- 1 day ago
Days after he appealed for cutting down fuel consumption, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reduced his convoy size. This was followed by several BJP chief ministers and other leaders to adopt similar measures.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00So let's raise that question, austerity politics.
00:04Is it optics or real change?
00:06Will the government walk the talk and cut the flab?
00:10Is the government preparing the country now for tough times?
00:14Is the stage set for a fuel price hike?
00:17So you've got a situation now whether the government will walk the talk and actually cut the flab or is
00:23this mere optics?
00:24Our political face-off, Dr. Shama Mohammed is National Spokesperson Congress.
00:28Dr. Syed Zafar Islam is National Spokesperson BJP, also joined by Anjali Bhardwa, Transparency and Accountability Activist.
00:36Thank you all very much for joining us.
00:39I want to come to you, Zafar Islam, first.
00:42The Prime Minister's, there were visuals today of his convoy being cut to just two.
00:46We are told the Home Minister is cut to four.
00:49But I also will play visual just now of Samrat Chaudhary in a 22-car convoy.
00:5522-car convoy.
00:56So you tell me, what are we to believe?
00:59Is the government serious about it or is this a photo op?
01:07Radheep, the other day also I had told you that the announcement has just been made.
01:13You have to be a little patient because it is being implemented.
01:18Everyone has been asked.
01:19You just had shown the video of Maharashtra Chief Minister, Mr. Fadnavis.
01:25He has taken wages to ensure that there is a, it's not opt-in, but it is a very effective
01:32implementation in the state of Maharashtra by the government officials.
01:35And I am sure that every other government, wherever we, state, wherever we have government, as well as in the
01:41central government, everyone is implementing it.
01:44So these 22 cars, the 22 cars, 22 cars of your BR chief minister is an aberration.
01:50The 22 cars that he is taking today.
01:53This has happened today.
01:54Yes, no, no, Radheep, I am saying that this is what I told you that there could be one or
02:02two aberrations, but that will also get addressed immediately because it is something where everyone has been sensitized.
02:09And everyone has been very clearly told to implement it, follow it, and implement it for, for, and become a
02:17template for others to follow.
02:20And this is what the Honorable Prime Minister has done.
02:23Sir, because, sir, because, sir, as you know, sir, no, that's a very positive sign, Prime Minister traveling in two
02:31cars.
02:31But you will recall, I told you this a few days ago, as well, that the Prime Minister, on the
02:36very day that he was making announcements, was doing roadshows, first in Jamnagar, then another roadshow in Vadodara.
02:44Then you had the grand swearing-in ceremony for Hemanto Biswa Sarma.
02:48So it almost seems that when it suits you, you talk about budget.
02:52When it doesn't suit you, life carries on as normal.
02:56What am I to believe?
02:57What I saw today, two cars, is that now going to be the new mantra?
03:02Allow me to complete.
03:06Allow me to respond.
03:07First of all, there is no cut on welfare scheme.
03:10There is no cut in the capital expenditure, what has been allocated in the budget.
03:16There is absolutely no cut anywhere except the austerity measures which has been introduced by the Honorable Prime Minister.
03:22It is something which everyone should, for the sake of their own nation, and even in situations like this, must
03:30follow.
03:30I mean, there is no hard and fast rule or guideline for everyone has to follow it.
03:38But it is something which has been sensitized.
03:41That nation and the global community, everyone is feeling the heat because of the Iran-US crisis and the blockade
03:50of Hormuz.
03:51Everyone is facing the heat and I am sure that people, a country like India, where we have to import,
03:58so we will also feel the heat.
04:00So, if you take some measures which ensures that part of the import bill comes off, it will help the
04:14government.
04:15I mean, like I will tell you what the assessment is of some of the analysts which have made the
04:19assessment,
04:20that because of the appeal by the Honorable Prime Minister to not buy gold unnecessarily ensure that some measures you
04:30take when you are traveling using petrol or diesel
04:34and likewise when you are traveling abroad, if you all put together, if some improvement is there, then we can
04:40save $100 billion.
04:42I mean, this is the assessment of the analysts on the street.
04:44Sir, I have heard you patiently.
04:46It should be done, why not? It should be done.
04:47I have heard, okay, I am glad, better late than never.
