- 8 months ago
This episode of India First centers on the political debate following Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi's address at the Hertie School in Berlin.
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00:00Leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi is in the eye of a storm over a discussion in Berlin
00:06where an hour-long viral video has him say there is wholesale capture of institutional framework
00:13and that intelligence and probe agencies are weaponized against the opposition in India.
00:18Though Rahul Gandhi also said that the Indian democracy is global public good,
00:23the ruling BJP has come out all guns blazing,
00:26accusing Rahul Gandhi of repeatedly demeaning Indian democracy on the world stage
00:32because he is losing one election after the other and refuses to introspect.
00:38We fundamentally believe that there is a problem with the electoral machinery in India.
00:45Leader of opposition is once again in the eye of a storm.
00:50Rahul Gandhi repeated his vote theft charge but this time on foreign soil.
00:54Speaking in Berlin, Rahul Gandhi questioned India's polls and alleged that central agencies are being weaponized.
01:01We've won election in Telangana, we've won election in Himachal Pradesh.
01:07We've been raising issues as far as the fairness of elections in India is concerned.
01:14I've done press conferences where we have clearly shown without shadow of a doubt
01:20that we won the Haryana election, that we actually don't feel that the Maharashtra election was fair.
01:29There is a full-scale assault taking place on the institutional framework of our country.
01:33Within India, what do you plan to do right now?
01:36Speaking at the Hurti School in Berlin, Rahul Gandhi accused the BJP of attempting to dismantle the constitution.
01:41What the BJP is proposing is essentially the elimination of the constitution,
01:51elimination of the idea of equality between states,
01:56elimination of the idea of equality between languages and religions,
02:01elimination of the idea of the central core of the constitution,
02:05which is that every individual should have the same value.
02:11BJP launched a multi-prone counter-attack.
02:15Union Minister J.P. Nadda accused Rahul of insulting India abroad.
02:18When the parliament comes to the parliament, Rahul Gandhi is in Germany.
02:25And against the government, they are giving time.
02:31Calling it Bharat Padnaam Yatra, the Saffron Party called the remarks immature and anti-national.
02:36Whenever Rahul Gandhi goes abroad, he indulges in Bharat Padnaam Yatra.
02:44Every time he tries to undermine our cherished democracy,
02:47he maligns Baba Sahib Ambedkarji's constitution and Rahul Gandhi tries to tarnish the image of India abroad.
02:55Rahul Gandhi's constitution and Rahul Gandhi's constitution and Rahul Gandhi's constitution and Rahul Gandhi's constitution.
03:16We benefited greatly.
03:17Amid the slugfest, even Alay Samajwadi Party MP Rajiv Rai struck a note of caution.
03:22Meanwhile, within the Congress, a new leadership debate has surfaced.
03:44Congress MP Imran Masood publicly backed Priyanka Gandhi for a bigger leadership role.
03:49The remark has given the BJP fresh ammunition, mocking Rahul Gandhi standing within his own party.
04:11Rahul Gandhi's Berlin remarks have sparked fierce backlash from the BJP and caution from an ally.
04:30Will his comments on Indian elections made on foreign soil help or hurt the Congress?
04:35Bureau Report, India Today.
04:37Is there an extended...
04:38So in their merit in the BJP claiming that there is a pattern to Rahul Gandhi's statements demeaning Indian democracy from Berkeley to Berlin?
04:48Or is the Congress right in telling the BJP look with it, look at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statements,
04:53whether on the issue of corruption or backwardness in India pre-2014?
04:57And that criticising a government or the Prime Minister is not the same as criticising the country?
05:05Joining me on India first is Supriya Srinit, Chairperson of Social Media and Digital Platforms,
05:09member of the Congress Working Committee,
05:11Tuhin Sina, National Spokesperson of the BJP.
05:13Sanjay Jha joins us as a political analyst and commentator.
05:17Earlier with the Congress, Anand Ranganathan, author and consulting editor Swaraj.
05:21So for the first comments, two minutes uninterrupted opening statement to set up the discussion before we dive straight into the debate.
05:29And Supriya Srinit, BJP quotes data to say Congress has lost 55 elections since 2014, but the alliance also won 16.
05:38So blaming institutions for defeat is only deflection and not looking within.
05:43Because with the same institutions, Congress has won several elections too,
05:47including Priyanka Gandhi Vata and Rahul Gandhi in Parliament, Madam.
05:51Thank you very much for having me on the show.
05:56Good evening to you, your viewers and of course my fellow panelists.
05:59The reality is that this discussion we are having because the BJP wants us to be distracted from the real issues.
06:08We are having this discussion, the BJP because has no answers to why the government is quiet,
06:14absolutely a silent spectator on the killing of Hindus in Bangladesh.
06:18The BJP doesn't want to answer questions on the toxicity that we are witnessing in Delhi.
06:24They are absolutely oblivious to air pollution.
06:26There has been a death warrant issued against the Aravallis.
06:29The BJP doesn't want to talk on that.
06:31The BJP doesn't want to talk on Ankita Bhandariya and one of their national secretary's names now coming to fore.
06:37Apparently, he was the VIP that she refused to go to to have a sexual relationship.
06:42The BJP wants us to be distracted from the rupee falling to 90 to a dollar because it doesn't suit the BJP.
