FOLLOW US: @TheStatesmanLtd @thestatesmanltd thestatesman1875 www.thestatesman.com People’s Parliament, Always in Session India’s National Newspaper since 1818 | Pages 16 | ` 5.00 | KOLKATA LC | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI Govt: Trade deal opens US market Epstein files: Starmer faces leadership crisis NATION SC questions delay in reviewing Sonam’s detention Page 11 Page 12 BRIEFLY Sharad Pawar unwell, taken to Pune hospital: Page 5 SC extends Bengal SIR deadline by one week PARMOD KUMAR New Delhi, 9 February T New Delhi: NCP founder president Sharad Pawar was admitted to Ruby Hospital in Pune for examination after he complained about cough as well as chest congestion on Monday, but his condition is stable, doctors said. Earlier, a team of doctors had gone to his residence at Govind Bagh in Baramati to examine him after which he was hospitalised. Speaking about his illness, Sharad Pawar-led NCP leader Rohit Pawar said, “I request all NCP workers not to come to the hospital. His condition is stable. There is no reason to worry. You should not come here. He has a slight cough. He will be kept here for a few days. He is not in the ICU but in a private room.” he Supreme Court on Monday extended by a week the time for considering claims and objections in respect of questionable voters that have surfaced in the course of the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls in West Bengal. It also directed the State government to ensure that 8,505 of its officers offered by it to the Election Commission of India (ECI) report to the District Electoral Officer by 5.00 pm on Tuesday. The court said that the ECI will have the discretion to use these officers, if found suitable. In a slew of additional directions passed on Monday after more than an hour-long hearing, a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice N.V. Anjaria also directed the Director General of the State Police to file a personal affidavit relating to the non-registration of FIRs against the individuals interfering and obstructing the SIR work including the destruction of material relating to claims and objections. Issuing directions, the Bench said it would ensure that there are no impediments in the conduct of the SIR. “We will not allow any impediment in the conduct of SIR. This must be clear to all States,” Chief Justice Surya Kant said. The Bench recalled its 19 January order wherein it had instructed the West Bengal Director General of Police, Superintendent of Police of each district, and the Collector to ensure that there are no law-and-order problems at Delhi Police register FIR over circulation of former Army Chief’s unpublished book STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 9 February The Delhi Police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) after taking cognisance of reports that a pre-print copy of an unpublished book titled Four Stars of Destiny, authored by former Army Chief General M.M. Naravane, is being circulated online without mandatory official clearance. According to police sources, information surfaced on social media platforms and several news forums claiming that a pre-print version of the book was available on the internet, even though the necessary approvals from the competent authorities for its publication had yet to be obtained. A preliminary verification by the police revealed that a typeset PDF copy of the book, bearing the same title and apparently prepared by Penguin Random House India Private Limited, was accessible on certain websites, sources said. In addition, some online shopping and marketing platforms were found displaying the final cover of the book, giving the impression that it was already available for sale. Considering the sensitivity of the matter, especially given the author’s former position as the Army Chief, the case has been registered with the Special Cell of the Delhi Police Tuesday, 10 February 2026 SPORTS WORLD BUSINESS | to probe the alleged leak or breach. Investigators are examining how the manuscript was leaked, who uploaded it online, and whether any organised network was involved in circulating the unauthorised material. The p olice are also scrutinising digital trails and coordinating with online platforms to trace the origin and spread of the PDF copy. The development comes a week after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was seen holding what was claimed to be a copy of the book inside the Parliament complex. The incident triggered a major political controversy, leading to disruptions in the Lok Sabha proceedings and the suspension of eight Members of Parliament for the remainder of the ongoing Budget session. the location where claims and objections are being considered and that the entire activity proceeds smoothly. Clearing all confusion and doubt as to who will take a final call on the claims and objections, the court made it clear that officers being provided by the West Bengal government, including those already working, and the micro-observers will only be assisting the Electoral Returning Officer (ERO) - who will take the final decision. Referring to the two affidavits filed by the Election Commission of India voicing grievance against the West Bengal government, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that a message must go that the Constitution applies to all States. The Poll panel told the court that it had recommended suspension of certain officers but nothing has been done by the State government. Asking the West Bengal government to look into the affidavit filed by the Election Commission, the court, however, said that the Poll panel will be at liberty to change the officers who are not doing duties as expected. Referring to the instances where notices have been sent flagging a gap of 50 years in the age of the vote and the grandparent, Justice Bagchi said that these are the ground realities when marriages happen at the age of 20 years. Stating that the software being used by the ECI