MONDAY 30 JUNE 2025 www.thestatesman.com Pages 12 |` 5.00 SINCE 1818 X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR TRUMP CALLS FOR A DEAL ON GAZA WAR ANANT'S EXECUTIVE ROLE AT RIL COMES WITH ₹10-20 CR PAY PACKAGE P10 WEATHER Generally cloudy sky. Rain/thundershower very likely in some areas. Maximum and Minimum Temperature likely to be around 30˚C and 26˚C respectively. RAINFALL: 1.9 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 97% Min. 79% Max: 30.6˚C ( -2.3 ) SUN RISES 04:55 hrs MOON RISES 09:30 hrs Min: 25.7 ˚C ( -1.1 ) SUN SETS 18:25 hrs MOON SETS 22:17 hrs TEMPERATURE Full Moon on 11 July THUMBNAILS People drive through the rain as the Monsoon arrived in Delhi with moderate to heavy rain on Sunday. n SUBRATA DUTTA Two killed, seven still missing after Uttarakhand cloudburst, landslide: At least two labourers lost their lives, and seven others are still missing after a devastating cloudburst triggered a landslide in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi district on Yamunotri National Highwayearly on Sunday. A joint search and rescue operation has been launched by multiple agencies, and the Chardham pilgrimage on the Yamunotri track has been suspended for the next 24 hours. (Page 8) P9 P6 Three killed, several hurt in Puri stampede Stampede occurred near chariots of deities parked at Sri Gundicha temple; Puri SP, collector replaced; administrative probe ordered STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE BHUBANESWAR, 29 JUNE T ragedy struck Puri in the early hours of Sunday when a stampede near the chariots parked in front of the Sri Gundicha Temple claimed the lives of three devotees and left several others injured, sparking widespread outrage over glaring administrative lapses. The mishap occurred around 4 a.m. as hundreds of devotees gathered in front of the chariots of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra, hoping to catch a glimpse of the deities. The situation spiralled out of control when a vehicle carrying planks and materials for constructing the ceremonial ladder (‘charamala’) entered the already overcrowded narrow stretch, triggering panic and a stampede. Devotees alleged there was no police presence in the area at the time. Many injured were rescued by local youth, who also criticised the absence of timely emergency response and crowd control. The chaos is being seen as a continuation of the disorder that began during the Rath Yatra on 27 June, when Lord Jagannath's chariot remained immobile. On Saturday night, the darshan was abruptly closed at 12:15 a.m. without any public announcement. Confusion prevailed as no information was given regarding when the deities on the chariots would be lifted again, leaving thousands of devotees waiting through the night. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi apologised to the public over the incident and ordered an administrative inquiry to be conducted by the Development Commissioner, a senior officer of Chief Secretary rank. He also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh each for the families of the deceased ~ Basanti Sahu, Premakant Mohanty, and Pravati Das. Two police officers, Bishnu Pati and Ajay Padhee, were suspended, while Puri SP Vinit Agarwal and Collector Siddharth Swain were removed from their posts. IPS officer Soumendra Priyadarhi and IAS officer Arvind Agarwal were given overall responsibility of the smooth conduct of rituals – return car festival, Suna Besa etc. “The RathYatra of Lord Jagannath is the pride of Odisha. Negligence in duty will not be tolerated. Those responsible for the stampede will face exemplary punishment,” said CM Majhi. “My government and I seek forgiveness from all Jagannath devotees.We mourn with the families of those who lost their lives and pray to Mahaprabhu Jagannath to give them strength in this hour of grief,” he said. BJD president Naveen Patnaik sharply criticised the state government for its “glaring failure” in ensuring a safe and orderly Rath Yatra. “While I refrain from accusing the government of criminal negligence, their blatant callousness has undeniably contributed to this tragedy,” he said. In fresh curb, India bans land port entry of jute imports from Bangladesh STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 29 JUNE In a fresh move aimed at recalibrating bilateral trade dynamics, India has imposed port restrictions on the import of jute and several of its derivatives from Bangladesh, with immediate effect. According to an official from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), these imports will now be permitted only through the Nhava Sheva seaport in Mumbai, effectively barring all land ports on the India-Bangladesh