- 4 hours ago
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi were not invited to the President's banquet, while Congress MP Shashi Tharoor was, according to sources.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Hello and welcome, you're watching India Today. I'm Akshita Nanda Gopal and you're joining us here for our non-stop coverage of Vladimir Putin's visit to India.
00:10Just a few hours to go for him to wrap up what's been a truly historic visit to the national capital.
00:16From bilaterals to business meetings to also of course protocol and the welcome, ceremonial welcome that we witnessed this morning.
00:24We've got you covered on all the updates, the big takeaways from Putin's visit to India.
00:30And that's our top focus. We'll begin by giving you a glimpse of what to expect over the next 60 minutes on this show.
00:36We'll be talking about the Modi-Putin show in Delhi as now Putin has also invited Prime Minister Modi to visit Moscow.
00:45Now we'll also break down for you exactly what the roadmap is going ahead in the India-Russia story.
00:51The roadmap for bilateral ties between India and Russia.
00:55Also coming up on the show at 6.30 this evening, you watched our global exclusive with the Russian president.
01:02There's been huge chatter about it and global media.
01:06It's made international headlines as we confirmed earlier.
01:10It's become a global talking point.
01:12We'll run you through some of the biggest headlines that have emerged from that interview.
01:17I'm Akshita Nanda Gopal. Let's begin with the top 10 headlines.
01:21The Indigo crisis is only getting messier.
01:27Thousands of flights grounded.
01:29Passengers across India are stranded.
01:32They're angry.
01:33Indigo has no solutions whatsoever.
01:36This is a nationwide outage that's been reported.
01:39And Indigo now has offered full refunds for travel between December 5th and 15th,
01:43along with accommodation for affected travellers.
01:46But many, many passengers saying they're left completely stranded, left in the lurch.
01:51In what's being seen as the DGCA giving in essentially to arm-twisting tactics by Indigo,
02:02the DGCA has rolled back recent pilot duty and leave reforms after mass cancellations by Indigo.
02:08Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at an annual summit in Delhi.
02:19Both agreed to diversify mutual economic ties,
02:22even as, in fact, America has pressed India to revise its decades-old partnership with Russia.
02:27Putin has assured India of uninterrupted oil supplies.
02:30Hours after Rahul Gandhi accused the Modi government of breaking tradition of inviting opposition leaders to meet visiting delegations,
02:41sources have told India today that both the leader of opposition and Congress President Malikarjun Kargay
02:46have not been invited to dinner organized for the Russian president.
02:50Interestingly, Shashita Roor is.
02:55Following the Sanchar Satya app uproar,
02:57the government is considering making always-on location tracking compulsory for all smartphones.
03:02Apple, Samsung, Google are reportedly opposing the move, citing privacy risks.
03:06Ahead of the foundation-laying of a Babri-style mosque replica in Murshidabad,
03:14the Kalkara High Court refused to stay at the ceremony
03:16but directed the Bengal government to ensure strict law in order to prevent any communal tension.
03:24Kerala Chief Minister Pinerai Vijayan has criticized the Congress for what he called
03:28a suicidal alliance with the Jamaat-e-Islami,
03:31alleging the group and Hindutua organizations are birds of the same feather.
03:36In another provocation, Pakistan's foreign minister has publicly backed China's position
03:42on Arunachal Pradesh, referring to the Indian state by Beijing's term of Zangdaan.
03:48That's the name they've given Arunachal.
03:50Pakistan has reiterated that it supports China's sovereignty and territorial claims.
03:57The in-batting sensation, Vaibhav Suryavanshi,
03:59who drew national attention after making his Ranjit Trophy debut at 12,
04:02has reportedly become India's most searched personality of 2025 on Google.
04:10Aditya Dhar's Dharander has hit screens today.
04:13The historical thriller has won the approval for its storytelling performances and music.
04:18Okay, let's begin with breaking news that's coming in right now.
04:33Russian President Vladimir Putin has formally extended an invite to Prime Minister Modi
04:38to visit Russia next year for the India-Russia annual summit.
04:43Now, there was a lot of talk that this visit would be happening,
04:46and now a formal invite has been extended by the Russian President to Prime Minister Modi.
04:50We've seen deals, diplomacy taking place in Delhi.
04:53The next step with this particular visit by Putin to India,
04:57a short one, just over 24 hours,
05:00Putin has now extended an invite to Prime Minister Modi to visit Russia as well.
05:04There's a possibility that that meeting will happen and that visit will take place.
05:08The invite is for next year when there is an annual India-Russia summit.
05:12Let's bring in Shivani Sharma for more details on this, Shivani.
05:17There was a lot of talk that Prime Minister Modi could be headed to Russia next year.
05:21The formal invite has been extended.
05:23Any confirmation of whether the Prime Minister will be attending?
05:26See, after the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Putin,
05:36a joint statement has been issued and a formal invitation has also been given out
05:40to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the next annual India-Russia summit.
05:44That will happen in Russia.
05:47And the confirmation will soon, it's soon expected from Prime Minister's office.
