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 | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW | MUMBAI | Tuesday, 06 October 2026 WORLD SPORTS Messi set for final Argentina appearance against Benin Sensex snaps 4-day losing streak Bolsonaro & Lula head to a runoff in Brazil’s presidential election Page 10 Page 9 BUSINESS BRIEFLY British Airways flight to Chicago declares emergency over Ireland, descends to 9,000 feet: New Delhi: A British Airways flight operating from London to Chicago declared an emergency while flying over Ireland, prompting the aircraft to squawk the 7700 emergency code and descend to around 9,000 feet, flight-tracking data reported on Monday. According to flight-tracking website Flightradar24, flight BA295 triggered the emergency alert while en route across the Atlantic. The Boeing aircraft's descent and emergency signal attracted attention from aviation observers, although the exact nature of the incident was not immediately known. British Airways had not immediately disclosed the reason behind the emergency, and further details regarding the aircraft's condition and subsequent flight path were awaited. NATION More than 146 Oppn MPs to March to EC on Tuesday Page 5 Adhikari unveils Bengal aviation expansion plan STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Kolkata, 5 October I n a major push to expand regional and international air connectivity in West Bengal, the state government on Monday signed an MoU under the Centre’s UDAN 2.0 scheme to connect Chharra in Purulia, Balurghat in South Dinajpur, Hashimara in Alipurduar and Kalaikunda in West Midnapore. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, addressing a programme in the presence of Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, also announced plans to develop a new international greenfield airport on around 2,000 acres at Kalyani in Nadia, on the lines of the airport at Jewar in Uttar Pradesh’s Noida. The proposed airport is aimed at easing the growing pressure on Kolkata’s Dum Dum airport. Adhikari said the state was now moving rapidly to expand its aviation infrastructure after overcoming what he described as years of administrative reluctance and land-related complications under the erstwhile Trinamul Congress government. Presenting a roadmap for expanding West Bengal’s international and regional air connectivity, the Chief Minister urged the Centre to introduce direct flights from Kolkata to Britain and major European cities. He handed over a memorandum to Naidu seeking the expansion of international services from the state. Adhikari also proposed strengthening Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport at Andal in West Burdwan and improving its connectivity with major cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Guwahati. Seeking to cater to the state’s religious tourism potential, he urged the Union Minister to facilitate direct and regional air services to major pilgrimage destinations, including Ayodhya, Tirupati, Khatu Shyam in Rajasthan and Amritsar. Criticising the previous government over what he termed its “anti-development mindset”, Adhikari cited delays in providing land for aviation projects. “Former civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had written seeking adequate land for a second airport near Kolkata. But the then state government rejected the proposal immediately,” he said. On the proposed Kalyani airport, the Chief Minister said soil testing and preliminary land-related work were progressing rapidly under the supervision of the Chief Secretary and Land Secretary. He also urged the Centre to develop the airports at Malda and Cooch Behar into full-fledged facilities. Referring to his visit to Behala airport, Adhikari expressed hope that the Civil Aviation Ministry would soon approve a modern Flying Training Institute there. Page 12 SC seeks ECI response on plea questioning CEC’s exercise of poll panel powers Ex-CJI B R Gavai frowns upon SC judge Ujjal Bhuyan’s remarks PARMOD KUMAR New Delhi, 05 October New Delhi, 5 October The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the C entre, the Election Commission of India (ECI) and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking action over allegations that Kumar took decisions unilaterally and projected them as decisions of the three-member Commission in matters relating to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, however, declined to grant the interim relief sought by senior advocate Vikas Singh, who pressed for the suspension of the CEC or, alternatively, a direction that all future decisions be taken unanimously by the three-member Commission comprising the CEC and the two Election Commissioners. The bench said it could not act merely on the basis of a newspaper report without first obtaining an authoritative response. Senior advocate Vikas Singh appeared for PIL petitioner Rakesh Kumar Singh alias Rakesh Singh. The court also issued notice to Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi, Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Maneesh Garg, and Director General (Information Technology) Seema Khanna. Justice Bagchi said it could not be assumed at this stage that all the impugned decisions had b een taken unilaterally, as the court first needed authentic material b efore reaching any conclusion. The matter is tentatively expected to be taken up later this month, on 26 October. AGENCIES Former Chief Justice of India B R Gavai and other retired judges on Monday criticised the much-publicised statement of Supreme Court judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan on disenfranchisement, saying that he should not have made these remarks on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls as the issue is pending before the apex court. In his first reaction to agencies on the issue, former CJI Gavai said, "Judicial propriety would not permit him to make any comment on the matter which is sub judice before the court." Gavai said a sitting judge of the apex court should not make statements on an issue which is pending adjudication before the same court. Gavai’s view was echoed by two retired Delhi High Court judges, S N Dhingra and R S So dhi. They questioned Bhuyan's remarks.