- 2 days ago
Days after the embezzlement of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir triggered outrage, Ayodhya Police on Tuesday recorded the statement of Champat Rai who had resigned as Ram Mandir trust general secretary.
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00:01Good evening, hello and welcome. You're with the news today, your primetime destination news,
00:05newsmakers, talking points, Tuesday night, the big talking point. Narendra Modi's government
00:11heading for a rejig critical meeting that the prime minister has had with his secretaries
00:16and a ministerial review. Is this a precursor for a cabinet reshuffle as widely speculated?
00:22We'll have an update on that. But our big talking point, our continuing focus on the
00:27Ram Mandir loot. Will this be the BJP's water loo in Uttar Pradesh? The revelations that refuse to
00:34die out and monsoon mayhem from flooding to rain deficit. We'll be tracking all that's happening
00:41across the country and we'll tell you just why a Palestine international report headed by an Indian
00:49judge is creating such controversy across the world. It's an explosive report on how Israel
00:57Israel is being accused of deliberately targeting Palestinian children. That report with Justice
01:04Mudlidar who'll join us exclusively. But first as always, it's time for the nine headlines at nine.
01:12Amidst the continuing probe into the Ram Mandir loot, the Mandir itself reports a 50% decline in
01:20donations from April 2025 to February 2026. Police now probing if misreporting led to the reported
01:28decline in donations.
01:33Prime Minister Modi chairs a key meet with top secretaries of the union government for our long
01:39talks held on reforms and Atma Nirbharata. Prime Minister stresses the importance of adopting
01:45a whole-of-government approach. Congress ups the ante against the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. KC Venugopal
01:56moves a privileged motion against him for allegedly misleading Parliament about op-sindoor casualties.
02:02The minister had claimed no soldier had died. Later it was found out there were six who had died.
02:11Indian Army gets a new leadership. General Dheeraj Seth is the new chief of Army staff. He takes over from
02:16General Upendra Dvivedi.
02:20An India Today impact after our coverage of the healthcare crisis at Jaipur's SMS hospital.
02:26Office of Nephrology unit reopened. Process of kidney transplant. A patient commences again.
02:35Another twist in the sensational Lohagar's murder case in Pune. Probe reveals victim Ketan suspected
02:40that his fianc├йe was having an affair flagged closeness to Chetan but his family told him there was no reason
02:47to worry.
02:50Tragic incident comes to life from Mumbai. Tree falls on a school bus killing a 10-year-old child.
02:55All other children on board the bus rescued. Four injured children are now undergoing treatment at a hospital.
03:03Supreme setback for Donald Trump. U.S. Apex Court backs birthright citizenship.
03:09Calls Trump's executive order cancelling automatic citizenship unconstitutional.
03:17And two major shocks at the FIFA World Cup in the round of 32.
03:21Germany and Netherlands knocked out as two big European giants lose to Paraguay and Morocco.
03:27This keeps on going for Morocco. The stars of 2022.
03:44But first, a marathon four-hour meeting between Prime Minister Modi and senior secretaries to the government has ended.
03:51The meeting reportedly focused on the Prime Minister's ease of living and doing business slogans.
03:59The Secretary briefed Prime Minister Modi on action that has been taken particularly when it came to deregulation.
04:05The Prime Minister stressing what is being described as the need for a whole-of-government approach.
04:11Greater coordination between various ministerial departments.
04:16The Prime Minister has put the focus, we were told at the meeting, on promoting Atma Nirbharta.
04:21Exhorting the secretaries to focus on tangible impact of schemes on the lives of people.
04:28But beyond the headlines, what exactly has happened?
04:31Aishwarya Paliwal joins me.
04:33Also, Maria Shakil joining.
04:34But Aishwarya, first to you.
04:36You were tracking that meeting.
04:39Clearly, deregulation has been a big buzzword for the government in Modi 3.0.
04:43But on the ground, not enough is seen to have happened.
04:47So, what is the message the Prime Minister is sending halfway through Modi 3.0?
04:54Well, you know, Rajdeep, you've hit the nail on its head.
04:56You have correctly said because that's the kind of feedback that the government, in fact, was getting.
05:00In 2024, the government comes back to power for the third time.
05:04But yes, there are certain loopholes and feedback not so good that the government, in fact, has been getting.
05:11And that's the reason why you saw almost a four-hour marathon meeting, which took place.
05:14From what I am understanding, close to 15 minutes were given to each and everyone present there.
05:18They all gave the presentations.
05:20The Prime Minister's focus was very clear.
05:22You need to tell me how you are making the lives of normal Indians easy.
05:26That was the theme and that's what the government also at the moment is looking at.
05:31They are very clearly understanding, Rajdeep, that 2027, the focus, you have very big elections coming in.
05:36And then the larger picture of 2029.
05:39So, keeping all those things in mind, there was a feedback mechanism.
05:42Prime Minister Modi reviewed everything that was being done.
05:45Certain suggestions were also being given.
05:46But yes, task has been given out.
05:48This was a report card of sorts.
05:50Certain tasks have now been given out.
05:52And there will be a review in the coming months of what kind of work the ministries have been doing
05:56and what kind of promises they made.
05:58Were they able to fulfill those promises or not?
06:00We will see that kind of report card also coming in months to come.