06:49The reality is, and I say it with all due respect to whoever you played on this channel,
06:54all those bites of the BJP MPs and ministers who rushed to television channels and agency cameras to give sound bites,
07:01would you play any of them if they were not spewing venom against Rahul Gandhi or were not attacking the Congress Party?
07:08I saw Ms. Shobhana Karandijale.
07:10She is the Minister of State for MSME.
07:1260,000 MSMEs have shut shop in the last few years.
07:16Does she have an explanation at all?
07:18I mean, the reality is that the BJP doesn't want to talk about issues like vote chori,
07:22doesn't want to talk about issues like SIR, which are actually deleting mass-scale votes.
07:27The reality is that the BJP is uncomfortable with the holy, unholy union between the Election Commission of India and the BJP that Rahul Gandhi has exposed.
07:37Why don't they answer questions on that?
07:39Attacking Rahul Gandhi personally, saying he wasn't here?
07:42These are all weapons of mass distraction.
07:46We will not be distracted.
07:47It's as simple as that.
07:49Ruin Sena, respond to the Congress Party saying these are deflection tactics because the BJP does not want to take the core issues.
07:59And the Congress at the same time also says Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when he's been overseas in the past,
08:04he's made statements like previous governments were lethargic, Indians were once ashamed of their country,
08:12or words to that effect are describing India as backward.
08:14So why does the BJP consider criticism abroad legitimate when it's done by the Prime Minister,
08:20but unacceptable when it's by Rahul Gandhi, point one and point two?
08:24This debate is only deflection tactics.
08:27Your two minutes start now.
08:31Well, good evening, Gaurav.
08:33Good evening, everybody.
08:34You know, Rahul Gandhi's compulsive naysaying has reached a level
08:39where now he seems to be addicted to vilifying India, come what may.
08:44So every day, you know, today he says India doesn't have a vision, India will collapse.
08:48The other thing which he said is, you know, BJP is working for elimination.
08:53BJP is working towards elimination of our constitution.
08:57Does it make sense to you?
08:58Does it behove a leader of opposition to make such atrocious comments?
09:02The only person who has been working against the constitution in the last couple of years
09:06is Rahul Gandhi, which with his focused attempts to demean EC by fake charges of vote shawri,
09:13which he has not been able to fight in court, number one.
09:16Number two, to find fault with SIR, despite Supreme Court not staying it.
09:20But the point is, there is a pattern to this.
09:23You know, from saying that democracy is in danger in India,
09:26to saying that BJP has, you know, strewn kerosene all over
09:31and the country is going to be lit up in fire,
09:34does it behove a leader of opposition to actually invite this kind of anarchy?
09:39That's the moot question over here.
09:41Today, no top leader of the world, be it Putin or be it the French president,
09:46wants to meet Rahul Gandhi.
09:47This is the truth.
09:48And, you know, suddenly when Putin is in India,
09:50he blames the Indian government for not allowing him to meet him.
09:53But fact is that apart from a few shady vote gatherings,
09:57which he goes to in, you know, in South America
10:00and, you know, now in Germany for the last one week,
10:03fact is no top leader of the world today wants to meet him
10:07because of his compulsive, degenerative, regressive mindset.
10:12He's somebody who has no ideas for India.
10:14And by the way, you know, do you, do you, do you condone somebody,
10:17a leader of opposition, do you condone a leader of opposition
10:19suddenly picking up a Sikh from a gathering abroad
10:23and saying that even Sikhs are not safe in India,
10:25they are not allowed to go to Gurudwara?
10:27This is vicious, fear-mongries, this is vicious character assassination.
10:32Let me bring in Sanjay Jha for his opening comments.
10:35Your time's up now, sir.
10:36Rahul Gandhi, Sanjay Jha claims wholesale
10:39and large-scale capture of our institutional framework.
10:43BJP hits back.
10:44BJP asks, were institutions captured
10:47when, for example, Justice Behrul Islam, a Congress MP,
10:51was made judge or when CBI in 2013
10:53raided DMK leader MK Stalin's residence
10:56two days after they pulled out of UPA
10:57or Supreme Court in 2013 called CBI a caged parrot
11:02or does he say this only when he's in the opposition?
11:07Mr. Jha.
11:07Let me start, Gaurab, by saying that it is not Rahul Gandhi's problem
11:13if Narendra Modi cannot do a press conference.
11:16That is the BJP's headache.
11:18They need to fix it up.
11:19If Narendra Modi cannot speak in English or Hindi without a teleprompter,
11:23that is not Rahul Gandhi's problem.
11:25Point number two, BJP is not India.
11:27Let's make this very clear.
11:29The BJP is a political party in power with a minority government
11:33and it is in alliance with the NDA.
11:35They need to get a little modest and calm down.
11:38Criticizing the BJP has got nothing to do with criticizing the country.
11:42Right now, as we are talking on your very popular show,
11:46this program is being watched by people worldwide.
11:49So now what shall we say that even this conversation is anti-national?
11:53I mean, this is ridiculous.
11:54I think we should put an end to this gibberish
11:57that criticizing, talking about India
11:59and what the world talks about, by the way,
12:01is India's death of institutions,
12:04the threat to democracy,
12:06the RSS saying change the constitution, remove secularism.
12:09These are all established facts in the public domain.
