- 5 hours ago
Union Home Minister Amit Shah released the BJP's 'Sankalp Patra' for the West Bengal elections, promising the Uniform Civil Code, the 7th Pay Commission, and a monthly cash transfer of Rs 3,000 for women.
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00:01Three million watching To The Point, I'm Preeti Chaudhary. Our top focus is the state of Bengal.
00:05We're going to get you more. First up, allow me to take you through the headlines.
00:11Less than 24 hours to go for West Asia peace talks. Islamabad locked down.
00:16Strict security measures in place. Delegations of both countries yet to arrive in Pakistan.
00:21Lebanon hurdle puts fragile peace at risk.
00:26We're looking forward to the negotiation. I think it's going to be positive.
00:29We'll of course see. As the President of the United States said,
00:32if the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hate.
00:39Pakistan defense minister calls Israel curse for humanity after attack on Lebanon.
00:43Believes it after Israel calls statement outrageous and doubts Pakistan stand as a neutral arbiter.
00:54Trump warns Iran once again on Hormuz Street.
00:57wants Iran to stop charging fees for Hormuz passage.
01:01Iran's supreme leader's big remark on ceasefire says not seeking war but will not forfeit right.
01:11BJP launches poll manifesto for Bengal promises uniformed civil code in the state.
01:17Vow's seventh pay commission within 45 days also promises to detect, delete and deport policy on illegals.
01:24Vow's seventh pay commissioners gives out cash doors.
01:26DMC's Abhishek Banerjee's Ghush Petia.
01:29Kasset Jai.
01:34Vijay's film, Jananayagan movie, leaked online.
01:38TVK blames DMK and BJP for leaking film on that.
01:41Calls it a threat issue to Vijay.
01:50Tainted Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma submits resignation to the president months after
01:55Vow over cash discovery at his residence.
01:58Tainted judge quits.
02:10Tainted Delhi High Court judge Yashwant Varma submits resignation to the president months after Vow over cash discovery at his
02:11residence.
02:11Over to in Bengal amidst high-pitched battle for the state.
02:14My colleague Aishwarya Paliwal spoke exclusively with the Home Minister Amit Shah.
02:19Listen in.
03:12My colleague Aishwarya Paliwa,
03:45Byunggala Paliwa,
03:49I think that our new government is 45 days under the power of the government
03:58government.
04:01This is the same as the government.
04:03The government will be closed by the government.
04:09The government will be closed by the government.
04:35All right, so that was Home Minister Ramit Shah.
04:37But the Home Minister Ramit Shah and other senior leaders of the BJP in Bengal
04:42released the manifesto this afternoon.
04:45And then you had Abhishek Banerjee from the TMC coming out
04:50and taking on the finer points of the manifesto.
04:54Abhishek Banerjee says,
04:56Amit Shah, the Home Minister, is rehearsing the same cassette several times
05:00about Guzpetiyas, infiltrators.
05:02If you are in power to safeguard the borders,
05:05then why did such an attack happen in Tehalgang?
05:07How come a blast happened in Delhi where 10 people died?
05:11Listen in to Abhishek Banerjee.
05:41All right, my colleague Tapas and Gupta joining us to decode
05:45A, the manifesto of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the comeback by Abhishek Banerjee.
05:49Tapas, you know, the main finer points of the BJP's manifesto
05:53when the Home Minister spoke of direct cash transfers,
05:58not just to women, where Bengal is concerned,
06:01also an unemployment dole of Rs. 3,000.
06:03On the other front, the UCC and Guzpetiyas, infiltrators.
06:09Those would be the catchphrases of the BJP's manifesto.
06:13Is that a talking point on ground?
06:16Well, yes, Preeti, if I can tell you, if I can give you a gist around 1, 2, 3 or
06:234.
06:23The first important thing that BJP spoke about after a long, long time
06:27is obviously the zero tolerance for the illegal immigrants
06:30and they have been alleging for long that
06:32Trinamon Congress have been harboring the illegal immigrants in Bengal.
06:37And apart from that, one of the most important points
06:39that BJP barely talked about in recent elections
06:42is about the government employees that consists of a huge chunk of a vote bank
06:47because the government employees at large
06:48are not in favor of the present dispensation since the last several years
06:53due to the pending DAs and even their pay commission.
06:57And Amitra have categorically stated that once they come into power,
07:01they will introduce the seventh pay commission
07:02and all the pending DAs since 2009 would be cleared by the BJP government.
07:07And along with that, the direct cash transfer of 3,000 rupees
07:14to all the women of the state against Mamata Banajir,
07:171,500 rupees of Lokkhir Bhanda is another talking point
07:21as far as Bengal politics is concerned.
07:23But again, I say that the people here in Bengal are very conscious
07:26about the politics being played out by all the political parties.
07:31Now, it remains to be seen that these commitments made by the BJP,
07:35if you look very closely, the commitments made by BJP
07:38are basically the counter of the Trinamun Congress's failure.
07:43And here, Abhishek Banerjee in return
07:45have been trying to counter the failure of the BJP in other states.
07:49So it's a very win-win situation for both the parties.
