- 13 hours ago
The big talking point of this episode of News Today is the fuel prices hike. Another fuel jolt for the common man as petrol and diesel prices were once again hiked across the country.
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00:01Good evening, hello and welcome. You're with the news today. This is your prime time destination news, newsmakers, talking points
00:07and I'll tell you what we have as our talking points this Tuesday night. Fuel prices have been hyped yet
00:13again by the government. Has the government run out of options both at the centre and in the states when
00:19it comes to surging fuel prices? How high will fuel prices go? Our political face off tonight.
00:25Also, the Supreme Court refuses to re-look at its order on stray dogs. Menaka Gandhi, the animal welfare activist,
00:35will tell us where she stands on that big debate. But first, as always, it's time for the nine headlines
00:42at 9.30.
00:44Fuel prices are hyped for the second time in five days. Petrol diesel rates increased by 90 paise per litre.
00:53Leader of the opposition, Rahul Gandhi, warns of an economic storm. Government sources say they had no option but to
01:00raise prices because of surging global crude.
01:07Hunt intensifies to nab Thusha's husband, the girl who allegedly committed suicide in a dowry death case. Police initiate proceedings
01:17to cancel her husband, Samar's passport. Thusha's parents also file a plea in Bhopal court for doctor's second post-mortem.
01:29The Supreme Court refuses to modify its direction on stray dogs, allows euthanasia of rabid and dangerous dogs. Activist Menaka
01:38Gandhi slams the apex court for washing their hands of the matter.
01:43Says there is a possibility of ensuring that all dogs can be inoculated.
01:53India today accesses images of neat paper. Handwritten guest paper had several chemistry questions. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan chairs
02:04a meeting to review the preparations ahead of the re-neet.
02:12Delhi court rejects Umar Khalid's interim bail over his mother's surgery plea. Court observed that interim bail can't be granted
02:21on every occasion.
02:22This comes only a day after the Supreme Court observed that Khalid should have got bail.
02:31Just 48 hours before re-polling in Bengal's Falta, the TMC candidate Jahangir Khan withdraws his papers. TMC calls his
02:40decision personal.
02:41Claims over 100 party workers have been held since May 4th. The government says the Trinabool is running scared.
02:52Fiery exchange during the Prime Minister's visit to Norway. A journalist asks about alleged human rights violations in India.
03:00The Ministry of External Affairs counters strongly. Says ignorant NGOs are painting India in a bad light.
03:10Donald Trump claims to have postponed plans of attacking Iran. Says he was just hours away, an hour away, from
03:19ordering fresh strikes.
03:20Yesterday, Tehran response says we are ready to face any military aggression.
03:31And another scorching day in the national capital and across much of North India. Mercury crosses 45 degrees in Delhi.
03:40Weather department says heat wave conditions to continue in Northern India.
03:54But our top story tonight. Fuel prices are once again on fire. Within five days, the government now has hiked
04:02fuel prices twice.
04:03Petrol and diesel have got costlier across the country. The hike may look small at fuel stations,
04:10but its impact is expected to ripple through every household expense from transport and groceries to milk and delivery charges.
04:19Are we therefore heading for an inflationary spiral? Does the government have any options giving the surging crude oil prices
04:26because of the war in West Asia?
04:29How will this play out politically? All those questions in our top story, Fuel on Fire.
04:41Another fuel jolt for the common man.
04:45Petrol and diesel prices have once again been hiked across the country.
04:49In less than seven days, fuel prices have gone up by nearly Rs. 4 per litre.
04:55On Tuesday, petrol and diesel prices were increased by around Rs. 90 per litre.
05:01The fresh hike has pushed fuel prices closer to, and in some cities well beyond, the Rs. 100 mark.
05:08And the impact goes far beyond the fuel station.
05:13A Rs. 1 increase per litre could push up monthly fuel expenses by up to Rs. 300 for families.
05:20Auto, cab and bus fares may rise.
05:24Vegetables, groceries and milk could become more expensive.
05:28Delivery charges and logistic costs are also expected to climb.
05:33Experts say, a family of four could end up paying anywhere between Rs. 300 and Rs. 800 extra every month.
06:08State-run Indian Oil Corporation says,
06:11The hike is being done gradually to soften the inflation blow.
06:15The IOC says, it does not want to hike prices at once, and that it is trying to protect consumers.
06:23The oil marketing company cites global crisis as reason for this hike.
06:27It notes that no reduction in fuel demand has been observed, and it expects fuel demand to be robust.
06:36The opposition is going all out against the Narendra Modi government.
07:02Who will control all that?
07:14The BGP is hitting back with global comparisons.
07:17The party claims India has seen only a marginal rise in fuel prices compared to the rest of the world,
07:24because public sector oil companies absorbed massive losses for weeks before increasing prices.
07:32But for millions of Indians, the global picture offers little comfort.
07:36Because every fuel hike now threatens to trigger a chain reaction from transport to groceries,
07:43from kitchens to monthly savings.
07:46And with no immediate end to the West Asia crisis in sight,
07:50the pressure on the common man is only increasing.
07:53We are a report, India Today.
08:00Okay, let's raise the big questions now.
08:03Fuel price hike.
08:04Is the government running out of options at the moment?
08:07How high could fuel prices now go?
08:10How can government control inflation?
08:13Those are some of the big questions we will raise today.
08:16A question that every Indian is asking with that second fuel price hike.
08:20Let's come inside a week.
08:22Joining me on our political face-off today,
08:24Supriya Srinath, Chairperson of the Congress's Social Media and Digital Platforms
08:29and a member of the CWC and National Spokesperson.
08:32And Dr. Syed Zafar Islam, National Spokesperson and former MP of the Bharatia Janata Party.
08:38Okay, let me start with you, Zafar Islamji, first.
