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This episode of India First reports on the military escalation between the United States and Iran following strikes on ninety Iranian targets and retaliatory ballistic missiles in Jordan.
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00:04Good evening, this is India First, and I'm Maria Shaquille.
00:07Just a day after U.S. President Donald Trump declared that the Memorandum of Understanding
00:12with Iran is over, West Asia is once again witnessing a dangerous escalation.
00:17The United States launched fresh strikes on around 90 targets across Iran, including
00:23key ports, transport links, and strategic infrastructure.
00:28Tehran has responded by targeting U.S.-linked assets in the Gulf, with Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar
00:35coming under attack, raising fears that the conflict is once again spilling across the
00:40region.
00:41There are also renewed concerns over the security of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear
00:47infrastructure, with reports of strikes near the Bushair nuclear power plant.
00:53Has the MOU collapsed for good, and is West Asia heading towards an even wider war?
01:01Here's a report.
01:07Just when it seemed peace might finally be returning to West Asia and the world could
01:13breathe a sign of relief, boom, the guns are roaring again.
01:19More than 24 hours have passed since Donald Trump declared that the Memorandum of Understanding
01:25with Iran was over.
01:27The U.S. President insists Iran is desperate to make a deal, even as he described Iranians
01:34as cancer and sick people.
01:37We've already won militarily.
01:39They have very little, they have very little left, and they want to make a deal so badly.
01:43They called a little while ago, they want to make a deal so badly.
01:47I just don't know if they're worthy of making a deal.
01:50I don't know if they're going to honor the deal.
01:51That's the problem.
01:52If they want to make a deal, why do you think they attacked commercial vessels?
01:59Because it's sort of crazy, to be honest with you.
02:02It's sort of crazy.
02:03They're a little bit out of control, but they want to make a deal.
02:07Badly.
02:11His vice president, Vance, has issued a blunt warning, keeping the state of Hormuz open and
02:16safe or face the consequences.
02:19The president has said to them very simply, the state of Hormuz is going to be open.
02:24That means oil and gas is going to flow to the American people.
02:27That's why we see gas prices starting to come down.
02:31That's why we see the oil prices so low, is because the president said that crucial artery
02:37through which we ship a lot of the world's energy, that artery has got to remain open.
02:44And with that, West Asia is once again up in flames.
02:48The United States says it has struck around 90 targets across Iran in its latest onslaught.
02:56Among them, Adha-Akwala Railway Bridge, the second railway bridge to Mashhad, Bushshehr City,
03:03Kharg Island, Bandar Abbas, Lavan Island, Abu Musa Island, Kajm, Jask, Konark, Sirik,
03:10Kuhesh Takport, Iran Sheher, and the Chabaha Tower.
03:16The railway bridge in Golestan province, part of Iran-China Rail Corridor, has also been damaged
03:22in the U.S. strikes.
03:24But Tehran is not standing down.
03:28Just as in the first phase of the war, Iran has retaliated by targeting U.S.-linked assets
03:34across the Gulf.
03:37Caught in the crossfire, Abba Harain, Kuwait, and Qatar, while Jordan has heightened its
03:42state of alert.
03:45There are also renewed fears of a nuclear dimension to the conflict.
03:50Iranian state media claims U.S. projectiles struck the perimeter of the Bushshehr nuclear
03:55power plant.
03:57Earlier explosions were reported near Iran's only operational nuclear power station.
04:02The MOU was supposed to mark the beginning of peace.
04:05Instead, it may have marked nothing more than a pause.
04:09With missiles flying once again, the truce appears all but over.
04:14And the fear now is that West Asia could be heading into an even wider and more dangerous
04:21war.
04:21Bureau Report, India Today.
04:32And joining us now is Michael Patrick Muldrow, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense,
04:38retired CIA and U.S. Marine.
04:40He's joining me from Washington, D.C.
04:43Mr. Muldrow, with fresh U.S. strikes on over 90 Iranian targets after the Strait of Hormuz
04:49incidents, is this effectively the end of the U.S.-Iran MOU?
04:55It's good to be with you and your audience.
04:57I think that's a very fair question.
05:00It's essentially not a memorandum of understanding.
05:03It's a memorandum of misunderstanding, with both sides having widely different interpretations
05:08of each component of it, starting with the Strait of Hormuz.
05:12I think the U.S. and probably the rest of the world doesn't consider Iran being able
05:16to tell commercial vessels where and when to go through the strait, and then fire at
05:21them if they don't follow their rules, as an open strait.
05:25So I think that's what pushed this over the edge and really brought this back to active
05:30combat.
