www.thestatesman.com | @TheStatesmanLtd FOLLOW US: India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 16 | @thestatesmanltd ` 5.00 | People’s Parliament, Always in Session thestatesman1875 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR | 14 September, 2025 PM pledges peace and development in first Manipur visit since start of 2023 violence STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE ‘NE emerging as India’s growth engine’ Imphal/Churachandpur, 13 September P rime Minister Narendra Modi visited Manipur today amid heavy rainfall, meeting people displaced by the ethnic conflict that broke out in the state in May of 2023 and urging for reconciliation, as he said that the Centre stood firmly with the people of the state in restoring peace and normality and bringing back the state to the path of progress. Mr Modi addressed two public meetings, first at Churachandpur in the south of the state and later at the Kangla in Imphal, the ancient seat of power of the Manipur kingdom. In both Churachandpur and Imphal, the Prime Minister urged reconciliation, appealing to the people of Manipur to move forward towards peace, progress, and prosperity. The Prime Minister laid the foundation stones for multiple development projects worth over Rs 7,300 crore at Churachandpur and inaugurated multiple development projects worth more than Rs 1,200 crore at Imphal. It was so raining hard in Nepal begins return to normalcy as govt lifts nationwide curfew STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Aizawl, 13 September PM Narendra Modi launches various development projects, in Imphal. Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla is also present. ANI Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with violence-hit displaced people, in Churachandpur on Saturday. ANI both Mizoram and Manipur today that the helicopter meant to be ferrying Prime Minister Modi from Aizawl in Mizoram and Churachandpur and Imphal in Manipur could not take off. Mr Modi flew to Imphal’s Tulihal from Aizawl’s Lungleh Airport and took the 60 kilometre journey to Churachandpur by road where he met representatives of IDPs belonging to the Kuki Zo community who fled the Imphal valley and later addressed a public gathering at the Tuibong Peace Ground. Returning to Imphal he addressed a huge gathering “I appeal to all organisations to think for the future of their children and work towards the solution. The Centre has initiated talks with various organisations of the hills and valley for reconciliation. Dialogue and mutual respect are the basis of all these talks,” he said, adding that those displaced by the violence would be resettled. Describing the land of Manipur as a soil of hope and aspiration, Mr Modi said it was unfortunate that violence had gripped this remarkable region. He shared that he had met people staying in relief at the historic Kangla fort after having met Meitei IDPs who had been driven out of Churachandpur,Moreh and Kangpokpi areas. The Prime Minister said: “Today, I promise you that I am with you. The Government of India is with you, and the people of Manipur are together… We want to make Manipur a symbol of peace, and prosperity.” Appealing to both hill and valley communities, Mr Modi said that dialogue was essential for a peaceful and progressive Manipur and stressed that a bridge must be built between the communities. camps and expressed confidence that a new dawn of hope and trust was arriving in Manipur. Affirming that the government was making every possible effort to bring life back on track, he announced the construction of 7,000 new houses for displaced families under a special package of Rs 3,000 crore, including Rs 500 crore earmarked for relief. “Establishing peace is essential for development in any region, and over the past eleven years, many long-standing conflicts and disputes in the North East have been resolved,” he said. Ushering in what he described as a “lifetime of transformation” for Mizoram, Prime Minister Modi on Saturday said that for decades vote bank politics has left the North East region neglected but now it is emerging as the “growth engine of India.” Inaugurating the state’s first-ever rail line ~ the 51.38 km Bairabi-Sairang broad-gauge railway project ~ and flagging off a Rajdhani Express service connecting Aizawl directly with Delhi, the PM told a gathering at Lammual in Aizawl that the event marked not just the addition of Mizoram to India’s railway map but also a new chapter in the North-east’s integration with the rest of the country. Unlike in the past, he said, “(t)hose who were marginalised are now in the mainstream. Our approach is different ~ we are strengthening all forms of connectivity: rail, road, and air.” AGENCIES Kathmandu/Imphal, 13 September The Himalayan nation of Nepal is returning towards a state of normalcy