- 2 days ago
The top focus of this episode of To The Point is the big credit war that has erupted over GST reforms.
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00:00Good evening, you're watching To The Point and I'm Maria Shaquille. First up, the headlines.
00:05Political war escalates over GST 2.0. Congress terms it growth-suppressing tax.
00:12West Bengal Chief Minister Mahmouda Banerjee claims credit for zero GST on insurance premiums.
00:17BJP reminds people of high taxes during the U.P.A. era.
00:21Prime Minister Modi's mega push for made-in-India products gives a Garvaseh Swadeshi war cry in Arunachal Pradesh, accuses Congress of ignoring the Northeast.
00:38External Affairs Minister Dr. S.J. Shankar will meet U.S. Secretary of State Rubio at the sidelines of the UNGA summit.
00:52Fyush Goyal will hold talks with the U.S. counterpart as well.
00:56Top ministers in U.S. for trade talks.
00:59Big Karnataka cast survey showdown, 7 crore Karnataka residents to be covered, mad scramble to consolidate numbers, BJP calls, sinister plot to divide Hindus.
01:29The Supreme Court observes it was irresponsible to blame Air India pilots for crash based on a preliminary inquiry report.
01:45The Supreme Court also issued notice to Center to ensure impartial and expeditious probe.
01:52And it's a setback for actor Jacqueline Fernandez.
02:00The Supreme Court says it won't quash a laundering case against the actor Jacqueline had sought quashing off a 215 crore money laundering case against her.
02:11National Human Rights Commission directs Mumbai police to file FIR against actor Ranbir Kapoor and producers of the Aryan Khan's Baths of Bollywood.
02:29In one of the scenes, in fact, Ranbir Kapoor is seen smoking an e-cigarette without any disclaimer on the screen.
02:41A piece of breaking news coming in now, Assam Chief Minister Hementa Biswasarma has said that second postmortem will be conducted on Zubin Garg on Tuesday.
03:06That is tomorrow in Guwahati Hospital, following demands by a section of people.
03:13Remember Zubin Garg, a renowned culture icon of Assam, died in Singapore during a scuba diving incident.
03:25The first autopsy which was conducted stated death due to drowning.
03:30Why is there a need for a second autopsy is the big question, although his cremation was likely to take place tomorrow.
03:38Now, is that going to be delayed is the big question again.
03:43So, Hamanta Biswasarma is saying that the postmortem of legendary singer Zubin Garg will be conducted around 7.30 a.m. at Guwahati Medical College Hospital.
03:57Let me bring in the reporter who joins us now.
04:04Rajoy Das is joining us from Guwahati.
04:08Rajoy, give us the details of what exactly has been the demand of the people.
04:14Why is there a need for a second autopsy?
04:17Well, Assam Chief Minister Himantabisha Sharma has just announced that Zubin Garg's second autopsy will be done in Guwahati Medical College after social, civil society members and opposition leaders like Akhil Gogoi demanded for a second autopsy.
04:33But the Chief Minister stressed on the fact that the autopsy done in Singapore is much more technically ahead.
04:41But due to the public demand and respecting the public emotions, the second autopsy will be done tomorrow.
04:46That is Tuesday around 7.30 a.m. on Guwahati Medical College.
04:50So, this is the latest updates that we are getting from the Chief Minister directly for the second autopsy regarding the second autopsy of Zubin Garg.
05:01Before I let you go, when is the cremation likely then?
05:04Will that delay the cremation?
05:06Slightly, the cremation might be delayed because the cremation is also scheduled to happen tomorrow somewhere in the noon.
05:14But this might delay the cremation process by a bit.
05:20But if my sources are to be believed, then the autopsy will be carried out smoothly at 7.30 a.m. in the morning.
05:28And after that, the body will be, the mortal remains of Zubin Garg will be taken for cremation at Kamarkuchi near Guwahati.
05:34All right, Rudi, thank you for joining us on the top of 7 o'clock.
05:39Let's bring in our top story now.
05:42Political parties are positioning themselves around GST 2.0 with both competition and consensus, in fact, shaping the discourse.
05:51The ruling BJP frames GST 2.0 as a Navaratri gift to the poor and the middle class, highlighting simplified slabs, rate cuts on essential goods,
06:02and a boost to Atmanirbhar Bharat as a major economic reform.
06:07Prime Minister Modi presents it as a continuation of India's decade-long economic progress
06:13and a savings festival to increase disposable incomes and consumption.
06:19The opposition, especially the Congress, has countered it by branding GST 2.0 as growth-suppressing tax,
06:27criticizing the delayed reforms and complex slap structures introduced earlier.
06:33In fact, the Congress says that the benefits are modest relative to the tax revenues collection
06:40and questions whether the reform will indeed stimulate the private investment that the government is hoping for.
