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 | Saturday, 04 April 2026 SPORTS SATURDAY INTERVIEW ‘No one will be a winner’ WORLD EDITORIAL PAGE Iran targets desalination plant, Kuwait refinery Page 7 The Freebie Trap Page 6 BRIEFLY ECI announces paid holiday for voters on polling days: New Delhi: The Election Commission of India has mandated a paid holiday for all eligible voters on polling days for the upcoming 2026 General Elections to several State Legislative Assemblies and by-elections, aiming to ensure maximum voter participation. Polling will take place in phases across different regions. Assam, Kerala, Puducherry, Goa, Karnataka, Nagaland, and Tripura will vote on 9 April. Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Maharashtra are scheduled to go to the polls on 23 April. West Bengal will conduct its elections in two phases, on 23 and 29 April. Citing Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the Commission said that every individual employed in any industrial undertaking, or other establishment and entitled to vote must be granted a paid holiday on the day of polling. Page 9 Page 12 Page 10 Spl session on women’s quota: Expect fireworks VIBHA SHARMA New Delhi, 3 April T he Budget Session of Parliament will resume on 16 April for a special session that is expected to trigger political fireworks. At the centre of the brewing controversy are proposed amendments linked to the Women’s Reservation Bill ~ Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam ~ related to the delimitation exercise and a possible “proportionate” increase of Lok Sabha seats in every state based on their current strength. Calling for wider consultations on a “sensitive” issue like delimitation, the Congress on Friday accused the Narendra Modi-led Centre of convening the “special session” to push key legislations with an eye on electoral gains, especially in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, terming the move a PHOTO BY SUBRATA DUTTA “gross violation” of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC). While explicitly backing 33 per cent reservation for women, Opposition parties have demanded an all-party meeting after the elections to deliberate on the issue before introducing it in Parliament. “Where is the urgency, it was only a matter of 15 more days,” Congress leader Jairam Ramesh (photo) said, quoting letters by party president Mallikarjun Kharge to the government recommending such a session after the elections. BJP leaders maintain that it is fulfilling its promise to enhance women’s representation, and that the legislative process falls within its mandate. As reported by The Statesman on 26 March, the Narendra Modi government is planning to fast-track the implementation of the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam to enable 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha by the 2029 general elections. While the aim is to transform women’s political representation into an immediate reality, however, this would also require delinking the delimitation exercise from the just-launched Census, scheduled for completion in 2027. Under the proposed model, the Lok Sabha’s strength would increase by 50 per cent, from 543 to around 816 seats. The additional 273 seats would be reserved for women, ensuring the one -third quota without displacing existing male MPs. To enable this the government wants to use 2011 Census data instead of waiting for updated population figures. The 2023 law currently ties the implementation of women’s reservation to the 2027 Census and a subsequent delimitation exercise A key concern for • Turn to Page 9 IPL 2026: Delhi, Mumbai look for early momentum in season’s first afternoon contest AAP rift out in open: ‘Don’t mistake silence for defeat’, warns Chadha STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 3 April A day after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) removed one of its most prominent faces, Raghav Chadha, from the post of Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha, on Friday the long-simmering differences between him and the Arvind Kejriwal-led party spilled out into the open. While Mr Chadha cautioned that his silence should not be mistaken for defeat, senior party leaders, including Sanjay Singh, Saurabh Bhardwaj and Atishi, launched a coordinated attack, accusing him of raising “soft, public relations-type” issues in Parliament instead of confronting the BJP-led Centre on substantive matters. Criticising Mr Chadha’s conduct in Parliament, the AAP leaders alleged that he stayed in his seat merely to “mark attendance” for Prime Minister Narendra Modi while others staged walkouts. They also accused him of remaining silent when party workers were arrested in Gujarat and of refusing to sign a protest document concerning voting rights and the Chief Election Commissioner. Atishi even suggested that Mr Chadha might join the BJP soon ~ a sentiment echoed by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who reportedly said Mr Chadha had been “compromised”. Responding sharply after Mr Chadha questioned whether raising public-interest issues in Parliament was a “crime”, Bhardwaj said, “Jo dar gaya woh mar gaya.” “Have I done something wrong?” Mr Chadha asked in a video posted on X. “Whenever I got a chance to speak in Parliament, I raised public issues ~ topics others do not raise. But is raising public issues a crime? Have I made a mistake?” AAP's changing political dynamics have fuelled multiple speculations. While it is speculated that he may be expelled from AAP, the fact is it will hardly make any difference to his Rajya Sabha membership. A reason a political party cannot easily remove a member from the Rajya Sabha itself ~ even if they remove them from the party leadership role ~ is due to the legal protections accorded to MPs under the Constitution and Parliament rules. In a veiled warning, Mr Chadha also said: “Meri khamoshi ko meri haar mat samajhna; main woh dariya hoon jo waqt aane par sailaab banta hai,” implying that his silence should not be mistaken for weakness and that he could respond strongly when required. Trump slaps 100 pc tariff on imported medicines, 50 pc on steel, aluminium, copper; impact to be mixed for India STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 3 April Solemn Faith A Christian devotee venerates Jesus Christ during Good Friday prayers at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in New Delhi on Friday, 3 April 2026. IANS US President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs of up to 100 per cent on certain imported medicines. The tariffs, which come with specific exemptions, aim to pressure