- 2 days ago
The big focus of this episode of India First is on the violence that erupted at Delhi's Turkman Gate during a court-ordered anti-encroachment drive near the Faiz-e-Ilahi Mosque on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday.
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00:00Good evening. Rumours fuelled a riot-like situation late last night in the national
00:08capital and this happened at the historic Turkman Gate. So the municipal corporation
00:12with more than 30 bulldozers, JCBs and dumper trucks, they moved in to remove illegal construction,
00:19encroachment on government land and they were following Delhi High Court orders.
00:23But rumours were floated that that old Faizal Ahi mosque was being targeted.
00:30Social media was used to fuel unrest and on this special broadcast we exposed the rioters
00:35on ground. But the question we asked was there a bigger and a more sinister plan in the works?
00:52Midnight mayhem at Turkman Gate.
01:00Rumours derail demolition drive.
01:13Slogans, stones pelted, cops injured.
01:17The Delhi demolition danga, the big focus on India first.
01:28So there's 38,000 square feet of land at the historic Ramnila Maidan in Delhi that was encroached
01:37upon. Encroachers had occupied even a part of the road and the footpath and constructed
01:43a marriage hall, an illegal diagnostic centre and even an illegal parking. There was religious
01:49sloganeering, you heard some of it. Videos inciting a particular community to come out of their homes
01:55to protect a religious place. Now those videos went viral. Was all of this pre-planned?
02:00There was another video that was actually guiding people what roads to take and where to reach
02:06to stop the demolition. Those videos have also surfaced. In fact, India today has accessed
02:10multiple such videos that the police are now investigating. So was there a wider plan?
02:16Police have initiated an investigation and Madhur Verma, Joint Commissioner of the Delhi Police
02:21Central Range. He joins me on India first. Incidentally, do keep in mind the Red Fort bomber,
02:27the Delhi Red Fort bomber, Dr. Umar Nabi. He'd also visited the Turkman Gate Most area and the areas
02:35in the vicinity of the diagnostic centre according to initial Delhi police investigations that were
02:41carried out in the Red Fort terror attack case. I'm Gaurav Savant. As always, let's get started
02:47with the headlines on India first.
02:54Clashes over demolition drive in Delhi. Protesters pelt stones at the Delhi police. Several policemen
03:01injured. Videos of a man inciting a mob at the demolition site goes viral. Five accused have been
03:07taken into custody. Less than 48 hours for the release and no respite yet for Vijay's farewell film,
03:19Janan Ayagan. The censor board wants a new panel to review Talapati's film. Madras High Court reserves the
03:27quarter on the certification controversy. It's a big blow to Bangladesh. The ICC denies their request
03:41for hybrid matches in the upcoming T20 World Cup. ICC warns either play in India or lose points.
03:50Not drugs. It's all about the oil. U.S. President Donald Trump's big claim on Venezuelan oil says
04:03Venezuela to give 50 million barrels of oil. Trump to control that Venezuelan oil money.
04:09Situation remains on the edge in Iran. At least 36 people killed in anti-inflation protests in Iran.
04:22Protesters urge U.S. President Donald Trump to help them. The government in Iran announces
04:28a $7 monthly payment to its citizens to ease their economic pain.
04:33Big story coming in on India first and it's just happened. U.S. forces have boarded a Venezuelan-linked
04:50Russian oil tanker in the North Atlantic Ocean after pursuing it for weeks. The vessel formerly known as
04:58Bella One and now called Maranera was sanctioned for allegedly smuggling cargo connected to the
05:06Hezbollah. And this merchant vessel was apparently evading a U.S. blockade around Venezuela. So U.S.
05:15Navy ships and aircraft, they were tracking this vessel in the North Atlantic Ocean. U.S. military,
05:22U.S. Coast Guard personnel, they were tracking the ship. And as soon as they got a nod,
05:28from Washington, D.C., they have now taken control of the ship and they've handed it over
05:34to law enforcement agencies. And this follows an extended chase in the North Atlantic Ocean.
05:42So the ship was on the high seas. It had apparently taken oil from Venezuela. Some reports seem to
05:50indicate that this was headed for Russia. The seizure comes amidst a broader U.S. pressure campaign
05:56on Venezuela that is included not just the capture of the president of Venezuela, President Nicolas Maduro,
06:04but also his wife and stepped-up enforcement against sanctioned tankers. All of this is part of the U.S.
06:12blockade on what the U.S. calls is illicit oil trade. The tanker had previously reflagged itself
06:22under Russia and attempted to escape interception. Now, this raises huge tensions with Moscow if the U.S.
