- 4 hours ago
The political crisis in West Bengal intensified as twenty rebel parliamentarians split from the Trinamool Congress party to merge with Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) – a little-known outfit – aiming to bypass the anti-defection law.
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00:00Good evening ladies and gentlemen, I am Pooja Shali, welcome to The Point.
00:04Here we are going to debate and discuss very clearly about what's happening in Bengal.
00:09Is it chaos or is it a carefully crafted strategy of the rebel MPs?
00:14First, the headlines.
00:19After months of war, Iran and the US need to be signed on June 19th.
00:23Traffic beginning to move at the Hormor Street,
00:25but Israel refuses to leave the occupied areas in Lebanon.
00:28Tehran asserting that peace in Lebanon is part of the MOU.
00:39Prime Minister Modi welcomes the peace deal between United States of America and Iran
00:43to end the conflict in West Asia,
00:45says India is hopeful that agreement would restore stability and region
00:48and safeguard global trade route.
00:57Ahead of G7 summit, Prime Minister Modi on a historic visit to Slovakia,
01:01first ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country.
01:03PM Modi holding a bilateral meeting with the counterpart.
01:06Both leaders signing multiple deals to elevate the ties.
01:13In domestic political news, trouble continues for TMC General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee.
01:19Day after CID questions Mamata Banerjee's nephew in science forgery case.
01:23ED continues marathon grilling in teacher recruitment scam case.
01:31It's Congress versus RSS intensifying in Karnataka.
01:35Home Minister of the State Priyank Khadgei writing to RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat
01:39demanding transparency and registration and finances.
01:42RSS Chief slams the political gimmicks.
01:50Britain joins three other nations after Australia, Indonesia and Malaysia
01:54to ban social media use for children under 16 years of age.
01:58UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer says move is aimed at protecting children's well-being.
02:02UK Prime Minister to discuss social media ban at the G7 summit.
02:13UK Prime Minister to discuss social media ban at the G7 summit.
02:21Shocking news coming in from Bengal.
02:23Eggs were thrown at a Mamata loyalist, the leader, senior leader Kunal Ghosh.
02:29We are told that eggs were thrown at him at the TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh.
02:34And what exactly happened and the location of it.
02:37I want to immediately go across to my colleague who is going to tell us precisely
02:40why was Kunal Ghosh heckled.
02:43And that is when he was leaving from Didi's residence.
02:46Tapas Hengupta is joining me.
02:48Tapas what exactly happened and do we know who were the ones throwing those eggs at him?
02:54Well Pooja, very little is known about the person who attacked Kunal Ghosh with eggs.
02:59It seems that nothing is going right for Trinamul Congress.
03:01One after the other leaders are being targeted every day.
03:05And now Kunal Ghosh just before entering Mamata Banerjee's residence, 30B Horish Chatterjee Street.
03:11He was speaking to media and all of a sudden a person was carrying a couple of eggs,
03:16three eggs on him.
03:18And he tried to attack him as well.
03:21But finally there were police deputed.
03:23The police took that person away from Kunal Ghosh.
03:26However Kunal Ghosh have not reacted on this.
03:29But it seems that as the person who is accused of throwing these eggs have said that it's a public
03:37outburst.
03:38And there are a lot of allegations against Trinamul Congress Party.
03:41And henceforth he took this decision to throw eggs at him.
03:44But very little is known about his identity.
03:47But as we speak he is being interrogated by police.
03:50But this entire incident happened just outside Mamata Banerjee's official residence.
03:55Let's just take a look at that visual.
03:56Let's go big screen on that.
03:58Because that's the man on your screen all caught on camera.
04:00Kunal Ghosh was walking.
04:02This is in Kolkata itself.
04:03And the senior TMC leader suddenly had someone, that man on your screen, throw eggs at him.
04:10Now that's the visual on your screen.
04:11Look at that.
04:12That was Kunal Ghosh walking when suddenly someone appears and starts to throw.
04:16And the egg clearly has hit him.
04:18Now he's asking what exactly happened, asks others to move away.
04:22So we'll try and get more details about who this individual was.
04:25Look at that.
