- 13 hours ago
A political crisis has emerged in West Bengal as a rebel faction of 60 legislators, led by Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandipan Saha, challenged the Trinamool Congress leadership.
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00:01Good evening, you're watching NewsTrack with me, Maria Shaquille.
00:04It seems like it's Khela Shesh for Mamata Banerjee in Bengal for years.
00:09She has appeared politically invincible in the state.
00:11Come what may, she would sail through everything.
00:14But the street fighter now is staring at a crisis.
00:17A crisis that she never imagined she would face.
00:20And this one is not engineered by the BJP of the left, but one crafted carefully by her own.
00:26Now in a dramatic escalation, the rebel camp led by Ritabrata Banerjee and Sandeep Ansaha
00:32have gotten the support of 60 MLAs and Bhai Po Baiter has become the new Bengal LOP.
00:38That is the leader of opposition.
00:40But what's striking is the fact that these rebel MLAs want Didi to be the Mark Darshak or advisor to
00:49guide them.
00:51But they also say that if she will not occupy that role, then it will be a different picture altogether.
00:57The rebel MLAs claim their fight is not against her, but her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee,
01:03and the ball is now firmly in Mamata Banerjee's court.
01:05What will Mamata Banerjee choose, dynasty or discipline, before I bring in the guests?
01:10And we have a very special guest on the show tonight, Sandeep Ansaha,
01:13who is one of the principal faces of the rebellion,
01:15that has pushed the Tirunmul Congress to breaking point,
01:18who is joining me shortly.
01:20But first up, here's what happened today.
01:25Maharashtra politics was rewritten by the rebellions led by Eknat Shinde and Ajit Pawar in 2022 and 2023 respectively.
01:36A similar political tremor appears to be shaking West Bengal now.
01:43Many believed Ritavrata Banerjee was no Shinde or Pawar.
01:47They said he is not even a mass leader,
01:50not a heavyweight capable of mobilizing legislators against Mamata Banerjee.
01:54But in a dramatic turn,
01:56the first time TMC MLA has emerged as the face of a rebellion
02:00that has the backing of 60 legislators.
02:03And that rebellion has now elevated him
02:05to the position of leader of opposition in Bengal.
02:11We have claimed that the Legislative Party belongs to these MLA's.
02:17Two-thirds of the MLA's who have owned in the symbol of Tirunmul Congress.
02:23The West Bengal State Legislative Assembly, the Honorable Speaker,
02:27he has granted us,
02:29our claim has been accepted,
02:31so we want to go one step forward, one step at a time.
02:35The revolt is no longer a question.
02:38The only question now is, where it leads?
02:44Rebel MLA's Ritavrata Banerjee and Sandeepan Shaha
02:47have reaffirmed their faith in Mamata Banerjee
02:50by naming her as the party's leader.
03:06The arithmetic is significant.
03:08After the election results, the TMC's strength in Assembly stood at 80.
03:12With the support of 60 legislators,
03:15the rebel camp has easily crossed the crucial two-thirds mark
03:18required under the anti-defection law.
03:21That threshold could become critical if the standoff escalates into a formal split.
03:26It would potentially allow the rebel faction to stake claim to the party's name and symbol.
03:33But the question here is, not about a TMC split.
03:36The rebels are not planning to float a new political party.
03:39Unlike the Shiv Sena or NCP rebellions,
03:42this revolt is not rooted in ideology.
03:48Nor is it driven by competing centres of mass support.
03:52Instead, it is fuelled by growing resentment against one man,
03:56Mamata Banerjee's nephew and MP, Abhishek Banerjee.
04:01Ritavrata Banerjee has repeatedly accused Abhishek of running the party like a corporate entity,
04:07rather than a mass movement.
04:12For many disgruntled leaders,
04:14the anger is directed less at Didi and more at Baipu.
04:18The signs of unrest are becoming increasingly visible.
04:26Even Farhad Hakeem has resigned from the post of Kolkata's mayor.
04:32Earlier in the day,
04:34many TMC MLAs from the Mamata camp
04:36attended a meeting convened by Chief Minister Sovendu Adhikari.
04:40The BJP says it anticipated trouble within the Trinamol.
04:44Just not so soon.
04:48We knew that after this new government,
04:54there will not be existence of this new government.
04:56There will be such a great mandate.
05:13The Mamata camp, meanwhile, is pushing back strongly.
05:16Party leaders insist that Mamata Banerjee remains the unquestioned face of the Trinamol Congress.
05:23The moment he is expelled, somebody is expelled from a party, he is independent.
05:28So how can an independent leader,
05:30he becomes a leader of the opposition of a political party,
05:34ignoring the highest office.
05:36So the entire process is illegal.
05:38It is a BJP concern game.
05:45And as the political storm intensifies,
05:48legal troubles are adding to the pressure.
05:50The Enforcement Directorate has visited Abhishek Banerjee's residence
05:54to serve summons in the teachers' recruitment camp.
06:01For Mamata Banerjee, the dilemma is stuck.
06:04Stand by family ties or back the legislators she has groomed over the years.
06:10With Indrajeet Kuntu, Tapas Sen Gupta and Anupam Mishra,
06:15Bureau Report, India Today.
06:18Our newsmaker today is Sandeepan Saha,
06:21one of the principal faces of the rebellion
06:23that has pushed the Trinamol Congress to breaking point.
06:26He has been expelled from the party
06:28and now is at the forefront of the faction
06:30that has secured the recognition of Ritabrata Banerjee
06:34as the leader of opposition.
06:36And Saha finds himself at the centre of this political battle
06:40which could reshape the future of Bengal.
06:43Sandeepan Saha, I appreciate your time here on India Today.
06:47Your faction has succeeded in getting
06:49Ritabrata Banerjee recognised as the LOP.
06:52What is the ultimate objective of this rebellion?
06:54And are you seeking to reform the TMC from within?
06:57Or has the split become irreversible?
07:02The fact of the matter is,
07:04after the election, we were called for a meeting.
07:07And in that meeting,
07:09where Mamata Banerjee was there,
07:10Abhishek Banerjee was there,
07:12that was 6th of April,
07:16they told us that they would be
07:19nominating the LOP,
07:20deputy leaders and chief FIV
07:23without discussing with us.
07:24Then we were again called on 19th
07:27and we were asked to sign on a register sheet
07:30which was more of an attendance.
07:32And after signing the attendance sheet,
07:36we were informed that such and such person
07:39would hold these positions.
07:41So once that happened,
07:44once that happened,
07:46later it was transformed into a resolution
07:49and was submitted to the Honourable Speaker.
07:53Once we found that,
07:55we saw in that resolution
07:57there were signatures of MLAs,
07:59or rather name of the MLAs
08:00written in block letter
08:02who were not present in that meeting.
08:05So we raised this.
08:06We raised this issue within us.
08:09Ritabruta and myself,
08:10we raised this issue
08:11saying that this is highly immoral
08:14and we should not be part of it.
08:17So we went and gave a letter
08:18to the Honourable Speaker.
08:21So once he received the letter
08:24given by us,
08:25an inquiry was conducted.
08:27And in that inquiry,
08:28it was found that few of the MLAs
08:30who were in their home at that time,
08:33their name was mentioned
08:35in block letter in that resolution.
08:38So we decided that
08:40this is not something which is done
08:43because a party like Tinomul Congress,
08:45which has been in the opposition
08:46for quite some time,
08:48they're in power for 15 years.
08:50If they do not respect the laws
08:53and the protocols of assembly,
08:56legislative assembly,
08:58we being the first-time MLAs,
08:59we should take a high moral ground.
