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Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Madurai on March 1 and may offer prayers at the Thiruparankundram Murugan temple.
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00:00Hello and welcome. Good evening. You're watching Super 6 here on India Today.
00:04I'm Akshita Nanda Gopal. Back after a brief break to get you all the top stories that we're tracking this
00:09evening.
00:10As always, we'll focus on the Big South story. So, off the day.
00:14We'll be talking about Prime Minister Modi's visit to Madre that's happening over the weekend.
00:19But the big headline and the big talking point is that the Prime Minister in all likelihood
00:23will be visiting the contentious Tirupara Kundram Temple.
00:26The Deepam controversy amid that the BJP putting the focus on it,
00:30but the Prime Minister himself in all likelihood visiting that temple this weekend.
00:34Also coming up on the show, the other big political headline that's emerged from Tamil Nadu.
00:39Sashikala, who's been off the political radar for the last many months,
00:42seems to be looking at making a comeback, a solo comeback this time.
00:46While there's been endless speculation on which side she'll go,
00:50Sashikala now has decided to launch her own political party.
00:53The timing is something everyone's talking about.
00:55What exactly is her political strategy and the fact that while her nephew's chosen to side with the NDA,
01:01she's launched her own political party.
01:02That's got everyone talking.
01:04We'll break down for you what really Sashikala's political party plunge actually means and much more.
01:10Coming your way, we begin with the top 10 headlines.
01:15Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Israel for a crucial two-day visit,
01:19a first since the Gaza war began.
01:21Prime Minister Modi got a red carpet welcome with the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu,
01:26personally greeting, welcoming the Prime Minister with a namaste,
01:29even joking about Modi's saffron pocket square matching his wife's outfit.
01:37After NCRT's new class aid book listed corruption in judiciary,
01:41massive backlog as challenges,
01:44preparations are underway to remove the portion that sparked controversy.
01:47Government sources say the portion will be removed,
01:49and this comes after the Chief Justice of India, CGI Surya Kant,
01:54reportedly stressed that the court won't allow anyone to defame the institution.
01:59Prime Minister Modi will be visiting Madurai on March 1st,
02:02likely to offer prayers at the Murugan Temple at Tiruparang Kundram amid the Deepam controversy.
02:07The DMKs hit out,
02:08saying Prime Minister's repeated visits may actually result in a big defeat for the NDA.
02:14Expelled AIA DMK leader Sashikala floats a new party ahead of polls.
02:18She unveils the party flag that features portraits of Anna Dure, MGR and J.J. Lalitha.
02:23TTV Dhinakaran, her nephew, mocked Sashikala's political party launch,
02:28likening it to instant sambar in Italy.
02:32Hours after seven people lost their lives in the Jharkand air tragedy,
02:36shocking details emerged.
02:37The airline, in fact, that was operating at the Redbird Airways Private Limited,
02:42a beechcraft C-90 that crashed in Jharkand had no black box.
02:46According to civil aviation rules,
02:48cockpit voice recorders or flight data recordings are not mandated for aircraft
02:52after the maximum take-off weight below 5,700 kgs.
02:57And moving on in Goa,
02:58Sir Asagawa's beating Thar rammed into a car,
03:01killing a 65-year-old tourist from Bhopal on the spot.
03:04The video shows the accused stepping out moments after the crash.
03:08Eyewitnesses claim there was an attempt to switch seats after the accident.
03:13Days after three women from Arunachar Pradesh
03:16were racially abused in Delhi's Malviya Nagar,
03:19the accused woman has been arrested.
03:21Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has also met the victims
03:24and has assured strict action.
03:27In a setback for the Kerala story to filmmakers,
03:30the Kerala High Court has put a stay on the release of the contentious movie for now,
03:34citing that the grievances by the complainants appear genuine.
03:37There will be no release of the film till the court decides on the petition.
03:41Bill Gates has apologized to the Gates Foundation staff over Epstein ties,
03:46says it was a huge mistake.
03:49In fact, Gates has also told employees during a town hall
03:52that he did nothing illicit and saw nothing illicit,
03:55but confirms that he was in a relationship with two Russian women.
04:00Pakistan's op-sindur lies have been busted by none other than Donald Trump,
04:04who revealed that the Pakistan Prime Minister pleaded to stop the war.
04:07The U.S. President in the State of the Union address said
04:10the Pakistan Prime Minister pleaded saying 35 million people will die.
04:14And so he said, again, that he stopped the India-Pakistan war.
04:22Our top focus on Super 6 is Prime Minister Modi's upcoming visit to Madure.
04:27Tamil Nadu's political battlefield is once again lit with faith and fervor,
04:32something you don't usually see in Tamil Nadu politics.
04:35But we've been seeing that Deepam controversy and the BGP putting the spotlight on it.
04:40Amid that, Prime Minister Modi, who's set to visit Madure,
04:43could also go ahead and visit the Tiruparakundram temple on March 1st.
04:48And what that will mean is a huge escalation in the fight over what happened at the temple months ago.