04:26Clearly the remnants of the egg on his head and shoulder.
04:31And that is the man that eventually who was pushed away.
04:36Looks like by other reporters and others present there on the screen now.
04:39Just to give a background, we do not know the details yet, the clarity on what happened.
04:43But Kunal Ghosh, like Abhishek Banerjee, is also being questioned over the signature forgery case.
04:50He remains though a Mamata loyalist.
04:56A full-on political earthquake in Bengal.
04:5920 rebel Trinamool MPs announced a split from Mamata Banerjee's party.
05:04Now many thought there's going to be a battle thereon about who is the real TMC.
05:09Like who is the real Shafsena.
05:11Instead they decided to claim a merger.
05:13With a little known NCPI, Nationalist Citizens Party of India.
05:18Not many in the country had even heard of this outfit.
05:21The move could have major implications.
05:23This is with regard to the anti-defection law.
05:25The parliamentary arithmetic.
05:27And the battle for control of the TMC legacy.
05:30But while the rebels are celebrating, preparing for the next step.
05:33The NCPI chief is still questioning the merger.
05:36Primarily about what could be the conclusion of it.
05:40But, is this just about merging with the NCPI or a bigger strategy at play?
05:45I want you to take a look at this report.
05:47The latest from Bengal.
05:48That there is a split from Mamata Banerjee's leadership.
05:51But the merger with the NCPI.
05:54Why and how?
05:56Here.
06:05A political bombshell from Bengal.
06:1120 rebel TMC Lok Sabha MPs have announced a dramatic split from the party.
06:16And merger with an obscure Tripura-based Nationalist Citizens Party of India.
06:21The NCPI.
06:54The rebels have also sought separate seating in parliament, signalling a formal escalation
06:59of the rupture with Mamata Banerji.
07:02The big announcement came after rebel MPs met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and Union Minister
07:07Bhupendra Yadav on Sunday.
07:10But the question now is, what is NCPI?
07:15Founded in 2022 as a regional tribal-focused outfit from Tripura, the nationalist citizen
07:21party of India remains an unrecognized political party with limited electoral success.
07:27Until now, it barely registered on the national radar.
07:30But the merger claim has suddenly pushed it into the centre of a high-stakes political
07:35storm.
07:36The merger is expected to help the rebel MPs to evade anti-defection law.
07:40And then came the twist with the NCPI founder questioning the merger itself.
08:04A claim that throws the entire political arrangement into uncertainty.
08:08Meanwhile, the Mamata Banerji camp has hit back hard.
08:29The battle lines are now clearly drawn.
08:32The rebels want to project themselves as the real TMC.
08:36While Mamata loyalists want to reinforce her as the party's undisputed leader.
08:41The rebels are showcasing their numbers in parliament.
08:43While the official TMC is banking on its organization, cadre and legislators.
08:48The rebels are using the NCPI merger as their political vehicle.
08:52While Mamata's camp is trying to isolate them as a breakaway group.
08:57The legal debate is on whether the merger with NCPI is enough for the rebels to escape the
09:02anti-defection law.
09:04But if the merger is cleared, the NCPI will overnight become the fifth largest party in
09:09Lok Sabha.
09:10Bureau Report, India Today.
09:15So, on to the point this evening, we have a special guest, Dr. Shantanu Sen, former Rajasaba
09:21member of parliament.
09:22He had resigned as a TMC spokesperson.
09:26But, and there is a but here, and that's what I want to take the first question to you
09:30as Dr. Shantanu Sen, because many would want to know what is the current status with your
09:35membership.
09:36Are you in the TMC?
09:37Have you joined the rebel camp?
09:39Are you still with Mamata Banerjee's leadership?
09:41Because you had raised serious allegations of corruption and how your views were during
09:45the RGKR case.
09:46What is the current status for Dr. Shantanu Sen?
09:50Yeah, good evening.
09:51Let me tell you, I joined this party, Trinomul Congress on the day of its inception.
09:57I stopped this Trinomul Congress since 1998, 1st January, in different capacities.
