- 13 hours ago
The big talking point of this episode of News Today is the arrest of Indian Youth Congress President Uday Bhanu Chib following a shirtless protest at the AI summit.
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00:00Good evening, hello and welcome. You're with the news today. This is your primetime destination news.
00:04Newsmakers talking points Tuesday night. The big story, the youth congress president has been arrested.
00:11Politics of intimidation by the Modi government? Are Rahul Gandhi's personal attacks on the prime minister misguided?
00:18We'll also tell you about the Haryana bank scam, fraud or a systemic failure in our banking system.
00:26Plenty to talk about as always, but first, it's time for the nine headlines at nine.
00:33Youth Congress Chief Uday Bhanu Chip arrested over the AI summit.
00:38Shirtless protest, criminal conspiracy charge is slapped on all eight accused.
00:50Amit Deepam controversy, Prime Minister Modi to visit Madurai on the 1st of March, likely to visit the controversial temple
00:58at the centre of the Deepam Rao.
01:03All seven aboard, Jarkhand Air Ambulance crash died.
01:09Delhi-bound aircraft crashed in Chhatra shortly after taking off from Rachi late last night.
01:15Probe launched into the crash tragedy.
01:20The Ajit Pawar plane crash probe widens DGCA, now cracks the whip on VSR Ventures, which operated Ajit Pawar's jet.
01:28All four aircraft owned by the company to be grounded.
01:35Kerala will now be called as Keralam.
01:38Modi cabinet approves renaming of the state.
01:40It's a big move ahead of the assembly elections in the state.
01:46Jailalita's former aide re-enters state of war.
01:50Tamil Nadu announces launch of a new party, says ready to field candidates in the upcoming assembly elections.
02:00Aryana Chief Minister Nayib Singh Saini informs the state assembly that out of 590 crores involved in the alleged fraud
02:07at IDFC's Bank Chandigarh branch,
02:10556 crores have been recovered.
02:15India battles against cervical cancer.
02:18Centre launches free nationwide HPV vaccine campaign targeting girls aged about 14 to protect them from cervical cancer.
02:29And in a setback for India in the T20 World Cup, batter Rinku Singh leaves India camp due to an
02:34emergency situation.
02:35His father is reportedly in a serious condition, admitted to a hospital.
02:54But let's turn to the story that's breaking at the moment.
02:58Ajit Pawar's plane crash.
03:00The DGCA has decided to crack the whip on BSR Ventures and has decided to ground at least four aircraft.
03:10The top source is now telling India today, DGCA to ground the aircraft involved in the crash of Ajit Pawar.
03:21The action to be taken on the basis of the findings of the special audit and surveillance that was conducted
03:27after the Baramati crash.
03:29The AIIB is carrying out its probe into the Ajit Pawar Baramati crash.
03:34Remember, the NCP Sharad Pawar group has accused, has claimed that there could be a conspiracy and wants a CBI
03:41probe.
03:42The Maharashtra Chief Minister, Devendra Fattavis, has said he is ready to order a CBI probe.
03:47In the middle of this, clearly now the DGCA coming under some pressure.
03:51Joining me now at this moment is Amit Bhardwaj.
03:55He is, of course, tracking civil aviation for us.
03:59Amit, what can you tell us about this story?
04:02The Ajit Pawar plane crash probe widening.
04:05The Pawars had targeted the civil aviation minister, even calling for his resignation.
04:12Rama Naidu saying he and the Telugu Desam was associated with BSR Ventures.
04:17Is this damage limitation?
04:19What are we understanding?
04:21No, Rajdeep, honestly, you know, these are two different trajectories.
04:25On one side, yes, you had Rohit Pawar making those allegations against the Telugu Desam Party
04:30and civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu, to which TDP had categorically said that
04:36TDP and Ram Mohan Naidu have no connections with BSR Ventures.
04:41Having said that, now we need to also focus on the fact that the DGCA had, you know,
04:47instructed special audit of the non-scheduled operators, which included BSR Ventures.
04:53Along with this, additional, you know, multiple surveillances were conducted on BSR Ventures
04:59based on the findings.
05:01What are the findings?
05:01The DGCA has now confirmed that there were violations and, you know, shockcomings as far as airworthiness
05:10and air safety norms are concerned within BSR Ventures.
05:14And based on the findings of the multiple audits, as well as the surveillances which were conducted
05:20after the Baramati crash, a Learjet 40 and Learjet 45, two models.
05:26Remember, the plane that crashed, a Learjet 45.
05:30So, two models, Learjet 40 and 45.
05:32Four aircrafts in total of the BSR Ventures have been grounded.
05:36The slip for this particular grounding and the action that is being taken against the BSR Ventures
05:42has been duly informed to them by the DGCA.
05:46So, you know, for Rohit Pawa's allegations, the DGCA had ordered the special audit
05:52and now the action is being taken.
05:54Back to you.
05:57Amit Vardwaj, reporting there, saying that BSR Ventures, which flew, of course, the aircraft
06:04which crashed in Baramati, all its planes have been grounded at the moment.
06:10Remember, last night, too, there was an air crash involving an air ambulance.
06:15We'll have more on that story in the days ahead.
06:18Let me turn, though, to the top political story of the day.
06:22The confrontation over the Youth Congress protest at the AI summit last week has escalated further.
06:29The Delhi police today arrested Udaybhanu Chip, president of the Indian Youth Congress,
06:35claiming that he was the mastermind of the demonstration.
06:39Now, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has come out strongly defending his party workers,
06:44describing them as Babbar Sher, challenging the Prime Minister to scrap the India-US trade deal
06:51and accusing the Prime Minister of murdering democracy by ordering the arrest of these Congress workers.
