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This edition of Super 6, focusses on the Pongal festival, which has become a central stage for political messaging and voter outreach ahead of the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
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00:00Hello and a very good evening, Vanakam.
00:28You're joining us here for a very special broadcast of Super 6 on India Today.
00:32I'm Akshita Nanda Gopal and on the very, very auspicious occasion of Pungal,
00:37we're kicking off our Tamil Nadu election coverage here on India Today.
00:42What you can look forward to is marathon ground reports,
00:45exclusive special coverages coming up over the next many months,
00:49right up to April to election season.
00:52Here's first of all wishing all of you a very happy Pungal,
00:56Pungal Vartagal to all of you.
00:58Happy Pungal, happy Makar Shankranti.
01:00And we've chosen the district of E-Road in Tamil Nadu to kick off this Tamil Nadu election coverage.
01:07Why?
01:08Because I'm standing by the banks of the holy, auspicious, the beautiful Kaveri River,
01:13the symbol of Tamil Nadu's pride of Tamil culture.
01:17We're going to be getting you a special ground report, election analysis and much more.
01:23But we're putting the focus over the next 60 minutes here on Super 6 on all that's played out of the last 24 hours.
01:28Pungal has begun with the Bogi Pungal festivities today.
01:31Tomorrow is Surya Pungal.
01:33Before that, let me give you a glimpse of what to expect over the next one hour.
01:37Yes, Pungal festivities in all of its beauty playing out in Tamil Nadu.
01:42I managed to catch a glimpse of it earlier today, but a whole lot of politics as well.
01:47What else do you expect?
01:48It's election season in Tamil Nadu and so even a festival like Pungal has turned political.
01:54So the Pungal or Pungal slogan that we're so used to hearing in Tamil Nadu
01:58has also got a whole lot of political colour and meaning this time.
02:03We're going to be talking about that in the big political showdown.
02:05What's that all about?
02:06I'll break that down for you.
02:07But also coming up on the show, an unmissable ground report.
02:11As I told you, we're kicking off our Tamil Nadu election coverage with a bang.
02:15I'm here in E-Road.
02:17My colleague Pramod Madhav is in Trichy.
02:19He's going across the length and breadth of Tamil Nadu to get you all the latest dispatches from Ground Zero.
02:26We're calling him the election basha.
02:28And for all of you joining us from Tamil Nadu, I'm sure you understand the significance
02:32of us referring to him as the election basha.
02:34For all those of you who don't, it's time to Google.
02:37It's a very, very famous Rajinikanth movie.
02:39So that's coming up on the show as well in this very special broadcast.
02:43I'm Akshita Tananda Gopal.
02:44First, as always, here are the top headlines.
02:54It's raining freebies in Tamil Nadu on the day of Pungal.
02:57Netas across party lines distribute freebies on the occasion of Pungal.
03:01Prime Minister Modi extends Pungal wishes to the people of Tamil Nadu, hailing culture and
03:06tradition of Tamil.
03:07Prime Minister Modi to sound the poll bugle in Chennai on January 23rd.
03:31Top NDA parties to participate in rallies.
03:34Sources say another party may also join hands with the NDA before Prime Minister's rally.
03:42State of War Tamil Nadu heats up.
03:44Tamil Nadu BJP leader Anna Malai pitches for anti-DNK parties, including the likes of TVK,
03:50to come together to take on the might of the DNK.
03:53As violence continues to spiral in Iran with over 2,000 people dead in clashes,
04:01MEA issues an urgent advisory to all Indian nationals in Iran,
04:04asks them to leave the country at the earliest.
04:06A horrifying grooming gang racket exposed in West London.
04:15Over 200 stakes come together to rescue a minor girl allegedly abducted by a Pakistani
04:20grooming gang.
04:21The suspect is taken into police custody.
04:26ED versus Didi courtroom drama in Bengal.
04:30Kalkara High Court dismisses of TMC plea after ED says it hasn't seized anything during
04:34IPAC raids.
04:35Now action shifts to top court, Supreme Court, to hear ED's plea against the TMC tomorrow.