10:04But once I realized that the people mandate went against this Trinomul Congress, huge corruption
10:11and this anarchy, then I decided that there is no point trying to convince the people in
10:18favor of Trinomul Congress.
10:19And personally, so far, my issue is concerned.
10:23All of you must be knowing that being inside the party as a Rajasaba MP in 2023, I rose my
10:30voice against the serious corruption, financial corruption that took place in RGKR Medical College.
10:35Yes.
10:36Me and my wife rose my voice against this unfortunate of a incident when I was inside the party and
10:42I was a sitting member of parliament when my wife was the corporator of Calcutta Municipal
10:46Corporation.
10:48Instead of getting justice, I was governored in my party.
10:51I was humiliated like anything.
10:54And finally, I was suspended for 14 consecutive months.
10:57And after the declaration of the result, I decided to resign from the post of national
11:01spokesperson of Trinomul Congress.
11:03So far, the membership is concerned.
11:05Let me tell you, in the very early days, there was a process of getting membership in our
11:10party.
11:10And thereafter, no such process was there regarding the members.
11:15So far, the membership issue is concerned.
11:17So, it hardly matters whether I am resigning from the membership of All India Trinomul Congress.
11:23I don't think those who are holding several posts in our party, in the Trinomul Congress
11:27party, they have hardly filled up their membership forms in Trinomul Congress.
11:32So, let's make it very clear.
11:34I believe in development because politicians do politics for the common people at large.
11:40I believe after 50 long years, people of Bengal, they got an opportunity to see the real development
11:46through the hands of state government in collaboration with the central government.
11:51Because in the last 50 years, always there used to be a difference between the state government
11:56and the central government.
11:57Especially in the last 15 years, the people at large of the state of West Bengal, they
12:03were always deprived of the several important central governments just because of this political
12:09rate.
12:09Yes.
12:10So, I believe in order to get a development in our state of West Bengal and the nation at
12:15large, now people of Bengal should support this new government in order to get development
12:20as they can get the central projects implemented as well.
12:24Sure.
12:25So, also then tell me, Shantanu Sen, the latest is the rebel MPs group, 20 MPs meeting the speaker,
12:32saying they want to merge with this NCPI.
12:35It's a little-known political party, primarily based toward the north-eastern states of Tripura,
12:40Assam.
12:41What do you make of it?
12:42Do you think you're in agreement with this?
12:44Because many thought they could still be in TMC, but they're merging with the NCPI.
12:49How do you look at this strategy?
12:50Are you surprised with it?
12:51Do you agree with it?
12:53No.
12:54My issue is something different.
12:55Neither I am an MP right now nor I am an MLA.
12:58But so far, the rebel MPs are concerned.
13:01No one is a child.
13:02And I think they must be having some idea at the back of their mind.
13:06Once they are having their discussion with the central minister like Bhupendra Jadok,
13:11once a legendary MP like Sudip Bandhapadda is having a meeting with Mr. Amit Shah,
13:17the second in command of the presently central ruling party,
13:20I think they have decided after having thorough discussion.
13:23So far, this NCPI party is concerned.
13:26Yes, absolutely, I agree with you that this is hardly known in the political scenario of the nation.
13:32Each and every party has got its own constitution, has got its own modus operandi,
13:37has got its own style of functioning.
13:39And I think once they have thought of merging with this NCPI,
13:44they must be having some discussion with the party leaders of NCPI
13:47and accordingly they will take the decision so that everything can be done smoothly and legally and lawfully.
13:53So stay on with me because I have some breaking news coming in.
13:56We are talking over the members of parliament who have met with the speaker,
13:58but here's the latest.
13:59I want to immediately go of yours to what the leader of opposition now,
14:03who's from clearly the TMC, Ritabrat Banerjee,
14:07but also a rebel leader now, rebel MLA and Bengal LOP,
14:11says no talks yet on merging with the NCPI.
14:14So he's basically saying, I quickly want to quote him here,
14:17MPs have decided to merge with this National Citizen Party of India, the NCPI,
14:21but as far as our collective is concerned, we have no such idea.
14:25Legislative party does not know any such thing.
14:28So this question does not arise.
14:30So at least, Shantanu Sen, the MLAs are still deliberating on that.