09:02After that, it's all history.
09:04Once it came out,
09:05when Honourable CM,
09:06he made it public
09:08that a complaint was registered by us,
09:10post that,
09:12the MLAs started contacting us,
09:14saying that they are not part to it,
09:17they do not want to be party
09:18to this kind of misdeed.
09:21And eventually,
09:22all the MLAs came together,
09:23we had a discussion,
09:25and we thought that
09:27we would form a group within us
09:29who would stand on high moral ground
09:31and probably we will lead the fight.
09:34But in no time,
09:37the MLAs got together
09:38and we decided that
09:39we would seek recognition
09:42as principal opposition party,
09:45which we got today.
09:45So, what is your status?
09:47Are you within...
09:49We are the principal opposition party.
09:50Are you the Trinamul Congress?
09:52Yes.
09:54In the legislative assembly,
09:55we are the principal opposition
09:57and we are the Trinamul Congress.
09:59Because you and your colleagues
10:01continue to invoke
10:02Mamata Banerjee's legacy
10:03while challenging
10:04the current leadership structure.
10:06Is this, at its core,
10:08a confrontation with
10:09Abhishek Banerjee's
10:10growing influence within the party?
10:13Abhishek Banerjee...
10:15Being the general secretary
10:16of the party,
10:18he has forwarded
10:19the resolution
10:21with his signature
10:22to Honourable Speaker.
10:24So, he has to take
10:25the responsibility
10:26because it is he
10:28who has put everyone
10:29into trouble.
10:30We are being...
10:32Many of the MLAs
10:33in their constituency,
10:34they are being seen
10:36with suspicion
10:37that we have
10:38forged signature.
10:40So, why?
10:41Why we should take
10:41such kind of blame
10:43when we have not done that?
10:45And this is all because
10:46of Abhishek Banerjee.
10:48And within the party,
10:50there is no scope
10:50of raising your voice,
10:52discussing things
10:53which are needed
10:54to be discussed.
10:55And when we voiced it out,
10:57we saw that
10:58the MLAs,
10:59the ex-ministers,
11:00the MLAs,
11:01there are MLAs
11:01who have been elected
11:03for the last three
11:03or four terms.
11:04There are ministers
11:05who have been
11:06continuously ministers
11:07for the last three terms.
11:08They also shared
11:09the same kind of feeling
11:10that we had.
11:12Which is what?
11:13So, it's a group
11:14of like-minded people.
11:15So, are you saying
11:16that there is no
11:16internal democracy
11:18when you say
11:18that you could not
11:20really voice
11:20this concern
11:21against Abhishek Banerjee's
11:23leadership?
11:24Is this a question
11:25about Abhishek Banerjee
11:26more than Mamta Banerjee?
11:28Abhishek Banerjee
11:29definitely.
11:30But Mamta Banerjee
11:31being the chairperson
11:32of the party,
11:33if something is going wrong,
11:35she just cannot ignore
11:36her responsibility there.
11:38She just cannot say
11:39that I don't know.
11:40Because what Abhishek Banerjee
11:41is doing
11:42is ultimately
11:43it's Mamta Banerjee,
11:45he being Mamta Banerjee's
11:46nephew,
11:47get this kind of
11:47advantage over others.
11:49So, you know,
11:51let me ask this question
11:52to you, Mr. Saha,
11:53because you have been
11:53associated with
11:55the Trinamool Congress
11:55for years.
11:56You have built
11:57your political career
11:58with this party.
11:59What changed?
12:01You know,
12:01that moment
12:02was the tipping point.
12:03But you are saying
12:04that there are 58 MLAs.
12:06I mean,
12:06all those signatures
12:07have been given
12:07before the speaker.
12:09That number is increasing now.
12:12That number is increasing.
12:13Let me tell you that.
12:14So, you are saying
12:15that there are more
12:15than 58 MLAs perhaps?
12:17Yeah, 58 MLAs.
12:19In all the 80 MLAs
12:19of the TMC
12:20at present only.
12:22There are 80 MLAs.
12:24The two-third majority
12:25mark crosses
12:26when it becomes
12:27more than 54,
12:29rather more than 53.
12:30But today,
12:3158 MLAs
12:32signed
12:34this resolution
12:35and then submitted
12:35to the speaker.
12:36But after this incident
12:38happened,
12:39there are more MLAs
12:40who are contacting us.
12:41They are also
12:42wanting to join
12:43this block,
12:44which is recognized
12:45as the
12:45Tinamool block
12:47in the legislative
12:48assembly.
12:48And what's
12:50your view?
12:51What is the view
12:52of this block
12:53on Mamata Banerjee?
12:54Because Ritaprata Banerjee,
12:55who is the LOP now,
12:57continues to maintain
12:58that Mamata Banerjee
12:59is the leader
13:00and also the mentor
13:01and perhaps
13:02an advisor.
13:04So, what exactly
13:05is this group seeking?
13:06Are you also looking at
13:07perhaps
13:09floating a new party?
13:10Is this a new party
13:11or the Trinamool Congress
13:12under Mamata Banerjee?
13:13No, I won't say that.
13:14I won't say that.
13:16See, the party
13:17which Mamata Banerjee
13:17started,
13:18the ideology
13:19with which Mamata Banerjee
13:20started this party,
13:22it does not exist anymore.
13:24It has changed completely.
13:26What we have seen
13:27that Mamata Banerjee's
13:28only focus currently
13:29is to save
13:31Amish Chek Banerjee
13:32who is being
13:33right now framed
13:34for all the misdeeds
13:35he has been doing
13:36all these years.
13:37So,
13:39her focus is there only.
13:40The party has met
13:41with a poll debacle.
13:43There is no discussion
13:44on how to turn around,
13:46how to again gain ground
13:47which we have lost.
13:49So, in such kind
13:50of a situation,
13:51the MLAs
13:52are directionless.
13:53They are not getting
13:54any kind of support
13:55from the party.
13:56So,
13:57the MLAs
13:57who have won,
13:59there are MLAs
13:59as I mentioned,
14:00they have been winning
14:01for years together,
14:02for terms after terms.
14:04So, they need
14:05a direction.
14:06And if that direction
14:07is missing from a leader,
14:08a stalwart leader
14:09like Mamata Banerjee,
14:10then I think
14:11this is what is inevitable.
14:13So, what is inevitable here?
14:15That you are questioning
14:16the leadership
14:16of Mamata Banerjee?
14:18That ultimately
14:19this group will say
14:20that they are
14:21the real TMC?
14:22Let's see.
14:24The time would say that.
14:25But within assembly,
14:26we are the original
14:28Tinamul Congress,
14:29we are the original
14:30opposition bloc.
14:32Mamata Banerjee,
14:33given her political experience,
14:35she being the
14:35chief minister
14:36for 15 years,
14:37we would welcome
14:38her suggestions.
14:39she can always
14:40be an advisor
14:41to us,
14:42but only if those
14:43advisors help people.
14:45So, she is largely
14:46an advisor,
14:47not really a leader?
14:51She has been a leader.
14:52But right now,
14:53I believe,
14:54her advice would help
14:55this bloc more
14:56than her leadership,
14:58because
15:00for the past one month,
15:02we have not seen
15:03a direction
15:04which should come
15:05from a leader.
15:06You know,
15:07what were the
15:08dissatisfaction level?
15:09I mean,
15:09there are differences
15:10which is evident,
15:11dissatisfaction about
15:12which you are speaking
15:13about it yourself,
15:14Mr. Saha,
15:15and the concerns.
