- 3 hours ago
A political conflict is escalating over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee protesting the exercise ahead of the assembly polls in Bengal next year.
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00:00Six months to elections and Mamata has hit the road.
00:10As the SIR storm builds on the poll horizon,
00:18Mamata rallies in protest.
00:30BJP galvanizes in counter-attack.
00:43SIR showdown.
00:45Top focus on To The Point this evening.
00:50Good evening, guys. You're watching To The Point. I'm Preeti Chaudhary.
00:53Well, that's our main focus debate.
00:55We actually have two lined up as well.
00:58But first up, allow me to take you through the headlines.
01:04Ram Mandir's full glory restored.
01:07Prime Minister Modi hoists Dharmatwaj atop Ram Mandir.
01:12Jaishree Ram Chant's echo in the Mandir complex.
01:22Prime Minister Modi reiterates the Macaulay mindset message.
01:27Says, we resolve that within 10 years, we must free ourselves from that mindset.
01:37Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee doubles down against poll body over SIR.
01:42Takes our protest march in Bengal.
01:44Issues ultimatum to BJP says,
01:46If you attack me, I'll shake the foundations across India.
01:49If you're focusing To The Point.
01:56More DK ship Kumar loyalists flocked to Delhi to meet the top brass.
02:00Chief Minister Siddharamai asks Congress leadership to intervene and stop speculation.
02:05Assam Chief Minister's big remark on Zubin claims singer Zubin was murdered.
02:15Says, won't spare murderers all of this before even investigation is complete.
02:19China denies harassment charges against Indian women at Shanghai airport.
02:27Claims immigration officials followed law.
02:30Says, are you naturally legally set up by India?
02:32All right viewers, let's cut across to the latest coming in from Bengal and other parts of the country.
02:44In the backdrop of SIR taking place nationwide.
02:47Fair amount of politics peaking at the back of this.
02:51It's a full-blown SIR showdown right now playing out in the state of West Bengal
02:57where Mamata Banerjee has taken to the streets threatening that if she is attacked,
03:04her people are attacked, she'll shake the foundations of the nation.
03:08Take a look.
03:08India's voter roll clean-up is now a full-blown political flashpoint.
03:24Phase two of the SIR is no longer just an administrative exercise.
03:28It is triggering street protests, chaos on the ground and a fierce political crossfire.
03:33In Thakur Nagar, Mamata Banerjee stepped up her attack on the BJP and the Election Commission.
03:56This comes after Bengal Chief Minister sent a strongly worded letter to the Election Commission.
04:01In a letter, the Chief Minister questioned the need to outsource SIR data work
04:07and asked whether the outsourcing process was serving vested interests.
04:12She added that the proposal for polling stations in private buildings was problematic,
04:17asserting that stations must be located in government or semi-government buildings
04:21as using private buildings could compromise fairness.
04:25Soon after, the Election Commission has called the TMC for a meeting on November 28th.
04:30But another flashpoint now building on the ground is the death of several Booth-level officers.
04:37BLOs across Bengal are protesting crushing workloads, impossible data entry targets
04:42and what they describe as misconduct in the SIR process.
04:47Since November 9th, six BLOs in Bengal have allegedly died by suicide.
04:53Families say their final notes blame the Election Commission.
04:56A video from Hooghly has now gone viral.
05:00A schoolteacher in BLO is seen breaking down after hours of failed online submissions
05:05and repeated server crashes.
05:08How busy!
05:09Mamata Banerjee posted her profound shock over the death of another schoolteacher.
05:14Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, has hit back and accused the TMC of allowing infiltration in the SIR process.
05:23And this backlash is not limited to Bengal.
05:32In Tamil Nadu, SIR teams report long hours and tight deadlines.
05:50With repeated app failures, forcing manual re-verification.
05:56First reason to boycott this process is workload.
05:59We have been working up to 1 o'clock in the offices.
06:02So, it's not possible to complete this Himalayan classroom.
06:041 o'clock in the night?
06:05Yeah, yeah, yeah.
06:06Every day.
06:066.5 orders, we have to check it 100% door-to-door.
06:09It's not an easy job.
06:10So, we want extra time.
06:12Apart from this, we have not sanctioned any additional costs for this.
06:15Kerala 2 is flagging stress.
06:23BLOs in several panchayats cite unrealistic door-to-door verification timelines.
06:29The state also reported its first BLO suicide a few days ago.
06:34Anish George, a school office attended.
06:37No note was found, but family members claim he was anxious about meeting SIR deadlines.
06:52Gujarat reported four deaths since November 20th, including suicide and heart attacks.
06:57Kin of all deceased blamed SIR-related duties.
07:00Two died in Rajasthan.
07:10A 45-year-old BLO died after allegedly jumping in front of a train.
07:15His family alleged that workload and deadline pressure pushed him to end his life.
07:20From Bengal to Tamil Nadu, from Kerala to Uttar Pradesh, their SIR drive that was meant to
07:28clean India's voter lists is now facing scrutiny for overburdening the very people who keep
07:34the world's largest democracy running.
07:37Is it politicization of due process or is the pressure on the system and ground-level workers
07:43is too much to handle?