14:34But I want to know from you very categorically,
14:36do you stand with these rebel MPs and MLAs?
14:40You may not be one at this point, but you've been a former MP.
14:42Are you with this group?
14:45Let me tell you the scenario for MPs and scenarios for MLAs,
14:49these two are different.
14:51So far the MLAs are concerned,
14:53almost 64 out of 80 elected MLAs who got elected from Trinomul Congress.
14:58They came together and they made a separate block.
15:00Now they have started claiming that they are the original Trinomul.
15:03And they have planned to go to the election commission
15:06and to claim that they are the original Trinomul
15:08and the symbol and the recognition should be given to them.
15:11as the original Trinomul Congress.
15:14And they have decided that they will be opposing the government in a very constructive way
15:21and they will be supporting the government so far the developmental issues are concerned.
15:25So far the MPs are concerned, they have decided to form a separate block
15:28and they have decided to merge with another political party
15:32in order to support the Norendra Modi late NDA government.
15:36These two are different.
15:38And neither I belong to this MP group nor I belong to this MLA group.
15:42I believe in development.
15:44Whatever will be better for my state of West Bengal, I will support that.
15:49I do have one more question.
15:51Kakoli Ghosh, Dastidar has said that they will be collaborating with the NDA
15:57or at least working under the guidance of the Prime Minister if required.
16:01Do you think that's a fair strategy to go ahead with for the members of parliament?
16:07Certainly.
16:08Why not?
16:08If the MP thinks that after joining hands with NDA, she will be having much more development
16:16in her constitutional area, definitely she can think of it.
16:20No harm in it.
16:21And so far the state of West Bengal is concerned morning shows the day.
16:25The way Subindu Odhikari ji after taking oath as the chief minister on 9th of May,
16:30only one month and few days.
16:32In one month and few days he has proved how much capable and how much charismatic he is.
16:37So I think people should give him a space.
16:40People should give him a time.
16:41And I think the way he has started functioning in the coming days,
16:45he is going to be a miracle in our state of West Bengal.
16:49Final question, Dr. Shantanu Sen.
16:50Is it Abhishek Banerjee or is it Mamata Banerjee that's causing the rebellion within the party?
16:57So far my issue is concerned.
16:58So far my answer is concerned.
17:00Personally, while working in the health sector,
17:02I brought the information related to Himalayan corruptions in the health sector
17:07to the notice of the highest leader of the party and highest authority of the administration
17:12that is no other than Madam Mamata Banerjee.
17:15And instead of giving justice to those, instead of going through the process of investigation,
17:20she reinstated those culprits and she suspended a person like me
17:25who tried to save my party, my government by providing these documents silently
17:30without giving it to the media.
17:32But she didn't take any action.
17:34To me, it is Madam Mamata Banerjee who is the sole responsible.
17:37I appreciate you joining us Shantanu Sen with your views and perspective
17:41and we'll be tracking what is the next step for you as well.
17:43Eventually it should be development for Bengal.
17:45Let's now go across and have a discussion to really understand the strategy that has surfaced.
17:52The fact that many of us were expecting that there's going to be the usual strategy
17:57that a fight will break out about who is the real TMC.
18:00Instead, there was this different route that was taken.
18:04That's Kakoli Ghosh Dastadar speaking about how they are ready to, if required, work and support the NDA.
18:11Joining me now on the panel, Shikha Mukherjee, senior journalist,
18:15has closely tracked what's been unfolding in Bengal.
18:17Ashish Dixit joining me.
18:19He's an advocate to help us understand the legal perspective as well.
18:22I'm also going to be soon joined by another rebel TMC leader
18:25and that will be just in the next few minutes.
18:29Shikha, I want to first come to you ma'am.
18:31The fact that many were expecting that this was going to be the Ekna Chinde playbook,
18:36that who is the real Shiv Sena, so who is the real TMC.
18:40Instead they took the strategy to merge with a little known outfit.
18:44What is your assessment? Why do you think this decision was taken
18:47and could this help the rebel MPs?
18:53Rebels, let's call them the coupists.
