The Statesman Kolkata - February 13, 2025

In this issue

February 13, 2025

'Are we not creating a class of parasites?' SC takes a dig at freebies promised before polls

The stinging observation on the freebies creating a new class of parasites came from a bench of Justice B R Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih, saying it would be better to make people a part of the society's mainstream and contribute towards national development.

1 min

State Govt Presents ₹3.89 Lakh Cr Budget

The state government also announced a 4 per cent DA hike for its employees

2 mins

India, France sign key accord to build advanced modular nuclear reactors, to deepen strategic ties

India and France have added a new dimension to their partnership in the area of civil nuclear energy with a declaration of intent on establishment of a partnership on advanced modular reactors and small modular reactors.

1 min

Flight operations affected at city airport

Flight operations at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport were disrupted on Wednesday morning as dense fog reduced visibility, prompting the implementation of Low Visibility Procedures (LVP) from 3.40 a.m. to 7.40 a.m.

1 min

No provision for generating jobs: Suvendu

The Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, today took a dig at the state Budget saying it was a Budget which proved yet again how the state government went bankrupt by not generating jobs for the youths of the state.

1 min

Tea association welcomes tax exemption but seeks more fiscal support

Mr Bista highlighted the recurring neglect of north Bengal, pointing out that announcements like the Rs 100 crore for Cha Sundari projects remain unfulfilled year after year

2 mins

Bengal Budget: State's grant-in-aid component set to rise 31 per cent

The West Bengal government's dependence on grants-in-aid from the Union government is all slated to continue during the financial year 2025-26, with the figure slated to rise by 30.69 per cent by 31 March, 2026.

1 min

Ghatal master plan: State allocates $1,500 cr

Dipak Adhikari (Dev), Trinamul Congress MP from Ghatal welcomed the decision and sought cooperation of everyone to make this plan a success

2 mins

State Allocates ₹2273 Crore Plus for Better Connectivity

Getting a boost in terms of connectivity, the state transport department has been allocated Rs 2273.29 crore in the state Budget declared today.

1 min

Kankartala OC removed after political clashes

The Superintendent of Police (SP) of Birbhum has removed the officer-in-charge of Kankartala police station after he had failed to control the turf war between two rival groups over control of illegal sand bank business.

1 min

Over a Lakh Take Dip at Triveni Sangam in State

More than one lakh devotees participated in the holy bath today at the Triveni Sangam under the supervision of the state government.

2 mins

Teen Trafficked From Bengal, Rescued in Rajasthan

A teenage girl, kidnapped in 2023 from Galsi and trafficked to Rajasthan, was rescued and the police have busted a trafficking gang with the arrest of three persons in connection with the offence.

1 min

Pro-people, practical and progressive budget: Sanjay Budhia

The state Budget announced by finance minister Chandrima Bhattacharya has very successfully adopted multiple strategies to address many issues simultaneously pertinent to overall development, said Sanjay Budhia, managing director, Patton Group.

1 min

ICC Lauds Budget

The Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) congratulated finance minister Chandrima Bhattacharya for presenting a progressive Budget focussed on key areas like infrastructure creation, climate mitigation and adaptation, social empowerment, rejuvenation of the tea industry and enhancing the purchasing power of the salaried class, said Dr Rajeev Singh, director general, ICC.

1 min

Controversy Over Proposed Welcome Gate at Dinhata

A controversy emerged in Cooch Behar over the proposed construction of a welcome gate in Dinhata.

1 min

Complete block on Green Line

On successful completion of tunneling work between Esplanade and Sealdah stations, the Kolkata Metro Railway is to suspend services in the Green Line Metro Corridor from Howrah Maidan to Salt Lake Sector V in two complete traffic blocks from tomorrow.

1 min

Katwa Girl is Bengal's Topper in JEE (Mains)

Debdatta Majhi, a Katwa girl, has topped the All India Joint Entrance Examination (JEE - Mains) in Bengal this year.

1 min

Joining TMC Was a 'Mistake', Admits Son of Pranab Mukherjee After Returning to Congress

Soon after rejoining the Congress party in Kolkata on Wednesday afternoon, former President Pranab Mukherjee's son Abhijit Mukherjee admitted that joining Trinamul Congress was a \"mistake\".

1 min

Sebaashray camps begin in Satgachia

Medical camps in Satgachia have begun today and will run till 21st of this month.

1 min

Bengal Eyes 20 pc of Energy from Renewable Sources by 2030

The state government is also working with Bengal Gas Company Ltd to produce a large amount of gas from bio waste

2 mins

No discrimination in education to children: SC seeks details of Rohingya refugees for public schools, hospital facilities

Stating that there could be no discrimination in the imparting of education, the Supreme Court on Wednesday sought details of Rohingya refugees - their present residence, proof of residence, ownership of the residence and their registration number - on a plea for extending education and medical facilities to them.

