www.thestatesman.com | @TheStatesmanLtd FOLLOW US: India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 12 | @thestatesmanltd ` 5.00 | People’s Parliament, Always in Session thestatesman1875 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI World Nation | BHUBANESWAR | 21 December 2025 S P O RT S Epstein files released; include notable figures like Clinton, MJ Page 5 Surya the batter went missing, but he’ll be back: Suryakumar after T20I series win Page 8 BJP alleges Rahul-Soros < link, says meeting ‘enemies of India’ Page 12 PM Modi calls for end to ‘Mahajungle Raj ’ in Bengal BISWABRATA GOSWAMI Taherpur, 20 December VVIP Chopper case: Delhi court orders release of ‘middleman’: New Delhi: A Special Delhi Court on Saturday ordered the release of Christian Michel James, a British national and alleged middleman in the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper scam, from custody in a money laundering case filed by the ED. He, however, may not immediately be able to leave the country as his similar release plea is pending before a Special CBI Court. The Special Court (PMLA) on Saturday ordered Michel’s release after taking on record his assurance that he would continue to participate in the trial if released from custody. Expressing satisfaction over the court order, Mr Michel told reporters, “Law prevailed. I think there are some good judges in India, I have been lucky to have them… India’s Constitution is excellent, and let’s hope it will be followed.” P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday addressed a massive public rally at Netaji Park here ~ virtually rather than in person ~ after dense fog and poor visibility prevented his helicopter from landing, but the weather-induced setback did little to blunt the political edge of his message. Blending development announcements with a sharp attack on the ruling Trinamul Congress (TMC), the Prime Minister projected the BJP as the “only hope” for Bengal, even as a tragic rail accident involving rally-bound supporters lent a sombre undertone to the day. Launched a blistering political attack on the Trinamul Congress, he accused the ruling party of shielding “illegal infiltrators” and obstr ucting development in West Bengal, while positioning the BJP as the only alternative to what he described as a “Maha Jungle Raj” prevailing in the state. Before turning to politics, Mr Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stones for a clutch of infrastructure projects aimed at bolstering South Bengal’s road connectivity, with National Highway 34 at the centre of the push. Projects worth Rs 3,200 crore were unveiled, Bangladesh arrests seven after horrific lynching of Hindu man ignites outrage UNITED NEWS OF INDIA Dhaka, 20 December Authorities in Bangladesh have arrested seven individuals in connection with the brutal lynching of 25-year-old Hindu man Dipu Chandra Das, an incident that has sparked widespread outrage across the nation. The interim government announced the arrests on Saturday following a swift and intense investigation into the attack that occurred Thursday in Mymensingh city. Dipu Chandra Das was viciously attacked by a mob over allegations of blasphemy. The violence escalated as he was lynched and his body set ablaze. The gruesome event has drawn condemnation from various quarters, raising serious concerns about law and order and the safety of minority communities in Bangladesh. In an official statement posted on X, the interim government, led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, confirmed that the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), has arrested seven suspects linked to the killing. The government has pledged a thorough investigation and promised to bring all perpetrators to justice. Meanwhile, the funeral of Inquilab Mancha conveor, Sharif Osman Hadi, who was shot by unidentified assailants on 12 December and died on Thursday in Singapore, was held peacefully at Dhaka University, where he was buried beside the grave of national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. From early morning, mourners arrived in groups at Manik Mia Avenue and soon the thoroughfare in front of Parliament was filled with people. Some in the crowd draped themselves in the national flag while others chanted slogans demanding justice for Hadi's killing. Saturday is being observed as a day of state mourning following Hadi's death, with national flags flown at halfmast and special prayers held at places of worship. It was also a day of relative calm in the capital after two days of protests by supporters of the Inqilab Mancha. Shubman, Jitesh dropped, Ishan returns as India unveil 15-man squad for 2026 T20 WC TRIDIB BAPARNASH New Delhi, 20 December Recently elevated to the vice-captain’s role in the shortest format, Shubman Gill, India’s captain in Tests and One-day Internationals (ODIs) has been dropped from the 15-member squad for the ICC T20 World Cup following a