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 | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI ‘Sensitive sectors protected in India-US trade deal’ Page 12 Wednesday, 04 February 2026 SPORTS WORLD BUSINESS | Shah, EAM, Singh & Vaishnaw hail India-US trade deal Déjà Vu in Group A as India, Pakistan & USA reunite at T20 World Cup 2026 Page 5 Iran, US slated to hold talks for easing tensions Page 16 NATION Page 11 Mamata raises her voice against poll commission, mulls impeachment STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 3 February A day after Mamata Banerjee accused the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar of threatening and misbehaving with her, the Trinamul Congress on Tuesday sharpened its attack on the Election Commission in New Delhi, with the West Bengal Chief Minister flagging the possibility of moving an impeachment motion against the poll body. We cannot hope for anything from this election commission after what happened yesterday,” the chief minister said at a press conference in Delhi on Tuesday afternoon. When asked whether she is mulling an impeachment proposal against the Election Commission, Banerjee said, “Though we don’t have the numbers, the proposal can be introduced. In the interest of the people, we will discuss it within the party and support it. Atleast it will be on record.” The chief minister was referring to her meeting with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar at the Election Commission headquarters in Delhi, where she launched a sharp personal attack on the CEC over the ongoing SIR of electoral rolls in West Bengal. Banerjee had accused the Commission of acting in a biased and discriminatory manner and alleged that the exercise was being carried out with political intent. Speaking to reporters after coming out of the Election Commission office, Banerjee had said “We are hurt and distressed. I have been in politics for many years. I have been a four-time minister and a seven-time MP, but I have never seen such an Election Commissioner who is so arrogant, who is such a liar.” When said that the commission has alternatively blamed the chief minister for misbehaving with them, TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, “You don’t have to take anything from us but think a chief minister has written six letters to the CEC and neither one has been answered. There was not even an acknowledgement. So you can easily decide who has been arrogant.” Raising up her ante against the commission, the Chief Minister said, “There is no planning, no infrastructure. Elections are due in four states, but SIR is being done only in opposition-ruled states. It is not happening in Assam.” She questioned the role of an official, Seema Khanna, alleging that artificial intelligence was being used to delete names, electoral registration officers’ signatures were not taken, and the process was illegal. “They are appointing role Global order changing, India leading the way, says PM Modi STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 3 February Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday told NDA MPs that India has emerged as a central force on the global stage and is playing a key role in shaping the world order. He was referring to recent trade agreements with several countries, including the newly announced India–US and India–EU deals. “The developed countries want to work in partnership with India,” PM Modi said, addressing the NDA parliamentary party meeting. PM Modi was felicitated by NDA leaders for the successful conclusion of trade agreements with 39 countries. According to those present at the meeting, the Prime Minister said these deals demonstrate India’s ability to showcase its strength despite global uncertainty. “PM Modi called it a milestone that had created a better environment for bilateral relations. He acknowledged the challenges during negotiations, saying that critics had doubts, people were criticising but patience paid…the world order is changing,” they said, referring to PM’s speech The Prime Minister also warned NDA leaders against complacency after recent electoral successes. According to Rijiju, the PM said that these NDA’s victories in various elections were the result of people-friendly policies and sustained hard work. Haven’t heard anything from Delhi, says Putin’s top aide on halting purchase of Russian oil: Moscow: Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Tuesday said that Moscow has not yet received any messages from New Delhi about refusing Russian oil supplies. "We haven't heard any statements from Delhi on this matter yet," Russia's state-run news agency Tass quoted the Presidential Spokesman as saying during a regular media briefing in Moscow while responding to a question about whether India had refused Russian oil. The diplomat, however, stated that the Kremlin is closely monitoring US President Donald Trump's statements, including on India and oil. "We are, of course, closely monitoring all news on this matter," Peskov noted. "We are paying close attention to President