- 6 weeks ago
The big focus of this episode of News Today is on the ban on NCERT Class 8 book over a chapter on 'judicial corruption' and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day Israel visit.
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00:00Good evening, hello and welcome. You're with the news today. This is your primetime destination news.
00:05Newsmakers talking point Thursday night. We've got plenty to talk about.
00:09Our top talking point, the Supreme Court has come down heavily on the NCRT textbook Rao,
00:16claiming that this is a bid to malign the judiciary. Is it really? Or are the judges
00:22really caught up in judicial corruption as the book alleges?
00:25Prime Minister has returned from Israel. Has India picked a side now in the turbulent West
00:32Asia region? Plenty to talk about. But first, as always, it's time for the nine headlines at nine.
00:38The Supreme Court slams the NCRT for the textbook that spoke about judicial corruption,
00:45bans the circulation of the class eight textbook, claims there was a conspiracy to demean the
00:51judiciary. Union Minister Pradhan expresses regret. Prime Minister Modi is directed to fix
00:57accountability.
01:01Former Union Minister Finance Minister P. Chidambaram now in the ED net once again. ED places prosecution
01:09sanction against Mr. Chidambaram in SL Maxis and INEX media cases.
01:17Prime Minister Modi concludes his visit to Israel. Modi and Netanyahu, Inc. 16 agreements
01:23including on technology transfer and defence. Prime Minister Modi bats for a peaceful resolution
01:28to the West Asia conflict.
01:33It's cops versus cops over unauthorised arrest of shirtless protest accused in Himachal. Kidnapping
01:39case filed against Delhi police officials who had gone there to arrest three youth Congress
01:44members.
01:49DGCA updates ticket refund norms offers a 48-hour free change cancellation window and faster refunds.
02:05Amid POSCO probe against Avi Mukteswaran and a bomb threat now issued to Sears lawyer security
02:13heightened at Varanasi court ahead of the religious leader's bail hearing on Friday.
02:21High court staged the film Kerala Story 2 a day before its release pulls up CBFC over grant of
02:27certifications as censor board failed to adhere to the prescribed guidelines.
02:34US and Iran hold a third round of talks in Geneva. Trump stays adamant on a deal to constrain
02:39Iran's new programme. On the other hand, Tehran maintains it as right to enrich uranium.
02:46Actors Rashmika Mandana and Vijay Devar Konda share their first official pictures from their
02:52much-talked-about wedding. He got married in traditional ceremonies in Udaipur.
03:04But our top story tonight comes from the Supreme Court which has banned the NCRT's Class 8 political
03:11science textbook over a chapter that contained references to judicial corruption. The Chief
03:18Justice of India today called it an attempt to undermine the judiciary. Copies are to be seized,
03:24teaching, barred, show cause notices issued to the centre and the NCRT chief. While NCRT has withdrawn
03:30the book and apologised, the CGI has said the apology was inadequate. The move has again sparked a debate.
03:38Is the judiciary beyond criticism? Was the reaction of the justices disproportionate? Or should the writing of
03:46textbooks be much more careful? That's our top focus tonight. But first, take a look at what happened in the
03:53Apex Court.
03:56The Supreme Court on Thursday banned the NCRT's latest political science textbook for Class 8,
04:02calling the contents of one chapter a calculated attempt to erode the credibility and prestige of the judiciary.
04:09A three-judge bench of Chief Justice Suryakant, Justice Joy Malabakchi and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi
04:16ordered the immediate removal of the chapter from all physical and digital platforms. It directed authorities
04:23to seize printed copies already in circulation. The court barred any teaching from the book.
04:29It imposed a blanket prohibition on its production and distribution and issued a show cause notice
04:35to the centre and the NCRT chief seeking an explanation. When the hearing began, Solicitor General
04:41Tushar Mehta informed the court that the NCRT has already withdrawn the textbook and apologised.
04:47But the CGI observed that the statement issued by the NCRT did not contain any apology.
04:53At the heart of the controversy is a chapter that referred to corruption at various levels of the
04:59judiciary, warned that such corruption can weaken access to justice, stated that misconduct cases
05:05have dented public confidence, flagged massive case backlogs across courts, and noted that instances
05:11of corruption within the judiciary have surfaced in the past.
05:16After sharp observations from the Supreme Court, the Union Education Minister expressed regret.
05:43The Supreme Court sweeping ban has ignited a larger constitutional debate. One group argues that this
05:50is an attempt to discredit and beckon a key constitutional institution. Critics question whether the court has
05:56shown equal urgency in responding to earlier controversies involving textbooks revisions.
06:03Bureau Report, India today.
06:08Well, let's ask some direct questions. Is this really a bit to malign the judiciary as the chief justice claim?
06:14Is it an oversight or a conspiracy as the judges claim? Has the Supreme Court overreacted because
06:20the issue is close to their own? Is the content inappropriate for school kids? Or is the judiciary
06:26simply above criticism in this country? I'm joined by special guest. My first guest, Indira Jai Singh,
06:31senior advocate, Supreme Court and a former ASG. Justice Sanjee Banerjee, former chief justice of Meghalaya
06:37and of Madras of Chennai. And Brinda Saroop, former special secretary, Department of Education and Literacy.
