www.thestatesman.com | @TheStatesmanLtd FOLLOW US: India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 24 8th Day | @thestatesmanltd ` 5.00 | People’s Parliament, Always in Session thestatesman1875 KOLKATA LC | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR Evolve Easter Eggs and Children | LUCKNOW Chinese Whispers: A professor’s personal story CM targets ECI, BJP; challenges Amit Shah Drone spotted near Mamata’s helicopter in Malda: Govt dismisses reports of Iran oil cargo diversion due to payment issues: New Delhi: The Union government on Saturday rejected reports that an Iranian crude oil cargo was diverted from Vadinar in India to China due to payment issues, saying that they are “factually incorrect”. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in a posted on X: “The news reports and social media posts of an Iranian crude cargo being diverted from Vadinar, India to China due to “payment issues” are factually incorrect. India imports crude oil from 40+ countries, with companies having full flexibility to source oil from different sources & geographies based on commercial considerations.” “Amid Middle East supply disruptions, Indian refiners have secured their crude oil requirements, including from Iran; and there is no payment hurdle for Iranian crude imports, contrary to the rumours being circulated,” the post read. Siliguri, 4 April T rinamul Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee on Saturday alleged that a “mockery of democracy” was being carried out in the name of the SIR exercise, as she launched a scathing attack on the Centre and the Election Commission of India while addressing an election rally at Manikchak in Malda. During her address, Miss Banerjee asked members of the gathering to indicate whether their names had been deleted from the electoral rolls under the SIR process. As numerous hands went up, she remarked that the scale of exclusion was “alarming” and asked that the moment be documented as evidence. Alleging large -scale Siliguri: A drone was spotted hovering near the helicopter of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Malatipur on Saturday afternoon, triggering security concerns and prompting calls for investigation. The incident occurred as Miss Banerjee was about to board her helicopter after addressing a rally, her second of the day in the district. Noticing the drone near the helipad, she asked police to closely monitor the situation and identify those responsible. The origin and purpose of the drone remain unclear, and authorities are yet to confirm how it entered the restricted airspace. Page 4 disenfranchisement, she accused the Election Commission of acting in favour of the Bharatiya Janata Party. She claimed that voters, particularly from minority communities in districts such as Malda and Murshidabad were selectively removed from the rolls following directions from New Delhi. “The Election Commission, along with the BJP, is SILIGURI | 05 April 2026 S P O RT S Rizvi’s 90 powers DC to six-wicket win over MI Page 20 MANAS R BANNERJEE | depriving people of their voting rights,” Miss Banerjee alleged, adding that those responsible should apologise to affected citizens. She further described the Central government as “authoritarian” and urged people to bring about change through democratic means, stressing the need to safeguard constitutional rights. In a combative speech, the Chief Minister also launched a direct attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, throwing an open challenge to him. “Come here and see for yourself how people’s voting rights have been taken away. Selectively, Muslims, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other underprivileged sections have been deprived. I challenge you to witness the ground reality,” she said.