- 12 hours ago
In this special edition of To The Point, the programme spotlights the display of ‘Operation Sindoor’ at the Kartavya Path parade and the conferment of the Ashok Chakra on Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla during the Republic Day celebrations.
A debate between BJP leader Rakesh Sinha and Congress’s Vivek Tankha examines key political flashpoints, including the seating arrangement for Opposition leaders and claims that the Constitution is “under threat.” The discussion also takes up allegations of the ‘electionisation’ of the Padma Awards 2026.
Data cited by Praveen Chakravarty shows that 37 per cent of the 131 Padma awardees — including prominent figures such as Mammootty and the late Dharmendra — hail from five states headed for assembly polls, including West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. While the Opposition labels the civilian honours as tools for electoral messaging, BJP leader Khushboo Sundar defends the awards as recognition for long-neglected contributors to society.
Overall, the show presents a measured analysis of how the Constitution and national honours have emerged as central themes in India’s political discourse ahead of crucial state elections.
A debate between BJP leader Rakesh Sinha and Congress’s Vivek Tankha examines key political flashpoints, including the seating arrangement for Opposition leaders and claims that the Constitution is “under threat.” The discussion also takes up allegations of the ‘electionisation’ of the Padma Awards 2026.
Data cited by Praveen Chakravarty shows that 37 per cent of the 131 Padma awardees — including prominent figures such as Mammootty and the late Dharmendra — hail from five states headed for assembly polls, including West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. While the Opposition labels the civilian honours as tools for electoral messaging, BJP leader Khushboo Sundar defends the awards as recognition for long-neglected contributors to society.
Overall, the show presents a measured analysis of how the Constitution and national honours have emerged as central themes in India’s political discourse ahead of crucial state elections.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Good evening, you're watching To The Point. I'm Preeti Chaudhary. First up, a very happy
00:08Republic Day to all our viewers. We're going to get down to our big two news political
00:14flashpoints for the day. First up, allow me to take you through the headlines.
00:23India's massive Operation Sindhu flex in Republic Day Parade. Indian Air Force showcases Operation
00:28Sindhu Formation. Tri-Services present. Operation Sindhu Tableau at Parade.
00:38Group Captain Subhansha Shukla awarded Ashok Chakra for a daring space mission. First
00:44Indian astronaut to receive Ashok Chakra. India-EU power play on 77th Republic Day. EU Chief
00:55Top Official Costa attend parade with President Murmur. EU Chief Ursula dons ethnic attire
01:02says honor of a lifetime.
01:08Congress Slam's poll faction of Padma Awards says 37% of Padma Awardies are from poll-bound
01:15states. Eight Padmas for poll-bound. Kerala, 13 for Tamil Nadu, 11 for Bengal.
01:20State of War. Tamil Nadu hits up. Deputy Chief Minister Udaya Nidhi Stalin accuses NDA of Hindi
01:30imposition in the state. BJP hits backs as DMK is all about divide and rule.
01:34Controversial Dev Bhoomi Temple's non-Hindu bar. Non-Hindus barred from Kedarnath and Badrinath
01:47ban on non-Hindus to shield culture is the explanation.
01:511950 is when India became a republic by adopting the constitution which was written by Baba
02:10Sahib Ambedkar. Well, it's been 77 years and 77 years on, the constitution still remains
02:17a big political flashpoint. Something that was picked up in the summers of 2024 general
02:23election by the Congress, which had worked for the Congress and the opposition with the
02:27whole Samvidhan khatre mein hain position. Is Samvidhan still khatre mein? Is a question
02:33that we ask. Well, Rahul Gandhi today tweeted out on the importance of the constitution,
02:38understandably, on Republic Day. But does constitution still remain a political flashpoint? Is the question
02:46we ask?
02:47We, the people of India, have solemnly resolved to constitute India into a sovereign democratic
02:56republic and to secure to all its citizens justice, social, economic, political and equality
03:04of status and opportunity. By adopt, enact and give ourselves this constitution.
03:11January 26th, 1950. India's constitution came into force, laying the foundation for the world's
03:21largest democracy. This Republic Day, Congress once again brought the constitution into sharp
03:30focus, reaffirming a narrative it first highlighted during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
03:37During last year's general election campaign, Congress leaders championed a save the constitution
03:44message, making it a core part of their platform. The message resonated with voters and helped the
03:52Congress secured 99 seats in Lok Sabha. On Monday, as the nation celebrated its 77th Republic Day,
04:01Congress President Malik Arjun Khadge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Wadra reiterated this
04:07message. Rahul Gandhi described the constitution as the greatest weapon for every Indian, emphasizing
04:14that protecting it means protecting the Indian Republic. Khadge, who unfurled the national flag at his
04:21official residence, stressed the need for all citizens to stand firmly in defense of the constitution's
04:28principles and spirit. The Congress framed its Republic Day message around core constitutional values
04:36of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity, asserting that defending Samvidhan is essentially defending
04:43the Indian Republic. But this narrative is not without controversy. The ruling Bharatiya Janta Party
04:51frequently criticizes the Congress, pointing to the emergency imposed in 1975 by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
05:01Congress leader Vivek Tan Kha also weighed in on the celebration, pointing out
05:30that during the Republic Day parade, leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi was seated in back row.