06:04Now, this report card, of course, Maria Shakir, is coming amidst widespread speculation
06:08that there could be a cabinet reshuffle before the monsoon session of parliament
06:12that is expected in the third week of July.
06:14So, any time in the next fortnight.
06:16So, is this being linked?
06:18Is this a review meeting also to look at performance of specific ministries
06:22and dare one say ministers?
06:24Yes, that's what the bus certainly is, Rajdeep.
06:27Because on 21st of May, when the entire Council of Ministers met,
06:31at that time, a number of ministers had done presentation
06:34of the functioning of their respective ministries.
06:37And now we are seeing the secretaries of various departments
06:40doing a presentation before the Prime Minister.
06:42So, it was almost like a review meeting, almost like, I would say,
06:46a report card that was presented to the Prime Minister midway.
06:50But remember, Rajdeep, in the 12 years of Modi government,
06:53there have been four reshuffles in the past.
06:56And every time a reshuffle has happened, it has been a major reshuffle.
06:59So, a quick word, when it happened first time in 2014,
07:0321 new ministers were inducted.
07:06Because at that time, it was Modi 1.0.
07:08And the strength of the cabinet was less.
07:11Right now, we are looking at NDA 3.0.
07:15And the present strength of the cabinet is 71.
07:18The limit is 81 as per the constitution,
07:21which is 15% of the strength of the Lok Sabha.
07:24So, the Modi government does have that elbow room.
07:27But the sense certainly is that if there will be a reshuffle,
07:30it will be timed with the organization reshuffle,
07:33which will be creation of the new team of Nitin Nabeen,
07:35the new BJP president.
07:37And those who will not be accommodated in that team
07:41could also be accommodated in the government.
07:43Or those who are dropped from the government
07:45could be accommodated in the new team of Nitin Nabeen.
07:48But looking at the window before the monsoon session,
07:51which begins on 21st of July,
07:53there are two windows that are available.
07:55First, on 5th of July,
07:57when the Prime Minister returns from his trip to Rajasthan,
08:00because first onwards, that's tomorrow onwards, Rajdeep,
08:03the Japanese Prime Minister is in Delhi.
08:05So, series of diplomatic meetings that are planned already.
08:08And 6th to 11th,
08:10the Prime Minister is traveling for a four-nation tour,
08:12which includes Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand as well.
08:18So, 12th to perhaps 11th to 21st,
08:2220th, I would say, is another window
08:24which is available for a possible cabinet expansion or reshuffle.
08:28But it will be a major reshuffle,
08:30is what the buzz in the power corridors are at the moment.
08:33Okay, let's leave it there.
08:35What you're saying, therefore,
08:36is two years into Modi 3.0,
08:38at least there is now an effort to,
08:40A, review the performance of ministries,
08:42and possibly go into that cabinet reshuffle.
08:46And you're saying it could be a major one.
08:48Maria Shaquille, Aishwarya Paliwal,
08:50for joining me at the top of the show.
08:52Thank you very much.
08:53Okay, let me come from there to my big talking point,
08:56because the Ram Mandir donation theft probe
09:00is continuing to be our top focus,
09:03and it's widening far beyond the eight arrests made so far.
09:07The investigation has reached the highest levels of the Temple Trust,
09:10with former General Secretary Champath Rai questioned for hours,
09:14as the SIT examined alleged violation in the handling of donations
09:18and the functioning of the Trust.
09:20As investigators probe financial records
09:23and possible procedural lapses,
09:25the case has also triggered a fierce political confrontation,
09:29with the opposition alleging a betrayal of devotees' faith,
09:32and the BJP dismissing those charges as politically motivated.
09:37Take a look at just how this is now playing out politically
09:40ahead of Uttar Pradesh elections
09:42that are scheduled for early 2027.
09:54It's a rot that is getting deeper with each passing day,
09:58from the Ram Mandir temple premises
10:00to the banking system involved.
10:04And central to this rot is a man who was integral
10:08not just to the Ram Mandir temple trust,
10:10but also to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad,
10:12and by extension, the Sangh Parivar itself.
10:16Ram Temple Trust General Secretary Champath Rai,
10:19who resigned from his position on moral grounds,
10:21was grilled by the police for three hours.
10:27India today has accessed exclusive information
10:29about the line of questioning.
10:31The former office bearer of the Trust
10:33was questioned about functioning of the Trust
10:35and the management of the donations received.
10:38Champath Rai denied any wrongdoing.
10:40However, he admitted that employment
10:42was given to needy people in the Trust.
10:45Champath Rai was even unable to answer
10:47some questions asked by the police.
10:53The SIT has flagged serious violations
10:55of the standard operating procedures
10:57and the MOU with the State Bank of India.
11:01Key lapses include lack of a joint presence
11:04during counting,
11:05no monthly rotation of officials,
11:07absence of proper searches,
11:09and failure to maintain separate records
11:11for each donation box.
11:15The SBI Naya Ghat branch has become a focal point
11:19in this particular investigation
11:21as police spent four long hours
11:24at this particular SBI branch of Ayodhya
11:27from where we are currently reporting.
11:29You can clearly see the visuals
11:31of the SBI bank Naya Ghat branch out here
11:34where police teams came here
11:37and spent around four hours.
11:40They did questioning of the SBI members,
11:43SPI officials,
11:44and also looked after the bank details
11:47of those accused who are behind the bars.