was very restrictive, Justice Bagchi said that Kumar is a middle name in Bengali families. He said that in Tapan Kumar Roy, Kumar is a middle name and notices have been sent to those who have mentioned their name as Tapan Roy. Scotland power past Italy with 73-run win T20 WC clash Page 16 LS standoff: Opposition threatens no-confidence against Speaker Om Birla VIBHA SHARMA New Delhi, 9 February Amid allegations that Opposition voices are being curtailed in Parliament, Congress on Monday indicated a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, a move that has the backing of leading Opposition parties. At the same time, attempts are also under way to resolve the standoff through dialogue and, according to sources, any decision regarding the motion will be taken tomorrow after the Speaker has talked with the government side. After the House was adjourned this afternoon, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav, DMK’s T.R. Baalu, TMC’s Abhishek Banerjee and K.C. Venugopal (Congress) met the Lok Sabha Speaker. “The Opposition MPs presented all their concerns before the Speaker, including the restoration of the suspended MPs. The Speaker said he will speak to the government and give his response tomorrow morning. It is after that the Opposition will take the decision regarding the no-confidence motion,” they added. Political observers described the move as a “pressure tactic” amid the deteriorating relations and mistrust between the Treasury and the Opposition benches. Historically, no motion for the removal of a Lok Sabha Speaker has ever succeeded, and the current effort, too, is seen as largely symbolic, aimed at sending a political message. The tensions stem from a series of incidents inside the Lok Sabha. The Opposition accused the Speaker of bias after Gandhi was not allowed to quote from an unpublished memoir by former Army Chief General M.M. Naravane on the 2020 India-China border standoff while BJP MP Nishikant Dubey was permitted to quote from books critical of former Congress’ prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi. On Monday also, proceedings were marked by adjournments as Opposition members demanded a discussion on the India-US trade framework, and insisted that Gandhi be allowed to speak. Speaking to the media, Venugopal strongly criticised the functioning of the Lok Sabha, accusing the Speaker of marginalising the Opposition. “As per parliamentary conventions, the Leader of Opposition is like a shadow Prime Minister. But here, the LoP is not being allowed to speak in the House. The government can say anything and attack anyone.” PM Modi announces $175 mn spl economic package for Seychelles U-turn: India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup match on STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 9 February New Delhi, 9February Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday announced a USD 175 million special economic package for Seychelles to support the developmental needs of the island nation, especially in the fields of public housing, mobility, infrastructure, capacity building, and maritime security. India and Seychelles also exchanged several MoUs in the fields of health, digital, meteorology, culture, ocean science, food and governance after wide-ranging talks between PM Modi and visiting Seychelles President Patrick Herminie here. “India and Seychelles are connected not just by geography, but by history, trust and a shared vision for the future,’’ the Indian leader said at a joint press interaction with the Seychelles President. Modi welcomed Seychelles as a full-time member of the Colombo Security Conclave and said defence and maritime cooperation are important pillars of the relationship with the Indian Ocean Archipelago. He further noted that India and Seychelles would expand cooperation in the areas of renewable energy, resilience, and climate-adaptive solutions. As maritime neighbours, the blue economy is a natural area of cooperation between the two countries, and India will share its expertise in marine research and capacity building with Seychelles, he added. AGENCIES Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has given the green light to the Pakistan men's team to play arch-rivals India in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Colombo on Sunday. An official announcement of the U-turn by Pakistan will be made later. The change in stance in the Pakistan government has come because of requests made by the Sri Lankan President, Telecom Asia Sport reported on Monday. After a telephonic conversation between Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the Pakistan government has finally relented and decided to allow the team to play the match. A hardline approach by the ICC, which had threatened severe action against Pakistan too has worked. The Pakistani cricket team should play the Pakistan-India match being held in Sri Lanka so as not to cause huge losses to Sri Lanka. That was the gist of the request by the Sri Lankan President to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, said the report in www.telecomasia.net. The report said the Pakistan government decides to accept the request by the Sri Lankan President because during the period of suspension of international cricket in Pakistan, Sri Lanka had fully supported Pakistan cricket and also toured the country after normalisation of things. "Pakistan always gives priority to its long-standing relations with Sri Lanka above all, and despite terrorism (in Sri Lanka in mid 1990s), the Pakistani cricket team continued touring Sri Lanka to play cricket, the Sri Lankan President said during his conversation with PM Sharif, the Pakistan PMO said regarding the telephonic talk. The Telecom Asia Sport report said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the sentiments expressed by the Sri Lankan President and also noted that Sri Lanka also stood firmly by Pakistan during difficult times and continued playing cricket in