05:31But why would two sides and two presidents agree to what you describe, a memorandum of
05:38misunderstanding?
05:41Unclear.
05:42I don't know if it was...
05:43Because of different objectives that they had, did they rush through it?
05:49It's possible.
05:50It's possible.
05:51Obviously, President Trump wanted to see these commercial vessels get out of the strait so
05:56that the issue around the world with global energy prices would subside.
06:02Iran does not want to give up the strait.
06:04They see it as their biggest leverage point, and it is their biggest leverage point.
06:08And there's also this factor of the negotiators being like Arachi and Galibov might be more
06:17willing to work with the international community to do things like open the strait, which is far
06:21beyond just their issue with Iran and the United States.
06:25But the IRGC is saying no.
06:27And ultimately, at the end of the day, they're the ones that control the military apparatus
06:31that keeps the strait closed.
06:33And it might be that.
06:34We might be talking to the wrong people, essentially.
06:38So you say that this is wrong people.
06:42And who is talking to here?
06:44Because the Pentagon hit air defenses, command networks, and IRGC assets.
06:49What really is the objective here?
06:51And these strikes, what do they achieve out of these strikes?
06:57So as you said, there's about 90 strikes.
06:59So it was more considerable than the back and forth that we've been seeing in the last few weeks.
07:04Most of them were geared toward degrading the Iranian capability to keep the strait closed.
07:09So they're coastal surveillance sites, radar sites, ballistic missiles, drones, and then these small boats they used to lay sea
07:18mines.
07:19So most of them were there.
07:20And so they're forecoastal.
07:22Some of them were very high up into Iran, including these rail junctions, which is significant because it's sending a
07:32message that not only could the U.S.
07:34U.S. reinstall the naval blockade, they could eventually cut off their ability to do economic trade via land routes.
07:44And I think that's sending a clear message to the regime in Tehran, who doesn't want to see this happen.
07:49And that's what they referenced first when this volley of attacks by the United States was over.
07:55Today is the final day of the state mourning for late Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
08:03And only yesterday we heard U.S. president issue that warning in rather very harsh terms, calling the Iranians sick
08:14people as well.
08:15What options remain for the U.S. to manage or de-escalate this conflict?
08:23So it is certainly a issue for the White House right now.
08:28They can, of course, escalate this militarily.
08:31But from their perspective, the enemy gets a vote.
08:34So Iran doesn't have to just take additional strikes without responding themselves.
08:39We've already seen they have responded.
08:40They're going after U.S. military locations around the region, but they could also go after the infrastructure of our
08:48key Gulf allies, which they've done in the past, which would further drive up energy prices.
08:53They could also get their proxy force in the Houthis in Yemen to challenge navigation through the Red Sea and
09:00the Bab el-Mendib, which would just multiply the very issue that they're using to their advantage.
09:06It would essentially close down trade out of this region.
09:11And that is something that I think the United States has been very concerned of and something I think the
09:16Iranian regime has kept as a reserve.
09:19All right.
09:20My last question would be about this idea of operations which are ongoing in southern Lebanon.
09:26And that found a mention in the MOU in the very first paragraph.
09:31How active and coordinated is Iran's axis of resistance?
09:36And what risks does this pose for regional escalation?
09:42So Hezbollah is their most significant proxy organization.
09:47They basically founded it in the 1980s.
09:50And there's IRGC members usually present with their military component of Hezbollah.
09:55So they have the ability to have great influence over them, which is one of the frustrations, I think, not
10:02only by the United States and potentially Israel, but the government of Lebanon.
10:06The ceasefire was between Israel and Lebanon, but they're not the ones fighting.
10:09It's Hezbollah that's fighting Israel and the IDF.
10:13So to have them join and agree to a ceasefire is a key milestone.
10:18Whether it'll happen, we'll have to see.
10:19But from a diplomatic perspective, that was a big step forward.
10:23Iran didn't accept it.
10:25Iran can essentially control it.
10:28If Hezbollah stopped attacking Israel, the United States would have much more leverage over Israel, not only to stop the
10:34fighting, but to potentially withdraw from southern Lebanon once they believe that this is going to be a lasting peace.
10:42All right.
10:43Michael Patrick Munro, I appreciate your time.
10:45Thank you for joining us.
10:48Good to be with you.
10:50After a week-long funeral procession that drew an estimated 20 million mourners, Iran's late supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei,
10:58will finally be laid to rest at the holy shrine in Mashhad.
11:01The six-day farewell began in Tehran, where global leaders and Iran's allies paid their last respects at the Grand
11:08Mosalla.