04:54The DMK repeatedly has said that there have been attempts to stoke religious tensions, communal tensions.
04:59And that's what they're maintaining even now, that with the Prime Minister visiting,
05:03there's only going to be a bigger setback for the NDA.
05:06But it's very clear, really, what the strategy of the BGP is.
05:10They're going to raise this issue.
05:11And you've been seeing multiple photo-op optics as far as Lord Murugan is concerned by the BGP.
05:17It's in line with that that, in all likelihood, the Prime Minister will be visiting this temple.
05:26Amid the raging Deepam controversy over lighting the Kartikai Deepam lamp atop the Tiruparankundram hill in Madurai,
05:34Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to offer prayers at the Murugan temple during his March 1 visit to
05:41Madurai.
05:42Sources say he will spend up to 30 minutes at the hill shrine before launching major development projects.
05:51The BGP is positioning itself as the defender of devotees' rights,
05:55accusing the DMK of hurting Tamil cultural heritage and indulging in vote-bank politics.
06:01The BGP leader, K. Annamadra Modi is also called the BGP.
06:03The BGP leader, K. Annamadra Modi is also called the BGP.
06:09The BGP leader, K. Annamadra Modi,
06:29BGP leader, K. Annamadra Modi said that Prime Minister Modi has a special focus on Tamil Nadu,
06:35promising accelerated growth if the AI-ADMK-led alliance comes to power.
06:42K. Annamadra Modi has a special focus on the BGP leader in the Tamil Nadu,
06:47K. Annamadra Modi, K. Annamadra Modi, K. Annamadra Modi, K. Annamadra Modi, K. Annamadra Modi, K. Annamadra Modi's
07:37And adding fuel to the fire,
07:39State Minister Thiagarajan slammed the BJP,
07:42calling Gujarat the best corruption model.
08:19Faith, politics and pride.
08:22Tamil Nadu's battle lines are drawn ahead of assembly elections.
08:26With Pramood Madhav and Anakha in Chennai,
08:29Bureau Report, India Today.
08:56We'll also have Selam Dhanidaran's spokesperson of the DMK with us shortly.
09:01But I'd like to begin with Sumansi Raman on what you make, sir,
09:04of this particular development of the Prime Minister visiting Madhuri, yes,
09:07but also set to visit the Tirupara Kundram temple.
09:10Is this the right strategy in a state that very often many have opined
09:14doesn't mix politics and religion?
09:17So far, Akshita, BJP has not raised the tempo on the Tirupara Kundram issue
09:26to the extent one thought they would,
09:28considering an election is less than two months away.
09:30Initially, they did.
09:32But after that, there has been a lull,
09:34possibly because the Deepam can only be lit around the time of Kartikei,
09:39which is sometime in the month of November.
09:42So until then, it is understandable that they are quiet.
09:46But that the Prime Minister would, in the course of the election campaign,
09:50visit Tirupara Kundram was something that was expected,
09:53especially after the controversy broke out.
09:56So it will be more a political visit than a religious visit.
10:01And clearly, he will use it.
10:03But you see, initial days, it did look like this issue would have traction.
10:08But over the last month or so, the issue has cooled off.
10:13And today, I don't know whether the Prime Minister going to Tirupara Kundram
10:19will be able to create that emotional connect
10:24and get people back to sort of thinking seriously
10:27about what the DMK has done on this issue.
10:30I agree what the DMK has done is totally wrong.
10:33But whether it will have electoral resonance at this point of time,
10:39I don't, I'm not sure.
10:41Kasui Shankar, I'll bring you in on that.
10:43You know, what is the BJP's thinking here
10:45of kind of reigniting this entire controversy around this temple?
10:50As Sumansi Raman said, at one point, yes, it was a heated political debate.
10:54But is this really the right strategy going into an election for the BJP
10:57to put the focus on this temple, to have even the Prime Minister visit?
11:01What's the message here?
11:03I, actually, I find it a little bit ridiculous
11:06that you are trying to look for a story where there is none.
11:11This is not the first temple that Prime Minister Modi would have visited.
11:17Be there an election or not, I mean, he, every time he...
11:20Let me then explain it to you, Kasturi.
11:22The reason it's a story and not a non-story
11:24is if the Prime Minister had visited, sure, the Madhuriya Meenakshi temple,
11:28it would have been something that, yes, was a course of discussion.
11:30Here's a temple that we've seen a controversy over,
11:33a legal fight playing out, an ongoing legal battle as well.
11:36I find this...
11:37So surely there's messaging involved.
11:38No, I find this...
11:40I find this conspiracy theory from you, for want of a better word, quite comic, actually,
11:48because Prime Minister Modi has visited the Meenakshi temple.
11:52He has visited several temples in Tamil Nadu itself.
11:55Just last year, he visited so many temples, Karni Mata temple,
12:01Madhan Mohanji, let me finish, Madhan Mohanji temple in Navi Mumbai.
12:04There are no elections coming anywhere there.