11:51And ramping up is the political war
11:53which is mirroring
11:54the spiraling Ram Mandir rot.
11:57A delegation led by UP Congress Chief Ajay Rai
12:00was set to visit the Ram Temple,
12:02but the nine-member Congress delegation
12:03was detained in hotels
12:05and stopped from Darshan.
12:09I am in a guest house
12:13and I am in a guest house
12:14and in a guest house
12:15I have been closed for this place.
12:18You can see that this is the whole
12:19of the building.
12:21This door is in front of me.
12:23This door is also closed in front of me.
12:25You can see the whole house.
12:27I am holding it.
12:28I am holding it.
12:28foreign
12:59the opposition has called it a picture of asta but the vjp hit back saying that the
13:03same opposition has denied the existence of lord ram before 2017.
13:52from the rat yatraf adwani to the pran patishta of the temple itself the ram mandir movement has
13:58been integral to the ideology of the sank pariwar and the politics of the bjp will allude at the
14:04heart of this issue be critical for the bjp's fortunes in ruta pradesh next year
14:08that remains to be seen with sama shivastra venayodhya bureau report india today
14:18so let's raise the big questions tonight can the bjp deflect political accountability from the scam
14:25is the bjp wary of a 2024 up setback repeating will the ram mandir loot be the bjp's 2027 waterloo
14:34in
14:34india's most politically crucial state joining me now sanju varma bjp's evergreen national
14:40spokesperson mohan kumar manglam is congress national spokesperson joins me yashwan deshmukh founder
14:46cvota and cvota has done a political stock exchange look at the public view of how they are responding
14:52to the ram mandir allegations and we'll come to that in a moment uh maybe we should start with
14:58that let me uh yashwan deshmukh before i come to the politicians put up what your sea voter political
15:05stock exchange found out you did a survey and the survey's findings which i'm now going to put on
15:11screen clearly show that the ram mandir issue and the alleged loot that has taken place in the temple
15:18has affected credibility of the bharatia janata party in particular and people's faith in the ram temple
15:27do you want to explain what your survey found out how your survey uh saw this well razdeep people are
15:37hurt and i uh i don't think anybody on the panel would disagree with that even the bjp spokesperson
15:43wouldn't uh disagree with that so obviously this uh i mean there are temples in the temples and there
15:50is ram temple it's not just a question of being any other temple and uh how the sentiments are associated
15:56with that ram temple happens to be deeply associated with the cultural identity and deep and rooted
16:03faith issues in indian and majority of the hindus in india i mean no questions about that so obviously if
16:09there is anything that uh diminishes that uh or or demoralizes that emotion let me just let me just
16:16repeat the numbers yashwan as per your poll nda voters 53.7 percent said yes these allegations have
16:25affected your trust nda voters opposition voters 55.8 39.8 the worry of course is i presume this survey
16:34was
16:34done just a week or 10 days ago 53.7 percent said that the allegations of chori in the trust
16:41have
16:42affected their faith now those are serious numbers they are they are pretty solid and and and and this
16:50is this certainly is one of those issues where you are looking at the non-partisan way of looking at
16:54the
16:54numbers now that is very critical of course i get your point that nda voters a huge majority of them
17:00but it's the same number is a position same number i mean almost around 54 55 percent when you look
17:06at
17:06it that means this issue has gone beyond just the political partisanship i mean it's not it's not that
17:13uh it can be taken only into the political of course there was political of course bjp got benefited
17:20of the movement politically but this is this is also providing us the enough evidence that this issue
17:28is beyond politics this temple is beyond politics the issue of ayodhya has now gained a position which
17:36is beyond politics for anybody going against that emotion even if it is bjp would be on the wrong side
17:44of the public sentiment what are the interesting figures do you believe the matter will be investigated
17:49fairly 48 of nda voters said definitely yes 11 said probably yes so about 60 say it will be
17:57investigated fairly numbers are presumably with the opposition much higher of those who believe it
18:04won't be investigated fairly probably not say 38.8 definitely not say 16.2 so net net what's happening
18:11people feel it's a breach of trust but within nda voters at least there is a hope that the matter
18:17will be
18:17investigated fairly sanju varma respond to what those numbers in this political stock exchange are
18:23showing clearly there is a sense that trust and faith has been betrayed even among nda voters yes they
18:30are hopeful hopeful that there will be an independent inquiry but given the fact that this is so closely
18:38associated with the bjp do you concede six months ahead of up elections this is a major blow that you've
18:45had to face
18:47so randit first things first as a proud practicing hindu am i disturbed yes am i angry yes am i
18:55upset
18:56yes am i shocked yes so i'm not going to sit here and wax the open that the chori or
19:02the loot that has
19:03happened at ram mandir does not affect me so that is my point number one do i partially agree with
19:09yashwan
19:10deshma most certainly yes now where i disagree and i want to make this point very very robustly on your
19:17show the fip was formed the whistleblowers allegations were taken cognizant of fir was registered eight
19:26people were arrested five are being interrogated if need be there will be a judicial inquiry no one is
19:32saying champatra will be spared if found guilty no one is saying anil mishra will be spared if found guilty
19:38and i fail to understand one thing how on god's green earth how on god's green earth can rahul gandhi
19:56he's a pseudo secular priyanka vadra is pseudo secular this priyanka vadra
20:02nne aaz tuk hindu ke baare me ek shabd nahi kaha she only sheds copious tears about the victims in
20:08gaza
20:15he's a pseudo secular how dare the darbari ecosystem lecture the bjp i have been asked
20:25rajdeep on various shows kya bjp hindu ka thekedar hai ji haa bjp rss hindu ka thekedar hai because prior
20:35to
20:36narendra bodhi coming to power in 2014 rudraksh pehna vibhuti lagana kalawa pehna people used to
20:44mock hindus aaj mei kahti hoon gharv se kaho hum hindu hai kyunki pradhanavad gharv se
20:51gharv se nahin kahe sakte hai hum chor hai na miss sanju varma gharv se kaho hindu hai ek gharv
