- 4 months ago
This episode of News Today addresses the developments surrounding the India-Pakistan Asia Cup cricket match, including Pakistan's threat to boycott the tournament.
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00:00Good evening, hello and welcome. You're with the news today. This is your primetime destination news.
00:05Newsmakers, talking points, Monday night, start of a brand new week and we have a power-packed show for you tonight.
00:12Our big talking point, the Asia Cup controversy between India and Pakistan is now snowballing into a larger battle
00:20when India refused a handshake with Pakistan players. Pakistan threatening now to boycott the Asia Cup.
00:27Is this war minus the shooting on the cricket field? That's my top talking point.
00:33Also, the Supreme Court has given an interim order in the contentious buckboard case.
00:39We'll decode that case for you with a top legal scholar.
00:43We've got plenty on the show, as I said, but first, it's always time for the nine headlines at nine.
00:50India-US trade talk set to take off again.
00:54Chief US negotiator to land in India tonight for the trade talks.
01:00India expects to chalk out a deal with Washington by November end.
01:05Even Peter Navarro says India is back on the table.
01:09Supreme Court temporarily halts key provisions in the Waqf Act, including one, demanding donors be a practicing Muslim for five years,
01:28says rules need to be framed first, says collectors can't be given sweeping authority,
01:33but the court refuses to strike down the statute.
01:40Pakistan demands removal of India versus Pakistan match referee after a handshake snub threatens to boycott the Asia Cup.
01:50Sources say Team India won't shake hands with Pakistan players in the next match as well.
01:55A day after Finance Ministry official Navjot Singh is killed in a car crash,
02:03accused BMW driver Gaganbreed Kaur arrested by the police.
02:08Delhi police probing a possible cover-up by the accused.
02:11Prime Minister Modi takes the Congress's R.J.D. Jamaat's jibe in Bihar's Purnia,
02:20vows to flush out infiltrators from India.
02:24Opposition hits back, says Prime Minister spreading communal poison in Bihar only to win elections.
02:30Karnataka Chief Minister Siddharamaya sparks a fresh controversy, says there won't be conversions if there was equality in Hinduism.
02:41The BJP says Siddharamaya is an ambassador of religious conversion.
02:46Kamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin responds to unfilful promise attacked by TVK chief and actor Vijay.
02:57He says out of 505-old promises, 404 schemes already implemented.
03:04Doctor's revelation in Disha Patni firing case.
03:08Probe reveals attackers intended to kill the actor's father.
03:12Chief Minister Yogi speaks to Patni's father, Asshawn's stern action.
03:19An enforcement direction summons actors Urvashi, Rautela and Mimi Chakraborty in an illegal betting app case.
03:26The actors are facing charges of promoting illegal apps involved in money laundering.
03:42Breaking at the moment, the breaking story this evening.
03:49U.S. chief negotiator has reached India tonight, raising hopes that the trade talks between New Delhi and Washington will once again be on track.
04:00The future course of action will be based on the progress made in these talks.
04:05Non-trade issues will be taken up at the diplomatic level.
04:09Peter Navarro, key aide of U.S. President Donald Trump, who's been raining fire on India, has said India is now coming to the table.
04:19That's the big story that's breaking at the moment.
04:22The possibility that India-U.S. trade talks will resume shortly.
04:26Joining me now, Karishma Asudhani from Business Today with the very latest.
04:30Karishma, what are we to understand with the visit of the U.S. trade negotiator to India?
04:36Will this be a prelude to actual formal talks taking place which had been aborted more than a month ago?
04:42Rajdeep, as we discussed, the trade representative from U.S., Brendan Lynch, is likely to arrive in New Delhi.
04:53And this is precisely a one-day visit that he's making.
04:57Like you said, this could set a precursor to resume talks.
05:01But very clearly, officials from the Commerce Ministry have told us that this is not resumption of trade talks,
05:09but more like a precursor and to check the mood on ground and to check if we are willing to get back to it.
05:16Definitely, both the countries are looking to it.
05:20In fact, there was optimism shared by President Donald Trump and also Prime Minister Narendra Modi about a week back
05:27where they reinstated that they are looking to come with a positive and optimistic outcome on this deal
05:34at least by the end of October or November, which could be a bilateral trade deal finally coming to an end.
05:41But it all depends on how tomorrow's meeting turns out.
05:45And our chief negotiator, Rajesh Agarwal, will be doing this meeting.
05:49And we are told that tomorrow's discussion will set the path on what's to come.
05:58Karishma Asudhani, joining us with that breaking news.
06:01We'll wait and see what tomorrow brings.
06:03The U.S. trade negotiator will hold talks with his Indian counterparts.
06:09Tomorrow is what we are being told.
06:11Okay, from there, let's turn to more breaking news that's coming in.
06:15Because now, the Asia Cup row over a handshake or the non-handshake between India and Pakistan has truly exploded and taken another direction.
06:27Because now sources are telling India today that Pakistan has threatened to boycott the Asia Cup.
06:33That's right.
06:34You heard that right.
06:35Sources say Pakistan is threatening to boycott the Asia Cup.
06:39The condition, Pakistan wants the match referee changed.
06:42Remember, the big controversy over India's captain, Surya Kumar Yadav, refusing to shake hands with his Pakistan counterpart after India won the match.
