- 1 hour ago
The Congress party has selected VD Satheesan as the next Chief Minister of Kerala, following the United Democratic Front's assembly election victory. The six-time MLA will take the oath of office on May 18.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Good evening, hello and welcome. You're with the news today, your primetime destination news,
00:04newsmakers, talking points, our big talking point tonight.
00:07Keralam finally has a chief minister. VD Satishan is their choice.
00:12What explains his selection?
00:14Is it a generational change that the Congress is effecting across the South?
00:19Does China hold the key to the West Asia war as that big meeting takes place
00:25between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi?
00:30We'll raise that question too with voices from Beijing, Washington and here in New Delhi.
00:34But first, as always, it's time for the Nine Headlines in Night.
00:39After 11 days of a deadlock, VD Satishan, named as the next Keralam chief minister of the Congress,
00:46oath-taking ceremony on 18th May, Ramesh Chanitala expresses his displeasure,
00:51skips the key MLA's meeting, KC Venugopal also opts out.
01:00Government tightens rules for gold trading.
01:03Duty-free gold imports capped at 100 kg per license.
01:08Gold jewellery exporters to submit reports every 15 days.
01:12It's part of the government's efforts to cut down on conspicuous consumption,
01:17reduce the foreign exchange burden on gold.
01:22Days after Prime Minister Modi's spend-wise call, Delhi government now announces a two-day work-from-home
01:30for government employees, announces observing a metro day and following a no-car day once a week.
01:38It's part of an austerity drive, they claim.
01:45Arvind Khejriwal to face legal contempt in the Delhi High Court.
01:50After taking on the judge of the court, Justice Sharma accuses Aap of vilifying her online,
01:57but the excise case against him is transferred out of the judge's court.
02:06The neat paper league gate probe widens further.
02:09CBI gets seven-day custody of five accused in the case.
02:13Two more accused arrested by the CBI today.
02:16Suspicious money transfers are under the lens.
02:22Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay now writes to Prime Minister Modi,
02:26urging him to remove import duty on cotton in the letter.
02:29The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister also expresses concern over ongoing severe crisis in the textile sector.
02:39Amidst the BRICS, Foreign Minister Meet.
02:41Prime Minister Modi meets Iranian Foreign Minister Araki.
02:44Russian Prime Minister Lavrov, Araki lashes out at the UAE for siding with Israel during a key meet,
02:51asked them to reconsider their Iran policy.
02:56On the day one of the Trump-Zhi meeting in Beijing,
03:01both discussed the need to open the Hormuz Strait.
03:04Zhi opposes charging tolls to vessels and even signals buying more U.S. oil.
03:09Taiwan, though, is the ticklish issue between the two.
03:1715-year-old Viper Suryavanshi India's latest batting sensation
03:21earns a maiden India A call-up after dominating IPL 2026.
03:26He will take part in a tri-series featuring Sri Lanka and Afghanistan.
03:39But tonight, I want to start at the very top with the big story.
03:44After days of intense lobbying, the wait is finally over for a Chief Minister for Kerala.
03:49The Congress finally, or Congress High Command, finally made up its mind.
03:54On Wednesday, the decision was announced.
03:56V.D. Satishan will be the next Chief Minister of Kerala.
03:59He takes oath on Monday.
04:02The big question, why did the appointment take so long?
04:04And what does the message convey?
04:07Is Satishan part of the Gen Next leader that India's Grand Opposition Party is trying to now cultivate?
04:15Take a look at our top story tonight.
04:20After 11 days of suspense, endless lobbying, backroom power games, and a battle between the Kader's choice and the High
04:29Command's favourite, Kerala finally has its Chief Minister.
04:33Based on all these discussions, it has been decided that Sri V.D. Satishan be appointed as the leader of
04:44the CLP.
04:45Thank you so much.
04:47A six-time MLA and the aggressive face of the UDF campaign, Satishan has beaten Congress High Command's favourite and
04:55heavyweight KC Venu Gopal in a high-voltage leadership battle that kept the party on edge for over a week.
05:03Satishan also thanked KC Venu Gopal and Ramesh Chenithala, both contenders for the post, for extending him their support.
05:10Satishan also thanked KC Venu Gopal and Ramesh Chenithala, both contenders for the Kerala.
05:41We will bring Kerala as the number one state in India. That is our hope we will do for them.
05:51Venu Gopal welcomed the decision and reaffirmed that the party and its workers are supreme to him.
05:57Full, wholeheartedly I am welcoming that decision. I am congratulating V.D. Satishan for this position.
06:05I think that the people of Kerala have given a big verdict for the UDF.
06:09The government under the leadership of V.D. Satishan can fulfil the aspirations and promises of the people of Kerala.
06:18Sources say the battle was never straightforward.
06:21While Venu Gopal reportedly enjoyed strong backing from sections of the high command and many MLAs,
06:27Satishan had what Congress simply could not ignore. Grassroots momentum and public connect.
06:33So why the 11-day delay?
06:36The delay was driven by a deadlock between the camps backing V.D. Satishan and KC Venu Gopal,
06:42with MLAs and party cadres divided over the choice.
06:45The party was also trying to maintain factional balance and ensure a smooth transition of power
06:51after the UDF's massive victory.
06:53The Congress also held consultations with UDF allies,
06:57while cabinet formation and power-sharing talks further delayed the final decision.
07:07In the end, the Congress chose the leader the cadres wanted,
07:11the face voters identified with,
07:13and the man many in Kerala already saw as Chief Minister.
07:18With Shibhi Molkeji in Thiruvananthpuram,
07:20Bureau Report, India Today.
07:25And my colleague Shibhi spoke to V.D. Satishan soon after his name was announced.
07:30Listen in.
07:36Sir, a big moment for you in your life also.
07:39What's your reaction actually?
07:41I express my gratitude towards Congress President Rahulji.
07:47They have taken a decision with the blessings of Madam Soniaji.
07:51I'm very grateful to them.
07:52I'm very grateful to them.
07:54And I dedicate my Chief Ministorship to the people of Kerala.
08:01And we have made many offers that we will start a new era.
08:07We will change Kerala.
08:09We will make changes.
08:11We will bring Kerala as a number one state in India.
