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 Monday, 10 August 2026 SPORTS PERSPECTIVE Pollution control must embrace new paradigm Netanyahu rejects Trump’s Gaza plan Jaiswal hits 61, Siraj slams hat-trick of sixes as India seal six-wicket win in warm-up game Page 9 Beyond forecasts WORLD Page 7 EDITORIAL Page 12 Page 6 ‘Something major’ in the works as Monsoon Session enters last week VIBHA SHARMA New Delhi, 9 August A s Parliament heads into the last week of the Monsoon Session from Monday, there is still no visible sign of a breakthrough between the Narendra Modi government and the Opposition over issues such as the demand for a statement by Home Minister Amit Shah on police action against protesting students and by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the alleged donation theft at Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir. Speculation is rife that Shah is “planning something major”, includingpushingthecontroversial bills related to foreign donation regulations and possibly delimitation to redraw constituencies and increase the strength of the Lok Sabha to implement 33 per cent reservation for women. Shah is expected to table the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) Amendment Bill, 2026, | and deliver a strong response to the Opposition on Monday, sources claim. During the weekend preceding the last week of the session, Mr Shah was on a multi-state visit to Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. While the meetings were said to be mostlyrelatedtoofficial/ministerial and pre-planned events, political observers are reading into them, especially since much is riding on the two regional Opposition parties from the states ~ NCP (Sharad Pawar) and the M.K. Stalin-led DMK ~ who are both opposed to the FCRA Amendment in the current form. Notably DMK president M K Stalin has urged the Centre to withdraw the FCRA Amendment Bill. NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule also made a similar demand on Saturday when she said that party MPs in the Lok Sabha will meet the Prime Minister on Monday to raise issues concerning Maharashtra. She said the party opposed the FCRA Bill, 2026, in its present form and called for its withdrawal or referral to a joint committee of Parliament. “We are willing to debate on the legislation in the House. But any decision without discussion and consensus is not acceptable to us,” she said. While Ms Sule described the meeting as an official engagement, it is being viewed with great interest. Sharad Pawar-led NCP MPs will be meeting the Prime Minister while the government plans on the FCRA and the delimitation Bill. Notably, if Opposition parties such as the NCP (SP) or DMK support the government or abstain during voting on delimitation, Mr Shah’s task could become significantly easier. The Constitutional amendments require the support of two-thirds of members present and voting. The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, was introduced in April to fast-track implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies by using the 2011 Census for early delimitation. The Bill, however, failed to clear the Lok Sabha after falling short of the required two-thirds majority. Therefore, any abstentions, absences or walkouts by Opposition parties would therefore lower the effective threshold, improving the NDA’s chances. Following Mr Stalin’s falling-out with the Congress, the BJP is said to be working on securing support from DMK’s 22 Lok Sabha MPs. Some DMK leaders have indicated they could take a supportive position on delimitation but with certain conditions. However, delimitation is politically sensitive in Tamil Nadu and Chief Minister Vijay and TVK are opposing the exercise. JPSC talks continue, govt offers 3 exam cancellations, students stand ground SHASHI SINGH Ranchi, 9 August The second round of talks between the Jharkhand government and the JPSC-JSSC Reform Manch ended without a settlement on Sunday, with the government offering the cancellation of three examinations, an investigation into alleged f inancial transactions by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and a prob e into all examinations conducted by the TDPL agency. Separately, Chief Minister Hemant Soren, speaking at a tribal festival at Morahabadi, also assured the students protesting over alleged irregularities in JPSC and JSSC recruitment examinations that they would get justice and that those found responsible for the irregularities would face stringent punishment. During the talks with the protesting students, the government prop osed cancellation of the JPSC Backlog 2023, JPSC Backlog 2025 and the 14th JPSC Preliminary Examination, according to the Reform Manch’s account of the government’s position after the meeting. The government also offered to have alleged financial transactions linked to the examination irregularities investigated by the ED and proposed an inquiry into all examinations conducted by TDPL. As part of its proposed longer-term reforms, the government said it would seek the assistance of institutions including IIM and XISS to reform the functioning and examination systems of the Jharkhand Public Service Commission and Jharkhand Staff Selection Commission. However, the JPSC-JSSC Reform Manch did not accept the proposals, maintaining that the government’s offer did not constitute a resolution of all its demands. Meanwhile, addressing the inaugural ceremony of the two-day Jharkhand Tribal Festival at Morahabadi, Mr Soren said the government was listening to the concerns of the students protesting for their rights. “An irregularity has come to my notice. It will be investigated, the youth will get justice and those who committed the irregularities will face the strictest punishment,” he said, while urging the protesting youth not to be misled or come under the political patronage of any party. He alleged that political parties across the country were attempting to influence and mislead the younger generation for political gains. The second round of talks followed the first formal dialogue between the government and the student representatives on 7 August. Mamata faces protest during visit to kin of Kanchrapara custodial death victim STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 9 August National Pride WDC cadets with flags in their hands participate in the “Tiranga Yatra” led by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath under the “Har Ghar Tiranga campaign” ahead of the 80th Independence Day celebrations outside the UP Legislative Assembly, in Lucknow on Sunday. IANS Former West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee faced angry protests and an alleged attack on her convoy during her visit to Halishahar on Sunday to meet the family of Birju Kumar Keot, a Trinamul Congress worker who died in police custody. The incident took place as Miss Banerjee was travelling to the residence of Keot’s family in Kanchrapara. Amid heightened tension, protesters allegedly