06:51And the Indian players refusing to shake hands with the Pakistanis.
06:55Now we are told Pakistan is threatening to boycott the Asia Cup.
06:58They want the match referee who's expected to ensure that all the ICC rules and conventions are met.
07:05Pakistan doesn't want Zimbabwean Andy Pykrom as match referee.
07:09And they've told India today that if he stays, we could boycott the Cup.
07:13Now, is that simply pressure tactics?
07:15Remember, Pakistan is in some way the host of this Asia Cup.
07:20Joining me is Nikhil Naaz, our consulting sports editor.
07:24Nikhil, what are we to make out of this?
07:25Is Pakistan simply ratcheting up the pressure on the ICC to take a call about this non-handshake?
07:35Well, the first thing that's very interesting about this is, Rajdeep, what we can confirm is that a letter has been written by the Pakistan Cricket Board to the ICC.
07:44But remember, this is an Asian Cricket Council tournament.
07:48And so, the PCB chief is Mohsin Natvi.
07:51And the president of the Asian Cricket Council is also Mohsin Natvi.
07:55So, are we to understand that the PCB president, Mohsin Natvi, then writes to the ACC president, that is also Mohsin Natvi.
08:03So, they've actually now asked the ICC to step in and then take a call because match referees, as you know, are appointed by the ICC.
08:10But then that puts Pakistan in a catch-22 situation.
08:13If the ICC does not pay heed to their demand and Andy Pycroft, who in fact was the match referee in the game that has also just concluded between Oman and UAE, if he's not removed for Pakistan's next game, what that means is that this tournament could have seen three India-Pakistan encounters.
08:31But you might just now see only one because if Pakistan boycott the UAE game, UAE have beaten Oman right now, which means that Pakistan then will be eliminated from the tournament at the first stage itself.
08:44And then there will be no second India-Pakistan game.
08:46No, but is it a serious, is Pakistan really serious, Nikhil, about boycotting the game or is it just arm-twisting?
08:54At the moment, because they've written an official letter, I am to believe that they are rather serious about this boycott threat.
09:03I don't know if they've taken a look at what the repercussions of that might be, considering UAE have won that game.
09:09And maybe they also feel that this probably is a low-hanging fruit in that sense.
09:13I'm sure they agree with the fact that the Indian players did not shake hands.
09:16And then this could be a face-saving tactic if they can get that match referee removed who was there, in fact, doing his duty.
09:23But the problem would there then be, Rajdeep, on what pretext do you remove him?
09:27Because there is no technicality, there is no rule that suggests both captains have to shake hands at the toss.
09:34Of course, that is customary and both captains tend to do that.
09:37But if Andy Prokhorov has just informed the other captain in the Pakistan, that is the Pakistani captain,
09:43that the Indian captain has expressed his will of not to shake hands, he's just expressed that.
09:47So on what pretext can you remove him?
09:48Because technically he's not done anything that is out of the rule book.
09:53Interesting.
09:57Nikhil Nas joining us with those details.
09:59Appreciate you joining us.
10:01Remember, all of this has boiled over after Sundays.
10:04That's yesterday's match between India and Pakistan.
10:07India won the match comfortably.
10:09But the real drama has taken place off the field.
10:11With the Indian captain, Surya Kumar Yadav, refusing to shake hands with his Pakistan counterpart, Salman Agha.
10:18Then going on to dedicate the victory to the victims of the Pehalgam terror attack.
10:24All of this has brought a political tinge to this match.
10:29Politics never far away from India-Pakistan cricket.
10:32But it has left a sour taste in some mouths.
10:35Others believe that India has sent out a strong message.
10:39Take a look at this report and then we'll be joined by special guests in a moment.
10:43A match that was played against the backdrop of the Pehalgam attack served up plenty of moments that have caused a firestorm.
10:55To begin with, Captain Surya Kumar Yadav did not offer to shake hands with the Pakistan captain at toss
11:01and quietly crossed him in what were the first set of visuals of the match.
11:11But that was no slip-up from the Indian captain, who once again decided to walk off the field without shaking hands with the opposition,
11:19a scene usually witnessed at the end of sporting fixtures.
11:22The quiet yet prickly build-up to the match was sure to have played on the minds of the Indian team
11:33and that reflected in what the skipper and coach said after the match.
11:39I just wanted to say something.
11:41I think it's a perfect occasion and taking the time out.
11:45We stand by the victims of the families of the Pehalgam terror attack and we express our solidarity.
11:55And also, the most important thing for me, we want to dedicate today's win to all our armed forces who showed a lot of bravery.
12:05And I hope they continue to inspire us all and we give them more reasons on the ground whenever we get an opportunity to make them smile.
12:14As a team, we wanted to show our solidarity towards the victim of all the families that have gone through during the Pehalgam attack
12:23and more importantly, we want to thank the armed forces for their successful Operation Sindhur
12:27and I'm sure we'll try and make the country proud and try and make the country happy.
12:32While the most disturbing thing for the opponent should have been the one-sided result of the match,
12:37Pakistan was stuck up on the fact that Indians didn't shake hands with them.
12:42We were ready to shake hands at the end of the game.
12:47We obviously were disappointed that our opposition didn't do that.
12:53We sort of went over there to shake hands and they'd already gone into the changing room.
12:57So that was a disappointing way, obviously, for the match to finish.
