- 12 hours ago
The Ministry of Home Affairs has launched 'PRAHAAR', India's first comprehensive national counter-terrorism policy, establishing a zero-tolerance framework against evolving security threats.
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00:01Good evening. The firepower of Indian Armed Forces on display for the world at the Pokhran Field Firing Ranges in
00:10Rajasthan.
00:10The images that we are about to show you on your television screen.
00:14The boom of the guns, they're all a part of exercise Agni Varsha.
00:19Hear this, watch this.
00:22This is how the Indian Armed Forces will rain fire on the enemy.
00:27This is a very major FPD, a firepower demonstration.
00:31And this is part of the Indian Armed Forces showcasing high intensity, highly integrated network centric operations in the Thar
00:39Desert.
00:40We saw of course a trailer of air, drone and missile operations in real combat during Operation Sindhu.
00:47Now, watch these images. They're part of a much bigger and stronger message that India is sending out to adversaries
00:55and enemies.
00:55So, in these images, you will watch. Watch those images.
00:59Mechanized columns are advancing across the Thar Desert.
01:03The T-90 Bhishma tanks, they're spearheading India's armored thrust.
01:08You have infantry combat vehicles that are maneuvering in sync for swift deployment, showcasing India taking control of VAVPs, vital
01:16assets and vital points of the adversary.
01:17We'll just show you in a moment from now, the K9 Vajra, the self-propelled howitzer's demonstrate how precision fire
01:27is delivered across long range with accuracy.
01:31So, that's clear firepower, accurate firepower being demonstrated.
01:35So, you have the Shah Rang, you have the Bofors, 155mm Howitzers, designated targeting with pinpoint accuracy, all a part
01:44of Agni Varsha exercise.
01:46Rocket systems raining fire on enemy strongholds and overhead.
01:50Watch those helicopters.
01:51They're virtually hugging the nape of the earth, you know, flying overhead.
01:57The AH-64 Apache helicopters, close air support, indigenous ALH weaponized helicopters.
02:04They're flying in close formation, supporting ground operations and all of this happens even as surveillance and strike drones, they
02:11scan and engage.
02:12And the counter drone systems, they come into play and neutralize incoming aerial threat.
02:18All of this, real-time wargaming.
02:21They're keeping in mind enemy capabilities and preparing to dominate in the battlefield.
02:26So, this integrated fire and maneuver drills are highlighting seamless coordination across armor, artillery, aviation, unmanned aerial systems, the army
02:36reinforcing its emphasis on technology infusion in combat, indigenization and rapid decisive response capabilities.
02:44This, of course, is limited to an operation in the desert sector.
02:48Let me now quickly cut across, as we play these images full screen, I want to quickly bring into this
02:53conversation, India Today's Shivani Sharma.
02:56For the latest Shivani, bring us details, one of lessons learned from Operation Sindhur and how our armed forces plan
03:04to overwhelm the adversary with superior firepower.
03:08One of this is an exercise that's going on in Portland and there are multiple exercises that the Indian armed
03:15forces are taking on.
03:16This one particularly happens to be in a first, an exercise where 25 countries' defense journalists have witnessed the firepower
03:26demonstration in Portland field firing ranges.
03:28We've seen the integrated format of the Indian armed forces along with the APACHIs in the air, the ALH there
03:35in the air and also the counter drone systems, the drones, the long-range missile systems also.
03:42And we also see how the mechanized columns are on the ground and the integrated firepower demonstration is showcasing how
03:49Indian army is transforming aggressively from a force that was man-driven to a force that is technology-driven.
03:58And this is happening very close to the Pakistan border.
04:02And this is not the only exercise that's going on, Gaurav.
04:06Right now, simultaneously, two international exercises are going on.
04:10One, the Dharma Guardian with Japan, another, Vajra Prahar with the United States.
04:16And yesterday, there was another big firepower demonstration exercise, the Karga Shakti that happened on the same front.
04:24So, Indian armed forces are not only showcasing their firepower demonstration, but giving a very strategic message to the world,
04:32to these defense journalists across the globe,
04:35that India is actually ready for any kind of action.
04:38And now, it is also learning from the Operation Sindhu that how to show and how to put its narrative
04:46ahead, not only in the war-like situation,
04:50but it is ready for any kind of challenge, as they've been saying that Operation Sindhu is still going on.
04:57Keep tracking that story. I will come back to you for more, Shivani.
04:59For the moment, many thanks.
05:01I now want to shift focus to the other big story.
05:03The Ministry of Home Affairs has just announced India's new counter-terrorism policy and strategy called Prahar,
05:11insisting it signifies one message, zero tolerance for terror.
05:16India has been on the target of global terrorist organizations like Al-Qaeda in the Islamic State, ISIS,
05:23which have been trying to incite violence within the country using sleeper cells.
05:29Prahar aims at comprehensively battling this radical Islamist terror, not just on ground, but also in the minds and, of
05:39course, in social media.
05:40This policy paper notes violent extremists operating from the soil of foreign countries have hatched conspiracies to promote terrorism in
05:48India.
05:49The handlers from across the border frequently use latest technologies, including the use of drones, for example,
05:57for facilitating terror-related activities.
06:00Take, for example, in the state of Punjab, also in Jammu and Kashmir.
06:04Also, terrorist groups are engaging organized criminal networks for logistics and recruitment and to execute and facilitate terror strikes across
06:13India.
06:14Take, for example, the use of Daw Dibrahim Kaksar's gang in 1993, Mumbai blasts.
06:19And very recently, some years ago, remember the Pathanko terror attack?
06:23Those diamond smugglers, their network was used to bring in Pakistani terrorists.
06:27But that's not it.
06:29For propaganda, for communication, funding and guiding terror attacks, these radical Islamist organizations also use social media platforms as well
06:37as instant messaging applications.
06:39So, the paper talks about technological advancements like encryption, for example.
06:44Very difficult when they go into gaming sites or the dark web.
06:48Or with the FATF, the Financial Action Task Force keeping a hawk eye, they're now switching to crypto wallets, cryptocurrency.
06:54That has allowed these groups to operate anonymously and very difficult for security forces to move in and track them
07:04and neutralize them.
07:06So, this aggressive approach to counter-terrorism is captured in one sharp acronym.
07:12And what's that acronym?
07:14PRAHAR.
07:15That is the offensive defense strategy that India is putting in place.
07:19So, let me break down to you what PRAHAR is.
07:21P stands for prevention of terror attacks to protect Indian citizens and Indian national interests.
07:27R, response that is swift and decisive and proportionate, commensurate to the threat posed to the country.
07:34A, aggregating the internal capacities to create synergy.
07:39Why?
07:39So that there's a whole of a nation approach, whole of the government approach to counter-terrorism.
07:44H, human rights.
07:46Now, human rights and rule of law, extremely essential.
07:49India is a vibrant democracy and rule of law is followed.
07:53Even an Ajwal Amir Kassab was given due process of law.
07:57So, constitutional values are upheld.
08:00A, attenuating the conditions that enable terrorism.
08:04Now, those are situations that need to be attended to and addressed.
