- 4 months ago
The government on Friday hiked fuel prices by Rs three per litre for petrol and diesel, and Rs two for CNG, driven by rising global crude prices and supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.
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00:12Hello and welcome. I'm Sonal Mehrotra Kapoor. You are watching 5 Live.
00:17Story is in focus today. Let me tell you all about them first.
00:21Well, we have woken up to a 3 rupee fuel price hike across the country.
00:26But the story here is not just a 3 rupee hike, which perhaps everybody was sort of expecting.
00:34The story here is that this could just be a trial balloon.
00:39That this is just phase one of the several other hikes to come.
00:46Is there an upper limit? We made some calculations and we've got that very interesting graphic for you on the
00:52program.
00:53So stay tuned for that. Story number two on the program, we tell you about Delhi's plan of going work
00:59from home for two days.
01:01Government says that they're going to do it. There are photo ops of ministers.
01:05But will this be transferred to schools and private offices next?
01:11That's the question I'm asking Mr. Majinder Singh, Sirsa, senior cabinet member in the Delhi government.
01:16He joins us on the program today.
01:19And talking about ministers, I've got the third one on the program.
01:22And this is about the education mantri.
01:25He finally broke his silence when it came to NEAT examinations.
01:29But he said nothing.
01:32All the unanswered questions on NEAT is what we will decode on the program.
01:37First up, as always, let's begin with the top stories on Top of 5.
02:41But in the middle of all of this politics, who's taking a real hit?
02:44It's the rupee. Rupee is under pressure and markets are feeling the heat.
02:49The Indian currency has slipped even further to a record low, reaching the 96 mark against the U.S. dollar.
02:56After weakening for three straight sessions, foreign traders now point to a perfect storm.
03:02Rising crude oil prices are strengthening dollar and escalating tensions in West Asia, all denting the investor sentiment.
03:11As the NEAT leak fallout deepens, a re-exam has now been scheduled.
03:16The date is 21st of June.
03:18With the centre now assuring merit will prevail.
03:21To ease pressure, the government has announced relaxations.
03:2315 extra minutes, choice of exam city and one week correction window after the admit cards as well.
03:33Meanwhile, the CBI crackdown is intensifying with the Biwal family under scanner as suspected repeat players.
03:43Meanwhile, Dharmendra Pradhan, the Education Mantri, has admitted that NDA needed urgent strengthening.
03:48With all links now under scanner, officials say loopholes will be fixed even as the agency claims to have flagged
03:55the leak itself.
03:56In a major reform push, NEAT may shift to an online format next year, is what the minister is saying.
04:03But he did not answer any questions on why did it happen, despite warnings.
04:10In a significant ruling in the Bhushala dispute, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has now held that the site's original
04:16character
04:16was that of a Sanskrit learning centre associated with Raja Bhogh, relying that the ASI scientific survey
04:23and the country and the court, in fact, Bhagavan said that the religious character of the complex
04:29is that of a temple dedicated to Goddess Saraswati and squashed earlier restrictions on Hindu worship.
04:37Bengal Chief Minister Svendu Adhikari cracks the whip, suspending three IPS officers,
04:41including the former Kolkata Chief Minister, Vineet Goyal, in the RGKAR case.
04:46The CM says that the case was mishandled and the police failed in their role.
04:50A detailed report has now been sought from the Home Department on the conduct of Kolkata police in the probe.
05:00Amid Dharaw over Sanatan Rimaak, Tamil Nadu LOP, Udyan Nidhi, Stalin now clarifies,
05:06says destroying Sanatan doesn't mean giving up temples but ending caste discrimination.
05:12Meanwhile, TVK's Adhav Arjuna plays down the remark, but BJP's Annamalai targets TVK
05:18and asks Vijay to spell out his stand.
05:25Prime Minister Modi kicks off the five-day nation visit in UAE today.
05:29Warm hugs and handshakes for those he calls Sheikh Mohammed bin Zaid.
05:34As Prime Minister Modi lands in UAE on a high-stakes visit,
05:38but behind the optics, Prime Minister Modi took a strong stand condemning recent attacks on the UAE,
05:44calls for targeting civilians unacceptable and pushes for diplomacy over conflict.