08:16That is our hope.
08:19We will do for that.
08:20Sir, there was a slight delay.
08:21And actually, Congress supporters were a little upset with the celebration.
08:24So, is it time to give them...
08:26It's quite natural.
08:27Congress is a democratic party.
08:29The CLP meeting adopted a resolution and entrusted the Congress President to take a decision.
08:38All the leaders communicated.
08:42This is not a one-sided decision which is happening in BJP or CPM.
08:47Sir, do you think finally it's the people's verdict that has been accepted by them?
08:51Oh, that is...
08:52That is...
08:53That was a strong public statement.
08:54Yeah, yeah.
08:55People are supporting the UDF.
08:58They wanted to make UDF government as a number one government.
09:03Their hope is that.
09:05And our team UDF, thousands of workers and leaders work together as a single party.
09:11I have already stated to you that our team UDF is the model to the entire country for the coalition
09:19politics.
09:21So, why did the Congress choose Satishan?
09:23Remember, the others were KC Venugopal, the all-powerful general secretary organization close to Rahul Gandhi,
09:30and Ramesh Chenithala, the senior most leader.
09:34Well, one reason was he was the face of the UDF in the assembly election.
09:38He was leader of the opposition and he took the battle, many said, into the left camp.
09:43He also had the backing of key allies like the IUML, which won 22 seats, and the Kerala Congress, Joseph.
09:49He also seemingly now built a mass appeal for himself.
09:53Had a lot of support from party workers, civil society and common people.
09:5861-year-old Satishan's rise marks a generational shift also in Kerala.
10:03He's the first chief minister born after independence that Kerala has had.
10:08So, that represents, again, an important shift.
10:11And he doesn't belong to any of the known factions of Kerala.
10:15So, that decision has, of course, led to many questions.
10:20What explains Congress's selection of VD Satishan?
10:23Did the delay take the sheen of the victory, the one big victory the Congress had in these assembly elections?
10:29Will factionalism hurt the Congress?
10:31I want to get quick responses.
10:33Joining me now is Anand Kochukudi.
10:36He joins me from Kochi.
10:37Appreciate you joining us, Anand.
10:39Are you surprised that they chose VD Satishan
10:42ahead of someone like KC Venugopal, Rahul Gandhi's point person?
10:46What was the main factor, in your view?
10:48I listed some out that worked according to you in favor of Satishan.
10:54Well, Rajdeep.
10:59Okay, we're trying to get that line to.
11:01I'm not surprised.
11:02I'm quite glad.
11:03Unlike Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan.
11:05Yeah, go ahead.
11:06Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan.
11:09Rajdeep, can you hear me?
11:11Yes, I can.
11:12Please go ahead.
11:13Yeah, so I'm glad that they took the right decision,
11:16even if it took 10 days coming.
11:18Unlike what happened in the past in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Punjab,
11:23even in Karnataka.
11:25So, the people's mandate was in favor of VD Satishan.
11:30VD Satishan was the one who stitched up coalitions.
11:33He was the one who debunked the left narratives,
11:37who, you know, who set narratives on the ground.
11:39And his narratives actually helped a lot in the UDF's win.
11:43He managed to get a lot of people who were outside the UDF's ambit,
11:49who are not UDF voters historically,
11:53to vote for the UDF, the women, the young people.
11:57He managed to capture people's imaginations.
11:59It was his face that was placed against Pinarai Vijayan.
12:04A lot of people, a couple of years ago,
12:07thought that it was difficult to dislodge Vijayan
12:09because Vijayan had many things going for him.
12:13And over 10 years, he had acquired a certain kind of aura.
12:17So, it was difficult to dislodge.
12:18And Vijayan and Satishan managed to craft a different kind of narrative,
12:25which, you know, even after 10 years of Vijayan's rule,
12:30it took some doing from Satishan's part
12:34to ensure that the UDF could dream of a victory.
12:37The morale of the UDF workers was so...
12:43But there will be those, of course,
12:45who will say that he didn't have the...
12:47The two defeats in the...
12:48There will be those, of course,
12:52Anand who will say that Satishan did not have the support of MLAs,
12:55that most of the MLAs were with Mr. KC Venugopal.
12:58Satishan is much younger than both KC Venugopal and Chenitala.
13:03We don't know whether this also marks a shift in that sense in a generation.
13:07I am also joined by Harish Beeran.
13:10He is Rajasaba, MP of the Indian Union Muslim League.
13:14Appreciate your joining us, Mr. Beeran.
13:16Your party went out of its way to support Mr. Satishan.
13:21Why?
13:22Why did you want Mr. Satishan to become the Chief Minister?
13:27Chief Ajdeep, he was the leader of opposition.
13:30Congress chose him as the leader of opposition in 2021.
13:36And the expectation of the party would have been that he will produce some results.
13:40And he started producing results in all the elections which happened after 2021,
13:45be it the parliament, be it the local body,
13:47be it the by-polls which happened in the state of Kerala.
13:49It was the UDF's victory and UDF was winning by thumbing majorities.
13:54And he was a leader who was leading in all fronts,
13:58whether it is inside the assembly, outside the assembly.
14:01So, the leader of opposition chosen by the Congress High Command,
14:05who delivered for the Congress,
14:06is the natural choice to become the Chief Minister.
14:09Because the BJP has already,
14:12BJP already,
14:13Haris has started a campaign
14:14that this is to,
14:16the IUML put pressure on the Congress
14:18to choose Mr. Satishan,
14:21that it was the Indian Union Muslim League
14:23which was insistent that Satishan become,
14:26otherwise they would create trouble for the new Chief Minister.
14:29There is no other argument for the BJP, sadly.
14:32And only this narrative is the one which is set up by the BJP.
14:38Rajdeep, if you are in Kerala
14:39or if you know somebody in Kerala
14:42who actually travels by public transport,
14:45you don't even have to ask anybody.
14:47It's the people who are saying,
14:48I mean, you know,
14:50in direct conversation,
14:52that they want somebody.
14:53I mean, here is somebody who has led the UDF to victory
14:56and that person who has led
14:57and who has fought hard for the UDF's victory
15:01should be made as the Chief Minister.
15:03He is actually a people's choice.