08:42Do you believe that there is an inevitability to what is happening?
08:46We've had two fuel prices in a week and many fear that there could be more.
08:51Should the government take the people into confidence and tell them that,
08:55look, please be prepared for much higher fuel prices in the weeks ahead?
08:59Or will this be done by stealth?
09:02Well, Rajdeep, you don't have to count how many number of times the prices have been increased.
09:08You have to see in absolute number how much it has been increased.
09:12And then you compare with the rest of the world.
09:14There is a global oil shock.
09:17Every country in the world is experiencing it.
09:19And see the impact what the other countries have passed on to their people.
09:25And unlike them, the government of India has absorbed all the shock
09:30and passed on very little, marginal, to the consumer and to the people of this great country.
09:37So, 3.3 rupees, 90 cents, 90 paisa, compared to what the other people,
09:44it's just barely 4.4 percent or something like that, which has been increased in the last five days,
09:49compared to what has been increased in many other countries from 20 percent to 90 percent,
09:54and including countries like America, which has, people were talking about that they have strategic reserves,
10:00their 44 percent have been high.
10:02China, which people, often people talk about China, has a huge strategic reserve,
10:0721 percent have been increased, and so is Japan.
10:10So, even if poorer countries like Pakistan, like many other neighboring countries,
10:16they have passed on all the costs to the consumer.
10:22But India, because of the pro-people governance model of the honorable prime minister,
10:29the government of India is absorbing over almost 1,000 crore every day,
10:34and pass on the costs, very little, to the consumer,
10:37and because it's an evolving situation.
10:39If there is a permanent ceasefire now,
10:43if there is a permanent ceasefire,
10:46maybe this hike will not be required.
10:48But since it's an evolving situation where there is a lot of uncertainty in the global market,
10:52there is a global oil shock,
10:54and every country has to manage their finances,
10:56and this is what India has demonstrated,
10:59the inherent strength that the government had.
11:02That is why they are absorbing the costs and passing on very little to the consumer.
11:07And people are acknowledging that it's not something which is hidden.
11:11The world is acknowledging that there is a problem,
11:13instead of all, with this block.
11:14The Americans are blocked, the Iranians are blocked,
11:17they are all engaging in fire.
11:19Every day and every night you are evolving this new situation.
11:23So, to deal with this, government of India is increasing very little.
11:27Purely because they know that the situation may improve.
11:30Okay, I've heard you now.
11:32Zafar Islam, I've heard you very clearly.
11:35I've heard you very clearly.
11:37You're saying that the government of India,
11:39you're comparing it with other countries in the world,
11:41and you believe that we are not passing on the entire burden onto consumers.
11:46Let's say like a neighboring Pakistan,
11:48which has a 50% hike, we have a 4.1% hike.
11:52You want to respond to that, Supriya Sinead,
11:54because on the screen,
11:55I am putting in the price rise in India
11:57versus what's happening in other countries of the world.
12:00I had also put up a chart of which states have the highest fuel prices today.
12:04And some of those states, in fact,
12:06all your Congress-ruled states are also among the highest fuel price states at the moment
12:11because of duty structures in states.
12:13How do you respond to what you've just heard,
12:15particularly from Zafar Islam,
12:16that don't blame India, this is a global problem?
12:20There are two parts to this answer that I would give.
12:22A good evening to you, my fellow panelists, and all your viewers first.
12:25My heart goes out at the kind of dishonesty the BJP brings to the whole oil price debate to begin
12:32with.
12:33There are two or three things that I think needed to be placed on record.
12:37Nobody believes that when there is an oil crisis around the world,
12:41India will be impacted.
12:42But there's a dishonesty to that argument
12:45because the same argument could hold true
12:48when oil prices globally crashed
12:51to less than $10 a barrel during COVID-2020.
12:56Why did we not pass on the benefits to the common consumer?
13:01We were taxing the common consumer.
13:04We have collected, the government of India has collected 39 lakh crore out of fuel taxes.
13:09The majority of that sequestered by the central government
13:12because that was special and additional excise, not basic excise.
13:16So that's part one of the argument.
13:18You have not shared the benefits.
13:20Unfair to now tell people, share the burden.
13:23How dishonest can you be?
13:25You know, if you believe that these small little heights will not add up,
13:28in the last four days, fuel prices are costlier by Rs. 4.
13:32In the last 19 days of May, CNG is costlier by Rs. 3.
13:36Milk prices have gone up by Rs. 2 per litre.
13:40Bread is costlier today by Rs. 5.
13:41Look at the plight of the common people.
13:44And also there is another dishonesty to the argument.
13:47You know, you're comparing yourself to the world.
13:49Let me give you other examples, and these examples are important.
13:52There are countries in the world that are giving relief to their consumers.
13:56Nepal has slashed fuel prices on petrol by Rs. 2, on diesel by Rs. 12.
14:01Australia actually reduced excise duty by Rs. 17 on every litre of gasoline that they sell,
14:08and they passed on this benefit directly to the consumer,
14:11not to the oil marketing companies like us.
14:14Germany reduced price of petrol by Rs. 17 and price of diesel by Rs. 19 per litre.
14:20And also Great Britain, UK, they have reduced,
14:23they have given a respite of ┬г100 for every consumer as far as electricity is concerned.
14:29So please don't make arguments that will not hold true for the common people.
14:34And unlike Zafar Bhai, and I'm not taking a swipe at him at all,
14:37I am in UP, I am in Eastern UP, I am in Maharaj Ganj.
14:41And I can tell you the plight that people are facing on two fronts.
14:45First, there is scarcity, and then there is price rajdi.
14:48And this debate cannot be completed.
14:51This debate is not fulfilling if you do not talk about the scarcity created by this government.
14:57What were you doing?