08:08Like radicalization.
08:09What are these radicalization pipelines?
08:11They need to be choked and cut off.
08:14Aligning with shaping the international effort to strengthen global counter-terrorism architecture.
08:21And this is where India is moving swiftly.
08:23Whether it's with the United Nations or with entities like the Financial Action Task Force.
08:28And finally, recovery and resilience.
08:30That's very important in Prahar because that is how you ensure you have the whole of the nation approach to
08:35bounce back stronger after every challenge.
08:38Be it the attack on the Indian Parliament, on our temples, on centers of economy, 2611 Mumbai terror attacks or
08:45our railway network across the country.
08:47So, Prahar signals a structural shift from a reactive response to proactive disruption and perhaps hitting the terror at source.
08:56Zero tolerance for terror, integrated action.
08:59That's the strategic clarity that is now in India's counter-terror playbook has just been reset and how.
09:08But is this just very clever wordplay or are we saying that there's a clear strategy in place and that's
09:16being articulated?
09:16Joining me on India first is Lefton General Dushan Singh, Director General, Center for Land Warfare Studies Clause.
09:23General, welcome.
09:24Yashavardhan Azad is former Special Secretary of India's Intelligence Bureau.
09:27And my colleague Sandeep Unnithan joins us for more.
09:30And Sandeep, we saw, you and I have reported, not just terror attacks in Mumbai or the Parliament attack.
09:38Or very recently, Jaishya Mohammed terrorist Saifullah being neutralized in Kishtwar, along with two other Pakistani terrorists.
09:43Or, let me take you to the other front, left-wing extremism.
09:48How India is dealing with LWE with major terrorists either being neutralized or killed.
09:54So, two different threats, two different areas.
09:56Are we looking at very decisive action, be it JNK or against LWE?
10:01Absolutely, Gaurav.
10:02There's no doubt about it.
10:03The war against the Maoists, the left-wing extremism, which the state of India has literally won in the last
10:10couple of months.
10:11I mean, through brutal fighting over the last few decades.
10:15That is proof of how India has decided to deal with the Red Terror, which was what the Prime Minister
10:21called nearly two decades ago,
10:22the single greatest threat to India at that point.
10:26And today, the Maoists are all but gone.
10:28Their last military commanders have surrendered.
10:30And you have to contrast this with the way India fought terror in the past.
10:34I'm not talking about Punjab, but the Naga problem, for instance.
10:37You had, you know, a kind of ceasefire that we achieved with the Nagas, and those talks have been going
10:42on for years.
10:43Whereas, in the case of the Maoists, we decided that there was no ceasefire, there was going to be no
10:49quarter given,
10:50and we kept on fighting this battle.
10:51It took us long, almost two decades, but finally, we seem to have won that battle in 2026, Gaurav.
10:57So, that very clearly shows the policy of the government.
11:00When it comes to terrorism, there's going to be no compromise.
11:02We saw that, the unprecedented strikes against Pakistan, Operation Sindhur,
11:07and we've been raising the level, we've been escalating the threshold with Pakistan from 2016 to 2019, and finally 2025.
11:16So, terrorism is, it's a no-brainer for this government, Gaurav.
11:21You know, talks and terror can't go hand in hand.
11:23Okay.
11:24Jail Dushant Singh, the terror tap is controlled by Pakistan, a state sponsor of radical Islamist terror.
11:29How do you decode this Prahar strategy in the light of terror being controlled by the likes of Asim Munir,
11:36for example,
11:37or Hafiz Saeed or Masood Azhar in Pakistan?
11:40Well, Gaurav, thanks a lot for inviting me.
11:43First of all, this particular strategy is a very, very welcome step, you know.
11:47There are 40-odd countries which have this kind of a strategy with them,
11:51and we were somehow a legard in this.
11:53So, putting ink to our strategy is something which is very important.
11:58It binds us to a particular approach, which is strike.
12:02Basically means it's got an offensive content to it.
12:05We are no more defensive in nature.
12:07So, that gives a direct message to the likes of Munir and the other people, Hafiz Saeed, etc.,
12:14that you're not going to be actually spared should you try to do something against India.
12:19That's one point.
12:20So, I would like to also take it forward by saying that we must now take a cue from this
12:26excellent MHA initiative
12:28to the NSCS as well as the MOD to come out with a national security strategy as it is there
12:35in the other countries
12:37like the US, UK, Netherlands, Spain.
12:39I can go on counting.
12:40So, what happens is there is an overall guidance to the entire security apparatus.
12:45In fact, if you look at the US and the other nations, they have got the national counterterrorism policy
12:53as part of the national security strategy.
12:55Now, that actually brings in the real whole of a government approach.
12:59Here, I feel that since it is only by the MHA, there was a...
13:04In my view, there has been a big missing link in this.
13:08And that is that the armed forces role has not been very clearly articulated.
13:12And I have my personal experience on this because I managed the terror attack on Pathan court airbase.
13:20And then I realized this friction of C2.
13:24C2 is missing in this particular doctrine.
13:26I think there is a need for us to lay down a proper C2 format for...
13:31So, command and control has to be very clear is the point that you are making at this point.
13:36Absolutely.
13:36Command, control.
13:38Because only then, you will be ahead in the OODA loop.
13:42Let me also bring in Yashavardhan Azad into this conversation.
13:45Because this strategy paper talks of the role of criminal gangs, for example,
13:49who facilitate the work of terrorists.
13:52We have seen this in the case of Dawud Ibrahim, 1993 Mumbai blast,
13:55where Pakistan's ISI used Dawud Ibrahim to spread terror in Mumbai.
14:00Or these diamond smugglers facilitating terror work at Pathan court.
14:04So, the modus operandi virtually remains the same.
14:07Sir, is the Prahar strategy a very welcome step, as General Dushant Singh puts it?
14:12Or is this old wine in new bottle?
14:15Does it articulate the threat, the challenges and the road ahead in your view, sir?
14:20No, I think Prahar suffers from shortfalls.
14:25I welcome Prahar, because it's a foundational statement.
14:28There is no doubt about it.
14:30But it remains a statement.
14:32For example, it lists out the various agencies who are there to fight terror.
14:36That's absolutely all right.
14:37It lists out the entire, you know, how it will be operationalized.
14:44But, you know, what I would generally is right, you see, if you have a national security doctrine,
14:51for example, which America published in October 2025, then it takes care of everything.
14:58It takes care of diplomatic outreach.
15:00It takes care of the military capability.
15:02It takes care of the intelligence assessment as to what exactly our priorities would lie,
15:09what has happened in the last year, and which are exactly the areas where you go.
15:14As of now, Gaurav, I would say that this is largely declaratory.
15:19It's a kind of a declaration.
15:21It's high on principles, but a little low on granular implementation frameworks.
15:28It also lacks operational mandates.
15:31So then you're talking about human, you know, human rights and all that.
15:36So it does not establish any new oversight or accountability architecture.
15:41So, yes, I would say it's a good step.
15:44But I think we need to go ahead.
15:46For example, I'll give you a very simple example.