12:07So, to say that he cannot visit the Tiruparam Kundram temple...
12:12No one's saying he can't, Kasturi.
12:14No one's saying he can't.
12:15I'm asking the messaging.
12:16Are you suggesting there's zero messaging?
12:17Are you saying that by chance the Prime Minister is going to Tiruparam Kundram
12:21and nothing beyond that?
12:22I am saying that all of us, the people of Tiruparam Kundram,
12:27the people of Madurai, have been inviting him for months now
12:31to come and visit the temple.
12:32That notwithstanding, I'm saying that you are looking for a conspiracy theory
12:39where there is none.
12:41Are you saying that the Prime Minister cannot visit the temple?
12:43Again, again...
12:44Because if he does, it is only messaging...
12:46I mean, I don't know what is a conspiracy theory.
12:48Kasturi Shankar, I don't know what is a conspiracy theory.
12:51What is a conspiracy theory in me saying what is the messaging?
12:53I don't know how that's a conspiracy theory for me to merely ask you
12:57what is the messaging of the Prime Minister going to a temple,
13:00the Tiruparam Kundram temple?
13:01The message is that in a land, in a state that is being now ruled
13:08by people who have openly asked for the eradication of Sanatana Dharma,
13:14the Prime Minister in all his humility and respect and bhakti
13:18is coming to have a darshan of the same deity which has been in controversy.
13:25The messaging is that he is an asthika.
13:29What he stands for, what the BJP stands for,
13:32I don't think it is a political or party visit.
13:35It's a personal visit, but that's it.
13:37The message is that the Prime Minister of our country,
13:39our beloved Narendra Modi believes and is not ashamed of proclaiming his faith
13:47as opposed to people who secretly go to temples and then come out and talk about destroying the religion.
13:53Okay, I'm glad you've spoken about it.
13:55This is my only question to you.
13:56What was the messaging?
13:57So there's no conspiracy theory whatsoever that any of us are peddling here.
14:00You said it's an election messaging and I don't think that you should be connecting an election to it.
14:04You can't discount the fact that there's an election coming up.
14:07Selam Dhani Dharan, spokesperson of the DMK, is also with us.
14:09Dhani Dharan, this is an issue that the DMK has found itself very often on the back foot on
14:14because even legally, this didn't work out in your favour.
14:17With the Prime Minister visiting now,
14:19is this a matter of concern that once again this issue is going to be in the spotlight?
14:25The issues in the spotlight and not in the spotlight does not matter
14:29because this does not play out electorally in Tamil Nadu or in any other manner.
14:35People of Tamil Nadu want political parties to keep religion away and then focus on development,
14:41focus on giving good quality education, good quality health care,
14:44giving good civil amenities and many other things.
14:48And because the Prime Minister has no development issue,
14:51it has become its template to use religion or temple.
14:54This has been the template across since 2014.
14:58This has no place in Tamil Nadu.
15:00My Chief Minister is garnering votes or asking for support in the election through what he has done.
15:06The 11.9% growth he has given,
15:09the record high number of FDI growth Tamil Nadu has achieved,
15:12the number of startups that has been created in Tamil Nadu,
15:14which is three times more than what happened in the preceding 10 years.
15:18So this is what my Chief Minister is going and asking votes for.
15:21He is saying, or rather on the schemes that he has introduced to uplift the poor and the downtrodden.
15:27That doesn't mean that my party is against any religion.
15:30We are not against any religion.
15:31Just that we don't bring spirituality into politics.
15:34To BJP only to bring about temple-related issues or religion-related issues in the electoral fold,
15:40only backfire and will reduce their vote percentage.
15:42And also take ADMK also behind in this, by doing this.
15:46In Tamil Nadu, this doesn't have a role.
15:47So this is the challenge.
15:48Kasturi Shankar, you know, the DMK is saying constantly that this kind of politics doesn't work in Tamil Nadu.
15:53That while the DMK is putting the focus on what the growth number is on,
15:57here's what the BJP is putting the focus on.
15:58On Tirupar and Kundram, these religious controversies.
16:01I actually agree with Mr. Dharani Dharan that the election will be fought not necessarily on religious grounds,
16:08but on the actual governance that we have witnessed in the last five years.
16:13He talked about civic amenities and all the growth schemes and da-da-da,
16:20but he noticeably left out law and order and women's safety,
16:24which are, I think, the core issues that this election will be fought on.
16:28The women of Tamil Nadu are dead scared about having to deal with DMK and its goons for another five
16:35years.
16:36As far as civil amenities are concerned, please,
16:39it is taking me all my effort to not burst into peels of laughter.
16:43I really commend Mr. Dharani Dharan on keeping a poker face while even bringing that up.
16:50Everybody knows now they don't have...
16:52See, he also didn't talk about the aims in Madurai.
16:55He didn't have that anymore because he cannot talk about that anymore because that is already done.
17:00All the promises that the center gave are being implemented with great alacrity
17:07as opposed to the promises that the DMK gave.
