- 3 months ago
The big talking point of this episode of News Today is Delhi's air pollution post-Diwali and the politics over it. A day after Diwali, the national capital witnessed a thick blanket of toxic smog.
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00:00Good evening, hello and welcome. I hope you had a safe Diwali.
00:04It's Tuesday night. This is your prime time destination for news without the noise.
00:10And in fact, Diwali is one of our top focuses.
00:13The Supreme Court cracker ban has gone up in smoke in national capital.
00:19Several other parts of the country have also registered high air pollution levels.
00:23We'll have the Delhi Environment Minister joining us on pollution politics
00:27and we'll raise the big question. What has happened to your right to breathe?
00:32That's among our other talking points. Also, what's happening in Bihar?
00:36Are the mobs, are the friendly fights a sign that the opposition hasn't got its act together?
00:42And we'll tell you why Hot Wheels for Lokpal.
00:46Is the Lokpal engaging in extravagance?
00:50All that and more. But first, as always, it's time for the 9 headlines at 9 to 9.
00:57The National Capital witnesses a thick blanket of toxic smog a day after Diwali.
01:03Several other parts of the country also highly polluted.
01:07Delhi's Environment Minister blames trouble burning in Punjab.
01:11AAP says Supreme Court order on green crackers violated.
01:14Aha Gadbandan parties at loggerhead now on 12 seats in Bihar.
01:22NDA mocks the opposition alliance over the seat-sharing confusion.
01:26Prashant Kishore accuses the BJP of intimidating his candidates and forcing them to withdraw.
01:32It's a war of words between the Congress and the BJP over Prime Minister Modi's visit to INS Vikrant on Diwali Day.
01:43Congress calls it a photo-op.
01:45BJP cites Rajiv Gandhi's vacations on board INS Virat in response.
01:50A major controversy erupts after the Lokpal of India floats a tender to acquire seven high-end luxury BMW cars.
02:01The country's anti-corruption ombudsman wants these cars to be delivered within 50 to 20 days.
02:08Opposition says it's needless extravagance.
02:10Biocon boss Kiran Majumdar Shaw meets Karnataka Chief Minister Siddharamaya, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivkumar.
02:19This comes after Shaw highlighted crumbling infrastructure in Bengaluru.
02:23D.K. has assured he will look into Shaw's grievances.
02:30Videos of a namaz at Pune Ford go viral.
02:33A BJP MP holds protests, purifies the Ford with Gangajal and Gaumutra.
02:38B.J.P. ally Reigns Fire seeks the B.J.P. MP's resignation.
02:45Heavy rains batter the Tamil Nadu coastline.
02:48Several districts receive over 100mm of rainfall today.
02:52IMD issues a red alert in coastal districts of Tamil Nadu and also for Mumbai for tomorrow as well.
03:01BCCI writes to the Asian Cricket Council Chief Mohsin Nakwe demanding a handover of the Asia Cup trophy.
03:08Nakwe responds, says India must collect the trophy from the ACC headquarters.
03:15And the Trump administration clarifies on exemptions to $100,000 fee on H-1B visas.
03:22Charges do not apply to change of status cases where individuals switch from one visa category to another without leaving the U.S.
03:30Let's turn to the story we are breaking at the moment.
03:47There is more controversy over the trophy which India has not been given in the Asia Cup that they won last month.
03:57The Asian Cricket Council Chief Mohsin Nakwe has now responded to BCCI's letter over this Asia Cup controversy.
04:04In the letter, Nakwe, who is also the Interior Minister of Pakistan, has stated that the office of the ACC president will not engage in petty politics.
04:13He claims the trophy rightly belongs to the Indian team and is being held in trust until such time as a BCCI official,
04:22along with any available participating player, can collect the same from the ACC president's office in Dubai.
04:29Earlier, the BCCI had written to the Asian Cricket Council saying that the trophy must be handed over to India.
04:37But Nakwe refusing to punch.
04:39So, Pakistan trying to play hardball when the trophy clearly belongs to India.
04:44Nitin Srivastav from our sports team joins us.
04:47Nitin, Mohsin Nakwe seems to be clinging at straws.
04:50The fact is the trophy belongs to India.
04:53Why is the ICC not stepping in?
04:55It's an organization headed by Jais Shah.
04:57Why are they not putting pressure on Mohsin Nakwe to hand over the trophy to India?
05:04Well, you know, BCCI wanted to follow the process.
05:07So, that is why they wrote to ACC Mohsin Nakwe saying, you know, trophy should be handed over as soon as possible.
05:12And BCCI had also mentioned in the letter that there should be a proper clarification
05:17why the trophy was withheld at the venue and in what capacity and authority Mohsin Nakwe, you know, ran away with the trophy.
05:25So, BCCI, you know, gave them 48 hours of time to respond and so that ACC responded to BCCI.
05:30But as you, you know, mentioned about ICC, so if, since, you know, there is no positive response from ACC, so now BCCI will move to ICC.
05:40There is a meeting of ICC next month and, you know, one can understand the BCCI is going to take this matter up there
05:45because all the board members will be there and this Asia Cup trophy issue will be discussed thoroughly there.
05:51Okay, so clearly the BCCI is not going to take this lying down and Mohsin Nakwe has, as I said,
06:01very few cards to play, refusing to hand over the trophy once again to the Indian cricket team.
