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 | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR | Monday, 05 January 2026 SPORTS PERSPECTIVE Somnath: 1,000 years of unbroken faith NATION EDITORIAL It’s raining cash and freebies in poll-bound Tamil Nadu BRIEFLY DGCA bans use of power banks for charging during flights: New Delhi: The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Sunday clarified that passengers are not allowed to use power banks to charge mobile phones or any other electronic devices during flights, citing serious safety concerns linked to lithium batteries. In a statement, the aviation regulator said power banks cannot be used for charging gadgets at any time during a flight, including through aircraft seat power outlets. The move comes after several incidents worldwide in which lithium batteries overheated or caught fire on board aircraft. The DGCA had earlier issued a Dangerous Goods Advisory Circular that allowed power banks and spare lithium batteries only in hand baggage. These items are prohibited from being stored in overhead compartments, as fires in overhead bins are difficult to detect and control. Urban Disconnect Page 7 Page 8 India expresses concern over developments in Venezuela STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 4 January I n its first reaction to the US action in Venezuela, India on Sunday expressed deep concern over the developments in the South American nation and called for addressing issues through dialogue and ensuring peace in the region. The Ministry of External Affairs said: “Recent developments in Venezuela are a matter of deep concern. We are closely monitoring the evolving situation.’’ New Delhi said India reaffirms its support to the well-being and safety of the people of Venezuela. “We call upon all concerned to address issues peacefully through dialogue, ensuring peace and stability of the region,’’ it added. The MEA said the Embassy of India in Caracas is in contact with members of the Indian community and will continue to provide all possible assistance. India avoided any comment on Saturday and merely issued an advisory asking Indian nationals to avoid all non-essential travel to Venezuela in view of recent developments there. “All Indians who are in Venezuela for any reason are advised to exercise extreme caution, restrict their movements, and remain in contact with Embassy of India in Caracas through their email id: cons.caracas@mea.gov.in or the emergency phone number +58-412-9584288 (also for WhatsApp calls),’’ the MEA said in a statement. Official sources said India is still assessing all facts relating to the security situation in Venezuela arising from pre-dawn US airstrikes targeting key military installations, including the Fuerte Tiuna military complex in Caracas. US President Donald Trump on Saturday confirmed that American forces had conducted a “large-scale strike” and announced the “capture’’ and removal of President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. It is learnt that India is STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 4 January New Delhi, 4 January The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has decided not to travel to India for the upcoming T20 World Cup matches following the BCCI’s decision to bar Bangladeshi cricketer Mustafizur Rahman (Photo) from the Indian Premier League (IPL). “Bangladesh will not go to India to play in the World Cup. The Bangladesh Cricket Board made this decision today. I welcome this decision, taken in response to the Indian cricket board’s extreme communal policies,” sports adviser in Bangladeshi Interim government Asif Nazrul said in a social media post. As per reports in Bangladeshi media, BCB has written to the International Cricket Council (ICC), requesting the apex body to move its T20 World Cup matches from India to Sri Lanka. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be on a week-long official visit to France and Luxembourg from Sunday to discuss bilateral issues as well as global developments. In Paris, he will be meeting the French leadership and hold talks with Minister for Foreign Affairs Jean Noel Barrot. They will discuss the progress made under the India-France Strategic Partnership and matters of global importance, the Ministry of External Affairs said. The US action in Venezuela and the ongoing Ukraine conflict are expected to come up during the discussions. Mr Jaishankar will also address the 31st edition of the French Ambassadors’ Conference as the Guest of Honour. The Minister will also be “We have sent a letter to the ICC requesting that our match be moved from India to Sri Lanka,” BCB director Khaled Mashud Pilot said. He cited the issue of Rahman’s exclusion from his IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). “If they have said they cannot provide security to one of our players, how will they ensure the security of our entire team? That is why we will not go there to play,” he said. The development comes a day after the BCCI directed KKR to release Rahman amid rising incidents of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. “Due to the recent developments that are going on all across, BCCI has instructed the franchise KKR to