www.thestatesman.com India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | FOLLOW US: | Pages 16 8th Day @TheStatesmanLtd | ` 5.00 | @thestatesmanltd KOLKATA | People’s Parliament, Always in Session thestatesman1875 NEW DELHI | SILIGURI Evolve Expert speak: The importance of urban greenery | BHUBANESWAR | 04 January 2026 S P O RT S New book in town: Picking up the pieces Pandya misses out, Iyer, Gill return for ODIs against New Zealand Page 16 BRIEFLY 14 Maoists killed in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma, Bijapur: New Delhi: At least 12 Maoists were killed by security forces in an encounter that broke out in a forest area under Kistaram region of Sukma district in Chhattisgarh, Superintendent of Police (SP) Sukma Kiran Chavan said on Saturday. Acting on specific inputs about the presence of Maoists, a team of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) launched an operation in the forest area. As the security forces closed in, the Maoists opened fire, prompting strong retaliation from the DRG jawans. “Automatic weapons were also recovered,” SP Chavan added. Meanwhile, two Maoists were also killed by DRG jawans in the southern region of Bijapur district. Page 5 Cong launches nationwide protest to save MGNREGA: New Delhi: The Congress party announced on Saturday a 45-day nationwide protest movement named “MGNREGA Bachao Sangram” (Save MGNREGA Struggle). The campaign, running from 8 January to 25 February, seeks the repeal of the recently enacted VB Gram G Act, which Congress claims undermines the legal right to work. At a press conference at the AICC office, General Secretaries K C Venugopal and Jairam Ramesh criticised the new law as a harmful centralisation of authority that dismantles the world’s largest poverty alleviation programme. The Congress leaders pointed out that the new 60:40 funding ratio requires states to bear 40 per cent of wage costs, unlike the earlier framework where the Centre covered 100 per cent. This change imposes significant fiscal strain on states, violating constitutional provisions, they said. US forces carry out strikes in Venezuela, Trump claims President Maduro, wife captured, flown out of country UNITED NEWS OF INDIA Caracas, 3 January T he world woke up on Saturday to the news of yet another war, one which was much anticipated for some time now. After months of warmongering, US President Donald Trump decided to go for direct action against Venezuela, striking many strategic locations in its capital city Caracas in the early hours. While confirmations about the attack took some time to arrive, the silence was broken by President Trump himself by posting on TruthSocial, both confirming the attack as well as informing the world about US forces taking Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife captive and taking them out of the country in a statement that sent shockwaves across the region and intensified global attention. Earlier in the morning, international wire agencies reported loud explosions and the sound of aircraft from across Venezuela's capital city Caracas in the early hours on Saturday. Witnesses reported at least seven loud blasts, flashes of light in the sky, and thick plumes of smoke rising near key military installations. Power disruptions were also reported in some neighbourhoods. While the Venezuelan government confirmed the explosions, it offered no details on it. Officials urged citizens to remain calm and avoid spreading rumours. As hours passed, US President Donald Trump KKR release Mustafizur Rahman from IPL 2026 squad TRIDIB BAPARNASH New Delhi, 3 January Putting an end to the controversy over Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman’s participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders on Saturday released the left-arm quick following official instructions from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed to The Statesman that the national cricket board has formally directed the IPL franchise to release the Bangladesh left-arm seamer citing “recent developments all across” as the reason for the decision. The Statesman understands that the development comes after weeks of debate following KKR’s decision to sign Rahman at the December mini-auction, a move that triggered strong reactions amid reports of violence against members of the Hindu community in Bangladesh. What began as a cricketing discussion soon spilled into the political and social domain, placing the league and the franchise under scrutiny. Within hours, KKR issued an official statement confirming that “the release has been carried out following due process and consultations, in compliance with the instructions of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.” “Kolkata Knight Riders confirms that BCCI/IPL as the regulator of IPL has instructed it to release Mustafizur Rahman from the squad ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season. The release has been carried out following due process and consultations, upon the instruction of the Board of Control of Cricket in India,” a statement from the franchise read. The BCCI