- 9 minutes ago
Economists warn that sustained price hikes could impact the Indian economy with a $2.5 billion per dollar increase. In Parliament, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar advocated for diplomacy, while opposition leaders questioned the government's response.
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00:01Good evening, hello and welcome. You're with the news today, your primetime destination news,
00:05newsmakers, talking points. The big talking point tonight, oil is on the boil. Stock markets are
00:12spooked. LPG prices could rise. Bangalore and Chennai hotels are saying they do not have
00:19enough gas supply. Tomorrow, Bangalore's hotels could be closing down. How will the oil shock
00:26impact India? Among my special guests is one of the country's leading economists,
00:31Neelkan Mishra. I'll be joined also, among others, by an Iranian dissident today. But
00:36there's plenty to look forward to, as always. But first, it's time for the nine headlines at nine.
00:44Ali Khamenei's second son, Mujtaba, announced as the next supreme leader of Iran. Israel says
00:50next supreme leader will also be targeted. Russia and China backed Mujtaba Khamenei.
00:58No signs of de-escalation in the West Asia war. Turkey intercepts another Iranian missile. Israel
01:04launches limited ground up in Lebanon. U.S. claims to have struck over 3,000 Iranian targets.
01:11The West Asia war now leads to a severe global oil crisis. Crude oil prices cross $100 per barrel.
01:18G7 holds urgent meat to resolve the oil crisis. Government sources say no immediate concern
01:24in India over fuel availability. But several cities now, the hotels are complaining of shortage of fuel.
01:34Major LNG LPG supply shock in India amidst the war in Gulf. Shortage reported in several parts of the country.
01:42Government increases waiting period for LPG cylinders and scouts for more LPG suppliers in the market.
01:50External affairs minister Jai Shankar briefs parliament over the escalating wars as India is batting for dialogue and diplomacy.
01:58Opposition adamant needs a debate in both houses of parliament on West Asia.
02:06Lok Sabha to debate. No trust motion against speaker Om Birla tomorrow.
02:12Home minister Amit Shah expected to participate in the debate.
02:18CBI issues fresh summons to TVK chief in Karoor's stampede probe after Vijay requested
02:2310 to 15 days' time to appear before the investigating agency.
02:30Explosives are thrown outside New York City.
02:32Mayor Zoran Mamdani's residence police suspect that the men who brought IEDs were inspired by ISIS.
02:43And Sanju Sampson, the World Cup man of the tournament, receives a grand welcome in Thiruvananthapuram.
02:52He was the standout performer in the final stages.
02:57Go!
02:58Go!
03:00Go!
03:01Go!
03:01Go!
03:02Go!
03:03Go!
03:03Go!
03:04Go!
03:04Go!
03:04Go!
03:05Go!
03:09Go!
03:10But the big story that we are breaking at the moment, Chennai Bengaluru hotel bodies have now flagged an LPG
03:16shortage.
03:17Chennai Hotels Association has written to Prime Minister Modi saying that they will have fuel supply only for two days.
03:24Bengaluru Association, many hotels have stocks only for up to three days and are saying that tomorrow restaurants and hotels
03:31in several parts of Bengaluru will be closed.
03:34Government sources though are insisting there is enough LPG supply and households need not panic.
03:41Government sources saying LPG waiting period is up from 15 to 25 days and they claim they are scouting now
03:48for more LPG suppliers.
03:51Government sources saying LNG or pipe gas prices are unlikely to change as of now.
03:57So, okay, let's go straight across to Aishwarya Patil from Business Today and Nagarjun Dwarkhanathar who heads the South Bureau.
04:07But first to you, Aishwarya, let's be clear.
04:11Government is saying they have enough oil supplies for at least 40 days.
04:15They've said over six weeks of oil supplies.
04:17But we are already seeing LPG shortages in several parts.
04:22Hotel owners in Bengaluru, Chennai saying they will have to close down come tomorrow.
04:27They do not have enough supply.
04:29Chennai saying 48 days, Bangalore, 48 hours.
04:32Chennai, Bangalore saying tomorrow.
04:34Can you tell us, does the government have enough stock or is it prioritizing households over commercial establishments for now?
04:47Well, certainly 100% domestic households are priority at this point is what we've been picking up from our sources
04:55in the government.
04:56Specifically for oil marketing companies which do provide and give us these gas cylinders like Indian Oil Corporation, BPCL, HPCL
05:06have specifically been ordered.
05:08In fact, a letter was sent to all of these oil companies in that order stating that all of their
05:15LPG production should be first given priority for domestic usage and commercial comes in later.
05:22In fact, there are Ujwala and non-Ujwala users, as you know, who benefit from the subsidy scheme that remains.
05:29Although the 60 rupee hike per slender has come through, but there is no relief really for commercial users because
05:36these are places like restaurants, as you mentioned.
05:39So the strike was inevitable because these prices have gone up and so the impact on businesses was bound to
05:47be reflected.
05:49But bottom line, the government has said priority will be given to domestic LPG households.