13:01And a match that we were disappointed the way we played, but certainly were willing to go and shake hands.
13:07I don't know what to say, but you know, hats off to India, well done.
13:11And just make it a political number now.
13:13This match, cricket match, cricket match is a political number.
13:18Milled with the handshake snub, Pakistan now want to take matters to the ICC
13:23and get match referee Andy Pycroft removed from the panel of match referees for the Asia Cup.
13:34While Pakistan are within their rights to approach the ICC,
13:38the fact remains that the Indian team is also entitled to distance itself from Pakistan
13:43the way it likes on the cricket field.
13:46Okay, let's raise some big questions that have been sparked by that controversy
13:59between India and Pakistan once again when it comes to cricket.
14:02Has cricket become war minus the shooting?
14:05Are cricketers becoming political pawns in a larger political battle?
14:10Spirit of cricket or message of terror?
14:13What matters more?
14:14Handshake, refusal, a bit to blunt criticism over the fact that we are playing Pakistan
14:20in the first place.
14:21These are some of the questions that I'm going to raise.
14:24I'm joined at the moment by special guest.
14:27Saad bin Jang is a former first class cricketer.
14:32I'm joined by Shishi Ratandi, former Mumbai cricket captain.
14:35Ayaz Mehman, one of the country's leading cricket writers over the years.
14:39Javed Qureshi is a former Pakistan under-19 captain.
14:43I appreciate all of you joining us.
14:45I'm coming to each of you in a moment, but I want to first turn to Sunil Gavaskar, who we spoke to earlier.
14:51And I began by asking Mr. Gavaskar, your first thoughts on the Indian team refusing to shake hands with the Pakistan team.
15:00Was that the right thing to do?
15:02Well, I actually didn't see it, but, you know, it's entirely up to an individual, what they want to do.
15:11Because, you know, I think you have situations on the field where people are abusing you, saying things to you.
15:19And then at the end of the day, if you expect that somebody who's been calling your name, somebody who's been saying things to you,
15:25if you expect that, you know, you're going to go and, you know, impress or shake hands with that person, that's asking for too much.
15:33So, I don't know what had happened on the field, whether there was any exchange of words or anything of the sort.
15:40But if a person, I'm not even talking about a team, if an individual decides not to shake hands,
15:47he or she is perfectly within his and her rights to do so.
15:53But what will you tell, Mr. Gavaskar, those who will say, please keep sports and politics separate,
16:01that you can't bring your political beliefs and messages onto a cricket field?
16:08Sports and politics have never been a sight.
16:10I mean, it's been, I mean, have a look at, have a look at, you know, things over the years.
16:17Sports and politics has always been around.
16:20And so, I wouldn't, I wouldn't even say anything to somebody who says that.
16:26Wouldn't even want to get into any discussion with somebody like that.
16:32But the concern now is that Pakistan is, has officially written to the Asian Cricket Council
16:37saying they will boycott the tournament if Pycroft remains match referee.
16:42Do you see the next India-Pakistan game going ahead as planned?
16:46Or do you think the match and indeed the tournament is under some kind of threat?
16:50Well, we'll have to just wait and see.
16:53There's still a few days left, I think five, six days to go.
16:58And whether, whether this threat of them not playing because they don't want Andy Pycroft as the match referee,
17:08we'll just have to wait and see what happens, what the ICC does, whether the ICC takes,
17:12because the ICC appoints the match referee.
17:16The ICC tells the ACC who the umpires are and who the match referee is going to be.
17:22So, I think it's going to be not just an ACC decision.
17:26I think it will probably be an ICC call as well.
17:28Okay, that was Sunil Gavaskar saying it's up to individuals to decide whether they want to go ahead with a handshake or not.
17:37But I want to take that to all my guests who are joining me live.
17:40Starting with you, Saad Bin Jang, what's your view?
17:42Do you believe that it's the right thing, that every player has the right...
17:46If Surya Kumar Yadav, India captain, doesn't want to shake hands with the Pakistani captain,
17:51wants to send a message on Pahal Gaam, is it the right thing to do or is it against the convention of cricket?
18:02Rajdeep, let me answer that in a different manner.
18:06See, there are three fundamental issues in front of us.
18:08One is the handshake.
18:10Second is what the Indian captain has gone and said after the game.
18:15And third is this Lakshman Rekha between politics and sport.
18:20Now, this Lakshman Rekha which has existed since time memorial that I remember,
18:24has been there and it has actually ensured that countries which are in conflict,
18:30countries which are maybe at the verge of war etc. etc. get to play each other.
18:36That's what the line has done so far.
18:38But what's happened after Pahal Gaam, what's happened after the massacre of those 27 innocents and the way they were massacred.
18:44You know, it wasn't that they were killed in a war or there was a bomb blast which is actually as bad.
18:49But the way it was done, the way it was planned, the way it was structured was very cold blooded and terrible.
18:55So that Lakshman Rekha now stands completely squashed.
18:59It's abolished. It doesn't exist anymore.
19:01Now, let's take the stance from there. Now comes the handshake.
19:06We didn't handshake before the beginning of the match.
19:09It's not that we waited to win before we decided not to shake hands.
19:13No, we took a stance before the match started and we were very clear.
19:16We said, listen chaps, you people have fallen too badly.
19:19None of you have ever spoken out against terrorism.