06:50Parties like the Thrinamul Congress have claimed credit for pushing GST reforms on their terms,
06:57viewing it as an issue of political ownership and federal balance.
07:02And despite the political sparring, all major parties emphasize that GST as a national reform achieved through federal consensus
07:11while the GST Council makes all of them a stakeholder in this process.
07:18First up the story and then I bring in the guests.
07:20A new day and a new regime of goods and services tax rolls out into effect.
07:35Led by the Prime Minister, the ruling alliance celebrates festive bonanza in GST for Ahmadine.
07:41Today, the next generation of GST reforms has become a new generation of GST reform.
07:55The GST has started the development of GST.
07:58In this period, the people have become a double bonanza in GST.
08:07Led by Congress, opposition took a dig at the GST 2.0 roll-out.
08:12We have to demand for GST.
08:18We have to demand for GST.
08:19We have to demand for GST.
08:21We have to demand for GST.
08:23After Trump's tariff, the tariff was not taken from the tariff.
08:26But there was a tariff.
08:28When the tariff came and the disease came,
08:30they had to demand for him that the new GST system started to be making a new system.
08:34Some of our rules that are holding the record of the needle in the needle,
08:43they are not able to understand.
08:45I think that Jayaram Ji is a consulting company to hire a consultant
08:50and to find new ideas for his own and his leader.
08:55Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilash Yadav on his social media handle
08:59took a swipe at the BJP government,
09:01asking whether GST collections over the past eight years have gone.
09:07Trinamul Congress has long been engaged in a credit war with the centre,
09:11claiming that the GST reforms owe their credit to the opposition party.
09:15Harping on that same line, the West Bengal Chief Minister
09:18accused the BGP-led government of taking undue credit for lowering the taxes.
09:31The GST Council has fought against the GST Council.
09:36I don't think we have to do it.
09:39I don't know.
09:41I don't know if we have any contributions to the central government.
09:45The GST is not a contribution.
09:48The GST is not a contribution to the GST of the GST of the GST of the GST of the GST of the GST of the GST.
09:55Opposition ruled Tamil Nadu delayed revising the price of state-run dairy, Avin Ghee.
10:03After criticism from the BGP, the state government passed an order allowing the company to revise Ghee prices.
10:09The price of 1 kilogram of Avin Ghee is expected to come down from Rs. 700 to Rs. 660.
10:17While the government celebrates the GST 2.0, opposition is calling the reforms a mere band-aid,
10:23terming it as guber-sync tax and a growth-suppressing tax.
10:28Bureau Report, India Today.
10:32Joining me on the show tonight, Dr. Ajoy Kumar, National Spokesperson of the Congress of Rajita Sarangi,
10:37Member of Parliament of the BJP, Salam Dharani Dharan, Spokesperson of the DMK.
10:42Dr. Ajoy Kumar, you and other political parties in opposition who have governments in various states
10:49are a stakeholder to ensure that this GST is a success.
10:55My question then is, why are you dismissing these reforms as suppressing tax?
11:01No, no. I think, first question is, the misreading of the whole approach of the Congress.
11:09We've been saying for the past eight years, you are having one of the worst tax structures in the country.
11:16You had to rationalize it. That's what we've been saying right from the beginning.
11:19And for the past eight years, Maria, you extracted, extorted, 55 lakh crores.
11:26The government took away 55 lakh crores from the people's pocket.
11:32When the 2017, when the reforms were passed, we were asking them to simplify it.
11:39You tell us what was our stand-in when we gave a dissenting note.
11:42You should be happy that even though it is delayed, but it has happened nevertheless.
11:52No, no.
11:52Let's bring a Prajita Sarangi on the screen also.
11:54No, no. One second. Maria, first question is, I think the simplifying the tax, there's no debate on it.
12:01But to rob for nine years and then to say that I brought it and so you must congratulate me,
12:05because there's so many other reforms. GST is one part of the reform.
12:08And I'll just, Aparajita Ji, I'll just finish in 30 seconds.
12:10Whether simplifying the tax is a good idea, it's a good idea.
12:15We were telling for eight years, now there are dhrusha, that's okay.
12:18But don't go saying that we did the greatest job, you're supposed to have done it earlier.
12:21And it is just a part of a lot of reforms which are needed.
12:26And I hope the government has the good sense to continue to do it.
12:29I mean, that's my first perspective.
12:31And please remember what our Congress leaders from Mr. Gandhi to everybody said on that.
12:35Simplified, simplified.
12:36They finally, they refuse to listen to us till Trump...
12:38Yes, okay. So, if it is simplified, so you should be, it's goods and simple tax.
12:44But it's not really suppressing tax.
