EU trade with Russia much more than India TUESDAY The EU’s trade with Russia isn’t limited to energy. Fertilizers, chemicals, mining products, iron, steel, and machinery continue to move freely, even as European leaders criticise others for engaging with Moscow, the MEA said and noted that the EU in 2024 had a bilateral trade of Euro 67.5 billion in goods with Russia. “In addition, it had trade in services estimated at Euro 17.2 billion in 2023. This is significantly more than India’s total trade with Russia that year or subsequently.” 05 AUGUST, 2025 epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard X.com/TheMornStandard PUTIN UNRUFFLED DON’S DEADLINE FOR RUSSIA LOOMS The coming week could mark a key moment in the war between Russia and Ukraine, as US Prez’s deadline for the Kremlin to reach a peace deal approaches. A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS PAGE 9  NEW DELHI  J8.00  PAGES 12 ENOUGH! INDIA HOLDS UP A MIRROR TO TRUMP’S HYPOCRISY J AYA N T H J A C O B & D I PA K M O N D A L @ New Delhi IN a strong rebuttal to renewed US criticism on India’s trade with Russia, New Delhi on Monday accused Washington and its allies of “unjustified and unreasonable” targeting, reminding them that it was the United States itself that once encouraged those very purchases to stabilise global markets. Ruling out any rethink on its energy trade with Russia, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated: “Like any major economy India will take , all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security .” The sharp message came minutes after US President Donald Trump threatened to ‘substantially’ raise tariffs to punish India for its purchase and resale of Russian oil. Trump’s statement posted on Truth Social on Monday said: , “India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil... they are selling it for big profits. They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Ma- chine... I will be substantially raising the tariff paid by India to the USA.” In its blistering response, India made it clear that such rhetoric smacks of geopolitical hypocrisy “India has . been targeted by the United States and the European Union for importing oil from Russia after the commencement of the Ukraine conflict,” said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. “But in fact, India began importing from Russia because traditional supplies were diverted to Europe. The US at that time actively encouraged such imports to strengthen global energy market stability .” Jaiswal’s message was loud and clear that India will not be lectured. “India’s imports are meant to ensure predictable and affordable energy costs to the Indian consumer. They are a necessity compelled by global market realities... However, it is revealing that the very nations criticising India are themselves US continues to import uranium hexafluoride, palladium, fertilizers and chemicals from Russia. The targeting of India is unjustified and unreasonable. Like any major economy, India will take all measures to safeguard its national interests and economic security —Ministry of External Affairs indulging in trade with Russia... Such trade is not even a vital national compulsion.” India listed hard numbers to underscore the double standards. The EU in 2024 had India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian Oil... they are selling it for big profits... They don’t care how many people in Ukraine are being killed by the Russian War Machine. Because of this, I will be substantially raising the Tariff paid by India to the USA — Donald Trump a bilateral trade of Euro 67.5 billion in goods with Russia. It had trade in services estimated at Euro 17.2 billion in 2023. This is significantly more than India’s total trade with Russia that year or subsequently European imports of . LNG in 2024 reached a record 16.5 million tonnes, surpassing the previous record of 15.21 million tonnes in 2022. Trump’s snooty remarks evoked a sharp reaction from Russia as well. “Washington is unable to accept the erosion of its dominance in an emerging multipolar international order... No tariff wars or sanctions can halt the natural course of history said Maria ,” Vladimirovna Zakharova, spokesperson of Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. SIRAJMATAZZHELD HIGH 1st day, 1st INDIA OVAL AND OUT WITH HEAD EDU BILL TABLED TMS in England FIROZ MIRZA @LONDON T India celebrate England’s Jamie Overtone wicket in the fifth and final Test on Monday. Captain Shubman Gill (right) with the Player of the Series medal. Mohammed Siraj was adjudged Player of the Match | AP TAMIL NADU Cong MP’s gold chain snatched in Chanakyapuri N I T I N R AWAT @ New Delhi CONGRESS MP R Sudha sustained injuries after her gold chain was snatched by an unidentified person near Polish embassy in the diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri while she was out on a morning walk on Monday The MP from Mayi. laduthurai in Tamil Nadu said that she had been left traumatised by the incident and wrote to the home minister. Police said that the suspect came on a scooter and slowed