- 13 hours ago
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to the public for the adoption of several austerity measures to mitigate the economic impact of the West Asia crisis has sparked a political confrontation. He urged citizens to reduce fuel consumption, utilise public transport, and limit gold purchases to preserve foreign exchange reserves. Opposition leaders criticised the appeal, questioning the continuation of large-scale political roadshows and demanding a special parliament session to address inflation and fuel taxes. During televised debates, ruling party representatives defended the nation's economic stability, while analysts highlighted structural financial strains. Simultaneously, West Bengal announced an administrative reshuffle, appointing the former Chief Electoral Officer as Chief Secretary and the Special Observer as Chief Adviser to the Chief Minister. In Kerala, the Congress high command continues deliberations over the next Chief Minister. Key contenders include the former leader of the opposition and a prominent organisational strategist. Former state party presidents have been summoned to the national capital for consultations as the party evaluates legislative support and ally preferences before making a final announcement.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Good evening, you're watching To The Point. I'm Preeti Chaudhary. Lots lined up for you, lots of politics and the
00:06latest coming in from the state of Kerala that still doesn't have a chief minister, the state of Kerala.
00:13Well, before we get to all of that, allow me to take you through the headlines.
00:20Tamil Nadu chief minister Vijaya's big outreach to opposition ahead of law test meets former chief minister M.K. Stalin
00:27and L.O.P. Udyanidhi Stalin.
00:30Later, Vijaya also seen meeting party chief of MDMK, PMK and NTK.
00:42After CPI, another TVK ally attacks Vijaya government. VCK seeks explanation on Tamil anthem sung last during oath ceremony.
00:51TVK's Adav Arjuna pins blame on governor, vows to play Tamil anthem first, always.
01:03Massive split in AIA-DMK after a tea and poll rout. 17 EPS camp MLAs and 30 value money camp
01:11MLAs meet pro-tem speakers separately, demanding their leader to be made AIA-DMK legislative leader.
01:18AIA-DMK sources say four defeats have hit party.
01:27Shubindu government's big move to secure borders transfers land for border fencing to BSF, which was earlier allegedly blocked by
01:35Mamata government.
01:36Chief minister says land transfer process to finish in 45 days as promised.
01:48Amidst escalating West Asia war, Prime Minister Modi's big clarion call to Indians urges to curb fuel consumption says must
01:55-safe foreign exchange spent on purchasing petrol and diesel also appeals to not purchase gold for a year.
02:04Chief minister tells us to reduce oil toôs at 2-3-1-3-3-3-4-3-4-1-3
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02:33India Today's Geeta Mohan, who is reporting from Tehran,
02:36speaks exclusively with Iran Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Bagai,
02:41says Iran will not agree to U.S. unjust demands.
02:58Prime Minister giving out austerity measures has now resulted in a full-blown political slugfest.
03:05As global oil tensions rattle markets and fuel fares grow,
03:08Prime Minister Modi's appeal for austerity has now triggered a massive storm where the opposition is concerned.
03:15The opposition says all these austerity measures are only for the public.
03:19What about yourself, electioneering and all the other roadshows that you do?
03:26Here's more.
03:33A global oil crisis, a Prime Minister's appeal for austerity and now a full-blown political firestorm.
03:43With tensions in West Asia threatening global oil routes and fuel prices under pressure,
03:49Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an extraordinary appeal to the nation,
03:54calling it nation-first, duty-above-comfort.
03:57The Prime Minister urged citizens to cut unnecessary fuel consumption,
04:02use public transport, carpool,
04:05prefer electric vehicles,
04:07avoid excessive gold purchases
04:09and even choose domestic holidays over foreign travel.
04:12In order to easing our government,
04:19memory systems are given better coisas under pressure,
04:26Erikshandi haya die 모두 equaloter.
04:33Due to what we want,
04:35there are so many missing pieces,
04:36we all need to expand our policies
04:38to keep out the Later months,
04:38We need to address tensions in the world planes.
04:43But the opposition launched an all-out attack.
04:46Rahul Gandhi questioned why citizens should pay for what he called the government's failure in energy planning.
04:53Malik Arjun Kargay linked the appeal to elections, accusing the BJP of turning to sacrifice politics.
04:59If the Prime Minister is making this appeal, what is the true situation which India is facing?
05:05I think it's important that the government takes the people of this country into confidence.
05:09To do that, they must call for a session of parliament and apprise us of what is happening.
05:16Akhilesh Yadav mocked the appeal, saying the BJP itself is the country's biggest crisis.
05:22The opposition also flagged visuals of Modi's Somnath Roadshow and Convoy,
05:27asking why citizens are being told to save fuel while the PM continues mega-public events.
05:33The government hit back, calling the Prime Minister's appeal a national responsibility during global uncertainty.
05:40We can identify whatever we can do to preserve the foreign exchange.
05:46Simultaneously, we must also earn the foreign exchange more and more.
05:50We request all of you to take cognizance of the Honourable Prime Minister's call to the nation.
05:57What began as a call for austerity amid global tensions has now exploded into a full-scale political war,
06:05with both sides battling over accountability, optics and economic pressure.
06:11Bureau Report, India Today.
06:15All right, at the back of the Prime Minister's austerity measures,
06:19the opposition has now gunned for the government because what they say is
06:23if things are so bad, then one must at this juncture,
06:28which is the government, call for a special session where parliament is concerned
06:32so one can truly discuss on the state of India's economy.
06:36We might not have anything to do with it.
06:38We might be collateral in a larger playout with what's happening in West Asia,
06:43especially with the war which ensues between Iran and America.
06:47But yet, we need to discuss on the floor of the parliament.
06:51So please call a special session.
06:53Let's cut across right now to our panelists this evening.
07:06All of you will be getting a two-minute timer to put your points forward
07:10and then automatically we'll move to the other guests.
07:12Let's begin with you, Sanju Verma.
07:14Good evening, Sanju.
07:15But I want to go back to what the opposition says.
07:19And that comes at the back of stringent, a seven-point austerity measure list
07:24that the Prime Minister has suggested to the people of this country.
07:27It is a request from the Prime Minister.
07:29The opposition says, fine, we might be collateral,
07:32we might have no part to play in what is taking place,
07:36but why shouldn't the government call for a special session of parliament
07:41and discuss on the floor of the House on where things really stand,
07:44give a true transparent picture on why we need to follow these measures?
07:51You know, Preeti, let's get one thing very clear.
07:54Prime Minister Modi's appeal to the countrymen to ensure that superfluous consumption
08:00is curtailed is absolutely bang on target.
08:04Let's not forget, starting from the COVID pandemic in 2019-2020,
08:09which was a black swan event, was followed by a second black swan event,
08:13namely the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022.
08:16And lo and behold, in 2026, we've had a third black swan event
08:21by way of the West Asia crisis.