05:52But we must tell our viewers that this is very important to understand
05:56because the India-Russia annual summit happens to be one of the most important
06:01and advanced interactions between both the leaders of both the countries.
06:05This is not just bonhomie between two leaders,
06:08but also how India and Russia are moving ahead,
06:11taking their strategic ties in all issues, on all issues and spheres,
06:16ranging from counter-terrorism to space to nuclear energy,
06:21the civil nuclear energy, the health,
06:23and how keeping the Make in India initiative,
06:27how India is collaborating with Russia
06:29and how Russia is now extending uninterrupted fuel supply
06:35despite the sanctions from the West and also the United States.
06:39So now when the invitation has come,
06:42it is expected that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be travelling
06:45and he can travel to Russia for the next India-Russia summit
06:50that will happen in Russia next year.
06:52That will happen in the third quarter,
06:54towards the end of the year next year.
06:57So we have this confirmation.
06:59It could be around August, September is what we're hearing.
07:02But thanks very much, Shivani, for getting us those details.
07:04I want to cut across to another news break coming in.
07:09Just a few hours from now, there's going to be a President's Banquet.
07:19This is in the Rashtrapati Bhavan,
07:20hosted for the Russian President Vladimir Putin.
07:23Now here's a news break that's coming in
07:25that's going to trigger a political showdown in India.
07:29Reportedly, there's been no invite extended to Rahul Gandhi,
07:32the leader of opposition, or for that matter,
07:34the Congress President and the leader of the opposition
07:37in the Rajya Sabah, Malik Harjung Kargei.
07:39Rahul Gandhi and Kargei have not been invited.
07:42Reportedly, however, what's interesting is that Shashi Tarur of the Congress
07:46has been extended an invite for this formal dinner
07:50that will be taking place in a few hours from now.
07:54Mind you, this comes just about 48 hours after Rahul Gandhi
07:56had accused the government of breaking tradition,
07:59saying opposition leaders aren't given a chance
08:02to meet with any of these foreign dignitaries,
08:04saying why is there no meeting between opposition leaders
08:06and the Russian President.
08:08Now, after that, the MEA had clarified and given instances
08:12where there were such meetings that had happened.
08:14But in this particular case, where there is a formal dinner,
08:17no invite has been extended to Rahul Gandhi,
08:20no invite has been extended to Malik Harjung Kargei.
08:23Instead, guess what?
08:24Who's found their name in the invite list?
08:27It's Shashi Tarur.
08:28This, no doubt, is going to spark a huge controversy.
08:31It's going to become a big talking point.
08:33Because remember, the only leader who's been invited,
08:36Shashi Tarur, is someone who's been rather critical of the Congress.
08:39And there's been endless talk and questions and speculation
08:42on whether he's going to switch over and join hands with the BJP.
08:45Amid all of that speculation, Rahul Gandhi, Malik Harjung Kargei,
08:49who are considered to be the faces of the Congress,
08:52not invited, instead, Shashi Tarur is.
08:54Moshmi Singh is joining us with more details on this.
08:57Moshmi, any reaction that's come in from the Congress on this?
09:00Can you confirm whether Rahul Gandhi and Mr. Kargei
09:03haven't received an invite?
09:07That's right, Shashi Tarur.
09:08Our sources tell us that Rahul Gandhi and Malik Harjung Kargei,
09:13in fact, no top brass of the Congress party,
09:16has received an invite for the dinner at the Rashid Patti Bhawan.
09:20And this is after we saw how Rahul Gandhi launched a tirade
09:25saying that the government was targeting the LOP
09:28and telling dignitaries and, in fact, the countries he was visiting
09:32that they should not meet the LOP.
09:35So, clearly, and that had stirred a hornet's nest
09:38with the BJP slamming Rahul Gandhi's childish accusations.
09:44But what we are told is that we've also learned that Shashi Tarur
09:49has got that invite.
09:50So, Congress MP Shashi Tarur has been called.
09:54We know that he was heading the delegation to U.S.
09:58after a post-operation Sindur,
10:00when multiple delegations, parliamentary delegations,
10:03had gone across the globe.
10:05And we saw that yesterday.
10:08He was talking about the bonhomie between Russia and India.
10:11Explain something to me.
10:12You know, is this straying away from tradition?
10:15Is this straying away from protocol?
10:16Is there a set protocol that the leader of opposition
10:20must be invited for these kind of formal dinners
10:23with a foreign dignitary?
10:26Generally, you know, the camaraderie or the optics
10:29would call it as a matter of courtesy
10:32that you extend that invite to the LOP of both houses.
10:37Though it's not mandatory, in fact.
10:41And this is perhaps gives a fresh opportunity
10:45to the opposition to say that
10:46Prime Minister Nareen Modi's government, in fact,
10:50doesn't want to silence the voice of the opposition,
10:53doesn't even want to extend the normal courtesies
10:57that are extended to opposition leaders.