15:16Did at any point
15:18within the TMC,
15:19when you were part
15:20of the TMC,
15:20did you raise it
15:21with Mamata Banerjee
15:22or with Abhishek Banerjee?
15:25Were there attempts
15:26by you?
15:28Yes,
15:29after becoming
15:29an MLR
15:30with Abhishek Banerjee
15:31and myself
15:31in a meeting,
15:32when Jahangir Khan
15:34withdrew
15:34from Polta,
15:36before the election
15:37of Polta,
15:38we raised our voice
15:39that the withdrawal
15:41date is over.
15:42The party has lost,
15:43had faced a
15:44poll debacle.
15:45Now,
15:46if Jahangir Khan
15:47withdraws his name,
15:48which cannot be done
15:49technically,
15:49this would again
15:50give a blow
15:51to the moral
15:51of the party.
15:52So,
15:52he should be expelled.
15:54This is the question
15:55we had put forward
15:56to Mamata Banerjee
15:57and Abhishek Banerjee
15:59in a meeting
16:00where all the MLRs
16:01were present.
16:01And we got a reply
16:03from Abhishek Banerjee
16:04saying that
16:04he has put his thoughts
16:06in tune,
16:07in X handle,
16:08and we should
16:09say that.
16:10Nothing more than that.
16:12So,
16:12that's not how
16:13a leader gives you direction.
16:16And Mamata Banerjee
16:16was very much present there.
16:18She also did not intervene.
16:21Critics are also
16:22saying that
16:22this rebellion
16:23is less about principles
16:24and more about
16:25power,
16:26ambitions,
16:27and political relevance.
16:28And that this is
16:29being engineered
16:29by the party
16:30currently in power
16:31in the state
16:32and also at the center.
16:35See,
16:36we have lost the election.
16:37That's the fact.
16:38So,
16:38how could it be
16:39a power gain?
16:41We need to,
16:42we need to perform
16:43in our constituency.
16:46for the past,
16:47last 15 years,
16:48when we were having
16:49meetings with various
16:50MLAs,
16:51who are senior MLAs,
16:53they have voiced
16:53their concern,
16:55they have voiced
16:55their dissatisfaction
16:56of not being able
16:57to speak their heart
16:59out within the party.
17:00And there are MLAs
17:02who have even told
17:03that they have not
17:04got a single chance
17:05to speak in the assembly.
17:06And we have seen
17:07ourselves that
17:08in the last term,
17:10the opposition
17:11was not given
17:11any chance
17:12to represent themselves
17:14in the administrative
17:16meeting
17:16or any other
17:17government programs.
17:19But here we see
17:21a difference
17:22in way of functioning.
17:24We are being called
17:25in the administrative
17:26meeting,
17:27discussions are held
17:29in the,
17:31discussions are being
17:32held in administrative
17:33meeting wherein
17:34government schemes
17:35are being discussed,
17:36and we can also
17:37raise our voice
17:38or we can also
17:39give our opinion there.
17:40So, for the development,
17:42there would be
17:43a government side,
17:44there would be
17:44an opposition side,
17:46we would oppose,
17:47definitely we will
17:47do constructive opposition
17:49and we would also
17:50have to praise
17:51that the government
17:51is doing good.
17:52And opposing,
17:54just for the heck
17:54of opposing,
17:55I don't think
17:56it would take us anywhere.
17:57What's the next
17:58course of action for you?
18:02We would first
18:04establish democracy
18:05within the party.
18:05it would not be such
18:07that one person
18:08decides and the rest
18:09follows.
18:10We would have a
18:11discussion today,
18:12we have achieved
18:13one big target,
18:16we have formed
18:17this group,
18:18in coming few days
18:19we will have a
18:20discussion within
18:21ourselves and then
18:22we will chart our
18:22future course of action.
18:25But right now
18:26we are the principal
18:26opposition.
18:27will this also reflect
18:29in what is the
18:30status of TMC
18:31in Parliament of India?
18:33That I would not,
18:34no, I am not
18:35a Parliament member.
18:37All right,
18:37Sandeep and Sahar,
18:38appreciate your time
18:39here on India today.
18:43And joining me on the
18:45show tonight,
18:46Nilanjan Das,
18:47spokesperson of the
18:47TMC,
18:48Tuhin Sinha,
18:49national spokesperson
18:49of the BJP and
18:50Madhul Islam is a
18:51political analyst.
18:53Nilanjan Das,
18:54here is someone
18:55who was part of
18:56your party,
18:57has now decided
18:59to chart a new
19:01path for himself
19:02and 58 others.
19:04The question is,
19:05why weren't the
19:06concerns of all
19:07these MLAs
19:08addressed by the
19:09Trinamool Congress
19:10Supremo Mamata
19:11Banerjee?
19:13I don't know
19:13what his concerns
19:14were.
19:15He is a first-time
19:16MLA,
19:17Mr. Shondi Ponshaha,
19:18and he has been
19:19expelled from the
19:20party.
19:21This is his
19:21expulsion letter.
19:23I don't know how
19:24some people who
19:25have been elected
19:26on the twin flower
19:27symbol of the
19:28All India Trinamool
19:29Congress have
19:30managed to elect
19:31Mr. Rito Bruto
19:32Banerjee,
19:33who has been
19:33expelled by the
19:34AITC,
19:35and Mr. Shondi
19:36Ponshaha as the
19:37deputy leader.
19:38I don't know
19:38how it happened.
19:39It is totally
19:40illegal.
19:41And the
19:42Honorable Speaker
19:42of West Bengal
19:43Legislative Assembly
19:44accepting their
19:46petition is,
19:47you know,
19:47mind-boggling,
19:48because the
19:49same speaker
19:50doesn't find
19:50time to meet
19:51the actual
19:52leader of
19:53opposition,
19:54at least the
19:55leader of the
19:55legislature party
19:56of the All
19:56India Trinamool
19:57Congress.
19:58The actual
19:59leader,
19:59which is Mr.
19:59Shondi.
20:01I don't
20:01understand what
20:02These are the
20:03people who are
20:03saying that they
20:04are the real
20:04TMC.
20:05If they have
20:05the support of
20:0660 MLAs in
20:07all, of course
20:08they would be
20:08seen as one.
20:09Two-third
20:10of MLA
20:11standing with
20:12them.
20:12If you have
20:14two-third,
20:14why don't you
20:15like Mr.
20:16Raghav Chadda
20:16of Aab Madhbi
20:18party,
20:18go and join
20:19the BJP.
20:20They could have
20:20jolly well
20:21joined the BJP.
20:21No, as you
20:22heard from him,
20:23he is saying
20:23that he is not
20:24quitting.
20:25What they are
20:26saying is that
20:27they believe in
20:28party.
20:29They are doing
20:29course correction
20:30for the party.
20:32They are doing
20:33course correction
20:34by staying within
20:35the party.
20:37How can they
20:37stay within the
20:38party?
20:38They are no
20:39longer members
20:39of the party.
20:40They have been
20:40expelled.
20:41They are not
20:41independent MLAs.
20:42They are
20:43independent MLAs.
20:44How can a TMC
20:47MLA,
20:47how can a group
20:48of 50 TMC
20:49MLA go and
20:50elect an
20:50independent MLAs.
20:52Okay, Tween,
20:53Siddha.
20:56Tween.
20:57Well, good evening
20:58Maria.
20:58Good evening
20:59everybody.
20:59You know,
21:00the voice on
21:01the streets
21:02of West Bengal
21:02is loud and
21:04clear.
21:04TMC,
21:05chole ga chay.
21:06TMC is gone.
