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A major controversy has erupted in Tamil Nadu between the ruling state party and the national ruling party over an old election video.
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00:01Hello and welcome.
00:03You're joining us live here on Super 6 on India Today.
00:05I'm Akshita Anandakopal back to Singara, Chennai.
00:09We'll be getting you all the latest reports, ground reports and exclusive interviews from Chennai over the next few days.
00:15But what have we got lined up for you today over the next 16 minutes?
00:18I'm going to be running you through the big controversy and the showdown between the BJP and the DMK.
00:24With an old BJP audition video targeting Pandian, making a comeback into the Tamil Nadu political scene right now.
00:31That will be our big talking point.
00:32But also coming up on the show, our ground report from Coimbatore.
00:35We have an exclusive conversation coming up with Sentil Balaji, ex-minister, someone who's in the eye of a storm.
00:41But also, DMK's go-to man for winning Coimbatore.
00:45Can he do it? Can he not?
00:46That ground report coming your way.
00:48We begin first with the headlines.
00:56A new era in Bihar begins.
00:58After 20 years, Nitish Kumar resigns as chief minister heads to Rajasabha.
01:02Samrat Chaudhary elected as the BJP legislative party leader, paving way for the first BJP CM in the state.
01:16Representation in Lok Sabha set to go up to 850, paving way for 33% seats to be reserved now
01:23for women.
01:23Sources say 815 seats will be for states, 35 seats for women, billed to be tabled in the special session
01:29that kicks off April 16th.
01:48Prime Minister Modi inaugurates Game Changer Expressway connecting Delhi to Deiradun in just 2.5 hours.
01:55Travel time cut by 4 hours straight.
01:57Holidaying in hills now way easier as Expressway has been built at a cost of 12,000 crores.
02:09U.S. defence straight-off or most blockade accuses Iran of blackmail.
02:13Iran calls U.S. move illegal, calls it piracy.
02:16Vance claims wall in Tehran's court on round two.
02:19Off-piece talks, Geneva could be the winner.
02:27Trump deletes posts that portrayed him as Jesus.
02:31After backlash, Trump deletes the AI image post, backpedals and clarifies, says it portrayed him as a doctor.
02:42I did post it and I thought it was me as a doctor and had to do with Red Cross
02:46as a Red Cross worker there, which we support.
02:50And only the fake news could come up with that one.
02:53So I had just heard about it and I said, how did they come up with that?
02:59It's supposed to be me as a doctor.
03:06Let's begin with the latest updates coming in from cold-bound Tamil Nadu, where the big talking point, the big
03:12focus is on a video that was actually released by the BJP,
03:15not during election season in Tamil Nadu, but during election season in Odisha.
03:20Why is that being talked about in Tamil Nadu right now?
03:23Here's what the video shows.
03:24This was when, remember, the entire Pandian controversy had come up that he's the one calling the shots in the
03:29BJD.
03:30At that point, BJP had released a video giving him an outsider tag and therefore mocking his Tamil roots.
03:36The DMKs rigged up that video to reiterate that the BJP, their attack, that the BJP is anti-Tamil.
03:43What exactly is that video?
03:45What are the reactions that have come in?
03:46Let's get you this detailed report first.
03:50The battle for Tamil Nadu is turning into a full-blown political war and this time, it is not just
03:57about votes.
03:58It's about identity, pride and perception.
04:07Old BJP videos are back to haunt the party.
04:10With the DMK and Congress aggressively resharing clips from the 2024 Orishya elections.
04:24Both allies alleged the BJP insulted Tamils by showcasing videos linked to Naveen Patnaik's aide, VK Pandya,
04:33turning it into a flashpoint in the current campaign.
04:40The DMK says, Tamil voters haven't forgotten.
04:44No matter what, new drama, the BJP stages in the state, it won't cut ice.
04:52That is what he said in Bihar, that the North Indians, Biharis were attacked by the Tamils in Tamil Nadu.
05:02Is it happening?
05:04You ask people who are living in Tamil Nadu, they are happy.
05:07They say that it is better than our state.
05:10In all respects, we are comfortable here, we are happy here.
05:14That is what the people who have migrated from other states say.
05:18They are happy here.
05:21The Congress has joined the attack, claiming the BJP once campaigned against the millions and is now seeking their votes.
05:29But the war does not stop there.
05:32Chief Minister MK Stalin has gone on the offensive, launching a blistering attack on both the BJP and the AIADMK.