19:22And we refuse to shake hands with you who sit there quietly and support this issue.
19:26And I'm glad that Javed is with us and he's going to respond to this.
19:30Because unless there is going to be some response, there is absolutely no reason to shake hands.
19:35For what? The meaning of shake hands is play within the spirit of the game and peace and friendship.
19:40There is none of that anymore. It's gone.
19:42The second thing that the captain has said, which is, the captain said after the game was very simple.
19:49He said, listen, what am I saying? I'm dedicating this win to all those people that you murdered.
19:55And terrorism is terrible. I stand against terrorism. He didn't say it in those words, but he meant that.
20:00And it's absolutely clear. I mean, for heaven's sake, there is a captain of India which has finally stood up and spoken about the truth.
20:08When there was match fixing, no one said anything. When there is conflict, no one says anything.
20:12When there is huge corruption, no one says anything. Finally, a captain stands up and says something which is absolutely fine.
20:18And it's real. And people are finding fault with it. What heaven's for?
20:24He's absolutely right in saying, I dedicate this win to these people. And I don't think you should actually…
20:29One more last line. And this line between sport and the line between politicians, which…
20:36I mean, who are we to say anything against Sunil, Mr. Gawaskar. But that line has now, which existed for so many generations, has now been abolished.
20:45So, there is absolutely zero respect or zero line between us. And what he did was absolutely right.
20:51Okay. So, you see, you believe what he did was absolutely right. Javed Qureshi, former Pakistan under-19 captain, why don't you respond to that?
21:02Saad bin Jang makes the point that Pahal Gaam means it's not business as usual.
21:07Pakistan as cricket establishment, cricketers did not even show the empathy that they should have.
21:13They should have spoken out. The army state is what it is. But the players could have spoken out.
21:18Why should then India show the kind of respect to the Pakistan players if they don't empathize with the terror attack?
21:25Is broadly the point that Saad is making and that the lines have totally got blurred between sports and politics.
21:32Yeah. Thank you very much and good evening, everyone.
21:36Yeah, look. Yeah. Can you hear me? Hello?
21:42Yes, I can. Yeah, you know… Yes, I can.
21:48Yeah, if the Indian players feel strongly, you know, then they should have simply not played.
21:53I think once you come on to a cricket ground or a cricket match, you play by certain rules and certain decorum.
22:00If you feel strongly about something, boycott the game and, you know, we will have respect for you.
22:07But to simply expect Pakistan cricketers to show empathy, Pakistan cricketers are supposed to focus on that game,
22:15not to become pawns in a political game to show empathy or not show empathy.
22:20If the Pakistan team had won this game and the Pakistan players had made some statement dedicating this game to the Pakistan Air Force,
22:29I would have been equally upset and I would have condemned that act.
22:34You play cricket, you come onto the ground, you play by certain rules.
22:38During the time of apartheid, and apartheid was pretty horrific. It was a pretty horrific thing.
22:45You know, Gary Sobers and Graham Pollock, etc. played together.
22:51Mike Proctor and Zaheer Abbas played county cricket together.
22:55Garth Leroux and Imran Khan played cricket together. They behaved as gentlemen.
22:59There were serious issues about apartheid. But cricketers have...
23:03You know, you cannot allow cricketers to get embroiled in this because there is no end to this.
23:09It's much better off if you feel strongly, don't play. I mean, why did India end up playing if they felt strongly about this? Don't play.
23:17That's my two cents.
23:21You're saying that... You're saying... You're saying that... You're saying that...
23:26That cricketers cannot bear... Bear the can for what our politicians do or don't do.
23:32Exactly. You're saying, don't target the cricketers. Is that what... You believe sports has to be kept separate from politics. Is that a bit of a romantic notion?
23:40No, it's not a romantic motion. If you feel strongly, don't play. Don't boycott the game. But once you play... Once you get into the ground, you play by the rules.
23:50I don't... I mean, I'm all for using sport as a principle. But then don't play.
23:57Shishi Ratandi... Yes.
24:01Okay, Shishi Ratandi respond. You've heard two very different views.
24:04Saad bin Jang saying, Surya Kumar Yadam did just the right thing.
24:08Javed Qureshi saying, once you come on the field, then you've got to be cricketers first.
24:13You can't be soldiers in uniform once you're on a cricket field.
24:17If you don't want to play Pakistan, don't play. But when you play, then play by certain conventions. Your response?
24:23Yes. Play by certain conventions, Rajdeep. Once you get on to the 75 yards.
24:30And if you don't feel that it's right to play, don't play. And I think if Surya has voiced an opinion out of his own choice,
24:41then I think the bigger thing would be to not play against Pakistan and say, I'm unavailable to play in this tournament.
24:48And I think everybody believes that he shouldn't have been playing this game because of the sentiment
24:55and because of the empathy he had over what happened in Behlgam, he needed to do the same.
25:02The fact is, the bigger question is, did this come out of Surya's heart or was it a scripted statement that he was compelled to say?
25:15Because for me, players are really simple people. Cricketers are simple. They know only how to play cricket.
25:22They don't look beyond that, how to excel in their craft and make sure that they raise the bar for themselves as sportsmen.
25:30So, my bigger worry is, is this a scripted piece that they have had to say because of the situation?