12:47So, certainly that phrasing may not be appropriate at this point,
12:52when the general sense among the public is that they are trying to understand how it will benefit them.
12:57Salim Dhanidharan, earlier today there was some chaos, particularly with regards to the dairy product.
13:03Has that been sorted out?
13:05See, firstly, there are a lot of problems with the GST.
13:10Of course, we've now gone to two slabs, which is not bad.
13:14But why do we have so much complication to begin with?
13:17And in fact, even if you look at the GST Council,
13:20Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, right?
13:24These four states contribute to about 50% of India's GD, I mean, GST collections.
13:3050% of India's GST collections.
13:32But when it comes to GST Council, these four states are only 8% of the votes.
13:37So, no resolution has been able to be passed in the GST Council until and unless the union government is not interested.
13:43Right? Because the union government has 33% votes share.
13:47So, you need 75% to pass anything in GST Council, which means without the interest of the union government,
13:53nothing can be passed in the GST Council.
13:55And the GST contributing states do not have a voice.
13:57And which is why you have problems like this.
13:59Why is the dairy problem happening?
14:00Because you don't listen to states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Telangana, which are contributing to GST.
14:07No, but other states haven't said.
14:09Other states haven't really joined this chorus of concern.
14:14See, I'm saying Tamil Nadu contributes to about 15% of India's GST collections.
14:19So, you need to listen to us in the beginning itself.
14:21That's the whole point.
14:22That's why these problems happen.
14:24And more importantly, the more pertinent point is the opposition parties from 2017 onwards has been saying,
14:31GST is regressive taxation, indirect taxation burden on the people should be low.
14:362025 they do it.
14:37Which means for 8 years they stood right.
14:39So, why did they not listen to us 8 years back?
14:41So, now economy is in doldance.
14:43Right?
14:43Why did that happen?
14:44Even if it is delayed, Salim Dhani Dharan, it has happened.
14:48So, perhaps even now, the entire political class can speak in one voice and say,
14:54No, this isn't really justice right now which we are talking about.
14:57No courtroom business here, Salim Dhani Dharan.
15:00But certainly, when it is happening, when Navaratri has started,
15:04it is happening at the time when the festive season has begun.
15:09So, let's build that mood in which we'll be celebrating these tax.
15:13Of course, you know, for a Ram Admi, for the middle class,
15:16they're trying to decode it as to how much it will impact their budget.
15:20I'm coming to you, Dr. Joykumar.
15:21But before that, Aparajita Sarangi, you know, the states, opposition parties,
15:26all of them want credit.
15:27Please give credit to them so that these reforms are a success.
15:30It's a great day for all of us, September 22, 2025.
15:40We are aware of the fact that the government of India, led by Prime Minister Modi,
15:45has rolled out the next generation GST reforms in the country.
15:49And actually, Nagarik, Devo, Bhava, everything is for the 140 crore Indians.
15:57And those who are opposing the next generation GST reforms are actually speaking against the interests of these 140 crore people.
16:05I say with all conviction at my command.
16:08Now, here are certain critics talking to us and, you know, talking in various drawing rooms here and there.
16:15But I must tell you that they are habitual critics, one.
16:19And number two, they are suffering from a disease called cynicism.
16:22You remember, Maria, in 2017, when GST had been rolled out by the government, led by Prime Minister Modi,
16:32there were around 50 kinds of taxes imposed on people, on the consumers.
16:39And imagine the kind of chaos that all of us were in.
16:42And people were suffering.
16:44And then GST was brought in one nation, one tax.
16:47See, this government focuses on efficiency, focuses on the benefits that would go to the citizens.
16:57So, I think it's a great initiative by the government of Prime Minister Modi.
17:01We all should actually, you know, clap for this particular initiative.
17:06And we are aware of the fact that most of the rates have come down to 5% and 18% barring some demerited goods,
17:14which are in that 40% bracket, which I think should be there.
17:19So, I think simplifying the whole thing is the biggest thing which has happened.
17:23But ma'am, the Congress says that these are growth suppressing tax.
17:29You may have certain expectations with this rollout.
17:34But will the, you know, the agenda or the target be achieved is the question.
17:39Of course, see, what is the target?
17:46Right now, the GDP of India is about 330 lakh crore.
17:53We are all aware of that.
17:55Now, as far as this 330 lakh crore rupees is concerned,
17:59202 lakh crore constitutes the consumption.
18:03Now, in 23-24, I must tell you, Maria, this consumption amount was rupees 181 lakh crore.
18:12In just one year, 23-24 to 24-25, there was 12% increase.
18:18And now, we are at 202 lakh rupees, 202 lakh crore rupees consumption.
18:26Now, with this kind of intervention, when we are bringing down, we are reducing the tax rates.
