- 11 minutes ago
The top focus of this episode of News Today is on DMK's decision to boycott the INDIA bloc meeting and the Delhi hotel fire that claimed 21 lives on Wednesday.
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00:02Good evening, hello and welcome. You're with the news today, your prime time destination news,
00:06newsmakers, talking points, our big talking point. One of them is a news story that we are
00:11breaking. The DMK is to boycott the India block meet on Monday's opposition unity in tatters.
00:18Does that mean advantage BJP? Also, what we are calling Operation Delhi dead trap.
00:25An India Today investigation. Why are our cities dead traps? This after that horrific fire
00:31in which more than 21 people died. Plenty on the show today, but first as always,
00:37it's time for the 9 headlines at 9.
00:41Ahead of the India block meeting in Delhi next week, the DMK pulls out, says it will not attend
00:48any India block meeting where Congress participates. Uday Nidhi, Stalin calls Congress a party of
00:55betrayers. After the legislature party split, TMC Rajasaba MP Shukendu Shekhar Ray claims similar
01:05split could take place in the parliamentary party as well, says several DMC MPs are in touch
01:11with the BJP. Another delimitation pushed by the centre. Sources say the controversial bill that will
01:23raise the number of MPs by a third to be tabled in parliamentary monsoon session. Talks being held
01:29with TMC and DMK MPs to build a consensus. Rahul Gandhi warns the BJP may impose an emergency like
01:39situation in the country within the next year to suppress growing public pressure. BJP hits back,
01:46says Indira Gandhi was the only one to impose an emergency on the nation.
01:54Preliminary report suggests a fire broke out at Malviya Nagar Hotel in South Delhi after a short
02:00circuit due to a faulty wire line. Hotel owner Lovkesh Bajaj admits to lapses, is sent to four-day
02:06police custody. Another neat aspirin dies by suicide. 22-year-old Akhang Shah from Madhya Pradesh also left
02:16behind a heartbreaking suicide note, says don't have the courage to take the neat exam again.
02:23A powerful dust storm during the afternoon hours strikes several parts of Delhi NCR. This comes on
02:29on the same day, monsoon officially set over Kerala. In a setback for Donald Trump, U.S. House of
02:39Representatives passed a resolution seeking the withdrawal of American troops from the Iran conflict.
02:47And Virat Kohli is ruled out of the Afghanistan ODI series after a hamstring injury. Ruturaj Gaikwad
03:07But the big story that's breaking at the moment, the DMK is to skip the India Bloc meeting. The DMK
03:15is
03:15citing the Congress's presence at the meeting and says it will boycott any meeting which has the Congress present.
03:21The two allies, remember, had broken apart just after the Tamil Nadu elections. The Congress going
03:27with actor-turned-politician Vijay's TVK to form a government there. Meanwhile, sources also saying
03:34given the implosion in the Thinamul Congress and the DMK rift with the Congress, the Modi government is
03:40exploring options now to once again bring the delimitation bill in the parliament. Remember,
03:49in a special session in April, the opposition had defeated that bill which requires a two-thirds majority
03:55for the BJP. It would increase the size of the parliament numbers to over 800 MPs and the BJP had
04:02even linked it, the Modi government, with women's reservation. Now with the TMC in disarray and the
04:09DMK splitting apart from the Congress, what happens next is the big question. And that's precisely where I
04:15want to go to Pramod Madhav, our correspondent. First, let's listen in to reactions on the story.
04:24Openly stated that hereafter, they are going with TVK, even for the local body elections and the next
04:31parliament election. That means they are not with us, which means they don't want us in India Bloc.
04:38They may take TVK, I don't know. Then when they don't want us, why should we go and participate in
04:44it?
04:44What is the purpose? The Congress itself had stated that we are parting with the DMK and we will fight
04:54the local body elections with the TVK and the next parliament elections also with the TVK,
05:00which means how can we continue in the India Bloc? That is why we said we are not going.
05:06Okay, so let's go straight across to Pramod Madhav, who heads our Chennai Bureau and Piyush Mishra,
05:12who's also joining me. He covers the BJP. First to you, Pramod. It seems now that that break or the
05:18rupture that took place after the election in Tamil Nadu is now a permanent break. Is there now a sense
05:24that the DMK wants to forge its own identity or is it moving closer to the NDA? What are you
05:29picking up?
05:31Rajiv, one thing is very uncertain with the statement that was issued by the DMK headquarters. And what
05:35they said is that DMK has been the forerunners when it comes to the India Alliance, making sure
05:39that DMK gives importance to any issue of national interest. However, the second verse very clearly
05:46says that the DMK headquarters are completely upset and angry over what Congress has done. And as we
05:50speak, even now, the leader of the opposition, Udiniti Stalin, very clearly called the Congress
05:54as betrayers and somebody who didn't even thank MK Stalin in person and just simply ran away to TVK.
06:00So, the anger is still persisting over there. And after which only he claimed that like any other
06:05party, whichever actually brings in any kind of motion in the interest of the nation, DMK will
06:10definitely support it. But it will not participate on the 8th June meeting of the India Alliance only
06:15because Congress is going to be there. Very clearly also, DMK sources claim that there are high
06:19chances of TVK to participate in this event as well. So, it looks like DMK wants to avoid that kind
06:24of issue as well, Rajdeep. Interesting. Because all of this, of course, is coming,
06:29Piyush, Mishra, on the back of reports now suggesting that the BJP wants to bring back,
06:35or the Modi government wants to bring back the delimitation bill. They could not get a two-thirds
06:39majority, which is they would need 362 of the 543 MPs to pass that bill. But now, what we are
06:48picking up? Is that the BJP wants to bring it back again in some form?
