FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 BRIEFLY Sanae Takaichi elected Japan’s first woman Prime Minister: | Pages 16 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA LC | NEW DELHI New Delhi, 21 October A day after Diwali celebrations, an a l a r m i n g deterioration in air quality was reported across northern India, with national capital Delhi seeing the worst post-Diwali pollution in five years, according to a new study. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the national capital also recorded the worst air among all metros following a night of festive celebrations. At 4 p.m, Delhi’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 351, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category. Mumbai followed next, with PM2.5 as the main pollutant and an AQI of 211, categorised as ‘poor’. Other metros fared better ~ Kolkata (174), Chennai (142), and Hyderabad (116) all recorded ‘moderate’ air quality levels. Bengaluru was the only major city with air quality in the ‘satisfactory’ range, recording an AQI below 100. Jind in Haryana topped the national chart with an AQI of 421, followed by Dharuhera (412), Narnaul (390), and Rohtak (376) ~ all in the severe category. Gurugram (370), Bahadurgarh (368), Sirsa (353), and Charkhi Dadri (353) fell in the ‘very poor’ range. Other NCR cities like Ghaziabad (324), Noida (320), Manesar (320), and Hapur (314) reported similarly toxic haze. Officials attributed the sharp decline in Delhi’s air quality to firecracker emissions (after the Supreme Court’s ruling last week, residents of Delhi and the NCR were allowed to burst green firecrackers during specified hours on Diwali eve and Diwali night), stagnant wind conditions, and a drop in temperature, which trapped pollutants near the surface. According to a new Climate Trends analysis of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) ‘Hindi scholar Francesca Orsini blacklisted for visa violation’ India upgrades Technical Mission in Kabul to Embassy AGENCIES STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 21 October Hours after noted Hindi scholar Francesca Orsini was denied entry at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi and sent back, government sources confirmed that she has been blacklisted by Indian authorities for allegedly violating the terms of her tourist visa. Officials, privy to the development, told the ANI news agency that Ms Orsini was earlier placed on India's blacklist in March 2025 after it was found that she had engaged in activities inconsistent with the conditions of her visa during her previous visit. “Francesca Orsini was on a tourist visa but was found violating visa conditions. She has been blacklisted since March 2025 for these violations,” the source said. The sources added that blacklisting foreign nationals for visa violations is a standard global practice, followed by many countries, to ensure compliance with immigration laws. "If a person is found violating visa conditions, he or she can be blacklisted," the source said. Under Indian law, foreign nationals visiting the country must strictly adhere to the category and purpose mentioned in their visa. Tourist visa holders are prohibited from undertaking professional work, research, missionary activities, or any form of employment while in India. Blacklisting prevents an individual from re-entering the country for a specific period or permanently, depending on the gravity of the violation. Ms Orsini, a leading scholar of Hindi and professor emerita at the School of Oriental and AfricanStudies,LondonUniversity, was stopped from entering India even though she has a valid 5-year e-visa and deported immediately. She arrived in Delhi on the night of 20 October via Hong Kong after attending an academic conference in China. She had planned to visit friends during her trip and had last travelled to India as recently as October 2024. Ex-Punjab DGP, wife booked for murder in 35-yr-old son’s death STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Chandigarh, 21 October Former Punjab Director General of Police Mohammad Mustafa and his wife, three-time MLA and former minister Razia Sultana, were named among four people booked by Haryana Police in connection with the suspicious death of their 35-year-old son, Akil Akhter, at his residence in Sector 4, Mansa Devi Complex, Panchkula. Akhter was found dead on 16 October at his home in Panchkula. Initially, police recorded the family’s statements and post-mortem was done; no immediate foul play was suspected. On 17 October, a complaint by one Shamshuddin of Malerkotla, Punjab, alleged foul play and pointed to a SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR Delhi’s post-Diwali AQI levels worst in 5 years STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Tokyo: Japan’s parliament elected ultra-conservative Sanae Takaichi as the country’s first female prime minister Tuesday, ending a three-month political vacuum since the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s disastrous election loss in July. Ms Takaichi, who succeeds Shigeru Ishiba, is set to lead a minority government after winning a vote by a simple majority in the Diet, Japan’s parliament. Congratulating Ms Takaichi on her election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on