07:46Bureau Report, India Today.
07:52All right, so what you do see, is it just pure politicization because this process has
07:57taken place in West Bengal, in the state of Bihar as well, before West Bengal, Tamil Nadu,
08:02Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, other states which are up for elections over the course of the next
08:07two years which is primarily Tamil Nadu, you have West Bengal, Assam which is not really
08:14the entire might of the SIR will not be taking place in Assam, and then you of course have
08:20Kerala and Uttar Pradesh, the big one in two years' time.
08:24The question that we ask, is this just pure politicization of due process or is the work
08:29pressure real when it comes down to booth-level officers?
08:32I want to cut across to our panelists this evening.
08:35Joining me, Mr. O.P. Rawat, former CEC, Sanju Verma, BJP national spokesperson, Tosifu Rahman,
08:41Trinamul spokesperson, Trinamul congress spokesperson.
08:44I want to begin with Mr. Rawat, O.P. Rawat, former CEC.
08:49Mr. Rawat, can you encapsulate for us, it's not that this process hasn't taken place in
08:53Bihar, which was conducted by booth-level officers itself.
08:57Suddenly you have the BLOs who are now in spotlight, where some of them suggesting that the workload
09:05is too much, the pressure is too much, certain number of suicides have been reported from
09:09across India.
09:10Do you see this pressure real?
09:12Or do you think it's just being flagged and being pushed forward and politicized by parties?
09:18Priti, I think the pressure is real because there are many issues with the BLO.
09:25First, network doesn't work continuously, which they need for uploading, digitizing, etc.
09:32Second thing, people do not meet at home whenever they go on around for collecting the form or
09:38for filling, getting help for the filling up the form.
09:41All those issues come up and the assistance BLO should be given.
09:46Like in Madhya Pradesh, I found that this Rozgar Sahayek of Manrega, they were appointed to help
09:54the BLO in technical work because these are tech-savvy people.
09:59So they help the BLO to do the technical work like searching for the 2003 name, polling station,
10:09serial number, etc.
10:10So that has helped and that is working.
10:13Whereas everywhere else I find that classic approach of carrot and stick.
10:18If you finish early, we will give you some reward.
10:21If you don't, we will suspend you, we will take action.
10:24That doesn't work these days because people are very sincere.
10:28They want to work, they want to deliver.
10:30At BLO, I found in Indore that one BLO lady, her mother died in the morning and in the afternoon
10:37she was on the job because she knew that only one week is left and she has to finish the target.
10:42So they are very sincere but when they are helpless, when they don't have the technical wherewithal,
10:49when they don't have assistance, then this kind of thing happen and then politicization takes place
10:54because the problem is there.
10:56Alright, you know, fair point.
10:57So you're saying the pressure is real, so is the politics.
11:00Because the pressure is being felt by the BLO's on ground and it's exploited by certain political outfits
11:06and parties that don't want the SIR process.
11:09But Mr. Rabat, if I can ask you another question at the back of it.
11:12How is it that this process took place in the state of Bihar in a timely manner where the focus wasn't so much the BLO's at that time?
11:21It was more on deletion.
11:22So were the BLO's as pressured there in Bihar as well?
11:26Actually, in Bihar the whole exercise took place during the rainy season when there is hardly any other work.
11:35This is working season when schools are pressurizing teachers for finishing their curriculum
11:41because the board exams will be in February, March.
11:43All those pressures are building up on them and network issues are also coming in many areas.
11:51Like in Madhya Pradesh, I found that Bhopal and Indor networks are not available.
11:55So those things, they can't help because BLO's is too small to overcome those issues.
12:01And therefore, I feel that this time in these states pressure is real
12:06and wherever we have resourceful officials who are helping them set up things quickly,
12:13give assistance quickly, there things are happening.
12:16Fair point.
12:17So I want to bring in Sanju Varma into this conversation.
12:20Sanju Varma, one can easily say that all of this is just purely, you know,
12:23the figment of imagination of political parties like the TMC and the DMK, where there is no pressure.
12:29This whole exercise was conducted very well in the state of Bihar.
12:32But you just heard Mr. Ropi, the pressure is real.
12:35It might be exploited by the political parties, but this pressure needs to be addressed.
12:39You know, we've gone across various and spoken to, you know, booth-level officers spanning from various states.
12:46And they do say that they're working late into the night till about 1 a.m., 2 a.m.
12:51There are no additional responsibilities that have been given or appointments that have been made that can assist in this process.
12:58So there is a real problem that needs to be addressed, Sanju Varma.
13:03You know, Preeti, with no offence to none and with due respect to Mr. Rawat, I just want to make one thing very clear for the benefit of your audience.
13:12I will go so far as saying I'm sick and tired of this narrative.
13:15Every time before an assembly election, the constitutional machinery of the country is put in the dock.
13:22What is Mamata Banerji saying? Election commission should prove its transparency.
13:27Abhishek Banerji, out on bail, in recruitment scam, has the audacity to say that the election commission has to prove its accountability.
13:36That means, Mamata Banerji doesn't have a spelling of accountability.
13:39Abhishek Banerji doesn't have a spelling of transparency.