release one of their players, Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh, from their squad. If KKR asks for any replacement, the BCCI is going to allow that replacement,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said. Later, KKR also confirmed the development, saying that they will abide by the BCCI’s directive. Elon Musk warns against misuse of AI tool Grok for illegal content PANKAJ JAIN/UNI New Delhi, 4 January The clarification came after concerns were raised about the possible misuse of AI tools to produce unlawful material. Mr Musk made it clear that AI-generated content will not be treated differently from user-uploaded content when it comes to enforcement. In a related statement, X’s Safety channel reiterated that the platform takes strict action Page 12 Page 6 weighing its options against the backdrop of the strain in its ties with the USA and its consistent support for a rules-based global order, respecting sovereignty and territorial integrity of every country. The Opposition Congress, meanwhile, expressed “very grave concern” over the US actions, warning that unilateral measures violate international law and pose a threat to global stability. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the developments were “deeply troubling” and underscored the dangers of bypassing multilateral norms. The Left parties issued a joint statement strongly condemning what they described as US military aggression against Venezuela and the alleged “kidnapping” of President Maduro and his wife, calling it a blatant violation of international law and an attack on the sovereignty of a nation. • Related reports: Page 5 Bangladeshi cricket team not to travel EAM S Jaishankar to visit France, Luxembourg to India for T20 World Cup matches X Corp chairman Elon Musk has cautioned users against using Grok, the artificial intelligence tool on X, to generate illegal content, days after the Indian government pullled up the company for failing to prevent the generation and circulation of obscene, nude and indecent content on its platform. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Mr Musk said that anyone using Grok to generate illegal material will face the same consequences as those who upload such content directly on the platform. He emphasised that AI-generated content will not receive special treatment when it comes to enforcement. Root, Brook steady England at SCG against, including Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). The company said such content is removed immediately, accounts involved are permanently suspended, and cooperation is extended to local governments and law enforcement agencies when required. The Safety channel further stressed that prompting or using Grok to create illegal content is a serious violation of X’s rules. Users involved in such activity will face the same penalties as those who upload illegal material manually. On 2 January, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued a formal notice to X, flagging serious lapses in statutory due diligence under the IT Act and IT Rules. IN PARIS, MR JAISHANKAR WILL BE MEETING THE FRENCH LEADERSHIP AND HOLD TALKS WITH FOREIGN AFFAIRS MINISTER JEAN NOEL BARROT. THEY WILL DISCUSS THE PROGRESS MADE UNDER THE INDIA-FRANCE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AND MATTERS OF GLOBAL IMPORTANCE, THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS SAID. THE US ACTION IN VENEZUELA AND THE ONGOING UKRAINE CONFLICT ARE EXPECTED IN THE UPCOMING DISCUSSIONS. visiting Luxembourg, where he will hold discussions with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Xavier Bettel of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and with the senior leadership of Luxembourg. He will also be interacting with the members of the Indian Community in Luxembourg. Captured Nicolás Maduro, wife arrive in New York by plane UNITED NEWS OF INDIA Washington, 4 January A plane carrying Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were captured in an audacious US military strike on Venezuela early Saturday morning, has arrived at a New York military base, according to local media. Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez, meanwhile, demanded the “immediate release” of the couple at a session of the National Defense Council broadcast by a state television channel. Mr Maduro is “the only president” of Venezuela, she said. Ms Rodiguez was on Sunday directed by her country’s Supreme Court to assume the role of acting President. Amid global condemnation and concern over the US action, the UN Security Council announced Saturday that it will hold an emergency meeting on Monday on the developments. Mr Maduro landed late Saturday afternoon at a small airport in New York following the middle - of-the -night operation that extracted him and his wife, Cilia Flores, from their home in a military base in the capital, Caracas ~ an act that Mr Maduro’s government called “imperialist.” The couple faces US charges of par ticipating in a narco-terrorism conspiracy. After arriving at a small airport in New York City’s northern suburbs, Mr Maduro was flown by helicopter to Manhattan, where a convoy of law enforcement vehicles, including an armoured