05:56That will be the priority as far as the government stance is concerned.
06:01And as far as the OMCs are concerned, they have already said we have enough supplies for the next 50
06:08days, both LPG as well as crude supplies as well.
06:13So that's the update so far.
06:15All of these oil marketing companies for the next 50 days are secure.
06:19In fact, we've also been told time and again by government officials that even after the 50-day period, we
06:27have enough supplies.
06:28We are diversifying our sourcing strategy.
06:30We are looking at getting more LPG supplies from not only the US but also Canada and a couple of
06:38other geographies as well,
06:41exploring Algeria, Australia, Canada, Norway for more LPG supplies.
06:45That's the update so far from some of our sources in the government.
06:49Okay, I want to go to you Nagarjun.
06:51Nagarjun, the Bangalore Hotels Association is saying that tomorrow many of them will close down because they do not have
06:58LPG supply.
06:59Now, is this a pressure tactic?
07:01What are you picking up?
07:02Because now Chenna has also joined in.
07:06Well, that's true Rajdeep.
07:07What has happened is since morning, the Hotel Association have been getting calls over 500 to 600 is what the
07:13president said that he's been getting calls since the morning.
07:15And there's a panic-like situation because the Hotel Association are not able to refill their cylinders.
07:20And they're saying that few hotels might finish their cylinders and commercial gas by tomorrow afternoon.
07:26So, post-lunch, few restaurants might shut across Bengaluru.
07:29And over the next 72 hours, 7,000 such restaurants might shut because they have a stock of only 5
07:35to 10 cylinders.
07:36And each day they need 5 cylinders is what an average hotel that would consume is what they are saying.
07:41So, they're trying to meet the Union Minister for Petroleum and Gas, Mr. Hardeep Singh Puri, on the 11th.
07:47It's not just Bangalore.
07:48Chennai also has flagged the same issue.
07:51And this is not something that the Hotel Association is trying to put pressure.
07:54But this is genuine concern.
07:56It's not just one odd hotel that across Bengaluru we have seen Hotel Association calling each other and asking them
08:04do they have commercial gas so that they can borrow.
08:07But unfortunately, all of them are saying that they have only 2 to 3 days supply left and which the
08:11Bangalore citizens will have to be prepared to see a shutdown over the next 3 days.
08:16Okay.
08:17Possible shutdown in Bengaluru.
08:19So, clear impact of the West Asia crisis now on what's happening domestically.
08:23Nagarjun and Aishwarya, I appreciate both of you joining us here on the news today with that big breaking news.
08:30We've been seeing today global oil markets are in complete turmoil.
08:34Crude prices surged to over $114.
08:39Brent crude briefly touched $119.50 a barrel after jumping past the $100 mark amidst the war in West Asia.
08:49Prices have nearly doubled in weeks on supply fears and risk to key energy routes, though they slightly eased after
08:55signals that the G7 may release strategic reserves.
08:59And Saudi Arabia's Aramco has offered spot sales.
09:02For India, which imports about 85% of its crude, the spike raises concerns over inflation and higher costs across
09:10the economy.
09:11Take a look at our top story tonight.
09:16Global oil markets are in turmoil.
09:19Brent crude, the world's benchmark, surged past $100 and today the spike turned historic.
09:26Brent crude touched $119.50 a barrel.
09:31Before falling after indications that G7 may release strategic reserves and Saudi Arabian oil company Aramco offered spot sale.
09:41In less than three weeks, global oil prices have jumped from roughly $66 per barrel to $100, rattling markets and
09:51governments alike.
09:53The trigger?
09:54War in West Asia.
09:56Supply shocks and fears that key global energy routes could be disrupted.
10:03Economists warned the oil shock could push the global economy towards recession and stagflation.
10:09Every $10 rise in crude could shave nearly 0.5% of global GDP growth.
10:16Higher fuel costs are also fueling inflation, driving up food prices, transport costs and core inflation worldwide.
10:26Governments across the world are scrambling to contain the fallout.
10:30Japan is preparing to release strategic oil reserves, while South Korea plans to fuel price cap.
10:37China is cutting oil product exports.
10:40Thailand has suspended oil exports.
10:43And Indonesia is considering higher fuel subsidies.
10:48For India, the stakes are especially high.
10:51India imports nearly 85% of its crude oil, making the economy highly sensitive to global price shocks.
10:59A sustained spike could sharply increase the country's import bill and put pressure on the rupee.
11:05The aviation sector is among the most vulnerable, as fuel accounts for a large share of airline operating costs.
11:12If the rally continues, airlines may be forced to raise airfares.
11:17The impact is already being felt at the ground level.
11:21LPG prices have been hiked, adding pressure on household budgets.
11:27A sustained oil rally could also push up inflation, complicating economic policy and affecting corporate earnings.
11:34But the government says the situation remains under watch.
11:39In a written reply, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman told Parliament that inflation in India is currently near the lower end
11:47of the Reserve Bank's target band.