04:51But Shama Mohammed, you are using your mobile there.
04:54What is it that you want to show?
04:55The fact is that the picture that we have got today are of two cars.
04:59The Prime Minister's convoy has only two cars today.
05:02How do you respond to that, that the Prime Minister's team claims we are walking the talk?
05:07You know, Rajdeep, the picture I am showing is not a Chief Minister.
05:12These are newly appointed corporators in Madhya Pradesh.
05:17They are going in convoys.
05:18Now, you spoke about Samrat Chaudhary.
05:20That is a Chief Minister.
05:22These are corporators, newly appointed.
05:24They are doing it today.
05:25So, let's understand that.
05:27No, where are those images from?
05:29The images you are showing is from when?
05:30From Madhya Pradesh.
05:31Madhya Pradesh.
05:31When?
05:32When did it happen?
05:33When are you showing those images?
05:34Yes, it is in the evening, after the Prime Minister's speech.
05:37AI, AI, AI, AI, AI.
05:38It happened after the Prime Minister's speech.
05:41I don't think so.
05:41Okay, and it comes from economic times.
05:43AI, AI, AI, AI.
05:44Show me, show me, thank you.
05:45No, no, Zafar, Zafar, so AI, this is actually...
05:47Sir, she did not interview Mr. Zafar Islam.
05:50I want her, Lajdeep, you to verify this.
05:51We will verify.
05:52I am asking my producer, producer, please verify this image.
05:56Please verify the image.
05:57Okay, but just a minute, let her finish.
05:59It is something with Congress, Congress agenda to mislead the people.
06:03Okay, sir.
06:04I am not going to do a debate like that.
06:06No, no, no, Zafar Islam, I am putting your voice down.
06:08She did not intervene with you.
06:11Producer Ketki, please check the image that has been sent.
06:14You are claiming this is corporators in Madhya Pradesh, am I correct?
06:17Yes.
06:18From today.
06:18And it's economic times, economic times, not anybody else.
06:22Look, all right, economic times.
06:23Can you see that?
06:24ET.
06:25Okay.
06:26Now, my issue, I never, Rajdeep, you know me.
06:28I do not come ever without facts.
06:30And please tell this spokesperson not to be juvenile.
06:34We are all reached a safe...
06:35No, no, no.
06:36Please don't use word like juvenile and all.
06:38Please focus on the topic.
06:40No, madam, please do not use personal words.
06:42You focus on your points.
06:43I think...
06:43And put your voice down also, Zafar Islam.
06:47Let her complete.
06:47Shama Mohammed...
06:48Let us focus.
06:49No.
06:50Please put Mr. Zafar Islam's voice down.
06:53Shama Mohammed, I know how to...
06:54Producer.
06:54Yeah.
06:55Now, go ahead.
06:56Shama Mohammed, focus on facts.
06:58No personal comments.
06:59None whatsoever.
07:01Yeah.
07:01So, we need...
07:02One most important thing about Narendra Modi is he doesn't practice what he preaches.
07:07He comes out and gives out these statements and just shows himself in two cars today.
07:12Then after a few days, it's going to change.
07:14Number two, I heard what Devendra Fadnavis is saying.
07:17Devendra Fadnavis says,
07:19I want to ask this Devendra Fadnavis.
07:26In 2008, Rajdeep, I was in Dubai, living there.
07:30I went through that economic crisis in Dubai, where Dubai was badly affected.
07:36The US was badly affected.
07:37Whole of Europe was affected.
07:39Asia was affected.
07:41India stood its ground.
07:43You know why?
07:43That's called governance.
07:45You prepare for something like this.
07:47We put in a stimulation package of 1.8 lakh crores.
07:51By 2010, our GDP came back to 8.5%.
07:55Now, this government's problem, Rajdeep, is always...
07:58Madam, that was the period with due regard where inflation spiraled out of control, but go ahead.
08:03Yeah, inflation, but at least what I'm saying is, when I was there, India was not affected by that crisis.
08:11India was seen among the fragile five economies at the time.
08:14I want to be factual.
08:15No, no.
08:16It was seen amongst the fragile, but we were the only economy which came out of it.
08:21Even the US collapsed.
08:22I know about it.
08:23You know about it.