15:05It's not only the Congress's choice,
15:07it is not a choice of the allies of the UDF.
15:09It is actually people's choice to become the Chief Minister.
15:12Never in the history you must have seen
15:13that after the elections,
15:15people were actually in the streets
15:16that this man has to become the Chief Minister.
15:18Whereas the Congress High Command
15:19was completely in the scene of the matter
15:21and hats off to them
15:23that they made him as the Chief Minister.
15:25Because he is the one who led the entire front to the victory.
15:29He had narratives.
15:31He had policies.
15:33He knew how to attack the ruling front.
15:38And he said very categorically
15:41that secularism is an asset of the state
15:44and we don't want even a scar on that particular thing.
15:47And anybody who is attempting to make a scar
15:50on that particular asset of the state
15:52will not be spared,
15:53even if we lose the election.
15:54So that actually set the trend and tone for the election.
15:58And I think the youngsters supported that particular tone
16:01which was said by Satishan.
16:03So he was a natural choice.
16:05You are saying he is a natural choice,
16:06a people's choice.
16:07A final word, Anand, from you
16:08because traditionally the Congress
16:10has tended to go by,
16:13has tended to impose a Chief Minister
16:14or go by what the legislators want.
16:17Here they are broken with type.
16:19The legislators, MLAs, presumably
16:22were not in support of Satishan.
16:24They wanted KC Venugopal.
16:27And yet he's gone.
16:29He's become the people's choice.
16:30Does this suggest a change in approach to you
16:32that you've gone by what the people wanted?
16:36Yeah, it is definitely a change in approach.
16:39But you have to understand that
16:41KC Venugopal managed to get so many loyalists,
16:44so many MLAs to support him
16:46primarily by being Rahul Gandhi's confidant
16:49and having Rahul Gandhi's here.
16:51So if KC Venugopal wasn't in the position
16:56of General Secretary Organization,
16:58he wouldn't have this kind of backing within the party.
17:01The MLAs who have switched over to his camp,
17:04they all switched over after 2018
17:06when he assumed the role of General Secretary Organization.
17:10So it was basically by extending patronage
17:12from the high command,
17:13by giving ML tickets,
17:15by giving positions in the party.
17:18That KC Venugopal managed the support of so many MLAs.
17:21This is not a, you know, it's a transactional thing.
17:23It's not a permanent loyalty
17:25that we had under K. Karunakaran or A.K. Anthony
17:28when leaders from the KSU,
17:30from the NSUI days would go into a camp
17:33and then, you know,
17:34there'd be lifelong loyalists.
17:37So it's a very, you know,
17:38the Congress has been in a flux in Kerala.
17:40In the last five years,
17:42many MLAs, many leaders have switched
17:44from one camp to the other.
17:46So, KC, sorry,
17:48so Satishan becoming Chief Minister,
17:50of course, there'll be factional feuds
17:53with Satishan on one side
17:56and Venugopal on the other.
17:57Chenitala is staying away from the CLP meeting.
18:00So there'll be factional issues.
18:02But I think going ahead,
18:04you know, by heeding to the public sentiment,
18:07the party has taken the right decision.
18:10And in the long...
18:12It's not often that we say that...
18:14It's not often that we say that
18:16about the Congress Party,
18:17that they've taken the right decision.
18:19But what most analysts today,
18:22particularly from Kerala,
18:23are saying it's the right decision.
18:24A final word from you, Biran.
18:26Will the IUML now push
18:27for the lucrative portfolios?
18:30Or are you just okay
18:31that you've got the Chief Minister?
18:33Are you going to put pressure
18:34on this government in Kerala?
18:38See, we have never indulged
18:41in this pressure politics, Rajdeep.
18:43You can...
18:44You know the history of IUML very well.
18:46I mean, we have been in coalition
18:47with the Congress for the last 50 years.
18:49Never we have put pressure.
18:51There have been a lot of questions
18:52as to whether we are going to have
18:53the Deputy Chief Minister post.
18:55We have told many a times
18:56that we don't want any
18:57ornamental post like that.
18:58It is only after discussions in the UDF
19:00that there will be the ministerial births
19:03and...
19:03So no Deputy Chief Minister
19:06for the IUML.
19:07You are very clear about that.
19:08A quick answer.
19:10Yes.
19:10I mean, we have said it umpteen times.
19:13Not only me.
19:13My leaders have said it umpteen times
19:15that we are not for this
19:16ornamental post
19:17like the Deputy Chief Minister.
19:18We are more bothered about
19:20how we are going to govern
19:21and how we are going to
19:23give welfare measures to the public.
19:25I'm going to leave it there.
19:26I appreciate you joining us.
19:28As I said,
19:28that completes the set
19:30of Chief Ministers
19:31that these election results
19:32have thrown up.
19:33Shuvendu Adhikari in West Bengal,
19:35Hemantabhiswa Sarma in Assam,
19:36both BJP,
19:38you've got Vijay,
19:41the outsider in Tamil Nadu,
19:42and now VD Satishan,
19:44the generation next of the Congress.
19:46Thank you both very much for joining me.
19:48I want to move from there
19:49to our other big story at the moment
19:51that high-stakes meeting
19:52that's taken place
19:53between Chinese President Xi Jinping
19:55and U.S. President Donald Trump
19:57in Beijing.
19:58It's wrapped up today
20:00with optics of warmth,
20:01but the underlying tensions remain.
20:03Trump praised Xi,
20:04called him a great leader,
20:05expressed confidence
20:06that U.S.-China ties
20:08will get stronger.
20:09But beyond the bonhomie,
20:11the big question,
20:12what happens on trade issues,
20:14what happens to West Asia,
20:15particularly the reopening
20:17of the Strait of Hormuz,
20:19with China opposing
20:20any tolls on shipping.
20:22On Taiwan, too,
20:23there was no breakthrough.
20:24And on Iran,
20:25Beijing stopped short
20:27of committing
20:27any direct pressure on Beijing.
20:31So, lots to talk about
20:32on what's happened
20:33at that big meeting in Beijing
20:35that the world is looking at.
20:37Listen to what Donald Trump
20:38had to say.
20:41Well, thank you very much.
20:42This is a great honor.