06:45I appreciate all of you joining us. I want to come to Indira Jai Singh first, because all your life
06:49you have fought
06:50against judicial corruption. You have been the one among the few who have put a mirror to judicial corruption.
06:56Now what happens? It's mentioned in a school textbook. What's the immediate reaction of the courts? It's a conspiracy
07:02to undermine the judiciary. Do you believe the judges have overreacted or do you believe that school textbooks should not
07:09be
07:09referring to judicial corruption? Rajdeep, as I said elsewhere, and as you point out, I frankly don't know
07:17whether to laugh or cry at what's going on. Am I being pushed into a situation where I have to
07:25defend the judiciary?
07:26Or are we going to look at these issues very honestly and frankly? Now it is not my case that
07:34there has never been
07:35any corruption in the judiciary or that they will not be in the future. The only question is, do we
07:41have systems
07:42in place to deal with it in a transparent manner? Now the answer to that question is no. There are
07:51systems to deal
07:52with it, but I'm afraid they're not very transparent in the manner in which they function. I believe that these
07:58processes
07:59should include members from the public, they should include members from the media. I believe that it's time
08:09the judiciary had a free and frank open town hall type of meeting with members of the general public,
08:17with members of the press, with members of the bar, with members of the judiciary, where these issues can be
08:22discussed.
08:23And we come to a solution, what best methodology we can find to address the issue of corruption.
08:30On the question of motivated...
08:31No, but do you believe that, do you believe therefore it's a conspiracy? Ma'am, do you believe it's a
08:35conspiracy?
08:36Yes. These are the words used by the Chief Justice to undermine public faith in the judiciary.
08:42The truth of the matter is, there have been, these are whispers in the corridors of the judiciary, of courtrooms,
08:48about corruption in the judiciary. Are we saying our children are not to be exposed to any of it?
08:54Rajdeep, the court has not used the word, quote unquote, conspiracy.
09:00What they do say is we want to look into the motivation of what has happened.
09:05I want to tell you something very important. First and foremost, the opening sentences of the order say it all.
09:13The three arms of governance, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary are co-equal
09:19and the judiciary's independence must be safeguarded, okay?
09:24If we want a democratic society, if citizens need relief.
09:29So I agree with the fact that the court has taken Suomoto notice of this case.
09:34I also think that there is a motivation at play which needs to be exposed.
09:40The reason I say this is this is not the first time this has happened.
09:44The NCERT is under the direct control of the executive.
09:48In fact, on your own show, you showed us a statement by the Minister for Education
09:53who must take responsibility for what has happened with this textbook.
09:58Okay? It's not enough to have a fall guy like the director of the NCERT. Okay?
10:04No, no. But ma'am, I'm sorry. For once I must... Ma'am, for once I must push you. You
10:09seem to suggest that the executive...
10:10No, no ma'am. You seem to be suggesting this is a conspiracy of the executive against the judiciary.
10:15Now, are we saying school textbooks will not refer to what is now being quoted?
10:22Justice B.R. Gawai, he is quoted in the book.
10:24He said in July 2025, there have been instances of corruption and misconduct that have surfaced even within the judiciary.
10:30Now, if the book quotes this, what is the... Do judges have such a thin skin?
10:34No, they don't. And if the quotation was within context where it could have highlighted that Justice Gawai also said
10:43we had systems to deal with it.
10:45It was not. Please let me complete my earlier point.
10:47This is not the first time we are seeing something like this.
10:51Former Honourable Minister Mr. Rejuju has consistently attacked the judiciary.
10:56After that, we saw the former Honourable Vice President of India who also consistently attacked the judiciary.
11:02And now we have this textbook. Please see it in that context.
11:06It is not my case that there is no corruption.
11:09Justice Varma's case is testimony to the fact that Parliament is seized of the issue.
11:14Nor is it my case that the general public should not be informed.
11:18Nor is it my case that students should not be informed about it.
11:21But these are students who are going to go to law college.
11:24These are students who are going to become judges.
11:25Tell them. Be frank. Be upfront with them. Tell them what this issue really is.
11:33I would like students to demand transparency as I do.
11:37And I have to say that I am disappointed with the bar.
11:40Yes, we stood up today and asked for this.
11:43But when these attacks were going on, what did the bar do?
11:46Did the bar do anything? I didn't see the bar doing anything.
11:49I think we need to look a little more closely at the role of the bar as well.
11:53No, no. You are making a very serious allegation, ma'am, on the show.
11:56You are saying this is part of a concerted attack by the executive on the judiciary.
12:01I believe that to be true.
12:05I can't... I mean...
12:07You believe that to be true? You believe that...
12:08No, I think...
12:09And does that mean that issues of judicial corruption...
12:11No, no. Does that mean that a school textbook must not include references to judicial corruption?