06:59The BJP, predictably, is hitting back.
07:02The fact, though, is that these arrests are now becoming another trigger for a political flashpoint
07:08between Prime Minister Modi and the Rahul Gandhi-led Congress.
07:13Take a look.
07:16Delhi police arrest Youth Congress Chief Udaybhanu over the shirtless protest at the AI summit.
07:26He's the eighth person to be arrested in the case.
07:31A local court has sent Udaybhanu to four days' police custody.
07:54On a day, the Delhi police arrested the Youth Congress Chief.
07:58Leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi doubled down and escalated his face-off with the BJP.
08:12At a farmer's rally in Bhopal, Rahul Gandhi launched a tirade against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
08:19From the Indo-US trade deal to General M.M. Naravani's unreleased memoir,
08:25the Congress MP raised multiple issues to target the Prime Minister.
08:29He dared the government to scrap the trade deal with America, which he described as a sell-out.
08:56Today, the BJP hit back at Rahul.
08:59He said,
09:04He should be considered a veteran of Indian politics.
09:32The face-off that began in the budget session of parliament has turned
09:37more bitter and fierce.
09:43With both Rahul Gandhi and the Modi government not showing any signs of climb down, the fight
09:48has become a battle of egos.
09:52Bureau Report, India Today.
09:58My first guest today is the BJP Sudhanshu Trivedi, its member of parliament and national
10:05spokesperson, appreciate you joining us, Mr. Trivedi.
10:09Before I come to you, I want to raise the big questions tonight.
10:12Modi government, is the Modi government engaged in the politics of intimidation?
10:17Has dissent been criminalized?
10:20Are Rahul Gandhi's personal attacks on Prime Minister Modi misguided and self-goals?
10:24Does the Indo-US trade deal need a national debate?
10:27Let's quote question by question.
10:29You are my first guest, then I will be joined by the Congressist, Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
10:33But to you Sudhanshu Trivedi, according to Rahul Gandhi, Modi now stands for the murder of
10:41democracy in India.
10:42This is intimidation when you arrest workers for what he says was a peaceful, non-violent
10:48protest.
10:49Your response to what is now escalating into a major controversy?
10:57I will respond both on the technical aspect as well as on the political aspect.
11:01On the first on the political aspect, if Rahul Gandhi is calling his leaders, youth congress
11:07leaders as Babar Sheer, means the soldiers of Lashkar-e-Rahul.
11:12He is saying as Babar Sheer, but I would ask him, is there any coalition partner standing
11:19with him on this issue?
11:21The answer is no.
11:22On the contrary, Akhilesh Yadavji has indirectly criticized on that aspect and precisely directly
11:30on doing this thing in Bharat Manupam.
11:33Is his entire party with him?
11:36No.
11:37Margaret Talwa has openly criticized.
11:38So, the fact of the matter, Rajdeepji, is that this episode has become a sinkhole for
11:45coalition and reputation both for Congress Party.
11:49But, unfortunately, the Congress Party is guided by a misguided leader at the time who
11:54is least interested in making the organization of Congress strong and making an objective
12:00politics rather than he is more interested in anarchial and destructive politics.
12:04On the technical aspect, I would like to ask, if there was an organization or a program going
12:11on in which 20 head of the states are there, including UN Secretary General, and 100 countries
12:17are represented, and all top IT companies whose heads are there, in terms of sensitivity
12:24of the security, their security is also equivalent to head of the state.
12:28If in that place somebody goes there and creates this type of scene, is this not a very sensitive
12:37issue which is to be dealt with firmness and with extensive investigation by the agencies?
12:43No.
12:44What is the crime?
12:45Sudhanshu Trivedi.
12:47Sudhanshu Trivedi.
12:48Sudhanshu Trivedi.
12:48No, no.
12:48Sudhanshu Trivedi.
12:50One minute.
12:50Across the world.
12:51Across the world protests take place at big international events.
12:55Across the world.
12:56This is not unusual.
12:57If there is a protest, we can, you and I can agree that it is inappropriate.
13:02We can agree that it is, some would say, immature, reckless, but is it criminal?
13:06This is a question I asked last night.
13:09I am asking it again because I am not getting a clear answer.
13:12What is the conspiracy here?
13:15Yeh saazish kya hai?
13:16I will give you.
13:16What is the saazish suddenly?
13:18Rajdeep ji.
13:20Rajdeep ji, I will give you a very clear categorical answer.
13:24Yes.
13:24In several international events, the environmental activists, other, they protest.
13:29They protest outside the building.
13:31They protest on the other side of the road.
13:33They do not enter in the disguise of the visitors.
13:38And then they start protesting on that particular point in which so many sensitive people are there.
13:44This can be a diversionary tactic, which can be used by any security threat of the terrorist organization or whatever,
13:51whosoever wants to do that.
13:52I am not saying that the Congress is beautifully done.
13:54And one more thing I would like to say in this context.
13:56If this would have been an incident of some stray voice coming, suddenly they got agitated, they entered into like
14:04a normal visitor and they start shouting all from Delhi, then it could have been understood.
14:09But if all are from different, different states, they have come here, it means it has come with a proper
14:16planning.
14:17So it has to be investigated whether the planning was just to give a protest or something else.
14:22Because if somebody says that there is no categorical something else, then he has to take the responsibility.
14:29No, no, no. What is the something else? They have gone in a shirtless protest.
14:35You all have now giving them even more publicity.
14:38The point is that they have done a shirtless protest.
14:42You can claim that it was an unlawful assembly to enter the Bharat Mandapam.