08:24Amidst all this, the Indian economy has been standing tall,
08:29growing at an average GDP of more than 7% plus
08:33when the world is struggling to grow at even 2%.
08:36And yes, the high growth in GDP has been achieved
08:41without compromising on inflation.
08:44Inflation, on an average, has been 3%.
08:48Food inflation was negative for 23 months in a row.
08:52Fuel inflation was negative for 1717 months in a row.
08:56Transport inflation was negative again for more than 26 months in a row.
09:01So the limited point I'm making is,
09:03Prime Minister Narendra Modi is one of the few leaders
09:05who's ensured high GDP growth and low inflation,
09:09something the West has been unable to do
09:11despite pumping billions of dollars.
09:14All that Prime Minister Modi is saying is this.
09:16105 million barrels of oil are consumed every single day.
09:21India alone consumes 6 million barrels of oil.
09:24Every single day, we consume 119 MMS CMD,
09:30million standard cubic meters of natural gas.
09:33Every single day, we consume more than 65,000 metric tons of LPG.
09:38Every single day, more than 65 lakh LPG cylinders are sold.
09:44Every single day, the city gas distribution network
09:47consumes more than 41 MMS CMD of gas.
09:51So amidst all this,
09:52if the Prime Minister is calling for austerity,
09:54why is it happening in Congress?
09:56Why is it happening in Congress?
09:57All right, okay.
09:58The opposition is also saying that,
09:59okay, you're calling for austerity,
10:00you've given a seven-point measure,
10:01and the question that I'd asked Sanju was only that,
10:04that call a special parliament session,
10:06because extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures
10:09and take the opposition into confidence
10:11and have a special parliament session, discuss it.
10:14I want to now cut across to the Congress spokesperson.
10:17I believe we have Dr. Ranand with us, Nishant Anand.
10:19Dr. Nishant Anand,
10:20we have no part in the making of the crisis
10:22that is unfolding in West Asia.
10:24The Prime Minister is making suggestions to the country
10:28on how, as a country, we can be united
10:31in battling the collateral damage
10:34that has been inflicted on us.
10:36Why is the opposition now punching holes in this?
10:40It's a request.
10:43Hi, good evening.
10:44See, Modi ji demanded sacrifices from the public yesterday
10:47from Hyderabad.
10:48Now, he said, don't buy gold, don't go abroad,
10:51use less petrol, cut down on fertilizer and cooking oil.
10:55Take the metro, work from home.
10:57So, these are proofs of failure.
10:59In 12 years, he brought the country to such a pass
11:02that the public has to be told
11:04what to buy, what not to buy,
11:06where to go, where not to go.
11:08Now, every time, the shift,
11:10the responsibility on the people,
11:11so BJP and Modi can escape accountability on themselves.
11:16See, today, we can clearly see running the country
11:19is no longer within the reach of this compromised PM.
11:23On 10th of March, let me remember,
11:25let me remind you all,
11:26on 10th of March 2026,
11:29LOP, Leader of Opposition, Sri Rahul Gandhi ji,
11:31had publicly said in Parliament and to the media
11:33that decisions on the West Asia situation
11:36should take precedence
11:38because of the seriousness of this matter.
11:40Then, that time, what were they saying?
11:42If you remember, the minister was saying
11:45the government mocked the opposition
11:47and moved forward with the Birla motion
11:50discussing the West Asia crisis with the urgency.
11:53We required it.
11:54But the government ignored him
11:56and now they are panicking.
11:57Now, why is every crisis in Modi, India
12:00solved by asking ordinary Indians to suffer more?
12:05Why the government refuses to take responsibility
12:08for its own failures?
12:10Now, 20 years of master's school has come up.
12:14Now, Modi ji is asking people,
12:16now he's asking,
12:18after travelling to 180 countries abroad,
12:21he's asking people not to go out.
12:23Now, during demonetisation,
12:26if you remember,
12:26people stood for hours,
12:28banks and ATMs,
12:29while livelihoods collapsed overnight.
12:31If you remember, in COVID,
12:32India witnessed horrifying scenes
12:34under this BJP government.
12:36Mass death,
12:38overflowing of people,
12:39people dying outside hospitals.
12:40So, the question here is,
12:41why BGP and Modi?
12:43Why do we say it's compromised?
12:45Because this is the reason.
12:46Dr. Anand, I don't think you got my question,
12:49because this is not something
12:50that is of India's making or doing.
12:52This is a crisis that is unfolding in West Asia
12:55and the implications are being felt
12:57by countries across the world.
12:59We are no different.
12:59Some would suggest that we are actually battling
13:01with the repercussions of what's happening in West Asia
13:04a lot better than what the other countries stand.
13:08So, therefore,
13:09if we are not part of the crisis,
13:12we have to manage the crisis.
13:13This is just a request.
13:16It's advisory.
13:17One doesn't need to follow it.
13:19But if one should follow it,
13:20we can only help the country.
13:22That is what at least the Prime Minister seems to suggest.
13:24I want to now cut across to Ashutosh,
13:25and I want to bring him in,
13:26and as well as Rajat Sethi.
13:28Ashutosh, your two-minute time starts now,
13:30because the Prime Minister has given out
13:33a seven-point agenda of an austerity measure
13:35that possibly India can adopt
13:36to combat what is the repercussions
13:40of the West Asia crisis.
13:42Some would suggest that maybe there was,
13:45you know, a wait for all the elections to get over
13:47and make this point.
13:49But we really have no part to play in it.
13:52You know, if we are feeling the heat,
13:54we must come together and battle the crisis.
13:58See, Priti, I hope,
13:59and it would have been better
14:01if Iran crisis has been the main reason for this.
14:05Yes, Iran crisis is a contributory factor.
14:08But the fundamental is
14:10that the wrong economic policy
14:11has been pursued by this government.
14:14And why I'm saying so?
14:15Because the rupee flight,
14:17vis-à-vis dollar,
14:18is not just only because of the Iran crisis.
14:22It has crossed 95,
14:23and before 95,
14:25it was hovering around something around 90.
14:27So something was wrong there.
14:28And then if you look at the foreign portfolio investment,
14:32a flight of almost more than 2 lakh crore.
14:36Last year, in four months,
14:39it was something like 1.6.
14:41The entire year,
14:42this was 3.9 billion dollars.
14:45Last year.
14:46In the last year,
14:47there was no Iran crisis.
14:48There was no COVID.
14:49There was no demonetization.
14:51And the last six years out of six,
14:55almost four years,
14:56there has been a very substantial foreign policy portfolio investment flight
15:03outside the country.
15:04Even our own companies,
15:06the Indian companies,
15:07they are losing interest in the Indian markets,
15:09and they are investing outside.
15:11Our net foreign,
15:13direct foreign investment is 14 years low.
15:17Can you imagine something like this?
