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 Zelenskyy refuses to cede land to Russia PERSPECTIVE Page 9 Page 7 Delhi’s at work to fix pollution Trump hints at imposing new tariffs on rice imports Page 10 BRIEFLY SC issues notice to ECI over Assam electoral roll revision plea: New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to the Election Commission of India (ECI) on a writ petition challenging the poll panel’s decision to conduct only a “Special Revision” of the electoral rolls in Assam, instead of undertaking a more rigorous “Special Intensive Revision” (SIR) ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi sought the ECI’s response and posted the matter for further hearing next Tuesday. The petition, filed by senior advocate and former Gauhati High Court Bar Association President Mrinal Kumar Choudhury, argued that Assam has been “singled out” for a diluted revision exercise, even though the ECI had informed the apex court that SIR would be conducted pan-India. Page 8 CM tears up Centre’s letter, warns of BJP ‘concentration camps’ STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Siliguri, 9 December I n a dramatic show of defiance, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday tore up a letter sent by the Central Government during a massive political rally at Raas Mela Ground in Cooch Behar, accusing the Centre of withholding funds for Bengal’s flagship 100-day job scheme and attempting to destabilise the state through divisive policies. Addressing the rally, Miss Banerjee said her government had received a letter from the Deepam row: INDIA bloc seeks impeachment of Justice GR Swaminathan STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Chennai, 9 December Accompanied by leaders of the INDIA Bloc, DMK Parliamentary Party leader Kanimozhi (photo) on Tuesday submitted an impeachment notice to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking removal of Justice GR Swaminathan of the Madras High Court’s Madurai Bench, who has stirred a hornet’s nest with his orders on lighting the ceremonial Karthigai Deepam at a stone pillar near the Sikkandar Dargah atop the rocky Thiruparankundram hillock, above the famed Murugan temple in Madurai. The impeachment motion, signed by 107 MPs, accuses Justice Swaminathan of ‘judicial overreach’ and acts ‘amounting to misbehaviour’ besides ideological bias in his orders on lighting deepam. The delegation that met the Speaker comprised Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, S Venkatesan of CPI-M, the MP from Madurai, DMK MPs, A Raja and TR Baalu, VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan as well as other MPs from the INDIA alliance. Wednesday, 10 December 2025 SPORTS WORLD BUSINESS | Centre outlining “specific modalities” mandated by a court order for the implementation of the MGNREGA 100 - day work scheme. Holding up the letter before the crowd, she criticised the Union Government for “stopping funds meant for the poorest of the poor.” The Chief Minister declared that Bengal would not “beg” for funds and asserted that the state had already introduced its own parallel employment initiative, Karmashree, modelled on MGNREGA. “We will return to power again and expand the 75-day Bengal only state with MGNREGS wage liabilities job scheme to 80 days under Karmashree,” she said. Turning her guns on the BJP, Miss Banerjee warned that if the party came to power in Bengal, the state would be “destroyed” and “turned into a detention camp.” “You will have no existence, no honour, and no identity,” she cautioned, alleging that the BJP planned to divide Bengal. “Do you want Bengal to be divided? Do you want Cooch Behar to be separated from Bengal? We will resist such attempts at any cost.” She said that protecting Bengal was essential to protecting the nation. “Bengal can save the country ~ when Bengal moves forward, the country moves forward,” she said. Accusing the BJP of spreading misinformation, Miss Banerjee mocked the Prime Minister as “Godibabu”, alleging he could not even correctly refer to literary icons such as Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. She described the Central government as “dictatorial and oppressive,” stating that Central agencies had been reduced to “puppets.” New Delhi: Bengal is the sole state with uncleared, due, and admissible pending wage liabilities from the previous financial year (2024-25 under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Generation Scheme (MGNREGS), the Central government disclosed in the Lok Sabha today. The admission came in a written answer by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development, Kamlesh Paswan, to an unstarred question (No. 1508) raised by Trinamul Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee. The minister explicitly noted that all due and admissible pending wage liabilities up to FY 2024-25 for all States/UTs “have already been cleared (except in case of State of West Bengal).” • More reports: Pages 2, 3 • Details on Page 3 Bruno Fernandes stars as Man Utd beat Wolves Page 12 IndiGo crisis: PM expresses concern STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 9 December Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that ordinary citizens must not be inconvenienced by systems meant to serve them, referring to the