11:09From there, Khamenei's coffin was taken through the streets of the capital before traveling to Qom, and then to the
11:17Iraqi holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, culminating in Mashhad, his birthplace.
11:23Millions have gathered for the final riots of the man who led Iran for more than three decades, making it
11:29one of the largest funeral processions in the country's history and perhaps even the world's.
11:34Many came with posters of weak will, you know, against Trump, I would say, highlighting their anger against the U
11:42.S. president.
11:43Why is this moment so significant, and what does it really mean for Iran and the entire West Asia?
11:50Here's Geetha Mohan, who covered the procession from Ground Zero in Tehran, explaining it.
12:00The burial of late supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei today becomes a sacred glue, a glue that has brought the
12:08country together in Iran, that has brought the people together,
12:12and that has also narrowed the divide between Shia and Sunni faith in Islam.
12:19Never in the history of Islam has such an event occurred that could bind forces in the whole of Middle
12:27East or West Asia,
12:28in the Arab world, and here in the Persian Gulf.
12:32Today what we're witnessing is not just a sacred glue, but also pride in national identity.
12:38The fact that a country and entire peoples who were condemned at one point in time, sanctioned today,
12:47they stand together, stand tall, stand with pride about their national identity and about being Persian, about being Iranian.
12:57That's what this event has done, and that is something that the West needs to think about.
13:05All these strikes are happening on the day, or the last day of this six-day state mourning.
13:13So what does it actually mean now from the Iranian perspective?
13:17Joining me now is Ali Salehin.
13:19He is a senior researcher and head of international relations, governance, and policy think tank.
13:25He's joining me from Tehran.
13:27Washington claims strikes on over 90 targets, which includes air defenses, command networks, and coastal radars,
13:35which are crucial IRGC assets.
13:39Strategically, how does Iran interpret this latest escalation?
13:51Mr. Ali Salehin, if you heard me.
13:56Hello, and thanks for inviting me.
13:59When we see the bad news bill, after this is finally, you can see that, you know,
14:05based in the interview between United States of America and Iran,
14:10surely Article 5 of it, the management of the whole passage of the state of the form of the government
14:17actually hand over the management to the Islamic Republic of Islam.
14:21Iran actually believed that, during the recent days, especially beside the, you know, the funeral of the Supreme Leader,
14:31United States violated the MOU and tried to somehow find another way,
14:38especially, especially more in the coastline of the Oman, to reach out the Iranian procedures.
14:48And it seems that the political will and political dialogue actually came together,
14:54and therefore each party tried to use its force.
14:57And unfortunately, it seems that there are lots of commitments between the United States and Iran,
15:06and the only thing that can push America and the Trump to make them responsible for the economy funding the
15:14power.
15:14Therefore, this kind of T4 task and all these strikes is coming after the things that the violation of the
15:25MOU's commitment
15:26on behalf of the United States happened.
15:30And then, and it could be a spin-over, you know, when you just down this much of military assets
15:38in the limited area,
15:40there is always a possibility to spin-over the crisis and the military one.
15:46And, again, there is another experience that we know that they have actually felt so much distrust of the old
15:56commissants of Trump and the United States,
16:00because Trump, who was the withdrawal from the JCPOA, Trump actually betrayed it to the diplomacy table two times during
16:09the 2025 June,
16:11that leads to the 28th February, both on Iran's diplomatic, you know, procedure, but leads to the military one.
16:23This is, and we can see the third example for this kind of mixed trust that's actually creating the decision
16:31-making mines in terror.
16:34Mr. Salian, you know, how will these U.S. strikes affect Iran's internal unity
16:40and long-term prospects for stability or negotiations?
16:43Because the timing is certainly sending a huge message.
16:47Iran is in a state of mourning.
16:57When we confront with Iran as a whole civilization, or as we call it, as a nation civilization,
17:05that lasted different periods, from Ottoman Empire, Mongols, Roman Empire, even the contemporary history, you know, Ba'ath regime, and
17:20Saddam Hussein,
17:21we can see that these people within this region actually can overthrow, can free success against the
17:35people in these kind of threats, and they'll stay still alive with the unified identity here in all these kind
17:45of years.
17:46And this is why, for example, on the very first day we call it that we can see, there are
17:52lots of proof to show that, that we can see the rally around the Black phenomenon, actually Iran news, with
18:01all the different views about political news.
18:04When they've been very, very affected countries, you can see that they are unified, that are lying against them.
18:13This is why, actually, every signal, every future, every system of nationalism, you know, Iran...
18:22Thank you for joining us. There is a piece of breaking news that's coming in now. There seems to be
18:28some problem with the audio. We'll try and fix that.