05:35On Republic Day, the constitution is celebrated as a symbol of India's democratic spirit.
05:40Samvidhan today remains both a legal foundation and a political narrative.
05:43Bureau report, India Today.
05:46Bureau report, India Today.
05:47All right.
05:48I want to cut across this news for the Nase of the Republic of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the Nase of the N
06:18evening to Mr. Professor Rakesh Sinha, former Rajya Sabha MP, Bharatiya Janata Party, who's
06:24joining us live. Appreciate you taking the time out and joining us. My first question,
06:28Mr. Sinha, stems from the, there are two questions. Number one, the immediate controversy, which is
06:34the placement of the LOP of Lok Sabha and the LOP or the leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha
06:41in seats which were right at the back and not in the front, which is what the Congress has taken
06:46offence on. The second question, Professor Sinha, comes from once again, who is the real guardian
06:53where the constitution of this country is concerned?
07:01First of all, I congratulate the nation, entire 140 crore people on the eve of the Republic Day.
07:09This is a great day. This reminds us the sacrifices of hundreds and thousands of people for the
07:17independence of the country. And republicanism is the greatest feature of Indian constitution.
07:24As far as the sitting arrangement is concerned, this is done according to the rules, according to
07:30the traditions. This has nothing to do with the Bharatiya Janata Party or Prime Minister's office or
07:36Home Minister's office. I think Congress is misguiding the nation. They should go back to their own
07:43Republic days when the Congress party was in the government. How did the opposition leaders
07:50place in the different roles? So I think this is a fake narrative Congress is trying to impose
07:57at this auspicious day when entire country is celebrating the Republic Day.
08:04As for the second question is concerned, you know, Priti, for the last 10 years, the Congress
08:11is not digesting its position in the opposition. This is the most unfortunate part.
08:18Bharatiya Janata Party, which was earlier Bharatiya Janshan, right from 1951 to 1996, it remained
08:28constantly in the opposition. It got even two seats in the looks behind 1984. We have never
08:34attacked the Indian constitution. We have never attacked the constitutional tradition and democratic
08:40process of the country. But the unfortunate part of this country is that opposition parties,
08:45which is being led by Congress party, it infected its virus to all other regional parties too.
08:52They together don't digest the alternative ideology or party or leaders coming to the power.
09:01That is the tragedy. That's why they are depending on false narrative and this false narrative that
09:08constitution is under threat. Let Rahul Gandhi or Khargay or anyone should tell the nation how this constitution is
09:15under threat. And Priti, you are leading debates on TV channels for the last many years.
09:24I am asking a question. Had anyone asked you not to raise any question to BJP man or any Congress party representative comes
09:35or opposition party representative comes, they say anything or everything about the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
09:42Despite such kind of freedom you enjoy at the TV channels, in public live, you say the constitution is under threat.
09:50This constitution is not under threat because this constitution is framed by not only the representatives of the people,
09:57but the entire nation is involved in the framing of the constitution. So I think that Congress should avoid such kind of false narrative
10:06because it loses its credibility, it loses its own status in the society by trying to misguide the people.
10:15People are wise, they know who is doing what.
10:18Professor Sina, you said this is a false narrative. The Congress will say that each and every institution which the constitution needs to safeguard is being diluted today at the behest of the government.
10:30The Congress and the opposition in 2024 did save the constitution.
10:35Samvidan Khatreme has a political agenda and has a political plank.
10:40And they succeeded to a large extent, Professor Sina. Of course, state elections are different, they didn't quite do so.
10:47But it does seem that as a political plank, constitution and save the constitution has become the preserve of the opposition today.
10:59There are three things under the democratic constitution. One is rule of law.
11:04Second is procedure established by the law. And third is no discrimination with any citizen on the basis of caste, creed, religion or language.
11:16And I think these are the three parameters one should judge the functioning of the constitution or the ruling party's pattern of behavior.
11:25Can anybody tell me that there has been discrimination with the people on the ground of religion, caste, community, creed?
11:36Is any example before us?
11:38Second thing is that everything is done on the basis of rule of law.
