FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 16 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA LC | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR | Saturday, 03 January 2026 SPORTS WORLD NATION India becoming ‘knowledge economy’: Rajnath Singh Nifty hits fresh all-time high: New Delhi: Indian equity indices ended Friday’s session on a strong note, with the benchmark Nifty scaling a fresh all-time high of 26,328.55. At the close, the Sensex surged 573.41 points, or 0.67 per cent, to settle at 85,762.01, while the Nifty gained 182 points, or 0.70 per cent, to end at 26,328.55. During the session, the Nifty 50 touched an intraday record of 26,340 before paring some gains to close at a historic high. The broader market also remained firm, with the BSE Midcap index rising 0.97 per cent and the Smallcap index advancing 0.79 per cent. The overall market capitalisation of BSE-listed companies climbed to over ₹481 lakh crore from nearly ₹477 lakh crore in the previous session. Among sectoral indices, all ended in the green except FMCG, which declined 1.19 per cent. Realty stocks led the gains with a rise of 1.52 per cent, followed by PSU Bank (1.50 per cent), Metal (1.47 per cent), Consumer Durables (1.17 per cent) and Auto (1.13 per cent). Page 12 ‘Young should learn their culture’ X put on notice: Govt asks it to stop Grok AI misuse UNITED NEWS OF INDIA New Delhi, 2 January I ndia’s IT ministry on Friday issued a notice to X C orp, formerly Twitter, alleging it failed to meet legal due diligence requirements, particularly over obscene and sexually explicit content generated by its AI tools, particularly involving women and children. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) said it has received repeated reports and representations from the public and parliamentary stakeholders that certain content circulating on X may not be in compliance with laws related to decency and obscenity. The Ministry expressed grave concerns over the AI-based application ‘Grok AI’, integrated on the X platform, being misused to create and share obscene and derogatory images and videos, especially targeting women and children. The Ministry said such content reflects serious gaps in platform-level safeguards and MeitY has pulled up X over obscene and explicit content generated by its AI tools, particularly targeting women and children n IMMEDIATE REVIEW: The Ministry directed X to immediately review the functioning of Grok AI, enforce strict content moderation and AI usage policies, remove unlawful content without delay, and take strong action against violating accounts. n ATR DEADLINE: The platform was asked to submit an Action Taken Report within 72 hours, detailing technical, organisational and compliance measures. n STERN WARNING: The IT Ministry has also cautioned X Corp that non-compliance may lead to loss of legal protection and further action under Indian law. enforcement mechanisms and amounts to misuse of AI technologies in violation of applicable laws. The ministry directed X to conduct a comprehensive review of Grok's technical and governance frameworks to prevent generation of unlawful content. It asked Grok to enforce strict user policies, including suspension and termination of violators. All offending content should be immediately removed without tampering with evidence, it said. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi/Chennai, 2 January said: “Cooperation cannot co-exist with violence. Since it undermines the goodwill and nullifies the benefits of bilateral agreements, including the one on sharing river waters.'' “India was compelled to take hard decisions against our Western neighbour for repeatedly supporting terrorism. After decades of violence, no one can lecture us on how to defend ourselves,” he said. “Suspending engagement in such circumstances is a legitimate sovereign choice since normal neighbourhood relations are impossible amid sustained cross-border terrorism.” He said that any coercive tactics by adversaries and geopolitical challenges and pressures would not alter India’s core positions, and the recent actions of China, including the detention and harassment of an Indian citizen from Arunachal Pradesh during transit, had been formally protested. “Such incidents change nothing on the ground. Arunachal is and will always remain an integral part of India. The country stands firm and unwavering on territorial integrity,” Mr Jaishankar said. India, he noted, is among the few ancient civilisations that have successfully evolved into a modern nation-state and democracy. “With this continuity and strong historical consciousness, our foreign policy is rooted in its history and guided by values and cultural confluence,” he said. MeitY said non-compliance could lead to loss of safe harbour under Section 79 of the IT Act and trigger penal action under multiple laws. The government ordered X Corp to submit an action taken report (ATR) within 72 hours detailing the measures adopted, the role of the chief compliance off icer, and compliance with mandatory reporting under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi had written to the Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, raising concerns over the alleged misuse of artificial intelligence (AI) tools on social media platforms to post objectionable images of women using fake accounts. She said such practices amount to a serious breach of women's privacy and urged the Centre to take urgent steps to safeguard their rights. In the letter, Ms Chaturvedi wrote: "I wanted to bring to your urgent attention and urgent intervention on a new trend that has emerged on social media, especially on X, by misusing their Al Grok feature where men are using fake accounts to post women's photos and pushing out prompts to Grok to minimise their clothing and sexualise