ongoing IndiGo Airlines crisis. Briefing on the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting, Union Parliamentary and Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju told media persons that PM Modi expressed concern over the chaos triggered by the mass cancellation of IndiGo flights, and stressed that passengers must not face inconvenience under any circumstances. “The Prime Minister also told MPs that people should not be troubled or inconvenienced. Rules and laws are important, but in the process of correcting the system, it is not right to harass people,” Mr Rijiju said. PM Modi also asked MPs to strengthen their connection with the public and reiterated the government’s commitment to reforms that improve daily life. “Rules and regulations must be for improving the system, not to harass people. The purpose of rules is to ease people’s lives, not harass them,” Mr Rijiju said, quoting the Rajya Sabha debate on Vande Mataram turns into fierce political showdown between Kharge and BJP leaders STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE PM Modi and Amit Shah leave no chance to insult Jawaharlal Nehru and other Congress leaders. New Delhi, 9 December Congress President and Rajya Sabha Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge launched a blistering attack against the BJP government during Tuesday’s debate on the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, accusing the ruling party of exploiting the patriotic song for political mileage while sidelining pressing national concerns. Opening his speech with the chant “Vande Mataram,” Mr Kharge remarked pointedly, “We have a habit of singing ‘Vande Mataram,’ but those who didn’t use to, now have started it as well. This is the power of ‘Vande Mataram’!” The jibe was aimed at BJP’s ideological ancestors, whom he charged with historically distancing themselves from the freedom movement. Kharge MALLIKARJUN KHARGE, RAJYA SABHA LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION accused the government of hijacking a revered national symbol to distract the public from real issues facing the country today. His remarks followed a robust defense by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who dismissed claims that the debate was politically motivated ahead of the West Bengal assembly elections. Responding to Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s criticism ~ who called the selective adoption of only two stanzas of the original poem “an insult” to freedom fighters and Constitution makers ~ Shah urged critics to rethink their stance. “Those linking the Vande Mataram discussion to the Bengal polls must reconsider their understanding,” he said, accusing Congress of politicising a patriotic subject. Mr Shah also took aim at India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, blaming him for limiting the use of the poem to two stanzas in 1937, which Shah labelled “the beginning of appeasement politics” leading to India’s partition. Emphasising the song’s timeless significance, Shah asserted: “The need for discussion was as relevant when the song was written during the freedom movement, today, and will be as relevant in 2047 when Viksit Bharat is achieved.” Mr Kharge, undeterred, took a sharp dig at Mr Shah and PM Modi, accusing them of frequently disparaging Congress leaders. “PM Modi and Amit Shah leave no chance to insult Jawaharlal Nehru and other Congress leaders,” he said with a wry smile, adding: “But that is only natural. Wherever PM goes, Amit Shah follows!” Prime Minister. Coming against the backdrop of IndiGo’s continuing flight cancellations, the PM’s statements hold significance. The government has already warned of strict action against IndiGo, with the airline losing flight schedules. The PM also honoured the supreme sacrifice of Guru Gobind Singh’s sons ~ Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh ~ and urged nationwide observance of Veer Bal Diwas on 26 December, which commemorates the martyrdom of the Sahibzadas. Informing about the discussions during the meeting, Mr Rijiju said the PM told MPs to focus on reforms for the betterment of people and stressed that ease of life and ease of doing business were top priorities of his government. Reforms should be brought in all aspects of society and not just in the economy, the PM said. Mr Rijiju said the PM told all NDA MPs to work together and accelerate development works at triple the speed and connect with youths, sports and other activities. “All NDA leaders congratulated PM Modi for the NDA’s victory in the Bihar elections. PM Modi guided all the NDA MPs to work for their respective constituencies. He emphasised undertaking reforms across all sectors to ease the public’s lives and ensure they face no problems. He also urged the MPs to connect with the youth,” the minister said. • Another report: Page 5 Rahul flags integrity concerns in Lok Sabha debate on electoral reforms STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 9 December In a sharp and compelling address in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi led the Opposition’s push for comprehensive electoral reforms, invoking the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and raising serious concerns about the state of institutional integrity and equality in India’s