21:07And only,
21:08you know,
21:09the TMC leaders
21:10who are still
21:11in denial
21:12are probably,
21:13you know,
21:13enemies of the
21:14party.
21:15You know,
21:15the implosion
21:16was very clear
21:17from 4th May
21:18onwards.
21:18We knew that
21:19the implosion
21:20would happen,
21:20but the pace
21:21at which the
21:21implosion has
21:22happened has
21:22surprised everybody.
21:23And why is it
21:24happening?
21:25Because, you
21:25know,
21:25this is what
21:26happens when
21:26you run a
21:27political party,
21:28not as a
21:29political party,
21:30but as a
21:30mafia empire.
21:31Not a single
21:32MLA has
21:33respect for
21:33Mamata Banerjee
21:34or for
21:36Abhishek Banerjee.
21:37So, while I
21:37heard the
21:38rebel, you
21:39know,
21:39MLA,
21:39Sandeepan
21:40Saha,
21:40who was speaking
21:41to you,
21:41you know,
21:42how clearly,
21:43how cleverly he
21:44says that
21:44Mamata Banerjee
21:45can advise us,
21:46she will be
21:47the advisor.
21:48So, if,
21:48you know,
21:49the target,
21:49please get it
21:50clear,
21:51the target is
21:51not Abhishek Banerjee.
21:53They have
21:54prioritized
21:55Abhishek Banerjee
21:55as the first
21:57target,
21:58but the target
21:58is both
21:59Mamata Banerjee
22:00and Abhishek Banerjee.
22:01That's very evident.
22:01People in West Bengal
22:02know that there
22:03is no difference
22:04between the two.
22:05Yes.
22:05There is no
22:06difference between
22:07the two.
22:07Both of them
22:08have decided...
22:09very clearly
22:10that she has
22:11an advisory role
22:13and if she
22:14advises
22:15and gives advice
22:17in the right
22:17direction,
22:18then it will be
22:19acceptable to them.
22:20Not just that,
22:20just two more points.
22:20But they are not
22:21accepting her
22:21as a party boss
22:22anymore.
22:22Just two more points.
22:24Mariya,
22:26Mariya,
22:26two more points.
22:27Shobhan,
22:28Dev,
22:29Chattopadhyay,
22:29you know,
22:30the person who,
22:33Mamata Banerjee
22:34had favored to be
22:35the leader of
22:35opposition.
22:36You know,
22:37imagine if he's
22:38being targeted,
22:39he's again a very
22:40close confidant
22:41of Mamata Banerjee
22:43who in fact
22:43vacated his seat,
22:46you know,
22:47Bhavani Poor
22:47so that Mamata
22:48Banerjee could
22:49contest from there
22:50five years ago.
22:51So the target
22:51over here is
22:52Mamata Banerjee
22:53and again,
22:53Firad Hakim,
22:54one of the blue-eyed
22:55boys of Mamata
22:56Banerjee
22:57has also quit.
22:5817 of the rebel,
23:0017 of the 59
23:01rebel MLAs
23:03are Muslim MLAs
23:04who,
23:04you know,
23:04Mamata Banerjee
23:05took great pride in,
23:07you know,
23:07ignoring the
23:08governance for
23:09World Bank politics.
23:11So,
23:11you know,
23:12the rebellion
23:12is huge.
23:13You know,
23:14you have seen
23:14Lalu Yadav preside
23:16over a,
23:17you know,
23:17a crime empire
23:18but even Lalu Yadav
23:20was not treated
23:21so shabbily
23:22after losing
23:23and I think
23:23this is where
23:24TMC leaders
23:25need to introspect,
23:27you know,
23:27if they had shown
23:28some amount of
23:29humility,
23:29some amount of
23:30grace and
23:31apologize to the
23:32people for their
23:33failures,
23:33I don't think
23:34the public anger
23:35would have been
23:35so massive to me.
23:36Okay, okay.
23:37What explains this
23:38according to you,
23:39Maidul Islam?
23:40What explains the fact
23:42that this is actually
23:43two-thirds
23:44of the MLA's
23:45deserting Mamata Banerjee
23:48in less than a month.
23:51This essentially shows
23:52that discontent
23:53was so palpable
23:55and this was perhaps
23:56a tipping point.
23:58They were looking
23:58for an exit route
24:00and they found it
24:01with two expulsions
24:03and many others
24:04joining them.
24:07Maria, before coming
24:08to the explanation,
24:10let me correct you
24:11again.
24:11For the last 20 years,
24:14I have been,
24:15you know,
24:16completely disgusted
24:18with how the media
24:20and even ordinary
24:21Trinamul workers
24:22have been completely
24:24misled the public.
24:27The registration
24:29in the Election
24:30Commission of India
24:31in 1998
24:32on the 1st of January
24:34when the Trinamul
24:35was born.
24:37Even if you go
24:38to the old records
24:39of the Election
24:40Commission of India,
24:41it is WBTC,
24:43West Bengal
24:44Trinamul Congress
24:45and then
24:46All India
24:48Trinamul Congress,
24:49AITC.
24:50There is no TMC.
24:52A TMC,
24:53this short form
24:54was meant for
24:55the Jayanti Natarajan
24:58and J.K. Mupanar's
24:59Tamil Manila Congress.
25:02Okay?
25:03Now coming to
25:04the explanation,
25:06so because,
25:06you know,
25:07the students of
25:08Political Science,
25:08the students of
25:09Politics and
25:10the entire India
25:12you can't
25:13talk about anything
25:14and you don't
25:15understand anything.
25:15You don't understand anything.
25:16You don't understand anything.
25:16And as professors
25:18and teachers,
25:18it's our responsibility
25:20to correct you.
25:22As far as
25:23explanation is concerned,
25:26as I told you
25:27in the last
25:28show with you,
25:29that Trinamul
25:31was not built
25:32on any solid
25:33ideological background.
25:35It is ideology
25:37by praxis.
25:38One ideology
25:39was anti-CPIM.
25:43Now,
25:43how they
25:44do that,
25:46it is their matter.
25:47I am not a party member
25:48of any party,
25:48so I can't be a spokesperson
25:50for any party.
25:51Neither I am an ideologue
25:52for any party.
25:54Now,
25:55as a professor
25:56and as
25:58kind of a
25:59Mahabharata's character
26:00of Balaram,
26:00who is a referee
26:01and who calls
26:02spade a spade,
26:03I can only say
26:05that
26:07basically
26:08there is now
26:10a contest
26:10between
26:11what you call
26:12the Asli
26:12and the Nakali
26:13Trinamul.
26:15So,
26:16who then,
26:17the question is that
26:18who is asking
26:19what is an
26:20authentic Trinamul?
26:23The voices
26:24coming from within.
26:26Maidul,
26:26these are voices
26:27from within.
26:28These are the voices
26:29which are seeking reforms.
26:31So,
26:31they would be seen
26:32as Asli.
26:33I am completely
26:34agree with you
26:35and I know
26:36Sandeepan Saha.
26:37I have known
26:38his father,
26:39Swannakamal Saha.
26:40I have done
26:40a television show
26:42in a Bengali news channel
26:44few years back.
26:46He was
26:47a local
26:47MLA of Italy
26:48in an area
26:49where I used to live
26:50at one point
26:51of time.
26:52So,
26:53the point
26:54is that
26:55the dynastic
26:56kind of politics,
26:57this is very common.
26:59This is
27:00even within
27:00the Trinamul.
27:01There is
27:02the new
27:02Trinamul
27:03also has
27:03dynastic
27:04connections.
