ Famine grips Gaza, food crisis authority says NATION EAM wraps up Russia visit, discusses Ukraine with Putin Page 7 Page 5 Page 9 BRIEFLY B’desh migrants taking jobs from Bengal’s youth: Modi RAJIB CHAKRABORTY Kolkata, 22 August Parliament security breach: New Delhi: A 20-year-old youth allegedly tried to scale the wall of the Parliament building on Friday morning but was caught by security personnel and handed over to police, officials said. Police said the man, identified as Ram Kumar Bind from Uttar Pradesh’s Bhadohi, tried to enter the Parliament complex from the Rail Bhawan side. “On Friday, at around 5:50 a.m, Bind was attempting to scale a boundary wall of Parliament but was promptly intercepted by the CISF and was later handed over to Delhi Police officers,” Devesh Mahla, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) said. (P2) Online Gaming Bill now law: New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu on Friday gave her assent to the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, a day after it was passed by the Parliament. The Bill got the Parliament nod on Thursday after it was also approved in the Rajya Sabha by a voice vote amidst the din. AI flight faces operational issue: New Delhi: An Air India bound flight for Jodhpur on Friday discontinued the take-off run after developing an operational issue and returned to the bay. Earlier, the Passengers on board Air India flight from Kochi to New Delhi faced an unexpected delay after a technical snag was detected during the aircraft's take-off roll. Swaraj Paul dies in London, PM Modi condoles death STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 22 August P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that unchecked infiltration was depriving Bengal’s youth of jobs, while promising large -scale tourism and infrastructure projects if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in the state in 2026. Speaking at a rally, Mr Modi pledged that projects such as inland tourism on River Bhaghirathi and sea tourism on Bay of Bengal, would generate employment for thousands of young people in West Bengal. “You are seeing how across the world strict measures are being taken against infiltrators. Only BJP can rid Bengal of this menace. Give us one chance, and these illegal infiltrators will flee the state. We will ensure jobs and business opportunities for our unemployed youth. But infiltrators are snatching aw ay t h e i r j o b s . S u c h Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with students during a metro ride in Kolkata on Friday. SNS infiltrators will not be allowed to stay in India,” Mr Modi declared. He accused the Trinamul Congress (TMC), Congress and the opposition INDIA alliance of practising “appeasement politics” and trying to “make space for infiltrators” in the country. “Bengal is a border state. Farmers’ land is being snatched, tribals are being exploited. The Centre has announced a demographic mission to stop this crisis. Infiltrators will have to leave, and this work will be completed with full honesty,” he said. Highlighting what he called BJP’s record of action, Mr Modi cited “Operation Sindoor” and said the party was committed to promoting Bengali language and culture. He reminded the audience that the Centre had accorded Bengali the status of a classical language. “We want to create a Bengal where no youth has to migrate elsewhere for work,” he said. Calling infiltration the nation’s biggest concern, Mr Modi added: “Bengalis think ahead of time. Once you give us your vote, infiltrators who are stealing our youths’ jobs, blocking infrastructure, and committing crimes against women will start running away. The Indian government has launched a massive operation against them. But the INDIA bloc supports infiltrators through appeasement. In Bengal, infiltration is creating a social crisis. It must stop. That is why I announced the demographic mission from Red Fort.” The Prime Minister said that for central projects to reach people, West Bengal must have a BJP government. He launched the slogan: “TMC will go, BJP will come.” “This land of Surendranath Banerjee and Satish Chandra Dasgupta has always been the centre of awakening. It has given the immortal call – ‘Arise, awake… light the new dawn in every heart’. Today, Bengal truly needs that new light,” he said. Durand Cup: NEUFC face tough test against Diamond Harbour FC Page 12 Bihar SIR: SC says excluded voters can apply online PARMOD KUMAR New Delhi, 22 August The Supreme Court on Friday ordered that persons excluded from the draft electoral rolls in Bihar during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) can submit applications for inclusion online, without having to file physical forms, and directed 12 recognised political parties in the state to assist voters in the exercise. A Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said that excluded individuals may apply online either on their own or with the help of booth-level agents (BLAs) of the 12 recognised political parties. The Court formally impleaded all 12 recognised parties, directing them to mobilise their BLAs to facilitate filing of applications in their respective booths. Pointing