05:52A big signal from Beijing after Trump's high-stakes meet with Xi Jinping.
05:57Trump says Xi probably has the ability to influence Iran even as the war escalates.
06:03The US president has also called Xi a friend, sort of pitching a reset in their ties.
06:08Ties between the world's two of the biggest powerhouses.
06:12But behind the warm strategic messaging, both leaders sort of align on key red lines.
06:17Iran must not go nuclear and the Strait of Hormuz must open.
06:29All right, so the biggest story of the day is clearly that diesel and petrol prices went up by 3
06:35rupees a litre.
06:35Now, the price was a pause, was, you know, the price rise in a way was on a pause for
06:43four years.
06:44And that pause has been unpaused.
06:47And if you were watching closely, the government told you this was going to happen.
06:51It hasn't come as a surprise, really.
06:54Let me quickly tell you where they stand in the top metros.
06:56In Delhi, petrol is now 94, diesel is 97, beg your pardon.
07:01Was 94, now is 97, diesel is now 90.
07:04In Mumbai, petrol is now 106, diesel is 106, petrol is 103.
07:12In Kolkata, petrol is 105.
07:15And in Chennai, petrol is also 103.
07:19But why now?
07:21Why is this hike happening at this point?
07:25Remember, before the West Asia war escalated on the 28th of Feb,
07:29this year, the Brent crude was at $73 a barrel.
07:33Look at that number.
07:3573 going up different ways, different times of the war when it started.
07:39Now, finally, it has crossed that mark as well.
07:44It crossed 126 also at one particular point.
07:48In just about 60 days, it stands at around 100 and, you know, 200 and, you know,
07:53going out a little further there.
07:55The state of Hormuz is closed.
07:56And with that, 45% of India's crude oil supply route, it's stuck there.
08:01Now, India has to find oil elsewhere.
08:03This means longer routes.
08:05It means costlier routes.
08:07The oil minister confirmed that the state-run companies were absorbing the losses
08:13of 1,000 crore every single day just to hold prices steady.
08:19Now, that could not go on forever, he said.
08:22The rest of the world had already raised prices.
08:24India did not.
08:26India was in the middle of four critical state elections.
08:29What was a political pause on price rise has today been financially unpaused.
08:38First, the government has laid out its intentions in stages.
08:42If you see March 27th, crude at $122 a barrel,
08:47oil minister Harthi Puri cut the excise duty on petrol and diesel,
08:51saying the government was taking a hit on its own finances to shield the customers.
08:55A shield, remember, not a permanent fix.
08:58This is what the oil minister said.
08:59Then came the comment on the 12th of May,
09:03where he posted on social media,
09:07confirming that OMCs are losing 1,000 crore a day
09:10and calling out critics who said that a crisis was coming.
09:14Same week the RBI governor weighs in,
09:17Sanjay Malhotra says that it is just a matter of time
09:20before the government passes on some of the price increase.
09:22So, three voices, one direction.
09:27Industry sources say that 3 rupees is roughly one-tenth
09:32of the correction actually needed.
09:37Let that sink in.
09:38One-tenth.
09:41Companies were reportedly losing 100 rupees per litre on diesel
09:45and 20 rupees per litre on petrol.
09:48The gap is large, more hikes, perhaps expected in phases.
09:57Total correction of petrol could be about 23 rupees,
10:02diesel could be about 30.
10:03The pattern is already visible.
10:05Prime Minister's conservation appeal first,
10:10excise cut then and now the increase of 3 rupees.
10:15More possibly to follow.
10:17Was the Prime Minister's appeal a way to prepare us
10:20for the times to come?
10:21Expectation management, it's called.
10:24Fuel price changes feed into transportation costs,
10:27remember, within two to three months.
10:30Pushing up food and goods prices across the board.
10:34And 3 rupees today will show up on your grocery bill soon.
10:38But what comes next, we'll add to that as well.
10:42The question we are asking tonight is that,
10:46is this just the beginning of a long-drawn price increase?
10:51Is this 3 rupees just one-tenth of what is actually about to hit your and my wallet?
11:06The solution is and the price is new.
11:08Is this a particularly important item?
11:08The price is getting bigger.