14:59Why did you barter our energy security with the United States?
15:03Why did you stop buying the cheapest crude available in the market from Russia?
15:07Today, after the 16th of May, you were prostrating before the United States to give you permission.
15:12One minute, one minute.
15:13Let me just make my argument.
15:15I did not intervene.
15:15It's only fair we have a decent argument.
15:17Let viewers decide.
15:19The reality is that the Prime Minister compromised India's energy security,
15:23either because of Epstein or because of Adani, or I don't know why,
15:27but he had no business surrendering before the United States' energy security,
15:31which he really did.
15:32We are a sovereign republic.
15:34We should have decided where we buy fuel from.
15:36The reality that you listened to America,
15:40the reality that your failed foreign policy,
15:42actually, your failed foreign policy,
15:45has resulted in people paying a price for petrol,
15:48and diesel being costlier,
15:50and a huge scarcity that everybody is witnessing in the market.
15:54That's the reality.
15:55You cannot look away from that.
15:57The state of Hormuz has opened for many countries,
15:59but not for us,
16:00because of your foreign foreign policy.
16:01Ma'am, ma'am, ma'am,
16:04I've...
16:04Ma'am, before I go to Zafar Islam,
16:08I just want you to accept, though, one thing.
16:10You accept that there was an inevitability over it.
16:12We can argue why was the burden not passed on to consumers
16:16when global crude prices were low.
16:18The government will say that was necessary
16:20so that you could spread the welfare benefits
16:22through their various welfare schemes.
16:24That's the argument the government will give.
16:26But I want to understand.
16:27You accept.
16:28What would you have done differently?
16:29Give me one thing the Congress would have done differently
16:32if you were in government,
16:33and then I'll go to Zafar Bhai.
16:35There are two things we would have done differently.
16:36One thing you would have done differently.
16:37There are two things we would have done differently.
16:40The first thing we would have done is
16:41we would have spoken truth to the people of this country
16:44who have elected us.
16:46You are constantly lying to Indians.
16:49Do not underestimate their intelligence.
16:51Take them into confidence.
16:52Tell them how big the crisis is.
16:54The Prime Minister says,
16:55cut down on petrol and diesel,
16:57does three road shows in two days.
16:59Who's going to believe him?
17:00All his ministers are putting out pictures
17:02of austerity measures, walking and cycling.
17:04The reality is it is done for one day for photo op
17:07and then everything goes back to normal
17:08and the car cakes come out.
17:10That's the reality.
17:10The Prime Minister tells you not to travel overseas
17:12because of the Forex crisis.
17:14That's happening.
17:15Rajdeep, we have to first tell people of this country
17:18what the truth is.
17:19That's part one.
17:20We would have told people the truth.
17:21We would have shared the benefits.
17:24We would have passed on the benefits
17:25of a benign, crude regime
17:27and wishes when people would have stood with us
17:30when we are passing on the troubles to them.
17:32You cannot have it both ways.
17:34And whose benefit was this being used for?
17:36The reality is that per capita income for India
17:38is one of the lowest in the region.
17:40The reality is that Indians,
17:4219 Indians are committing suicides every day
17:44because of the economic crisis.
17:45We are now facing a huge Forex problem.
17:49Our rupee is about to touch 100.
17:51Experts say 150 is inevitable.
17:53Who are you talking about?
17:55Can I just have it?
17:56Ma'am, I asked you what are the...
17:58Okay.
17:59I've heard you.
18:00Yeah, I think Zafar Islam,
18:02you deserve a response.
18:03I think you need to...
18:04Zafar Islam,
18:05the question needs to be answered.
18:08Everyone accepts,
18:09I think any rational person would accept
18:11that when global crude prices are surging,
18:13there will be pressure on any government
18:15to raise prices.
18:16The government has done so.
18:17However, the question arises,
18:19this government has had the benefit
18:21of low crude prices
18:23for much of the last 12 years,
18:25but never passed on the benefit to the consumer.
18:28And therefore, the question arises,
18:30when prices are low,
18:31why didn't you pass on the benefit to the consumer?
18:33At that time, you used it for various schemes,
18:36which many believe are electorally beneficial to you.
18:39Why don't you respond to that
18:40and settle this argument?
18:43Rajdeep, let me respond to this.
18:44First of all,
18:46Zupriya Synergy is giving certificate
18:48to every nation
18:49that their foreign policy was bad
18:52because they have increased
18:53the fuel prices in their country anyways.
18:56In 2012,
18:57and in earlier,
18:57during UPA time,
18:59when they increased the price,
19:00they hide the fuel prices,
19:01that time their policy,
19:02foreign policy was great
19:04and that's why they had increased
19:05the prices at that time.
19:07So it's a notorious argument
19:09which I don't want to get into
19:10because everyone understands
19:11that it's politically motivated
19:12and it has absolutely no truth.
19:15Having said that,
19:16let me tell you about the 2020
19:20during COVID time.
19:21Yes, prices have crashed everywhere.
19:23But you also have to understand
19:24there was no economic activity
19:25and there was no revenue for the government.
19:28Government had to take care of the people
19:30and that's why all the welfare scheme
19:32which had to be run at that point in time
19:33and the benefits
19:34which had to be given to our citizens,
19:37government prioritized that.
19:38And from where the money will come?
19:40Money has to come from some sources.
19:42This was a source where the government had...
19:43No, but even pre-COVID, sir.
19:45Zafar Islam,
19:46why even pre-COVID?
19:47Sir, even between 2016 and 2020
19:50when oil prices were low,
19:52you did not pass on the benefit to consumers.
19:54Why?
19:55Allow me to complete.
19:56And that is what I'm saying
19:57that the infrastructure
20:00which has been built in the last 12 years
20:02is something which everyone recognized
20:04that the world-class infrastructure
20:07which was the need of the Ra.