prolonged slump in form. The BCCI's senior selection committee, that met in Mumbai on Saturday in the presence of secretary Devajit Saikia, also re-appointed Axar Patel as the vice-captain of the squad while recalling an in-form Ishan Kishan as the second wicketkeeper. Along with Shubman, wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma also missed the bus for the T20 World Cup, but Rinku Singh, arguably India’s best finisher in recent years, has made his way back into the national team after being left out of the just-concluded T20I series against South Africa, that India won 3-1 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday. As reported by The Statesman on Friday, Kishan’s selection was purely based on his recent performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he emerged the tournament’s leading run-scorer, piling up 517 runs at a blistering strike rate of 197.32. The Jharkhand skipper scored two fifties and two hundreds, including a century in the final against Harya n a (101 off 49). “We are looking at combinations. Our thought was to have another keeper. Gill is a quality player, unfortunate to miss out, but it is the combination we want. Ishan bats at the top, he has been in good form, and played before for India,” selection committee chief Ajit Agarkar said while unveiling the squad. “He wasn't there because (Dhruv) Jurel and (Rishabh) Pant were ahead. Sanju is at the top. Ishan at the top. That is the combination we are looking at right now. We felt he is the best back up keeper at this point,” the former India medium-pacer added. The BCCI also announced that the same squad will be in place for the upcoming five-match T20I series against New Zealand, starting 21 January. Axar was vice-captain of the Indian T20I squad until the conclusion of the five-match T20I series against England in January and February before Gill took over the role in India's next T20I assignment at the Asia Cup in September, this year. Gill remained the deputy for Suryakumar in the subsequent Australia and South Africa series as well but Axar will now take over. including the inauguration of a 66.7-km four-lane stretch between Barajaguli and Krishnagar and the foundation stone for four-laning the Barasat– Barajaguli section. “These roads will act as a lifeline between Kolkata and Siliguri,” the Prime Minister said, arguing that modern connectivity was essential to overcome what he described as decades of neglect in Bengal’s hinterland. The NH-34 expansion, he added, would ease movement of goods and people, strengthen logistics and spur economic activity across Nadia and adjoining districts. Striking an overtly political note thereafter, Mr Modi launched a frontal attack on the Mamata Banerjee-led government, branding it a “Maha Jungle Raj” marked by corruption, nepotism and appeasement. Alleging that “looting and intimidation” by the TMC had crossed all limits, he urged voters to opt for a “doubleengine government” to align the state’s development trajectory with the Centre. Drawing a comparison with neighbouring Bihar, the Prime Minister claimed recent electoral outcomes there had shown the way forward. “Bihar has rejected this model of governance. Bengal can do the same,” he told the crowd, calling on Nadia’s electorate to back the BJP in the coming electoral battles. “Ganga flows from Bihar to Bengal. Bihar rejected Jungle-Raj for 20 years. Now the people of West Bengal need freedom from the Maha Jungle -Raj prevailing here,” he said, addressing the gathering via telephone. Sonia Gandhi condemns scrapping of MGNREGA, calls it attack on rural poor STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 20 December Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Saturday strongly criticised the government’s decision to scrap the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), describing it as an "attack" on the rights of the rural poor. In a video message, Mrs Gandhi recalled the landmark passage of MGNREGA under the Congress-led UPA government in 2005, highlighting its role as a vital lifeline for millions of rural families. “MGNREGA was passed unanimously to provide guaranteed employment and empower rural communities. The Modi government has bulldozed this historic scheme, removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name and altering its framework without any consultation,” Mrs Gandhi said. She accused the government of disregarding the interests of farmers, labourers, and marginalised groups. She said MGNREGA proved to be a “revolutionary step” that provided livelihood security to crores of rural families, particularly the most deprived and marginalised. “The law stopped distress migration by ensuring employment in one’s own village, strengthened gram panchayats and gave a legal right to work,” Mrs Gandhi said. She vowed to oppose the government’s move, stating: “We will fight this black law and stand with the people whose livelihoods are at stake.”