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 LC | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI India rejects Pak’s reaction to life sentence for Asiya Andrabi: New Delhi: India on Wednesday rejected Pakistan’s condemnation of a Delhi court's order sentencing Kashmiri separatist and Dukhtaran-e-Millat chief Asiya Andrabi and her two associates, Sofi Fehmeeda and Nahida Nasreen, to life imprisonment in a UAPA case, saying Islamabad has no locus standi to comment on matters internal to this country and its judicial processes. “We categorically reject the statement issued by Pakistan in support of a banned terrorist organisation and its members. Pakistan has no locus standi to comment on matters internal to India or its judicial processes,” Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. He said it is not surprising that a country, which has long been sponsoring terrorism, has come out with such a statement. PERSPECTIVE Catharsis of recognition Page 5 Page 6 BRIEFLY All-round strength powers Mumbai Indians’ title ambitions Congress targets PM over ‘policy reversal’ on women’s quota law Pakistan next? MANAS R BANNERJEE Siliguri, 25 March L Banerjee accused the BJP of being a “jealous party” that had deliberately deleted the names of women and members of the Rajbanshi, Matua, Gorkha and other communities from the voters’ list, forcing them to stand in long queues during SIR hearings. “Insulting one woman is an insult to the entire community of women,” she said, adding that those responsible must be held accountable. Alleging that the SIR process had cast doubts on citizens’ nationality, the Chief Minister said the exercise had compelled people to produce documents to prove their citizenship. “Elderly and ailing people were forced to queue up for hearings prompted by the BJP. And now the same party is asking for votes?” she asked. Miss Banerjee further claimed that over 200 people died during the SIR exercise, about half of them Muslims. Coming down heavily on the midnight publication of supplementary electoral rolls, Centre assures safe passage of ships, prioritises Indians abroad as all-party meet on West Asia ends in political divide STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 25 March The Centre on Wednesday told political parties that more India-bound ships are expected to safely cross the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz despite escalating conflict in West Asia, while asserting that the protection of Indian citizens ~ especially the diaspora in Gulf nations ~ remains its “primary objective,” even as opposition leaders described the all-party meeting as “unsatisfactory” and demanded a full parliamentary debate. The high-level meeting, chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the Parliament House complex, brought together top ministers including Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, US sends 15-point plan to Iran to end war; Tehran denies any talks: Washington: The United States has given a 15-point proposal to Iran aimed at ending the ongoing West Asia conflict, marking what could be the most significant diplomatic outreach since hostilities erupted on 28 February. Tehran, however, has firmly denied that any negotiations are underway. According to The New York Times, which cited officials, the proposal was conveyed through intermediaries in Pakistan. Reuters separately confirmed the existence of the plan through sources familiar with the matter. Page 9 along with leaders from across the political spectrum amid. According to leaders present, the government emphasised that maritime movement critical to India’s energy and trade security is continuing. “More India-bound ships will cross the Strait of Hormuz soon,” a participant said on condition of anonymity, describing the development as a “diplomatic win” at a time when several countries are facing disruptions along key shipping routes. Officials also highlighted a significant increase in India’s domestic gas production ~ from 28 per cent at the start of the conflict to nearly 60 per cent now ~ as part of contingency measures aimed at cushioning the impact of supply shocks triggered by the crisis. At the core of the government’s messaging was the safety of Indian nationals in the region. “We don’t know how long the war will go on, but our main focus is to protect people,” a leader quoted the government as saying during the meeting. Another participant added, “Our people are the primary objective and the diaspora is our priority concern.” The meeting followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to Parliament a day earlier, in which he outlined the government’s response to the fast-evolving situation. Cabinet clears updated NDC, India raises climate targets for 2035 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 25 March The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved India’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for the period 2031–2035, significantly enhancing the country’s climate commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement, while reaffirming its long-term goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2070. Announcing the decision, Minister of Information and Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw said the revised targets are closely aligned with India’s broader development vision. “India’s NDC for 2031–35 is guided by the vision of Viksit Bharat, which is not just a goal for 2047, but a