11:09The rates are increasing in a market.
11:11It's just a huge price.
11:12The rates are increasing in the market.
11:13It's just the maximum.
11:20The big is that big is okay.
11:23The old is that big is when it's getting bigger,
11:28there won't be anything.
11:40The long-expected fuel price hike is finally here.
11:46Oil marketing companies have announced a 3-rupee hike in fuel prices and a 2-rupee increase in CNG prices.
11:55The price hike is said to have a cascading effect, leading to price rise.
12:03India today tracked the impact from every major city after the fuel price hike.
12:10Diesel petrol prices have been hiked by around 3 rupees.
12:15If you talk of Kashmir, the latest or today's price of petrol is 104.04.
12:24It means around 3 rupees, 9 paisa the prices have increased.
12:29And as far as diesel is concerned, it's around a hike of 2.98 rupees.
12:36In Delhi, if you're buying petrol this morning, it will cost you 97 rupees, 81 paisa.
12:42And for diesel, you'll have to spend 90 rupees, 71 paisa.
12:46This increase for CNG is nearly 2 rupees.
12:51Fuel prices have been hiked across India and I'm coming to a place from Bengaluru, a petrol station or a
12:57fuel station where you can see people coming here to fill in their tanks.
13:02Rupees 3 is the what the hike has been put in place right now.
13:06The price right now per litre in Bengaluru is somewhere around 106 rupees.
13:12So, you can see 106.22 per litre of fuel and diesel stands at 94.09.
13:21The armed people shared their concerns over the increased financial impact of the fuel price hike.
13:46And the hike comes just days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave the mantra of saving and spending wisely and
13:54urged people to conserve fuel.
13:59My country's appeal to the fuel price hike.
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14:35The Prime Minister led by example and significantly reduced the size of his convoy to save fuel.
14:44Several other political leaders followed suit.
14:51Just days ago, oil companies had hiked commercial LPG cylinder prices by 993 rupees.
14:59If the West Asia crisis doesn't end soon, citizens may have to brace for even tougher times ahead.
15:10With Nagarjun Dwarkanath, Amit Bharadwaj, Kamaljeet Kaur Sandhu, Aseem Bassi and Meir Fareed, Bureau Report, India Today.
15:25All right, but let me explain to you what really is happening when it comes to petrol and diesel prices
15:30and why we say the 3 rupees is just a trial balloon.
15:34Okay, so imagine that there was a price that you and I were paying and there is a price at
15:40the companies that the oil companies were paying.
15:43The oil companies were paying a price for petrol, at least we are told, if we look at the number
15:50given by the petroleum minister himself on his social media, 24 rupees more than what you and I pay.
16:00Okay.
16:02On diesel, they were paying around 30 rupees more.
16:07Okay.
16:08Now, out of this 24, the government said it is going to let go of some of its own margins
16:15to ease out the pressure on the companies.
16:18So, I'm just giving you for your understanding, it's not an accurate number, but say this number comes down to
16:2320.
16:26Let me see if this makes sense.
16:28The government said, okay, we'll ease it out.
16:30Let's bring it to 20.
16:32Okay.
16:33Now, what is the price hike that we have seen so far?
16:37Only one time so far after the elections, which is 3 rupees.
16:42Now, this increase in price has come.
16:46This is only 3 rupees.
16:48What does this tell you?
16:49That there is still a deficit of 17.
16:53Where will this 17 come from?
16:56That is the question.
16:59What we are made to understand from experts, from sources within the government at the moment is that the only
17:06logical thing for the government to do at this time is to give you a staggered increase.
17:11So, say it's 3 rupees right now, it will be another 3 or 5 later and that entire margin of
17:1917 will be met.
17:21So, ultimately, this is the price we've got to pay, 20 rupees more.
17:27This is just to make you understand how these numbers are actually panning out.
17:32Now, is there something that the government, can the government really do something about it?
17:39Well, different governments, different economies have all given out warnings.
17:44If you hear what the Singapore, you know, head had to say, if you hear other countries as well.
17:49They've all warned their public that the times ahead are tough.
17:53So, prep up for it.
17:55The Prime Minister's so-called, you know, spend-wise mantra was also in a way a warning.