Twitter that ties between India and Japan are vital for regional and global peace, and expressed his desire to work closely with Ms Takaichi to further strengthen the India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership. Page 11 | social-media video made by Akhter in August, where he claimed threats to his life and disputes within the family. Consequently, on 20 October, the MDC Police Station in Panchkula registered an FIR under Sections 103(1) (murder) and 61 (criminal conspiracy) of the BNS. The FIR names Mustafa, Sultana, their daughter and daughter-in-law among the accused. A Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by an ACP-rank officer, has been formed by the Panchkula Police to carry out a “deep and scientific” probe. The police have emphasised that the investigation will be impartial: “no guilty person is spared and no innocent person suffers.” According to reports, in the video uploaded by Akhter, he alleged that his father had an affair with his wife and that his mother and sister were part of a conspiracy against him. Earlier, Akhter’s death was attributed by the family to a drug-overdose or health complication. But the new complaint and video changed the trajectory of the probe. The complainant has spoken of “simmering discontent” between Akhter and his family. (Representational image) data, a clear and consistent spike in particulate pollution has been found every year during Diwali, but 2025 stood out both in scale and persistence. Average PM2.5 levels rose from 156.6 μg/m³ before Diwali to 233.5 μg/m³ on Diwali day, and further to 488 μg/m³ post-Diwali ~ the highest recorded across the five-year period. “2025 saw the highest mean and maximum PM2.5 c o n c e n trations in our dataset, with late-night peaks reaching over 675 μg/m³,” the report notes. The five-year trendline paints a worrying picture. After a sharp rise in 2021 (454.5 μg/m³ post-Diwali), air quality briefly improved in 2022 and 2023, when the post-Diwali averages dropped to 168 μg/m³ and 319.7 μg/m³, respectively. Analysts attributed these dips to stricter firecracker controls and milder weather. But the pollution surge returned in 2024 and worsened in 2025, signalling that earlier gains were short-lived. • How Kolkata fared: Pg. 3 | Wednesday, 22 October 2025 Left-Wing Extremism will end by March next year: Rajnath STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 21 October Noting that areas that were once known as ''Red Corridors'' have now been transformed into ' Growth Corridors'', Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday exuded confidence that the problem of Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) will end by March next year. ''The number of districts affected by LWE has come down drastically. Areas that were once Naxalite hubs are now becoming educational hubs. Areas that were once known as the Red Corridors have now been transformed into Growth Corridors. Our police and security forces have contributed significantly to this success,” he said at a function at the National Police Memorial on the occasion of Police Commemoration Day. Observing that Left-Wing Extremism had been a major internal security challenge for a long time, Mr Singh asserted that the concerted and organised efforts of police, CRPF, BSF, and the local administration have ensured that the problem does not escalate and the people in the LWE-affected Bihar polls: INDIA bloc faces internal clashes as multiple candidates contest same seats IMRAN MOJIB Patna, 21 October New Delhi, 21 October India on Tuesday restored the status of the Technical Mission of India in Kabul to that of the Embassy of India in Afghanistan with immediate effect, underscoring New Delhi's resolve to deepen its bilateral engagement with Kabul. "This decision underscores India’s resolve to deepen its bilateral engagement with the Afghan side in all spheres of mutual interest," the MEA said in a statement on Tuesday. India’s Technical Mission was operational in Kabul from June 2022, providing limited diplomatic and humanitarian engagement after the closure of the Indian Embassy in August 2021, following the withdrawal of US-led NATO forces from Afghanistan. areas breathe a sigh of relief. Those who previously took up arms against the state are now surrendering and joining the mainstream of development, he said, adding the number of districts affected by Left-Wing Extremism has come down drastically. Areas that were once Maoist hubs are now becoming educational hubs, he noted. Expressing gratitude to the police and paramilitary forces for their service to the nation, he described the armed forces and police forces as pillars of national security, stating that while the former protects the country and its geographical integrity, the latter safeguards society and social integrity. “The military and police function on different platforms, but their mission is the same - to protect the nation. As we look towards Viksit Bharat by 2047, balancing the external and internal security of the nation is more important than ever,” the defence minister said. On the present-day challenges, he said that while there is instability on the borders, new types of crime, terrorism, and ideological wars are emerging within the society. The