out that Bihar has about 1.6 lakh BLAs belonging to all the political parties, the Bench said: “If each agent helps fill just 10 forms a day, there would be 16 lakh applications for registration of excluded voters each day.” It expressed surprise that despite such a vast network, only two objections had been filed so far, and noted complaints that local officers were not acknowledging objections raised by BLAs of the political parties. The Court in the last hearing on 14 August, directed that booth-wise lists of the nearly 65 lakh voters deleted from the draft rolls be displayed on panchayat bhavans and block offices, in addition to being uploaded on the websites of District Electoral Officers and the Chief Electoral Officer. Public notices in English and vernacular newspapers must inform voters in “layman-friendly” language that Aadhaar cards as well as any of the 11 notified documents can be submitted for inclusion. The Bench directed political parties to issue specific instructions to their booth-level workers to assist excluded voters, except those who are dead or have migrated voluntarily, in filing applications before the 1 September cut-off date. The Court was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the Election Commission of India’s 24 June directive ordering a Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar just ahead of assembly elections. Petitioners, including NGOs Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR), Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), RJD MP Manoj Jha, TMC MP Mahua Moitra, activist Yogendra Yadav and others, have argued that the directive violates constitutional guarantees and risks disenfranchising large sections of the electorate. The Election Commission of India (ECI), in an affidavit, informed the Court that the list of omitted voters had been uploaded online and physical copies displayed locally ~ at Panchayat Bhavans and block and panchayat offices. It added that advertisements had been issued across newspapers, radio and television. Shah accuses INDIA bloc’s VP nominee of supporting Maoism PM defends 130th Amendment Bill at Bihar rally, says Opposition afraid of political fallout AGENCIES IMRAN MOJIB Kochi, 22 Agencies Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday accused retired Supreme Court Judge B Sudershan Reddy, the INDIA bloc's nominee for the upcoming Vice Presidential election, of having supported Naxalism (Maoism) through his judicial pronouncements. Speaking at a public event here, Mr Shah referred to Justice Reddy's 2011 Salwa Judum judgment, which had declared as "illegal" and "unconstitutional" the state-sponsored arming of young tribal men as special police officers in Chhattisgarh. The ruling ordered that such militias be disbanded, stressing that the state must address the root causes of the insurgency through lawful governance rather than vigilante groups. Revisiting that verdict, the Home Minister alleged the judgment indirectly strengthened Maoist extremists and curtailed the state's ability to counter insurgency. "Sudershan Reddy is the person who helped Naxalism. He gave the Salwa Judum judgment. If that judgment had not been given, Naxal terrorism would have ended by 2020," Mr Shah said. He further claimed the Congress, under pressure from its Left allies, had nominated a candidate "who supported Naxalism with a forum like the Supreme Court". Mr Shah also said that Kerala, which will face Assembly elections next year, has "suffered" from Left-wing extremist activities, and urged voters to recognise the implications of the Opposition's choice. The Vice President election is scheduled for 9 September. Justice Reddy, nominated by the Congress-led INDIA bloc, will face the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance's candidate, Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan. Justice Reddy, who retired from the Supreme Court in 2011, was part of several significant constitutional benches during his tenure. HE ALSO BLAMED THE CONGRESS AND THE RJD FOR ALL THE SUFFERINGS OF THE PEOPLE OF BIHAR ~ FROM UNEMPLOYMENT AND MIGRATION TO INFILTRATION AND LEFT WING EXTREMISM. Patna, 22 August Batting for the 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill during an election rally in Gaya, Bihar on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed the Opposition parties for opposing the legislation, saying those who are out on bail are afraid for their political career. Their anger stems from fear, he said. The Bill aims at removing a Prime Minister, state Chief Minister, Central or state minister whoever is facing allegations of corruption or serious offences and has been detained for at least 30 days consecutively. Mr Modi said: “Those who have committed wrongdoings may hide themselves from others. I have been in public life for so many years, but not a single stain of corruption has been found on my government.” In contrast, he remarked, the Opposition governments that ruled before him have a long list of corruption cases against them. In Bihar, corruption by Opposition parties is known to every child, he said. He said if a government clerk can be automatically suspended on being arrested and remaining in