18:32Naturally, the consumption will increase.
18:35Naturally, there will be more of demand.
18:37Naturally, there will be more of projects and there will be more of investment.
18:41So, I think all of us must understand a little bit of economics, if not more.
18:46Now, I must come, I must place before you certain figures.
18:51Now, UPA 1 we are talking of, UPA 2 we are talking of.
18:54We are talking of the period prior to 2017.
18:58Cement, 30% GST rate.
19:03It has come down to 18% this time.
19:06Sanitary napkins, 18% to 0%.
19:09Imagine the kind of relief to the girls and women.
19:12Fridge, TV, everything has come down.
19:15Detergent, 30% to 5%.
19:17Coffee, 30% to 5%.
19:19So, what am I trying to tell you is, that there is absolute relief to the consumers and all of us need to celebrate this.
19:29No one disagrees.
19:31See, firstly, we don't disagree with the GDP growth, but we'll have to look at the per capita GDP.
19:35Per capita GDP of India is below Bangladesh.
19:38Per capita GDP, we are in 100 or 120 years.
19:41And also, Madam spoke about demand-side intervention, right?
19:45So, there are two ways in which you can have intervention, supply-side intervention and demand-side intervention.
19:49This union government reduced corporate taxes and increased fuel taxes.
19:52Then we said, supply-side intervention will not work.
19:54Then the BJP came and said, no, no, no, supply-side intervention will work because corporates will have a lot of money to invest in factories.
20:00So, factories will be built, factories will employ people.
20:02But then, because of very high indirect taxes like GST and fuel exercise duty, what happened was, demand has collapsed.
20:08Now, they are saying demand-side intervention.
20:10And then they are saying basic economics.
20:11This is what we have been saying for eight years.
20:13But the point is, you should do more.
20:15We have never denied this.
20:16The eight years we have been saying this.
20:17Okay, do more.
20:17Even Nobel laureates have been saying this.
20:20Okay, so do more is the point that is being made here.
20:24What about inequality?
20:25I'm coming to you.
20:25What about inequality?
20:26Right?
20:27Thomas Pickett, the economist, say that India's inequality currently is much worse than what was...
20:32Can I come in, Maria, for a second?
20:34Yes, ma'am, quickly.
20:3530 seconds.
20:36And then I'll go to Ajoy Kumar.
20:38Please, go ahead.
20:38Yes.
20:39You know what?
20:40But we must acknowledge and appreciate the fact that in the last 11 years, under the dynamic leadership of our Prime Minister,
20:48about 25 crore people have come over to the new middle class.
20:52So I think this new middle class will definitely prosper and will definitely celebrate.
20:57And we are all there to understand and acknowledge the kind of reforms that have been brought in.
21:02Dr. Ajoy Kumar.
21:03These are for next generation reforms and this is definitely best for the citizens in the present context.
21:09So there are a few problems with the BJP.
21:13First of all, it's the GST council.
21:15They are, you know, genetically credit chore.
21:18I mean, Parijataji, other chief, other minister, finance minister, one side, one side.
21:22There were other finance ministers, the whole GST council.
21:24You don't even have the courtesy to thank the others.
21:27So it's your nature.
21:28First question, the BJP.
21:29Not you means BJP.
21:30Second, your chief minister, the present prime minister, who you are singing so much of payans,
21:35which I am feeling, you know, I would, if I was not from Congress, I would have got terribly moved by your dedication.
21:41The most important thing, he opposed GST when he was chief minister of Gujarat, regularly.
21:45Fortunately, TV is there, recording is there, tweets are there.
21:49Third important part is you guys get so much of credit to the whole economy sitting on government expenditure.
21:56Private, you reduce tax.
21:58Private companies are still not investing.
22:00What my colleague also said was the most important part is you robbed for 55 lakh roads from the people of India for eight years.
22:08Now you're saying that the great prime minister has reduced cost.
22:12Another thing, comparison of prices.
22:15Yeah, gas was 400 rupees when we were there, it's now 1,000 rupees.
22:18Those are not logical comparisons.
22:20Petrol was 60 rupees, now it is 100 rupees.
22:22Cement was some 300 bucks, now it is 700.
22:24That kind of comparison, madam, in a 10-year period is most fundamentally wrong economics.
22:31I have just enough time for Prajita Sarangi's last comments.
22:35Prajita Sarangi, the finance minister said that she is thankful to all the states that they came on board.
22:40I think you should also extend the same courtesy.
22:42Perhaps Dr. Ajay Kumar and all of us will end this discussion with a smile.
22:47Give them credit, give them credit.
22:51I say with all humility, but with a great deal of emphasis, that the proposal, that the proposal, this entire next generation proposal was drafted by the government, placed in the 56th GST Council.