17:10The immediate counter that will come up is about airports in Tamil Nadu,
17:14is about the metro projects.
17:16I know it.
17:16This is almost like a script that's playing out.
17:18Dharani Dharan.
17:20No, see, see, the whole, when I said, it will be based on growth.
17:24I need not go and mention every aspect of growth they achieved.
17:27Growth of lawlessness, growth of ganja.
17:29Let me speak.
17:30Where is growth of lawlessness, Sakshita?
17:32You go and look at NCRB data yourself or any other data and survey that is done.
17:37The top five worst states for women in the country are BJP rule state.
17:42Ironically, I don't know if it's a coincidence or it is by design.
17:46Or overall law and order, the worst states in India are top five.
17:49Out of the top five worst states, the four are BJP rule states.
17:53Under DMK, the women's safety has improved.
17:56At least I can quote three surveys where Tamil Nadu ranks number one for women's safety
18:00and women's empowerment.
18:01You may show anecdotal evidence of one or two crimes.
18:04Of course, I can't justify any of that.
18:07But having said that, when it comes to 100,000 people,
18:10Tamil Nadu remains the safest city and town for women.
18:14No one can deny it.
18:16And also when coming to other achievements, the government has done it.
18:19In spite of BJP not giving us the money, I didn't want to get into it
18:23because how many times would I say it will be understood.
18:26But the primary point is that the election would be won
18:28only based on the development that we have done,
18:31the schemes that we have shown.
18:32If at all BJP wants to have an electoral chance,
18:34what they have to do is, how is that they will do better
18:36or show a role model state where they have done much better
18:41in those four and a half years than in Tamil Nadu.
18:43That is how they can win.
18:44Not pay religion was my major point.
18:45No, no.
18:46So, Dr. Sumansi Raman, Dr. Sumansi Raman,
18:48what do you make of what's playing out right now?
18:49You know, I'm glad.
18:50I'm glad that the conversation is about law and order.
18:52I'm glad the conversation is about the Tamil Nadu economy.
18:55But coming up in a few days from now,
18:57when the Prime Minister touches down in Madurai,
18:59ultimately the biggest headline is going to be
19:01if he visits the Tiruparang Kundram temple or not.
19:04And in such a situation,
19:06do you think that this is the right strategy for the BJP
19:09to be following in a state like Tamil Nadu
19:11when it's not really earned them dividends before?
19:14No, I'm not too sure that they'll get very far
19:16with the Tiruparang Kundram issue,
19:18particularly because there is no immediate action
19:20on that issue to come up with before the election.
19:24In fact, if they focused on law and order,
19:26law and order is genuinely a problem.
19:28Huge number of custodial deaths.
19:30In fact, even last week, there was another custodial death.
19:32And you remember when the AIDMK was in power,
19:36the death of Jairaj and Penix in Sartangulam,
19:39they brought this, the DMK then in the opposition
19:41brought the state to a standstill.
19:43Rightly so.
19:44I'm not criticizing them for that.
19:47There have been, I think, 26 or 28 custodial deaths
19:50in the last three, four years.
19:52And, you know,
19:54law and order is a major issue.
19:57In fact, if the BJP focuses on bread and butter issues like this,
20:04then definitely they stand a better chance
20:06than to go up the Tiruparang Kundram, you know, mountain.
20:10Of course, the prime minister is free to have a darshan there.
20:12But I don't see that as a major political issue
20:16because there is no actionable item
20:19to actually take place before the election.
20:22If there was, it would have been a different issue altogether.
20:24Okay, all right.
20:25Dr. Sumanci Raman Kasturi and Selam Dhanidharan,
20:28thank you for your time for joining us here on India today.
20:31March 1st is when the prime minister is going to be in Tamil Nadu.
20:34The BJP has said this is going to be a big, big NDA show of strength.
20:38So you'll have all of the allies coming together
20:41for this particular event.
20:42There is also that visit to the temple
20:44that everyone's going to be talking about.
20:46But why is this so crucial?
20:48Why is this such a big talking point?
20:50From a few months ago,
20:51we've had the Tiruparang Kundram temple become national headlines.
20:55And I explained to you why that is.
20:57What is this Deepam controversy?
21:01There's been a massive showdown playing out in Tamil Nadu
21:04over the last many days
21:05over the lighting of a lamp in a temple in Madurai.
21:08This is over the Tiruparang Kundram temple in Madurai
21:12where court judgment allowing for a lamp near a darga to be lit
21:16sparked a political storm.
21:18So what exactly happened?
21:19Let me begin with the temple itself.
21:22It's located atop a hillock and is the abode of Lord Murugan.
21:26So scores of Murugan devotees visit this holy temple.
21:29It's called the Subramanya Swami temple.
21:32Now interestingly, right besides this temple is a darga
21:35just slightly above the temple itself.
21:37And the two structures have co-existed for centuries now.
21:40A symbol of religious coexistence.
21:43So what led to this sudden controversy now?