11:44I remember that the constitution was in danger. Not only in danger, the constitution was in advance.
11:51The only time was 1975-77 when Rahul Gandhi's grandmother was the prime minister of the country.
11:59When Rahul Gandhi's father Rajiv Gandhi was the prime minister of the country,
12:03the equal rights to Muslim women were not granted.
12:06And we all know what happened to Sawano case.
12:09Arif Muhammad Khan, who is now governor of Bihar, had to resign.
12:15He is a Muslim. He led the debate. He was a minister.
12:20And the rational voice was avoided just for the vote bank.
12:24Do you think that promoting vote bank, promoting appeasement is a constitutional morality?
12:32And what happens with the Congress is that it is being guided by a brain trust which consists of the rootless intellectuals.
12:47And these rootless intellectuals don't understand the realities of the country.
12:53Prithi realities have changed.
12:55We just see the Padmeabad. Prime Minister Modi made a fundamental change in the nature of the wadis.
13:02The unsung heroes are coming to the president's house and receiving the, getting honor of the Padmeabad.
13:08I don't need to name all such people.
13:11And we all know all the things. These are now the old things for this governance.
13:17Second important thing, you go to the common people.
13:21Common people. Common people. Prithi, you are a journalist. You are a very active journalist.
13:26You go to the common people in any area in Assam, Bengal, Bihar, Tamil Nadu.
13:32And meet the people who are farmers, who are laborers.
13:39And see how they are happy with Prime Minister Modi.
13:42For the first time the Republic is reaching to the people.
13:46And this Republic is reaching to the people, giving them right-based facilities.
13:51Earlier there was a mercy of the state.
13:53The state was granting some facilities to the poor.
13:56The first time Prime Minister started, it is your right. It is farmers' right.
14:00It is 80 crore people's right to get the free food.
14:03So this is the initiation, I think. If it is properly evaluated, in fact Prime Minister Modi applied all the socialistic measures,
14:16measures which Congress used to claim in socialistic pattern of society.
14:19Okay.
14:20They have not done. They only used the phrase of socialistic pattern of society, democratic socialism.
14:24Prime Minister Modi has actually implemented that.
14:27Okay. All right. We are going to leave it at that, you know, Professor Sina.
14:32Thank you for taking the time out and joining us.
14:34We are going to take the debate further and pose these questions to Mr. Vivek Tanka from the Congress.
14:40Thank you for joining us.
14:44All right. Joining me now is Mr. Vivek Tanka, Rajya Sabha MP, Congress leader and senior advocate.
14:50Mr. Tanka, there are, you know, two issues here.
14:52One, of course, something that you tweeted out yourself, posting on social media platform X,
14:57where you seem to suggest that the opposition leaders like LOP, Lok Sabha, Mr. Rahul Gandhi,
15:03and the leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mr. Karge, were insulted primarily by the way in which they were seated.
15:11The second thing, Mr. Tanka, which is being debated extensively, is once again certain members of your own party,
15:18you've had Mr. Rahul Gandhi tweeting out, you've had Ms. Priyanka Gandhi tweeting out,
15:22making the constitution as the core of trying to build yet and mount another attack on the BJP and the government.
15:33Let me talk of the first point first.
15:35Yes, I did tweet and it was a very instantaneous tweet.
15:40I had gone for an international law conference to Goa.
15:45When I was about to board the flight, I saw that picture.
15:49And I just instinctively tweeted and I said, it looked very sad to me.
15:58I mean, you know, the constitution feels humiliated.
16:01People feel humiliated if you don't treat your institutions well.
16:05It's not a question of Mr. Rahul Gandhi or Mr. Karge.
16:08I would have said so even if it was Mr. Jaitley and Madam Swaraj.
16:14You know, every constitutional person holding constitutionally responsible position must be treated with dignity and respect.
16:22If you don't do it, you're insulting your own country's constitution and parliament.
16:27I felt bad, so I tweeted.
16:29And I, frankly speaking, I also wrote that I don't expect anything better from this government.
16:33They have done this in the past. They are doing it again.
16:36So that's all I could say and that's all I said also.
16:40Secondly, on the other side, yes, it's Republic Day.
16:44On this day, the constitution was dedicated to the country.
16:48This constitution has served well.
16:50You know, it's 77 years.
16:52We have a robust Supreme Court.
16:55We have a robust, we have robust laws.
16:57We still can claim that in, while most other countries,
17:02have seen other turmoils.
17:05We have been able to resolve all our turmoils constitutionally.
17:09You know, even if you remember, there was emergency for which our party was used to be blamed.