custody for 50 hours, why should a chief minister or minister enjoy the privilege of power even while in jail. He cited recent instances where files were being signed and official orders issued directly from jail. “The resolve to free India from corruption is a collective commitment of crores of citizens ~ and this resolve will be fulfilled,” he added. He also blamed the Congress and the RJD for all the sufferings of the people of Bihar ~ from unemployment and migration to infiltration and Left Wing Extremism. Recalling the RJD rule of 15 years, he said the region was gripped by Maoist terror. The RJD government pushed Bihar’s future into darkness, he said, contending that there was neither education nor employment, and generations of Biharis were forced to migrate due to these conditions. He attacked the Opposition parties for attempting to deprive people of Bihar of their rights even today and to hand them over to infiltrators. He stated that for appeasement and vote-bank politics, those parties were willing to go to any extent. The PM said that he has launched the Demography Mission to expel every infiltrator from the country. He said that the rapid development of Bihar is a major priority for the NDA government at the Centre and it is working shoulder to shoulder with Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar for this purpose. Stray dogs to be released after vaccination, dedicated feeding places, formulate national policy, says SC PARMOD KUMAR New Delhi, 22 August Lord Swaraj Paul, the celebrated NRI industrialist and philanthropist, has died in London at the age of 94. He passed away on 21 August, after a period of illness that led to his hospitalisation. Condoling his death Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday expressed anguish and said his support for the UK's close ties with India will always be remembered. In a post on X, Mr Modi said: "Deeply saddened by the passing of Shri Swaraj Paul Ji. His contributions to industry, philanthropy and public service in the UK, and his unwavering support for closer ties with India will always be remembered." Saturday, 23 August 2025 SPORTS WORLD PERSPECTIVE | The Supreme Court on Friday modified its 11 August directions on stray dogs in Delhi-NCR, clarifying that captured dogs must be sterilised, dewormed, vaccinated and then released back to the same localities from where they were picked up ~ except those suffering from rabies, suspected to be rabid, or showing aggressive behaviour. At the same time, the Court prohibited public feeding of stray dogs in streets and mandated the creation of dedicated feeding points, while signalling the need for a uniform national policy on stray dog management. A three-judge Bench of Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice N.V. Anjaria said that while public safety is paramount, the issue requires a “holistic approach” that balances human concerns with animal welfare. It stayed the 11 August order of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan, which had required all stray dogs picked up in Delhi-NCR to be permanently housed in shelters and not returned to the streets. Expanding the scope of the issue to make it pan-India, the Court said municipal bodies across the country must ensure that only sterilised and immunised dogs are returned to their original areas. Rabid or dangerously aggressive animals may be quarantined or kept in shelters. “Dogs that are picked up shall be sterilised, dewormed, vaccinated and released back to the same area,” the Bench directed. This marks a significant departure from the 11 August ruling, which had barred the release of stray dogs under any circumstance. The Court stressed that modifying the earlier order was necessary to align with the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules and to adopt a practical framework for coexistence. Animal activists hail apex court decision MUSKAN BHATIA New Delhi, 22 August Stray dogs eat food on a footpath amid drizzle, in New Delhi on Friday. ANI The Bench also ordered that each municipal authority must create dedicated feeding spaces for stray dogs in every ward, taking into account the dog population. Notice boards must clearly state that feeding is allowed only in such areas. Feeding on public roads and streets will not be permitted. Maneka Gandhi, animal rights activist & former Union Minister, on Friday appreciated the Supreme Court’s decision that called off sending the stray dogs in the Delhi-NCR region to be captured and relocated to shelter homes within eight weeks from the announcement of the verdict. She called the new order a “practical step” that directs civic agencies to capture, neuter, and release the strays back to the same location. Speaking with a news agency, Mrs Gandhi said: “I am very happy with the Supreme Court’s new decision because the earlier order was not feasible to implement.” A wave of jubilation spread among the animal rights activists across the national capital. Gauri Maulekhi, associated with animal welfare group People For Animals (PFA), hailed the SC’s decision, calling it a ‘balanced order’ that will benefit people, improve public health, & certainly offer relief to the animals.