FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 16 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA LC | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW | Cong slams caste census plan BRIEFLY Empty lifeboat, beacon found in search for Ocean Winner: Paradip: Amid the search operation for the sunken Panama-flagged bulk carrier MV Ocean Winner, Indian authorities have located an empty lifeboat and recovered an emergency positionindicating radio beacon (EPIRB) from the vessel in the Bay of Bengal off the Odisha coast. The lifeboat and distress beacon were traced by Indian Coast Guard ship ICGS Varad and rescue teams during the ongoing Search and Rescue (SAR) operation at around 7 a.m. on Tuesday. Following the detection, the Coast Guard, Navy aircraft, ships and merchant vessels involved in the rescue operation have intensified their search in the surrounding sea area. Two Chinese vessels have also joined the operation as several Chinese nationals are among the missing. US pitches blockade relief to Iran in deal conveyed via Asim Munir Echoes of 1942 that Gen-Z must hear Page 9 The Special Representatives (SRs) of India and China held the 25th round of talks on the boundary question in Beijing on Tuesday. The two SRs are learnt to have gone into various aspects of the lingering border dispute between their two nations. They are understood to have emphasised the need for maintaining peace in the border areas. The Indian delegation was led by National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval while the Chinese team was headed by Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The two are the designated SRs for this mechanism, established in 2003, to go into the boundary question. The meeting between them came on the heels of their talks in June in India on the sidelines of the BRICS NSAs meeting. Earlier in the day, Mr Doval called on Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng. The leaders New Delhi, 25 August E xternal Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar impressed upon the Russian leadership the need to address the trade imbalance between the two countries. “Progress on market access, removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers, strengthening payment mechanisms, and stronger business-to-business engagement will be critical for addressing this imbalance and achieving our shared objective of USD 100 billion in bilateral trade by 2030. We can today also take stock of discussions on the India – EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union) Free Trade Agreement,” he said while addressing the 27th Session of the India-Russia InterGovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Moscow. ANI Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC). He noted that the India-Russia partnership has consistently demonstrated resilience and adaptability. Even amidst a complex international landscape, engagement between the two countries has continued to deepen, reflecting the mutual interests and confidence that define our bilateral partnership. Mr Jaishankar pointed out be able to manufacture DRDO-developed missile systems within the country. The measure is expected to create greater opportunities for Indian manufacturers, including MSMEs and other technology partners, to participate in missile production and associated supply chains. The initiative is also intended to strengthen India's domestic defence industrial base by enabling wider absorption of advanced technologies developed by DRDO. Increased participation of industry is expected to enhance manufacturing capacity, deepen domestic supply chains and facilitate greater value addition within the country. The move comes as part of the government's broader efforts to promote ‘Aatmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) in defence, reduce dependence on imports and build indigenous capabilities to meet the requirements of the armed forces. The decision could also help create a more robust defence manufacturing ecosystem by allowing DRDO to focus increasingly on research and development of next-generation systems, while industry takes on a greater role in production, technology absorption and scaling up of mature technologies. that over the last five years, bilateral trade in goods has increased more than four-fold ~ from about $ 13 billion in 2021-22 to nearly $ 60 billion in 2025-26. This, he said, demonstrates the immense potential of bilateral economic partnership. “The rapid expansion of trade has been accompanied by a significant widening of the trade imbalance, which has also increased from about $ 6.6 billion to over $ 50 billion. Addressing this imbalance is today one of our foremost priorities,” he added. The minister also made three proposals for the benefit of both countries as their economic partnership enters its next phase. He said the IRIGC-TEC must prioritise deliverables to be achieved before the next meeting of the group. Secondly, he said governments can create enabling frameworks, but businesses trade, invest, innovate and create jobs. Thirdly, Mr Jaishankar said, the complicated international scenario will constantly throw up fresh ideas because the world