down near the MP. “Then the miscreant snatched her chain and fled the spot. The MP shouted for help, but no bystanders came forward. Another MP from Tamil Nadu was accompanying her at the time,” a Delhi Police statement said. “On August 4 (Monday), I and another woman MP Rajathi stepped out of the Tamil Nadu House for mor ning walk. Around 6.15 am, when we were near the Polish embassy’s Gate 3 and 4, a man wearing a helmet and riding a scooter approached us from the opposite direction and snatched my gold chain and fled. I have suffered injury on my neck,” she said. EXPRESS READ NSA, IB chief meet Shah on Article 370 anniv eve A day before of the sixth anniversary of the nullyfication of Article 370, Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday chaired a meeting with top security brass, including NSA Ajit Doval and IB chief Tapan Kumar Deka, at the Parliament House complex. HE Oval match was the story of the series. It reflected the ferocity with which it was fought. First Test, England win comfortably India return the fa. vour with same magnanimity Third Test, England . win but with quite an effort. India draw despite trailing by 311 runs in the fourth. It would have been a travesty for cricket had the last not gone to the wire. SC’s ‘true Indian’ barb at Rahul S U C H I T R A K A LYA N M O H A N T Y @ New Delhi THE Supreme Court on Monday castigated Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his comments on China capturing Indian territory in the wake of the Galwan attack in 2020, adding if he was an “true Indian”, he wouldn’t have said it. “How do you (Rahul) get to know when 2000 sq km was acquired by China? What is the credible material? A true Indian will not say this. When there is a conflict across border, can you say all this? Why can’t you ask the question in Parliament?” asked a bench comprising justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih. The court, however, stayed further proceedings against him in a defamation case in Lucknow and Singhvi: It was about suppression of info Singhvi said that Rahul was only on the point of proper disclosure and raising concerns about the suppression of information fixed the matter for further hearing after three weeks. During the hearing, Justice Datta said, “just because you have 19(1)(a) you cannot say anything.” Senior advicate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Rahul, said: “If he can’t say these things which are published in the Press, he can’t be a leader of opposition... It is also possible that a true Indian will say that our 20 Indian soldiers were beaten up and killed and that it is a matter of concern.” The defamation complaint filed by Uday Shankar Srivastava, the former Border Roads Organisation (BRO) director, was pending in a Lucknow court. His petition said Rahul made the ‘derogatory’ remarks was on December 16, 2022, during his Bharat Jodo Yatra. In May, the Allahabad High Court had rejected Rahul’s plea challenging the issuance of summons by an MP/ MLA court in Lucknow. The court said that freedom of speech and expression does not include the freedom to make statements defamatory to the Indian Army . In its pushback later in the day, the Congress said every patriotic Indian has sought answers on China since the 2020 Galwan incident, adding the Centre has chosen to obfuscate and hide the truth with its policy of “DDLJ—deny, distract, lie, and justify .” India won by the barest of margins — six runs. Series 2-2. The celebration in the middle was wild. It’s poetic that after carrying the burden of bowling in the series, Mohammed Siraj took the final wicket and finished with a fifer (four in first innings and 23 overall). There he stood celebrating like his football idol Cristiano Ronaldo. He admitted how he changed the wallpaper on his phone on Monday morning to inspire him on the field. The conditions early on favoured pacers and Siraj was right on the money With only . 35 runs to get, margin of error was thin. The crowd, like in all days thronged the stadium to witness one of cricket’s most enthralling finishes. India did not disappoint, either. Siraj in beginning of the series was in the shadow of Jasprit Bumrah. As a batter, he was the last to fall in the third Test at Lord’s. On Monday he was the archi, tect of a historic win. A lot was at stake for the two incredibly talented sides. No series has seen so many ups and downs or twists and turns as this one. If Harry Brook and Joe Root were regaling the audience with their artistry, Siraj enthralled with 25 deliveries he bowled out of 53. He had taken three out of four wickets that fell. And, of course, the adage of frontline bowler for India will be his to keep. As for now, it’s P11 Oval and out. Fiscal deficit jumps to `3.9K cr from `416 cr since ’19-’20, says CAG A N U P V E R M A @ New Delhi THE fiscal deficit of Delhi increased to `3,934 crore in 2023-24 from `416 crore in 2019-20, according to a Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report tabled in the monsoon session of the Assembly by CM Rekha Gupta on Monday . The report also slammed the Revenue surplus dips