06:54That's right, Rajdeep. You would remember that after the results in the state of West Bengal and
06:59Tamil Nadu are out, the political equation in both the states have changed. And we are already seeing
07:04how various TMC MPs as well as MLAs are voicing their concerns against the party leadership. And
07:12the BJP now wants to take advantage of this evolving situation in the state of West Bengal. So,
07:17it has confirmed to us that the government representatives are already in touch with
07:22various MPs of Finland's Congress. Many are also on board as far as this entire pressure
07:30dealing with this bill is concerned. And as far as DMK is concerned, BJP's sources have confirmed to us
07:37that the DMK is not as rigid as it was last time. Why? Because DMK had come under the pressure
07:43of
07:44Rahul Gandhi. This time, they are not in touch with Congress. So, now things can turn in favor of
07:49BJP. We are subsequently in favor of NDA as far as the filing delimitation bill is concerned. So,
07:55the parties are exploding all the options. You would also remember last time when the bill was defeated,
08:00Jim Madinam Bodhi had categorically mentioned that we will again try our best to bring this up. And
08:0413 seconds. This excise is going on and all options are being explored as far as this bill is concerned.
08:10Okay. Let me leave it there. Piyush Mishra and Pramon Madhav on that churning that's taking place. DMK
08:17not likely to... has ruled out being part of the India block for now. DMC MPs apparently,
08:24according to the BJP, are in touch with them. Could that lead to the delimitation bill being brought back?
08:29Now, remember, the rebellion inside the Trinamul Congress has been deepening. After a revolt by
08:35the MLAs in Kolkata, there are now claims that even some TMC MPs might want to switch sides.
08:40This raises fresh questions yet again over Mamta Banerjee's grip over the party. Team Mamta
08:46though is fighting back. Rebels are digging in. The BJP predictably is sensing an opportunity.
08:52Indrajeet Kundu with his ground report from Kolkata.
09:05The post-pulchan within TMC is threatening to snowball into a full-blown rebellion.
09:14And for Mamta Banerjee, the challenge is no longer just the opposition outside,
09:18but growing dissent within. First came the MLA rebellion. Now there are fears
09:24the tremors could reach parliament itself.
09:32This is the tip of the iceberg. Durandar part one is legislative assembly of West Bengal. Durandar
09:41claims claim that after MLAs broke ranks, a fresh wave of unrest could see TMC MPs exploring their options.
10:16As the rebellion
10:17gathers momentum, Team Mamta has gone into damage control mode.
10:21In a blistering message to the rebels, Mahua Moitra reminded them that Bengal's mandate
10:26belongs to Mamta Banerjee and Mamta Banerjee alone.
10:31The
10:33Nigerian
10:33has
10:35the
10:35symbol
10:36has
10:382-6
10:39people
10:40have
10:4141%
10:42vote
10:43Congress
10:43even
10:44BJP
10:45has
11:02Within the rebel faction, some MLA's claim Mamata is not just a guide for them, but their leader.
11:26And the BJP is watching every move.
11:55For years, Mamata Banerjee built the Trinamul Congress around her authority.
12:00Now that authority is facing its toughest test yet.
12:04And the question echoing across Bengal is simple.
12:07Can Didi stop the revolt before it reaches Delhi?
12:12With Indrajit Kundu, Bureau Report, India Today.
12:41Are you mentally out of TMC already? Then why don't you leave the party?
12:45Or is this only after the election defeat that you realize that you are mentally out of TMC?
12:53I have already explained in several interviews I have given to many media that why this debacle happened.
13:02Landslide victory on the part of BJP occurred.
13:06So, it occurred to my mind during the RG Corr incident that this is possibly the last warning of the
13:14people.
13:14And that was the writing on the wall, which my party leadership could not read properly.
13:19Or did not want to read the writing on the wall.
13:22Since then, I was sidelined in the party.
13:26I was humiliated.
13:28I was harassed by the police.
13:31I had to rush to the high court to get relief.
13:35So, all this and that.
13:35And after that, a compromise formula was evolved.
13:39And ultimately, the things ended at that point of time.
13:44But even thereafter, I felt myself isolated.
13:48And at the same time, I felt that the party is destined to fall.
13:53Because in my 59-year experience in politics, I have never witnessed, not to speak of West Bengal in any
14:02part of India,
14:04that such mass upsurge happened.
14:07I felt, not only for the Ahoyah incident, but according to me, it was a national catharsis.
14:16Will you stand by her or you've given up on Mamata Banerjee and the Dhinamol?
14:20I have already told you that mentally, I am not with the party.
14:24Mentally, but then why don't you just leave the party?
14:26Why are you not leaving the party?
14:28Yes, now I am waiting for some time to take a decision.
14:35I have three options before me.
14:36I tell you very frankly.
14:39Very frankly, I am telling you, either I should leave the party, or I shall leave the Rajya Sabha,
14:49or I shall leave the politics after 69 of remaining in politics.
14:56You won't join the BJP?
14:57These are the options before me.
15:00You won't join the BJP?
15:02That option I have not thought of.
15:03So, these three options I have thought of, and whether, which option I will exercise,
15:10that depends upon harder assessment of the situation.
15:15And in due course, you will come to know.
15:18Okay.
15:20Okay, so lots of churning going on in West Bengal.
15:23Let's go to the man of the moment, or the man, our man at the moment, is Indujit Kundu, our
15:28Bureau Chief there in Kolkata.
15:30Indujit, let's be clear.
15:31We are just hearing news that the former Kolkata mayor's house, Firat Hakim's house, the CID has reached there.
15:38Now, while there seems to be anger against Abhishek Banerjee among a section of the MLAs and MPs,
15:44is it also true that there are cases being piled up against various MLAs,
15:50and that is also part of the pressure tactic that is being used to get MLAs and MPs possibly to
15:57switch sides?
15:58So, there are pull and push factors both operating?