11:50Yet economists who want the real test will come if oil prices stay elevated.
11:55Because in an import-dependent economy like India, every spike in crude eventually travels from global markets to the wallets
12:06of ordinary citizens.
12:08Bureau Report, India Today.
12:12So markets spooked, oil prices showing extreme volatility.
12:16What lies ahead?
12:18Joining me now, Neelkand Mishra, Chief Economist, Axis Bank, Head of Global Research at Axis Capital.
12:24Good to have you on the show, Neelkand.
12:26We've had 24 hours of extreme volatility in crude prices because of the West Asia war.
12:33The markets totally spooked.
12:37The sensex down by over 3%.
12:40How do you explain it?
12:42Is the oil economy deeply linked with stock markets in India and globally?
12:46And is it going to get worse before it gets better now?
12:50No, I think the markets are finally waking up to the fact that this is a war that is not
12:57ending very quickly.
12:58And every dollar per barrel, if it lasts for one whole year, is a significant drag on the economy.
13:07Just oil, we import about 1.8 billion barrels equivalent every year.
13:13In addition to that, there is a significant amount of gas imports.
13:17So there could be, for every dollar increase, a $2.5 billion impact on the Indian economy.
13:24If given that oil prices are up about $40, that's nearly $100 billion of impact.
13:31So if this lasts for one year, there is clearly a concern.
13:36The good thing is that the oil forwards are not moving as much.
13:42So the oil markets expect that war ends soon.
13:46For the markets as a whole, though, this can create new vulnerabilities.
13:50So there are many other stress points in global financial markets which can start breaking apart if oil stays at
13:57this level.
13:58So remember that India is not the only big economy which is going to get badly and negatively affected.
14:04There can be other stress points that start damaging it.
14:08So it's the uncertainty around which is actually spooking them up.
14:12Because, Neelkand, a report by Nomura recently said India is among the three most vulnerable Asian economies
14:19to high oil prices in terms of import bill, current account balances,
14:23the other two being Thailand and South Korea.
14:25So clearly what's happening in West Asia is going to have a deep impact on the economy.
14:30You mentioned possibly the impact on GDP as well.
14:35So could you see a slowing down of the economy in general if this war gets prolonged?
14:41If this war gets prolonged.
14:42See, and that's a big if.
14:44Because as I said, if this is a war that lasts for a very long time,
14:50more importantly, the disruptions to oil supplies last a very long time.
14:55So if this lasts one whole year, at current prices, we could see a $100 billion impact on the terms
15:01of trade.
15:02So imagine if 2.5% of GDP is the extra money that we have to pay.
15:08There is a significant impact on growth.
15:11There will be a significant impact on inflation.
15:13I think the currency will need to adjust quite meaningfully.
15:16And all of these uncertainties can become quite worrying.
15:19But I must say that the likelihood of this lasting one year is very low.
15:28Because, and I would like to reemphasize at this point,
15:31that India is not the only economy which is negatively affected.
15:36China is also a big oil importer.
15:40The US has significant vulnerabilities in fuel prices at the pump, political vulnerabilities.
15:46Even though they are net exporters, there is a lot of political sensitivity on high oil prices.
15:52And remember that this is a supply-driven problem.
15:55So all the states, so Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, all of whom used to ship oil and gas
16:04through the Strait of Hormuz, are now not getting any revenue at all.
16:08Some of these are very frail states.
16:10So things are going to start becoming really hairy for some of these countries as well.
16:15And therefore, it is not in anyone's interest for this war or this uncertainty to last for as long as
16:21one year.
16:21Yeah, because when I look at government reports,
16:24they seem to suggest India currently maintains a combined energy buffer
16:27of over 250 million barrels of crude oil and refined petroleum products,
16:32equivalent to approximately 4,000 crore litres.
16:34It provides us a stockpile of about seven to eight weeks.
16:38So the worry presumably from what you are saying is if this war goes beyond April, May,
16:43if it heads into the summer and the early monsoon,
16:46that's when it becomes a real drag on the economy.
16:50Am I correct?
16:51Correct.
16:52And in the interim, there will still be impact.
16:54So, for example, an auto producer, a car maker,
16:58the spray paint is actually running, those guns run with LNG.
17:05And LNG supplies, which are non-critical,
17:07meaning that household energy supplies are being sustained,
17:11so industrial energy supplies are being curtailed.
17:13So they'll have to find alternatives very quickly.
17:15So yeah, so they can be impact even shorter,
17:19on a shorter time frame than that, but that should be temporary.
17:21But we've already seen the impact on LPG, a rise in LPG price.
17:27So the other concern, of course, which affects the common man is inflationary pressures.
17:32The Modi government has been rather successful in containing inflation over the last decade.
17:37The fear is, of course, that these are uncontrollables.
17:40If the oil supply gets hit, if the war is prolonged,
17:45then it has a cascading impact on inflation.
17:48Am I correct?
17:50So the good thing is that almost 70% of the crude oil
17:59that is consumed in various forms by the Indian economy
18:04goes through this route of petrol, diesel, kerosene, LPG.
