www.thestatesman.com | @TheStatesmanLtd FOLLOW US: India’s National Newspaper since 1818 8th Day | Pages 20 | @thestatesmanltd ` 5.00 | People’s Parliament, Always in Session thestatesman1875 KOLKATA LC | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI Evolve Does Zohran Mamdani have a 92 per cent chance of becoming Mayor of New York? | BHUBANESWAR | 02 November 2025 S P O RT S Honouring the Craft of Comedy in Bollywood End of an era: Rohan Bopanna announces retirement from professional tennis Page 20 BRIEFLY Indian Army conducts major drone & counter drone exercise in desert sector: India, Proteas chase history Nine die in stampede in defining World Cup final at temple in Andhra TRIDIB BAPARNASH reach the final with clarity and calm. Captain Laura Wolvaardt has been the tournament’s most influential batter and her combination with Tazmin Brits has given South Africa a powerful foundation. Kapp, Nadine de Klerk, and Chloe Tryon provide the all-round depth that keeps them in contests even when momentum wavers. New Delhi, 1 November W New Delhi: The Indian Army has successfully conducted a large-scale Drone and Counter-Drone Exercise, 'VAYU SAMANVAY-II' in the forward desert sector, which took place under the aegis of the Southern Command. The desert terrain and weather conditions provided an ideal testing ground for the both operations, officials said. The exercise was conducted between 28 to 29 October, was designed to validate the Army's preparedness for next-generation warfare. IndiGo flight diverted after receiving security threat: New Delhi: An IndiGo flight from Jeddah to Hyderabad was diverted to Mumbai on Saturday, after a threat email claiming that there was a ‘human bomb’ on board was received by the Hyderabad airport authorities. IndiGo in a statement said: “A security threat was received for IndiGo flight 6E 68 operating from Jeddah to Hyderabad on 1st November 2025. The aircraft was diverted to Mumbai. Following the established protocol, we informed the relevant authorities immediately and fully cooperated with them in carrying out the necessary security checks..." All passengers were escorted off the plane, and a thorough security inspection was conducted. The authorities have registered a case and are investigating the source of the threat email. omen’s cricket is just 100 overs away from welcoming a brand-new world champion. When India and South Africa walk out for the much-anticipated title clash of the ongoing ICC Women’s ODI World Cup at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday, the sport will witness an unprecedented moment, a first-time winner lifting the elusive trophy in the women’s game. For India, it is a third shot at the title. For South Africa, it is a first step into uncharted territory. For the women’s sport, it’ll have a new force to reckon with. In its 13th edition, the Women’s ODI World Cup has witnessed three champions so far, with Australia winning the title for a record seven times, followed by England (four times) and New Zealand etching their name on the trophy once. Harmanpreet Kaur’s team stands on the brink of a breakthrough that has eluded Teams(from): Indian women’s cricket for two decades. Twice runners-up, repeatedly heartbroken in knockout games, India now have the stage, and more importantly the momentum to end their wait for an ICC title. But history hasn’t always been kind. The scars of the 2017 Lord’s final against England, the narrow defeats to Australia in the 2023 T20 World Cup final and 2022 Commonwealth Games gold New Delhi, 1 November ASEAN defence ministers on Saturday appreciated New Delhi's key role in peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, with the defence ministers of Malaysia and the Philippines describing India as a superpower. Their remarks on India's role in the Indo-Pacific came during meetings with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is in Kuala Lumpur for the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM). The ASEAN defence ministers present at the meeting also sought to deepen defence cooperation with India at the regional level. In his address on the occasion, Mr Singh highlighted that the second India-ASEAN South Africa: Laura Wolvaardt (c), Tazmin Brits, Sinalo Jafta (wk), Karabo Meso (wk), Anneke Bosch, Nadine de Klerk, Annerie Dercksen, Marizanne Kapp, Sune Luus, Nondumiso Shangase, Chloe Tryon, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Nonkululeko Mlaba, Tumi Sekhukhune. Hyderabad, 1 November Nine people, including eight women and a child, died and several people were injured in a stampede at a private temple in Kasibugga town of Palasa constituency in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh where a large number of devotees had gathered on the occasion of Ekadashi during the holy month of Kartik. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident and announced that Rs 2 lakh will be paid as ex-gratia to the next of kin of the dead. Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu blamed the temple authorities for not informing the local administration about the large gathering and ordered an inquiry into the incident, which saw eight women and a thirteen-year-old child die due to overcrowding. The opposition YSRCP blamed the state government for the repeated incidents of stampede at shrines in the state. Visuals of the stampede were deeply disturbing, with many women screaming as they were trapped in a narrow corridor between the walls and steel railings. According to the state government, the temple, which opened just four months ago, is still under construction. However, it has become quite popular among the locals who refer to it as “small Tirupati.” The stampede occurred around 11:45 a.m. At that time, more than 15,000 people had gathered at the temple and the crowd surged when the gates were thrown open. A steel railing collapsed, triggering panic and a stampede ensued, which left seven people dead at the spot, while two more deaths occurred at the hospital. A total of 15 people were shifted to the Community Health Centre (CHC) at Palasa. While ten people are in stable condition, three are currently critical. Chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu said: “Unfortunately, the organisers did not inform the police or local authorities. Had they informed us, we would have provided police protection and controlled the crowd.” He assured that a thorough inquiry will be held and stern action will be taken against those responsible. Following the stampede, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated n social media: “Pained by the stampede in Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh. My thoughts are with those who have lost their near and dear ones. I pray that the injured recover soon. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of those who lost their lives. The injured would be given Rs 50,000.” Mamata to lead protest march against SIR on 4 November PM vows to rid Chhattisgarh of Maoist terror STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated a slew of development and infrastructure projects worth over Rs 14,260 crore in Chhattisgarh and dedicated the State’s new Legislative Assembly building and Digital Tribal Museum to the people on the occasion of Chhattisgarh’s 25th Foundation Day. Addressing a massive gathering at Nava Raipur, the Prime Minister said the state had “travelled a long way from its early struggles” and was “now moving rapidly on the path of progress”, even as he reiterated the government’s commitment to rid the state of Maoist terror. He congratulated the people of Chhattisgarh for completing 25 years since statehood, calling the milestone “a symbol of hope, hard work, and transformation.” Kolkata, 1 November Trinamul Congress chairperson and chief minister Mamata Banerjee, along with the party’s second-incommand, national general secretary and MP, Abhishek Banerjee, will take to the streets on Tuesday, 4 November, to protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls currently underway in the state. The proposed march will begin at the base of the statue of Dr Ambedkar on Red Road and conclude at Jorasanko, the residence of Rabindranath Tagore.A distinctive feature of the march is its timing: it coincides with the day when Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will be actively visiting households across the state to distribute enumeration forms. The march is expected to be attended primarily by leaders and activists from Kolkata and surrounding areas, ASEAN defence ministers hail India’s role as responsible superpower in Indo-Pacific STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE medal match, still linger. India are no longer fighting questions about technique or skills, only the weight of their own past. On the other hand, South Africa arrive with no baggage of past finals, only the hunger to prove they belong at the pinnacle. Their campaign has been a story of resilience: bowled out for 69 one day, taking down the same opponent days later; humbled for 97 by Australia, yet regrouping to India: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Richa Ghosh (wk), Uma Chetry (wk), Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Shafali Verma, Amanjot Kaur, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Kranti Gaud, Renuka Singh Thakur, Shree Charani, Arundhati Reddy, Radha Yadav. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE THE MALAYSIAN DEFENCE MINISTER HAS STATED THAT ASEAN, AS A COMMUNITY, WILL BENEFIT BY DEEPENING ITS ENGAGEMENT WITH INDIA IN THE REALM OF CYBER AND DIGITAL DEFENCE AS WELL AS DEFENCE INDUSTRY & INNOVATION. Defence Ministers’ informal meet represents a strategic opportunity to advance the comprehensive strategic partnership of India with ASEAN, particularly the defence and se curity comp onents of the ASEAN-India plan of action for 2026–2030. He announced two forward-looking initiatives, namely the ASEAN-India initiative on women in United Nations p eacekeeping operations and ASEAN-India defence think-tank interaction. The Malaysian defence minister has stated that ASEAN, as a community, will benefit by deepening its engagement with India in the realm of cyber and digital defence as well as defence industry & innovation. He lauded the nation's ability to set up a self-reliant defence industr y and technological research ecosystem, which