20:44It was a fantastic day.
20:46And in particular,
20:48I want to thank President Xi,
20:50my friend,
20:51for this magnificent welcome.
20:54And it really was
20:55a magnificent welcome
20:57like none other.
20:58And for so graciously hosting us
21:01on this very historic
21:02state visit.
21:04We had extremely positive
21:06and productive conversations
21:08and meetings today
21:09with the Chinese delegation earlier.
21:12And this evening
21:14is another cherished opportunity
21:15to discuss among friends
21:17some of the things
21:19that we discussed today,
21:21today all good for
21:23the United States
21:24and for China.
21:25And it was a great honor
21:26to be with you.
21:27Please.
21:32We both believe
21:33that the China-U.S. relationship
21:35is the most important
21:37bilateral relationship
21:38in the world.
21:39We must make it work
21:41and never mess it up.
21:43Both China and the United States
21:46stand to gain from cooperation
21:48and lose from confrontation.
21:51Our two countries
21:52should be partners
21:53rather than rivals.
22:01And joining me now
22:02on our big question,
22:04does China hold the key
22:05to the West Asia war?
22:07Is China taking on the U.S.
22:09once again over Taiwan?
22:10What does the Trump-Zhi
22:12mean for India?
22:13I'm joined by special guest
22:14Aynar Tangen,
22:15Senior Fellow Center
22:16for International Governance,
22:18Innovation Chairman
22:19of Asia Narratives,
22:20joins me from Beijing.
22:21Dr. Brahma Chalani,
22:22strategic affairs expert,
22:24expert on China,
22:25joins me here.
22:26Daniel Silverberg,
22:27foreign policy analyst
22:28and former foreign policy advisor
22:29to the House Democrats,
22:30joins me from Washington.
22:32Appreciate all of you joining us.
22:33Aynar,
22:33your first reactions.
22:35Do you believe
22:36this is an icebreaker meeting?
22:38Or are we going to see
22:39something more substantive
22:40given the kind of world
22:42we live in?
22:42Any resolution at all
22:44to that critical conflict
22:45going on in West Asia?
22:48No, I'm afraid to say
22:50that I don't think so.
22:52Donald Trump was trying
22:53to ask for Beijing
22:55to put pressure
22:56directly on Tehran.
22:58But the situation there
22:59is very difficult.
23:01You have 30 different groups
23:02who are independent.
23:03They are not talking
23:04to each other
23:05because they're afraid
23:05of being discovered.
23:07And they are waging war.
23:08The idea that any country
23:10right now can go into Iran,
23:12Iran, it's their home.
23:15There is no place
23:16for them to go.
23:17There's been serious damage.
23:18Some of them believe
23:20that they are winning.
23:21Unfortunately,
23:22they don't understand
23:23that their winning
23:25is also affecting
23:26the rest of the world.
23:29Donald Trump...
23:29So are you saying
23:30China doesn't have
23:31leverage with Tehran?
23:33Sorry to intervene.
23:33Are you saying that
23:34China doesn't have
23:35leverage with Tehran
23:36to at least ensure
23:38that the Strait of Hormuz
23:39is reopened, for example?
23:41No, they don't.
23:42They trade with Tehran,
23:44but they are not...
23:46They're not in charge
23:47of their country.
23:49You know, you heard
23:49the same refrain
23:50over Ukraine and Russia.
23:53China was supposed
23:54to stop Russia
23:54or end the war
23:56and things like that.
23:57It seems like every time
23:58the U.S. causes a problem,
24:00it's somehow China's fault
24:01and it's necessary for China
24:03to figure out
24:04how to solve it.
24:06That's not how it works.
24:07The U.S. is used to idea
24:09that you run in
24:10and you push people around
24:12and you tell them
24:13what you want.
24:14China has a different
24:15point of view.
24:16It's more civilizational.
24:17They say, look,
24:18the only way you're
24:19going to have peace here
24:20is if all the parties
24:21come together
24:21and with other parties
24:23and India needs
24:23to be part of that
24:24to say you have
24:26to knock this off.
24:27The U.S.,
24:28you have to get rid
24:29of the sanctions
24:29and everything
24:31and pay some reparations
24:33or at least do something
24:35about all the damage
24:35that you cause.
24:36Israel probably needs
24:38to lose its nuclear weapons
24:39if you want to have
24:40a long-term peace
24:41in the region
24:42and obviously Iran
24:44has to give up
24:45the support of any groups
24:47that are pushing
24:48any kind of separatist
24:50or terrorist
24:51or extremist ideologies
24:54or views.
24:55So each one
24:56has something to give
24:57but the issue is
24:58how we're going
24:58to get there
24:59and right now
25:00Donald Trump
25:01thinks that pressuring others
25:03can make it go away
25:04but he's going
25:06to have to participate
25:07and as I said
25:08there's got to be
25:08a large group.
25:10Daniel Silverberg,
25:11do you go along
25:11with that?
25:12There are limits
25:13to what even the Chinese
25:15can do vis-a-vis Tehran
25:16and is that what
25:17Donald Trump wants?
25:18So is Donald Trump's
25:19China visit principally
25:20about breaking
25:21the trade deadlock
25:22perhaps achieving
25:23some kind of progress
25:25on Taiwan
25:26which doesn't seem
25:27to have again happened?
25:28What really do you believe
25:29is Donald Trump
25:30hoping to achieve
25:31here in Beijing?
25:33Okay.
25:34Well I think
25:35it's highly speculative
25:36of what exactly
25:38China can do
25:40vis-a-vis Iran.
25:41I think the better
25:42question is
25:43how much are they
25:44willing to do
25:45with Iran
25:46and in my view
25:47they do not
25:49want to get
25:50any further
25:51entangled
25:52in the U.S.-Iran
25:54dynamic
25:55than they already are.
25:56They have
25:57way too much
25:58at stake
25:58and that includes
26:00providing
26:01above radar
26:03intensive support
26:04to Iran.
26:06Notice that China
26:07other than a few
26:08protests
26:09at the U.N.
26:11has not been
26:12particularly
26:12vulnerable
26:13about the U.S.
26:15attack
26:16on Iran
26:17and has not
26:19come to
26:19Iran's
26:20rescue.