14:47I am still not able to understand the non-vailable crime here.
14:51You are restricting the right to protest as a result.
14:59Will Sudan should privately decide where and how a protest has to take place?
15:09Now I will decide.
15:11Rajdeep ji, if you remember, there were several protests against the TV channels and media houses also.
15:17But it is always outside. You remember, in 1994, two big newspapers of UP, when Mulaim Singh was chief minister,
15:27they went inside.
15:29And inside they started threatening those people and doing demonstration.
15:33Then a criminal case was launched. It was not a protest.
15:36When you move inside the house and start doing anything, then it becomes a criminal activity.
15:42Like somebody wants to protest outside your house, it's okay.
15:45You could have protested outside the BJP office. You could have protested outside the IT minister's office.
15:50You could have protested outside the parliament building.
15:52But once you intrude inside and start taking action, it becomes criminal.
15:57It is technically, as per law, after Avisek Manu Singh Viji comes, you can ask him.
16:02If somebody enters into your premises and forcefully started taking any action, is this not criminal?
16:11He will have to answer yes or no. Your answer will be categorically yes.
16:14So, again, I would like to say the other thing.
16:18When India is all set to emerge, a leader in the emerging technology of AI, there could have been a
16:26possibility that the several countries or the several forces, anti-India forces, will not be very appropriate for this.
16:32Because in the last one and a half year, there are certain things which have happened.
16:37We are now number three country in the AI rollout after America and China.
16:43We are number one in the digital transaction.
16:45We are the second country after China in which iPhone is being manufactured.
16:52We have become the biggest factory outside China of the Foxconn, which prepares the chip.
16:56It has now been started in India.
16:58Now, Google is spending $15 billion.
17:00So, they are not finished, foolish, that they are going to have in Vishakapatnam.
17:05So, there can be a possibility that if India is emerging as a hub to try to create a situation
17:12in which there should be a lack of confidence, so this can be a conspiracy, not only on the security
17:18aspect, but also against the economic rise of India, against the technological rise of India.
17:24No, no, for the very reasons you are saying, if we are so powerful, if we are doing so well,
17:29why should we be worried about some protesters coming on a shirtless protest?
17:34Are we so weak that we suddenly get afraid?
17:36No, it seems that you want to set a, you want to create a chilling effect.
17:41That no protest will not be in university campus, nor will it be in Bharat Mandapam.
17:46You will not allow them to protest, you will brand them as anti-national.
17:51A strong democracy allows space for protest.
17:54No.
17:55A weak democracy becomes authoritarian.
18:01Rajdeep ji, again, I have already explained it.
18:06You are a very senior journalist.
18:07Now, you quote a single instance in which any international event, inside the premises, something has happened.
18:15I challenge you, quote me a single instance.
18:19And as far as the democracy is weakened, I know that there is no answer at all.
18:23And there is still a fig leaf covered to cover that.
18:26But as far as the democracy is concerned, Rajdeep ji, these people are trying to give a sermon.
18:31They were having a DIR, Defence of India rule, in which if you are on a public place, somebody is
18:36saying that the Indira Gandhi's government should go.
18:38He could have been put behind the bar without any legal remedy.
18:42He could, he was not having even power to move the court.
18:46And they are trying to say that they are the babbar chair and the defenders of democracy and so and
18:50so.
18:51We are just saying that any possibility of any conspiracy should have been cleared, then there will be no problem.
18:58They can go ahead.
18:59Otherwise, it was a very shameless, reckless, I understand that the Congress is having a consistent level of frustration.
19:06Because they are consistently being defeated.
19:11So they are having an utter sense of jealousy, utter sense of inferiority complex with Prime Minister Srinivas Modi and
19:17the BJP.
19:18But out of this frustration, if you are going to this type, this level, which has not only brought down
19:25the prestige of Congress Party,
19:27but also trying to bring down the prestige of India.
19:30And again, I would like to ask.
19:31Name a single India alliance who has openly supported Congress on that.
19:35Tell me.
19:35Tell me.
19:36Tell me.
19:37Tell me.
19:38That's political.
19:41Sir, politically they may have scored a self-goal.
19:44We could argue about that.
19:46Politically they may have scored a self-goal.
19:48I am only asking on the limited point that a party in power seems to be so determined in some
19:56way to send out this message that nobody in future will dissent.
20:01Nobody will claim, has the right to criticize the government at an event.
20:07And you seem to suggest because it was an international event, therefore you cannot protest there. Am I correct?
20:14Any other event would be okay.
20:15This is an international image.
20:17No.
20:18The country's image has been spoiled.
20:19That's your limited point.
20:21Rajdev ji.
20:24No.
20:24My limited point is very clear.
20:26Now you have to answer.
20:27Everybody is having the right to protest.
20:32For that, he has to tell in advance and he has to take the permission.
20:39Am I correct or not?
20:41If the permission is not granted, then it is autocracy.
20:45But without any permission, you try to create, then this is disturbance.
20:50It's not protest.
20:51You can do protest.
20:53If you have asked the permission and the permission would not have been granted, then you could have said that
20:58this is an authoritarian attitude.
21:00How do you respond to Rahul Gandhi saying these are all weapons of mass diversion?
21:04Government is on the back foot on Epstein files on Indo-US trade deals.
21:08That's why they are sending out this message.
21:10What will you say to him in conclusion?
21:15Actually, the problem is Congress party's biggest weapon of mass diversion, no, biggest weapon of destruction, their political mass destruction
21:24has become Rahul Gandhi ji.
21:25In the last 11 years, Rajdev ji caught a single instance in which they tried to create a ruckus.