20:57se kaho
20:57chor hai chori ke naam pe you one thing no no madam madam now i've heard no no one minute
21:03madam you have made
21:04you have no no one minute madam one minute one minute there is another participant again you
21:10have made serious charges against the congress you're saying it's the hypocrisy all i said
21:15cannot be a slogan anymore no but response one minute mohan kumar manglam respond to what you heard
21:23sanju varma says she concedes that what has happened is shocking it's shameful but the congress is no one
21:31to lecture the bjp on the ram mandir given the fact that the congress itself she claims was never
21:38fully on board with the ram janma bhoomi movement and the congress itself is pseudo secular
21:47rajdeep ji the word pseudo secular was used several times with no basis um in fact it leads me to
21:54say
21:54that actually the people who are pseudo hindus are the bjp who only use the hindu religion and hindus
22:00for their political benefit and nothing more if you look at this particular case the original sin
22:05actually happened all the way back in 2021 when a two crore land in 10 minutes was sold for 18
22:11crore to the trust if back then we took those allegations seriously which by the way brought to
22:16light in a press meet by mrs priyanka gandhi badra then from then onwards maybe would have had some
22:22way to stop this loot and this goes beyond the bjp this goes directly to the prime minister
22:27because it is modi who did the bhoomi puja and the shalianayas the inauguration the pran
22:31padishtra the flag no no no no you cannot don't get excited sanju varma he did not interview
22:36please keep our audio down when someone else is speaking he must own the scandal the scale of the
22:42scandal itself frankly is being hidden 70 thefts caught on cctv in just 40 days what has happened over
22:48five plus years since the inauguration and by arresting small staff like tinnu yanov and
22:54lavkush mishra who make 12 000 rupees a month uh hid cash and cow dungs you're basically arresting
23:00foot soldiers the big crocodiles are still being left to go free and if you're so sure that mr
23:06champat rai is going to be arrested or he is responsible why isn't he in an fir yet why is
23:13he
23:13just being questioned somehow seriously and you're talking about the question why was the whistleblower
23:22fired why was maipal who flagged five like a day why was he fired see can i answer you're looking
23:28at
23:29a full scale and why was why was the trust mohan kumar manglam i have i have also shown you
23:37the numbers
23:38the numbers show that yes people are angry people believe what has happened is serious
23:42how do you then translate that anger into actually votes for the congress because when it comes to the
23:48independent investigation there is a hope given among nda supporters that they are still hopeful
23:53the investigation will be independent you are making a leap of faith and saying prime minister is
23:58responsible for what has happened in ram mandir the voter may not see so i ask you in electoral terms
24:04now
24:05no let him complete ma'am he patient sabra rakhi every single thing about this trust about the
24:15mandir was headed up front oh my god even the prime minister's uh former principal secretary was made
24:22construction manager for this temple how can the prime minister abdicate his responsibility towards
24:28what's happening and sure the voter so how if she keeps interrupting me it's impossible to talk
24:35rajiji i didn't make i didn't make wide allegations i'll come to sanju in a moment i am asking you
24:42more kumar manglam how will it play out politically i think unless those who need to be brought to book
24:50are bought to book successfully the people will lose faith and if you look at a parallel to how the
24:57nta and
24:58neatly controversy has been playing out where the man in the hot seat mr darabinder pradhan still has
25:04not been held accountable i have sincere doubts that the real culprits behind this will actually be
25:10held accountable in fact given that the government is so involved in this particular trust the prime
25:16minister himself nominated the 12 member body and the rss that is known to be so close is mr chamba
25:22try the pracharak of the rss nothing less than a supreme court sitting judge monitored probe
25:27would actually convince the public at large that the probe has been fair and the actual culprits
25:34have been identified okay sanju varma now respond you've heard patiently uh somewhat patiently
25:42the fact is that this is far more serious than a routine corruption case you will admit that you
25:47yourself admit it all of you the the opposition justice you accuse them of pseudo secular they
25:53say you exploited public sentiment associated with ram for your political benefit and now that same public
26:00faith has been exploited for people's monetary benefit what can be more shameful this is a normalization
26:07of shame this is the most shameful thing that you have exploited public sentiment and all of them
26:13are in some way involved with the sang paribar how can you distance yourself from it now rajdeep i heard
26:20you very clearly sanju varma fader down mat kariye now let me respond i just want two minutes of
26:27uninterrupted time charlie hepto attack brussels attack mecca madina terror bombings manchester bombing
26:35darbari ecosystem says terror has no religion murshidabad hindus butchered in 2023 under mamtha banerji
26:43terror has no religion bhaduria rights asana soul rights jadappur rights birbhum rights sita kulchi
26:50rights under narendra modhi nahi way under mamtha banerji way but darbari ecosystem
26:56has no religion don't blame the radical islamists no what is this got to do with ram mandir i'm talking
27:03about ram mandir you're going somewhere else kaha instead of east you're turning west
27:09no response you told me be patient rajdeep ji how is it that you preach something but practice something
27:16else now let me finish i have started by saying let no one be spared but my limited point is
27:30this
27:30this is a political debate let's not fool ourselves
27:38english english
27:40english
27:40yes
27:41akhilesh yada what did he say akhilesh yada's closest confidant
27:45rk chaudhri said ram charit manas ko aag laga do rahul gandhi
28:02saayi has no chori nahi kee rahul gandhi jada ne chanda chori nahi kee please get it don't always make
28:09the messenger no no madam madam please don't bring me in i have nothing to do i am asking you
28:15a simple
28:15question that i am asking you a simple can the sangh pariwaad completely wash itself from what's
28:22happened and as a result will you have to bear a political fallout in up 2027
28:31Now, I'm answering a very direct question.
