- 5 hours ago
Less than twenty-four hours to go for the ceasefire deadline between the United States and Iran to end, but uncertainty looms over the second round of talks in Islamabad.
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00:00Hello and welcome, this is 5 Live. I'm Sonal Merotra Kapoor.
00:05Three stories that will remain the top of our focus today here on 5 Live.
00:11Number one, we'll start with war. Remember the last 24 hours of truce.
00:15What happens after that? What are the possibilities?
00:17Will the conversation really happen, not happen in Islamabad?
00:20We'll tell you all about that.
00:22Number two story on elections. Today is an important day.
00:25It's the end of phase one of campaigning for West Bengal.
00:29Also, Tawal Nadu campaigning ends today.
00:31So, pretty much the minds of people are made now before they get down to vote.
00:36And then number three, the big story coming in on Manjaro.
00:39Yesterday we told you what the scam was all about.
00:41Today, we tell you the man behind the scam.
00:45He's a BBA dropout.
00:47He makes these fake drugs in his apartment flat in Gurugram.
00:52How exactly is this entire nexus unfolding?
00:55This very Breaking Bad story, kind of story that is coming in from Gurugram
01:00about these fake weight loss drugs.
01:02We'll tell you all about that.
01:04First up, the headlines at this hour.
01:05We'll start with the war.
01:09The fragile US-Iran ceasefire struck on 7th of April expires tonight.
01:15And Trump has said that extension is highly unlikely.
01:23Well, President Trump has again threatened Iran with overwhelming military force,
01:27warning that lots of bombs will start going off if no deal is sealed before the ceasefire expires.
01:36Also, Donald Trump has stated that the core US demand remains that Iran must give
01:41an ironclad commitment that it will never seek a nuclear weapon or the means to build one.
01:50Meanwhile, Vice President J.D. Vance is expected to depart Washington on Tuesday
01:55for Islamabad ahead of the potential second round of Iran talks on Wednesday.
02:00Will that really happen?
02:01We have to wait and watch for that.
02:03Meanwhile, Trump has also indicated that he may join Islamabad talks,
02:07personally or virtually, to sign an expansive deal with Iran.
02:11Involvement of Trump signals that US side is more eager to reach a deal than Iran at the moment.
02:20Meanwhile, Tehran has closed, in fact refused to negotiate under what it calls a shadow of threats,
02:28with Trump insisting naval blockade on Iranian ports will remain until a deal is reached.
02:36Also, President Bereskyan has cited deep historic mistrust of Washington,
02:43criticizing what he called was unconstructive and contradictory signals from US officials
02:50and vowing that Iranians do not submit to force.
02:55Also, reports coming in from Pakistan officials,
02:58which have projected optimism of a major breakthrough in the coming days,
03:03with Army Chief Deir Asim Munir holding a very high-level meeting
03:06with the Iranian leadership in Tehran as we speak.
03:11Also, Iran's foreign ministry has stated that the country does not plan to re-engage the US for now,
03:18even as American officials prepare to fly to Islamabad for a second round of talks.
03:25Trump has, meanwhile, indicated that he may join Islamabad talks,
03:28personally, or, like we said, through a video conference.
03:33Iran has strongly condemned the US capture of the Iranian vessel,
03:38calling it terrorist behavior.
03:40Iran said that the move breached the UN Charter
03:42and demanded the immediate release of the ship and its crew.
03:50All right, those were the top 10 war headlines.
03:53Let's tell you what else is making news across the country.
03:56Congress Chief Mr. Kharge has courted controversy on the last day of the campaign,
04:01calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi a terrorist,
04:04while criticizing the AIADMK for allying with the BJP for the Tamil Nadu Assembly polls.
04:09Amid outrage, he also clarified and said that Prime Minister Modi threatened and terrorizes his opponents.
04:17He's saying that's the word he used, terrorizing and not a terrorist.
04:21BJP has hit back, calling the remark an insult on 142 crore Indians
04:26who voted for Narendra Modi to come in power.
04:30Independent MP from Purnia, Papu Yadav triggers a political storm
04:35with controversial comments on women in politics.
04:38He has claimed that women cannot succeed in politics without making compromises
04:42and alleged that their safety and security are being neglected here.
04:46His remarks have drawn flack from all sides.
04:49Bihar Women's Body, meanwhile, has sent a notice to the leader.
04:55Following recent ED actions,
04:57IPAC has scaled down key parts of its operations in pole-bound West Bengal,
05:01even as the political consultancy firm continues to service its client.
05:06The TMC, the IPAC, meanwhile, has suspended field-level operations,
05:11while multiple IPAC verticals have also shifted to work-from-home model.
05:17Shocking crackdown in Gurugram has brought India's growing fake weight-loss drug market
05:23into the spotlight.
05:25Authorities have seized counterfeit versions of Manjaro worth 56 lakh rupees,
05:30if not more, exposing a racket that was manufacturing
05:34and selling the injections through illegal channels
05:37and all of that being made inside one apartment in Gurugram.
05:44Cars in India could soon run on fuel that is mostly alcohol.
05:50Well, the government is reportedly set to issue draft rules for E85,
05:55a blend containing up to 85% ethanol and 15% petrol.
06:00The plan envisioned in 2016 is likely to be put into action
06:04even as the oil crisis grips the world
06:06because of the conflict in the Middle East.
06:25All right, we're opening the bulletin with some live updates coming in from Donald Trump.
06:31Round two of Islamabad talks are under jeopardy, it seems,
06:35as Iranian media is reporting that no delegation from Iran has arrived in Pakistan so far.