06:32forces have actually boarded, intercepted and boarded and taken control of a ship that had reflagged itself
06:41and claimed to be a Russian merchant vessel. This comes after U.S. President Donald Trump praised military
06:51operations in Venezuela, making very clear it's not about drugs, it's about oil. He also rejected comparison
06:59between the invasion of Iraq and Venezuela, saying past administrations headed by Bush
07:06Bush. Didn't keep oil, didn't keep oil, but he will. Donald Trump further insisted he will rebuild
07:13Venezuela's broken oil facilities. On the other hand, he's also commented very sharply on the depots
07:19president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, calling him a violent man, accusing him of killing millions of
07:26people. And he described the response from Caracas as amazing. Listen in, listen in to U.S.
07:34President Donald Trump. I'll get you more on this big story we're breaking here on India today.
07:40It was so complex. 152 airplanes, many, many. Talk about boots on the ground. We had a lot of boots
07:46on the ground. But it was amazing. And think of it, nobody was killed. And on the other side,
07:51a lot of people were killed. Unfortunately, I say that, soldiers. Cubans, mostly Cubans, but many,
07:57many killed. And they were, they knew we were coming. And they were protected. And our guys weren't.
08:03You know, our guys are jumping out of helicopters. And they're not protected. And they were. But it
08:08was so brilliant. The electricity for almost the entire country was, boom, turned off. That's when
08:16they knew there was a problem. There was no electricity. There's also a reaction from U.S.
08:22Secretary of War, Pete Hickset. Pete Hickset has said this is the blockade taking effect. I want to
08:29quickly cut across to India today's Pranay Upadhyay joining us for more on this big story. Pranay,
08:34this would mean massive escalation if it's a Russian flagship, even if it's re-flagged itself
08:40mid-ocean. And if a Russian flagship has been boarded and taken over by U.S. forces.
08:47Absolutely, Gaurav. This is going to be a big thing. And, you know, as per the Russian news
08:51agency and Russian media outlets, the U.S. European Command has confirmed the detention of
08:56the Russian-flagged ship Marina, a tanker ship in the Atlantic Ocean. And also,
09:02there is a social media post put out by the U.S. Southern Command stating that they have detained
09:08a stateless ship. So, apparently, there are detention about the two ships. We have to verify
09:13the details about both these ships. Are they two different ships or the one ship is being referred
09:17in these two social media posts? But definitely, U.S. has proved that they are deploying their
09:23naval blockade in the region and they will not let. You have heard President Donald Trump and also
09:28Secretary Marco Rubio, who was standing along President Donald Trump and clearly stated that
09:32U.S. Navy will ensure that no oil tanker will either approach the Venezuelan coast or will come out of the
09:38Venezuelan coast and the U.S. Navy is going to ensure it. So, this Operation Southern Spear is in
09:44full swing in the Caribbean and the tanker which is detained by the and, you know, aborted by the
09:50U.S. naval troops and military troops, now it's being handed over to the U.S. Coast Guard and it is
09:56being towed to the U.S. mainland for the further action. Amazing. And this is step one. What would this
10:03mean for Russia? What would this mean for China? We'll track that story very closely. Stay with you for a
10:08moment. There's more breaking news coming in. So, we're getting in a reaction from Moscow. This, of course,
10:14is a report in the Russian media. Russian media reports say Moscow is closely monitoring the situation
10:21and this has been described as an abnormal situation around its tanker. The Russian foreign
10:28ministry told journalists in Moscow that the vessel is sailing legally in international waters under the
10:37Russian flag. Moscow claims, despite being nearly 4,000 kilometers from U.S. shores, the civilian
10:46merchant vessel, a tanker, was shadowed for days by the U.S. and other NATO assets. And this has raised
10:55very serious security concerns. I want to bring in Trane Upadhyay once again. Trane, this is virtually
11:04unprecedented and this would really raise temperatures. This is not President Trump going after Venezuela or
11:12Maduro. This is a Russian flagship. This is, in a way, USA versus Russia and perhaps USA versus China in days and
11:22weeks to come. Absolutely, Gaurab. And this is, I think, a Dunro doctrine in action now. We can see
11:29around the Caribbean. And if I read the statement put out by the U.S. European command that the
11:34Department of Justice and DHS is in coordination with the Department of War today announced the
11:39seizure of the merchant vessel Bella One for violation of U.S. sanctions. The vessel was seized
11:45in the North Atlantic pursuant of a warrant issued by the U.S. Federal Court after being tracked by the
11:50U.S. Coast Guard Monroe. So the U.S. Coast Guard ship Monroe was tracking this ship and in fact,
11:57now it has been detained. These are the statements put out by and you have already shown to our viewers
12:02that what Moscow has said about this situation. So this seems to be an escalating situation. We have
12:07to closely monitor that how situation unfolds in between these two big powers at a time when they
12:12are trying to minimize the differences and they are trying to work out between Kremlin and White
12:17House to for a possible solution on Ukraine. But this is going to be a further escalation. The
12:22Venezuela can be another flashpoint between Moscow and Washington, D.C.