21:32And they could have been able to prove even an iota of truth.
21:36On Rafale, they've fallen flat on the court of law.
21:38Then they said Chaukidar Chor.
21:40They have to tender an unconditioned apology.
21:42Then they tried to create a ruckus that LIC has been destroyed.
21:46LIC is an all time high profit.
21:47Then they said the State Bank of India has been destroyed.
21:50State Bank of India is an all time high profit.
21:52They said the HAL has been finished.
21:54HAL is having an all time high order line of 2,53,000 crores.
21:59Then they said the SEBI is finished.
22:01It's all okay.
22:02Then they said the COVID vaccine is bad.
22:04Then they tried to say the Ram Mandir is against.
22:06What is against?
22:07You name a single instance in which they have not tried to create a confusion and anarchy
22:13in the country on the issue of surgical strike, bala court, Operation Sindhu.
22:18Every time their entire claim has fallen flat.
22:22So there is a consistent design to deem in India to destroy the image of India.
22:28So this seems to be, I can say, whatever the activity of Congress is a naked truth of their
22:35notorious engagement inspired by the nefarious design.
22:40Okay.
22:41I am going to leave it there, Sudhanshu Trivedi.
22:44I always appreciate you joining us and giving us a...
22:47Yes.
22:49Ten seconds.
22:50Rajdeep ji, one AX sentence or boldu, if you permit.
22:53Ten seconds.
22:54Congress is not only in opposition, sir.
22:56You are in power also.
22:58If I ask you which is the biggest AI hub or IT hub of India, it is Bangalore.
23:02Under your state, you should have given a model.
23:05Then the second biggest is Hyderabad.
23:07That is also under your state.
23:09Like we were giving the Gujarat model.
23:11Rajdeep ji, we are sitting on India Today TV.
23:13India Today for seven consecutive years during UPA government has given Gujarat as the best
23:18performing state.
23:19Can Congress have given any AI model?
23:21Any governance model?
23:22This we have proved in Karnataka.
23:24This we have proved in Andhra.
23:27Sorry, Telangana.
23:28This we have proved in Himachal.
23:30And what is the model?
23:30What is the model?
23:31That Telangana's CM says Congress is not Muslim.
23:34It is not Muslim.
23:34It is not Congress.
23:35And I have 500 tours per month I am not having for capital investment.
23:40And Gandhi family are having 1000 tours.
23:42Karnataka model is fighting between Sidhar Amayya and D.K. Shukumar.
23:46So everybody is clear.
23:48You should have given a model.
23:49You are on a role, Sudhanshuji.
23:51Particularly when AI hubs are under your state.
23:53You are on a role and I have heard you.
23:55I have heard you loud and clear.
23:57Your message has been loud and clear.
23:59I have heard you strongly.
23:59I have given you full time.
24:01I appreciate you joining us.
24:02I want to come from there to my other guest.
24:05The eminent jurist and of course senior parliamentarian of the Congress is joining me.
24:11Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
24:13Let's cut the chase, Dr. Singhvi.
24:14I am dividing in two parts.
24:16Legal and political.
24:17Let's talk about the law.
24:18When I asked this question just now to Sudhanshu Trivedi.
24:21He said, we have no problem with any protest anywhere.
24:24But you can't forcibly enter the Bharat mandapam and then claim immunity from the law.
24:29It's unlawful assembly.
24:31And at a mega event like this, it is designed to in some way create some kind of disturbance, incitement
24:38to possibly violence.
24:39And therefore, it's unacceptable and the conspiracy has to be investigated.
24:43Your response.
24:45So, there are two responses Rajdeep.
24:49I am not in a debate with him.
24:50I am not responding to him.
24:51I haven't even heard him fully.
24:53But to your question, there are the following responses.
24:56First, and I come to the legal part immediately and I don't want to sound technical.
25:01Just step back.
25:03My friend may have talked of all political issues, general issues.
25:06But since 2014 till today, put anybody's hand on their heart and ask the question.
25:12Is the understanding, appreciation, toleration, acceptance, absorption of dissent ever been at a lower ebb in India than in this
25:21dispensation?
25:22Point number one.
25:23There are thousand examples from university campuses to misuse of sedition to sending Assam police to Gujarat to assist tweets
25:33and Twitters.
25:34I can give any number.
25:36So, there is a general approach of absolute mental dictatorial approach, no toleration of dissent.
25:43If we are the government, we are the king, we sit on the top of the mountain, you are subjects
25:47in the valley.
25:48What we say cannot be wrong.
25:50There is also, therefore, coupled with it an intersection.
25:53No, but can you enter a prohibited area like Bharat Mandapam?
25:57Can you enter a prohibited high security area like Bharat Mandapam when an AI summit is going on?
26:02So, Rajdeep, I told you I am starting from a little standing behind.
26:06I am coming to your point immediately.
26:07Give me a few minutes.
26:08You, therefore, have a general profile of intolerance of dissent.
26:13You have this time criminalized something which is incapable of criminalizing.
26:19The short issue is, it is not the manner of protest.
26:22You may not like it, Rajdeep.
26:24Mr. Trivedi may not like it.
26:25I may not like it.
26:27Rajdeep may have a different form of protest.
26:29I may have a different form of protest.
26:32Ten people in the Congress may not agree with it.
26:34Forget outsiders.
26:35That is not the question at all.
26:37The question is assuming that you don't agree with the protest.
26:41Is this protest criminal?
26:43Now, protest must involve and look at any section.
26:47And I am sorry to sound technical, but this is otherwise in the air.
26:50There are sections like 121, voluntarily causing hurt.
26:54132, assault.