15:18Is it because of this,
15:22because of the Iran crisis?
15:23No.
15:24If you remember,
15:26just before the COVID crisis,
15:29just before the COVID crisis,
15:31in a quarter before,
15:33the India's GDP was 3.1%.
15:35Just before that,
15:37manufacturing was minus 1.4%.
15:39The construction was minus 2.2%.
15:42So, obviously,
15:43something was wrong before COVID.
15:45And then the COVID contributed
15:48to the entire decline of India's growth story.
15:51So, don't blame only the Iran crisis.
15:53The blame,
15:54the structural problem
15:55which this government has done
15:57over the last 10, 12 years,
15:58which is resulting into this.
16:00All right.
16:01Rajat, your two minutes time.
16:04With all that we have seen,
16:06the optics of the last one month, Rajat,
16:08where we have seen political rallies,
16:10where we have seen cavalcades,
16:12we continue to see them even today,
16:14with 30, 40 cars,
16:16where we see helicopters,
16:18you know, swirling in the skies,
16:19we saw them yesterday.
16:21All of that.
16:22Now, the opposition says
16:23that is it just austerity measures
16:25for the people,
16:26don't they apply to politicians,
16:28which includes the incumbent?
16:31Well, Preeti ji,
16:32I need to understand
16:34what is the brouhaha about.
16:35Do you assume that tomorrow,
16:38from tomorrow onwards,
16:39the entire government
16:39should go into a lockdown mode?
16:41What kind of a panic signal
16:43are you going to give to the public?
16:44An advisory is therefore
16:46called an advisory.
16:47It doesn't have to be
16:48a binding thing on the citizens.
16:50Look at the foreign reserves
16:52of the country.
16:53The peak foreign reserves
16:54that this country held
16:55was in the month of February.
16:56In spite of all the stories
16:58that Ashutosh ji just mentioned,
17:00our foreign reserves
17:01stood at $728 billion.
17:04And in spite,
17:05in spite of the entire mess
17:07around Iran crisis,
17:09the overall reserves
17:11have barely come down
17:12and right now it stands
17:13at around $680 or $685 billion.
17:16This is in spite of
17:17India's currency
17:18facing an impact
17:19because of multiple reasons.
17:21So our foreign position
17:22hasn't changed.
17:23Our foreign reserves position
17:24largely is intact.
17:25We now need to work hard
17:27towards preserving
17:28the $690 billion that we have.
17:30And as collective,
17:32as citizens,
17:33we all have to sign up
17:34to something
17:35to keep the larger interests
17:36in mind.
17:37I mean,
17:37if you leave it to the government,
17:39government,
17:39also the Prime Minister
17:40clearly mentioned
17:41that he
17:42and the government of India
17:44has been taking
17:45the maximum brunt
17:46of the oil prices
17:46going up worldwide.
17:48He did not pass on
17:49the benefits.
17:49For a very long time,
17:51it is the same opposition party
17:52which used to say
17:53that excise duty
17:54has not been passed on
17:55and the excise duty
17:56has been kept so high
17:57by the government.
17:58Look,
17:58when actually things mattered
18:00and the oil prices short,
18:01how much of impact
18:02has been transferred
18:03to the people?
18:04And look at all the
18:05comparative economies
18:06around us.
18:07Pick up Pakistan,
18:08pick up Bangladesh,
18:09all of these places,
18:10the oil prices,
18:11petrol prices
18:12have shorted by 50%.
18:14Pakistan already announced
18:15for a four-week workday.
18:17And Pakistan is the principal
18:19interlocutor
18:20between Iran
18:20and the America
18:22and still they are suffering
18:23with oil shortages
18:24in their own country.
18:26So let's not get into
18:27an illiterate
18:28sort of an economic debate
18:29on this.
18:30Go into the big picture.
18:31There is a crisis.
18:33There is no answer
18:33that even President Trump
18:35has to this crisis,
18:36nor the Iranians have.
18:36Rajat, your two minutes
18:37time is up.
18:38I'll come back.
18:38I'll circle back to you
18:39for all our panelists
18:41for closing comments.
18:42So, you know,
18:43Sanju Verma,
18:44one would say,
18:44like Rajat said,
18:45that the government
18:46really cannot go
18:46in lockdown mode right now
18:48because there is no need
18:48also for a lockdown mode.
18:50It's advisory in nature.
18:51It's for the people
18:52to understand
18:53that this is not COVID times,
18:54but just to prepare
18:55for what lies ahead.
18:57But on the flip side,
18:58then the optics
19:00in politics,
19:01Sanju Verma,
19:02and you know that better,
19:03also matter a lot.
19:04So when one sees
19:0530 cars pulling in a cavalcade,
19:08be it even of the prime ministers,
19:09when one sees roadshows
19:11being planned,
19:12rallies being planned,
19:13and then one is told
19:15that take the metro,
19:16work from home.
19:17The optics don't quite match up,
19:19Sanju Verma,
19:19do they?
19:21You know,
19:22Preeti,
19:22let me make one thing
19:23very clear.
19:24The year was 1991
19:27and the Congress government
19:29mortgaged 47 MT of gold
19:32with the Bank of England
19:34and Bank of Japan
19:35to raise just a measly
19:37$405 million.
19:39As Rajat said today,
19:41at peak forex reserves,
19:43we had $728 billion
19:45in our kitty.
19:46Even today,
19:47we have more than
19:47$690 billion
19:49worth of forex reserves,
19:50enough to cover
19:5112 months of imports.
19:53Let me make one more thing
19:54very clear.
19:55Despite a black swan event
19:57by way of the West Asia crisis,
19:59none of the 100,000
20:00petrol pump stations
20:01in India
20:02have run dry.
20:03None of the 26,000
20:05LPG centers
20:06have run dry.
20:07Under the Congress,
20:08we had zero strategic
20:10petroleum reserves.
20:11Today,
20:11that is 5.3 million tons
20:13with another 6.6 million tons
20:16as work in progress.
20:18Under the Congress,
20:19I remember
20:20Manmohan Singh saying,
20:23when somebody from the media
20:25asked him,
20:26why has the Congress decided
20:28to hike prices
20:28in one shot
20:30by 8 rupees per liter?
20:31And Veerappa Moly,
20:32who was the petroleum minister
20:34in 2012,
20:35said,
20:38that is the only way
20:40to reduce consumption.
20:42And let me say one more thing.
20:44India today consumes
20:45800 NT of gold
20:47every single year.
20:48We are the only country
20:50which has the world's
20:51seventh largest gold reserves
20:53more than US, UK,
20:54Germany, Italy, France
20:55put together.
21:24So if the Prime Minister
21:26today it is less than 4%.
21:28Ma'am, your time is up.
21:29Last two minutes
21:30to all our panelists
21:31to put their points forward.