12:27No, this would truly mean it's one law of the jungle. What about rules-based order? What about,
12:34you know, safety, security in sea lanes of communication? If you have a country like the
12:40United States of America that will forcibly take control of a ship which is owned by another
12:46nuclear weapons state or at least has the flag of another nuclear weapons state. So far, the only
12:54nuclear confrontation, if at all it turns into a confrontation, was between India and a state
12:59sponsor of radical Islamist terror, Pakistan or India and China. Now you have Russia and USA.
13:06Should this lead to escalation, it will have massive consequences, Pranay?
13:12Absolutely, this is going to have, you know, major fallouts if these two powers, you know, come,
13:18you know, to such a brink of event. Because you would recall, Gaurav, that the previous,
13:24about nuclear confrontation between these two powerful states also happened in the Caribbean
13:29region, in the Latin American region when the Cuban Missile Crisis happened.
13:32The Cuban Missile Crisis, go on. Absolutely. So, so if in that region, if there is another flash
13:37point which is, you know, which is brewing, then it is a matter of worry and we have to see the kind
13:41of reaction coming from the, from, from the Russia, from, from Moscow and from Kremlin because they,
13:47so far they have said that they are closely monitoring the situation. We have to see the veracity of the,
13:51all these claims and the, about the identity of this MV Bella and the stateless ship which is being
13:57claimed by the US Southern Command. Where exactly they have detained? Because there are, there seems
14:01to be two incidents and, these two incidents, one is being reported by the US Southern Command
14:06around the Venezuelan Caribbean area. Another incident is being reported in the Northern Atlantic
14:11region by the US European Command. So these are two different commands, two different incidents seems
14:16to be. But we have to see and find out the further details about these two ships and their ownership
14:21of these two ships and what, uh, is going to be the next step from, from Moscow and from the Russian
14:27fleet, uh, if, if this is the situation. Because it's one thing to do it to Venezuela, it's another
14:33thing altogether to do it to Russia or a Russian flagged ship. We'll be tracking that story very,
14:39very closely. Uh, keep tracking that story, Pranay. I will come back to you for more. For the moment,
14:43Pranay Upadhyay, many thanks. This is like a huge turn of events that's taking place in the North Atlantic Ocean.
14:52Okay, and I want to get back to our top story. Now there were videos where you could hear a mob
14:59chanting Allahu Akbar. It went viral last night. A mob then pelted stones at the police who were
15:06providing security to a demolition squad of the municipal corporation that was removing encroachment
15:11on government land, on public land, following court orders. The riotous situations erupted despite
15:17the Delhi police holding multiple meetings in the past with local peace community committees or
15:23Amman committees of the locality and explaining to them that the Faiz-e-Lahi mosque was not being
15:29targeted, but following court orders, illegal structures around that area, including a, an illegal banquet
15:38hall, an illegal parking lot, an illegal diagnostic center. That is what has been claimed by the police
15:42police were being removed. But then who spread the rumors? Who was trying to trigger a riot?
15:50Asking people late at night, post midnight, come out of your homes for the sake of
15:55religion and community or words to that effect. We get you our top story.
16:01At midnight, Turtman Gate in Delhi turned into a flashpoint.
16:2032 bulldozers, 4 excavators,
16:23anti-encroachment drive near the Faiz-e-Lahi mosque turned violent.
16:33The trigger, rumors and messages alleging that the mosque itself was being demolished.
16:38The operation was planned in coordination meeting with the Amman committee
16:49and local stakeholder and local stakeholder and was aimed only at encroachments.
16:53A banquet hall, shops, an illegally built dispensary all near the Faiz-e-Lahi mosque,
17:00on the orders of the Delhi High Court.
17:09But as rumors of mosque demolition spread, a crowd gathered.
17:14Stone pelting began and the police responded with tear gas.
17:19Two policemen were injured in the line of duty.
17:22It was notHow to leave.
17:25A gate had been captured by the the
17:31door. The door was set to have a stone.
17:37The door wasمرied after a door.
17:41The door was locked down, the door was locked down.
17:41It was locked down, the door was locked in the wall.
17:42We stopped to have a road stop, we stopped to have a brick wall.
17:42We had to have that kind of brick wall.
17:45The door was locked in the wall.
17:47The road was locked down.
17:49The door was locked away from the wall.
17:50Now videos have surfaced exposing what police call a deliberate attempt to give a legal action
18:04a religious color.
18:20Police say these videos were circulated to trigger violence.
18:38Five are arrested, many others detained.
18:42Police say the conspiracy is being uncovered layer by layer.
18:50We had deployed drone cameras, we have CCTV cameras, actually we had used body-worn cameras also.
19:02In fact, one of the police officers who were injured, he was wearing a body-worn camera.
19:05So we are analysing that CCTV footage based on that we will be able to identify.
19:09In fact, some of them have been already detained and we are questioning them.
19:13A video of SPMP Mohibullah Nadvi at the Turkman gate arguing with the police has also surfaced.