26:21Quite the contrary
26:23I think that
26:24while they continue
26:26to probably provide
26:27intelligence support
26:28and clearly
26:31are giving
26:32money
26:33to feed
26:34this regime
26:35through the
26:37through oil
26:38sales
26:38I don't think
26:39that they're
26:40interested
26:41in getting
26:42deeply involved
26:42in Iran
26:43and much
26:43of the Trump
26:44administration
26:44pushed all
26:45that hard
26:46either.
26:46I agree
26:47with your
26:47premise.
26:48The number
26:49one thing
26:49that the
26:49Trump
26:49administration
26:50wanted out
26:51of this
26:51summit
26:51was economic
26:53progress
26:54was to make
26:54a deal
26:55on the trade
26:55front.
26:56That's where
26:57they put
26:57their resources.
26:58That's where
26:59there was
27:00a serious
27:01exchange of
27:01paper
27:02and a
27:02rigorous
27:03diplomatic
27:03effort
27:04beforehand.
27:04I suspect
27:05that's where
27:06we'll see
27:06progress
27:07not so much
27:08on the
27:08Iran file
27:09or on
27:10other broad
27:11geopolitical
27:12issues of
27:12tension.
27:13How do you
27:14see it
27:14how do you
27:16see this
27:16shaking hands
27:17that we're
27:17seeing on
27:18the screen
27:18between
27:19President
27:19Xi
27:20and
27:20President
27:21Trump?
27:23Trump
27:23went to
27:24Beijing
27:25with a
27:25weakened
27:26hand
27:26one
27:28reason
27:28is
27:28Iran
27:29war
27:29which
27:30has
27:30turned
27:30into
27:31a
27:31self-made
27:32fiasco
27:33with the
27:34U.S.
27:34bogged
27:34down
27:35by a
27:35far
27:36weaker
27:36power.
27:37The
27:37war
27:38has
27:38drained
27:38critical
27:39U.S.
27:40munitions
27:40and damaged
27:42U.S.
27:42bases
27:43and radar
27:44installations
27:44in the
27:45Middle
27:45East.
27:46The
27:46war
27:46has
27:47also
27:47exposed
27:48deeper
27:48U.S.
27:49weaknesses
27:49including
27:50vulnerable
27:50forward
27:51bases
27:51and the
27:52difficulty
27:53of
27:54countering
27:54drone
27:55swarms.
27:56All
27:57this
27:57has
27:57raised
27:57doubts
27:58in
27:58Taiwan
27:59and
28:00in
28:00other
28:00U.S.
28:01allies
28:01like
28:02Japan
28:02and
28:02South
28:03Korea
28:03about
28:04U.S.
28:05readiness
28:05for a
28:07potential
28:07conflict
28:08with
28:08China.
28:09A
28:10second
28:10reason
28:11is the
28:11U.S.
28:12economic
28:12picture.
28:14Unlike
28:14in Trump's
28:15first term
28:16the U.S.
28:18was strong,
28:19the U.S.
28:20now faces
28:21stagflation.
28:22The U.S.
28:24deeply
28:25reliant
28:25on
28:25Chinese
28:26inputs,
28:27not least
28:28rare
28:28earths,
28:29and Beijing
28:30has shown
28:31it will
28:32weaponize
28:32that
28:33dependence.
28:34It's
28:35against
28:35this
28:36background,
28:38Rasdeep,
28:39that Trump
28:40has made
28:40a dramatic
28:42U-turn
28:42in his
28:43China
28:44policy.
28:44His
28:45policy has
28:46shifted
28:46from
28:46confrontation
28:47to
28:48accommodation.
28:50That has
28:50been a
28:51huge
28:52change
28:53in
28:53Trump's
28:54China
28:54policy.
28:55Should
28:56that worry
28:56us in
28:58India,
28:58if he's
28:59moving from
29:00confrontation
29:00to
29:01accommodation
29:01with
29:02Beijing?
29:02Well,
29:03as far
29:04as India
29:05is concerned,
29:05this
29:06fundamental
29:07shift
29:07in
29:08Trump's
29:09China
29:09policy
29:09erodes
29:11India's
29:12salience
29:13in
29:14U.S.
29:14policy
29:15as a
29:16potential
29:16counterweight
29:17to
29:17China.
29:18And
29:19one
29:19consequence
29:20of
29:20this
29:21is
29:21that
29:22the
29:22Quad,
29:22that
29:23is
29:23the
29:23U.S.,
29:24Australia,
29:25Japan,
29:25India
29:26Quad,
29:26the Quad
29:27is
29:28drifting
29:28toward
29:29strategic
29:30irrelevance.
29:31But to
29:32contain
29:32the fallout
29:33from
29:33Trump's
29:34shift
29:36in
29:36policy
29:36on
29:36China
29:37and to
29:38prevent
29:38an
29:38impression
29:39from
29:39forming
29:40that the
29:41Quad
29:41is now
29:41defunct,
29:42the U.S.
29:43has agreed
29:44to a
29:44Quad
29:45foreign
29:45ministers
29:45meeting
29:46in
29:46New
29:46Delhi
29:47on
29:47May
29:4825th,
29:49shortly
29:49after
29:50Trump
29:50returns
29:51home
29:51from
29:51Beijing.
29:52Secretary
29:53of State
29:54Rubio's
29:54participation
29:55in the
29:55New
29:56Delhi
29:56meeting
29:56is
29:57intended
29:57to
29:58signal
29:58that
29:59the
29:59Quad
29:59remains
30:00relevant.
30:00But the
30:01Quad
30:01meeting
30:02and Rubio's
30:03participation
30:04in it
30:05are little
30:06more than
30:06damage
30:07control.
30:08The blunt
30:10truth is
30:11that the
30:11Quad is
30:12adrift.
30:13you're
30:14making a
30:14strong
30:14point
30:15that the
30:15Quad is
30:16moving
30:16towards
30:16strategic
30:17irrelevance
30:18but I
30:18know one
30:19of the
30:19statements
30:19made today
30:20Xi Jinping
30:21apparently
30:22said Taiwan
30:23is the
30:23most important
30:24issue and
30:25the Taiwan
30:25question is
30:26critical to
30:27U.S.-China
30:28relations could
30:29lead to
30:29confrontation
30:30if badly
30:31managed.