21:32I want to bring in
21:33Dr. Anand from the Congress.
21:34Dr. Anand,
21:35these are guidelines,
21:37advisory in nature,
21:38not hard, fast rules
21:40or something that the people
21:42really have to follow.
21:43This is advice
21:45from the Prime Minister
21:46that we are facing
21:47the backlash of a crisis
21:49which is ensuing
21:50in one part of the world.
21:52We are possibly doing better
21:53than the other countries
21:54but keep in mind
21:55we might need to
21:56tighten our belts
21:57in the future.
21:58See, we need to remember
22:00in the last decade
22:01the rupee has depreciated
22:03by 40%.
22:04The rupee as to dollar
22:06is 96 rupees now.
22:09When Congress left,
22:10it had been increased
22:12by 50 to 60%.
22:13The Indian rupee
22:14is currently the worst
22:16performing currently in Asia.
22:18Now, Ashutosh,
22:19she clearly stated
22:19when there was no COVID,
22:21there was no demonetization.
22:22Then, for the other years,
22:2410 years,
22:25what has the BJP
22:26and the Modi government
22:26has given to the people of India?
22:28The same government
22:29asking citizens
22:30to save patrol systematically,
22:33use fuel taxes
22:34as a revenue machinery
22:35for years
22:36instead of giving relief
22:37to the people of India.
22:38Now, in 2020,
22:39when Global Crude Oil Prices Act
22:42has crashed into historic lows,
22:44the Modi government
22:45increased excise duty
22:47by 13 rupees per litre,
22:49no benefit given,
22:50and diesel by 16 per litre.
22:52Instead of passing on
22:53the benefit to the citizens.
22:55So, when is the time
22:56comes to give the benefits
22:57to the people?
22:57Modi ji ga hai ho jate
22:58a flight leke.
22:59When is the time of crisis?
23:01We agree it's the time of crisis.
23:03But what happened
23:03for the 11 years
23:04when there were no crisis
23:05in India?
23:06The only crisis we had
23:07for 12 years
23:08is Pradhan Mantri Modi.
23:10Now, even when India
23:11began purchasing
23:12discounted Russian crude oil
23:14after the Ukraine war,
23:16Indian consumers
23:17saw limited relief
23:18because taxes
23:19remained extremely high.
23:21They remained
23:22much higher
23:23than the UPA period.
23:24And when oil prices
23:26reached 140 rupees barrel,
23:28still,
23:28the benefit has not
23:30been given
23:30to the people of India.
23:31So, the question
23:32here comes is
23:33why the BJP government
23:34has not planned
23:36and made sure
23:37this microeconomy
23:38and all these things
23:39are being taken care
23:40by the Petroleum Minister
23:41or the other ministry?
23:43The Petroleum Minister
23:44was saying three months back
23:45when the people
23:47were standing on the road,
23:48when people were not
23:49getting gas cylinders.
23:50We have paid
23:515,000 to 6,000 rupees
23:53for the gas cylinders
23:53when they were commenting
23:55everything is fine.
23:56We have stocked
23:57for six months,
23:5812 months,
23:5810 months.
23:59See, today we understand
24:00the BJP and as we say...
24:02Sir, your time is up.
24:03I want to bring in Rajat
24:04into the conversation.
24:05Rajat, we're not getting
24:06into the economics
24:06of the austerity measures.
24:08We're focusing purely
24:09in this debate
24:09on the politics of it.
24:11And in terms of
24:13the politics of it,
24:14if you have the opposition,
24:15who some would say
24:16is correct,
24:17that you're passing
24:17the onus on the citizen
24:18when you yourself,
24:19which is not the Prime Minister,
24:20but just in terms
24:21of the government
24:22and the optics
24:22that come across,
24:23are not following
24:24the same measures.
24:26Then the messaging
24:26is a bit skewed, Rajat.
24:28Some would say
24:29that it is maybe
24:29preparing the people
24:30for an impending price hike,
24:32which is fuel hike
24:33and other gas hikes,
24:35which have already happened.
24:37Thank you, Preeti ji,
24:38for that clarification
24:39because it is anyway
24:40very hard to explain
24:41economics to these
24:42other fellow panelists
24:43from the Congress Party
24:44in this limited time.
24:46I mean,
24:47maybe politics,
24:47explaining politics
24:48is even harder,
24:49but let me give it
24:50an attempt.
24:51See, first things,
24:53what Prime Minister
24:54has said,
24:55that it is better
24:56to change,
24:57behaviorally start
24:58adjusting to the new realities.
25:00Tomorrow, possibly,
25:01you know,
25:02the Iran war
25:02can come to a halt.
25:03Who knows?
25:04I mean,
25:04even Donald Trump
25:05doesn't know,
25:06Iran doesn't know,
25:06both of them
25:07are in active negotiations.
25:08This is some kind of
25:10an inside perspective
25:12that Prime Minister
25:12has shared
25:13that the government
25:14of India
25:15has been single-handedly
25:16trying to bear
25:17the maximum brunt
25:18of this oil price shock
25:20that is there
25:20on our economy.
25:21That has impacted
25:22our current account
25:23deficits also,
25:24but only marginally.
25:25You know,
25:25you go back to history,
25:26current account deficits
25:27used to be 5%,
25:286%.
25:29Today,
25:29it is at 1%.
25:31IMF said
25:32that in the worst-case scenario,
25:34CAD can go up to
25:352% for India.
25:36And that is also
25:37well within
25:37the shock absorbers
25:40that the government
25:41has developed
25:42over the past decade or so.
25:43So,
25:44allow the government
25:44to manage the crisis.
25:46Let's not create
25:47further panic.
25:48We all knew
25:49that around the time
25:50when LPG cylinder-related
25:52panic was created
25:53in our country,
25:54people were on the streets
25:55only out of sheer fear
25:57and sheer panic.
25:58Look what has happened today.
26:00There are the same
26:01LPG cylinder vending areas.
26:02There is no queue.
26:04There is no panic
26:05whatsoever
26:05because people realise
26:06that there is actually
26:07no shortage.
26:08It was deliberately
26:09fuelled by the opposition
26:10parties around the election
26:11so that there is
26:12some kind of a mayhem
26:14and public unrest
26:15and somehow
26:16the elections
26:16can get impacted.
26:17I mean,
26:17when you have so myopic
26:19a view
26:19that everything
26:20has to be linked
26:21for political power
26:22and you,
26:22in that belief,
26:23you go out
26:23and even wish
26:24ill for the country,
26:25that is what is problematic.
26:27You cannot be wishing
26:28ill for the country
26:29and allow the government
26:30in the day
26:31and handhold them
26:32in whatever capacity.
26:33Today you want
26:34to have parliament session.
26:35For what?
26:35What will you discuss?
26:37Allow the executive
26:38the elbow room
26:38to do what they have to do.