04:51If you've been a part of Pongal festivities in Tamil Nadu, you know that usually on Pongal
04:57day, everyone comes together to chant in the spirit of the festival, Pongal o Pongal.
05:02It's the moment when the Pongal that's cooking in the pot actually rises and boils over.
05:07And that is the highlight of the harvest festival.
05:10This time, it's mired in a whole lot of politics.
05:13You had Prime Minister Modi, the national capital, taking part in a grand Pongal celebration
05:17in Minister El Murugan's residence that saw a lot of big faces, including some film stars
05:23turning up.
05:24But his message was about how Pongal has been globalized, about how this international focus
05:29and recognition of Tamil culture, of the civilizational roots of Tamil as well.
05:36That's on one side.
05:37On the other, there's a whole lot of politics over Chief Minister Stalin, who also celebrated
05:43Pongal at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat today and is slated to be a part of a grand celebration
05:47in the next few days.
05:49Referring to Pongal as a festival that goes beyond caste, beyond religion.
05:54Making a pitch for what many are referring to as a secular Dravidian Pongal and that's
05:59led to a lot of politics because political opponents are saying that, look, you cannot
06:04forget the roots of Pongal festival and that it is a Hindu festival, not just a Tamil festival.
06:10We're going to be talking about that.
06:12I'll first break down for you the reactions and the highlights of Prime Minister Modi's
06:15visit.
06:15Pongal cheer, politics heat.
06:26As Tamil Nadu celebrates its biggest harvest festival, the election pitch has begun.
06:32Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked Pongal in Delhi, joining celebrations at Union Minister
06:38El Murugan's residence.
06:39Prime Minister took part in Pongal rituals and performed Gauseva.
06:45Extending greetings, Prime Minister called Pongal a festival of joy that honors farmers and
06:50rural life.
06:51He described it as a proud symbol of Tamil culture, now finding global resonance.
06:55Pongal is a global festival of joy that has become a global festival in the world.
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07:26In Tamil Nadu, Pongal also turned political.
07:46Chief Minister M.K. Stalin called Pongal a secular festival beyond caste and religion.
07:51Projecting the Dravidian model, he spoke of inclusivity, social justice and rationalism.
07:58The BJP hit back.
08:01Annamalai extended Pongal greetings but called for an end to what he termed anti-people DMK rule.
08:10When a person is losing power, they will keep talking all kinds of senseless things.
08:15He called Amit Shaji also in a very bad name a few weeks back.
08:19It only shows the signs of desperation, not of nothing else.
08:23Festive greetings, sharp political messaging.
08:26In Tamil Nadu, this Pongal is not just about harvest.
08:30It is also about the battle of power.
08:33Bureau Report, India Today.
08:34Bound to happen.
08:40We're in election season.
08:41Officially, April is when the elections are expected to happen in Tamil Nadu.
08:46So, just about two and a half months to go.
08:48And so, things are heating up here.
08:50What's also evident is the fact that everyone's got politics on their mind.
08:54Any conversation you have with locals here, they're always talking about who's winning,
08:59who's got the edge.
08:59Because the people of Tamil Nadu also are very politically savvy.
09:03But let's focus really on what's happening with the Pongal festivities and the political Pongal as we're referring to it.
09:08Joining me on this broadcast is Selam Dharani Dharan, spokesperson of the Draveda Munetra Karagam.
09:14We've got Kowei Satyan, spokesperson of the AIA DMK.
09:17Narayanan Tirupati, state vice president of BJP Tamil Nadu.
09:21And Dr. Sandeep Shastri, political analyst.
09:24Good evening.
09:25Thank you all very much for your time.
09:26First of all, happy Pongal.
09:28Pongal wishes to all of you.
09:29And we appreciate the fact that you've taken the time out on Pongal to join us on this broadcast.
09:34Dr. Sandeep Shastri, I'd like to begin with you on why we're seeing this kind of important messaging, symbolism
09:40and also the statements over Pongal right now in the run-up to an election.
09:45Do you think that largely this festival has also become an occasion to go ahead and spread their political messaging?