07:52But BJP's manifesto for 2026, I would rather say,
07:56is absolutely to the point and something that the people of Bengal
07:59have been talking about and wanted a change for.
08:02Now, it remains to be seen how it turns out at the ballot box
08:05at the end of the elections.
08:06Priti.
08:07All right.
08:07Well, you know, we'll know that that was won't be
08:09when that last vote is counted on the 4th of May.
08:12Thank you for joining us.
08:13But let's break it down.
08:14The finer points of the BJP's manifesto,
08:16and we're going to juxtapose it on Mamata Banerjee,
08:20the TMC's manifesto.
08:22And you decide who offers more, who offers less,
08:26and ultimately, are they just offers?
08:28Do manifestos really matter in this day and age?
08:37The battle for Bengal has kicked into a higher curve.
08:41In a high-profile event in Kolkata,
08:43Amit Shah released the party's Sankal Patra,
08:46projecting as a blueprint for Shonar Bangla,
08:48and a decisive shift from what the party terms
08:51to be years of TMC misgovernance.
08:55Front and center in the manifesto is the promise
08:58of implementing a Uniform Civil Code in West Bengal,
09:01a move the BJP says will ensure equality before the law
09:04across religions and communities.
09:06The UNFORM Civil Code has been followed by the EU.
09:12The UNFORM Civil Code has been followed by the EU.
09:12The UNFORM Civil Code has been after 6 months,
09:14we are following for the UNFORM Civil Code,
09:18and are following for all countries.
09:41The BJP is positioning UCC as both a legal reform and a political statement, contrasting
09:47it with what it alleges is TMC's policy of appeasement and selective governance.
09:52Beyond UCC, the Sankal Patra also outlines a wide range of promises, from the 7th Pay
09:58Commission, Rs. 3000 per month for women, reporting illegals, implementation of central
10:03schemes in the state, a white paper exposing Trinambul Congress's corruption, the clearing
10:08of pending dearness allowances, creation of jobs, revival of industries and strengthening
10:14law and order in the state.
10:20On women's safety, BJP has pledged tougher policing and legal mechanisms, making it
10:25a key election plank in a state where law and order remains a major political flashpoint.
10:30Amit Shah also took direct aim at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing a government of blocking
10:37central schemes and fostering a culture of political violence.
10:41The government of the Civil Rights movement of the government remains a citizen of the
10:47The government of the law is aoyu's duty and responsibility of power.
11:01The government of the government will build a government of the government.
11:14For the TMC, the challenge will be to counter the BJP's ideological push
11:18while reinforcing its own plank of regional identity and welfare-driven governance.
11:49With the BJP's Sankal Patra now out, the battle lines in Bengala are clearly drawn.
11:55Development versus identity, welfare versus reform, and at the centre of it all,
11:59the contentious promise of a uniformed civil court.
12:04Bureau Report, India Today.
12:09All right, joining me right now, Ajay Alok, BJP spokesperson.
12:14Mr. Alok, thank you for joining us on To The Point this evening.
12:18I'm going through some of the finer points of the BJP's manifesto.
12:21Some would say, Ajay Alok-ji, that in Delhi we are still waiting for the direct cash transfer to women
12:29while you're already promising it in the state of Bengala.
12:33You're laughing too, you know what I'm saying.
12:36I was anticipating this question, Preeti.
12:38I was anticipating this.
12:39I'm laughing because my anticipation has come true.
12:42But sir, I'm a journalist.
12:43You'd understand why I'd ask this question.
12:45First, deliver your promise in Delhi and then you make fresh promises elsewhere.
12:48No, you're sure.
12:50You're full entitled to ask me questions.
12:52That's why you are there and I'm here to answer your questions.
12:54Thank you, sir.
12:55Well, first of all, first of all, in Delhi, let me tell you, we will implement the promise.
13:00But the mess Mr. Kejriwal has left us with, we are just getting out of it and we are making
13:05all the budgetary provisions and we'll do it.
13:07And let's not forget that we have already implemented this in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh,
13:12Uttarakhand and Bihar.
13:13Bihar, we have done it with 10,000.
13:15Here we are talking of only 3,000.
13:17Bihar has a more voter list, more women voters.
13:2010,000 is one-time payment, Alokji.
13:23This is 3,000 rupees per month you're promising.
13:2610,000 is one-time payment and then we are selecting and we are delivering 2 lakh rupees
13:30more to every woman in Bihar.
13:32And the selection process has already started.
13:34So it's not like that we don't deliver on our promise.
13:36This is the trust that what we call bharosa.
13:39Today, the whole Bengal election is not about manifesto, which you were very correct in your
13:44opening statement, that people will trust the manifesto or what?
13:46It's about bharosa.
13:47It's about faith in a government that how it's going to be governed.
13:51It's about the kind of lawlessness this state has seen for the last 30 long years, 35 long
13:56years, 20 years of left and 15 years of Mamta.
14:00And this is about regaining yourself, the Bengal pride.
14:04This is about not living in fear.
14:07This is about celebrating your religious identity in a way that you're not scared of, celebrating
14:13your Durga puja, celebrating your Sarasuti puja.