06:42Trump had accused, remember, Iran of violating the ceasefire numerous times,
06:46less than 24 hours to go for ceasefire deadline over there.
06:50And the stand as of this point is very clear.
06:53Washington is saying that we are on the flight, we are going there,
06:56we'll make this deal happen, take it or leave it kind of deal.
07:00They have violated ceasefire so many times, etc.
07:03And there you have the Iranian side saying,
07:06no, we are not going to come down to conversation with you
07:10because this is unacceptable.
07:13Pranay Upadhyay, my colleague, joining us for more details on this.
07:17Pranay, if the latest remarks on Truth Social
07:21that Donald Trump has made is anything to go by,
07:25doesn't look like talks are going to happen anytime soon, is it?
07:30I think, Sonal, this is President Donald Trump's maximum pressure policy on Iran is at play
07:36because President Donald Trump want to have this negotiation.
07:39He's, in fact, he sounded desperate as well, but he doesn't want to show it.
07:43And that's why President Donald Trump want to maintain that it is actually Iran's benefit.
07:48It's Iran's, you know, requirement to have these negotiations.
07:51And since they have, you know, they have violated the ceasefire multiple times
07:56and that's why Trump has accused Iran of violating ceasefire numerous times in his social media posts.
08:01And he wants to show that to the world that his naval blockade is effectively working.
08:07It is justified for President Donald Trump and his administration
08:11to put more pressure on Iran, to make Iran kneel down and bow down
08:15and accept the terms and conditions laid down by the United States.
08:19But this clearly shows that after 14 days and, you know,
08:24the ceasefire is about to expire in the next few hours,
08:27we do not have any conducive environment to take forward these diplomatic negotiations.
08:33You know, tables are set in Islamabad,
08:34but there are no participants as yet in Islamabad to take forward this negotiation.
08:39And that's why the larger question is that will there be an extension of the ceasefire
08:43or both parties will decide to resume the conflict.
08:48Right. Very quickly, Pranay, I just also want to understand,
08:51is it correct that Pakistan's, you know, officials who are involved in this mediation
08:58are currently trying very hard to sort of convince Iran to come on the table as well?
09:02What's the progress there?
09:04Certainly, if you've seen last few days, you know, Pakistani officials,
09:08including Pakistan's Army Chief Appeal Marshal Asim Munir,
09:10had recent, you know, his visit to Tehran,
09:13Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbash Harid had rounds of conversations
09:16and, in fact, conversation with Saudi Arabia, with Qatar and other,
09:20and Turkey and other countries with whom the United States
09:23is also maintaining a direct dialogue and conversation.
09:25And there are back channels going on with various world capitals as well.
09:29And, you know, efforts are on to have these negotiations.
09:33You know, in fact, France and UK are also coordinating with Tehran to have these negotiations.
09:40But the conditions laid down by United States,
09:45clearly in terms of extraction of the 450 kg highly enriched uranium from Iran
09:50and taking possession of that Iranian uranium by the United States
09:55is an unacceptable term condition for Iran.
09:59Besides the capping of the missiles of Iran, that is also a sticking point.
10:04And also the opening of the Strait of Hormuz,
10:07under what condition and what are the agreements
10:10under which Iran would agree to open up the Strait of Hormuz?
10:14These are the sticking points.
10:15And so far, there is no middle ground found between these two parties.
10:18And that's why, you know, both, especially the Iran,
10:22is reluctant to go to Islamabad to have this conversation with the United States.
10:28Got it.
10:28Pranay, stay back with us.
10:29Some more news and then we'll come back to you for a perspective.
10:32Because we want to understand, first up, why are these talks failing?
10:37At the heart of the impasse are a series of tough and often conflicted demands
10:42from both sides.
10:44Washington is pushing for strict limits on Iran's missile development,
10:48a blockade of Iran's ports and full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for global shipping,
10:54all of which Tehran has outrightly rejected.
10:58On the other hand, there is Iran,
10:59which is demanding the release of the frozen funds,
11:03a condition that the United States is unwilling to accept, at this stage at least.
11:07U.S. has also called out on Iran to give up its existing uranium stockpiles
11:13and to end support for armed groups in the region.
11:17Demands that have, again, been firmly rejected by Tehran.
11:21So you see where both of them stand at this point,
11:24with both sides holding their ground,
11:27showing very little willingness to compromise,
11:30the path to any meaningful breakthrough that remains uncertain.
11:42The world, meanwhile, is once again holding its breath as the final hours of the ceasefire in West Asia unfolds.
11:49Neither side appears ready to back down and both continue to target each other.
11:53Trump has warned that bombs will go off if a peace deal is not signed.
11:57Iran, on the other hand, has refused to budge,
12:00stating that it will not engage in peace talks until the U.S. removes the Hormuz blockade.
12:06Here is a full report.
12:21The world is once again holding its breath as the final hours of the ceasefire in West Asia are underway,
12:28with no deal in sight yet.
12:33Both sides are taking a hard line and are not ready to back off.
12:42President Trump said the deal must guarantee peace
12:45and that he will not pursue a disastrous Iran deal.
12:50He warned that bombs will go off if the ceasefire ends,
12:54adding that he is winning the war by a lot and that the enemy is confused.
13:01Trump also continued to press Iran over nuclear weapons,
13:04saying that Iran will not build a bomb.
13:08U.S. media has claimed that Vice President J.D. Vance is likely to travel to Islamabad for peace talks.
13:17Reports added that Special Invoice Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner
13:22will also attend the meeting, marking no change in Team U.S.