18:03It was expectation management to tell us that times are tough.
18:09Spend less and immediately three days later, you see what has happened.
18:15This is what the question now is, how soon will Hormuz open and how soon can this be cut down?
18:23But what happens through the deficit in the middle?
18:26But the takeaway from this entire calculation is this.
18:29And remember, this is just petrol.
18:31This is petrol that I've told you about.
18:33Diesel is much wider and this will actually have an impact on pricing even more.
18:40But what will the government do in days ahead will be interesting to watch out for.
18:45I'm told I have S.C. Garg, former finance secretary with me joining us for more details on this.
18:50And let me get across to him and understand a little more.
18:54Mr. Garg, thank you so much for joining us.
18:55I was trying to do a rough calculation here to see how exactly the days ahead are going to look
19:00like.
19:00What is your understanding?
19:02Do you think this three rupee hike at the moment is just a child balloon, just the tip of the
19:08iceberg?
19:10Phased wise increase is the only option and is the only logical thing to happen in the coming days?
19:19So there are large under-recoveries which you have pointed out, 24, 30 rupees.
19:26Someone has to bear the cost of it.
19:29Either the government bears it or the oil companies bear it or the consumers bear it.
19:35The government earlier reduced the excise duties by 10 rupees.
19:39That is what the government took upon itself, the hit on its finances.
19:46Now, for the rest, the oil companies were bearing it until now.
19:51And now it has been passed down to a small marginal extent to the consumers at about 3 rupees.
19:59There is a large gap. Oil companies cannot sustain this.
20:04Somebody has to take it.
20:07And therefore, if the situation continues as it is,
20:11that the crude oil prices remain elevated at about $110 and $120 per barrel,
20:19sooner or later the government will have to pass on.
20:23It makes sense not to give a big jolt at one go and prepare the people slowly, slowly.
20:35This 3 rupees maybe next week or next 15 days and other 3, 5 rupees.
20:41And in over a period of two months, if the prices continues to be like this,
20:48that is the way the government will have to pass on.
20:50The government cannot further reduce the taxes.
20:54The oil companies cannot bear it.
20:57And therefore, this is the most logical sense or measure in the given circumstances.
21:06Right. That was my sense as well.
21:09But Mr. Kirk, help me understand it.
21:10The measures, the spend-wise measures that the Prime Minister has asked the country to sort of move towards,
21:17what role do they play in the larger scheme of things here?
21:23That is not really very encouraging to my mind.
21:28That's more symbolic.
21:29And this is one of the weakest measures to my mind.
21:36The price increase is the hard measure.
21:40You have to allow the increase to take place and the economy to readjust, the consumers to readjust consumption.
21:49You can also have the option of passing it on to people in general.
21:57That is, for example, if the government decides that instead of raising the price to the consumers,
22:05it would provide subsidies from the budget to the oil companies.
22:10In that case, the whole of the deficit gets spread to the taxpayers in general.
22:18So that is how the government can take decisions.
22:22But it's unfair in that sense that those who are consuming petrol and diesel,
22:30instead of them bearing the cost of it, those who don't even consume, that is spread over them.
22:36So of the three news available, either raise prices or you allow it to be spread in general by taking
22:48a hit on the government,
22:50or allow the oil companies to bleed to losses.
22:54So these are the three options available.
23:01I'm trying to understand, Mr. Gurd, why did you say it's the weakest? What did you mean by that?
23:07See, weakest in the sense that you make an appeal.
23:11Now, appeal is adhered to or accepted or not accepted depends upon the consumers.
23:19So let us take the case of petrol and diesel.
23:22The diesel is used more for the agricultural operations and also to some extent in industry.
23:32So the industry and the agriculture farmers use it.
23:38Now, if they decide to cut down on the use of diesel,
23:43that would mean that the crops would suffer or the industrial production would suffer.
23:50That is actually a worse remedy than a good one.
23:54The only section where the consumers directly, those who use it for vehicles or transport, etc.,
24:01they may switch over to the other ones.
24:05But if you take the given state of transportation available in the country,
24:10let us take Delhi, for example.
24:11The metros are already over-choked.
24:15Yeah.
24:15They don't have the capacity to take it.