1 min

Pilot seeks official statement in Rajasthan Assembly on Meena's phone tapping charge

Senior Congress leader and former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot on Wednesday sought a statement from the state government on Agriculture Minister Dr Kirodi Lal Meena's allegation of phone tapping.

1 min

SC cancels 2010 Jharkhand Class IV recruitment, orders fresh hiring

The Supreme Court has struck down the 2010 Class IV recruitment process in Palamu, Jharkhand, terming it unconstitutional and cancelling all appointments made under the July 29, 2010 advertisement.

1 min

Setback to Uddhav Thackeray as Sena veteran Rajan Salvi quits to join Shinde's group

Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena MLA from the Konkan coastal region Rajan Salvi has resigned from the post of deputy leader of the party at the Shiv Sena Bhavan office, giving a fillip to 'Operation Tiger' being masterminded by Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, to lure away leaders from the original Sena.

2 mins

Nitish, Tejashwi Clash Over Law and Order in Bihar

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar once again raised the dismal law and order situation in Bihar during the Lalu-Rabri rule, targeting RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav who has been trying to spin the 'Jungle Raj' narrative by releasing crime bulletins on his social media platform 'X'.

1 min

Northern Command Celebrates Heroism: Gallantry Medals and Distinguished Service Awards Presented in Mathura

The Northern Command Investiture Ceremony, held in Mathura on Tuesday, recognised the extraordinary acts of gallantry and distinguished service by individuals and units deployed in the Northern Theatre.

1 min

PM Modi Jeopardising National Security: Kharge

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said that PM Modi's priority is filling Adani's coffers

1 min

Notice to Meena: Rajasthan Minister pleads innocence, affirms loyalty

In a conciliatory gesture with the ruling BJP, Rajasthan Agriculture Minister Dr Kirodi Lal Meena has affirmed his loyalty to the party and clarified that he did not breach the organisational discipline.

1 min

Sheena Bora murder case: Apex court rejects Indrani Mukerjea's plea to go abroad, orders expediting trial

The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined a plea of former media executive Indrani Mukerjea, accused of allegedly kidnapping and murdering her own daughter Sheena Bora, seeking permission to travel abroad.

1 min

Telangana: 42 per cent quota for BCs in local polls

Telangana Congress government today announced 42 percent reservation for Backward Classes in the upcoming polls for local bodies.

1 min

PM Highlights Technology and Screen Time Issues

PM Asks People to Watch Pariksha Pe Charcha Episode Scheduled for Today

1 min

Setback for EPS as HC lifts stay on EC deciding AIADMK leadership dispute

In a setback for former Tamil Nadu chief minister E K Palaniswami, the Madras High Court on Wednesday gave the go-ahead for the Election Commission to proceed with petitions on intra-party disputes in the AIADMK and challenging the legitimacy of the present leadership.

2 mins

India Poised to Lead Global Defence and Aerospace Innovation

India is undergoing a transformative phase, positioning itself as a global leader in defence innovation and aerospace technology, said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during the valedictory address at the 15th Aero India in Bengaluru, Karnataka, today.

1 min

Chiranjeevi draws flak for wishing for a grandson

Telugu megastar and former minister Chiranjeevi on Wednesday drew flak for his comments that he wished for a grandson to carry his legacy forward.

1 min

BJP Must End Its Infighting, Appoint CM, and Focus on Governing Delhi: AAP

Taking a jibe at the BJP for the delay in the announcement of the chief minister of Delhi after a thumping majority in the recently concluded Assembly elections, the AAP on Wednesday asked the saffron party to end its infighting and focus on governing the national capital.

1 min

Seven solar projects in Himachal to generate 72 MW of power by December 2025: CM

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Wednesday that by December 2025, seven projects in Himachal Pradesh will harness 72 MW of solar power.

1 min

Message of unity, brotherhood of Guru Ravidas still relevant: Saini

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday paid tribute to Sant Shiromani Guru Ravidas on the occasion of his birth anniversary.

1 min

Served notice and trying to trace him: Delhi Police on Amanatullah

Delhi Police on Wednesday stated that they are trying to establish communication with AAP MLA-elect Amanatullah Khan and have served a notice to the legislator asking for his cooperation in the investigation.

1 min

Mayawati expels 2 senior BSP leaders over Delhi poll rout

Ashok Siddharth and his close associate Nitin Singh have been sacked from the party

1 min

Justice delayed but delivered: BJP leaders react to Sajjan Kumar's conviction in 1984 riots case

The city's Rouse Avenue Court on Wednesday convicted former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar in a 1984 Anti-Sikh riots case, sparking reactions from multiple quarters including the BJP.