19:20On Tuesday morning, the true picture of demolition emerged.
19:28The mosque stands untouched.
19:31Only illegal structures razed.
19:33This is the diagnostic centre, brought down, the genset can be seen very clearly.
19:42Possibly the owners thought that nothing would happen to their structure despite the many of the warning.
19:49Mosque stands untouched.
19:51This is the structure which is right next to the mosque which has been taken down.
19:56And where the authorities possibly thought it might damage the mosque, the bulldozers were stopped.
20:02MIM MP Asaduddin Ovesi, however, questioned the BJP and police.
20:08MIM MP What began as an anti-encroachment drive turned
20:14violent after rumours.
20:39MIM MP The police have assured action against the encroachers and those who sparked the chaos.
20:46MIM MP With Arvind Doja and Amit Bharadwaj, Bureau Report, India Today.
20:56MIM MP Spontaneous or an effort for a planned riot.
21:01MIM MP Joining me on the latest in investigations and on the police action is Madhur Verma,
21:05Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police's Central Region.
21:08MIM MP Mr Verma, welcome.
21:10MIM MP Is the situation now completely under control?
21:12MIM MP Questions are being asked about the operations being undertaken late at night in biting cold.
21:18MIM MP So long at night, why is the operation in this morning, sir?
21:21MIM MP I would like to tell you that first, Delhi Police was facilitating, Delhi Police was facilitating the work of M.C.D.
21:35M.C.D.
21:36M.C.D.
21:37M.C.D.
21:38M.C.D.
21:39M.C.D.
21:40M.C.D.
21:41M.C.D.
21:42M.C.D.
22:12M.C.D.
22:33M.C.D.:
22:34M.C.D.:
22:34M.C.D.
22:35M.C.D.:
22:37M.C.D.:
22:40M.C.D.:
22:41What have your investigations indicated?
23:11What have your investigations done?
23:41What have your investigations done?
24:11What have your investigations done?
24:13What have your investigations done?
24:16So we were told that there were several meetings of the Aman Committee or the Peace Committee and at multiple levels.
24:23At the level of the SHO, DCP, I'm told one even at your level.
24:26Despite all of this, the police was targeted.
24:29I'm told five policemen were injured.
24:31What have your investigations done?
25:02What have your investigations done?
25:04What have your investigations done?
25:06What have your investigations done?
25:08What have your investigations done?
25:10What have your investigations done?
25:12What have your investigations done?
25:14What have your investigations done?
25:15What have your investigations done?
25:17What have your investigations done?
25:19What have your investigations done?
25:21What have your investigations done?
25:23What have your investigations done?
25:24What have your investigations done?
25:25What has your investigation done?
25:27What does it look like?
25:29How do you see it Disgrunt as going on if there were any дłamages done?
25:33There were some miscreants, there was no mass support or any kind of support, yes, it can be
25:38necessary to do something through social media, people have tried to instigate their self-interest
25:44for their self-interest, and we are doing that.
25:47But we had all precautions and meetings, and after that we had a proper arrangement
25:54in which we deployed appropriate force so that generally if there was a good force,
26:02then the force would not be necessary.
26:05So, the Delhi Police had arranged the whole process,
26:07which is why this encroachment removal could be opened.
26:11Now, it's a very interesting point to make there, that police were there in large numbers,
26:16and that's why the situation did not go out of hand.
26:18Some people may have tried, but there were also some political leaders there.
26:22Some people were there, both before the stone pelting and at the time of stone pelting.
26:29In your initial investigations, in your initial investigations,
26:32do you know something about their roots?
26:38Yes, in this case, I will not do any technique because it is too early for that investigation.
26:47We have started the case.
26:50Here, the Honorable MP has visited the political party here.
26:55But when our demolition exercise started, encroachment removal,
26:59until they were told them to go and they were gone.
27:03But further, I can tell you about this investigation.
27:08Before I let you go, sir, Turkman Gate has a history of bulldozers being used to remove encroachment.
27:16In fact, in the past, you would recall, during emergency, shots were fired, lives were lost.
27:23You studied that, were there lessons to be learnt?
27:27Do you see that incident in emergency, which was 50 years ago,
27:32was there also a decision for deployment or the police?
27:38This is actually the arrangement of proper planning, the entire central district, which is the old Delhi area, there were nine zones, there was a traditional DCP post in the police station, there were traffic movements diverged, there were number of meetings, even with mosques and malls, there were a different meeting,
28:06and they were told about the Order of the Honorable High Court.
28:11Also, our team used the videographers and body-worn cameras.
28:18Today, we are going to have scrutiny of body-worn cameras and video footage.
28:25And we are identifying which other miscreants can come to our area and investigation.
28:32We will use our facial recognition system and technology so that we can identify.
28:39And those who have taken advantage of the work of the police party, can be able to work on them.