10:59Clearly, thereby, you know,
11:02sharpening the rift between the government
11:04and the opposition, we've seen a war of words
11:07at Japan, you know, with other Congress MPs called,
11:11we'll have to see who else has been called.
11:14There are a host of list of guests, invitees
11:18who have been called at the Rajapati Bhawan.
11:20Surely the Congress will be making a lot about that.
11:23Okay, so no reaction just yet from the Congress on this,
11:26but it's important to highlight that Rahul Gandhi
11:28erased exactly this, Boshmi, a couple of days ago
11:31when he claimed that, you know, opposition leaders aren't given a chance
11:34to speak to foreign dignitaries.
11:36And I remember right after he'd made that comment,
11:38there was in fact a clarification that had also emerged
11:40from the MEA on this.
11:42That's right, you know, there were point-by-point rebuttal
11:48of Rahul Gandhi's allegations, in fact,
11:50saying that Rahul Gandhi, if he's saying that he has proof
11:52for emails, he should give that proof.
11:55Secondary is, the second point was that, you know,
11:59it is up to the visiting dignitary.
12:02If he, you know, says, he or she says that they want to meet
12:07the leader of the opposition, depends on their schedule
12:10and their request, it's not decided by the Indian government.
12:13The request is finally put to the Indian government.
12:17And also, you know, point-by-by-point saying that Rahul Gandhi
12:20has been meeting foreign dignitaries, including the
12:25Mauritian Prime Minister and others.
12:32And in fact, this is wrong to say that Rahul Gandhi,
12:34that the government has anything to do with it.
12:36And Rahul Gandhi is really belittling the entire democratic process
12:42of India by yet again, you know, trying to highlight an issue
12:47right when the Russian president is visiting India.
12:51It's the wrong timing and Rahul Gandhi is acting very childish.
12:55And then after that, after that...
12:58This is no doubt going to trigger, you know, a political showdown
13:01in the next 24 hours.
13:03I'm sure the Congress is yet to react on the fact that Rahul Gandhi
13:06and Malikar Junkargei haven't received an invite.
13:09Thanks very much, Moshpi, for joining us with those details.
13:16So away from the politics, let's talk about really what's played out
13:21in the last many hours from this morning on Russian President
13:24Vladimir Putin's visit to India.
13:26If you've missed out on all of the highlights, we've got you covered.
13:29But let's break down for you what are really the biggest takeaways
13:32from that visit.
13:33Those are some of the images from their day today,
13:37from Hyderabad House to Rashtrapati Bhavan to Rajkart.
13:41Vladimir Putin, of course, had a packed day and a busy one
13:45with loads of engagements with important dignitaries in the country.
13:49He met the prime minister.
13:50He met the president as well.
13:52But there were path-breaking agreements also on various sectors.
13:55There was a joint briefing that took place post the crucial bilateral
13:59between Prime Minister Modi and President Putin.
14:01And in that particular bilateral, there was a focus very clearly
14:05from both leaders on taking this friendship forward,
14:08taking these ties to the next step.
14:11So agreements have been signed for cooperation on several issues.
14:15Also importantly on health care, on medical education, food safety,
14:19on shipbuilding, maritime cooperation, and so many more.
14:23And we'll break that down for you.
14:25But importantly, Prime Minister Modi also spoke on terror,
14:29hailing Putin for condemning the Pehelgam terror attack
14:32and said that the world must stay united and fight against terror in all forms.
14:35Another big message that came in from the prime minister
14:37was in terms of the Ukraine war, saying we're on a side.
14:41It's not that we're neutral, we've picked a side.
14:44And that side is peace.
14:45Meanwhile, Russian President Putin said that Russia remains committed to India
14:49in continuing to help them in procuring oil.
14:52Another very, very important message.
14:54Let's play out for you some of the highlights of that briefing
14:57by Prime Minister Modi and President Putin.
15:00The following is the President Putin.
15:0315 years ago, the President Putin has received a special and privileged strategic partnership.
15:08We've received a special and privileged strategic partnership.
15:12We've received a special and privileged strategic partnership.
15:12The last 20th century,
15:16उन्होंने अपने नेत्रुत्व और दृत्रष्टि से इन समंधों को निरंतर सीचा है
15:24हर परिस्तिती में उनके नेत्रुत्व ने आपसी समंधों को नई उचाई दिये है
15:33आज हमने इस नीव को और मजबुत करने के लिए सहयोग के सभी पहलूओं पर चर्चा की
15:44आर्थिक सहयोग को नई उचाईयों पर ले जाना हमारी साजी प्रात्विक्ता है
15:53इसे साकार करने के लिए आज हमने 2030 तक के लिए
16:00एक Economic Cooperation Program पर सहमती बनाई है
16:08Reform, Perform and Transform इस सिध्धान पर चलते विए भारत
16:18तेजी से विश्व की तीसरी सबसे बड़ी Economy बनने की और आगे बढ़ रहा है
16:26और ग्यारह वर्सों की इस Reform यात्रा में हम न ठके हैं हम न रूके हैं
16:35हमारा युवा टैलेंट, टेक्नलोजी, एंजिनेरिंग, हेल्ट केर, कंस्ट्रक्शन, लॉजिस्टिक्स हर छेत्र में
16:49ग्लोबल रिक्वार्मेंट्स को पुरा करने की च्शंता रगता है
16:53रूस्की डेमोगराफिक और एकनोमी को देखते हुए
16:59यह साजेदारी दोनों देशों के लिए अट्यंट उप्योगी है
17:05पर प्रशएशे एकनोमी को देखते हैं
17:35यह स्वेंसे एकनोलोह।
17:38इनल्स रॉलिए ओ है
17:40यह स्वेंसे एकनोलोह।
17:45यह इप्योग ध्यूहीजब एकनोंग्स
17:55वह सोबस्टिक्स का बांड़ाइक ऑनिल्गमेंग्स
17:59We are also seeing successful partnership in energy.