27:04Sandeepan Saha
27:05is a classic
27:05example of that.
27:08The point
27:08is that
27:09whose brand
27:11or whose
27:12appeal
27:13public voted.
27:15Everybody
27:16in this
27:17country,
27:18in this
27:19entire world
27:20know that
27:21Trinamul
27:22means
27:23Momota.
27:24Momota
27:24is the leader
27:25of Trinamul.
27:26Nobody
27:27else is
27:28a leader
27:29of Trinamul.
27:30Now,
27:30once you
27:31get elected
27:32and then
27:33people have
27:34voted for
27:35the symbol
27:35and the face,
27:39then
27:39you are
27:40suddenly,
27:41you are
27:41defecting
27:42and saying
27:43that,
27:43look,
27:44you know,
27:44we are the
27:45Arsli Trinamul,
27:46we don't
27:46know,
27:47you know,
27:47all sort
27:48of argument
27:49that is
27:49happening.
27:50I am not
27:51going into
27:51this whole
27:52forgery and
27:53all.
27:53That is
27:53what I
27:54said in
27:54the last
27:55show.
27:55Okay,
27:55Medhul,
27:56you have
27:56made your
27:56point.
27:56Let me
27:57bring in
27:57Thuheen on
27:58this.
27:58Thuheen,
27:59you know,
27:59the point
28:00that has
28:00been made
28:00here,
28:01that these
28:01are the
28:02MLAs who
28:03fought on
28:04the TMC
28:04symbol and
28:06they fought,
28:06of course,
28:07because the
28:07vote was in
28:08name of
28:09Momota
28:09Banerji.
28:10So,
28:11you know,
28:11while they
28:12may be
28:12questioning
28:13her and
28:14challenging
28:15her authority
28:15now,
28:16but the
28:17fact is that
28:17they became
28:18MLA because
28:19of Momota
28:19Banerji.
28:24Well,
28:24who am I
28:25to get
28:25into the
28:25ethics of
28:26it?
28:26Point is
28:27that clearly
28:28it seems
28:28that Momota
28:29Banerji and
28:30Abhishek Banerji
28:30had unleashed
28:31a culture of
28:32fear,
28:33not just
28:33among the
28:34people,
28:34but even
28:35among their
28:35own party
28:36men.
28:37You know,
28:37they don't
28:38seem to
28:38command any
28:39respect.
28:39And this
28:40is very
28:40similar to
28:41what we
28:41saw in
28:42Maharashtra
28:43when Uddhav
28:44Thakre was
28:45completely
28:45disconnected
28:46with his
28:47party members.
28:48So,
28:49you know,
28:49till the time
28:49you have
28:50power,
28:50obviously,
28:51these MLAs
28:51respected you,
28:52but that
28:53respect was
28:54very superficial.
28:56That was
28:56only,
28:57you know,
28:57the glue
28:58over there
29:00was the
29:01incentive to
29:02be in
29:03government.
29:03Now that
29:04that incentive
29:05is not
29:05there,
29:06they obviously,
29:06you know,
29:07have very
29:07scant regard
29:08for you.
29:09And that is
29:09where I think,
29:10you know,
29:10TMC should
29:11introspect.
29:13like one of
29:14my previous
29:14speakers was
29:15mentioning,
29:16TMC is not
29:17an original
29:17party.
29:18It was formed
29:18by embezzling
29:19members from
29:21CPIM and
29:22the Congress
29:22Party.
29:23So,
29:23any which way
29:24there is
29:24very little
29:24ideological,
29:25you know,
29:26glue to keep
29:27them connected.
29:28This implosion
29:29had to happen,
29:30but I am very
29:30surprised at the
29:31pace at which it
29:33has happened.
29:33You know,
29:34the credit for
29:35that goes to
29:37the Miss
29:38Deminner of
29:39Mamta Banerjee
29:40and Abhishek Banerjee.
29:40Okay,
29:41Nilanjan,
29:41you wanted to
29:42come in.
29:44Yes,
29:45so,
29:45Tugin was
29:46talking about
29:47getting in
29:47people from
29:48other parties.
29:49So,
29:49BJP today is
29:50in power in
29:51West Bengal
29:51with a TMC
29:53member who
29:54was minister
29:55in Mamta Banerjee's
29:56cabinet as
29:57their own
29:57chief minister.
29:58And at least
29:5950% of their
30:00cabinet is from
30:01the Trinamul
30:02Congress.
30:02So,
30:02let's not even
30:03get there.
30:04So,
30:04today we have
30:05two people,
30:06two first-time
30:06MLAs.
30:07One is Mr.
30:08Shondipan Shah,
30:09who has got
30:09the ticket of
30:10his father,
30:10Mr.
30:10Shonno
30:11Kamal Shah.
30:11Another is
30:12Mr.
30:12Rito Brutu
30:13Banerjee,
30:13who has been
30:13a CPIM
30:14member,
30:15SFI
30:15National
30:15General
30:16Secretary,
30:17who was
30:17given a
30:18post by
30:18Mamta Banerjee
30:19and Abhishek
30:20Banerjee.
30:20He was
30:21Abhishek Banerjee's
30:22man.
30:22He used to
30:23go and he
30:24always used to
30:25call himself
30:26Abhishek Banerjee's
30:27man.
30:27And today he
30:28is, you
30:29know,
30:30calling all
30:30sorts of
30:30things to
30:31Mr.
30:31Abhishek Banerjee.
30:32So people
30:32are not
30:33fools.
30:33And they
30:34have been
30:34elected on
30:35the TMC
30:36symbol.
30:37They have
30:37not been
30:37elected on
30:38a pillow
30:38symbol.
30:39They have
30:40to understand
30:40that.
30:41Today they
30:41are behaving
30:42as if
30:42they want
30:43to,
30:43Mr.
30:44Shondipan Shah
30:44was saying,
30:45they want
30:45to have a
30:46high moral
30:47ground.
30:48People
30:48understand
30:49morality.
30:50You have
30:50none.
30:51These 60
30:53MLAs,
30:53they have
30:54none of
30:54it.
30:55And the
30:5520 people
30:56who are
30:57standing with
30:58Mamta Banerjee,
30:58they are her
30:59real soldiers.
31:01And people
31:01like us.
31:02No, no,
31:02but you gave
31:03tickets to
31:03them.
31:03They are
31:04MLAs of
31:05your party.
31:06At the
31:07end of the
31:07day.
31:08They are not
31:09moving away
31:09from TMC.
31:10They are
31:10saying that
31:11Mamta Banerjee
31:11is their
31:12advisor.
31:13So why
31:14are you
31:14deciding that
31:15they are not
31:16part of TMC?
31:17They are not
31:18saying that.
31:18These two
31:19expelled
31:19persons who
31:21are these
31:21two expelled
31:22persons,
31:23Mr.
31:23Rito
31:23Broto
31:23Banerjee
31:24and Shondip
31:24Pan
31:24Shah to
31:25decide whether
31:26Mamta Banerjee
31:26is going to
31:27be the
31:27leader or
31:28the
31:28advisor.
31:29She is
31:29the chair
31:30person of
31:30the party.
31:31This is
31:31her party.
31:32She is
31:32the founder
31:33of the
31:33party.
31:34She has
31:34led the
31:34party all
31:35through.
31:35She has
31:35been the
31:36chief
31:36minister.
31:37And she
31:37has been
31:37an MP
31:39since 1984
31:40when many
31:41of these
31:42MLAs were
31:42not even
31:43born.
31:43So I
31:44don't
31:45understand what
31:45they are
31:46trying to
31:46say.
31:47It is their
31:47opportunism.