13:27A Pakistani source involved in back-channel discussions told Reuters
13:32that Trump could join the talks either in person or virtually if a final agreement is ready to be signed.
13:41Trump had earlier hinted at going to Pakistan for the deal.
13:47I would go to Pakistan, yeah. Pakistan has been great. They've been so good. Islamabad, I'll be... I might go.
13:54Yeah. If the deal is signed in Islamabad, I might go.
13:58The field marshal has been great. The prime minister has been really great in Pakistan.
14:03So I might go. They want me to go.
14:07Iran, on the other hand, is not ready to budge either.
14:10The Iranian leadership has made it clear that there will be no talks while the U.S. continues to block
14:16Hormuz.
14:18Iranian President Masood Pazeshkiah slammed Trump, saying there is deep mistrust in Iran towards the U.S. government.
14:26He further said that the U.S. seeks Iran's surrender and asserted that Iranians did not submit to force.
14:33Amid this, U.S. media has claimed that Pakistan has expressed confidence in bringing Iran to the table for talks.
14:41Meanwhile, world leaders are urging both sides to remain calm and resolve the issue through diplomacy.
15:11The 14-day truce will end at 5.30 a.m. Indian Standard Time on Wednesday.
15:16Last time, Trump warned of ending an entire civilization, but announced a ceasefire just before the deadline.
15:23But will it be the same this time if peace is not achieved through talks?
15:28If not, the world should brace for more devastation, a fuel crunch and loss of lives.
15:35Bureau Report, India Today.
15:43So, we are ticking down to the final sort of countdown and we still don't know which way this is
15:49headed.
15:50But let's try and understand in detail why exactly Iran is saying no talks.
15:55No talks, 2.0.
15:57Well, let's start with Iran's claim number one.
16:00Right, U.S. seizes Iranian cargo ship.
16:04That is the first claim that Iran is making.
16:08Iran's second claim for not going into war is that U.S. demands excessive and unrealistic.
16:15Basically saying that what they want on uranium, what they want as freezing, etc.
16:21It's just not, not, it's also very, very, you know, excessive and unrealistic.
16:28Claim number three that Iran is making is that there is inconsistent U.S. positions.
16:33Meaning U.S. keeps changing the goalpost.
16:35One day it is Hormuz, the other day it is uranium, the third day it's something else.
16:38So, what are they to make of this?
16:40Claim number four then that Iran is making is that U.S. naval blockade violated ceasefire.
16:45And this could be a critical one because, remember, Donald Trump has just tweeted about this,
16:49trying to clarify this position as well.
16:51And then there is claim number five that Iran is making.
16:55Threatening rhetoric from Trump.
16:58Saying the language is just not conducive for talks, even for peace.
17:04All right, with that, there are some more updates coming in.
17:07Let's look at that.
17:08And this is the one which is now a kind of a scam, building on the entire war at the
17:18moment.
17:19We're looking at a crypto scam here that's targeting ships that are stranded in Hormuz.
17:26What is it all about?
17:27Let's tell you.
17:27Scam messages offering ship safe transit through Hormuz.
17:33So, how does it go?
17:34It's an alert that is issued by a security firm warning ship owners,
17:39unknown actors claiming to represent Iranian authorities,
17:42that has sent some shipping companies as message,
17:46sort of demanding transit fee in cryptocurrency,
17:50Bitcoin or Tether for clearance.
17:53So, it's kind of a toll that you pay, but you pay it in Bitcoin.
17:58The firm also added that at least one of the vessels
18:01which tried to exit the strait on Saturday,
18:05was hit by gunfire, was a victim of the same fraud.
18:09The ship with their passing thought they paid the toll,
18:11and they paid in Bitcoin.
18:12It was a scam.
18:14Because Iranian authorities say they never got an inch of it,
18:17and clearly there was no clearance.
18:19The US, meanwhile, has maintained its blockade of Iran's ports,
18:22while Iran has lifted and then reimposed the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz.
18:26Hundreds of ships and about 20,000 seafarers remain stranded in the Gulf,
18:32while this entire blockade on top of another blockade,
18:37this double blockade,
18:38which is all in the mix of what's going to happen in the next 12 hours,
18:43unfolds and the crew there still stranded.
18:46Let me go back to Pranay on the story.
18:48Pranay, this is a fascinating one, right?
18:50I mean, we hear of people like you and me getting sort of fished out.
18:55There are people like, you know, people getting on these scam calls
18:59or getting digital arrests.
19:01Now, this is an entire shipment getting scammed.
19:04And they apparently made the payment in Bitcoin
19:07and still to receive gunfire from the Iranians.
19:10So, you may call it as a jantara of Strait of Hormuz
19:14because, you know, it's in a similar fashion.
19:17All these ships who are stranded there,
19:19it's like encashing the desperate moment.
19:22It's basically encashing the crisis in Strait of Hormuz
19:26where the ships are stranded,
19:27seafarers are desperate to get out of that place.
19:29And in fact, they started receiving these calls,
19:31these scam calls,
19:33giving them a safe passage in lieu of a Bitcoin payment
19:36at a time when there are talks about,
19:39there are conversations about
19:40that Iran is, you know,
19:41trying to levy around $2 million of levy
19:45in lieu of return of a safe passage
19:47or making the safe passage of these ships
19:51through their territorial waters.
19:53I think, you know,
19:54Iranians have also pointed it out
19:56that someone is trying to play this kind of scam
19:59and they have identified it,
20:01they have notified it.
20:02And in fact, this is an alert
20:04which has been relayed to all these ships
20:06in the maritime agencies as well.