08:24Now, let's understand one important thing, Rajdeep.
08:27In March, when we were in Parliament, Rahul Gandhi said, let's discuss this, because this is very important.
08:32Now, we were getting discounted oil from Russia.
08:36We went and listened to what Mr. Trump said.
08:39We stopped that.
08:40When Trump attacked Iran, it was an unprovoked attack, right?
08:46Many European countries condemned it.
08:49Not a word from India.
08:50Iran is an old friend of us.
08:51We are the ones who are building the Chabar port.
08:54Why did we not condemn it?
08:55Yes, you can be with the United States.
08:57You can have a policy, but you could also condemn it.
09:00So we lost friends.
09:01We could have kept getting oil from Russia, stored up the oil.
09:05We knew there's a crisis three months back.
09:07We could have continued the good relation with Iran.
09:10You know, our ships could have easily gone through homers before.
09:13Now, of course, there is a blockade by the United States.
09:16But the point is that these sort of things need a sort of management.
09:22The other important point is, why is the Prime Minister not addressing the nation?
09:27When he last addressed the nation,
09:29I really thought, Rajdeep, he was going to talk about these measures.
09:32What is going to happen?
09:34There is a shortage of oil.
09:35He made a speech, ma'am.
09:37No, no, Shama Mohammed, he made a speech.
09:39He made a speech where he put various austerity measures.
09:43Now you want him to address the nation.
09:45When he addresses the nation, you have a...
09:47Let me finish.
09:48You accuse him of politicizing the issue.
09:50Madam, you have to stick to the facts.
09:52I'm sitting to the facts.
09:53He should have called a special session of parliament.
09:56Get in the opposition.
09:56That's another matter now.
09:57You know, get in the opposition.
09:59Get in the opposition.
10:00Discuss it with the opposition parties.
10:02You know, there is...
10:03This, he comes out with a film showing, you know what?
10:05I'm the greatest.
10:06I'm traveling with two cars.
10:08Look at me.
10:08I'm sacrificing so much.
10:10And then he puts the onus on all of us.
10:12What we went through when Note Bandhi happened,
10:14you all know what happened.
10:15He just removed all those notes.
10:17And people were standing in line.
10:18People died.
10:19You know what went through COVID?
10:21He was in 21.
10:23Campaigns happening in West Bengal when Rahul Gandhi and the Congress Party took the first step and said,
10:27listen, we are not going to continue the campaign because people are dying.
10:30He did not care.
10:32He finished campaigning.
10:33Then when he understood there is an issue,
10:35we went into having vaccinations for 18-year-olds.
10:38I've taken your points, ma'am.
10:40Ma'am, ma'am, ma'am, I've heard you, Shama Muhammad.
10:43This is not a monologue.
10:45I've heard you now.
10:46Everyone gets fixed time.
10:48Anjali Bhardwaj, you tell us.
10:50You've heard the politicians giving their partisan viewpoint.
10:52Do you believe that it is possible for those in the state to give up some of the facilities they
10:58have
10:58as a transparency RTI activist?
11:00What's your experience been like?
11:03Rajdeep, let me basically say that without getting into politics,
11:08that this is an international global crisis, which has been building up for over two months.
11:15And in a situation like this, what is very important is that the government keep people informed.
11:22There is basic information, objective information that the government keeps sharing with the people of the country,
11:30including where are we on stocks of fuel, of oil, of fertilizers, what's likely to happen.
11:38What the government is planning to do.
11:41And I think all of these things is what we expect from a government in a democracy.
11:48We had the prime minister come out and address the public, and he did talk about various austerity measures.
11:56The timing of it undoubtedly was concerning because a crisis like this,
12:02where we are in such a grave sort of a situation, there is fuel crisis that's looming very, very large.
12:09One would imagine that this should not be dictated by any electoral considerations.
12:16It does appear that the country waited for the elections in various states to happen.
12:23And only after that, people are being talked to by the prime minister about the crisis that we are in,
12:30and we are likely to face, and we should prepare ourselves.
12:33When there is lack of transparency, and the prime minister is also referring to COVID times,
12:40I think there can be mass panic because we know what sort of scenes unfolded during COVID
12:48with millions of migrant workers walking back hundreds of miles.