05:44Stalin has dropped a political bomb, alleging the BJP wants to rename Tamil Nadu as Dakshina Pradesh,
05:51daring them to try it and warning that the DMK will never allow it.
06:22He branded E. Palani Swami as a BJP slave.
06:25and questioned his ability to stand up to Delhi.
06:30Stalin warned of a three-language policy as a cultural assault and even alleged a plot to divide Tamil Nadu.
06:39In his interest, the building is a tree.
06:42The killing of the guys, the people who have been trying to change the story of Tamil Nadu,
06:50his place is coming to Dhakshina Pradesh,
06:54he is able to bring them to the world's name of Dhakshina Pradesh,
06:57also hoping to put them as well.
06:58The people would give them the name of Dhakshina Pradesh,
06:58try to bring together all of them as well.
07:02Taking on the center, Stalin called delimitation a grave danger, accusing the BJP of punishing
07:09southern states for population control and branding the upcoming parliament session and
07:14assault on state rights.
07:15I am very proud of you.
07:46With accusations flying thick and fast, this battle is now as much about pride as it is
07:53about power.
07:54Bureau Report, India Today.
08:14To begin with Raghav Avasti, Mr. Avasti, what do you make of that video?
08:18Yes, it's not been released now by the BJP, but it is one that definitely peddles an anti-Tamir
08:23sentiment, spreads all kinds of stereotypes.
08:25Do you agree, Mr. Avasti?
08:27No, I don't quite agree with it.
08:29I think the attack with respect to Mr. Pandian in Odisha was more on the lines that he was
08:37somebody who was an outsider to the state and he was effectively the super chief minister
08:43during the end of Mr. Naveen Patnaik's tenure.
08:45There is no question of any anti-Tamil sentiment.
08:49Mr. Modi respects the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu and ever since the BJP came to
08:56power at the center, he has tried to make an outreach to the Tamil people.
09:02Mr. Raghav Avasti, yes, you're right in highlighting it was a political attack.
09:06You're right in highlighting that the attempt was to target Pandian.
09:09But target him on what?
09:10On the fact that he was a Tamilian.
09:13Akshita, if you look at some of the DMK campaign ads, the kind of things that they say about
09:21people from Dihar or people from Uttar Pradesh or Hindi speakers in general is appalling.
09:26And if you go to some of the Marwadi quarters in Tamil Nadu, in Chennai specifically, because
09:33I have lived in South India for five years when I was studying law.
09:36There are campaign ads in Hindi.
09:39So ultimately, what it shows up the DMK as is a bully.
09:45They want money from the Marwadi community.
09:47They want their votes.
09:49But when it comes to poorer immigrants, then they mock their Hindi.
09:52So I think this is the essence of the politics of the DMK and the BJP needs absolutely no lessons
09:58from the DMK when it comes to unity and integration.
10:03The DMK till about 1962 was a local successful party.
10:05No, but Mr. Avastee, you didn't answer my question.
10:08But since you made a point about the DMK, let me give a chance to Dr. Hafiz to respond.
10:12Dr. Hafiz, go ahead.
10:14So all the allegations and the comments made by the panelists are baseless.
10:19Tamil Nadu and the DMK are one of the most inclusive party in the state.
10:23We only have problem with opposition or we only have problem with the imposition of a
10:28language on Tamil Nadu.
10:30That has been the history.
10:32None of the protests in the past by the DMK or people of Tamil Nadu was not against Hindi
10:39Hindi as said, but the imposition of Hindi.
10:41Now, you played out the video.
10:44Madam, two, you know, politically opposed Pandeyans.
10:48You can oppose the policies of Pandeyans, madam.
10:51What is the food of Tamil Nadu, the Ghananani culture where the people put and eat?
10:56What has that something to do with politically opposing Pandeyans?
11:00That is the culture of people of Tamil to eat on the Wale Elay on special occasions.
11:06That has been certainly mocked.
11:08When you mock the people of Tamil Nadu, the sentiment of people of Tamil Nadu, you will
11:12certainly face a backlash.
11:14Now, I will tell you, it is not only Pandeyan limited to Pandeyan, but the entire attitude
11:19of the BJP.
11:20Now, tell me, people in their own alliance agree that the BJP is doing unfair in imposing
11:28a three-language policy.
11:29What have they got to do?
11:31Are they saying that even ADMK is being an opposition to the BJP?
11:36It is factually and logically a right to oppose the BJP because it wants to treat non-Hindi
11:45speakers of this country as second-class citizens.
11:48For the fact, they say, if you don't accept Hindi or any other...