20:09And they have also relayed it
20:11to various ships in that entire area
20:14of Persian Gulf,
20:15in Gulf of Oman
20:16and in the sea lane of communication
20:19that someone is trying to play these kind of scams
20:21and no one should be paying in Bitcoins.
20:25But you can very well, you know,
20:27see that how this was played
20:29to give it an entire, you know,
20:32the facade or camouflaging it with plausibility
20:34because with Iran,
20:35direct payments are not allowed
20:37and it's quite plausible
20:38that they may ask payment in Bitcoin.
20:41And I think these scamsters
20:43were trying to play on that thing
20:45and that's why, you know,
20:46this is what,
20:47this was identified,
20:49this was caught
20:49and in fact,
20:50the maritime agencies,
20:52maritime traffic and security agencies
20:54have also alerted
20:55various ship and shipping companies
20:57to stay aware
20:58about these kind of scamsters.
21:00Right.
21:01Very quickly, Pranay,
21:02does this give the position out
21:05on whether or not
21:06a toll is being collected?
21:07Like, does this mean
21:08that all nations now understand
21:10that a toll has to be paid,
21:11which was all unofficial
21:12as of this point.
21:13Now, we just don't know
21:14in which currency.
21:15Would it be fair to conclude that?
21:18I would say that
21:19there is absolutely no clarity
21:21that how much the Iranians
21:23are collecting right now
21:24because there are conflicting reports
21:25and there are also reports
21:27that for some ships,
21:29there is a complete exemption
21:31because they have already
21:32made it clear
21:32that a state of Hormuz
21:34remains open
21:35but it is selectively open
21:36for friends,
21:37it's different,
21:38for, you know,
21:39for other commercial ships,
21:40it's different.
21:41So, they have also
21:42made it selectively permeable
21:46and there are different
21:47and discrete,
21:48you know,
21:48discrete levels
21:50for the passage
21:51of these ships
21:52but there is absolutely
21:53no price tag
21:55or price rate
21:56which they have diverged
21:57or made it official
21:58that how much
21:58they are collecting
21:59but certainly there is an idea,
22:00there is, you know,
22:02some notion
22:03that some money
22:04is being collected
22:05by Iranian side
22:07to ensure the safe passage
22:08of these ships
22:09because the ships
22:10are going currently
22:11going through
22:12the territorial waters
22:13of Iran
22:13and that's why
22:14they have a right
22:15to collect that kind
22:16of toll.
22:17Yeah, because the other toll,
22:19the other route
22:20which is there
22:20they have actually
22:21put in mind
22:22so now they have
22:22diverted the entire traffic
22:23to sort of force them
22:24to take that route
22:25and on that route
22:26is where claims are
22:28that the toll
22:28is being corrected.
22:29We don't know
22:29how much toll,
22:30we don't know
22:31who's paying,
22:31we only know
22:32that Bitcoin
22:33is not the payment mode.
22:34That's the only clarity
22:35we have from this story.
22:36Pranay,
22:36we'll leave it there
22:36for the moment.
22:37Thanks so much
22:38for watching us.
22:38We'll keep watching
22:39all these updates
22:40that are coming in
22:40on the war front
22:41over the next 12 hours
22:42as well.
22:46Alright,
22:47news coming in
22:47from Tamil Nadu
22:48where Vijay has now
22:50responded to
22:50Stalin's claim
22:52that he's just acting
22:53in his latest avatar
22:55as well.
22:55Vijay has now responded
22:57to the DMK
22:59saying,
22:59I'm an actor,
23:00proud of my work
23:01but I'm not acting
23:02in politics.
23:03It's the DMK
23:04who is doing
23:05the drama
23:05in fact to Stalin
23:07specifically he says
23:08that you are doing
23:10just drama.
23:12Remember,
23:12DMK also,
23:13you know,
23:14had,
23:14CM Stalin
23:15had called out
23:16Vijay as an actor
23:17also saying
23:18he's a non-serious
23:19Neta
23:19to which now
23:20Vijay is saying
23:20that DMK
23:21will fall on the feet
23:22of Modi
23:22and Amit Shah's feet
23:24as well
23:25if it comes to that.
23:26So, you know,
23:27of course,
23:27a lot of words
23:28escalating
23:29as the time
23:30and the countdown
23:31to till when
23:32all the campaigning
23:35by political parties
23:36can happen.
23:37It ends
23:37and just about
23:38an hour's time
23:39from now,
23:406 o'clock
23:40is the time
23:41when the campaigning
23:42ends
23:43and then we'll have
23:43elections
23:44a day later.
23:45So, there is a lot
23:46that is being said
23:47at this point
23:48as people
23:49in the state
23:50are about to make up
23:51their mind
23:52and finally
23:53figure out
23:54which way they vote
23:55which this time around
23:56in Tamil Nadu
23:57is a very
23:58interesting fight.
24:00Take a look
24:00at what Vijay said
24:01then we'll decode.
24:03Vijayboro
24:05about
24:06Vijay
24:08why?
24:09Why?
24:11why eet
24:49Ramoth Madhava, our colleague, joins us for more details on this.
24:52Ramoth, campaigning down to the wire now, just less than an hour now before politicians
24:59are allowed to make their last pitch.
25:02Give us a sense of what it's looking like on the ground as we near the tent.
25:09This is what you see back on the ground right now, a large care-larni that is occurring
25:13for Deputy Chief Minister, Udiri Distan at this point, where you could see nearly several
25:17hundred motorbike people have come together, carrying different party flags and they are
25:21over here.
25:22They are campaigning for Udiri Distan at this location in Chaepauka Triplicant.