26:40Rajat, time is up.
26:41Ashutosh,
26:42if you'd like to come in
26:42right now,
26:43your two minutes starts now.
26:44This is a forewarning.
26:46It's not that one needs
26:48to start following
26:49these measures,
26:50but if we do,
26:52then maybe we can avoid
26:53with what at least
26:55seems to be the message,
26:56a deeper structural stress
26:58to our economy
26:58at the back of crisis
27:00we have no control over.
27:03See,
27:03Priti,
27:04first of all,
27:04we have to understand
27:05I wish the political rhetorics,
27:07if political rhetorics
27:09replaces economic policy,
27:10this is what we face.
27:12And I'm saying it
27:13with all seriousness.
27:14In 2014,
27:15if you remember,
27:16then finance minister,
27:18what he said,
27:20we are planning
27:21for a 25% contribution
27:24of the manufacturing sector
27:25in our GDP.
27:27And you know,
27:27what was the NARA rhetorics?
27:29Make in India.
27:31Atman, Nirapar, Bharat.
27:32Vocal for local.
27:34And the 2022 past,
27:37we are now in 2026.
27:39What is the contribution
27:40of manufacturing sector
27:41in the GDP?
27:42Same.
27:43Almost 13, 14%,
27:44maybe 16%.
27:45It has not moved
27:47despite prime ministers
27:48such an overbearing
27:51emphasize on the
27:52Atman, Nirapar, Bharat,
27:54local for,
27:55vocal for local
27:56and make in India.
27:59Why it happens so?
28:00Because
28:01rhetorics is important
28:02to win elections.
28:04That's a fundamental problem.
28:06And I give an example
28:08of the COVID
28:08just before the quarter
28:10of the COVID.
28:11And then everyone said
28:12that because of the COVID
28:13in the economy
28:13is going back,
28:14going back,
28:14going back,
28:15something like this.
28:16And I can again tell you
28:17in the last six,
28:18seven years,
28:20the RFPI outflow
28:22only four times,
28:24five times.
28:24In 2008,
28:2652,000 RFPI
28:28went out of this country.
28:30Then 2018,
28:3133,000.
28:32In 2022,
28:341.21 lakh crore.
28:36In 2025,
28:371.66 crore.
28:39And in 2026,
28:41in only four months,
28:422.06 lakh crore.
28:45In 2025,
28:46in 2022,
28:48in 2018,
28:49there was no Iran crisis.
28:52Still,
28:53we had such a strong
28:54outflow of FBI.
28:56There has to be some reason.
28:58And we claimed what?
28:59We are the third largest economy,
29:01going to be third largest economy.
29:02We slipped to sixth largest economy.
29:04Who is going to be accountable for this?
29:05Ashutosh,
29:06your time is up.
29:07I don't know.
29:07Do we have time to give all our panelists
29:09one more minute?
29:09Can our producers at the back end tell us?
29:14Okay,
29:14you know,
29:14let's do one one minute each
29:15because everyone wants to come in.
29:17So,
29:18let's do an express one minute.
29:19No questions.
29:20Sanju Verma,
29:20your one minute time starts now.
29:22Closing comments, ma'am.
29:24You know,
29:24Preeti,
29:25when we became the world's
29:26fourth largest economy,
29:28Ashutosh has said,
29:29I don't believe it.
29:31When we became the world's
29:32third largest automobile producer,
29:34Congress consumed Favey call.
29:35We became the world's
29:36second largest tractor,
29:38non-saccharal consumer,
29:40you know,
29:40discretionary spending,
29:41hit a new high,
29:43Congress consumed Favey call.
29:44We became the world's
29:45fifth largest stock market,
29:47Congress consumed Favey call.
29:48We became the world's
29:49fourth largest,
29:50you know,
29:51holder of foreign exchange reserves.
29:53The Congress Darbar ecosystem
29:54consumed Favey call.
29:56You know,
29:56we had the Chandrayaan success.
29:58Congress and Ashutosh
30:00consumed Favey call.
30:01We had the world's
30:03largest and fastest
30:04vaccination drive.
30:06UN Secretary General said,
30:08India,
30:09he is the world.
30:11And what was Congress doing?
30:12This is Modi ji's vaccine,
30:14I don't have to get it.
30:15And we talk about making India.
30:17Today,
30:18we are the world's
30:19third largest
30:19automobile producer,
30:21Ashutosh.
30:22And let me tell you
30:22one more thing.
30:23Do you know the difference
30:24between FDI,
30:26FPI and FII?
30:27Ma'am, time is up.
30:28One minute to the
30:29Congress starts now.
30:31See, the opposition
30:32is saying the same
30:33BJP government
30:34is once again
30:35shifting the burden
30:36onto ordinary Indians
30:37by asking them
30:38not to use less fuel,
30:40not to travel abroad,
30:41don't buy gold.
30:42So,
30:43if buy less,
30:45consume less,
30:45reduce fertilizers
30:46and travel less
30:47while the Prime Minister
30:48and his machinery
30:49continue operating
30:50without any restraint.
30:52Now, we saw yesterday,
30:53Modi ji has
30:54multiple rallies
30:55and we could see
30:5640, 50 cars.
30:58So, what about
30:58the fuel consumption?
30:59Now, the same PM
31:00suddenly advising farmers
31:02to abandon fertilizers
31:04and move towards
31:04natural farming.
31:06Now, he's playing
31:06recklessly with
31:07Indian food security.
31:09Now, we are asking,
31:10BJP,
31:11why have you not
31:12planned when you
31:13knew the Iran war
31:14is happening
31:14from the last
31:15five months?
31:16Why this 12 years
31:17of master stroke?
31:19You were not able
31:20to prepare
31:20for the days like this.
31:22Why today
31:23the dollar
31:23has reached
31:24to 96 rupees?
31:25Why the prices
31:26of fuel
31:27or the gas
31:28were not reduced
31:29when we were
31:30getting the rebate
31:31on the prices
31:32from Ukraine
31:32and other countries?
31:33That is the question
31:34I need to genuinely
31:39understand what
31:39is the austerity
31:40that Congress
31:41has brought into
31:42the table.
31:42Right now,
31:43they're busy
31:43ferrying all their
31:44MLAs from Kerala
31:45to come to Delhi
31:46in private jets.
31:48Okay, so that is
31:49their level of austerity
31:50and commitment
31:51to the nation.
31:51So, let's leave
31:52aside Congress party.
31:54They are, you know,
31:55you can't expect
31:55leadership at the
31:56time of crisis
31:57from this party.
31:58He was mentioning
31:59right now that
31:59the rupee has
32:00depreciated 40%
32:02over the last
32:03decade or so.
32:03You know,
32:04average currency
32:05depreciation over
32:06an extended period
32:07of time has
32:08always been
32:094-5%.