12:16It must, Rajdeep. But you must see the contextualisation which has not been done.
12:22Rajdeep, I want to ask you a question. You are a journalist.
12:25You have journalistic ethics.
12:27You yourself on your show never say ABC is corrupt.
12:30You say it is alleged that so-and-so is corrupt, right?
12:35Until proven, a person is only alleged to be guilty.
12:39Look at this headline, corruption in the judiciary.
12:41Give us data. Give us statistics.
12:43Give us proof about it.
12:44And remember, it is not my case that there is no corruption in the judiciary.
12:49Don't expect me to say that.
12:51You're right in saying I stand for transparency.
12:54It is the transparency which I'm demanding.
12:57Look, on your show, you've got Justice Varma's case over there.
13:00How can anybody say that there is no alleged corruption in the judiciary?
13:04There is. These things need investigation.
13:07It's very, very serious.
13:08The issue is serious.
13:10I'm only asking that you debate it at a serious level.
13:13Call.
13:14Call upon the judiciary to have a transparent system.
13:18Put it in.
13:18Unless you say we want to get away with the judiciary and let the executive give us justice.
13:23No.
13:23We are going to continue to go to the judiciary for justice.
13:26And what we want is a transparent, participatory judiciary.
13:33Right. Okay.
13:34I want to hold you to your thoughts because I have a graphic.
13:38And I want to come to Justice Sanjeev Banerjee now.
13:41Source Government in Lok Sabha 2026.
13:43From 2016 to 2025, the number of complaints have gone up.
13:48Just look at how the complaints have gone up significantly.
13:51The figure is slowly but surely climbing.
13:54And we are now reaching a stage where this is a serious concern.
13:58Should this not be seen as a serious concern?
14:01As well, Justice Banerjee, when I look at complaints against sitting judges,
14:05Banerjee is now up to 1102 from 682 in 2017.
14:10Should I, Justice Banerjee, not be worried?
14:12And if the students are told about it, are we saying that these 14-year-olds are so infantile
14:18that they will suddenly think that the entire judiciary is corrupt?
14:23No, Rajiv.
14:24There are two answers.
14:25One is that, is there corruption in the judiciary?
14:29There certainly is.
14:31Are these figures anything to go by?
14:33They are nothing at all.
14:35However, why has the judiciary been singled out for corruption?
14:39Is there no corruption amongst politicians, in the executive, in the bureaucracy?
14:44Why has the judiciary been singled out?
14:47This is the judiciary being asked to fall in line or whatever else may be coming.
14:57No, no, no.
14:58I mean, just to say that why don't you mention executive corruption?
15:02Why don't you mention bureaucratic corruption or dare I say journalistic corruption?
15:06I mean, that's what about, Justice Banerjee?
15:09What about other corruption?
15:10They've mentioned judiciary in this context.
15:12They've also spoken of judicial delays.
15:13I come back to it.
15:14Is it such an affront to our judges to talk about judicial corruption?
15:19It may not be.
15:21It may not be.
15:22It may not be.
15:22There is no proper mechanism to deal with corruption within the system.
15:27Yet, the judiciary is such a special body that it needs to deal with corruption in-house and it can't
15:34be opened out, so to say.
15:36Every failed litigant will have a complaint, but for every 10 complaints or 20 complaints, maybe one or two are
15:45worthy of being pursued.
15:47I know from my experience of nearly 18 years, we've removed several judges in the lower judiciary.
15:54However, when it comes to the High Court, and I can speak only up to the High Court because that's
15:59my level, nothing's been done.
16:03Complaints have been made by chief justices, two chief justices of India, and they have been brushed aside or they
16:11have not been taken notice of.
16:13And there are several cases like this.
16:14No, but what's wrong? That's precisely it.
16:17With due regard, Justice Banerjee, that's precisely it.
16:19If this chapter triggers a debate on judicial corruption among the young, what's the harm?
16:26What's the harm in school? I read about it. I'm doing a political science paper. I want to be abreast
16:31with contemporary issues.
16:33You talk about corruption in society, corruption among the politicians.
16:38I think the incidence of corruption is much lower in the judiciary.
16:42But you don't talk about that. You talk about… and in what context?
16:47In the context that cases are piling up. Cases are piling up because there are not enough judges.
16:52There's not enough infrastructure. And no political dispensation wants a strong judiciary.
17:00They want the judiciary to conform. And look what's happening.
17:03There's no media which is worth its name now. Otherwise, people who are heading media channels
17:10wouldn't have private blogs to air their private opinions because you do not have probably the independence or authority to
17:21air what you want to say in your channel that some people have to open up private blogs.
17:26I speak out my mind. Sir, it's not media versus judiciary. I want to make it clear. It's not media
17:36versus judiciary here.
17:38It's a concerted attempt to put the judiciary down and attack the judiciary.
17:44Several institutions have been attacked and have been taken over. The election commission no less.
17:49Even a body like the Reserve Bank of India is infiltrated with people who have no place to be on
17:55the board of that institution.