25:26We have probably another 40 minutes, so he has to do it.
25:30So he's going to various other locations.
25:31And as we speak, you could see that Udiri Distan is over here and to support him, a lot of
25:36people
25:37have come together at this spot.
25:40Right, Ramoth there, sort of catching his breath on that entire motorbike rally by Udiri Distan
25:49that is getting carried out in Chennai.
25:51Do we still have Ramoth?
25:53Can we go back to him?
25:55Alright, Ramoth, take us through who are the other big players here?
26:00And in Chennai at least, what is the competition looking like?
26:08Very interesting for the city of Chennai.
26:11We have six conferences, of which the important players are M.K.
26:15Stalin at Kolathur, Udiri Distan at Triplicane, who is over here right now, and also Vijay,
26:21who is at Perambur, along with Aadha Vajna, who is the assistant lieutenant of Udiri Distan,
26:28who is also at this spot, who is actually going in, Viliwakam, then we have Karthik Mohan.
26:33Now we can see the last pace of the election, which is actually going into a real kind of
26:38like work over here, as Udiri Distan is also over here to meet the people and he is meeting
26:43them at this spot.
26:48Right, so Ramoth there having a bit of a workout and he is trying to chase all these leaders
26:53and trying to get how exciting elections are really, and it's a good thing that he works
26:57out, I guess, so that he is able to sort of go in there and catch all the action live
27:01as those elections unfold.
27:04We will try and see if we get more of these reports from him.
27:07As the clock ticks in, six o'clock is when campaigning ends.
27:10Remember, that's the last time one can really make a pitch in Tamil Nadu.
27:14Also campaigning ends for first phase of West Bengal polls.
27:17It has ended already at five o'clock in West Bengal.
27:22And West Bengal, of course, will be voting in one more phase there.
27:26But as we spoke, it's the last year of campaigning in poll-bound Tamil Nadu.
27:30And Congress Chief Mr. Kharge has sparked a major controversy after calling the Prime Minister
27:35Raint Modi a terrorist while sort of targeting AIA-DMQ over its alliance with BJP ahead of
27:40the state elections.
27:42Now, of course, those comments faced a sharp backlash.
27:45Mr. Kharge later clarified, saying that he meant that Prime Minister was terrorising
27:51political opponents by using central agency.
27:55He did not use the word terrorist.
27:57But the BJP has hit back strongly, saying Kharge's remarks insult 142 crore Indians.
28:13How this AIA-DMQ people, who themselves put the photo of Anadurai, and the party itself
28:25is a terrorist?
28:27How can they join with Modi, who is a terrorist?
28:34My intention is that they are terrorising the political parties, leaders, and other supporters
28:49with this, their institutions, like income tax, like CBI, like CBC, like using all criminal
29:08laws, they are threatening the people.
29:13So, I said they are terrorising.
29:16In the press conference, yes, you made a comment comparing the Prime Minister to a terrorist.
29:20Could you clarify what exactly did you want to say?
29:22No, no.
29:23I never see.
29:26My intention is that they are terrorising the political parties, leaders, and other supporters
29:39in the press conference with this, their institutions, like income tax, like CBI, like CBC, like using
29:58all criminal laws, they are threatening the people.
30:04So I said they are terrorising.
30:06Today I feel ashamed that the Congress party and Mr. Stalin's DMK party have come to such
30:17a low level.
30:19They have stooped to this low level that a democratically elected Prime Minister, elected by the people
30:28of India.
30:34In Tamil Nadu, where is the confidence coming from?
30:37What is your sense?
30:38Well, I have gone all around the state.
30:39We have had the Honourable Prime Minister come five times to this state.
30:46Shri Amit Shah Ji, Shri Rajnath Singh Ji, my party president Nitin Nabil Ji, our former president,
30:55Shri J.P. Nadda Ji.
30:57Yesterday and today, Shri Chandrababu Nahidu Ji was here.
31:01All of them have toured the entire state of Tamil Nadu in support of the NDA led by the
31:09party Palani Samiji.
31:10We worked as a family.
31:13Never had any differences, unlike the Congress, where Ahul Gandhi came to Tamil Nadu but did
31:19not even share a stage with Stalin.
31:22Because he's worried to be associated with the Stalin family and their corruption and
31:27the bad governance that they gave.
31:30Very clearly, we have a fight between a family and a one family rule of Stalin in Tamil Nadu.
31:41The NDA family provides an opportunity for development and good governance.
31:46The Stalin family has brought only corruption, a deteriorating law and order situation, the
31:54menace of drugs spreading like wildfire, corruption in every walk of life, and very clearly have
32:03failed the people of Tamil Nadu to bring development, to create modern infrastructure, to provide opportunities
32:10to the youth, to care for the fishermen and farmers, and ensure the safety and well-being
32:17of our daughters and sisters.
32:19Their only purpose is to make Udenadi Stalin the chief minister of the state.
32:24I have challenged Mr. Stalin to announce that he will not make Udenadi the chief minister
32:30of Tamil Nadu.
32:32Not once has he responded to that.
32:34Clear agenda.
32:35The agenda is to make Udenadi Stalin an anti-Tamil, anti-Tamil culture.
32:42A person who cannot respect women as the next chief minister.
32:46And I can assure you, I can see in the eyes of the people of Tamil Nadu, I can see
32:51in the
32:51huge response that we are getting in our rallies and in our campaign, that Tamil Nadu people
32:57will never allow that to happen.
32:59They say enough is enough.
33:01We want a good administrator, a good government, a development-oriented government, which will
33:07serve the people of Tamil Nadu.