26:55195, obstruction of public servant.
26:58221, obstructing public servant.
27:01233, disobedience to a promulgated order.
27:03196, promoting enmity.
27:05And I will not repeat many more.
27:07All of them have three or four ingredients conspicuous by their absence per se in this entire episode.
27:14A, there is not the slightest violence.
27:17There is a verbal exchange at the highest.
27:19And there is no violence.
27:21There is no intent to create violence.
27:24There is no intent to cause a riot.
27:26There is no premeditation to create something which is in the nature of a voluntary hurt or a grievous hurt
27:32or to pick up a police officer and throw him down, etc, etc.
27:35So, there is no way in which you can weaponize or criminalize.
27:40Now, assume in any constitutional liberal democracy with the words we have in our preamble.
27:46We have words like fraternity, secularism, etc, etc.
27:50You can at best say, look, we don't agree with this.
27:54We don't like it.
27:55We catch you and we throw you out.
27:56And don't do it again.
27:57It's a warning.
27:58What has happened here?
28:00You have unleashed.
28:01And by the way, we don't know the exact section of the FIR also today.
28:03That's another allegation.
28:04But forget that.
28:04You have unleashed the entire panoply of these provisions that I have just read out to you.
28:09This is weaponizing criminal law in the worst form.
28:13There could not have been an intent to do any of this.
28:16Because there is no violence.
28:17There is a peaceful protest.
28:18Howsoever misguided.
28:20Please assume it is misguided.
28:22You are trying to scare these people, intimidate them, throttle them, strangulate their free speech.
28:27And what about 19-1-A?
28:29What about 19-1-D?
28:31Now, the question which you just raised, if I enter your house, that's an inapposite analogy.
28:39Bharat Mandapam is also a public place.
28:41It's not your house.
28:43It is not trespass.
28:44Now, it is true that entering insideā¦
28:48It was holding a high security event with restricted access.
28:53So, let me assume, there is a public place and people will go and protest and take off their shirts
28:59only when they want to make themselves felt and known.
29:02They will not go and do it in the quiet inner recesses of their own house.
29:06There is not a protest under 19-1-D of the constitution.
29:09Now, they went to a semi-public place in the hallway outside Bharat Mandapam, not outside of the building of
29:15Bharat Mandapam.
29:15That's the only difference.
29:16The analogy of a trespass into your home is completely inapposite.
29:21And thereforeā¦
29:21We can debate whether this is a reasonable restriction ofā¦
29:24Under Article 19, Dr. Singhviā¦
29:27No, no, not about reasonable restriction.
29:28There is the legalā¦
29:30Rajdeep, not reasonable restriction.
29:32No element of any of the sections which you can think of.
29:35I've got a list of 15 sections.
29:38Common intention to do violence, to have breaking of property.
29:42It's a peaceful, loud, vocal protest in an embarrassing situation because you are embarrassed as a government.
29:50So, that's the only thing.
29:51You cannot criminalize for this.
29:53If you are trulyā¦
29:55Okay.
29:55And these areā¦
29:57These are people who are maybe doing an error according to the powers that be.
30:04That is not criminal.
30:09I'veā¦
30:09I've heard youā¦
30:10I've heard you, Dr. Singhvi.
30:12There is a political angle to it also because Rahul Gandhi has now gone ahead and saidā¦
30:16My babbar share.
30:17He has effectively endorsed the protest which has led at the moment to your Congress workers being arrested.
30:24Is this the Congress now deciding on a political shift that you are going to now bat on the front
30:28foot?
30:29Street protest, Prime Minister compromise, Narendra surrender.
30:33We saw what happened with Chokidar Chor Hai.
30:35It didn't quite work.
30:37So, is the Congress in that sense and even your own allies have called it inappropriate.
30:43Do you believe that even if we assume for a moment that you are on legally strong grounds, do you
30:48concede on politics you are on a weak ground or not?
30:51So, we've done with the law now, so I won't touch on the law.
30:54Now, I'm coming to a political point.
30:56First of all, anybody who knows Rahul Gandhi even remotely knows that he only bats on the front foot.
31:03Completely and totally on the front foot.
31:05He's never been batting on the defensive back foot.
31:07Number two, of course, each party, even in the same alliances, different forms of protest.
31:13Do you think Congress has agreed with every form of protest in and out of Parliament with so many other
31:17parties, be it the SP or the TMZ?
31:20Each person has its own style of expressing something.
31:23Third, Rahul Gandhi stands solidly as far as the ideological concepts behind the protest.
31:30Yes, you have a right in a democracy to say, taking your shirts off in Bharat Vandav is wrong.
31:36I can say it's right.
31:38That is not the point.
31:40The symbolism behind it is unemployment, a bad tariff deal, farmers' rights.
31:46That is the idea which Rahul Gandhi is batting on the front foot on.
31:50He is not batting on the front foot on the form so much.
31:53He is having this articulated, manifested upfront and you don't like it because you like photo opportunities.
32:00You like event management.
32:03You like curated, artificial photo opportunities.
32:08Dr. Singhvi, this also is a part of the political playbook of photo ops.
32:12Removing shirts, you know, will get you attention.
32:15Otherwise, you won't get attention.
32:17The truth is that we are in an age of attention deficit.
32:20So, you all also wanted to stage your slice of drama.
32:23Now, is that enough to make a political point for a mature party like the Congress?
32:28Is there an element of a juvenile campus politics involved here?
32:32No, Rajdeep, there is no question of protesting in the inner recesses of your bedroom.
32:37The protest has to be where it is vivified, where it is noticed, where it gets attention.
32:43We are conveying a message.