12:12Realms have been written about them.
12:14It's nothing new.
12:15Rahul Gandhi is saying exactly what he says in India.
12:19He's saying it abroad.
12:20The problem is the BJP has no answers
12:23and the truth is truth hurts.
12:26Now, let me give you a couple of points with my remaining time.
12:29In an event recently,
12:30attended by the BJP leaders,
12:33there was a call for genocide of Muslims,
12:35ethnic cleansing and a Hindu rashtra.
12:38This is the BJP for you.
12:39We all know about the lynching that happened in Nevada
12:43where a person's clothes were removed,
12:46his religious identity discovered by his private parts
12:49and then he was hacked to death.
12:50Is this the India that we want?
12:52Can we ignore these realities?
12:54Bangladesh, you can see the failure of foreign policy.
12:57The GDP is considered to be suspect.
13:00Nobody believes the data.
13:01You have a country where the CBI and ET have become corrupt institutions
13:06and crony capitalism reigns.
13:08We have serious problems.
13:09Fair enough.
13:10Anand Ranganathan, Rahul Gandhi may have criticized the government of the day,
13:15the ruling political party,
13:16but he did call Indian democracy global public good.
13:21It's not just an asset for India.
13:23It's a global asset, he said.
13:25Therefore, he believes this wholesale capture of our institutional framework
13:28and weaponization of agencies has to be exposed.
13:32Why is the BJP, is there reason for the BJP to be upset?
13:37He said this in India.
13:38It's an interconnected world.
13:40Vasudheva Kutumbakam.
13:41If he said it overseas, what's wrong with it, sir?
13:43Your time starts now.
13:45Thank you, Gaurav, and good evening to my fellow panelists.
13:48Very quickly, two points here.
13:49Look, number one, I don't mind any Indian going abroad
13:53and telling facts or the truth or being critical of India.
13:57Absolutely not.
13:58The problem is Rahul, like a broken record,
14:02repeats the industrial scale lies again and again and again.
14:06Let me deal with just one of his lies.
14:08Manufacturing in a mess leading to dead economy.
14:11Well, last year, manufacturing sector contribute highest ever to our GDP,
14:16$490 billion.
14:17Under Congress in 2013, it was $280 billion.
14:21Last year, saw Independent India's highest ever GST collection, $270 billion.
14:26Highest ever vehicle sales, $25 million.
14:29Highest ever income taxpayers, $104 million.
14:31Highest ever manufacturing, PMI, $29.2.
14:34Highest ever exports, $825 billion.
14:36Highest ever jobs created, $46 billion.
14:38Highest ever forex is of $704 billion.
14:41Highest ever sensex, $86,100.
14:43Are these telltime sales of a dead economy?
14:46It gets even better.
14:47The economic growth is inclusive.
14:48Since 2014, our GDP per capita, PPP inflation adjusted as double to 11,000 USDs.
14:55In 2014, inflation was 10%.
14:57Today, it is downwards of 2%.
14:58In 2014, multidimensional poverty as a percentage of population is 29%.
15:02Today, it's 11%.
15:03We have literally pulled 250 million Indians out of abject poverty in the last 11 years.
15:08According to the World Bank, India is now the fourth most equal country in the world.
15:12India's Gini coefficient, a metric of inequality, is at its lowest ever at 0.25.
15:17Number 2, about Rahul or Priyanka.
15:20It doesn't matter, Gaurav.
15:21Bringing in Priyanka would be like rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic.
15:25The fact of the matter is, while Rahul says poverty is a state of mind, Modi has pulled 250 million minds out of poverty.
15:32Provided 120 million toilets, 100 million gas connections, 40 million homes, 380 million health insurance cards, 110 million tap water connections.
15:39And Rahul and Priyanka should be thanking Modi for taking care of their dynasty bastion for making rivalry that were languishing at the bottom.
15:46Here, just 30 seconds, are the last census in the team of Omicri and Rai Bareli.
15:49Okay, you've run out of time on this part.
15:51Equal time for all and I will come back to you for this.
15:54Supriya Srinet, BJP asks all the points that Rahul Gandhi wants to raise.
16:00Anand Ranganathan says as a broken record.
16:03Should he not do that in our country?
16:06BJP says there's a pattern from Berkeley to Berlin.
16:09Recall that interaction, that virtual interaction with former US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns where Rahul Gandhi spoke of, again, wholesale capture of institutions.
16:18But he questioned the Western silence over what's happening in India.
16:22So I will first rebutt some of what has been said and then go on to answering your direct question.
16:33The problem with numbers and data is if you quote them in isolation, they paint no picture.
16:39All these numbers that were rattled just here by the BJP spokesperson and the supporter right here on your channel are in sharp contrast to the 19 people who on an average every day are committing suicide because of economic depravity in the country.
16:55Let's talk about numbers.
16:56You want to talk about manufacturing?
16:58Manufacturing till 2014 was 17% of your GDP.
17:02It has slipped to under 14% of your GDP.
17:05Don't talk about that number in isolation.
17:07You do want to talk about the average annual growth in manufacturing.
17:12The target was 12 to 14% set by Mr. Modi.
17:15We have grown at an average of 5.8% in the last 10 years as far as manufacturing is concerned.
17:21You were supposed to create 10 crore additional jobs in manufacturing.