28:48Mr. Verma, for joining me here on this India First special broadcast, many thanks.
28:54Now, I want to throw it open for a wider discussion.
28:57Why should there be a riotous situation?
29:01Why should there be stone pelting when court orders are being followed and when the police have had multiple meetings with the localities, Amman Committee or the Peace Committee and they've explained in detail the task at hand?
29:13Or was there a wider conspiracy to incite a mob?
29:18Videos that went out, that were circulated, telling people how they should reach the venue.
29:23Religious slogans were heard. Political leaders were there.
29:26Joining me on India First is Dr. Ajay Alok. He's the national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janta Party.
29:31Abbas Haidar is the spokesperson of the Samajwadi Party. Tawseef Ahmad Khan is an advocate and a political analyst, joins us on the show.
29:38And as always a pleasure also to have Yashaw Ardhan Azad, former special director of the Intelligence Bureau.
29:45Abbas Haidar, the BJP claims Samajwadi Party Rampur MP, Mohibullah Nadvi, his presence at the demolition site at one in the morning was in support of stone pelters.
29:59He's being accused of travelling two hundred kilometres to back the stone pelters for a vote bank, sir.
30:05Would you respond to this because the BJP says this is quite like what happened in Sambhal.
30:10From Sambhal to Delhi, opposition's hand is what the BJP says, sir.
30:16First of all, Samajwadi Party condemned any sort of violence, stone pelting or anything.
30:23We totally are with any sort of peaceful protest that is the constitutional right of every citizen.
30:29But we do not endorse any sort of anarchy, first of all.
30:34Second, Mr. Mohibullah Nadvi is certainly member of parliament from Rampur, but his government residence is very close to Turkuman Gate and also an imam of a mosque which is very close to that area.
30:46Second thing.
30:47Second thing and most important thing, like Joint Commissioner Verma has clarified, unlike the Bharti Jagantapati has said, Mr. Nadvi was asked to leave and he left.
30:55But the most important thing is Mr. Nadvi was there.
30:58He called the police commissioner and other high officials of the police.
31:02He wanted to mediate between the public and the administration.
31:06And if the help of the opposition would have taken, I believe that this should not have happened right then.
31:11Because, you know, the Bharti Jagantapati, they wanted to instigate violence.
31:15They wanted to use it as a political tool.
31:17They wanted to do, you know, their only motive was to disturb peace because they get benefited out of it.
31:24That is one and the first.
31:25That's a grave charge that you leveled. Let me get Dr. Ajay Alok to respond.
31:28One more thing.
31:29The BJP wanted a flare up and that is why all of this happened.
31:35The BJP, and I want to ask you, sir, why does the BJP see a wider conspiracy to incite riots?
31:42Why this talk of vote bank politics and the presence of Mohibullah Nadvi of the Samajwadi party at the site?
31:49He is, after all, an Imam of a mosque close by, lives not far from there.
31:52Why shouldn't he be there, sir, to mediate, as the SP says?
31:55I guess, Gaurav, we have missed playing one more bite of that MP, which was given to Aastak and other channels, where he is clearly saying that they are coming to destroy our mosque.
32:12The MP sahab himself is saying they are coming to destroy the mosque. He was the one who incited. And when the police told him, he left. But by that time, his supporters were already there, exciting everyone.
32:24Niklo mere shero bahar niklo, masjid bachani hai, raat kali karni hai, all those kind of provocative statements.
32:31He did his job and he left, very conveniently. And that's what Delhi police is investigating and that's what Joint Commissioner just said that I won't like to name because we are undergoing the investigation.
32:41And I'm pretty sure that once the investigation is complete, this man is going to go behind the bars. He is going to be jailed. There is no doubt about it.
32:49I'm ultra sure. Because I also live very nearby to Turikman Gate. I also know a lot of things, what actually happened there.
32:56Now this is a pattern. First, tell me one thing. Why in India, wherever the Muslim lives in a ghetto and nearby in a Hindu community, why do we need to have a peace committee? Why?
33:07Everywhere peace committee, Amman committee, what for peace committee? Who disturbs the peace? What is the track record?
33:12Take all the places. Who disturbs the peace the first time? I mean, police have been talking with them, the SHO, the SDM, everyone has been talking with them for the last 10 days.
33:25Okay.
33:26It was pretty clear that the encroached area is going to be demolished. It is a high court order. And then this is a sustained effort. And I call this an ecosystem sustained effort.
33:35It's not happening in Delhi. It has happened in Amroha. It has happened in Saharanpur today. It has happened in Patna. It has happened in Darbanga. It has happened in Lucknow.
33:43Everywhere illegal encroachment maximum in the name of Idgah, Dargah and all these things. Why?
33:50That's a grave charge on level. I'll get the Samajwari party to respond.
33:53And if somebody comes to encroachment, removal of encroachment.
33:55I want to bring in Tawseef. I want to quickly bring in Tawseef.