17:58And so the judiciary is also, you know, it's a very, very strong words again.
18:03Okay. I take your point. I want to come to Vrinda Swaroop, your former Special Secretary Department of Education and
18:09Literacy.
18:09Ma'am, the NCRT textbook writing process presumably involves various people.
18:14Can we hold one person responsible and this is a government body and this is a government that looks very
18:19closely at every word?
18:21So who is to be held accountable if at all in case as the judges are now saying that this
18:26is unacceptable and there must be accountability?
18:29Who's accountable for writing the NCRT textbooks, ma'am?
18:33So just three quick points on that Rajdeep.
18:36One is that the NCRT is the body for writing the textbooks and they had from when I was secretary
18:45in the Department of School Education and Literacy.
18:48And my experience there has been that they were they were actually a very diligent body and traditionally been so.
18:55And there are layers and layers of scrutiny which are carried out before the textbook is actually released for use.
19:06So, you know, there's the there are the textbook writers and there is the department which is in charge of
19:12that particular subject.
19:14And then they have an editorial board and then there's an institutional scrutiny.
19:19So there are lots of layers which so I am a bit surprised that something like this has gone through.
19:26But the second point is that when you draft and you put together textbooks for students who are elementary education
19:34level.
19:35This was class eight, you normally don't introduce any kind of judgmental or such provocative words.
19:47You stick to what is the nature of the subject, the facts, the context.
19:52In this case, it was obvious that and it is there in that chapter.
19:57Also, I've read that chapter.
19:58So, so that is where you go and you basically are giving a young vulnerable student the right kind of
20:05knowledge about his constitution, her system of governance in the country, etc.
20:12But ma'am, but ma'am does ma'am, I take your point.
20:15You're saying these are vulnerable minds, but the court's order then sets a precedent that could discourage textbook authors and
20:21education educators from addressing sensitive topics like corruption in public life.
20:26My third point.
20:26My third point.
20:27I come back to it.
20:27My third point.
20:28What is so, what is this political hot potato?
20:30Corruption is an open secret unfortunately in this country.
20:33Shouldn't the young know about it?
20:35So the third point which I was making was that you have these textbooks which are in a certain sense
20:41bland and factual and contextual.
20:43But the pedagogy of teaching is where you interrogate issues, where you interrogate.
20:50You give that student a context which is of maybe discussions like this, but they have to be contextualized.
20:58They have to be led in a certain direction because I reiterate an elementary school kid cannot be given a
21:07height.
21:07He or she has to be given a context.
21:10There are challenges in every system, any arm of governance.
21:14So there has to be a contextualized discussion led so that what is the purpose?
21:21Right.
21:21The purpose is that she absorbs that.
21:24Okay.
21:24Absorbs what is the scenario of the constitution.
21:29I take your point ma'am.
21:32I take your point.
21:33You know Indira Jay Singh I come back to it where I started off.
21:35You've been always a crusader on these issues.
21:38Now, you're saying let's have a debate on transparency in the judiciary.
21:43Let's take a, what if something like this, this writing triggered off that debate.
21:47At some stage surely we can't sweep these issues under a carpet.
21:51No.
21:52We cannot sweep them under the carpet.
21:54Not at all.
21:56And I agree with you, it's a perfect opportunity to have a really serious debate.
22:03But I'm very clear in my mind that the existing system has not delivered.
22:08Rajdeep, the fountain of justice must not be corrupted at its source.
22:12And the source is the issue of appointments.
22:15The point is, what is the transparency there at the time of appointment of judges?
22:20It is there that we need openness.
22:22It is there that we need the right to make a complaint.
22:26The lay public should be able to make a complaint.
22:28So if children are taught, you know, I think, but what if children are taught this?
22:31Let's assume they are not class 8.
22:33What if they were class 12 political science students and they were told,
22:35what is the present system?
22:37What are the weaknesses in it?
22:38What are the loopholes?
22:39Would you have a problem with it?
22:40Listen Rajdeep, the data which is there in relation to backlogs,
22:45it's also on the website of the Supreme Court of India.
22:48There's no big secret about the backlogs.
22:51But as the Leonard judge was trying to point out to you,
22:54who's responsible for these backlogs?
22:56Let me know.
22:56Do we have the sufficient number of judges?
22:59Why doesn't the executive?
23:00Listen, I will tell you what's the main issue here.
23:03The main issue here is this textbook is under the control of the executive.
23:09So don't compare it with every author.
23:11Every author is not under the control of the executive.
23:14You can publish any book you want on the issue of the judiciary.
23:19No one is going to stop you from publishing it.
23:21If you've defamed anybody, there will be a civil suit or a criminal case.
23:25If you have committed contempt, there will be, but you will not be stopped.
23:28The issue here is who is the author of this book?
23:32Who controls this publication?
23:34It is the government of India.
23:36Okay.
23:36So the narrative has to be attributed to them.
23:38I've taken your point.
23:40I will ask you, therefore, Justice Banerjee, in conclusion, straight answer.