15:48Why doesn't the Intelligence Bureau, which is sort of coordinating this kind of a terror
15:54on the intelligence front, why doesn't it give out a statement, an annual statement
15:59and the future?
16:00Where are the terror targets?
16:02Which are the areas we need to influence?
16:04Which are the focus for radicalization?
16:08Which are the remnants of the terrorist groups where we need to hit?
16:11For the largest democracy in the world, I think we need a public document like that.
16:17And Unithan and I have been discussing this on various platforms earlier,
16:21he would realize, on some other channels.
16:24And we came to this conclusion that we need this kind of a document,
16:28which will be...
16:29We need a national security document, a national security strategy,
16:32which is well-articulated, discussed, debated.
16:35Now that you have a Seva Teert and the National Security Council Secretariat
16:39under the same roof, perhaps, Sandeep, we see that document coming in.
16:43Because the role...
16:44I want to just, you know, focus on one more aspect that this report raises.
16:48The role of social media.
16:50The role of dark web.
16:51The role of cryptocurrency.
16:53Because all of this, you know, misinformation, disinformation,
16:57very, very significant challenges that we face today
17:01and which will only intensify in the years to come, Sandeep.
17:04Absolutely, Gaurav.
17:04And, you know, I completely agree with what General Judushyant
17:07and Yashavadar Nazarji have said.
17:09You know, the fact is that this...
17:11It's a first step.
17:13But it's really a little too thin, actually, if you ask me that.
17:16It doesn't have enough to...
17:19It doesn't have the gravitas of a full-scale document.
17:22And, you know, and the point that General Judushyant made is that
17:25you need to have an internal security document like this
17:28meshed in with a national security document.
17:31These cannot be in silos.
17:33Because...
17:33And very quickly, you know, to tell our viewers, Gaurav,
17:35that Pathanakot attacks with General Judushyant handled
17:38while he was in the NSG.
17:39You know, those terrorists were infiltrated
17:42through the drug smuggling route.
17:44And they came.
17:44So, you're looking at internal security.
17:46You're looking at external security.
17:48You're looking at external...
17:49The ISI-supported terrorists who come in.
17:51So, it is...
17:52It's no longer silos.
17:53You cannot work in silos.
17:55But you must, you know, compliment the people who drafted this document.
18:00It's not so much about a rearview mirror, Gaurav,
18:02as much as it is a windshield.
18:04It looks...
18:04It's very forward-looking.
18:05You have to look at the kind of threats that it's illuminating.
18:08You're talking of robots and drones being used by terrorists in the future.
18:12It's basically a wake-up call telling all agencies,
18:15telling all the stakeholders in the national security apparatus
18:18that do not be complacent.
18:20Yes, you know, the terrorists are always a step ahead.
18:23And they're talking about global networks now.
18:26And you have to see the way the world...
18:28the geopolitics is being shaped, Gaurav.
18:31You know, warfare is changing.
18:32And it's quite likely that the countries that are ranged against us,
18:36and we know they are to our best,
18:39all of those countries may not use conventional means to strike at us.
18:42They will use non-state actors.
18:43And that is a very important point that this document mentions.
18:46The fact that the global transnational networks...
18:48to be very clear, you know, in Pathan court,
18:51was the army to lead, was NSG to lead,
18:54were police to lead internal security?
18:56General Singh Prahar describes itself as a multi-layered doctrine
19:00that covers land, air, maritime domain.
19:03It talks about what is extremely significant, sir.
19:07CBR NED, you know, chemical, biological, radiological,
19:10nuclear, explosive, digital threats that the country faces.
19:13So, from the national security architecture point of view, sir,
19:17does the document indicate changing nature of threat that we face
19:20and the whole-of-the-nation approach that is required,
19:23but fails to address nuts-and-bolt-level operations
19:28that need to be undertaken?
19:29I fully agree with you, Gaurav.
19:32I think that is the missing part of this particular document.
19:35At least an outline map should have been given out
19:39in this particular document as to how we need to go ahead
19:43to coordinate the entire national security apparatus.
19:46And for that, in my view, the NSCS is the right place
19:50from where this kind of a document can flow out.
19:53MHA, MOD, all, and the other agencies
19:56which are involved in national security must combine together.
20:00For example, take intelligence.
20:02Now, till today, although the IB is responsible
20:06for coordinating the intelligence effort,
20:08but there are agencies working most of the time
20:11at cross-purposes as well.
20:13So, I think there is a need for a centralized architecture
20:17which decentralizes the action plan.
20:20So, there should be a centralized architecture
20:23which kind of coordinates all these aspects,
20:25and then decentralization is in terms of actions,
20:29and that can only happen if there is a written directive.
20:32From that perspective, I feel somebody has belled the cat.
20:35Now, this is an opportunity which we must take it up
20:39and propagate it further to come out
20:41with that national security strategy, policy, doctrine,
20:45whatever you want to call it,
20:46defining roadmap and defining timelines,
20:50both that as per a particular timeline,
20:54this particular structure will come in.
20:56For example, information command.
20:58I think there is a need for a centralized information command.
21:01Otherwise, what Sandeep was saying
21:03about social media going AYP
21:05and people trolling at cross-purposes…
21:07During Ops and Dur, we saw that.
21:09He won on ground.
21:10Pakistanis walked away with the narrative.
21:13But, you know, Yashavarda Nazad, intelligence.
21:17Now, post-26-11,
21:19that multi-agency center came up.
21:21You had, you know, state smacks,
21:25state multi-agency centers.
21:26We've covered, Sandeep and I have covered,
21:28IC814 hijack in 1999,
21:31the government's poor response.
21:32Then, the 26-11 Mumbai terror attacks,
21:35how NSG have waited so long
21:38to be able to move men and material
21:39from Delhi to Mumbai.
21:41But does this document indicate
21:43that India is now better geared up
21:44for future challenges, response and deterrence?
21:48Or does it still remain, in your view,
21:50rather ad hoc?
21:52I would say it still remains ad hoc.
21:56As far as the, you know,
21:58intelligence assessment
21:59and the intelligence coordinating thing
22:03is talked about,
22:04I think MSE, MSE is a very, very good center.
22:07It's a multi-agency center.
22:09And it depends on the various agencies
22:11to, you know,
22:12and also the IB to enlist
22:14the proper cooperation from them.
22:17You know, there was another NCTC,
22:19which was going to be installed.
22:22And I thought that was an excellent
22:24kind of thing.
22:25For example, if you have given NIA
22:27the power to investigate
22:30all the terror cases across the country,
22:33NCTC would have been
22:34a counter-terrorism center,
22:36would have been a great idea.
22:38Now, another thing most important,
22:40which you talked about, Gaurav, earlier,
22:42a dark web,
22:43which is very worrying to me,
22:45because, you know,
22:46from heroin supply
22:48to almost everything
22:50which is secretive
22:51and clandestine
22:52is going on on that.
22:54Even the cryptocurrency
22:55through which we have terror funding.
22:58Now, these are areas
22:59where we really need
23:01to put our foot in imprint,
23:03which we are not able to do.