33:56No, no. If somebody comes to... If somebody comes...
33:58Just one second.
33:59If somebody... If somebody... If somebody clears encroachment, there will be stone pelting. There will be stone pelting. Why?
34:04Okay. Let me get Tawseef to respond.
34:06And every time the leader excites them.
34:08What are the supreme court guidelines in 2024?
34:11Okay. Let me get Tawseef Ahmed Khan to respond.
34:13Tawseef Ahmed Khan, there was a court order. The police say that was being followed.
34:17What explains the stone pelting rule of law or rule of mob, sir?
34:23So, Gaurav, the Delhi administration or the BJP's administration is trying to hide behind this court order, which is not final.
34:34You see, an order passed by a court without jurisdiction is non-est. That is void ab initio.
34:41This is a work of land and therefore there's a contention that the work of tribunal should have passed the order, not the high court.
34:49It was filed by the mosque committee and a notice was issued on the MCD, on the urban development ministry and on the work of board to file the reply.
35:01And the matter is posted for hearing on April 22nd.
35:04Therefore, under the garb of the late night, under the garb of this not so final order, police tried to, the administration tried to take this step.
35:16Why? Because BJP wants another riot in Delhi.
35:20BJP is instigating and provoking and BJP is plotting another riot in Delhi for which the people should thwart.
35:29People should not fall for this trap.
35:32Secondly…
35:33And yet…
35:34And yet some did.
35:35And yet some did.
35:36And yet some did.
35:37Okay.
35:38Go on, sir, complete your point.
35:40We have a chief minister who says on the House of the Assembly that Bhagat Singh threw bombs against the Congress government.
35:50So we have a chief minister who is Sakha educated.
35:54What can we expect?
35:56It is the people of Delhi who will give answer to BJP government in the times to come.
36:01Fair enough.
36:02At the same time, the same masjid committee, just on facts on this issue, the same masjid committee submitted before the high court that it only wanted protection of the mosque and the graveyard and not the illegal structures around it which it conceded.
36:17And I will play that out for you.
36:20I will read that out for you.
36:21I want to bring in Yasuo Vardhan Azad.
36:22Sir, was the mob sending out a message it will not follow court orders?
36:26Social media posts, stone pelting, presence of political leaders.
36:30In your experience, sir, how do you view these developments?
36:33You heard Madhur Verma there that they were only following court orders and they'd explained everything to the peace committee repeatedly at the level of the SHO, at the level of the DCP, at the level of the Joint Commissioner.
36:44Well, I couldn't hear you clearly. Is my voice coming out clear?
36:50Strength five, go on, sir.
36:52Okay.
36:53Well, let me say at the very outset that any encroachment removal in India is mired in controversy.
36:59And there is a lot of opposition, whether right or wrong.
37:03In this particular case, the satellite shows the encroachment which took place last year.
37:08And whatever, High Court had given the order for encroachment removal.
37:12And I think there was no business for any politician to hang around there.
37:16It was not a police action.
37:18It was an action taken by the municipal corporation on the orders of the High Court.
37:22And the police went.
37:23And I admire the restraint which the police showed over there.
37:27Five policemen were also injured.
37:29And I think in cases like this, encroachment removal, it always becomes political sensitive.
37:36And the question of what about restarts?
37:39And okay, I accept that point also, that when they say that what about the encroachment removal of the Hindu religious areas?
37:46Yes, that should also be done.
37:48And I accept that.
37:49But as far as this removal encroachment is concerned, there should have been no politician over there.
37:55And police rightly told that gentleman to leave.
37:58And he left.
37:59I'm very happy about that.
38:00And I think after a High Court order, it's well known that the accused or the people who are the victims try all kinds of reasons in the court to delay this kind of encroachment removal.
38:12But I totally support encroachment removal everywhere in Delhi, whether it is a Hindu, Muslim, whatever kind it is there.
38:20And one should not allow any politician to be there whenever in law enforcement.
38:24Oh, absolutely.
38:25And how does it become, you know, because it's around a mosque, it cannot be done.
38:29Because it's a religious place, it cannot be done.
38:32Do it for every religion.
38:33If it's encroaching on government land, remove it.
38:36That has to be the rule of law.
38:38I find it very strange how it becomes, you know, all about minority rights or what's to that effect.
38:44But the satellite images that you spoke of.
38:46And I want all our guests to look at these satellite images before I come to the next round of questions.
38:51The situation that was there in 2023 and the situation in 2025.
38:56Take a look.
38:57We are using satellite maps to understand what exactly transpired near the Faiz Elahi mosque in old Delhi area.
39:11So earlier today, the bulldozers of Delhi authorities reached at this place, as you can see, right at the edge of Delhi's Ram Leela Maidan, there is Faiz Elahi mosque.
39:24Now, the image that you see on your screen is from 2024.
