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 | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI ‘India-US trade deal likely to become operational in April’ Page 10 Uproar in Bihar Assembly over law & order, women’s safety Dark horses & heavyweights collide as T20 WC heads to decisive Super 8s Page 5 Trump sets 10-15 day deadline for nuclear deal Page 12 NATION Page 9 US Supreme Court strikes down Trump’s tariffs AGENCIES New Zealand v Pakistan BRIEFLY Prez Trump attaches great importance to India, says US envoy: New Delhi: US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Friday said President Donald Trump attaches great importance to India, confirming that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited him to visit this country again. Addressing a joint press conference with US Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg and US President's Science and Technology Advisor Michael Kratsios, Gor said there is no formal announcement yet on the visit, noting that Trump greatly enjoyed his last trip to India. He recalled that when President Trump nominated him as Ambassador to India, he had spoken of this country’s India's unmatched vibrancy, colour, history and culture, and expressed confidence that he Trump) would personally return at some point. "In terms of the President's visit, the Prime Minister invited him. I don't have any announcements for you soon. The president loved his visit to India. When he nominated me to be ambassador here, one thing he said is the vibrancy, the colour, the history and the culture that you're gonna see in India is unmatched, and so I'm sure he will be back here at some point," said Gor. Washington, 20 February I n a major setback to P re s i d e n t Donald Tr u mp’s e c onomic agenda, the US Supreme Court on Friday struck down most of his sweeping tariffs, ruling that he lacked authority under a 1977 emergency law to impose broad import levies on America’s trading partners across the world, including India. The ruling marks a rare instance of the conservative-led court reining in Trump’s use of executive power. According to Politico, the court in a 6-3 decision struck down the tariffs, calling it “a major repudiation of a core piece of Tr u mp’s e c onomic programme.” Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, said: “The President asserts the extraordinar y p ower to unilaterally impose tariffs of unlimited amount, duration, and scope. In light of the b re a d t h , h i s t o r y, a n d constitutional context of that asserted authority, he must identify clear congressional authorization to exercise it.” Roberts added that the 1977 law Trump relied on “falls shor t” of the C ongressional approval required. The Washington Post reported that the justices ruled the president did not have the authority under a 1977 emergency economic powers law to impose a vast array of import levies on goods from nearly all of the nation’s trading partners. The Hill said the court “cast aside the bulk of President Trump’s sweeping tariffs Friday, obliterating a canon of his economic strategy in ruling that his use of an India seeks to build strong, friendly relations with B’desh, says MEA STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 20 February India on Friday said it wants to build and strengthen ties with Bangladesh and the new BNP government which assumed office in the neighbouring country earlier this week. At his regular press briefing here, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Bangladesh’s new Prime Minister Tarique Rahman soon after his election victory. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla attended the swearing-in ceremony of the new government and handed over a letter from Modi to the new Bangladesh Prime Minister. The letter, the spokesperson Saturday, 21 February 2026 SPORTS WORLD BUSINESS | THE MEA ALSO STATED THAT INDIA ATTENDED THE BOARD OF PEACE'S FIRST MEETING IN WASHINGTON ON THURSDAY AS AN OBSERVER COUNTRY AND CONTINUES TO BACK ALL EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO FIND PEACE IN GAZA AS PART OF THE UNSC RESOLUTION. pointed out, underlined India’s commitment to support a democratic, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh. ‘’Building on the warm and historic ties between the two countries, India looks forward to further strengthening our multifaceted bilateral ties with Bangladesh,’’ he said. Asked if India had formally stopped purchasing Russian oil as is being claimed by the United States, the spokesperson said Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has already clarified the country’s position in this regard. Misri had recently stated that India's oil imports from Russia, and elsewhere, are guided by national interest, energy security, and diversification, rather than external pressure. On whether India would start buying oil from Venezuela, the spokesperson said New Delhi can explore that option also if it is commercially viable. Responding to another question, the spokesperson said India did participate in the Board of Peace meeting in Washington as an observer. ‘’We did attend the Board of Peace meeting in Washington DC as an observer. We have also welcomed the Gaza Peace Plan initiative of President Trump as