32:09It largely has
32:11been the trend
32:11line and India
32:12hasn't deviated.
32:13In spite of all
32:14the FPI,
32:15foreign portfolio
32:16investors leaving,
32:17right now we
32:17understand that
32:18there are
32:18hyperscalers
32:19around artificial
32:20intelligence which
32:21is drawing and
32:21sucking up capital
32:22from everywhere.
32:24This is the reason
32:24why capital has
32:25moved out.
32:26Booms and bust
32:26cycles come in
32:27and go all the
32:28time.
32:29India will also
32:30have its own
32:31time when our
32:32share prices
32:32would be much
32:33more rational
32:33and you will
32:34again see
32:34FPI coming in.
32:35That's a market
32:36decision.
32:37But look at
32:38where the
32:38India's current
32:39account deficit
32:39and the
32:40foreign exchange
32:40stand today.
32:41That should
32:41give confidence
32:42to our economy
32:43and not to
32:43create panic.
32:44time is up.
32:45Time is up.
32:46One minute,
32:47Ashutosh.
32:48Time starts now.
32:59First of all,
33:00we have to
33:00understand that
33:01we are in a
33:01crisis.
33:02If we don't
33:03admit there's a
33:03crisis, then
33:04there's no
33:04solution.
33:05But this
33:06government is
33:06very strange in
33:07its way that
33:08it never accepts
33:08there is a
33:09crisis.
33:10And I could
33:10understand that
33:11if the prime
33:11minister has
33:12taken the same
33:13measures at the
33:14beginning of the
33:14Iran war, but
33:16then the BJP
33:16was involved
33:17into the
33:17election and
33:18a winning
33:18election was
33:19far more
33:19important.
33:20When winning
33:20elections over
33:22powers over
33:24the election,
33:26then obviously
33:27there will be
33:28these kind of
33:30rhetorics will be
33:30given all the
33:31time.
33:32So the
33:33fundamental issue
33:34is that today
33:34when the
33:35Goldman Sachs
33:35says the
33:36foreign fund
33:37in no rush
33:38to buy, we
33:39have to
33:40understand this.
33:40The Asian
33:41Development Bank
33:42has also said
33:43something like
33:43this.
33:44There are other
33:44rating agencies
33:45also said
33:45something like
33:46this.
33:46And India's
33:47data, India's
33:48statistics is
33:49put into by
33:50the global
33:51standards.
33:52Sir, your
33:52time is up.
33:53I thank all
33:54four of our
33:54panelists for
33:55joining us.
33:56I want to
33:57quickly dip into
33:57the latest
33:58news break
33:58that is coming
33:59in and this
33:59is big news
34:00viewers.
34:02Manoj
34:02Agrawal has
34:03been appointed
34:04as the chief
34:05secretary of
34:06West Bengal.
34:07He was the
34:07chief electoral
34:08officer of
34:09Bengal conducting
34:10the elections
34:11in the state.
34:12Earlier on,
34:13special role
34:14observer Dr.
34:15Shubrotha Gupta
34:15had been
34:16appointed by
34:16the ECI to
34:17oversee the
34:18SIR in the
34:19state, was
34:20appointed as
34:21the chief
34:21minister's
34:22advisor.
34:23Both top
34:23election commission
34:25of India
34:25officers are
34:26now part of
34:27Shubendu's
34:28team.
34:29Questions of
34:30propriety will
34:31be raised at
34:32the back of
34:33this.
34:34I want to
34:35cut across
34:36right now to
34:37my colleague
34:37Tapash, who
34:38is joining
34:39us with the
34:39latest.
34:40Tapash, would
34:41you give us
34:42the latest
34:43that is coming
34:43in?
34:44It seems rather
34:44improbable, but
34:45I think it's
34:46happened.
34:46The chief
34:47election officer,
34:48Manoj
34:48Agrawal, the
34:49CEO of
34:50West Bengal,
34:51who oversaw the
34:52election, has
34:53now been appointed
34:54as the new
34:55chief secretary.
34:58Well, yes,
34:59absolutely
34:59pretty.
35:00Today there
35:00was a series
35:01of meetings
35:01that Shubhendu
35:03recorded as
35:03the chief
35:04minister after
35:05taking, after
35:05assuming his
35:06office.
35:06And a little
35:07while back,
35:08all of a sudden
35:08it was
35:09informed to
35:10us that
35:10Manoj
35:11Agrawal, the
35:11Commerce CEO
35:12of West Bengal,
35:13have been appointed
35:13as the chief
35:14secretary.
35:15He's a 1990
35:15batch IAS
35:16officer, and
35:17what sources
35:17within the
35:18government say
35:19that unlike
35:19Mahatma
35:20Manoj's
35:20regime,
35:21choosing
35:22officers of
35:23her choice,
35:24the government,
35:25the new
35:25government,
35:26have chosen
35:26to go with
35:27the seniority,
35:28and Manoj
35:29Agrawal remains
35:30to be one
35:30of the senior
35:31most IAS
35:31officer, and
35:32having worked
35:34in the entire
35:35election process
35:36and also dealt
35:37with it nicely,
35:39it was imperative
35:40that Manoj
35:41Agrawal is
35:42appointed as
35:42chief secretary
35:43given the
35:44present scenario
35:44of the state
35:45when the
35:45new regime
35:45have taken
35:46over.
35:47And not
35:47only Manoj
35:48Agrawal,
35:48a few days
35:49back,
35:49the special
35:51observer in
35:52the SIR
35:52rule in
35:53the election
35:53process,
35:54have been
35:54appointed as
35:55chief advisor
35:56to the
35:57chief minister
35:58of West
35:58Bengal.
35:59So these
35:59two persons,
36:01the new
36:01Manoj Agrawal
36:02and Subrata
36:02Yukta,
36:03have done
36:05this daunting
36:06task of
36:07election here
36:08in West
36:08Bengal,
36:08and it
36:09happened so
36:09peacefully.
36:10But yes,
36:11politics is
36:12playing out of it.
36:13The opposition
36:13parties had
36:14commented earlier,
36:15the Treyumur
36:16Congress
36:18questions will
36:19be raised
36:19where a
36:20conflict of
36:20interest is
36:21concerned because
36:21both of the
36:23appointments that
36:24have now been
36:24made as part of
36:26West Bengal
36:26government were
36:27supposed to be
36:28independent officers
36:29who saw the
36:29entire election
36:30process take
36:32place and
36:34supposedly had to
36:35be non-partisan
36:36during the West
36:38Bengal elections.
36:39Let's cut across
36:40now to the next
36:41news break that's
36:41coming in.
36:43Amidst growing
36:44suspense over
36:45Keralam Chief
36:46Minister,
36:46sources tell us
36:47Keralam CM
36:48announcement likely
36:49by High
36:50Command tomorrow.