democracy. During the high-stakes discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Mr Gandhi recalled the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi by Nathuram Godse, setting a solemn tone for his argument. “In 1948, three bullets pierced the chest of Mahatma Gandhi. Nathuram Godse assassinated the father of our nation,” he said, emphasising the ongoing threat posed by divisive forces to the democratic fabric of the country. Mr Gandhi accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of orchestrating a wholesale capture of India’s institutions. “The RSS fundamentally does not believe in equality; they believe in hierarchy,” he asserted. PM Modi to kick off BJP’s Bengal campaign; party leaders to avoid personal attacks against Mamata Microsoft to invest $17.5 billion in India to drive AI; Satya Nadella meets PM Modi VIBHA SHARMA New Delhi, 9 December New Delhi, 9 December Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to launch the BJP’s campaign for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections with at least seven high-profile rallies before the election dates are announced. He is expected to intensify criticism of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamul Congress (TMC) by focusing on development, law and order, women’s safety, and governance. Mamata Banerjee has already demanded an apology from the Prime Minister, alleging that he insulted Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay by referring to him as “Bankim da” during the debate on Vande Mataram in Parliament on Monday. It remains to be seen how the PM responds to this new challenge. Armed with the newly crafted ‘Vande Mataram’ political tool, PM Modi is expected to hold at least seven rallies across the state, focusing on urban and semi-urban constituencies where the BJP has a chance. The BJP’s strategy aims to consolidate Hindu voters with RSS support while highlighting development projects showcased during the PM’s earlier visits; however, learning from the 2021 elections ~ when BJP leaders made personal attacks on Mamata that backfired, alienating voters and boosting her sympathy vote ~ the party will avoid direct personal remarks against her this time, say sources. The PM is expected to address a rally in Hooghly’s Arambagh soon, which will be followed by RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s tour. Notably, Dilip Ghosh’s controversial “Bermuda” remark in 2021 was seen as a major misstep. Speaking at a rally, the then state BJP president mocked Mamata’s leg injury with a jibe about her attire and wheelchair ~ comments widely perceived as “sexist.” Similar remarks by other BJP leaders also boomeranged, generating PM Narendra Modi with Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Health Minister JP Nadda, and other NDA leaders during the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting at Parliament Library Building, in New Delhi on Tuesday. AGENCIES sympathy among women voters who saw them as insults toward Miss Banerjee, viewed as Bengal’s resilient “Didi.” Senior BJP leaders admit that such comments made the party appear insensitive, especially to women voters ~ crucial for any BJP victory, as seen in recent elections such as in Bihar. These miscalculations are believed to have contributed to the TMC’s landslide win despite the BJP’s best efforts. “She is wearing a saree with one leg exposed. Wear Bermuda instead so everyone can take a clear look,” Mr Ghosh was quoted as saying. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Microsoft is set to invest $17.5 billion in India for AI, an announcement coming after its Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ahead of its India AI tour. In their meeting, both leaders discussed the country’s AI roadmap and growth priorities, the company said in a statement. “We are announcing our largest investment in Asia ~ US$17.5 billion over four years (CY 2026 to 2029) ~to advance the country’s cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, skilling and ongoing operations. This investment builds on the US$3 billion investment announced earlier this year, which we are on track to spend by the end of CY2026,” the statement read. Microsoft’s investment in India focuses on three pillars ~ scale, skills and sovereignty ~ aligned with the Prime Minister’s vision of building a comprehensive ecosystem that drives AI innovation and access at a national scale, it said. The company’s CEO, Satya Nadella in a post on X said: “Thank you, PM Narendra Modi, for an inspiring conversation on India’s AI opportunity. To support the country’s ambitions, Microsoft is committing $17.5 billion ~ our largest investment ever in Asia ~ to help build the infrastructure, skills, and sovereign capabilities needed for India’s AI first future.” Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday expressed happiness that Microsoft will be making its largest-ever investment of $17.5 Billion in Asian in India. “When it comes to AI, the world is optimistic about India! Had a very productive discussion with Mr Satya Nadella. Happy to see India being the place where Microsoft will make its largest-ever investment in Asia. The youth of India will harness this opportunity to innovate and leverage the power of AI for a better planet,’’ the PM wrote on X.