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 WORLD Page 7 UAE warned Netanyahu of Hamas operation before 7 Oct Page 5 Page 10 At Gerua Samman Yatra, Bengal CM warns those ‘insulting’ saffron culture STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Let me give a clear message. I am only warning you. Think five times before writing or saying anything derogatory about saffron. Kolkata, 9 September A ddressing a gathering at Jadavpur in the city after a massive ‘Gerua Samman Yatra’, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday issued a strong warning against what he described as insults to saffron and Sanatan culture. He said the government would not tolerate derogatory remarks or writings against the saffron colour. “Let me give a clear message. I am only warning you. Think five times before writing or saying anything derogatory about saffron,” Mr Adhikari said at the gathering. Mr Adhikari also said the West Bengal government is planning a major overhaul of the higher education sector, announcing that a “historic” bill aimed at introducing a new policy for universities, teachers and non-teaching staff would be brought before the state SUVENDU ADHIKARI, BENGAL CHIEF MINISTER Assembly during its special session beginning Thursday. He said the Assembly would hold a special session from 11 a.m. on Thursday and a major policy change in higher education would be taken up. “Tomorrow, a historic bill of the Higher Education Department is going to be introduced. The Cabinet has approved it and the Governor has given his consent. A special session of the Assembly is being held tomorrow. The West Bengal government is introducing a new policy for universities, teachers and education workers,” the Chief Minister said. Mr Adhikari added that he had asked the Higher Education Minister and the Parliamentary Affairs Minister to allow him 15-20 minutes to speak during the Assembly session. The Chief Minister also linked the proposed changes in higher education with his broader political and ideological campaign. Speaking at the Jadavpur rally, he said he had taken an oath to remove what he described as “anti-national” elements and those who allegedly insult saffron culture from the area. “I have taken an oath that in Jadavpur, the land of Sri Aurobindo and a Centre of Excellence, I will uproot those who raise slogans such as ‘Kashmir mange azadi’, those who give red salute to Kisanji, and those who have written ‘Gerua Tandav’,” he said. Mr Adhikari also invoked his earlier political battles, saying he had pledged in 2011 to remove the Communists Cong goonj has no substance: BJP chief Nabin DEEPAK RAZDAN New Delhi, 9 September Bharatiya Janata Party president Nitin Nabin on Wednesday attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and said his “Chhatron ki goonj” programme for students had no substance and the Congress was always encouraging the youth in wrong direction. Mr Nabin was answering questions at a press conference to announce celebration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 17 September birthday as Sewa Diwas. The day will also mark the launch of a month-long Sewa Sankalp campaign to highlight Mr Modi’s historic public service for unbroken 25 years though rallies and public contact programmes, he said. Mr Nabin said Mr Gandhi’s programme had a limited purpose. “Their goonj is just to enthuse the party workers while our gooj is meant to unite all 140 crore people of the country,” he said. The youth stood with Mr Modi and there was no impact of Mr Gandhi’s programme, he said. “There is no strength in their voice, if the Congress had any substance in its goonj, it would have achieved something during its tenures. The youth under Mr Narendra Modi’s leadership is moving towards self-reliance. The youth and public sentiment today are with Mr Modi,” he said. He said the Congress attitude towards the National Song Vande Mataram showed their anarchy-mind set, a mind-set that was against the nation. By its stand, the party was insulting those who gave up their lives, singing the Veer Gaan, the National Song, Mr Nabin said. The BJP president said the country’s march towards Viksit Bharat will also be guided by the National Song. The Congress criticism of BJP programmes was baseless, he said. “When did Khelo India, Fit India, Start- ups, Make in India programmes start, where was Rahul Gandhi at that time,” he said. He said: “Our programmes are by our vision and manifesto.” The BJP programmes are linked with people. He hoped coming programmes will make the Naraz Phufas (angry uncles) happy. Asked about Congress protests over purification rituals at a place where Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a meeting, the BJP leader said: “I am going to Haldwani today along with colleagues and will give a straight and clear reply to the issue from Haldwani itself.” He said there is a situation of anarchy and corruption in Punjab. BJP’s Punjab unit is ready to meet the challenge. The drugs crisis in the state requires a big public campaign to fight it. “We will have a campaign and expose the anarchy and corruption of the Punjab government and meet the challenge,” he said. “We will take these issues to the Assembly election in the State.” Replying to a question about the collapse of a students’ PG building in Delhi, he said students’ problems would be addressed in a holistic manner. The problem had been taken note of. The Delhi government is also attending to the issues with promptness. The BJP president