11:52Mr. Raghavavasti, your response.
11:54I'll repeat my question that I asked you earlier about whether Mr. Pandeyan was targeted
11:58as a political opponent or whether he was targeted for being a Tamilian.
12:01You look at the video carefully.
12:03He is targeted for his culture, for his mannerisms, for his practices.
12:08Mr. Pandeyan was attacked in this video for the simple reason that he is an outsider to
12:14Odisha.
12:15And similarly, if the BJP were to ever come to power in Tamil Nadu, hopefully that day
12:20will come soon, then a Tamil speaker who takes pride in his culture will be anointed as the
12:25chief minister.
12:27And I think this Hindi speaker jive that is being made against the BJP is absolutely unfounded.
12:32If you look at the tallest leaders of the BJP, except maybe Attal Bihari Vajpayee ji, all
12:38of them have been from non-Hindi speaking states.
12:41There has been Shama Prasad Mukherjee from West Bengal.
12:44The current leadership of the BJP is from Gujarat, which is again a non-Hindi speaking state.
12:50The BJP has made significant inroads in South India.
12:54Initially, it was restricted to, of course, the North Indian Belt and some states in Central
12:58India.
12:59But that is no longer the case.
13:00But I am very happy that party likes like the DMK now recognize the BJP as their prime
13:07opposition.
13:08Even when they are attacking the AIA-DMK, they are actually taking potshots at the BJP.
13:14Fair point.
13:14As a supporter of the BJP and as a BJP worker, I feel very happy that the party is now
13:20making
13:20significant strides in the South.
13:22Having said that, I don't think the DMK...
13:25Dr. Hafiz, do you want to respond to that?
13:26That, you know, constantly the DMK is pushing this rhetoric of language imposition, pushing
13:31a rhetoric of Delhi versus state.
13:34It's far beyond that.
13:35You know, why aren't we talking about issues in Tamil Nadu, what the BJP is promising
13:39versus what the DMK is promising?
13:41Why do we go down this rabbit hole of language politics?
13:44I'll just make one last point.
13:46I think there are a lot...
13:48Most Muslims in the South of this country, they speak Urdu at home.
13:53And Urdu, as we all know, there is not so much of a difference between spoken Hindi and
13:58spoken Urdu.
13:59So, if there is no difference, then why is it that this language bogey is raised?
14:06It is an issue that belongs in the 1960s.
14:09The whole country is integrated.
14:11From Delhi to Chennai, you can travel in less than three hours by flight.
14:15So, I think the DMK really, really need to come out of this 1960 crime war.
14:19So, I am a big fan of the decade of the 1960s.
14:22Dr. Hafiz, quickly, please.
14:23I'm running out of time.
14:24Having said that, having said that, I think there is really need to come out of this.
14:28Okay, all right.
14:28Mr. Hafiz, let me complete.
14:30Let Dr. Hafiz come in, please.
14:33Yeah.
14:34See, the problem is, you know, there are Urdu speakers in Tamil Nadu.
14:37But they don't impose Urdu on people of Tamil Nadu.
14:39That is the simple difference.
14:41Because the Urdu people in the south and Tamil Nadu accept that we will not let Urdu impose
14:47the language on the others.
14:50That basic principle is what is being expected from people from the north.
14:56That is what Tamil Nadu expects.
14:57You can follow whatever language you have.
14:59No, fine, fine, fine, fine.
15:00That mindset, we agree.
15:02We agree.
15:02I'm sitting in Chennai, Dr. Hafiz.
15:04I agree with you that no imposition is okay.
15:06But where does the imposition happen?
15:08Is this plain, empty rhetoric every election season?
15:13So, don't you see, Anshita, when they say that if you don't accept a third language,
15:17we'll withhold your funds.
15:19Is that not imposition?
15:20Just because you don't accept PMC, we will not give you funds.
15:23Is that not imposition?
15:25This is a clear imposition.
15:27Now, I mean, these are the basic issues.
15:30We have seen this growth because of a two language formula the state has always advocated.
15:36We have grown in education because of this two language formula.
15:40We have seen the development because of the two language formula.
15:43It is because we gave importance to English and Tamil equally, the state has grown.
15:47Now, you are denting that culture which has let the state grow.
15:51Is it not a primary?
15:53Why is it a rhetoric?
15:55The entire development revolves around this story of coming, Nadu, this story of gravity
15:59and politics which the BJP wants to discuss.
16:01So, my point of rhetoric is about language politics.