16:05Well, that's right, Rajdeep.
16:06As you said, there is a complete churning that's going on, a lot of flux in the entire political system.
16:13While it is true that there is a big section within the new MLAs who are not happy with the
16:19way the Thrinamul Congress is operating,
16:21and their anger is clearly directed at Abhishek Banerjee.
16:24That is true.
16:25While there are others also, and I have spoken to some of them,
16:28and they are also claiming that because a large number of MLAs have already gone on the other side
16:34and they are questioning the leadership of the party,
16:38therefore, they have also gone with the flow because they also believe that they are apprehensive,
16:43that there might be cases against them.
16:46And this has been stated in uncertain terms by the TMC leadership,
16:50that they are under pressure, that there are police and all these cases.
16:53So, there is a fear factor that is there.
16:55And it seems like a mixed back at this point in time.
16:58So, there is to and fro that's happening, a lot of uncertainty amongst these MLAs.
17:03They are saying that they still believe in the leadership of Mamata Banerjee,
17:06but they are questioning Abhishek Banerjee and her decision,
17:09because if Abhishek Banerjee had signed that letter and sent it,
17:12for which the CID is now at the doorsteps of Fridhar Dhakim for the signature forgery case,
17:18that did have the approval of Mamata Banerjee.
17:21So, while they are not accepting that, but they are also saying that Mamata Banerjee is their leader.
17:25So, there seems to be a paradox in what these leaders are saying,
17:29and they are pretty well aware of what's happening right now.
17:32So, they are also not very sure, but they have already taken the decision and crossed over,
17:36and still there is some uncertainty amongst in their minds.
17:40One final question there.
17:42Will this spread from Kolkata to Delhi?
17:45Are the MPs also as vulnerable as the MLAs were?
17:53Absolutely.
17:53That is exactly what we are hearing.
17:56There is a lot of murmur.
17:57We already know.
17:58You know, Shukendu Shekhar Roy, he spoke out.
18:01And, you know, whether they will jump ship and join the BJP,
18:05it's still a distant, you know, reality at this point in time.
18:09What is happening is, there are some who are saying that they might quit politics as well.
18:13They might resign as MP.
18:15There are some who have come from different walks of life,
18:18like from the film and fraternity.
18:19Given the kind of turmoil and the flux that's happening,
18:21they're not used to, they're not from politics.
18:23So, will they be able to take this pressure?
18:25That's also another question.
18:26Babu Supri has just posted and said that he is going to be alongside Mamata Banerjee.
18:30Mahu Amuitra has spoken out, but there are others who are silent
18:33and they're silently watching from behind
18:36and trying to make up their mind as to what they should do.
18:39Okay.
18:40I'm going to leave it there, Indujit.
18:42We'll wait and see how that plays out.
18:44So, plenty of political turmoil are taking place
18:46and that puts, of course, the opposition in some way,
18:49some would say, on the back foot.
18:51Meanwhile, let's turn to our top focus today
18:53because 21 people have died in the Malabia Nagar fire tragedy
18:58in the heart of the national capital.
18:59But was this just a fire accident
19:02or evidence of a much larger and more dangerous network
19:05where fire safety is given a go-by?
19:10India Today's special investigation team went undercover
19:13in Delhi's House Rani area.
19:15What we found raises serious questions
19:17about safety norms, tenant verification, and official oversight.
19:22Watch tonight's special investigation.
19:3121 lives lost.
19:33A devastating fire inside a guest house
19:36in Delhi's House Rani area
19:38has exposed what may be a much larger
19:41and more dangerous reality.
19:43Properties originally approved
19:45under the Delhi government's bed and breakfast scheme
19:48are alleged to have gradually transformed
19:51into full-fledged guest houses and hotels.
19:55Many catering to foreign patients
19:57visiting nearby Max Hospital and their families.
20:02Archduk's special investigation team
20:04went undercover in the area.
20:07What we found raises serious questions
20:09about safety and enforcement.
20:12Several buildings had narrow corridors,
20:15cramped exits, and accommodation spaces
20:17operating out of residential structures.
20:20And now, after the deadly fire,
20:22are rooms still available?
20:24No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
20:51But our investigation told a different story.
20:54Within minutes, brokers began offering rooms,
20:58no paperwork, no questions, no verification.
21:01issue.
21:32The room was offered at Rs. 1500 per day with electricity charged separately.
22:01Further ahead, another broker offered a two-room apartment for Rs. 3300 per day.
22:46The safety concerns don't end there.
22:50A maze of electrical wires hang overhead.
22:54Encroachments have narrowed several lanes, potentially obstructing emergency vehicles during a fire.
23:00Yet rooms continue to be offered openly.
23:04Another shocking discovery.
23:06Everyone demanded payment, but no one demanded identification.
23:11No Aadhaar card, no passport, no police verification.
23:17According to Delhi Police rules, hotels, guesthouses and landlords must maintain guest records and verify tenants.
23:25Foreign nationals must be registered through mandatory C form submissions.
23:33Yet our investigation found little evidence of these norms being followed.
23:38So where are the records of the outsiders and foreign nationals staying here?
23:43Were the MCD, Delhi Police, fire department and local administration unaware?
23:50Or did they simply look the other way?
23:5221 people have already paid the ultimate price.
23:56The question now is not just how the fire happened.
23:59The question is how was an entire network of unregulated guest houses allowed to flourish unchecked in the heart of
24:09the national capital?
24:10A special report by India Today's special investigation team.
24:17Okay, let's raise the big question then on our top talking point.
24:20Will anyone be held accountable for what happened in the national capital?
24:24Why are cities still dead traps?
24:26Is corruption the root cause of it?
24:29Joining me now is Priyanka Kakkad, National Spokesperson Aap.
24:33Charu Pragya is National Spokesperson BJP.