14:15I mean, you are in India, but there are parts in Bengal where you don't feel that you are
14:21given a feeling that you're not in India.
14:24It's a crime to be a Hindu.
14:25All these things, the people of Bengal are now fed up.
14:29And I've been in Bengal for the last three months.
14:31And I've traveled a lot.
14:34This time, I see a definite palpable difference in the people of Bengal.
14:38Your team was here from Asak today and India today.
14:41And they are also moving here and there.
14:43And the palpable difference is there for everyone to see.
14:46I'm not boasting or saying anything.
14:48Of course, it's an election.
14:49It's going to be a tough election.
14:50But definitely, this time, we are going to form the government.
14:53I'm getting sure by every day passing.
14:56Because election momentum has taken up.
14:58And you also know, being a journalist and covering for so many long years, that once
15:02the momentum turns and it starts picking up in favor of a party, that momentum keeps
15:08on growing.
15:08And now, since only the last 15 days, not even 12 days, it's left for the first time.
15:12You know, in that sense, you're right.
15:14Because it's the last 15 days that matter.
15:16And if momentum picks up, then it picks up and it's difficult then to counter that in
15:20any what way.
15:21There are a lot of things, Ajay, Alokji, that you've got right in your manifesto.
15:24You know, I don't know how seriously manifestos are taken in this day and age.
15:28But when you talk about the Seventh Pay Commission, where you're talking to the government employees
15:34in Bengal, it is a talking point on ground.
15:36I've been tracking Bengal for many, many years.
15:38And to bring that up in a manifesto, you're speaking to the people.
15:42But my one question that I'd like to ask you, Alokji, is.
15:46It was quite similar.
15:47You know, leave alone one or two things.
15:492021, your Sankal Patra didn't quite look very different from what it looks like right
15:53now.
15:53What's the difference?
15:54Why will people buy into these promises this time around when they rejected you the last
15:59time?
16:00See, 2021 and 2026, a lot of things have happened, which people of Bengal have seen.
16:06Sandesh Khali happened.
16:07RG Khar happened.
16:09All this teacher's appointment happened.
16:11Police constabulary happened.
16:13And secondly, the kind of government employees Bengal has.
16:17I mean, can you believe it?
16:19This is the only state which has not implemented Seventh Pay Commission.
16:22Why?
16:23Because money is required for TMC cut.
16:26Money is required for Muslim appeasement.
16:28Money is required for raising the salaries of Amin and raising the salaries of Pujaris.
16:33And that too, after protests for the Pujaris.
16:37Absolute misgovernance and people have seen that what turnaround BJP does, like Bihar is
16:42the next state.
16:42What turnaround BJP has done there?
16:45The people of Bengal are not naive enough.
16:47They are the most educated and one of the brilliant mind we have.
16:50They see what we are doing in other states.
16:53They see how we are running, taking the country forward under the leadership of Prime Minister
16:56Modiji.
16:57So all these things.
16:58And secondly, and most important thing, 2021, our organizational strength was not up to
17:04the mark what I see today.
17:05Today we have organization in every district.
17:09Today we have local people participation more.
17:11Can you believe it?
17:12We have not given a single ticket to anyone who has come from TMC.
17:16All the tickets have been given to Karakartas.
17:18And those Karakartas who have been sweating day in and day out for the last three and a half,
17:22four years.
17:23So this time, absolutely a metamorphosis has been done in the BJP organization.
17:29And definitely you are going to see some tectonic shockwaves on 4th May.
17:34All right.
17:35So we'll see some tectonic shockwaves.
17:37We'll only know when that last vote is counted, Ajay Aalokji.
17:41But I wish you a good campaign.
17:43May the best man or woman win.
17:45Thank you for joining us, Ajay Aalokji.
17:48Appreciate it.
17:49All right.
17:49Let's cut across right now to Mr. Kirti Azad.
17:52I believe we have him.
17:54All right.
17:54We do have Mr. Kirti Azad, the TMC MP.
17:59He's joining us right now.
18:01Mr. Azad, thank you for taking the time out and joining us.
18:04I believe dead heat in the middle of campaign.
18:06My first question.
18:07BJP has given out its manifesto.
18:10Fair amount of emphasis on direct cash transfers.
18:13UCC, direct money to the unemployed, 3,000 rupees, direct cash transfers to women.
18:20Your Lokhir Bhandaar is only 1,500.
18:25Nothing is just full of...
18:27It's basically garbage.
18:29If you look at it, it's all full of lies, nothing else.
18:33Lots of promises have been made which have not been fulfilled.
18:36And they were made also in the other states.
18:38Many of them, I mean, I'll give you the latest one, the one that was said in Delhi, when the
18:45Honorable Narendra Modi had said during the election campaign, this is 7th of February,
18:502025.
18:52And I'm quoting him,
19:03It's been 14 months.
19:05They haven't received it.
19:06It was also brought on each.
19:08Durga Pujja will give you gas cylinders.
19:12Even on Eid, we'll do that.
19:14Hasn't been received.
19:15So these are those jumlahs which were accepted by Mr. Amit Shah.