18:03Russia is a reliable supply of oil, gas, coal, and everything that is required for the development
18:13of India's energy.
18:15We are ready to continue uninterrupted shipments of fuel for the fast-growing Indian economy.
18:22Of course, the bilateral interaction in energy does not limit to that.
18:28We are also conducting a flash-check project to build the largest Indian nuclear...
18:34Full normal situation, which we do anticipate between the 10th and the 15th of December.
18:46I do understand that these disruptions have caused much discomfort to our customers and
18:51has shaken their belief in Indigo's reliability so carefully built over these past 19 years.
18:59My colleagues, all the great Indigo teams and frontline staff have been working relentlessly
19:04to address the situation.
19:07Rest assured, we are doing everything in our control to not only restore your trust and belief,
19:13but strengthen it further over time.
19:16Thank you for your patience, understanding, and kindness during this difficult time.
19:22We shall keep you updated on an ongoing basis.
19:26So, that is the Indigo CEO there, Peter Elber, confirming that over 1,000 Indigo flights have been cancelled,
19:38and that's just on a single day, on December 5th.
19:41Imagine the chaos at airports.
19:43Now, the Indigo CEO confirming that there have been operational disruptions, to put it mildly,
19:49quite honestly, looking at the mess that's been in several airports.
19:53December 5th alone has seen over 1,000 flights being cancelled, is what Indigo has said,
19:58but they are maintaining right now that normalcy will be restored between December 10th to 15th.
20:05What does that mean?
20:06Does that mean that the next five days we're going to continue seeing this chaos unfold,
20:10in which case it's extremely troubling, extremely worrying, because there are lacks,
20:14and I'm not exaggerating when I say lacks of passengers, flyers who are stranded,
20:19who are stuck, who are left in the lurch and have absolutely no idea about what to do next.
20:24The Indigo CEO confirming that, yes, there have been severe disruptions,
20:29but there are questions amid this being asked about whether this is Indigo arm-twisting the DGCA to get it their way.
20:35The DGCA is buckled, clearly, making a U-turn on the rule that they had gone ahead and reversed.
20:40And now, despite that, the Indigo CEO confirming that, you know, it could take time for normalcy between December 10th and 15th.
20:49That means, viewers, if you have a plane to catch, if you have a flight to catch in the next few days,
20:56brace yourself, it is going to continue to be chaotic.
20:59Rahul Gautam is joining us with more details on this.
21:02Rahul, the Indigo CEO confirming that 1,000-plus flights have been called off just today,
21:09but what's extremely worrying is that, he says, for complete normalcy of flight tops of Indigo,
21:14it's going to take 10 days, he says between 10 to 15.
21:24Absolutely, and this is what has come from Indigo CEO, Mr. Peter Elbers,
21:30that over 1,000 flights have been cancelled,
21:33and, in fact, it's going to take, you know, 5 to 10 days more to restore the full normalcy.
21:39In fact, he also appealed to all the passengers who have got their, you know, flights cancelled,
21:44not to rush to the airport as, you know, it is putting a lot of pressure on the...
21:49Let's play out for our viewers again what the Indigo CEO said.
21:52Ladies and gentlemen, I'm Peter Elbers, the CEO of Indigo.
21:58I want to share with you that we have experienced severe operational disruptions for the past few days.
22:05Since then, the crisis continued to aggravate,
22:08with today, December 5th, being the most severely impacted day,
22:12with the number of cancellations well over 1,000,
22:16or more than half of our number of daily flights.
22:19I, on behalf of all of us at Indigo,
22:24would like to extend our sincerest apologies
22:27for the major inconvenience this has caused to many of our customers,
22:32on account of delays or cancellations.
22:36The situation is a result of various causes,
22:40yet for you as a customer, it's important how we, as Indigo, address this.
22:46We have defined three lines of action.
22:49Firstly, customer communication and addressing your needs.
22:55For this, messages have been sent on social media,
22:58and just now, a more detailed communication with information on refunds,
23:03cancellations, and other customer support measures was sent.
23:07Also, we have stepped up our call center capacity.