12:55So to prevent black marketing, to prevent hoarding, to prevent panic,
13:00it is very critical that there be proper addresses, press conferences by the prime minister,
13:07by the finance minister.
13:08People are kept informed.
13:11People know what to expect, and people can be prepared.
13:15I think these are the things which are very, very important, which we must see happening.
13:21They haven't happened so far.
13:22The second thing is that when a country the size of India goes into crisis,
13:28and the government wants to respond, we must remember we have a federal structure in our constitution.
13:35All chief ministers must be taken on board.
13:38That is something we saw did not happen during the COVID crisis.
13:42People must be taken on board.
13:44There must be consultations.
13:46Proper policies must be framed, which keep people at the heart of things.
13:52We are a country which has globally amongst the highest levels of inequality and extreme poverty.
13:59So we cannot have a situation where the government puts people through any kind of policy measures
14:08without keeping people, and especially the most marginalized and the poorest at the heart of policy making.
14:15So all of this must happen.
14:17It cannot simply be that, you know, is there austerity measure that is followed by one minister or not,
14:23in one state or not.
14:24Of course, everything has to start from the top.
14:26We cannot have big convoys or, you know, air shows or road shows on the one hand,
14:32and people being expected to be austere on the other.
14:35But at the same time, there are far more important things beyond the cosmetic.
14:41There are very substantive things that, in governance, people expect from a democratic government.
14:48You know, I just want to say, good words there from Anjali Bhardwaj,
14:52because Shama Mohammed, we have checked, it is an AI-generated image that you showed us.
14:59It is from the Economic Times.
15:01Madam, it is no...
15:02Now, madam, you must listen to me.
15:05It is an AI-generated image.
15:07Please be very careful.
15:08You carried it as if it was...
15:10I have just got it checked.
15:11It is Economic Times.
15:12Yes, Economic Times, in the same thing.
15:14Madam, it is written on the corner, AI-generated image.
15:17Please see your video.
15:19It is the Economic Times, Raj.
15:20No, please, sorry.
15:21You have been proven wrong.
15:23You have been proven wrong, madam, and that's not right.
15:26Do not mislead the viewers like this.
15:28It is wrong to put an AI...
15:29I am not misleading the viewers, Raj.
15:30You did.
15:30Sorry, we have checked it.
15:32I asked my producer to check it.
15:34It is an AI-generated image.
15:35Now, I've heard you.
15:36Before you put your hand up, Zafar Islam,
15:39Anjali Bhardwaj and the Congress spokesperson,
15:41raised an important point.
15:43The Prime Minister makes this announcement
15:45followed by a road show.
15:47A road show with, ironically, a cavalcade.
15:50No session of Parliament is called.
15:52No chief ministers are taken into confidence.
15:55No wider meeting is held.
15:57You cannot have, in a federal polity,
15:59the point Anjali Bhardwaj makes,
16:01this cannot be centralized.
16:03These are very critical decisions.
16:04You need to take people and politicians into confidence.
16:08It cannot be one person or one centralization
16:11deciding one day
16:12that you have to go in for austerity.
16:14Pore chunao mein road show kia,
16:16rallies kia,
16:18everything happened for six weeks.
16:19That time you didn't think of austerity.
16:21Now you've remembered it.
16:23Why not call a special session of Parliament?
16:26Sharat Pawar.
16:27The country's senior most leader
16:28is calling for a special session.
16:30You call a special session for Nari Shakti
16:32to get benefit in West Bengal elections.
16:34You cannot call a special session
16:36when people are going to be hit
16:38by a fuel price high.
16:39Can I just respond, please?
16:41Please respond now.
16:43Can I respond to, please?
16:44Respond to.
16:45See, I heard Anjali Bhardwajji.
16:48I heard Dr. Shama Muhammad.
16:50Let me respond to them as well.
16:52No, you respond to my question.
16:54I will appreciate what Anjali Bhardwajji has said.
16:57And I will respond to you as well.
16:59See, as far as the timing of what you said
17:02that the announcement was made
17:04by the Prime Minister
17:05when he spoke about it
17:07and then he did a roadshow.
17:09But these were all scheduled
17:10and why before the election
17:13or during the election
17:14or after the election
17:15or the result,
17:16I think the timing,
17:17we should not speak about it
17:18because if somebody is tracking
17:19the Iran-Israel-Jews war,
17:23it's just a second.