13:42But they will question the election commissioner and the team of the EC, which is duly mandated under Article 326 of the Constitution to conduct periodic revision of voter rolls and to conduct SIR, which Supreme Court has held as legitimate, as legal, as constitutional.
14:03And the Supreme Court said, if the election commission will not undertake SIR, then who will?
14:09So they are well within their ambit to do what they are doing.
14:12That's my point number one.
14:13Stop demonizing an electorally, democratically sound exercise.
14:18My second point is this.
14:20What did Mamata Banerji say today, Preeti?
14:22I am a shathe kheltte gale, I am a jay khela te khheel boh.
14:29Aami jay khela te khheel boh.
14:31She khela, tumhi am a shathe kheltte gale, tumhi am a ke dhoto pare da.
14:37Tumhi am a ke dhoto pare da.
14:39Tumhi am a ke dhoto pare da.
14:41Basically, she is saying, the game that I will play, the khela that I will play with you, if I start doing the khela, aisa khela hobe hoga, ki election commission muha pakad tak nahi paai ki.
14:53This was a veiled threat.
14:55And it could not have been more explicit than this.
14:58And Mamata Banerji needs to know, aisa yaar to ho kar rahe ga, jo karna hai, karlo.
15:04Your rants are not resonating with people on the ground.
15:09All right, okay. Sanju Verma, time is up.
15:11You know, well done on your Bengali there.
15:13I want to bring in the spokesperson of the Trinambul Congress into this conversation.
15:17You know, there is a fair point, sir.
15:19Because an SIR exercise was conducted in the state of Bihar.
15:23What can be bought up and what should be bought up is that, yes, that Booth level officers, the BLOs, are pressured.
15:30They need help.
15:31You know, they need extra hands.
15:33Their hours need to be regulated.
15:34They need to be assisted.
15:36They need to be assuraged.
15:37Especially because a lot, you know, has moved online.
15:40Some of them are not equipped to do so.
15:42We have seen suicides at the back of it.
15:44But to make political capital at the back of these suicides or at the back of the distress faced by BLOs
15:51and try and politicize it is another story.
15:54The sheer fact Mamata Banerjee actually says that she'll shake the foundations of India if she's attracted to her people.
16:00What does that really mean, sir?
16:02Thank you, Preeti Ji.
16:03But I will just start saying that, you know, I don't want to compare the education background of Abhishek Banerjee and the Chor Chaiwala
16:10because there is no comparison anyways.
16:12But of course, the CM is right.
16:14I mean, this is not the way to fight and win election.
16:17If you want to kill the democracy and win election, then it's different, Preeti.
16:20I mean, the last voter rectification started in 2001 and ended in 2004.
16:25It took three years to complete.
16:26And thank you for the gentleman who have been invited in this debate today.
16:30I mean, he was very clear whatever he wanted to say.
16:32But I understand BJP will not like it.
16:34Preeti, people are dying and scared seeing what happened in Bihar.
16:38And yet it's called constitutional.
16:40The exercise which takes years to complete.
16:43The EC wants to complete in two months.
16:45Why?
16:46It's not dark is bad.
16:47Bihar was a failure, but BJP won with the help of EC.
16:51The whole SIR happening in India is not because of infiltrators, let me tell you.
16:55It's because BJP cannot win Bengal.
16:57And to win Bengal, BJP with the help of the election commission is here to help and torture the people of Bengal.
17:04I'm very clear what I'm saying right now.
17:06Bengal doesn't even share the border with Myanmar.
17:09There are more than six states who share the border with Bangladesh, but no SIR is happening there.
17:1336 deaths.
17:15There's no emotion behind them.
17:18BJP leaders are saying if they don't like the job, kindly leave the job.
17:23Don't cry.
17:24And absolutely, I understand their emotion.
17:26Because they will never understand the sentiment of our people.
17:29There's a fake video, Preeti.
17:31I'm sure you have seen.
17:32But thank God, India today fact check.
17:34There's a fake video circulating infiltrators are crossing borders.
17:38And going back to Bangladesh.
17:40I mean this whole process is just like a sham.
17:43So they are going back to Bangladesh.
17:44Where is our BSF Jawan?
17:46What Amit Shah is doing?
17:48He's a failure.
17:49So you think they are doing up and down every day from Bangladesh to Kolkata?
17:53Amit Shah and the ex-home minister should come forward and explain this ruckus.
17:58Because this whole plot is a pothole and people are getting rampant.
18:03So your time is up.
18:04I want to bring in former CECOP Rawat once again back into this conversation.
18:08And Mr. Rawat you know one needs to also somewhere down the line decipher Mr. Rawat.
18:12You know for somebody who has been the former CEC.
18:15Do you agree with the process and the timeline for states like West Bengal.
18:19For states like Tamil Nadu.
18:21Because you know the election technically will be in April.
18:24The process has already started in late October and early November in these states.
18:30Is the process an issue or is the fact that the booth level officers.
18:35Those who are going to carry out the process need assistance.
18:38You know there needs to be demarcation between the two.
18:41Or do you think the sheer process and the timeline of that process is problematic.
18:45Actually election commission has gone strictly by the law.
18:48That legally whatever timeline was required as a minimum.
