THURSDAY ISRAEL TO MOBILISE RESERVISTS FOR EXPANDED GAZA OPERATION 21 AUGUST, 2025 62K epaper.morningstandard.in facebook.com/TheMorningStandard MORE THAN 62,000 PALESTINIANS KILLED BY ISRAEL IN TWO YEARS X.com/TheMornStandard RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR NATO CHIEFS MEET AMID PEACE PUSH NATO defence chiefs were due to hold a virtual meeting on Wednesday amid efforts to bring an end to Russia’s protracted war on Ukraine. PAGE 9 Israel’s plan includes calling up 60,000 reservists and extending the service of an additional 20,000 currently serving in Gaza Strip ISRAEL EYES ‘MILITANT GROUPS’ IN HAMAS A CAPITAL VIEW OF NEWS  NEW DELHI  J8.00  PAGES 12 It remains unclear when the Gaza operation will begin, but it could be a matter of days as such a mobilization is largest in months HUMANITARIAN CRISIS COULD GET WORSE This comes as negotiators scramble to bring Israel and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire ending 22 months of fighting, while international leaders and rights groups warn that an expanded assault, which Israel wants, could deepen Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, with most residents displaced, neighborhoods in ruins, and communities facing the threat of famine | P9 Delhi CM attacked during public hearing, accused held N I T I N R A W AT & D I L I P S I N G H K S H AT R I YA @ New Delhi/Ahmedabad Opposition members protest in the Well of the Lok Sabha during the Monsoon session of Parliament on Wednesday | PTI Now, people will have to decide whether it is right for a minister, CM or PM to run govt while in jail We are going back to medieval times when the king could just remove anybody at his will This is a Black Bill. I strongly condemn this Bill, which strikes at the very root of democracy This draconian step comes as a death knell for democracy and federalism in India This bill is unconstitutional… Who will arrest PM? BJP wants to make our country a police state Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader M K Stalin, Tamil Nadu CM Mamata Banerjee, Bengal CM Asaduddin Owaisi, AIMIM chief ACRIMONIOUS SCENES IN LOK SABHA AS GOVT INTRODUCES 3 CONTENTIOUS BILLS Bills to sack PM, CMs, ministers sent to JPC P R E E T H A N A I R @ New Delhi THE Lok Sabha on Wednesday witnessed unruly scenes as Home Minister Amit Shah introduced three Bills for the removal of prime minister, chief ministers, and ministers under arrest for 30 consecutive days on serious charges. The Bills—the Constitution (One Hundred And Thirtieth Amendment) Bill 2025, Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill 2025; and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2025—propose that if a PM, CM, or a Union minister is held in custody for 30 consecutive days for offences carrying a jail term of five years, they will lose their jobs on the 31st day . The Bills have been sent to a Joint Committee of Parliament comprising 21 members from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha for scrutiny . The constitutional amendment bill will need the support of at least two-thirds of the members in both Houses. The ruling alliance currently lacks such a majority on its own. The introduction of the Bill after 2 pm led to unprecedented scenes as members of TMC and EXPRESS READ UP’s Jalalabad renamed as ‘Parashurampuri’ The Jalalabad town of Shahjahanpur district in UP has been renamed as Parashurampuri. Union Home Minister Amit Shah approved the proposal, which had been pending for a long time. Guwahati-Kolkata flight returns amid snag An Alliance Air flight, carrying 49 passengers from Guwahati to Kolkata encountered a technical issue mid-air on Wednesday forcing the pilot to return to the Guwahati airport. TOP COURT QUESTIONS POWERS OF GOVERNORS If a governor has the power to permanently withhold assent to the Bills passed by State legislature, it could leave the elected govt at the whims and fancies of an unelected person, SC said while hearing Presidential reference case | P7 BJP nearly came to blows. When Speaker Om Birla allowed Opposition MPs to speak, Trinamool members charged into the Well, shouting slogans and some even tore copies of the draft law in front of Shah. Several MPs including Congress’s K C Venugopal, Manish Tewari, AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi and RSP’s N K Premachandran spoke against the bills, saying they violated constitutional principles, targeted federalism, and carried the risk of misuse. Shah defended the bills, saying: “We can’t be so shameless to occupy constitutional positions while facing serious charges.” The House plunged into chaos when a TMC MP moved towards Shah’s chair, and a few BJP members including Union ministers Kiren Rijiju and Ravneet Singh Bittu rushed to shield Shah. Three House marshals formed a protective ring. Amid the ruckus, Shah moved the motion by voice vote to send the bills to a joint committee. The panel, whose members will soon be named, has been asked to submit its report to the House