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 | Friday, 16 January 2026 SPORTS WORLD Iran protests increasingly smothered PERSPECTIVE EDITORIAL PAGE Gig workers are recognised, at last, as human The rules-based order Page 6 BRIEFLY X tightens Grok AI rules amid concerns over inappropriate content: New Delhi: Social media platform X has rolled out new safeguards for its AI chatbot Grok following complaints about inappropriate content. The updates include blocking the editing of images of real people in revealing clothing, restricting image creation to paid users, and introducing geoblocking in jurisdictions where such content is illegal, reinforcing the platform’s commitment to user safety and legal compliance. In a statement, X said: “We have implemented technological measures to prevent the Grok account from allowing the editing of images of real people in revealing clothing such as bikinis.” The restriction applies to all users, including paid subscribers. Additionally, image creation and editing through Grok are now limited to paid accounts. EU leaders to be chief guests at Republic Day celebrations, says MEA: New Delhi: The President of the European Council, António Luís Santos da Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will be on a state visit to India from 25 to 27 January as Chief Guests at the 77th Republic Day celebrations, it was officially announced here on Thursday. During the visit, the leaders will also co-chair the 16th India-EU Summit on 27 January, the Ministry of External Affairs said. The visit comes at a time when India and the EU are giving final touches to their much-anticipated Free Trade Agreement (FTA). During the visit, President Costa and President von der Leyen will meet President Droupadi Murmu and hold restricted and delegationlevel talks with PM Modi. PM Modi: Democratic spirit runs in India’s veins & minds SC stays FIRs against ED officers over I-PAC raid, issues notice to Bengal govt ASHOK TUTEJA The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice to the West Bengal government on petitions filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), alleging obstruction of the agency’s search operations at the Kolkata office of political consultancy firm I-PAC and the residence of its co-founder, Pratik Jain last week. A Bench comprising Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Vipul Pancholi also imposed a stay order on the four FIRs filed by the West Bengal police against ED officers in connection with the raids. The Bench also sought responses from the Bengal government on the ED’s plea seeking registration of FIR and probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged obstruction in its search and investigation operation. Observing that the ED’s petitions raised serious questions, the Court said it was prima facie satisfied that New Delhi, 15 January H ighlighting the strength of Indian democracy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the country has proved that democratic institutions and democratic processes provide stability, speed and scale to democracy. He recalled that when the country attained independence, apprehensions were expressed that democracy would not survive in a country with such diversity. But India turned this very diversity into the strength of its democracy, he said. The PM was inaugurating the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) at the historic Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan in the Parliament House Complex. The conference, being attended by top parliamentarians from the Commonwealth countries, will deliberate on a wide range of contemporary parliamentary issues, including the role of Speakers and Presiding Officers in maintaining strong democratic institutions, the use of artificial intelligence in parliamentary functioning, the impact of social media on Members of Parliament, innovative strategies to enhance public understanding of Parliament, and citizen participation beyond voting, among others. The PM noted that another major concern after Independence was that even if democracy somehow survived in India, development would not be possible. “India has proved that democratic institutions and democratic processes provide stability, speed, and scale to democracy,” he underlined. Mr Modi highlighted that today India is the fastest-growing major economy in the world, it has the world’s largest digital payment system through UPI, is the largest vaccine producer, India preparing to evacuate its citizens from Iran amid escalating situation STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 15 January Amid the escalating situation in Iran, where over 2,500 people are reported killed in the violent protests, the Indian government is making preparations to evacuate its nationals from the strife-torn country, sources said. “In view of the evolving situation in Iran, the Ministry of External Affairs is making preparations to facilitate return of Indian nationals who wish to travel back to India,” sources said on Thursday. There are around 10,000 Indian nationals currently in Iran, according to estimates. Of these, medical students comprise around 3,000, while there are also around 4,000 seminary students. Around 2,000 Indian fishermen are also reported to reside in coastal areas in Iran. Besides, there are also business professionals, tourists, and thousands of Shia pilgrims who visit Iran annually. The latest development comes a day after the Ministry of External Affairs, in a fresh advisory, said that, in view of the ongoing developments in Iran, Indian nationals are once again strongly advised to avoid travel to the Islamic Republic