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 Tariffs, GDP data likely to drive D-Street next week Page 10 Afghanistan vows measured response to Pak airstrikes NATION Jairam Ramesh flags ‘haste’ in India-US trade pact Page 5 Page 9 PM Modi bashes Cong over shirtless protest Zimbabwe v West Indies BRIEFLY JeM top commander among three terrorists killed: Jammu: A top commander of the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror outfit was among the three terrorists killed by the joint forces in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar district on Sunday. An official said that one top JeM commander was killed during the gunfight with a joint team of J&K Police, two Para of the Army, & the CRPF. This is the second encounter in this area this month. Earlier, a gunfight broke out in the same densely forested area on 4 Feb. (See Page 8) STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 23 February S harpening his attack on the Congress ahead of a politically charged year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accused the party of indulging in “dirty and naked politics”, alleging that a recent protest at an international summit had embarrassed India before the world. Speaking at a large public rally in Meerut after inaugurating major infrastructure projects, including the Delhi–Meerut Namo Bharat corridor and the Meerut Metro extension, Modi condemned what he described as a “shirtless” protest by the Indian Youth Congress during the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi. Without mincing his words, he said: “Congress turned a global event into an arena for its dirty and naked politics. The country knows you are Monday, 23 February 2026 SPORTS WORLD BUSINESS | already naked, so why was there a need to undress?” The India-AI Impact Summit 2026 brought together international delegates, technology leaders and policymakers to deliberate on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, positioning India as a growing global player in the sector. Referring to the protest, Modi alleged that the Congress had compromised the dignity of a national platform. “When the world had gathered to discuss the future of AI and innovation, Congress was busy defaming their own country. They crossed all limits,” he said. “Such actions insult not a government, but the nation itself.” The Prime Minister described the party as “ideologically bankrupt and impoverished”, claiming its conduct had been condemned not only by the public but also by some of its allies. In a pointed political aside, Modi thanked parties within the opposition INDIA bloc that had reportedly criticised the Congress over the Delhi incident. “I want to thank the allies in the opposition who openly criticised Congress for what happened in Delhi. This shows that even within their alliance, there are voices of responsibility,” he said. The Congress has not officially responded to the Prime Minister’s latest remarks. Party leaders, however, have in the past defended protest actions as a legitimate democratic tool. Expanding his criticism beyond the AI summit episode, Modi accused the Congress of disrupting the ongoing Budget Session of Parliament and deliberately stalling legislative business. “They are not allowing Parliament to function. They are creating chaos and even sending women MPs to occupy seats in a bid to stall proceedings,” he alleged. (See Page 8) T20 WC: England crush Sri Lanka to clinch 51-run win Page 12 India, US reschedule meet on trade deal after US SC ruling STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 22 February India and the United States are understood to have decided to reschedule a key meeting of their top negotiators over the interim bilateral trade agreement so as to study the implications of the American Supreme Court judgment striking down the tariff hikes by the Trump Administration. A three-day meeting between teams headed by the chief trade negotiators on the two sides was scheduled to take place in the US on February 23. Sources said the Indian team of negotiators will now visit Washington to give the final touches to the trade deal after officials in both India and the US have studied the latest developments following the US Supreme Court judgment. A decision on fresh dates of the meeting of the negotiators on the two sides will be taken in mutual consultations. US President Donald Trump on Saturday raised the global tariffs from 10 per cent to 15 per cent after the big setback in the Supreme Court on Friday. Taking to Truth Social, Trump wrote, "Based on a thorough, detailed, and complete review of the ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on Tariffs issued yesterday, after MANY months of contemplation, by the United States Supreme Court, please let this statement serve to represent that I, as President of the United States of America, will be, effective immediately, raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff on Countries, many of which have been “ripping” the U.S. off for decades, without retribution (until I came along!), to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level." The US Supreme Court struck down President Trump’s reciprocal tariff measures, ruling that the executive branch exceeded its constitutional authority by using emergency powers to levy broad import