17:16And you can imagine that my father sitting as a judge in 1975 with Justice AP Sen,
17:23were the judges who gave that famous judgment, Shibkan Shukla versus ADM Jabalpur.
17:29And look at this Congress party.
17:31It never went against me in my party.
17:34In fact, they never treated me as if somebody who's given a judgment against the government.
17:39I come from that family.
17:41So, you know, you have to have liberal values.
17:44You have to have liberal ethos.
17:46You must understand that article 14, 19, 21, 22 are the heart and soul of the constitution.
17:53If people like Sonam Manchuk, who actually represent the soul of the glaciers, climate change,
18:01if they are under NSA, what are you insulting?
18:04You are insulting article 22 and article 21.
18:07You ask anybody in India whether what I am saying is incorrect.
18:10I am today speaking as an Indian, not as a Congress MP.
18:15As a senior lawyer wedded to the constitution and the law.
18:18We want a government of constitutionalism.
18:22We want a government which respects rule of law.
18:25And we want a government which respects institutions and personalities.
18:30Mr. Tanka, let me break up these two questions that I am going to ask you.
18:33Number one, so your grouse, you know, not a complaint, but of the leader of opposition of both houses
18:40been not given an adequate place to sit in terms of they were in the third or the fourth row.
18:45Is your personal grouse.
18:46It's not your party grouse.
18:47It's not that you have Mr. Khadge or Mr. Rahul Gandhi who have confirmed.
18:51You feel this personally and you just aired your thought.
18:53Is that where it ends?
18:54Yeah.
18:55Absolutely.
18:56If Mr. Advani and Mr. Bajpai had been put there also I would have said the same thing.
19:01Sitting in the Congress party.
19:03It's not about personalities.
19:05It's about respect to the institution.
19:07So I feel that dignity of our institutions and dignity of individuals who head the institution
19:14has to be maintained whether it be the Prime Minister or the LOP.
19:18Let me ask you the other question where it comes down, you know, the constitution has been
19:23much debated ever since 24, 24, where it became one of your key political planks and it worked
19:30for you then.
19:31That entire Samvidan khatre mein hai hai.
19:33The constitution is in danger.
19:35It really worked with, you know, for you on ground.
19:37But ever since there, you know, while we've had the Congress stick to the same, at least, you know, the agenda
19:45or the narrative of the constitution is in danger.
19:49Electorally it hasn't quite caught on.
19:51Do you think it's lost its relevance where electorally picking up the constitution is concerned?
19:56Electorally it did resonate in the general elections for the parliament.
20:06Sometimes these issues don't resonate in state elections.
20:11State has their own local issues, state issues.
20:14So you can't compare state elections with national elections.
20:18Whenever there are national elections, these things will resonate.
20:22You will see again in 29, when we have national elections, constitution will be a major plank once again.
20:29And why?
20:30Because there's constant impression of institutional devaluation.
20:35We see and this is what we feel that, you know, if you want to protect the Indian constitution,
20:41you have to have a truly independent judiciary.
20:44You have to have a truly independent election commission.
20:47You have to have a truly independent press and media.
20:50It's not about Congress and BJP, again I'm saying.
20:53It's about democracy in this country.
20:56You can't have a democracy when people perceive.
21:00As I said, I may not be completely correct.
21:02And there may be another point of view.
21:05It may be a debatable issue.
21:06But the fact is, there is an impression that our institutions today are feeling compromised.
21:13That impression will stay put till the next general election in 29.
21:18You wait and see.
21:19Well, you know, we know when the elections come in.
21:21But at least state elections, it's not working.
21:23But let me ask you one final question, Mr. Tanka, before we let you go.
21:27Who is the true guardian of the constitution?
21:30Is now a real debate where politics is concerned?
21:34We have had the prime minister who have taken the floor of the parliament.
21:37You know, you are a parliamentarian multiple times.
21:40And espouse that it is BJP and his government that are the true advocates and the custodians of the constitution.
21:49Rather than the congress that pretends to be the guardian of the constitution, which it continues to disrespect.
21:55Preeti ji, again, you are asking a question to somebody who is part of the opposition.
22:04I mean, I am a congress MP.
22:06And I have seen a lawyer who is always spousing the cause of the denied and the deprived.
22:13Now, let me tell you that we feel we are the guardians.
22:17The ruling party feels they are the guardians.
22:20True.
22:21It's the people of India who decide who are the true guardians.
22:24I remember when there was emergency, nobody could have believed that Indra ji would lose an election.
22:32And people of India voted at that time, if you remember.
22:35But within two years or three years, they returned her back with a resounding victory.
22:41Why?
22:42Because, as I said, opinions also change with time.
22:47Nobody can remain a permanent guardian of the constitution as we walk on with our democracy.