after days of violent protest, as the nationwide curfew had been ended on Saturday, a day after the former Chief Justice, Sushila Karki, was sworn in as the interim Prime Minister. According to media reports, the Nepalese Army hadn't extended the curfew, which was initially enforced till 6 am today. With the restrictions lifted, public transportation resumed service this morning, and long-distance buses from Kathmandu to various parts of the country have also begun their journeys. This move comes a day after Nepal's President Ramchandra Paudel appointed Karki as the new Prime Minister. The 73-year-old former Chief Justice of Nepal was sworn in as the interim Prime Minister on Friday evening after a widespread Gen Z protest, due to frustration over political stagnation, corruption, and economic disparity, triggered by the ban of social media platforms in the country. Speaking at a public meeting in Imphal, Manipur, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi today congratulated Mrs Sushila Karki on assuming office as the Prime Minister of Nepal’s interim government. Mr Modi described Nepal as India’s ‘’close friend and trusted partner’’ and said that both nations are bound by shared history, faith and a collective journey forward. He expressed confidence that Prime Minister Karki will pave way for peace, stability and prosperity in the country. Earlier, the Prime Minister said on X that ‘’India remains firmly committed to the peace, prosperity and progress of the people of Nepal.’’ “I extend my best wishes to Right Hon. Mrs. Sushila Karki on assuming office as the Prime Minister of the Interim Government of Nepal. India remains firmly committed to the peace, progress and prosperity of the people of Nepal.” BJP files FIR against Congress over alleged AI deepfake video targeting PM Modi, late mother Prez Trump says tariffs on India caused ‘rift’, admits he could not solve Russia-Ukraine war DEEPSHIKHA VERMA AGENCIES New delhi, 13 September The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has filed a formal complaint with Delhi Police over the alleged deepfake video defaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his late mother, Heeraben Modi (photo), and accordingly, an FIR has been registered in this regard, a source said. According to the police, the complaint, filed by Sanket Gupta, convenor of the BJP Delhi Election Cell, seeks immediate registration of an FIR and a thorough investigation into the matter. As per the complainant, the allegedly manipulated video was circulated on Wednesday through the official INC Bihar account on social media platform X at 6:12 PM. “The video purportedly shows the Prime Minister with his late mother in an artificially generated or fabricated scenario, which the BJP claims is intended to mislead the public and malign both the personal and institutional reputation of the Prime Minister,” the FIR read. Mr Gupta’s complaint emphasised that the act is not only a personal attack on the PM, but also a grave insult to women’s dignity and the sanctity of motherhood, as his mother is no longer alive to defend her honour. “The mother-son relationship lies at the heart of Indian civilisation, representing purity, sacrifice, and dignity. This malicious act offends the conscience of every Indian,” the complaint stated. The BJP complaint also references earlier incidents during the Voter Adhikar Yatra in Bihar on 27–28 August 2025, where supporters at Congress and RJD rallies allegedly hurled derogatory and abusive remarks targeting the Prime Minister and his late mother. MrGuptaaccusedtheCongress of a “pattern of habitual lowering of political and moral standards,” highlighting what he termed repeated instances of disrespect toward women and mothers for political ends. TheFIRcitesmultipleprovisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 336 (Forgery of electronic records), 351 (Statements conducing to public mischief), and 356 (Defamation). Additionally, it invokes the Information Technology Act, 2000 (Section 66D), and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, for misuse of personal likeness and biometric data without consent. The complaint references judicial precedents affirming criminal defamation and the right to privacy and dignity underArticle21oftheConstitution. Washington, 13 September US President Donald Trump stated in a Fox News interview that US tariffs on Indian goods caused a "rift" with India and admitted that the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which he had expected to be the easiest to resolve, remains unresolved. "India was their [Russia's] biggest customer, I put 50 per cent tariff on India buying oil from Russia. That is a big deal and causes rift with India. Remember this, this is Europe’s problem more than our problem," Mr Trump said. Before discussing the tariffs