25:40But the bigger point is, if you feel so strongly about this sentiment, don't play. I mean, we are the powerhouse of world cricket.
25:51So, if you really feel so strongly... So, you're saying that... No, it's easier said than done than don't play
26:00because there are certain global tournament rules. But what you're saying, don't allow the players to become pawns in a larger political game.
26:08But I ask Mehmen, as someone who's seen the game for decades, do you believe that it's possible?
26:13Are we all romantic somewhere to believe that players can be immune to the political pressures around them?
26:18And therefore, if Surya Kumar Yadav had shaken hands, he would have received a volley of abuse maybe from those who feel that Surya Kumar Yadav is now reaching out to Pakistan.
26:30So, a few months after Pahlkam. So, damned if you do, damned if you don't. It isn't easy to keep politics and sports separate in today's world.
26:38Oh, absolutely, Rajdeep. I think you hit the nail on the head. Because, you know, there are niceties of sport and you want that to be kind of adhered to and accepted.
26:48We've seen that happen. But also, it's happened in the breach of it, you know. I mean, you've seen it happen in the Olympics.
26:53You've seen it happen on tennis courts. I mean, look at what John McEnroe would do to his opponents.
26:58It might not be as polarized as it is in the current situation that we're talking about. But I think what I see from the, you know, from like a distance view, I think India played it very smart.
27:09First, they participated in the tournament. There was a huge amount of debate whether India should go to the Asia Cup at all and participate in this cup.
27:16And then there was this, you know, yes, we must participate because otherwise you are putting yourself at risk for participating in the Olympics.
27:23So, you made that gesture saying we'll be there. We'll play Pakistan. But as, you know, you don't necessarily have to thump each other on the back.
27:31If that happens, it's great. It's happened in the past. It makes for a great sight that players are getting along with each other, win or lose.
27:38And India wins the match. And then I think they chose to deflect all the attention following their participation in the win on another matter, which has…
27:49But Ayaz, what has changed between 1999 when if you will recall Pakistan defeated India in a match in Chennai in a thrilling test match and the entire crowd gave a standing ovation to the Pakistanis.
28:05It was… It isn't as if there weren't terror attacks then. Terror attacks have taken place in the 1990s as well.
28:11So, what has changed between 1999 and 2025 that now we don't want to have anything…
28:16If we want to stop the Indus Water Treaty, but we are going to play cricket with Pakistan?
28:22I mean, look, it's a very different world we live in, isn't it, Rajdeep? In 1999, by 2004-05, when India went to Pakistan,
28:29Pakistan had that fantastic series, which India won the first time ever in Pakistan, the crowds came out on the streets to greet the Indian team.
28:37You know, Indian fans and Indian media were, you know, given free khana and peenah everywhere else.
28:43So, it's a very different scenario now. Even heading into this tournament, you know what the message was.
28:49Not just from the fans. Even from, for instance, you know, in the political sphere, the opponents of the government at this point in time said,
28:58we should not play against Pakistan. So, that was the opposition to the team. But we still went and played.
29:03I think given by an exigency because you want to bid for the Olympics, you better make sure that you participate.
29:09You know, so that was an important thing to do.
29:16But let me take that to you, Saad bin Jang. Saad bin Jang, what has changed?
29:20Have Indian fan reactions and political reactions changed or have the players changed?
29:25As I said, 1999, Ayaz Mehman mentioned 2004. There seemed to be a bonhomie between players.
29:31Even in the 1980s, there was mutual respect between an Imran Khan and a Sunil Gavaskar.
29:37All of that seems to have changed. What has changed? Has the public mood changed, particularly in India?
29:46I think, Rajdi, what's happened over the past two decades or so is that because of the polarized politics of India,
29:53a lot of the youngsters have become Indian first and they are thinking through India first.
29:58And I am sorry but I completely disagree and I am very disheartened with the point that Shishir, my good friend, made.
30:06Is that the captain of India was coerced into saying things which he didn't want to say.
30:12So, I think the whole ethos of today's youth is different. It is India first.
30:18India first. It is that, you know, forget the Muslim, Hindu issues. All those issues are gone.
30:23But what they feel for is their soldiers. What they feel for is the innocence.
30:27And I think everyone today feels what happened in Palgam was worse or literally as bad as what happened with Nazi Germany and the Jews.
30:37So, then why play? No, no, but Saad Bin Jang, then Saad Bin Jang, if you feel so strongly about India first, if blood and water cannot coexist, why should blood and cricket coexist?
30:50Then boycott Pakistan. You play Pakistan, but you don't want to observe the conventions of the sport anymore.
30:57Rajdeep, listen, this is a bilateral series. We are not playing one against the other. This is a bilateral series which is played on an international platform.
31:08And why should we turn around to the world and say we are frightened of playing them or we don't agree with playing them? We are going to come out looking bad.
31:15This is a bilateral series which needs to be played with a voice that we have to opine. We have to turn around and say we disagree with this.
31:23We disagree with what this team stands for. We disagree with what the players stand for. But we will play against them.
31:28We will play against them. And whoever wins or loses is irrelevant. And that's my point.
31:35Okay. Okay. So, you're saying it's a platform for Indians who are angered with Pakistan to air a voice.
31:43Quick responses from Javed and Shishit. Javed, you first. Does Pakistan appreciate the kind of anger Pahal Gaam has set in this country?