18:10And you would recall that for a long time, the oil prices had been falling down,
18:17but the fuel prices at the pump were not changing.
18:20So the intermediaries, which is the oil marketing companies,
18:25have over the past year and a half built significant amounts of buffer.
18:31So at least in, again, the six to eight week period, even if oil prices stay at wherever they are,
18:37or maybe they go up slightly higher, their ability to cushion this.
18:41So the retail prices do not need to rise significantly.
18:45Once they start to rise, meaning that this last longer, which, as you said, goes into May, June, July,
18:51then I think their ability to hold back may be constrained.
18:55And therefore, that's when the inflationary pressures really start to build up.
18:59For the remaining 30%, and remember that there are other aspects here as well.
19:03So, fertilizer prices, fertilizers are effectively a gas proxy.
19:07So, fertilizer prices are going up significantly.
19:11And on top of that, but that also, as you know, is the farmers are buffered by the higher subsidy
19:18burden.
19:18So, they will be supported by fiscal.
19:20And lastly, there will be chemicals and plastics, which are then directly flowing into customers.
19:27So, again, there, with a lag, there could be some impact on inflation.
19:31But if this lasts longer than May, then I think the impact on inflation can be quite significant.
19:37Just one final point.
19:39We are also seeing sustained FII selling.
19:41And the worry is the markets itself sending out the kind of signals.
19:45They're, of course, one part of it.
19:46Do you believe that the uncertainty, therefore, is what really we should be guarding against?
19:52The longer this continues, more uncertainty.
19:54And therefore, all of it means that India is no longer insulated in any manner from what happens in West
20:01Asia.
20:03So, India's dependency on the world, given that we net import about 50% of our dense energy in various
20:11forms.
20:11So, oil, gas, metallurgical coal, edible oil, fertilizer.
20:16So, all of this put together makes us significantly vulnerable to global energy price volatility.
20:24And that's exactly what we are seeing.
20:27In the first week after the war started, there was a general risk-off because people don't know what to
20:33do.
20:34So, they're cutting down risk, which is where EMs get sold off and every stock market, every risk asset gets
20:41sold off.
20:43The weeks after that, the days after that, the markets become more discerning.
20:48So, then they say, okay, so if oil is going to be higher, then let me reward the companies or
20:54the countries that are going to be selling oil,
20:56but whose supplies have not been disrupted and let me stay away from markets like India or Korea, which are
21:04net energy importers and therefore are likely to get hurt by this.
21:08But what our research shows, and my team has been showing this, that once the prices have stabilized, even if
21:16at a higher level,
21:17the stock markets on the whole, when the uncertainty slows down, because at this stage, there are some people saying
21:22oil will go to 150.
21:24Who knows?
21:24Now, once that starts to happen, other things start to break down, meaning that, you know, so if say Pakistan
21:33or some meaningful sized economy,
21:36which is very vulnerable, like Pakistan over the weekend had to raise prices by 25%.
21:41So, if these economies start to get into trouble, because they don't have any buffer, like we have, you know,
21:47several weeks, if not months of buffer,
21:49even on our foreign exchange side, but there are economies which may not have that.
21:53And then defaults start happening.
21:54And then the financial markets go into second order, third order problems.
21:58So, that uncertainty is what is, I think, punishing the markets right now.
22:03But our assessment is that if oil prices stabilize, albeit at a higher level for a couple of weeks,
22:09I don't think there will be a sustained negative impact on the markets.
22:12Okay.
22:12I'm going to leave it there, Nilkan.
22:14And clearly, worrying times, largely because of the uncertainty.
22:18No one knows, really, just how long the crisis in the Middle East will last.
22:23But thank you very much for sharing your wisdom with us here on the news today.
22:27Thanks.
22:28Thank you, Raja.
22:31Now, key to this is India's exposure to the Strait of Hormuz.
22:36Remember, 50% of crude oil imports, 85% of LPG supplies come through the Strait of Hormuz,
22:43which is what is being targeted at the moment by Iran and which is at the center of this conflict.
22:48There you can see the Strait of Hormuz close to Iran and that, in a sense, has become key.
22:5455% of LNG shipments as well come through the Strait of Hormuz.
22:58So, the Strait of Hormuz has a disproportionate impact on India's oil economy,
23:04not just India, but several other Asian countries as well.
23:08I want to now go to Ajay Singh.
23:11He's an energy and shipping expert advisor to Japanese Corporation based in Tokyo
23:16to give me a worldview of where this goes now.
23:19Ajay, I appreciate you joining us.
23:21Oil prices surging today, eclipsing $100 per barrel, going as high as $114,
23:27then coming down after reports that the G7 could be meeting to possibly dip into their strategic reserve
23:33that Aramco could have spot sales.
23:35How do you explain this crazy volatility in oil prices in the last 24 hours across the world?
23:45Well, bear in mind that the markets have opened to the last weekend.