31:48and they
31:49have sided
31:49with the
31:50BJP.
31:51This is a
31:51government
31:52appointed
31:53opposition.
31:54Where is
31:55the BJP
31:55coming here?
31:56You are
31:57being held
31:58responsible for
31:59engineering this
31:59rebellion.
32:01What's your
32:02role?
32:03You know,
32:04my friend
32:04from TMC,
32:05my friend
32:06from TMC
32:07still seems
32:08to be
32:08underestimating
32:09the quantum
32:10of anger
32:11against the
32:11TMC.
32:12So Mamta
32:12Banerjee
32:13still has an
32:13opportunity
32:14to remain
32:14afloat by
32:15taking the
32:16position of
32:17advisor.
32:17If she
32:18doesn't do
32:18that,
32:18she might
32:19be thrown
32:20out of
32:21the party.
32:21I mean,
32:22that is the
32:22level of
32:22anger.
32:23You know,
32:24BJP is
32:24not involved
32:25in the
32:26crisis that
32:26you are
32:27witnessing in
32:27TMC because
32:28our state
32:29president has
32:30made it very
32:30clear.
32:31Our state
32:32president,
32:33please don't
32:34barge in.
32:34This is not
32:35the way.
32:35This is not
32:37your TMC
32:38office where
32:39you can
32:39unleash
32:40anarchy.
32:40Please calm
32:41down.
32:41Sit down.
32:42You know,
32:44this is how
32:45they break
32:46the flow of
32:47my thoughts.
32:48Anyway,
32:48the point
32:49is Mamta
32:50Banerjee
32:50should
32:51immediately
32:51grab the
32:52position of
32:53advisor because
32:53tomorrow she
32:54will not even
32:54get that.
32:55Now the
32:56point is
32:56don't blame
32:57BJP for
32:58this.
32:58BJP state
32:59president has
32:59made it very
33:00clear.
33:01BJP state
33:01president
33:02Shamik
33:03Bhattacharya
33:03has made
33:04it very
33:05clear.
33:05There is no
33:06room for
33:07new
33:07entrance.
33:07Yes, he
33:08said that on
33:08my show
33:09yesterday.
33:09Certainly not
33:10for TMC.
33:15TMC
33:16goons.
33:17TMC people
33:18will go back
33:19to the
33:21parties they
33:22came from
33:22which is
33:23CPIM and
33:24Congress
33:24party.
33:25They don't
33:25qualify to
33:26be in the
33:26BJP because
33:27those who
33:27are presently
33:29in TMC
33:29are not
33:31temperamentally
33:32fit for
33:32democracy.
33:33The ones
33:33who were
33:34fit for
33:34democracy
33:34went out
33:35of TMC
33:37long back.
33:40see Mamata
33:41Banerjee is
33:41the undisputed
33:43leader of
33:44the All
33:44India
33:44Trinomal
33:44Congress.
33:45The people
33:46of Bengal,
33:47the workers
33:47of the
33:48party are
33:48rock solid
33:49behind her
33:50and all
33:50this
33:52MLA's
33:52they can
33:52go to
33:53wherever
33:53hell they
33:54want to.
33:54They can
33:55go and
33:55join the
33:56BJP.
33:56I don't
33:56think so.
33:57That's the
33:57right attitude
33:58to have.
33:59We do
33:59not know
34:00which side
34:00you will
34:01be standing
34:01on.
34:02We have
34:02had this
34:03case of
34:04Riju
34:04Dutta
34:04backing
34:06Mamata
34:06Banerjee
34:07till a
34:07month ago.
34:09And not
34:10with this
34:11bunch of
34:11opportunists.
34:12All right.
34:13Nilanjan,
34:14Tuhin and
34:15Maidul,
34:15appreciate your
34:16time.
34:16Thank you
34:17for joining
34:17us.
34:18Joining me
34:19on the
34:19show tonight
34:20is Kanchan
34:20Gupta.
34:21He is
34:21the senior
34:23advisor at
34:24the Minister
34:24of Information
34:25in Broadcasting
34:26and he's
34:27joining us
34:27now.
34:28Someone who
34:28is a
34:29proud Bengali
34:29and also
34:30an avid
34:30watcher of
34:31Bengali
34:32politics.
34:33Kanchan,
34:33what really
34:34is happening
34:35in Bengal
34:35at the
34:35moment?
34:36What's
34:36your
34:36assessment?
34:37Is this
34:37what Bengal
34:38is known
34:38for that
34:39whenever a
34:40party in
34:40power moves
34:41out or
34:42is voted
34:42out,
34:43then even
34:43the Kada
34:44and the
34:44party
34:44supporters
34:45shift?
34:49Hello
34:49Maria.
34:50No,
34:51I don't
34:51think so.
34:52That's a
34:53trend or
34:53that's an
34:55established
34:55practice over
34:56there.
34:57You see,
34:57you have
34:58to look
34:58at the
34:59Trinomul
35:00Congress
35:00in a
35:01particular
35:01context.
35:02It came,
35:04it's a
35:05splinter,
35:06it originates
35:07as a
35:07splinter of
35:08the Congress
35:09when Mamata
35:10Banerjee
35:10walked out
35:11of the
35:11Congress
35:12and then
35:13it accumulates
35:14around itself
35:15the riffraff
35:16and the
35:18hoodlums
35:19who had
35:19come to
35:20dominate the
35:21left front
35:22in the last
35:23years of
35:24its long
35:25stay in
35:26power.
35:27Now,
35:27how does
35:28she get
35:29them over
35:29and how
35:30does she
35:30keep them
35:31together?
35:31By
35:32institutionalizing
35:33corruption,
35:35by
35:35institutionalizing
35:37something called
35:38cut money
35:38practice where
35:40party,
35:41these thugs
35:42or party
35:43members or
35:43whatever,
35:44they go
35:44around
35:45collecting,
35:46extortion,
35:46extorting money
35:47from people.
35:48She
35:50institutionalizes
35:50syndicate Raj
35:52whereby even
35:52if you are
35:53building a
35:53home,
35:54you will have
35:55to buy
35:56your cement
35:57from a
35:58particular
35:58person,
35:59the bricks
35:59from a
36:00particular
36:00person,
36:01the steel
36:01from another
36:01person at
36:03their prices.
36:04You cannot
36:05even negotiate
36:05the prices.
36:06And then you
36:07have something
36:08called the
36:11sheer audacity
36:13of it all
36:14was the
36:16racketeering
36:17that happened
36:18by way of
36:19extortion.
36:21People just
36:22went and
36:23people extorted
36:24money and
36:25all that is
36:25coming out
36:26in the open
36:27now.
36:27You see
36:27counselors who
36:29are being
36:29gherowed and
36:30people are
36:30demanding that
36:31you give us
36:32back our
36:32money.
36:33You find
36:34money being
36:35dug out
36:35of the
36:39fields where
36:40they had been
36:40kept in
36:41sacks in
36:42a college.
36:43Surindranath
36:44College which
36:44at once upon
36:45a time was
36:46quite a
36:46prestigious
36:47college which
36:47had produced
36:48some of the
36:48finest minds
36:49of Bengal.
36:50You find the
36:51union room
36:52had boxes
36:54full of money
36:55which had been
36:56eaten away by
36:56termites.
36:58You find
37:00Trinamu leaders
37:01in the
37:02districts from
37:02whose houses
37:03and offices
37:04police are
37:06recovering and
37:06people are
37:07recovering relief
37:08material,
37:09material which
37:09was meant for
37:10victims of
37:11cyclones,
37:12storms and
37:13natural disasters
37:14like Amphan.