39:28What happened between 2024 and 2025 was that new structures come up beside the mosque.
39:36This structure that you see on the right hand of your screen.
39:39Similarly, these structures, these are new illegal structure which surfaced during 2024 and 2025.
39:47According to Delhi police and NCD officials, they have reached there to demolish these illegal structures.
39:53So how do we know these structures were illegal and what was happening there?
39:56So one of we have used street view imagery as well as publicly sourced images to confirm that around Faiz Elahi mosque, there was a medical dispensary, which according to officials was illegal.
40:09Similarly, a marriage hall.
40:11This picture was taken from Google Earth.
40:13A marriage hall was set up right beside the Faiz Elahi mosque.
40:18And if you see today's picture, these pictures were taken today.
40:21There is nothing, there is no damage to the mosque.
40:24But as you can see, the likely illegal structures, which is this dispensary as well as this marriage hall, have been demolished.
40:33So no truth to the internet rumors that there was a bulldozer action against the mosque.
40:39The bulldozer action was against the illegal buildings, which can be confirmed through these satellite pictures.
40:46Let me bring in Abbas Haidhar once again.
40:48Sir, satellite imagery very clearly shows mosque wasn't targeted.
40:52Illegal structures will be destroyed, right?
40:54And in the name of mosque, illegal structures will also continue.
40:58And irrespective of religion, Hindu or Muslim, everyone has to follow law of the land.
41:03High court refused interim relief.
41:05MCD argued that the land adjacent to mosque was being misused, blatant misuse of public land for commercial activity.
41:13Where was the money going out of that marriage hall and diagnostic center?
41:16No accounting.
41:17Sir, explain, sir.
41:18And the Samarwadi party and so many others are defending this.
41:21Gaurav ji, first of all, we all stand by the law of the land.
41:25And one thing is very clear.
41:27This is not about Hindu-Muslim.
41:28There is also a mandir in that very area, I'll tell you.
41:32Second thing, the most important thing here is, you know, it's about rich or poor.
41:37So there is a selective demolition.
41:40The structures of poor get demolished.
41:43And the structure of rich are very much there.
41:45A very big industry of this country, he lives in a house which is built on a work property.
41:50So this matter was subject.
41:52This matter was subject.
41:53This and 122 other properties of work were subject.
41:57And Justice Ori has already given that administrative control was given to the work board of this property.
42:05And the matter was subject.
42:07Then the demolition was taken place.
42:09Three-month time was given to the people.
42:11There is due process which has not been followed.
42:14There should be a notice given.
42:15Then there should be another hearing.
42:17After that, the demolition should have been done.
42:19If it was supposed to be done.
42:21Second thing, there is also a guideline from Honorable Supreme Court.
42:24When they have talked about the lawlessness of Uttar Pradesh, according to the Supreme Court, lawlessness was the word used.
42:32When we talk about the bulldozer action, they have clearly said that there shouldn't be any, no midnight rush should be done by the authorities.
42:41They have also said, I am talking about the Supreme Court order, which is certainly the Supreme Court order.
42:46It is the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
42:48So the Supreme Court guidelines on demolition was not being followed.
42:52There was no...
42:53Sir, in this case the police officer just explained why this demolition was carried out late at night.
42:58So that it does not inconvenience people in a very densely populated area.
43:03You know that area very well.
43:04And it can...
43:05But Dr. Ajay Alok, why this urgency...
43:07That led to the rumour which was spread, that led to the apprehension of the common people.
43:10Why this urgency to carry out demolition in biting cold winter night?
43:13The High Court had refused interim relief.
43:16But then there was no fresh execution deadline.
43:19The question that is being asked is, you know, was there undue haste, undue urgency to act between midnight and 7 in the morning?
43:27Ajay Alok.
43:29Gaurav, this order was passed 12 days back.
43:34How is this urgency?
43:36Had there been urgency that their order was...
43:38The stay was not given.
43:39They could have broken that day also.
43:41I mean, what kind of a logic, frivolous logic is being used by Samajwadi party and all that?
43:46The simple part of the question is that if the law and order is being enforced,
43:50and somebody, somebody is pelting stone.
43:52That is what the Supreme Court said, sir.
43:53Somebody, somebody is pelting...
43:54Why they should give you notice?
43:56And you are talking about...
43:57No, why they should give you notice when High Court has refused?
43:59When High Court has refused to stay.
44:00I am not talking about Dimu.
44:01Why are you speaking in between?
44:02Why are you speaking in between?
44:04Why are you speaking in between?
44:05Why are you speaking in between?
44:06Why are you speaking in between?
44:07Why are you speaking in between?
44:08Because...
44:09Because, sir, sir.
44:10That issue does not involve Hindu and Muslim.
