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The big focus of this episode of News Today is on the political turmoil in the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and defection politics.
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00:01Hello and welcome, you're with the news today, your prime time destination, news, newsmakers,
00:07talking points, our big talking point tonight, our defections in India being normalized,
00:15that's right, that's the big talking point, the immorality of politics, my special guests
00:20include Abhishek Manu Singhvi of the Congress, Nalin Kohli of the BJP, also a former Bombay
00:27High Court judge is facing death threats, his family has been attacked, we will tell you
00:32that major story in a moment, but first as always, it's time for the Nine Headlines at
00:38Nine.
00:39High drama unfolds outside the election commission headquarters after the Congress candidate
00:45for the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh finds her nomination cancelled, claiming he hid criminal
00:53cases against her, senior Congress leader state protests, alleged move to steal Rajya Sabha
00:59polls, one election commission to intervene.
01:04There is more drama in Kolkata after a CID team arrives at Didi and Abhishek's residence
01:11as part of searches linked to an alleged signature forgery case.
01:15Abhishek Banerjee twice skipped CID summons in the case.
01:22Amid's open rebellion against Mamta Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee, TMC chief meets the
01:28former Congress leader Sonia Gandhi at her residence in Delhi, sparking speculation of a growing
01:35togetherness.
01:39Amid's energy crisis, centres cut subsidized LPG cylinders under its flagship Ujwala scheme
01:47from nine to four. Centre says India's LPG prices still among lowest in the world.
01:55Railway stations across Uttar Pradesh witness unprecedented crowds amidst the UP police constable
02:01exam. Passenger surge leads to severe congestion, putting railway authorities on alert.
02:08At least 27 people are dead after protesters clash with Pakistan forces in park-occupied Jammu
02:16and Kashmir. India strongly condemns blatant violation of human rights by Pakistan.
02:24Amid's a political row, government clears new 13,000 crore Great Nicobar Airport but drops the
02:31INS bar's expansion. Rahul Gandhi had described the project as one of the biggest scams.
02:40In a big win for Indian students and tech workers, US judge nixes $100,000 fee on new H-1B
02:48visas,
02:48calls it illegal. Donald Trump fumes, slams judges over H-1B roadblock.
02:56And the teenage prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi dismissed for just 14 runs on his much-anticipated
03:03India A senior debut. India clinched the thriller by eight runs against Sri Lanka A.
03:31ok let's go to the big story that I am breaking at the moment high drama has now taken place
03:36in the
03:37Madhya Pradesh Rajya Sabha polls because Meenakshi Natarajan, the Congress's candidate for Rajya
03:43Sabha, her nomination has been rejected. The Congress has now approached the Election Commission
03:48late at night seeking justice. The Congress MLAs were to go to a resort in Bangalore amidst claims
03:56that the BJP was trying to port some of them with money exchanging hands. They accused their flight
04:03to Karnataka has been cancelled. The ECI now says it might meet the Congress delegation at 12 noon
04:10tomorrow. So we have high drama taking place in the heart of the national capital at the moment
04:16outside the Election Commission headquarters. Listen in to Congress General Secretary Organization KC
04:22Venugopal. They have rejected the nomination of Meenakshi Natarajan in Madhya Pradesh.
04:30This was happened at 6.30 in the evening. In 30 minutes, we sent a letter to the Election
04:39Commission in my name only for seeking an appointment. We need to have a physical person, physical
04:45appearance before the Election Commission for arguing our case. This is a clear-cut case of
04:50murdering democracy. If there is a tiny aspect of democracy in this country, Election Commission
04:56has to intervene in this matter without any delay. This is what our demand. Let us see
05:01if they are allowing us tomorrow morning. We will wait for tomorrow morning. Otherwise,
05:04we will go with our legal options.
05:09Okay, so there is high drama taking place outside the Election Commission and where there is that
05:14news breaking, there is Rahul Gautam joining us. Rahul, let's get, explain this to our viewers. The
05:21fact is, Madhya Pradesh, there are three Rajya Sabha seats. The BJP was guaranteed two, the Congress was
05:27guaranteed one based on their numbers in the Assembly. The BJP then puts up a fourth candidate and
05:33suddenly this evening, we are told that Meenakshi Natarajan nomination has been rejected by the
05:39returning officer. The Congress apparently is claiming that the election is being stolen by the
05:45BJP. Give us more updates. What exactly is the reason that Meenakshi Natarajan's affidavit was rejected?
05:58Well, the Congress, you know, is describing what happened in Bhopal today. The rejection of, you know,
06:06the nomination papers of Meenakshi Natarajan as an assault on democracy. And in fact, we saw a high
06:12political drama unfolding today, right at the doorsteps of the Election Commission. At least two
06:17incumbent MPs, KC Benogopal and Jairam Ramesh, ex-Chief Minister Mr. Bupesh Bagel, ex-Deputy
06:24Chief Minister Sachin Pilot sitting on a dharna saying that they'll not, you know, budge from here
06:28until unless they're heard by the Election Commission officials. Later on, they were allowed to go inside
06:35and they were given an audience for tomorrow. As far as the allegations are concerned, the BJP has been
06:41alleging that there was a criminal case that was pending against Meenakshi Natarajan, which was not
06:47disclosed by her in the affidavit. However, Congress has outrightly rejected all these allegations,
06:53saying that there is no case pending against her. It was only a defamation notice that was sent to her,
06:58which has been duly replied also by Meenakshi Natarajan. And therefore, what has happened today
07:03is absolutely undemocratic and also unacceptable. And therefore, Congress Party is in no mood
07:10to leave this issue. In fact, we've been informed that tomorrow, possibly not just senior leaders,
07:17we might see some Congress workers also coming in here. And that's why I'll just show you the
07:21visuals here. The entire Election Commission premise, you know, outside the Election Commission
07:26building has been completely barricaded. There are a lot of police presence here, a lot of paramilitary
07:31personnel here. And in fact, this was also objected by Congress leaders saying that this only shows
07:38how transparent Election Commission is, as they are not allowing coverage also now, given the fact
07:45that we are sitting on a dharna. So clearly, Congress is on a warpath. And it seems that
07:50they are not going to relent on this issue.
07:56Okay, well, just to inform our viewers, a BJP supported independent candidate Parimal
08:02Natwani in Jarkhand Rajasaba has been allowed till 11am to rectify a procedural mistake. So we'll see
08:09whether that same leniency is given to Meenakshi Natarajan, or is this another case which will pit BJP
08:16and the Congress against each other. The role of the Election Commission will be looked at
08:22carefully once again. Will they play a neutral umpire in this case will be tested. Thanks very
08:29much, Rahul Gautam, for bringing us up to speed with the latest political controversy.