37:15So it was
37:17the sheer scale
37:19of it, this
37:20was not a
37:20government, this
37:21was what she
37:22ran, what
37:23Mamata Banerjee
37:24ran along with
37:25her nephew, was
37:26a huge racketeering
37:28machine and
37:29that machine
37:31has suddenly
37:32come to a
37:33halt.
37:34So if you
37:35feel that what
37:36happened in the
37:37last 15 years
37:37was essentially
37:40institutionalization
37:40of corruption
37:42but how do we
37:43forget that
37:44those who
37:45were the
37:45beneficiaries
37:46and also
37:48participating in
37:50this corruption
37:50are also
37:51those who
37:52are now
37:52forming and
37:54calling themselves
37:54Asli
37:55TMC.
37:57These are
37:58the people
37:59challenging the
38:00authority of
38:00Abhishek Banerjee
38:01while they
38:01continue to
38:02believe that
38:02Mamata Banerjee
38:03is their leader,
38:04they have
38:04been the
38:04participants of
38:06that institution.
38:10You are
38:11right, Maria,
38:12but you see
38:12what happens
38:13is that when
38:14a party
38:16loses an
38:17election, there
38:19is a natural
38:20tendency to
38:21jump ship.
38:22I mean, that
38:23is an
38:23unfortunate fact
38:26of politics in
38:27India, apart
38:28from maybe
38:29CADA-based
38:31or organization-based
38:32parties like
38:33the CPM
38:34and to a
38:35great extent
38:36I would say
38:36even the
38:37Congress or
38:38whatever remains
38:39of the
38:39Congress and
38:41to a certain
38:42extent whatever
38:43remains of
38:44the CPM.
38:46So apart
38:46from that,
38:47every other
38:48party you
38:48will find
38:49that if
38:50the party
38:51loses an
38:51election, the
38:53party falls
38:54apart and
38:55the party
38:55collapses.
38:56Look at
38:57the DMK
38:58in Tamil
38:59Nadu, look
38:59at the
39:00ADMK in
39:01Tamil Nadu,
39:02look at
39:02the RJD
39:03in Bihar,
39:05look at
39:05the BJD
39:06in Orissa.
39:07I could go
39:08on and on
39:09and on.
39:09I mean, it's
39:10simply something
39:12which is a
39:15fact of
39:15life.
39:16I mean, nobody
39:16wants to be
39:17with the
39:17losing side.
39:18When the
39:18politics is
39:19all about
39:19in Bangla,
39:20there is a
39:21saying,
39:21that means
39:24it's a
39:24politics,
39:26this is
39:27politics based
39:28on a
39:31transactional
39:33basis.
39:34It's
39:35transactional
39:36politics.
39:36You come
39:37support me,
39:38I will let
39:38you loot
39:39the people,
39:40I will let
39:40you steal
39:41money, I
39:41will let
39:41you do
39:42this, I
39:42will let
39:42you do
39:43that.
39:44So that
39:45kind of
39:45transaction,
39:46when it
39:47stops, as
39:47I said,
39:48when a huge
39:49machine, it
39:50just suddenly
39:50comes to a
39:51halt, this
39:53is what
39:53happens.
39:55But,
39:55Maria, I
39:56just wanted
39:57to draw
39:58your attention
40:00to the
40:00fact that
40:02there is
40:03now, over
40:05the last
40:0510-15
40:07years, a
40:08resistance is
40:09building up
40:10among the
40:10voters to
40:12dynastic
40:13politics.
40:14Yes, because
40:14that brings me
40:15to my next
40:16question, because
40:17we are seeing
40:18in this
40:18unraveling of
40:19TMC, look
40:21at the
40:21example of
40:21the current
40:22chief minister
40:22of Bengal.
40:23He left
40:23the TMC
40:24only because
40:24Abhishek
40:25Banerjee
40:25emerged as
40:25the successor
40:26of Mamta
40:26Banerjee, or
40:27should I
40:27say, Mamta
40:28Banerjee
40:28chose Abhishek
40:29Banerjee
40:29over Shuvendu
40:30Adhikari.
40:31So my
40:31question is,
40:32that in
40:33this unraveling,
40:35or the
40:36direction we
40:37do not know
40:37which way
40:38TMC is
40:39headed, the
40:40Kader and
40:40the supporters
40:41of Mamta
40:41Banerjee, do
40:42you think they
40:42continue to
40:43have faith in
40:44Mamta Banerjee?
40:46Because in
40:47the run-up,
40:49many would
40:49say that, and
40:50as is being
40:52said by a
40:52number of
40:53these rebels,
40:54that there is a
40:55problem with
40:55Abhishek Banerjee's
40:56leadership, not as
40:58much as Mamta
40:59Banerjee.
41:00So they are
41:00trying to
41:01reform the
41:01party.
41:06Well, Abhishek
41:07Banerjee comes
41:08into play not
41:09over 15
41:10years, but
41:10the last 10
41:11years.
41:12And you
41:14have to,
41:15again, I
41:15mean, the
41:17nearest example
41:18which I can
41:18give you is
41:20that Indira
41:21Gandhi
41:22Congress
41:23during the
41:24emergency.
41:25so between
41:261975 and
41:291977.
41:30Now, most
41:31people in
41:31India have
41:32no recollection
41:33of the
41:33emergency or
41:34what happened
41:35to it, which
41:36is understandable,
41:37public memory
41:37is short.
41:38Many of the
41:39people of that
41:40generation are
41:41no more with
41:42us.
41:42But I will
41:43tell you quickly
41:44what happened.
41:44I mean, it
41:45was an
41:46autocratic leader
41:48who imposed
41:49her son,
41:50Sanjay Gandhi,
41:51both on the
41:52party, on the
41:53government and
41:54the country.
41:55Now, so long
41:56as the ride
41:57was good, the
42:00party remained
42:01with her and
42:02the party remained
42:03with Sanjay
42:04Gandhi and said
42:05Jay Jay Kar
42:06to Sanjay
42:06Gandhi.
42:08But the
42:09moment elections
42:11were held, what
42:14happened is that
42:15the people rebelled
42:17against Indira
42:18Gandhi.
42:18Well, they were
42:19actually rebelling
42:20against Sanjay
42:21Gandhi.
42:21They said that
42:22Sanjay Gandhi's
42:23excesses, Indira
42:25Gandhi's autocratic
42:27style and her
42:28indulgence of her
42:30son led the
42:31party to its
42:32first crushing
42:34defeat from which
42:35it really never
42:36recovered except
42:37for a while, for
42:38a flash in
42:391989, sorry,
42:411984.
42:44The Congress's
42:45decline begins
42:46over there.
42:47And what
42:48happened then?
42:48The bulk of the
42:49party walked out
42:50on her.
42:51They did not
42:52actually walk out
42:53on her.
42:53They said, we
42:54are the real
42:55Congress and
42:56Indira Gandhi, we
42:57reject her
42:58leadership and we
42:59reject Sanjay
43:00Gandhi's leadership.
43:01Indira Gandhi had
43:02to come out and
43:03form her own
43:04party which was
43:05called Congress
43:05I or Congress
43:07Indira.
43:07India.
43:08And the symbol was
43:10retained by the
43:12larger section of
43:14the party which
43:15had thrown her
43:15out.
43:16Now the same
43:16thing is being
43:17repeated over here.
43:18They are not
43:19saying that we
43:20have left the
43:21party.
43:21They are saying
43:21we are the
43:22party.