18:52They have given that timeline.
18:54And therefore they are right.
18:55There is nothing wrong.
18:56Only thing is that human angle.
18:58You have to ensure that all those people who are responsible to carry out that exercise.
19:04In a definite time frame.
19:06They are very well trained.
19:07Their skills are upgraded.
19:09Their resources are upgraded.
19:11And if you consider that visiting 1200 voters.
19:14In that small period.
19:17To give the form.
19:18To collect the form.
19:19To upload all those things.
19:21Then you have to provide some extra assistance.
19:24And whenever you find.
19:26Mid course.
19:27If you are finding that these things are happening.
19:29Don't close your eyes from this side.
19:32You must ensure that additional assistance of whatever kind is needed.
19:36Is provided to them.
19:37They will deliver.
19:38Because they have been very faithful to the system.
19:41And they have been delivering time and again.
19:43So I think that is what is needed.
19:46Mr. Rawat.
19:47The fact that you are saying that.
19:48You know.
19:49There is nothing wrong with the procedure.
19:51But the human aspect needs to be simplified.
19:54Especially for those.
19:55Who are not equipped to handle the kind of pressure.
19:57A lot of stuff has moved online.
19:59For that.
20:00If there is a sensitization process.
20:03If there is.
20:04A process of assistance.
20:05Can that be built into.
20:07The timeframe that we are actually speaking of.
20:10Which is.
20:11Elections in April.
20:12Certainly.
20:13Because.
20:14Even now.
20:15There is a week's time available.
20:17The final publication is 9th December.
20:19And even now.
20:20If.
20:21Assistance is provided.
20:22Technical.
20:23Capability is provided.
20:24These.
20:25BLOs.
20:26Will deliver.
20:27Without any problem.
20:28There won't be any pressure on them.
20:29There won't be any hiccups.
20:30Before them.
20:31Alright sir.
20:32I want to bring back Sanju Verma into this conversation.
20:34Sanju Verma.
20:35Sanju Verma.
20:36The fact is.
20:37Why be so belligerent.
20:38There is a human aspect to it.
20:39There is a problem to it.
20:40Nobody is questioning the process.
20:41But for those who have to carry out the process.
20:42Are facing an issue.
20:43There have been suicides.
20:44One need to accept that.
20:45There are.
20:46You know.
20:47Booth level officers.
20:48Who are very openly saying.
20:49That we don't have the wherewithal to conduct this.
20:50Assist them.
20:51Preeti.
20:52You know.
20:53With no offence to you.
20:54I am surprised.
20:55That today.
20:56Everybody is giving gyan to BJP.
20:57You know.
20:58Sanju Verma.
20:59And this is with no offence to you.
21:00You know.
21:01You have to accept.
21:02BLOs under.
21:03Pressure.
21:04If you have to accept.
21:05You have to accept.
21:06You have to accept.
21:07You have to accept.
21:08You have to accept.
21:09BLOs under.
21:10Pressure.
21:11You have to accept.
21:12BLOs under.
21:13Uh.
21:14Pressure.
21:15Is something that the BLOs themselves are saying.
21:17Why is Bharatiya Janata Party.
21:18Not willing to give a sympathetic.
21:20Uh.
21:21Listen in to these BLOs.
21:23This is the same.
21:24Darbari ecosystem.
21:25Where in.
21:26June.
21:27July.
21:28Twenty.
21:29Twenty.
21:30Twenty.
21:31Forty one.
21:32People.
21:33Were butchered.
21:34During the panchayat elections in West Bengal.
21:35And the Supreme Court.
21:36Mind you.
21:37Two.
21:38Judge Bench.
21:39Led by Justice.
21:40Manoj Mishra.
21:41Now what did they tell.
21:42Manoj Mishra.
21:43The license.
21:44To hold elections.
21:45Is a not.
21:46Is not a license.
21:47To.
21:48Violence.
21:49If you cannot hold.
21:50Free and fair elections.
21:51Tell her.
21:52We will find.
21:53An alternative.
21:54Mechanism.
21:55To put in place.
21:56You are not.
21:57Able to conduct.
21:58Free and fair elections.
22:00People are not able.
22:01To file the nomination.
22:02And those who file the nomination.
22:04Are finished off.
22:05I am quoting.
22:06The Supreme Court.
22:08Ad verbatim.
22:09Then what did the Darbar ecosystem tell.
22:11Sanju Verma.
22:12And the entire.
22:13D.J.P. ecosystem.
22:14Supreme Court.
22:15But you know.
22:16The Thrinagul Congress.
22:17Is saying.
22:18They are innocent.
22:19You know.
22:20Sanju Verma.
22:21Why are you guys politicizing it.
22:22And let me tell you.
22:23After the.
22:24Assembly elections.
22:25Preeti.
22:2612,000.
22:27People from the border.
22:28Districts of Bengal.
22:29Had to flee.
22:30Hindu dominant areas.
22:32Where there was widespread.
22:34Bloodshed.
22:35And what did Mamata Banerjee say.
22:37Nobody has been killed.
22:38Nobody has been raped.
22:39Nobody has been murdered.
22:40Nobody has been kidnapped.