said beginning as Chief Minister of Gujarat, Mr Modi is completing 25 years as head of state, on 7 October 2026, which is unequalled. All over the world, governments don’t survive even five years. People have faith in the Prime Minister, he said. He said during the celebrations of Mr Modi’s birthday, youth will be associated at several stages, like the innovation challenge. There will be yatras by 1000 youth in 20 groups on 20 different routes. There will be dialogue with people. In the Sankalp programme, there will be big participation of youth and party organisational leaders. from power and later vowed todefeatthe“Jamaatigovernment” in 2026 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “I had taken an oath in 2011 to remove the Communists. I had also vowed to remove the Jamaati government in 2026 under Modi ji’s leadership. With your support, that has happened,” he said. He called upon his supporters to remain united and declared that saffron would dominate the political and cultural landscape of Bengal. “You stay with us. In the land of Swami Vivekananda, Sri Chaitanya and Pranabananda, saffron will prevail, saffron will prevail, saffron will prevail,” he said. Mr Adhikari further said he would return to Jadavpur shortly at the invitation of the Sanatan Sanskriti Parishad to organise recitations of the Hanuman Chalisa and the Bhagavad Gita, asserting that those allegedly insulting saffron culture would be “taught a lesson”. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 9 September by May-June next year for testing. After testing, the inauguration will be done,” Mr Vaishnaw remarked. Earlier, while addressing the ‘NaMo for Viksit Bharat’ event in Vadodara on Tuesday, the Railway Minister noted that the first body frame of the high-speed train had recently been completed and sent for squeeze testing. “By May or June of next year, India’s own bullet train will be on the tracks for testing. After a testing period of 2-4 months, the bullet train will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Mr Vaishnaw said. The minister said the project was being developed in line with the vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat and would significantly reduce travel time between Vadodara and Mumbai. “When you ride the bullet train from Vadodara, you will reach Mumbai in just an hour and a half,” he said. Highlighting broader reforms in the railway sector, he said the government was modernising railway operating systems, reservation platforms and construction protocols. Mr Vaishnaw remarked that several long-pending railway projects had been completed in recent years, citing the Chenab Bridge Page 12 SC takes exception to Greater Noida Magistrate’s notice to student over CJP protest STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 9 September The Supreme Court on Wednesday took strong exception to a decision by an Executive Magistrate in Greater Noida to issue a notice under Section 130 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita to a student allegedly campaigning for participation in student protests proposed by the Cockroach Janta Party. The court observed that such a notice should not have been issued when it had already quashed the FIRs related to the protests and directed that no coercive action be taken against students in connection with the CJP protests. The issue was raised before a bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana by Senior Advocate Bishwajit Bhattacharyya, who said a Greater Noida Executive Magistrate had issued a notice to a second-year Gautam Buddha University student, directing him to furnish a personal bond of Rs 5 lakh to maintain peace. “How could a Magistrate dare to issue notice? We made it clear no coercive action against any student. No Magistrate could violate that order,” said the CJI. The Court asked the lawyer to place the notice on record and said it would seek an explanation from the authorities. The notice, issued on 4 September under Sections 126 and 135 of the BNSS, alleged that student Akshat Tripathi was encouraging others to join a proposed CJP protest and that his activities could lead to a breach of peace. Mr Bhattacharyya informed the court that the notice was later withdrawn after the matter was reported in the media. The lawyer submitted that the action amounted to a “prima facie contempt” and alleged that authorities in Noida and Uttar Pradesh were attempting to create a “fear psychosis” among students. This comes after the Supreme Court brought an end to criminal proceedings arising from the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)-led protests over alleged examination paper leaks by quashing FIRs registered in five states and directing that similar cases elsewhere should not be pursued. Rajnath Singh calls for stronger India-Sri Lanka maritime partnership to secure Indian Ocean STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 9 September Secure sea lanes, freedom of navigation, respect for international law and uninterrupted maritime trade are crucial to ensuring collective security and prosperity in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Wednesday, calling for closer maritime cooperation between India and Sri Lanka. Addressing Sri Lankan Deputy Minister of Defence Aruna Jayasekara, the commanders of the Sri Lankan Army, Navy and Air Force and senior officials at the Ministry of Defence in Colombo, Mr Singh said both countries were well placed to jointly safeguard peace, security and