can benefit the ASEAN member states. The defence minister of the Philippines mentioned that by demonstrating adherence to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, India has set an example for the other countries in the region to follow. • Related report: Pg. 7 who have been instructed to gather near the bust of Dr Ambedkar by 1:30 p.m. The march itself is scheduled to commence at 2:30 p.m. Trinamul sources revealed that an earlier plan to hold a mega rally on 2 November was shelved, apparently due to a prior engagement by another political party on that date. The upcoming rally on Tuesday is a carefully considered move by the party’s top leadership, especially at a time when chief minister Mamata Banerjee has repeatedly hinted that the party will oppose any attempt by the Election Commission to implement SIR in the state. She has accused the Commission of acting under the influence of the ruling regime at the Centre to manipulate electoral rolls. SHISHIR ROY Raipur, 1 November Mr Modi said it was a matter of personal pride for him to be part of the State’s Silver Jubilee celebrations. “As a BJP party worker, I have witnessed the days before Chhattisgarh’s formation and also its journey since then. To stand here today and see its progress fills me with pride,” he said. The Prime Minister launched and laid foundation stones for projects across key sectors ~ roads, healthcare, energy, industry, and rural housing. Among the highlights were the four-lane Greenfield highway from Pathalgaon–Kunkuri to the Jharkhand border under the Bharatmala Pariyojana, major power transmission and distribution upgrades under the RDSS scheme, and the Nagpur–Jharsuguda Natural Gas Pipeline, which will connect 11 districts of Chhattisgarh to the national gas grid. Highlighting the government’s welfare measures, PM Modi said over 3.5 lakh rural families in Chhattisgarh were entering their new homes under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin), while nearly ₹1,200 crore was released to three lakh additional beneficiaries. Striking an emotional note, PM Modi said that after decades of suffering due to Maoist violence, Chhattisgarh is now “writing a new chapter of peace and progress”. He cited recent surrenders of over 200 Maoists in Bastar and 21 in Kanker, calling them a sign that “faith in democracy is replacing fear of the gun.” “Eleven years ago, more than 125 districts were affected by Maoist violence. Today, only three remain,” he said. “That day is not far when our Chhattisgarh and our nation will be completely free from Maoist terrorism.” Kerala first state free from extreme poverty, CM declares in Assembly amid Opposition boycott STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Thiruvananthapuram, 1 November Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan officially declared the state free from extreme poverty at a special session of the Legislative Assembly on the occasion of ‘Kerala Piravi’ (Kerala formation Day), making it the first Indian state to achieve this milestone. Mr Vijayan made the historic declaration in the Assembly amid strong opposition from the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), which termed the LDF government’s claim as 'fraudulent' and a "public relations" stunt. The chief minister said that the state has achieved a remarkable milestone in eradicating extreme poverty. “Every Kerala Piravi (State Formation Day), we celebrate with joy. But this year's Kerala Piravi Day is, for the people of Kerala, the dawn of a new era. Today's Kerala Piravi marks a place in history because we have succeeded in making Kerala the first Indian state without extreme poverty.” Mr Vijayan said. He said that the government's four-year "Extreme Poverty Eradication Project" (EPEP), launched in 2021, had successfully lifted all 64,006 identified extremely poor families out of deprivation. Refuting the Opposition allegations that the declaration was a publicity stunt ahead of the local body elections, Mr Vijayan said that the implementation of the Extreme Poverty Alleviation Project (EPEP) was a decision taken in the first Cabinet meeting of the current Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in 2021. The Opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) staged a walk-out (photo), questioning the propriety of convening a special session just for the Chief Minister to make a statement under Rule 300 of the house procedures. As the special session of the Assembly commenced, Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan said the Chief Minister’s statement under Rule 300 is a pure fraud and in contempt of House rules. “In this circumstance, we cannot join in that and are completely boycotting the session,” the Opposition leader said. Mr Satheesan questioned the government's data, citing a discrepancy with the central government's figure of around 5.9 lakh "poorest of the poor" families with Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) cards. The opposition also pointed to a reported starvation death of a woman and the struggles of ASHA workers as evidence against the claim. The UDF members then walked out, shouting that the claim was “fraudulent” and “shameful.”