18:29Thank you. Iran has upped the counter-offensive against American strikes.
18:35Iran has fired 10 ballistic missiles on Jordan's Azraq military base. That is what the state media is saying.
18:42And Iran's revolutionary guards say if U.S. aggression is repeated, American bases in the region will be targeted.
18:50And this is coming after the U.S.-Israeli strikes struck, actually, 90 locations.
19:00And the key assets is what we were told.
19:07But these key assets being targeted certainly were important here because...
19:18We'll try and get more details from our guests who will be joining me shortly.
19:21But Washington, remember, has claimed that over 90 targets, air defenses, command networks, postal radars and IRGC assets after tanker
19:33incidents in the Strait of Hormuz.
19:34This is significant escalation that we are witnessing, which essentially means that the MOU between U.S. and Iran has
19:41collapsed.
19:42And there is renewed attacks disrupting shipping along the Strait of Hormuz.
19:47And the steps are being taken. It appears that both the sides have decided not to de-escalate any further.
19:55With now the IRGC saying that if U.S. aggression is repeated, American bases in the region will be targeted.
20:03That's what the state media is saying.
20:06And the latest details that are coming in is that Iran has decided to issue some counter-offensive against American
20:16forces.
20:23And Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Australia visit has delivered a major strategic and economic boost for India,
20:31with India and Australia signing key agreements to deepen cooperation across energy, defense, space, technology and counter-terrorism.
20:39The headline outcome is the Uranium Trade Pact, expected to strengthen India's energy security and support its civilian nuclear program.
20:49The visit also culminated in a spectacular show of diaspora strength as nearly 30,000 members of the Indian community
20:56gathered in Melbourne's Marvel Stadium with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joining Prime Minister Modi on the stage.
21:04Here's a report.
21:17A sea of tricolors, chants of Modi, Modi and nearly 30,000 members of the Indian diaspora at Melbourne's Marvel
21:25Stadium.
21:28Modi's third Australia visit turned into the country's biggest Indian community event,
21:33with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joining him on stage.
21:37I joined in the country by an anti-faccia.
21:40When I joined Australia in 2014,
21:44in 2018,
21:46After 28 years,
21:50a PM did reach the program from Brisbane.
22:08The visit delivered significant outcomes.
22:12The biggest takeaway was the uranium trade agreement.
22:15The uranium pact is a massive boost to India's energy security.
22:19It ensures long-term supply of uranium and is a boost for India's civilian nuke projects.
22:25The pact also diversifies India's uranium supply sources and is a major boost for Modi's clean energy goals.
22:33Apart from the uranium pact, India and Australia expanded cooperation in defence, space, technology and counter-terrorism
22:41while reaffirming their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
22:49Today, we have explained a great deal.
22:54From Australia to India, we will open up the uranium supply of uranium and we will get a new power
23:02to our clean energy.
23:07Further, we have confirmed their ongoing cooperation on critical minerals, including a refreshed MOU between Geoscience Australia and Geological Survey
23:17of India.
23:20Diplomacy also came wrapped in cricket.
23:22Prime Minister Modi compared India-Australia ties to a test match, saying lasting partnerships are built on patience, trust and
23:30teamwork.
23:31Cricket is a diplomatic language.
23:39This is why our meetings are also cricket like cricket.
23:45The agenda is a focus on Monday.
23:50The decision is a tweet entry.
24:00There was a viral moment too.
24:03After co-chairing the India-Australia CEO Forum, Modi and Albanese clicked a selfie that quickly took over social media.
24:10Modi also urged Australian businesses to invest in India's growth sectors.
24:14From a record-breaking diaspora event to landmark strategic deals.
24:19From cricket diplomacy to a viral selfie.
24:23Modi's third Australia visit combined symbolism with substance, giving fresh momentum to India-Australia ties.
24:30Bureau Report, India Today.
24:36Shifting focus to our big exclusive, the Pakistan-Afghanistan border remains on edge, with tensions simmering along the disputed Durand
24:45line, despite a fragile ceasefire.
24:48Taliban forces have been placed on high alert, aggressively patrolling the heavily militarized frontier amidst fears that the standoff could
24:57escalate at any moment.
24:58Here's this world-exclusive report from my colleague, Meir Fareed.
25:03This, in many ways, is an international news exclusive.
25:08India Today team has reached a location that not many people have dared to come close, because this is the
25:15Durand line.
25:16The main tension point, flashpoint between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
25:21And Taliban soldiers have been on extreme readiness from the last almost six to seven months.