08:39Okay, let's turn from that breaking political controversy in Madhya Pradesh to the snowballing
08:45crisis in the Trinamul Congress in Bengal that continues with embattled former Chief Minister
08:52Mamata Banerjee meeting Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi in a one-on-one
08:58meeting at a residence in New Delhi. But even as Mamata was meeting with Sonia Gandhi,
09:03a team of CID West Bengal reached her Kolkata home to serve notice to her nephew Abhishek Banerjee
09:11in an alleged signature forgery case. Meanwhile, TMC rebels continued to attend meetings chaired
09:19by Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari. The big question, is the TMC set to split in Delhi as
09:27it has in Kolkata? And what lies ahead? Our top focus now on defection politics.
09:36Just months ago, they were trading barbs on the campaign train. Today, they are sharing
09:42hugs, smiles and photographs. And a day later, Mamata Banerjee paid a visit to Sonia Gandhi
09:50at 10 Janpata. The optics have become impossible to ignore. All this as Mamata battles a growing
09:58revolt. Already battling a rebellion in Bengal, the revolt is now spilled into Parliament.
10:05Rebel MP Kakuli Ghosh claims she is the real Chief Whip of the TMC in the Lok Sabha.
10:12The Mamata camp counters that Kalyan Banerjee remains the authorised Chief Whip.
10:17The rebel claim they have the support of 20 TMC MPs. Mamata loyalists dismissed the figure
10:23as fiction, insisting several MPs named by the rebels have publicly rejected the claim.
10:30The rebels accused Mamata's government of failing on development and claimed the RG
10:35core outrage triggered the unrest. The TMC's response is equally sharp. The rebels say they
10:42want to join the NDA. The mom of the camp calls them traitors and challenges them to resign and seek
10:49a
10:49fresh mandate.
10:50The
11:17Jitney
11:38Meanwhile, a CID team visited the residence of Mohamata Banerjee in Kalighat.
11:43Sources say the investigators went there to serve notice to her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, in the alleged signature forgery case.
11:52Bureau Report, India Today.
11:55Okay, so let's raise the big questions on our talking point tonight.
11:59Has defection politics been normalized in the Modi era?
12:03Why are the opposition's elected representatives ready to switch sides so easily?
12:08Have anti-defection laws failed to stop the Aya Ram, Gya Ram culture?
12:13And is the BJP now seeking to manufacture a majority for itself in both houses of parliament at all costs?
12:20Joining us now is the eminent lawyer, politician, senior leader of the Congress Party, Abhishek Manu Singhvi joins.
12:29We appreciate you joining us, Dr. Singhvi.
12:33Do you concede that the opposition finds itself increasingly vulnerable to defection politics?
12:41Why blame the BJP if Thinamul Congress MPs and MLAs are so ready to switch sides after an election defeat?
12:48If Congress MLAs over the last 10 years have been so willing to switch sides as have MLAs of the
12:54opposition in Maharashtra?
12:55Do we blame the BJP for it or the opposition for it?
12:59There is a very strong reason to blame the BJP, which I'll come to in a minute.
13:04But to be candid with you, there is no doubt that ultimately it reflects on the character and the individual
13:09persona of the person.
13:10Clearly, they do not have the integrity, the tough stand, etc.
13:16And clearly, I will go further.
13:18There must be weaknesses in the TMCs, current imbroglio, which has led to this.
13:23There must have been weaknesses even in the recent past when they were in power.
13:27So we have to concede that nobody is saying 100% of the blame lies on the BJP.
13:31But let's be frank and candid now for a minute and let's smell the coffee.
13:36These people in not one state, but the paradigm is now for the last five years.
13:40This name given for Operation Lotus is longer than five years, but I am taking only five years.
13:46This has been a standard pattern.
13:48Everybody knows, number one, that the resources, the monetary resources with the BJP as one single party
13:54is more than 50 to 70 times all the other parties combined.
13:59Number two, you know that these are nothing to do with ideology.
14:03They are allurements in the positive sense of offering you all kinds of things.
14:10Thirdly, there is negative allurement.
14:13There is a threat.
14:14There is a withdrawal of a case against you.
14:16There is a threat about all kinds of things which will happen to you.
14:20This is open secret.
14:21We know the names.
14:23We know the cases.
14:24Now, this being so, you are having an unequal, non-equal, non-level playing field,
14:30which is actually distorting democracy.
14:32Now, it's all very well to say, look, it ultimately depends on the individual.
14:36It depends on the maladministration of your party.
14:38Why should they want to live with such an excellent party?
14:40That's not reality.
14:42That's not spelling the coffee.
14:43You are making the democratic system highly skewed, which is a matter of extreme sadness.
14:49One more caveat, by the way, Rajdeep, and this is not the time to go into it.
14:54I have spoken on this, on your very program on this.
14:57By the way, it is very amusing to see this two-thirds business.
15:00I have said before on your program, there is no such thing as a two-thirds going and avoiding
15:06the 10th schedule.
15:08There are cumulative conditions.
15:10Only the second one is talked about, namely two-thirds in number, not the first one of
15:14a political party merging.
15:15Without the twin conditions, cumulatively satisfied, they are liable for defection.
15:20But, again, see the uniqueness of Indian politics.
15:22I will file a complaint saying that Clause 4 of the 10th schedule applies.
15:27They are disqualified.
15:29My complaint goes to the speaker.
15:31The speaker belongs to the BJP.
15:33The speaker will never decide or decide not to decide or decide in favor of the BJP.
15:38The man who has filed the complaint, the complainant will go to court.
15:42The court will issue notice, jawab, jawab will jawab.
15:44It will take two years before there is even a primary decision.
15:47By then, everything is over.
15:48So, this is the reality of Indian politics, although I believe strongly, as held in the
15:54Shiv Sena case…
15:55We've seen that…
15:56Yes.
15:58There is no defection.
15:59There is no defection immunity in what is done.
16:01If the Shiv Sena case does speak…
16:06Yes, sir, but the fact is, the Shiv Sena case is very clear that even if it's two-thirds,
16:10both the political party and the legislature party have to merge with another party.
16:14But at the end of the day, that matter is still pending.
16:17Yes, but that matter in appeal is still pending at the Supreme Court.
16:20The question, therefore, is the anti-infection law doesn't seem to be acting as a…
16:27Raj, let me interrupt you.