24:36Also joined by Yashobarda Nazat, former IPS officer.
24:40And joining me also R. Krishnamurthy, General Secretary Association of the Victims of the Upadh tragedy.
24:47We appreciate all of you joining us. Before I come to the politics, I want to come to you Mr.
24:52Krishnamurthy.
24:52Because for you it's extremely personal.
24:55You and your wife fought remarkably to ensure justice for the Upadh fire tragedy victims.
25:02When you now see this play out, do you feel that there will be justice done in cases like this?
25:08Or is the system and even the media just going to move on to the next story once the headlines,
25:14once it goes off the headlines?
25:20You are right Rajiv, it's going to be 29 years, we are going to complete 29 years on 13th of
25:24June this year.
25:27And we are, you are seeing us, we are still in courts.
25:32And justice is a distance reality.
25:35People have to have lot of patience and perseverance.
25:38We have been at it for the last 29 years and actually nothing has changed, you know.
25:42And after losing our children, we thought that we will bring some changes so that no other parents, they will
25:48lose their children.
25:50And they won't, you know, see the plight at which we are leaving.
25:56We don't want them to live in the same way.
25:59So, after seeing this tragedy, it's a deja vu moment for us and the same, similar situation Rajiv.
26:05You know, in 97, Upahar had extra seats, here they have extra rooms.
26:10In Upahar, there, one exit and one entry, here also the same story.
26:16There, they put mattress for people to jump from the second floor, same issue here.
26:20The Delhi fire service was, you know, inadequate, you know, like what it was in 97, even today.
26:27They were ill-equipped.
26:29So, what, what changes we are talking about.
26:31We have seen after Upahar, we have seen so many fire tragedies, so many fire tragedies.
26:35Nothing has been learned.
26:37It will be just, you rightly said, people will talk about it for one week.
26:40It will be business as usual once, you know, everything comes down.
26:44Once media stops reporting this, it will be a business altogether, it will be the same.
26:48This is all due to corruption, Rajdeep, absolute corruption.
26:51You mean to say that bed and breakfast units are supposed to have only six rooms and this guy had
26:5825 rooms.
27:00How come it was, you know, like the MCD had put a blind eye, the Delhi fire service had put
27:04a blind eye,
27:04the police had put a blind eye.
27:06Where is it?
27:07It's all corruption.
27:08And it's going to go, and the corruption is going to the top.
27:11It's not going to stop, Rajdeep.
27:13It's, it's, you know, it's in a, you know, like people, it's in a blood now.
27:16The corruption is then in the, in the blood.
27:18Nobody's going to stop this.
27:20It's going to happen.
27:20You're saying there are payoffs.
27:22You're going to move on.
27:22After two months, you'll see another accident like this.
27:24You believe that there are payoffs that are made to these civic officials to allow these buildings to continue without
27:31proper fire safety rules.
27:35In Upahar cinema, the NOC was given by an officer who was on a casual leave.
27:40He was convicted finally by the Supreme Court.
27:42Unfortunately, Supreme Court did not take the, though they had said, we had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt.
27:47But they, they, they let off Ansel because of the old age.
27:50And this man also, the fire service man was asked to pay 10 lakh rupees to Delhi government.
27:54And Ansel were asked to pay 60 crores to Delhi government for a trauma center in 2015.
27:58And trauma center is yet to be seen.
28:00Where, where is the trauma center?
28:01What is the government doing?
28:02We are, we are, now we have come to know when we moved an application in the Supreme Court that
28:05they put it in the budget allocation.
28:07This is, this is the way that they, they, they, they, they, they, you know like, they, they are going
28:10to you know like, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, adhere to the directions of the Supreme Court.
28:16How are people, people are gonna learn, everybody is complicit in this Rajdeep.
28:20I am sorry to say.
28:20Whether it is police, or whether it is corporation, or whether it is, uh, PWD, whoever it is, Delhi fire
28:26service, everybody is complicit in this.
28:29OK.
28:29I am saying this with lot of responsibility. I have seen this for last 29 years.
28:34you know
28:35you want to respond to what
28:37I'll come to the politicians at last
28:39but you want to respond
28:41is this
28:41a classic case where
28:45local officials
28:47including the police
28:49including those in
28:51civic bodies like MCDN
28:53we are focusing on Delhi but this could be true
28:55of the entire country
28:56do you believe that the charge which is being made
28:59of not just
29:01negligence but willful culpability
29:05is true or not
29:06I appreciate the frustration
29:09expressed by Mr. Krishna Moorthy
29:11and let me tell you that we all know the reasons
29:13you know the fire, the MCD
29:15now what is the reason
29:17why do the enforcement officers
29:19don't enforce what they are supposed
29:21to do, three reasons
29:22one is the political pressure
29:24you know local politicians
29:26always oppose ceiling
29:29drives because commercial
29:30establishment, create employment
29:32vote banks, they get the money
29:35second is the economic
29:37pressure
29:37you know the entire local economies
29:40which thrive in this particular
29:42area
29:43they depend on non-compliant
29:45structures
29:46all of them
29:47and third
29:48is the corruption pressure
29:50in fact one of the anchors on your program
29:52only said
29:53that the inspections
29:55which are taking place
29:56they are basically
29:57rent-seeking exercise
29:59why
29:59because you know
30:00all the governments
30:01are culpable
30:02on that particular road
30:04Rajdeep
30:05you put five hospitals
30:07sake courts
30:10couple of malls