20:09And that is something
20:09which has been demonstrated
20:11that it can be done
20:12and done by the government.
20:13The scheme which has been run,
20:15several schemes
20:15to safeguard the interests
20:16of the common man on the road
20:18and common man on the street,
20:20their interests have been safeguarded
20:22by introducing various welfare schemes.
20:24We actually wanted to uplift the society
20:26and that is what we have done.
20:28That's why 23-crowled people
20:29have actually been taken
20:30out of the poverty line.
20:32Second thing,
20:33which you are saying
20:34in terms of passing on the burden,
20:37which she is saying,
20:37I think they need to really
20:39do a backtesting
20:40and understand
20:41what is the foreign policy
20:42or the local policy
20:44or the policy they had
20:45at that time,
20:46at that point in time
20:47during UPA time.
20:48The maximum
20:49increased height,
20:50I'm saying,
20:51back here during,
20:52it happened during UPA time.
20:53And to heighten this,
20:55they issued a bond,
20:57oil bond,
20:58which actually ballooned
20:59to 3.2 lakh crore,
21:00the liability for the government,
21:02who they passed on this burden
21:03to the future generation.
21:05This government doesn't do that.
21:06These governments head on
21:08take the situation,
21:09worry about the citizens' requirement
21:11and ensure that the citizens' interest
21:14is being fully secured
21:16and safeguarded
21:16by the government of the day
21:17and do not pass on the burden
21:19to the next generation
21:20which they have done
21:21by having subsidy,
21:23by having issued the oil bond
21:25until they are talking
21:25about the oil companies.
21:27Who has issued the oil bond
21:29and whose return of the oil bond
21:32was issued
21:32to compensate the oil
21:33to compensate the oil marketing companies.
21:37We have not done that.
21:38You make a strong...
21:39Just a second.
21:41Okay, you make a point.
21:43Sir, let me just complete.
21:48All I am saying...
21:49Go ahead, Zafar, finish.
21:51The impact is so steep
21:54yet the burden
21:57which has been passed
21:58on to the consumer
21:59is very little
22:00because we are a pro-people government
22:05and pro-people governance model
22:07which has been in place
22:09since 2014
22:11and Honorable Prime Minister
22:13has always evaluated the situation.
22:15They have to safeguard
22:16the countries' interest.
22:19They have to safeguard
22:19the nations' interest
22:20as well as the interest
22:22of the people of this great country.
22:24This is what we have done
22:25and that is why
22:27everyone acknowledges...
22:28Zafar Islam,
22:29I gave you 10 seconds more.
22:31Your 10 seconds is up.
22:33I gave you your 10 seconds more.
22:35Or your 10 seconds is up.
22:37No, no.
22:38You have to know.
22:39Okay, you...
22:39So your time is up.
22:43Is this Zafar's address
22:44to the nation?
22:46Can I please come in?
22:47No, I'm saying that all...
22:49We've heard it.
22:50No, no, Supriya Sinead,
22:51I will listen.
22:52Please, please,
22:53no cross-talk.
22:54No cross-talk.
22:55Please put Zafar's voice down.
22:57Now, Supriya Sinead,
22:58please don't intervene.
22:59You also have to be patient
23:00as he was.
23:00My limited point.
23:02You see, we can compare governments.
23:03When the UPA was done,
23:05as Zafar Islam says,
23:06we all issued oil bonds.
23:07Now, there are those who argue
23:09that caused heavy burden
23:10on the oil marketing companies.
23:12Today, the petroleum minister says
23:13these companies are losing
23:15thousand crores per day.
23:16They therefore,
23:17at some stage,
23:17had to pass on the burden
23:20in a way
23:20to the consumer.
23:21You can't expect them
23:22to endlessly bleed.
23:23If you were to compare
23:24the UPA's track record
23:25with that of the NDA,
23:27the fact is,
23:27the NDA on inflation
23:29has done reasonably well.
23:31So, let me first answer
23:33the question
23:34about oil marketing companies.
23:36It is absolutely shameless
23:38of the oil minister
23:40to say oil marketing companies
23:42are losing money.
23:43Oil marketing companies
23:44have been set up
23:45by the government of India
23:46to cushion people
23:47as far as oil shocks
23:48are concerned
23:49to ensure that the poorest
23:51and the mid-class
23:51don't suffer.
23:52Let me ask you a question.
23:54The last quarter,
23:55oil marketing companies
23:56recorded record profits,
23:59record the highest
24:00ever profits.
24:01Did the same
24:02Hardipuri come and say
24:03that we have recorded
24:04these profits
24:04because we did not
24:06pass on the benefits
24:06to the people
24:07of this country?
24:08They increased excise
24:0914 times.
24:11They have decreased
24:11it only twice.
24:12Why?
24:13Whose side are you on?
24:15Are you even on the side
24:16of common people
24:17of this country?
24:18And the fact that
24:19Zafar Islam believes
24:20that a 4 rupee hike
24:21in the last 4 days
24:22and many more to come
24:25is very small
24:26and it's very minuscule
24:27tells you how disconnected
24:29they are from the ground.
24:30I will give you
24:31a very rusted
24:3110 second account
24:32of what I heard
24:33on the field today.
24:34I was talking to somebody
24:36he's a farmer
24:36and he said
24:37you wait and watch
24:38June, July
24:38when the farming season comes
24:40you wait and see
24:41what the cost
24:42of ploughing will be.
24:43You wait and see
24:44how much tractors
24:45will charge us
24:46and then you will understand
24:48what will happen
24:48to farmers.
24:49But I want to go back
24:50to the argument
24:51being made on
24:52UPA versus the NDA.
24:53It's an important argument
24:54this argument
24:55needs to be rebutted.