06:07Okay, thanks very much Nitin Srivastav for that update.
06:10I want to turn from there to what is our top focus today.
06:13It is the day after Diwali and it is a day where we look closely often at pollution levels
06:19and I can tell you the news is once again not good.
06:22Several parts of the country have seen unacceptable air quality index numbers,
06:28none more worse than the national capital.
06:30First to give you the top five cities as they stand today.
06:34Which are the worst cities when it has come to AQI levels?
06:39At 1.30 a.m., just hours after the celebrations peaked, air quality index shot through the roof.
06:44Lucknow topped the list at a staggering 1,317, that is hazardous into 10.
06:52Then you have New Delhi at 9.91 at one stage in the night.
06:57Jotpur at 8.55.
06:58Again, parts of Delhi at 8.21 and Noida at 7.77.
07:05Even at 6.30 in the morning, New Delhi was still at 706.
07:09The rest of Delhi, 6.80, Noida 4.31, Gurugram 3.98 and Haldia 3.32.
07:16Just to say, remember, all of this falls into the severe to very poor category.
07:22And it's a stark reminder that despite the Supreme Court claiming they were trying to strike some kind of a balance
07:27between environmental protection and people's right to celebrate Diwali,
07:31the cracker ban has gone up in smoke or the green crackers regulation has gone up in smoke.
07:39It's our top focus today.
07:41What's gone wrong yet again on Diwali day when it comes to pollution?
07:45Take a look.
08:01It was a night of wild Diwali festivities, where the capital defied the green cracker norms with impunity.
08:15Fireworks bursting late into the night.
08:17The result was this, a smog-filled morning which Delhiites woke up to and AQI levels soaring to the roof.
08:32This is the CPCB data and Delhi is showing very poor category air quality at this point in time, which is in red.
08:40And what is to be noted out here is that it is the very October where you had the air quality in the green shade
08:48and it shifted eventually to yellow shade because of the weather conditions, which is already not in favour of the national capital.
08:56And now, after the Diwali festivities, it is at 3.52.
09:02As the day progressed, the thick blanket of smog gradually receded.
09:05But while the skies began clearing up, there was no let-up in the political blame game.
09:12The Delhi government came out slamming those who blamed Diwali for the surge in pollution,
09:17instead pointing fingers at what it called a deliberate plot by the Amagmi Party government in Punjab
09:21to keep the stubble fires burning, only to discredit the Hindu festival of Diwali.
09:30India Today has also accessed these visuals of raging farm fires in Punjab's Tarantaran.
09:34Multiple fires also seen across agricultural fields near Amritsar, in Punjab's Paddy and Wheat Belt.
09:40The Amagmi Party said that BJP's argument was nothing but ignorance on the fight on pollution.
09:45The Amagmi Party said that BJP's argument was nothing but ignorance on the fight on pollution.
09:52The Amagmi Party said that BJP's argument was nothing but ignorance on the fight on pollution.
09:57The Amagmi Party said that BJP's argument was nothing but ignorance on the fight on pollution.
10:09The Amagmi Party said that BJP's argument was nothing but ignorance on the fight on pollution.
10:11The law has been referring to in Punjab times over the last five years.
10:18There were 353 cases over the last four years.
10:23The law has no answer to that.
10:25The AQI has 1.500 people in Punjab.
10:26The AQI is 4.900 people in Delhi.
10:28The law is saying that it's because of Punjab.
10:30While the Congress Party slammed both the BJP and Amagmi Party for the inaction.
10:35Both parties are equally culpable.
10:37I mean, Aamadmi Party, when they didn't have a government in Punjab, put all the blame on Parali.
10:41BJP is doing exactly the same thing.
10:43And both of them don't realise that 11 years of complete misrule and misgovernance by Aravind Kejriwal has put us in this situation.
10:50As netas continue to bicker, the concern remains.
10:54Is Delhi's pollution fight going up in smoke?
10:57With Amit Bharwaj in Delhi, Bureau Report, India Today.
11:01And a short while ago, I spoke to Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Delhi's Environment Minister,
11:10to ask him who will be held accountable for the pollution figures in Delhi.
11:15Take a look at what he said.
11:22Tell me, do you accept that the order was violated of the Supreme Court?
11:27We must agree with that.
11:28We still have moved by the Supreme Court.
11:34It is completely mistaken.
11:36We don't find the system.
11:37At this time, the Supreme Court has come to make free limits.
11:39We are in a shooting.