23:05And the GST Council understood the logic of it, the members of the GST Council, they of course need to be thanked because they behaved with maturity, they looked into the logic of the whole thing and they assented to the proposal of the government.
23:19So I think all of us, it's a collective effort that went into it and we all have won.
23:25So I think there should be grace from part of these opposition parties to acknowledge and appreciate the good work that the prime minister has done.
23:33I can see Dr. Ajay Kumar also smiled, so everybody is smiling and that is the way this discussion will be ending.
23:38So thank you so much for joining us.
23:40Welcome back.
23:41A storm has erupted over allegations of a hundred crore loot from the donation box at the Tirumala temple during the previous of ISRCP government.
23:51In fact, a CCTV footage has been released by the BJP, which shows a temple staffer stealing cash from the box, with claims that funds were diverted to real estate and even the residence of former Chief Minister Jaganman Reddy.
24:09The Andhra Pradesh High Court has ordered a CID probe amidst calls for a CBI inquiry as political tensions rise in the state.
24:19Here's the update.
24:21The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam with a net worth estimated at 3 lakh crore rupees receives over 50,000 devotees daily.
24:32It garners 1,400 crore rupees annually through offerings, gold and precious items from worshippers.
24:41But this video can shake the trust of devotees.
24:45The video which has now gone viral is from the Tirumala Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh.
24:50Banu Prakash Reddy, who is also a Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam member, claimed that temple staffer Ravi Kumar stole cash from the donation box.
24:59The video shows a man pocketing what appears to be a bundle of dollars.
25:03Banu Prakash Reddy alleged that over 100 crore rupees was stolen from the temple during the previous YSRCP government, calling it the biggest theft in the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam history.
25:17100 crores, Parakamani scam had taken place during YSRCP period.
25:25Despite years of theft, crores of rupees was invested in real estate using the looted money.
25:33Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh echoed the allegations accusing the YRCP of looting pilgrims and investing the money in real estate.
25:41Money was stolen from the Prakamani while counting.
25:46The entire thing was brushed under the carpet.
25:51Karana Kareddy himself was involved in the entire thing.
25:57The YSRCP rubbished the allegations and demanded a CBI probe into the allegations.
26:04YSR Congress Party strongly condemns the reckless attempts of Chandrababu Naidu and Nara Lokesh to misuse the sacred Tirumala Temple for their dirty politics.
26:18Instead of acknowledging the facts, the Naidu and Mr. Lokesh are twisting the truth.
26:24The Andhra Pradesh High Court has ordered a CID probe into allegations of foreign currency theft and Benami property deals involving TTD officials, police and political leaders.
26:38The Tirupati Devasthanam was earlier rocked by charges of using adulterated ghee in Ladoos with the ruling TDP going all guns blazing at the YRCP,
26:47accusing it of masterminding the entire scam during Jagan Reddy's rule.
26:51While the Andhra Pradesh High Court has now taken up the case and moved it further, transferring the case to the CID,
27:00the YSRCP, strongly hitting back, has demanded for a CBI inquiry,
27:05saying this is nothing but the TDP-led NDA government's political vendetta playing with the feelings of the public.
27:12With video journalist Prasad, Apoorva Jai Chandran, India Today.
27:16And joining me on the show tonight, Dr. Pula Rao is a political analyst.
27:21We have Deepak Reddy, national spokesperson of the TDP.
27:24We'll be joined by Mr. Bharat Ram, national spokesperson of the YSRCP in just a bit.
27:29Deepak Reddy, what evidence can the TDP present to prove that the looted money was invested in real estate
27:38and funneled to the residents of the former Chief Minister Jagan Reddy.
27:42And how does this implicate the YSRCP leadership directly?
27:48Very good.
27:50We have seen earlier in the Laddu incident what has happened.
27:55So, prima facie, you know, we know the mentality of the earlier YCP government.
28:00I would like to start off by showing this visual.
28:05This is the foundation stone, the stone which was put before the Parakamani building by Jagan Mohan Reddy.
28:12And the plan they hatched is that the money what they would be removing from there would go into the market
28:21and through that they would be investing into real estate.
28:24And when the vigilance people are actually...
28:25But on what basis are you making these allegations, Mr. Deepak Reddy?
28:30These are in the realm of allegations.
28:33I mean, political parties cannot just look at the sequence of events on their own basis.
28:39And we all know how the entire issue of the Ladoos backfired.
28:44I'm immediately coming to that.
28:45The visual which you are showing on the screen,
28:49the vigilance department has actually booked a case.
28:52And the case was booked and this person was picked up.
28:55His entire family was called to the police station.
28:58And the family said,
29:00we don't know that this man is stealing like this.
29:03And tentatively more than 100 crores worth of properties were uncovered in the initial inquiry.