further said that KKR will be allowed to name a replacement player if required. “BCCI will allow Kolkata Knight Riders a replacement player in line with IPL regulations, and further details will be communicated in due course,” the statement added. The three-time IPL champions had acquired the services of the 30-year-old left-armer for Rs 9.20 crore after an intense bidding war with Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals at the players’ auction last month. Earlier, the signing had drawn public criticism from political parties and spiritual leaders, who questioned KKR’s decision and also took potshots at the franchise’s co-owner, actor Shah Rukh Khan. India is the living torchbearer of Lord Buddha’s legacy: PM NIKHIL VYAS New Delhi, 3 January Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday inaugurated an International Exposition of the Sacred Piprahwa Relics related to the Buddha, titled “The Light & the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One” at the Rai Pithora Cultural Complex in New Delhi. India is not only the custodian of Lord Buddha’s sacred relics but also the living carrier of his tradition, the Prime Minister said while addressing the gathering. PM Modi noted that the relics of Lord Buddha found in Piprahwa, Vaishali, Devni Mori and Nagarjunakonda are living presences of the Buddha’s message. The Prime Minister said that India has preserved and safeguarded these relics in every form ~ through both science and spirituality. PM Modi said that wherever he travelled, he made efforts to carry with him a symbol of Lord Buddha’s legacy. During his visits to China, Japan, Korea and Mongolia, he said, he carried saplings of the Bodhi tree. He emphasised that one can imagine the profound message for humanity when a Bodhi tree stands in the botanical garden of Hiroshima, a city devastated by the atomic bomb. Underlining that the shared heritage of Lord Buddha is proof that India’s connections go beyond politics, diplomacy and economics, the Prime Minister said India is linked with the world through deeper bonds of the mind and emotions, faith and spirituality. Recalling that his birthplace, Vadnagar in Gujarat, was a major centre of Buddhist tradition, PM Modi said that during his tenure as Chief Minister, thousands of relics linked to Buddhism were discovered there. He said that the government is now focusing on their preservation and on connecting the present generation with this rich heritage. The Prime Minister said that a magnificent experiential museum has been built in Vadnagar, offering an immersive experience of nearly 2,500 years of history. He also noted that only a few months ago, a major Buddhist-era site was discovered in Baramulla, Jammu and Kashmir, and efforts to preserve it are now being accelerated. confirmed the action in Venezuela by American forces. “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement," he posted on TruthSocial. It was reported that the US Army's elite Delta Force has taken part in the capture of the Venezuelan leader and his wife. The Venezuelan government strongly condemned the US action as an act of foreign aggression, accusing Washington of attempting to destabilise the elected government. The Maduro government has imposed a 'national emergency' in the country, mobilised the military, and asked the citizens to remain calm and stand united against external aggression. Later in the day, Venezuelan VP Delcy Rodríguez demanded confirmation on President Maduro's condition following reports of his capture by US authorities. Appearing on state television on Saturday morning, he demanded proof from the US authorities whether President Nicolás Maduro is alive or not, as well as the confirmation of his whereabouts following Trump's currently unsubstantiated claims that the Venezuelan President and his wife had been captured by US authorities. Russia, Iran, Cuba condemn US action, EU calls for de-escalation: Moscow: Russia, Iran and Cuba, among other countries, on Saturday severely criticised the US military attack on Venezuela, calling it a “flagrant violation” of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Moscow described the US action as “deeply concerning” and condemnable. “The pretexts used to justify such actions are untenable. Ideological hostility has triumphed over businesslike pragmatism and a willingness to build relationships of trust and predictability,” read a statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel condemned what he described as the “criminal attack” by the United States against Venezuela, demanding an urgent response from the international community. Iran's Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the US military attack on Venezuela. In a statement, the ministry described the attack as an “act of aggression” and a clear breach of the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law prohibiting the use of force against sovereign states. European Council President Antonio Costa said on Saturday the European Union (EU) was following the situation in Venezuela "with great concern" and urged de-escalation.