28:45English, English, please. English show. It's an English show, madam.
28:52Now, let me say one thing very clearly.
28:56Thank God it is the double-engine Sarkar in Uttar Pradesh that we are willing to confront the bitter truth.
29:03But a few rotten apples cannot be the reason for you to completely tarnish with a black brush the contribution
29:10of the RSS,
29:12the contribution of the VHP, the contribution of LK Advani, the contribution of Huma Bharti,
29:18the contribution of Sardinitambara, the contribution of none other than one man.
29:23Who is that man, Radhi? A man called Narendra Modi under whose ages a 500-year long civilizational battle came
29:32to fruition.
29:33You will call all Hindus.
29:36I never said all Hindus.
29:39Please do not mistake.
29:41Please do not put words in my mouth on a sensitive issue, madam.
29:45That's unfair, but I think...
29:48Madam, I've heard you. Madam, I've heard you now patiently.
29:51But Mohan Kumar, I'll ask you this one more time before I go to Yashwan.
29:55How are you going to...
29:56You see, political parties, one thing is to today put the BJP in the dock.
30:00Elections are six months away.
30:02How are you going to make political capital, you and the Samajwadi party, out of this?
30:07Because they will say, as Yogi Adityanath is saying, before 2021, you'll always oppose the temple construction.
30:16Rajdeep ji, we are not here to make political capital of this.
30:20You can fool some of the people all of the time, but you can't fool all of the people all
30:25of the time.
30:25The public is watching.
30:26They're seeing what you're doing.
30:28They're seeing how you're insulting their fate.
30:30You can wax eloquence about or make false accusations.
30:35Call us whatever names you want.
30:37Go ahead and misquote things the way Sanju has just done.
30:40But people actually measure your actions over your words.
30:45And if you look at what's happened with the Ram Mandir,
30:48every Hindu in this country is disappointed, is hurt, and frankly,
30:55realizes that the Prime Minister today has lost all credibility.
31:00So, let me, before you go away, please don't interrupt me.
31:04No, no, no, one minute, one minute.
31:07You see, she...
31:08No, no, one minute. Let me, for one...
31:09No, no, let me say, Sanju Verma is saying, why bring the Prime Minister into this?
31:13Give me a quick answer. Why bring Prime Minister Modi into this?
31:16Rajdeep, I told you in the very beginning why he's central to this.
31:20He has done everything.
31:21He has done everything about this.
31:24He did the Gumi Bhujan, he did the Shalaniyas, he did the inauguration, he did the Pran resistance,
31:27he's a flag poisoning, he personally created the trust and handpicked its members.
31:31How is it that the Prime Minister is not central to this?
31:35Okay.
31:35I mean, you'd have to, like, defy logic.
31:38Okay, you made your point. You made your point.
31:40I want to give a final word to you. I want to give a final word to Yashwan.
31:44Yashwan, we've seen, though, the fact is, elections are very separate from what happened.
31:48Political control, even the building of the Ram Mandir did not help the BJP in 2024.
31:54Now, will this chori change the politics? Does it change the narrative?
31:58Does it change the way the elections of UP will be fought in 2027?
32:03Well, politically speaking, yes and no. I mean, it's still too early to say whether core Ram Bhakt, core Hindu
32:13supporters will be so hurt that they will start voting for Congress or Samaj Badi party in UP.
32:19You know, that's a long shot. I still have reservations on that, whether that will happen or not.
32:26Yes, they can be angry and they can sit at home. That might decrease the turnout and invariably hurt the
32:32BJP prospect. That can happen.
32:34However, one thing is very clear. I don't think in the last 12 years, I would not consider any other
32:44issue which had the potential of damaging the right-wing politics of India more than this particular issue.
32:54Okay. And this is a very serious, serious one. And I think the BJP or the RSS will also run
33:02an really extra mile in order to do the damage control and come around it so that, you know, they
33:10can maintain the sanctity of the...
33:13Okay. Sanju Verma is pointing a finger at me and that scares me. So, I will give her 20 seconds
33:19and I'll count 20 seconds. Take your 20 seconds, quickly.
33:23My simple point is this. The Congress was in bed with the DMK and DMK said Sanatana Dharma is equal
33:31to Dengi, Malaria, AIDS, COVID.