25:30Because escalation can happen anytime.
25:33And I'll ask my cameraman to show you.
25:35This is the Durand line.
25:37Everyone has been speaking about this.
25:39But today we'll give up.
25:40It was a backgrounder of what the Durand line actually is.
25:45It is a 2600 long, unforgiving border.
25:50Why I say unforgiving?
25:51Because it is very tough terrain.
25:53It's mountainous.
25:54It's rocky.
25:55It has ravines.
25:56It has all that ensures that you cannot plug the gaps.
26:01You cannot completely cover the Durand line.
26:06Afghanistan does not consider this as a legitimate border.
26:09Any government.
26:10Not only Taliban.
26:11Before that, every government says that this is not a legitimate border.
26:15And this is grave injustice to Afghanistan.
26:19Because it was a Pashtun territory that overnight was cut into half by Britishers.
26:24Without giving any thought to the fact that they're dividing families.
26:30They're dividing an undivided Afghanistan.
26:32While Pakistan considers this as an international border, Afghanistan does not.
26:37And that is the main tension point now.
26:40Post that, we've seen escalation one after the other.
26:43And right now I can tell you this is one of the most tense borders in the world.
26:47As I said, they're locked and loaded.
26:49They're ready to retaliate if there is any aggression from Pakistan.
26:52This is exclusive like no other.
26:57Because we are at ground zero.
26:59The Durand line, as I said, one of the most tense borders in the world.
27:03While there have been attempts to broker peace.
27:05This fragile ceasefire, we know China, Turkey.
27:08You have other nations who have come in.
27:11But since the main fundamental issues, there doesn't seem to be an easy solution.
27:17So this conflict is only going to escalate.
27:21And when will it flare up again?
27:24No one knows.
27:25And that's why these jawans are ready to meet any eventuality.
27:29If at all that point or that time comes in the near future.
27:35Meet Farid, Durand line Afghanistan for India today.
27:41On that note, we are slipping into a short break.
27:43Coming up would be all the details that have emerged from the new joining at the BJP office in Kolkata.
27:51We'll try and get you an exclusive with one of the leaders who has joined.
27:56It is a significant boost for the BJP and the NDA as they press ahead with their mission to secure
28:02a two-thirds majority in parliament.
28:04Three former TMC Rajasabha MPs, Sushmita Dev, Shukendur Shekhar Roy and Prakash Chikbarek, have officially joined the BJP.
28:14The trio, in fact, resigned from the upper house over the past month amidst growing rebellion against Ramtha Banerjee and
28:20her camp following TMC's defeat in assembly elections.
28:23They were inducted into the BJP by Bengal BJP chief, Shamik Bhattacharya.
28:30The timing is politically significant with bi-polls to the three Rajasabha seats due in just two weeks.
28:37The BJP is widely expected to win all these three, further strengthening the NDA number in the upper house.
28:44So certainly they will be able to reach that majority goal.
28:48We'll be joined by Sushmita Dev in just a few seconds.
28:53But first up, let's listen in to some reactions.
28:57In the past, the government, especially in the 24th year,
29:05and the 3rd year government,
29:08in the 49th year,
29:13in the 49th year,
29:14we'll be involved in bengal.
29:16It's a huge situation when Drusight K rencontовых努ší躯 अलेमینचा Pan博ा आएौन करण सब कार्व्य कर्वशलण
30:07And I'm going to go straight to Kolkata from where Sushmita Dev is joining us now,
30:12former member of parliament of the Lok Sabha and also of the Rajya Sabha.
30:16Sushmita Dev, you have chosen the BJP. May I ask you why?
30:20Well, I've chosen the BJP for the simple reason that what they can do when it comes to development is
30:30before my eyes.
30:32It's the third time that the BJP has come to power in Assam.
30:36And I've seen them deliver.
30:38And I have the, you know, I've had the opportunity to watch what happened when in the past governments in
30:48Assam and especially the northeastern states, there's a world of difference.
30:52If it's come, if you want to deliver, I think the only way ahead is the Bhatia Janta Party.
30:59From the Congress to the TMC to the BJP, you have had a journey, Ms. Sushmita Dev.
31:04And an interesting one, I must say.
31:06I've learned a lot from every experience in whichever party I've gone.
31:12And I have no doubt that the best is yet to come.
31:18And, you know, you have chosen the BJP at a very critical time.
31:22And this is also coming amidst the recognition is yet to be given to that separate group in Parliament.
31:31They are likely to, they are merged with the NCPI.
31:34There's a claim that is impending before, in the Assembly in Bengal as well.
31:39There is this turmoil which is going on right where you are in Kolkata.