31:52This is a reflection of that anger and rage.
31:55You know, people in Pakistan's response was somewhat muted. I think Pakistan… I disagree with the Pakistan cricket board going after Andy Pycroft.
32:09I don't think Andy Pycroft has done anything wrong. I think the lady on the call made the point that, you know, there are no…
32:16He has not broken rules or he has not done anything. So, I don't think that that is appropriate. I think this issue is now getting blown out of proportion.
32:26I think it should just now be closed and we just get on with life and get on with playing cricket.
32:33As far as the passion is concerned in wearing your patriotism on your sleeve, there's nothing wrong with that.
32:40But, you know, I just think that there are rules. There is a game that you're supposed to play. As I said, I go back to the same point.
32:48If the Americans felt that the Russians had invaded Afghanistan in 1979, they simply boycotted the Olympics.
32:56You don't participate in the Olympics and you go out of your way to snub Russian athletes. I just don't see how that works. And there's no end to this.
33:07I mean, are we now… Are we now going to see the Pakistan players do the same thing?
33:11Okay, let me give you… So… So… Okay. You want a final word, Shishirat Agni? Very quickly. Saad bin Jang says he doesn't agree with you.
33:20You're the cricket romantic here. Saad bin Jang is saying he represents the young Indian.
33:25My final take on this… Angry with Pakistan. If I had to rewrite… If I had to rewrite the script, I would have said, if I was India captain, there's very little chance of that.
33:33But I would say that we played this game for all that has happened for people who died at Pelgam and the families. Not about a win.
33:45This is not about a win. This is about playing the game of cricket. And that is… That is why you played the Asia Cup. It's about playing the match.
33:52It's not about winning or losing. What if you had lost? What if you had that one bad day in the office? Would you have said that? No, you would have not said anything.
34:01So, it's important to get things into context. If you feel so strongly about something, say that you played this game of cricket because you want to dedicate it to what happened in Pelgam and your thoughts are with the families and the soldiers. That's all.
34:18Let's leave it there. Gentlemen, I appreciate you joining us on our top talking. Yes, yes, very quickly.
34:31I'm saying let's have consistent rules. You know, when Uthman Fajah talks about the Palestinians, then you know, let him talk about the Palestinians. But we can't block him…
34:41We can't cut him off then because we don't like what he has to say. And you know, therefore, you're probably better off by simply not allowing…
34:49Okay, good point. Fair point. Fair point. Fair point. Let's leave it there. I appreciate you joining us. I have a my take. I feel strongly about these issues.
35:00So, let me give you my take. I've always been a firm advocate of Indo Park cricket in the hope that sports can build bridges where politics cannot. No longer.
35:10The hope of sports as a bridge builder between two hostile neighbors has been dimmed in recent times. The terror attack in Pelgam and the complete lack of empathy shown by the Pakistani army state and dare I say even more troubling, the incendiary remarks made by some former Pakistani players make it apparent that it could no longer be business as usual with Islamabad.
35:35The Modi government made it clear that blood and water cannot flow together by putting the Indus Water Treaty on hold. How then can cricket and terror coexist? Last night's game only further shows how sport is only now an instrument for competitive jingoism.
35:51When a game becomes a platform for war minus the shooting, when performative nationalism takes over and when players cannot even show the minimum courtesy of shaking hands with each other, there is something horribly wrong.
36:05Next time, either don't play cricket with Pakistan or if you believe it's a compulsion, then gracefully accept conventions of sport including a handshake.
36:12Let's not reduce cricketers to pawns in a larger battle only to cater to domestic constituencies looking to settle scores.
36:22Sports is expected my friends to bring out the best in us, not the worst, else we are hurtling down a very dark and slippery slope where players will be expected to play the role of soldiers in uniform.
36:35And if the players, BCCI and GOI, Government of India want to truly put the victims of PALGAM first, here is my suggestion.
36:44All your earnings from India-Pakistan cricket games should go to support the families of the victims of Pakistan-based terror.
36:53Okay, let's turn from there to our other big story, which is the Supreme Court today staying key provisions of the Waqf Amendment Act that was passed in Parliament earlier this year.
37:05While the court has state certain important provisions including that of the powers of a district collector, they have not put a stay on the registration of Waqf itself and the statute will remain.
37:20Take a look at this report and then we will decode the court judgment for you.
37:27The Supreme Court of India on Monday declined to stay the Waqf Act 2025 in its entirety.
37:34Instead, it put on hold some of its contentious provisions.
37:39The court put on hold the provision that a person should be practicing Islam for five years as per Section 3R to create a Waqf.
37:47It said that the provision will be stayed till rules are framed on determining whether a person is a practitioner of Islam.
37:54The Apex court further stayed a provision which empowered a collector to determine whether a property declared as Waqf is government property and pass orders.
38:06The CJI-led branch also said that permitting an executive officer or collector to adjudicate property rights violates the separation of powers and it has put a bar on changing revenue records.
38:21The court held that the Central Waqf Council shall not consist of more than four non-Muslim members and a state Waqf board not more than three.
38:30The court directed that ex-officio officers in Waqf boards must be from the Muslim community.
38:36While the opposition welcomed the Supreme Court's interim order on the Waqf Amendment Act 2025,
38:43the BGP claimed it a positive development.