border. According to the DGFT notification dated 27 June, the restriction covers a wide range of jute and bast fibre products, including flax tow and waste, raw or retted jute, single and multiple flax or jute yarns, and various woven and unbleached fabric forms. However, these curbs will not apply to consignments transiting through India from MAMDANI’S MOMENT Bangladesh to Nepal and Bhutan. Re-export of such goods from Nepal or Bhutan to India, however, will not be allowed. This decision follows a similar restriction imposed on 17 May, when India limited imports of Bangladeshi readymade garments (RMG) and other items through its northeastern land ports, including those in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram, as well as Fulbari and Changrabandha in West Bengal. Those earlier curbs were imposed shortly after controversial remarks made by Bangladesh’s interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus during a visit to China, where he referred to India’s northeastern states as a "landlocked region with no access to the ocean." The statement was perceived by Indian officials as undermining the region’s connectivity and strategic importance. The May directive forced Bangladeshi exporters to reroute goods such as RMG, plastics, melamine, furniture, juices, and processed foods through Kolkata or Nhava Sheva, significantly raising logistics costs. Imports of essential commodities such as fish, LPG, edible oil, and crushed stone remained unaffected, and transits to Nepal and Bhutan continued. The recent measures are a response to Bangladesh’s restrictive trade practices, including limits on Indian yarn and rice and increased inspection protocols for Indian goods. The directive emphasised that India is aiming to establish "reciprocal terms" in its trade relations with Bangladesh, noting that Dhaka cannot "cherry-pick" trade privileges or treat India’s northeast as a captive market while denying the region adequate access and transit. By limiting import routes to just two seaports, India intends to ensure a level playing field, the sources added. ‘All angles, including sabotage, being probed in AI-171 crash’ NEW DELHI, 29 JUNE All possibilities in the Air India AI 171 crash, including sabotage, are being probed by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, said, adding the report is expected in the next three months. Talking to media persons at an event in Pune, the minister said the AAIB was conducting a full inquiry. “It is being probed from all angles, including any possible sabotage. CCTV footage is being reviewed, and several agencies are involved,” he was quoted as saying. The black box of flight AI-171 has been recovered and remains in the custody of the AAIB and the investigation would be conducted within the country, he said. SNS PM Modi remembers Emergency, highlights India’s progress in Mann Ki Baat SHAHID K ABBAS NEW DELHI, 29 JUNE Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday recalled the “dark days of the Emergency” and saluted the “defenders of the Constitution.” PM Modi also highlighted various achievements and cultural significance, showcasing India's progress in different fields. In his monthly radio address, Mann Ki Baat, the Prime Minister paid tribute to those who defended the Constitution during the Emergency, a period of significant turmoil in India's history. He emphasised the importance of upholding democratic values and the Constitution. “Those who imposed Emergency not only murdered the spirit of the Constitution but also tried to suppress the judiciary as puppets… We must remember those who bravely fought against Emergency. This inspires us to remain vigilant to safeguard our Constitution," he said. Reminding that only few day ago the country completed 50 years of the imposition of Emergency which was observed it as 'Samvidhan Hatya Divas,' the Prime Minister also played archival audio recordings of speeches by leaders such as Morarji Desai, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Jagjivan Ram, who in their speeches recounted the atrocities faced by people during the turmoil period. Recalling that during the Emergency period, “people were tormented on a large scale”, Mr Modi said: “There are many such examples of this, which can never be forgotten. George Fernandez Sahib was tied in chains. Many people were subjected to severe torture. Under MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act), anyone could be summarily arrested. Students too were harassed. Freedom of expression was also stifled. Thousands of people who were arrested during that period were subjected to such inhumane atrocities." The Emergency was declared on 25 June 1975, and lasted 21 months until March 