31:45You know, I have tracked your political journey, Sushmita Ji, from the Congress to the TMC to the BJP now.
31:53One may ask, it's ideologically different.
31:57How do you navigate this ideological differences?
32:01See, the ideological question that keeps coming up again and again.
32:08I think that when you switch a party, you have to look at someone's past.
32:14I, my experience and my politics has been in the Congress.
32:18My father was in the Congress.
32:20My mother was in the Congress.
32:22After that, I went to Trinamul Congress.
32:30So, you see, my view of the BJP's ideology, my perspective of the BJP's ideology is molded by who?
32:42Is molded by BJP's most adversarial parties.
32:47So, sometimes you have to relearn things.
32:50And I have thought many things through, whether it comes to the delimitation, whether it comes to the women's reservation,
32:57whether it comes to the question of demography.
32:59All of this I've thought it through.
33:01So, I'm quite clear that I have no doubt in my mind.
33:05And I think, Maria, I mean, I can give you a plethora of examples where the people who, you know,
33:14are quick to raise a finger have changed their minds.
33:17The latest one being a...
33:22All right.
33:24We will be, we will be joined by Sushmita Dev again because there seems to be some problem with her
33:30line.
33:31But there, she said that she has chosen the BJP because she believes that the BJP delivers on the promises
33:37that it makes.
33:38And here is the party which will, when it comes to development agenda, there's no party second to the BJP.
33:45And Rajit Kundu is joining us from Kolkata.
33:48An important day of three joining and all three are likely to return to the Rajasabha.
33:53The nomination, I believe, is on Monday.
33:56Well, that's right, Maria.
33:58You know, the nomination ends on July 14th.
34:00So, about five days to go.
34:02But it's a very, very significant development as far as politics in West Bengal is concerned.
34:07Because it's just been two months since the BJP has come to power in West Bengal.
34:11There has been a lot of speculation as to whether or not all these rebel, tribal congress leaders, will they
34:18be taken into the BJP?
34:20So, this is the first leg.
34:21For the first time, we are seeing, since the BJP is coming to power in West Bengal, three of these
34:26Rajasabha MPs who war with the Trinamal Congress resigned, have now been inducted into the BJP.
34:33So, that's an in-principle decision.
34:35So, Shmita Devji is back with us.
34:37So, Shmita Devji, you will be accused like most of those who have, you know, who, in fact, quit or
34:48have switched sides or have chosen a new camp like the NCPI.
34:53Why did you choose that party is the question that I will be asking you again.
34:57So, Indra, please continue.
35:00Well, you know, Maria, just to clarify, you know, Shmita Dev has resigned as a Rajasabha member of the TR.
35:07Yeah, from the TMC, but she did not join the NCPI.
35:11It's the Lokasabha members who have in-block joined the NCPI.
35:15So, this was very open.
35:17Yes, this was an open thing.
35:19And also, Indra, what you are saying becomes important because all of them are likely to return to the Rajasabha
35:24now on the BJP ticket.
35:28Absolutely.
35:28You know, and I did ask, Shmita Dev, this question just a short while back at the Bengal BJP headquarters.
35:33Why Bengal?
35:35Why not Assam?
35:35Because there was a lot of talks that she met Himanto Biswasar Mahdi, Assam chief in New Delhi.
35:41And that's when she decided to put in her papers as Trinamool Congress.
35:44And there was a buzz that perhaps she could, you know, get through the Lokasabha route.
35:49There could be a bi-poll in Assam and she could take that route.
35:53But that did not happen.
35:54And there is a lot of, you know, buzz within Bengal right now, BJP, that these three people who had
36:01quit from the Trinamool Congress, Rajasabha, they will all be nominated by the BJP as the nomination phase begins on
36:0914th of July.
36:10So, that could be, the BJP remains very tight-lipped here in West Bengal at this point in time.
36:14But it clearly seems that they are moving in that direction at this point in time.
36:20But when we look at the entire switch which has happened, the Asili TMC debate is largely in the Assembly
36:28in Bengal.
36:31Yes, I mean...
36:33And they have petitioned the Election Commission.
36:36Absolutely. So, Ritab Roto Banerjee and the bloc of MLAs, they have taken one position and they are still claiming
36:43that they are the real TMC.
36:45That is not the kind of rhetoric that we are seeing from the rebel camp of the MPs.
36:51So, the Lokasabha MPs have merged with the NCPI.
36:54So, they have taken that route to get into another political party.
36:58The Rajasabha MPs have resigned and we are given to understand that there are many other Rajasabha MPs from the
37:05Trinamool Congress in the days to come who may quit in the future as well.
