www.thestatesman.com | FOLLOW US: India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | @TheStatesmanLtd Pages 12 | ` 5.00 Nation @thestatesmanltd | KOLKATA People’s Parliament, Always in Session thestatesman1875 | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR World Co-pilot attacked captain with crash axe; UAE probes suspected terror act Page 5 Page 9 Air Chief: IAF hopes to seal MRFA deal this financial year PARWINDER SANDHU New Delhi, 3 October T Air Chief Marshal A P Singh addresses a press conference at the Air Force auditorium in New Delhi on Saturday. IANS ACM Singh said had been affected by the phasing out of older aircraft as well as delays in planned inductions. “Our numbers are decreasing. The aircrafts that we were relying on, they have also come down,” he said, adding that delays in planned programmes had “increased a bit” and “it is going to hurt us, no doubt.” ACM Singh said the IAF would require an induction rate of around 36 to 40 fighter aircraft annually in the coming years to halt the decline and move towards the sanctioned strength of 42 squadrons. “If we have to stop going down from 30 fighter squadrons and start improving towards the stated target of 42, actually, we need even more than that,” he said. He stressed that the IAF would need a mix of aircraft rather than relying on a single platform to meet its operational requirements. “One aircraft cannot do all the things that we want it to. And it may not be even very cost effective,” he said. “So we have to have a happy mix of three or four types at least for us to do all our roles in a good manner.” The emerging fleet mix would include the Tejas Mk-1A, Tejas Mk-2, MRFA and other indigenous platforms, he said. On the delayed induction of Tejas Mk-1A fighters, ACM Singh acknowledged that the slippage had been longer than expected and said the IAF was also looking towards the Mk-2 variant to address capability gaps. “It happens that you plan something, but things get delayed. But this time, the delay has been much. We are also looking towards Mark 2. All these will be able to fill in the gaps that exist,” he said. India backs dialogue, diplomacy to end Ukraine conflict: EAM Five Indian nationals rescued from Strait of Hormuz: MEA STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 3 October External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday chaired a consultative committee meeting on India-Russia relations, reviewing bilateral engagement across trade, investment, energy, connectivity and people-to-people ties while reiterating India’s support for dialogue and diplomacy to bring the ongoing Ukraine conflict to an end. The meeting reviewed wide -ranging bilateral engagement between India and Russia across several sectors, including trade, investment, energy, connectivity, culture and people-to-people ties. In a post on X, Mr Jaishankar said: “Chaired a consultative committee meeting on India-Russia relations. Highlighted various aspects of our multifaceted engagement, including in trade, investments, energy, connectivity, culture and P2P domains. As well as our active support to dialogue & diplomacy to end the Ukraine conflict.” The meeting also discussed a shared ambition to expand bilateral trade in a balanced manner, including through greater Indian exports to Russia in seven areas ~ auto, pharma, food, marine products, engineering goods, chemicals and textiles. Both sides also discussed an India-Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement. Discussions also covered the Chennai-Vladivostok corridor, the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Northern Sea Route. India’s priority is to safeguard the interests of Indian consumers, with an approach focused on maintaining multiple sources of supply. Russia has agreed to take around 70,000 Indian skilled workers this year, particularly in construction and logistics. New Delhi, 3 October Five Indian nationals on board Kuwait-flagged tanker MT Kazimah III were successfully rescued after the vessel was struck by a projectile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Saturday. “Rescue of five Indian nationals on board the Kuwait-flagged tanker MT Kazimah III… We remain committed to the safety, security and welfare of our seafarers abroad,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote on X. This comes after the Embassy of India in Oman stated that it was coordinating the rescue of Indian nationals from the vessel and all five nationals have been shifted ashore safely. “Earlier today, the Mission coordinated rescue of five Indian nationals on board the Kuwait-flagged tanker MT Kazimah III, struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz. All 5 Indian nationals have been shifted ashore safely. We thank the Omani authorities for their continued support and assistance,” the Embassy stated on X. Last month, one Indian seafarer was killed and 19 others rescued after an attack on the commercial vessel MV Cape Dao off the east coast of Oman. At that time, the MEA had strongly condemned the attack. “We condemn the attack on the commercial vessel MV Cape Dao off the east coast of Oman. Of the 20 Indian seafarers on board, 19 have been rescued, while 1 Indian national tragically lost his life. We offer our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. Our Embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with