well as efforts under way as part of resolution 2803 of the UNSC,’’ he added. emergency statute to remake global trade was unlawful.” The justices rejected Trump’s expande d use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), a 1970s-era statute that allows the president to “regulate” imports when necessary to re sp ond to national emergencies that pose an “unusual and extraordinary” threat. “ We claim no sp e cial competence in matters of economics or foreign affairs,” Roberts wrote. “We claim only, as we must, the limited role assigned to us by Article III of the Constitution. Fulfilling that role, we hold that IEEPA does not authorize the President to impose tariffs.” Though the ruling represents a significant defeat, avenues remain for the administration. Congress retains constitutional authority to impose tariffs, and the president could seek to justify duties under other existing laws. PM meets Guterres, SL Prez on margins of AI Summit STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 20 February At a meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres here, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday reiterated India’s support towards any effort aimed at harnessing AI for a better planet. “During the meeting with Mr. António Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, we talked about making AI all inclusive and how the UN can play a constructive role in this regard. Reiterated India's support towards any effort aimed at harnessing AI for a better planet. We also exchanged perspectives on UN reforms, especially giving greater voice to the Global South,’’ the PM said later in a social media post on ‘X’. A press release from the UN Information Centre said the Secretary- General congratulated the PM on the organization of the AI Impact Summit and expressed his deep appreciation for India’s cooperation with the United Nations. The PM also had a meeting with Sri lankan President Anura Dissanayake on the margins of the AI Impact Summit and later wrote on ‘X’, ‘’Strengthening friendship with a valued neighbour! It was wonderful meeting President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Delhi. We took stock of the progress in India-Sri Lanka relations in recent times. We also discussed avenues of cooperation in areas such as energy, connectivity, infrastructure, healthcare, skilling, culture, blue economy and more.’’ The Sri Lankan leader also took to ‘X’ and said, ‘’Joined Indian Prime Minister @narendramodi in New Delhi this afternoon for a meeting. I thanked him for the invitation to the AI Impact Summit 2026. We held extensive discussions on strengthening our historic ties and expanding economic, trade, and cultural cooperation. I also expressed my gratitude for India’s exceptional support during the recent Cyclone Ditwah.’’ Modi also held separate meetings with Slovak President Peter Pellegrini and Prince Alois of Liechtenstein on the margins of the summit. India joins Pax Silica coalition; deepens strategic technology cooperation with USA ASHOK TUTEJA New Delhi, 20 February Marking a significant milestone, India on Friday formally joined the United States-led Pax Silica coalition, aimed at strengthening strategic technology and supply chain cooperation between India and the USA. The signing ceremony on the 5th day of the AI Impact Summit brought together senior government leaders from both nations, underscoring a shared commitment to securing the full technology stack that will power the AI-driven global economy. Pax Silica is envisioned as a strategic coalition of trusted nations committed to securing the “silicon stack”, from critical minerals and semiconductor fabrication to advanced AI systems and deployment infrastructure. The initiative seeks to reduce overconcentration in global supply chains, prevent economic coercion, and ensure that emerging technologies are developed and governed by open, democratic societies. Addressing the gathering, Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw framed the moment as one that transcends a ceremonial signing. “We are not just holding a summit; we are building the future,” he said, emphasising that new foundations and new opportunities are being created for the younger generation. He underscored the country’s growing semiconductor capabilities, stating, “Today, India’s talented engineers are designing the world’s most advanced two-nanometer chips. The semiconductor industry will require around one million new skilled professionals, and this is a very big opportunity for India.” Speaking at the ceremony, Jacob Helberg, US Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, described the declaration as “not merely an agreement on paper, but a roadmap for a shared future.” Invoking the shared democratic histories of both nations, he stated, “Today, as we sign the Pax Silica declaration, we say no to weaponized dependency, and we say no to blackmail. Together, we affirm that economic security is national security. Echoing this sentiment, Sergio Gor, U.S. Ambassador to India, described India’s entry into Pax Silica as both “strategic and essential.” SC orders deployment of judicial officers to oversee SIR in Bengal Delhi now capital of accountability, performance: CM Rekha