30:32Is China
30:32looking at
30:33the U.S.
30:34in the eye
30:34again and
30:35sensing a
30:36vulnerability
30:36in Donald
30:37Trump?
30:39Not
30:39vulnerability.
30:40I mean
30:40this is not
30:41a new
30:41message and
30:42before Trump
30:43left the
30:44United States
30:45the ambassador
30:46of China
30:46to Washington
30:48clearly stated
30:49that there
30:50were four
30:50red lines
30:51and Taiwan
30:52was the
30:52first and
30:53foremost.
30:54This is
30:55just a
30:55repetition
30:56of everything
30:57that they
30:57said.
30:57There's
30:58some concern
30:59about the
31:00fact that
31:00there's
31:00this 11
31:01to 14
31:02billion dollar
31:03arms sales
31:04to Taiwan.
31:06this is a
31:07record amount.
31:08It also
31:09introduces this
31:10idea that
31:11Taiwan will
31:11possess weapons
31:12that can
31:13reach deep
31:14into the
31:15mainland,
31:15perhaps even
31:16to Beijing.
31:17That's the
31:18red line,
31:19one of them.
31:20The other
31:20one is if
31:21for some
31:21reason the
31:23Taiwanese
31:23authorities decide
31:24that they
31:25want to
31:26declare
31:26independence.
31:27It's not
31:28a threat.
31:29China doesn't
31:31threaten that
31:31way.
31:32If there
31:32in fact is
31:33a move
31:33in those
31:34directions,
31:34there will
31:35be an
31:36armed
31:36confrontation.
31:37So what
31:38are we
31:39seeing,
31:40Daniel
31:40Silverberg?
31:41What do
31:42you see as
31:43the biggest
31:43takeaway then?
31:44If Donald
31:45Trump, as
31:45Brahma Chalani
31:46says, moving
31:47from confrontation
31:48to accommodation,
31:50do you see
31:51this relationship
31:51now strengthening
31:53in the years
31:54ahead or is
31:55there still
31:55fundamental
31:56mistrust on
31:57key issues?
31:59I think
32:00Donald Trump's
32:00fundamental
32:01objective in
32:02this summit
32:04was not
32:06to achieve
32:07specific wins
32:09on any
32:09issue.
32:10It was
32:11to have
32:12an excellent
32:12rapport
32:13with President
32:14Xi and
32:15then let
32:16the details
32:16be figured
32:18out after.
32:19In my
32:20mind,
32:22Trump has
32:23shifted from
32:25conflict to
32:26accommodation,
32:26back to
32:26conflict,
32:27any number
32:28of times
32:29over his
32:29first term
32:30and over
32:30the last
32:30two years.
32:31personally,
32:33I am
32:34disappointed
32:34that he's
32:36taken an
32:37accommodation
32:37approach on
32:38some pretty
32:39key issues.
32:40For example,
32:41I'm not
32:41seeing much
32:43public
32:43statements
32:44around ending
32:45the war
32:45in Ukraine.
32:46China could
32:47end this
32:49war tomorrow
32:50if they
32:51pushed Russia
32:53to end its
32:54military conflict
32:55and to end
32:56their financial
32:57support for
32:57Russia.
32:58Likewise,
32:59there is no
33:00mention of
33:01human rights.
33:02This was
33:02one of the
33:03marquee issues
33:04for the
33:04Bush
33:05administration,
33:06for the
33:06Obama
33:06administration,
33:07and certainly
33:08for the
33:08Biden
33:09administration.
33:10I have
33:10not heard
33:11anything about
33:12the Uyghurs,
33:13about Chinese
33:14suppression of
33:16minority
33:17rights.
33:18I look at
33:19this and
33:20see the
33:21president does
33:22not want
33:22to duke it
33:25out with
33:26President Xi.
33:27They want
33:27to have a
33:27good meeting.
33:28They want
33:28to get to
33:29the
33:29economic
33:30issues and
33:31put aside
33:32some of
33:33the
33:33thornier
33:34challenging
33:35issues that
33:36undergird this
33:37relationship
33:38right now.
33:39Final word
33:40then,
33:41Brahma
33:42Chalani.
33:43It appears
33:44that China
33:45and the
33:46U.S.
33:47perhaps have
33:47kept some
33:48of the
33:48ticklish
33:49issues away,
33:49including
33:50Iran.
33:51Therefore,
33:52there was
33:53an expectation
33:53that will
33:54this result
33:55in a
33:55major
33:56breakthrough,
33:57especially
33:57on the
33:58West Asia
33:58conflict.
33:59That doesn't
33:59seem to be
34:00happening.
34:01And that
34:02should worry
34:03us even
34:03again here
34:04in India,
34:05that it
34:06appears at
34:07the moment
34:07that there
34:09seems to be
34:09no one with
34:10the locus to
34:11bring an end
34:11to the
34:12conflict.
34:13You're right,
34:14absolutely,
34:15Razdeep.
34:16The visit's
34:18outcome is
34:20actually a
34:21managed
34:21detente,
34:23a cooling
34:24rhetoric and
34:25a symbolic
34:26reset.
34:27Without a
34:28breakthrough on
34:29any of the
34:30major issues
34:31that divide
34:31them, both
34:33the U.S.
34:33and China
34:34will claim
34:34the visit
34:35to be a
34:35success.
34:36But I
34:37think there's
34:37a larger
34:37point that
34:39the world
34:39will notice.
34:41During this
34:42visit to
34:42China, Trump
34:44has been on
34:45his best
34:45behavior.
34:46In fact, he
34:47has been
34:48deferential,
34:49telling Xi
34:50Jinping, it's
34:52an honor to
34:53be your
34:53friend.
34:54And I
34:55think the
34:55spectacle
34:56highlights one
34:59troubling
34:59aspect about
35:00Trump, how
35:02under his
35:03leadership,
35:04America's
35:05principal
35:06strategic
35:06rival gets
35:08the flattery
35:09and respect
35:10while U.S.
