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 The Statesman wishes its readers a happy Dussehra | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR | Thursday, 02 October 2025 SPORTS WORLD Today, being a holiday in the offices of The Statesman, there will be no Issue of this edition dated 03 October 2025 NATION Jaishankar greets Chinese counterpart, says India looks forward to stabilising ties For BCCI, country comes first: Dhumal Philippines earthquake: Death toll rises to 60 Page 12 Page 10 Page 05 BRIEFLY Cabinet clears MSP for Rabi crops: PM highlights RSS's nation-building role STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 1 October New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs Wednesday approved the increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for all mandated Rabi Crops for Marketing Season 2026-27. “The Cabinet has increased the MSP of Rabi Crops for Marketing Season 2026-27, to ensure remunerative prices to the growers for their produce,” Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw said while briefing newsmen on the decisions of the Cabinet. The absolute highest increase in MSP has been for Safflower at Rs 600 per quintal followed by Lentil (Masur) at Rs 300 per quintal. (P10) DA hike: New Delhi: The Cabinet Wednesday approved a 3 percent increase in Dearness Allowance (DA) for Central Government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) for pensioners, effective July 1, 2025, Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw said while briefing newsmen on the decisions of the Cabinet. The move aims to compensate for price rise and will benefit approximately 49.19 lakh government employees and 68.72 lakh pensioners.(P10) Rajesh Agrawal assumes charge as Commerce Secretary: New Delhi: Rajesh Agrawal, a 1994-batch IAS officer from the Manipur cadre, has assumed charge as Commerce Secretary on Wednesday, according to a ministry statement here. He took over from Sunil Barthwal, who retired on 30 Sept. (P10) P rime Minister Narendra Modi Wednesday emphasized the R a s h t r i y a Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) role in India's cultural and national unity, patriotism, and national character formation. He highlighted the organization's contributions to society, including education, health, social welfare, and disaster relief. Modi also praised the RSS' "nation-first" approach and its emphasis on discipline, self-restraint, courage, and heroism. During the RSS centenary celebrations, PM Modi released a specially designed commemorative postage stamp and coin to honor the organization's contributions to the nation. The coin features Bharat Mata's image, inscribed for the first time in Indian currency history, along with the RSS motto "Rashtriya Swaha, Idam Rashtriya, Idam Na Mama," meaning "Everything is dedicated to the nation, everything is the nation’s, nothing is mine". This gesture marks a significant recognition of the RSS's contributions to society and patriotism. "This is the first time in the history of India that Bharat Mata’s image has been carved onto a coin," Modi said, emphasizing the significance of the gesture. The postage stamp commemorates the historic participation of RSS swayamsevaks in the 1963 Republic Day Parade. Addressing the RSS centenary celebrations, PM Modi praised the organization's glorious 100-year journey, calling it an "extraordinary example of sacrifice, selfless service, nation-building, and discipline". He highlighted RSS' role in nation-building, character development, and serving every section of society. "The establishment of RSS on Dussehra 100 years ago was not just a coincidence. This was the resurrection of a tradition which had been continuing for thousands of years," Modi added ³. PM Modi also emphasized the RSS’ role in India's cultural and national unity, patriotism, and national character formation. He highlighted the organization's contributions to society, including education, health, social welfare, and disaster relief. Modi also praised the RSS' "nation-first" approach and its emphasis on discipline, self-restraint, courage, and heroism. PM Modi also paid tribute to RSS's founder, KB Hedgewar, praising his dedication to national service. "It is the fortune of the volunteers of our generation that we have the opportunity to witness such a great occasion as the centenary year of the Sangh. On this occasion today, I extend my best wishes to the millions of volunteers dedicated to national service and congratulate them. I pay my humble tribute at the feet of the founder of the Sangh, our revered ideal, the most worshipful Dr. Hedgewar ji," he said. • PM Modi’s OPED on RSS centenary on Page 7 RBI keeps repo rate unchanged at 5.5 per cent; revises FY26 GDP growth estimate to 6.8 pc STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 1 October The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday decided to keep the repo rate unchanged at 5.5 per cent and retained a “neutral” monetary stance, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra announced. “The Monetary Policy Committee considered it prudent to wait for the impact of previous policy actions to materialise and for greater clarity to emerge before starting the next course of action. Accordingly, the MPC unanimously voted to keep the policy repo rate unchanged at 5.5 per cent and also decided to retain the stance as neutral," Malhotra said, according to a statement. Consequently, the RBI Governor stated, the Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) rate remains at 5.25 per cent, while the Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rate and the bank rate remain at 5.75 per cent. The MPC also revised its average inflation forecast for the current financial year to 2.6 per cent from the earlier projection of 3.7 per cent in June and 3.1 per cent in August. "Headline inflation for Q4 this year and Q1 next year too has been revised downwards and is broadly aligned with the target despite unfavourable base effects," Governor Malhotra said. He said that the economic growth in the second half (H2) of this year is likely to decelerate due to prevailing global uncertainties and tariff-related developments. "The current macroeconomic conditions and the outlook have opened up policy space for further supporting growth. The trade-related uncertainties