24:572012 when prices
24:58went up
24:59Zafar Islam ji
25:00we took the decision
25:03as government of India
25:04we did not go to America
25:05please tell us
25:06where should we buy
25:07our crude from.
25:08We did not go to
25:09any other country
25:09we acted responsibly
25:11like a sovereign
25:12took our own decision.
25:14You take your own decisions
25:15we will stand by you.
25:16You are not taking
25:17your decisions
25:17your decisions
25:18are being made
25:19in Washington.
25:20And as far as
25:21you know
25:21this argument
25:22this little of argument
25:23about welfare schemes
25:25are concerned
25:25which is why
25:26you were fleecing people
25:27when crude oil
25:28had gone down
25:28to $10 a barrel
25:29why did you not
25:30use the PM Cares fund
25:31which is not audited
25:32one doesn't know
25:33how much money there is
25:34everybody has contributed
25:36including some of these
25:37oil marketing companies
25:38including the Chinese companies
25:39why did you not
25:40use that money then?
25:41Why are you not
25:42using that money
25:42to cushion people
25:43now
25:44from the fuel oil shop?
25:46One second
25:47please
25:47please wait
25:48I am not over yet
25:51let me make my last argument
25:52let me make my last argument
25:55my last argument
25:56you inherited rupee
25:58at 58 to a dollar
25:59you have taken it to 96
26:01everybody knows
26:02this is headed
26:03to 100 dollar
26:04100
26:06rupee a mark
26:07to a dollar
26:07what about that?
26:09The reality is
26:10that you talk about
26:11oil bonds
26:12you have repaid
26:13only 45,000
26:14crore rupees of that
26:15so stop crying foul
26:17on issues
26:17that you have not
26:18had to shoulder
26:19a burden on
26:19you have burdened
26:21the common people
26:21you have benefited
26:22the rich
26:2316 lakh crore
26:24you can forgive
26:25but middle class
26:27and poor
26:27you don't have to
26:28give them
26:28what are you talking
26:29about
26:30you don't have to
26:30harm
26:30you don't have to
26:31harm
26:324 rupees
26:33maybe 30
26:33minutes
26:33for you
26:344 rupees
26:35is not
26:35minutes
26:35for a large
26:36sexual
26:37no no
26:37Supriya Sinead
26:38I have heard you
26:38now
26:39I have got to
26:40fade your voice
26:41also
26:41I have to hear
26:42both sides
26:42before I come
26:43to Zafar Islam
26:44to respond
26:44I just want to
26:45play what the
26:46Prime Minister
26:46had said
26:46when he was
26:47leader of the
26:47opposition
26:48and that comes
26:49to my old
26:50point that
26:50where you stand
26:51depends on
26:51where you sit
26:52listen in to
26:52what he said
26:53and then I'll
26:53get you
26:54Zafar to
26:54respond
27:243 years
27:24report
27:25How do you how do you respond Zafar Islam? I know it's not easy to handle the situation at the
27:31moment, but I want to understand Supriyar Sinead seems to suggest that this is a government which is taking its
27:38middle class voter for granted and seems to be according to her batting for the rich. You will give waivers
27:44to the to the corporates, but you will not give it to the common man. How do you respond?
27:50This is absolutely inaccurate statement and which is which she has made and you are also making it. First of
27:57all, they concoct the stories and you had last time last time I was with you, one of their spokesperson
28:07showed an AI generated photo, which was absolutely wrong to show such thing.
28:14And everyone recognized that it is the strategy of the Congress party to concoct the stories and backed it by
28:22AI generated photos. She is saying that there is a scarcity.
28:27The image was AI generated. The story was true. The image was AI generated. The story was true. One of
28:33your BJP leaders in Madhya Pradesh have taken out a large cavalcade, but go ahead.
28:37No, no, no, no, no, no, Radhi, please. That was an AI generated photo and it was looking like that
28:42huge number of cavalcade cars were there in their cavalcade, which was not there. Second thing, which I wanted to
28:49tell you that the oil marketing companies have absorbed costs.
28:53They gave relief to consumers 10 rupees a litre on petrol and diesel when the crisis started. And today also
29:03they are absorbing the cost. Where many countries, they cannot absorb the cost because of their mismanagement or whatever their
29:09finances are bad, they are passing on the burden to the consumers.
29:15But we are absorbing the cost. This government is a sensitive government. They are government for the people.
29:20Sir, you are absorbing the cost ahead of the election. Sir, the elections got over on the... Just a minute,
29:26sir. Until the 4th of May, I never heard the government say any of this.
29:30You are now suddenly the moment the election... You could have done this during the election. If it is really
29:34about global oil prices, then you must do it market-driven.
29:40No, no, no, Radhi, you are allowing her to complete uninterrupted.
29:44No, please go ahead.
29:44So, allow me to complete uninterrupted also.
29:47No, I'm not. Please go ahead.
29:48So, all I'm saying... No, no, sir. When you say that after the election... During election, don't you know that
29:54the crisis of Iran and U.S. war, one day it looks like that everything is over.
30:02There's a complete and permanent ceasefire. Next day, there's a statement coming and it shocks the market. Every now and
30:08then we have an evolving situation. Government in this situation cannot take a dissent.
30:13So, they have absorbed the cost. They have absorbed the cost. They continue to absorb the cost.
30:19And even now, 1,000 crore absorbing... Oil marketing companies are absorbing 1,000 crore a day, every day. And
30:28very little they have passed on because we feel there will be permanent solution and there will be permanent ceasefire.
30:34The prices, the spot prices actually will come off significantly once there is a permanent ceasefire, even the future is
30:42high at the moment. And it has crashed. We have seen in the last few days, it had crashed. Suddenly,
30:47the spot prices, when there was an indication there's a permanent ceasefire, the spot price had crashed.