35:12allies and
35:12strategic
35:13partners are
35:14more often
35:15treated by
35:16Trump, like
35:17freeloaders or
35:18vassal states
35:19or adversaries.
35:21In fact, Trump
35:22validates what
35:23Henry Kissinger
35:25once cynically
35:26said.
35:27Kissinger said,
35:28it may be
35:28dangerous to
35:29be America's
35:30enemy, but
35:31to be America's
35:33friend is
35:34fatal.
35:35Let me leave
35:36it there.
35:37Let me leave
35:38it there.
35:38Good to have
35:39all three of
35:40you on the
35:41show and
35:41giving very
35:42different
35:42perspectives.
35:43Good to have
35:43views from
35:44Beijing, New
35:44Delhi and
35:45Washington.
35:46Thanks very
35:47much for
35:47joining us.
35:48We'll track
35:48that meeting
35:49very closely.
35:50I want to
35:50return back
35:51home to
35:51another big
35:52story, the
35:52neat paper
35:53leak probe,
35:54which every
35:54day is
35:55throwing up
35:55more and
35:55more explosive
35:56claims in a
35:57widening
35:57multi-state
35:58network.
35:59An accused
35:59in CBI
36:00custody alleging
36:01that big
36:01fish are
36:02being protected
36:03even as the
36:04agency uncovers
36:05money trails,
36:06alleged paper
36:06drills and
36:07admissions across
36:08states.
36:09Take a look.
36:14The big
36:15fish are being
36:16protected.
36:17shocking claim
36:18by a neat
36:19leak accused
36:20while in
36:21CBI custody,
36:23alleging that
36:23influential people
36:24are being
36:25protected and
36:26only small
36:27fries are
36:27getting
36:29nabbed.
36:34among the
36:35arrested Mangilal
36:37Biwal, his
36:38brother Dinesh
36:39Biwal and
36:39Dinesh's son
36:40Vikas Biwal
36:41allegedly played
36:42a key role in
36:44the leak.
36:44Dinesh Biwal, who
36:46allegedly has
36:46links to local
36:47BJP leaders, is
36:49being accused of
36:50buying the
36:50question papers
36:51between April
36:5226th and
36:53April 27th for
36:54approximately
36:5530 lakh rupees.
36:57The question
36:57paper was
36:58allegedly bought
36:59for Dinesh's
37:00son, Vikas
37:01Biwal, who
37:02was preparing
37:03for NEET.
37:04Later, the
37:04Biwals allegedly
37:05sold the same
37:06question paper
37:07to other
37:08students in
37:09seeker.
37:11Pichlí
37:12bár
37:12NEET
37:132025
37:13में
37:14इस
37:14घर
37:14से
37:155
37:15बच्चे
37:161-7
37:16MBBS
37:17कोर्स
37:18में
37:19सलेक्ट
37:19हुए
37:19हैं
37:19और
37:20इसकी
37:20सूचना
37:21खुद
37:21Dinesh
37:22ने
37:22सोचल
37:22मीडिया
37:23पोश्ट
37:23पर
37:24साजा
37:25किया
37:25था
37:25कि
37:25हमारे
37:26घर
37:26के
37:265
37:26बच्चे
37:27सरकारी
37:28Medical
37:28College
37:28में
37:29सलेक्ट
37:29हुए
37:29हैं
37:30मैंने
37:31इनके
37:31घर
37:31के
37:32ओरतों
37:33से
37:33जानना
37:33चाहा
37:34तो
37:35इन्हों
37:35ने
37:35कहा
37:35कि
37:35हम
37:36बखरिया
37:37चराकर
37:37अपने
37:37बच्चे
37:38को
37:38पढ़ाये
37:39हैं
37:39मगर
37:39यहाँ
37:39देकर
37:52असा
37:52लगता
37:56नहीं
37:57लुए
37:58जानना
37:59पार
37:59लीग
38:00गर
38:00लुए
38:00अस
38:00अच्ट
38:02महें
38:03आफ
38:07गूर
38:08अध
38:09वित
38:11अर्यू
38:12लुए
38:12नहीं
38:13गशना
38:13चराक्ट
38:13अस
38:14कर
38:14महें
38:18इंफर्म
38:20इंक्त
38:26इंक्त
38:27मनिश
38:27Pune, where she allegedly charged 25,000 rupees from each candidate to facilitate medical
38:34admissions. Sources added that investigators discovered deposits worth 10 lakh in her
38:40account from 31 different sources. Other suspects arrested are Dhananjay Lokhande and Shubham
38:47Khernar, who ran his operations from Nasek.
38:51You can see behind me, there's a board, SR Education Consultancy. We help students for
38:57career in MDDS, BAMS, BPS, BHMS, or UG, PG, Paramedical and Engineering.
39:04Admissions process, guidance, management and support, Dr. Shubham Khernar, also a mobile
39:08number is mentioned. This consultancy was run by Shubham Khernar, the prime accused who
39:13has been arrested by the CBI in the next papally case. Shubham Khernar is the link who
39:19provided the question paper, the case paper, which reached Haryana, then Najat Khan, then
39:24to multiple coaching institutes and to multiple students across various states. Shubham Khernar
39:30was running this consultancy in Nasek's high-profile commercial complex. You can see over here,
39:35there's the guest office.
39:38The investigation, so far, points to a racket spread across multiple states. But it is still
39:45not known who is the kingpin of the big NEET paper league scam.
39:49With Sharad Kumar and Divyesh Singh, Bureau Report, India Today.
40:02Meanwhile, student protests are beginning across several states after the cancellation of the
40:08NEET UG 2026 exams. Amidst the growing outrage, AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal invoked the Gen Z protests
40:16in Bangladesh and Nepal, urging students to launch a larger movement, saying the government
40:20only understands the language of agitation. I want to, at this moment, go across to the
40:26Army Party leader, Ati Shi, on those statements that Arvind Kejriwal made. Let's go straight across
40:33to Ati Shi.
40:38Okay, so as politics continues to roil over the NEET paper league, I am joined by the
40:44Aam Admi Party leader, former Delhi Chief Minister and former Education Minister of Delhi.