commitment to act today to build a prosperous and climate-resilient Bharat for future generations,” he told reporters. Under the updated commitments, India has pledged to reduce the emissions intensity of its GDP by 47 per cent by 2035 compared to 2005 levels, marking a significant step up from earlier targets. The country will also aim to achieve 60 per cent of its installed electric power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2035. Additionally, India has committed to creating a carbon sink of 3.5 to 4 billion Page 12 Page 7 CM launches campaign with blistering attack on BJP, ECI aunching her Assembly election campaign from Maynaguri’s Town Club ground in Jalpaiguri on Wednesday, Trinamul Congress chairperson and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a sharp attack on the BJP over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging large-scale irregularities in the exercise. The Chief Minister addressed rallies in three constituencies ~ Maynaguri in Jalpaiguri district, Dabgram-Fulbari near Siliguri, and the MatigaraNaxalbari Assembly segment in Darjeeling district ~ where she criticised both the BJP and the Election Commission of India over the SIR process. After offering prayers to Devi Basanti in accordance with Hindu rituals, Miss Thursday, 26 March 2026 SPORTS NATION EDITORIAL PAGE | tonnes of CO2 equivalent through expanded forest and tree cover. The new targets build on India’s earlier climate commitments submitted in 2015, which laid the foundation for emissions reduction and a transition to cleaner energy. Government data show that India has already reduced emissions intensity by 36 per cent between 2005 and 2020, while surpassing 52 per cent non-fossil fuel capacity in installed electricity generation by early 2026 —achievements that came well ahead of schedule. Officials said the updated NDC underscores India’s consistent performance in meeting climate goals and signals a readiness to scale up ambitions further. “India’s successive climate targets build upon earlier commitments, many of which have already been achieved ahead of schedule,” Mr Vaishnaw said, adding that the new goals are both “ambitious and achievable.” The government also emphasised that its climate strategy balances emission reduction with adaptation efforts, particularly in vulnerable regions. Initiatives such as mangrove restoration along coastlines, early warning systems for extreme weather events, glacier monitoring in Himalayan areas, and heat action plans across states form a critical part of this approach. she alleged that the BJP “operates under the cover of darkness” and accused it of disregarding constitutional norms and citizens’ rights. “As long as I am alive, I will not allow NRC to be implemented, nor will I allow detention camps to be set up,” she asserted. Addressing another gathering at Jabravita near Siliguri, Miss Banerjee said there had been no discrepancy during the SIR exercise in Bihar, but alleged that irregularities in Bengal were part of a “conspiracy to capture the state.” “We will retain power in Bengal and then we will capture Delhi,” she said at all three rallies. Referring to alleged irregularities in the voter lists, she said names had been deleted overnight. “Later the ECI described it as a technical fault due to hacking of the website. Is it hacking or something else?” she asked. Parliament clears Transgender Bill amid Opposition protests VIBHA SHARMA New Delhi, 25 March A day after its passage in the Lok Sabha, the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday cleared the controversial Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, by voice vote, paving the way for a more precise definition of “transgender person”, removing provisions recognising self-perceived gender identity, and mandating certification through a medical board. Calling it a “black day” for the transgender community, the Opposition criticised the BJP-led Centre for “rushing” the legislation through without adequate consultation or scrutiny, and demanded that it be referred to a Select Committee. Opposition parties, including the Congress, DMK, SP, AAP, BJD and AITC, said the Bill violates the principles of dignity and equality laid down in the Supreme Court’s landmark NALSA judgment in LC clears Finance Bill 2026, govt pushes reform-driven growth agenda: New Delhi: The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Finance Bill, 2026 with 32 government amendments by a voice vote after two days of deliberations, bringing to a close the Budget approval process in the Lower House for the financial year starting in April. The legislation gives legal effect to tax proposals, changes in duties and key amendments outlined in the Union Budget for 2026–27. Replying to the debate, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman asserted that India’s reform path is now guided by conviction rather than compulsion. Page 10 2014 that officially recognised transgender people as the “third gender,” and affirmed their fundamental rights. While trans-rights activists termed the Bill “regressive” and “anti-transgender”, warning of continued protests, it is learnt that a Supreme Court-constituted advisory committee, headed by former Delhi High Court judge Justice Asha Menon, also sent a resolution to the government requesting it to withdraw the Bill, flagging that the proposal to “deny self-identification” of gender contravenes the Supreme Court’s 2014 NALSA v Union of India verdict.