12:11दिपावली से पहले AQI 414 था और दिपावली से अगले दिन सुवे 435 था जो कि 21 पॉइंट बढ़ा पिछले साल पताके बैन थे आपकी जानकरी में है
12:222024 में दिपावली से पहले 328 AQI था और दिपावली के बाद अगले दिन सुवे 10 बजे 360 AQI था
12:30मतलब 32.1 AQI बढ़ा दिपावली की रात को जबकि पिछले साल पताके बैन थे और इस्टाल पताके अलाउड थे अलाउड होने के बाव्यूद दिपावली से पहली रात 335 था और दिपावली से अगले दिन सुवे 10 बजे 356 था
12:46तो मैं आपको बताना चाहता हूँ पिछले साल के मुकावले 4.1 AQI कम रहा दिपावली के पताके चलने के बाव यूद
12:56सर सर सर आप आकड़े को सेलेक्टिव भी यूज कर रहे हैं सर सर सर सर देर रात को देर रात को तो आप 500 से उपर ते और सुबह सर 350 था
13:08350 भी very poor quality में हैं और ज्यादा तर 36 out of 38 monitoring stations were in the red zone which is severe levels above 400
13:19सर आप तो 350 कह रहे हैं मैं 356 कह रहा हूं मैंने आकड़ा कैसे सलेक्टिव कर ले मैं तो 356 कह रहा हूं आप पचास कह रहे हैं मैं वह भी very poor है ना आपको भी आपको बता रहा हूं कि सर हाथ तो राजदीब सर दाइस जी पूर्द है जब पिछले सल पठाके नहीं चल रहे �
13:49आपको मैं स्पष्ट बताना चाहता हूं राजदीब जी पिछले साल जब मैं फिर से clarify कर दूँ पिछले साल जब पठाके बैन थे तब इससे ज़्यादा एक्यूआई था इस साल जब पठाके खुले हैं तो कम एक्यूआई है आप साधे 300 बता रहे हैं मैं 356 बता रहा हू
14:19से सबसे कम मैं बताना चाहता हूं 2020 में 435 था 2021 में 462 था तो अगर अगले साल 302 था तो भाई ये 10 साल आहम आदनी पार्टी के 17 साल कॉंग्रिस की बिमारी आप देखे गए हैं तो इन लोगों से जवाब कुछ ये ना कि क्या साथ महीने में हम जादू कर देंगे और अगर �
14:49मेरा आपसे साथ क्या पूछता है सिसा जी मैं आपसे ये पूछता चाहता हूं कि आपने सही कहा कि ये प्रॉब्लम कोई एक साल की नहीं है ये कई सालों से है अब मैं देख रहा हूं कही बीजेपी के आपके लीडर जो है अमित मालविया आपके ITCEL के लिए है वो कहते है �
15:19सचा ही ये है कि पंजाब में बीजेपी अकाली की सरकार रही है कॉंग्रेस की सरकार रही है आमार्मी पार्टी की सरकार रही है वहाँ स्टबल बर्निंग का प्रॉब्लम अभी भी है लेकिन सवाल उठता है आपने उनसे बात क्यों नहीं की पंजाब सरकार उत्तरप्रदे
15:49मुझे सिर्साजी से लेना देना है ति का आपके नहीं तो इने की बात को रिपीट किया अपकी понed
16:17foreign
16:46Sirsha, you have a conversation with me.
16:49Yes, I am.
16:54Yes, I am.
16:54I can tell you, absolutely.
16:55The government of India has been a member of the government of the government of India,
17:00which has been a member of the government in India.
17:03They have been a member of the government of India in India and Saudi Arabia.
17:08They have decided that the deputy commissioner of India will be the government of India.
17:13कितनी गदान कहा है कितनी इंतजाम है आपके पास इस प्राली को उठाने का कितने फैक्ट्रियां लग चुकी है, इसको प्रोसेस करने की यह इसारी डिसक्रेशन होई थी उसके बाव्यूद यह हो रहा है ना राजी दिप जी फिर तो आप मानते ना यह जाती हो रही है, ऐसा
17:43foreign
18:13foreign
18:43in the past.
18:44We have been saying that in our world, you will start cloud seeding, you will start various
18:48schemes to improve the quality of the air.
18:50Are they going to be going to be going to be going to be going to be going to be going
18:53in the air?
18:55Yes, I am not going to be talking about this.
18:57You are in our side.
18:58You are in the direction.
18:59We are going to go in the air.
19:00I am going to be going in the air.
19:02The cloud seeding, which is the cloud seeding, the cloud seeding.
19:05The plane is being prepared for the seeding season.
19:07The seeding is fully prepared for the seeding.
19:10Thank you very much.
19:40Okay, let's raise therefore the big questions now. Who is accountable for what can only be described as Delhi's air apocalypse or indeed the country's air apocalypse after Diwali? Was the Supreme Court cracker order unfeasible to begin with that you will only have a deadline of 8pm to 10pm to burst crackers?
20:01Pollution politics clouding the real issues once again. Faith versus the right to breathe. Is there a middle path possible? I'm keeping the politicians away and let's turn to people who are citizens who are concerned.
20:13Siddharth Luthra, Senior Advocate Supreme Court joins me. Ellen Rao, former DCP Delhi Police. Professor Dr. Sanjeev Bagai, Chairman Nephron Clinic and a leading pediatrician joins me.
20:26And Bhavreen Kandhari, environmentalist and member of Warrior Bombs. Appreciate you joining us.
20:31I want to turn to you Mr. Luthra first because you've tweeted about it and we've also seen others raising their voice that the Supreme Court in a way seemed to put the right to breathe below the right to celebrate Diwali.
20:45So religious freedom, if I may use the word, was preferred over the right to breathe. Do you believe the Supreme Court got it horribly wrong by lifting the ban in the first place?
20:55Look, the order has been passed. The question is, we can't go beyond the order or recall. Somebody should have recalled the order if they wanted, if they had an objection.
21:04But once the order is passed, the issue is really, who has to enforce the order?
21:09A, the sales have to be controlled that there should only be green crackers sold.