1 min

Digital Responsibility

The recent controversy surrounding a popular YouTube show has reignited the debate over content regulation in India’s rapidly expanding digital media space. With legal cases filed against online personalities for allegedly obscene remarks, the issue has drawn strong reactions from politicians and civil society alike.

2 mins

Political churning

SIR, This refers to today's editorial \"Political reset\" in The Statesman. The Delhi election results which gave a thumping victory to the BJP will have major implications.

1 min

US' Tariff Wars Create a Losing Situation for All

US President Donald Trump, during a meeting with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Friday, announced plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on multiple countries next week, escalating the risk of a global trade war.

2 mins

China Freeze

India’s decision to maintain restrictions on Chinese investments is not just a matter of economic policy but a strategic imperative shaped by national security concerns and geopolitical realities.

2 mins

Faith that feeds

The 2019 Kumbh contributed as much as Rs 1.2 lakh crore to the economy of Uttar Pradesh. This time, more than Rs 2 lakh crore of economic impact is expected to emanate from this Mahakumbh, with an estimated Rs 5,000 per head. The Confederation of All India Traders says how different industries benefited. To put that into perspective, the food and beverage industry alone is expected to garner Rs 20,000 crore, and religious items and offerings will contribute another Rs 20,000 crore

4 mins

Yamuna revival should be seen as a sacred duty

The pollution of River Yamuna became a focal point during the Delhi elections 2025.

3 mins

Catastrophic access, conflicted interests

Elon Musk's role as the head of the Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DOGE, is on the surface a dramatic effort to overhaul the inefficiencies of federal bureaucracy.

5 mins

Trump readies matching tariffs on trade partners, possibly setting up a major economic showdown

President Donald Trump is taking additional action to upset the world trade system, with plans to sign an order as soon as Wednesday that would require that U.S. tariffs on imports match the tax rates charged by other countries.

1 min

FBI Says It Found 2,400 New JFK Assassination Records

The FBI on Tuesday said it discovered 2,400 new records related to the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy as federal agencies work to comply with President Donald Trump's executive order last month to release thousands of files.

1 min

After meeting with Trump, Jordan's king says his country opposes displacing Palestinians in Gaza

President Donald Trump hosted Jordan's King Abdullah II at the White House on Tuesday and renewed his insistence that Gaza could somehow be emptied of all residents, controlled by the U.S. and redeveloped as a tourist area.

1 min

NASA's 2 Stuck Astronauts May Return to Earth Sooner Under New Plan

NASA's two stuck astronauts may end up back on Earth a little sooner than planned.

1 min

Musk Appears at White House Defending DOGE's Work but Acknowledging Mistakes

President Donald Trump's most powerful adviser, Elon Musk, made a rare public appearance at the White House on Tuesday to defend the swift and extensive cuts he's pushing across the federal government while acknowledging there have been mistakes and will be more.

1 min

Netanyahu Threatens to Resume Fighting in Gaza

Trump Predicts Hamas Would Not Release All the Remaining Hostages as He Had Demanded

2 mins

Trump Says Ukraine 'May Be Russian Someday,' Wants Kyiv to Trade Natural Resources for US Aid

US President Donald Trump has suggested Ukraine may fall under Russian control \"someday,\" as he called for the war-torn country to share its natural resources in exchange for US assistance.

1 min

Australian Hospital Examines Patient Records After Nurse Claims to Have Killed Israelis

An Australian hospital is examining patient records after a nurse claimed online to have killed Israelis, officials said Wednesday, stressing that no evidence of harm to patients was uncovered.

1 min

Philippine Investigators File Criminal Complaints Against Vice President Over Assassination Threats

Philippine government investigators filed criminal complaints, including sedition, against Vice President Sara Duterte on Wednesday over her public threat to have the president assassinated if she herself was killed in an escalating political storm.

1 min

1,400 Died During Crackdown on B'desh Student Protests: UN

Thousands more were injured in the weeks leading up to and after the protests, says new report

2 mins

Pope Rebukes Trump Administration Over Immigrant Deportations and Appears to Aim Directly at Vance

Pope Francis issued a major rebuke Tuesday to the Trump administration's plans for mass deportations of migrants, warning that the forceful removal of people purely because of their illegal status deprives them of their inherent dignity and \"will end badly.\"

1 min

Mahindra Sets Eyes on Sustainable Transportation, Rolls Out 2 GenNext Electric SUVs

Mahindra & Mahindra on Wednesday rolled out its generation next Electric origin SUVs- XEV9E and BE6 in Kolkata, creating a new milestone for the industry.