17:24The reality is that the percentage of people employed in manufacturing as a percentage of total employment has shrunk from 12.6% to 11.4%.
17:34You want to talk about the MSMEs I have already mentioned.
17:3660,000 MSMEs have shut shop.
17:38You want to talk about foreign companies interested in investing in India's manufacturing.
17:43Last year, only three companies came in.
17:45You want to talk about making India, PLI, the corporate cuts, everything put together.
17:50Indian manufacturing is not roaring.
17:52That lion is not roaring.
17:54You want to talk about our dependence on China?
17:57I do want to speak about that.
17:5864 billion dollars was our import bill when we demited office.
18:03You know what the import bill with China today is?
18:05113 billion dollars.
18:07On an average, per person import bill was 50 dollars to per person.
18:12As far as Chinese imports are concerned, it has ballooned to 88 dollars.
18:16The rupee was handed over at 58 to a dollar.
18:18It has gone to 90 to a dollar.
18:20You want to talk about the per capita of India?
18:22Let's talk about the per capita of Bangladesh, which is gone.
18:25Fair enough.
18:25You want to talk about the external trade?
18:26Let us, for a minute, talk about Mexico slapping taxes.
18:29You're talking about all these issues.
18:31Fair enough.
18:32But the wholesale capture of institutions that he raises overseas.
18:36You want to live over a failed foreign policy?
18:38Does he seek global intervention in Indian democracy, Supriya, Srinath?
18:44You cannot be oblivious to that.
18:47Okay.
18:48Would Rahul Gandhi then seek global intervention?
18:53Go on, ma'am.
18:53Respond.
18:56What sort of a silly...
18:57That's an absolutely silly and stupid argument that the BJP is making.
19:02People from the BJP who rush to television cameras to make that argument,
19:05you should not lower the level of discourse by making that argument.
19:08Rahul Gandhi calls Indian democracy a public good, and yes, it is.
19:131.4 billion people live in this democracy.
19:16This democracy has to be treasured.
19:18We have to ensure it thrives.
19:20What the Modi government is doing to democratic institutions,
19:24what it is doing to constitutional institutions that are supposed to safeguard the democracy,
19:28it's for everybody to see.
19:30Media happens to be one of them.
19:31And I will make this very small point and end my argument.
19:35Democracy needs to be transparent.
19:37We don't even know what's happening in the PMO.
19:40The officer of special duty is in or out.
19:42The Prasar Bharti, the public broadcaster head resigns.
19:45The law commission members resign.
19:47What is happening?
19:48Is there a betting racket that's on?
19:49Because one hears all sorts of speculation.
19:52We want the PMO to come...
19:53And this is being raised.
19:54Do you want to respond to these points?
19:57Do you want to respond?
19:58Because Rahul Gandhi raises the point of misuse of agencies,
20:02lack of level playing field.
20:04All his response can be is to bash the Congress.
20:06You know, any businessman...
20:07That's all that we can talk about.
20:07I'm bringing this back to the discussion that we are having today.
20:10Well, allow me to respond, please.
20:11Any businessman who funds the Congress would see agencies visit that businessman.
20:16EDI, CBI, ED and CBI virtually target the opposition.
20:22Anybody joining the BJP, any probe is put in cold storage, sir.
20:26Well, that's Gaurav as preposterous a lie as the allegations of Vodchori and, you know,
20:35his apprehensions on SIR have been.
20:37But allow me to make some important points over here.
20:40Since both the previous speakers have dwelt upon data, allow me to go beyond that.
20:46You know, what has been one of the biggest geopolitical moves from India in the last two years?
20:51The India-Middle East-European corridor.
20:53You know, one day before that was announced at the finale of G20 summit, where was Rahul Gandhi?
20:59He was in Brazil singing praises for BRI, China's BRI.
21:05Does this behove...
21:06You know, this is a fundamental question.
21:08I don't know whether Supriya Sinead would understand this, but why should a leader of
21:12opposition always been undermining, be always seen as undermining his own country's achievements,
21:17his own country's moves, and singing praises for China?
21:21In fact, it was the Supreme Court two months back in the month of August, which actually
21:26said no true Indian can speak in this manner.
21:29Again, referring to his comments, you know, glorifying China in some conflict situation.
21:33Now, the point is, Supriya may wax eloquent on some of the, you know, cherishing data, but
21:39please understand that what we have seen, what we have seen, what we have seen, what we have
21:43seen in the manufacturing sector in the last few years is a paradigm shift.
21:51Semiconductor manufacturing.
21:53You know, I mean, I don't need certificates from a Congress spokesperson of all people, okay?
21:57Semiconductor manufacturing, which Congress could never even think of.
22:00How silly you are, because you don't understand that.
22:02Today, India is headed towards becoming the semiconductor manufacturing.
22:03Okay, so let's do this point, ma'am, I'm coming back to you.
22:06Number two, space sector.
22:08Today, the space sector stands at $10 billion, $10 billion.
22:11It is headed towards $50 billion in the next 10 years.
22:15The renewable energy sector, these are the high-value sectors which we have focused on in manufacturing.
22:20Of course, the Congress, which had reduced India to a spectrum to not understand its significance.
22:25Yes, especially on the point where you believe that Tuhin Sin has been economical with the truth,
22:30on that specific point that you were raising.