19:20It's exactly the same.
19:22There is nothing new.
19:23There is nothing, anything that we can really talk about.
19:27These are all empty rhetoric promises.
19:29Nothing else.
19:30Talk about the fact that you have the BJP now.
19:34And I'll ask you that question again.
19:36Offering 3,000 rupees.
19:38Lokhir Bhandaar only is what?
19:401,500 if I'm not wrong.
19:41And they're saying they'll double that promise.
19:43And they'll give 3,000 rupees.
19:45They're giving an unemployment dole.
19:47They're talking about government employees.
19:50Now, this is chatter on ground.
19:51There is a fair amount of resentment where government employees is concerned.
19:55And they are speaking to them directly this time.
20:02Yes, it's exactly the same.
20:03I said, I mean, it's been 12 months.
20:06What has happened to that?
20:08In Delhi.
20:09I mean, you know, you're in Delhi.
20:11Your office is in Delhi.
20:12And you go there, do a bit of a survey and ask them whether they have received anything.
20:15It's been 14 months.
20:16Two and a half thousand rupees per month were to be received.
20:19And the first installment, as per the Prime Minister, was to be received by them on the 8th of March,
20:26which is International Women's Day.
20:27If I'm wrong, please tell me.
20:29No.
20:30Okay.
20:30Let's talk about the Uniform Civil Code.
20:32You have now a part of the manifesto.
20:35There is a polarizing campaign which is being run right now in Bengal.
20:39And the UCC will only aid to further queer that pitch.
20:46Who is polarizing?
20:48You tell me, since the BJP has come into power, the polarization has been going on.
20:52Tell me, any other government, any other party had done that apart from the BJP?
20:56Nobody else has done that.
20:57And they've been talking about UCC.
20:59Again, same empty promise, empty rhetoric.
21:01This has been said 10 years ago that we'll do UCC.
21:04What has happened so far?
21:05I mean, they were talking about Ghospatias in 2016, this is 2026.
21:09It's 10 years.
21:10I remember Mr. Amit Shah saying this, that we're going to do our government.
21:16And again, he's saying, 2026.
21:18Once again, we're going to do Ghospatias.
21:20Where are the Ghospatias?
21:21The 91 lakhs, they have deleted just now the Gyanesh Commission, the BJP Commission of India.
21:28Has deleted 91 people have been struck off.
21:31Have they been given a second opportunity?
21:33No, they haven't.
21:34So it's basically just, basically, I mean, why do you believe the BJP?
21:38You please kindly go through their promises.
21:40They have not fulfilled.
21:41I mean, how many times I'm going to repeat it.
21:43I've got bored repeating it.
21:45Really, I feel silly repeating their promises.
21:47The Kala Dhan Aega, 2022, Kisano Ke Ion Dambul, I spoke again about Kisanan, saying that we'll
21:56have new technology for tea gardens.
21:58They've been in Assam for the last 10 years.
22:00What have they done for the tea gardens?
22:01Can you tell me?
22:02Have they improved the technology that they said in 2016?
22:05We'll give the latest technology.
22:07We'll do this for farmers.
22:10I mean, they had these three farm laws where more than a thousand farmers were killed.
22:14Okay.
22:15While protesting and they had to retreat.
22:17They had to take those laws.
22:19You know, what you can actually take heart in is the fact that because of that sting on
22:24Mr. Humayu Kabir, you have the AIMIM breaking their alliance with Humayu Kabir.
22:29The entire Muslim coalition that was being strung up against the TMC, which could have eaten
22:36into your core vote bank or one of your vote banks before you say what you do.
22:41Well, good for you in that account.
22:50I'm never going to damage my party.
22:52Everybody knows about Ovesi.
22:54Ovesi is saying he's walking out of Humayu Kabir.
22:57Didn't he know?
22:58Well, in advance.
22:59I mean, what Ovesi came for is exactly he subbed the purpose.
23:01It was Humayu Kabir was trying to sub the purpose.
23:03But people do understand that these people are there.
23:06They don't even.
23:07What is a Muslim man with a Muslim Iman?
23:09Whose Iman is Muslim.
23:11But these guys do bymani with people?
23:13They think that Muslims are on sale?
23:15Thousand crore deal they had done with BJP?
23:18He's taken the name of Hemant Biswas Sharma.
23:20He's taken the name of Mohan Yadav, who's the CM of Madhya Pradesh.
23:23He's also talked about Mr. Amit Shah, speaking to him through Suvendu Adhigari and also the PMO.
23:29Why is he?
23:29What is he withdrawing?
23:31I mean, you should be asking why BJP was doing this.
23:33You should be asking them.
23:35Interesting.
23:35Their name has come.
23:36No, but Mr. Raza, as a journalist, I also need to ask and I also need to say that just
23:42because somebody has taken the name of a particular party or a politician doesn't quite make them
23:48pliable or, you know, that they are the ones behind it.
23:52It could have been said about your party.
23:54It could have been said about Mamata Banuji or Abhishek Banuji or you.
23:58Unless there's proof.
23:59How can you believe someone?
24:00This could be just the musings of Humayu Kabir.