them. It is not just limited to sharing photos through fake accounts but are also targeting women who post their own photos. This is unacceptable and a gross misuse of an AI function.” STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 2 January The Centre has published the draft rules for the four labour codes, which also bring gig workers on board for various benefits such as minimum wage, health, occupational safety, and social security coverage. The Ministry of Labour and Employment has invited feedback from stakeholders on these draft rules and is looking at the CM Mamata to meet CEC on SIR issue: Abhishek STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE MISS BANERJEE HAS REPEATEDLY ALLEGED THAT THE BJP AND THE ECI WERE ACTING IN CONCERT TO ‘DISENFRANCHISE’ MARGINALISED SECTIONS, INCLUDING MINORITIES, MIGRANT WORKERS, AND THE MATUA COMMUNITY, ACCUSING THE PROCESS OF BEING OPAQUE AND SELECTIVELY TARGETED. Kolkata, 2 January Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will meet the Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, in New Delhi, to raise her concerns on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in the state, Trinamul Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said on Friday. “I met the Chief Election Commissioner this week. He raised his fingers towards me. I told him straight that he is nominated, while I am elected. I made him realise in New Delhi what a Bengali is. Now Mamata Banerjee will be going,” he said while addressing a political rally at Baruipur in South 24-Parganas. Mr Banerjee did not provide further details about the Chief Minister’s proposed meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner, but Mamata Banerjee has been a vocal critic of the Election Commission of India’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls, particularly in Bengal. Miss Banerjee has repeatedly alleged that the BJP and the ECI were acting in concert to “disenfranchise” marginalised sections, including minorities, migrant workers, and the Matua community, accusing the process of being opaque and selectively targeted. From November onwards, she took to the streets, directly questioned the ECI’s intent, and warned of statewide agitation if legitimate voters were removed from the rolls. Meanwhile, during Friday’s Baruipur rally, Abhishek Banerjee paraded three individuals from South 24Parganas, namely Manirul Molla, Harekrishna Giri and Maya Das, who were allegedly shown as “deceased voters” in the draft voters’ list published on 16 December 2025. Addressing the gathering, he said that in the 2026 Assembly elections, the Trinamul Congress will win at least one seat more, compared to the 2021 polls. “That extra seat should be from South 24Parganas. In 2021, Trinamul Congress won in 30 out of 31 Assembly constituencies in South 24-Parganas. We could not win from the Bhangar Assembly constituency. But this time we will have to win from Bhangar at any cost,” Mr Banerjee said. Toll in Indore water tragedy climbs to 19; MP govt mum on figures STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Bhopal, 2 January The number of deaths caused by consumption of contaminated water in Indore has climbed to 19, hospital sources said on Friday, even as the Madhya Pradesh government is yet to come out with the official figures. Local corporator of the Bhagirathpura locality, Kamal Waghela said on Friday that at least 15 deaths have occurred. “From Friday till today, around 15 people have died due to the contaminated water,” Mr Waghela told media persons. The unofficial figure, meanwhile, rose to 19 on Friday. Geeta Bai (68) succumbed at the Aurobindo Medical Science and Research Hospital after she was admitted with symptoms of severe vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration. Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Friday ordered the transfer of Indore Municipal Corporation additional commissioner Rohit Sisonia, and the incharge superintending engineer of the water works section, Sanjeev Shrivastava, in connection with the Indore Narmada river drinking water tragedy. The CM also directed officials to issue show cause notices to IMC Commissioner Dilip Kumar Yadav, and Rohit Sisonia. Making a scathing attack on the BJP-led “double-engine” government, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday labelled Madhya Pradesh the “epicentre of misgovernance” following a deadly water contamination crisis in Indore. In a sharp statement on social media, Mr Gandhi accused the administration of “slumbering like Kumbhakarna” while sewage-mixed water ~ which he described as “distributed poison” ~ was supplied to the residents of Bhagirathpura area of Indore. Gig workers with 90-day employment to come under new labour codes possibility of a nationwide rollout of the package of four labour codes from 1 April. Under the draft rules, in order to be eligible for the benefits, a gig or platform worker must be associated with an aggregator for at least 90 days in a financial year to qualify for social security benefits created by the Centre. If a worker is engaged with more than one aggregator, the minimum requirement is fixed at 120 days. The rules say that a worker is considered “engaged” on any calendar day if he/she earns income for work done for an aggregator, regardless of how much the earning is. If a worker is associated with multiple aggregators, the number of engagement Ashes: Sydney Test to be Khawaja’s final international appearance Page 16 Page 9 EAM reiterates India’s strategic autonomy, right to defence, in responding to threats Reiterating India’s strategic autonomy and its right to defend against any external threat, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday said the country will independently determine its response to any kind of external threat, including