22:41Nobody has been abducted.
22:43Everything is good.
22:44Believe the TNC.
22:45BJP is a party of goons.
22:47Meaning.
22:48TNC.
22:49Doodh ki dhuli hui hai kya.
22:50What Mamata Banerjee says.
22:52Is the.
22:53Is it the gospel truth.
22:54And by the way.
22:55Amit Shah joh kar rahe hai na.
22:56Baut bariha kar rahe hai.
22:57Rona dhuna karna hai.
22:58Toh karo.
22:59And never again say.
23:00Chauthi fail.
23:01Tuhari khut ki kya qualification hai.
23:02Fake lawyer.
23:03Ma'am you are trying this up.
23:04And I.
23:05You know.
23:06I fail.
23:07Fail to understand.
23:08Because this.
23:09This happens a lot.
23:10From either sides of the spectrum.
23:11Where political spokespersons are concerned.
23:12When you pose a question.
23:13They become.
23:14Acutely defensive.
23:15You know.
23:16Whether.
23:17It is Godi media.
23:18From the side of the TMC.
23:19Or Darbari media.
23:20From the side of the BJP.
23:21Questions will be asked madam.
23:22If you are on this show.
23:23And.
23:24If you think it is Darbari.
23:25To pick up the cause of those.
23:26Who are your foot soldiers on ground.
23:28To conduct.
23:29An expensive exercise.
23:31And to.
23:32Stand by.
23:33And ask for what their right is.
23:35It's Darbari.
23:36Then you are living in La La Land ma'am.
23:38But.
23:39I'll come back to you.
23:40I want to bring back.
23:41The TMC spokesperson.
23:42On this.
23:43The fact is.
23:44There is something that was.
23:45That Sanju Verma has raised also.
23:47And the question that I asked you earlier.
23:48Which you refused to answer.
23:49So let me.
23:50Circle back to that same question.
23:52Mr. Tawsefer Raman.
23:53And that question is.
23:54For.
23:55The chief minister of the state.
23:57To come out and say.
23:58That if I am attacked.
23:59And my people is attacked.
24:00I'll shake the foundations of India.
24:02What does that really mean?
24:04Sir.
24:0536 deaths.
24:066 BLO.
24:0731 normal people.
24:08Are dying.
24:09There are no more.
24:10Preeti ji.
24:11You want us to roam.
24:12Actually in La La Land.
24:13And I.
24:14We should come and say.
24:15That everything is very.
24:16Honky dory.
24:17Everything is very fair and lovely.
24:18No.
24:19This is not.
24:20A threat.
24:21This is not provocative.
24:22But if someone wants to propagate this line.
24:23It's all right.
24:24But I'm proud of my chief.
24:25My chief minister.
24:26Whatever she said.
24:27We are working for.
24:2812 crore people.
24:29And this is not.
24:30A SIR.
24:31Man.
24:32This is not.
24:33A SIR.
24:34Man.
24:35A SIR.
24:36A SIR.
24:37A SIR.
24:38A SIR.
24:39This nation.
24:40What does that mean sir?
24:4136 deaths.
24:426 BLO.
24:4331 normal people.
24:44Are dying.
24:45There are no more.
24:46Preeti ji.
24:47You want us.
24:48To roam.
24:49Actually in La La Land.
24:50And I.
24:51We should come and say.
24:52That everything is very.
24:53Honky dory.
24:54Everything is very.
24:55This is not a SIR.
24:56Man.
24:57This is what the BJP said.
24:58They are only.
24:59Bothered about election.
25:00Election.
25:01And election.
25:02Are they bothered about.
25:03Infiltrators.
25:04If that would have been.
25:05The case.
25:06The BSF.
25:07And Amit Shah team.
25:08Would have been.
25:09The borders.
25:10And no infiltrators.
25:11Would have been.
25:12Tenor.
25:13To come inside.
25:14Bengal.
25:15Or India.
25:16Whatsoever.
25:17Preeti ji.
25:18It's a very.
25:19Sentimental thing.
25:20For us.
25:21The condition of.
25:22Konnagar.
25:23BLO.
25:24Submit forms.
25:25Further exposes.
25:26The inhuman.
25:27Burden.
25:28Created by.
25:29Pressure tactics.
25:30What is all about.
25:31What's happening.
25:32What are you doing?
25:33What do you want to do?
25:34Take out of Bangladesh.
25:35Take out of Pakistan.
25:36Take out of Pakistan.
25:37Take out of Pakistan.
25:38Take out of Pakistan.
25:39The Bengalis.
25:40I mean.
25:4130 plus individuals.
25:42Have already lost their life.
25:44Since SIR began.
25:45With death.
25:46Linked to fear.
25:47Stress.
25:48And overload.
25:49A process.
25:50That once required.
25:51Two.
25:52Three years.
25:53Again.
25:54Two.
25:55Three years.
25:56Has been compressed.
25:57Into two months.
25:58Solely.
25:59To satisfy.
26:00The BJP's.
26:01Political bloody agenda.
26:02Creating an unplanned.
26:03And ruthless.
26:04Work on BLOs.
26:05This is what SIR is.
26:06This is.
26:07This is what.