16:05My point about rhetoric is about language politics and whether we have to go beyond that
16:10and talk about actual issues.
16:12You know, like for example, if you were questioning the BJP on the manifesto today,
16:16that would have made for a healthy debate.
16:18Yes, sure, you know, language politics will continue,
16:20but should that be the core of every election season in Tamil Nadu?
16:24I am going to leave it to add that Raghava Vassi and Syed Hafiz.
16:27Thank you very much for joining us here, all Super 6.
16:29I am sorry, I am sorry, I have run out of time, gentlemen.
16:32I know both of you have points to make, but I have run out of time.
16:35My apologies.
16:35But let us move on now to the other issue of delimitation,
16:38which is two days to go for the special session that will take place in Parliament
16:42for women's reservation.
16:44One bill that is coupled with that is delimitation.
16:46And there's been a big showdown over this.
16:48Why?
16:49Because the number of seats in the Lok Sabha increase.
16:51Tamil Nadu, a poll-bound state, several others in the south have spoken out
16:55saying it's very unfair that more seats will be given to the north
16:58and not so much to the south.
17:00The south states are being penalised, essentially, for being more literate
17:04and so having a lesser fertility rate.
17:06That's the bone of contention, essentially, over delimitation.
17:08But what are we picking up from our sources right now?
17:11That the number of seats the central government has proposed
17:14will go up to 850.
17:17And so that will be 815 in states and about 35 in union territories.
17:23Now, this expansion will take place based on the 2011 census.
17:26That's another big sticking point because earlier the government said
17:30we will hold a fresh census and then go ahead with delimitation.
17:33This bill will be and has been shared with the MPs, we understand.
17:37It will be introduced starting April 16.
17:40There will be a three-day debate on this.
17:42But for women's reservation to become a reality,
17:44delimitation also needs to become a reality.
17:46Since it's a constitutional amendment,
17:48it needs two-thirds of approval from the House,
17:52which means the government does need the opposition's support.
17:55Now, we'll have to see whether the central government is able to do that,
17:59but there have been multiple outrages,
18:00even from the Prime Minister directly to Malik Harjungkharli.
18:22And Piyush, Mishra, who's joining us live from Delhi with more details on this.
18:25Piyush, explain to us what really the bill states.
18:29You know, with the details now out, has the opposition softened the attack
18:33or only, you know, intensified it, looking at the details now on the fine print?
18:43Well, Lakshita, you would remember that the politics on this entire matter had begun
18:47on the very same day when the government had decided to convene a special session
18:53for passing the Women's Reservation Bill.
18:55You would remember that the Congress leaders,
18:57including Malik Harjungkharli and Sonia Gandhi,
18:59in fact, Sonia Gandhi had also written a letter saying that
19:01it is not about Women's Reservation Bill, but it is about delimitation.
19:05And the government has now come up with an idea of delimitation.
19:10A bill is likely to be tabled on 16th of this month,
19:14which is going to, which proposes to increase the number of seats in Lok Sabah to 850.
19:21You know, this has been done on the basis of Census 2011.
19:25And in this new bill, the government is going to make amendments
19:29delinking the Women's Reservation Bill with Census 2026
19:34and linking it with Census 2011.
19:37Why? Because the government's intention is to implement
19:41the Women's Reservation Bill in Lok Sabah elections 2029.
19:46So, the number of Lok Sabah seats are going to have a massive jump
19:49from 543 to 850.
19:52815 seats will come from states and 35 from union territories.
19:56And certainly, after this move of the government,
19:59we will see a lot of politics from the...
20:01Okay, Piyush, thanks for those details.
20:01My apologies for cutting you short,
20:03but we're getting another news break coming in.
20:04Let's cut across to that.
20:13I mean, all of the politics playing out right now over delimitation in Tamil Nadu.
20:18You've got EPS lashing out at Chief Minister Stalin.
20:21Remember, DMK has questioned the timing of these bills being introduced
20:25and has said that it's time for the elections to disrupt from the campaigning.
20:29And so, EPS has said that this is a decision that's taken by the central government.
20:34It has nothing to do with Tamil Nadu elections
20:36and that it's something that the nation has been seeking,
20:38referring to Women's Reservation.
20:40So, it's hit back on the Chief Minister over all of the claims
20:43of a conspiracy against Tamil Nadu
20:45and to hamper the current campaign of the DMK in the elections.
20:49So, we will continue tracking all those updates and reactions
20:52that come in delimitation.
20:53It's a big, big talking point here in Tamil Nadu,
20:55which will get you more reactions on.
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