threw water, mud and shoes at her vehicle and raised slogans accusing her of being a “thief” and “robber queen”. Police personnel had to surround the former chief minister’s vehicle as it passed through the Bijpur area. Despite the protests, Miss Banerjee met Keot’s wife and other family members. She strongly condemned the incident and alleged that BJP supporters were behind the attack. “We strongly condemn this. BJP supporters have thrown bricks and damaged the vehicle. Bengal has gone into the hands of goons,” Miss Banerjee said. She alleged that large bricks had been thrown at her vehicle and claimed that she could have suffered serious injuries. “I could have suffered a head injury. I could have died here,” she said, while accusing the police of protecting what she described as “lumpen elements”. Miss Banerjee also criticised the state government and targeted chief minister Suvendu Adhikari, who also holds the police portfolio, over the custodial death. She demanded the resignation of the Director General of Police and the Commissioner of Police over the incident. “Forget about security. The police are protecting the lumpens,” Miss Banerjee alleged, adding that her party would initiate legal action over the attack. Trinamul Congress leader Kalyan Banerjee, who accompanied her, also condemned the protest. He alleged that there was a “planned conspiracy” to attack Mamata Banerjee and said those responsible would face legal action. “Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari is running the state through the police and getting mafias to do his work,” Kalyan Banerjee alleged. The BJP, however, rejected the allegations and claimed that Miss Banerjee had gone to Kanchrapara to provoke people. BJP leaders said the public protest reflected local anger rather than any organised attack. The visit came a day after Keot’s death in police custody triggered allegations of custodial assault. Keot, the husband of former Trinamul councillor of Kanchrapara Municipality Jeni Sharma Keot, was arrested by Halishahar police on Friday night on allegations including extortion and involvement in clashes in the area. ‘Keep inspiring the nation’: PM Modi meets Phuket-Delhi flight incident: Air India pilot’s India’s Commonwealth Games medalists screening test requires confirmatory analysis STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 9 August Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday congratulated India’s Commonwealth Games 2026 medallists for their historic performances in Glasgow and urged the country’s athletes to continue inspiring the nation. PM Modi on Sunday met with the Commonwealth Games 2026 medallists and congratulated the athletes for delivering historic performances in boxing, judo, athletics and para-athletics. “Those who play, will flourish. Always cheer for Bharat. Bharat Mata Ki Jai!,” PM Narendra Modi posted on Instagram. India finished fourth in medal standings with 39 medals (13 gold, 17 silver and nine bronze) despite competing in a significantly reduced programme that excluded medal-rich sports such as wrestling, badminton, table tennis, hockey and shooting. India’s boxing contingent returned from Glasgow with seven gold and three silver medals, with the seven gold medals coming from Preeti Pawar (54 kg), Jaismine Lamboria (57 kg), Sakshi Chaudhary (51kg), Priya Ghanghas (60 kg), Arundhati Choudhary (70 kg), Sachin Siwach (60 kg) and Ankush Panghal (80 kg). The three silver medallists were Jadumani Singh (55 kg), Olympic medallist Lovlina Borgohain (75 kg) and Narender Berwal (90+ kg). Sakshi Choudhary, one of India's boxing gold medallists, spoke about the significance of meeting the Prime Minister and said the interaction left the athletes proud and delighted. “We, all the Commonwealth Games medallists, were invited by our honourable Prime Minister. We feel extremely proud, and it was a wonderful experience meeting him. He is very humble, and we were very happy to meet him.” The seven gold medals also marked the best-ever performance by Indian women boxers at the Commonwealth Games. The Indian judo contingent also produced its best-ever Commonwealth Games performance. India participated in 12 judo events in Glasgow and won four medals ~ two gold, one silver and one bronze, compared to three medals, with no gold, in 2022. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 9 August The screening test of the pilot-in-command (PIC) of an Air India A320 that suffered a sudden loss of altitude during a Phuket-Delhi flight on 4 August has indicated a result requiring confirmatory testing, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said on Sunday. Samples have been sent to a designated laboratory and the final report is awaited. The ministry said both flight crew members underwent the prescribed psychoactive substance screening test as part of standard operating procedures following the incident. Pending the investigation and completion of the testing process, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has taken both pilots off the roster. The Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a statement: “On 04.08.2026, M/s Air India A320 aircraft VT-EXO, operating flight AI2379 from Phuket to Delhi, experienced a sudden loss of altitude of approximately 300 feet during cruise, following which the aircraft stabilised and subsequently landed safely at Delhi.” It added: “During the occurrence, injuries were reported to a few passengers and cabin crew members on board. The aircraft was carrying 137 passengers, including 03 infants, and 08 crew members comprising two pilots and six cabin crew.” On the pilot testing, the ministry said: “As part of the Standard Operating Procedures following such an occurrence, both flight crew members underwent the prescribed psychoactive substance screening test. The screening test in respect of the Pilot-in-Command (PIC) indicated a result requiring confirmatory testing.” “Samples have accordingly been sent to the designated laboratory for confirmatory analysis, and the final report is awaited,” it said. The ministry said the occurrence had been classified as a Serious Incident and was being investigated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). It further stated: “Pending investigation and completion of the prescribed process, both flight crew members have been taken off roster by the DGCA. Further action, as appropriate, will be taken based on the outcome of the investigation and confirmatory test results.” The ministry also stressed that the screening result requiring confirmation should not be treated as a final finding, with the designated laboratory’s analysis and the AAIB investigation still pending. The ministry said: “The Ministry of Civil Aviation and the DGCA remains firmly committed to maintaining the highest standards of aviation safety and ensuring that all such occurrences are thoroughly investigated and appropriate action is taken in accordance with the prescribed regulations and procedures.”