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 | Monday, 25 August 2025 SPORTS WORLD BUSINESS CII urges reforms in economy, energy, jobs, cities Bangladesh seeks apology, Pakistan says 1971 settled NATION Akhilesh to join INDIA bloc’s rally, ‘not Rahul’s’ in Bihar Page 9 Page 10 BRIEFLY IADWS maiden test a success: New Delhi: The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) successfully conducted the maiden flight-tests of Integrated Air Defence Weapon System (IADWS) off the Odisha coast. IADWS is a multi-layered air defence system comprising all indigenous Quick Reaction Surface to Air Missiles (QRSAM), Advanced Very Short-Range Air Defence System (VSHORADS) missiles and a high-power laser-based Directed Energy Weapon (DEW). During the flight tests, three different targets including two highspeed fixed wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle targets and a multi-copter drone were simultaneously engaged and destroyed. Urea shortage hits Telangana farmers hard: Hyderabad: The shortage of urea has severely impacted farmers in Telangana, which is witnessing a shortfall of 87,800 tonnes during the current month, the state government said on Sunday. The state government said that it is closely monitoring the situation and has requested the Centre to expedite additional allocations and dispatches to cover the deficit. The Centre has also been urged to ensure uninterrupted indigenous production and timely imports of urea and to take steps to stabilise supply during the critical Kharif months. The state government reassured farmers that all efforts are being made to secure adequate and timely urea supplies to prevent disruption of agricultural operations. Ayodhya, 24 August On the occasion of this year’s Deepotsav, Ayodhya is set to unveil a magnificent Wax Museum. Located on the Parikrama Path of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, the 10,000 sq. ft. museum will soon open its doors to devotees and tourists, offering a unique cultural and historical experience. Nearly 7.5 crore has already been invested in the project. The museum will feature wax statues of nearly 50 prominent characters from the Ramayana, including Lord Shri Ram, Mata Sita, Lakshman, Lord Hanuman, Sugriv, and Jatayu. Each statue is being meticulously designed with lifelike expressions, detailed costumes, and historical authenticity. Iconic episodes such as the Page 12 Page 4 Bills on tainted ministers: TMC, SP, AAP shun JPC STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE IN A BLOGPOST PUBLISHED ON SATURDAY, TMC RAJYA SABHA MP DEREK O'BRIEN HAD SAID HIS PARTY AS WELL AS THE SAMAJWADI PARTY HAVE DECIDED NOT TO NOMINATE ANY MEMBERS TO THE JPC. HE HAD CALLED THE JPC A FARCE. New Delhi, 24 August A fter the Trinamul Congress and the Samajwadi Party, the Aam Aadmi Party on Sunday announced that it will not join the Joint Committee of Parliament examining the Bills providing for the removal of Prime Ministers, state Chief Ministers, and Union and state ministers accused of serious crimes and in jail for a consecutive period of 30 days. Announcing the decision, AAP Rajya Sabha floor leader Sanjay Singh (photo), said the three Bills are "unconstitutional" and their purpose is to put Opposition leaders in jail, topple the Opposition-led governments and end democracy in the country. “We will not join the Joint Committee. The purpose of this Bill is not to end corruption because the BJP loves corruption and the corrupt," Mr Singh said. Reacting to the AAP decision, Trinamul Congress Rajya Sabha floor leader Derek O'Brien said: "it is a valueless committee." “More parties calling out Modi coalition's stunt to form a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC). Valueless JPC," Mr O’Brien said on X. The TMC had announced on Saturday that it would not nominate any member to the JPC to look into the Constitution 130th Amendment Bill, and had called the panel a "farce". The Samajwadi Party (SP) is also unlikely to nominate any member to the JPC, according to a party source. In a blogpost published on Saturday, Mr O'Brien said his party as well as the SP have decided not to nominate any members to the JPC. He said that the committees are skewed towards the ruling party because of its numbers in both Houses of Parliament. The decision is expected to put pressure Rahul Gandhi sidesteps questions on Tejashwi as Bihar CM face IMRAN MOJIB on other Opposition parties, including the Congress, which are inclined to join the panel. Amid vociferous Opposition protests, Home Minister Amit Shah had last Wednesday introduced The Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Act, 2025 in Lok Sabha seeking the removal of Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and central and state ministers if they are arrested and remain in custody for 30 days in a row on offences that attract a jail term of at least five years. Preventing House from functioning for political gain not productive: Shah STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 24 AUGUST Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that deliberation and discussion in the country’s legislatures are the most effective means to address public issues in a democratic system, as he criticised the recent disruptions in Parliament for stalling the functioning of the country’s highest legislative body. Mr Shah, while addressing the All India Speakers Conference 2025 held at the Delhi Vidhan Sabha on Sunday, said whenever an assembly lost its dignity in the country's history, people had to face its consequences. "Preventing the House from functioning for personal political gain is not a productive discussion. While it's acceptable to oppose something, it's important to exercise patience. Using opposition as an excuse to stall proceedings is not right. Disruptions in discussions limit the House's role in contributing to the country's development," Mr Shah said. Stressing the need to enhance the dignity of the House and respect for the post of the Speaker, the Union home minister said it is the responsibility of every legislator to ensure that the functioning of the House is carried out according to rules, and the discourse must be towards people and the nation's interest. New Delhi, 24 August The Congress party once again dodged questions about endorsing RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav as the chief ministerial candidate of the Opposition’s INDIA alliance in Bihar. Responding to a query during a joint press conference of the alliance in Araria on Sunday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the party is currently focused on the campaign against ‘Vote Chori’ (vote theft). When asked why the Congress has not yet declared Tejashwi Yadav as the alliance’s Chief Minister face ~ despite Tejashwi publicly backing Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate of the INDIA bloc ~ the Congress leader said: “We have formed a very strong partnership. All parties are working together without any tension. There is mutual respect, and we’re supporting each other. We are ideologically and politically aligned, and we are confident of achieving encouraging results. But right now, we must focus on stopping Vote Chori.” Addressing the media, Tejashwi Yadav once again targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that the PM attempted to mislead people during his speech in Gaya. He said: “The Prime Minister spoke in Gaya about infiltrators, despite the fact that the Election Commission has never raised any objection about any voter being an infiltrator.” He also accused the Election Commission of becoming a ‘Godi Aayog’ (a lapdog institution) and claimed that the poll panel has lost its credibility. Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda today met the Prime Minister of Fiji Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, who is on a three-day official visit to India, culminating on 26 August. Stating that the leaders held talks on enhancing cooperation in the healthcare sector, Nadda took to X in a post. “Met with the Prime Minister of Fiji, Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka, in New Delhi today as part of our 'Know BJP' initiative. Our discussions focused on strengthening party-to-party relations, where I highlighted our party’s ideology, organizational framework, and its role in driving India’s development journey. We also had a detailed discussion on enhancing cooperation in the healthcare sector. Looking forward to deepening our partnership for the mutual benefit of both nations,” read the post. The Fijian PM who is on his appeal as a spiritual destination but also showcase the timeless values of the Ramayana and Indian culture on the world stage. Municipal Commissioner Jayendra Kumar said on Sunday that construction of the museum is progressing rapidly and is being closely monitored to ensure timely completion. The project is being executed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, similar to the Bhool Bhulaiya project in Amaniganj. Divisional Commissioner Rajesh Kumar noted that the Wax Museum will add a new dimension to Ayodhya’s cultural heritage. He further highlighted that, along with this project, road widening, beautification of the Saryu ghats, and other infrastructure works are also underway to make Ayodhya a world-class religious and cultural centre. maiden visit to India after taking over, was received by the Union Minister of State for Education and Development of the Northeastern Region, Sukanta Majumdar, here today. Extending a welcome to Rabuka and the Fijian delegation, the Ministry of External Affairs wrote on X, "Warm welcome to PM Sitiveni Rabuka of Fiji as he arrives in New Delhi on his first visit. PM Rabuka was received by MoS Education & DoNER Sukanta Majumdar at the airport. The visit will further deepen India-Fiji partnership across diverse sectors." Later, in a statement, the MEA said that PM Rabuka was accompanied by his spouse, Suluweti Rabuka. The