40:48Ati Shi joins me, appreciate you joining us. Your party wants to take the lead with your
40:54leader, Arvind Kejriwal, saying, wake up Gen Z, wake up, rise and fight. It almost seems as
41:00if you want students to come out on the streets against the NEET paper leagues. Is that what
41:06you want? That people should hit the street?
41:09Rajdeep, what are the choices the youth of this country have? Every year, 20 lakh students
41:16take the NEET exam. And it's not just 20 lakh students. There is a story of struggle behind
41:22every family of students who are studying 14 hours a day, of students, young people, 17,
41:2918, 19 year olds, who are living away from home, staying in one tiny room preparing for
41:34the exam. Of parents who spend their entire life savings getting their children proper
41:40coaching so that they can crack the NEET exam. And then what happens? Year after year after
41:46the NEET paper gets leaked. In the current tenure of, in BJP's tenure, in PM Modi's tenure
41:54as Prime Minister, this is the fourth time the paper has got leaked. And every time, the
42:00same things are said again and again. We have ordered a CBI inquiry.
42:05You are seemingly making it out to be as if this is the fault of the Education Minister
42:09Dharmendra Pradhan or the Modi government. The National Testing Agency came up, of course,
42:14in 2017. But the truth of the matter is, there have been concerns for a long time over the
42:20manner in which these various exam mafias operate and particularly with the stakes so high in
42:24NEET. There is a fear that the system has been corroded for way too long. Are you going
42:29to pin all the blame at the BJP government itself? Papers have leaked, even at state government
42:33level, state papers have leaked over the, in recent years.
42:37But the maximum number of paper leaks Rajdeep have happened in states which have the double
42:42engine sirkaat. Maximum leaks have happened in Madhya Pradesh, have happened in Gujarat,
42:49have happened in states where BJP governments are in power. So obviously, the buck has to
42:55stop at the government. And for the NEET paper, the buck has to stop at the Education Minister
43:00Dharmendra Pradhan and the Prime Minister. Remember, this is our Prime Minister who every year
43:06has these pariksha pe charchas. He sits with students and gives them tips, gives them advice
43:13on how to take exams. My question to the Prime Minister is, did you never have pariksha pe charcha
43:18with your minister? Did you never have pariksha pe charcha with the police? Did you never have
43:22pariksha pe charcha with the NTA and its senior officers? Is it rocket science to conduct an exam?
43:30If you cannot conduct an exam, how do we trust this government with nuclear arsenal and the nuclear
43:36bomb and missiles and defense systems, the very same government cannot even keep a paper safe?
43:42No, but what's the solution? Atishi, politics will tell you, you want Dharmendra Pradhan's
43:48resignation, you want the Prime Minister to be held accountable, but give me a solution.
43:52Do you have a concrete solution? If there was an armed army party government, what would the solution
43:56be to ensure that there are no paper leaks given, as I said, the stakes involved, the kind
44:00of scamsters that are involved in operating these exam mafias? Rajdeep, if the government takes
44:08strict and exemplary action even once, against the mafia, against all the people involved,
44:15against the officers who have been involved, no one will have the courage another time to leak a paper.
44:20You know what happened last time? When the 2024 paper leak happened, Sanjeev Mukhiya,
44:26if you remember, was the main accused in the paper leak in 2024. You know why he got bail?
44:32He got bail because CBI did not file the charge sheet in 90 days. And please remember,
44:40this is the same CBI, when Arvind K. Jariwal gets discharged in the excise policy case,
44:46within four hours, they filed a revision petition in the Delhi High Court. So obviously the CBI is not
44:53inefficient. So if a charge sheet is not filed in 90 days, what does that tell us? That the CBI's
45:01political bosses wanted that accused to get bail? Otherwise, why could the CBI not file the charge
45:07sheet in 90 days? Because the fact…
45:09Because the CBI is unable to do anything, if the state police is not able to do anything,
45:13if the education minister is not able to do anything, if the prime minister,
45:17despite his annual pariksha pe chachas is not able to do anything, what other choice does
45:23Gen Z have other than to take to the streets? Okay, the Aam Admi Party calling on students to take
45:31to the streets over the neat paper leak. Let's to our Get Real India story, a shocking image of farm
45:36distress from rural Maharashtra, where an onion farmer in Dharashiv has set his entire stock on fire
45:42after being offered just one rupee per kilo by traders. The incident has once again put the spotlight on
45:48crashing crop prices amidst growing anger among farmers. Get Real India.
46:03An act of desperation by a farmer in Maharashtra. Bhagawan Sable set 600 sacks of onions on fire
46:14after traders quoted a price of one rupee per kilo. The farmer from Tintraj village in Dharashiv district
46:22had spent over 80,000 rupees per acre for cultivation. Earlier, he had sold 70 sacks of onions for
46:30just 4,000 rupees.
46:50There is widespread resentment among farmers in Maratwara. Farmers in the region have faced a double blow this time,
46:57falling prices and unseasonal rains. They are struggling to recover even their production costs.
47:04and have a lot of people who use the risks to avoid less than her people.
47:19This means the 50 to 400-50 rupees is the равно-100 rupees.
47:26It should be less than 2000 rupees.
47:29This means the bank.
47:31It should be less than 2000 rupees.
47:34Most farmers are facing a debt problem.
47:37They are now hoping for relief from the government.
47:42Bureau Report, India Today.
47:49Yet real India stories that, as I said, you often don't see on prime time.
47:54I want to leave you with our image tonight.
47:57Storms and heavy rain have battered large parts of Uttar Pradesh.
48:00At least 104 people died on Wednesday due to the storms.
48:04A man was blown away in the air along with a tin shed in Bareilly.
48:08The man identified as Nanne Mia sustained injuries after falling to the ground.
48:12He is undergoing treatment at a hospital.
48:14We hope he recovers soon.
48:16Those are the terrifying images that have come in from Uttar Pradesh.
48:20That's it on the show tonight.
48:22Thanks for watching.
48:23You stay well.
48:24Stay safe.
48:25Good night.
48:25Shubratri.
48:26Jai Hind.
48:27Namaskar.
48:30Jai Hind.
48:30Jai Hind.
48:30Jai Hind.
48:30Jai Hind.
48:30Jai Hind.
48:31Jai Hind.
48:31Jai Hind.
Comments