24:17The middle class, who uses the private vehicle, doesn't find the metro option to be a good option.
24:21It may not actually be very convenient from the time point of view or the cost point of view.
24:27Safety as well.
24:28Because we have very poor connectivity from homes, stations, coming out, the crowd, etc.
24:35My understanding is, Mr. Kirk, this was Prime Minister's way of sort of forewarning people about the hikes.
24:42That's my personal understanding.
24:44I just think it was just a way to manage expectations and tell people that this is going to happen.
24:49I think that's what he was trying to do.
24:50Because a lot of it, I don't see private, you know, offices cutting down work from home.
24:55I don't see schools shutting down.
24:56I don't think a COVID-like measure will actually take place when it comes to private adoption.
25:01It's still early days.
25:02I don't know if that will happen.
25:03But that's not the sense that I'm getting from private sector.
25:06But for the moment, Mr. Kirk, for calling it as it is and for sharing all your knowledge with us,
25:10thank you so much for joining in.
25:18All right, so more updates coming in there.
25:20We are now told that after Prime Minister Modi's pent-wise call,
25:23the Supreme Court has issued a circular for virtual hearing and work from home.
25:26Virtual hearings on Monday and Friday.
25:30For now, Supreme Court judges have set also a carpool for themselves.
25:34Court staff has been put on 50% work from home.
25:39So the Supreme Court now responding to that call and by the Prime Minister.
25:46Anisha Mathur, my colleague, joins us for more.
25:48Anisha, how will this work out?
25:50Well, do you remember on the 12th of May, the DOPT in fact issued a circular asking department heads across
25:56the government
25:57to try and ensure work from home for 50% of the people can work from home for up to
26:04two days.
26:05And that is exactly why the Supreme Court has now issued these guidelines.
26:09And it's not just for Mondays and Fridays.
26:11Any days which are declared miscellaneous days of procedure in the Supreme Court.
26:17Which means that all of the summer vacation that begins from the 1st of June will also be fully videoconferencing.
26:26Mondays and Fridays, of course, as well as the next week, which is the last week of working before the
26:31summer vacations will be fully videoconferencing.
26:34Supreme Court trying its best to ensure that minimal lawyers come to the court premises.
26:40At the same time, 50% of the registry staff will be allowed to work from home for two days
26:46in the week.
26:47The registrar will in fact issue the calendar for the registry staff.
26:52And yet again, apart from the lawyers being asked to work from home, the judges will also be carpooling.
26:59So a big step being taken by the Supreme Court to ensure that the call made by the Prime Minister
27:05to save fuel and the DOPT circular to ensure work from home is followed.
27:10All right. Supreme Court has done it. Will the other courts follow?
27:14Will the Delhi High Court, other high courts across the country, will they follow?
27:17That remains to be a question that we will be watching out for for the moment.
27:20Thanks, Anisha, for bringing us up to speed with that.
27:23In fact, a little while earlier, with the same question, I did sit down with the Delhi's Cabinet Minister, Majinder
27:30Singh Sirsa, to understand how exactly is this work from home being followed.
27:35Take a look.
27:42Delhi has now become the first state in the country to implement two days of work from home.
27:47This after the spend-wise mantra that has been fielded by the Prime Minister.
27:54Delhi has also proposed Monday or Metro Mondays, as they are calling it.
27:59There are also now strict restrictions saying that none of the officers will be taking any foreign trips for the
28:06next one year.
28:07No new vehicles to be bought for the next six months as well.
28:12But there are still a lot of unanswered questions on how this will be carried out.
28:16And to talk to us a little bit all about that.
28:18Joining me is the Senior Cabinet Minister in the Delhi Government, Mr. Majinder Singh Sirsa.
28:22Good morning, sir. Thank you so much for your time.
28:24Very good morning, Sunilji.
28:26Mr. Sirsa, has it started already? Are you working from home today, is my first question.
28:33No, today is not our home.
28:35It is on Wednesday when we will be working from our home.
28:38It's a Wednesday and a Saturday.
28:42It's a two-day, Wednesday and Saturday.
28:45All right, sir.
28:46Will this apply work from home, study from home?
28:50Will this apply for government schools and colleges next?