18:55They launched a coup and it was successful.
19:00So that is how I look at them.
19:04There was a coup and they are the successful group insofar as the parliamentary party is concerned.
19:11Now, the parliamentary party did not want to get into a legal battle that would drag on forever about the
19:23name of the party.
19:25And because they are wanting to align themselves with the NDA, they needed a route.
19:38Now, the problem is that, you know, finding this little known obscure and unrecognized party.
19:45Let's get it very straight.
19:47The Nationalist Citizens Party is an unrecognized party.
19:51Registered unrecognized political party.
19:55Yes.
19:55That's right.
19:56That's right.
19:57That's right.
19:57So if this is a registered unrecognized political party, suddenly, you know, they've changed their name.
20:04They've changed their color because Mamta was in the, the Trinidad led by Mamta is in the opposition.
20:09And now they've switched to the NDA.
20:12They've changed their name.
20:13They've changed their color.
20:15Their whole identity has changed.
20:17So I think that, you know, this is a, this is a very risky gambit that they have taken.
20:23Why?
20:24Because who cares and who knows about the Nationalist Citizens Party?
20:30Could it be with the name change?
20:34Yeah, with the name change, obviously with the name change.
20:37I mean, you know, they are, they are consigning themselves into a very difficult place.
20:42I wouldn't say oblivion.
20:43Why do you say that?
20:44But it's a very difficult place.
20:46Why?
20:46Because, you know, in 2029, they'll have to, they will have to fight an election.
20:51How are they going to do it with the Nationalist Citizens Party label?
20:57You know, it's going to be very difficult to convince people that the National Citizens Party is the best hope
21:06for West Bengal's future and its development in terms of the representation.
21:16I mean, you know, who is their leader?
21:18How are they going to be led?
21:19You know, today, it's, it's Kakvali Ghosh Dostida.
21:24Tomorrow, it's Shudhi Bandhapadha.
21:26The third day, they've decided that the, on the floor, the family Ghosh will be leading the party.
21:34So, who is the leader?
21:36All right.
21:36So, there's some fine print here.
21:37Yes.
21:38It doesn't have a structure yet.
21:40Ashish Dixit, because you're an advocate here.
21:42Do you think it's about these rebel MPs buying time?
21:45They want to buy time till they are sure of the provisions to avoid the anti-defection law?
21:54See, I can't say what the strategy brought up.
21:56I think that what they have done has a reasonable nexus with the position of law.
22:01The requirement is that once you break away from your party, you have to merge in a political
22:08party.
22:08Because that is the requirement of law.
22:11You cannot simply say that we are an action which has separated it from the legislative
22:16policy and we can support some other group.
22:20That may invite some action.
22:22So, maybe to work on this issue, they have aligned with a political party so that they
22:28can say all our group has merged because we are the majority of the people more than 75
22:34of the MPs.
22:36Two-third majority.
22:38Yes.
22:38Which is the requirement.
22:40We have decided to merge with this particular political party and take a decision accordingly
22:46whether to support the government or not to support the government.
22:49Because unilaterally, because they must take the claim on the Liberal Party and the M&As
22:57have also not.
22:58Because these are two different situations.
23:01If the legislative assembly members are also brought with them or they are also in the process
23:06of deciding what has to be done.
23:08Because it's a very, what should I say, liquid situation.
23:12That people are deciding because they are also must be taking advice and the requirements.
23:19The independent law, they have to protect themselves, at least on a primary basis, that
23:23they should be able to say that we have merged with a political party.
23:27And I think the latest is, and we'll play out that reaction as well of Hrithubrath, who's
23:33the leader of opposition from the rebel camp, and he said, we have not taken a decision
23:37on that yet.
23:38The members of parliament have decided to merge with the NCPI.
23:43And we'll get that reaction also out in just a short while.
23:46I'm joined by Riju Datta.
23:48He was in fact expelled for anti-party activities from the TMC.
23:53He has been all guns blazing against the leadership.
23:56You tell me, Riju, what do you think is the real problem with the TMC right now?
24:00We know that they've joined, the rebel MPs are willing to join with the NCPI.