23:49Now, the U.S. had set out some rather ambitious goals,
23:52things like regime change and unconditional surrender were the terms coming out of Washington.
23:58Quite evidently, none of those sorts of things seem to be happening.
24:02So, we are in day 10 or 11 of the conflict now.
24:05And considering that 20-25% of the world's oil and gas comes out of that Strait of Hormuz,
24:11which continues to be blocked,
24:13there is no oil and gas being exported out of the Persian Gulf right now.
24:17So, the markets have simply taken fright.
24:20And that's been reflected in the sharp increase in oil price.
24:24Now, that said, I think the point is that the fundamental supply position in many parts of the world
24:31does not actually justify just yet such a dramatic increase.
24:36There are significant stocks of oil and gas, commercial stocks,
24:40as well as the so-called strategic reserves in many countries around the world.
24:44So, we are not at the point yet where there is likely to be a physical scarcity.
24:49But the markets are factoring in the possibility of this being a protracted war
24:53because the Iranians are actually fighting back.
24:57May I ask you to look for a moment at the Strait of Hormuz,
25:02which in an article that you wrote,
25:06you said that this is really the critical factor affecting oil economies,
25:11handles about 15 million barrels of crude oil per day,
25:14roughly 20% of the world's supply.
25:18Are we to assume that as long as the situation remains unresolved or uncertain in West Asia,
25:23the Strait of Hormuz blocked too many ships,
25:26we could continuously see this volatility?
25:28Is that now key before we can give…
25:32What will it take in a way to give a measure of calm, you believe,
25:35to oil prices and markets?
25:39Well, I'm afraid I think we will continue to see this sort of volatility
25:43because that volume of oil and gas supply going off the market suddenly,
25:47it's impossible to replace in anything like several months or even years.
25:52So, the markets will continue to be sensitive.
25:55Now, when you get visuals on television of Iranian drone and missile strikes
26:00on tankers or on oil and gas production facilities,
26:05they look very dramatic.
26:06The actual destruction of oil and gas assets is not that significant, thankfully,
26:11but it looks very dramatic.
26:13And in the day of social media and 24-7 television coverage,
26:17this immediately gets amplified in the oil price.
26:21What it will take to really calm the markets down is an end of the conflict.
26:26I think what's happening at the moment,
26:30I'm not a military man,
26:31but it would seem that the US and Israel are engaged in a systematic degradation
26:37of Iranian military capabilities.
26:40They have said it will take four to six weeks,
26:43let's say by the end of this month or early April.
26:47By then, if there is a very clear subsidence reduction in Iranian attacks on shipping or oil and gas facilities,
26:58then the markets will calm down.
26:59Or if there is some sort of a conciliatory message coming out of both Tehran and Washington and Jerusalem,
27:07some sort of a political settlement, ceasefire, what have you,
27:11that is really what is needed to calm the markets down.
27:14But let's just for a moment look at India.
27:16India's exposure to the Straits of Hormuz is huge.
27:19I gave those details.
27:21I'll put them up on air again.
27:24These are very troubling times in that sense.
27:26Is India far more impacted than many other parts of the world?
27:30Or are we just as impacted as any other Asian country in particular?
27:36I think India is as impacted as many other economies in Asia.
27:41China and Japan are also critically dependent on the Persian Gulf for oil and gas supplies.
27:47But yes, India's situation is potentially quite sensitive.
27:53I think the government has announced, I was reading in the press,
27:56that they have 74 days of stocks, commercial and strategic reserves.
28:00Against the sorts of timelines we've been discussing,
28:03that seems like a reasonable position.
28:05So let's hope for the best.
28:07I think in case of LPG, the dependence on the Persian Gulf is particularly high.
28:1385-90%, as you said.
28:15I think going forward in the long run, that's certainly something to look at.
28:20That level of dependency on a single region is far too high.
28:23And in case of LNG, I think the tendency of Indian buyers to purchase more volumes
28:32when prices are favorable and not to maintain very high levels of strategic reserves,
28:37that's also something which perhaps will need to be reviewed going forward.
28:42Just to ask you in conclusion, alternatives to mitigate this disruption of energy flow via the Straits of Hormuz.
28:50Do India and other countries have alternatives to mitigate this disruption of energy flow?
28:58Well, we'll have to look for supplies from other locations.
29:01So when it comes to both oil as well as LNG, the United States is a major supplier.
29:05The need to find shipping in the short run to bring those supplies to the markets,
29:12that will be the critical factor.
29:13There are other regions as well.
29:15You would look at perhaps West Africa for more oil supplies and so on.
29:21But within the Middle East itself, Saudi Arabia has a major on-land pipeline
29:26with the capability to divert volumes from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea.
29:31The Red Sea has so far remained close to shipping as well because of the threat from the Houthi rebels.
29:37But perhaps that may be a quieter zone compared to the Persian Gulf for now.
29:43So all of these calculations would be going on in the minds of the oil ministries
29:48and the various navies of the world.
29:50Let's see what opens up.
29:53Okay.