09:51Akshita, Pongal as a festival of majesty has been something we have seen year after year.
10:02But then every year, Akshita is not election year.
10:06So the political fireworks that are lighting up the electoral sky during Pongal is just coincidental.
10:14You see, it's very difficult to separate electoral politics from any other development, especially in an election year.
10:24So I think every political formulation, every political party, while wishing people the greetings on Pongal,
10:34is also trying to make an important political point, hoping that that could help them in the elections later this year.
10:43And I think this is not just in Tamil Nadu.
10:45We see this happening across the country, that a major festival in an election year gets involved
10:52and there is a cross-cutting linkage between a religious event and an intensely political event.
11:05You're calling it a religious event.
11:07And so there I'd like to put the spotlight on what Chief Minister Stalin said.
11:11And I'll bring in Dhani Daran on this conversation.
11:13Dhani Daran, you know, on one hand you had Prime Minister Modi speaking about how Pongal has been globalized,
11:17speaking about how this festival highlights Tamil culture and so that's something everyone's talking about.
11:25And on the other, there's been a lot of conversation about what Chief Minister Stalin has said
11:29when he's referred to Pongal as a secular festival that's meant for all.
11:34Now the question that's being asked by many is,
11:37is this then an attempt by Chief Minister Stalin to kind of distance Pongal from its Hindu roots?
11:44See, Hinduism itself is a way of life.
11:46Pongal is a Tamil festival, it's a harvest festival that's been happening for time immemorial.
11:53What he's trying to say is, it's a festival that does not discriminate people based on caste,
11:57based on religion, based on anything else.
12:00It is a festival for everyone.
12:01So I don't think what is, why do we have to bring religion into it?
12:05It clearly depicts Tamil culture.
12:08And historically, even if you go 2000 years back and you look at the literature,
12:11also you don't find caste-based discrimination or religion-based discrimination.
12:15Even Sankham Literation is talking about it in Tamil Nadu.
12:18That is exactly what he is saying.
12:20It is a festival where all people of Tamil Nadu come, unite and celebrate.
12:25It showcases the secularism of Tamil Nadu.
12:27It showcases equality and equity.
12:30Sure.
12:31No, but Dari Dari, the way you refer to it as a harvest festival,
12:35are you also willing to refer to it as a Hindu festival?
12:37Why do you want to give religious connotation to something?
12:43That's my whole point.
12:44You shouldn't have any religious connotation.
12:46What is bigger?
12:48And cultural identity, cultural Tamil, Dravidian, Ida, really,
12:52is bigger than a religion.
12:53It's superstitious caste religion.
12:56So when something is above, it's actually good for the festival.
12:58Why is that I have to pin it down to a specific religion?
13:01When all the inhabitants of Tamil Nadu will celebrate this festival,
13:07it clearly implies that everyone celebrates.
13:10So it can't be pinned down to one specific religion.
13:12And I think we will not have discussion on it.
13:15And I always tell you, in Tamil Nadu...
13:17No, no, one second.
13:18So in Tamil Nadu, there is no religious appeasement.
13:20Why?
13:21Simply because in Tamil Nadu, it is only the Tamil identity.
13:24People belonging to Tamil Nadu are all one and the same.
13:28So we don't differentiate people based on religion.
13:30This is what I've been telling even previously in a debate.
13:33So it is that one identity.
13:36And it is the biggest festival for that identity.
13:38I think that.
13:40See, Akshita, I don't understand how or why suddenly...
13:42No, it's...
13:43I agree that, you know, it cuts across religions in celebrations.
13:47Yeah, Narayan and Tirupati.
13:49See, Akshita, I don't understand why...
13:51Why and how suddenly my friend Dharani Dharana of DMK says that
13:55Hinduism is the way of life.
13:58Because we have been saying this for a very long time,
14:00which they did not accept.
14:02And their deputy chief minister, Mr. Rudi Nidhi Stalin,
14:06said that he will eradicate Hinduism.
14:09That is the former...
14:10Formerly it was called as Sanatana Dharma.