car, was waiting to whisk him to a nearby US Dr ug Enforcement Administration office. A video posted on social media by a White House account showed Mr Maduro, smiling, as he was escorted through that office by two DEA agents grasping his arms. His and his wife’s dramatic capture capped an intensive Trump administration pressure campaign on Venezuela’s autocratic leader and months of secret planning, resulting in the most assertive American action to achieve regime change since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. • Related reports: Page 9 Bengal CM flags ‘harassment’ in SIR process in third letter to CEC STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 4 January Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has once again raised serious objections to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the process, undertaken without adequate preparation, is causing widespread harassment to ordinary voters. In a strongly worded four-page letter to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, the Chief Minister has detailed what she described as “grave and avoidable difficulties” being faced by the public. This is the third time she has written to the CEC on the issue. Expressing clear dissatisfaction with the Election Commission’s functioning, Miss Banerjee questioned why Booth Level Agents (BLAs), who were actively involved from the very beginning of the SIR exercise, are now being excluded during the crucial hearing phase. She pointed out that BLAs from various political parties worked tirelessly alongside Booth Level Officers (BLOs), assisting voters with enumeration forms and facilitating the revision process on the Commission’s behalf. However, during hearings, BLAs are reportedly being denied entry to hearing centres, a move she termed unjustified and arbitrary. The Chief Minister also highlighted the severe hardship being faced by elderly and ailing voters. According to her letter, senior citizens, including individuals aged 79 and even 104 years, are being compelled to travel long distances to hearing centres to produce documents to establish their citizenship. She described this as inhumane and unnecessary, especially for people with health issues and limited mobility. India preparing to host the 2036 Olympics with full strength: PM STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Varanasi, 4 January India is preparing with full strength to host the 2036 Olympics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday. “Today, the sports ecosystem in India is being transformed. On the one hand, good infrastructure and mechanisms are being developed. Along with this, work is also being done to provide excellent exposure to young people,” he said while virtually inaugurating the 72nd Senior Volleyball Championship on Sunday. The PM said: “You must have noticed that in the past decade, many major events related to hockey, football, and various other sports have been held in several cities. Many international events have been organised. The 2030 Commonwealth Games are also going to be held in India. India is also preparing with full strength to host the 2036 Olympics.” “We are also preparing to give players Olympic-level exposure at the school level. Thanks to the Khelo India campaign, hundreds of young people have had the opportunity to come forward at the national level. A few days ago, the Sansad Khel Mahotsav (Parliamentary Sports Festival) was also held. Around one crore young people showcased their talent in this event as well,” he added. Prime Minister Modi furtjer said that India’s ‘Reform Express’ has sports as its main component and expressed pride in seeing Gen-Z athletes hoist the tricolour on the field. PM Modi said that today there is a new enthusiasm for sports in the entire country, including Purvanchal. He said that he is extremely happy to inaugurate the National Volleyball Tournament in his parliamentary constituency, Varanasi. The Prime Minister said that very few youth used to pursue sports as a career. However, in the last decade, the government has significantly increased the budget for sports. Today, India’s sports model has become athlete-centric. “Talent identification, scientific training, attention to player nutrition, and transparent selection ~ the interests of athletes are now paramount at every level. Today, the country is riding the Reform Express. Every sector and every development destination in the country is being connected to this Reform Express,” he said. He said sports is one of these destinations. The government has also implemented major reforms in the sports sector. Provisions like the National Sports Governance Act and the Khelo India Policy 2025 are providing opportunities to the right talent, he added. The PM said: “Teams from 28 states across the country are gathered here. All of you are presenting a beautiful picture of “Ek Bharat-Shreshtha Bharat.” I am confident that the spirit of Varanasi will remain high at the National Volleyball Championship. We feel very proud when we see Gen Z hoisting the national tricolour on the sports field. There was a time when the government was indifferent towards sports, due to which players were apprehensive about their future.”