33:33It's a whole entire ecosystem in his face. Rahul Gandhi lays claim to the legacy of Prabhu Ram and Ram
33:44Mandir. Do you think Hindus are not smart enough to see through the charade of Rahul Gandhi?
33:48Okay. Rahul Gandhi is a hypocrisy.
33:51Okay, you made your point. You made your point. This is not the first time you made it. Now, you
33:57know, the fact is at the end of the day,
33:59Chanda Chori has taken place. Nothing can be more shameful than this. Let's be very clear on it. Now, you
34:05can make all your political points.
34:09It is shameful and disgraceful. Let me tell you this today. And you must accept that and it would be
34:17a little...
34:17It would be useful at times like this to show humility on all sides and ensure that the culprits are
34:26caught and that there is accountability at all levels. That's all.
34:29Who wins, who loses election, they will come and go. But what has been done is the betrayal of faith
34:35of millions of people who had their aastha and gave donations.
34:39Please do think of them today before you think of calculating votes at election time. And whether Rahul Gandhi is
34:46what is immaterial.
34:48The fact is, there has been Chanda Chori. Simple. Simple. C and C. Chanda Chori.
34:57Okay, okay. Charitra, two C's replaced by Chanda Chori. I appreciate my guests joining me on the show tonight. Sanju
35:04Verma, I will make sure that next time I send you the water from the studio when it gets too
35:10hot. Thank you. Bye for now.
35:12Okay, let's turn to the political equations in Tamil Nadu that continue to shift rapidly. What began as a change
35:19in government with Vijay taking over as chief minister is now seeing the chief minister trying to expand his support
35:28base with trying to get former DMK allies to line up behind him.
35:34But, can he do so? Will the allies of the DMK also split like the Congress already has? Take a
35:41look.
35:53The Vijay government in Tamil Nadu is steady, strong and moving ahead with ease thanks to the support of allies.
36:02Chief Minister Vijay's TVK has now called an alliance meet on July 1st and is preparing to bring together friendly
36:09forces and like-minded partners as part of a broader consolidation exercise.
36:18Congress, VCK, MDMK and IUML have been extended invitations for the meeting.
36:26AIA DMK MLAs, MR Vijay Bhaskar and C Vijay Bhaskar have resigned from the party and are poised to join
36:33Chief Minister Vijay's government, delivering another blow to Eda Padike Palani Swami.
36:39Vijay Bhaskar took a jibe at AIA DMK and said that he left the party because it planned to ally
36:45with the DMK, which was once called an evil force by Jayalalitha.
36:49The development comes days after MDMK dumped the DMK and extended support to Vijay's TVK in the upcoming by-elections.
36:58The TVK alliance is growing stronger with each passing day and Chief Minister Vijay has thanked the allies.
37:07When the President went through its ranks, he is in the UNI and the UNI.
37:10The President's name isшЛС and I am with insan in the UNI,
37:22the President's name isшЛС and the President's name isшЛС.
37:30He is a representative of the UNI,
37:33the President's House of the Muslim League,
37:39Interestingly, the parties which today stand with TVK stood with DMK not long ago.
37:44The meeting could be Vijay's way to get back at former Chief Minister Stalin's doomsday prediction
37:49of the TVK government not lasting long.
38:15The Congress, which was among the first to drop the DMK alliance, hit back at its old alliance partner.
38:45The irony is not to be missed.
38:47Vijay seems to have taken over not just Stalin's seat of power, but one by one, all his key allies
38:54as well.
39:05So, don't underestimate Vijay as he makes his political moves.
39:10Okay, let's turn to the other big story, the monsoon that's already arrived in several parts of the country.
39:14We've already seen floods in Assam and Arunachal.
39:17Now, many cities are experiencing heavy downpours today, which led to waterlogging.
39:21For example, in Mumbai in particular, and heavy rainfall in Navi, Mumbai's Vashi led to severe waterlogging,
39:28with roads submerged, commuters wading through floodwaters.
39:31Andheri subway was also submerged after heavy rainfall, with waterlogging and potholes causing major traffic congestion.
39:39A 300-metre iron bridge over the Kimi River in Assam's Demaji district was swept away by floodwaters affecting regional
39:46connectivity.
39:48Uttarakhand's Uddham Singh Nagar has witnessed severe waterlogging after heavy rain.
39:52Floodwater has entered homes and a residential school in Bajpur.
39:57So, monsoon mayhem is causing flooding in different parts.
40:02Welcome back.
40:03A new United Nations inquiry has leveled some of the most serious allegations yet against Israel over alleged war crimes
40:10in Gaza.
40:11According to this commission of inquiry report, Israel's actions in Gaza involve the deliberate targeting and killing of Palestinian children.
40:19The report describes these allegations as amounting to genocide and crimes against humanity.
40:25It states that more than 20,000 children have been killed since October 2023.
40:30The commission headed by Justice Moolidhar, a former Odisha Chief Justice, also says that despite the October 2025 ceasefire, children
40:40continue to be killed and seriously injured,
40:43and alleges that orphanages and educational facilities across Gaza have been destroyed and dismantled.
40:49While Israel has rejected the findings, calling the report a propaganda piece.
40:55Joining me now is a very special guest, joined by the head of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on
41:01Occupied Palestinian Territory.