33:09And that can only be done by Edapadi Palani Swami leading the state in the next five years
33:16as a part of the NDA family, leader of the NDA family.
33:21Sir, a very tall leader, very tall national leader, Malika Arjun Kargi, the AICC president,
33:25was in Chennai today.
33:26And in his press conference, he made a statement likening Prime Minister Modi to a terrorist.
33:31But later, he has gone back on his statement and said that he meant to say that Prime Minister
33:35is someone who terrorizes people.
33:37Is it like giving to BJP on a platter, on a last day, severe ammunition to target the
33:42DMK and the Congress?
33:43What do you make of that statement?
33:44This is nothing new.
33:45It is the mindset of the Gandhi family.
33:48It is the mindset of the Congress party.
33:50Over the last so many years, you must have heard them again and again, attack the Prime
33:57Minister personally, attack his mother, attack his caste.
34:03One leader of the Congress party called him a niche Admi, alluring to his humble background
34:11and his OBC status.
34:13In their heart, they cannot accept that the people of India, for three times in a row,
34:20elected him the Prime Minister of India.
34:22They think the right to be the Prime Minister is only with the Gandhi family or their nominee.
34:27They just cannot digest this defeat three times.
34:31The Stalin family also only cares for one family.
34:34These are family-run private limited companies.
34:37And these personal attacks on Prime Minister Modi are a regular feature.
34:43What was in their heart has come onto their mouth.
34:47They can retract and try to create an alibi for what they said.
34:51But the fact is that Malik Arjun Kharge is only representing the thinking of the Gandhi family
34:59and the Congress party by calling Prime Minister Modi a terrorist.
35:03I condemn them.
35:05I condemn the Congress party's thinking.
35:08I condemn the Gandhi family for their very, very low level of politics.
35:15This clearly shows that they have accepted defeat.
35:19They realize that the people of Tamil Nadu have lost confidence in their half-baked alliance,
35:27fighting with each other.
35:29It is only a coalition of the corrupt that the Congress and DMK have come together,
35:36as against a family that the NDA partners have shown to the people of Tamil Nadu.
35:43So, one interesting development is that a lot of national leaders,
35:47for example, Tejish Veyadav or even Arvind Kejribal, all of them were in Chennai
35:50and then they shared a stage with Chief Minister Stalin.
35:54But Rahul Gandhi was also here.
35:55But then we did not see these two leaders who call each other as brothers really share even a frame.
36:01What do you think of the relationship?
36:03I think there is no relationship.
36:04As I said, it's a coalition of convenience, coalition of corruption.
36:11They fight like cats and dogs on so many public stages, the DMK and Congress workers and leaders.
36:18In fact, in this alliance, look at the partners.
36:21The Communist Party is a partner with the Congress and DMK.
36:24The Communist Party and Congress were calling each other such ugly terms and ugly names
36:29in the neighboring state of Kerala or in West Bengal,
36:33where Congress is cursing the Tridamul Congress and Tridamul Congress is cursing the Congress.
36:40But when it comes to our effort to give women reservation or to give southern states their rightful share
36:46by proportionately increasing the seats in Lok Sabha and assemblies so that no state is discriminated
36:53and the current share of power of each southern state is maintained, then they get together, gang up,
37:01and defeat Prime Minister Modi's effort to provide women empowerment,
37:06to provide women representation in parliament and in legislatures,
37:10to ensure southern states get their rightful share.
37:13I think the Congress and DMK are anti-women.
37:18Congress and DMK are against the interests of Tamil Nadu.
37:22So, is there a fear, sir, that the kind of seats that the BJP has managed to get this time
37:27from EPS,
37:27they might sort of not be favorable to BJP? Is that a fear that's real?
37:32Well, I'm surprised at that narrative.
37:34We had 20 seats last time. We've got 27 seats this time.
37:39Given the increasing popularity of the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
37:44it's a fair 33 percent increase.
37:47And we'll be winning a large majority of them.
37:50We are getting two-third majority in this election as an NDA alliance.
37:56And we are well poised to make Edapadi Palani Swami the next Chief Minister.
38:00Okay. And, sir, my final question to you.
38:02What do you make of actor Vijay's entry at this point, sir?
38:06Do you think that a lot of anti-DMK votes might turn towards TVK?
38:12Is that a fear?
38:13I think more DMK votes and Congress votes are going to Mr. Vijay.
38:24And that will not hurt us. In fact, it will help us get a larger share of seats.
38:28So Vijay will not dampen the dreams of India government at all?
38:32It will, in fact, support our confidence to get two-third majority.
38:38Okay. So he's not a factor at all is what you're saying, sir?
38:41No, no. He's a very popular actor.
38:42Okay.
38:43In fact, I'm looking forward to seeing some films of his also.
38:46But we want a good administrator in this state.
38:49We want good governance in this state.
38:51We want to run development projects in this state.
38:54We don't want to make this state go down like the Stalin family has caused it to.
39:00Okay. Thank you, sir. All the best for your campaign.
39:03All the best for your elections.
39:04That was the Union Minister, Piyush Goyal.
39:06He was given the in-charge for the BJP in Tamil Nadu.
39:10In fact, he is seen as one of the most practical, logical, sane persons when it comes to BJP.
39:15He was given a big task of managing Tamil Nadu.
39:18We are wrapping up with the election campaign.
39:20Today is the last day for campaign with just two days to go for elections.
39:24The heat is definitely raising up to really see who will go sit in Fort St. George.
39:47It's the final day of campaigning for the Bengal polls phase one.