16:27No, no, one minute.
16:27One minute, one minute.
16:28The last sentence is wrong.
16:29That's the final judgment.
16:30The acting is pending.
16:31That's the law.
16:32But the law is applied by the speaker.
16:34Speakers are partisan.
16:35That's the problem.
16:36The law is clear.
16:37Sir, because…
16:38Yes, because…
16:40Yes, but because of the alleged partisanship of the speaker in Maharashtra,
16:45the Shiv Sena UBT has gone and appealed to the Supreme Court.
16:48The court has still not heard their matter.
16:51My…
16:51Has not yet given a final verdict on their appeal.
16:54My question to you is simply this.
16:56Do you therefore concede that the law is no longer an obstacle?
16:59This whole two-thirds of a party is needed is also no longer an obstacle.
17:03We have seen wholesale and retail defections taking place.
17:07No, absolutely.
17:07We are also…
17:09You agree with that or not?
17:11100% what I am giving you is a stronger example.
17:15You are talking of the speaker's decision challenged by the Shiv Sena and pending in court.
17:19Prior to that, there is a judgment of three judges led by Chief Justice Chandrachud,
17:24which has held already the law that cumulative twin conditions require to be satisfied.
17:30Knowing that law, knowing that law, the speaker decides not to follow it.
17:34Forget the Maharashtra speaker.
17:35Tomorrow the speaker in West Bengal, tomorrow the speaker in XYZ state decides not to follow it,
17:40saying that very well I am doing it.
17:42Now he is wrong.
17:43But to show that he is wrong, our courts take two to three years.
17:48Therefore, I agree A, the defection law should be repealed with a one line.
17:53One line trend schedule.
17:55Anybody elected on symbol X, party Y, shall resign and seek re-election
18:02if he changes his party affiliation directly or indirectly in any manner whatsoever.
18:07Two lines is that anti-defection law required.
18:11Otherwise, you are making a mockery.
18:12There is nothing to do with law.
18:13It is to do with politics.
18:14It is to do with reality.
18:16So, you are…
18:17Okay.
18:18Okay.
18:18So, what you are saying is that the law should be anyone who switches sides
18:23should resign, fought with, and re-contest the election on whichever new party or new symbol
18:30he or she is part of, but that they cannot carry on in that same position.
18:36But let me ask you this, Dr. Singhvi.
18:39The fact of the matter is, as we discussed at the very outset, immorality cannot be legislated upon.
18:46If, at the end of the day, a group of people decide they do not want to work under a
18:51particular
18:51leader or party, as seems to be the case, for example, in the Thinamul Congress, why stop them?
18:57They will say, we are exercising our free right.
19:00We are a group of 20 people and we want to exercise our free right.
19:04We want to form a new group faction.
19:07If they have chosen to do so, how do you actually ever stop it?
19:12Do you really believe that there is a…
19:14Given that you are saying there is a non-level playing field.
19:18Yes.
19:19You see, the question you are raising, Rajdeep, is answered in 1985.
19:24Why was the defection law created?
19:27Anybody can change any party, go anywhere.
19:29It's your volition.
19:30You are a free man.
19:31Why?
19:31Because, per se, the legislature, by a unanimity of overwhelming nature, two-thirds, said that
19:40per se, change of parties after election is per se, not immoral, but illegal.
19:46Immorality was equated to illegality and unconstitutionality by creating the 10th schedule.
19:51Now, it's a different matter that you have abused the 10th schedule, you have not followed
19:55it, you have not followed a judgment which has interpreted the 10th schedule to say that
20:00without cumulative twin conditions satisfied, you are liable for disqualification.
20:04Having reached that stage and given the inherent delays in our court system, I am recommending
20:09for the future.
20:10But there is no doubt that for the present, this is defection.
20:14Because there is no merger of two political parties, neither in West Bengal, nor elsewhere
20:18in Maharashtra.
20:22So, it's not immorality, it's illegality.
20:25When I speak to BJP leaders on this, sir, just a minute, sir, let me ask you, yeah, okay.
20:31You know, when I speak to BJP leaders on this, they say, please ask the Congress, the Aya
20:38Ram, Gaya Ram culture started when the Congress was in power, the dominant power.
20:43Whichever is the dominant power is like the Upta Suraj, rising sun.
20:47Everyone gravitates towards it.
20:50Your party was also accused of misusing agencies.
20:53Perhaps your party was also accused of using Sam, Dam, Dhandabhet.
20:58The BJP is doing the same now.
20:59That's what they say.
21:00What's the difference between when you were in power and now when the BJP is in power?
21:05Allow me.
21:05Answer one.
21:06Answer one.
21:07It's pure whataboutery.
21:09There is no point talking about the past and saying two wrongs make a right.
21:13Second, nobody with his right mind will ever say that misusing agencies and doing agency
21:21misuse of vendetta is anywhere near any government, including BJP governments of the past have
21:27ever tried in this country.
21:28The degree, the scope is hundred times more.
21:31Number three, nobody will even allege in his right mind with facts and figures that the
21:36resources, the sheer money power with the BJP, which is hundred times all the rest of Indian
21:41parties put together, including the India parties put together, was ever equal in this
21:46size prior to 2014.
21:47So none of these three points are correct.
21:49In any case, whataboutery will not solve this problem that there were some instances in the
21:53past when the IRM, after all, IRM started in Haryana in 1967.
21:59So what?
22:00My answer is, so what?
22:01Is that an answer to today's situation?
22:03In state after state, you are seeing a naked, an absolute naked, unbridled, egregious, and
22:11a without any compunction or without any hesitation or without any sense of shame.
22:19This happening, it's almost a proud declaration that, look, we are the party in power.
22:24We have the power.
22:25We have the loaves and fishes of power and we'll do it.
22:27To hell with you, to hell with the tension.
22:29You and remember, I'm saying all this after you've taken two thirds exception, which is
22:33not a protection under an existing judgment, not the pending judgment, under a prior judgment,
22:38which speakers are refusing to follow.
22:39I, I, okay, I think you've made your point, Dr. Singhvi.
22:47I appreciate you joining me on the show today.
22:50I want to now turn to the other side.
22:53Let's listen to how the BJP responds to the normalization of defection politics.
23:05Let's now turn to another lawyer politician, Nalin Kohli of the BJP joins us.
23:11Appreciate you joining us, Mr. Kohli.