43:23But you are not
43:24our leader or
43:25more specifically
43:27your nephew
43:28Abhishek Banerjee
43:30is not our
43:31leader.
43:31We do not
43:32accept.
43:32just because we
43:33accepted you as
43:35a leader it does
43:35not mean that
43:37your nephew shall
43:39have to be also
43:40accepted as our
43:41leader.
43:41So that is the
43:43fundamental problem
43:44over here and
43:45it is an
43:47irreconcilable
43:48problem.
43:48They are not
43:49going to go
43:50back.
43:50They are not
43:51going to walk
43:52back from this
43:54position and that
43:55means the party
43:56is over.
43:57Party is over in
43:58the sense that it
43:59is both a vertical
44:00split.
44:01Mamata Banerjee
44:03is now left with
44:04a rump of the
44:05TMC which is
44:06about 20 odd
44:07MLAs and the
44:08larger section of
44:0960 MLAs has
44:12declared itself as
44:13the real TMC.
44:14They have done it
44:16very cleverly.
44:16They say that
44:17Mamata Banerjee is
44:18our leader and
44:19mentor to ensure
44:21that the party
44:21symbol remains with
44:23them.
44:23Now if Mamata
44:24Banerjee doesn't
44:25want to remain with
44:26that group she will
44:28also lose the
44:28party symbol.
44:29Exactly what
44:30happened to
44:31Indira Gandhi.
44:32Alright Kanchan
44:33Gupta appreciate
44:34your time.
44:34Thank you for
44:34joining us.
44:36A piece of
44:36breaking news
44:36that is coming
44:37in now and we
44:38are shifting focus
44:38to that and this
44:40is with regards
44:41to the Delhi
44:41fire.
44:42Delhi Flourish
44:44stay hotel owner
44:45Lafkesh Bajaj has
44:47now been arrested
44:47and Lafkesh was
44:48held from Delhi
44:50and he has been
44:52grilled for
44:53several hours now.
44:55Several lapses
44:56were found in
44:57Malviya Nagar Hotel
44:58at least 21 people
44:59remember lost their
45:01lives in Malviya Nagar
45:03Hotel fire.
45:05Hotel had permission
45:06for just six rooms
45:07but had built 25
45:08rooms at least 21
45:10people died in that
45:11fire.
45:12Let me bring in
45:14Arvind Oja who's
45:15joining us.
45:16Arvind the details
45:17about this
45:18arrest.
45:19Let me tell you
45:20about this
45:20Lafkesh Bajaj
45:21hotel's honor
45:22was absconding.
45:24It was about
45:251 hour before
45:26Delhi Police
45:27detained the
45:28area.
45:29A few years ago
45:30officially
45:31arrested him.
45:32India Today
45:33has accessed
45:34the picture
45:35after arresting
45:37which
45:38has been
45:38seen with the
45:39police.
45:40The police
45:41will ask
45:42it because
45:44there are
45:44many hotels
45:45and especially Malviya Nagar's area where it went to the hotel.
45:50There are about two other hotels that were running without NOC.
45:54At the same time, Lovakesh Bajaj was arrested by Delhi Police.
45:59We have been asked by this.
46:02These are the pictures of the arrest.
46:05Now, Lovakesh Bajaj, if I am not wrong, he runs two or three hotels in the same area?
46:13Yes, I am right, Lovakesh Bajaj.
46:16This is South Delhi's area, which is called Alishan Koti,
46:20where India Today's team was also reached.
46:22There was a knowledge that there was no Koti on Koti.
46:27The Delhi Police had been sent to many teams.
46:30After this evening, it was detained in the area of the area,
46:34and then it was arrested.
46:37There are multiple hotels, this is a hotel.
46:41There are multiple hotels that have been sent to the hotel.
46:41In Malviya Nagar, where the hotel was in the area,
46:44there are also two hotels.
46:48And there are no two N.O.C.
46:50India Today has also checked the reality of reality.
46:53So, this is a big hotel.
46:55The Delhi Police arrested it.
46:58It is a question from this.
47:00India Today has a picture of its picture.
47:03When it was arrested, it is in the custody of the police.
47:06Irvin, thank you so much for joining us for that update.
47:10Remember, a devastating fire happened in Delhi's Malviya Nagar earlier today,
47:15and it once again exposed a deadly pattern.
47:18That rules are ignored, violations are overlooked,
47:21and action coming only after tragedy strikes.
47:2521 people have lost their lives, and many are battling for their lives in the hospital.
47:32And the probe has uncovered a trail of safety violations.
47:35The BNB had permissions for six rooms, but it operated 25 rooms.
47:39And as expected, the probe has been ordered, high-level meetings are being held,
47:44and promises of strict action have been made.
47:47But the question is, will there be accountability?
47:50I'm leaving you with this report. Thanks so much for watching.
48:01Another day, another disaster. Another deadly reminder of a system
48:06that wakes up only after lives are lost.
48:09This time, a massive fire ripped through a restaurant-cum hotel in Malviya Nagar in Delhi,
48:14turning a place of shelter into a death trap.
48:17Like, a massive fire.
48:22About the darkness of people, people can stop them.
48:22For the time of people, we have to stop them.
48:23We have to stop them.
48:23To stop them, we have to stop them, which are safe.
48:24And to stop them, we have to stop them.
48:26And some people have to stop them.
48:28On the third floor, there were 3 Nigerians, 4 Nigerians,
48:32who were on the floor, and who was on their own knowledge.
48:35As long as the people, the people were on their own.
48:37After they cut the shutter, the fire team, the gate cut the shutter.
48:55What about regular checks and renewal of licenses?
48:59How was that allowed?
49:00There were so many irregularities that have been reported here.
49:05This was not an accident.
49:07This was criminal negligence on the part of not just the authorities, but also of course
49:12the people who were running this Airbnb.
49:16Flames shot out of windows.
49:18Thick black smoke swallowed the building.
49:22Desperate guests trapped inside made difficult choices to escape by jumping out of the window.
49:39Outside, sparks flew from live wires as panic gripped the narrow lanes of Ausrani.
50:02Firefighters rushed to the spot and rescued people from the basement as well.
50:05The victims, who were mostly foreign nationals, were taken to the nearby MAX hospital.
50:30And now, disturbing questions and glaring lapses are emerging.
50:34Sources say the establishment was licensed for just six rooms under the Delhi government's
50:38bed and breakfast scheme.
50:40Yet, nearly 25 rooms were allegedly being operated, including rooms in the basement.
50:46No fire in a sea, only one entry and exit point, a building packed with guests.
50:53The shock doesn't end there.
50:54In another nearby hotel, investigators reportedly found similar violations.
50:59More rooms than permitted, exposed electrical wiring and inadequate escape rooms.
51:25The government seems to have finally woken up.
51:31The government seems to have finally woken up.
51:57The tragedy has triggered a political slugfest with the Aam Agni Party accusing the Delhi
52:02government of failing to curb recurring fire incidents in the capital.
52:24After three major disasters in five days.
52:28The collapse of a building in Mehrali on the 30th of May.
52:33The fire in a building in Mukhalji Nagar on the 31st of May.
52:39And now, the deadly blaze in Malmen Nagar.
52:42The investigation is underway.
52:44But as Delhi counts its dread once again, one question refuses to go away.
52:48How many more lies will be lost before safety rules stop being treated as mere paperwork?
52:55With Arvind Hoja, Jitendra Bahadur and Sushant Mehra in Delhi, Bureau Report, India Today.
53:01The communicate.
53:02Now, remember that deathço is not meant to be led to a national paper.
53:02WorldHard.com capricwnieżout or Facebook.
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