38:58While the opposition welcomed the Supreme Court's interim order on the Waqf Amendment Act 2025,
39:05the BGP claimed it a positive development.
39:08We hope that the Supreme Court will take a final decision to take the Supreme Court as soon as soon as possible.
39:21I am happy that the Supreme Court has taken a look at all of the rules and some of the rules of the rules of the country.
39:30So I will give them all the people in the country who are fighting this fight.
39:35The judgment of the spirit and the spirit of the whole order,
39:40I would like to say that in our country there was a very good judgment.
39:46Earlier in May after hearing arguments from both sides for three straight days,
39:50on 22nd May the Supreme Court reserved its interim order on the Act.
39:55The petitions filed challenged the constitutionality of the changes made to the Waqf law
40:00by amendments passed by Parliament in April this year.
40:04Bureau Report, India Today.
40:08And to understand what this Supreme Court order means for Waqf properties,
40:13I am joined by a very special guest, Professor Dr. Faizan Mustafa,
40:17is one of the country's leading legal scholars,
40:20also Vice Chancellor at Chanakya National Law University in Patna.
40:24I appreciate your joining us, Professor Mustafa.
40:27How do you interpret what the Supreme Court has done?
40:30They've stayed provisions of the Waqf Amendment Act 2025 that was passed by Parliament,
40:37but they've refused to stay the entire statute.
40:41Is this what can be described as a balanced approach by the Supreme Court?
40:45Freedom to practice your religion on one side,
40:48but at the same time conscious of potential misuse of the Waqf Act.
40:55Rajdeep, thank you very much. It's not so.
40:58Those who expected that the entire law would be stayed don't know the judicial process.
41:05The provision in Article 13 of Indian Constitution says that
41:10if there is a law which contravenes fundamental rights,
41:15then that law to the extent of contravention shall be void.
41:21Accordingly, entire law is never held.
41:25I am not recalling any law which in its entirety was stayed.
41:30So, it's some provisions of any law.
41:33This is called doctrine of severability,
41:36that the judges will severe the part of law
41:40which is consistent with the Constitution and fundamental rights
41:44with the one which is inconsistent.
41:46And it will be the one which is inconsistent
41:48which contravenes fundamental rights that would be stayed.
41:51Now, in the opinion of Supreme Court Judge Bench led by CJI,
41:58only few provisions of this law,
42:02prima facie on the face of it,
42:04look problematic and they have been stayed.
42:07Now, this is not a judgment.
42:09It is an interim order,
42:11neither upholding of rest of the provisions in any way
42:17can be celebrated.
42:19Not staying of some provisions is to be celebrated
42:23because the case is to be heard yet again on merit
42:27and a final judgment will come.
42:30So, right now, with this observation of Supreme Court,
42:34the law, most provisions of this law would be implemented
42:38except the few which have been identified by the Supreme Court.
42:42Rajdeep, you also said about practicing religion and a balancing.
42:46So, my first response was about balancing,
42:49but about practicing religion,
42:51I think there is a problem in the interim order.
42:55In fact, it is hugely problematic.
42:57Rajdeep, the provision which they have upheld
43:01is talking about that you need to practice religion for five years.
43:10I think this was the most problematic part of this law.
43:14In fact, the law used the word that you need to profess Islam for five years.
43:19The Supreme Court judges say that you have to practice Islam for five years
43:24before you can make worth of your property.
43:27My problem with this order of the Supreme Court
43:30and this observation of the Supreme Court is this.
43:33Are we going to do religious policing in this country?
43:37A moral policing of the kind we are familiar in theocratic countries like Iran.
43:45Whether I am a good Muslim and a practicing Muslim
43:48or a not practicing Muslim,
43:50that judgment is not to be passed by any state official.
43:53Now, just because I don't have a beard,
43:56I will not be said to be a practicing Muslim.
43:59If I don't keep fast or I don't pray five times a day
44:03or I don't pay zakar,
44:04I am not going to be a good Muslim or a practicing Muslim
44:10and then deny to make a waqf of my own property.
44:14Now, I understand that the provision is in the context of people who converted to Islam.
44:21As the law stands, Rajdeep, conversion is not prohibited in India.
44:26The BJP states, as many as about nine or ten of them,
44:30they only prohibit forced conversion.
44:33Now, forced conversion is illegal.
44:35But if somebody voluntarily converts to any religion including Islam,
44:41whatever ownership of the property vested in him,
44:44that ownership right is not going to change because he changed his religion.
44:50Now, it is his property.
44:52How can he say that?
44:54Sir, can I just, can I just, can I go get a clarif-
44:57Sir, can I go get a clarif-
44:59Yeah, please go ahead.
45:01Can I go get a clarification?
45:03What the order says of the Supreme Court,
45:05the Supreme Court says it stays the provision requiring proof of being a Muslim,
45:11practicing Muslim for five years until such time as rules are framed.
45:16So, for now, that contentious provision that you will have to prove that you are a practicing Muslim for five years has been stayed until such time as the rules are framed.
45:27So, now if rules are framed tomorrow, there is no stay on this.
45:31My question is how can even through framing of rules you will pass a judgment on anybody's religiosity?
45:39What a state has to do with the private decisions of people whether they are religious or they are not religious?
45:47But at the same time, I take your point.
45:49But sir, at the same, I, so you are saying once the rules are framed, we will know just how this actual law, could this law lead to religious policing?