stability in the region. “Secure sea lanes, freedom of navigation, respect for international law and unhindered maritime trade are pivotal for collective security and prosperity Vaishnaw: First indigenous bullet train to be launched in 2027 Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday said the inauguration of India’s first indigenously developed bullet train is fixed for 2027. The high-speed train will be on track by May-June next year for testing, he disclosed. Briefing the media after a meeting of the Union Cabinet in New Delhi, the Railway Minister said work on the bullet train project was progressing rapidly, with construction on the Surat-Vapi section of the planned MumbaiAhmedabad bullet-train corridor expected to be completed by December this year. “The train will be on track US Open: Shelton upsets Alcaraz in thrilling quarter-final Time to stop this charade Ramesh flags ‘black money’ via fake parties, targets 3,260 RUPPs Thursday, 10 September 2026 SPORTS PERSPECTIVE NATION | and the rail connectivity project linking Mizoram to the national railway network. According to the minister, 280 railway stations have been redeveloped and 36,000 km of new railway tracks laid. He added that cargo trains incorporating Vande Bharat technology were also being developed. On Wednesday, Mr Vaishnaw informed that the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved three multitracking projects of the Ministry of Railways with a combined estimated cost of Rs 10,783 crore, aimed at expanding rail capacity, easing congestion and strengthening freight and passenger connectivity across five states. (Subrata Dutta) of the Indian Ocean Region,” Mr Singh said. He emphasised that national security and economic growth were closely interconnected with geography and regional stability, and neither India nor Sri Lanka could remain indifferent to developments in their shared neighbourhood. Mr Singh said the two countries had strengthened their defence capabilities through capacity building and joint exercises but stressed the need to take the partnership further, particularly in the maritime domain. “We need to devise and implement joint protocols, sharpen the skills and share experiences to deal with emerging threats arising from the rapidly evolving global and regional dynamics,” he said, adding that the process needed to be continuous. The Defence Minister said India and Sri Lanka should develop new frameworks for a closer maritime partnership in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions). He highlighted cooperation in search and rescue operations, counter-narcotics, anti-piracy and combating human trafficking. Mr Singh also underlined the growing relevance of the Colombo Security Conclave, which focuses on maritime safety, counter-terrorism, cyber security and organised crime. The commissioning of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, established through bilateral cooperation, was cited by Mr Singh as an example of the two countries’ commitment to safer Indian Ocean waters. Looking ahead, he proposed that India and Sri Lanka work towards an integrated Maritime Domain Awareness system capable of providing comprehensive maritime information in real time. Such cooperation, he said, could help tackle illegal fishing, suspicious vessels, narcotics trafficking, smuggling, terrorism and other maritime threats. Satya Niketan tragedy: Wall removed hours before collapse, basement filled with debris STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 9 September The Delhi Police have arrested Sudhanshu Lovneesh, one of the operators of the ‘Hostel Daze’ paying guest facility functioning from the five-storey building that collapsed in Satya Niketan on 6 September, killing seven people and injuring several others. The arrest followed the investigation into the circumstances that led to the building’s collapse in the South Campus area. Police said Sudhanshu Lovneesh was arrested after a detailed examination; further details will be shared as the investigation progresses. According to investigators, Mr Lovneesh (31), a Delhi University graduate, had been operating PG accommodations in Satya Niketan since 2022 with his business partner Shubham Tyagi. The duo currently operates seven PG facilities in the area under the name ‘Hostel Daze’. The investigators alleged that Mr Lovneesh and Mr Tyagi had leased four floors of the collapsed building in August 2025 for a monthly rent of Rs 1.05 lakh. The premises were reportedly rented at a comparatively lower rate due to their poor condition. Police said Mr Lovneesh nevertheless continued operating the PG despite being aware of ongoing construction and renovation work at the property. The investigation also focused on renovation work being carried out in the basement and on the ground floor shortly before the collapse. Police said labour contractor Sanoj Kumar (35), was apprehended from Kasganj in Uttar Pradesh and brought to Delhi for questioning before formal arrest. During interrogation, he allegedly told investigators that Mahesh Gupta hired him around 10 days before the incident to carry out renovation work. According to the police, Sanoj was paid Rs 2,800 per day and was engaged to level the basement with the ground floor. Around three truckloads of construction debris were allegedly dumped in the basement during the work. The investigators further alleged that a wall on the ground floor, which obstructed space intended for a shop, was removed on the day of the collapse.