21:13And B, the police in Delhi, which comes under the centre, has to ensure that there is no sales of non-green crackers and B, that there is control on the time period.
21:28I must tell you, I found that on Saturday till one day prior to Diwali, that's on Sunday, there were, at least in the areas in southern, South Delhi in Ring Road, I found there were lesser crackers, almost none.
21:41It is only when we, on Diwali day, that things went completely out of gear.
21:50In fact, I remember taking a walk on, yes, it was Sunday night, after dinner, and there was rarely anybody, you know, bursting crackers.
22:00But the tragedy is, courts will pass orders. It is the enforcement agencies, which have to be done.
22:09I heard Mr. Sirsa, Mr. Sirsa has a limitation, because Delhi police does not come under Mr. Sirsa.
22:15The second aspect of the matter is, that there is also a Parali problem.
22:19We have not been able to, the governments, they can work on GST, and there's a GST council, they can get their GST, right, because that's commerce.
22:29But governments in North India, whether it be Delhi, Haryana, UP, Punjab, have not been able to address the Parali problem in the last decade or so.
22:39We were hopeful that after the Delhi government change, there was a lot of blame, blame that just go out, there will be a change today.
22:45But the result is there for all to see.
22:48So you're in a saying, then forget the court order, let's talk about enforcement.
22:57Let me come to you, Mr. Rao, as a former DCP Delhi police, the truth of the matter is, we were told that there would be patrol teams comprising police and pollution control board officials going from markets to market, ensuring that only green crackers were being sold.
23:12The truth of the matter is, A, there has been a complete violation of the basic Supreme Court order on deadlines for when crackers could be burst.
23:21And in many cases, we are told that many highly polluting varieties, rockets, bombs were on display without even attempting a green label and they were being sold.
23:32So where is the enforcement?
23:33This is the point that many of us feared would happen, that the police is incapable or has no, or is simply not willing, the political will is missing to enforce the Supreme Court's order.
23:46Do you agree?
23:47Good evening, Razeeb and to your all co-panelists and to US.
23:53Happy Diwali to everyone.
23:54Definitely, there was an order from the Honourable Supreme Court that firecrackers can be busted during a certain time period and that there was also one important thing is that the green crackers will be identified by some QR code.
24:13But this was the problem and the Delhi police, I think, might have tried their best to implement that order of this Honourable Supreme Court.
24:20But the problem, I could pursue, I mean that, number one, there were fake QR codes being used.
24:28Delhi police cannot go from market to market, you know and I know.
24:31There were fake QR codes being used.
24:34This entire system collapsed.
24:36I am coming to that, Razeeb.
24:38Because the QR codes were unable to be identified and in garb of that order of the Honourable Supreme Court,
24:44the people also tried to bust the non-green crackers also and this was the problem and Delhi police tried their best, but it's a very vast city and the Delhi police keeping in view the strength of Delhi police.
24:59They cannot go any who can to a corner of that city and that's why the problem that it might be not implemented in a full sense.
25:09This order of the Supreme Court and that another period was also that the time frame, that the people also exceeded the time limit also.
25:17That it is also the persons who, the people of Delhi should also be disciplined.
25:23You know, you're making an important point.
25:26I take your point.
25:28I take your point.
25:29People of Delhi, Bhavrit Kandari, you're an environmentalist activist.
25:32The fact is, if the people do not want to comply, if the people believe it is their fundamental right to bust crackers, what can any court, any environmental activist or the police do?
25:44People have decided we are not going to listen to what even courts say.
25:48This is our fundamental right under Article 25 to freedom of religion.
25:53We can celebrate Diwali the way we want.
25:55Rajdeep, sorry, I wouldn't say that.
26:01Citizens will follow the leaders, you know, or the law or your highest court.
26:07Now, we saw this was a blatant defiance of the Supreme Court's order and it's not the first time.
26:14And this is kind of becoming, I shouldn't even say a seasonal, it's becoming a norm.
26:18And we're just very worrying.
26:20So, I'd like to not ignore what you were saying initially with Mr. Luthor that the Supreme Court had repeatedly, it's held that the right to cleaner is part of right to life under Article 21.
26:32And when they actually allow these green, so-called green crackers, you know, which will emit PM, etc., metals, etc., they compromise that right.
26:43And the court, same, the highest court had themselves noted in earlier hearings, which was in 2021 and 2023, that these so-called green crackers were neither enforceable nor less harmful or, you know, all the details of fake QR codes, etc.
27:01All that was noted.
27:02So, obviously, they went steps back and that is the message.
27:07Now, when you say green crackers itself...
27:09The Supreme Court, ma'am, says they struck a balance.
27:12It's misleading.
27:12The Supreme Court claims they tried to, ma'am, the Supreme Court claims they tried to strike a balance between environmental protection or between the right to breathe and the right to celebrate.
27:22You don't agree with that?
27:23How can it be?
27:24Exactly, that's, obviously, it doesn't, you know, what you're saying, it's absolutely not, it's balanced.
27:32There is, you are actually saying that, okay, you know, you can poison your children, you know, as compared to, you can, you know, celebration or livelihood or whatever, you know.
27:45So, it's defined its own orders and its own, you know, thoughts for whatever reason.
27:53And that is what, see, when the messages start, the misleading, a green, first of all, a green cracker.
27:58It's a misleading term.
