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 | Wednesday, 24 June 2026 WORLD SPORTS Resilience Andy Burnham prepares for a UK Labour leadership contest that may be a coronation Pant takes hefty pay cut to return to DC in blockbuster trade; Kuldeep moves to LSG Page 6 Page 9 EDITORIAL BRIEFLY George Kurian resigns, more to follow? New Delhi: Union Minister George Kurian has resigned from the Council of Ministers following the completion of his Rajya Sabha tenure. His resignation was formally accepted by President Droupadi Murmu. BJP sources said Mr Kurian is expected to return to active organisational responsibilities and has also conveyed his interest in working in Kerala. There is also buzz that Minister of State for Railways and Food Processing, Ravneet Bittu, a sitting MP, may also resign to go to poll-bound Punjab and work for the party there. Newly elected Rajya Sabha MP Tarun Chugh is likely to replace him. However, he has not yet resigned, even though his Rajya Sabha term ended on the same day. Mr Bittu is a senior Jat Sikh leader from Punjab, and sources say removing him from the Council of Ministers ahead of the Punjab elections may not send the right signal. PERSPECTIVE A grandma’s tale of sustainability ‘Fight against Naxalism a triumph of development’ STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Raipur, 23 June T erming the nation's fight against Left Wing Extremism a triumph of holistic development and public confidence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that the government's resolute commitment to completely eradicate Left-Wing Extremism has yielded promising results across the country. He emphasised that regions once paralysed by fear, violence, and deep-seated mistrust have now transitioned into a new era marked by progressive infrastructure, good governance, and life-changing opportunities for local communities. Reflecting on the historical challenges faced by these regions, Prime Minister Modi said that ordinary citizens were once forced to live under a perpetual shadow of fear, Page 12 Page 7 constantly anxious about their personal safety, livelihoods, and basic dignity. Initiating developmental projects was an uphill task, as every effort toward progress ~ from laying critical roads to expanding telecommunication networks ~ faced violent resistance from Naxalites. Infrastructure materials were routinely set ablaze, while contractors were threatened and driven away in deliberate attempts to keep these areas isolated from development. Despite these challenges, the Central government accorded the highest priority to bringing development to the heart of Naxal-affected areas. Over the past several years, thousands of kilometres of all-weather roads have been constructed, thousands of mobile towers erected, and modern communication facilities extended to some of the remotest villages. Alongside physical connectivity, the expansion of banking services, postal networks, and robust financial inclusion initiatives has successfully bridged the gap between isolated communities and the national mainstream. Prime Minister Modi highlighted that this transformation extends far beyond concrete and cables. It represents a profound restoration of trust and the expansion of socio-economic opportunities for families that had long felt left behind. The Prime Minister further clarified that the battle against Naxalism was never fought solely through military force, bombs, or bullets. Instead, the government maintained an equally compassionate focus on fulfilling the genuine hopes and aspirations of ordinary citizens. Continuous efforts were directed toward delivering welfare schemes to the last person in society, securing the rights of marginalised tribal communities, and reinforcing their faith in democratic institutions. Centre revamps FCRA rules, mandates NGO disclosures STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 23 June The government has modified the rules governing how nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) receive foreign funding under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA), 2010, requiring them to register for specific purposes and specify the states or Union Territories where they intend to operate. Under the amended Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Rules, 2011, notified by the Home Ministry on Monday, organisations seeking registration will have to select their activities from a predefined schedule and declare the geographical areas in which they propose to undertake them. The purpose-based registration framework will apply not only to new applicants but also to existing FCRAregistered organisations. All associations registered before the 2026 amendments have been given one year to inform the government of the specific purposes and states or Union Territories for which they want to retain their registration. The schedule of approved activities covers religious, cultural, economic, educational and social purposes. It recognises a range of faith-based activities as eligible for registration, including construction, renovation and maintenance of places of worship, religious education, and the promotion of devotional music. However, the rules make it clear that several such activities must be carried out “excluding proselytisation”. The rules further require organisations to disclose their social media accounts while applying for registration or renewal under the FCRA. India, China note progress towards ‘gradual normalisation’ of ties: MEA New Delhi: India and China have noted a “progress towards the gradual normalisation of ties” during the discussions held between National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in New Delhi, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated on Tuesday. NSA Doval and Wang Yi held a meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS National Security Advisers’ Meeting in New Delhi on Monday. During their discussions, both the neighbouring nations reviewed recent developments in bilateral relations and noted the progress towards gradual normalisation. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong and other officials were present during the meeting.