21:46Now essentially over a festival called Kartikai Deepam.
21:50It's a massive festival that's celebrated in Tamil Nadu for Hindus.
21:54And on this day, deepams or lamps are lit across temples and in homes.
21:59Tiruparang Kundram also sees a huge event on this day.
22:02Hundred years ago, the lamp atop a deepatun was lit.
22:06What's a deepatun?
22:07It's a tall lamp post pillar, traditionally used for lighting ceremonial lamps during festivals
22:12and special rituals.
22:14But in this temple, this pillar is very close to the darga and hasn't been used or lit for
22:20the last many decades.
22:22Why?
22:22Because it was decided that the deepatun being so close to the darga won't be lit to avoid
22:27any communal tension.
22:28This pillar is very much in the temple premises, but just about 50 meters from the darga and
22:35so wasn't lit.
22:36And so for the last 100 years or so, the deepam was lit at another location, near the Ganesha
22:42temple, which very often in Tamil Nadu, including in this case, is called the Uchi Pillayar
22:46temple.
22:47This year, however, things changed.
22:49A petition was filed before the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court, seeking to light a
22:54lamp at the deepatun this time.
22:56On December 1st, the court allowed these petitions.
22:59The judge, Justice G.R.
23:01Swaminathan, held that deepatun lies on the portion of the hill belonging to the temple
23:05and not the darga.
23:06The court explicitly rejected objections that lighting the lamp would harm or infringe the
23:11rights of the nearby darga or Muslim community and directed that from this year onward, the
23:17deepam must be lit at the deepatun in addition to the customary place, which was the Pillayar
23:22temple, as I told you.
23:22But despite the order, on December 3rd, there was no arrangement made to light the lamp at
23:28deepatun on the festival night.
23:30Instead, the temple authorities lit the deepam at the traditional location.
23:35This sparked protests by Hindu groups.
23:49In response, the court initiated contempt proceedings.
23:53It allowed the petitioner and a small group with CISF personnel to ascend the hill to light
23:58the lamp at the deepatun.
23:59But police and administration blocked their path, citing law in order.
24:03So they prohibited that attempt under security orders.
24:07Now the case is currently on.
24:09But the DMK government has maintained that allowing the lamp to be lit will lead to a law-in-order
24:14situation.
24:16This is why it's done with the court.
24:18I am at the moment.
24:25the
24:26the
24:26the
24:26the
24:26the
24:30the
24:54The DM case also initiated an impeachment motion against the judge.
24:58With the signatures of 120 MPs, DMK MPs have pushed for the impeachment of Justice J.R. Swaminathan, claiming he
25:06didn't act impartially, that he favours advocates of a particular community, and that he was deciding cases on the basis
25:12of a particular political ideology.
25:15This impeachment motion has sparked a political storm with claims that the DMK is targeting judges who give verdicts that
25:22aren't favourable to the government.
25:24And the showdown, therefore, over the lighting of a lamp in this temple has become the biggest talking point, with
25:32just months to go for elections in Tamil Nadu.
25:36Okay, the other big headline coming in from Tamil Nadu is that expelled AIA DMK leader, VK Sashikala, she is
25:43referred to as Chinnama very often, has floated her own political party.
25:47It came as a huge surprise, because there were so many questions about what Sashikala is up to.
25:51There were some hints that she would follow her nephew, TTV Dhinakaran's course, and back the NDA, at least issue
25:57a statement.
25:58Instead, she's gone ahead and announced the formation of a new party.
26:02She's not really announced the name of the party, but unveiled a party flag that had the pictures of Anna,
26:07MGR and Jai Lalita.
26:10TTV Dhinakaran, her nephew, has lashed out, saying very clearly that this will not work, that everyone is on his
26:16side, his party, the AMMK.
26:18He also drew a parallel between starting a new party and making instant idli and sambar.
26:24But, TTV Dhinakaran said he would expose the true colours of those using Jai Lalita's name.
26:29Because remember, for Sashikala, it's always been about the legacy fight.
26:33And the biggest factor that goes in her favour is the fact that she was always seen as a closest
26:38aide to Sashikala, to Jai Lalita.
26:41Now, at this point, she's clearly made it clear that she's following the principles of MGR, Ranna and Amma.
26:46Nothing beyond that is known.
26:48Will she contest?
26:49Will her party be a part of the upcoming elections?
26:52We don't have any of those details just yet.
26:55But the timing of Sashikala's political plunge, or for launching this party, is something that's leading to a whole lot
27:02of questions.
27:05As a doctor in stating names, people, how will they take place?
29:33So the people will think of that.
29:35They may have some respect for her.
30:03This may be a bargaining chip in the AIADMK BJP equations in an attempt by Sashikala to say, look, you
30:08may have TTV Dhinakaran on board.
30:10You have to now convince me afresh or I'm going to split votes.
30:13The reason she can actually do that is because she's a representative of the Mukulatur community.
30:19The Mukulatur community is strong in southern Tamil Nadu.