44:11you are beating around the bush because you don't have logic there is nothing about hindu
44:19and muslim here there was nothing about hindu and muslim here don't confuse the issue it was
44:23only about police and it was only about police and muslims and the following and the following
44:28mission following mission you just wanted to create anarchy you wanted to create unrest
44:33only dr ajay alok for the moment only dr ajay alok will speak for the moment abbas abbas i'll come
44:44to you let let dr alok complete his point sir go on doc sahab gaurab i told you this is an ecosystem
44:52working out this was the ecosystem working on it and it's a pan india phenomenon it's not just about
44:57delhi see there was nothing about hindu muslim yesterday night it was only about police and
45:01muslims police maintained the restraint did some mild lati charge and dispersed the crowd
45:06when seven police seven more than seven policemen got injured two of them seriously injured now
45:13suppose police has started firing one or two might have been dead then what would have happened
45:18muslimanoo ka daman ho gaya muslimanoo ka ye ho gaya wo ho gaya unrest and then following riots
45:23one after the other the pattern keeps on going and we are not seeing here in delhi i'm telling you i've
45:28given you you're seeing this a pattern we have seen it in different parts of the country
45:31we have seen it in different parts of the country
45:33everywhere there's no pattern okay there's no right to right if there is injustice or perceived injustice
45:40go to a court go to a superior court there are so many avenues
45:48law of the land has to be followed sir illegal commercial activity cannot be the excuse to carry out
45:55you know a stone pelting at security forces at midnight i joined the issue with you completely
46:04i agree with you that there are other avenues available high court order is passed there is
46:09supreme court plus the jurisdiction can be challenged and matter can go to the work of tabler but the
46:14bjp spokesperson sitting in your channel just one minute ago said that the order high court order
46:19was passed 10 days ago and i will not follow any procedures set by the any guidelines set by the
46:25supreme court for carrying out the demolition 15 days mandatory notice i will not follow why because
46:32i am i am a rss educated person once i got the high court order i will seize the opportunity to
46:39create a right don't talk illogical if you have some logic then put it here yeah no please do not
46:44speak over me please do not speak over me bjp is deceiving the opportunity because you're talking
46:50illogical in spite of being a lawyer to manufacture right you're just showing your intellect that you're a
46:55lawyer in supreme court another case is going on what is that case delhi has hazardous air pollution
47:05and supreme court very recently only a few days ago made a remark that the commission for air quality
47:14management is not serious on uh improving delhi air pollution they have not even found the cause
47:20for the delhi air pollution sir pollution is a separate story this demolition for the court orders
47:26is completely a different story but in you know brevity sir brevity is your forte uh but
47:33but i want to quickly bring in doctor i want to bring in mr yashu ardhan azad for the last 30 seconds
47:38i have on this part of the show mr azad with these provocative videos that are circulating on social
47:44media and whatsapp and other social media platforms being used uh to mobilize crowds do you think
47:50the intelligence effort uh did not uh you know gear up enough to prevent this or the fact that it was
47:57limited just to 100 and 150 people and thousands and lacks did not come out on the streets in the world city
48:04shows that the police were able to communicate very well absolutely in fact uh let me tell you another thing
48:11police has every light to plan an operation like this to to sort of minimize any kind of a damage
48:18minimize any kind of a loss so whether it's in the might morning afternoon it's absolutely right
48:24and as dr uh alok correctly said that uh they they use restraint and seven of them were were injured
48:31the other thing is that uh you know any any kind of removal of encroachment is is met with this kind
48:39of a resistance all over the all over uh the country the high court gave this order a couple
48:45of days back and it was absolutely right in fact no encouragement should be given to any kind of
48:51discussion on this and the last point the social media which is misused which is which is used for
48:58conspiracy which is used for misinformation there are two kinds of people who must be arrested by the
49:04by the police one who attacked the police and second engineering this kind of a conspiracy on the
49:11social media that time i will let that be the last word on this part of the show i want to thank all my
49:16guests uh this is something that the police must keep an eye on very closely um there's a big story
49:22that's coming in uh which is coming in from bangladesh where the bangladesh cricket board says
49:28it's standing firm on its decision not to participate in the t20 world cup in india they are again citing
49:34security concerns after a fresh meeting with the interim government's youth and sports advisor asif
49:39nazrol the bangladesh cricket board has said they will send another letter to the icc insisting that
49:45there are serious security concerns remain unaddressed according to them and they warned their participation
49:53cannot come at the cost of humiliation or risk to their players this after the icc
49:58made it very clear rejecting bangladesh's request to relocate t20 world cup matches of bangladesh
50:05from india citing absence of any actionable security inputs bangladesh was told in no uncertain terms
50:11either you play in india or you forfeit your points bangladesh also wanted to play in sri lanka
50:17now it remains to be seen now it remains to be seen whether bangladesh plays or bangladesh wants to
50:26forfeit its points in the world cup t20 in february the icc has rejected any of their requests we'll be
50:34tracking that story very very closely but that is all i have for you on india first this evening
50:40many thanks so much
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