27:59So, even a simple family who probably thought that they're doing good to the environment, they bought green.
28:04So, if they had to, say, burst one box of crackers, now they bought three.
28:09And, you know, this is how the wrong narratives are set.
28:12And so, the leaders have to lead, you know, citizens will always follow, no, we did not wear a seatbelt for 20 years till the Motor Vehicle Act was there, but we were made to do it.
28:24So, you have to, you know, lead, you will have to say the right things, you will have to, you know, implement them, you have to be...
28:32So, you're blaming, you're blaming the leadership, you're blaming the leadership for failing to implement the Supreme Court orders.
28:39Dr. Sanjeev Bagai, as a leading doctor, are we exaggerating the threat that these AQI levels pose to people or are they realistic in your view?
28:49I've seen your tweets also claiming that what we are seeing will be extremely hazardous to thousands and thousands of children in particular.
28:58Is that an exaggeration given that this is those in favor of the, of bursting crackers say it's only one day.
29:05Delhi's weather right across the year is terrible.
29:08Why only single out Diwali, they say?
29:11Good evening, everyone.
29:13Good evening, Rajdeep.
29:14Good to see you.
29:15These are all published research datas which are in Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine, British Medical Journal, JAMA, which are India-centric.
29:23These publications are peer-reviewed and they have been centered around Delhi and 10 to 18 major cities in India.
29:30So, this is not international data.
29:32Even a 10-mark increase in PM2.5 gives a 200% increase in the incidence of death because of cardiac, myocardial infarction and strokes.
29:44We know that there is an 11-year loss of lifespan of people living in Delhi.
29:49We also know just in four months of living in Delhi in winter, exposed to this AQI and PM2.5 and PM5 and 10, it is equivalent to 9,000 cigarettes a human being smokes without touching a cigarette.
30:04We also know that it involves 20 major organs including cancers, including diabetes, obesity, respiratory distress problems, asthma, brain disorders, dementia.
30:16It involves the pregnancies.
30:18Pregnant ladies are now being born with stillbirths, with premature deliveries and fetuses with brain atrophy.
30:25Published data with absent kidneys, published data.
30:29So, these all influences of pollution is well documented.
30:33The issue really is, very quickly, Rajdeep is, our entire focus should not be on PM2.5.
30:39This is a hallowed criminal.
30:40But the fact is, we are overlooking aspects which are equally dangerous, like black carbon, carbon monoxide, NOx, SOX, volatile organic compounds, hydrofluorocarbons, and particulate matter of plastic, which we call micro-nanoplastic, which is the highest incidence causing infertility and cancers.
30:59We also know there is a published study to show that there is an underestimation of PM2.5 and AQI in India, in Delhi, by 20 to 25 percent by aerodynamic studies because of the hydrophobic nature of the particles.
31:14That means the particles are much more, but the counting is less.
31:17We also know that the relative humidity and temperature is reading.
31:21That means the actual rating is a lot more.
31:24Pollution will kill us now and will continue to damage us.
31:27No, that's all across the year.
31:28Dr. Bhagai, Dr. Bhagai, how will you, no, no, Dr. Bhagai, how will you respond to those who will say, look, many of these issues concerning Delhi, when I look at construction dust, for example, when I look at issues like stubble burning, why only blame, they say, Diwali?
31:43They say, this is once in the year, we should be allowed our night of enjoyment.
31:48Therefore, do not single out Diwali crackers for the environment, for the effects it has on public health.
31:56What will your response as a doctor be to those who speak that language?
32:01Yeah, I'm a strong Hindu.
32:02I am very, very proud of my religion.
32:04I respect all other religions.
32:06But my faith and practicing religion should not be a public health hazard for the community at large.
32:11Although Diwali crackers are burst at one night, and let me tell you, there was gross violations across the city.
32:16There were crackers, at least in South Delhi, being hurt till 4, 4.30 early morning.
32:21And none of them were green.
32:22All of them had fake stickers.
32:23But the issue really is that this smoke and particulate matter circulates and floats as sediments in the air for weeks after that.
32:32100% degrade that the Parali is killing us.
32:35The burning of the fire fires is hurting us.
32:37Road dust, construction, and various other emission norms of vehicles.
32:41But really, I think we as citizens have to take a call that we need to save our next generation.
32:47Last very quick point is, pollution is 24 by 7, 12 months.
32:52We need to address this issue all 12 months with equal verga.
32:56Okay, I want to bring in Siddharth Noutra at this point.
33:04Siddharth Noutra, purely now from a legal perspective.
33:06Supreme Court passes an order, fixes certain timelines within which you can burst crackers.
33:11As we've seen, crackers were burst late into the night, midnight, and beyond.
33:16Who is in contempt of court?
33:18The citizens who burst the crackers, the enforcement agencies like the police that failed to comply with it,
33:24or the Delhi government that gave various assurances to the Supreme Court?
33:28Let's be very clear.
33:29Can I, as a citizen, who was till midnight listening to the sound of crackers,
33:34go to the Supreme Court tomorrow and say,
33:36your orders have been violated, all these agencies are in violation, contempt of court?
33:40I think, Rajdeep, it is important for citizens to raise, to go to the court and say there is a breach of the order.
33:47There is a contempt.
33:49The contempt is at three levels.