defence minister pointed out that crime has become more organised, invisible, and complex, and its purpose is to create chaos in society, undermine trust, and challenge the stability of the nation. Mr Singh commended the police for carrying out their official responsibility of preventing crime, while fulfilling their moral duty of maintaining trust in society. “If people are sleeping peacefully today, it’s due to their confidence in our vigilant Armed Forces and alert police. This confidence is the foundation of our country's stability,” he said. In the run-up to the Bihar Assembly elections, the INDIA bloc had launched extensive campaigning to corner the NDA. The ‘Voter Adhikar Yatra’ had showcased exemplary unity and the unwavering spirit of the alliance. However, with just over two weeks left till polling day for the first phase, the opposition alliance appears to have lost momentum. While the NDA has launched its campaign with full force, the INDIA bloc has failed to finalise a formal seat-sharing agreement, even after the nomination process concluded. With nominations now closed, it is clear that the RJD is contesting the highest number of seats within the alliance, fielding candidates on 143 constituencies. The Congress is contesting 59 seats, following the withdrawal of its candidate from Lalganj. In the 2020 elections, the RJD had contested 144 seats and Congress 70. In addition, Mukesh Sahani’s VIP is contesting 15 seats, CPI(ML) 20 seats, CPI 9 seats, and CPM 4 seats. Candidates from the INDIA bloc are competing against each other in several constituencies. It’s RJD vs. C ongress in Sikandra, Kahalgaon, Sultanganj, and Narkatiaganj, while Congress is pitted against CPI in Rajapakar, Kargahar, and Bihar Sharif. Lalganj was also among these conflicting seats. However, Congress candidate Aditya Kumar Raja later withdrew his nomination. RJD’s Shivani Shukla will now contest from Lalganj on behalf of the alliance. In return, the RJD did not field a candidate in Kutumba, the constituency held by Congress state president Rajesh Ram. Congress and RJD leaders had earlier claimed that misunderstandings over seat-sharing would be resolved before the final date for nomination withdrawal. However, uncertainty looms large, as the deadline for the first phase has already passed. The deadline for withdrawal for the second phase is 23 October. The picture that has emerged after the nomination process reveals that multiple candidates from the INDIA bloc are competing against each other, creating confusion among party workers and local leadership on the ground. If withdrawals are not made before the final deadline, this so-called “friendly fight” may lead to a split in votes, potentially handing a clear advantage to the NDA. Taking a dig at the INDIA bloc, LJP (Ram Vilas) president Chirag Paswan remarked, “There is nothing called a ‘friendly fight’. Either you are friends or you are fighting against each other. If you are contesting polls against each other and targeting leaders, how can you expect this won’t have an impact in other seats?” US govt clarifies: $100,000 H-1B fee won’t apply to status change or extension cases AGENCIES Washington, 21 October The US Department of Homeland Security has issued new guidance on the $100,000 application fee for H-1B visas, providing a series of exemptions and carveouts. According to the new guidelines, workers who switch to H-1B visa status from other visa categories such as F-1 student status won’t be subjected to the $100,000 fee. H-1B workers applying for an amendment, change of status, or extension of stay within the United States won’t be subjected to the hefty payment. Current H-1B visa holders won’t be prevented from entering or leaving the United States. The proclamation only applies to new visa petitions who are outside the USA and do not have a valid H-1B visa. The clarification comes a few days after the US Chamber of Commerce, the country’s biggest business organisation, sued the Trump administration over the new rules, calling it “unlawful.” In a lawsuit filed in the district court in Washington on Thursday, the plaintiff argued that the visa fee, if implemented, will “inflict significant harm on American businesses” and force them to “either dramatically increase their labour costs or hire fewer highly skilled employees for whom domestic replacements are not readily available.” It added that Trump’s 19 September proclamation was “plainly unlawful” and a “boon to America’s economic rivals.” It was the second major domestic legal challenge to new the H-1B rules, after a group of unions, education professionals and religious bodies sued the Trump administration on 3 October. While signing the proclamation in September, Mr Trump had said the “incentive is to hire American workers.” The proclamation caused immense confusion as it seemed to suggest that it would impact current H-1B visa holders who may face hurdles in returning to the United States. The White House later issued a clarification, saying that this is a “one-time fee” that applies only to new visas and not renewals or current visa holders. India-born workers received over 70 per cent of the total approved H1-B visas in 2024, primarily due to a huge backlog in approvals and high number of skilled immigrants from India.