24:06Do you think that's a good strategy to go by?
24:08And what is causing this mass exodus from the party?
24:12Is it Mamata Banerjee's leadership?
24:14Or is it Abhishek Banerjee's, soon to be perhaps, the next big leader for the party?
24:19Okay, thank you.
24:21And first of all, I want to say that I was not expelled from the party for any anti-party
24:26activity.
24:26I was suspended from the party for saying thank you to the BJP.
24:31And nowhere it says I have been involved in any anti-party activity.
24:34I'm just going to put it on record.
24:36So, now the question you are asking me.
24:38See, Trinomul Congress does not have a political future right now in Bengal.
24:44And things are such that a lot of people are facing a lot of problems because of their past sins.
24:54And as a result, right now it is a survival issue.
24:58So, in that perspective, the majority of the MLAs of Trinomul Congress and majority of the MPs of Trinomul Congress
25:07have created their own fraction.
25:09And now, but this merging into NCPI, let me say this on record, is a very temporary issue.
25:16Why?
25:16It is an issue to avoid the anti-defection law as per the 10th schedule and as per the 29A
25:22section of the Election Commission of India.
25:24So, to avoid all these technical and legal issues.
25:29But let me tell you, the real khela will start when the monsoon season starts in the parliament.
25:34Because then this separate fraction will say that they are the real Trinomul Congress.
25:40They will go for the logo.
25:43They will go for the bank balance.
25:44And then, finally, it will go to the Supreme Court of India.
25:48So, this NCPI merging is a very temporary stand.
25:52Interesting.
25:53And in all of this, the biggest winner is BJP.
25:57Why?
25:57They did not have to take these people in their own party.
26:01And there are very important bills that are coming on the floor of the parliament.
26:06The Women's Reservation Bill will again be placed.
26:08Delimitation Bill, One Nation, One Election Bill, Uniform Civil Code Bill.
26:12And these, now let me call them the NCPI MPs, they have openly said that they will support the NDA.
26:18So, they are getting the numbers from there.
26:21UBT Shifshina faction is also breaking up.
26:23BJD is also breaking up.
26:25So, all in all, it's a win-win situation for the BJP and for the NCPI MPs as well.
26:30It is a win-win situation for them as well.
26:33It's a win-win situation, I think correctly pointed out, Riju.
26:36And while Riju has been vocal about the leadership and the kind of chaos it has led, it's also interesting
26:41to see that perhaps a lot is happening behind the curtains, the constant discussions and strategy.
26:47So, everyone stays in that position, a certain status quo, and yet perhaps the TMC splits like clearly nobody really
26:55expected initially.
26:56Thank you very much, Riju Datta, Shikha Mukherjee, Ashish Dixit.
27:00And I'm sure this conversation will continue in the days to come because it's still a developing story.
27:05That's all the time I have for right now.
27:06So, that is about domestic politics.
27:09And remember, we'll keep our eyes on what precisely is going to unfold in Bengal.
27:13Picture, Abhi Baki hai.
27:15Let me now tell you about another chaos that's emerged.
27:19And that's beyond politics but concerns one and all.
27:22This is with regard to how climate change is becoming a reality.
27:26And I decided to bring this story into To The Point this evening because it's been a sluggish monsoon, if
27:32you've noticed.
27:33It's leaving vast parts of the country unusually dry.
27:37There's extreme weather that's hit other regions.
27:40India's weather map is presenting a picture of stark contrast this June.
27:44What is changing in the country is important to see.
27:48While parts of Kerala, look at that, continue to receive intense rainfall.
27:52But that also, many have said, is slightly delayed and compared to previous years.
27:57Even Kerala isn't witnessing as heavy a monsoon as they expect.
28:01Mumbai city, still waiting for the monsoon to regain momentum with residents grappling with heat and humidity.
28:08Even in Delhi, strong winds and dust storm have reduced visibility and added to the weather related concerns.
28:15Look at the satellite images that are coming in showing monsoon cloud over weakening across large parts of central and
28:21peninsular India.
28:22Significant rain bearing system largely confined to the Himalayan belt.
28:27What's making all of this so different and leading to a dramatic nationwide slowdown?