1977. It was marked by the suspension of civil liberties, press censorship, and widespread arrests of political leaders. Mr Modi also highlighted various achievements and cultural significance, showcasing India's progress in different fields including the growing popularity of yoga, with more people adopting it in their daily lives. “This time as well, on the 21st of June, crores of people across the country and the world participated in the ‘International Yoga Day’. Do you remember, it began 10 years ago. Now, over these 10 years, this event is turning grand with every passing year. This is also an indication that more and more people are adopting yoga in their daily lives,” he said. Extending his best wishes to the countrymen who embark on a pilgrimage, the Prime Minister said “the first feeling that comes to mind is, ‘Chalo Bulawa Aaya Hai’” “This very feeling is the soul of our religious pilgrimages. These pilgrimages are a means of disciplining the body, purifying the mind, mutual love and brotherhood, and connecting with God,” he said. He noted that after a long time, the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has had an auspicious re-start and said that it is the abode of Lord Shiva which is considered the centre of faith and devotion in every tradition, be it Hindu, Buddhist or Jain. AUSSIES CONFIDENT OF SMITH'S RETURN FOR 2ND TEST P12 Maharashtra govt withdraws language resolutions amid row AGENCIES MUMBAI, 29 JUNE Amid mounting criticism over the move to introduce Hindi as a subject in schools in the state from classes 1 to 5, the Maharashtra cabinet on Sunday decided to withdraw two government resolutions (GRs) pertaining to the implementation of the three-language policy. Addressing a media conference in Mumbai, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis also announced the formation of a committee under the chairmanship of educationist Dr Narendra Jadhav to suggest the way forward and oversee the implementation of the language policy. “The state cabinet has decided to withdraw the Government Resolutions (GR) issued in April and June regarding the implementation of the three-language policy from class one. A committee headed by Dr Narendra Jadhav will be formed to recommend implementation (of the threelanguage formula),” Mr Fad- navis said. The Fadnavis-led government had earlier issued a GR on 16 April, mandating Hindi as a compulsory third language for students from classes 1 to 5 studying in English and Marathi medium schools. Facing backlash from opposition parties and sections of civil society, the government later issued an amended GR on 17 June, making Hindi an optional subject instead. The resolution had said that Hindi would “generally” serve as the third language, but not be mandatory for students from Classes 1 to 5 in English and Marathi medium schools. The cabinet decision came hours after a protest led by Shiv Sena (UBT) in Mumbai and across Maharashtra, during which demonstrators burned copies of the 17 June resolution. Party chief Uddhav Thackeray clarified that he is not against the Hindi language, but opposes its imposition. “We have burnt the copies of the GR, which means we don't accept it. We don't oppose Hindi, but we will not allow its imposition. The government does not understand the reason behind the morcha. Injustice has been meted out to Marathi,” he said. Social security coverage increased significantly in last ten years: Govt STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 29 JUNE India has recorded a phenomenal expansion of social security coverage from 19 per cent in 2015 to 64.3 per cent in 2025, an official communique said. The development has also been acknowledged by the International Labour Organization (ILO) on its ILOSTAT database. “This means that 64.3% of India’s population, i.e. 94.3 crore people, are now covered under at least one social protection benefit,” said the statement issued here on Saturday. In terms of the number of beneficiaries, India now ranks second in the world after China in providing social protection to citizens. The Ministry of Labour and Employment is working closely with the ILO for a national social protection data pooling exercise to obtain a holistic picture of social protection coverage in India, it said. Under this project, encrypted Aadhaar is being used as a unique identifier across 34 major Central schemes such as MGNREGA, EPFO, ESIC, APY, and PMPOSHAN, to identify unique beneficiaries. Financial inclusion has been at the heart of India’s social security push. As of 18 June 2025, over 55.64 crore people hold Jan Dhan accounts, giving them direct access to government benefits and formal banking services, according to the statement.