22:56Sometimes, in life and in the history of the country, the opposition at that time looked more of a guardian.
23:04Today, we are the opposition.
23:06So, we are the guardians of democracy because the ruling party has a stake in what it is doing.
23:12They have their agenda.
23:14That agenda may not be purely in conformity with the constitutional ethos of what the founding fathers must have thought.
23:22So, we feel that the ruling party is challenging many provisions of the constitution which,
23:29which according to us, do not conform to the spirit by which, with which the constitution was trained.
23:36Now, fair point, Mr. Tankhan.
23:38You know, you are right.
23:39It is for the people to decide.
23:41And I would reckon 2029, like you said, the general elections will lay proof to that.
23:46Thank you for taking the time out and joining us this evening.
23:49Appreciate it, sir.
23:50Thank you so much.
23:54What was meant to celebrate excellence is now under sharp political scrutiny.
23:59A controversy has erupted just a day after the Narendra Modi government announced the Padma Awards 2026, India's highest civilian honours.
24:13And the flashpoint is clear. Elections.
24:16Of the 131 Padma awardees, as many as 38 are from states heading to assembly polls later this year.
24:25Tamil Nadu tops the list with 13 awardees, second only to Maharashtra.
24:30West Bengal accounts for 11.
24:32Kerala gets eight, including three of the five Padma Bhivushans.
24:36Assam has five, while Puduchiri gets one.
24:40Congress leader Praveen Chakravarti has accused the Modi government of electionising the Padma Awards.
24:46He claims 37% of this year's awardees are from poll-bound states, even though these states make up for just 18% of the population.
24:57The charge has drawn a fierce counter-attack.
25:02Padma Shriya Wadi and former MHA Undersecretary RVS Mani has hit out the Congress,
25:08accusing it of pushing fake terror narratives and running an anti-Hindu agenda while in power.
25:14And the political sparring doesn't end.
25:42And the political sparring doesn't end there.
25:44In Kerala, Chief Minister Pinaray Vijayan has taken a swipe at the Modi government over actor Mamuti's Padma Bhushan.
25:51The majority of the people have gotten engaged in the country by the hunger of the peace of the era.
25:56In the United States, there has been a great opportunity.
26:03The BJP has dismissed the attacks, calling them an insult to the Padma awardees themselves.
26:27It is not degrading the BJP, degrading the talented heads from Tamil Nadu. So let them not do that.
26:36Issues will be there. It can be aptly handled by the people who have the leadership medal and acumen in the centre. Unfortunately, Congress, you don't find many with that kind of leadership attribute and acumen. So it is quite natural from Congress to make these sorts of allegations.
26:50From cinema legends to sport icons and public servants, the Padma awards 2026 honour excellence across fields. But as polling season nears, the debate is only getting louder. Are the Padmas about merit alone or electoral messaging? Bureau Report, India Today.
27:12All right. Joining me right now is Mr. Praveen Chakravarti, Chairman, Professionals Congress and Data Analytics. Mr. Chakravarti, you know, I was looking at your social media post. On X, you have posted that the Padma awards is the electionisation of awards, where Padma awards are concerned. Why do you say that, Mr. Chakravarti?
27:33Yes, my post was actually based on data and facts. I said, let me look at the Padma awardees from each state over the last five, six years and see how many of them are from election-going states of that year.
27:53So if it was, say, for example, 2020, then the election-going states of that year could be Delhi and Bihar. Then 2021 was Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Assange, Puducherry.
28:10So I said, how many of the total Padma awardees come from these election-going states to find out, is the Padma award also being used as an election vehicle or a weapon?
28:23And it turns out that, you know, an extraordinary number of awards actually are given to people from those states that go into election.
28:31So, for example, this year, first, I must say Happy Republic Day. Sorry, I should have said that right at the beginning.
28:36But 2026, nearly 35, more than 35 percent of the total Padma awardees come from these five election-going states that are about to go to election in the next two months.
28:52Three out of the five Padma Vibhushans have gone to people from Kerala. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm very, I come from an election-going state. I'm from Tamil Nadu.
29:04I'm immensely proud that a lot of Tamil Nadu have gotten Padma awards this year. I'm glad that the great actor Mamuthi has won the Padma Bhushan this year. But why is it that, you know, 35 to 37 percent of all awards go to people from election-going states every year?
29:24And during the non-election time, these states only get about 10 to 11 percent. So, that very clearly tells you that awards are being used.
29:36Okay, so there are two, you know, there are two parts to the question I'd like to ask you. Number one, the maximum number of awards, Praveen Chakravarti, have gone to the state of Maharashtra. Not so much as Tamil Nadu, Kerala.