29:09So what's interesting here is then Gumala Karnakar Reddy got involved,
29:14saved this person, got the case removed.
29:17I don't know.
29:19Once the vigilance has clearly found that theft has taken place...
29:23No, but how does that link to...
29:24No, no.
29:25How does it link to the former chief minister?
29:29Former chief minister's relative is Bumala Karnakar Reddy,
29:33who was the chairman then.
29:35And this gentleman and Jaganmohan Reddy's family are practicing Christians.
29:41They have no respect for these Hindu institutions.
29:43Not one.
29:44Incident after incident is coming out like this.
29:47When more than 700 practicing Christians were working in the temple
29:50and several complaints were given,
29:52no action was taken by them.
29:54So this is something...
29:55Mr. Bharat Ram...
29:56They have done it deliberately.
29:58That is what is painful.
30:00Given the former TDD's, you know, the chairman's statement
30:04that theft at Thirumala have occurred over 20 years,
30:08which includes YSRCP regime as well,
30:11how does the party then plan to address what is a systemic issue
30:17rather than just the current allegations?
30:21Yeah.
30:22Thanks for having me on this show.
30:24The world has to know how this TDP...
30:28People are using the sacred Thirumala temple
30:32for this political dirty politics
30:34and their political foul play.
30:36And YSR Congress Party strongly condense
30:40the reckless attempts by Mr. Lokej
30:43and the chief minister Chandrababu Naidu.
30:46They have came into power...
30:48It's been almost 16 to 17 months.
30:51We are asking, where is the resilience report?
30:53If any theft happens,
30:55they are directly involving the government,
30:58the previous government.
30:59I still don't understand what kind of proof do they have.
31:03If they have done the resilience inquiry,
31:05they have to showcase the resilience report.
31:07Why are not they showing it?
31:09If they have guts,
31:10I'm challenging right on your show,
31:13show the resilience inquiry report.
31:15So you are deliberately...
31:16I think the question is also,
31:17before I bring in Dr. Pula Rao,
31:21Deepak Reddy,
31:23how did such a massive scam happen
31:25under the watch of the TTD management?
31:28And can the government,
31:29which is your government,
31:31reassure millions of devotees
31:32that temple donations are safe
31:35and sanctity is being maintained now?
31:36Let me make it absolutely clear.
31:40Our Chief Minister,
31:41Chandrabah Bunaidu Ji,
31:42on any number of occasions have said,
31:44his...
31:45I mean,
31:45after coming out of the attack
31:47by the Naxalates,
31:48I owe my life,
31:50my rebirth to Lord Venkateshwara.
31:52And I will do everything in my...
31:53Don't give me a running commentary.
31:56Sanity of the Lord.
31:57Here, the point here is,
31:59Mr. Bharat,
32:00you need to answer...
32:01Yeah, you have to come with the facts.
32:02When this person was brought
32:03and he was brought to the police station
32:05and in the preliminary inquiry,
32:07more than 100 crores property
32:08was identified,
32:10why was the case withdrawn?
32:12Isn't it collusion?
32:14Isn't it cover-up?
32:15Isn't it that your people
32:17were all part of it?
32:18This is...
32:19Okay.
32:19So when...
32:20No, no, no, no.
32:21The question is,
32:22when was the case withdrawn?
32:24Give me the timeline here.
32:26When was the case withdrawn?
32:29The case was withdrawn
32:30during the YCP time, ma'am.
32:32When the...
32:33So the case is...
32:34So the case is withdrawn
32:35during your tenure,
32:37Mr. Bharat Ram.
32:38So the question then is...
32:40The issue is,
32:40that...
32:40These guys have become
32:41thieves of thieves.
32:42They started...
32:43They stole from the thief itself.
32:45Can you believe the complacency?
32:47No, no, no, no.
32:48You have to give me time.
32:50The facts are very clear.
32:51In April 2023,
32:54TTT Brazilians
32:55has caught an employee
32:56that Ravi Kumar
32:57red-handedly
32:59for stealing
33:00some foreign currency
33:02from Sriwari Hundi.
33:04The test was exposed
33:06and, you know,
33:08it is completely...
33:09The Viswan's department
33:10has inquired
33:11very transparently
33:12under the YSR-CB government.
33:14Yeah, yeah, yeah.
33:15That's your government.
33:16So, you know,
33:16the problem here is...
33:17That's what...
33:18That we are looking at
33:19what is clearly
33:21misappropriation
33:22of temple donations,
33:24which is specially
33:24in religious institutions
33:26as significant
33:27as Tirumala
33:28and it should not be
33:29a subject of political
33:31bickering
33:31and the manner
33:32in which it is happening.
