www.thestatesman.com India’s National Newspaper since 1818 BRIEFLY No handshake at U-19 WC toss underscores India-B’desh frost: New Delhi: The recent strain in cricketing ties between India and Bangladesh was evident on Saturday when India captain Ayush Mhatre and Bangladesh vice-captain Zawad Abrar skipped the customary handshake at the toss ahead of their Group A clash at the ICC Under-19 World Cup at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. The toss, which was delayed by more than 15 minutes due to drizzle, passed without the customary exchange of pleasantries, as neither Mhatre nor Abrar initiated a handshake. After Bangladesh won the toss and chose to bowl first, the two completed their brief interviews before heading straight back to their respective dressing rooms. The incident follows a broader pattern adopted by Indian teams in recent times. Page 16 | Pages 16 | | ` 5.00 FOLLOW US: | @TheStatesmanLtd KOLKATA | @thestatesmanltd NEW DELHI STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE India on Saturday clarified that it did not participate in the “BRICS Naval Exercise’’ since it was not a regular or institutionalised activity of SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday accused leaders of the ruling Trinamul Congress (TMC) and its "syndicates" of playing vote-bank politics by allegedly enrolling infiltrators in the electoral rolls of West Bengal. Addressing a political rally titled ‘Parivartan Sankalpo Sabha’ at Nityanandpur in Malda district, the Prime Minister said driving out infiltrators had become one of the biggest challenges in the state. “Continuous infiltration in districts like Malda and Murshidabad has led to repeated communal tensions and riots , which are increasing day by day. Infiltrators are snatching away the rights of the original poor ~ their land and even their food. This must be stopped,” Mr Modi said. Drawing a comparison with developed nations, the Prime Minister added: “Countries with strong economies take firm action against infiltration. West Bengal must do the same. the multinational grouping but entirely a South African initiative. “We clarify that the exercise in question was entirely a South African initiative in which some BRICS members took part. It was not a regular | 18 January 2026 On their return, Indians describe situation in Iran as ‘very bad’ India pushes for consular access to detained sailors: Countries with strong economies take firm action against infiltration. West Bengal must do the same. But can this happen under the TMC government? Malda, 17 January NARENDRA MODI, PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA But can this happen under the TMC government? It will only be possible when the BJP forms the government here and takes decisive action.” Referring to the alleged attack on a woman journalist in Murshidabad a day earlier, Mr Modi claimed that TMC-backed miscreants had misbehaved with and assaulted her, calling it an example of the prevailing law-and-order situation in the state. The Prime Minister also spoke about refugees who had taken shelter in West Bengal after fleeing neighbouring countries to protect their lives and religious identity. He said communities such as the Namasudra and Matua would be granted Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and need not fear. “This will be possible only with your support and your vote for the BJP,” he said. In a sharp attack on the Mamata Banerjee-led government, Mr Modi termed the TMC administration “cruel INDIA CURRENTLY HOLDS THE BRICS CHAIR AND IS PREPARING TO HOST THE LEADERS’ SUMMIT LATER IN 2026, WHICH CHINESE PRESIDENT XI JINPING AND RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN ARE EXPECTED TO ATTEND. New Delhi, 17 January | Modi accuses TMC of vote bank politics in Bengal rally India clarifies its position on not participating in BRICS naval drills STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE People’s Parliament, Always in Session thestatesman1875 or institutionalised BRICS activity, nor did all BRICS members take part in it. India has not participated in previous such activities,’’ Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in response to questions. He said the regular exercise that India is a part of in this context is the IBSAMAR maritime exercise that brings together the navies of India, Brazil and South Africa. The last edition of IBSAMAR was held in October 2024. The clarification came in the wake of reports that New Delhi chose to stay away from the drills since it did not want to be seen in the company of the countries at loggerheads with the United States. China, Russia, Iran and South Africa participated in the military drill. Brazil, another founding member of BRICS, also declined to send naval assets for the exercise, limiting its role to that of an observer. India currently holds the BRICS chair and is preparing to host the leaders’ summit later in 2026, in which Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin are expected to attend. and heartless” and asserted that the government must be changed in the 2026 Assembly elections. Referring to recent electoral trends and results, including in Bihar, the Prime Minister said the BJP’s victory march would continue. “I had said earlier that after Bihar, the BJP will win again, especially in Bengal where the Ganga flows,” he remarked. “This time, it is West Bengal’s turn. The people of Bengal have resolved to ensure the BJP’s victory. I have come to restore faith in good governance and real change,” he said. STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 17 January Several Indian nationals, who were stranded in Iran in the midst of deteriorating security in the Middle Eastern country in the wake of anti-government protests, landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi late Friday evening. The protests that began at Tehran's Grand Bazaar on 28 December over the record fall in the value of the Iranian currency (rial) later resulted in nationwide demonstrations. The decline in the currency followed multiple crises. The Indian nationals' return came after India advised them to leave Iran due to the volatile security situation there, with the Ministry of External Affairs on Friday stressing that it is closely monitoring the developments and is “committed to doing whatever is necessary for their well-being.” An advisory issued by the Indian Embassy in Tehran asked Indian nationals, including students, business people, pilgrims and tourists, to depart Iran through available means of transport, including commercial flights, citing the “evolving situation.” A parallel advisory issued by the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi strongly advised Indians to avoid travel to Iran until further notice in view of ongoing developments. It reiterated an earlier advisory issued on 5 Tehran: The Indian Embassy in Tehran has urged Iranian authorities to grant consular access to 16 Indian sailors detained aboard the vessel MT Valiant Roar. Since 14 December 2025, repeated requests have been made through diplomatic correspondence and meetings, including at the ambassadorial level, but access has not yet been granted, according to an embassy statement. The embassy has also asked that the crew be allowed to communicate with their families in India. January, urging Indians in Iran to remain cautious and avoid participating in protests. An Indian national, who returned from Iran, described the “bad situation” in Iran and thanked the Indian government for cooperating with the nationals to help them leave the country. Mumbai to get mayor only after 26 Jan, both BJP, Shinde Sena vie for post STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Mumbai, 17 January Mumbai is likely to get a mayor only after 26 January due to various commitments of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as well as other factors, official sources said here on Saturday. According to sources, Mr Fadnavis left for the Davos Investment Summit on Friday night and will return only on 25 January, due to which the election to the Mumbai mayor's post is expected to take place after his return. There are also other factors at work. Sources said that the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena plans to stake its claim to the Mumbai mayor's post. Contesting or conceding such claims or arriving at a consensus about the Mumbai Mayor's Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis waves after BJP wins the Municipal Corporation elections in Mumbai on Friday. AGENCIES post is going to take some time even after Mr Fadnavis returns to Mumbai, sources said. Besides, there is also a reservation-based lottery system which will decide who gets to become Mumbai Mayor. In order to get a majority and be eligible to elect the mayor of Mumbai, a party or alliance needs to win at least 114 municipal corporation wards. As things stand, the BJP has emerged as the single-largest party in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) winning 89 wards out of a total 227 municipal corporation wards, while its ally, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, has won 29 wards in the BMC. Taken together, the ruling BJP-led Mahayuti alliance has won 118 wards in the BMC. The winning party or alliance decides which party's candidate would get the mayor's post. The process is more or less similar to how the prime minister or chief ministers are elected from the elected members of legislatures, with one big difference ~ there is a lottery system which takes reserved categories into consideration, when it comes to electing Mumbai's mayor. The mayor is elected on a rotational basis to give representation to the General category, Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Castes (OBCs) as well as women. The