of Iran until further notice. The Embassy of India in Tehran, in an advisory said that in view of the evolving situation in Iran, Indian nationals who are currently in the country, be it students, pilgrims, businesspersons or tourists, are advised to leave Iran by available means of transport, including commercial flights. In a previous advisory issued on 5 January, the MEA had urged its nationals to avoid non-essential travel to Iran. The Ministry of External Affairs, in its advisory, had asked Indian citizens and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) residing in Iran to exercise due caution and avoid visiting areas of protests. MEA said Indian nationals living in Iran on resident visas are advised to register with the Indian Embassy, if not already done so. BMC elections: Maharashtra poll authorities clarify on fading ink claims STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Mumbai, 15 January After several voters complained about ink marks on their fingers fading or getting erased after voting during the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation election, , Maharashtra State Election Commissioner Dinesh Waghmare (photo) stated on Thursday that the Page 12 Page 7 Page 9 Arsenal edge thriller to take narrow lead over Chelsea in League Cup SF ink, made from silver nitrate, is the same which is used by the Election Commission of India. The Maharashtra State Election Commission also issued a statement that orders regarding the use of marker pens to apply 'indelible' ink on voters’ fingers were issued on 19 November, 2011 and 28 November 2011. Leaders of opposition political parties including the Congress, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, the Sharad Pawar-led NCP and the Aam Aadmi Party earlier issued statements complaining that the ink used to mark fingers of voters faded quickly. Responding to these statements, BJP leader and Maharashtra's Minister of Cultural Affairs Ashish Shelar demanded strict action against those attempting to wipe off ink from their fingers after exercising their franchise claiming that they were trying to facilitate bogus voting and undermining the sanctity of the electoral process. “People who are wiping off ink are attempting bogus voting. A criminal case must be registered against them and a thorough probe should be conducted. Strict action is necessary to protect the sanctity of elections and to ascertain the real motive behind creating confusion over the ink. Remarks against the Election Commission are irresponsible and casting aspersions on the constitutional body amounted to weakening the democratic process,” Shelar said, adding that allegations are being politicised instead of being pursued through legal channels. Several voters from across booths in suburban Mumbai's Goregaon, Andheri, Malad, Powai and Kandivali alleged that ordinary marker pens were used by election officials to ink fingers after votes were cast. With no prior notification about such a deviation from the standard practice of using only government manufactured indelible ink, voters raised questions about the election procedure. Similar incidents of ink marks on voters' fingers getting easily erased were reported from Kolhapur district as well as Pune. the second-largest steel producer, the third-largest startup ecosystem, the third-largest aviation market, the fourth-largest railway network, the third-largest metro rail network, the largest milk producer, and the second-largest rice producer. “In India, democracy means last-mile delivery,” he said, adding that the country works with a spirit of public welfare, ensuring benefits reach every individual without discrimination. He highlighted that due to this spirit of welfare, 25 crore people have come out of poverty in recent years. “In India, democracy delivers,” he remarked. He was of the view that democracy delivers in India because the people are supreme. He went on to underline that their aspirations and dreams have been given priority. To ensure no obstacles come in their way, everything from processes to technology has been democratised. PARMOD KUMAR New Delhi, 15 January the matter warranted judicial scrutiny. “We are of the prima facie view that the present petition has raised a serious issue relating to the investigation by the ED or other central agencies and interference by State agencies. According to us, for adherence of rule of law in country and to allow each organ to function independently, it is necessary to examine the issue so that offenders are not allowed to be protected under the seal of law enforcing agencies of a particular State,” the Bench observed. The Court also said that while central agencies cannot interfere with electoral processes, political parties and State authorities cannot obstruct bona fide investigations by statutory agencies. Apart from seeking a CBI probe, the ED has also sought directions for the return of documents and electronic devices allegedly removed by Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from the searched premises. Taking cognisance TMC MP Kalyan Banerjee addresses the media after the hearing in the ED’s case against the Bengal government in New Delhi. AGENCIES of the matter, the Supreme Court directed Miss Banerjee and other respondents to file their replies to ED’s petition within two weeks. “In the meanwhile, it is directed that the respondents shall preserve the CCTV cameras and other storage devices containing the footage of both the premises searched and the CCTV cameras and other storage devices containing the footage of near areas,” the Bench ordered. The matter has been listed for further hearing on 3 February.