terrorism, which endangers the citizens. “To defend itself, India will do whatever is required,” he asserted, dispelling the view that the country is strategically weak without friends, as he interacted with student and facility at the inauguration of Shaastra-2026, the IIT Madras Techno Entertainment Fest in Chennai, on a wide range of topics, from politics to diplomacy and Indo-Pak relations. On the persistent cross-border terrorism, the minister, in a clear reference to Pakistan, SATURDAY INTERVIEW Page 11 Page 5 BRIEFLY At least 7 reported killed during protests in Iran days will be added together across all aggregators. The draft also states that if a worker is engaged with three aggregators on the same calendar day, it will be counted as three separate days of engagement. Regarding the minimum wage, the draft rules state that when the rate of wages for a day is fixed, then such amount shall be divided by eight for fixing the rate of wages for an hour and multiplied by 26 for fixing the rate of wages for a month. In the case of a five-day working week, the hourly rate of minimum wages so calculated shall be used to derive the minimum wages for the day. While fixing the minimum rates of wages, the government shall take into account the geographical area, experience in the area of employment, and level of skill required for working under the categories of unskilled, semiskilled, skilled, and highly skilled, the rules further state. The four labour codes are the Code on Wages, 2019; the Industrial Relations Code, 2020; the Code on Social Security, 2020; and the Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions Code, 2020. The labour codes make it mandatory for employers to issue appointment letters to all workers, which provide written proof to ensure transparency, job security, and fixed employment. Earlier, no mandatory appointment letters were required. (Representational image) “Clean water is not a favour; it is a right to life,” Mr Gandhi stated. “For the murder of this right, the BJP’s negligent administration and its callous leadership are entirely responsible,” he said. He questioned why repeated complaints about foul-smelling water were ignored by officials until it was too late. “Those whose hearths have gone cold needed solace; the government served up hubris instead,” Mr Gandhi said, referring to “arrogant statements” from BJP leaders. His remarks come amidst a political storm fuelled by a viral video showing MP Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya snapping at a journalist for asking “worthless questions” about the contamination. “Every time the poor die, Modi ji, as always, remains silent,” Mr Gandhi added, Reports indicate that a leak was discovered in the main drinking water pipeline near a police outpost in Bhagirath- Family members mourn the death of a person who allegedly died after consuming contaminated water in the Bhagirathpura area of Indore on Tuesday, 30 December 2025. FILE PHOTOGRAPH pura, at a location where a toilet had been built. They stated that this leakage caused the water supply to become contaminated. “Laboratory tests confirm bacterial contamination in the municipal water supply. Surveys find hundreds of families affected; many more recover with treatment,” a specialist in microbiology told UNI. Over the past nine days, more than 1,400 people in Bhagirathpura have been affected by vomiting and diarrhoea.A health department official reported that, as of Thursday night, 272 patients had been admitted to hospitals in the area, with 71 of them already discharged. The official stated that out of the 201 patients still hospitalised, 32 are receiving treatment in intensive care units. • Related report: Page 5 First mountain tunnel breakthrough achieved in Bullet Train Project at Palghar STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 2 January Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday announced a significant milestone in the Bullet Train Project with the breakthrough of the second tunnel in Palghar, Maharashtra. This is the first mountain tunnel of the project in the state. The breakthrough has been achieved in an approximately 1.5 km long mountain tunnel (MT-5), among the longest in Palghar district, located between Virar and Boisar bullet train stations. The MT-5 tunnel was excavated from both ends and the excavation was completed within 18 months using a cutting-edge drill and blast method. This method allows real-time monitoring of ground behaviour during excavation and enables the deployment of support systems such as shotcrete, rock bolts, and lattice girders based on actual site conditions. Earlier, the first underground tunnel of approximately 5 km between Thane and BKC was completed in September 2025. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project has a total length of 508 km, with an overall tunnel length of 27.4 km, of which 21 km comprises underground tunnels and 6.4 km surface tunnels. The project includes eight mountain tunnels, with seven tunnels in Maharashtra having a combined length of about 6.05 km, and one tunnel of 350 metres located in Gujarat. The Union Minister said the Bullet Train Project is generating significant employment and will provide additional opportunities during operation. He said once completed, the project will reduce travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to just 1 hour and 58 minutes, connecting and integrating the economies of major commercial centers. The project is expected to foster economic activity along the corridor, facilitate knowledge transfer, and support the development of new industrial and IT hubs. In Maharashtra, work is underway on seven mountain tunnels. MT-1, with a length of 820 metres, has achieved 15 percent physical progress, while MT-2, measuring 228 metres, is currently under preparatory works.