Trump's statements; we are carefully recording and analysing them." "We respect bilateral American-Indian relations," Peskov added. "We attach no less importance to developing our advanced strategic partnership with India. This is of the utmost importance to us, and we intend to further develop our bilateral relations in every possible way, which is precisely what we are doing," Peskov, a seasoned diplomat who serves as the Press Secretary to Russian President Vladimir Putin, was quoted as saying by Tass. India-US deal sparks massive political storm, Rahul hits out at PM Modi VIBHA SHARMA New Delhi, 3 February Even as government sources asserted “zero compromise” on farmers’ interests in the India-US trade deal, claiming that “India’s agriculture and dairy sector will be protected,” opposition leaders mounted a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of “selling the country under US’ pressure” and “backstabbing farmers by p otentially op ening markets to subsidised US agricultural imports.” Government sources said, “The India-US trade deal agreed upon between US President Donald Trump and PM Modi does not compromise the interests of Indian farmers,” also clarifying that India would continue to buy crude oil from countries that are “not under sanctions.” India is currently the second-largest buyer of Russian oil, which is under US sanctions. Union Minister J P Nadda announced in the Rajya Sabha that the government would issue a suo motu statement on the trade deal and hold a discussion in Parliament after several opposition MPs staged a walkout, demanding a discussion on the deal. The Lok Sabha also saw repeated disruptions over Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s insistence on referring to an unpublished memoir of former Army chief General M M Naravane during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address for the second day in a row. Eight Congress MPs were suspended in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday by the Chair for “unr uly” behaviour. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had moved a resolution in the Lok Sabha to suspend Hibi Eden, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Manickam Tagore, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, C Kiran Kumar Reddy, Prashant Padole, S Venkatesan and Dean Kuriakose for the remainder of the session. They were reportedly seen tearing up papers and throwing them towards the Chair. Speaking to the media after chaotic scenes for the second consecutive day, Gandhi accused the Prime Minister of being “compromised” and “selling” India. “Modi ji is rattled. The (US-India) trade deal, which was stalled for the past few months, was signed by Narendra Modi last night. There is extreme pressure on him. Narendra Mo di ji’s image can get damaged. The main thing is that our PM is compromised,” Gandhi said. observers and micro-observers and they are working on behest of the commission and a particular party. The role observers are treated as the masters of the SIR process. This is illegal,” the Chief Minister added. The Chief Minister raised sharp questions over the conduct of the SIR of electoral rolls, alleging lack of planning and selective implementation. “Think, 58 lakh names had been deleted without giving voters an opportunity to defend themselves. In my assembly constituency where there are around 2 lakhs voters Banerjee said there were around two lakh voters45,000 names had been deleted citing discrepancies and that too without the knowledge of EROs,” she alleged. “The names of living voters are being marked as dead and removed,” she said, asking members of her entourage to raise their hands if they were shown as dead in the draft voters’ list. She said the Supreme Court had asked for a list of discrepancies, but instead of complying, names were being changed. She further alleged that BJP leaders were being sent as observers. “I respect the Commission, but a few people are acting like parrots,” she said. The Chief Minister also dismissed the Election Commission’s statement that interference in SIR would not be tolerated and that strict action would be taken if the law was violated. However, Banerjee refused to comment on the possibility of approaching the Supreme Court, saying the matter was sub judice. “I respect the court and won’t comment on the judicial matters,” she said, adding that her government would function strictly as per constitutional norms, while political programmes would be carried out by the party. Yumnam Khemchand Singh to be next Manipur CM: New Delhi: Manipur Assembly's former Speaker Yumnam Khemchand Singh will be the state's next Chief Minister, it was announced on Tuesday. He was elected as the new leader of the BJP Legislature party in the north eastern state. The meeting virtually clears the deck for the veteran politician to take over as the chief minister of the troubled state, which has been under President’s Rule since February 13, 2025. Khemchand may be sworn in as Chief Minister on 4 or 5 Feb, along with some other ministers at Lok Bhawan.