33:33So, Dr. Pula Rao,
33:35why is Tirumala temple
33:36becoming almost
33:38like the centerpiece
33:40of what is playing out
33:41as a battle
33:42between the YSR-CP
33:43and the TDP?
33:44First,
33:45the entire,
33:46you know,
33:47the Laddu controversy
33:48and, you know,
33:49of course,
33:50and now this one.
33:52One, you know,
33:53by design
33:54or by accident,
33:55you have taken up
33:56this issue
33:56on the 100th anniversary
33:58of when the British
33:59took over this temple.
34:00Then they handed it over
34:01to our politicians
34:03in 1947.
34:05Yes,
34:05they have increased amenities,
34:07but there's a stink
34:07of corruption everywhere.
34:09Everybody knows it.
34:10And, you know,
34:11to the question you ask,
34:12why are they taking up
34:13this issue
34:13against each other?
34:14I feel sad.
34:15I know both the gentlemen.
34:16Perhaps a lack
34:17of imagination.
34:18This is the only issue
34:19they can find.
34:20Number two,
34:21corruption is endemic.
34:23Everybody knows it.
34:24You know,
34:24how can you catch somebody?
34:26You say someone
34:26is corrupt
34:27till he is caught.
34:28I ask my two friends,
34:30can I buy a pass
34:31to go to Thirmala
34:32from one of the guys
34:33who sent those passes?
34:34I can.
34:35I stopped going
34:3610, 12 years ago
34:37out of piety.
34:40But common people
34:40are into this situation.
34:43They believe in this God.
34:44They go there.
34:45They have to take Darshan.
34:46They put money
34:47in that kundi.
34:48And then, yes,
34:49and you know,
34:50I only find fault,
34:51Mr. Deepak.
34:52Is this the only
34:53one corrupt fellow,
34:54this Ravi Kumar?
34:55He's not.
34:56Stumbling money
34:57through his dhoti.
34:58You know,
34:58be more imaginative.
35:00Start an artificial intelligence.
35:02Test everybody there.
35:04You see,
35:04if you want to catch corruption,
35:06do it on a big scale.
35:07And don't reduce it.
35:08I know this is an appeal to you.
35:10You're an important man there
35:11to politics.
35:12This could be beyond politics.
35:13And one more point.
35:15You know,
35:15as long as the BJP,
35:17my friends are not in power,
35:19they want temple control
35:20in private hands,
35:21in Tamil Nadu,
35:22in Kerala.
35:23Really?
35:23Why not in Andhra?
35:25This is the ideal time.
35:26They're part of the government there.
35:28And they rule the government in Delhi.
35:29Take it back.
35:30It'll be historic.
35:32100th year.
35:33You return it back.
35:34But they won't do it.
35:35They want the temple
35:36in government control.
35:37I don't know why.
35:38They shouldn't use this occasion.
35:41They're in power in both the places
35:42to decentralize,
35:44de-governmentalize the temple
35:46on the 100th anniversary
35:47when the British took it over
35:48in 1925.
35:50So, therefore,
35:51corruption won't stop
35:52because, you know,
35:53this is really an issue
35:54of sticky fingers
35:56because there's no check donation,
35:58there's no online donation.
35:59And Dr. Pulara,
36:00this is also a very emotive issue.
36:02It's about religion.
36:04It's about temple.
36:05And that is the reason
36:07why these two political parties
36:08are bickering over it.
36:09But the sad part is
36:10that it's about faith.
36:12The faith of people
36:13have been impacted.
36:15It cannot be left
36:16without investigation.
36:18It's a subject of accountability.
36:21Then the question again,
36:22which I wish to ask Deepak Reddy,
36:25is the question that
36:25I had asked earlier
36:27about...
36:28No, no.
36:28One moment.
36:29Because there are millions
36:31of devotees
36:31that donate in these temples,
36:34how will you assure them
36:36that the sanctity
36:38is being maintained?
36:40Ma'am,
36:40Lokesh Ji has tweeted
36:42and the High Court
36:43has ordered
36:44the CBI inquiry.
36:46We would be
36:47thoroughly reviewing everything.
36:49What is shocking here
36:50is the YSR party leadership
36:53have stolen
36:54from the thief itself.
36:56So, they are thieves of thieves.
36:57And they have
36:58conveniently
36:59siphoned off the properties
37:01and then
37:02withdrawn the case.
37:03Can you believe
37:04the complacency?
37:05So, I mean,
37:07they have become so
37:08carefree
37:10that nothing is going
37:12to happen to them.
37:13But now,
37:14the investigation
37:14is going to be done
37:15thoroughly
37:16and all the names
37:17are going to come out
37:18and we are going to take...
37:19But then my question
37:20would be
37:20that you have been in power
37:22for the last one year.
37:24What have you done
37:25in the last one year?