30:11and against
30:13on the other side
30:14an encroached
30:15entire village
30:16which has encroached the road
30:17and then you put in hotels
30:19over there
30:20tell me
30:20which hotel
30:22will fulfill
30:23all the requirements
30:25by the fire
30:27or any kind of system
30:29it's impossible
30:30and that's why
30:32you remember
30:32the basement tragedy
30:34which took place
30:35the flooding
30:36of water
30:37what happened
30:38in the inquiry
30:39nothing happened
30:40and therefore
30:41it's a sense of
30:42deja vu
30:42okay
30:43another one will come
30:44and as you said
30:45in one week
30:46it will pass off
30:47you know
30:48the important thing is
30:49is it difficult
30:50for a left-in governor
30:51or the MCD chief
30:53in this age
30:54of satellite mapping
30:56to say
30:56okay
30:57I want
30:58all the hotels
31:00which don't have
31:01the fire clearance
31:02which don't have
31:03the MCD clearance
31:05is it difficult
31:06no
31:07okay
31:07the MCD chairman
31:08has to go to the
31:09left-in governor
31:11and say
31:11that I can't work
31:13under this pressure
31:14otherwise
31:14these are
31:1590% of this
31:17are illegal
31:18and they should
31:18be scrammed off
31:20absolutely
31:20this is the problem
31:22okay
31:22so we are coming back
31:24let's turn to
31:25the politicians
31:26because
31:26we have
31:28focused on the
31:29cops for a moment
31:30on the local
31:30officials
31:31but at the end
31:32of the day
31:32Charu Pragya
31:33the government
31:34of Delhi
31:34claims that
31:35you know
31:35they are going
31:36to build
31:36a new Delhi
31:37this is how
31:38you all came
31:39to power
31:39and yet
31:40the Delhi fire chief
31:41Atul Garg
31:41has stated
31:42nearly 70%
31:43of the city
31:44falls under
31:45unauthorized
31:46not designed
31:47for current
31:47commercial use
31:48and what has
31:50happened in this
31:50particular area
31:51could be
31:51happened in any
31:52part of the
31:53city
31:54show me what
31:55the government
31:55has done
31:56what has the
31:57government done
31:58now it's saying
31:59you know
32:00that we've
32:00introduced sweeping
32:01amendments to the
32:02fire safety rules
32:03does it require
32:04a fire for this
32:05government to
32:06wake up
32:07the government
32:08didn't wake up
32:09after a fire
32:10Rajdeep
32:10and please
32:11allow me to
32:12put some points
32:13across
32:13and I say this
32:14with utmost
32:15responsibility
32:16and a lot
32:17of remorse
32:17because innocent
32:18lives have been
32:19lost which could
32:20have been saved
32:21if for decades
32:22Delhi would have
32:23grown the way
32:24the people of
32:25Delhi deserved
32:25for it to have
32:26grown when it
32:27comes to
32:27infrastructure
32:28when it comes
32:29to basic
32:29civil amenities
32:30the fire service
32:31amendment rules
32:32were amended
32:33last year
32:34Rajdeep
32:34in May
32:342025
32:35this is not
32:36in reaction
32:37to the fire
32:38this time
32:38the B&B
32:39policy was also
32:41scraped over
32:42a month ago
32:42it was not done
32:43in reaction
32:44to this
32:44unfortunate
32:45fire tragedy
32:46that occurred
32:46and the new
32:47policy draft
32:48had also been
32:49uploaded
32:49online for
32:51everybody to
32:51see
32:52that exists
32:52what is the
32:53point of having
32:53these new
32:54policies ma'am
32:55which were
32:55no but you
32:56have to walk
32:56the talk
32:57no where is
32:58the modernizing
32:58of inspections
32:59where is the
33:00improved monitoring
33:01where is your
33:02emergency response
33:03system
33:03I mean it
33:04cannot be I
33:05put something on
33:06a piece of
33:06paper and
33:07that's it
33:07the fact is
33:08nothing has
33:09changed on the
33:09ground
33:10no Rajdeep
33:11absolutely not
33:12and I'm not
33:12saying that
33:13at all
33:13and please
33:15understand that
33:16the government
33:16is taking every
33:17single bit of
33:18its responsibility
33:19very seriously
33:20and what is
33:21our responsibility
33:21today
33:22our responsibility
33:23today is to
33:24first investigate
33:24prosecute
33:26whoever it is
33:27whether it is
33:27owner manager
33:28or official
33:29make sure
33:30compensation is
33:31given and then
33:32reforms are done
33:32on ground
33:33these reforms
33:34started a year
33:35ago when our
33:36party came into
33:36power and I've
33:37told you date
33:38but your local
33:39MLA ma'am
33:40this area
33:40has a BJP
33:41MLA building
33:42operating 25
33:43rooms against
33:43a license of
33:44only 6 with
33:45clear fire safety
33:46violations
33:47are we saying
33:48the local MLA
33:48had no idea
33:49about this
33:49the local
33:50corporators again
33:51of the BJP
33:52had no idea
33:52about it
33:53so that is
33:54that is what
33:54I'm coming to
33:55see we have
33:56a system where
33:56licenses are
33:57being given
33:57out and
33:58these licenses
33:59were given
33:59out unfairly
34:00for the longest
34:01time you
34:01remember the
34:02tragedies in
34:03Bawana in
34:03Arpit Palace in
34:04Filmistan
34:05Mundka Vivek
34:06Vihar how
34:07were these
34:07certificates given
34:08and all of
34:09this needs to
34:09come to a
34:10full stop when
34:11the government
34:11in the state
34:12is going to
34:13take hard
34:14action which
34:14this government
34:15has started
34:16taking there is
34:16going to be a
34:17massive ceiling
34:17drive over the
34:18last one month
34:19there is absolutely
34:20zero tolerance to
34:22something like
34:22this and yes
34:23today the MLA
34:24is ours but
34:24you know what
34:25MLA 15 minutes
34:26after the tragedy
34:27was there on
34:28site 10 police
34:29personnel were
34:30hospitalized because
34:31they were part of
34:32the rescue
34:32operation so many
34:33Bhajpa Karekartas
34:34also were a part of
34:36the rescue operation
34:36but the point
34:37today here is
34:38that a criminal
34:39act and every
34:40act of negligence
34:41by a private
34:42operator cannot
34:43become a space
34:45where political
34:46opposition starts
34:47where opposition
34:48parties are looking
34:49for headlines which