24:05Well, I heard Mr. Amit Shah and you also must have heard it that he said that we can make
24:11any deal that we want and we can do it.
24:18Don't ask that question.
24:20Ask Amit Shah that question.
24:21How does he manage to do that?
24:24All right.
24:25Okay.
24:25Thank you, Mr. Kirti Azad, for joining us.
24:28We're kind of losing you.
24:29You're in the middle of campaign.
24:31Good luck.
24:31We'll see you very soon in Bengal.
24:34Thank you for joining us.
24:35Let me quickly cut across right now to our panelists this evening.
24:38Joining me, Amitabh Tiwari, founder, Vote Vibe, Shikha Mukherjee, political commentator.
24:42We'll also soon have with us the AIMIM spokesperson.
24:47Let's quickly begin with Mr. Amitabh Tiwari, founder, Vote Vibe.
24:53Amitabh Tiwari, with two developments that have taken place in the last 24 hours.
24:59One, you have AIMIM, breaking alliance with Humayu Kabir.
25:04So even if there was a chance of this Muslim coalition being put together, that in effect stands no more.
25:09And then today, the manifesto.
25:11If you look at the manifesto, Amitabh Tiwari, let's talk about the manifesto.
25:15We'll talk about the alliance later.
25:16For the first time, it seems that the BJP is listening to the people on ground,
25:20talking about, you know, government workers.
25:24Direct cash transfers has become, you know, their go-to in every state.
25:28But there has been a fair amount of resentment where government workers are concerned.
25:31So they picked up on that chatter and included it in their manifesto.
25:36Yeah, essentially, if you see what they've done is that they have provided or tried to provide solutions for some
25:45of the issues which are the top issues in the state.
25:48One is clearly the unemployment is the topmost issue as per our survey.
25:51So they have announced an unemployment allowance for the youth.
25:55Then, as you mentioned, that there is some resentment amongst the government employees because their pay scales have not been
26:01revised for a long time.
26:02So they have introduced that into the manifesto.
26:05Since the election is fairly polarized on religious lines and this illegal immigration and threat of change of demography is
26:13a very big issue,
26:14especially in the border districts, they have also introduced this UCC element, which can then mobilize some of the voters
26:25who are voting on the plank of Hindutva.
26:27See, today, in most states, what has happened is that the new MY is Mahila and UWA.
26:34So for UWA, they have announced this unemployment allowance.
26:37And for Mahila, they have announced a similar scheme to what is currently in place in Lakshmir Bhandar.
26:45They have doubled or they have promised that they would double the cash dole per month.
26:49And they've also announced a free bus travel for women learning from or taking a leave out of Congress parties
26:55Karnataka and Kerala manifesto.
26:58So I think for the first time, BJP has introduced this free bus travel for women in any of their
27:04manifestos.
27:04One thing which we need to understand is that whenever the opposition promises something like a cash toll for women
27:13or youth,
27:14that worked in Delhi because the incumbent had not fulfilled their promises or there was no such scheme.
27:22Here, the TMC already has similar schemes for both Mahila and youth.
27:27And I feel then that dilutes the strength or the effectiveness of whatever the promises the BJP has made.
27:37And now they also have to now suffer from allegations of non-performance or non-compliance of their manifesto in
27:45Delhi,
27:45as Kirti Azad was speaking about.
27:48So we'll have to wait and see how much these cash doles which they have announced actually who the women
27:54and the youth,
27:56because women is a very key vote bank.
27:58I think there are two competing things.
28:00One is welfare strength of Mahmata for women and the emotional connect she has.
28:06And then I think there is this deteriorating law and order and women's safety.
28:10These two are competing things.
28:11Unless women feel that they are not safe under this government,
28:18I think that would be a more compelling theme for the voters to move from TMC to BJP.
28:22You're right there, especially when you start travelling through West Bengal.
28:26And I'd bring in Shikha Mukherjee on that.
28:28You get a sense because A, it's not just one scheme.
28:31There are multiple schemes.
28:32Because every household that you go in the rural belt or even the semi-urban areas,
28:36you will see every woman tied to five schemes there.
28:39And there is a sense of allegiance where it comes down to Mamata Banerjee.
28:44But Shikha Mukherjee, this time the manifesto of the BJP, a tad bit more calibrated?
28:50Of course it is more calibrated because they have brought in the direct cash transfer.
28:56And the direct cash transfer is a design that has made a difference in the Maharashtra elections actually.
29:08Where an upgrade on what was already existing made a huge difference to the women's vote.
29:17So we have this, the direct cash transfers to the unemployed youth, to women,
29:23the free travel pass, the promise of UCC,
29:28the promise of something which nobody is talking about.
29:32But there is a, what is it, dharmic, astha and puja, paddhati, swatantrata.
29:40So this looks like something to do with conversion and protection against conversion.
29:46All of this is appealing to two things.
29:51One, a direct appeal to people who are already very hard pressed because, you know, prices have risen.
30:01Everybody is unhappy.
30:03The LPG crisis, the LPG cost, all of this is important.
30:07And extra income is important.
