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 LC | NEW DELHI | MUMBAI | BHUBANESWAR | LUCKNOW End hostilities and pursue peace: PM Modi to Putin STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE New Delhi, 31 August P rime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday told Russian President Vladimir Putin that “every day of the war sets humanity back” and stressed that nations must work towards ending hostilities. The two leaders reviewed the India-Russia strategic partnership, including trade, energy supplies, fertiliser shipments, defence cooperation and regional security, on the sidelines of the 26th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The meeting assumed significance against the backdrop of the continuing Russia-Ukraine war, the volatile security situation in West Asia and growing pressure on global energy markets. India has consistently maintained that conflicts must be resolved through dialogue, diplomacy and negotiations while seeking to protect its economic and strategic interests. “Every day of war sets humanity back. We must work towards ending hostilities,” Modi told Putin during the talks, reiterating New Delhi’s position that a peaceful resolution is essential for wider global stability. The Prime Minister also underlined India’s broader approach to international conflicts, saying “India advocates for resolving all problems peacefully, which is necessary for all of humanity”. He reiterated that dialogue, diplomacy and negotiations remain the only viable way forward in addressing complex regional and global security challenges. In a post on social media platform X after the meeting, Modi said, “Always a delight to meet President Putin,” reflecting the longstanding personal rapport between the two leaders. The discussions also covered the full spectrum of the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership, with particular attention to expanding bilateral economic engagement and ensuring reliable supplies of energy and fertilisers. The two sides reviewed ways to further strengthen trade and economic cooperation at a time when bilateral commerce has crossed the $100-billion mark but remains heavily tilted in Russia’s favour. Modi’s meeting with Putin thus combined immediate concerns over energy, fertilisers, trade and defence with wider discussions on regional and global security. While reaffirming the depth of India-Russia ties, Modi's emphasis on ending hostilities also reinforced New Delhi's longstanding call for a negotiated and peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Modi meets Iran President: New Delhi: India on Monday reaffirmed its commitment to supporting all efforts aimed at ensuring lasting peace and stability in West Asia as PM Modi held a bilateral meeting with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of the SCO Summit in Bishkek. The two leaders discussed bilateral ties and the latest developments in the West Asia conflict. According to the MEA, Modi & Pezeshkian exchanged perspectives on the evolving regional situation. The PM expressed concern over the escalation of tensions and reiterated India's consistent position that all issues must be resolved through “dialogue and diplomacy”. | SILIGURI | Tuesday, 01 September 2026 Nandigram first priority, says CM as welfare push gathers pace STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE Midnapore, 31 August West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday declared Nandigram as his government's “number one priority”, unveiling a package of welfare b enef its, infrastructure projects and health initiatives while using the politically symbolic constituency to launch an aggressive development narrative after barely three-and-a-half months in office. Addressing a massive public gathering during a government service delivery programme, Adh ikari said h is administration has already initiated development works worth nearly Rs 300 crore across Nandigram I and II blocks, including roads, rural housing, healthcare expansion, employment guarantees and social security schemes. The Chief Minister said 32 new roads and road renovation projects had either been inaugurated or had their foundation stones laid during the day, marking what he described as a new phase of r ural infrastr ucture development across the 17 gram panchayats of Nandigram, a part of East Midnapore district. In one of th e big gest announcements, Adhikari said 7,300 beneficiaries have received the second instalment of Rs 60,000 each under the rural housing scheme, while the process had begun for constructing 11,700 new houses in the current financial year with the first instalment approved for eligible families. He also announced the rollout of the Viksit Bharat Gramin Rozgar Guarantee programme, under which job card holders would be entitled to 125 days of wage employment annually. According to him, eligible workers would receive up to Rs 34,500 in yearly wages through the scheme, while self-help groups were provided revolving funds of Rs 30,000 per group to strengthen rural livelihoods. Highlighting women-centric welfare, Adhikari claimed that Rs 3,000 has already been transferred into the bank accounts of around 67,000 women in Nandigram under the Annapurna Yojana during August. The Chief Minister also announced a major healthcare expansion in the constituency. “Development of Bengal will continue, but Nandigram will remain my first priority,” the Chief Minister said, urging residents to support his government and promising to return during Durga Puja and Mahalaya to meet the families of martyrs.