37:09But as I said, this opens a new possibility in Bengal BJP because the Bengal BJP, especially the Olga, a
37:16lot of people were a little circumspect as to whether or not to allow the entry of these Trinamool Congress
37:22leaders.
37:23Because the entire fight that the BJP took on for itself in Bengal was against the Trinamool and the anti
37:29-incumbency against the Trinamool and the corruption charges against the Trinamool.
37:33So, how do they now reconcile with the fact that these are the people who were with the Trinamool just
37:38a few months back as MPs have now switched sides to the BJP?
37:42So, those things, I'm sure, have been dealt with, given a thought by the state BJP leadership, along with the,
37:48you know, Delhi headquarters.
37:50And they have finally decided that they are okay with allowing the entry of these three, you know, former Trinamool
37:57Congress MPs into the party.
37:59All right, Indrajit. Thank you so much for joining us.
38:02Shifting focus to the ongoing investigation into the Ram Temple donation scam.
38:07Yet another breakthrough in the Ram Mandir Chandachori case.
38:11As of desire, a car has been recovered from the residence of accused Anukul Mishra, who was taken in Raman.
38:18According to police, the car was purchased in Gorakpur in May 2025 and registered at the Ayodhya R2O office on
38:27May 22, on May 22, I would say.
38:31The vehicle is registered in the name of the accused's father.
38:35The recovered car has been parked at the Ram Janambhumi police station premises now.
38:39And according to sources, this car was purchased with money that was stolen from the temple.
38:46Here's a report.
38:49The investigation is on in the matter of embezzlement of donation in Ram Temple.
38:55And police have now recovered a swift desire car from the house of Anukul Mishra.
39:02We are present at the Ram Janambhumi Thana.
39:05As you can clearly see this particular vehicle, swift desire.
39:09This is being placed out here, recovered by police from the residence of Anukul Mishra.
39:15If I get the details of this particular vehicle, I get this in number.
39:20This belongs to Ravinder Kumar, son of Ravinder Kumar.
39:23Other details, address follows here and dates and everything out over here.
39:28So the big point is how a person who earns 13 to 15,000 a month can purchase swift desire
39:36car within months.
39:39That's a big point.
39:40Not just that, even some jewelry have also been recovered.
39:43Some gold chains have also been recovered.
39:45These are some serious allegations against Anukul Mishra.
39:49We just see the visual of this particular car even from behind.
39:52I'll ask my cameraman to show the visuals from inside as well.
39:56So these visuals clearly tells the story.
39:58It's not just about one car.
40:01Many such cars, expensive cars have been recovered from the houses of the accused.
40:06And these are just the small fishes.
40:09You can expect what will be recovered from the houses of the big fishes whose name are making the rounds.
40:16Importantly, police, in a way, visited the houses of three accused who are in remand early morning to avoid any
40:25hindrances and recovered many things, which includes this swift desire car and few jewelry items.
40:33In more news, Kadur will be in the political spotlight tomorrow as Chief Minister Vijay will be visiting the district
40:45for the first time after taking charge.
40:47While the government says the visit is focused on relief and rehabilitation for the stampede victims' families, the opposition and
40:54even an ally have questioned this latest move of the Chief Minister.
40:59Take a look.
41:06Nine months after the Karoos stampede claimed 41 lives, Chief Minister Vijay is set to return to the district to
41:15meet families of victims again.
41:22The visit marks Vijay's first trip to Karoos since assuming office as Chief Minister.
41:30After reaching Karoos at 11.30 a.m., Chief Minister will meet the families and hand over job appointment letters
41:37to 32 people who lost their loved ones in the stampede, with one government job being offered to each affected
41:44family.
41:46Earlier, a PIL challenging the government's decision to provide these appointments was filed before the Madras High Court.
41:54However, the court dismissed the plea clearing the way for the appointments.
41:58Meanwhile, the BJP has criticised Vijay's visit.
42:19Not just the opposition, even Vijay's ally, the CPIM, has questioned the move to provide financial assistance,
42:27saying that with the probes still underway, the Chief Minister should not undertake such an initiative.
42:34Apart from meeting the victims' families, Chief Minister Vijay will also lay the foundation stone for a 1,700 crore
42:41rupees non-leather footwear manufacturing project,
42:44which is expected to generate around 13,500 jobs in the region.
42:50Only 5,000 people will be allowed to attend the event.
42:55The police have made elaborate security arrangements, deploying around 100 teams and more than 5,000 personnel across the district.