14:13Hinduism is Sanatana Dharma.
14:15Yes, Sanatana Dharma is Hinduism.
14:17Please understand.
14:18Sanatana Dharma is Hinduism.
14:20So the DMK, which wants to eradicate Hinduism, Hindu religion as per DMK,
14:28now suddenly there is a controversy from the chief minister saying that
14:33it is not a religious festival, it is a common festival.
14:37How it will become a common festival?
14:38I challenge Mr. M. K. Stalin only one thing.
14:41If it is a common festival, ask any Muslim, one single person, single Muslim to pray Sun God.
14:49This is a festival where people pray Sun God.
14:53They say that you have given everything to me.
14:55But Muslims will not do that because they have their own God.
14:59They will say that Allah is my only God.
15:02That is what they used to say.
15:03I think Mr. Tirupati, the point that is being made is
15:06everyone celebrates Pungal in Tamil Nadu.
15:09Maybe that is what the DMK is highlighting here.
15:11That even Christians celebrate, even Muslims take part in the celebrations of Pungal.
15:16No, you are wrong.
15:17They don't celebrate, they don't worship Sun God.
15:20That is what I am saying.
15:22On Pungal Day, we are worshipping Sun.
15:25We are worshipping even Kau as our God.
15:29So it is a kind of worship.
15:31So the other religion doesn't believe in this worship.
15:35I don't blame them.
15:36It is up to them and their own wish.
15:41So but a person, if I dare Mr. Stalin to say that Ramzan is a common,
15:46if I want to celebrate Ramzan,
15:49then will Mr. Stalin say that Ramzan is a common festival,
15:52not a religious festival.
15:53Will he say that Christmas is a common festival, not a religious festival?
15:55Daridharin, would you like to respond?
15:56What is this?
15:57Daridharin, would you like to respond to that?
16:01Because ultimately, you know, what tomorrow is going to be is Surya Pungal.
16:05Hindu roots of the festival are that you worship the Sun God.
16:08Then you have Matapungal, which is of course worshipping cows,
16:12going ahead and praying to cows.
16:14Is that something that's, yes, it's inclusive, sure,
16:16but it's got, it's rooted in Hinduism.
16:19That's where it's emerged from.
16:21Hey, firstly, there's a lot of confusion about the Hinduism as a religion in itself.
16:25What BJP says, calls as Hinduism is not Hinduism.
16:28I will make it very profoundly clear.
16:29Sanatana Dharma is different.
16:31Hinduism is different.
16:32I mean, official sense.
16:33And Udeniji Stalin, when he spoke about Sanatana Dharma,
16:36he only mentioned that the inequality aspect within Sanatana Dharma,
16:41that doesn't differentiate people based on caste is something that has to be eradicated.
16:45The former president of this country, Ramanath Kuwait,
16:48was not allowed to enter Puri temple, for example.
16:51How can that be allowed in this day and age?
16:54In fact, the clarification also further was given of that
16:56we spoke for 90% of the Hindus that there should be equality.
17:00So what has the DNP done with the best person?
17:02He made people of all caste can become priests.
17:04Ah, Akshida.
17:08Akshida, it is wrong on his part to say that.
17:10Yeah, go ahead.
17:11Let me bring in Mr...
17:12It is wrong on his part to say that Mr. Ramanath Kuwait was not allowed.
17:17It itself is false.
17:18It is adding the media report.
17:19Number two.
17:19It is adding the only India Today report.
17:21That was wrong.
17:22No, no, it is not.
17:22It is adding the only India Today report.
17:23It is not.
17:24Even he himself has told.
17:25So you will not believe the president of India.
17:27What is this?
17:28That's what we are saying.
17:29That is the news report.
17:30Number two.
17:30India Today report is there.
17:32Okay, India Today report is there.
17:33The same president of India...
17:34Okay, one second.
17:35Let me bring in Mr. Kowai Satya.
17:37Let me bring in...
17:37I don't want to...
17:39Please let's not resort.
17:39Please let's not resort to Bikre Gya.