30:12The, will that swing women's votes away from Mamata is an open question.
30:19But what is not an open question is that women are having to queue up for the SIR in very
30:27large numbers
30:28because a disproportionately large number of women have been deleted from the SIR process.
30:35Right.
30:37That is, that is something that, that, you know, does this compensate for that?
30:42Who knows?
30:44Right.
30:45But just one, one more point is that when, when the BJP's manifesto is released
30:54and the kickoff point is zero tolerance for Guzbetia,
30:59then it is an invitation for people to think about the SIR process.
31:07All right.
31:08You know, I'm going to, I'm going to come back to the both of you.
31:10I'm going to get into a quick break because we've spoken about the manifesto.
31:13We've got the spokespersons of their parties.
31:15We've had the analysts to break it down for us.
31:16I'm going to get into a break.
31:18And then we're going to spin over to the other story that is coming in from West Bengal itself.
31:22There was a sense that there was this Muslim coalition that was building up against Mamata Banerjee,
31:27one of the core vote banks of the TMC, Muslims.
31:31You had Assad bin OVC teaming up with Humayu Kabir.
31:35There's a 30% Muslim population to take in terms of votes.
31:38And if there was credence to that coalition,
31:42then Mamata Banerjee could have lost out on some crucial votes from the minority community.
31:46Well, what's really happened is there was a sting that was released by the TMC,
31:51which has upset at least that Muslim coalition.
32:02Less than a fortnight before Bengal heads to polls.
32:05The political dynamics of the state are still shifting.
32:08Assaduddin OVC's AIMIM party has ended its alliance
32:13with suspended Trinamul Congress, MLA, Humayu Kabir's armed Janata Unnayan party.
32:20After the TMC released a sting video
32:23in which Humayu Kabir is allegedly talking about his links with senior BJP leaders,
32:28the AIMIM has said that it will go solo in Bengal,
32:32as it cannot associate with any statements
32:35where integrity of Muslims is brought into question.
32:39Humayu Kabir has dismissed the video,
32:41alleging conspiracy by the TMC.
33:01Home Minister Amit Shah has also alleged that the video is a forgery by the TMC
33:05and denied any link between Kabir and the BJP.
33:25The significance of this fallout is clear.
33:28In December, AIMIM had ruled out any alliance with Kabir
33:32and even called him a BJPB team.
33:35But as they joined hands last month,
33:37OVC and Kabir threatened to split the Muslim vote,
33:40a blog that has consistently backed the TMC.
33:45Muslims make up about 27% of Bengal's population
33:48and influence over 100 seats,
33:51especially in Murshidabad, Malda and the 24th Paragana.
33:54Historically aligned with the left,
33:57this vote bank has over the past decade shifted decisively towards the TMC.
34:03The community's support for TMC rose from 22% in 2006 to nearly 75% in 2021.
34:12The OVC-Kabir alliance could have hurt Mamata Banerjee even more than the BJP
34:17by splitting her strongest support base.
34:20While Mamata continues to face other challenges,
34:23with these severe ties,
34:24the threat of Muslim vote split is no longer a concern for the TMC.
34:28Bureau Report, India Today.
34:33Alright, Amitabh Tiwari, Shikha Mukherjee continue to be with us.
34:37I'm also joined by Adil Hassan, AIMIM,
34:40National Spokesperson and Youth President AIAM
34:42and in charge of the Bengal elections.
34:46Mr. Hassan, what has made your party finally decide to pull out of an alliance?
34:50Is it as frivolous and fragile as a video
34:53which the BJP and some other parties call doctor?
34:59Mam, yesterday you saw the video.
35:01We want independent proof in that video.
35:03We request Honorable Calcutta High Court,
35:06Chief Justice or Election Commission
35:09to go for inquiry with the sitting Justice of the Honorable High Court.
35:13Everything will be clear because this video is of December.
35:17We were not in touch with Mr. Kabir Shah at that time
35:20where we don't know who is ED, who is Home Minister, who is PMO,
35:26why the video was released yesterday.
35:29Everything should come to the public platform.
35:32But Mr. Hassan, the TMC says that the AIMIM and Mr. Ovesi,
35:37even before the tie-up,
35:39had called him, Ayu Kabir, the team B of the BJP,
35:41yet decided to tie up with them.
35:45We were not knowing about this thing.
35:47It was a sudden video, sudden came to the scene.
35:51And we requested for the independent proof
35:53because we, our community, Muslim community,
35:55Dalit SC, ST community,
35:57we have, we are, when we talk about justice to them,
36:00we have to clear the sentiment for them.
36:03So if they feel, if we find that video is something,
36:07it's not about the moral ethics,
36:10we withdraw our alliance.
36:13It's simple.
36:15We want independent proof.
36:16We are contesting in Bengal with full power.
36:19My question is that,
36:21why Mamta Binerji was telling that
36:23Humayu Kabir is a BJP man?
36:25Then he contested on the TMC ticket in 2021.
36:29He was in, he was one of the closest CSO
36:31of Mamta Binerji and Abhishek Binerji.
36:33He campaigned for Mushirabad,
36:36Bale Boom and all places in Malda.