on Indian goods, the US president admitted he has not been able to solve the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which he thought would have been the easiest. "I thought easiest would be Ukraine and Russia... It takes two to tango. When Putin wants to do it, Zelenskyy didn't. When Zelenskyy wants to do it, Putin didn't. Now Zelenskyy wants to and Putin is question mark. We'll have to come down very strong. Only one. This is -- I've always had a great relationship with Putin, this is the only war that I have not solved," he added in his Fox news interview. Mr Trump said he plans to "come down very strong" in regards to mitigating the Ukraine-Russia conflict. "It will be hitting hard with sanctions to banks and having to do with oil and tariffs also. I've already done it, I've done a lot," he said. During the interview, he also reiterated his claim of having brokered the ceasefire between India and Pakistan after Operation Pahalgam. "I solved seven wars, seven. I did so many including Pakistan and India.... Some were unsolvable. Congo and Rwanda, I solved it. Millions of people killed. I solved wars that were unsolvable," Mr Trump said. Asia Cup: Buzz missing as India face Pakistan in unfamiliar setting TRIDIB BAPARNASH New Delhi, 13 September The usual buzz surrounding cricket’s fiercest rivalry between India and Pakistan may have dulled due to recent political tensions, yet sparks are still expected when the two sides meet in the blockbuster clash of the 2025 Asia Cup at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. Heightened border tensions and the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives, have blunted the usual fireworks in the build-up, with sluggish demands for tickets even as India’s practice session on Friday uncharacteristically attracted sparse crowds. Though the iconic rivalry itself remains undimmed, the festive buzz that typically surrounds this contest has largely evaporated. Social media calls for a boycott have gained momentum, adding to organisers’ uncertainty over whether senior BCCI officials, who are regular fixtures at such high-profile encounters, will turn up. The Government of India recently reiterated its long-standing stance, allowing the national team to face Pakistan only in multi-nation tournaments like the Asia Cup or World Cup, while strictly prohibiting bilateral engagements. While players and officials on both sides have steered clear of politically charged queries, a rare flashpoint came when India skipper Suryakumar Yadav refused to shake hands with his Pakistani counterpart Salman Ali Agha at the trophy launch press conference, a moment signalling the frosty relations between the two neighbouring nations. On the field, however, the stakes remain high. India, with its enviable batting arsenal of Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, looks formidable against a Pakistan side reshaped under Salman, relying on fresh faces like Saim Ayub and Hasan Nawaz instead of old warhorses Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. This time, spin rather than pace could define the contest. India’s world-class trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, and Varun Chakaravarthy faces off against Pakistan’s Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Mohammad Nawaz, with Jasprit Bumrah and Shaheen Afridi the only frontline quicks. Afridi, who once tore through India at this venue in 2021, has struggled for form since his knee surgery, while Kuldeep’s mastery continues to torment batters across formats. With both sides warming up in style against relatively weaker opponents in their 2025 Asia Cup campaign openers, Sunday’s encounter could be the first keenly-contested game, with both Suryakumar and Salman already making it clear there are no instructions to curb aggression or control emotions. “Temper? Aggression is always there when we take the field,” Suryakumar said during the captains’ conference ahead of the tournament. “And without aggression, I don't think you can play this sport. I'm very excited to take the field.” Salman shared a similar view, insisting that players would be free to express themselves. “If someone wants to be aggressive on the field, they are more than welcome to do that. When it comes to fast bowlers, they are always aggressive, and you can't stop them because that's what keeps them going. From my side, there is no instruction to anyone, as long as it stays on the field.” India’s tactical puzzles include finding the right spot for Samson and maximising Dube’s role against spin in the middle overs. Pakistan, meanwhile, banks on Shaheen rediscovering his spark and the spinners finding rhythm. Squads: India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh. Pakistan: Salman Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Mohammad Wasim Jr.