22:35Supriya Srinit.
22:36I just want to raise a very little point.
22:39I will not embarrass the Prime Minister of this country, and I will not waste the time of your viewers.
22:43They just have to go online and see the kind of things that Mr. Modi has said as the Prime Minister of this country.
22:49If people were to go online, why did it happen in Bharat's birth?
22:52No, nobody thought they were unfortunate because they were born in this country.
22:55But I want to make one point.
22:56Electoral bonds is a scheme that was brought in by this government.
23:00It was scrapped by the Supreme Court because it was a chanda-do-dhanda-lo scheme.
23:04That tells you all about the secrecy that shrouds this government.
23:09The kind of ill and malpractices that they do.
23:11The reality is that the people have been exposed by the court just last week itself.
23:14You know, institutions in this country work.
23:17So, you know, doesn't that defeat Rahul Gandhi's argument that, you know, that institutions are compromised.
23:24A government does anything which is incorrect.
23:26The Supreme Court sets the government right.
23:28But I want to bring in Sanjay Jha.
23:30I want to bring in Sanjay Jha.
23:31Okay.
23:32Okay, you want to come in for one minute.
23:34Anand, Anand, Anand, Anand, you want to quickly come in for one minute.
23:36Why should the ED be doing that?
23:37Have you heard the commentary?
23:38Sorry, Sanjay, I didn't mean to.
23:40Yeah.
23:41Now, just a couple of points because Supriyaji mentioned some of the data that I had given.
23:46None of that data was refuted.
23:48But I'd like to ask Supriyaji when she mentioned about the fact that when UPA left,
23:53the China import bill was $80 billion.
23:55She's right.
23:56Our trade deficit was about $37, $34 odd billion.
24:00What she did not mention was that when UPA came into power,
24:04our trade deficit with China was $1 billion.
24:08It increased 37 to 35 fold by the time UPA left.
24:13So that data goes against her.
24:14Secondly, when she talked about democracy needs to be transparent
24:18and she talks about anonymous electoral bond, of course.
24:21And I was always against electoral bonds being anonymous.
24:24And it's great that Supreme Court agreed and struck it down.
24:27But what Supriyaji has to explain,
24:29that while on one side, Rahul Gandhi called the anonymous electoral bonds
24:33as India's, independent India's greatest scam,
24:35how on earth did the same Congress of Rahul Gandhi
24:39accepted 1,600 crores through the same anonymous electoral bonds?
24:43Okay.
24:44But, but I want to say, Sanjay Jha.
24:47Yes, you, since he's raised the specific point.
24:49Can I answer that question?
24:50Yes, please.
24:53Supriyaji, quickly.
24:54Sanjay, with your due, with all good bits like you,
24:57I'll just answer this and then, of course, Sanjay can take over.
25:00The reality is that don't quote numbers in isolation.
25:04It was $37 billion, went up to $68.
25:07It was $68, went up to $113.
25:09And please understand, China in Doklam, China in Debsang,
25:13China in Ladakh is now sitting within our territory.
25:16You don't want to fund China to do all of this.
25:18The situation has changed since then, Mr. Ranganathan.
25:21That's one point I want to make.
25:22The second point that I would want to make is,
25:24you really expect India's opposition to not accept the money.
25:28The reality is we've got $137 crores in our banks.
25:31The BJP has $10,700 crores.
25:34Our money went up from $33 crores to $137 crores.
25:38In the last 10 odd years, the BJP's money went up from $88 crores
25:41to $10,700 crores.
25:44That is the level playing field in this country.
25:46Let me once again bring it back to the issue that we're debating today.
25:49So talk about that number first, before you come attacking us.
25:53Sanjay Jha, on elections round, he claims Haryana was won
25:56and Maharashtra result, according to him, is unfair.
25:59Now, why hasn't the Congress, according to the BJP,
26:03followed that time-bound system?
26:05You find it illegal, challenge it in a court of law.
26:08And when you look at the recent municipal election results,
26:13don't they mirror the Maharashtra election?
26:15So is it time for Congress to do some introspection instead of just blaming the opposition?
26:20Because the BJP says, this is Nachnave Anganteda.
26:24Gaurav, let me assure you that sooner or later, the public of India will respond.
26:30It's a matter of time.
26:32People are observing.
26:34They know how democracy is being ridiculed.
26:36The people of India will answer at the EVM.
26:39They will answer in multiple protests across the country in a total non-violent Gandhian way
26:44and tell this government that your time is up, you're corrupt,
26:48and you are absolutely a disgrace because of your authoritarianism.
26:51But a couple of quick points.
26:53You know, I would like it if the BJP stopped talking about China,
26:57with whom we run a $106 billion trade deficit.
27:01Again, we are digressing.
27:04I want to stay on Maharashtra results,
27:07the assembly results which Rahul Gandhi thinks were unfair
27:11and the local results that have just come in local body elections
27:14that almost seem to mirror those assembly results.
27:17So, wrong then, wrong now.
27:20I'm not reading the writing on the wall.
27:22Since you asked me about Maharashtra where I live,
27:24I can tell you it is absolutely preternatural and extraordinary
27:29that in the Lok Sabha that was held just four months before,
27:33the MBA got 31 out of the 48.