36:51Earlier,
36:51former Keralam
36:52Congress
36:53presidents were
36:54called to Delhi
36:55by the High
36:56Command.
36:56Are we finally
36:57getting in on
36:59the name of
37:01the new
37:02Keralam Chief
37:02Minister by
37:03tomorrow?
37:04Well, that's at
37:05least the initial
37:05indication seemed
37:06to suggest right
37:07now.
37:08It was to be
37:08announced on
37:09Sunday, then
37:10there was a
37:11delay, some
37:11thought this
37:12delay is now
37:12going to
37:13continue for
37:13days because
37:14the assembly
37:14expires only on
37:16the 23rd of
37:17May.
37:17But it seems
37:18that the High
37:19Command is
37:19making up its
37:20mind.
37:20Rahul Gautam,
37:21who tracks the
37:22Congress very
37:22closely, joins
37:23us now.
37:23Rahul, over to
37:24you.
37:28Well, this is
37:29what, you know,
37:30pretty sources are
37:31telling us, which
37:32are placed highly
37:32within the high
37:34ranks of Congress
37:34Party, that most
37:36likely tomorrow we
37:37would know who's
37:39going to become the
37:40chief minister of
37:41Keralam and in
37:42fact we all know
37:42that how this
37:44matter has been
37:44pending before
37:45High Command for
37:46past six days and
37:47in fact, you know,
37:49the two observers,
37:50Ajay Markan and
37:51Mukul Vasnik, they
37:53had already, you
37:54know, had conducted
37:56a CLP, made their
37:57interventory, had
37:57already taken opinions
37:59from all the MLA's,
37:59so therefore they've
38:00already submitted a
38:01report and what
38:02sources are telling
38:03us that Mr. Casey
38:04Venu Gopalo, the
38:05general secretary
38:05organization, is the
38:06frontrunner as, you
38:08know, majority of
38:09the MLA's have
38:11pledged their
38:12support to KC
38:12Venu Gopal.
38:13Now, the big
38:14question is that
38:14whether Rahul
38:15Gandhi and the
38:17Congress High
38:17Command is going
38:18to, you know,
38:20relief Mr. Casey
38:21Venu Gopalo from
38:22Delhi and going to
38:24and will make him
38:25as the next chief
38:26minister of Kerala,
38:27that's the big
38:27question.
38:28We've been
38:29informed that the
38:29ex-PCCs, ex-working
38:31president have already
38:31been called to the
38:32national capital and
38:33they'll be meeting the
38:34high command tomorrow
38:35and then a call
38:36would be taken, a
38:37final call would be
38:37taken and we would
38:38know who is going to
38:39become the chief
38:40minister.
38:40Most likely the
38:41announcement would be
38:42made in Travandrum.
38:43We are learning from
38:44our sources that, you
38:46know, to give, you
38:48know, a proper, you
38:50know, validation to
38:51this entire exercise,
38:53the announcement
38:54would not be made
38:55here in the national
38:55capital but would be
38:56made in Travandrum
38:57itself.
38:58Clearly, it seems
38:59that we are inching
39:00towards the final
39:01climax of this
39:03suspense which has
39:04been going on and
39:05in next 24 hours we
39:07in all likelihood we
39:09would be knowing
39:09whether it's Casey
39:10Venugopal or some
39:11other person who's
39:12going to become the
39:13chief minister of
39:13Kerala.
39:14Alright Rahul, thank
39:15you for joining us.
39:16Let's quickly dip into
39:17all that's taken place
39:18in the last couple of
39:19days where Kerala
39:20is concerned.
39:21The spotlight might
39:22have been on Tamil
39:23Ladu but Kerala,
39:25after getting a
39:26massive majority,
39:27still doesn't have a
39:27chief minister for
39:28the Congress.
39:30Take a look.
39:41The mandate was
39:42decisive but seven
39:44days after victory,
39:45Kerala still has no
39:47chief minister.
39:48Inside the Congress,
39:49the fight for the top
39:50chair has turned into
39:51a full-blown power
39:53tussle.
39:55At the center of the
39:56race are three faces.
39:58Vidi Satisan, the face
40:00of the UDF campaign
40:01and former leader of
40:02opposition, KC Venugopal,
40:05Rahul Gandhi's close
40:06aide and a key
40:07organizational strategist
40:09and veteran leader
40:10Ramesh Chennithala,
40:12former state home
40:13minister.
40:14Over the weekend,
40:16all three contenders
40:17met the Congress
40:17high command in Delhi
40:19but no breakthrough
40:20emerged.
40:22Now the leadership has
40:23widened consultations
40:24further.
40:25Sources say former
40:26KPCC presidents are
40:28now being called to
40:28Delhi for feedback on
40:30the CEM pick.
40:33Sources tell India
40:34today that KC Venugopal
40:35currently has the
40:36backing of 45 out of
40:3863 MLAs.
40:39Congress ally,
40:41IUML, however,
40:42is backing Vidi Satisan,
40:44even as he reportedly
40:45has support of the
40:46fewest MLAs.
40:48Meanwhile,
40:49Ramesh Chennithala
40:50is banking on the
40:51seniority factor.
40:52Sources also say the
40:53Congress fears a
40:54backlash if Satisan
40:55is denied the top
40:56post.
40:57On the ground,
40:59Congress workers
41:00openly rallied behind
41:01Satisan,
41:02with supporters
41:03taking to the streets
41:04demanding he be
41:06made chief minister.
41:08An unhappy high
41:09command forced the
41:10three leaders to
41:11issue a joint appeal
41:12against demonstrations.
41:14While the Congress
41:15legislature party has
41:17authorized the high
41:18command to take the
41:19final call,
41:20despite marathon
41:21meetings and
41:21consultations,
41:23the suspense continues.
41:26The delay is also
41:27fueling attacks,
41:28especially after Rahul
41:30Gandhi flew to
41:30Chennai for Vijay
41:31swearing in,
41:32while Congress is yet
41:33to pick its own CEM
41:35in Kerala.
41:36Prime Minister
41:37Narendra Modi
41:38took chives at the
41:39Congress.
42:07Ramesh Chan Nitala
42:08hit back.
42:11In Delhi, BJP have
42:13taken 50 days to
42:15announce the chief
42:15minister.
42:16So it will not take
42:1750 days.
42:18The high command will
42:19decide according to
42:21their convenience after
42:23consulting all the
42:24important leaders and
42:25others.
42:27What should have been
42:29a smooth transition
42:30after a massive mandate
42:31has now become a test
42:33of Congress's Internal
42:34Balancing Act?
42:36With Delhi still unable
42:38to break the dead
42:39lock?
42:40Bureau Report,
42:41India Today.
42:47Quickly cut across
42:48to our experts on
42:51Keralam.
42:52KJ Jacob,
42:53Executive Editor,
42:53Deccan Chronicle.