29:48So, Maharashtra is a state that has already gone into election and really not much would be achieved politically to give a lion's share of awards to Maharashtra. And it's happened in this very list.
30:01See, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra are the two most populous countries in India, right? So, it's natural that a lot of the awards will go to people from these states because their population is also high.
30:17So, statistically, one cannot just look at maximum and minimum. It's not about maximum and minimum. Each state is not equal.
30:25So, if the five election-going states, they constitute about 18 percent of India's population. Okay?
30:33So, roughly, roughly, if it was all equal, I know it's not that it cannot be equal, but roughly you would expect 20 to 25 percent of Padma awardees from these five states.
30:42Why is it that there is 36 percent?
30:46Okay, you're saying five states constitute 36 percent. And that's why your charge is it's an electionization of these Padma awards to influence elections in the upcoming five state which are going up for elections. That's the charge.
31:01So, I want to clarify. This is not just based on one year, 2026. I've shown, in fact, I put out the data from 2020 onwards. I've removed the years in which there were lots of by-elections, right?
31:13Fair play.
31:13I said, look at the pattern here. You know, in 2022, you know, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, and they all go to elections, and a lot of the awards come from those states. In 2023, Chaktisgarh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana go to elections, and a lot of the awards come from those states.
31:30So, there's a very clear and consistent pattern of the Padma awards also being used as an election vehicle or an instrument.
31:39That's a charge which has been made, especially by your party. It was made at the time of Karpuri Thakur being given the Bharat Ratna right before Bihar elections, or even be it Chaudhary Charan Singh getting the Bharat Ratna before the 2024 general election.
31:54So, this is a charge where your party has made, which is the, you know, milking awards or the electionization of awards of what you have termed it. But, Praveen Chakravarti, you're a man of data, right?
32:04And, if you're looking at these awards, then you've got to look at data, which even encompasses when your own political party was at power.
32:13So, what we've done here at India Today is, and you can smile, you know, but the fact is, if there is electionization of awards, then your party equally has their hands or its hand in the till.
32:25And, I'll go back, because I'm looking at data, and we'll put that data out there, from 2000 to 2016.
32:32And, exactly the charge that you have made, and primarily in certain years, the percentage of awards, Padma awards, is much higher than 55% on certain election-going states.
32:44And, this has happened and conferred where your party in power.
32:48So, one thing is clear, that 30% in the election years, there has been a jump for particular states, if they were going into elections from the year 2000 to 2016.
33:01So, your party is equally guilty. There has always been the electionization of awards, and nothing much has changed. Good for the gander, good for the goose.
33:10Now, if your response to this is going to be, what about, really? And, if the response is, you know, oh, this was done earlier, so it's okay now.
33:21Now, I can't answer for what has happened in the past. Now, I've not looked at that data, I can't answer for what's happened in the past.
33:28I am glad that, at least my post has forced you to go look at some of the data in the past, because we are not only talking about symbolic, kind of Bharat Ratnas, or something, you know, being given to a particular person.
33:43I've taken the entire Padma Awards list, and I've looked at data and facts, this is facts.
33:49Now, if your charge is that this used to happen in the past, and didn't happen, and what was the level of which it happened in the past?
33:56Now, I actually think that's not very meaningful at this point in time. Is the Padma being used as an election instrument, and in the last whatever decade or so, the data says absolutely yes, even in 2026.
34:14So, the simple point is, while we know that many institutions, such as the judiciary, and the ED, and the CBI, and the income tax, and all of all election commission, and now clearly censor board for film certification, has also been used as election instruments, here is a new one, Padma Awards.
34:32So, there is only one goal that seems to be there, which is elections, that drives everything in this country.
34:39No, I'm not, you know, I'm not contesting with what you say. You put out facts. Nobody's contesting that. I completely do agree that awards today, even if it is the symbolic awards of Bharat Ratna, are clearly given with an eye on elections and electioneering.
34:55My only submission in this Praveen Chakruti was, I'm not saying two wrongs have made a right, but the fact is, there have to be admittance.
35:02You might think it's not relevant, but it is relevant, because, like I said, you'll have a political outfit, which will say, you know, you did it, why shouldn't we do it?
35:11And data seems to suggest you did it, if not as much practically was at that point of time, when you were in power. I'm not saying it's correct, but that is what the data suggests.
35:20Yeah, like I said, let's both agree that whatever, you know, the past since cannot condone the present since.
35:29And so let us, I mean, I think it's important to point this out. It's important to, you know, bring this to everyone's attention.
35:37And of course, times have changed. Things have changed today. We are on social media. There are a lot more people who are looking at these things.
35:43And it's also an opportunity to, you know, to make arguments using data and facts rather than just kind of casting blame and shouting at each other.