Pakistan. Geo News and Dawn newspaper also reported late on Monday night that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has given the go-ahead for the game to take place as per schedule. Who will be the next Prime Minister of Bangladesh? NAEM NIZAM Dhaka, 9 February Bangladesh heads toward a consequential vote on Feb. 12, when a national parliamentary election will be held alongside a nationwide referendum — an unprecedented pairing that has heightened political tension and deepened uncertainty about the country’s future leadership. The simultaneous polls have raised concerns about complexity, transparency and credibility. With the interim government openly campaigning for a “Yes” vote in the referendum, critics fear administrative bias and delays in announcing results. Officials have suggested that tabulation could take several days, a prospect opposition parties say could invite manipulation. The country’s oldest and most dominant political force, Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League, is absent from the contest. Its exclusion has dramatically reshaped the political field, leaving two former allies — the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami — as the principal rivals. Their competition, once directed jointly against the Awami League, has now turned into a direct struggle for power.For years, Bangladesh’s elections followed a familiar script: rivalry between the Awami League and the BNP, with smaller parties playing supporting roles. This time, the outcome is far from clear. The absence of the Awami League has fueled intense public debate over who will emerge as the next prime minister. Many within the BNP believe that their de facto leader, Tarique Rahman - the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia - is the front-runner. Others argue that Jamaat-e-Islami’s ameer, Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, could spring a surprise. At the grassroots level, competition between the two parties has grown increasingly tense, with clashes reported in several areas. The election unfolds amid doubts about the broader political transition. After Sheikh Hasina’s government fell in a mass uprising, hopes were high that an interim administration led by the Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus would restore stability, pursue accountability and carry out long-promised reforms. Nearly a year and a half later, critics say, those expectations have not been met.Instead, they point to what they describe as politics of retribution, incidents of mob violence, allegations of killings and property seizures, and growing insecurity among minority communities. Even the historic residence of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country’s founding leader, has been attacked and vandalised, an act that many see as a troubling signal for Bangladesh’s political culture. Despite these criticisms, the interim government has pressed ahead with the election. Demonstrations demanding its cancellation have been broken up by security forces, while some officials are accused of rushing through major international trade and business agreements in the final weeks of their tenure. The Awami League, meanwhile, has retreated from both electoral politics and street agitation. Party leaders say they need time to regroup after losing power under what critics described as weak leadership. Yet, dissatisfaction with the interim administration has prompted some voters to reassess the Awami League’s record, with many saying they would have supported it had it been allowed to run — a sentiment its supporters argue explains why it was excluded.Memories of past disputed elections loom large. The BNP and Jamaat boycotted the 2014 and 2024 polls, accusing the Awami League of engineering landslide victories through administrative control, pre-filled ballot boxes and the politicisation of security forces. Although the Awami League retained power through those elections, its grip ultimately collapsed. Now, with roughly 41 per cent of voters traditionally aligned with the Awami League left without a clear choice, both the BNP and Jamaat are courting its supporters. The Awami League has called for a boycott, but other figures, including members of the Jatiya Party and independent candidates like Abdul Latif Siddique, have entered the race, hoping to capture fragments of its base.The BNP is treating the election as a decisive test. Party leaders initially assumed victory was assured; they now acknowledge Jamaat’s growing organisational strength. Jamaat, in turn, accuses the BNP of past abuses of power and argues that disillusioned voters may turn to it as an alternative.Underlying the contest is a deep lack of trust. The BNP fears administrative interference and says delays in announcing results could alter outcomes. Jamaat supporters, for their part, believe the party has never before entered an election with such momentum. For the BNP, defeat would risk plunging the party into crisis. For Jamaat, even a strong showing would mark a historic breakthrough. If the BNP prevails, Tarique Rahman — who has effectively led the party since his mother’s imprisonment — is expected to become prime minister. If the result is fractured, analysts speculate about more unexpected governing arrangements.Beyond party fortunes, the larger question is whether the election itself will be accepted as legitimate. Bangladesh has held referendums before, but never on the same day as a parliamentary vote. Managing balloting for nearly 130 million voters — including expatriates — will severely test the Election Commission’s capacity.As Bangladesh approaches Feb. 12, the mechanics of voting may prove as consequential as the outcome. The election will determine not only who governs, but also whether confidence can be restored in the country’s democratic process — and whether the ideals of the 1971 Liberation War still resonate in its political life. (The author is former Editor of Bangladesh Pratidin. )