29:54Ajay Singh, for giving us a worldview in a way of where we stand on this oil shock,
29:59I appreciate you joining me at the moment there from Tokyo.
30:03Okay, just to tell you that Parliament's budget session, which resumed today,
30:08predictably had the West Asia crisis at the center of a flashpoint between the government and the opposition.
30:13The opposition wants a full discussion on the West Asia crisis.
30:18The government's external affairs minister, S. Jai Shankar, gave a statement saying India is pushing for dialogue and diplomacy
30:25and that the Modi government is closely monitoring the situation.
30:28Rahul Gandhi says that response is inadequate as do other opposition leaders.
30:34Let's listen in to what Dr. Jai Shankar and Rahul Gandhi said.
30:39We believe, and we continue to believe, that dialogue and diplomacy should be pursued to de-escalate tensions and address
30:49underlying issues.
30:52Sir, it is also imperative that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states in the region be respected.
30:59The government remains committed to ensuring that fully taking into account availability, costs and risks of the energy markets.
31:10For us, the interests of the Indian consumer has and will always be the overriding priority.
31:17The issue of West Asia is not necessary for fuel prices, economic devastation, it is not necessary for the people's
31:32issue.
31:33We believe that this is necessary for discussion, but we do not want to discuss it, because there will be
31:40other things.
31:42We believe that the Prime Minister will leave the position of the Prime Minister's whole compromise, which has been being
31:50blackmailed to them.
31:51We will not want to discuss it, but we believe that the Prime Minister will run away, the Parliament House
31:55will run away.
31:55Thank you all with the news today. Let's get you through the top five war developments on day 10 of
32:01the conflict in West Asia.
32:02Iran finally announced its new supreme leader today, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's second son, Mujtaba Khamenei, succeeds his father.
32:11China and Russia have welcomed the decision, but US-Israel assert he is a threat and will remain a target.
32:17The only oil refinery in Bahrain, Babco, has been struck by Iran as it continues to attack our neighbours.
32:23Videos showed the refinery on fire and black smoke billowing out of the facility.
32:28The United States has expressed its displeasure with Israel for striking 30 oil depots in Iran.
32:33Reports suggest President Trump had opposed the idea, fearing it could garner support for the regime in Tehran, push the
32:40global oil prices higher.
32:41NATO air and defence besides have neutralised an Iranian ballistic missile from entering Turkish airspace.
32:49Istanbul warned Tehran of retaliation, warned them against escalating tensions.
32:55Even as the United States denies a role in the deadly strike at an Iranian school,
32:59new evidence points their role in the attack that killed 175, most of them children.
33:03A new video of the strike suggests the missile was a tomahawk which the US military uses.
33:16Okay, now the war has brought many Iranian dissidents who live outside their country to speak out against the regime.
33:24One of them is now joining me.
33:26I'm joined by Elnaz Nuruzi.
33:29She is an actor who acts in Hindi pictures.
33:31I appreciate you joining us, or Indian cinema as you call it, Elnaz.
33:36Thanks very much for joining me.
33:39Tell me, I know you feel strongly about your Iranian heritage.
33:43Let me start, therefore, by asking you, how do you see the situation in your country over the last 10
33:49days?
33:49The relentless bombings, the manner in which Ali Khamenei was assassinated, and the likelihood of even more violence.
33:55How do you see the situation from where you are today outside Iran?
34:02Hi, so thank you for having me, and thank you for finding it important to see the point of view
34:07of an Iranian.
34:10Throughout this interview, I'm going to try and voice the majority of Iranians' voices here,
34:17and try and make the world understand, as much as it sounds cruel.
34:23The Iranian people have been asking for help for many, many years now.
34:29You know, it's been 47 years that this regime has been in power.
34:33And at this point, it has reached a place where the Iranians have been massacred in January and in many,
34:41many other different dates in history,
34:44where this regime has gone against them and where they had no voice and no power to overthrow them.
34:49So, at the moment, you will see a majority of Iranians taking pictures and videos of the bombs coming into
34:57the country,
34:58but super excited because they know that they're targeted at the IRGC and at the regime.
35:03And they're so excited, and they have so much hope that finally this regime is going to fall, maybe.
35:12You know, hold on. You know, you're saying they're excited by bombs.
35:16But let's be clear, Elnaz, we've seen a school which was bombed and more than 160 innocent schoolgirls died.
35:25And there is enough evidence that the Americans were involved in this.
35:28There are fears, therefore, that if this continues, more and more civilian lives will be lost.
35:33Aren't you concerned that all of this could only result in further destruction of your country
35:37and the possibility of a civil war breaking out?
35:40Doesn't that worry you? Or do you simply want the regime first out at all costs?
35:47Of course, it worries everybody in Iran, and everybody is really sad about the fact that our country had to
35:54reach this point.
35:56But the 160 schoolgirls now are something that the world is seeing.
36:01But when the regime poisoned a full girls' school many years back, nobody paid attention.