drug-makers to increase domestic manufacturing. The tariffs will take effect later this summer, following a 120-day window for large pharmaceutical companies, while smaller firms will get 180 days to comply, according to a White House statement. The fresh tariff applies to patented drugs made in countries that lack tariff agreements and have not signed up to his Most Favoured Nation (MFN) initiative. Tariffs on imports from major economies that reach agreements with the White House will be capped at 15 per cent, including those from the European Union, South Korea, Japan, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Medicines produced by companies that commit to some manufacturing in the US will see their import ed products taxed at 20 per cent. If they enter into MFN agreements, the rate would fall to zero, the White House said. Amid Gulf war, India readies its third nuclear submarine, with plans for more JAYANTA ROY CHOWDHURY New Delhi, 3 April Just before he commissioned INS Taragiri, India’s new stealth naval frigate, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh posted a terse and cryptic message on his social media handle - “it’s not a word, it’s power, it’s Aridhaman” – throwing the spotlight on India’s steadily advancing nuclear submarine programme, a cornerstone of its strategic deterrence architecture in an era of missile and drone strikes. The Arighaat, India’s third nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), is currently undergoing sea trials and the post was read by naval analysts that the tests “have been totally successful.” At the heart of this effort lies the Advanced Technology Vessel (ATV) project, under which India is building a fleet of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) designed to ensure a credible second-strike capability. India currently operates two SSBNs — INS Arihant, commissioned in 2016, and INS Arighaat, inducted in August 2024. The Arihant, the lead boat of this programme, completed its first deterrent patrol in 2018, marking India’s entry into an elite group of nations with operational nuclear triads. Aridhaman (which is codenamed S4 project), is a larger and more capable successor, expected to be formally commissioned in the coming weeks. It will be equipped with both K-15 short-range and K-4 intermediate-range submarinelaunched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), with a range of 3,500 kms, significantly extending India’s reach. A fourth boat, believed to be named Arisudan, codenamed S4 asterix, has already been launched and is also undergoing trials, with induction likely by early 2027. The stealth frigate launched today by Mr Singh at Vishakhapatnam, is a Nilgiri class missile frigate built at Mazagon docks. Construction of the ship began 2020 and it was launched in 2022 and its commissioning after extensive sea trials is seen as a milestone. The 7,000-tonne ship, equipped with BrahMos and other missiles, is expected to lend heft to India’s naval presence in the oceans where India operates. “The two new nuclear submarines which are yet to be commissioned are part of what is considered a crucial evolutionary step, which we call the “Arihant-stretch” variants, will bridge the gap between the original Arihant-class and the more ambitious next-generation platforms,” said senior defence ministry officials. With displacement estimated between 7,000 and 11,000 tonnes and improved nuclear reactors, the new boats offer greater endurance, stealth, and strike capability. “These projects also mark a leap in indigenisation, with roughly 75 per cent of components sourced domestically, a key objective of India’s defence industrial policy,” said officials. Beyond the Arihant line, India is already planning its next leap, which sources said will be the S5-class SSBNs. These will be significantly larger submarines, with displacement of around 13,500 tonnes and will reportedly carry up to 16 missiles, including longer-range K-5 and K-6 SLBMs with potential ranges of 5,000–8,000 km. Construction is expected to begin around 2027, with the first induction likely in the early 2030s. These platforms would give India a true intercontinental sea-based deterrent, enhancing its ability to target adversaries deep within their territory. In parallel, India is pursuing a fleet of nuclear-powered attack submarines (SSNs) under Project-77, with plans for six indigenous boats by the 2030s. Unlike SSBNs, which are designed for strategic deterrence, SSNs are geared toward hunting enemy submarines and protecting naval assets. “The expansion of the submarine fleet is central to India’s nuclear triad and will give India the ability to deliver nuclear weapons from land, air, and sea,” said officials. Of these, the sea-based leg is considered the most survivable, ensuring retaliation capability even after a first strike. “This also aligns with India’s stated ‘No-First-Use’ doctrine, which relies on credible secondstrike capability to deter nuclear aggression,” pointed out officials. Strategically, the submarines also reinforce India’s posture in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in the context of China’s growing naval presence. With longer-range SLBMs, Indian SSBNs operating in the Indian Ocean can strike high-value targets without leaving relatively safe waters. The US proclamation clarifies that generic drugs are exempt and will not be subject to Section 232 tariffs. Generic drugs are a segment in which Indian firms have a dominant global presence. Indian drug-makers command a significant share of the US generics market. For India, the impact is likely to be mixed. In the near term, the exclusion of generics offers a buffer, ensuring continuity in exports of low-cost medicines that form the backbone of India’s pharmaceutical trade with the US. Further, the US administration has also imposed tariffs on steel, aluminium, and copper imports. The move aims to reduce duty rates on derivative products made from these metals, simplify compliance and prevent under-reporting of import values. The US will maintain a 50 per cent import tariff on steel, aluminium, and copper under Section 232 of the Trade Act of 1974, but will apply the rate to the prices paid by US customers, according to a White House announcement. Under the new arrangement, the US will eliminate the earlier 50 per cent duty on derivative products made from steel, aluminium, and copper if the metal content of such products is below 15 per cent by weight. Certain metal-intensive industrial and electrical grid equipment will see tariffs reduced to 15 per cent from the earlier 50 per cent through 2027 to accelerate industrial expansion, the White House said.