23:44Are judges immune from criticism?
23:46Do judges have a thin skin, as some believe?
23:50No, they don't.
23:51But, of course, judges can't defend themselves.
23:54That's one big point.
23:56You know, and there is always a party which loses the matter.
24:00And usually the losing party, whether advocates appearing for that losing party,
24:05or the party itself, brings out allegations of corruption,
24:08which in most cases are completely baseless and are not worthy of even taking notice of.
24:16But to attack the judiciary in this way is to undermine its independence.
24:22And that is a consistent thing which has been happening over the last decade or so,
24:28to undermine the judiciary and break its backbone.
24:31And so today you have two Muslim boys not getting bail for what reason we do not know.
24:38We today have a 10-year sentence handed to a journalist for defaming a corporate house or its head honcho.
24:48And we today, this is the message that the judiciary is taking.
24:51That you fall in line or whatever else we can do.
24:56This is not what is appropriate.
24:57We don't need a government looking over what food we have on the plane,
25:03what language we are talking in.
25:05We need a government to take care of our problems.
25:10And while you engage in this Hindu-Muslim kind of a sideshow,
25:16corruption goes on as usual in the high places.
25:20Okay.
25:22Okay, let me leave it there.
25:24Very strong words from my participants.
25:26I hope someone out there is listening.
25:28Their concerns should be registered.
25:30But as I said, we need a wider debate on judicial corruption.
25:33Also, dare I say, on media corruption.
25:35No problem with that debate as well.
25:38Indira Jaisingh, Justice Banerjee.
25:40Can I request you to...
25:41Yes, yes ma'am.
25:42You had 10 seconds.
25:4310 seconds.
25:44Can I request you to host a conclave?
25:46Yes, 10 seconds.
25:47Can I request you to host a conclave?
25:49Call for an open house where we don't have curated questions.
25:53Let's have a debate.
25:55You do it.
25:56Okay.
25:57We will try and do that.
25:58I take up that.
26:00I will try and get that done.
26:02But I appreciate all my guests joining me on my top talking point tonight.
26:11Okay, let's turn from there to our second story of the day.
26:15Prime Minister Narendra Modi has concluded his two-day visit to Israel.
26:19Remember, the Prime Minister spoke at the Israeli parliament, the Neset, only yesterday.
26:25The visit is seen to have further solidified the relationship between the Prime Minister and the Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu,
26:31as well as several MOUs that suggest an even stronger defence and strategic cooperation with Israel.
26:38The question is, of course, has India now clearly picked a side in the turbulent Middle East by firmly aligning
26:45itself with the Israel-United States axis?
26:48Take a look.
26:56A new chapter in India-Israel ties has begun.
26:59A day after addressing Israel's parliament, the Knesset, Prime Minister Narendra Modi got down to business on Thursday.
27:06Modi had meetings with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and delegation-level talks.
27:15New Delhi and Tel Aviv released a nine-page joint statement.
27:19Multiple agreements were signed.
27:21The MEA listed 27 outcomes.
27:24The highlights?
27:25The two countries have elevated ties to strategic partnership.
27:29There will be collaboration in critical and emerging tech, led by national security advisors.
27:35A cyber security centre of excellence will be set up in India.
27:39The two nations will partner in artificial intelligence.
27:43UPI will be implemented in Israel.
27:45And Israel will open doors to 50,000 Indian workers over the next five years.
28:18Then, Lord, the leader's
28:45we are proud ancient civilizations very proud of
28:51our past but absolutely determined to seize the future and we can do it better together
28:59we are going to we've decided to have a g2g meeting in india
29:05modi's visit to israel could mark a turning point in india's foreign policy
29:10on venesty the prime minister called out hamas for the terrorist attack on october 7 2023
29:17i also carry with me the deepest condolences of the people of india
29:28for every life lost and for every family
29:35which world was shattered in the barbaric terrorist attack by hamas on october 7th
29:47the prime minister's visit to israel comes at a time war clouds are looming over west asia
29:53u.s president donald trump has put iran on notice talks are on but the region is on the edge
29:59palestine seems to have taken a back seat and india's ties with israel no longer appear
30:05to be a tightrope walk
30:11bureau report india today
30:16okay the prime minister's visit to israel big questions has india now clearly picked a side
30:21in a turbulent west asia as palestinian causes a result taken a backseat for new delhi
30:27is there a message also for tehran and iran how do the arab nations see the india-israel
30:34relationship joining me now casey singh former indian ambassador to uae brahma
30:40chalani strategic affairs expert and former advisor to india's national security council
30:44and ambassador bp shrivastha former indian ambassador to iran gentlemen good to have you
30:49on the show brahma chalani to you first do you believe that the prime minister has reset
30:53uh relations very clearly making it out to be that india and israel have shared interests particularly
31:00when it comes to islamic terror when it comes to defense cooperation and thereby an entirely new
31:07relationship is now being pushed forward i think the watershed moment was the 2017 visit by modi to israel
31:16that broke a long-standing taboo he became the first indian prime minister to visit israel
31:22and he helped transform the india-israel relationship the difference now is that
31:29he went to israel at a time when israel faces international isolation over the devastation it has
31:37caused in gaza and also at a time when israel is on full military alert given the fact that
31:43the u.s under trump is positioning its forces for possible strides on iran and iran in retaliation
31:52is likely to drag israel into the conflict so for modi to go at this juncture was um was quite
32:00brave and
32:01i'm sure that will endure him further to the israelis because um when they feel isolated modi the leader of
32:09the world's largest democracy was in israel um that was very significant but i think the important
32:15point to remember is that while india is drawing significant defense technological and security
32:22benefits from israel it is at the same time deepening its relationships with key arab countries
