DAILY FROM: AHMEDABAD, CHANDIGARH, DELHI, JAIPUR, KOLKATA, LUCKNOW, MUMBAI, NAGPUR, PUNE, VADODARA JOURNALISM OF COURAGE THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2024, KOLKATA, LATE CITY, 16 PAGES `6.00 (`12 IN NORTH EAST STATES & ANDAMAN) WWW.INDIANEXPRESS.COM SINCE 1932 Bengal BJP chief asks PM Games tomorrow: As Paris becomes PROTESTS INSIDE, OUTSIDE HOUSE to make north Bengal a stadium, some complaints & hope part of North East, TMC calls it ‘secessionist move’ EXPRESSAT KOLKATA, JULY 24 BJP’S WEST Bengal unit president Sukanta Majumdar on Wednesday said he has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to incorporate northern parts of the state into the North East region since the two have “many similarities”. This triggered a strong reaction from the ruling TMC in the state, which called the BJP “secessionist”, accusing it of trying to divide West Bengal for its political benefit. In a video statement issued from Delhi, Majumdar, who is also Union Minister of State for Education, said, “I met with the PrimeMinisterandhandedover a presentation highlighting the similarities between north Will help the region to benefit from Centre, says Majumdar BengalandNorthEaststates.Irequestedhimtoincorporatenorth Bengal, a part of West Bengal, into the North East (states).” “The Prime Minister will decideontheproposalinduetime. If North Bengal is incorporated into the North East, it will benefit from the Central government schemes. There will be more development. I do not think the state government will have objections and will cooperate,” Majumdar, an MP from BalurghatinnorthBengal,added. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 OLYMPICS MIHIR VASAVDA PARIS, JULY 24 THE WAITER grumbles something in French and it certainly isn't “bonjour”. On any other Wednesday morning,thischicbrasserienear the banks of the River Seine would have had waves of customers flowing in and out. But a “lockdown” that reminds him of the pandemic, a part of the strict security measures before Friday’s opening ceremony, means business is slow and the serveur's tips have dried up. So, he's grumpy. Andheisn’ttheonlyone.The Games are here and the locals seem testy. Then again, Simon Kuper issues a tongue-in-cheek disclaimer. “Parisians complain Two states got pakodas, jalebis, plates of others empty: Kharge EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, JULY 24 The moon pictured with the Olympic rings at the Eiffel Tower, ahead of Friday’s opening ceremony. Reuters Team India’s go-to man, Jasprit Bumrah, is guest Tech security, FTA on table: UK’s at Express Adda today Lammy meets Modi, Jaishankar CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 India pacer Jasprit Bumrah EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, JULY 24 IN THE aftermath of India’s T20 WorldCuptriumph,whichended a 13-year wait for an ICC trophy, there can be no one better than Jasprit Bumrah, who repeatedly CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 DIVYA A NEW DELHI, JULY 24 RECOGNISING THE increasing role of technology in national security and economic development, India and the UK have embarked upon a new Technology Security Initiative, which will be coordinated by the National Security Advisors of the two countries, the Ministry of External Affairs said Wednesday. This announcement came as CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Prime Minister Narendra Modi with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy in New Delhi on Wednesday. ANI ALLEGING DISCRIMINATION in the Union Budget against states ruled by non-NDA parties, the Opposition staged angry protests inside and outside ParliamentWednesday,drawing a sharp response from Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman who rejected the charge as “outrageous”. Members of the Opposition INDIA bloc first protested outside the Makar Dwar — it’s the entrance used by MPs to enter the Parliament building. Then, during Question Hour in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, they raised slogans alleging injustice to Opposition-ruled states before staging a walkout from the two Houses. The members, however,returnedlaterandparticipated in Question Hour and Zero Hour proceedings. Later, in the afternoon, the Opposition also participated in the debate over the Budget with Congress MP Kumari Selja initiating the debate in Lok Sabha and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram in Rajya Sabha. Whenproceedingsbeganfor the day in Rajya Sabha, Leader of CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and other INDIA bloc MPs stage a protest at Parliament, Wednesday. ANI Why end of indexation benefit on property sale has ignited a debate AGGAM WALIA & AANCHAL MAGAZINE NEW DELHI, JULY 24 E BUSINESS AS USUAL BY UNNY AMID PUSHBACK from several quarters against the ● capital gains tax regimeannounced in Budget 2024-25, government officials Wednesday said the tax rate without indexation on unlisted capital assets including property may not be beneficial only in cases where the annual EXPLAINED RAVIK BHATTACHARYA SparksflyasOppMPs allegeBudgetbias,FM saysoutrageouscharge CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 Kolkata