23:05Again, you know,
23:06the kind of cyber terror tactics.
23:08You remember on the farmer's agitation
23:10on 26th of January
23:12two, three years back.
23:13So many websites of Pakistan
23:16we had to put down,
23:18where all kinds of misinformation
23:20you're talking about
23:21and fake information,
23:22everything was piling in.
23:25So I would expect now
23:27the government to come up
23:28with a proper detailed security doctrine
23:31which takes care of all this.
23:34What are we going to do
23:35on the international cooperation front?
23:37What are we going to do
23:38on this, you know,
23:39cyber and tech front?
23:41And there are some issues
23:42where important new areas
23:44are emerging also
23:46where we have to...
23:46Because, see,
23:47we have had a great success
23:49against a nationalism.
23:50But the war against nationalism
23:52is totally different
23:54from the war against terrorists
23:56in Kashmir.
23:57So, you know,
23:58it has to be a kind of
23:59a detailed kind of an analysis.
24:02And I think
24:03if you're talking about counter-terror,
24:05you need the support
24:07of the people.
24:07Hence the need
24:08of a public document
24:10in the greatest democracy,
24:11how we are going to fight terror
24:13in future,
24:14detailing all this.
24:15And Sandeep,
24:16we may have,
24:17you know,
24:18as a nation,
24:20dealt with Naxals,
24:22the ones wielding the weapon.
24:24It's the urban Naxals
24:25who still remain
24:26a huge challenge
24:28for the country
24:29because that is where
24:30it's the next crop of Naxals
24:32or red terrorists
24:34or any other form of terrorists
24:35who may take shape.
24:37But Sandeep,
24:38you and I have covered
24:39Kargil in 1999,
24:41IC814 hijacked,
24:42parliament attack,
24:432611 Mumbai terror attacks,
24:45a series of other attacks,
24:46whether they were happening
24:47in temples
24:48or marketplaces
24:48since 1999.
24:50We've covered
24:50Balakot and Operation Sindur.
24:52Is the government
24:53very clearly
24:54now sending across
24:55that message
24:55surgical strike,
24:57Balakot
24:58and Operation Sindur.
25:00Offense
25:00is the best defense.
25:02That's the only way
25:03to deter
25:04Pakistan,
25:05a state sponsor
25:06of radical Islamist terror,
25:07including holding
25:08the Indus Water Street
25:09in a bench.
25:10Absolutely, Karim.
25:11You know,
25:11the government of India
25:13said so in the United Nations
25:14last year in May 2025
25:16and they said that
25:1620,000 Indians
25:18have died
25:18because of terror attacks
25:19over the last four decades.
25:21And 2025
25:22in that sense
25:23was a line
25:24that was drawn
25:25and where the government
25:26said enough
25:26and no more
25:27and you used
25:28the might
25:29of the Indian Air Force,
25:30the Indian Army
25:30to strike at terror
25:31training camps
25:32and the exercises
25:33that you just spoke
25:34about, Gaurav,
25:35that is all about
25:35deterring Pakistan
25:36through conventional
25:37military means.
25:38And all of this,
25:40all arms of state
25:41are now being deployed
25:43to deter Pakistan,
25:45all the three services
25:47in a way
25:47that we have not done
25:48in previous years.
25:50If there is another
25:50Pahl Gham, Gaurav,
25:52there will be a Sindur 2.0
25:53and let's not forget
25:54that Sindur is still on
25:55as we speak.
25:56That operation
25:57has not been called off yet.
25:58So it's a very,
25:59very strong message
26:00from the government
26:01to Pakistan
26:02and of course
26:03to other sponsors
26:04of terror,
26:05Gaurav,
26:05that India
26:06is not going to take
26:07terror attacks
26:08lying down anymore.
26:09Enough is enough
26:10and 2025,
26:12the first quarter
26:12of the 21st century
26:14is the time
26:14that we have decided
26:15to say that.
26:17In as many words,
26:18Jail Singh,
26:19terror has no religion
26:20as this document
26:21articulates
26:22but future threats
26:23may see the same
26:24source of terror,
26:26Pakistan hit us
26:27through either Bangladesh
26:29or locally radicalized elements.
26:31We've seen that
26:32in the form
26:33and you know,
26:33both of you
26:34have dealt with
26:35Indian Mujahideen,
26:37Islamic State,
26:38Lashkar-e-Taiba's
26:39local version,
26:40Jaish-e-Mohamad
26:41and hot borders.
26:43So the challenges
26:44perhaps will only
26:45intensify in the years
26:46ahead,
26:47Jail Singh.
26:48Absolutely,
26:49Gaurav.
26:49You see,
26:50today we are seeing
26:51a world which is
26:52infested with conflicts
26:54and people are
26:55resorting to any
26:56means to actually
26:58serve their ends
26:59and in the case
27:00of Pakistan,
27:01it is very,
27:02very clear
27:02and Pakistan gets
27:03backed by China.
27:04Let's not forget
27:05that we are now
27:06no more facing
27:07two fronts.
27:07We are facing
27:09a single front
27:09where the closivity
27:11is so well knit
27:12and if you look
27:13at the MOU
27:14which was signed
27:14in September 2025
27:16between China
27:17and Pakistan,
27:19you will find
27:20it's a single front
27:21which is going
27:22to come against you.
27:23So if you see
27:24terror attacks
27:25coming from Bangladesh,
27:26it will not be
27:27a surprise for us.
27:27So we should be
27:29actually putting
27:29boots on ground
27:30wherever required,
27:32both in terms
27:32of external
27:33as well as
27:34internal threats
27:35which are going
27:37to be faced by us
27:37and they are only
27:38going to increase
27:39and let me
27:40also tell you
27:41Yes, sir.
27:4230 seconds.
27:42Go on, sir.
27:43Let me also
27:45highlight one more issue.
27:46You know,
27:46if you look back
27:47in the recent past,
27:49somehow terrorism
27:50has lost
27:50the international focus.
27:52It's only left
27:53to India
27:54to actually
27:54every time
27:55talk about terrorism
27:56on international forums.
27:58So that alignment
27:59part of the Prahar
28:00I think has been
28:01taken from that
28:02particular perspective.
28:03This we must not forget.
28:05So there are some
28:06good things about
28:06this particular strategy
28:07but overall
28:08I find that
28:09nuance has to be
28:10it has to be
28:11further developed
28:12and made into
28:13a comprehensive
28:14national security
28:15strategy with
28:16terrorism.
28:16That's a very
28:17pertinent point
28:17you make, sir.
28:19The last 30 seconds
28:19I have on this
28:20part of the show.
28:21Mr. Azad,
28:21does Prahar
28:22have a solution
28:22oriented approach
28:23or is it a
28:24containment policy?
28:26You know,
28:27part of the threat
28:27is cross border.
28:29Yes, there are
28:29localized elements
28:30like those doctors
28:31who carried out
28:32the terror attack
28:32in Delhi
28:33or that Al-Fala module
28:34but since the terror
28:36tap is across
28:36the border
28:37it will have to
28:38remain a fluid
28:39policy.