23:11Secondly, due to yesterday's situation, we had customers stranded mostly at the nation's largest airports.
23:20Our focus was for all of them to be able to travel today itself, which will be achieved.
23:27For this, we also ask customers whose flights are cancelled not to come to airports, as notifications are sent.
23:35Thirdly, cancellations were made for today, as to align our crew and planes to beware they need to start afresh tomorrow morning.
23:46Earlier measures of the last few days regrettably have proven not to be enough.
23:54So we have decided today for a reboot of all our systems and schedules, resulting in the highest number of cancellations so far,
24:03but imperative for progressive improvements starting as from tomorrow.
24:08With these actions, we expect tomorrow to have cancellations below 1,000.
24:13The support of DGCA in providing specific FDTL implementation relief is of great help.
24:22Still, there's lots of work in progress.
24:26But going forward from here, in alignment with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and DGCA,
24:32we do expect to further improve every day, given the size, skill and complexity.
24:40I mean, just wrap your head around that.
24:41The chaos that you saw today are 1,000 flights being cancelled.
24:46The number of flyers left stranded with no option but to wait at the airport for hours,
24:51some of them wondering what to do, no help, of course, from the airline as well.
24:55But beyond that, that this could actually continue.
24:57It's not just 24-hour chaos.
24:58This is going to continue for the next few days.
25:00Rahul Gautam is joining me live right now from Delhi's IGI airport.
25:04Rahul, extremely concerning this.
25:06And there will be questions of what really the government plans to do now to address this crisis.
25:11Sure, they wanted an inquiry.
25:12But if this is going to take another 10 days to actually figure out what's going to happen now,
25:17what will the government do?
25:21Well, Lakshita, I can tell you that it's a double whammy for passengers,
25:26given the fact that on one hand you have over 1,000 flights getting cancelled.
25:32At the same time, if you have to take an alternate flight,
25:35then because of the surge pricing, then you would have to pay a lot more money.
25:40In fact, flights from Delhi to Bangalore are costing almost 80,000.
25:46And I met many passengers here.
25:49Somebody was flying from Delhi to Ranchi for 25,000 rupees.
25:52So obviously, it's a double whammy.
25:54And rightly pointed out that it seems the situation is only aggravating each passing hour.
25:59Although the Ministry of Civilization, DGCA, they all are taking hold of the situation.
26:05They've already ordered a high-level inquiry that what led to this widespread disruptions all across the country.
26:13And also, you know, what actually happened.
26:16So an inquiry, yes, into what's happened.
26:17But what about addressing the issue immediately and figuring out a solution?
26:21Rahul, just stay with me.
26:22More breaking news that's coming in.
26:24And the Civil Aviation Minister, Ram Mohan Naidu, has put out a post on social media.
26:29The government has confirmed that, yes, there's a high-level probe that's been ordered into the Indigo mess
26:33that's been triggered by that FDTL order.
26:36That order, which is essentially flight duty time limitation order,
26:41that has been, in fact, placed in abeyance.
26:43And Ram Mohan Naidu has confirmed the same saying, and I quote,
26:45The order by the DGCA has been placed in abeyance with immediate effect for now
26:50to stabilize operations and prioritize relief for affected passengers.
26:54Airlines have been directed to provide timely and accurate updates to all passengers
26:58and ensure automatic refunds for canceled flights
27:01and arrange hotel accommodation for those stranded.
27:05Not really happening on the ground.
27:06There are multiple passengers who've told us that they've not received a refund.
27:10They don't know where to go.
27:11There's been no accommodation whatsoever.
27:13The Civil Aviation Minister also confirming that a high-level inquiry
27:16has been instituted into the ongoing disruptions.
27:20I'll bring in Rahul Gautam once again for more on that.
27:22Now, you've got the government also, Rahul, saying that, you know,
27:25steps have been taken to ensure all necessary help is being provided to these passengers.
27:30Not really the case.
27:31You're at the IGI airport.
27:32And we know that there have been countless passengers who are struggling,
27:36who are sitting at the airport, not out of choice,
27:38but because they have nowhere to go and no help that's reached them.
27:40Absolutely.
27:46In fact, there are passengers.
27:48There were actually passengers now.
27:49They're being moved away.
27:50You know, who are sitting here since morning.
27:52And in fact, many of them were actually clueless,
27:55saying that they've not been, you know, fully informed
27:58or they're not really able to, you know,
28:01being guided as to what, you know,
28:03one has to do after the flight has got cancelled.
28:05And I was telling you earlier also,
28:07many are trying to take alternate routes.
28:09But then, you know, surge pricing is something
28:12which is actually making it extremely difficult for them to take flights
28:15because the prices have gone really, really high.
28:19And also, you know, as you rightly pointed out,
28:22that imagine if this situation is going to be, you know,
28:25improved in five to ten days.
28:27Obviously, it's going to make, you know,
28:29people's, you know, woes more concerning.