23:13Whether it's in Bengal, where MLAs and MPs are allegedly defecting, joining the BJP or
23:22breaking away from the Thinamul Congress or now in Madhya Pradesh, whether our allegation
23:27in that the BJP is wooing Congress MLAs with cash and cross-voting could take place in
23:34the Rajya Sabha elections.
23:35The general belief is that the BJP is now determined to manufacture a majority for itself in Lok Sabha
23:44and Rajya Sabha through Sam, Dam, Dhandabhed by normalizing this politics of defection and
23:50cross-voting.
23:51How do you respond, Mr. Kohli?
23:53I reject each one of those contentions, Rajdeep.
23:56And respectfully, I'd like to counter each one of those points that you've raised.
24:01It's the 52nd Constitution Amendment in 1985.
24:05And just to refresh everyone's memory, under Rajiv Gandhi as the Prime Minister, a healthy
24:10Congress government of 400 plus MPs, that the anti-defection law came in, which is the
24:1510th schedule of the Constitution of India.
24:17Under the 10th schedule of the Constitution of India, the Constitution of India itself provides
24:22for a mechanism when MPs or MLAs in a particular party, if they are tired or want to move out
24:30of
24:30it, they are entitled to do so if they are more than two-thirds majority.
24:36Now, the news that's coming in, 20 out of the 28 MPs in the Lok Sabha of the Trinamul have
24:43walked out.
24:43Let's also come to the state.
24:4758 of the MLAs have formed a separate group.
24:50Now, any political person, irrespective of the political party they are in, can clearly
24:56see the mood of the people and the writing on the wall.
24:59There is a comprehensive eradication of the leadership of Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee,
25:06rejection by the people of Bengal in a wholesome manner.
25:10Now, if the elected representatives feel that their party was running as a fiefdom or run
25:16by a private limited family entity of aunt and nephew, they're feeling frustrated.
25:23They feel they were not able to work in an environment on which there were allegations
25:27of intimidation, of corruption, etc.
25:30Certainly, they can move out.
25:31And they are doing it under the Constitutional process.
25:33But just a minute, Mr. Kohli.
25:34No, no, just a minute.
25:35Are you telling me there is no BJP hand when these same MPs are spotted in the residence
25:40of your minister, Bhupendra Yadav, who's in charge of West Bengal, when the chief minister,
25:44Mr. Suvendu Adhikari, is spotted at those meetings?
25:47Are you telling me that BJP is not doing anything to induce them?
25:52Some of the MPs have gone on record that they have got phone calls from these ministers.
25:56Mr. Amit Shah's office has reportedly phoned them and asked Yusuf Pathan, for example,
26:02to come and meet him.
26:03Are you telling me that BJP has nothing to do with what is going on?
26:08Coming from a senior and very respected journalist as you, Rajdi, and also a friend, I find that
26:16really rich, really rich.
26:18At the end of the day, if I go and have lunch with the U.S. ambassador, would that make
26:22me
26:22a potential CIA spy or I have lunch with the Soviet, with the Russian ambassador, would
26:28that make me a KGB agent?
26:29So if I go and bump into, say, Rahul Gandhi in, say, any walking on the street somewhere,
26:35does that make me that I'm hobnobbing with Mr. Rahul Gandhi to change my partner?
26:39No, no, no, no, Mr. Gandhi, where are we heading in a democracy?
26:41No, no, no, one minute, one minute, sir.
26:42No, no, I'm coming to ask you a question also.
26:45The meetings are being held at the residence of Mr. Yadav.
26:47You have to wait, you have to wait for me to complete.
26:50So now let me come to your, that's my opening comment.
26:54Let me come to another point.
26:56It is possible in a democracy that these MPs decide to go and meet Mr. Bupendari Yadav.
27:03Now why, who says they can't meet him?
27:05They can meet also Mr. Rahul Gandhi.
27:07They can also meet anybody else.
27:09So, I mean, why are you putting the blame on the BJP?
27:11Please show me where is your, this apprehension coming
27:14that there is any intimidation or an Operation Lotus
27:17or a dood ka dhula or something.
27:19Why don't you ask these questions to the MPs and the Amelies?
27:22You don't ask the affected party and they haven't joined us yet.
27:25Mr. Kohli, over the last 10 years, Mr. Kohli, just a minute.
27:28Over the last 10 years, there have been several instances
27:30where reportedly an Operation Lotus has taken place.
27:33You saw what happened in Maharashtra.
27:35The Shiv Sena broke.
27:36The NCP broke.
27:37So, there were then allegations of what the Shiv Sena UBT
27:41called Khoke Ki Rajniti, crores of money being given,
27:44MPs allegedly being bought for anything from 20 to 50 crores.
27:48Now, the truth of the matter is,
27:50why are these MPs in all these states or MLAs in all these states?
27:53Look at over the last 10 years,
27:5580 to 90% of the defections have taken place
27:58from opposition parties to the BJP.
28:01And the fact is the BJP is happily accommodating these defectors
28:04and thereby the allegation is normalizing the politics of defection.
28:09Atal B.R.E. Vajpayee and L.K. Advani used to stand up against the same politics of defection.
28:13The new BJP seems to be embracing it.
28:16There is no old BJP.
28:18There is no new BJP.
28:19There is the BJP, which was formed in 1980.
28:22And it evolved from the Jansang.
28:24And we are always strong on our ideology.
28:26In fact, it's the BJP that had said about Article 370
28:29and under Prime Minister Modi that has been removed.
28:32It is talking of Ram Mandir.
28:34Ram Mandir happened through a court judgment,
28:35but we were at it for several years.
28:37We talk of a uniform civil court.
28:39Our states are doing it.
28:40We are committed to our ideology.
28:41Now, let's come to your question.
28:43In your question, let's go back one by one.
28:46The law was brought in by constitutional process,
28:49which is the 10th schedule, by Rajiv Gandhi.
28:52Did defections happen in that period of Rajiv Gandhi,
28:55in the period of Indira Gandhi, going backwards?
28:58Defections have happened ever since there are political parties.
29:01People change their parties.
29:02But the Ayaram-Gayaram culture changed with 1985,
29:06when a person could have been in a political party in the morning,
29:09and that single person could have gone to another political party in the afternoon,
29:13returned back to the parent party in the evening,
29:15from where this phrase came out, Ayaram-Gayaram.
29:17You know that.
29:18You remember it.
29:19Now, let's come to the allegations of cash.
29:21You've, of course, as a senior journalist,
29:23been part of that entire cash for votes in the Manmohan Singh era.
29:27You've covered it and seen the wards.
29:29Now, that was evidence.
29:31Please show me the evidence today.
29:32So, we can't go only by allegations.
