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 | Thursday, 16 April 2026 SPORTS PERSPECTIVE Fonseca eases past Rinderknech to book QF spot at Munich Open We’ve lost Asha, but not hope EDITORIAL PAGE LAW PAGE Mess made by the West A line drawn by the court Page 6 BRIEFLY Wholesale inflation surges to 3.88 per cent: New Delhi: India’s Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-linked inflation rose sharply to 3.88 per cent in March from 2.13 per cent in February, marking the highest level in 41 months, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The spike was primarily driven by a surge in prices of crude petroleum and natural gas, other manufactured products, non-food articles, basic metals, and food articles. WPI inflation for the Fuel and Power category increased by 4.13 per cent. Within this segment, prices of mineral oils rose by 8.77 per cent, while electricity prices declined by 5.07 per cent in March. Prices of manufactured goods increased by 0.88 per cent during the month, while food inflation remained unchanged at 1.85 per cent. Page 10 Page 12 Page 11 Page 7 Oppn unites against delimitation, PM outlines nine-pillar citizen charter for Viksit Bharat 2047 seeks rollout of women’s quota STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 15 April L eaders of the Opposition INDIA bloc on Wednesday declared a unified stand against linking the Women’s Reservation Bill to a delimitation exercise, following a high-level strategy meeting at the residence of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi. Speaking after the meeting, Mr Kharge asserted: “We are united and have decided to oppose the delimitation bill,” indicating rare cohesion among Opposition parties ahead of the upcoming three-day special session of Parliament beginning Thursday. The meeting, attended by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and senior leaders from across parties, centred on concerns over the proposed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026. The alliance voiced strong objections to making the 33 per cent reservation for women contingent on a future delimitation exercise based on the 2011 Census, warning that such a linkage could significantly delay implementation. Leaders argued that the proposal risks turning a long-pending reform into “politics over the law” while potentially skewing representation in favour of certain regions and political forces. Congress general secretary K C Venugopal said the Opposition had met to craft a joint strategy for the special session, describing the government’s delimitation move as “dangerous” with “grave concerns” for India’s democratic framework, particularly the balance of power among states. The meeting brought together leaders from Congress, DMK, TMC, Samajwadi Party, RJD, Left parties and several regional groups, signalling a coordinated push to counter the Centre’s legislative agenda. Participants agreed that women’s reservation should be implemented independently of any seat reorganisation process, which they cautioned could take years. Trinamul Congress leader Derek O'Brien accused the Centre of using women’s reservation as a “pretext” for a “devious” delimitation agenda, alleging it undermines constitutional values and genuine empowerment. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused the government of “deliberate deceit” and warning that the proposed changes could disproportionately impact southern, eastern and smaller northern states. He questioned the Centre’s commitment to a uniform increase in parliamentary seats, contending that earlier assurances had been abandoned. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin termed the proposal a “massive historic injustice,” alleging it would penalise states that have driven national growth. He also called for black flag protests across Tamil Nadu, indicating rising regional resistance. Bengaluru, 15 April Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday unveiled the “Nine Resolutions for Viksit Bharat” framework, describing it as a citizen-driven behavioural transformation roadmap aimed at accelerating India’s journey toward becoming a developed nation by 2047. Addressing a large public gathering at Adichunchanagiri Mutt in Karnataka’s Mandya district, the Prime Minister said that the initiative transcends regional boundaries and represents a nationwide call for collective participation and lifestyle change. He stressed that the individual habits and daily choices of citizens would play a decisive role in shaping the country’s future. “If we all move forward with sincerity and determination on these nine resolutions, we can accelerate progress towards a developed Karnataka and a developed India,” he said. Framing development as a people-led movement rather than solely a governmentdriven effort, the Prime Minister stressed that transformation must begin at the level of everyday behaviour. He highlighted water conservation as a key priority, particularly in regions dependent on river systems, and urged citizens to take a collective pledge. “Let us all take a pledge to conserve water and manage it better,” he said. On environmental sustainability, the Prime Minister called for largescale tree plantation under the “one tree in the name of mother” initiative. “Let us plant trees in honour of our mothers and protect Mother Earth,” he said. Emphasising cleanliness as a civic duty, he said maintaining hygiene in public places, religious sites, villages, and cities was a shared responsibility. “Whether it is a religious place, public space, village or city, maintaining cleanliness is our collective responsibility,” he said. Regarding economic selfreliance, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of promoting domestic production and supporting Indian industries. “Let us adopt Indian products and strengthen our industries,” he said, reinforcing the “Vocal for Local” vision as a key pillar of economic empowerment. Promoting national awareness and cultural integration, he urged citizens to travel across the country and explore its diversity. “Let us travel across India and promote domestic tourism,” he said, adding that greater people-to-people connection would strengthen national unity and boost the cultural economy. Samrat Chaudhary takes oath as Bihar CM, Naveen opposes Delimitation Bill, asks CM Majhi to hold special Assembly session low-profile swearing-in marks power shift STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Bhubaneswar, 15 April In a sharp and politically loaded intervention, BJD president Naveen Patnaik has written to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi opposing the proposed Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, warning that it would severely erode Odisha’s political voice at the national level. Describing the state as being at a “historic crossroads,” Mr Patnaik cautioned that the proposed delimitation exercise, which seeks to expand the Lok Sabha from 543 to 850 members, would effectively India continues to buy oil from diversified sources: MEA New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday stated that India continues to buy oil from diversified sources. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “We continue to buy oil from diversified sources, keeping in mind the energy security needs of 1.4 billion people, the current situation in the international market, and the global situation we have to deal with.” Mr Jaiswal further stated that India is in discussions with several countries regarding the Strait of Hormuz. “We are trying to ensure that, firstly, our remaining ships there also return safely,” he said. Mr Jaiswal also mentioned a telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump which was held on Tuesday. “Yesterday, the Prime Minister received a call from President of the United States, Donald Trump. The two leaders reviewed the substantial progress achieved under India-US bilateral cooperation,” he said. diminish Odisha’s relative representation despite an increase in absolute seats. While Odisha’s MPs may rise from 21 to 29, its share in Parliament would drop from 3.9 per cent to 3.4 per cent—translating into a “nearly 15 per cent loss in political influence,” he argued. Calling it a “grave injustice” to the 4.5 crore people of the state, the BJD chairperson said Odisha ~ despite being a frontrunner in population control and human development ~ was being penalised under the proposed framework. He made it clear that the BJD would support the Delimitation Bill only if Odisha’s political rights remain fully protected. “This is not merely a question of numbers but a direct assault on the spirit of cooperative federalism,” he said. “Our political voice will be weakened and redistributed to other states,” he warned, adding that reports indicate Odisha could emerge as the fourth biggest loser in the entire exercise. Invoking Odisha’s historical legacy, Mr Patnaik recalled the formation of the state in 1936 as the first linguistic province, born out of “immense sacrifice to protect identity, language and culture.” IMRAN MOJIB Patna, 15 April Stressing the cultural and moral strength of the state, he said the inclusive ethos of Jagannath culture continues to reinforce the idea of India, even as Odisha powers the nation’s growth through its mineral wealth, ports and resilience. BJP leader Samrat Chaudhary took oath as the 24th Chief Minister of Bihar on Wednesday in a brief and low-profile ceremony held at Lok Bhavan, Patna. Along with him, Bijendra Prasad Yadav and Vijay Kumar Chaudhary from the JD(U) quota were sworn in as Deputy Chief Ministers. Governor Syed Ata Hasnain administered the oath of office and secrecy. BJP president Nitin Nabin, the party’s central observer Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and ‘War nears endgame’: Trump hints at breakthrough MR TRUMP SUGGESTED THE NEXT ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS COULD TAKE PLACE WITHIN 48 HOURS IN PAKISTAN, FOLLOWING THE COLLAPSE OF WEEKEND DISCUSSIONS AND THE IMPOSITION OF THE BLOCKADE, SIGNALLING A RENEWED DIPLOMATIC PUSH UNDER MOUNTING PRESSURE. UNITED NEWS OF INDIA Washington, 15 April US President Donald Trump on Wednesday declared that the conflict with Iran is "close to over," signalling a possible diplomatic breakthrough even as Washington ramps up pressure with a sweeping maritime blockade. He indicated that stalled negotiations could restart within days in Pakistan, raising hopes of a deal before a fragile ceasefire runs out. The high-stakes talks are unfolding against the backdrop of a two-week ceasefire that began on 7 April and is now nearing its deadline, adding urgency to efforts to prevent a fresh escalation. At the same time, the US has dramatically tightened its grip on Iran's economy. The military said it has effectively sealed off Iranian sea trade, enforcing a blockade through the strategic Strait of Hormuz,a critical artery for global energy flows. US Central Command chief Brad Cooper said the operation had crippled Tehran's trade lifeline in under 36 hours. "A blockade of Iranian ports has been fully implemented," he said, adding that nearly 90 per cent of Iran's economy depends on maritime trade, now effectively halted. Despite the show of force, major sticking points remain. Washington is pushing for an immediate halt to Iran's uranium enrichment and the dismantling of key nuclear facilities, while also demanding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has yet to agree to a timeline, leaving the core issues unresolved after the first round of talks on 10 April. US Vice President JD Vance acknowledged deep-rooted distrust between the two sides but struck a cautiously optimistic note. "You are not going to solve that problem overnight," he said, while adding that Iranian negotiators appeared willing to strike a deal. "I feel very good about where we are." Mr Trump suggested the next round of negotiations could take place within 48 hours in Pakistan, following the collapse of weekend discussions and the imposition of the blockade, signalling a renewed diplomatic push under mounting pressure. Global nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi also weighed in, underscoring that any agreement must include "very detailed" verification mechanisms to monitor Iran's nuclear programme,an issue likely to be central in the next phase of talks. Meanwhile, tensions and diplomacy are rippling across the region. Israel and Lebanon held their first direct talks in decades on 14 April, with both sides agreeing to continue engagement even as Israel stopped short of committing to a ceasefire in southern Lebanon ~ another flashpoint linked to the broader Iran-US standoff. Union Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda, who grew up in Bihar, were among the few senior central leaders present at the ceremony. They were joined by leaders of all five NDA constituents, including Nitish Kumar, Jitan Ram Manjhi, Upendra Kushwaha and Chirag Paswan. It is believed that the BJP chose to keep the event low-key and did not invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah or other top national leaders to avoid any potential embarrassment to Nitish Kumar. The formation of the new government marks a reversal of the earlier arrangement: while Bihar previously had a JD(U) Chief Minister with two BJP Deputy Chief Ministers, it now has a BJP Chief Minister with two JD(U) Deputy Chief Ministers. Following Nishant Kumar’s refusal to join the government at this stage, the JD(U) nominated Bijendra Yadav and Vijay Kumar Chaudhary as Deputy Chief Ministers. Although the names of other JD(U) leaders close to Nitish Kumar, including Lalan Singh, Sanjay Jha, and Ashok Chaudhary, were under discussion, the final decision was made by Nitish Kumar himself. This also led to the cancellation of the JD(U) meeting scheduled on Tuesday to elect its Legislative Party leader.