46:00That's your concern.
46:01Yeah.
46:02But at the same time, the court also has stayed the powers of the collector.
46:07One of the other fears was that a district collector will have arbitrary powers to decide whether a particular property is worked or not.
46:16So, there is some, that's why I said there is some element of give and take.
46:20No, I take your point.
46:22You know, in fact, the biggest victory for the petitioner I would consider is the one where the designated executive officer will no more be able to determine the title.
46:34The court has said it should be done either by a judicial officer or by a quasi judicial officer, which means above tribunal.
46:43Now, that is a huge victory for the petitioner.
46:47Right.
46:48But I am not on the balancing.
46:49I am saying where problem is.
46:52Now, one, I identified that this five-year practicing rule as and when government comes up with rules will become operational, but it's a problematic provision in itself.
47:04And therefore, ideally, it should have been a state.
47:07Two.
47:08Right.
47:09This condition that non-Muslims will not be able to make waft.
47:13Now, it is the property of a non-Muslim.
47:16Ownership rights are unlimited in terms of user, in terms of disposition.
47:23And if it is my property, I can destroy it.
47:26I can burn it.
47:27I can do whatever I want with it.
47:30Now, how can a state dictate to me what I should do with my property?
47:36And therefore, this right of non-Muslims, I take the point which Supreme Court has written, that this provision came in 2013 and it was not there in the 54 law and in the 1995 law.
47:49Maybe, but there are judgments of 1920s, 1930s, even Nagpur High Court judgment from which Justice
47:59Gawaii is very, very familiar, has given a judgment as late as 1956 after independence that a non-Muslim can also make a waft.
48:09Because waft is not only for mosque and madarsa.
48:12Waft can be for a hospital, for a school, for the construction of a road or for the construction of a dharmashala.
48:19So, it is a principle of jurisprudence that if it is my property, I should not be in any way restricted in terms of what I will do with my property.
48:32And therefore, this provision is also problematic, but the court has not stayed it.
48:41So, net-net, you are saying that this entire debate over Article 26 and the freedom to practice religion and thereby decide what I want to do with my work property, that's still open for debate, that is not settled by this interim order in any manner.
48:59And there is potential, therefore, for misuse and discrimination that could still follow. Am I right? Principles of equity have still not been upheld and therefore one will have to await for the final order.
49:12That's right. You are right. But what I am saying, look at Article 26. It gives right to every religious denomination or any section thereof.
49:24You would recall on your show I had said that accepting non-Muslims or admitting non-Muslims in the Waqf board should not be opposed because we believe in the diversity and the diversity of the society should be reflected in all institutions.
49:41Nevertheless, the problem is in the article itself. Article 26 gives this right only to the religious denomination or any section thereof. It does not talk of diversity.
49:53There are other laws, Hindu endowment laws which do not allow even bots, Jains and Sikhs who within the constitution under Article 25 are considered as Hindus but not Hindus for the purposes of Hindu endowment laws.
50:12So even the non-stay on the limitation provision is problematic because the court is saying that it is applicable, you know, to all properties but the Hindu religious endowment property laws in Tamil Nadu, in Andhra Pradesh, in Tilangana do not make limitation law applicable in respect of such properties.
50:36I would repeat what Rajdeep I said earlier that this whole law is problematic because there was an opportunity to come up with a uniform civil court and Waqf and religious properties could have been the first such issue on which for all religions we will have one law, uniform law. But we missed that opportunity.
50:58I think you made that last point you made that this is in a way you still believe a missed opportunity. This was an opportunity to perhaps push towards a uniform civil court where not just Waqf properties but the properties of all religious denominations were subject to similar legal provisions.
51:21Now we will wait and see whether the Supreme Court does that in their final order. As I said for now both sides in a way are cherry picking specific or specific aspects of the order to claim victory in a way. But Professor Mustafa for shedding light on this important order passed by the Supreme Court today. I thank you very much.
51:45Thank you Rasti.
51:46Thank you all with the news today. Now a few states have done the country proud, quite like Haryana when it comes to Olympic sport. And that great tradition continues because in the World Boxing Championship, Jasmine Lamboria and Minakshi Huda have won gold defeating Olympic medalists. Once again, Haryana is showing the way, especially with their women pugilists.
52:13It's our good news today. Take a look.
52:43The next day, Minakshi Huda triumphed in 48 kg final, defeating Paris Olympics bronze medalist, Kazakhstan's Nizem Kaizebe.
52:57The victory sparked celebrations at Jasmine's home in Bivani, where she has been learning under the supervision of her uncle and coach Sandeep Lamboria for the past several years.
53:09Mahi Z辦ana to the last year.
53:12And the human being duo who have taught, yet has a fruit of their sister
53:38Bivani is getting ready to give a grand welcome not just to Jasmine but also other local heroes
53:52Nupursharan and Pooja Rani who ensured medals for India at the tournament.
53:58Meenakshi Huda's victory is equally inspiring her father an auto rickshaw driver had helped
54:13her chase her dreams despite heavy odds though Meenakshi's win came in the non-olympic category
54:20it will be motivating for the athlete to aim higher
54:23Bureau report India today
54:30nice good news today story to end on thanks for watching stay well stay safe good night
54:43Shubhra Tri Jain Namaskar
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