35:52So, so, so that's all I can say. All right. But final word, Mr. Chakravarti. Well, at least, you know, are you glad that there have been fair amounts coming in from your state as well?
36:02At least there have been people who've been acknowledged, who needed to be acknowledged a while ago?
36:06Like I said, I'm delighted. I'm delighted that there's so many Tamilians. Finally, people in the north are recognizing the south of the Vindias, the south of the Gwadawari.
36:17And there are some personal favorites of mine, like Ranjini Gayatri. I'm a big Carnatic fan. I mean, I'm a big fan of their singing. They've been recognized.
36:24The great actor Mamuti from Kerala has been recognized. So, so there's some fantastic awards. There's no denying that.
36:30But can we not politicize and electionize every single thing in this country? Elections cannot be the be all and end all in the world's largest democracy.
36:42Fair point, Mr. Chakravarti. And you know, nobody's condoning it. Yes, possibly an eye on elections. But once again, it's always happened.
36:49You know, when is it not happened is the other way to look at it. But thank you for taking the time out and joining us this evening. Appreciate it, sir. Thank you.
36:56Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. All right. Joining me right now is Khushbu Sundar, Vice President BJP Tamil Nadu.
37:04Ms. Sundar, thank you for taking the time out and joining us this evening. Congratulations.
37:08Many Padma awardees coming in from your state as well. But there is a charge which the opposition is leveling Khushbu Sundar today.
37:17And that is an attempt by your political party and your government to electionize, the electionization of awards.
37:25Where 35% of the awards, the Padma awards or 131 awards that have been given, have been given to states that are bound for elections in the next two months.
37:36I don't know how to react to this. All I can do is laugh, scoff at them because they are the ones who are trying to politicize every possible thing that the BJP government does.
37:49Every step taken by the Prime Minister because there's an election, every policy that comes in, that's because it's an election.
37:55Some state, the policies are for the country, not for a particular state.
37:59Now, these Padma awards, are they trying to say that Dharamendra Ji has been awarded Padma Vibhushan posthumously?
38:06So that is because there's election or because we have won the BMC in Mumbai? Was it because of that?
38:12I really don't know. We don't have elections in Kerala.
38:15Mahmoudi, sir, has been given as Padma Vibhushan.
38:18Prasajit Chattaji has been given from Bengal.
38:22You have Aar Madhu.
38:23I'm talking only about the movie fraternity from the art and culture.
38:27But there are so many unsung heroes. We do not even know that they existed.
38:32They are there. They have been the silent, unsung heroes from different parts of the country.
38:37They have been awarded. They have been honored.
38:40They have been brought into the forefront and said these are the real heroes we need to look up to.
38:46And I don't know. I mean, everything, whatever BJP does, Congress has a problem with that.
38:53So I think the fear factor which is there within them that every step taken by BJP rattles them.
39:00If it doesn't rattle them, then I'll be surprised. It should. I'm glad it does.
39:05But Ms. Sundar, their charge is that they have no problem.
39:07They're very happy with the Padma awardees coming in from the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, even Bengal.
39:13Their problem is that look at the chronology.
39:16And we had Mr. Chakravarti there right before you came in, Praveen Chakravarti.
39:21And he says he studied data in the last eight to ten years.
39:25And he's, you know, drawn a conclusion that every election that comes in right before that,
39:32if there is an award list, especially like the Padma awards that year,
39:36it caters to the states that are going in for elections.
39:39He gave an example to the Padma list of 2026 and said 35 percent of the awardees come from election bound states.
39:47I think this is how the Congress has been working all these years.
39:53Today we are celebrating the 76th year of our Republic Day.
39:58So I think most of the years the Congress has been ruling the country.
40:02And I would like to ask Praveen Chakravarti, this is how they have been working.
40:06Because unless you do not work that way, you will not be getting deeper and thinking on those lines.
40:12To them, probably every step taken is about politics.
40:15It's about election.
40:17Unfortunately, in BJP, as far as our Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modiji is concerned, nothing is politics.
40:24It's all about letting people know that this country moves forward because we have our unsung heroes.
40:32And I think that's a brilliant way to do it.
40:34Why didn't you recognize all these people over all these years?
40:40How many unsung heroes have they recognized?
40:42It has been always about who is there.
40:44There are so-called inverted commas.
40:46You name them.
40:47Nam Chini loko hamne award kiya hai unko hamne sajaya hai, savara hai.
40:53I think this is how they have been working.
40:56But BJP doesn't work that way.
40:58BJP works with...
40:59I mean, are they trying to tell me that when we conquer Padma Bhushan or Padma Shri on Hande sir, who is close to 100 years old.