33:50It is by the individual who continues to do it post the night.
33:53And I'm hopeful that the police have registered some FIRs.
33:57Secondly, Mr. Sirsa left us before we could get a word with him.
34:02He's in charge of pollution.
34:03What were his people doing?
34:04When a construction site goes up, pollution during the lockdown period, during grab,
34:11there, on every construction site, people reach from the pollution department.
34:15What were they doing last evening?
34:17The third issue is that it's a pulley.
34:20If any citizen, let us say you, approach the court,
34:24I am hopeful that the court will act on this blatant breach of the order and contempt.
34:31It is a punishable offence.
34:32Apart from that, it is contempt.
34:34And I think it's time that somebody acts.
34:36The reason is this.
34:38This is an annual problem.
34:40The fact is, Diwali is the festival of lights.
34:43People say it's a festival of crackers.
34:45All right.
34:45The court allows you two hours.
34:48What is the just...
34:49I mean, we had Mr. Sirsa saying mischievous people were doing it.
34:52But I need to ask him, what were your officers doing?
34:56Were they sleeping?
34:58Where were they?
34:59Sir, that's the question.
35:02You know, that's the question, Mr. Rao, that Siddharth Ruthra is posing.
35:08Yeah, go ahead.
35:09Complete.
35:09Yes.
35:11The point is this, Rajdeep.
35:12Complete Siddharth.
35:13People, if there is a rule or regulation or a court order and people choose to breach it, under the law, it's very clear, under the constitution, it is the agencies of government who have to ensure compliance with the orders of the court.
35:27The court does not have a mechanism to get it enforced.
35:30It's government to comply with it.
35:33And this is a case where we have a problem, where there is non-compliance and therefore there needs to be a action and definitely introspection for the next year and every year.
35:46But I'm clear that, but you're clear, it is contempt of court, right?
35:54It is contempt and it is an offence.
35:56It is a punishable offence as also contempt because post the Supreme Court order, there was a declaration by the authorities, I believe by the police to say that this is the order, please comply with it.
36:07No crackers beyond these two hours, nothing other than green crackers.
36:10And on this business regarding the holograms, I can tell you, it's so easy to do it across the country.
36:16People have done it.
36:17But the point is, this will have to be done in advance today to prepare for next year.
36:23If you do it at the last minute, obviously there are going to be problems.
36:26Okay.
36:29Mr. Rao, I haven't seen a single case where a serious FIR has been filed against those who have violated the law.
36:37Instead, as we saw with the minister, he's blaming Aham Aadmi Party, government for what's happening in Punjab.
36:42And we are seeing this across cities.
36:44You know, it's happening in Mumbai.
36:45It's happening.
36:46Every city is allowing crackers to be burst late into the night.
36:50And the police seems to be helpless.
36:52Please explain, why is the police helpless?
36:54I can understand it's difficult to track down every green cracker.
36:58Why can't the police file FRs against those who are bursting crackers at midnight?
37:03Rajiv, I fully agree with Siddharth Lutraji.
37:06And I agree that some affairs could have been registered.
37:11I have to check from Delhi police whether they have registered FIR or not.
37:14I think definitely some FIRs have been registered against the violators of this Order of the Honourable Supreme Court.
37:20No, why some?
37:21There should have been each and every...
37:23No, no, sir.
37:23Why some?
37:24Why some?
37:25There should have been hundreds of FIRs registered and put some people in jail.
37:28A person who have been caught red-handed by doing all this contravention of the Order, definitely the affair could have been done, should have been registered against them.
37:38But the person who could not be traced or could not be reached by the police.
37:43And they might have been cracked, busted the crackers and then ran away.
37:49That may be the problem.
37:49But still, the police might have registered a case term also and the case may be investigated and will be investigated.
37:56And on the point of Contemporary Court...
37:59We haven't heard of any such cases where any...
38:02We haven't heard of any such cases.
38:04But Bhavreen Kandari, will environmental activists now take it up in the Supreme Court?
38:10Will you all walk the talk?
38:11Are you all going to go to the Supreme Court tomorrow morning and say there was a violation of the court order?
38:17Radhi, we'd love to...
38:18See, activist is the name.
38:21We are all citizens.
38:22We are desperate mothers.
38:23As you know, we are mothers, parents.
38:26And that's exactly what we've been encouraging.
38:29That do not write on what...
38:31Please make a police complaint.
38:33At least the complaint should go and then we get to the next steps.
38:36And that's not this year.
38:37It's been happening for years now.
38:39Because there are these heartbreaking messages of what's happening to toddlers and babies
38:44and how pregnant women are worried because somebody has a C-section today
38:48and she was asking whether, you know, she can get air free or fly into the hospital, those kind of things.
38:53So it's absolutely, you know, unforgivable.
38:58And when lots of crackers are burst openly, despite...
39:02You're making a good point that this...
39:04You're making a good point that it is the responsibility of citizens.
39:10The final word...
39:11To make a claim...
39:13Sanjeeb Bagai, final word from you.
39:16Do you believe that...
39:16Do you believe that there is something inherently wrong in the way?
39:20Why is it the right to breathe not seen as an important fundamental right?
39:24I speak to people and they say this is an elite preoccupation.
39:27Janta jo hai na, wo cracker bajana chata hai.
39:30Wo, you know, they want fatakas.