Gupta PARMOD KUMAR Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday on completion of her government's one year in office asserted that her administration is not the one that indulges in just making promises or announcements and has proved to be the one that works to deliver measurable outcomes, visible on ground. Launching a scathing attack on the functioning of previous governments in the national capital, Gupta, while addressing a press conference, said that whether it was the fifteen-year Congress rule, or the eleven-year rule of the AAP, the emphasis of these parties was on publicity and poster-driven politics. She said that in contrast to the previous regimes, her government is operating on the principle of ‘less paperwork, and more work’. New Delhi, 20 February Flagging a “trust deficit” and lack of cooperation between the West Bengal government and the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Supreme Court on Friday termed the situation surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the State as “extraordinary” and directed deployment of serving as well as former judicial officers to oversee adjudication of claims and objections relating to voters in “logical discrepancies” category. A Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi said the process had got paused at the stage of examining objections relating to voters placed in the “logical discrepancy” list. “There is an unfortunate blame game of allegations and counter-allegations, which shows a trust deficit between two constitutional functionaries - that is, the Democratically elected West Bengal government and the Election Commission of India. Now the process is stuck at the stage of claims and objections of the persons who have been included in the logical discrepancy list. Most of the persons to whom notices were issued have submitted their documents in support of their claim for inclusion in the voter list. These claims are required to be adjudicated in a quasi-judicial process by Electoral Registration Officers (EROs),” the Court said. The court further said that the Collector and Superintendent of Police are under an obligation to provide assistance and logistical support to the presiding judicial officers and team for the smooth completion of the remaining process of SIR. It further directed that both Collector and the Superintendent of Police will be under deemed deputation for the compliance of directions that may be issued in the course of the hearing of claims and objections. The bench also ensured that the representatives both of the State government and the ECI were there to obviate any contention in the completion of the remaining process. Noting disputes over the rank and competence of officers deployed by the State, the Court requested the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court to spare serving judicial officers and former District or Additional District Judges to assist district-wise adjudication. AGRAJ PRATAP SINGH New Delhi, 20 February The CM said that under the previous governments, Delhi witnessed more noise and fewer solutions, while politics of allegations, delays and confrontation had slowed administrative progress in the national capital. However, now the present government has adopted a timeline- based working model, placing accountability at the forefront of work culture, Gupta said while asserting that Delhi is witnessing on-ground results, rather than politics of posts on social media and advertisements. Speaking on the issue of cleaning Yamuna, Gupta said that for decades only announcements were made while there was little or no tangible improvement. She said that after her government assumed office last year, it began the upgradation of sewage treatment plants, tapping of drains and implementation of new projects, leading to concrete progress in pollution control. The systematic planning, that includes drainage master plan and other such initiatives of STP revival and building new ones, amongst other things will ultimately contribute in actually bringing a change, contributing real time in cleaning the river. Talking about pollution control, the CM said that while earlier administrations relied on slogans and press conferences, the current government has prepared a scientific short-term, mid-term and long-term roadmap and commenced its implementation. According to the CM, the solution to a problem requires proper planning and implementation of right steps, and not just talking about the issue. She noted that presently the government has strengthened systems through bringing in place digital mechanisms, financial discipline and institutional reforms, while the previous administration lacked transparency and accountability. Sharpening her attack on the past governments, Gupta stated that they treated power as a means of comfort, whereas her regime regards it as a means of service to the people. Taking a swipe at AAP leader and former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Gupta said that while he would promptly arrive with cheques where political gain was visible, assistance to the families of government employees and doctors who died during COVID remained pending for years. The present government has resolved all such cases.