28:40See Gaurab,
28:41I feel Prahar
28:42is a declaration.
28:43It's a declaration
28:44with a good intent.
28:46It's a kind of
28:46a statement
28:47but there's a lot
28:48of filling in
28:49to be done.
28:50As far as I'm
28:50concerned,
28:51my last thought
28:52is that today
28:53we are focusing
28:54too much
28:55on Pakistan.
28:56Our real threat
28:58is on the right
28:58side.
28:59It is China.
29:00It is the Chinese
29:01hackers.
29:02It is the China's
29:03build up on the border.
29:05It is the Chinese
29:06designs and plans.
29:07So we have to
29:08design a policy
29:09how we can carry
29:11on with our
29:12normal activities
29:12of trade,
29:13etc.
29:14And yet be
29:15extremely cautious
29:16on the border,
29:17yet be very,
29:18very careful
29:19on the cyber
29:20security front.
29:21So I think
29:22these kind of
29:23things we need
29:23to deliberate
29:24further.
29:25Prahar needs
29:26a meeting
29:27not as far
29:28as the declaration
29:29is concerned.
29:30That is all
29:31right.
29:31It is a good
29:31declaration.
29:32But we need
29:33to go beyond
29:34that and fill
29:36in the details
29:36more and more.
29:37Absolutely.
29:38So short-term
29:39immediate threat,
29:40medium-term
29:41and then long-term
29:42solutions,
29:43they need to be
29:44articulated.
29:44Gentlemen,
29:45many thanks for
29:45joining me on
29:46the first part
29:47of India First.
29:48I now want to
29:49shift focus to
29:50the other big
29:51story and that
29:52is Prime Minister
29:53Narendra Modi's
29:54visit to Israel.
29:55And it's a
29:56high-stakes
29:57two-day-long
29:58visit.
29:58Tensions in
29:59West Asia,
30:00they're rising.
30:02Now Israel's
30:03Prime Minister
30:03Benjamin Netanyahu,
30:05he's rolling out
30:05the red carpet
30:06saying he looks
30:07forward to the
30:08visit of his
30:08good friend,
30:09Prime Minister
30:09Narendra Modi.
30:10What's high
30:11on the agenda?
30:12Defense,
30:13technology,
30:14trade,
30:15massive on
30:16the agenda.
30:17Israel,
30:17incidentally,
30:18is also pitching
30:19as India
30:20being a key
30:21pillar to its
30:22proposed
30:23hexagon of
30:24alliances.
30:24We'll decode
30:25what is this
30:26hexagon of
30:27alliances.
30:27there's also
30:28a possible
30:29iron dome-like
30:31collaboration to
30:32fast-tracking
30:32long-pending
30:33FTA.
30:34This visit
30:35carries strategic
30:36weight and
30:37is being
30:37closely monitored
30:38not just in
30:40India and
30:40Israel but
30:41across the
30:41region and
30:42the world.
30:43Take a look.
31:03Prime Minister
31:04Narendra Modi
31:04heads to
31:05Israel for a
31:06two-day state
31:06visit on
31:07Wednesday,
31:08his second
31:09since 2017.
31:11The visit
31:12comes amid
31:12escalating turmoil
31:14in West Asia.
31:22This time,
31:23the focus is
31:24sharper.
31:25Deepening
31:25defence,
31:26trade and
31:26technology
31:27cooperation,
31:28even as
31:29Israel Prime
31:29Minister pitches
31:30India as a
31:32key pillar in
31:32his proposed
31:33hexagon of
31:34alliances.
31:35Benjamin Netanyahu
31:37is rolling out
31:38the red carpet
31:38for Prime
31:39Minister Modi,
31:40whom he calls
31:41a personal
31:41friend.
31:46And this
31:47week we will
31:47see an
31:48expression of
31:49special relations
31:50that have
31:50developed in
31:51recent years
31:52between Israel
31:53and global
31:54power of
31:54India and
31:55between myself
31:56and its leader
31:57Prime Minister
31:58Modi.
31:59We are
31:59personal friends.
32:01We speak
32:01frequently on
32:02the phone.
32:02We visit
32:03each other.
32:07Prime Minister
32:08Modi will be
32:09in Israel for
32:09roughly 30
32:10hours.
32:11and has
32:11a packed
32:12schedule which
32:13includes an
32:13address to
32:14the Israeli
32:15Parliament,
32:15the Knesset.
32:17All engagements
32:18are in
32:18Jerusalem.
32:20Prime Minister
32:21Modi in a
32:22social media
32:22post thanked
32:24Netanyahu
32:24calling India-Israel
32:25ties enduring
32:27and built on
32:28trust,
32:29innovation and
32:30shared commitment
32:30to peace and
32:32progress.
32:33So what is
32:35at stake?
32:35The big focus
32:37is defence.
32:38India is keen
32:39on deeper
32:40technology
32:40sharing.
32:41Even possible
32:42collaboration
32:43around Israel's
32:44battle-tested
32:45Iron Dome
32:46air defence
32:47system.
32:48First of all,
32:49we have an
32:49ongoing
32:50defence
32:51cooperation,
32:52very unique
32:52and strong
32:53between the two
32:53states,
32:54which is very
32:54important for both
32:55of us, as I said
32:56before,
32:57because of the
32:57mutual challenges
32:58that we're both
32:59facing.
33:00Now,
33:01during this
33:02specific visit
33:02of Prime Minister
33:03Narodom
33:04and Modi-G,
33:04we plan to
33:05expand this
33:07agreement
33:07in order to
33:09focus on
33:10specific topics,
33:12for example,
33:12manufacturing here
33:13in India,
33:14defence
33:15cooperation,
33:16and also
33:16cooperation
33:17regarding the
33:18Iron Dome
33:19and other
33:20defence
33:20systems in
33:21Israel,
33:21that we can
33:21actually share
33:22the technology
33:22with our
33:23partners here
33:23in India.
33:24Also on the
33:25table,
33:26fast-tracking
33:27the long-pending
33:28India-Israel
33:29free trade
33:29agreement,
33:30boosting trade
33:31technology
33:32and strategic
33:33supply chains.
33:35The delegation
33:36is arriving
33:37to India,
33:38they will
33:38conduct
33:38negotiations,
33:39and we hope
33:41that they get
33:42the first phase
33:42of the FTA
33:43done in the
33:44coming weeks,
33:45and then we
33:46will have to
33:47discuss the
33:48outstanding
33:48issues.
33:49I think that
33:50now that India
33:51has already
33:52signed agreement
33:52with the main
33:53players,
33:54with the EU,
33:55the US,
33:55and others,
33:56there will be
33:57enough attention
33:58span to give
33:59to this
34:00negotiation to
34:01try to finish
34:02it as soon as
34:03possible.
34:04But politics
34:05back home
34:06is intensifying.
34:09Congress MP
34:10Jairam Ramesh
34:11has slammed
34:11the visit,
34:12raising concerns
34:13over Gaza,
34:14the West Bank,
34:15accusing the
34:16government of
34:17shifting from
34:17India's traditional
34:18Palestine position.