39:32This is a source of entertainment.
39:33What will you tell them?
39:34Those who say this is only the elites are interested in air, in clean air, not the people.
39:39I'm Janta.
39:40Rajdeep, three quick points.
39:43I think the huge amount of public awareness needs to be continuously maintained all through the year.
39:48Point number two, there are cities internationally, like New York or in Sydney, near Sydney, Hubbard
39:53Bridge, they have fire shows.
39:55They have great shows.
39:56But it's in open air, not in clusters where packed residential colonies are there.
40:01We can identify this and have a grand celebration at a community level, but not within cooperative
40:06societies and closed neighborhoods, which can hurt people's health.
40:09Point number three, I think we need a ministry and that should be governed with a task force,
40:15which includes environmentalists, doctors and scientists.
40:19This is well beyond the scope of one particular state in isolation.
40:23Can't work in silos.
40:25We need a comprehensive plan so that at least next, we breathe better.
40:33Okay, let me leave it there.
40:34It's a yearly ritual, maybe even a yearly ritual that we have these TV shows.
40:38And maybe the media also needs now to have a concerted round-the-year campaign, monitoring
40:44air quality, not just in the national capital, but across the country.
40:48You can't build a Viksit Bharat without guaranteeing clean air to its citizens.
40:52That's the very least that you need to do.
40:54I appreciate all my panelists joining me on the show tonight.
40:57I want to turn from there to Bihar because with less than three weeks to go to the Bihar elections and 48 hours left now for the closing of the nominations for the second phase in Bihar, guess what?
41:09There is a battle over seats, particularly in the opposition Mahagadbandan, which now seems reconciled to the fact that it could have at least a dozen seats of friendly fights.
41:19Meanwhile, the fact is, the NDA seems to have managed to get its act together when it comes to seat sharing.
41:28Take a look at just what's happening in the battle for seats in Bihar.
41:32A Mahagaat in the Mahagadbandan in Bihar.
41:38The alliance seems to be unravelling, seat by seat, in the nth hour ahead of polls.
41:44With less than three weeks to go before the first vote is cast, cracks, jives and political mind games dominate the alliance, with a consensus nowhere in sight.
41:53Ticket distribution disputes and rival candidates on same seats have turned the contest into a Mahagadbandan vs. Mahagadbandan war in 12 key constituencies.
42:04Out of this, RGD faces the Congress in six seats, Congress battles the left in four and the RGD takes on VIP in two of them.
42:12But the war within allies doesn't end with a squabble overseas.
42:18Despite repeated requests by the RGD, the Congress is yet to declare Tejishvi as the alliance's CM face.
42:24And to now add insult to injury, there are overtures being made to Nithish Kumar to join hands with them yet again.
42:31In contrast, in the opposition camp, Amit Shah has taken full control for the NDA.
42:58Late-night closed-door meetings in Patna with rebel candidates aim to keep the house in order.
43:03The confidence is leading to potshots being taken at their rivals.
43:07If there is a Mahagadbandan, there is nothing called as friendly fight.
43:17Either you are friends or you are fighting with each other.
43:20This is not a friend in the RGD. This is a wrong word.
43:24While the bandhan and the alliance is breaking down, Rahul Gandhi was busy in the national capital making Diwali sweets.
43:33Sweet celebrations, but sour politics.
43:36Bureau Report, India Today.
43:38Okay, let's stay with Bihar and bring you a quick update of all that's happening in poll-bound Bihar.
43:46Nithish Kumar today launched his poll campaign for Bihar, accusing the Lalu Prasad Yadav governments of doing nothing for women.
43:55Remember, the women factor is an important element in Bihar.
43:58In Muzaffar Poor, Nithish Kumar claimed that he was disillusioned with the RJD after two short-lived alliances and vowed to remain with the NDA.
44:06The Jarkhand Mukti Morcha feeling cheated after being denied a seat by the Mahagadbandan in Bihar has alleged that both the Congress and the RJD failed to consider or concede to their demands and therefore says it is opting out of the battle for Bihar even though it's part of the larger India alliance.
44:26Prashant Kishore has alleged that three candidates of the Jan Suraj party contesting the Bihar polls were forced to withdraw their nominations under pressure from the BJP.
44:37This comes after the nomination of Jan Suraj candidate, Drik Narayan Prasad from Valmiki Nagar was rejected.
44:45Kishore has urged the election commission to ensure safety of all candidates contesting the Bihar elections.
44:52RJD candidate Satyendra Saav was arrested immediately after filing his nomination from Bihar's Sasaram.
44:57He was apprehended by the Jarkhand police as a non-vailable warrant was pending against him in a 2004 robbery case in Garwa district.
45:09Okay, let's turn from there to one of our special reports today.
45:18India's anti-corruption body, the Lokpal for India has once again found itself in the eye of a storm.
45:26This time it's gone ahead and floated a tender to buy 7 BMW 330 sedans each costing 70 lakhs.
45:35So, a total cost of Rs. 5 cross.
45:37The question is, why does an anti-corruption ombudsman need 7 luxury cars?
45:43Take a look at today's story that has evoked strong responses from the opposition in particular.
45:51India's anti-corruption probe body is all set to roll out some fresh hot wheels for its top officials.
45:59On October 16, the Lokpal of India floated a public tender to purchase BMW 330 Li luxury sedans with the bidding process scheduled to close by November 7.