28:32And obviously, the government, you know,
28:34must intervene at the earliest,
28:36given the fact that there are not just at Delhi airport,
28:39you'll find similar scenes all across, you know,
28:41the country from Chandigarh to Bangalore, from Chennai to Kashmir.
28:44So this is what is actually seems to be aggravating.
28:481,000 flights getting cancelled on, you know, in one day.
28:52And that's insanity.
28:54I can't imagine the chaos at airports as a result.
28:57He says, Ramon Naidu, the civil aviation minister,
28:59says accountability will be fixed.
29:01But this is an issue that's larger than just one problem.
29:04And that's what everyone's been talking about,
29:06that this is the result of monopoly by one single airline
29:09of an entire sector, of an entire industry,
29:11that people are so reliant on,
29:13that so much so that the airline can actually afford to arm twist you.
29:16And so the DGCA has also gone ahead
29:18and put that particular rule in abeyance after this chaos.
29:23Too little, too late.
29:24There will be questions about what really needs to be done
29:26over the next few days to address the crisis at hand.
29:29Thanks very much, Rahul, for joining us with those details.
29:31We're going back.
29:32Let's talk about the global world exclusive
29:35of Vladimir Putin here on India Today.
29:37What a moment for Indian journalism.
29:40Our exclusive interview with Russian President Putin
29:43hasn't just made headlines here at home,
29:46and it has, by the way.
29:46It's also exploded across the world.
29:49Top global outlets are quoting India Today on everything,
29:52from Putin's equation with Prime Minister Modi,
29:54the Ukraine conflict, oil diplomacy,
29:57and, of course, what he had to say about Donald Trump.
29:59This shows you that India Today is ensured,
30:02the network is ensured,
30:03that Indian media also reaches the stage
30:06where we're talked about globally,
30:07that these international exclusives
30:09aren't just confined to a few publications,
30:12but also is accessed by Indian networks,
30:16by Indian media.
30:17Those are some of the headlines there for you.
30:19On your screen,
30:20CNN World referring to the India Today article,
30:23particularly about the Ukraine conflict.
30:25Then you have this headline in the Independent,
30:27all of them quoting the article,
30:30in their article, the India Today interview.
30:33Now, the Independent, too,
30:34writing about what Putin said on the Ukraine wall.
30:38So these are just a few excerpts,
30:39and I'll continue to get you those.
30:41But what exactly have CBC, Independent, CNN referred to
30:45as far as the Ukraine war goes,
30:46listening to exactly what the Russian president said
30:49in their world-exclusive interview to India Today?
30:53What is the endgame for Vladimir Putin in Ukraine?
30:58Well, I've just said it.
31:01We have recognized, listen,
31:02for eight years we did not recognize
31:05the self-declared republics.
31:08For eight years
31:09they have declared their independence,
31:11and we were trying
31:13to build relations
31:15between the rest of Ukraine
31:16and these republics.
31:17When we understood
31:19that it's impossible
31:20that they're simply being destroyed,
31:22we were forced to recognize them,
31:23and not simply recognize them
31:25as their partial territory,
31:28but within administrative borders.
31:30when they existed back in the Soviet times,
31:33and later, during the times
31:36of the independent Ukraine,
31:39after it gained independence.
31:40So the people,
31:51the voters,
31:52came to the referendum
31:53and voted
31:54for everyone
31:55to withdraw troops from there
31:56and not to conduct
31:57any armed actions there,
32:00but they preferred
32:00to wage war.
32:02And now
32:02it all came to a head,
32:04and it all comes to one thing.
32:07Either we do that
32:08through military action
32:10will liberate the territories,
32:12or the Ukrainian troops
32:13will withdraw
32:15and leave these territories
32:16and stop killing people there.
32:20So I understand
32:20why you're seeing
32:21these kind of headlines,
32:23really,
32:23about what the Russian president said.
32:25He very rarely sits down
32:26for this kind of a conversation,
32:28and a freewheeling one at that,
32:30speaking about so many issues.
32:31And that's something also
32:32that many of these
32:33international publications,
32:35channels have spoken of,
32:36about how Putin
32:38was so comfortable,
32:39spoke completely at ease,
32:42addressed every single issue,
32:44spoke on every global controversy,
32:47even speaking about Donald Trump,
32:49speaking about himself,
32:50speaking about the oil sanctions
32:52and whatnot.
32:52I want to bring in right now
32:54Geeta Mohan,
32:55who was in Moscow,
32:56who of course
32:57did that groundbreaking interview
32:59with the Russian president.
33:01Geeta, first of all,
33:02congratulations.
33:03Welcome back home.
33:04overwhelmed, I'm sure,
33:06by the response
33:06that the interviewer has received.
33:09You've been tracking
33:09all of the international publications.
33:11What do they really have to say
33:12about this interview, Geeta?
33:13Well, again,
33:15the focus for the West
33:17has always been
33:18for a few very key issues.
33:21The top of their agenda
33:23was what's happening
33:24with the Russia-Ukraine war.