34:51are political in
34:51nature which are
34:52not reformative in
34:53nature that is
34:54what I have a
34:54problem with
34:55Rajdeepin
34:55why must I not
34:56have a problem
34:57with that
34:57you know because
34:58when you are in
35:00opposition you would
35:01also take on the
35:02BJP government I
35:03recall for example
35:03on the basement
35:04or the AAP
35:05government on the
35:06basement tragedy
35:07but Priyanka
35:08Kakkar you see
35:09it seems to be a
35:10case of more
35:10things change the
35:11more they remain
35:12the same we can
35:12go back to the
35:13Uphar tragedy as
35:14Mr. Krishnamurthy
35:14did and we can
35:15look at what's
35:16happened in this
35:17hotel motel now
35:18the truth of the
35:19matter is there is
35:20something seriously
35:21wrong with systems
35:22it's a systemic
35:23failure where
35:25corruption is the
35:26root cause your
35:27party came to
35:28power saying we'll
35:28wipe out corruption
35:29truth is you couldn't
35:30touch the local
35:31bodies
35:36Rajdeepji
35:37two three things
35:38here you know
35:39that Delhi's
35:41Delhi's polity is
35:42four tiered and
35:44currently all the
35:45four tiers lie with
35:45the BJP I mean I
35:47don't want to this
35:48is a fact I'll have
35:49to state this that
35:50for the past 20
35:51years MCD which is
35:52the sole authority
35:54for granting these
35:55licenses has been
35:56majorly under the
35:57BJP for an
35:58exception of about
35:59one and a half
35:59years in between
36:00when we had it
36:01having said that
36:02also Rajdeepji
36:03being from Delhi
36:04I can assure you
36:05if you have a
36:05eat for a legal
36:08construction also
36:09you will see many
36:10MCD adhikaris come
36:12and inspect
36:12what you are
36:13making and not
36:14making so it is
36:15impossible that
36:16the BJP or
36:17their MLA did
36:19not know about
36:20the expansion of
36:21from 6 to 25
36:22now you know they
36:24will again do an
36:24inquiry they will
36:25do the inquiry for
36:26the Goa nightclub
36:27owners who also
36:28after the fire were
36:28able to run away
36:30take a flight when
36:31there was a fiasco
36:32air flight fiasco
36:33going on but they
36:34managed to take
36:34flights out of
36:35India I can count
36:36incident of Bihar
36:37today where four
36:38children died in a
36:39fire four or five
36:40and the value of
36:41life has been
36:42assessed at 4 lakh
36:43rupees the problem
36:44is that this
36:45government has does
36:46not own does not
36:48accept its mistakes
36:49responsibility and
36:51accountability doesn't
36:52come into the picture
36:53only and it is not
36:54just Delhi it is all
36:55over India today
36:56also one problem
36:57that we are
36:58consistently seeing
36:59for the past six
37:00months at least
37:01Rajdeep ji whether
37:03it was the Vivek
37:04Vihar fire tragedy
37:05or the Shastri
37:07Park fire tragedy
37:08or the Palam
37:10Vihar tragedy or
37:11the ex-IS officer
37:12who recently perished
37:13in a fire in
37:14Malayanagar about a
37:15week ago all of
37:16these have one thing
37:17in common that the
37:18fire brigade the
37:19response time was
37:20more than an hour
37:22which is extremely
37:23shameful and once
37:24they once the fire
37:25brigade reaches the
37:26hydraulic lift is not
37:27working or the
37:29water water pressure
37:31is not adequate or
37:32there is some issue
37:33with the fire brigade
37:34which is very
37:35unfortunate and
37:36somebody has to be
37:37taken to task for
37:38this we you know in
37:39in developed countries
37:41the response time
37:43the bad response time
37:44who is going to be
37:46taken to task is the
37:47question now in this
37:48case of course the
37:49hotel owner has been
37:50arrested question is
37:51when will the arrest
37:53take place of the
37:54officials and those
37:55within the system who
37:57actually allow this to
37:58happen that is that is
38:00the worry that that you
38:01see it's very the hotel
38:02owner has been arrested
38:03good what about those who
38:06allowed the hotel to
38:07function yeshu
38:08is that isn't that part of the
38:09problem that you never really
38:11strike and those who should
38:13be held accountable who
38:15allow this hotel owner to
38:16have six rooms go to up to
38:1825 yes absolutely and let me
38:21give you an example the the
38:23famous senti and the cbsc case
38:25there were two is officers who
38:27were transferred they have got
38:28better postings the two new
38:31are again is officers and by the
38:33way the inquiry is being
38:35conducted by another ias officer
38:37who's retired now tell me
38:40something rajdeep the mcd chief
38:43who's an ias officer can't he get
38:46in one hour the list of all such
38:50establishments in which there are
38:52no nocs given by the by the fire
38:55services or in which the violations
38:58have been there whether they have
38:59been compounded or not no it's a
39:02question of spine and guts and the
39:05left-hand governor is the man who's
39:07responsible for all this he can do
39:09it in a day if he wants to the
39:12question is the political pressure
39:14and all the governments have been
39:16responsible look at the dda for
39:18planning that road and half encroached
39:21road which has contains the courts the
39:24malls and all the hospitals yeah but
39:27part part part of i part of the
39:29problem of course is multiplicity of
39:31authorities and we are seeing that in
39:33every city every authority therefore
39:35passes the buck on to the next in
39:37delhi you'll have mcd dda in mumbai
39:39also various authorities operate and
39:41therefore when it comes to civic
39:43issues no one is accountable when you
39:45saw this mr krishnamurti did you feel
39:48that there was a sense that no one was
39:50accountable everyone was passing the
39:52buck in upar case that's exactly what
39:55happened no one where was where
39:57according to you does the buck stop in
39:59a case like this
40:04see rasteep before that i want to say
40:06that all the politicians again the
40:08blame game has started already you said