26:08Board rectification is.
26:09Killing our own people.
26:10Killing the citizen of India.
26:11Killing Bengalis.
26:12Because you hate Bengalis.
26:13You are just bothered about the election.
26:15You want to win it.
26:16I think you are getting a bit.
26:17Ahead of yourself.
26:18Where you are saying.
26:19Killing.
26:20You know.
26:21Nobody is killing anyone.
26:22Let's be a little measured.
26:23I understand that you want to attack the BJP.
26:25But be a little measured.
26:26In the language that you use.
26:27It's a kind of emotion.
26:28No sir.
26:29One second.
26:30Okay.
26:31I want to give the both of you.
26:32One minute each.
26:33To put your point forward.
26:34Final comment.
26:35Sanju Verma.
26:36Your time starts now.
26:37You know.
26:38Preeti.
26:39I am not going to get down to.
26:40The TMC's language.
26:41The TMC's agenda.
26:42Should I say.
26:43The bloody TMC's agenda.
26:44No.
26:45I will not do that.
26:46But I want to say.
26:47One thing to.
26:48You know.
26:49Preeti.
26:50Who shows.
26:51I come on regularly.
26:52No madam.
26:53My favorite journalist.
26:54I am very much rooted.
26:55In the ground.
26:56On the ground.
26:57I am not living in la la land.
26:58I never use the word.
26:59Darbari media.
27:00I said.
27:01Darbari ecosystem.
27:02It is the Congress's.
27:03Darbari ecosystem.
27:04And the Trinimal Congress.
27:05Which have been demonizing.
27:06The institutional machinery.
27:07Of this country.
27:08And I want to say one thing.
27:09I am glad you said it.
27:10If you touch me.
27:11I will jolt the entire nation.
27:12Is Mamata Banerji.
27:13Trying to be incendiary.
27:14And you know.
27:15Ask for rights.
27:16Simply because.
27:17SIR is being conducted.
27:18SIR.
27:19SIR.
27:20SIR.
27:21SIR.
27:22SIR.
27:23SIR.
27:24SIR.
27:25SIR.
27:26SIR.
27:27SIR.
27:28SIR.
27:29SIR.
27:30SIR.
27:31SIR.
27:32SIR.
27:33SIR.
27:34SIR.
27:35SIR.
27:36SIR.
27:37SIR.
27:38SIR.
27:39SIR.
27:40SIR.
27:41SIR.
27:42SIR.
27:43SIR.
27:44SIR.
27:45SIR.
27:46SIR.
27:47SIR.
27:48SIR.
27:49SIR.
27:50SIR.
27:51SIR.
27:52SIR.
27:53SIR.
27:54SIR.
27:55SIR.
27:56SIR.
27:57SIR.
27:58SIR.
27:59SIR.
28:00SIR.
28:01SIR.
28:02SIR.
28:03SIR.
28:04SIR.
28:05SIR.
28:06SIR.
28:07SIR.
28:08SIR.
28:09SIR.
28:10SIR.
28:11SIR.
28:12SIR.
28:13SIR.
28:14SIR.
28:15SIR.
28:16SIR.
28:17SIR.
28:18SIR.
28:19SIR.
28:20SIR.
28:21SIR.
28:22Nadda or whosoever. But we will take care of Bengal. If you want to take it as a threat,
28:27no problem. If you want to take it as a concerned, as a Bengali, no problem. BJP is questioning why
28:33ATC government transferred bureaucrats and other things. You need to answer why are you changing
28:38the SIR law every third day from 9th to 24th of November, then again 2nd November.
28:44Sir, it's going to be a hard cut. Your time is up. I appreciate both of you for joining us.
28:48Unfortunately, for me and for our viewers, this is going to be a topic that is going to be discussed
28:55many a times over in the near future because elections are coming and the core of it, the core
29:01of the politics of it right now continues to be the SIR. From one election-bound state, which is the
29:09state of West Bengal, let's move to the other election-bound state and both elections are
29:13taking place practically at the same time. Let's talk about Assam. While SIR continues to be a huge
29:19issue in West Bengal, the burning issue in Assam that is not seeing an extensive SIR is nothing to
29:26do with role revision but the death of one of the biggest icons, Zubin Garg of Assam. Well, his untimely
29:36death in Singapore sparked a massive controversy back home in Assam. Was Zubin Garg murdered? The
29:43autopsy doesn't show that there was any foul play at all. In the beginning, his family seemed to suggest
29:48that there was no foul play but then later his wife did change her stand. What's also happened in the
29:55state of Assam viewers is that the entire story has blown up politically. When I say what, how has it
30:02blown up politically either sides of the divide, be it Congress or be it the BJP, trying to stake
30:08claim, not just to the legacy of Zubin Garg, who mind you was highly critical of all types of politics
30:15where his state of Assam was concerned, equally criticizing the BJP as well as the Congress at
30:21times. But after his death, there is a massive emotional sentiment that pervades in the state of
30:27Assam. Some of his fans, who deeply hurt by his untimely demise, are resorting to many types of conspiracy theories.