17:41We are giving every side their fair say.
17:43I bring in Kowai Satya of the AIDMQ.
17:45He has been waiting very, very patiently.
17:47Mr. Kowai Satya, what do you have to say about the comment that has been made by Mr.
17:50Stann.
17:51Do you believe that what he said about Pungal being a common festival, an inclusive festival?
17:56Is that what the AIDMQ stand is also?
17:58Because there is always the stock that this is what Dravidianism stands for.
18:03Good evening.
18:04Wishing you all your viewers a happy Pungal.
18:07Happy Shankaranti.
18:08Happy Lori.
18:09Happy Bihu.
18:11Though there are different names for this day and to celebrate across the nation.
18:16And I don't see any relevance with respect to religion of other faith with any names.
18:21But M.K.
18:22Stalin invoking the secular card here clearly shows his desperation because elections are
18:27around the corner.
18:28A government which has taken a religious stand, which has taken a oath based on constitution
18:33that they will be secular, which has taken a religious stand on Tirupuram Kunduram.
18:37Now trying to talk about secular principles on this day of festival is nothing but a big
18:41mockery.
18:44It is very clear and evident.
18:45Elections are around the corner.
18:46Even Deepavali, they will rename it as something.
18:50They don't mind because they are masters of renaming and rebranding and trying to bring about state rights, equality, secularism.
18:57Because elections are around the corner.
18:59Theatrics are drama.
19:00You agree with your ally that you feel Hindu festivals are being targeted?
19:04Very clearly, it is evident that if M.K.
19:10Stalin takes that this is a farmer's festival.
19:13Yes, farmers from other religions are also there.
19:15There is no harm in celebrating a farmer's.
19:18But the question here is that DMK has a local standard to talk about farmers in Tamil Nadu.
19:23They are the one who brought the methane and hydrocarbon for the Tangelo district, throwing
19:28fire into the lives of the farmers.
19:30Any parlance, be it a Ungal festival or be it a farmers festival, DMK doesn't have the local
19:38standard to take a stand on this festival is the point.
19:41Because elections are around the corner.
19:43This is drama and politics.
19:45He doesn't even remove a slipper to celebrate this festival.
19:49Also your response to the points that Narayan and Tirupati had made earlier.
19:53That Ramzan Christmas, will you refer to them also as common festivals next?
19:57See, I think the monologue has gone too long.
19:59I think Kovai Satyam thinks that his party's IQ is the average IQ of the people listening
20:04to the show.
20:04The fact of the matter is the ADMT was in alliance with BJP.
20:07Then for two years they were not in alliance.
20:08And now they are in alliance.
20:09In the brief period when they were not in alliance, they opposed NEP.
20:12They opposed delimitation.
20:14They opposed everything the BJP brought.
20:16Now that BJP is together, what is their standard NEP?
20:18What is their standard two-language policy?
20:20What is their standard delimitation?
20:21Are they willing to go against the BJP part?
20:23Are they willing to go against the alliance party stance?
20:25And I was going to tell you, Prime Minister's visit 2021, he has made four visits before
20:32the election.
20:33January, Feb, March, four visits.
20:34Then no visit at all.
20:35Then 2023, only three visits.
20:37And then 2024, before the election, ten visits.
20:40Then after that, no visit whatsoever.
20:42Now that the elections are on, they can all again make visits.
20:44So who is doing electoral politics here?
20:46Is it the BJP, I think the Prime Minister, the ADMK?
20:48You have highlighted something that I think will touch your honor with every citizen that
20:54unfortunately this is common for every politician.
20:57You know, let's not name it shame.
20:58Every politician, every party is the same on this.
21:01You know, I will follow the same check record, I'm sure, of every single politician.
21:05I'm sure.
21:05Narayanan Tirupati.
21:06No, no, see, this is irrelevant, you know, talking about Prime Minister's visit and talking
21:12about Pungal.
21:12The issue is that what the DMK has done, the DMK which wants to eradicate the Hindu religion.
21:20Again, I'm telling you, when Dhani Dhani says that there are inequalities within the Hindu
21:24religion, I'm asking him only one question.