40:10that the the owner is arrested now he's
40:13already said that you know all his
40:14management everything was looked after
40:15by one mr jay mishra now all this
40:18thing will go on in the court and it's
40:20you know this man will get a bail within
40:2110 to 15 days or maybe even two months
40:23and the case will drag on for 10 years
40:2615 years and i right to rightly said
40:28that who's like that's what we've been
40:30fighting for the authorities have to be
40:32held responsible i know i know i've heard
40:35what mr azad said but there is no will to
40:37do anything there are i've seen a lot of
40:40inquiry reports even in upar case there
40:42was an inquiry report which was very well
40:43written by an is officer who was a deputy
40:46commissioner south and we used that
40:49inquiry report to to file our civil
40:51writ and it was appreciated by even by
40:52the supreme court but now the most of
40:55the inquiry reports are collecting dust
40:57in some obscure corner of the ministry
40:59we have been advocating for a law for
41:01last for almost 10 years that bring in a
41:04special law to deal with such man-made
41:06disaster so that people don't get bail at
41:08least a minimum saying punishment should
41:10be 10 years and law commission passed it
41:13again we've been contract we've been
41:14contacting the law ministers in congress
41:16government and this government also for
41:18last 10 years there is no response there
41:21is no way to do anything rajdeep and i'm
41:23sorry to say the you know human life
41:26human life is cheap this today you give
41:2910 lakh rupees to like we think that oh
41:31the person in from the family are ready to
41:33receive this 10 lakh rupees or two lakh
41:34rupees so so that the people some people
41:36die in the house in the family just
41:39imagine what would happen to the mrs sanjay
41:41gupta's house where seven people lost
41:43the the the the the the the loved ones even
41:47upar the families have been wiped out
41:50nothing has happened all these money
41:52exgratia and the the the the compensation
41:55amount should be used for for you know like
41:58for improving the fire safety fire safety
42:00matters every life matters every two
42:04months we are seeing fire tragedy people
42:06are dying even today in bihad four
42:07children have died now that they you know
42:10like six months back there was an accident
42:12in the restaurant seven 17 people died
42:14what happened every time they come and
42:16say yeh hoga yeh hoga but all salta hai
42:18attitude kuch nahi hoga they'll all forget
42:21moment they'll say that the court the
42:23matter has gone to the court they'll say
42:24oh the matter is subject we can't we can't do
42:26anything no the matters in the court we
42:28can't do anything okay so now what will
42:29happen now these people i don't know how
42:31many victims are going to go to the court
42:33now these people go to the court they're
42:35going to depend their first thing they have to
42:36do is get a special public prosecutor to face the
42:39senior lawyers whom the owner is going to
42:41bring
42:44i take your point i know it's an uneven
42:46battle often for victims and a long
42:49battle and a torturous one i know you
42:51fought it bravely i don't know how many
42:52else can but we want accountability i think
42:55at the end of the day our stories and this
42:57discussion is only focusing on on one issue
42:59accountability unless you have exemplar
43:02accountability in cases like this this will
43:05keep happening in this country and it is
43:07unacceptable the buck must stop somewhere
43:11and the system cannot simply pass it from
43:14one one official to another or one
43:17department to another surely the monies can
43:21be spent of taxpayers into having a proper
43:24fire safety audit in a city like this and make
43:27those details out in the public that's the
43:30very least that we can expect from those in
43:33government promising us
43:34good government good governance rather what we
43:38need therefore is good governance above all
43:40else i thank my guests for joining me on the
43:42show tonight i want to turn though to uh
43:45delhi's brave hearts because in the middle of
43:48the smoke flames and chaos it was ordinary
43:50locals who became the first responders to that
43:53deadly hotel fire in which 21 people were killed
43:56residents traders laborers rushed in even before
43:59emergency teams could fully take control and
44:02helped save several lives india today in our reports
44:20when these horrific scenes were playing out in
44:23malvianagar a few brave men stepped in risking
44:26their lives to save those trapped inside the
44:30hotel
44:36from laying mattresses on the ground to using
44:40ladders to rescue victims to rushing victims
44:44to hospitals some local residents launched a
44:47rescue mission long before help came from
44:50authorities
44:54riazuddin mansoori took out mattresses from his
44:57shop and put them on the ground to cushion the
45:00impact for guests jumping from the hotel's top
45:03floors
45:03yeah
45:04manja rata
45:05a
45:06a
45:06a
45:06a
45:07a
45:07a
45:08a
45:08foreign
45:39Mansoori's son Arman joined his large-hearted father in the act.
46:17Other brave hearts joined them. Together, they saved many lives.
46:46Many police personnel who reached the spot did not wait for any safety equipment, walking right into the hotel.
46:54They themselves suffered injuries in the act, but managed to help victims.
47:01The fire claimed 21 lives, but the number could have been much higher if not for the courage shown by
47:08these brave hearts.
47:10Vita Shetosh Singh and Amit Bharadwaj, Bureau Report, India Today.
47:17She dreamt of becoming a doctor, but like thousands of young Indians spend years preparing for that one exam, the
47:24NEET exam.
47:25An exam she hoped would change her life. Today, Akanksha Chaturvedi is gone.
47:29All that remains is a heartbreaking final words, death by suicide, allegedly linked to NEET depression. Take a look.