33:25And I say this, Akshita,
33:26because the day
33:28when we had to interview
33:29the Russian president
33:30was when a historic meeting
33:33was taking place
33:33just a few rooms away
33:35at the Kremlin,
33:36which was a meeting
33:37between Jared Kushner,
33:39Steve Bitkov,
33:40and President Putin.
33:42So the focus was
33:43for Western media
33:44and will remain
33:45the Russia-Ukraine war.
33:47And if you see
33:47and you go through
33:48all the networks,
33:50they have been talking
33:51about what he said
33:52very clearly
33:53on the conversation
33:55with Jared Kushner.
33:56This is the first time
33:57that Kushner
33:58was in Moscow,
33:59historic meeting
34:00with President Putin,
34:01but also on the Russia-Ukraine war,
34:04focusing on a few things.
34:05And that has to do
34:06with the fact
34:08that he has very clearly said
34:10that the Donbass region
34:11is a non-negotiable.
34:13In many words than one,
34:14it's a non-negotiable.
34:16The territories
34:16that are now
34:17under Russian control
34:18are not going to go back
34:20to Ukraine.
34:21And that certainly
34:21has been a headline
34:23in many, many a publication.
34:26But Akshita,
34:27also a very interesting
34:28conversation that I heard
34:29on CNN
34:30was that
34:31there is a lot
34:32to unpack
34:33from this interview.
34:35And one of the reporters
34:36there said,
34:37yes,
34:37and we have a lot
34:38to learn
34:38from the India Today interview.
34:40Why?
34:40Because I don't think,
34:42I don't think
34:43President Putin
34:43has ever spoken
34:44so candidly
34:45with any Western media.
34:47There's always
34:47an explanation,
34:48even with Tucker Carlson
34:49and his interview,
34:51when the focus
34:53remained Russia
34:54and Ukraine.
34:55And he actually
34:56went on to say,
34:57well, I don't think
34:57you know the history.
34:59And the first question
35:00lasted more than 30 minutes
35:01because he was explaining
35:02and giving a background
35:04on the war itself
35:06and the history
35:07of Ukraine and Russia
35:08so that it is put
35:10into context.
35:10With us,
35:11that was not the case.
35:13And that's why
35:13the answers were so direct
35:15on what Donbass
35:16is going to be,
35:17that if that requires
35:19military might,
35:20Russia is willing
35:22to use it.
35:24A message very clear
35:25to Europe
35:25and to America
35:26that they'll have
35:27to continue investing
35:28arms into Ukraine
35:30should they think
35:31that this red line
35:33can be crossed.
35:34So that is a part
35:35of the headline.
35:35And the other
35:36very important one
35:37was oil
35:38and the American hypocrisy
35:40because a lot of them
35:41woke up to the fact
35:42that America continues
35:44to,
35:44still continues to,
35:46after sanctioning
35:47the entire leadership,
35:48still continues
35:49to buy nuclear fuel
35:51from Russia
35:52and is asking India
35:53to stop buying oil.
35:55You know,
35:55interestingly,
35:56I think one bit
35:57that's gone completely viral
35:58is when you actually
35:59asked Putin about
36:01the meeting with Vitkov
36:02and he says,
36:03five hours,
36:03it went on,
36:04you don't want
36:04to hear about it.
36:05That part,
36:06of course,
36:06has got everyone
36:07talking about
36:08what he really thought.
36:09But, you know,
36:09that itself tells you
36:10the sense of comfort
36:11that he felt.
36:12What really was it,
36:13Agita?
36:13You were there,
36:14so you can tell us
36:15perhaps better than anyone else
36:16why,
36:17what really made Putin
36:18get comfortable,
36:20decide that,
36:20you know,
36:20I'm going to take
36:21every issue head on.
36:22I know we had a slotted
36:2360 minute,
36:24it went on for 100 minutes
36:25and he's done interviews before,
36:27it's not like he hasn't,
36:28but this one
36:28is very, very unique.
36:30He's never really spoken out
36:31in this manner
36:32or been so at ease,
36:33so sure of himself.
36:35Well, he was actually
36:36quite comfortable.
36:37We started with the fact,
36:40you know,
36:40Akshita,
36:40let's just put it
36:41how it is.
36:42He was going to come to India
36:43and India is a friend.
36:46So, when we started
36:47the interview,
36:48we had to focus
36:49on his India visit
36:50we are after all
36:52a publication
36:53from India
36:54so the visit
36:55was very important
36:56to us
36:56but we did not
36:57confine ourselves
36:58to India.
36:59This is one of those
37:00interviews
37:01where we,
37:02where everything
37:03that now concerns
37:04Russia
37:05was discussed,
37:06was put
37:07in front of him
37:08and he took
37:09all those questions
37:10in the right spirit,
37:12in fact,
37:13showed some of his
37:15sense of humor too
37:15where when I asked him
37:17about the Witkoff meeting
37:18and I said,
37:18I wish I was,
37:19being a foreign
37:20you know,
37:21as journalist
37:22and editor
37:23of this network,
37:24I said,
37:25I wish I were
37:25a fly on the wall
37:26just to know
37:27what happened.