34:20The government
34:21is framing
34:22this as
34:23real
34:23politics,
34:24with Prime
34:25Minister Modi
34:26in Jerusalem,
34:27signalling India
34:28putting national
34:29interest and
34:30strategic partnerships
34:31first.
34:33Bureau Report,
34:34India Today.
34:39So what should
34:40one make of
34:41Prime Minister
34:41Narendra Modi's
34:42visit to
34:43Israel?
34:44He's addressing
34:44the Knesset of
34:45the Israeli
34:45Parliament.
34:46Lauren Dagan Amos
34:47is a senior
34:48researcher at the
34:49Began Sarath
34:50Centre for
34:51Strategic
34:51Studies,
34:52joins us from
34:53Israel.
34:53Pinak Ranjan
34:54Chakravarti is
34:55former secretary
34:56in the Ministry
34:56of External
34:57Affairs and
34:57former deputy
34:58chief of
34:58Indian
34:58Mission in
34:59Israel.
35:00Sandeep
35:00Unnithan
35:00stays with
35:01me.
35:02Lauren,
35:02welcome.
35:02Ambassador,
35:04welcome.
35:04Lauren,
35:05Prime Minister
35:06Narendra Modi
35:07has been
35:08described by
35:09Prime Minister
35:09Benjamin Netanyahu
35:10as a personal
35:11friend.
35:12They've spoken
35:13of tightening
35:14cooperation through
35:15a series of
35:16decisions.
35:16In your view,
35:17what are those
35:18concrete defence
35:19or security
35:20related announcements
35:21or other big
35:21announcements that
35:22we can expect
35:22as a key
35:24result of the
35:25Prime Minister's
35:26visit or will
35:26it remain kind
35:27of a framework
35:28level cooperation?
35:31Namaste,
35:32thank you so
35:32much.
35:33Namaste.
35:34So, no,
35:34I don't think
35:35it's going to
35:36be a state
35:37the thing
35:38they are now.
35:40I think this
35:41visit will
35:42improve the
35:44relationship
35:44between,
35:45the defence
35:46relationship
35:47between India
35:48and Israel.
35:50Specific,
35:51we're talking
35:51about modern
35:51conflict is
35:52drone centric,
35:53ISRR,
35:54monitors,
35:55counter drone,
35:56defence.
35:57India is
35:57investing heavily
35:58in an
35:59unsaved
35:59system,
36:00especially
36:01after recent
36:01regional
36:02tensions like
36:03Operation
36:03Sindor and
36:05Israeli drone
36:06technology is
36:07valued for
36:08operational
36:09reliability and
36:10battlefield
36:10integration.
36:13And of
36:14course,
36:14air defence,
36:16this is not
36:17just precious,
36:18it is about
36:18building long-term
36:19industrial cooperation.
36:23cooperation is
36:24the key focus.
36:25Ambassador
36:26Chakravarti,
36:27this will be
36:27Prime Minister
36:28Narendra Modi's
36:28first visit since
36:292017 and
36:30anyway the
36:31first since
36:31the October
36:327,
36:322023 terror
36:33attacks.
36:34Now,
36:34what do you
36:35make of the
36:35timing?
36:36Is it a
36:37message of
36:38solidarity that
36:38we stand
36:39with Israel
36:40against terror
36:41or is it
36:42more about
36:43India safeguarding
36:44defence and
36:45technology interests
36:46amidst this
36:47regional instability?
36:49Thank you
36:50Gaurav for
36:50having me and
36:51shalom to my
36:52young Israeli
36:53friend and
36:55I think this
36:56visit will
36:57again establish
36:58another step in
37:00our cooperation
37:01which began in
37:021992 when
37:04India granted
37:06diplomatic
37:06recognition to
37:08Israel.
37:09So I think
37:10since then the
37:11relationship has
37:13changed.
37:13I was there
37:14until about
37:151999 and
37:17I have seen
37:17the initial
37:18part of the
37:18relationship
37:19taking off.
37:21But now it's
37:22reached different
37:24levels altogether.
37:25Israel is a
37:26high-tech
37:27developing country
37:28in the sense
37:29that it has
37:30always relied on
37:31high technology
37:32to deal with
37:33anything including
37:34defence.
37:36And Israel has
37:37always been in
37:39the midst of
37:40tension and it
37:42has been attacked
37:43by various
37:44groups etc.
37:45So Israel has
37:46been under
37:47pressure in its
37:48own region but
37:49it has handled it
37:50very successfully
37:51in the sense
37:52that because it
37:54relies so much on
37:55technological
37:56warfare or
37:57technological defence
37:59and things like
38:00that.
38:00India too is
38:02relying on Israel
38:03for many things
38:04and in the
38:05beginning it
38:05was kind of
38:06buying high
38:08technology things
38:10like smart
38:11bombs or
38:11drones.
38:13But now I
38:14think we have
38:14moved on.
38:15The next phase
38:15would be more
38:16joint production
38:17and I think
38:19in some very
38:20high-tech regions.
38:21the changing
38:22future of warfare
38:24also brings
38:25India and
38:26Israel together
38:27because of
38:29the future
38:30of warfare.
38:32Okay.
38:33Sandeep sir
38:34do we see
38:34this more as
38:35a buyer-seller
38:37relationship or
38:38co-development
38:39of high-end
38:40technology and
38:41not just
38:42restricted to
38:43defence?
38:44Gaurab we have
38:45been told that
38:46this visit of
38:47Prime Minister Modi
38:48to Israel is
38:48going to be very
38:49different from
38:50previous visits.
38:51I mean this
38:52like you mentioned
38:52is the first
38:53visit after the
38:54October 7th
38:552023 attacks
38:56which Prime
38:57Minister Modi
38:57condemned in
38:58the strongest
38:58possible words.
38:59He was one of
39:00the first global
39:01leaders to
39:02condemn those
39:02attacks and
39:03now coming
39:04after nearly
39:06three years of
39:07that war
39:07India and
39:09Israel are
39:09both victims
39:10of terror
39:11Gaurab and
39:11there are
39:12reports which
39:13suggest that
39:14Hamas is
39:14making common
39:15cause with
39:15Lashkar-e-Taiba
39:16and the ISI.
39:17So that
39:18immediately tells
39:19you that
39:19both India
39:20and Israel
39:21face terrorism
39:22and those
39:22terrorist
39:23actors,
39:24non-state
39:24actors,
39:25proxy actors
39:25are coming
39:26together
39:26forming an
39:27alliance of
39:27sorts.
39:28Prime Minister
39:29Benjamin
39:30Netanyahu
39:30has spoken
39:31of the
39:32hexagon of
39:33alliances
39:34that those
39:35four countries
39:36that could
39:37form this
39:38hexagon against
39:40other regional
39:40actors and
39:42we know which
39:42countries they
39:43are which are
39:44ranged against
39:44us.
39:45So the
39:45defence
39:46relationship
39:46which actually
39:47anchors the
39:48Israel-India
39:49partnership is
39:50going to move
39:51into different
39:52things of
39:52building resilient
39:54supply chains
39:55that are more
39:57than just a
39:57buyer-seller
39:58relationship.