36:09When the regime killed more than 40,000 people in January on the 8th and 9th,
36:15and then turned off the internet for the whole world so that nobody can talk about it, nobody paid attention
36:20to that.
36:20When the regime has been executing, we have the highest rate of executions in Iran.
36:26So many people, so many women, so many men, nobody pays attention to that.
36:31We Iranians know that there will be a lot of casualties.
36:34But we also know that there are casualties every day.
36:38There are more people dying when there is no war than when there is war.
36:44And this is something that will be very, very hard for people to understand.
36:48And people will think that I am for war.
36:50I am not for war.
36:52Iranians are not for war.
36:53We don't want this.
36:55But we have no other way to remove this regime that has been killing its own people over the years.
37:03But, you know, Elnaz, the fact is the regime has been in power for 47 years.
37:08Now, Mujtaba Khamenei is reportedly taking over from his father.
37:13And there are those who claim that voices like yours are a minority who support the pre-1979 Shah regime.
37:22How do you see it?
37:23Do you believe that Iran is a divided society?
37:25Do you really believe that the majority of Iranians want this regime out at all costs?
37:33Sir, the majority wants the regime out.
37:35And you can Google that on Gaman.
37:39They asked the Iranians and more than 75% of the Iranians want this regime gone.
37:48It's out there.
37:49Everybody can go check it out.
37:50Less than 20% are regime supporters.
37:53But because Iran is so big and there are more than 90 million people, even 20% of that are
37:58millions and millions of people.
38:00So, it is, of course, they have supporters.
38:03But those supporters are mainly people who do benefit from the regime.
38:09They get many, many funds.
38:11And these are, again, things that everybody knows.
38:14Iranians know that.
38:15And if you actually dig, you will find enough evidence that majority of Iranians want this regime gone.
38:21I must ask you this, and I ask you this also as a woman.
38:26Do you feel particularly strongly because of the manner in which gender rights have been systematically abused by the regime?
38:33Is that where the angst comes from?
38:35Is that the particular source of your anger against this regime?
38:42Of course.
38:43Of course, it is a source of anger.
38:45But what I really want to stress on is the fact that this is not only about women anymore.
38:51Our men are suffering, too.
38:54People in Iran have no money to eat food anymore.
38:58People take out loans to buy eggs and chicken.
39:01The economy in Iran has become, and I can tell you that because my family lives there, because my friends
39:08live there.
39:09And the friends of my friends who are abroad live there as well.
39:14Life in Iran has become unbearable.
39:16It is not only about the women anymore.
39:18But yes, you're right.
39:20Gender apartheid is huge in Iran and has always been.
39:25You know, there are those who will be listening to you, Elnaz, today, saying that, look, she's virtually supporting what
39:31Donald Trump and Netanyahu are doing.
39:34They are the ones who want to use these aerial bombings and eventually decide who the future leader will be.
39:40Are you supporting what Donald Trump and Netanyahu are doing?
39:44Can outside forces decide the kind of regime Iran should have?
39:49Shouldn't that decision be left to the people of Iran?
39:54It is decided by the people of Iran, sir.
39:56When you see the protest before the 8th and 9th of January, which started in December last year, that's when
40:05people, millions and millions of people went on the roads and chanted that they want their Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi
40:11back.
40:11This decision is made by the Iranians and the Iranians are very clear about that.
40:17And when Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi called for the Iranians to come out on the 8th and 9th, millions and
40:23millions came out and chanted his name.
40:25So the Iranians know very well who they want.
40:28And it's not at all up to Trump or Netanyahu to decide that.
40:33The Iranians have decided that for themselves already.
40:36Elna Zuruzi, for speaking to me, I appreciate you joining me and giving us your viewpoint.
40:42One of the aims on news today is to get as many diverse viewpoints here on the West Asia conflict.
40:49Thanks very much for joining us.
40:50When I return, I'm turning to the moment that's brought a smile on millions of faces.
40:56Team India's historic T20 World Cup victory.
41:00My special guests include Gautam Gambhir, who spoke exclusively to India today, and the father of Sanju Sampson, the man
41:09of the tournament.
41:09You're watching the news today.
41:11News without the noise.
41:16You're with the news today.
41:17Let's go to the story that's brought a smile on every face.
41:20The man behind or the coach behind Team India's historic T20 World Cup.
41:24Gautam Gambhir spoke exclusively to my colleague, Nitin Srivastava at India today.
41:29He said the men in blue are capable of everything.
41:31Their next goal are in the 2027 ODI World Cup.
41:35Take a look.
41:37Gautam Gambhir, this team, we've seen a different way of playing in two years in a different way.
41:44And when you've seen a team, you've seen an aggressive approach, so when you've seen a team join us, then
41:52what's going on in the wide wall, especially in T20 format, or when we play ODI, you've seen a different
41:58approach.
42:27What do you think about T20 format in this T20 format?
42:28If you've seen a team, you've seen a team, you've seen a team, and you've seen a team on T20,
42:40and I think there's a difference between winning the World Cup and losing the World Cup.