28:55It has already been conveyed to the colleges also, that if possible, the non-practical classes should be taken on
29:03online classes.
29:04And also requested the universities for the administration staff to work from home.
29:10Right.
29:11But, sir, the effectiveness of all of this will happen if you get the private sector on board.
29:15Have you had conversations with FICCI, with CII, etc., to see how this will be adopted by the private sector?
29:22Yes, we are in touch with all these organizations and our Labor Minister Kapil Mishraji has been ensured with this
29:28responsibility to talk to them.
29:30We will try to ensure that this is strictly implemented in Delhi, and especially in the case of private sector
29:36also.
29:37Right, sir.
29:38Sir, talk to us a little bit about why Delhi felt the need.
29:42We have seen pictures over the past couple of days, ever since the Prime Minister's appeal came in, of ministers
29:47across the country actually come out and, you know, do their bit, lead by example the Prime Minister himself as
29:54well.
29:55Why did you feel the need that work from home had to be mandated in Delhi?
29:59What was the thinking in the Cabinet?
30:02So, as you said very well, you said about the Prime Minister, it is the message of the Honourable Prime
30:07Minister, which is implemented in Delhi also.
30:09And for that reason, to save the fuel, to save our economy, to save the foreign exchange, these kind of
30:15steps have been taken by the government of Delhi, Honourable Chief Minister Ekha Gupta Ji.
30:20It is not just about the only staff, it's about the ministers also, the chief minister also.
30:26We want a participation from the public also.
30:28We have requested the entire Delhi that at least one day they should travel without their vehicle.
30:35They should have any kind of public transport, may it be a metro or a bus or whatsoever.
30:40So, it is about the message from our Prime Minister.
30:43It aligns with their message that, yes, we have to save our foreign currency.
30:48We have to save the maximum fuel possible because today, as the war is going across, we have seen this.
30:57And for that reason, fuel prices are increasing day by day, day by day.
31:01And to control that, we should minimize that.
31:04Right.
31:05But, sir, it's a tough one to implement on the ground, especially for ministers to have Metro Mondays.
31:11There is a photo op for everyone in mind.
31:14But, when will this happen?
31:15Is there a timeline to how long this will last?
31:18But, Sunil Ji, when you do things, the rest of the people also adopt them.
31:25I must tell you, my two people are sending my video, which I have not said.
31:30They sent a message from Prime Minister, CM, and he sent a message from Metro to me.
31:34I am sharing a video, because we have thought that today we will travel to Metro to me.
31:38We will save the Delhi government and the diesel.
31:40That we will save travel, we will save other� Lewa citizens today.
31:42This is a message we will save.
31:43This is a message that we have told you.
31:45The government will save these days too.
31:53You will save 10% and 15% but the government will save theseCC.
31:57And it will save us.
32:00Your government will save much entirely, I will save you in worse than you will save them with more of
32:09the national news.
32:20All right, sir, you spoke about the prices of petrol and diesel.
32:24This morning we've woken up to a three rupees hike as well.
32:28My question is this, do you think this is a sort of a trial balloon?
32:32This is just first of the many more that could follow?
32:38See, as far as the prices are concerned, the state government has no much of hand in this.
32:43It all depends on the centre government and the Petroleum Ministry, how they get the fuel
32:47and what kind of fuel, at what prices they are getting.
32:50But yes, it will continue, more reforms will also come.
32:53You can use a word of reforms.
32:56In your everyday life, sometimes our lifetimes have been changed due to COVID, also people
33:00have changed their lifestyle.
33:01So it is not just a common, it is a very common thing to change your lifestyle.
33:04I believe this is one of the things.
33:07And in coming days, definitely more things will come up as the situation will rise.
33:11And if the things get more deeper, then obviously the Prime Minister will give another message
33:15and we are not aware of that.
33:17But definitely for now onwards, it is mandatory for everybody, including ministers and officers.
33:22All right.
33:23Sir, then help us understand this.
33:25Because the opposition at this point is saying that they waited, the BJP government waited
33:31for elections to get over and then implement the price hike.
33:34How do you answer that allegation?
33:37So it is always the opposition I haven't seen in the last 12 years when opposition would
33:43ever align with the government vision or our Prime Minister's vision.