36:39He campaigned for TMC.
36:40That time, Mamta Binerji don't know about him.
36:43And Abhishek was not knowing about him.
36:45Whenever the things come,
36:47Mamta Binerji talks about BJP.
36:49Then what she was doing in 2003
36:51when she was campaigning for Mr. Modi in Gujarat
36:53after Gulbarga society massacre,
36:56after the death of Aysaan Jafri Sahib,
36:59for whom Bilkiz Mano episode,
37:01Zakia Zafri Mohtarma episode,
37:03everybody knows about it.
37:05She was campaigning for Modi.
37:06She is the lady who could raise the SIR issue
37:09before to Sumna Chatterjee Sahib,
37:11honorable speaker of the Lok Sabha in 2005.
37:13She was in Atal cabinet.
37:15She talks about RSS,
37:17that RSS is good.
37:18Atal Advani Ji is good.
37:20Then what is the difference
37:22between RSS Advani Ji and Atal Ji
37:26and Amish Shah Ji and Mr. Modi?
37:28They all are from the same party.
37:29Adil Hassan Ji, the TNC says that
37:32on the contrary,
37:33you've been the team B of the BJP
37:34not just now in the state in Bengal
37:36but also in the state of Bihar
37:37and other states.
37:41Ma'am, I request,
37:42we never campaign for Modi.
37:44Mamta Binerji campaigned for Modi.
37:46We never campaigned for Modi.
37:48Everybody knows that
37:49after Gujarat riot massacre,
37:51who campaigned for Modi?
37:53You also know.
37:53In 2003,
37:54who was there telling Modi
37:56who was my big brother?
37:57Who was there in the cabinet?
37:59Who was there eating malai?
38:00You tell me.
38:02The world knows
38:03that in 2005,
38:05the SIR was the biggest
38:06and the time of TMC
38:08was the only one.
38:09He campaigned for Mamta Binerji
38:11in 2024.
38:13What can be a big proof
38:14from that?
38:15He campaigned for Abhishek Binerji,
38:17he campaigned for Yusuf Patan,
38:19he campaigned for
38:19all the TMC members of parliament.
38:22He was the faith of that time.
38:24He was the faith of TMC
38:25in North Bengal.
38:27And we are talking about
38:28the rights for the Muslim community,
38:30Dalit, SCST.
38:31What is wrong in that?
38:33So you're saying
38:34you're going to fight it alone?
38:34So you're saying
38:34you're going to go it alone?
38:35Yes, we will fight alone
38:36and we will fight with full strength.
38:39Our people,
38:39my state president,
38:40Imran Sulanki,
38:41is contesting
38:42and we are contesting
38:44in Suthi,
38:44we are contesting in Kandi,
38:45we are contesting
38:46in Asad Sul
38:47and inshallah,
38:48Barristan Sadunovashi
38:49will also campaign for them.
38:50All our star campaigners
38:52will campaign for them.
38:53All right, sir.
38:53Good luck.
38:55We are fighting for the rights
38:56of 30% of Muslim community
38:58and Dalit community
38:59and tribal community.
39:00Nobody discussed about
39:03the regional imbalance
39:04of North Bengal.
39:05All right, sir.
39:06Thank you for joining us.
39:08Good luck.
39:08I want to quickly go back
39:09to Shikha Mukherjee
39:12and Amitabh Diwari.
39:12Amitabh Diwari,
39:1330% of the Muslim vote
39:15always seen
39:17as the core vote bank
39:18of Mamata Banerjee.
39:20There was an attempt,
39:21it seemed,
39:21to build this Muslim coalition
39:22but clearly
39:23fraying at the edges now.
39:27Clearly,
39:27if you see,
39:28the TMC vote share
39:29is around 48%
39:30and half of it,
39:32which is around 24%,
39:34comes from support
39:35of the Muslim community
39:37and the other half,
39:3824%,
39:39comes from the Hindu community.
39:41See,
39:41I don't think that
39:43Humayu Kabir's coalition
39:44was going to do wonders
39:46and they were going
39:48to split a significant section
39:50of the Muslim community vote.
39:52Firstly,
39:53he's not a very tall leader
39:55of Muslim community
39:57of West Bengal
39:57and secondly,
39:58he doesn't have
39:59the credibility also
40:00because these allegations
40:01that he is the B team
40:02of BDP,
40:03it may have just crystallized
40:05or allegedly crystallized
40:06because of this
40:07leakage of video
40:08but these things
40:09were already there
40:10in the domain
40:11for a long time now.
40:12I was fairly surprised
40:13as to how the AIMIM
40:16formed an alliance
40:17with Humayu Kabir's party
40:20given all these charges
40:21were already in existence
40:23when AIMIM
40:24formed an alliance
40:26with Humayu Kabir.
40:28Now AIMIM is left
40:30with just only 10 seats
40:31so I don't know
40:32how they will be able
40:32to get an impact
40:33and the way
40:34the spokesperson
40:35of AIMIM was speaking
40:37it seems that
40:39they are
40:40very against
40:42whatever Mamata
40:43has done in the past
40:44or her relationship
40:46with the BJP
40:47given that context
40:49AIMIM should have been
40:51contesting in full force
40:52in Bengal
40:53just like it has done
40:55in Bihar
40:56but that was also
40:57missing.