39:58It is about
39:59embedding each
40:00other in each
40:01other's military
40:02industrial complex.
40:03Remember,
40:03Israel is also
40:04big on
40:04start-ups.
40:05Israel is also
40:06huge on
40:07agriculture and
40:09especially agriculture
40:10in dry land and
40:11that's where
40:12cooperation has
40:12been intense.
40:14You know,
40:14when I was
40:15covering post
40:16October 7,
40:172023 terror
40:18attacks,
40:18we saw the
40:19extent of
40:19cooperation between
40:20the two
40:21countries of
40:222023,
40:222024 but as
40:23Ambassador Pinak
40:24Chakravarti
40:25pointed out,
40:25it's been
40:26there.
40:261999,
40:27Kargil war,
40:28we saw it on
40:29ground.
40:29Lauren,
40:30Israeli
40:30Prime Minister
40:31said,
40:31Prime Minister's
40:32scheduled to
40:33deliver this
40:33very important
40:34message or
40:35speech at
40:35the Knesset
40:36and he will
40:37also participate
40:37in an
40:38innovation event
40:39at Jerusalem
40:39that highlights
40:41AI and
40:41quantum
40:42collaboration.
40:43So,
40:43are we
40:44looking at
40:44Israel and
40:45India emerging
40:46as high-tech
40:46strategic partners
40:48moving way
40:49beyond just
40:50defence buyer-seller
40:51relations?
40:52I really hope
40:54so,
40:54especially after
40:55the AI
40:57summit that
40:58was in
40:58Delhi last
40:59week.
41:00I think there
41:01is a lot of
41:01opportunity
41:02for the
41:03Israeli
41:03high-tech
41:04industry,
41:05technological
41:06industry to
41:07collaborate with
41:08India and
41:09I think this
41:10visit will
41:10open the doors
41:11for the
41:12Israeli market
41:13and also to
41:13the Indian
41:14market to
41:16see there is
41:16not only
41:17obstacle but a
41:18lot of
41:18opportunities,
41:20especially again
41:20after the big
41:21achievement of
41:22India in the
41:23AI summit.
41:25Okay.
41:25Ambassador
41:26Chakravarti,
41:26what message
41:27would this
41:27send to the
41:28people of
41:28Palestine,
41:29for example,
41:30or to Iran
41:31and tensions
41:31between Israel
41:33and Palestine
41:34both in
41:35West Bank
41:36and Gaza
41:36remain extremely
41:37high,
41:37tensions with
41:38Iran remain
41:39extremely high,
41:40there's talk of
41:41more attacks on
41:41Hezbollah in
41:42Lebanon.
41:43So, what message
41:44would this
41:44visit send?
41:46Look, I
41:47think we
41:47must start at
41:48the point
41:48where to
41:49examine Indian
41:50foreign policy,
41:51how it has
41:51been nuanced
41:52over the
41:53last decade
41:55or so.
41:56Today, we
41:57don't hyphenate
41:58Palestine with
41:59Israel.
42:00We have
42:01developed an
42:01independent
42:02relationship with
42:03Israel, we
42:04have independent
42:05relations with
42:05other countries
42:06in the region,
42:07and we have
42:08maintained our
42:09position on
42:10Palestine, that
42:11we are still
42:13for two
42:14state solutions
42:15where people,
42:17where both
42:18Palestinians and
42:19Israelis live
42:20together in
42:21peace.
42:21Now, that is
42:23what our
42:23position is
42:24still today,
42:25and I think
42:26that is
42:26unlikely to
42:27change,
42:28because this
42:29is a long
42:29standing position
42:30on Palestine,
42:31but then
42:32Israel, our
42:33relationship with
42:34Israel is on
42:35a different
42:36footing, and
42:37that is what I
42:38was trying to
42:38explain, that
42:39this relationship
42:40has grown over
42:41the years, though
42:42I must say that
42:43in the last few
42:44years, the
42:44annual trade
42:46has fallen, and
42:47I think that is
42:48one of the
42:48reasons why both
42:50countries are
42:50trying to discuss
42:51an FTA, and
42:52India has a
42:53successful FTA
42:55with EU, with
42:56various other
42:56countries, almost
42:57eight of them,
42:58and then I think
42:59Israel is also
43:01interested in the
43:02FTA.
43:03Apart from the
43:04resilient supply
43:05chains and
43:06joint defence
43:07production, this is
43:09also very important
43:10for us.
43:10As for Israel,
43:11moreover, also
43:13Israel has now
43:14shown interest
43:15in taking
43:18people from
43:19India for
43:19various activities,
43:21beginning from
43:22construction to
43:23other skilled
43:24workmen from
43:25India, because
43:26they do need
43:28work, they do
43:29need a workforce
43:30which helps
43:31them, because
43:32the Palestinians
43:33who used to do
43:34some of this
43:35construction and
43:36other work are
43:37no longer
43:38probably welcome,
43:39and they are
43:40not probably
43:42trusted anymore.
43:43So I think
43:44Israel has a
43:45good opportunity
43:46to utilise...
43:48There is an
43:48opportunity there.
43:49Can it be
43:50harnessed,
43:50Lauren?
43:51Because Israel-
43:52Iran, Israel-
43:52Hezbollah, Israel-
43:53Hamas tensions
43:54remain extremely
43:55high.
43:55What message, in
43:56your view, does
43:57Prime Minister
43:57Narendra Modi's
43:58visit to Israel
43:59send across the
44:01region right now?
44:04I think he will
44:05keep the message
44:06that he came
44:07with this
44:08method in 2014
44:09that the zero
44:09game play was
44:10done.
44:11India can play
44:12with Iran, can
44:13play with Germany,
44:14can play with
44:15France, with
44:15Russia and
44:16Israel.
44:18They don't have,
44:19because of the
44:19Palestine, not to
44:20do something with
44:21Israel.
44:21I think this is
44:23very important that
44:24Modiji will
44:25emphasise that,
44:26and because all
44:28over the world,
44:29you know, they're
44:29connecting Israel to
44:30the Palestine every
44:31time and the
44:32relationship with
44:33us, but here
44:34finally, we have
44:35a global power
44:37that know how to
44:39deal with us and
44:40not to connect it
44:41to the Palestine
44:42issue, that it's
44:43important, of course,
44:44but you don't have
44:45to, the zero
44:46game play, it's
44:47not, it's not
44:48enough, it's not,
44:49you don't need to
44:50work with that
44:51anymore.
44:51Very interesting
44:52point.
44:53Sandeep, last 30
44:53seconds that I
44:54have.
44:54So, potential deal,
44:56an Iron Dome-like
44:57system for India,
44:58hypersonic missile,
44:59spy-sket, integrating
45:01all of this into the
45:02Sudarshan Chakra air
45:03defence system, you
45:04think all of these
45:04are very key takeaways
45:05from this visit?
45:06Absolutely, Gaurav.
45:07There's a whole range
45:08of naval and air force
45:09related equipment
45:10that's on, you know,
45:12offer.