29:35The fact of the matter is that today where we stand,
29:39people do not want to seek,
29:41they are not comfortable,
29:42say, with the leadership of the Congress Party.
29:44That's for the Congress Party to introspect.
29:46And if in the Trinimal Congress,
29:47they are not comfortable with Mumsma, Manta, Banerjee, and Abhishek,
29:51that is for them to decide, not the BJP.
29:54But if they decide to join our hands,
29:56certainly, why would we be complaining
29:58if they subscribe to our ideology,
30:01if they subscribe to the mission of development of Prime Minister Modi?
30:05But there is no such development at the moment.
30:07Your question is actually in the air.
30:09Sir, I take your point except for the last point,
30:11where in the last point you say that
30:13if they subscribe to our ideology, what's the harm?
30:15These same political figures or parties
30:17were targeted by the BJP
30:20when you were opposing them in election.
30:23Elections over,
30:24we are seeing some are calling it
30:25the Trinimalization of the BJP in Bengal.
30:28It was also suggested in Maharashtra
30:31that the same, just a minute, sir,
30:33the same Ajit, the late Ajit Pawar
30:34was targeted by your leadership
30:36and called the most corrupt politician of Maharashtra.
30:39What happened later?
30:40You all formed a government with him.
30:42The question therefore arises,
30:44because you are accused of misusing power,
30:47weaponizing agencies,
30:48the moment all the Maharashtra politicians
30:50switched over to you,
30:52they were suddenly,
30:53the cases against them disappeared.
30:55The allegation is that this is the washing machine.
30:57The same Shuvendu Adhikari, sir,
30:59who today is your chief minister in Bengal,
31:01was caught on tape accepting cash.
31:04The BJP accused him of being corrupt.
31:06Today he's dhula hua.
31:07That's the reason why the question is arising.
31:09Is this all the normalization of immoral politics?
31:14So, let's pause for a minute.
31:16You spoke about the weaponization of agencies.
31:19The Honorable Supreme Court,
31:21during the Manmohan Singh UPA era,
31:23Congress Party,
31:25called the CBI a caged parrot.
31:27Now, that was a direct Supreme Court's comment
31:31on the weaponization of the CBI.
31:33Have we heard that comment?
31:35Second, let's come to the agencies.
31:38In all the cases that the agencies are maligned at,
31:41let's take the example of the enforcement directorate.
31:45Several cases are there where they find 16 crores cash,
31:4810 crores cash,
31:495 crores cash.
31:50In one former Congress MP's house,
31:52they found some 350 crores cash.
31:54Let's again repeat the figure,
31:55just so that people know I'm not making a mistake,
31:58350 crores cash.
32:00So, and now, excuse me,
32:01the agencies probably did a great job.
32:04But the agencies don't go into any of the BJP politicians' houses.
32:09Is it 95% only of the opposition party's houses?
32:13The question is,
32:14it seems to be carrot and stick.
32:15I haven't finished my answer.
32:16No, no, no.
32:16The question is carrot and stick.
32:19Just because I'm giving an answer that has a cogent part,
32:22you have to wait for me to finish that.
32:23Then you ask me a count.
32:24I'm not running away from any answer.
32:27And you know me.
32:28I'll answer all of them.
32:29So, let's go now to the first one.
32:31Let's return to it.
32:32So, the agencies obviously are doing a good job.
32:35Now, let's come to the next point.
32:36Anyone who has joined the BJP,
32:38is there an allegation of corruption?
32:40Now, let's come to the government of Prime Minister Modi.
32:43In the last 12 years,
32:44and mind you,
32:45Prime Minister Modi has been in government for the last 12 years,
32:48is there an allegation of corruption?
32:50The Congress mounts on a daily basis,
32:52one allegation or the other.
32:54Where is the allegation of corruption?
32:56Now, if there is no allegation of corruption,
32:58you have to manufacture or tell the agencies,
33:00Oh, one minute, hold on.
33:01We are on Article 14.
33:02Just because we found five people in the opposition who are corrupt,
33:08please go and raid now five people in the BJP just to prove a point.
33:12I'm sorry.
33:12It doesn't work like that.
33:13And as a lawyer,
33:14I can't accept that argument.
33:15This would take Article 14 too far.
33:17Sir, I gave you a concrete example of Mr. Shuvendu Adhikari,
33:20your Chief Minister in West Bengal.
33:21And the fact is that he was caught on tape taking money.
33:25The moment he switched to the BJP,
33:26we haven't heard of the case.
33:28Therefore, the presumption is...
33:30Let me ask you in another manner.
33:31Opposition leaders are being told very clearly MPs.
33:34You switch to the BJP,
33:36we will clean you out.
33:38All the cases will go.
33:40Isn't this, as I said,
33:42the normalization of immoral politics?
33:45No, no, one minute.
33:45Let's come back to Shuvendu Adhikari ji.
33:47When was he caught on camera and tape?
33:50He joined the BJP.
33:51Right.
33:52When did he join the BJP?
33:55Before the 2020...
33:58In 2023.
34:00Sure.
34:00So now tell me,
34:01in that entire period,
34:03West Bengal,
34:03where state is in charge of law and order
34:06under the Constitution,
34:07what did they do?
34:08And you're blaming the BJP?
34:10There was a central agency investigation on him.
34:13That is for the central agency,
34:14but did it prevent the state from doing anything?
34:16For someone who joined the BJP?
34:18I mean, come on.
34:20He was the right-hand man
34:21of Miss Mamta Banerjee.
34:25And Miss Mamta Banerjee
34:26and her entire state machinery
34:27couldn't find substance in that.
34:29So, I mean, it's okay, Rajdeep.
34:30You're making a point.
34:31Now let's come to the immoral politics you're saying.
34:33Look, Rajdeep,
34:34there are two parts to it.
34:35We can sit down on this
34:37and we can debate on
34:38what is moral and what's immoral.
34:40The fact of the matter remains,
34:41in a democracy,
34:42people decide who they want to elect.
34:44They've elected people
34:45across the political spectrum,
34:47irrespective of their political leanings,
34:49with and without allegations.
34:51That's where it stands.
34:52However, where I come from,
34:54for the BJP,
34:55I'll say,
34:56show me a single case
34:57of corruption
34:58against the Modi government.
34:59It doesn't exist.
35:00What we can say is,
35:01our governance model
35:02has a difference.
35:03People see it
35:04and people are voting
35:05on that governance model.
35:06And back to the debate of today.