32:44Now, I am again saying that you don't agree with your right, but you can't punish me by a criminal
32:50act.
32:51Deny me bail.
32:53Pressurize every prosecutor to put every charge.
32:55That is a real problem.
32:57That shows that you are, well, the strength, Rajdeep, of a country is the strength of tolerating dissent.
33:06The strength of a country is not to throttle dissent.
33:10The strength, the magnanimity would have been, look, we catch you and we turn you out and we give you
33:18a warning.
33:19But we do not.
33:20But this is happening in Parliament.
33:22You are expelling en masse 141 members of Parliament.
33:24You are suspending right, left and centre.
33:26So, these students are very small fodder.
33:29It's the overall culture and the identity of this government's thinking.
33:36I am going to leave it there.
33:37I am going to leave it there, Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
33:39We have heard you loud and clear.
33:41We have heard Sudhanshu Trivedi loud and clear.
33:43And our task here on the news today is simply to ask the questions and we expect the politicians to
33:50answer all the inconvenient questions we pose to them.
33:55I appreciate both my guests joining us.
33:57Are we turning slowly but surely into some kind of a police state?
34:02You decide I won't.
34:05I know where I stand on it.
34:07I gave my take yesterday.
34:08It's now for you, the viewer, to decide.
34:10Let me turn from there to another big story.
34:13A massive banking scandal that has sent shockwaves through Haryana.
34:18A 590 crore mismatch in government-linked accounts almost uncovered by accident.
34:26What began as a routine order to de-empanel two banks has snowballed into allegations of unauthorised transactions, suspended staff
34:36and a forensic audit.
34:38At the heart of it is one of India's leading banks, IDFC First Bank.
34:43The Chief Minister of Haryana has claimed the money is back, but the opposition wants answers.
34:48The question is, was this an isolated case of fraud or are there systemic failures even now in our banking
34:55system?
34:55Take a look at our other big story.
35:00A multi-crore scam involving a private bank and government departments has rocked Haryana.
35:06The 590 crore rupee scam was unearthed quite by chance.
35:10On or around the 18th of February, the Haryana government issued a circular de-empaneling IDFC First Bank and AU
35:18Small Finance Bank.
35:19Departments were told to start transferring existing balances, but no explanation was given.
35:25When one Haryana government department requested to close its account at the Chandigarh branch of the IDFC First Bank,
35:31the staff noticed that the balance did not match.
35:34Several other Haryana government-linked accounts at the same branch showed similar pitfalls.
35:39Preliminary internal review pegged the total mismatch at around 590 crore rupees.
35:43Sources say certain branch employees allegedly carried out unauthorized transactions in collusion with government employees.
35:51Funds were allegedly siphoned to beneficiary accounts outside IDFC First Bank.
35:56After the disclosure on the 22nd of February, IDFC First Bank suspended four employees at the Chandigarh branch pending probe.
36:04It has appointed KPMG for an independent forensic audit.
36:09The scandal comes at a time the Assembly is in session.
36:12Chief Minister Nayyap Singh Singh Saini claims the government has recovered its money.
36:16The government has recovered its money.
36:18The government has recovered 556 crore rupees.
36:22We have also received 2 crore rupees.
36:26We have also received 2 crore rupees.
36:28And we have also received the recovery of the total money for 24 dollars.
36:33This is Haryana-Pardesha 2 crore and 80 lakh people's money.
36:37It will be paid for their welfare.
36:41The opposition is demanding a CBI probe.
36:50The opposition is demanding a CBI probe.
37:11The state government has ordered all its departments and PSUs to immediately transfer balances and close any accounts with IDFC
37:18First Bank.
37:20The big question is that how this money was siphoned off?
37:24What was the modus operandi?
37:26Who all were involved?
37:27And was any government official also involved in this siphoning off?
37:33From Chandigat with camera person, Gunjeet.
37:35This is Haseem Basi, India Today.
37:39Let's raise some troubling big questions that emerged from that story.
37:43Is this a case of a routine bank fraud or a systemic failure?
37:46Are government employees involved or is the bank primarily responsible?
37:51Why did the scam go unnoticed for so long?
37:54Joining me now is Biswajit Bhattacharya, former ASG and senior advocate at the Supreme Court.
37:59Rajneesh Kumar is chairman of MasterCard India and former chairman of State Bank of India.
38:03I appreciate Rajneesh Ji you also joining us.
38:06I want to come to you first because you know the banking system.
38:08How do you assess the internal controls and the reconciliation process at a leading bank that allows unauthorized transactions worth
38:18Rs. 590 crores to go undetected for so long?
38:23Do you believe the fault lies within the bank or the system in general?
38:32Sir, you are on mute.
38:33You are on mute, sir.
38:37Thank you, Rajdeep, for inviting me.
38:40And first, I can very categorically say that it is not a systematic failure.
38:45It is a particular branch.
38:47And whatever I am saying, it is on whatever I have seen on the TV channels or whatever I have
38:54read in the newspaper.
38:56Based on that and based on my experience at the State Bank of India, the prima facie conclusion would be
39:04that such a kind of fraud of this magnitude cannot happen where there is no collusion between the bank employees,
39:16the concerned department of the government or some sort of a scamster, third party outsider.
39:24So we will know the truth only when we or the investigating agencies are able to pinpoint the money trail,
39:33where the money gone, who are the beneficiaries.
39:37But again, how did the bank not notice it?
39:41No, no, sir.
39:42How did the bank not notice it for so long?
39:45Was it an audit collapse, collusion or a blind spot?
39:48No, no, no.
39:49The financial institution between the employees and the concerned department employees.