27:36And then later on,
27:37that assembly aggregates were lesser than the Lok Sabha seats.
27:41So, there is a lot more that needs to be said.
27:43I would request everyone who's watching this program
27:46to kindly watch the YouTube videos that Rahul Gandhi held press conferences on.
27:51And I can tell you one thing, Gaurav,
27:52we should be bipartisan
27:53because the Election Commission has not been able to contradict those allegations
27:58of duplicate voters,
28:00hundreds of voters in one residence,
28:03suddenly new voters emerging.
28:05And in the case in Karnataka,
28:07you actually had evidence to prove that voters were paid,
28:10the people were paid to delete voters from the voter rolls.
28:14So, I think we are watching what could possibly be
28:17the tip of the iceberg
28:19and the Election Commission has been reduced
28:22into becoming a handmaiden of this government.
28:23Sir, that's the point.
28:25Raise it in a court of law.
28:27Of course, we are completely impartial.
28:30And we, of course,
28:31you know, everyone has fair say and equal say.
28:34But Anand Ranganathan,
28:35once again, you have your hand up
28:36and so does Tuhin Sina.
28:37But Anand Ranganathan quickly responds,
28:39especially on Haryana
28:41and Maharashtra Rahul Gandhi saying
28:42Maharashtra's results were unfair
28:44and that Election Commission avoided answering direct questions.
28:48Not a single accusation of Rahul Gandhi
28:51has been proven to be true.
28:53Election Commission has held not just one,
28:55but four conferences as press conference
28:58as far as Maharashtra is concerned.
29:00One on Haryana.
29:01Each and every allegation.
29:02And if duplicate voters are supposed to help the BJP
29:07as alleged by Rahul Gandhi,
29:08can you please explain
29:10why in Wyanard and in Rai Bareilly
29:13where Rahul and Priyanka won,
29:15there were as many as 19,000 and 20,000 duplicate voters?
29:18Was the Election Commission of India
29:20favoring Rahul and Priyanka to make them win?
29:22Can I please come in?
29:25More of.
29:2630 seconds and then two hits.
29:27Can I make a small call please?
29:29Yes, quickly ma'am.
29:30Supriya Srinid.
29:34Yes, Supriya.
29:35The reality is that the Election Commission
29:36has held no press conference
29:38after Rahul Gandhi's press conference on Haryana.
29:41We raised Aaland, a seat which we won
29:43because we believe whether seats we win or we lose,
29:46if there is voter manipulation happening there,
29:48it should be raised.
29:49That's only fair for our democracy.
29:50The reason why we raised the electoral issue
29:53and I will tell you why
29:53is because of this constitution.
29:55Each Indian,
29:56irrespective of your social status,
29:58your economic status,
30:00you have one right
30:01and that right is being trampled over
30:03and which is why we will fight this war.
30:05The reality also is
30:06and I want to say on Maharashtra,
30:08how is it that in five months
30:10more voters were added than in five years?
30:12And I'm talking about absolute numbers,
30:14I'm not even talking about percentages.
30:15How is it that the total adult population
30:17of Maharashtra
30:19was less than the number of voters in Maharashtra?
30:21Okay, quickly respond
30:24because Rahul Gandhi says
30:25Maharashtra results,
30:26they don't agree with.
30:29Yes, go on, sir.
30:32No, no, I'll tell you why.
30:34Because in 2024,
30:36Lok Sabha elections,
30:37they were lucky to mislead the country,
30:39they were lucky to deceive the country
30:40with these four,
30:41you know,
30:42all kinds of fake allegations
30:43that constitution would be tampered with.
30:45When we combated with the
30:48Aik hai toh safe hai slogan,
30:49the results were obvious.
30:51Four months later,
30:52you know,
30:52in fact,
30:53in fact,
30:54in fact,
30:54from 2014,
30:55when Congress
30:56slipped to a mere 23%
30:59in the Lok Sabha elections,
31:00it went up to 40%
31:02in 2024 elections.
31:04It went up
31:04almost double of 400%
31:06in 2014
31:07and yet they have the call
31:08to say a vote show
31:09he was happening.
31:10And on 18th September,
31:12when Rahul Gandhi
31:12did his press conference
31:13on the Aaland issue,
31:15mind you,
31:15within half an hour,
31:17within a couple of hours,
31:18he had to actually
31:19fact check himself
31:20and retweet
31:21because all his facts
31:22on Aaland were
31:23fact,
31:24you know,
31:24incorrect.
31:25The election commission
31:26when they put out a fact,
31:28he had to fact check himself
31:29and retweet the entire thing.
31:31So this is the liar.
31:32I don't need certificates
31:33from you liars.
31:35Nonsense.
31:35That's the only difference.
31:36The people of the people
31:39of this country
31:40have been punishing you.
31:41I have run out of time
31:42on this part.
31:43The Ministry of External Affairs
31:46has just summoned
31:46the Bangladesh High Commissioner
31:48to India
31:48to the Ministry.
31:50This is the second time
31:51in a week
31:52that India has summoned
31:54the Bangladeshi High Commissioner
31:55to express concern
31:57about safety,
31:58issues of safety
31:59and security
32:00of the Indian mission.