39:52And the silence period of phase one will kick in.
39:54In fact, has already kicked in today, drawing the curtains on a very high decibel rallies.
39:59Voting for the first phase begins on the 23rd of April with 152 seats across 16 districts going to the
40:05polls.
40:05After weeks of intense campaigning, all eyes are now on the ground as parties make their last push before the
40:11deadline.
40:12Now, while addressing a rally in Asan, Seoul,
40:14Union Minister Amit Shah made a strong pitch in Bengal,
40:17saying that the next chief minister will be the son of the soil.
40:20Shah also vowed that if voted into power, the BJP will implement the Uniform Civil Court in the state,
40:27crack down on polygamy and ensure strict enforcement of marriage laws.
40:31He also asserted that major legal and social reforms are on the agenda.
40:36But this crucial final stretch comes a day after a setback for Mamda Banerjee's campaign machinery IPAC,
40:43seen as the TMC's political nerve centre has scaled down operations with West Bengal following multiple ED raids,
40:50the arrest of its director, Vinesh Chandel, and also mounting legal scrutiny.
40:54The Srinamul Congress, meanwhile, which initially downplayed the impact, has now struck a more measured tone.
41:00The MP there, Derek O'Brien, says that party workers will work with multiple agencies,
41:06often do work with multiple agencies, and he insisted the operations are normal,
41:10and maintaining that young professionals associated with IPAC will not be affected.
41:14The MP there, Derek O'Brien, says that a small government government has been born in Bengal.
41:55All right, Preeti Chaudhary, my colleague joins us for more details on this.
41:58Preeti, you've been traveling across the state.
42:00I want to get a sense from you.
42:02There is a huge M factor being discussed in Bengal elections this time.
42:07And by M, I mean Mahila, right?
42:10Mahila factor.
42:11BJP is bringing in reservation bills, Mamata Banerjee is dancing with them, holding rallies
42:16with them, because both parties this time understand if they're able to close in on
42:20that gap, that just might be the one that takes the cake and becomes the deciding factor.
42:26Is that what you're picking up on the ground as well?
42:28And what is the sense of which way are Mahilas thinking this time around?
42:34Well, Sonal, it's not just one M factor.
42:36There are multiple M factors in this election.
42:38If there is the Mahila factor, there is also the minority factor, which is the Muslim factor.
42:42There is also the Mamata factor.
42:44There is also the Modi factor.
42:46And well, there's also the machinery factor on who has it better on ground.
42:49So, lots of M's where this election is concerned.
42:53But having said that, you know, where is the woman vote tilting?
42:57Well, Mamata Banerjee would clearly hope that it is on her side, because women vote has always
43:02stood by her in 2021.
43:03And this could be the decisive vote that could tilt the scales as well.
43:09You know, you've seen the constant rhetoric from the TMC where they say, and it is true
43:14that maximum deletions under SIR, even in the adjudication, 27 lakh people are women.
43:21So, a lot of women have got deleted.
43:23Number one, where do the women, you know, in terms of what is being offered to them?
43:29Mamata Banerjee is already offering them Lokhir Bhanda, which is 1,500 rupees per month
43:34to a general category women, 1,700 rupees to SC category, schedule caste category women.
43:40Now, this is already coming in.
43:42The BJP says they'll give them 3,000 rupees.
43:44The other factor where women are concerned is on safety.
43:48RG Corp is echoing on ground.
43:51Women's safety in pockets is an electoral issue.
43:54But a lot of the women that we see are seemingly backing Mamata Banerjee.
44:00But there is also 15 years of anti-incumbency, and you can see that on ground.
44:04There is also acute polarization.
44:06This could be that election where we see religion tilt the scales in its favor
44:13from subaltern regionalism, which was the theme in 2021.
44:18So, lots going on.
44:20But yes, you are correct.
44:21The Mahila vote, the women vote could be the decisive factor.
44:25Well, let's see which way the Mahilas really get to decide and what happens there.
44:30Phase 1 campaigning has ended.
44:32Phase 2 will begin.
44:34Phase 1 is on, actually.
44:35Thanks, Freethi, for joining us with the very latest.
44:38For the next story, I have an entire profile for you of a guy who's just about 32 years old.
44:47He almost dropped out of his BBA degree.
44:51But until last week, he was on to sort of unfolding the biggest racket one has seen in the weight
45:01loss tugs.
45:02Let me tell you a little bit about this man.
45:06Now, Avis Sharma is at the center of what investigators are calling one of India's first counterfeit networks dealing in
45:16fake Manjaro injections.
45:18So, how did a BBA graduate end up manufacturing fake drugs out of a residential flat?
45:26The answer starts with the drug itself.
45:28The drug is Manjaro.
45:29Originally developed for type 2 diabetes, sort of exploded in demand as a weight loss injection as well.
45:35Each dose priced between 13,000 and 25,000 rupees.
45:40High in demand, short supply, and almost no way for a buyer to tell the real from the fake.
45:44I mean, we did that story for you yesterday, right?
45:46It's really hard to tell which one is fake and which one is real.
45:50But for someone looking to make Bani fast, it was a perfect window.
45:56Sharma allegedly began manufacturing inside his home in sector 62 in Gurugram and as recently as the 2nd of April.
46:06No license facility, no pharmaceutical background, just a flat in Gurugram Housing Society and an operation sophisticated enough to fool
46:14buyers.
46:14Inside that flat, investigators found a fully functional, look at those pictures, fully functional illegal unit, raw drugs, sourced from
46:25China, diluted with water, God knows what it is really, then repackaged and branded as Manjaro injections, packaging machines, barcode
46:33labeling, equipment, sealing tools, all recovered from that very location.