46:13The plan? To buy 7 BMW 330 Li sedans, each priced at around Rs. 70 lakhs, the total cost almost Rs. 5 crore.
46:24And that's not all. Selected drivers and staff will also receive training directly from BMW covering vehicle systems and operations.
46:35But the move has triggered a wave of outrage across political circles.
46:42Is it justifiable for the chairperson of the Lokpal, former Supreme Court Chief Justice of India, Justice A.M. Kanvilkar,
46:51to sanction the spending of Rs. 5 crore as vehicles for just a handful of officials?
46:58Is this the best use of taxpayers' money?
47:00Congress has slammed the move and called it a wasteful extravagance.
47:06Agency that has come to look after graph to do this kind of activity.
47:10I'm not saying there's dishonesty in this.
47:12But there is a public manner in which you behave and in which you acquire assets which are necessary for you.
47:18A car is okay, maybe a bigger house is fine, whatever is appropriate for a protocol.
47:23But why do you have to go for these kind of luxury cars? I really don't understand.
47:27I think it's something that tells a lot about the futility of this organization.
47:32With the Lokpal yet to respond to growing criticism, this controversy raises a much larger question.
47:40Is India's anti-corruption body losing public trust?
47:45Not through inaction, but now through indulgence.
47:49Bureau Report, India Today.
47:51Extravagance or not, you decide.
47:57Okay, let's turn to tonight's Get Real India story,
48:00which comes from the suburb of Dombevli near Thane district of Maharashtra.
48:05Now, the flyover here called the Pallava flyover
48:08was built to ease traffic between Navi, Mumbai, Kalyan and Thane.
48:13All very, very populated, densely populated suburbs of Mumbai.
48:17Guess what?
48:18It's turned into a full-blown fiasco.
48:21Seven years in the making, inaugurated in the month of July,
48:26shut the very same day, reopened, only to be shut once again.
48:32Why?
48:33Get Real India.
48:34Take a look.
48:39Mumbai's Pallava flyover was meant to be a lifeline,
48:42part of an ambitious plan to decongest the ever-choked Dombevli stretch.
48:47Built by the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation,
48:50the 562-metre-long bridge was inaugurated on the 4th of July this year.
48:55But within hours of being opened, motorists began to skid.
48:59The freshly laid surface was too smooth.
49:02The flyover had to be shut down the very same day.
49:05A day later, sand was sprinkled to increase friction,
49:08and the bridge was reopened.
49:09But the woes of the public were far from over.
49:12Within just a week, the newly built flyover was riddled with potholes.
49:15By the third week of September, the bridge became a nightmare for commuters.
49:42Repeated patchwork attempts failed to fix the damage.
49:45Finally, the MSRDC had no choice but the shutter bridge again,
49:49this time completely stripping off the entire asphalt layer and relaying it from scratch.
49:54Even today, parts of the bridge remain closed as resurfing work continues.
49:58Local leaders now want accountability.
50:22And a technical investigation into how a bridge built over seven years began to crumble in literally seven days.
50:29The Pallava debacle has once again raised big questions over public infrastructure and accountability in Maharashtra.
50:50The Maharashtra government still hasn't responded to that story as and when they respond, we'll have their reaction as well.
51:05Let's turn to our good news today's story.
51:08From there, it comes from Chhattisgarh's Durg,
51:10where a group of college students are turning rust into art.
51:15At a unique workshop, what began as scrap metal is taking the shape of something far more meaningful.
51:21Take a look at good news today.
51:23This classroom in Chhattisgarh's Durg government college is buzzing with the sound of hammering metal and blazing furnaces.
51:43At VY Tamskar PG College, a 10-day buster iron craft workshop is turning waste into wonders.
51:50Under New Education Policy 2020's Skill-Based Learning Initiative,
51:57over 45 students from the History Department are learning the intricate art of tribal iron sculpture using scrap.
52:04Under the guidance of master craftsmen,
52:08from Busters, Konda Gaon and Konta,
52:11students have sculpted tribal fields,
52:14drummers, archers and many others.
52:17By just using simple tools like hammers, chisels,
52:20and of course,
52:22they have sculpted tribal figures, drummers, archers and many others.
52:24By just using simple tools like hammers, chisels, and of course, raw creativity.
52:35The workshop isn't just about art.
52:36It's a step towards preserving Buster's indigenious craft and promoting eco-conscious thinking.
52:42And these art pieces will be used as mementos in the college event.
52:48Buster Kachetra Kachetra Kachetra Kachetra Kachetra,
53:07In a world battling both cultural erosion and environmental challenges,
53:35these students in Durgh have shown how creativity can bridge the gap
53:39by turning Kabar into Jugar.
53:42With Raghunandan Panda, Bureau Report, India Today.
53:49Okay, just about enough time to leave you with our image today,
53:52which is a viral 2024 video that has now emerged of the close aid of
53:58Iran's supreme leader Kamini that has sparked outrage
54:02because critics say the footage which you can see on your screen now
54:06exposes the alleged double standards of the Iranian regime.
54:10The rules, it seems, are not the same for all is what the accusation is.
54:16We leave you with that image and that's it on the show tonight.
54:22Stay well, stay safe, good night, shubhraatri, jaihin, namashka.
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