40:58So anyways
40:58I don't think
40:59that split of votes
41:00can likely happen.
41:00But there's a difference also
41:01Amitab Diwari.
41:02Congress and left
41:03might split.
41:04But there's a difference
41:05in that as well
41:06because Bihar
41:07has a largely
41:08Hindi speaking
41:09Muslim vote bank
41:10not so much
41:11in Bengal
41:12and Shikha Mukherjee
41:13the Bengali Muslim
41:14is a different species
41:16than the other
41:17Muslims across the country.
41:20Indeed they are.
41:21Indeed they are.
41:23They are very different.
41:25They are more comfortable
41:28speaking in Bengali.
41:29Their habits
41:30and their lifestyle
41:33apart from
41:34a few
41:35apart from
41:37the Namahs
41:37and the Anzins
41:38religious practice
41:40is very Bengali.
41:41Having said that
41:43I think
41:43you know
41:43it's very interesting
41:44why
41:45why
41:46on earth
41:47did the meme
41:48A.
41:49align with
41:49Humayun
41:50who has been
41:52who has jumped
41:53from the Congress
41:54to the Trinamool
41:55to the BJP
41:56to the Trinamool
41:58and now
41:59has set up
42:00his own party.
42:02The
42:03Amitabh Twari
42:04is absolutely right.
42:05There have been
42:06there have been
42:07rumours
42:07some of them
42:09confirmed
42:10by people
42:10from within
42:11the BJP
42:12that
42:13Mr.
42:14Humayun Kabir
42:15has been
42:16receiving
42:17gifts
42:20especially
42:21when he started
42:22that Babri Masjid
42:23gig in
42:25Mushitabad.
42:27So
42:28this
42:29you know
42:30the Muslim
42:31vote base
42:31yes
42:32Mamta
42:33has a
42:34Muslim
42:34vote base
42:35but it is
42:35also true
42:36that the
42:38Muslim
42:38vote base
42:41gets
42:43fragmented
42:44to some
42:44extent
42:45it's not
42:45a homogen
42:46it's not
42:47as homogenous
42:47a Muslim
42:48vote base
42:49as one
42:49would imagine
42:52because
42:52the Congress
42:53has a share
42:56and the
42:56CPM
42:57hoops
42:57to have
42:57a share
43:01you can't
43:02hear me
43:02I can hear
43:03you
43:03I can hear
43:03you
43:04sorry
43:04I was
43:05signaling to
43:06my PCR
43:07not to
43:07you
43:07go ahead
43:08okay
43:08so there
43:10is
43:10there
43:10is
43:10that
43:11other
43:11vote base
43:12that
43:12Mamta
43:13Banerjee
43:13has
43:14and that
43:15does not
43:15that
43:16that is
43:17regardless
43:18of
43:19religious
43:20identity
43:20is her
43:21women's
43:22vote base
43:23you see
43:24over 50%
43:25of women
43:26voters
43:27vote for
43:28Mamta Banerjee
43:29that is a
43:31solid
43:31vote base
43:32if the
43:33BJP
43:34makes
43:34indulge
43:35by offering
43:36them more
43:36money
43:38or better
43:39prospects for
43:40their children
43:40which is
43:41what the
43:42youth
43:44stipend is
43:45all about
43:45then maybe
43:47they get
43:47a little bit
43:47swayed
43:49that could
43:49be a
43:51combination
43:51that spells
43:52danger
43:54all right
43:55you know
43:56with what
43:56one of the
43:56sophologists
43:57had said
43:57Amitabhji
43:57in a very
43:58quick word
43:59in that
43:59what Mamta
44:00Banerjee
44:00practically
44:00needs a
44:01majority
44:02of the
44:03minority
44:03vote and
44:04a minority
44:05of the
44:05majority
44:05vote and
44:06she's
44:06home
44:06do you
44:07see that
44:07working out
44:08this time
44:08around
44:11see I
44:13think this
44:13time around
44:14there are
44:15cracks in
44:15her upper
44:16caste
44:16Hindu
44:17support
44:17base
44:18see Mamta
44:18has a
44:19very unique
44:19coalition of
44:20extremes
44:20which is
44:21Muslim plus
44:21upper caste
44:22Hindus
44:22not in
44:23any state
44:24do these
44:25two groups
44:26vote for
44:27the same
44:27party
44:28and here
44:29I think
44:29this time
44:30there is a
44:30crack in
44:31upper caste
44:32Hindus
44:32to what
44:33extent
44:33and will
44:34it damage
44:35TMC
44:36that it
44:36could lose
44:37the elections
44:37and that
44:38we'll have
44:38to wait
44:38and see
44:39till the
44:404th of
44:40May
44:40well we'll
44:41only know
44:41on the
44:414th of
44:42May
44:42thank you
44:42for the
44:43both of
44:43you for
44:43joining us
44:44and for
44:44our viewers
44:45thank you
44:45for watching
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