32:32countries especially the gulf countries look at the way the india-uae relationship has been transformed
32:40into a deep economic and security partnership i think that um is one of the major positive elements
32:52of the modi foreign policy that has been able to at the same time simultaneously
32:58deepening partnerships with key gulf countries while deepening the partnership with israel
33:06you know that that's the question i want to pose to you casey singh can we easily now dehyphenate a
33:11strong relationship with israel and also having strong ties with the moderate gulf countries in
33:17particular maybe even at the cost of isolating iran in some way do you believe that's a wise thing to
33:24do
33:24in this turbulent uh middle east at the moment the fact that the prime minister didn't really
33:29mention the atrocities that have been committed by uh on uh on innocent palestinians as well focused
33:36on hamas but not on what has happened in gaza do you believe that india in that sense is playing
33:42this
33:42role of a balancer of sorts between various conflicting forces in the region and sidelining the palestinians in
33:49the process right there are two divisions which are in the region today one is within the sunni camp
33:57itself and the second is shia sunni between iran and the rest so it's not like in the past now
34:04let
34:04me manage mention three things 1992 the cabinet note when we established diplomatic ties was written by me
34:11hardy puri who's now my minister was director with mr dikshit they gave us two days to produce that note
34:17and it was done and the reason was that the middle east process had begun clinton had been elected and
34:24the middle east peace process had begun and we were told by the americans you'll not be even invited
34:29as a guest because you don't have relations with both sides the palestinians were already talking to
34:35israel so in that context we established diplomatic relations in fact i went for the american health thing i
34:43let the indian election went to washington for that the context was that things are settling between
34:48israel and palestine now the context is entirely different because let's take g20 g20 was september
34:552023 four weeks later came gaza now we got india got together saudi arabia uae israel you got your india
35:05uh west asia uh west asia europe pipeline overland and sea connection mr adani went and bought haifa
35:14that this is going to be all connected but the minute the gaza attack took place that was gone
35:20and i don't know what is there left to discuss and what the south the differences between saudis and
35:24the emiratis now emirat uae is completely isolated and that's why all the others you've seen what's
35:31happened to them in yemen they are seen as acting on behalf of israel and stand completely isolated
35:37so that's what the saudis are doing is they are creating an alternative route from qatar through
35:43saudi arabia jordan and syria bypassing both uae and israel so it tells you where the world is going
35:50and then there is iran now if iran is attacked within two days and a prime minister was in uh
35:56in
35:57uh the israeli capital it doesn't what kind of a signal does it send to the sheer world uh etc
36:03so
36:04it's a we traditionally we have but you know every country yeah you're you're saying what kind of a
36:11signal does it send to iran but the the larger question mr shrivastham will be we picked a side
36:17we believe that the us and israel is the side to pick we in some way sent out a message
36:25that
36:26we are in a in some kind of a broader strategic alliance now and therefore we've chosen israel
36:31and not picked iran is that a wise thing to do uh let me begin by saying that neither the
36:42reading of
36:43the bilateral statement issued at the end of prime minister's visit to israel nor his speech in the
36:49neset makes a reference to regional issues they both are clearly limited to a bilateral relationship
36:59and how to deepen it so i won't like to speculate it that this is going to you know that
37:09this is a signal
37:10for a broader turnaround in policy and let me also mention the timing sir with mr shrivastham with
37:17due regard the timing of it i you know the timing of it is not purely coincidental surely you're going
37:23to israel at a time when there are uh clouds of war hanging over the region are you telling me
37:29that
37:29the iranians won't remember it israelis will remember it fondly will the iranians remember it
37:33the same way or iran doesn't matter to us now iran will always matter to india this is a country
37:41which
37:41straddles both the gulf
37:46and is our route to afghanistan and central asia it is a our agreement and they gave us this because
37:57they believe and we believe that we have a community of interest which go beyond the exigencies
38:03of the moment which you are mentioning so i think it will be uh wrong to assume that we have
38:10taken
38:10sides israel is important to us bilaterally iran is to my mind much more important to us bilaterally
38:18and also in the regional context if you want to build it's interesting you're saying that you know
38:24israel security it's interesting you're saying that i just right it's interesting you're saying
38:30that iran in some ways is more important to us brahma chalani if that is the case according to
38:35ambassador shivastav iran is as important if not more important than israel let's be clear the signal
38:41sent out is that we are now part of the netanyahu modi relationship in a way could well define our
38:47approach to the region can we can we say that or as you said we are trying to forge uh
38:52relationships
38:54independent of each other in a more and more multi-aligned world the real issue is this razdeep
39:01which is that israel has become critical to india's defense and security needs how many countries share
39:10defense technology with india the us is reluctant but israel is a partner of india in missile technology
39:18in drone technology take mission sudarshan which seeks to create a pan-india a national missile defense
39:28system israel is a partner in that mission so for india israel has become very important critical in
39:39the fact for defense and security requirements and the 27 agreements that were signed during modi's visit
39:50they include not only some critical agreements they also underscore one telling fact that the relationship
39:59between israel and india has now shifted from a buyer buyer seller equation to one of core innovation
40:09and co-production india is already co-producing israeli weapon systems in india missile systems as well as
40:16drone systems and i think uh when you look at the totality of the of the israel india relationship