30:22It involves several subcastes like the Kallar Maravar as well as the Agamudayar communities.
30:28All of them, of course, represent a backward community, which is crucial in southern Tamil Nadu and largely an AIADMK
30:34vote bank.
30:35They're decisive in several constituencies. Think Madure, Teni, Ramanathapuram or Rameshwaram.
30:41These are constituencies where the Mukulatur community has a big, big say and it's always been the AIADMK stronghold.
30:48Now, remember that Sashikala's biggest strength is that she still resonates with women voters and welfare scheme beneficiaries because she's
30:56got that connect to Jai Lalita, to Amma.
30:59And that's perhaps one of the biggest factors here, the legacy factor.
31:03There's still so much talk of who is Jai Lalita's political heir and considering that she was one of the
31:08top trusted aides of Jai Lalita, she does have a certain amount of cadre loyalty.
31:14There's an association between VK Sashikala and Jai Jai Lalita.
31:17Now, also, what she's looking at is a political comeback of sorts.
31:21She's been kind of disconnected from politics, making comments, yes, but nothing beyond that.
31:26And what she'll be looking at is a re-entry to keep her relevant in Tamil Nadu politics.
31:31Ultimately, the voter will decide whether she will be relevant or not, if she's, of course, going to contest in
31:37this election.
31:44We're getting you an India Today world exclusive.
31:49Amid the U.S.-Iran tensions for the first time, we're going to be playing out for you an exclusive 30
31:55-minute conversation with the Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Aragji, right here on India Today.
32:02This is the first time he's spoken out and he's chosen India Today to speak out on what's happening as
32:08far as the negotiations with U.S. is concerned.
32:11The timing of this interview is crucial because tomorrow is when you're going to be seeing the next round of
32:16talks between U.S. and Iran.
32:18And the man you see on your screens there with my colleague Geeta Mohan in Tehran is the top Khamenei
32:24aide leading the talks with U.S. on Iran's side.
32:28Now, to get you a sense of what exactly he's spoken on, he's spoken about what's happening with America.
32:34He's spoken about Iran's strategy.
32:36He's spoken about also nuclear intimidation and what Iran's strategy really is on that.
32:42He's called Trump a victim of fake news.
32:45He's spoken about the repeated provocations of the military messaging from Trump also to Iran.
32:52So, this is the most crucial global interview that we've got for you here on India Today.
32:58It's coming up at 7 p.m. tonight.
33:00But I'm bringing in on this broadcast India Today Global's Pranay Upadhyay.
33:03We also have Gaurav Samant joining me live from the newsroom to give you a sense of what really makes
33:08this such a headline-grabbing interview.
33:11Gaurav, to you first.
33:12The timing of this is crucial.
33:14Tomorrow, we're going to see the next round of talks between U.S. and Iran and the man leading those
33:19talks for Iran speaking to India Today.
33:22When the world speaks, when the world wants to be heard, they speak to India Today.
33:28And Abbas Araki is very clear.
33:31He's warning the United States of America.
33:33He's telling the world, Iran wants peace, but Iran is prepared for war.
33:39He's warning the Americans that we've seen what happened in the 12-day war and Iran is better prepared.
33:45At the same time, Iran is willing to give peace a chance.
33:49When talks happen in Geneva and Abbas Araki has spoken to India Today's Foreign Affairs,
33:55Zerita Geeta Mohan in Tehran, making it very clear that they want peace.
34:00They want dialogue.
34:01They are willing to accept all that is just and fair.
34:06At the same time, should there be escalation, should there be war, they are better prepared than the 12-day
34:13war last year.
34:15No, very true.
34:16And I'll bring in Pranay also on this broadcast.
34:18Pranay, you've had a chance to see glimpses of that interview and what really the Iranian foreign minister's message is.
34:25I understand this is a 35-minute interview packed with messaging to the world, packed with messaging particularly to Donald
34:32Trump.
34:34Absolutely, Akshita, if you see, I've seen the pointers of that interview, you know, the big takeaways from that interview.
34:40Clearly, you know, outlining what are Iranian priorities, what are the Iranian red lines.
34:45And he said in as many words that, you know, the missile, capping of the missiles of Iran are totally
34:51off-limit for Iran to negotiate with the United States.
34:54And this is a very crucial interview amid the West Asia tension and amid the crucial talks ahead of the
35:00Geneva round between the United States and the Oman-mediated talks between the U.S. and Iran.
35:05He said that Iran is ready to engage diplomatically with the United States.
35:10We can talk about the nuclear issue.
35:12But Iran does not have any intention to develop a nuclear weapon, which Iran has said on multiple occasions, but
35:19he reiterated in this interview as well, that Iran does not hold any intention to develop a nuclear weapon.
35:25Rather, the nuclear program of Iran is for the civilian purpose and Iran has a right to develop its nuclear
35:30program for the civilian purposes.
35:31Besides that, he said that we do not want to have a war.
35:35But if the war is imposed on Iran, Iran is better prepared to deal with the situation.
