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 | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW | SILIGURI Saturday, 08 August 2026 SPORTS SATURDAY INTERVIEW ‘AK-47 show was unacceptable’ EDITORIAL | Spinners revive India as Gill suffers finger injury WORLD Page 7 Beyond the retest Student gunman kills seven in Thailand shooting spree Page 6 Page 9 BRIEFLY Govt rejects criticism of FCRA Bill: New Delhi: Rejecting criticism of the proposed Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) asserted on Friday that the legislation is an “internal matter” to be decided by Parliament. The response came days after a Republican US Congressman alleged that the proposed bill amounted to “a clear attack against Christians”. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “As far as legislative matters are concerned, and particularly matters relating to India’s own legislation, this is an internal matter for us, on which our Parliament takes the decision”. PM’s breakfast diplomacy spotlights rebel TMC MPs STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 7 August P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hosted a breakfast meeting with newly inducted National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Members of Parliament, including the rebel Trinamul Congress (TMC) MPs who recently broke away to merge with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI). Mr Modi is reported to have urged the MPs to play a more active role in the ongoing Monsoon Session and assured them that every constituent of the ruling alliance would enjoy equal importance in shaping the government’s legislative agenda. The outreach, coming at a time when the Centre is widely expected to revive politically sensitive proposals such as the delimitation exercise and the women’s reservation legislation, was viewed as an effort to translate the NDA’s newly expanded parliamentary strength into legislative cohesion. Mr Modi interacted with 19 former TMC MPs who joined the NCPI and six former Uddhav Sena MPs who have aligned with the Eknath Shindeled Shiv Sena. Bengali actor and Ghatal MP Deepak Adhikari missed the meeting owing to a prior shooting commitment. Key bills, including FCRA amendment likely next week, Congress issues whip India and China agree to avoid misunderstanding, miscalculation along LAC VIBHA SHARMA STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE With the BJP-led government likely to introduce key legislations, including the contentious Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 (FCRA Bill), in the coming week, the Congress on Friday issued a three-line whip to its MPs. The whip issued to Congress MPs in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha directs them to remain present on 10, 11 and 12 August, as “very important” issues are expected to be taken up for discussion. Sources said the party has also conveyed to INDIA bloc allies to ensure the presence of their MPs during these three days. This comes amid reports that the FCRA Amendment Bill could be brought up for India and China have agreed to continue to use existing diplomatic and military channels, including the working mechanism on border affairs, local commanderlevel meetings and other agreed mechanisms, to resolve outstanding issues and avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation along the LAC. At the 36th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India- China Border Affairs (WMCC) held in New Delhi on Thursday, the two countries underlined that maintaining peace and tranquility in the border areas is essential for the overall development of bilateral relations. The Indian delegation was led by Sujit Ghosh, Joint New Delhi, 7 August New Delhi, 7 August discussion and passage in Parliament next week. There is also speculation that the Narendra Modi government may try to push its other ambitious legislative agenda related to 33 per cent reservation for women and the delimitation exercise. Sources say Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday also held discussions regarding the coming week Secretary (East Asia), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) while the Chinese delegation was led by Hou Yanqi, Director General of the Boundary and Oceanic Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The MEA said the two sides engaged in frank discussions and reviewed the situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). As a follow up to the outcomes of the 24th Special Representatives’ talks, the two sides held detailed exchanges on issues related to border management and trans-border cooperation. The Indian side reiterated the need for early convening of the next meeting of the Expert Level Mechanism on trans-border rivers and emphasised the importance of sharing technical details on upstream projects. PM Modi-Badal meeting rekindles talk of SAD-BJP reunion ahead of Punjab polls STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 7 August A meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal at the Parliament House complex in New Delhi on Friday has reignited political speculation over the possible revival of the Bharatiya Janata Party-Shiromani Akali Dal alliance ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. Although neither the Prime Minister's Office nor the Shiromani Akali Dal issued any official statement detailing the outcome of the meeting, political circles viewed the high-profile interaction as significant given the timing, the evolving political landscape in Punjab, and the electoral challenges confronting both parties. It is seen as the strongest indication yet that the two former allies may be exploring a return to their long-standing partnership after a six-year separation triggered by the farm laws controversy. According to sources familiar with the discussions, Sukhbir Singh Badal raised a series of Punjab-specific issues with the Prime Minister, including concerns over the state's deteriorating law and order situation, recurring examination paper leak cases, the growing menace of narcotics, and allegations of corruption in welfare schemes under the Aam Aadmi Party government. Sources indicated that Mr Badal stressed the need for coordinated efforts to address governance and security challenges in the sensitive border state. However, the political significance of the meeting extended well beyond governance issues. Sources said discussions also touched upon the future relationship between the BJP and the SAD, with alliance prospects reportedly figuring prominently. The meeting has revived speculation that both parties may be attempting to rebuild political bridges before the next Assembly elections. The BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal shared one of India's oldest and most durable political alliances, remaining partners for nearly twenty-five years. Together, they governed Punjab for three terms between 1997 and 2002, 2007 and 2012, and 2012 and 2017, with the Akali Dal serving as the senior partner while the BJP represented largely urban constituencies. The alliance came to an abrupt end in September 2020 after the Shiromani Akali Dal withdrew from the National Democratic Alliance in protest against the Centre's three farm laws. According to sources, PM Modi assured the newly inducted legislators that they would receive the same respect and opportunities as longstanding NDA constituents and would play an equal role in advancing the alliance’s developmental priorities. Significantly, three MPs from the breakaway TMC ~ Abu Taher Khan, Khalilur Rahaman and Yusuf Pathan ~ later held a separate meeting with PM Modi to discuss constituency-specific concerns. The three had earlier skipped several NDA coordina-tion meetings amid concerns over possible political repercussions in their Muslim-majority constituencies. Their meeting with Mr Modi came a day after discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during which they raised issues relating to Special Intensive Revision (SIR) tribunals and the reported removal of loudspeakers from mosques. Page 12 India distances itself from Hasina press meet, says doesn’t endorse her remarks NIKHIL VYAS New Delhi, 7 August The government on Friday reiterated that it had no role in former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent virtual media interaction in the national capital, saying the press conference was hosted independently by a private media organisation. New Delhi also clarified that it does not endorse anything said at the forum, especially with regard to the ruling dispensation in Bangladesh. India’s reaction comes after the virtual media interaction drew criticism from Dhaka, with Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issuing a statement on Wednesday describing the press briefing as an “affront to the sovereignty of Bangladesh” and warning that such events could affect efforts to strengthen bilateral relations. Addressing a media briefing here, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “The Government had no role to play in what was an event by a private media entity. The Government does not endorse anything said at the forum, especially with regard to the duly constituted Government of Bangladesh.” The media event was organised by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club (FCC) of South Asia, a private media entity. The government’s clarification follows Sheikh Hasina’s first virtual press briefing from New Delhi on Wednesday, marking her first media address since departing Bangladesh in 2024. During the interaction, she expressed her resolve to return to her homeland later this year despite potential risks. “Whatever fate awaits me, I will return to my people. I cannot stay away while my beloved countrymen are suffering... I want to go back in December,” she said. The live media interaction drew sharp criticism from Dhaka. In an official statement, issued on the second anniversary of the July Revolution, the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Sheikh Hasina of using the platform to unleash “venomous vitriol” against the country and its citizens, calling the event conducted from Indian soil “a grievous insult” to the “martyrs of the July Revolution”.