40:23it's very clear that even though israel is a small country it has become it plays an outsized role in
40:31india security and operation sendur has exposed certain gaps in india's defenses which israel israel's
40:41assistance um you know can help fill those gaps and i think given given given that reality india extending
40:49rhetorical support to the palestinians um not that it will make any difference even if india were to
40:56um keep uh talking about um keep uh talking about the need for
41:02but yeah go ahead complete well all said and done we should not forget that in his um address to
41:10the um
41:11neset prime minister modi did speak about did support quote unquote durable and just peace for the
41:21palestinians he also lent support to the gaza peace initiative but beyond that even if india were to
41:28keep repeating uh that the palestinian cause is just it's not going to make any difference to the
41:35palestinian flight the palestinians have you know they they are a let me say your community sir there is
41:43i've take i've taken your point brahma but i want to take that to casey are we therefore saying
41:48that we want leadership of the global south that's india's aim and yet as brahma seems to
41:54suggest it doesn't make a difference what we say about the palestinian cause that's rhetoric in a
42:00way it's not going to change the ground reality therefore as critics say we've abandoned the
42:04palestinians is that a fair way to look at it as we get closer to israel for our different strategic
42:09needs and innovation we have no time now for how the world earlier saw india's relationship with
42:16palestine the historical relationship with the people of palestine and their right to self
42:21determination forget about that i think this is not an overnight shift you've seen that india began
42:28uh you know when the u.n resolutions came uh we were abstaining traditionally we had been
42:33supporting them so there's a gradual shift taking place also you must realize that the nda government had
42:41continued uh foreign policy of the type that they had inherited uh over the last 30 40 years 50 years
42:47since independence which is that you don't bring uh religion into it you don't bring you don't do
42:53divisive politics is kept out domestic politics was separate from your foreign policy now at the moment
43:00you look at it the opposition had walked out when mr modi was uh addressing uh their parliament uh why
43:07did they do that because they had a problem with netanyahu because he did not invite their chief
43:12justice he's got a trial on for corruption now the question is we must have make a distinction between
43:17india israel relations not relationship with netanyahu netanyahu is not a permanent entity nor is president
43:25trump nor is anybody else that's my country is when there was an iran iraq war we managed to maintain
43:31relations with both because you do not get that personally close to one side if israel was not
43:37willing to give you the technology without going there at the moment i think some questions need
43:42to be asked have we abandoned the palestinians my my straight answer my state question have we abandoned
43:47the palestinian cause uh i think the palestinian cause was already suffering even the arab
43:55world the emiratis are dependent them and all but that doesn't mean that we give up the u.n
43:59resolutions we are not talking about the palestinian cause they are u.n security council resolutions
44:04and just because president trump and his emissaries want to change that and they are working closely
44:10with netanyahu this is not a permanent entity we don't even know what will be the outcome of their
44:15exchange with iran iranians are very well pending and you know what the chinese are saying they're
44:20totally behind iran so you are leaving the islamic world open to chinese influence
44:27can i therefore take a final word to you mr shrivasnab you just heard what was just said by
44:32casey singh that we are leaving that part of the world open to chinese influence should that worry us at
44:42all i don't think so because if you look at china after signing the strategic partnership the the level
44:51of chinese iranian trade went down chinese companies pulled out of uh south past 11 block chinese
45:01on two occasions in 2022 when president xi jinping went to saudi arabia for a summit with arab countries
45:09and more recently a few years ago at the foreign minister's level has reiterated its support for
45:17ua's position on the three islands and the gulf which created a major uproar on the other side in
45:24iran right so and the reason is that while china has interest in iran is it has much bigger interest
45:33in saudi arabia it buys fruit from iran it buys much more crude from saudi arabia and doesn't want to
45:38abandon that relationship so the iranians understand this in a way what you are saying to talk about it
45:45okay in a way what you are saying is very interesting you all are saying you're saying something very
45:49interesting we are in a multi-aligned world where every country looks for its self-interest in
45:54phrasing alliances there's dehyphenation in the air and it marks in some way a tectonic shift from
46:00what was foreign policy can it work can it work only at the individual level between mr modi and
46:04netanyahu or will it deepen well beyond just individuals that's the question that will be
46:10hopefully answered and can we really take leadership of the global south and not take up strongly the
46:16leadership on issues like palestine questions blowing in the wind but i appreciate my guests joining me
46:22on that big talking point tonight thank you
46:27okay you're watching the news today let's turn to tonight's ground report which is coming in
46:32from goa where amendments to the state's planning laws have now triggered unprecedented street protests
46:39and even a hunger strike by an opposition mlas that has gone on for several days at the heart of
46:46the
46:46in goa is a provision that critics claim gives sweeping powers to the government to alter land
46:52classifications resulting in what they are claiming is the sale of goa but there's another twist the man
46:59at the heart of it the town planning minister vishwajit rane is also seen as an opponent of chief minister
47:05promote sawan leading to political battle lines being drawn tonight's ground report from goa in turmoil
47:23who are witnessed angry protests this week against a controversial clause in the town planning act
47:31revolutionary goans party mla virash borkar who started the agitation is on a hunger strike
47:37so
47:40The Goua land production deal based argument, the Moeira project, is not available to us.