35:41We will defend our country with whatever means we have.
35:44And that is the intention of Iran.
35:47And also, he said, as Gaurav also mentioned, that after the 12-day war experience, Iran is much more prepared
35:54and Iran will give a befitting reply to the United States if war is imposed on Iran.
35:59So, clearly, the red lines being laid out by the Iranian foreign minister, Syed Abbas Araqchi, ahead of the crucial
36:06Geneva talks between the United States and Iran.
36:09And also, he said that we want peace, how Iran is taking along the international partners, how they are communicating
36:16with other partners.
36:18He also spoke about, you know, the Iran-India relation, how he has kept out those engagements, how the leadership
36:24of Iran has also breathed the Indian leadership about these issues.
36:27And he also spoke about the Chabar and other issues as well, which are the bilateral important issues.
36:33But, clearly, amid the West Asia tensions at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Israel, you know,
36:39he's all set to address the Israeli parliament, Knesset.
36:44And India today, you know, Syed Abbas Araqchi chose India today to speak to.
36:49And he spoke about the crucial talks between the United States and Iran.
36:54And that has all the components, you know, and the areas where Iran would want to, you know, he has
37:01laid out that, you know, what will be there on the table?
37:04What are the things which can be negotiated between the United States and Iran?
37:08And what are the other things which cannot be discussed, which cannot be, you know, negotiated by Iran?
37:13So, clearly, this is a very important interview.
37:16And amid all these war build-ups in West Asia, amid the diplomatic efforts, this is, I think, the strongest
37:22message and the most important message coming out from Tehran.
37:26Gaurav, just, you know, to take forward what Pranay has mentioned, the mention of Israel particularly, that's important.
37:33Because, you know, at this point, Prime Minister Modi is in Israel, is meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu.
37:39And Israel and Iran, we've been seeing a whole lot of messaging involved there as well, a whole lot of
37:44back and forth.
37:45There indeed has been a lot of back and forth between Israel and Iran, especially that 12-day war, where
37:51Israel and the United States had targeted multiple locations,
37:54especially the nuclear bases, of nuclear enrichment bases of Iran, including Natanz, Fordo, Ishfahan.
38:02What we know as of now, Iran's making two things very clear in that exclusive interview to India Today's Foreign
38:08Affairs editor,
38:09Geetha Mohan.
38:10Abbas Aragchi says, point one, they have no intentions of longer-range missiles that can target the United States of
38:18America or parts of Europe or worse to that effect,
38:21because their missile range is capped at 2,000 kilometers.
38:25He's making that very specific.
38:26That was one of the key demands, the capping of ballistic missiles.
38:30And two, no nuclear weapons.
38:33And Iran's making it very clear, they don't have intentions to make nuclear weapons.
38:37That's the point Abbas Aragchi is making.
38:39As far as civilian nuclear energy, harnessing nuclear power is concerned, they intend pursuing it, following all international norms.
38:53Those are words that they've shared in the past.
38:55They've said this even to India Today.
38:57Talks in Geneva become extremely crucial, because God forbid, should talks in Geneva not succeed,
39:03this would lead to massive escalation, the amount of military hardware that the United States and Israel already have in
39:10the region.
39:10Two aircraft carrier battle groups, strike groups already in these areas.
39:15You have more military hardware that's already coming in.
39:18I've just spoken to Israel's deputy foreign minister.
39:22And from all sides, battle lines are drawn.
39:25Will it lead to war or peace remains to be seen.
39:28And at the heart of it is Iran.
39:30At the heart of it is this administration and what they do next could perhaps decide which way this conflict
39:36goes.
39:36The messaging clearly from Abbas Aragchi is we want peace.
39:40We don't want war.
39:41But if there's provocation, if there's an attempt to intimidate us, we will answer back.
39:46And that's exactly what he said to my colleague Geeta Mohan there in that mega Tehran exclusive that's coming your
39:52way at exactly 6.55pm.
39:54This is an interview to watch out for why.
39:56While we're talking about this and referring to it as a global exclusive, as a world exclusive, because mind you,
40:02this is a top Khamenei aid speaking out for the first time.
40:05There's also very important headlines, not just globally, but also very importantly domestically as well, Pranay.
40:12Because at this point, you know, there are so many questions during the rounds of what will happen in West
40:17Asia.
40:17And it has a direct impact for India as well.
40:21Absolutely, Akshita.
40:22We have around 10,000 plus Indians in Iran.
40:26We have, you know, if there is, God forbid, if there is a war in the region, there are fears
40:32about the escalation of that war into the wider area of West Asia.
40:35And we have over 90 lakh Indians working in various Gulf countries.
40:39So, therefore, we have, India has legitimate concern about the conflict in the region.
40:43And, therefore, if you see, Prime Minister Nareen Modi recently had a conversation with the Iranian leadership, with the Iranian
40:48President Masood Pazashkian.
40:50Prime Minister Nareen Modi is in Israel.