is focused on derisking and diversifying. “Our fundamental complementarity still remains under-explored. But even the last few years have seen progress in realising this potential and we must take that forward,’’ he said. anything on retiring from politics but his statement was enough to reignite speculation about a possible reshuffle of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Cabinet. Speaking at an event in Nagpur district, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways reflected on his nearly three-decade public life. “Work should be handed over to the new generation. A new generation has come, and the older generation is guiding them,” Mr Gadkari was quoted as saying. “I have been continuously working in public life for the last 30 years. I have seen many ups and downs and received many awards. But I can’t work much now, the new generation should be given a chance to work,” he reportedly said, days after BJP president Nitin Nabin effected a major organisational overhaul that distinctively bore the fingerprints of Home Minister Amit Shah. Mr Gadkari remains an influential leader of the BJP and its ideological fountainhead ~ the RSS; however, some recent developments have prompted analysts to point to his shifting influence in the party. Known for speaking his mind, Mr Gadkari continues to command cross-party STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 25 August discussed ways to strengthen peace and tranquility in the border areas and further improve bilateral relations across economic, political and multilateral fora, in accordance with the consensus reached between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Coming as it does shortly before the Chinese President’s possible visit to India for the BRICS Summit on 12-13 September, Mr Doval’s visit is significant. It comes as part of the thaw of ties between New Delhi and Beijing following the subsequent meetings between Mr Modi and Mr Xi on the sidelines of key international summits such as the SCO Summit in Tianjin last year, where both leaders welcomed the positive momentum and steady progress in bilateral relations since their last meeting in Kazan in October 2024. They had reaffirmed that the two countries were development partners and not rivals, and that their differences should not turn into disputes. Speaker’s inaction: SC seeks response from rebel TMC MPs on Abhishek’s plea on disqualification PARMOD KUMAR New Delhi, 25 August The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to 20 rebel Trinamul Congress (TMC) MPs on a petition by party general secretary and Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee questioning Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s alleged inaction on his petitions seeking their disqualification after they merged the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI). The court, however, refrained from issuing notice to the Speaker. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana sought responses from the 20 MPs, who had been elected to the Lok Sabha on TMC tickets but subsequently merged with the NCPI. The defections took place in June following the TMC’s defeat in the West Bengal Assembly elections and amid discontent within the party. When Mr Banerjee’s petition came up for hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central government, expressed reservations over issuance of notice to the Lok Sabha Speaker. Justice Bagchi clarified that the court was not proposing to pass any order against a constitutional authority, but was concerned with ensuring Gadkari’s remark generates political buzz, reignites chatter over Cabinet reshuffle A reported remark by Union minister Nitin Gadkari that he can no longer work as much as he used to and that it was time to hand over responsibilities to the new generation has triggered widespread speculation about what the senior BJP leader may have been hinting at. Mr Gadkari did not say Page 16 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 25 August New Delhi, 25 August Prasidh, Suthar keep India ahead despite Dinusha resistance in rain-hit Day 3 India, China discuss boundary issue, Doval meets Chinese V-P STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE VIBHA SHARMA Wednesday, 26 August 2026 EAM calls for addressing India-Russia trade gap Rajnath Singh clears transfer of DRDO missile tech to Indian defence industry In a major push towards self-reliance in defence manuacturing, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the transfer of technology for all conventional missile systems developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to Indian defence companies for indigenous production. The decision is significant, as it seeks to move India's indigenous missile capability beyond the research and development stage towards wider industrial-scale production, while giving domestic defence companies a larger role in manufacturing advanced weapon systems. Indian companies meeting prescribed qualifications, certification standards and regulatory requirements will PERSPECTIVE Page 11 Page 5 | SPORTS WORLD NATION SILIGURI respect and friendships, but with the BJP leadership under PM Modi