35:07If the Trinamul Congress MPs
35:09are frustrated
35:10with their party leadership
35:11and they decide
35:13under the 10th schedule
35:14to follow what the Constitution
35:15provides for,
35:16you can't find fault with that.
35:18Okay.
35:18I'm going to leave it there,
35:20Nalin Kohli.
35:20Also,
35:21the 10th schedule says that
35:22even if you are two-thirds,
35:23the political party
35:25and the legislature party
35:26has to merge
35:27in another party.
35:28We will wait and see
35:29whether the TMS...
35:30Or form a separate group.
35:31Or form a separate group.
35:32No, sir.
35:33Not in the Subhash Desai case.
35:35They do not allow
35:35a separate group to be formed.
35:37The Supreme Court
35:38five-judge Constitution bench
35:39has made it very clear
35:40that they will have to merge
35:42with a particular party.
35:43But that's another debate
35:44that we will have
35:45on another day for now.
35:46Perhaps they will.
35:47Perhaps they will.
35:48Let's see what happens.
35:49We'll wait and see.
35:49We'll wait and see
35:50if that happens.
35:51But it's good to talk to you.
35:52Thank you very much
35:52for taking my questions.
35:55Let's turn from there
35:57to today's shocker of the day.
35:59A retired,
36:00distinguished High Court judge,
36:01a landmark verdict,
36:03and now allegations
36:04that the judge is facing
36:06death threats,
36:07intimidation,
36:08his family even physically assaulted.
36:11Former Bombay High Court judge,
36:13Gautam Patel,
36:14has sensationally revealed
36:16that he is being targeted
36:17over a controversial ruling
36:19he gave in the
36:21Dawdi Bora succession case.
36:23His family member,
36:24his daughter,
36:25was even attacked
36:26in the United Kingdom.
36:28All allegedly
36:29by the sect
36:30of the Dawdi Bora's
36:32that lost out
36:33in that case.
36:35India Today now reports
36:36this major story.
36:53A retired Bombay High Court judge
36:55faces threats
36:56over a judgment
36:57delivered more than
36:58two years ago.
37:02The 2024 verdict
37:04had settled
37:05the succession battle
37:06in the Dawdi Bora community,
37:08a religious denomination
37:09within Shia Muslims.
37:12Justice Gautam Patel
37:14had ruled in favor
37:15of Sayyad Naam Mufaddal Saifuddin
37:17as the supreme leader
37:18of the community.
37:20The court
37:21had rejected petition
37:22by Qutb Bora faction
37:24led by Tahir Fakhruddin
37:25challenging
37:26Saifuddin's anointment.
37:28The former judge
37:29claims his family
37:30is being threatened
37:31with dire consequences
37:33if he does not
37:34renounce his ruling
37:35in a YouTube video.
37:37On June 5th,
37:39Patel's daughter
37:40in London,
37:40Aditi Patel,
37:41allegedly got
37:43an anonymous letter
37:43saying they would be killed
37:45if the demand
37:45is not met.
37:47The UK police
37:47is investigating the case.
37:49Before this,
37:50Aditi Patel
37:51was allegedly assaulted
37:52on April 22nd.
37:53The threat started
37:55in August last year
37:56when Justice Patel's wife,
37:58Malashree Patel,
37:59allegedly got a threatening mail
38:00in Mumbai.
38:01Around the same time,
38:03his daughter got
38:03a similar letter
38:04in London.
38:05The Mumbai police
38:06had filed a case
38:07in September.
38:10Justice Patel
38:11is seeking help
38:12from the Indian
38:13High Commission
38:13in the UK.
38:16Nothing happened
38:17till 22nd April
38:19when there was
38:19a physical attack
38:20on my daughter
38:21just outside
38:22across the street
38:23from her front door
38:24after she had finished
38:25the school run
38:26with one of the kids.
38:27I'm hoping to hear
38:29from some authority,
38:30the High Commission,
38:32the Metropolitan Police,
38:33the local police.
38:34This has happened
38:35to a former
38:36High Court judge
38:36on British soil,
38:37so what are you
38:38doing about it?
38:41Daudi Bora Community
38:42Supreme Leader
38:43Sayyeda Mufaddal Saifuddin
38:45in a statement
38:45expressed shock
38:46at the events
38:47and condemned
38:48the threats
38:48and acts of violence.
38:50A petition
38:51challenging Justice Patel's
38:52judgment
38:52is pending
38:53before a division bench
38:54of the Bombay
38:55High Court.
38:56Bureau Report,
38:57India Today.
39:02Okay,
39:03let's then go
39:03to our newsmaker today.
39:05Joining me now
39:06is retired
39:06Bombay High Court judge,
39:08Justice Gautam Patel
39:09joins us.
39:10Appreciate you
39:10joining us.
39:11Justice Patel,
39:12it is absolutely shocking
39:13to hear that your family
39:15has for as long
39:16as 10 months now
39:17faced threats
39:18and actual acts
39:19of violence
39:20across two continents
39:22in connection
39:23with your landmark
39:242024 judgment
39:25settling the succession
39:27issue
39:28in the Daudi Bora community,
39:30the most recent incident
39:31being on June 5th.
39:33You've not gone public
39:34until now.
39:35Why did you
39:36stay silent, sir,
39:38given the nature
39:38of the threats
39:39to your family?
39:40What has made you
39:41speak out just now,
39:42Justice Patel?
39:45Well,
39:46a couple of things,
39:48Rajdeep.
39:48First of all,
39:49I'm not sure
39:49that it's a landmark
39:50judgment.
39:51That's for time,
39:53history,
39:53others to decide.
39:54That's number one.
39:55It was a simple
39:55civil case that
39:56I had to decide.
39:57We received these threats
39:59and we followed
40:00the official channels,
40:02which is what
40:03we thought was appropriate
40:05and expected
40:06that to happen.
40:08Didn't anticipate
40:09the kind of escalation
40:10that we saw
40:11till in April
40:14and June.
40:15And since we were
40:17actually then
40:19not getting
40:21any kind of
40:22response,
40:24really,
40:25in terms of
40:26the investigation,
40:28there seemed
40:29to be little
40:29else to be done
40:31about this.
40:32I don't have
40:33any other
40:34explanation for it.
40:37Remember this,
40:38Rajdeep,
40:38that as a
40:39former judge
40:40of the High Court,
40:43I'm sorry to say
40:44this,
40:44but the media
40:45is not my
40:45first port of call.
40:50The media may be
40:51the last port of call,
40:53but I understand
40:54that,
40:54Justice Patel.