39:52That is what investigating agencies would certify.
39:55Prima facie.
39:56It cannot, I am again repeating that it cannot happen without the people who know the system in and out.
40:03They know the system of the bank, and they know the system of the government accounting.
40:07about your point about how it was not noticed by the bank.
40:14So one is that sometimes when transactions happen in customers' account,
40:20these type of frauds get detected when the reconciliation happens,
40:23customers reconcile their account.
40:25I have a doubt, again, I can't say anything with authenticity,
40:30that the government department concerned they were not reconciling their account
40:34if it has gone for long.
40:36If it is a matter of if it has happened in 10 days, 15 days,
40:40then it is a different matter.
40:44What seems to have happened, and it's not a very sophisticated fraud, Rajdeep.
40:49It's a very common type of fraud where most probably checks were forged
40:56or whatever authority was given to debit the account, that was forged.
41:00And the bank employees concerned, which I presume have been suspended,
41:07they, because for 590 crore, I would say that it is a negligence.
41:12If there was a one transaction, I would have said it was, it would have been a negligence.
41:16So definitely a criminal intent is behind this.
41:19And they have ignored false signature, or they have not matched it.
41:25And primarily, yeah, primarilyā¦
41:29So you're saying primarily, therefore, the buck stops with the bank employees.
41:33This is the question, of course, arises, as you said.
41:37I have not said that.
41:38I have not said that.
41:38No, no, but you'reā¦
41:39No, but somewhereā¦
41:40No, no, someā¦
41:42Sir, 590 crores can't disappear like that without someone being culpable.
41:46Now, either it's collusion, or it is fraud and conducted at the local level.
41:51Now, there is a government also.
41:53The Haryana government says they are the ones who gave the red flag, Bishwajit Badacharya.
41:57Do you believe, as Rajneesh Kumar ji is saying, that this is not a systemic failure?
42:03However, we've seen in the last few years, several banks, particularly smaller banks,
42:07in some cases, which are out of the public glare, where this tends to happen,
42:11and eventually, when it blows up, people lose large amounts of money.
42:15Here, the government is claiming they are recovering the money.
42:18They are making sure they get the money back.
42:20But what does it show about the auditing systems at banks?
42:26You see, this is a very serious issue that there is a customer-banker relationship
42:33between the government of Haryana and the various public undertakings of the government of Haryana
42:40and the banker.
42:43So, government's funds have been siphoned through their own bankers
42:49in such a massive scale, spread over a period of time.
42:54This is impossible until and unless there is a clear collusion between the customer,
43:02which is the government of Haryana and its various undertakings, and the bank.
43:07And, you know, this is a scheduled bank under the RBI Act 1934.
43:15So, Reserve Bank of India is also responsible in a way that everything cannot be left to the internal
43:24auditors and statutory auditors.
43:27They have also failed, obviously, because there are multiple transactions.
43:30And this kind of thing happens.
43:33But how does the Reserve Bank monitor what is happening in an individual small bank?
43:39No, no.
43:39This is a Reserve Bank is basically the regulator, whether small or big.
43:45Rajdeep, you will kindly consider starting from Nirav Modi scam from the Bombay branch,
43:54Brady Road branch of Punjab National Bank, to one small bank of Bank of Borodaf, Ashok Bihar,
44:01one billion dollar disappeared.
44:04Now, this 590 crores disappearing, I think the accountability has to be fixed.
44:10And money trail, money trail can be ascertained within a matter of minutes.
44:17I mean, I have read in the press that some KPMG has been appointed and 5 to 6 weeks should
44:23be taken.
44:24Why?
44:25One day.
44:26And don't hand over the investigation at this stage to the police.
44:30They will delay and drag.
44:32Bring out the banking experts.
44:34Bring the army inspectors.
44:37Find out the money trail.
44:38You can find out because from bank, such a massive sum of money.
44:43You can make out from which friend.
44:47Easily.
44:48It's very easy.
44:49Can I ask?
44:50Okay, you're saying it's very easy.
44:52Can I therefore ask you?
44:54Mr. Rajneesh Kumar, he's a very, very distinguished, respected person.
44:59In fact, I just happen to know him also.
45:02So, therefore, I'm sure he will corroborate with my, you know, assertion that money trail has to be immediately pinpointed.
45:12And the Honourable Chief Minister makes a statement that within 24 hours I have recovered the money.
45:18So, he should place full facts how the money came out and from whom he has recovered.
45:25Where is enforcement directorate doing?
45:28Where is ED?
45:29Where is ED?
45:30Where is ED?
45:30ED should come.
45:31Okay.
45:32At the top of a hat.
45:33Okay.
45:34Even for, you know, in ourā¦
45:36Sorry, sorry.
45:38Tell me.
45:40You see, what I'm sayingā¦
45:41I've heardā¦
45:41I've just got a minute.
45:43Sir, I've heard you carefully.
45:45Iā¦
45:45You know, you're saying it cannot just be wished away.
45:48It needs a complete accountability of those involved.
45:54I just want Rajneesh Kumar to tell me very quickly.
45:56Do you believe that the regulatory oversight systems in our banking system are strong enough?
46:01Or do you believe there are loopholes that still are exploited?
46:05A quick answer, Mr. Kumar.
46:06Yeah.
46:07Mr. Bijanjit is, again, a good friend.
46:09But I can say with full conviction that RBI, it is impossible to detect a fraud like this.
46:17When they do, they come.
46:19They do look at your operational risk management, credit risk management, policy, processes, everything.
46:24But individual branch, if something is happening where the maker, checker, authorizer, everything has not worked.