37:26The entire process
37:29was reviewed.
37:30A special expert committee
37:32from all walks
37:33was put in
37:34and review was done.
37:36The minute this complaint
37:37came out
37:37and this video
37:38has come out,
37:39now we are going
37:39to take stringent action
37:41and this loophole
37:42is also going to be closed.
37:43But the point here is
37:44the YSR
37:46of the Jagan Monretti's
37:47family,
37:48Christian believers,
37:49got Christianization
37:50into the temple,
37:52hurting Hindu sentiments
37:53and having disregard
37:55for the sanctity
37:56of the temple.
37:57This is what is painful.
37:59This is what is really painful
38:01and in five years
38:02they had responsibility.
38:04They did not bother
38:05to rectify any issues
38:06and they have
38:07subtly supported
38:08what was going on there.
38:09So, that is why
38:10the people
38:11are totally agitated.
38:13Let Bharat Ram
38:13respond now, please.
38:15Yes.
38:15I still don't understand
38:16this gentleman.
38:17How can he bring
38:19in the religion here?
38:20Okay,
38:20what is wrong in it?
38:22If he is being a Christian,
38:23what is wrong in it?
38:24Is he not supposed
38:25to be on this earth
38:26or what?
38:27And here is
38:29the allegation,
38:30the blatant allegation
38:31what he has mentioned
38:32where withdrawn the case
38:33he is mentioning that.
38:34And you know,
38:35in the history
38:36of TTD,
38:37whenever the theft
38:39money was
38:40re-donated back
38:43to the temple,
38:44somewhere around
38:4414.43 crores
38:47worth of assets
38:48were donated
38:49back to temple
38:51by the accused
38:52and his family
38:52as a repentance.
38:55That is the only case
38:56as a repentance
38:58they have been donated.
39:00More than 200
39:01of the indian crores.
39:01Donated.
39:02See,
39:02for any,
39:03sorry,
39:06for any,
39:06any person
39:07crores was given back,
39:09more than
39:09200 to 300 crores
39:10were siphoned off.
39:11Bharat Ram,
39:11the question then is,
39:13if you are above board,
39:16if you are above board,
39:18your leadership
39:19is not involved,
39:21then let the investigation
39:23happen,
39:24because it will lead
39:24to genuine accountability.
39:25We are welcoming.
39:27We are welcoming
39:28the investigation
39:30to happen.
39:31We are asking
39:32the business inquiry
39:34report to make it out.
39:36Why are,
39:36why not they exposing it?
39:38It's really very strange.
39:39After one and a half year
39:41of their governance,
39:42they are simply giving us
39:43blatant allegations
39:45on us.
39:46They are not having
39:47any proofs.
39:48I am challenging you now
39:49on the show
39:50to Mr. Deepak Riti.
39:52So show us,
39:53put out this inquiry report.
39:55I have just enough time
39:55for Dr. Pulara.
39:57Dr. Pulara,
39:58you know,
39:58this is clearly
39:59turning out to be
39:59another political battle
40:01rather than
40:02what is needed here.
40:03It is about faith.
40:04It's about millions
40:05of devotees.
40:06Their faith
40:07in the temple
40:08functioning
40:09should not be disturbed
40:11the manner
40:11in which it has been.
40:14Absolutely.
40:15And you asked
40:15a very pertinent question
40:17in the beginning.
40:18Why does this happen?
40:19Because the political
40:20administration
40:21appoints somebody
40:22as chairman
40:23at a board
40:24of 40-50 members,
40:25their decorations,
40:26they serve for three years,
40:27off they go.
40:28The permanent establishment
40:30there,
40:31the priestly class,
40:32the permanent administration,
40:33the hangers on,
40:34others,
40:35they continue.
40:36Whoever is,
40:37let's say,
40:37Mr. Deepak Riti's chairman
40:38is there for three years,
40:39off he goes.
40:40The other guys
40:41are all there.
40:42The system is there.
40:43The ecosystem
40:43doesn't change.
40:45You know,
40:45both these gentlemen
40:46should get their parties
40:47if they really want reform
40:49to make big changes.
40:51Otherwise,
40:51catching one man
40:52stuffing money
40:53in his dhoti,
40:54you know,
40:54the public is laughing at this.
40:56Please,
40:56be a little more.
40:57We expect more from you all
40:58and they're not delivering it.
41:00It's the premier temple of India.
41:02Absolutely.
41:03We have really come to the end
41:04of this discussion,
41:05Dr. Pula Rao,
41:06Deepak Reddy
41:06and Mr. Bharat Ram.
41:07Really appreciate your time.
41:08Thank you for joining us
41:10on this edition
41:11of The Two Point.
41:12To The Point.
41:13Thanks so much for watching.
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