30:52It will crash again and the prices will not go up and the benefits will definitely be passed on to
30:59the consumer. But having said that, two things I want to highlight, there are leaders from opposition, they are purposely
31:12giving misleading statements, misleading stories, the panic situation.
31:17There is absolutely no panic anywhere in this country. The fuel supply is there, everyone can easily go to the
31:24petrol station and buy petrol. There is no panic. Only panic, repeatedly she is saying in every channel is in
31:31Maharaj Gai, where the leader of the Maharaj Gai and she is not the leader.
31:34Sir, you are saying there is no panic? Sir, I must intervene now. Sir, I have heard. Sir, you are
31:40saying there is no panic, then why is there a call for austerity? No, no, one minute.
31:44Sir, if there is no panic. Sir, if there is no panic, there was no need then to call for
31:47austerity and cut down on foreign travel.
31:49Oh, my God. If there was no panic was not done in consumers, it was done.
31:54Oh, I mean, I'm reallyтАж Isn't that panic? Isn't that a panic reaction?
31:58I'm really amused with this question, Radhi, becauseтАж
32:02Can I take a comment?
32:03Can I take a comment?
32:28I've heardтАж
32:28Let's take a comment.
32:31I've heard thatтАж
32:32Okay, go ahead.
32:34Okay, I've heard you, sir.
32:36Final, final word from you, Supriya Srinath, because as I showed at the outset, there are Congress-ruled states, which
32:42are also ensuring the burden passed on to consumers.
32:45None of those states are going to reduce their duties and many will accept that that's the only way the
32:50government can raise resources and revenues at a time like this.
32:52Is any of your government going to actually not pass on the burden to consumers? This is the reality. Why
32:58not accept it?
33:00I will just come to that and I will answer that question because that question deserves to be answered because
33:05there are certain figures that need to be pointed out for people to know what's happening.
33:08But Zafar Islam, you amaze me. When none other than the Prime Minister of this country goes public and says
33:15that people of this country should cut down on consumption, not just of petrol and diesel, but cooking oil, when
33:22he tells people to stop buying gold, when he tells people to stop foreign travel, is that not room for
33:28panic? And if this is not panic, then why are all your ministersтАж
33:31Oh, please DEAN lebih! Wait, wait! I did not speak in between youтАж
33:33Zafar, the precaution. No, it's not a panic!
33:33Why are all your ministersтАж
33:36Zafar, I have heard you!
33:43Zafar, give me the same currency! Give me the same currency I gave you!
33:47He is cautioning people!
33:50So, if he is cautioning peopleтАж
33:52are all his ministers and MPs
33:54lining up on bicycles
33:56and on foot and walking to their offices.
33:59This is nothing but this is a government
34:00that presses the panic button
34:02and even that is being done with stealth.
34:04I will go back to saying the same point.
34:07Can Zafar Islam today
34:08vouch for the fact
34:10that this is the last price hike we are going to see?
34:12Or will he say a 20 rupee
34:14price hike will come, but it will be
34:16broken up into 90 paisa, into 80 paisa,
34:19into 70 paisa, into 60 paisa?
34:21You can fool some of the people
34:23No, Zafar Islam cannot predict
34:25what happens in the state of Hormuz.
34:27Zafar Islam cannot predict
34:29what happens in the state of Hormuz
34:31with global oil prices.
34:33Will any Congress's government cut duties on fuel?
34:36Zafar, let me do my anchoring.
34:38Please don't listen to me.
34:39Let her come.
34:40While answering your question, Zafar Islam
34:43gave away a very important point.
34:45He said when some settlement was on the anvil,
34:48prices had crashed.
34:49Let me turn around and ask the question.
34:51When global crude crashed for two weeks,
34:53did you pass on the benefits right now to consumers?
34:56And the answer to that is a resounding no.
34:59They did not pass on the benefits to the consumer
35:01even when global crude had just crashed.
35:04Forget about six years back, forget about COVID.
35:06Now when the settlement was reached
35:08and it looked like peace was on the anvil,
35:10they did not pass on the benefits.
35:11I want to make one important point
35:13and this will answer your question on opposition rule states.
35:16Who runs the government in West Bengal today?
35:18The BJP.
35:19And guess what?
35:20The most hike has come
35:22as far as petrol and diesel prices are concerned.
35:25in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal,
35:29three rupees, 29 paisa on petrol.
35:31And of course, today it has gone up by 96 paisa.
35:34It is unfair.
35:35Mumbai, another metro where you are in government.
35:37Prices went up by three rupees, 14 paisa.
35:41Prices went up by three rupees, 14 paisa.
35:4315 paisa, 15 paisa, 15 paisa.
35:45May, 91 paisa today.
35:47May, another metro where you are in government.
35:48They have also gone up.
35:49Prices went up by three rupees, 14 paisa.
35:50They have also gone up in Congress rule states like Karnataka.
35:55Telangana, what is the price in Telangana?
35:57Okay, I have heard both sides.
35:58I have heard.
35:59The answer to that is very very simple.
36:00Sir, what is the price in Telangana?
36:02Okay, I have heard both sides.
36:04Why don't you cut in reverse?
36:06I have asked her, sir, Telangana, Karnataka,
36:09I have put it on air.
36:10Zafar Islam, all of it is on air.
36:11I have heard both sides.
36:12I think the viewers have heard both sides.
36:14And let the viewers decide.
36:16Let the viewers decide whether the government
36:18has an inevitability about this price rise
36:21or whether it is putting an unfair burden on consumers.
36:25But a part of this debate,
36:27as I appreciate both my guests, is austerity.
36:29Remember, it was exactly a little over a week ago
36:32that the Prime Minister asked people to tighten their belts.
36:35So what did we do?
36:36We went across the country to find out
36:38are governments and ministers also tightening their belts?