2 mins

SAIL's profit slumps 62 pc YoY to ₹126 crore in Dec quarter

Steel Authority of India's profit slumped 62 per cent year-on-year to Rs 126 crore in the December quarter.

1 min

Godrej & Boyce Aerospace, ADA Ink MoU to manufacture flight actuators

Godrej & Boyce announced in Mumbai on Wednesday that its aerospace business unit has signed multiple proposals at the ongoing defence and aerospace show, Aero India 2025 in Bengaluru.

1 min

NPG Evaluates 5 Projects for Conformity to PM GatiShakti

The 87th meeting of the Network Planning Group (NPG) evaluated five projects for their conformity to the PM GatiShakti principles.

1 min

India's Success in Ensuring Universal Access to Clean Cooking Gas: Example to World: Puri

India's remarkable success in ensuring universal access to clean cooking gas, backed by smart subsidies and sustainable policies, provides a scalable solution for other developing nations striving to achieve clean cooking access, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri, said on Wednesday.

1 min

Market extends fall for 6th consecutive session

Except PSU Bank and metal all other sectoral indices ended in the red

1 min

Equity mutual fund inflows fall 3.6 pc to ₹39,687.78 crore in January: AMFI data

Equity mutual fund inflows marginally fell 3.6 per cent on a monthly basis to Rs 39,687.78 crore in January, data released by the Association of Mutual Funds of India (AMFI) said.

1 min

UP to establish centre of excellence for green hydrogen with Japanese technology

Vice-Governor of Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan Ko Osada, who is on a visit to Uttar Pradesh, emphasised his commitment to strengthening friendly relations between Yamanashi and Uttar Pradesh.

1 min

Okram Ibobi Singh urges BJP to appoint new CM in Manipur

Former Chief Minister and Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Okram Ibobi Singh has called on the BJP's central leadership to elect a new Chief Minister for Manipur, emphasising the urgent need to restore peace and normalcy in the violence-hit state.

1 min

Sarma Alleges Foreign Influence on Assam Cong

The Assam chief minister had also raised concerns about Indian laws regarding lawmakers marrying foreign nationals

2 mins

Oracle ofthe rivers

\"I've known rivers: I've known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins.\"

4 mins

Kazi Nazrul's visionary pen

The year 2024 marked the 125th birth anniversary of poet, songwriter, music composer, singer, novelist, essayist and journalist Kazi Nazrul Islam (24 May 1899–29 August 1976).

5 mins

Niki-John rally to victory as doubles battles unfold at 2025 Delhi Open

India's Niki Kaliyanda Poonacha and Zimbabwe's Courtney John Lock kicked off their Delhi Open 2025 doubles campaign with a hard-fought 2-6, 7(7)-6(5), 10-6 victory over Czech duo Marek Gengel and Dalibor Svrcina at the DLTA Complex here on Wednesday.

1 min

KKR Announce Trophy Tour Ahead of IPL 2025

After a memorable campaign in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, culminating in the title win, defending Champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) are set to make history with a first-of-its-kind Trophy Tour.

1 min

Shooting: Rhythm, Swapnil, Arya Shine in National Trials

Olympians Rhythm Sangwan and Swapnil Kusale did the star turn on Wednesday, Day Five of the Rifle/Pistol National Selection Trials (Group A) at Delhi's Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range (DKSSR) here.

2 mins

Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships: India thrash Macau in campaign opener

India kicked off their Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships 2025 campaign with a thumping 5-0 victory over Macau in Group D on Wednesday.

1 min

ISL: Jamshedpur FC aim to cement third spot, NorthEast eye playoffs

With the race to the knockouts increasingly gathering steam, another exciting contest seems to be in the offing

3 mins

Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma Close Down on Babar's Top ODI Ranking

Shubman Gill rose to No. 2 in the ICC ODI rankings for batters and is now closing in on former Pakistan skipper Babar Azam's top spot.

2 mins

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The Statesman Kolkata is a daily broadsheet newspaper published by The Statesman Net Pvt Ltd in Kolkata, India. It was founded in 1875 and is one of the oldest and most respected newspapers in India. The newspaper is known for its in-depth reporting, investigative journalism, and editorial independence.

The Statesman Kolkata covers a wide range of topics, including politics, business, economy, society, culture, and sports. It also has a strong focus on local news and events. The newspaper is known for its critical and independent reporting on the government and the powerful.

The Statesman Kolkata is a valuable resource for anyone who wants to stay informed about the latest news and developments in India, and especially in West Bengal. It is also a great way to get in-depth analysis and commentary on current affairs.