42:54What's going on in the
42:55Congress?
42:55Rashid Kidwai,
42:56author and political
42:57commentator.
42:58Let's quickly cut across
42:59to Mr. Jacob first.
43:00Mr. Jacob,
43:01what's going on in
43:02Kerala?
43:03People in Kerala
43:04have absolutely no
43:05idea about what's
43:06happening in Delhi.
43:07They have picked an
43:09assembly where the
43:10Congress and the
43:11UDF has a massive
43:13mandate.
43:13It's 102 seats out of
43:15140.
43:17So it's almost eight
43:19days.
43:20No decision has come
43:21yet.
43:24The caretaker
43:25government has been
43:26going on for the last
43:27eight days.
43:28The government has
43:28come to a standstill.
43:30No decision yet.
43:32Of course,
43:33as you suggested,
43:33your reporter suggested,
43:35all the three
43:35contenders have very
43:36solid results to make
43:38a claim.
43:39But it's for the
43:40leadership to make the
43:42choice at the end of
43:42the day.
43:43So it is only for the
43:45Congress' leadership to
43:47say why are they
43:48delaying it.
43:49The people of Kerala
43:49have absolutely no idea.
43:51They have made their
43:52mandate.
43:52They have given a very
43:54clear decision to the
43:57UDF.
43:57Now they have to pick a
43:58pick a chief minister.
44:00They need to get a
44:01government.
44:03Okay, let's now get
44:05a reaction on what's
44:06really going on in
44:07Delhi and nobody better
44:09than Rashid Kidwai to
44:10tell us.
44:11Mr. Kidwai, what's
44:12going on in Delhi?
44:13What is the Congress
44:14thinking?
44:14Is it Mr. KC Venugopal?
44:16Is it Mr. Satishan?
44:17Is it Mr. Chenithala?
44:19Or is there a fourth
44:20number as well to this?
44:21Somebody saying
44:23Mr. KC Venugopal has
44:28an advantage of being
44:30an AICC general
44:30secretary in charge of
44:31organization.
44:32He is Gandhi family
44:33favorite.
44:34But there is a
44:35hesitation because Rahul
44:36Gandhi wants to make
44:37it look as a
44:38democratic exercise.
44:39And that is where the
44:40catch comes because at
44:41the ground level there
44:42is a lot of resistance.
44:43The allies don't want
44:44it.
44:45And you know this is a
44:46UDF victory.
44:46This is not a Congress
44:47victory.
44:48And therefore there is a
44:49kind of stalemate.
44:50I think Rahul Gandhi
44:51missed a chance when
44:52Najib Makan and
44:53Mukul Vastik had gone.
44:54He should have
44:54announced then and
44:55there.
44:56But they somewhere
44:57back of the mind they
44:58know that Mr. KC Venugopal
44:59is not acceptable.
45:01In that sense there
45:02seems to be some kind
45:02of a deadlock.
45:03If they were so keen
45:04of KC Venugopal they
45:05should have asked him
45:06to contest assembly
45:07election.
45:08And he is a member
45:09of parliament so there
45:10will be a parliament
45:11election, there will be
45:11assembly election and
45:13of course the
45:14capability to run
45:15effectively for run
45:16a government for five
45:17years.
45:17So there are a lot of
45:18questions are there.
45:19And Priti just one more
45:20thing.
45:20Most people in the
45:21Congress central
45:22leadership and you
45:23also know them very
45:23well.
45:24They want KC Venugopal
45:26to go.
45:26They don't want him
45:27as GCO.
45:29And that's the problem.
45:31So the Gandhis are
45:31under pressure.
45:32See if KC Venugopal is
45:34not made chief
45:34minister what will he
45:35do?
45:36He will continue to be
45:37Rahul's favorite.
45:38So this is a real
45:40problem and I think
45:41you know this is
45:42beyond Kerala and
45:43that is why the choice
45:44of new chief
45:45minister is not
45:45happening in
45:46Tvendram but in
45:47Delhi.
45:48Okay.
45:48I want to give one
45:49minute to each of
45:50you.
45:50I apologize.
45:50We have very little
45:51time but I'm hoping
45:52to get both of you
45:53back on my show
45:54tomorrow.
45:55But Mr. Jacob,
45:56what's the ground
45:57sense?
45:57Mr. KC Venugopal at
45:59least in Delhi what we
46:00are hearing is the
46:01pick of the MLAs but
46:02not of the people.
46:04The ground reports are
46:05all in favor of Mr.
46:07Sadeeshian.
46:08The count is if the
46:10party leadership goes in
46:11favor of Mr. Venugopal,
46:12the party leadership will
46:14have to do a lot of
46:15explaining to the
46:16people, explain to the
46:18Kader, explain to the
46:20alliance parties,
46:22especially the Muslim
46:23League.
46:23They have all rallied
46:25behind Mr. Sadeeshian.
46:28And in fact, you know,
46:28unlike earlier cases,
46:31the count is
46:31leadership went out of
46:32its way, sought the
46:33opinion of the Muslim
46:35League and generally
46:36that's a party which
46:38does not interfere with
46:40the affairs of the
46:41count is they have been
46:42taking the position that
46:43whoever the count is
46:44high command decides we
46:45will go by that.
46:47That has been the
46:48Muslim League's politics
46:49still now.
46:50Now that the
46:51count is have sought
46:51their opinion, their
46:52opinion will also have to
46:54be taken into account.
46:55If the choice is for
46:56Mr. Venugopal, then it
46:58will be for the
46:59Congress leadership to
47:01make an explanation for
47:02their choice to the
47:03people.
47:04All right.
47:04Okay, just very quickly
47:05Mr. Kidwai to come to
47:06you on this, you know,
47:08the top leadership, the
47:09high command has burnt
47:10its hands in Punjab by
47:12trying to thrust a
47:13leader.
47:14Will they do the same
47:15in Kerala?
47:16Very quickly, sir.
47:17Then we'll head into a
47:18break.
47:18I hope not.
47:19I think Priti all hinges
47:20on which way Ramesh
47:22Shantala would lead.
47:23Would he, you know,
47:23scuttle Kesi Venugopal's
47:25chance and, you know,
47:26team up with Satishan?
47:27That's our question
47:28number one.
47:28Second thing, I think
47:29Mr. Kesi Venugopal is
47:30not getting a hint.
47:31Gandhi's want him to
47:32make a sacrifice and
47:34pay a price for being
47:35loyal to them and pave the
47:37way for Vidi Satishan,
47:39which Mr. Kesi Venugopal
47:40is not getting a hint.
47:41I think by tomorrow
47:42this will dawn upon him.
47:44Okay.
47:44I thank both of you
47:45and I'll invite both of
47:46you back on the show
47:47tomorrow.
47:47Maybe we'll have a
47:48clearer picture and a
47:50name at 7pm.
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