36:41What did our austerity reality check show?
36:44Take a look.
37:05That was Prime Minister Modi's appeal to cut down on use of petrol and diesel.
37:10But are our leaders setting an example?
37:15Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis convened a hybrid cabinet meeting on Tuesday,
37:21allowing ministers to join online.
37:23He has trimmed his own official convoy to just four cars.
37:28Some in his team, including Deputy Chief Minister Sunitra Pawar,
37:31have switched to electric cars.
37:33The rest have downsized their convoys.
37:40In Tamil Nadu, Governor Rajendra Arlaker has reduced vehicles in his convoy.
37:50What we are hearing is that the size of the chief minister's convoy
37:54is maintained as much as it was last time when Stalin was in power.
37:59So when it comes to state government,
38:01the chief minister's convoy remains the same,
38:03but it's only the governor's convoy particularly that has been reduced.
38:08In national capital Delhi, ministers have been spotted on the metro.
38:13While Chief Minister Rekha Gupta travelled by metro from Kashmiri gate to the RTO metro station,
38:18Labour Minister Kapil Mishra was seen travelling to the secretariat by metro.
38:23However, many officials reached the Delhi secretariat using their private vehicles.
38:42Prime Minister's message does not seem to have reached Bihar.
38:46State Minister Kedhar Gupta reached Sivan to attend an event,
38:50with a long cavalcade in tow.
38:53Education Minister Mithilesh Kumar Tiwari fared no better.
38:57Outside the circuit house in Samastipur,
38:59a long line of SUVs waited for the NETA.
39:04In West Bengal,
39:06Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari was campaigning in FALTA.
39:09And what is an election campaign without a roadshow?
39:12And what is a roadshow without a motorcycle rally?
39:16Election campaigns, by now everyone seems to agree,
39:19are exempt from any fuel conservation efforts.
39:22After all, even oil marketing companies
39:25had waited for assembly elections results
39:27to be out before they announced the long-anticipated fuel price hikes.
39:32Bureau Report, India Today.
39:37Okay, let's give you my take on the fuel.
39:39You saw what that story said.
39:41Fuel prices, my friends, are now like
39:44the famous Hindi film villain Ajit
39:47in the film Zanjeer and his famous dialogue.
39:50Liquid jeene nahi deta,
39:52oxygen marne nahi deta.
39:54Step-by-step hikes,
39:56drip-by-drip pain.
39:57Not enough to trigger outrage in one go,
40:00but to slowly bleed the common citizen dry.
40:04Inflation by stealth, it appears, is the new normal.
40:08Let's be honest,
40:09the hikes are inevitable
40:11given the surge in global crude prices.
40:14But two nagging questions remain.
40:16Are fuel prices being dictated by market conditions
40:20or by election calendars?
40:22Because if so,
40:23why were fuel prices not hiked
40:25in the months of March and April?
40:27And secondly,
40:28and this question will continue to be asked,
40:31why was the benefit of low global crude prices
40:34never passed on to us,
40:36the middle-class consumers of this country?
40:39Net-net, whoever is in power
40:41at the center of the states
40:42needs to show greater transparency
40:45when it comes to fuel prices.
40:48Think about it.
40:49Okay, let's turn to our other big story
40:51because the NEAT probe,
40:53the CBI investigation into the NEAT paper leak
40:56is widening by the minute.
40:58Investigators have recovered a handwritten note
41:01that contains the leak questions
41:03which could be the source of the leak
41:05that led to the cancellation of the exams.
41:09Our correspondent, Sharad Kumar,
41:11with this special report.
41:14A handwritten guest paper
41:16A leaked PDF
41:20Professors linked to the NEAT paper setting process
41:24Coaching Mafia networks
41:26And a whitening CBI crackdown
41:31The NEAT UG 2026 paper leak probe
41:34is exploding
41:36At the center of it
41:38is a handwritten guest paper
41:40Nearly 60 pages long
41:42converted into a PDF file
41:44And then allegedly forwarded
41:46through a chain of coaching networks
41:48and middlemen before the exam
41:51Investigators say
41:52the paper contained nearly 400 questions
41:54Out of them, 135 questions
41:56allegedly reached the final NEAT paper
41:59almost verbatim
42:00This is where the masterminds enter the picture
42:04According to investigators
42:07Chemistry Professor PV Kulkarni
42:09is the alleged kingpin
42:10Linked to him
42:11Shivraj Mottegaonkar
42:13A major coaching institute promoter
42:15from Maharashtra's Lathur district
42:17The CBI has now arrested Mottegaonkar as well
42:21Then comes Manisha Mandare
42:23Accused of leaking biologic questions
42:26Banisha Wagamare allegedly helped circulate the paper
42:29Dhananjay Lokhande allegedly passed the paper further ahead
42:33His friend Dr. Omkarshin Gote
42:36is suspected to have aided him
42:38Then investigators traced the trail to Shubham Khernar
42:41who allegedly bought the paper online for 10 lakh rupees
42:45From there the paper allegedly moved to Yash Yadav
42:48then to Mangilal Biwal
42:49and finally to Dinesh Biwal
42:52all allegedly part of the same expanding leak chain
42:55There are a lot of questions in my local house
42:57There were a lot of questions in that video
43:00but from that video
43:02the paper came from chemistry
43:04from the 45 out of 45 questions
43:06who were matching them
43:07When I looked at that
43:08I felt a little sadhana
43:10and then my staff called them
43:14and I also called them
43:15I also called them
43:17and I also checked them
43:17and I also checked them
43:18When we checked all the things
43:20we felt that this paper leak can be a problem
43:25Tonight, Kulkarni, Mandare and Vaakmare remain in CBI custody.