28:32According to the MED department, India has recorded just 19.2 millimeters of rainfall against a normal 53.7 millimeters
28:41between 4th and 15th June.
28:43It's a deficit, ladies and gentlemen, of about 64%.
28:47Now this may not be the political chaos we usually talk about.
28:52But there is something brewing in our skies, around us, in the climate, that we have to pay a very
28:58close look at.
29:12All right, so here's what I'm going to do.
29:14Our OSINT team have prepared an extensive detailed graphic to help you understand why this is such a significant story.
29:21And it deserves to be put to you, presented to you in our prime time bulletin.
29:26Look at this map that we have of the country.
29:28Now, what we see here, and I'm going to help point it out for you so you understand.
29:33As we look at these specific details, the lines in blue are how on May 16th and 18th, it started
29:41to hit Kerala by the 5th of June.
29:44Like we expected, but not in a manner that it should have.
29:47The deficit was for all to see and slightly delayed.
29:50By the time June 15th came, and that was again the latest that we had.
29:55Look at this.
29:56Now, why you have the red here is it's the projected one.
30:00So basically, by June 15th, our monsoon should have hit Central India, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and so on and so
30:07forth.
30:08However, projected, as it shows, it should have been here.
30:12It is still in the southern parts of the country.
30:14It's not yet reached the states it's supposed to be have.
30:17And that is why, presently, it stands here.
30:22Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, where we can see rainfall.
30:25But it should have already been here in the central part of the country.
30:29And should have been going toward the northern states of Punjab, Jammu Kashmir, Delhi and Huron.
30:35This kind of comparison is not the first time it has happened.
30:38In the past four to five years, we have consistently witnessed how there have been changes that have emerged with
30:44regard to monsoon and even the amount of rainfall that has come in.
30:47This is to help you understand extensively as the monsoon arrived toward the Indian subcontinent.
30:52Therefore, it started from the southern states.
30:55It's remained here while the projected should have already touched the northern states.
31:00And that is why it is important to help you understand that whether it's heatwave that's become more extensive, whether
31:07it's about the monsoon that's also delayed.
31:09Now, remember, as you can see that it is where the Mumbai city, like we were talking about, has already
31:15hit where parts of rainfall, even in Delhi NCR, in the past few days, if you have noticed, there have
31:21been spurts of rainfall off and on with thunderstorm and dust storm.
31:24But it is also reflective of the fact that it is not as per the timeline.
31:28Even the Med Department has said that the next few days are going to be crucial vis-a-vis the
31:33monsoon season.
31:34So this is why to help you understand that how when it arrived from the ocean towards the country, it
31:40stayed here in these states while the projected should have already touched above central India.
31:46And that is why I want to put to you about what details that are coming in.
31:49And it's also to help you understand that it's not just about the monsoon season.
31:53Just a short while ago, we had been talking about how strong the heatwave has been.
31:5845 degrees and above is our new normal.
32:00A few decades ago, it would have been horrendous to even think that our temperature could be touching 50 degrees
32:07Celsius.
32:07And that's what's happening in the past few days, especially for Rajasthan.
32:11Monsoon should have been toward Gujarat, toward Rajasthan by now.
32:16That's the red projected line for you.
32:18But it's still there towards the southern states.
32:20We know that Kerala, Karnatka, Tamil Nadu is where the monsoon, at least parts of it, has already hit.
32:25Even in Kerala, it is not up to the mark and the deficit has been noticeable.
32:29When we come toward winter, remember there have been delayed snowfall in Jammu Kashmir, for example.
32:34There have been some years in the past, two to three years specifically,
32:38either the snowfall hasn't happened in the upper reaches as much.
32:42And even in Srinagar City, there have been a year or two when snowfall has come,
32:46either in end of January and sometimes not that at all.
32:50So that is reflective of the kind of changes that we are witnessing in our climate season.
32:55And as scientists are noticing that the patterns are definitely changing.
33:00So I want to bring to you this specific graphic to help you understand
33:03about how the changes that are happening here in the country.
33:10Look at these satellite images now.