32:02Not just the High Commission
32:04in Dhaka
32:04but also the consulates,
32:06the number of times
32:07that there have been
32:09protests and crowds
32:10gathered,
32:11closed
32:11to the Indian High Commission
32:13and to the consulates.
32:15The other issue
32:16that India is very concerned about
32:17and more than,
32:18perhaps as much as the government
32:19if not more,
32:20the people of our country
32:21are very concerned
32:22about atrocities
32:23against Hindus
32:23in Bangladesh.
32:24because atrocities
32:26against Hindus
32:26and other minorities
32:27they continue
32:28unchecked,
32:29unabated.
32:30The anger
32:31is now spilling
32:32onto the streets
32:32in India.
32:34From Dhaka
32:35to Delhi
32:35the fallout
32:36is very visible.
32:37Demands for justice
32:38for Deepu,
32:39Das are growing louder.
32:41There were protests
32:41in Delhi.
32:42In fact,
32:42protesters gathered
32:43close to the Bangladesh
32:44High Commission
32:45that raised slogans
32:46against the rising
32:47violence against minorities.
32:49Of course,
32:49there was massive
32:50police presence
32:51and deployment
32:52that prevented
32:52the protesters
32:53from reaching close
32:54to the High Commission.
32:55But,
32:56protests took part
32:57in many parts
32:58of the country
32:59from Jammu
33:00to Kolkata
33:01to Hyderabad.
33:03Across the border
33:04in Dhaka,
33:05security has been tightened
33:06around the Indian
33:06High Commission.
33:08Armed personnel
33:08have now been deployed.
33:09We are told
33:10armored personnel carriers
33:11are also being,
33:12APCs are also being
33:13deployed for protection
33:14as tensions rise.
33:16There's fresh violence
33:17that's been reported
33:18from Chittagong
33:19where the house
33:20of a Hindu family
33:21was targeted.
33:22Ashutosh Bishra
33:23is on ground zero.
33:24He sent us this report.
33:30Atrocities against Hindus
33:32in Bangladesh
33:33continue unabated.
33:35And the anger
33:36is now spilling
33:37onto the streets.
33:39From Dhaka
33:40to Delhi.
33:45In the national capital,
33:47VHP workers
33:48protested outside
33:49the Bangladesh
33:49High Commission.
33:50despite heavy
33:51barricading.
33:52They raised
33:53slogans
33:54against
33:54the Yunus government
33:55and burnt effigies.
33:57In Kolkata,
34:21demonstrators
34:22marched on city streets
34:23accusing Dhaka
34:25of failing to protect
34:26its Hindu population.
34:31Rallies after rallies
34:32being taken out
34:32in Kolkata
34:33and outside
34:34Bangladesh's
34:35Deputy High Commission's office.
34:37Similar protests
34:37could be seen
34:38since the last few days.
34:39And today,
34:40the Hindu Jagran Manch
34:41led a huge rally
34:42where the members
34:43of the Hindu community
34:45and also
34:45from
34:46different
34:48Hindu sects
34:49have come on
34:50on stage
34:50and they are protesting
34:51just 100 metres away
34:53from the Bangladesh
34:55Deputy High Commission.
34:57Protests broke out
34:59in Jammu
34:59with the High Court
35:00Bar Association
35:01seeking international
35:02attention.
35:04In Hyderabad,
35:06Hindu groups
35:06demanded strict punishment
35:07for the lynching
35:09of Deepu Chandradas.
35:12Amit Protests,
35:14a Congress
35:14neetha
35:15stirred
35:15on its nest.
35:16Across the border
35:37in Dhaka,
35:38security has been
35:39significantly tightened
35:40at the Indian
35:41High Commission.
35:42The several
35:44outer periphery
35:45of the Indian
35:46Embassies
35:46is highly guarded
35:47by the police.
35:48They are protecting
35:48this area.
35:49So long,
35:50they haven't witnessed
35:51any much protest
35:52as far as
35:52Dhaka is concerned.
35:54But clearly,
35:54most of the places
35:55that remains
35:56heavy challenges
35:57for the authorities
35:58to maintain
35:58law and order
35:59and also the
36:00protect outer
36:01periphery
36:01of Indian
36:02Embassy
36:03Indian Missions
36:03in Bangladesh.
36:06In a fresh
36:07instance of violence,
36:08a Hindu family
36:09was targeted
36:10in Chittagong.
36:10Their house
36:12was set ablaze
36:13and a threatening
36:14banner targeting
36:15the Hindu community
36:16was found
36:17near the
36:18torched house.
36:21The violence
36:22has cast a cloud
36:23on the elections
36:24she jewled
36:25in Bangladesh
36:26early next year.
36:29With Ashitosh
36:29Mishra
36:30and Tapas
36:30Sengupta,
36:31Viro Report,
36:33India Today.
36:33And joining us
36:39from the heart
36:39of the action
36:40in Bangladesh
36:40is India Today's
36:41Ashitosh Mishra.
36:43Ashitosh,
36:44there's rising
36:45anger in India
36:46at the targeting
36:47of minorities
36:49including Hindus
36:50in Bangladesh.
36:52What's the situation
36:53on ground right now?
36:55Is the regime,
36:57is the Muhammad Yunus
36:58regime doing enough
36:59to protect minorities
37:01and Hindus?
37:02We believe another
37:03Hindu home
37:03was targeted
37:04in Chittagong?