21:27There are inequalities in Islam also.
21:30There are inequalities in Christian religion also.
21:33Why you are not mentioning about that?
21:35You are bothered only about the Hindu religion.
21:39Why?
21:40Because the both Muslims and Christians vote in mass.
21:42Dr. Dhani Dhani, quickly respond.
21:43Then I'll bring in Dr. Shastri.
21:46We are arranged as caste, hierarchy.
21:48If you look at what all the three spokespersons are saying, they are making a very clear political
21:56point looking at issues from the perspective of their party.
22:00And I don't blame them for that.
22:02That's what politics and politicians should be doing.
22:06But as we celebrate a festival today, whether you call it religious, whether you call it secular, I think in the eyes of common people, a festival is a moment of celebration, is a moment of rejoicing.
22:22And let's allow that celebration and rejoicing to happen.
22:27The DMK spokesperson very categorically said it is a secular festival, whereas on the other hand, the BJP spokesperson linked it directly to Hinduism.
22:40The Anna DMK spokesperson is not willing to take a stand on religion, but talks about what the DMK otherwise has done.
22:48So I think it's very clearly a political posturing that you see and which will happen, as I said, in the beginning in an election year.
22:57But let's allow this celebration to go on and let the festivities among the people continue.
23:05Our political dialogue will continue till the election, beyond the election, possibly.
23:12Yeah.
23:14No, but I have to ask this question to all of our panelists and simply a yes-no answer, please.
23:18No caveats to it.
23:20Is Pongal a Hindu festival or not?
23:21Dr. Shastri, you first.
23:22It is essentially a Hindu festival, but in this country, it's very difficult to separate what is religious and what is non-religious.
23:37Okay.
23:38Kovei, Satyan.
23:39It is a farmer's festival.
23:41Majority of them are from one particular sect of religion, Hindu.
23:44So you can call it as a Hindu festival.
23:46And it's a farmer's festival of all religion.
23:48Okay.
23:53Mr. Narayanan Tirupati.
23:54It is a Hindu festival.
23:56No doubt at all.
23:57Nobody can say it is not a Hindu festival.
24:00If at all somebody says, it will be Mr. M.K.
24:02Stalin for political gains.
24:07And finally, Mr. Dharani, you get the last word.
24:10Go ahead.
24:10The cultural identity always transits beyond religious identity.
24:16So the Tamil culture has been in existence more than even the religion.
24:20And Hinduism in itself is a very polytheistic religion.
24:23Or some people say it's monotheistic.
24:26But it's a polytheistic religion.
24:28So different people you call Hindus have different habits, different way of worship.
24:36But then what is common is a culture.
24:39So here Pongal is a cultural thing.
24:41I think it's very unfair to answer to this in a few minutes.
24:45But I think the detailed explanation is it's culture that transits beyond anything.
24:52Okay.
24:53I wish I had more time for that detailed conversation.
24:55I agree with you that this is something that we really need to talk about in depth.
24:59About how certain festivals perhaps transcend religions and become a celebration of an entire culture, of an entire civilization.
25:07But truths still remain perhaps with that religion.
25:09Thank you very much.
25:11Dharani Dharankova, Satya Narayanan Tirupati and Dr. Sandeep Shastri once again wishing you all a very happy Pongal.
25:16Now like I said there's a whole lot of politics playing out.
25:19You've got a glimpse of that.
25:20But let's steer away from that shall we.
25:22It's still Pongal.
25:23It's still a festive season here in beautiful Tamil Nadu.
25:26As the sun sets and we get set tomorrow for Surya Pongal which is all about worshipping the sun.
25:31Let me round up for you all the images that came in today of the Pongal and Sankranti festivities.
25:36Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin took part in Pongal celebrations in Chennai where he served sweet Pongal also referred to as Chakra Pongal for his people.
25:48Earlier in the day the Chief Minister greeted everyone on the occasion of the festival.
25:58Meanwhile people in Tamil Nadu's Trichy celebrated Pongal by distributing the traditional Pongal dish among people.