46:39Look at how he's kept it nicely inside his fridge.
46:42The replicas were nearly indistinguishable from the original.
46:49Minor differences in labeling, slight font mismatch, but to an ordinary patient or even to sometimes a chemist, even sometimes
46:56a doctor, almost impossible to spot.
46:59Now, he did not work alone.
47:02He had a medical representative with him, who handled his delivery.
47:06On April 18th, drug controller officers intercepted a cab near DLF Phase 4, carrying that stock worth of 56 lakh
47:14rupees.
47:15Further raids led authorities to this flat, where they actually saw the entire manufacturing setup and the entire racket was
47:24busted.
47:24When asked for production, licensed, Sharma admitted that he held none.
47:30He told officers he was solely responsible.
47:32Authorities have now issued a public warning as well.
47:35Covering six specific batches, which we will show on the screen.
47:39So please take screenshots, record this.
47:42If you have these batches, do not use them.
47:45They are fake.
47:46All right, so note these packages and these sort of numbers there, the batch numbers there, very, very, you know,
47:54important for you to know.
47:55Also, patients, doctors, chemists have been advised not to use or disperse injections carrying these batch numbers until verification is
48:04complete.
48:05Samples have already been sent to the lab testing because we don't know what's inside.
48:08Is it water or it could be something much worse?
48:10The critical question now, however, is whether any of these fake injections have already reached patients across clinics and pharmacies.
48:20Eli Lilly, the company that actually makes these drugs, the original manufacturer, says it has actively supporting the investigation as
48:28well.
48:29But what has happened so far?
48:31How deep is this nexus?
48:32Is it just this one person in Gurugram?
48:36Are there more like these?
48:37How many of such units are already out there and inside our homes?
48:41Well, to answer all those questions, I spoke with the drug controlling officer, Dr. Amandeep Chauhan in Gurugram.
48:49He's the man who caught this fraud.
48:52Take a look.
48:54All right, joining me next is somebody who's actually been in the eye of the storm, is the officer who
49:00actually busted this racket.
49:02He speaks to us exclusively tonight.
49:04And this is Dr. Amandeep Chauhan, drugs control officer in Gurugram.
49:09He's the one who carried out that midnight raid and caught all those fake Manjaro pens.
49:15Dr. Amandeep, would it be fair to say that there are more such fake drugs already in the market,
49:22already with the chemists, already with people getting injected?
49:26Yeah, there is a suspect, but yes, for sure, because the guy started, we had investigated him to up to
49:33some extent.
49:34The guy was a newcomer and he just started few days back only.
49:38And his main mode of apprehend was he was working through India Mart.
49:42So, this is also a big question that how India Mart, without any license holder, is allowing such persons to
49:48sell the medicinal products,
49:49which are life-saving products, on any portal.
49:52Why?
49:52Without any license, without any verification, if this is done, this is wrong.
49:56So, he was selling the product through India Mart.
50:00But we had got the information that six of the injections were sold to Hyderabad also.
50:05We had conveyed to the concerned patient also that please don't consume this product as the product is curious in
50:11nature.
50:11We are trying to collate more information that where he had sold the product at India Mart,
50:16so that we can inform that not to use the product as soon as possible.
50:20Right.
50:21Doc, also, have you managed to check what's inside these drugs?
50:25Is it just water, is it harmless, or perhaps do you think this is spurious in nature, like it could
50:34actually be detrimental to health?
50:36No, I can't commit that what is inside that product, because we are sending the product or testing to any
50:45government testing laboratories.
50:49Today the sample will be sent for the same, but yes, as far as the investigation is concerned,
50:54and we had investigated up to that level also.
50:56The guy who manufactured this product had ordered the peptides through Alibaba.
51:02Alibaba is now one more site.
51:04This social media digital platform is now a big hurdle for regulatory agencies.
51:10That the Alibaba.com website had sent this peptide product to this guy.
51:15Now, how he ordered was simply putting an order online through Alibaba, and the products are delivered to India is
51:27a major question.
51:28In this case, also, the same thing happened, that the manufacturer who manufactured this product in a flat was not
51:35following any of the sterile conditions.
51:37He was having no license.
51:39Just simply, he ordered the pens, the cartilage, the peptides from an online portal at Alibaba, and he got all
51:46the products.
51:47He manufactured it, he got the cartons and labels and patient information, leaflet manufactured at India only, and he was
51:57selling the product.
51:58Right.
51:59Doctor, I understand Eli Lilly was also sort of called in by you guys.
52:04You wanted them to come in and check.
52:06How did that interaction go with them?
52:07Eli Lilly was not summoned, actually, but they were written a mail that you please kindly reach the spot if
52:15you can verify the product during the investigation only.
52:20But Prime Office, I don't know why, they showed some inconvenience to reach the spot because of any member, due
52:26to non-availability of any member on that day.
52:29But it's okay, we put on our efforts and we verified the products at our own level, which concluded that,
52:36yes, this is a spurious product.
52:38And that is the reason that we, in a few hours, were able to capture the manufacturing location also.
52:44All right, so this is one racket.
52:46Remember, there could be so many more, this drug or others as well.
52:50So keep your eyes open and always check the source of where you're getting it from.
52:54A little bit of a discount might mean that you're not getting the right products.
52:57So always ensure that you're getting the right products, especially when it comes to health.
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54:07On that note, that's all we have the time for today.
54:10Thank you so much for tuning in.
54:11We'll see you again tomorrow with more updates and especially on what's happening on the war front.
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