41:03The former Odisha High Court Chief Justice, Justice S. Moolidhar joins me.
41:07Thank you very much, Justice Moolidhar, for joining me on the show.
41:09Your report has created a storm because it accuses Israel directly of deliberately targeting children during its military operation in
41:19Palestine.
41:19It's a very serious charge.
41:21What specific evidence, Justice Moolidhar, have led you and your team to conclude that the killing of Palestinian children was,
41:30in a way, intentional?
41:33There were two methods deployed by the Israeli Defense Forces.
41:37One was to have a wave of airstrikes using high-yield bombs on densely populated areas in Gaza.
41:44And this was consistent and continuous between 7th October 23 and 7th October 25 when a ceasefire was announced.
41:53Now, any rights-respecting nation, when it started its campaign, would have realized that children are disproportionately in high numbers
42:02of the fatalities in such attacks.
42:04It would have then changed its course.
42:06Israel did not.
42:08Israel continued with those bombings.
42:09As was expected, children constituted more than 30% of all fatalities.
42:14Over 70,000 people were killed and 30% were children.
42:18Children were brought into the hospitals, and we have firsthand accounts having suffered loss of limbs.
42:26Doctors had to amputate tiny babies and infants without anesthesia, without painkillers.
42:3258,000 orphaned children have been created in these two years.
42:37Orphanages have been bombed.
42:38So, this was one method of using intensive airstrikes.
42:42The second was to use a combination of quadcopters, sniper rifles, and drones.
42:48The quadcopters were fitted with thermal imaging cameras, which would tell a person operating it, sitting in a remote location,
42:56by looking at a screen, whether the target was an adult or a child.
43:01And you have an instance, Rajdeep, of a 10-day breastfeeding baby being shot through the head with a single
43:09bullet using a quadcopter.
43:11The mother is unhurt.
43:13The baby has been shot.
43:15There are numerous instances where the child is accompanying the adult on a road.
43:19The child is shot and killed.
43:21The adult is spared.
43:22And these quadcopters also have pellets, cube-shaped pellets.
43:28Doctors who deposed before us showed us photographs of the upper torso of the baby's body having numerous small square
43:36-shaped holes.
43:38This pellet, when it gets into the body, it has got tungsten, apparently, and it dissolves the tissues.
43:44So, it causes extensive damage to the internal organs of the baby.
43:49Doctors who deposed told us that hundreds and hundreds of babies are brought in with such fatalities that they've never
43:56seen this kind of an extensive attack specifically targeted at children.
44:02You know, Justice Moolidar, what you're saying is heart-rending, but may I just stop you for a moment to
44:07suggest that while you are making these claims of these targeted killings of children, the Israelis have rejected your report.
44:17Whenever I speak to the Israelis, they claim, A, this is not true, and B, they claim they've not even
44:22appeared or deposed before your commission.
44:24So, it's one-sided, and it's a one-sided view of what's happened in Palestine and Gaza.
44:32Yes, I'm glad you asked me this.
44:34Every time before we pick up a theme to prepare a report, we issue what is called a public call
44:40for submissions.
44:41From the world over, anybody who has relevant information concerning that theme or topic, in this case children, would send
44:48us material that they have.
44:50Israel prevents its citizens from engaging with this commission.
44:54Second, I, as a chair of this commission, you issue what is known in diplomatic circles as NOTE VERBAL.
45:02It's a formal request to the Israeli permanent mission to the UN in Geneva, asking for permission to visit the
45:10Palestinian territory,
45:11to visit Israel, and to interact with the people there, and to also for the state of Israel to interact
45:17with us.
45:18We get no response. I've sent three or four so far.
45:22Thirdly, before we finalize the report, the report in its draft form is sent two weeks in advance,
45:29both to the permanent mission for Israel in Geneva, as well as the Palestinian Authority.
45:35While the Palestinian Authority responds to us, Israel never does.
45:39So, apart from actively discouraging people to engage with us, Israel refuses to engage with us.
45:46Israel has a deep distrust of the entire UN system.
45:49And it is not just our commission of inquiry.
45:52Any UN mandated authority which is looking into Palestine, Israel will simply label them as biased, one-sided, and unfair.
46:01Sir, which is exactly what brings me to the next question.
46:05Given that Israel has dismissed your report, when you claim, or your report claims that Israel is guilty of genocide
46:12and war crimes,
46:13do you believe that there will be any acceptance at all by the Netanyahu government or any of the allies
46:19of Israel,
46:20including the United States, to accept what your commission has suggested?
46:25Because the words you've used, genocide, are being, you know, Israel has repeatedly rejected them outright.
46:33Well, I think what makes this report slightly different and gives me some hope is this.
46:39We have Israel's voice.
46:41That is, the soldiers of Israel have spoken, not just to this commission, but to the entire world,
46:46through the videos that they have filmed of their own acts.
46:50You know, there is an abominable instance of Israeli soldiers entering a bombed apartment in Gaza
47:00and trying on girls' clothes.
47:03Would you believe this?
47:04And they filmed themselves wearing girls' clothes.
47:09They filmed hanging a teddy bear, a toy from the fan, ceiling fan, and pointing a gun at it.
47:15So, these kind of depraved acts have been filmed by the soldiers themselves.
47:20Another soldier has spoken on television to Israeli channels, television channels,
47:25saying how his commander complimented him for killing a 16-year-old, defenseless Palestinian child.