26:05Pongal and foreigners particularly would come together to visit the festivities and take part in it.
26:15Pongal has become a high voltage outreach exercise for political parties in Tamil Nadu.
26:20DMK, AIA, DMK leaders rolled out lavish gift hampers to Wu voters.
26:24In Trichy West, State Minister K.N. Nehru distributed stainless steel plates, tumblers, bowls, pans, AIA, DMK camps.
26:31Former Minister Vijay Bhaskar handed out elaborate Pongal kids in Virela Mandi constituency.
26:41Pongal and Sankranti were celebrated with great enthusiasm in Andhra Pradesh where people danced and rejoiced to mark the festival.
26:48Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandra Babu Naidu also participated today in Sankranti celebrations in his native village of Naravaripalli.
27:02He was accompanied during the festivities by his wife, his son Naralokesh and daughter-in-law.
27:07It was a full family affair.
27:08So, let's move on and get you now a ground reporter.
27:38As promised, we're kicking off our election coverage for the state of Tamil Nadu and Pramod Madhav aka our election basha has hit the road.
27:47He's going to be travelling across the length and breadth of Tamil Nadu to give you a sense of what the people of Tamil Nadu have to say.
27:54The issues that really matter to them.
27:56And because it's Pongal which is a very, very important date for farmers, he started off in the farming belt of Tamil Nadu.
28:03So, here's his extensive ground report from the beautiful land of Trichy.
28:08He covers where the Cauvery flows through, speaks to farmers on the issues that matter to them and importantly also the birth of the Jallikatta tradition.
28:17Take a look at this ground report which kicks off a series of such episodes by Pramod Madhav in election basha.
28:23I'm standing atop River Cauvery and this is one of the very ancient places in Tamil Nadu and this is Trichy.
28:47A city that is said to be almost 2,000 years old, a place that has been under the control of the Choras, the Pandyas, the Delhi Sultanate, the Vijayanagara Empire, the Nayaks and finally the British.
29:01In fact, Trichy is so old that this particular dam is the oldest dam ever built in the world called as Kallanai by Karigara Choran.
29:10And imagine this alone expresses what is very important for Trichy and that is agriculture.
29:16Trichy is completely covered by educational institutions.
29:20It is modernized.
29:22It is one of the cleanest cities but the most important aspect is that even though if there is one side we have modernization, tradition and whole values are very important for Trichy and that is what you see over here.
29:34This is Mother Cauvery and that is Kallanai behind me and for Trichy farming is very very important.
29:41And that is why Cauvery has been the backbone for Trichy which you could see right behind me.
29:48Just the river galloping and flowing through Kallanai at this spot.
29:53In election vaksha, as we go forward, we will show you more colors and essence of Trichy from the ground.
30:00Come join us.
30:01These are Samis who are on the way to Sabrimala as well.
30:24Do you know the time for Tamil and Sabri to be satisfied?
30:29I will say that it is better for Tamil and then we will have less than Kapari to be satisfied.
30:43How much is it possible for a country to live?
30:47I have no country to live.
30:50I have no country to live.
30:53I have no country to live.
30:55I have no country to live.
31:05These are the paddy fields and these are the paddies that you see over here.
31:09And that is why a struggle for several hundred years between two states are happening.
31:14And Trichy being a Delta district has very clearly shown why Mother Cauvery, Thai Cauvery is very important for her.
31:26When it comes to Trichy and when it comes to farmers, what is the need?
31:29What does the government have to do?
31:31If your nation is a powerful nation, it only not with the help of the army.
31:38That nation will not beg from other countries for food.
31:45If we will satisfy the food, then only we will be a big nation.
31:52But at the same time, our Honorable Premiers already promised to give two times profitable price for agriculture product and will not import the genetically modified seed from foreign countries.
32:04But, so far he has not given two times profitable price.
32:09Per kilo of paddy and wheat is 18 rupees.
32:11He promised to give 54 rupees.
32:14So, our need in the election is, please give the profitable price for us.
32:21In 1970 for 10 sugar can is 90 rupees.