33:46They will definitely question because they have nothing else to do.
33:50The only thing is today they should answer one question.
33:53Whether they will align with this message or not.
33:56Whether they are with us for saving of fuel and foreign economy or not.
34:00The question is very simple.
34:02But they will dodge here and there and they will say election three, election penalty.
34:07Every other month there is election.
34:09Now there are pre-elections there in Punjab.
34:13The municipal elections are there in Punjab.
34:16Another three months there will be other elections.
34:18Elections are always there.
34:19Every three months there are elections in this country.
34:22But neither the government wait for any elections.
34:24Neither the government has this kind of a thought process that we will win this election,
34:28then we will put this kind of thing.
34:29No, that is not at all.
34:31But Mr Sir Sir Sir, look at the plight of the common man at the moment.
34:35Prices of fuel are up.
34:37Wholesale price index is up.
34:39Doot ka daam bada hai hai.
34:41We know what's happening to farmers.
34:42And in the middle of it all, you have this appeal from the Prime Minister to go on several other
34:47measures,
34:48or steer measures to sort of ensure that we are keeping our spendings wisely.
34:53At this point, the common man is bound to feel very overwhelmed.
35:00So, Nalji, it is not the first time.
35:02I think EV channels are only overwhelming.
35:05The general public is well aware of the fact.
35:08I do remember that when the country was fought,
35:10and it was said that it was the same time,
35:12so people had the same time.
35:15So, you're saying this is as big as a war?
35:18You're saying this situation is as dire as being on war?
35:22We are not on war.
35:24But the other countries are on war.
35:26And the situation is getting worse day by day.
35:29The entire world is facing this.
35:30It is not about just India.
35:33And everybody, every Indian who is a passion for this country is well aware that when it comes to the
35:38nation,
35:39we should stand by the nation.
35:41That's the mantra we have been taught in schools, colleges also.
35:45Right.
35:46Another allegation that has come in on the BJP government, Mr. Sirsai,
35:50is that Prime Minister's speech was primarily something of an expectation management.
35:56He let everybody know that things are not going well,
35:59and thus they should prepare for worse times ahead.
36:03Is that the understanding within the government as well,
36:06that this is just the tip of the iceberg?
36:09The coming few months and years could be very tough on the economy,
36:13including our personal wallets as well?
36:17Nothing as such has been neither said, neither it is there.
36:21But yes, today what situation you and me can say with a bigger eyes,
36:24that is the only problem here.
36:26There is a war between Iran and America,
36:29and the fuel prices are getting more costed day by day, day by day.
36:34That is the only situation.
36:35Nothing more than that.
36:37Nothing lesser than that.
36:39Okay, Mr. Sirsai, thank you so much for being here.
36:42I can also say this, that one good thing that has come out of work from home
36:46is that at least there will be lesser pollution in the city.
36:49There will be lesser cars, hopefully.
36:51No, definitely.
36:52Not just lesser cars.
36:54Go ahead.
36:55It will also sell the cars.
36:56Definitely it will say we will have lesser pollution also,
36:59and people do understand these kind of problems.
37:02And they are definitely with Honourable Prime Minister for the message we see has given.
37:06And I have seen the change in Delhi.
37:08From the last two days, Sonal Ji, if you have also noticed,
37:11there has been a lot of traffic.
37:12There has been a lot of traffic.
37:13There has been a lot of traffic jumps.
37:14There has been a lot of traffic jumps.
37:14There has been a lot of public cars, cars and vehicles.
37:17Okay, Monday morning it will be a test, Sirsai Ji.
37:20I think that's when we will actually get to see.
37:49We all should contribute to it.
37:52All right.
37:52So let's see.
37:53Big ambitious plans have been rolled out by the Delhi government.
37:57They are saying they are leading by example.
37:59They say it will be a stained effort as well.
38:02Will this get participation of the people?
38:04Will it get participation of the private sector?
38:07That remains to be seen for the moment.
38:09Mr. Sirsai, thank you so much for speaking with India today.
38:20Now in a big reset after days of chaos, the government has fixed June 21st
38:24as the new NEET examination date, offering lakhs of students
38:27another chance after the paper league controversy.