47:33Another says, well, it's so easy, you can sit wherever you want and press a button to kill.
47:39And they have like a target practice.
47:41They actually thought it was like a game.
47:43So, I'm seeing so much incriminating evidence that Israeli soldiers have posted of their own acts
47:50on public domain, it will be difficult.
47:54And if you see the 18-page rebuttal that Israel has prepared in response to our report,
48:00Israel does not deny any of these pieces of incriminating material.
48:06And you can watch that full interview, detailed interview with Justice Muddidhar on indiatoday.com.
48:15Okay, let's turn from there to our Get Real India story.
48:19It seems to be the season of land scams.
48:23Now, this is a land scam from another holy place, Ardwar.
48:27A plot beside a garbage dump, a 54-crore land deal, and allegations of a scam that has now rocked
48:35Uttarakhand.
48:35How did agricultural land worth 14 crores suddenly become a 54-crore municipal purchase?
48:42And why have top officials, including a former DM, municipal commissioner, and SDM, come under the scanner?
48:49Ankit Sharma now reports.
48:54A plot beside a garbage dump, and a 54-crore land deal, and a scam that has shaken Uttarakhand.
49:03At the heart of this controversy is a 2.307-hectare plot located in Uttarakhand's Sarai village in Haridwar.
49:11In recent years, there have been debates and discussions surrounding the stringent land laws in Uttarakhand and its needs.
49:21The government amended land laws to curb exploitation, but the recent case of Haridwar land scam suggests
49:27that how government officials can siffen off public money by misusing their powers.
49:35Residents say the garbage mountain has made life miserable, and therefore property values have collapsed.
49:41According to investigators, the plot was agricultural land worth around 14 crores.
49:46In September 2024, the landowners approached the Nagar Nigam, citing the impact of a nearby dump yard.
49:53Investigators claim that then-municipal commissioner Varun Chaudi pushed the proposal.
49:57Mandatory procedures were allegedly bypassed.
50:00The result, land rates jumped from around 6,000 rupees to 25,000 rupees per square meter.
50:06Before the municipal corporation bought the plot for 54 crore rupees in December 2024.
50:32Questions over the transaction were first raised by BGP's newly elected Haridwar mayor, Kiran Jaisar.
50:58The complaint triggered a government probe, and the findings sparked a major crackdown.
51:03In June 2025, Haridwar DM, Karmendra Singh, Municipal Commissioner Varun Chaudari, and SDM Ajayvi Singh were suspended.
51:11A year later, the Dhami government escalated action against Varun Chaudari, Karmendra Singh, and Ajayvi Singh.
51:18The Congress, however, claims that the scam is much bigger.
51:48In Sarai village, the fallout is still being caused.
51:51As residents say, the land near the dump yard remains virtually unsellerable.
52:17For Sarai, this isn't just an alleged scam.
52:20It's a village still living in the shadow of a garbage mountain and still waiting for justice.
52:26With Ankit Sharma in Sarai, Bureau Report, India Today.
52:35As I said, it seems to be the season of scams in holy cities.
52:39Speaking of holy cities, speaking of holiness, the Amarnath Yatra, the chants have begun.
52:46So has the journey of faith.
52:47Thousands of devotees gathering in Jammu ahead of the Sri Amarnathji Yatra, the air filled with devotion.
52:54The authorities say they will leave no stone unturned to ensure a safe pilgrimage to the holy cave.
53:00Here is the story.
53:29Faith is on the move.
53:46With chants of Bambambholi echoing through Jammu.
53:57Thousands of devotees have begun arriving ahead of the annual Sri Amarnathji Yatra, which begins on July 3rd.
54:06At the Bhagavati Nagar Yatra and other transit camps, the atmosphere is a blend of devotion, excitement and hope.
54:16Pilgrims from across the country are gearing up for one of Hinduism's holiest journeys.
54:45Behind every step of faith is meticulous preparation.
54:49Security forces and civil authorities are conducting dry runs.
54:57Checking logistics, convoy movement and every security detail to ensure a safe and seamless pilgrimage.
55:32For the pilgrims, it's more than a journey through the mountains.
55:35For the pilgrims, it's more than a journey through the mountains.
55:36It's a journey of devotion, gratitude and unwavering belief.
55:44And one that begins with a chant and ends with the blessings of Lord Shiva.
55:54With Sunil Ji Bhat, Bureau Report, India Today.
56:02One can only pray that that faith is never betrayed by those who claim to stand for a particular faith
56:10or religion.
56:11Okay, I want to leave you with our image tonight.
56:14It was a night of upsets at the FIFA World Cup as heavyweights Germany and Netherlands were both eliminated in
56:20the round of 32.
56:21Four-time world champion, both in penalty shootouts.
56:24Four-time world champion, Germany lost 4-3 to underdogs Paraguay after drawing 1-1 in regulation time.
56:31Netherlands also missed three of their five penalty kicks.
56:34Morocco kept their cool where it mattered.
56:36And the three-time World Cup runners-up are also out.
56:40Netherlands, Germany out.
56:42Let's hope that we have an underdog winner in the end of this World Cup.
56:47For now, stay well, stay safe.
56:49Good night, Shubratri.
56:50Jayahin.
56:51Namaskar.
56:51And history does repeat itself.
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