30:36Now, we don't know if there is any meat to these conspiracy theories. That will be tested with an investigation,
30:42and that investigation has yet to be completed. But what's really happened is, today, something that the BJP and the
30:50Chief Minister, Himanta Biswasarma, earlier had indicated, he bolstered upon, not just in an innocuous statement,
30:59but on the floor of the Assembly. Himanta Biswasarma said that Zubin Garg was murdered. Mind you, there is no investigation
31:07yet. But the Chief Minister said that Zubin Garg was murdered. He also said that the BJP, unlike the Congress, will bring
31:15justice to Zubin Garg. In the midst of all of this, because just two days ago, you have had the face of the Congress
31:22party in the state of Assam, Gaurav Gogoi, make a social media post where he detailed on how the Congress stands by the
31:30memory and the legacy of Zubin Garg. So clearly, you can see the slugfest between the Congress and the BJP to claim the
31:37memory of Zubin Garg and do right by him. But in the midst of it, what is really taking place?
31:44There needs to be a larger investigation. Was there a murder? Because the autopsy doesn't quite suggest a murder.
31:52Is this case going down the path of a Sushant Singh Rajput? That remains to be seen.
31:59Assam is on the edge. A state still grieving its biggest cultural icon has been jolted again, this time not by
32:11rumour, not by whisper, but by the Chief Minister himself. Hemanto Biswaswarma on the floor of the
32:20Assembly declared that Zubin Garg did not die in an accident. He was murdered.
32:33The timing of this revelation is not random. Just days ago, Gaurav Gogoi Congress's state
32:39president took a solemn pledge, a pledge to protect Zubin's values, Zubin's ideas, Zubin's legacy.
32:49And now the BJP has harked back to the murder theory. The Chief Minister's declaration in the
32:56Assembly, without a formal investigation, is not so much legal, but a political claim. A claim that he says
33:05his government will deliver justice on. A claim that the BJP, not the Congress, will stand guard over Sam's most
33:13most loved son. Because this isn't just about a singer. Zubin Garg was emotion. Zubin was identity.
33:22To own Zubin's legacy in Assam is to own public sentiment. And public sentiment in an election year is power.
33:32But in this tug of war over a man who belonged to everyone, are we witnessing the birth of another
33:39celebrity tragedy turned political spectacle? Is Assam about to see its own Shishan Singh Rajput moment?
33:47Will Zubin Garg become the next name pulled into India's most dangerous blend of emotion, outrage and electoral
33:55politics. Bearer Report, India Today.
34:02All right, I want to cut across to my colleague Kaushik Dekar from the India Today magazine.
34:07Kaushik, you know, you had the Chief Minister today, Orphus Sam, on the assembly, on the floor of the assembly,
34:14state that Zubin Garg was in fact murdered. Now this has come without a proper investigation that has concluded anything.
34:22We've also seen the backdrop of it, the politics of it. We've seen the social media posts of Gaurav Gagoy claiming that,
34:29you know, Congress will honor his legacy. In this political slugfest, are we actually witnessing another
34:35Sushant Singh Rajput, read us?
34:38I would not like to draw a parallel here, but Zubin's case, as I had mentioned earlier also,
34:45it has become the key issue for the Assam assembly election that's scheduled in April 2026.
34:53And right from the very beginning, means after initial three, four days when the public outrages over the cause of death,
35:01death, because there was a lot of confusion about how he died in Singapore.
35:06So based on that, there is a public outrage. And the moment the political parties sense that there is a public outrage,
35:13all the political parties, whether it's BJP, Congress, or Rai Jardal, or other regional parties,
35:20they try to take advantage of this public outrage to their own benefits. And then began the politics.
35:27Initially, if you see the CM, Hemantabishwa Sarma, he had said that he didn't suspect any foul play,
35:34if you recall the initial statements. And in fact, from Singapore also, the initial reports were about drowning.
35:41And then the moment the people were angry over the two key suspects, primarily Shamkanu Mohanta,
35:50the moment the opposition parties started showing Shamkanu Mohanta's connection with Hemantabishwa Sarma.
35:57Of course, the connection was not only with him. Shamkanu Mohanta had a connection with every political leader,
36:03almost every political leader in Assam, across political parties.
36:07But the moment it was shown that Shamkanu Mohanta is one of the key accused and Hemantabh might protect him,
36:14the opposition parties started targeting him. And there was a sense that public support is slipping away from the CM.
36:23And then he turned around and he said that I will set up an SIT. The SIT started investigating.
36:29Then he started making statements like there would be explosive revelations about how Jubin died and all that,
36:36the things that people in Assam would not be able to take.
36:40And now if my sources tell me that the expanse of this investigation is so huge that it's going back to eight years
36:51and also examining everyone who in some way was related to Jubin or had some dealing or transactions with Jubin.
37:00And probably if my sources are correct, they are trying to create, they are building up a story, a narrative or a sequence through which Jubin was killed.
37:14I may not comment on the legal part of it because it's still subjudice and investigations are on
37:20and it would not be fair on our part, you and me to comment on that.
37:25But this investigation definitely is not just about how Jubin drowned in Singapore or how he died in Singapore.
37:34It is much more beyond that. And simply because the CM of Assam, he cannot afford to lose an election.