37:04Well, clearly
37:08something that is
37:09the biggest failure
37:10looks like
37:10at the Dr. Yunus
37:11administration
37:11is the
37:12containing the
37:13fundamentalists
37:14and since one and
37:15half year
37:15we have seen
37:16many of this talk
37:16and not only
37:17talking about Dhaka
37:18but Chittagram
37:18remains vulnerable
37:20as we have seen
37:20one of these
37:21in the remote areas
37:22of Chittagram
37:22where they attacked
37:24the house was born
37:25they somehow
37:26so the biggest
37:27failure at the
37:28moment looks like
37:29how Dr. Yunus
37:29and their administration
37:31has not been to
37:32assure the Hindus
37:33of the safety
37:34and security
37:34in fact
37:35the UN probe
37:36committee
37:36that was also
37:37formed
37:37but eventually
37:38all of these efforts
37:39and nothing
37:40could work actually
37:41but at the same time
37:43we see all the
37:44assurances
37:45only coming
37:45looks like
37:46only hollow
37:46but when it comes
37:47to really
37:47providing
37:48and ensuring
37:49protection
37:49of the
37:50the Bangladeshi
37:51national
37:51primarily
37:52the Hindus
37:53minority
37:54that has remained
37:55only in the
37:56words
37:57as far as
37:58assurance
37:58is concerned
37:58we see only
37:59and only
38:00the atrocities
38:00rising
38:01and there is
38:02a number
38:02of such cases
38:03across Bangladesh
38:04particularly
38:05in the remote
38:05areas
38:06okay
38:07you know
38:08Indians and
38:09Bangladeshis
38:09they share a
38:11bond
38:12India
38:12had a role
38:13to play
38:14in the birth
38:15of Bangladesh
38:15but suddenly
38:16we notice
38:17there is rising
38:18anti-India sentiment
38:19in Bangladesh
38:21there is anger
38:22in India
38:22with the way
38:24Hindus and other
38:25minorities
38:25are being targeted
38:26in Bangladesh
38:28is anything
38:29being done
38:30to address
38:31that in
38:31Bangladesh
38:32or in the
38:32run-up to
38:33elections
38:33do we see
38:34rise of
38:35of you know
38:37fundamentalists
38:38in Bangladesh
38:39with an eye
38:40on the vote
38:41bank in
38:41elections
38:42as far as
38:44ties between
38:45India and
38:45Bangladesh
38:45is concerned
38:46that looks
38:46like soaring
38:47and perhaps
38:48all time low
38:49the way we are
38:50seeing the
38:50escalation
38:51both the
38:51sides
38:51the war
38:52of words
38:52the embassy
38:53shutting down
38:54the visa
38:54services
38:55the protests
38:55escalating
38:56be it the
38:57Bangladesh
38:57high commission
38:58in New Delhi
38:58or the Indian
38:59high commission
38:59in Dhaka
39:00Rajshahi
39:01Chittagong
39:02and eventually
39:03the services
39:03being shut down
39:04all the embassies
39:05are being protected
39:05heavily by the
39:06security force
39:07both the side
39:07that looks like
39:09a diplomatic
39:09standoff
39:10has taken
39:10quite high
39:11in fact I have
39:12been asking
39:12to the BNP
39:13leaders
39:13as it is
39:14estimated
39:14that probably
39:15that will be
39:15the party
39:16will be coming
39:16to power
39:17in Bangladesh
39:18and Tariq
39:19would be the
39:20next prime
39:20minister
39:21that what
39:22will be the
39:22first challenge
39:23when it comes
39:23to restoring
39:24the Indo-Bangladesh
39:25relationship
39:25it will be
39:26mutual
39:27it will be
39:27on consensus
39:28it will be
39:29with the mutual
39:30respect of each
39:31and that
39:31remains
39:31we will have
39:32to see how
39:32they are going
39:33to be
39:33once it is
39:34sore
39:34and clearly
39:35when you have
39:35a catalyst
39:35factor of the
39:36fundamentalism
39:37you have the
39:37catalyst factor
39:38like ISI
39:39in Pakistan
39:39playing
39:39between
39:40India-Pakistan
39:41relationship
39:41so there are
39:42many such
39:42hurdles
39:43and that
39:43looks like
39:43only will be
39:44possible
39:44when there is
39:45a new
39:45government
39:46formed
39:46after the
39:47elections
39:47a democratic
39:48government
39:48and then
39:49there will
39:49be something
39:49that will
39:50be initiated
39:50from both
39:51the sides
39:51also remains
39:53to be seen
39:53how strong
39:54would the
39:54Jamaat be
39:55and of course
39:56Pakistan's
39:57ISI
39:57their interference
39:58because last
39:59time BNP
40:00was in power
40:00the situation
40:01was grim
40:02will Tariq
40:03Rahman
40:03who comes
40:03in on the
40:0425th of
40:04December
40:05in Bangladesh
40:06will things
40:06be different
40:07post the
40:08February elections
40:09we'll be
40:10tracking that
40:10story
40:10Ashutosh
40:11stay safe
40:12many thanks
40:12for joining
40:12me
40:13that is all
40:13I have for
40:14you on
40:14India Fours
40:15this evening
40:15thank you
40:16thank you
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