duties. Supreme Court to hear Meta, WhatsApp pleas against `213 crore CCI penalty National Round Table Conference of ECI & state election commissioners on Tuesday AGENCIES STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 22 February The Supreme Court is set to hear on Monday the pleas filed by Meta Platforms and WhatsApp challenging a penalty of Rs 213.14 crore imposed on them by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) over their privacy policy. A bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, is likely to take up the matter. Earlier, on February 3, the court made strong remarks against the two companies, saying they cannot “play with the right to privacy of citizens in the name of data sharing.” The bench observed that the platforms appeared to be creating a monopoly and misusing users’ private information. Expressing concern over WhatsApp’s privacy policy, the court referred to “silent customers” who are unorganised, digitally dependent and often unaware of the impact of data-sharing rules. The judges said they would not allow the rights of citizens to be harmed. The case relates to a CCI order that imposed a penalty of Rs 213.14 crore on the companies over alleged violations linked to WhatsApp’s privacy policy. On November 4, 2025, the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) set aside a part of the CCI order that had barred WhatsApp from sharing user data with Meta for advertising purposes for five years. However, Preliminary report on Baramati plane crash to be released by 28 Feb: Mohol STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Pune, 22 February The preliminary report on the Learjet 45 crash in Baramati, in which NCP leader Ajit Pawar and four others died, will be released on or before February 28, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said on Sunday. Speaking to reporters at an event here, Mohol said, “The preliminary report will be out within one month of the accident that occurred on January 28, that is, on or before February 28.” The incident has taken a fresh turn, with Ajit Pawar’s nephew, NCP (SP) MLA Rohit Pawar, accusing the private company that owned the aircraft of violating safety norms. The crash has been the subject of intense speculation, with Pawar holding several press conferences to highlight what he described as irregularities linked to the firm that owned the aircraft, as well as other technical anomalies. He has also raised doubts about possible foul play. The Civil Aviation Ministry said on Thursday that “its regulatory bodies remain fully committed to transparency, safety oversight and accountability. Stakeholders are requested to refrain from speculation and allow the statutory investigation and regulatory processes to proceed in accordance with established procedures.” According to norms of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the preliminary report into the Learjet 45 (VT-SSK) crash at Baramati must be issued within 30 days of the accident. The Ministry said the final report will follow in due course. The statement added that the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) investigation is technical and evidence-based, involving a systematic examination of the wreckage, operational and maintenance records, and laboratory testing of components where required. The aircraft was fitted with two independent flight recorders. The Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR), manufactured by L3 Communications, has been successfully downloaded at the AAIB facility in New Delhi. The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) sustained thermal damage. As it was manufactured by Honeywell, technical assistance has been sought from the State of Design/Manufacture in line with ICAO rules, the statement explained. During 2025, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) conducted 51 regulatory audits of non-scheduled operators. In addition, multiple surveillance inspections of M/s VSR Ventures were carried out in areas including flight safety systems, flight duty time limitations, maintenance compliance (CAR M and CAR 145), documentation and station facilities. All findings were addressed and closed, the statement said. the tribunal upheld the monetary penalty. Later, the NCLAT clarified that its decision on privacy and consent safeguards would also apply to the collection and sharing of user data for non-WhatsApp purposes, including both advertising and non-advertising activities. The Supreme Court had earlier said it would pass an interim order on February 9 and directed that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology be made a party to the appeals filed by the two companies. The court is also hearing a cross-appeal filed by the CCI, which has challenged the NCLAT ruling to the extent that it allowed WhatsApp and Meta to continue sharing user data for advertising purposes. New Delhi, 22 February The Election Commission of India (ECI) will organise the National Round Table Conference of ECI and State Election Commissioners (SECs) on Tuesday at Bharat Mandapam here. The Round Table Conference is being convened after a gap of 27 years. The last such Conference was held in the year 1999. The Conference will be chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, in the presence of Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi. State Election Commissioners of all States and Union Territories will participate along with their legal and technical experts. Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of all 36 states and Union Territories will also attend the conference. The primary objective of the Round Table Conference is to foster synergies in the functioning of ECI and SECs with respect to electoral processes and logistics within their respective legal frameworks. The deliberations are expected to provide a platform for constructive exchange of ideas and reinforce the spirit of cooperative federalism in electoral management. During the day-long conference, discussions will focus around sharing of technology, EVMs and Electoral Rolls, besides strengthening of electoral processes. Senior officials of the Commission will make presentations on key technological and operational initiatives including the recently launched ECINET digital platform and its transformative potential in streamlining electoral services. Presentations will also highlight robustness, transparency and safeguards of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Comparative presentation on States/UT-wise eligibility of electors with reference to the Representation of the People Act, 1950 will also be made to facilitate informed deliberations on legal frameworks governing Electoral Roll preparation across jurisdictions. State Election Commissions are created by law of the respective States under the empowering provisions of 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments. SECs are vested with the superintendence, direction and control of the preparation of the electoral rolls for, and the conduct of all elections to the Panchayats and Municipal Bodies under Articles 243K and 243ZA respectively. PM Modi highlights AI breakthroughs, cultural pride and compassion in latest ‘Mann Ki Baat’ STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 22 February Describing the India AI Impact Summit as a “turning point for the world”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday highlighted how artificial intelligence is transforming healthcare, agriculture and the preservation of India’s ancient knowledge systems, while also reflecting on sports, organ donation, digital security and cultural revival in the 131st episode of his monthly radio programme, Mann Ki Baat. Calling the recent Global AI Impact Summit in Delhi a landmark event, the Prime Minister said it showcased India’s rapidly advancing AI capabilities before global leaders, technology CEOs, start-up innovators and youth. Among the notable innovations, he cited AI-driven systems developed by Amul that assist farmers in animal healthcare and dairy management through round-the-clock support. He also highlighted efforts to digitise and revive ancient texts such as the Sushrut Samhita using AI avatars capable of narrating them in multiple languages, thereby connecting India’s past with its future. Emphasising India’s technological progress, Modi also announced the launch of three “Made in India” AI models during the summit. Turning to sports, the Prime Minister expressed pride in players of Indian origin representing other countries in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, noting that their achievements reflect the global Indian diaspora’s enduring emotional bond with the country. In an emotional moment, he shared the story of a young child from Kerala whose parents chose organ donation after a personal tragedy, describing their decision as an act of extraordinary courage and compassion that inspired the entire nation and highlighted growing awareness about organ donation. In a symbolic move reflecting India’s post-colonial identity, Modi announced the upcoming unveiling of a statue of C. Rajagopalachari at Rashtrapati Bhavan, replacing that of British architect Edwin Lutyens, to honour Indian leaders who viewed power as a means of service. The Prime Minister also cautioned citizens about the rising threat of digital fraud and urged them to remain vigilant while sharing financial information, echoing the awareness campaign run by the Reserve Bank of India. Praising farmers for improving quality and expanding market reach, he cited inspiring examples from Odisha and Kerala, including the cultivation of hundreds of rice varieties in a single field, reinforcing India’s position as the world’s largest rice producer. Highlighting cultural resurgence, Modi spoke about the revival of Kerala’s historic Mamangam festival, calling it a symbol of India’s renewed pride in its heritage. He also paid tribute to former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on her birth anniversary, recalling her lasting contributions to public welfare and governance. Addressing students appearing for examinations, the Prime Minister encouraged them to remain confident, manage stress positively and not define themselves solely by their marks. Concluding his address, he extended greetings on the upcoming festivals and urged citizens to adopt swadeshi products as part of India’s journey towards self-reliance. The episode presented a comprehensive vision of India’s future — where advanced technology, rich cultural heritage, compassion and national pride come together to shape a confident and self-reliant nation.