Fijian PM is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 25 August, followed by a lunch hosted in honour of the visiting dignitaries. Rabuka will also deliver a talk on 'Ocean of Peace' at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) in the national capital, the MEA statement read. Rajnath Singh hails India’s space heroes STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 24 August Ram-Ravan battle, Sita’s abduction, Hanuman’s journey to Lanka, and the construction of the Ram Setu will also be recreated through a fusion of wax artistry and modern technology. Audio-visual effects and interactive displays will enhance the experience, making it especially engaging for children and youth. A Maharashtra-based organization, in collaboration with experts from Kerala, is crafting the statues to ensure vivid and authentic depictions of the epic. The Uttar Pradesh government has undertaken several ambitious projects to place Ayodhya firmly on the global tourism map. With the completion of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, the number of devotees and tourists visiting the city has surged. Officials believe that the Wax Museum will not only strengthen Ayodhya’s Holding discussions rising above the party interest and promoting the interest of the nation is the path that takes us to the greatest heights of democracy, Mr Shah said. “We ought to aim to provide an impartial platform to highlight the concerns of our nation's citizens. Both the government and the opposition must present a fair argument. The operations of the House must adhere to the regulations of the specific House," he said. Fiji PM begins India visit, meets JP Nadda to boost bilateral cooperation STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Patna, 24 August Ayodhya all set to get a grand wax museum during Deepotsav-2025 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Cheteshwar Pujara announces retirement India’s four pioneering astronauts, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, Group Captain PB Nair, Group Captain Ajit Krishnan, and Group Captain Angad Pratap, were felicitated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, here today. Also dubbed as Gaganyatris, the four Indian Air Force officers are part of Gaganyaan, ISRO’s maiden space flight mission. Described the four as gems of the country and pioneers of national aspirations, Mr Singh said that the India is expanding its presence in space. “We do not see space only as a field of research, but as the future of tomorrow's economy, security, energy, and humanity. We’re steadily advancing beyond the Earth’s surface into new frontiers of space. We’ve already marked Defence Minister Rajnath Singh felicitates Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and his colleagues during a felicitation ceremony for Gaganyatris in New Delhi on Sunday. ANI our presence from Moon to Mars, and today, the nation stands fully prepared for missions like Gaganyaan," he said. Terming the achievement as not merely a technological milestone, but a new chapter in Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Mr Singh said that India proudly stands tall among the world’s leading space powers. “Its space programme is not confined to laboratories and launch vehicles. It’s a reflection of our national aspirations and global vision. From Chandrayaan to Mangalyaan, we have demonstrated that even with limited resources, an unlimited willpower can transform the most challenging goals into remarkable accomplishments," he said. He also pointed out that the technologies derived from space, be it communication satellites, weather monitoring or disaster management are delivering services to every village and every field across India and emphasised that India cannot stay behind in the space journey. “In the coming times, space mining, deep space exploration, and planetary resources will redefine the course of human civilisation,” he said. The defence minister further added that the world has entered an era where space is no longer a symbol of military power or technical prowess, but a new stage in the collective journey of human civilisation. “India has always given the message of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam to the world. And, today, our scientists and astronauts are taking the same message to new heights," he said. Commending Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla for his successful space mission, the defence minister highlighted the officer’s determination and courage which reflect the spirit of India, making him a source of national pride. “Completing a two-anda-half year’s training in just two-and-a-half months, Group Captain Shukla's remarkable testament showcased his personal dedication and the perseverance of the Indian people. His extraordinary feat is not just a technological achievement, it is a message of faith and dedication. It is not just India’s pride, it is proof of the progress of entire humanity,” he said.