47:40She dreamt of becoming a doctor. Like thousands of young Indians, she spent years preparing for one exam.
47:48An exam she hoped would change her life. Today, Akanksha Chaturvedi is gone.
47:54And all that remains are her heartbreaking final words.
47:58Mommy, Papa, you blessed me and believed that I would study well and become a doctor.
48:04But I do not have the courage inside me to give NEET again.
48:08Earlier, I expected good marks in the NEET paper.
48:10But what guarantee is there that I will score well again?
48:14Sorry, Mommy, Papa. I have ruined everything for both of you.
48:1720 years old Akanksha Chaturvedi from Madhya Pradesh's Maokanj district was studying in Nagpur.
48:26According to police, she died by suicide after the NEETUJI examination was cancelled amid the paper leak controversy.
48:34For her family, there are no answers, only grief.
48:40It is a very big time.
48:43How do you say it?
48:44How do you say it?
48:49How do you say it?
48:51How do you say it?
48:54How do you say it?
48:55So that the medical conditions are going for me and today, the medical conditions are going for me.
48:59Beautiful days.
49:05The medical conditions are going to be the doctor in this case.
49:23Akanksha's death has once again put the spotlight on the human cost of examination scandals.
49:28And she is not alone.
49:30Across India, several need aspirants have reportedly died by suicide after the cancellation of the examination.
49:37In Uttar Pradesh, 21-year-old Hrithik Mishra died by suicide.
49:42In Rajasthan, 22-year-old Pradeep Meghwal lost his life.
49:47In Delhi, 20-year-old Anshika Pandey allegedly died by suicide after the exam was cancelled.
49:54In Karnataka, 18-year-old Bhaagishri died by suicide.
49:59In Jharkhand, 16-year-old Ruchi Kumari was found dead in her rented accommodation.
50:04In Maharashtra, 18-year-old Maitali Sonwane allegedly died by suicide.
50:11In Odisha, 19-year-old Jyoti Prakash Barek was found dead at home.
50:16The deaths have now become a political flashpoint.
50:20The opposition has accused the government of failing to safeguard the integrity of one of India's most important examinations.
50:28But beyond politics lies a harder question.
50:33How many more dreams must be lost?
50:35How many more families must break?
50:38This is no longer just about an exam.
50:41It is about young lives.
50:43And a system that puts unbearable pressure on them.
50:48Bureau Report, India Today.
50:56Truly tragic story.
50:58Now, pipelines laid.
51:01Crore spent to get water to villages.
51:03But still no supply.
51:05That is the story this summer from Jabua and Madhya Pradesh.
51:08Nearly 430 crore rupees spent.
51:11But no results to show.
51:14Ravish Pal Singh travelled across the district to find out where the promise was broken.
51:19Here is tonight's Get Real India story.
51:39This is Jabua in Western Madhya Pradesh.
51:43On paper, every household here was supposed to receive tap water under the Jaljeevan Mission.
51:50But on the ground, women are still digging pits and dry riverbeds for a few litres of muddy water.
52:00Villages say the pipelines were laid here in 2022.
52:03But four years later, not a single drop has flowed.
52:09Do you have to drink the water like that?
52:10Yes, we have to drink the water like that.
52:13We have to drink the water in the morning.
52:27Do you have to drink the water?
52:41After a ward of Para Panchayat, residents say the scheme was officially completed and
52:45handed over in 2024.
52:49Yet families are still paying for tanker water.
52:53The taps installed under the mission remain bone dry.
52:56In fact, these taps have become symbols of a failed promise.
53:21The story repeats itself in Dhandalpurah.
53:23The tanker is made in Dhandalpurah.
53:27The water is 50,000 liters of water.
53:31If you look at it, there is a few fit water made in Dhandalpurah.
53:39The water is very full.
53:43This water is a half-fit water.
53:47If you get the full water, there is a thousand liters of water.
53:54The system meant to purify drinking water remains unused because it was never given an electricity
53:59connection.
54:00Is there water coming from the tank?
54:02No, it's not coming from the tank.
54:04When?
54:04It's not coming from the last two years.
54:06And how much water is there?
54:08There's a little water, sir.
54:10And it's too bad, sir.
54:14How much water is there?
54:15How much water is there?
54:16When is this water coming from the last two years?
54:19When the water started, the water came from the last two days.
54:22After that, there's water coming from the next two days.
54:24Yes.
54:24And the water was there.
54:26The machine is put here.
54:28It's written here.
54:29It's called the water disinfection system.
54:32The water disinfection system has put here.
54:36But where is it?
54:39Where will this connection come from?
54:40Where will it go from?
54:41We will show you this too.
54:44Under the Jaljivan mission, nearly 430 crore rupees has been spent in Jabua district.
54:49Official records show that work has been completed in 519 out of 713 villages and handed over to
54:56local panchayats.
54:57In Kheda village, works worth 75 lakh rupees have been executed.
55:01In Para Panchayat, projects worth 50 lakh rupees have been completed.
55:05And in Dhandalpura, over 1.09 crore rupees has been spent on water tanks and pipeline infrastructure.
55:15So, where did the system fail?
55:19The public health engineering department says projects are completed and handed over to
55:23Panchayat.
55:26The minister cites summer conditions and falling groundwater levels.
55:40The files say the work is complete.
55:43The expenditure is accounted for.
55:46The big question, if not on ground, where did the crores go?
55:50And why is no one monitoring it?
55:54Residents of Jabua are desperate for a reply.
56:00With Ravish Pal Singh, Bureau Report, India Today.
56:08Get Real India, the stories that really matter from the ground.
56:12The Jaljivan mission, hopefully someone's watching.
56:16Thanks for watching.
56:17Stay well, stay safe.
56:19Good night, Shubratri.
56:21Jai Hind.
56:22Namaskar.
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