lottery, which is conducted by the state’s Urban Development Department, will ultimately decide who gets to be Mumbai mayor. Budget FY27: Economic reform or electoral calculus as Bengal polls loom SHAHID K ABBAS New Delhi, 17 January As the countdown to thr Union Budget 2026-27 begins, all eyes are on Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who will present her ninth consecutive budget on 1 February ~ an event that has become the country’s biggest annual economic and political moment. Coming early in the second full year of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term, the 88th Union Budget is expected to outline the government’s medium-term growth strategy. Yet, with a clutch of crucial state Assembly elections due shortly ~ most notably West Bengal, where the BJP is going "whole hog” to unseat the Trinamul Congress ~ the question being asked in policy and political circles alike is whether Budget 2026-27 will be shaped as much by electoral arithmetic as by economic logic. High Stakes Budget in a Politically Charged Year: The 2026-27 Union Budget arrives at a sensitive juncture: growth remains resilient but uneven, consumption has been propped up by fiscal measures, and states like West Bengal are heading into elections where economic messaging could prove decisive. Media reports suggest the government will double down on priority sectors such as railways, MSMEs, defence, infrastructure and green energy, while sustaining last year’s consumption push. The breadth of expectations ~ from taxpayers to industry lobbies ~ underscores how politically consequential this budget could be. Fiscal Discipline v/s Growth Push: Many economists argue that the budget must resist populist temptations and stay anchored in structural reform. Piyush Doshi, Operating Partner at the Foundation for Economic Development, stresses the need for continuity and discipline. “The budget should build on deregu lation, deepen customs reforms, liberalise FDI, and push asset monetisation, with a focus on sectors like tourism and labourintensive manufacturing,” he says, cautioning that credibility with investors will matter more than short-term giveaways. Mohit Gulati, CIO and Managing Partner of ITI Growth Opportunities Fund, frames Budget 2026-27 as a test of execution. “A decisive Atmanirbhar budget about strength, scale, and execution is needed, focusing on defence, semiconductors, electronics, energy, and real domestic capacity,” Gulati says. Such capital-heavy sectors, analysts note, also dovetail with the BJP’s nationalistic economic narrative. Tax Relief and the Middle-Class Signal: Taxpayers, however, are watching closely. After last year’s sweeping overhaul of the new tax regime ~ effectively making income tax nil for those earning up to Rs 12 lakh annually ~ expectations of further relief remain high. Analysts points to the need for stability rather than surprise. “Concrete moves on tax certainty and smoother compliance, notably a careful rollout of the New Income Tax Act 2025 with clear guidance, TDS rationalisation, customs tariff simplification, and bolstered dispute-resolution mechanisms are expected,” said a report on Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance. More direct relief could also carry electoral overtones. Several economists have recommended that the basic exemption limit of Rs 4 lakh should be enhanced to Rs 6 lakh for salaried employees, a move that would benefit urban and semiurban voters—an audience the BJP is keen to consolidate ahead of state elections. Infrastructure, Jobs and the Political Optics: Infrastructure spending remains the government’s most reliable lever for both growth and political messaging. Rahul Deb Banerjee, Chief Operating Officer of Clarks Hotels & Resorts, argues for sustained momentum. “Continued support in areas such as capital investment incentives, interest support mechanisms, technology adoption, and sustainable practices would further reinforce the sector’s growth trajectory and its contribution to employment and economic expansion,” he says. Employment creation ~ especially for youth ~ could be critical in states heading into elections. Reports highlight expectations of “investments in digital learning, AI, and infrastruc- ture that create skilled jobs,” areas that allow the Centre to claim long-term vision while addressing immediate anxieties. Green energy and agriculture are also likely to feature prominently. Reform Budget or Poll-Conscious Blueprint? The central question remains whether Budget 2026-27 will tilt towards electoral pragmatism or stay firmly reform-driven. Historically, Ms Sitharaman has positioned herself as a fiscally conservative finance minister, often resisting overt populism even in politically sensitive years. Yet, with the BJP eyeing breakthroughs in upcoming Assembly elections, the pressure to send a strong welfare-and-growth signal cannot be ignored.