40:55I've told you,
40:56I've written to the
40:56Supreme Court
40:57Chief Justice of India
40:58on September 9th
41:00last year,
41:00the Gham Devi police
41:01in Mumbai
41:02registered a
41:03non-cognisible
41:04complaint.
41:04In London,
41:05your daughter
41:06and son-in-law
41:07have registered
41:07a complaint
41:08in the UK police.
41:09Your daughter,
41:10Aditi,
41:10was reportedly
41:11assaulted
41:12on 22nd April
41:13in West
41:14Hertfordshire
41:15County Terrorism
41:17Unit is reviewing
41:18it.
41:19Do you think
41:19all these actions
41:20are adequate?
41:21Why has an action
41:22been taken
41:22when a judge's
41:23family is attacked
41:25in this manner
41:25for a court
41:26judgment?
41:28You know,
41:29you know,
41:29Rajdeep,
41:30let me just
41:31reframe that.
41:32Why it's not
41:33being done,
41:33I do not know
41:34and I cannot
41:34and don't want
41:35to speculate.
41:36I don't want
41:37to interfere
41:38with what is
41:38possibly an
41:39ongoing investigation.
41:40But let me
41:41reframe this.
41:42Are you,
41:43is it really
41:43only an attack
41:44on me
41:45as an
41:46individual
41:46and my
41:47family
41:47or is it
41:48a much
41:48broader
41:49threat
41:49now
41:50which
41:50affects
41:51the
41:51entire
41:51Indian
41:51judiciary?
41:52Who will
41:52become a judge?
41:54Who will decide
41:55the matter?
41:57What is happening
41:58to this rule of law?
41:59It's the ascendance
42:00of criminality
42:00over the rule of law.
42:03What happens
42:04to citizens
42:04when you can't
42:05protect judges?
42:07If you,
42:08this is what
42:08the Bar Association
42:09of India
42:10said yesterday
42:10in a very
42:11well-worded
42:12statement,
42:13if you can't
42:14protect judges,
42:15how will you
42:15protect citizens?
42:17And this is a
42:18direct assault
42:19on the Indian
42:20judiciary now.
42:23Any judge,
42:24let me just say
42:26this.
42:27There are 900
42:27judges,
42:28high court
42:29judges.
42:29There are tens
42:30of thousands
42:31of district
42:31judges and
42:33district judges,
42:34I'm going to say
42:35my district judges
42:36across the country,
42:37work in very
42:38difficult circumstances
42:39doing extremely
42:40sensitive and
42:41difficult cases.
42:42Now,
42:43is it being
42:43suggested that
42:44three years after
42:46they retire,
42:46somebody will go
42:47after their
42:47families and
42:49nothing can be
42:50done?
42:50It's an assault
42:51on our
42:54civilized system
42:54of governance.
42:55It's intolerable.
42:57So,
42:57so,
42:58so what
42:59according to you
42:59therefore Justice
43:00Patel should be
43:01done?
43:01The Chief Justice
43:02of India has been
43:03apprised.
43:03What should the
43:04police be doing?
43:05Has the Chief
43:06Justice of India
43:07responded to you?
43:08Have the police
43:09assured you and
43:10your family full
43:11security both in
43:12Mumbai and in
43:13London?
43:17The Chief Justice
43:18of India did
43:19call me.
43:20I,
43:20I'm not sure
43:22that I want to
43:23disclose that.
43:24He has
43:25plenary powers
43:26and authority
43:27and I have the
43:28utmost confidence
43:29that between the
43:30Chief Justice
43:31of India and
43:32the acting Chief
43:33Justice of the
43:33Bombay High
43:34Court,
43:34whatever appropriate
43:35needs to be
43:36done will be
43:37done but
43:38the investigation
43:39clearly needs
43:40to be across
43:42continents.
43:43It is to be a
43:44transnational
43:45kind of investigation.
43:46It has to be
43:47investigated both
43:48in Mumbai and
43:49it has to be
43:50investigated very
43:52aggressively in
43:53London because it
43:55affects both
43:55sides.
43:56Rajiv,
43:56let's not forget
43:57one cardinal
43:58fact.
43:59This is an
44:00attempt to
44:01create,
44:02to leverage a
44:02jurisdictional
44:03divide.
44:04A threat is
44:05issued to me
44:07as an Indian
44:08citizen.
44:09It's also
44:10received in
44:11Mumbai but
44:12the assault
44:13is on my
44:14daughter who
44:15is a British
44:15citizen and
44:16a threat to
44:17her on British
44:18soil.
44:19Now this
44:20creates a very
44:20neat, clever
44:22little jurisdictional
44:23divide except for
44:24the last threat
44:25which is delivered
44:26to my daughter
44:28but addressed to
44:29me saying we are
44:30arranging for your
44:31cremation and your
44:32family's cremation
44:33and that's a
44:34straightforward death
44:35threat, is
44:36delivered to me
44:36an Indian
44:37citizen on
44:38British soil.
44:40Now that
44:41surely means that
44:42this has to be
44:42investigated in
44:44both jurisdictions.
44:46You know I
44:47want to ask you
44:48in conclusion,
44:49I don't know
44:50when last a
44:51high court judge
44:52has received a
44:53death threat of
44:53this kind across
44:54two continents for
44:55a judgment he or
44:56she have delivered.
44:57I just want to
44:58ask you how do
45:00you see this
45:00therefore in
45:02terms of how
45:03are you dealing
45:03with it as a
45:04post-retirement
45:05ordeal?
45:06Has it changed
45:06your perspective
45:07on the independence
45:08of the judiciary
45:09and do you have
45:10a message Justice
45:11Patel for those
45:12community leaders
45:13or anyone who
45:15is behind these
45:16acts of coercion
45:17and intimidation
45:18justice?
45:19We are not
45:21going to be
45:21bludgeoned into
45:22submission.
45:23The judiciary
45:25and the legal
45:26system has meant
45:27something to me
45:28for the better
45:29part of 40
45:29plus years.
45:30I am not
45:31going to
45:32compromise that
45:33for because
45:34there is some
45:35disgruntled element
45:36issuing a threat
45:37to me or my
45:38family and my
45:38family stands
45:39behind me.
45:40We are not
45:41going to cave in.
45:43We are absolutely
45:45not going to
45:46cave in.
45:46The rule of law
45:47means something.
45:49Justice means
45:50something.
45:51That's why we
45:52have dedicated
45:53my life to this.
45:55My family has
45:56nothing to do
45:57with law.
45:57law.