38:30But even as the DEET test is announced, a significant admission from the top has come.
38:34This is Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan finally breaking his silence,
38:39admitting that there are serious loopholes in the system.
38:42The NTA is firmly under the scanner.
38:45Questions being raised over the role of officials and possible internal lapses as well.
38:50But the real question is towards the minister.
38:53When there were leaks earlier, when there was a road map earlier,
38:57when there were warnings earlier, why didn't he really act?
39:01To this, the lacks of students are not really convinced.
39:05At this point, what exactly is their state of mind?
39:09Let's try and understand.
39:12What exactly is their state of mind?
39:13When we are preparing for the need, we attend the coaching.
39:16The whole class is 6 hours.
39:18Then we go home.
39:20After eating and eating, we don't see how many hours we are studying.
39:24Until our topic is not complete, we are still studying.
39:27I am telling myself.
39:28I am dropping now.
39:30I am dropping now.
39:32I am not sleeping at night at 4am.
39:34I am sleeping at night at 9am.
39:36I am sleeping at night at 9am.
39:40Then I am reading that it is back locks.
39:42I need to complete his homework.
39:44I am sleeping now.
39:50Yes, because…
39:52is
40:21You know, I wanted to bring out this voice
40:23because this is what a lot of students are feeling.
40:26They are feeling defeated by the system,
40:29defeated by the system which is supposed to provide for them.
40:32AI is already here. Jobs are going to be lost.
40:35Medicine is one of those systems where they still have faith,
40:37but look at the manner in which the exams are being carried out.
40:41And because of that, I have some questions
40:43for the Education Minister that I want to raise tonight.
40:48To the Union Education Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan,
40:50there is a system in place, but why exactly did it take you so long to fix it?
40:57Let's go to question number one for him tonight.
41:03It's students like these who are trying to get their word across.
41:08These are aspirations of not just one student,
41:11but an entire family being lost.
41:14So just passing the buck to the CBI or to the NTA is not enough.
41:21So my question number one.
41:24Union Minister, Dharmendra Pradhan, now says the system will be fixed,
41:28the loopholes will be plugged, but know that no one will be spared.
41:32But he promised to clean up the system in 2024.
41:38Did he finally clean it up?
41:40Did you actually manage to fix it?
41:43Question number two.
41:44Experts warned you in 2024.
41:48Parliament again gave you another warning in 2025.
41:51Why was there no action?
41:54How come blacklisted firms are kept, you know, in the system
41:58and they keep finding their way back into getting contracts?
42:02Who is to be blamed there?
42:04Why can't you have a national blacklisted blacklisting system built up?
42:09Question number four.
42:10Printing papers at the center.
42:13The HCA, the HLCE actually said this.
42:17Why was it not done?
42:18They gave you a step by step plan.
42:20Why didn't you implement it?
42:22Also 1000 secure government test centers were recommended.
42:26How many actually exist today?
42:28Can you answer that?
42:30Another question that I have for the education minister.
42:33The CBI came in after 2024.
42:35Why did it not prevent 2026?
42:39Who is probing why the last inquiries findings weren't acted on?
42:45Who will fix the responsibility?
42:48The leak happened.
42:50You were silent.
42:51Why?
42:53You should have come out and said that we failed the people of the country,
42:57the citizens and the youth of this country in 24, in 25, in 26.
43:03I take responsibility.
43:04Who?
43:05Why is nobody coming out to take responsibility?
43:08And finally, students had one shot.
43:10Who answers to them now?
43:12Will you take the responsibility if they, you know, if this sort of leaks again or students fail to find
43:21their chance or mental health collapse happens?
43:23And my bigger question.
43:25If the investigation is anything to go by, indications are that 2025 paper was also leaked.
43:33Who's looking into that?
43:37That is the question that I really want investigating agencies to answer.
43:43And those 10 were the list that we really want the education minister himself to take a look at and
43:48perhaps come up with an answer.
43:53But sadly, that's all the time I have on the program.
43:55We continue to bring you all the latest here on the story.
43:59And I promise to keep a very close eye on the neat story as it unfolds as well.
44:03Goodbye for now.
44:04We'll see you on Monday.
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