37:41So the people of Assam, a large majority on social media, they are saying that Jubin was murdered.
37:48And before any investigation, everybody suspected a foul play because of the people who were with him.
37:54And the moment he meant a sense that he has to satisfy the people of Assam before the election.
38:01So he is playing to the gallery, he is giving them what social media demanded, what people of Assam demanded.
38:08And now everybody knew, mostly politicians, that if you limit the investigation just to that particular incident of him drowning in Singapore and how he died,
38:22the case may not have been that strong or it may not last that long in a court of law.
38:28So you have to understand this that the case has to remain in court or the political parties, the government must sustain the case in a court of law,
38:40at least till April 2026 when the elections are scheduled. So this is what the core of the whole politics is.
38:47Without saying it, Kaushik, you practically said it, you know, for a layman or for somebody like us,
38:52it just practically sounded like a redux of Sushant Singh Rajput. I'll ask you one quick question, Kaushik, before we let you go.
38:58For someone who was very familiar and, you know, I would dare to say even a friend of Zubin Garg, which has been you,
39:06I want to ask you because the irony can't be more stark when one actually looks at it in the context of Zubin Garg,
39:16who happened to be one of the most apolitical and one of the few people who wore his cynicism of politics on his sleeve.
39:24Yes, you used the very right word. He was apolitical. If you ask me why he was so popular,
39:34he could say things that you and me would be discussing in private or would not dare to utter in public.
39:41He would say those things in public. It didn't matter who was in power.
39:45If he found something wrong, something not correct, he would say it upfront.
39:50Whether it's a political issue, non-political issue, social issue, moral issue, religious issue, it didn't matter.
39:57He would speak out. And that's why he was so popular. And there was no hypocrisy.
40:02You could see Zubin the way he was everywhere. He was a superstar, no doubt about that.
40:08But he could be found with a paanwala. He could be found in a paddy field. He could be found anywhere.
40:13So this is what Zubin was. And now, because of his popularity and because he was everyone's Zubin,
40:20so everybody is trying to get a share of their politics out of Zubin.
40:25All right. Thank you, Kaushik, for joining us. You know, we're going to come back to you.
40:30And sadly, I don't know how this narrative is going to play out.
40:32But right now, it doesn't look that it's going to all go well. But we're going to leave it at that.
40:37With that, let's quickly move on. India's luxury wedding scene.
40:41Just reached a dazzling new high in Udaipur, where global superstar Jennifer Lopez lit up celebrations
40:46for Nitra Mantana, daughter of U.S.-based billionaire.
40:51Who is Nitra Mantana and what is the Mantana family? Take a look.
40:56Every once in a while, India hosts a wedding that doesn't just make headlines.
41:22It rewrites the definition of opinions.
41:38At this time, Udaipur became the heart of global glamour as a celebration so lavish,
41:44so star-packed and so breathtaking unfolded that it felt less like a wedding
41:50and more like a fairy tale coming alive.
42:02Global music star Jennifer Lopez took center stage in Udaipur for the wedding celebrations
42:08of Nitra Mantana, daughter of U.S.-based billionaires Padmaja and Ramiraju Mantana.
42:14Guests witnessed energetic choreography, elaborate stage props and a string of Lopez's chart-topping hits,
42:28bringing the celebrations to a memorable close.
42:30Bringing the celebrations to a memorable close.
42:44Lulalala, Lulala, Lulala, Lulala, Lulala, Lulala, Lulala, Lulala, Lulala, Lulala, Lulala.
42:56Throughout the set, Lopez made several costume changes, moving from a pink saree earlier in the day
43:03to a glittery golden ensemble, followed by a shimmering silver bodysuit and an imposing overcoat for her final act.
43:11her final act.
43:20The singer set the stage on fire with her hit tracks, giving the guests a night to remember.
43:25Besides her concert performance, the singer also impressed everyone with her traditional
43:44Indian look.
43:45She wore a pastel pink lihenga paired with statement jewellery including a heavy necklace
43:51and a matching earring, which added to the elegance of her appearance.
44:06This isn't Lopez's first performance in Udaipur.
44:09The singer previously made headlines in 2015 when she performed at the wedding of Sanjay
44:14Hinduja and Anu Mahatani.
44:16Meanwhile, the star-studded wedding of the billionaire's daughter, Netra Mantena, was
44:25a grand affair.
44:26The festivities began with a glittering sangeet ceremony on 21st November, where Bollywood
44:31stars like Varun Dhawan, Janvi Kapoor, Ranveer Singh, Shahid Kapoor and others delivered electrifying
44:53international performances.
44:54The Mehendi ceremony saw Madhuri Dixit and Noura Fatehi setting the dance floor alight.
45:07In fact, the celebrations were held across several of Udaipur's iconic luxury properties, including
45:20the Leela Palace, Zenana Mahal and the Island Palace on Lake Pichola.
45:26The star-studded guest list also included Donald Trump Jr. and his girlfriend, among others.
45:33It was undoubtedly one of those weddings that instantly reminded everyone of last year's
45:38Ambani celebrations, grand, opulent and packed with stars.
45:46With Pranjali Sethi, Entertainment Bureau, India Today.
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