government for 1,313 outstanding Utilisation Certificates The revenue surplus under (UCs) of `3,760.84 crore pending AAP rule in 2023-24 declined as on March 31, 2024. Lack of by 55% as compared to the submission of the UCs means preceding fiscal, said CAG. that although expenditure is incurred, the grantees have not explained as to how the funds were spent. There is also no assurance that the intended objectives of providing these funds have been achieved. According to the CAG report on the Finances of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi for the year 202324, the outstanding public debt has grown on an average rate of 1.98% annually between 2019-20 and 2023-24. Public debt GSDP ratio has decreased from 4.38% in 2019-20 to 3.19% in 2023-24. During 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24, though the Domar gap (expressed as g-r) was positive, the primary balance was in deficit during this period with exception of 2022-23. P3 show: Stormy session over Op Sindoor A N U P V E R M A @ New Delhi THE first day of the monsoon session of Delhi Assembly witnessed stormy scenes with repeated altercations breaking out between treasury and opposition benches. BJP legislators accused the AAP of derailing discussions related to public issues while the opposition MLAs alleged that the government was misleading people. Ruckus erupted during the discussion on Operation Sindoor, with CM Rekha Gupta hitting out at the opposition during her speech over ‘anti-India narratives’ while the AAP accused the BJP-led Centre of announcing ceasefire under the “US pressure”. Hitting out at the INDIA bloc, Gupta said, “These people do not love Bharat, but they love anti-national forces because they see their own reflection in them… if you listen to them, it feels like they are spokespersons for Pakistan... They do not trust their own army their own , prime minister but they trust foreign countries,” she said. AAP’s Sanjeev Jha’s remarks against PM Modi irked the ruling dispensation with Speaker Vijender Gupta asking him to apologise. He was marshalled out for refusing to comply . Uproar was witnessed during presentation of the Delhi School Education (Fee Regulation and Transparency) Bill, 2025, with the AAP demanding the bill be sent to the select committee for multi-party scrutiny Their demand was reject. ed, following which AAP MLAs stormed the well of the House before staging walk out. LoP Atishi alleged that the BJP deliberately delayed the bill to benefit private schools. JAN 11, 1944-AUG 4, 2025 Shibu Soren and the soil-soaked struggle for self-rule V V P S H A R M A @ New Delhi S HIBU Soren was an avatar to the Santhals of the Chhotanagpur plateau of the undivided Bihar. They called him Dishom Guru — the god of all 10 directions. In his younger days, his black locks, flowing beard and chiselled features mesmerised the tribals as much as they frustrated the Bihar Police, as he led a movement for tribal rights that saw a separate tribal state of Jharkhand carved from Bihar in his lifetime. At 81, Soren breathed his last in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in the national capital from kidney complications on Monday . Called Guruji by now, he became chief minister thrice, never able to complete a full term as politics or police cases disrupted his reign. He even went to Delhi as minister at the Centre, but as the years dragged on, and the health taking its toll, he hung up his boots and, succumbing to dynasty politics, handed over control of the party he cofounded, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), to his son, He- mant. The younger Soren is the current chief minister of a coalition with the Congress. Shibu Soren’s legacy is inseparable from the struggle for tribal rights in undivided Bihar. A Santhal, he grew up in an oppressive environment where politicians, landlords and usurers milked tribals of their dignity and displaced them from their hereditary forest dwellings, reducing them to literal slavery . Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays respects to Shibu Soren in New Delhi on Monday | PTI The angry young man decided to rebel and become the prophet of tribal identity. His target was the “diku”, an outsider in the tribal language. That could mean any of the many oppressors. His demand was for ‘jal, jungle, zameen’, water, forest, land, which the tribals considered their godgiven resources. The movement he birthed thus arose from generations of exploitation, dispossession and deprivation of tribals — he preferred ‘adivasis’ — till in the early 1970s it turned into a political struggle under the ban- ner of the JMM. It was headquartered in the hundreds of tribal villages, the tribal councils deciding agitational agendas, the Santhali folk songs arousing political passions. Soren nurtured the movement across the land. He would move from village to village on foot. He had nothing he could call his own except the clothes and chappals he wore. The villagers fed him, listened to him, and obeyed him blindly. He would explain to them facts of life they felt but could not express. CONTINUED ON P8