47:46We have also added a bill to a sandwich mansion.
47:51We have also added a bill to the auto conservation.
47:54We have given the idea that what we have to do for the Goua,
47:59we have to take a number of beer.
48:02Why not? We have to return the price.
48:07While the epicenter of the movement was Azad Maidan in Panjim, Stesh Dharna outside the
48:12residence of town canning minister Vishwajit Rane earlier.
48:18Opposition parties and the Bhandari community supported the movement, demanding a repeal
48:23of changes to land zoning laws.
48:44Chief Minister Pramos Sawant has urged war cut to end his fast.
48:47Man is denied for the involvement of the police.
48:53He said, how could the police do what to do.
49:08He said they areadora for the fight and he would be a leader during this town.
49:17Section 39A of the Goa Town and Country Planning Act was introduced in February 2024.
49:23It allows the chief town planner to alter or convert land zones.
49:27The clause permits land use changes including from orchard, natural cover to settlement after a 30-day public notice.
49:35But it excludes eco-sensitive areas.
49:39Protesters allege that thousands of square meters of land were allegedly approved for conversion under this section.
49:46The provision is currently under challenge in the Bombay High Court.
49:51With Ritesh Desai, Bureau Report, India Today.
49:57Okay, let's turn to tonight's Get Real India story.
50:00Two separate states but a disturbing common thread.
50:03In Uttarakhand's Rudrapur, a man was attacked while offering namaz near his work site.
50:09Not the first such instance in recent times in Uttarakhand where minority Muslims have been targeted.
50:14In Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad, a shopkeeper was allegedly threatened over keeping his eatery open on a particular day.
50:21Police have stepped in in both cases but these back-to-back stories raise a troubling question.
50:27Is everyday intolerance by right-wing Hindutva groups turning into open vigilantism against common citizens.
50:35Take a look at Get Real India.
50:45Two incidents, one common factor.
50:48Hate.
50:51This video is from Rudrapur in Uttarakhand.
50:55A man was assaulted even as he was offering namaz on a vacant plot of land near his work site.
51:23The salient defended his act, claiming the plot was near a temper.
51:52The police have filed in a fire based on complaint filed by the victim.
52:15In Ghaziabad, a man threatened an eatery owner to shut shop on all Tuesdays.
52:25He later shared the video on social media.
52:28In Krishanayat, how the police force was followed, was included in the city of Arbyid.
52:35He now arrested a criminal, and he then assisted police.
52:38In the daily prison, he was arrested by that.
52:42The police force was arrested by the labourer.
52:44The police police said that he was arrested.
52:44The police leader was arrested, to report them, to watch them.
52:46He was arrested.
52:50The police officer who ordered the police.
52:50Everyone is arrested.
52:52The police force was arrested and he was arrested.
52:53He had arrested all for destroying his work.
52:54He was without a need of action.
52:56When the police leader was arrested, he acted, he was arrested.
52:59Two incidents, two states. Both highlight how hate is playing out in everyday life.
53:07Bureau Report, India Today.
53:28Pulsar, motorcycles. And you could see policemen across Mumbai today speeding around with their new bikes and cars.
53:35I want to leave you though with my second image which is very personal.
53:39Day out in Mumbai and I went back to my school, Campion School and got ghera-ed by four-year
53:45-olds in the KG class.
53:47The only difference, when I was in the school in the 70s and 80s, we were an all-boys school.
53:52Last year, Campion in Mumbai became a co-ed school.
53:56I enjoyed my interaction with the kids. They are truly innocent and the next generation of this country.
54:02I wish each and every one of them all the very best.
54:06And to you the viewers, thanks for watching. Stay well, stay safe.
54:09Good night, Shubhra 3. Jai Hind. Namaskar.
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