by the last day of the first week of the next session.P7 Shah-KC war of words Congress MP K C Venugopal referred to Amit Shah’s arrest when he was a Gujarat minister in 2010, Shah hit back saying he had quit before the arrest to uphold moral values Poll-bound Assam to get IIM The country’s 22nd Indian Institute of Management will come up in Guwahati with a central outlay of `555 crore, as both Houses of Parliament cleared the bill. Assam goes to polls next year LS passes bill banning online money games R A K E S H K U M A R @ New Delhi THE Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, which aims to ban online games played with money The government says the move is to . tackle gaming addiction, money laundering, and financial fraud linked to such platforms. The Bill says no individual, company or plat, form can offer, promote, or facilitate online money games in India. It also bans advertisements for such games on TV social media, or any dig, ital platform and prohibits banks and payment firms from processing such transactions. Sources said online money gaming is very addictive, leading to social harm and also financial loss. An official said 45 crore players lost money , with an estimated `26,000 crore loss annually . The Bill proposes the creation of a central authority that will issue guidelines and directions, which all gaming platforms must follow. Online money games as those where users deposit money in the hope of winning cash or other rewards. It covers all forms of online betting, including fantasy sports, card games like poker and rummy and online lotteries. , The Bill was passed by a voice vote after brief comments from Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, even as opposition members staged protests. Once cleared by both Houses of Parliament, offering or facilitating online money gaming will become a punishable offence, with jail terms of up to three years and fines of up to `1 crore. Advertising such games could attract two years in prison or `50 lakh fine. Those processing payment for these games also face up to three years’ imprisonment or a fine of `1 crore. IN a glaring breach of security Delhi Chief Minister Rekha , Gupta was attacked during a public hearing at her residence on Wednesday morning. The attacker, Rajesh Khimjibhai Sakaria, from Rajkot in Gujarat, was arrested on the spot and is being jointly interrogated by IB and Delhi Police’s Special Cell. Police have registered an FIR under attempt to murder charges in connection with the attack. Sakaria has also been booked for allegedly assaulting and obstructing public servant from discharging his duty . Sakaria reportedly became upset over Delhi’s civic drive to capture stray dogs. Eyewitnesses described a commotion as Sakaria approached Gupta with what appeared to be court documents. Af- Attacker’s mother seeks forgiveness Rajesh Sakaria’s mother said her son is not part of any political group but just loses self control when it comes to animals. She sought forgiveness | P3 ter handing them over, he allegedly grabbed her by the hair and slapped her, hurling expletives before security personnel intervened. Gupta was taken to a hospital after she sustained minor injuries. DCP Jagdish Bangarva said Sakaria was booked in five cases between 2017 and 2024, including assault, criminal intimidation, and liquor-related charges, but was acquitted in four. Three killed as building collapses in Daryaganj N I T I N R A W AT @ New Delhi THREE workers were killed after a portion of a building near Sadbhavna Park collapsed in central Delhi’s Daryaganj area on Wednesday, police said. According to the preliminary probe, the building was being demolished when the incident took place. DCP (central) Nidhin Valsan said three workers died on the spot and were identified as Zubair (24), Gulsagar (30), and Taufiq (32). The bodies have been moved to Lok Nayak Jai Prakash hospital. Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) also joined the operation soon after the incident, working alongside Delhi Police, fire brig ade personnel and the DDMA staff. Heavy machinery was pressed into service to clear the r ubble as rescuers combed through the debris. B’desh alleges Awami activities in India, MEA says misplaced J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New DelhI Approximately 15 workers were reportedly working there when a portion of the second floor collapsed and fell on one Zubair and his uncle, Taufiq. When Gulsa g ar rushed to save them, the remaining debris fell on him. Raman Singh, an eyewitness, said that the incident took place around 12 noon. The first two workers trapped under the debris. When another worker rushed to help them, the rest of the structure collapsed on him. CRUDE IMPORT WILL PROTECT INDIA FROM ANY U.S. SANCTIONS: RUSSIA J AYA N T H J A C O B @ New Delhi AMID rising tensions between New Delhi and Washington over India’s continued purchase of Russian oil, Moscow has put in place a “special mechanism” to protect its energy ties