33:12Now this is to help you understand June 14th and June 15th.
33:16As we know how the winds have been moving toward the country,
33:19look at the difference that are coming in vis-a-vis when it comes to the monsoon season.
33:25That's the projected mark on your screen where June 15th should have already touched the states
33:32while it is still there from the southern states.
33:38For Sundar Pichai, Stanford was supposed to be a homecoming.
33:41Instead, it became a walkout.
33:44The Google CEO took to the stage to address graduates,
33:47but hundreds of students instead got up and left, turning a celebration into a protest.
33:52That, they said, was over Google's ties to Israel.
33:56So, reigniting the debate over the big tech's role in the war, if there is.
34:01Take a look at this report.
34:10A graduation speech is supposed to end with applause.
34:14For Google CEO Sundar Pichai, it began with a walkout.
34:18At Stanford University, the tech titan returned to his alma mater, hoping to inspire graduates.
34:27Instead, hundreds of students stood up, turned around and walked out,
34:32transforming commencement into a political statement.
34:36And the protest was no surprise.
34:39Weeks in the making, pro-Palestinian student groups organized the walkout
34:43to target Google's controversial project Nimbus,
34:46a $1.2 billion cloud and AI deal between Google, Amazon and the Israeli government.
34:56As Pichai took the stage, students carrying Palestinian flags chanted,
35:00Free Palestine and exited the stadium,
35:03accusing big tech of enabling surveillance and military operations amid the Gaza war.
35:09I must warn you all, this is only the second commencement speech I've ever given me.
35:15Free Palestine and exited the first was literally in my backyard.
35:18Free Palestine and exited the debate.
35:19But Pichai wasn't taking the bait.
35:21Instead of addressing the protest, Gaza or even AI, the Google chief stuck to a different script.
35:28Optimism.
35:29Mr. Pichai, any reaction to the protest today?
35:33Any reaction to the protestors today that you can share with us and with BBC?
35:38And when a journalist later asked for his reaction to the protest,
35:42which I simply walked on.
35:44The moment has reignited a familiar trend on American campuses.
35:48From Jerry Seinfeld's commencement at Duke to graduation ceremonies at Chicago, Harvard and MIT,
35:55pro-Palestinian walkouts have repeatedly turned convocation stages into protest platforms.
36:01At Stanford, the degrees were handed out.
36:04But the headlines belonged elsewhere.
36:07Bureau Report, India Today.
36:13And as I wrap up this bulletin, did you know that every year, millions of Indians are affected by dengue?
36:19What looks like a tiny mosquito, but one that can have devastating consequences for an entire family.
36:25Dengue is not just another fever, it could be a serious disease that can cause high fever,
36:30severe body pain, a dangerous drop in platelet count, hospitalization and in some cases it could be life threatening.
36:38Who could be affected by it?
36:39Children, senior citizens and those with weakened immunity are especially vulnerable,
36:44especially during the monsoon season that we are expecting now.
36:48But what makes dengue particularly concerning is that the mosquito responsible for spreading it
36:53does not breed in distant forests or remote areas.
36:56It could thrive right inside our home.
36:59In coolers, flowerpots, balconies and even places where clean water could be allowed to stagnate.
37:05Which means that the fight against dengue begins right at your home.
37:09This is not a battle that can be won by an individual or family or institution alone.
37:14So to defeat dengue, the entire nation needs to come together.
37:18With that resolve, today is World Dengue Day marked by the world.
37:22All Out and India Today have launched a nationwide public awareness movement,
37:26Sath Laringe Dengue Say.
37:29Through this campaign, we will bring credible information, expert advice,
37:33simple prevention measures to households across the country.
37:36But do remember that a few simple steps can go a long way in protecting your family.
37:41Do not allow water to collect in and around your home.
37:44Change the water regularly in coolers, for example, or flower vases.
37:48Take extra care to protect your children and senior citizens from mosquito bites.
37:52And use mosquito repellents and vaporizers regularly to keep your home protected.
37:57Because when every home stays alert, dengue loses its chance to spread.
38:02Join All Out and India Today in this collective fight.
38:05Saath Laringe Dengue Say.
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