45:59My daughter
46:00doesn't work
46:00in the legal
46:01field.
46:02She has a
46:03separate life
46:04of her own
46:04here.
46:08Well let me
46:09leave it there
46:09Justice Patel
46:10as I said
46:10this is quite a
46:11shocker that
46:12you've revealed
46:13today a judge
46:14being targeted
46:15in this manner
46:15for a judgment
46:16he delivered
46:17two years ago.
46:19Thank you very
46:19much for joining
46:20me on the show
46:21today.
46:22Okay let's
46:24turn to our
46:24Get Real
46:25India story.
46:25A lot of
46:26focus in
46:26recent weeks
46:27has been on
46:28the NEET
46:28and CBSE
46:29exams.
46:30But what
46:30of the
46:31examinations
46:31that involve
46:32government job
46:34seekers?
46:34Lacks of
46:35government job
46:36aspirants in
46:37India.
46:37The examination
46:38process begins
46:39long before they
46:41even enter the
46:42examination hall.
46:43It starts on
46:44crowded railway
46:45platforms,
46:46inside packed
46:47train compartments,
46:49and through
46:49sleepless nights
46:50waiting for a
46:52chance to even
46:53enter the
46:54examination centre.
46:55Chaotic scenes
46:56have been witnessed
46:57at several railway
46:59stations across
47:00Uttar Pradesh as
47:01aspirants travel in
47:03pursue of their
47:04dream government
47:05job.
47:06It's our Get
47:07Real India story.
47:24Packed trains,
47:28overflowing platform,
47:32and endless hours
47:34of waiting.
47:36Some spread bed
47:37sheets on station
47:37floors, others
47:39make do with
47:40plastic sheets.
47:42It's a familiar
47:43scene year after
47:45year.
47:45Every recruitment
47:46exam brings with
47:47it not just the
47:48test of knowledge
47:49but the test of
47:50endurance.
47:52From towns and
47:53villages across
47:54Suttar Pradesh,
47:55thousands set out
47:56with a single goal,
47:57clearing the
47:58U.P.
47:58constable exam.
48:01It's been a
48:02half an hour
48:02of the car.
48:03You're all
48:03in the room.
48:04from the station
48:06to the station.
48:07I don't have to
48:08go to the station
48:08to the other
48:09station.
48:11There's no car
48:11to get to the
48:12It's like
48:13said that
48:14the bus
48:14is free.
48:1510%
48:15can't
48:16shoot.
48:16It's 25%
48:17you have to
48:18leave it.
48:18It's fine.
48:19It's fine.
48:19It's 50%
48:20of the
48:20rest.
48:20I have to
48:21get to the
48:21rest.
48:22I have to
48:22tell you that
48:22I have to
48:23get to the
48:24Nearly 28.9
48:26lakh candidates
48:26competing for
48:27just 32,679
48:30constable vacancies.
48:32The odds are
48:33daunting.
48:34The journey
48:34even more so.
48:36Making it to
48:37the exam hall
48:38is just the
48:38first hurdle.
48:39What they fear
48:40the most
48:40are paper
48:41leaks
48:41and
48:42cancelled
48:42tests.
48:45The
48:48most are
48:55paper
48:56leaks
48:57and
48:57cancelled
48:58tests.
48:59What
48:59hope
49:00is
49:00paper
49:01good?
49:02The
49:02leak
49:02is
49:02just
49:02here.
49:03The
49:04people
49:04are
49:05doing
49:05paper
49:07leak.
49:08What
49:08do you
49:09do you
49:09work
49:10here?
49:11Do you
49:12do you
49:12do you
49:15do you
49:16do you
49:16do you
49:16do you
49:17do you
49:17People come here, you can see the camera in front of the camera,
49:21which way the people are.
49:22They are not on the back sheet.
49:25If you can see here, they are required to throw mosquitoes.
49:29It is a patient and a patient.
49:31In which way they are in which way they are in which way they are in which way they are
49:35in which way.
49:37There is one request and one request to the government,
49:40that the paper is fine,
49:41if the paper is not leaked,
49:43if it is passed or not,
49:44we will see it later.
49:45They have battled for space on trains.
49:48They are also fighting a system that has repeatedly tested their patients
49:51with leaks and poor infrastructure.
50:11This time, they hope the test measures only their merit.
50:15With Sima Chawla, Gajinder Tripathi and Abhishek Tripathi,
50:19Bureau Report, India Today.
50:24And finally, let's end tonight with a good news today story.
50:27High in the Himalayas, India has achieved a major engineering milestone.
50:32The Zozila tunnel breakthrough brings all-weather connectivity to Ladakh a step closer,
50:39promoting easier travel, stronger logistics,
50:43and year-round access to one of the country's most remote but beautiful regions.
50:49Take a look at good news today.
51:11For decades, Zozila was both a gateway and a challenge.
51:15A mountain pass connecting Kashmir and Ladakh.
51:20But one that winter could shut down for months.
51:23Today, India has punched through that barrier.
51:34In a major engineering milestone, the final rock wall inside the strategic Zozila tunnel has been breached.
51:42Bringing the ambitious all-weather connectivity project a giant step closer to reality.
51:49It's a historic day for India's strategic infrastructure as well as modern technology and the infrastructure in the mountain area.
51:57Extremely difficult Himalayan terrain.
52:00As we see, the breakthrough has been achieved at the critical Zozila tunnel.
52:05This is world's longest and at the highest tunnel, 13-kilometer Zozila tunnel.
52:11This will give significant connectivity to Kashmir and Ladakh.
52:15Built at an altitude of over 11,500 feet, over 13 kilometers long,
52:23the Zozila tunnel will become the world's longest bi-directional single-tube road tunnel.
52:29A project many believed was impossible to get completed.
52:35Engineers battled sub-zero temperatures, avalanches and unstable geology to reach this point.
52:42This tunnel is a state-of-art.
52:46This is a state-of-art world-class safety standards.
52:50And this will get all-weather connectivity from Ladakh layer.
52:54It's a state-of-art world-class safety standards.
52:59It's a state-of-art world-class safety standards.
53:00Beyond connectivity, the project is expected to boost tourism, improve trade, create economic opportunities,
53:08and strengthen strategic access to one of India's most sensitive regions.
53:14With Ashitosh Mishra, Biro Report, India Today.
53:20Okay, that's all that we could pack in on the show tonight.
53:22Thanks for watching.
53:23Stay well.
53:24Stay safe.
53:24Good night.
53:25Shubhra 3.
53:25Jai Hind.
53:26Namaskar.
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