with India from possible US sanctions, Russian Charge d’Affaires Roman Babushkin said on Wednesday . Babushkin defended India’s right to energy security call, ing Western pressure “unjustified” and “neo-colonial.” His remarks come days after US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reiterated the US’s possible secondary tariffs on India, adding to the 25% duties already in effect. The Russian diplomat stressed that the Russia-India strategic partnership has grown rapidly across key sectors, particularly defense and energy and asserted Mos, cow’s role as a “partner of choice” for New Delhi’s military requirements. He said both nations are committed to expanding trade volumes to $100 billion by 2030 and that InRoman Babushkin dia’s increasing energy needs make the Russian oil partnership indispensable. “Russia is the largest supplier of crude oil to India. If India were to bow to external pressure and stop this procurement, it wouldn’t result in any meaningful cooperation with the West,” Babushkin said. “On the contrary the sanctions , are hurting those who are imposing them.” When asked about the potential discount India might get, he said “a five per cent swing is possible subject to negotiation.” India has justified its imports of Russian oil on strategic and economic grounds. Babushkin said, “Our special mechanism is in place to navigate sanctions-related disruptions,” he said. PWD Minister Parvesh Verma said that the chief minister has sustained injuries to her hand, shoulder and head. A senior police official, who is privy to the probe, said that it was a serious attack, adding that it could have been life threatening. Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra said, “Such an attack on anyone, that too on a woman chief minister, who is dedicated to public work round the clock, was unheard of in Delhi.” Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said that CM Gupta is “shaken”, but is doing fine. Police sources said that the Ministry of Home Affairs is likely to review the security arrangements of CM Gupta after a report of the incident is submitted by the police. CM Gupta was accorded ‘Z’ category security by Delhi Police. Former Delhi chief ministers Arvind Kejriwal and Atishi condemned the attack on Gupta. IN FULL SPATE The swollen Mutha river following an rise in water discharge from Khadakwasla dam in Pune on Wednesday | PTI | RAIN FURY P8 BANGLADESH’S interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday accused the banned Awami League of operating from Indian soil warning that the move could seriously damage bilateral ties. India, in a swift rebuttal, dismissed the claims as “misplaced” and denied knowledge of any anti-Bangladesh activity on its soil. The statement from Dhaka’s foreign ministry alleged that offices of the outlawed Awami League led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had been “reportedly established” in New Delhi and Kolkata. “This development also risks upholding the goodneighbourly relations with India driven by mutual trust and mutual respect, and lends serious implications for the political transformation underway in Bangladesh,” the foreign ministry said. It further claimed, several senior Awami League leaders “absconding in criminal cases in Bangladesh on account of grievous crimes” were residing in India, and that a “public outreach” event was planned at the Press Club of India in New Delhi on July 21. “Such political activity against interests of Bangladesh, particularly by absconding leaders of a banned political party, is an affront to the people and the State of Bangladesh,” the statement added, calling on India to take “immediate steps to prevent any anti-Bangladesh activity .” In response, External affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said: “The Indian government is not aware of any anti-Bangladesh activities by purported members of the Awami League in India.” Visa okayed: Girls with cerebral palsy to play in UK M S V I D YA N A N D A N @ T’Puram AFTER several days of anxious wait, five girls with cerebral palsy from Kerala are now a relieved lot. Their visas have finally been approved and they can now travel to the UK to participate in an inter- national football tournament. The girls constitute the fivemember team representing India in the intercontinental football tournament for children with cerebral palsy Organised . by the International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football (IFCPF), the tourney began in Loughborough on Monday . Having undergone a rigorous one-month coaching camp in Alappuzha, the girls were in distress owing to the delay in issuance of UK visas. Their parents too stayed at the camp organised by the Cerebral Palsy Sports Federation of India (CPSFI). Visas were granted after the Kerala CM’s Office took it up with the Ministry of External Affairs and the UK Embassy in India. Notably, the state government had a challenging task at hand as only a few days were left for the event.