41:08Awarding him is going to garner us vote.
41:11Awarding somebody who is there, an artist who is right inside deep, you know, villages of Tamil Nadu.
41:18That is going to garner us vote.
41:21Or awarding Madhwan, who is from Tamil Nadu, but based out of Dubai now.
41:25That is going to garner us vote.
41:27Or what are they trying to say?
41:29How do you even garner this vote?
41:31We voting...
41:32We have given it to Mr. Mamuti.
41:34Is that going to give us vote in Tamil Nadu?
41:37I think, like I said, I think this is how the Congress has been working.
41:41The appeasement politics comes very easily to Congress because that is what they have always believed in.
41:47We don't.
41:48We believe in actually appreciating good work and bringing at the forefront the people who have played a very, very vital role in the growth of this nation.
42:00That is what we believe in.
42:02Ms. Sundar, you have a fair point because I think one of the criticisms was that, you know, the Congress, which worked in your favor, is when the BJP and your government started picking up people from all walks of life, what you call unsung heroes, and you started to award them.
42:17So that's something that has really worked, and I hear you on that.
42:20And on the other hand, where awards are concerned, it's not that the Congress did not do it because we've been going through data when the Congress was in power.
42:28The Congress also catered to certain states that were up for elections, and that is how politics works.
42:34So is there an understanding that so what if we are honoring those which are coming in from certain election bound states?
42:41That's politics. The Congress did it. You're doing it. What's wrong with that?
42:45Nothing wrong with that. But then we don't do it. It's as simple as that.
42:49If we do it, we will say that, yes, we have done it. There's an election. There's nothing wrong with that because we can easily point out at Congress and say, you have done it, so we are doing it.
42:59It's fair and square. Everything is fair and love and war. And election, that is how Congress looks at it, saying that it's a war.
43:06We look at it in a different angle, saying it's love, it's respect, it's appreciation.
43:11It is something telling people that you deserve to be awarded with such high regards.
43:18So I think we don't work that way. So we are not going to come here with the blame game that you do it, I do it, it's square.
43:23No, we actually appreciate people who have been behind the screen, who are not on social media, who do not know how to market themselves.
43:34And we like to pick those people. And that is the, I think, biggest quality of the prime minister, where he picks up these people who have not been in the forefront,
43:44but we know that they deserve this recognition and we do it to them. So I am not going to come into the blame game.
43:51No, I hear you on that. And I think that has been a big accomplishment of this particular government, that whenever it comes to the Padma Awards,
43:57we've seen people come in from all walks of life and actually be at the forefront, which at least in the past we hadn't.
44:04So that is a big accomplishment and you need to take that compliment.
44:07The Congress also says, look at it, which in a way, Miss Sundar is true, because if you look at even the Bharat Ratnas,
44:13they've also happened right before an election. You had a Karpuri Thakur who was given a Bharat Ratna right before Bihar elections.
44:19You had Chaudhary Charan Singh who was given a Bharat Ratna right before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
44:26We've been thinking too much.
44:29The Congress has so much of free time on hand.
44:33They've been looking very deep into it.
44:35I don't even know how can they connect a person who's been recognized and say that because we have recognized who happens to be in that state where it's going for election.
44:47We don't work with those mindsets, those kind of mindsets.
44:50I think it's just that we need to appreciate, we appreciate.
44:52But then if the Congress is thinking on those lines, I would like to tell them that please utilize your free time for something more progressive where you can help the people.
45:02My final question, Miss Sundar, of the entire list that has come.
45:06Who are you, what really gladdened your heart that I am so glad this person has got the Padma Award?
45:12Is there one or two names that you're very happy for?
45:15I definitely am very happy that Handeji has received it from my state.
45:20I'm very, very happy that Karnatic singer Rajaji has won it.
45:23I'm very glad that the artist, Sridhar, he has won it.
45:29And then I think I'm very happy that we have finally recognized an actor like Dharmendra Ji.
45:36Of course, you have Mamuti, Prasanji, everyone.
45:38But I think Dharmendra Ji, he deserved this Padma Vibhushan.
45:42Unfortunately, he's not with us anymore.
45:44But I think this recognition is something that's going to go along when we are going to remember this for a very, very long time because Dharmendra Ji has entertained the people of this nation in every possible manner all through his career.
45:59And giving it to Dharmendra Ji has really touched my heart.
46:03So I'm very glad that he won this.
46:06Well, thank you for taking the time out, Ms. Sundar, and joining us this evening.
46:10And many congratulations for all those who have won the award from your state, Tamil Nadu.
46:15Thank you. Appreciate it.
46:16Thank you very much.
46:17Thank you very much.
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