46:34India in 2022 said positive pay system, any check above 5 lakh, it has to be pre-advised to the
46:42bank.
46:42And it is the bank's duty to verify and call that this check is genuine.
46:49And if they're not doing itā¦
46:50So, the buck stops with the bank.
46:54We've, of course, asked IDFC, First Bankā¦
46:56And the customer.
46:57And money has not been recovered.
46:59Okay, yes.
46:59IDFC has paidā¦
47:00Yes, sir.
47:01But the bank cannot escape responsibility, sir.
47:05Let's be very clear.
47:06No bank can escape responsibility when a fraud of this kind takes place.
47:10Bank employees cannot.
47:12But what I'm saying is bank is honorably honored it's paid.
47:15But it is not money recovered.
47:17Money would be recovered when it comes from the account of the fraudsters.
47:21Haryana government has got its money.
47:23It's fine.
47:26And theā¦
47:27I appreciate my guest.
47:30I've run out of time.
47:31So, I appreciate my guest joining us.
47:33Rajneesh Kumar and Vishwajit Bhattacharya.
47:35I thank you very much.
47:36I'm sorry we couldn't get more time with you.
47:38But thank you very much for shedding light on that big story.
47:41I want to turn for another story.
47:43A chilling murder that has stunned the city of Lucknow after a 21-year-old allegedly shot
47:48dead his father, chopped the body into pieces, stored the pieces into a blue drum inside their
47:54home.
47:54All this after an argument over the NEAT exam.
47:58Why?
47:59India Today tracks the gruesome murder.
48:03NEAT.
48:06A rifle.
48:09A father-son duo.
48:13A blue drum and one fateful day.
48:21On the 20th of February, inside a house in Lucknow's Asiana locality, a heated argument
48:27broke out between 21-year-old Akshat Singh and his father, liquor businessman Manvendra
48:32Singh.
48:32The trigger?
48:33Pressure to crack NEAT.
48:35Police say the fallout was fatal.
48:39During the confrontation, Akshat allegedly fired his father's licensed rifle, killing him
48:45on the spot.
48:46What followed has horrified the city.
48:49Investigators say the son dragged the body downstairs, allegedly planning to dump it into
48:54the Gomti River.
48:55When he failed, he allegedly bought a saw and dismembered the body.
48:59The head and torso were stuffed inside a blue plastic drum inside the house.
49:04The hands and legs were dumped elsewhere.
49:06The victim's minor daughter reportedly saw the aftermath, but was allegedly threatened
49:11and confined for days.
49:13As you see, the crime scene has been logged by the UP police, but the entire thing happened
49:21inside this particular room, where the 21-year-old Akshat firstly killed his father by firing a
49:30bullet over his head, then cut his body in two parts and then stored it in a blue drum.
49:59Acid was also recovered from the house.
50:02Family members claim it may have been used to destroy evidence.
50:07Neighbors say when Manwendra went missing, a WhatsApp group was created.
50:12Akshat was part of it.
50:14In fact, he even kept sharing updates and even went to the police to file a missing complaint.
50:35What are you saying?
50:36What are you saying?
50:36He's saying that our father doesn't see, our father doesn't see, our father doesn't see.
50:41Suspicion grew when CCDV showed the father entering the house, but never walking out of it.
51:10Police interrogation cracked the case. Body parts were recovered from the house and other locations.
51:17Akshat Singh is now under arrest, charged with murder and destruction of evidence.
51:23From need pressure to patricide, it's a family torn apart in one fatal flash of rage.
51:29With Samad Srivastava in Lucknow, Bureau Report, India Today.
51:40Tragic case there in Lucknow.
51:41Let's turn to tonight's Get Real India story.
51:44A 45 crore, 100 bed hospital in Kanpur stands ready on paper, but not in reality.
51:51Four years after work began, the building is complete, but it is still not operational.
51:56And questions are mounting over delays and priorities.
52:00Simar Chawla brings you tonight's Get Real India story.
52:21This is a hospital building in Kanpur's Keshav Nagar.
52:29Built at a cost of 45 crore rupees.
52:33Work on the 100 bed facility began in 2022.
52:37After missing the initial deadlines, the project was finally scheduled to be completed in March 2025.
52:45While the building is ready, nothing else has happened.
52:50It was a small amount of time, but it was a little bit of time in the handover.
52:54It was a little bit of time in the handover, because it was a little bit of time coming in
52:58April, but it was a little delay.
53:02It was a little delay.
53:02Now, manpower is not sanctioned.
53:04So, there is no doubt about it, because manpower is a good job.
53:08It was a hospital.
53:11It was a hospital for a long time.
53:23The hospital is a hospital for a long time.
53:41The hospital, once it's open, will be a lifeline for the people of South Kanpur.
54:15The hospital, once it's open, will be a lifeline for the people of South Kanpur.
54:32What explains the delay? Faulty planning, bureaucratic lethargy or misplaced priorities?
54:39With Sima Chala, Bureau Report, India Today.
54:45The key issues that should confront the country, the quality and indeed the need for better hospitals.
54:52I'm going to leave you with our image tonight where a powerful blizzard has dropped more than three feet of
54:58snow across parts of the US,
54:59particularly the northern and northeast parts of the US have brought travel to a near standstill for millions of residents
55:06as the treacherous conditions have closed roads, shut down train services and forced cancellation of over 7,000 flights.
55:14We leave you with these visuals and hope that normalcy returns soon to that part of the United States.
55:21For now, stay well, stay safe.
55:24Good night, Shubratri.
55:25Jai Hind.
55:26Namaskar.
55:27We arepool.
55:49We have a bottle.
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