37:28He said,
37:28oh,
37:28you wouldn't have
37:29wanted to be,
37:29you would have been
37:30bored
37:30if you were
37:32in the room
37:33and he laughed
37:36and said,
37:37I was bored.
37:38So,
37:38that's how funny,
37:39you know,
37:39that's how funny
37:40he was
37:41in terms of
37:41how comfortable
37:42he was.
37:42So,
37:43because we started
37:44with the India visit,
37:45there was a lot
37:46of comfort
37:46in what he wanted
37:48to talk and discuss
37:49and therefore,
37:50after which we saw
37:52that,
37:52you know,
37:52he was comfortable
37:53taking every question,
37:54we were not there
37:55to browbeat,
37:57we were not there
37:57to corner him,
37:59we were there
38:00to ask him
38:00the right
38:01and the tough
38:02questions as well
38:04when it comes
38:05to Russia-Ukraine war.
38:06I asked him
38:06about Eastern Ukraine
38:08and the Russian-speaking
38:09people who felt
38:11quite heart broke
38:11when they were attacked
38:12by Putin
38:13because their family
38:14is in Russia.
38:15In fact,
38:15if anything,
38:16they weren't very happy
38:17with Kiev,
38:18with Zelensky
38:19because he had banned
38:20Russian language.
38:22The administration
38:23in Kiev
38:24has not been
38:25as kind
38:27to Eastern Ukraine
38:29as it has
38:30to its own parts
38:31or the other parts
38:32of Ukraine.
38:33And so,
38:34they were surprised
38:35to which he responded.
38:39He had to respond
38:40to every question
38:41and he did not
38:42wiggle out
38:44of any of the questions
38:45that we put forth.
38:47So,
38:47yes,
38:48very comfortable
38:49interview
38:50and if you see,
38:52very relaxed,
38:53short sense of humor
38:54but also,
38:55these are very difficult times
38:57and in these difficult times
38:58when every country
38:59is being bullied
39:00by every other country,
39:02you try to look for,
39:03not me,
39:04meaning countries
39:05try to look for allies
39:06and over here,
39:08I suppose he was coming
39:09to an ally nation.
39:11Yeah,
39:12yeah,
39:12he was very candid.
39:13That was very clear.
39:14He was very candid.
39:15He was comfortable
39:16answering those questions
39:16but I think it was important
39:17what you highlighted also,
39:18Keita,
39:19that look,
39:19this wasn't us
39:20journalists trying to corner
39:23a world leader.
39:24This was an interview,
39:25there was no attempt
39:26to sensationalize whatsoever
39:27and that was evident really
39:29in the interview also,
39:30that this was a conversation
39:31where questions were being asked,
39:33straightforward questions
39:34on issues plaguing
39:36not just Russia and India
39:37but across the world
39:38and it was that honesty perhaps
39:40that led to Putin
39:41also reciprocating
39:42in the same manner.
39:43But Keita,
39:44you mentioned that it was
39:45because of the conversation
39:46starting off
39:47about the India-Russia dosti
39:50that really got Putin
39:52in his element
39:52and comfortable perhaps.
39:53So let's play out
39:54an excerpt of that also
39:56for our viewers.
40:10The Prime Minister
40:11of India have had
40:13a huge, huge role to play
40:16in the strengthening
40:17of India-Russia ties.
40:19Who do you think
40:20in your span
40:21of being a leader
40:23here in Russia
40:24really made that difference
40:26since you were in power
40:28in enhancing
40:29India-Russia ties?
40:32Which are the Prime Ministers?
40:34Well, you have already asked me
40:36to characterize
40:37other leaders
40:38of other countries.
40:40I do not think
40:41it is very polite.
40:42You know,
40:43now we are working
40:44with Prime Minister
40:45of India,
40:46His Excellency Narendra Modi.
40:48Indeed,
40:49we have very trustworthy
40:50and friendly relations.
40:52He is a very reliable person.
40:55In that sense,
40:57I am speaking
40:57very sincerely.
40:59India got lucky.
41:00He lives India.
41:02I am talking to him
41:03and I know him.
41:04I hope he won't
41:06be cross with me.
41:07I am just saying
41:08what I am seeing
41:08and what I am thinking.
41:10It is very pleasant
41:11to me to talk
41:12to such person.
41:13A person of integrity,
41:15you know.
41:16And that is number one.
41:18Number two,
41:19indeed,
41:20he is very sincere
41:21when it goes
41:22about strengthening
41:23India-Russia ties
41:24across the whole range
41:25of areas,
41:26especially crucial issues
41:28of economy
41:28and defense
41:29and humanitarian cooperation,
41:32development of high-tech.
41:33It is very interesting
41:34to meet with him.
41:36He traveled here
41:37and we sat with him
41:38at my residence
41:39and we drank tea
41:40for the whole evening
41:41and we discussed
41:42different topics.
41:44We simply had
41:44an interesting conversation,
41:46purely like humans.
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