17:24Mr. Zafar Islam,
17:24allow me to give the reaction.
17:27Allow me to give the reaction.
17:28Sir, what do you mean by saying
17:29that we should not consider
17:30during election,
17:32you can do what you want.
17:33Reckless extravagance during election
17:35and public has to suffer.
17:37Ye kya hai?
17:37No.
17:38You're a sensible man.
17:40How can timing not matter?
17:41Absolutely not.
17:43Come on.
17:45Come on, you have to
17:46listen to people before reacting.
17:49I think a sensible man
17:50first listen to people
17:51before reaction.
17:52Their reaction.
17:53So I would request you
17:54and urge you to please
17:55respond to me completely.
17:56All I'm saying,
17:57the timing,
17:58because if somebody is tracking
17:59the Iran-Israel-U.S. war,
18:02the number of times
18:03ceasefire has been announced
18:04and again the war has restarted
18:07is something which everyone knows.
18:09And you know that we have,
18:10we had the reserve,
18:11we have 50 days of oil reserves
18:13and it is temporarily,
18:15temporarily some aberration is there
18:16because of there is a war
18:18between two, three countries.
18:20But if there is a ceasefire,
18:21everything will fall back
18:23and it is evident from the fact
18:24that the price of oil,
18:26it was $114 at the peak
18:30or $120 at the peak
18:31and it came down to $82, $83
18:34because everyone knows
18:35that it will come off
18:36as soon as there is a ceasefire.
18:38But again something happened,
18:40it never happened in the past.
18:42When there is a war,
18:43either it is continuing
18:44like Ukraine and Russia
18:46or it has been stopped
18:48like India and Pakistan.
18:49Sir, I've heard you now.
18:50I asked you, sir,
18:51I have limited time.
18:52Zafar, I have limited time.
18:54You answer my direct question.
18:56Why does the Prime Minister
18:57not call a special session
18:58of Parliament?
18:59He is going on a foreign travel
19:00to Norway, Italy and Sweden.
19:03He should be calling
19:03a special session of Parliament.
19:06Take the country
19:06and the parliamentarians
19:07into confidence.
19:09We are not,
19:09we are a democracy.
19:11We are not a one-man show.
19:13Come on, let me,
19:14Lomit, Eswar.
19:16Come on, Rajdeep.
19:17You know also,
19:18you track Parliament.
19:19It has been discussed
19:20in the Parliament.
19:21You know the evolving situation.
19:23Every day is a different situation.
19:24Today, China and America
19:26is meeting.
19:27There could be a ceasefire announcement
19:29by permanent ceasefire
19:30by these two countries.
19:31There could be some solution.
19:33The world is watching.
19:34So is India.
19:35But the Honourable Prime Minister
19:37cannot,
19:38I didn't ask to stop functioning.
19:40There is no stopping
19:41of economic activities.
19:43And let me also tell you,
19:45I heard Shama Muhammad ji
19:46told me,
19:47juvenile.
19:48See,
19:48I am a civilized,
19:49I come from a civilized party
19:51and a civilized spokesperson.
19:53And a very disciplined
19:54spokesperson.
19:55Sir,
19:55I pulled her up.
19:56I pulled her up for not.
19:57But I restrained
19:59because I,
20:00no,
20:01I restrained.
20:02First of all,
20:02she showed me.
20:03Put her voice down.
20:04Shama Muhammad's voice down.
20:05Absolutely wrong.
20:06And it was AI generated
20:07and trying to mislead the nation.
20:11This is what they do.
20:12This is what they are up to.
20:13Okay.
20:13I've heard you.
20:14I've heard all of you.
20:16I wish we could add,
20:18this is why I've stopped
20:19having discussions
20:20with political spokespersons.
20:22Unfortunately,
20:23it becomes personal.
20:24I thank you.
20:26Okay.
20:27Okay.
20:27I've heard all of you.
20:29Unfortunately,
20:29this is why I've stopped
20:30having discussions
20:31with political spokespersons
20:32because sooner or later
20:34it gets very personal.
20:35But I appreciate my guests
20:37joining me on the show tonight.
Comments