42:44Before the World Cup, you know, you've seen a little headache, because in New Zealand, we saw that Sanju's runs
42:51were not coming, but as a coach, you thought that Sanju's runs were not coming, but as a coach, you
42:57thought that Sanju's runs are not coming, and the World Cup is coming, and the World Cup is coming, so
43:00what can we get a better path?
43:15I think it's a dream for any cricketer, that if you're talking about it, it was the other year.
43:31other way around
43:32for Abhishek Sharma.
43:35You can watch
43:36that entire interview
43:36on sports today.
43:38Okay, now the star
43:39as we are saying
43:40is Sanju Sampson,
43:41the most famous
43:44Thiruvananthapuramite
43:44at the moment
43:45and perhaps
43:46one of the big reasons
43:47why India went on
43:48to win that record
43:49third T20 World Cup.
43:52His fearless batting
43:53match-winning knocks
43:54led him to be awarded
43:55the player of the tournament
43:57despite playing
43:57just five days.
43:58Earlier today,
43:59I spoke with
44:00Sanju Sampson's father,
44:02Samson Vishwanath,
44:04a former Delhi police constable
44:05who revealed the reasons
44:07behind his son's success.
44:09Tonight,
44:09I leave you with
44:10this interview
44:11a reminder
44:11that behind every successful
44:14young man or woman
44:15in sports
44:15are often
44:16committed parents.
44:18Thanks for watching.
44:19Stay well,
44:20stay safe,
44:21goodnight,
44:21Shubhra 3,
44:22Jai Hind,
44:22Namaskar.
44:23Listen in
44:24to Samson Vishwanath.
44:27The hero,
44:28the man of the tournament,
44:29Sanju Sampson's father,
44:32Samson Vishwanath,
44:33Namaskar.
44:34Congratulations
44:36for Sanju's remarkable success.
44:40Thank you, sir.
45:09How do you see
45:10this match?
45:29You always had confidence in Sanju's ability.
45:33You always had confidence in Sanju's ability.
45:33You always said that Sanju is a big player.
45:35But in these three matches,
45:37did you see something different
45:38in Sanju's ability?
45:39And in these four matches,
45:41anything that you've seen
45:42when he was a small player,
45:44or the composer,
45:45was a big part of the three innings,
45:50and is a big part of the three innings.
46:09Free, tension free, it was so clean, free to play every ball in the three innings.
46:18He used to do what he was doing in childhood.
46:22He didn't do anything like that.
46:26For a few years, I would say that he would go back to his own style.
46:31But he didn't think about it.
46:32He didn't think about it.
46:33Four hits, five out.
46:36Listen to people.
46:39Samson Vishwanath, you started in four years of age.
46:43When did you first see that Sanju has some talent?
46:46For example, if you were in Delhi Police, you left your job again.
46:52You got more opportunity.
46:54When did you think that there is some talent in my son?
46:56Do you think that there is some talent?
47:00What is the talent, sir?
47:03I will tell you.
47:04At my age of three years, my son will be a big son.
47:08At my age of five years, my son will be a big son.
47:10Then I gave them a cricket bat, a ball.
47:14I also played with them.
47:16They played with them.
47:17They played with me.
47:18They played with me.
47:21After the batting, they played with me.
47:25After the batting, they were sitting in the house.
47:28I would say that they followed the batting.
47:32My son, I mean, they played with me.
47:35They played with me.
47:37What was the turning point?
47:39What was the turning point in Sanju's career?
47:41What was the turning point in your career?
47:42When he played for Rajasthan Royals and became first, got national recognition.
47:47What was the turning point in your career?
47:50What was the turning point in your career?
47:55The turning point was that I would leave Delhi.
47:59That was the turning point.
48:00I went to Delhi.
48:01My son went to a trial.
48:03I did not get him.
48:05I waited for another trial.
48:07I waited for one or two trials.
48:10I waited for another trial.
48:11In my son's mind, some mistakes will prove that it could be my job.
48:15But if it is my job, it could not get a selection.
48:18I'll do a little bit.
48:20I won't do some work for them.
48:20It won't be any benefit.
48:21In my son's mind, I thought,
48:27I should have been turned on my own decision.
48:30I will leave Delhi.
48:32Yes.
48:33Yes, yes. But let me tell you, when Sanju won the man of the tournament or when he scored against
48:39West Indies, against England, then against New Zealand in the final, what did Sanju tell you on the phone after
48:48he had scored these runs?
48:54Yes.
49:19When I said, what's happening with you, two matches? Then my son said, it's not going to happen to me.
49:29He didn't have a word for cricket. He was scared of his words.
49:34He was scared of his words. I said, you've failed twice. What? Who's that? He said, it's not going to
49:44happen to me. He said, I have a phone. I got a car.
49:53He took a car. I'm his father. I have a gift. He give a good day. He give a good
50:03life. I live a good life. I have a gift. I have no sacrifice.
50:13I have earned my son. Thank you, boss. Thank you, sir.
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