are also unfolding," he noted. Malhotra further stated that the ongoing tariff and trade policy uncertainties will impact external demand. Prolonged geopolitical tensions and volatility in international financial markets, caused by the risk of sentiments of investors, pose downside risks to the growth outlook. He said that the next-generation GST reform, which came into force on September 22, is expected to work as a cushion to negate some of the adverse effects of the external headwinds. Ladakh administration denies ‘witch-hunt’ against Wangchuk, says actions based on credible inputs STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Jammu, 1 October The Ladakh administration has firmly rejected allegations of a “witch-hunt” against environment activist Sonam Wangchuk, asserting that all measures taken by law enforcement agencies were backed by “credible inputs and documents.” In a detailed statement early Wednesday, the Ladakh administration stated “There have been reports in the media of baseless allegations of victimization of certain individuals including Sonam Wangchuk by government agencies. There is no question of witch-hunting or smoke screens. Actions taken by the law enforcement agencies are based on credible inputs and documents. The agencies should be allowed to continue with their investigation impartially without vitiating the process”. Justifying the detention of Wangchuk under the draconian National Security Act (NSA), the administration claimed that “he had suggested ‘overthrow’ of government on lines of ‘Arab Spring’, if their demands were not met, besides putting forth the idea of self-immolation for instigating agitation for this purpose, as happened in Arab countries including Tunisia. On multiple occasions, he suggested self-immolation by Ladakhis on lines of protests in Tibet”. Pointing out that the government was pursuing the dialogue process with Ladakh leaders, the statement said “It may be noted that Government had already announced dates for talks on 20th September, 2025 and had also expressed flexibility for dates taking into consideration convenience of the Ladakh leaders. Still Sonam Wangchuk made multiple provocative statements. He gave the reference of Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh on several occasions from the hunger strike venue trying to incite the public, especially the youth. He did not call off his hunger strike despite the government announcing the date of the next meeting of the High Powered Committee”. “During an interview to Ladakh Express on September 11, 2025 at NDS Park, he stated that the youth are saying that they do not want peace and Mahatma Gandhi’s path is not necessary. People are not scared of the security forces deployed, and if people come out worse may happen”, the statement said. “Before starting his hunger strike, Sonam Wangchuk suggested (Sept 09, 2025) people to wear masks, caps and hoodies etc., while participating in the protest, citing covid as an excuse though there is no sign of spread of covid in Ladakh”. “Sonam Wangchuk, on his YouTube channel ‘Achoe Nyingstam’ (A dedicated channel for Ladakhi audience wherein he speaks only in vernacular) stated (June 08, 2025) that he would bring an ‘Arab Spring’ type revolution in India to overthrow the Government”, the statement claimed. Putin likely to visit India in early December for talks with Modi NIKHIL VYAS New Delhi, 1 October Amid the ongoing tariff tensions between India and the United States, Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely to visit India in early December for the 23rd India-Russia Summit. This will be his first visit to New Delhi since the Russia-Ukraine conflict commenced in February 2022, sources said. However, there is no official comment from the MEA on the Russian President's planned visit. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is also expected to visit India before President Putin's visit, to prepare for the summit and discuss bilateral issues. Putin's planned visit to India comes after the US imposed tariffs on Indian goods due to India's purchase of Russian oil. "We are currently preparing for President Vladimir Putin's visit to India in December. We meet regularly bilaterally and on the sidelines of international events," Deputy National Security Advisor Pawan Kapoor was quoted as saying by Russia's state-owned news agency Tass following the Russian-Indian consultations on regional issues held in Moscow on Tuesday. Last month on September 17, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated India’s full support for peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict and said he looks forward to welcoming the Russian President to India later this year. Modi on September 17 had a telephonic conversation with Putin during which the latter conveyed his greetings on the Prime Minister’s 75th birthday. The two leaders took stock of various issues on the bilateral agenda in the run up to 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit. “The Prime Minister conveyed that he looks forward to welcoming President Putin to India later this year. The Prime Minister reiterated India’s full support for peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict,” the PMO had said in a statement. Putin's planned visit comes amid complex global situations, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and will likely highlight India's strategic autonomy in maintaining relations with both Russia and Ukraine. The visit will not only reinforce the long-standing camaraderie between New Delhi and Moscow but also open new avenues for cooperation in emerging sectors. Given India's non-alignment with the International Criminal Court (ICC), Putin's visit to India is feasible without concerns over the ICC arrest warrant. At the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on September 27, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had announced that a visit by the Russian President is planned for New Delhi in December, marking the ongoing diplomatic preparations. Speaking about India-Russia relations, Lavrov highlighted the depth of the bilateral agenda, covering trade, military and technical cooperation, finance, humanitarian matters, healthcare, high technology, artificial intelligence, and close coordination at international forums such as the SCO and BRICS.