40:52And I'm sure he would be holding a discussion with the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, as well, on these
40:57issues that, you know, how he'll have his own evaluation about the situation.
41:01And India has always favoured for the de-escalation, always favoured for dialogue and diplomacy.
41:07And, therefore, you know, India has always expressed the intention that we would want to play a role for the
41:14dialogue and diplomacy and for the peaceful resolution of the situation.
41:17And, in fact, India has been engaging with all the stakeholders in the region, be it United Arab Emirates, be
41:22it Saudi Arabia, be it Iran, Israel, and even with the United States, to de-escalate the situation.
41:28But, as far as the domestic politics is concerned, yes, there are questions as well about the timing of Prime
41:35Minister Modi's visit to Israel at a time when the volatility is there.
41:39In fact, the geopolitical churning is there in the West Asian region.
41:44And, therefore, if you see, and, you know, from our point of view, I would want to highlight the fact
41:49that, you know, recently, you know, Gita interviewed Syed Abbas or Rakshin Tehran and Gaurav interviewed the Deputy Prime Foreign
41:56Minister of Israel.
41:57So, we, that is the, that is also a classic of India for diplomacy and Indian, you know, that Indian
42:04attitude towards the region that, you know, we are engaging with all the stakeholders because we have our legitimate interest
42:09in the region.
42:10And, therefore, as a responsible media organization also, we are also putting out both sides of the story.
42:16You know, I can tell you very clearly that the world right now will be waiting for that particular interview.
42:22You're going to see global media outlets quoting exactly what the Iranian Foreign Minister says in this conversation.
42:28Because, like I said, the timing of this conversation is crucial.
42:32It's coming just about 24 hours before the next round of talks between Iran and America.
42:36And if there's anyone, if there's anyone who knows exactly what Iran's strategy is going into the next round of
42:43nuclear talks with the U.S., it is the man you see on your screens.
42:47It is the Iranian Foreign Minister who's leading those delegation talks with America.
42:51And he's seated there with Geeta Mohan, who goes into great detail as to exactly what is the red line
42:56for Iran.
42:57What do they hope for will emerge, really, from Geneva.
43:01And, mind you, the other person who will be watching very closely what exactly Iran has to say is U
43:06.S. President Donald Trump,
43:08who's been constantly also poking Iran, warning them of military action.
43:12And so, if Iran sends out a message of peace or if Iran sends out a message of war, you'll
43:18have that answer at 6.55 this evening.
43:21That will decide exactly what happens in the coming days as far as the West Asia conflict goes.
43:27And I'm not going to, you know, at this point restrict it to West Asia because this is something that
43:31has far-reaching repercussions for the world as well.
43:35A lot of it hinges upon what Donald Trump says or what Donald Trump does.
43:39But a lot of it also hinges on how the Iranian regime chooses to respond to particularly any messaging that
43:46comes in from Donald Trump,
43:48which is what the Iranian Foreign Minister has also said in that particular conversation with Geeta Mohan.
43:54He said very clearly that, look, Donald Trump is a victim of fake news.
43:58And, Gaurav, I'll bring you in on that.
44:00With that kind of a message that he sent out, which will play out at 6.55, so in just
44:05about 10 minutes from now,
44:07the idea is clearly of the Iranian regime to suggest that what Trump is talking about,
44:13you know, as far as nukes are concerned, is simply not true.
44:17Two aspects. You're absolutely right.
44:20President Trump has always complained of fake news.
44:23Now he himself is a victim of fake news.
44:26This is what Abbas Araki tells Geeta Mohan.
44:29We are not developing long-range missiles.
44:31We have a limited range of below 2,000 kilometers intentionally.
44:35We don't want to be a global threat.
44:37At the same time, Abbas Araki is telling India today,
44:41we have to defend ourselves.
44:42Our missiles build deterrence.
44:44Iran is not developing nuclear weapons.
44:47We have no intentions of nuclear or long-range missiles.
44:51But if I may, the devil lies in the detail and the sting is in the tail.
44:57What is he saying?
44:58The U.S. has built a huge number of military presence in the region around us.
45:04If the idea is to threaten us so that we capitulate, that is not going to happen.
45:09We are more prepared than we were last time.
45:11There will be no victory for anyone.
45:14That's a word of caution that comes out of Abbas Araki in Tehran.
45:18We are better prepared than last time since the American bases are scattered across the region.
45:23Unfortunately, the whole region will be engaged and involved.
45:27It will be a terrible scenario.
45:30So he's actually painting out a worst-case scenario.
45:33Should the balloon go up?
45:35Should there be limited strikes on Iran?
45:37There will not be a limited response this time.
45:39Is the assessment?
45:40The response will be severe and across the region.
45:44Very, very interesting.
45:45So it's very clear from what Gaurav just told you
45:47and the glimpses that we've given you of that interview
45:49that this is a conversation the White House tour will be watching very carefully
45:53to see exactly what Iran has to say
45:56with just hours to go for the next round of talks in Geneva.
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