32:24Then teacher salary is also 90 rupees.
32:27Now teacher is getting 120,000 rupees per month.
32:31But we are getting only 3,200.
32:33That is the pathetic condition.
32:35Like that, lakhs and lakhs, lakhs of cubic water is basically went to the sea from the Cauvery river.
32:45But if they will divert that Cauvery river from Cauvery Iyer, then 10 lakhs acre land we can be cultivated.
32:56So, this is the pathetic condition.
32:58We want the profitable price.
33:00We want the interling of rivers.
33:02We want pension.
33:03We have seen Cauvery, we have seen the fields.
33:17But now we are going to see the actual tradition of Tirichi, the soil and that is about Jallikattu.
33:23How bulls play a very important role when it comes to agriculture over here.
33:28And how one day of Pongal is completely dedicated to them called as Pumamattu Pongal.
33:34But along with that, how the traditional sport of Jallikattu, not bullfighting but bull taming plays a very important role.
33:46Jallikattu, why are you very important?
33:49Jallikattu?
33:50It's important.
33:51It is very important.
33:53There are many years in the forest.
33:56It's very important.
33:57To the terrain of Jallikattu.
33:58We have seen the station in the forest.
33:59We all know.
34:00It's very important in our journey.
34:01There are many different areas, of course, but in our journey.
34:02We all have seen, about the Icelandic waters.
34:03It's very important in our journey.
34:04It's still the same way.
34:06But our journey.
34:08We have seen the training in our journey and the journey.
34:12We have seen a lot of theьЛдэМФ.
34:13Today, we are just going to work together anointed, a long day.
34:17You can do it with a variety of vegetables.
34:24And you can make vegetables with vegetables and vegetables.
34:31After my mineral oil, it was brought to indivisions of vegetables.
34:38I am a team team fellow who is leading, our team team, and their team team.
34:57He has a team team who is leading, but they are leading these teams.
35:06What do you think about this?
35:36An important point made by the people of Twichi give emphasis to education as well.
36:04We did fun, Pramod Madhav for India today.
36:34I'm leaving you with this one, thanks for tuning in.
37:04Soon, Chief Minister Sidramaya joined the huddle, three top Congress leaders, one-shot meeting and many unanswered questions.
37:11Sources say Sidramaya sought clarity from Rahul Gandhi over the growing buzz about leadership change in the state, flagging confusion within party ranks and asking for time to discuss the issue.
37:41Then came the post that set political circles ablaze.
37:45Shivakumar wrote, if efforts fail, the prayers don't.
37:49A cryptic line and instant chatter over Chief Minister ambitions.
37:54Breaking his silence, D.K. Shivakumar dismissed the speculation, saying not everything can be revealed and that talks focused only on strategy for protests over scrapping of Mandrega.
38:04But sources indicate the Congress High Command may soon summon both the leaders to Delhi.
38:27As the internal drama unfolded, the BJP launched a sharp attack.
38:33The opposition party slammed Sidramaya and D.K. Shivakumar for skipping German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Bengaluru visit, choosing to meet Rahul Gandhi instead.
38:42The BJP called it a case of misplaced priorities.
38:46Leader of opposition R. Ashoka termed it a betrayal of Karnataka's interests, saying global opportunity was sidelined for politics.
38:54Germany is facing shortage of manpower and they are welcoming the Indians, in particularly Karnataka's, who are more efficient and effective.
39:04They wanted to do all these talks with our Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister.
39:10But our Chief Minister and Deputy were not having time at all because they wanted to fix their power tassel.
39:17The Congress hit back, arguing that foreign schedules are decided by embassies, not state governments, and that they were informed at the last moment.
39:27It is not that we decide the program. It is the embassy which decides the program.
39:31As Germany's Chancellor landed in Bengaluru with investment and strategic ties on the agenda, Karnataka's top leadership was elsewhere.
39:52In a state that prides itself on global leadership, the optics of absence may cost more than political points.
40:01With Nagarjun Dwarkanath in Bengaluru, Bureau Report, India Today.
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