Omani authorities for the early repatriation of the Indian seafarers. We thank the Omani authorities for their support,” the MEA had stated on 23 September. Resilient economy, fiscal prudence key to navigating global uncertainty: Sitharaman SOURAV SHEKHAR New Delhi, 3 October Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said India’s economic resilience had been built over the past decade through stronger household support systems, a robust banking sector, infrastructure creation, reforms and prudent management of public finances. Addressing the fifth Kautilya Economic Conclave here, organised by the Institute of Economic Growth in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, Mrs Sitharaman said resilience meant the ability to absorb shocks without losing the growth path while retaining policy space to deal with future disruptions. Referring to the global shocks of recent years, she said crude oil price spikes, geopolitical conflicts, tighter monetary conditions in the US and rising trade barriers had tested economies worldwide. Conflicts involving Russia, Ukraine and Iran, along with disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, had created risks not only to energy prices but also to the physical availability of oil and gas. “A price shock can be cushioned with monetary and fiscal tools, but a quantity shock tests buffer stocks and the reach of delivery systems,” she said. LUCKNOW | SILIGURI | 04 October 2026 S P O RT S Kharge calls Modi, Shah ‘illegal’ & demands dissolution of governments he Indian Air Force is hopeful of signing the long-pending Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft (MRFA) contract during the current financial year, Air Chief Marshal A P Singh said on Saturday, even as he acknowledged that the declining strength of the fighter fleet remained a concern for the force. “If things go well, MRFA, we should be able to sign this financially. That’s what my hope is,” ACM Singh said while addressing a press conference ahead of the 94th Air Force Day. The Air Chief said negotiations on the MRFA programme were progressing, with the proposed acquisition of 114 fighter aircraft expected to augment the IAF’s combat fleet. The MRFA programme is part of the IAF’s efforts to arrest the decline in its fighter squadron strength, which | Against this backdrop, Mrs Sitharaman highlighted India’s economic indicators, noting that real GDP grew 7.8 per cent in the first quarter of FY27, while the current account deficit stood at 0.5 per cent of GDP. She said gross NPAs of banks were at multi-year lows and foreign exchange reserves stood at about USD 766 billion. The Finance Minister said the foundations of resilience had been built since 2014, beginning with strengthening household-level resilience through initiatives such as Jan Dhan-Aadhaar-Mobile, direct benefit transfers, housing, sanitation, clean cooking fuel, healthcare and food security. India sign off from Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with 85 medals, finish fourth Page 12 CM announces fresh probe into Mamata’s 2021 injury claim STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 3 October West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday announced that the state government would launch a fresh investigation into former chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s leg injury during the 2021 Assembly election campaign in Nandigram, claiming that medical records did not show any fracture or dislocation. Displaying a radiodiagnosis report from the Bangur Institute of Neurosciences at a press conference at Nabanna on Saturday, Mr Adhikari said the document dated 11 March 2021, recorded that there was “no evidence of fracture”. “In 2021, the entire Nandigram was insulted by the then chief minister, who claimed that her leg had been broken,” Mr Adhikari said. He added that the government would take further action after the Nandigram bypoll and the lifting of the Model Code of Conduct. “I am not saying anything more on this now. The CID is investigating. Once the Model Code of Conduct is lifted, we will initiate a fresh investigation into this false propaganda. I will announce the next steps after 9 October,” he said. The controversy dates back to 10 March 2021, when Banerjee, then chief minister and Trinamul Congress candidate from Nandigram, allegedly sustained an injury during her election campaign. She subsequently campaigned in a wheelchair with her leg in plaster and alleged that she had been pushed by a group of people. Capt Smit Machchhar recovering well: Indian Embassy in UAE New Delhi: Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian pilot of Flydubai flight FZ1073 who was injured while preventing a mid-air attack, is under excellent medical care and recovering well, the Indian Embassy in the UAE said on Saturday. The embassy said it was coordinating with Captain Machchhar’s family and local authorities. It also thanked the UAE government for the care being extended to him. “Indian braveheart Capt. Smit remains under excellent medical care and is recovering well. We are in touch with his family and local authorities, extending support for a speedy recovery. Our thanks to UAE gov. for their care. We join well-wishers in praying for his good health,” the Indian Embassy in the UAE said in a post on X.