45:13There's air-to-air
45:14missiles, air-to-ground
45:15munitions, long-range
45:17air-launched ballistic
45:18missiles, surface-to-air
45:19missiles.
45:20These are all the
45:21capabilities that
45:22Israel has built up
45:22over the last couple
45:23of years and India
45:24would be very keen on
45:25joint producing them.
45:27Of course, we have our
45:28own domestic systems
45:29as well.
45:30So, I think the key
45:32issue here would be
45:33to balance our
45:34indigenous programs
45:35with Israeli equipment
45:37and technology.
45:38And let's not forget,
45:39we have been using
45:40Israeli long-range
45:41radars, Gaurav, for our
45:43ballistic missile
45:43defence system.
45:44So, that's a model
45:45for you right there.
45:46Lauren, you want to
45:47comment?
45:4730 seconds that I
45:48have.
45:48Go on, Lam.
45:50For me, the achievement
45:53for this visit will be
45:54that making India, it's
45:56good vision, it's very
45:58good, but the Israeli
45:59market, especially the
46:01security industry, need
46:04to understand there is
46:05a lot of opportunity, not
46:07obstacle, in making
46:08India.
46:09For the Israeli market,
46:11there is a lot of
46:11opportunity.
46:12It's very important that
46:13Israel and India will
46:14deal it together.
46:16There are great
46:16opportunities both for
46:18India and for
46:19Israel, but let's see
46:21how this visit
46:21progresses.
46:22It will be wonderful
46:22having all of you back
46:23on the show tomorrow.
46:25Breaking news coming
46:26in, the DGCA is to
46:27crack the whip on
46:28VSR Ventures, the
46:30company that aircraft
46:33crashed carrying Ajit
46:34Pawar, then Debris
46:36Chief Minister of
46:36Maharashtra.
46:37Now, VSR Ventures,
46:39four of the aircraft
46:40are to be grounded
46:41according to top
46:42sources in the DGCA.
46:43This action is being
46:44taken on the basis
46:45of findings of a
46:46special audit and
46:48surveillance that was
46:49conducted after the
46:50Baramati air crash.
46:52I quickly want to bring
46:53in Amit Bharadwaj into
46:54this conversation.
46:55Amit, bring us
46:56details.
46:56What did that special
46:58audit reveal and action
47:00that's likely to be
47:00taken now?
47:02Well, Gaurav, you know,
47:04right in the wake of
47:05Baramati aircraft crash,
47:08the tragedy in which
47:09Ajit Pawar lost his life,
47:11it was very clear that
47:13the DGCA and the
47:14AAIB, two different
47:15probes are going to be
47:16carried out and VSR
47:18Ventures will have to
47:19face the regulator.
47:21And on one side,
47:23while the AAIB is
47:24conducting the probe
47:26into the Baramati
47:26crash, the DGCA has
47:28cracked the whip on
47:30VSR Ventures, for our
47:32viewers understanding,
47:33two models of the
47:35aircraft, which is
47:36Learjet 40 and
47:38Learjet 45.
47:40You know, four
47:41aircrafts of these
47:42two models are being
47:43grounded by the DGCA.
47:45There were multiple
47:47violations that were
47:48found during the
47:49special audit and it
47:50is to be noted that
47:51while the special audit
47:52was carried out across
47:54the non-operator sector
47:56for VSR Ventures, the
47:58DGCA has gone ahead to
47:59conduct multiple
48:00surveillances as well
48:02based on those
48:03findings.
48:03Now, four aircrafts of
48:05the VSR Ventures are
48:06to be grounded.
48:07Back to you.
48:08Keep tracking that
48:09story.
48:10I will come back to you
48:10for more.
48:11For the moment, I'm
48:12with Bharatwaj.
48:12Many thanks.
48:15In India, we take
48:17great pride in being
48:18the land of
48:20Shravan Kumar, on
48:22being the land of
48:22Maryadhapur Shottam
48:23Shri Ram, being the
48:25land where children
48:27look after their
48:28parents because that
48:30is a civilizational
48:31ethos in history.
48:33But there's a
48:34chilling murder that
48:35stunned the country
48:36where a 21-year-old
48:38allegedly shot dead
48:40his father and then
48:42chopped his body into
48:43pieces and stored it
48:45in a blue drum inside
48:46their house.
48:47All this after an
48:49argument when the
48:50father was putting
48:51pressure on the son
48:52to clear his neat
48:54entrance examination.
48:56Where is our
48:58society and where
48:59are these families
49:00breaking down and
49:02how?
49:02We get you more in
49:03this report.
49:06Neat.
49:09A rifle.
49:13A father-son duo.
49:17A blue drum and
49:18one fateful day.
49:24On the 20th of
49:26February, inside a
49:27house in Lucknow's
49:28Asiana locality, a
49:30heated argument broke
49:31out between 21-year-old
49:32Akshat Singh and his
49:33father, liquor
49:34businessman Manvendra
49:35Singh.
49:36The trigger?
49:37Pressure to crack
49:38neat.
49:39Police say the
49:40fallout was fatal.
49:43During the
49:44confrontation, Akshat
49:45allegedly fired his
49:46father's licensed
49:47rifle, killing him
49:49on the spot.
49:50What followed has
49:51horrified the city.
49:53Investigators say the
49:54son dragged the body
49:55downstairs, allegedly
49:56planning to dump it
49:58into the Gomti
49:58river.
49:59When he failed, he
50:00allegedly bought a
50:01saw and dismembered
50:02the body.
50:03The head and torso
50:04were stuffed inside a
50:05blue plastic drum
50:06inside the house.
50:07The hands and legs
50:08were dumped
50:09elsewhere.
50:10The victim's minor
50:11daughter reportedly
50:12saw the aftermath
50:13but was allegedly
50:14threatened and
50:15confined for days.
50:17As you see, the
50:19crime scene has been
50:20logged by the
50:21UP police but the
50:23entire thing happened
50:25inside this particular
50:26room where the
50:2921-year-old Akshat
50:31firstly killed his
50:33father by firing a
50:34bullet over his
50:35head then cut his
50:39body in two parts
50:40and then stored it
50:42in a blue drum.
51:03Acid was also
51:04recovered from the
51:05house.
51:06Family members
51:06claim it may have
51:07been used to destroy
51:08evidence.
51:11Neighbors say when
51:12Manwendra went missing
51:13a WhatsApp group was
51:14created.
51:16Akshat was part of it.
51:18In fact, he even kept
51:19sharing updates and
51:20even went to the
51:21police to file a
51:21missing complaint.
51:45Suspicion grew when CC TV
51:46showed the father
51:47entering the house
51:48but never walking out of
51:49it.
52:13But never walking out of it.
52:18actions.
52:21Akshat Singh is now under
52:22arrest, charged with
52:23murder and destruction
52:24of evidence.
52:26From need pressure to
52:28patricide, it's a family
52:30torn apart in one fatal
52:31flash of rage.
52:33With Samad Srivastava in
52:34Lucknow, Bureau Report,
52:36India Today.
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