43:31The Parliamentary Standing Committee has also summoned NTA chief Pradeep Kumar Joshi on May 21st to review the status of
43:39the probe.
43:40And amid mounting outrage, the centre is now scrambling to restore trust.
43:45Union Education Minister Dharaminder Pradhan shared a high-level review meeting on the upcoming re-need preparations.
43:50But tonight, the biggest question remains unanswered.
43:55How deep does the network really go?
43:57Was this just a coaching racket?
43:59Or did the leak originate from within the very system entrusted with protecting India's most important medical entrance exam?
44:08Bureau Report, India Today.
44:14Welcome back. Let's turn to our other big story.
44:16The Supreme Court has upheld its earlier order directing the removal of stray dogs from public areas,
44:22criticized the states for failing to implement existing laws and ordering the urgent expansion of dog shelters and sterilization facilities.
44:32How do animal activists see this entire order that the Supreme Court has passed,
44:38asking for the removal of stray dogs from public areas?
44:42That's one of the questions that I pose to the eminent animal rights activist,
44:48Menaka Gandhi, the former Member of Parliament.
44:51She joined the debate on stray dogs.
44:54Listen in.
45:00How do you respond to the Supreme Court order?
45:03The court has made it very clear.
45:05It's declined to reconsider its order on removal of stray dogs from schools, hospitals, railways, stations, bus stands,
45:12other sensitive public places, saying we are prioritizing human safety under Article 21,
45:18which guarantees life and liberty ahead of what perhaps you wanted, that to put animal welfare first.
45:27Firstly, this was a sewer motor case.
45:30No animal welfare people went to court.
45:32The sewer motor case by the Supreme Court.
45:35All right.
45:35Number one.
45:36Number two, the Supreme Court has actually manned defeat and they've washed their hands of the matter.
45:43In November, they had ordered that they had ordered five things.
45:49Please understand.
45:50They had said make ABC centers.
45:52That means dog sterilization centers.
45:54Make shelters and remove dogs from four areas, hospitals, railway stations, colleges and bus stops.
46:04Now, in seven months, even after they called a special meeting of the chief secretaries,
46:10not a single government, state or municipality has done even one thing, not even one thing.
46:1954,000 colleges have refused to remove the dogs because they said there's nowhere to put them.
46:24Not a single shelter has been made.
46:26Not a single ABC center has been made.
46:29In fact, in Delhi, there were 20 ABC centers.
46:32They have now become 10.
46:34So, the Supreme Court has finally understood that what it said was extremely impractical.
46:40To make shelters will cost three lakh crores.
46:45The animal welfare people have said nothing.
46:48We've just been listening to the Supreme Court rant on.
46:51And they're most welcome to do so.
46:53But today, it's not a new order.
46:56They have simply said, we wash our hands of this.
46:59The order we gave on in November has not been applied, even 1%.
47:04So, now, from now on, we are closing the issue.
47:08And anybody who has a problem with dogs can go to the high courts.
47:11No, but, ma'am, ma'am, ma'am, ma'am, that's your interpretation.
47:14The fact is, they've not given any relief.
47:16They have refused to reconsider their order on removal of stray dogs from these places, as I said,
47:22because they've prioritized public safety above all else.
47:27Now, you may say, of course, that this removal is not technically feasible.
47:31It's not been done.
47:32And yet, the Supreme Court has refused to look at these technical aspects and said, we are prioritizing human safety.
47:40Don't you think, in that sense, that's a setback?
47:42That's not what you wanted from the courts.
47:45We haven't challenged it.
47:47We are saying that since you have said that they have to be removed from railway stations and bus stops,
47:54please go ahead and do it.
47:55Not a single railway station is it possible.
47:59It is not possible in hospitals.
48:00It is not possible in colleges.
48:02Now, I can, the Supreme Court can tell me, please go to the moon day after tomorrow in a specially
48:07made rocket.
48:08And I can say it's not possible.
48:10Now, none of the things that the Supreme Court said in November are possible.
48:15There is only one way, and we all want the same thing.
48:18We all want people to be safe.
48:21We all want animals and humans to live together happily.
48:25We do not want to be threatened by each other.
48:28That you will agree?
48:28So, what we have suggested all along is that the government in 25 years has not made a single working,
48:38functional ABC centre,
48:40except in Lucknow, which has done beautifully.
48:43And there's not been a single complaint from Lucknow for biting for anything.
48:47Now, in everywhere else, there are several things wrong.
48:52One is the ABC centres are rubbish.
48:54Secondly, there are 780 districts, of which sterilisation centres exist in maybe 100.
49:04The number three is there are only 16 NGOs which are trained to do ABC.
49:08The rest are all mafia illegal centres who have been given to relatives of politicians, bureaucrats,
49:16who put it on paper that they are sterilising, collect the money, and don't sterilise.
49:21So, what we are saying is, and what we have said all along is, you remove the dogs from wherever
49:26the hell you want to.
49:28But, let us get on with the primary problem, which is the reduction of the population by humane methods.
49:35And that is to start in 780 centres, start sterilisation centres, train 780 NGOs.
49:45There are four training centres which are lying empty.
49:49Train them and start on it.
49:51Now, in seven months, not a single government person has done anything,
49:56in spite of the Supreme Court threatening the chief secretaries, calling special meetings, doing what they could.
50:02Now, the second thing is, this thing that you are building up about dogs being told to be euthanised,
50:09please remember, you have only said half the sentence.
50:11The Supreme Court has said that, please consider euthanasia according to the law.
50:23Okay, and you can hear the full conversation with Menaka Gandhi on our website, indiatoday.in.
50:30That's all that we could pack in on the show tonight.
50:33Thanks very much for watching.
50:35Stay well, stay safe.
50:37Good night.
50:38Shubhratri.
50:39Jay Hind.
50:40Namaskar.
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