FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 BRIEFLY | Pages 12 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA | Jammu: Three soldiers of the Indian Army, including two Agniveers, lost their lives after an avalanche struck at their camp at the Siachen Glacier, the world’s highest battlefield, in the UT of Ladakh, official reports said on Tuesday.Miraculously, an officer survived after remaining buried under the avalanche for about five hours.The avalanche hit the troops of 19 Mahar Regiment during the wee hours this morning. The three soldiers were trapped under the avalanche at a height of more than 12500 ft, reports said. (P3) N epal was gripped by chaos for the second day on Tuesday as mass protests, largely driven by young citizens, shook the Himalayan nation’s political establishment, with several sitting ministers thrashed by protesters. Beleaguered Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned from his post, following widespread unrest that has left the country in shock. The violent protests have already claimed at least 19 lives and left over 400 injured. The protests began after police cracked down on youth-led demonstrations on Monday. The demonstrators, mostly students and young activists from what is being called the “Gen Z movement,” had gathered to demand an end to corruption and failures in governance. The crackdown turned STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 9 September Protesters set the Parliament building on fire as the protest turned violent, in Kathmandu on Tuesday. ANI violent when police opened fire on the crowds on Monday, killing at least 19 people and injuring more than 400. The deaths triggered a much larger wave of protests across the country on the second day. In Kathmandu and several other cities, protesters stormed government buildings, vandalised political offices, and set fire to the private residences of leaders. Among the damaged sites STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 9 September were the Parliament building, Singha Durbar, which houses key ministries, and the Supreme Court. Even the Kathmandu District Court and several government quarters in Lalitpur were targeted. Former king Gyanendra, meanwhile, issued a rare statement urging young protesters to remain peaceful while continuing their demand for change. • Related report on Pg 9 of aid, and other measures to support affected families and farmers. During his visit, PM Modi conducted an aerial survey of affected areas, including Chamba, Bharmour, Kangra, and other regions in Himachal Pradesh. Recognizing the critical need to support the agricultural community, additional assistance will be provided specifically targeted at farmers who currently lack power connections. The government will also take steps to ensure uninterrupted education and improve water management. In Punjab, Mr Modi announced a financial assistance package of Rs 1600 crore for the state, in addition to the Rs 12,000 crore already allocated. During his visit, PM Modi conducted an aerial survey of flood-affected areas and held an official review meeting with officials and elected representatives in Gurdaspur. As per the announcement, the second installment of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) will be released in advance to support relief efforts. Advance disbursements will be made to farmers under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme. Financial assistance will be provided under the PM Awas Yojana for rebuilding homes damaged in the floods. Efforts will be made to restore national highways and reconstruct schools damaged in the floods. Additional assistance will be provided to farmers who lack power connections, and support will be extended for refurbishing bores under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. PM Modi also announced comprehensive support for children orphaned due to the floods under the PM CARES for Children scheme, ensuring their long-term welfare. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh will be provided to the next of kin of the deceased, and Rs 50,000 will be given to those seriously injured in the floods. EAM Jaishankar stresses India’s commitment to articulate, assert, amplify voice of Global South STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 9 September External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Tuesday highlighted the sentiment and solidarity driving the Global South agenda during the 3rd edition of the Global South Young Diplomats Forum (GSYDF). He stressed India's commitment to articulating, asserting, and amplifying the voice of the Global South on global platforms. In a post on X, Mr Jaishankar said: "Delighted to interact with participants of the 3rd Global South Young Diplomats Forum. Spoke about the sentiment and solidarity driving forward the Global South SILIGURI Govt advises Indian nationals in Nepal to exercise restraint Kathmandu, 9 September PM Modi assesses flood situation in Himachal, Punjab; announces financial assistance Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced financial assistance of Rs 1,500 crore and Rs 1,600 crore for the flood-hit states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab, respectively, as he visited both states and conducted aerial surveys to assess the situation. PM Modi first visited Himachal Pradesh, where he had an official meeting in Kangra to review the relief and rehabilitation measures undertaken, as well as assess the damage. Afterwards, he announced financial assistance of Rs 1500 crore for the state. The package includes advance release of the second installment of SDRF, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, sanctions under PM Awas Yojana, relief to affected families under PMNRF, geotagging of damaged houses to facilitate accurate damage assessment and faster delivery | PM Oli steps down as chaos grips Nepal for second day STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Three soldiers killed in avalanche in Siachen: NEW DELHI agenda. And India’s steadfast commitment to articulate, assert and amplify the voice of the Global South." The 3rd edition of the Global South Young Diplomats Forum (GSYDF) was inaugurated by Ambassador Neena Malhotra, Secretary (South) at Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS) on Monday. As many as 42 diplomats from 42 countries representing diverse geographies - Asia, Africa, Latin America, Caribbean Islands, Eurasia, Oceania are participating in the programme. According to the institute, in the inaugural session, Ambassador Malhotra spoke about the background and priorities of the GSYDF and outlined the trajectory of its growth and Institution building since its inception. Dean (SSIFS) Ambassador Raj Srivastava elaborated on the guiding principles of the Indian Foreign Policy, touched on the Competency based Training at the institute, discussed the 'Theories of International Relations' and their applicability in understanding Global South. He also explained the overall programme design and wished the participants a fruitful stay in India next two weeks." The 1st Global South Young Diplomats Forum was held at the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS), Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi, from 20 November to 1 December 2023. While expressing concern over the ongoing protests in Nepal, the government on Tuesday advised Indian nationals in the Himalayan nation to exercise restraint and adhere to the steps and guidelines issued by the Nepali authorities. ''We are closely monitoring the developments in Nepal since yesterday and are deeply saddened by the loss of many young lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased,'' the Ministry of External Affairs said. It said that India, as a close friend and neighbour, hopes all concerned will exercise restraint and address any issues through peaceful means and dialogue. | BHUBANESWAR | Wednesday, 10 September 2025 C P Radhakrishnan elected 15th Vice-President of India SHAHID K ABBAS New Delhi, 9 September C P Radhakrishnan (photo), the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominee and incumbent Maharashtra Governor, has been elected as the 15th Vice-President of India, securing 452 votes in the election. The Opposition-backed candidate, B Sudershan Reddy, a former Supreme Court judge, garnered 300 votes. Rajya Sabha Secretary General PC Mody, who was the Election Officer, made the announcement. “NDA nominee and Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan got 452 first preference votes. He has been elected as the Vice President of India... Opposition's vice-presidential candidate Justice Sudershan Reddy secured 300 first preference votes,” Mody told newsmen. Mr Radhakrishnan will serve as the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and succeeds Jagdeep Dhankhar, who resigned on 21 July citing health reasons. He will serve as Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman for a full five year term. The electoral college consists of 781 members, including 239 Rajya Sabha MPs and 542 Lok Sabha MPs. A total of 767 MPs cast their votes, with 15 abstaining from the election. The NDA had a clear advantage from the beginning as the dynamics of the Electoral College placed him well above the majority mark of 391 required to win the election. Mr Radhakrishnan, 68, a politician from Tamil Nadu and an RSS veteran, had served two terms as a Lok Sabha MP from Coimbatore during prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's tenure. He later led the BJP in Tamil Nadu and has held various positions, including that of the Governor of Jharkhand and Maharashtra. His rival, B Sudershan Reddy, a former Supreme Court judge was fielded by the united Opposition parties. • More reports on Page 5
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