and Mr Shah progressively transitioning towards a younger cadre of leaders, there is fresh chatter in political corridors. Mr Gadkari has also been at the centre of the political controversy over India’s E 20 ethanol-blended petrol programme, even though the decision-making process for it is managed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and not his ministry. Observers point out how he was left to handle the situation when critics alleged a conflict of interest due to his family’s ties to sugar and ethanol businesses or when Opposition parties claimed that companies linked to Mr Gadkari’s family saw a massive surge in revenue following the Centre’s aggressive push for ethanol blending. Mr Gadkari rejected the charges as “politically motivated”, saying that he always backed alternative fuels to reduce vehicular pollution and India’s import bill. Recently he also filed a lawsuit asserting that he had no role in the EBP decision-making process, and alleging that unknown users created and circulated videos falsely portraying him as responsible for implementing the policy. The longest-serving Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Mr Gadkari is perhaps the only BJP leader handling a single portfolio for three consecutive terms. He also served as BJP president from 2009 to 2013, at that time the youngest person to hold the position till Mr Nabin in 2026. that the disqualification proceedings were decided within a reasonable time. Chief Justice Kant pointed out that there were other respondents before the court against whom notice could be issued. When Mr Banerjee’s counsel questioned why notice was not being issued to the Speaker, Justice Bagchi asked whether the petitioner was interested in adjudication of the issue or in issuance of notice. The court thereafter issued notice to the 20 rebel MPs while withholding notice to Speaker Birla. Mr Banerjee has approached the Supreme Court over the Speaker's alleged inaction on his petitions seeking disqualification of the MPs following their defection from the Trinamul Congress to the little-known NCPI. Bengal SIR: SC seeks ECI data on pending appeals PARMOD SHARMA New Delhi, 25 August The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought detailed data from the Election Commission of India (ECI) on appeals against exclusion and inclusion of voters from West Bengal’s electoral rolls following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), including their pendency, disposal and consequential updating of the rolls. The court further stressed that the entire appellate process should be completed well before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana sought a break-up of appeals pending before the 19 appellate tribunals and those already disposed of, along with the nature of relief sought in them. The Election Commission was also asked to separately identify appeals filed by voters challenging deletion of their names and those seeking exclusion of persons who are already included in the electoral rolls. The court further sought details of appeals allowed by the tribunals, consequential steps taken to update the electoral rolls and measures being put in place to streamline and expedite disposal of pending cases. US ‘Operation Economic Outcast’ includes four India-based companies over alleged Iran links AGENCIES Washington, 25 August The United States has sanctioned four India-based companies over their alleged involvement in Iran-related petroleum and petrochemical trade and procurement networks, according to a release by the US State Department. The designations were announced as part of the latest round of US sanctions targeting entities allegedly linked to Iran's military activities, procurement networks, and petroleum and petrochemical trade under what the State Department described as "Operation Economic Outcast". The State Department claimed that Portease Partners LLP facilitated the import of multiple shipments of Iranian petrochemical products to India. It also named two individuals, Indrismiya Asharafmiya Shekh, and Harish Ramchandra Rangi as designated partners of Portease. The State Department said that another India-based company, Sadashiva Overseas Limited, imported approximately USD 69 million worth of Iranian-origin petroleum products from multiple companies between February 2024 and June 2025. “SADASHIVA OVERSEAS is being designated pursuant to section 3(a)(ii) of E.O. 13846 for knowingly engaging in a significant transaction for the purchase, acquisition, sale, transport, or marketing of petroleum or petroleum products from Iran,” the statement said. According to the US State Department, another India-based company, PP Softtech Private Limited imported approximately $25 million worth of Iranian-origin petroleum products between January 2024 and June 2025 and named Prashant Garg as a director of PP Softtech. The fourth entity sanctioned was Prakrutees Infra Impex India Private Limited, which the State Department claimed imported Iranian- origin petroleum products valued at $25 million from multiple companies, including the sanctioned Bonjoure Commodity EZE between May 2023 and February 2026, it said. • Related report: Page 11