43:05Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay's first official visit to a district is to Karoor,
43:11the place where tragically 41 lives were lost in the unfortunate tragedy that happened last year.
43:17The Chief Minister will also be handing out appointment orders to 32 people,
43:22the families of victims who lost their lives in the tragedy.
43:25He'll also be laying the foundation stone of a non-leather footwear factory in Karoor district.
43:32With camera person Irfan, Anagar Keshiv reporting for India Today from Chennai.
43:38And monsoon has created havoc in Delhi NCR, leading to water logging and several other problems.
43:44Two cases of tree collapsing were reported also in the NCR.
43:48Not just Delhi, the entire NCR region is witnessing similar issues.
43:52In Ghaziabad, a road caved in after heavy rains caused a car and a scooter to fall into a sinkhole.
43:58Meanwhile, the BJP government in Delhi has claimed that roads remained free of water logging.
44:04But what really is the situation? What is the reality? Take a look.
44:16Delhi, Ghaziabad, Noida, Gurugram.
44:25This is a state of affairs in the national capital region.
44:29A fresh spell of downpour led to massive water logging, traffic jams and endless problems for residents
44:34in the capital city and its satellite towns.
44:40In Delhi, two trees came crashing down in east of Kailash, temporarily disrupting traffic.
44:47Even the elite, including our MPs, were not immune to water logging,
44:51with flooded streets reported outside their apartments.
44:53This particular picture from the national capital, from Lutian zone,
44:59exposes the preparation of the agencies, civic agencies in the national capital,
45:05more so in the Lutian zone, which comes under the NDMC.
45:10We are standing right in front of the apartments where several members of parliaments live.
45:18And the reason being is that there is no possible way for this water to get out.
45:26And somebody from the NDMC has to come here, literally open the manhole in order to ensure that the water
45:34logging is dealt with.
45:38The NH24, which connects Akshadam to Merit, witnessed massive water logging.
45:42Right now, from where I am reporting, is the area which falls between Vijayanagar and Lalko of Ghaziabad.
45:50And here you can see as to how massive water logging can be witnessed.
45:57Various vehicles can be seen stuck in traffic.
46:00And this is certainly causing havoc on the lives of common man.
46:06People are facing a lot of problems due to incessant rain.
46:11The BJP government in Delhi, on the other hand, posted pictures of clear roads despite heavy shots.
46:17It claims the situation has improved.
46:19All the underpasses, mainly ITO, Rajgwath, all the live feed is running.
46:25The 179 camera was from our 45 locations, where the city was increased.
46:34And people had to face traffic.
46:37There was water being filled in many hours.
46:39Today, the water is getting out of 10-15 minutes from the difficult time.
46:45In Gazibad's Vasundra area, a section of the road near Atalchog caved in, a car and a bike plunged into
46:52the sinkhole.
46:53Other parts of Gazibad's two witnessed water logging and traffic crawling at a snail's pace.
46:58Look at this, how these cities are literally in dating, submerging Dasindra Puram and not just one road.
47:05If I could say there's probably a low-line area that could be affected.
47:08Look at this, the whole 70-80 feet wide road has gone totally submerged.
47:14But moreover, it raises the question on the cleaning of the monsoon preparedness.
47:18Despite knowing that there has been delayed in the monsoon, on and off there could be a situation of the
47:23heavy rains.
47:23Look at this, all the drainage line looks totally overflowing, hardly any preparations done.
47:31Several sectors in Noida were also affected.
47:34I'm right now in Film City, sector 16, Noida, and you can see the roads are hardly visible.
47:40The roads are submerged in water.
47:41And this shows that the Noida authorities were just not prepared for these rains.
47:47The drainage system was not made ready for these rains.
47:50And people are struggling, walking through this contaminated water to reach their destinations.
47:59Water logging in Delhi NCR is not new.
48:01It happens every year.
48:03But the question remains, why has the situation not improved, despite repeated assurances from governments and authorities?
48:10With Ahmed Bhardwaj, Piyush Mishra, Ashutosh Mishra and Srivani Sharma, Bureau Report, India Today.
48:17The situation across the country remains grim following incessant rainfall.
48:22Take a look at the situation from across the country.
48:27In the national capital, NH24 was flooded with heavy rainfall.
48:31Vehicles were seen navigating waterlogged roads, slowing traffic considerably.
48:35The IMD has issued a red alert for Delhi NCR with heavy rainfall expected to continue.
48:40In Ghazibar, the car and a scooter fell into a ditch after the road caved in.
48:46The incident occurred inside a housing complex.
48:51Noida too witnessed severe waterlogging.
48:54Water entered several houses and residents were seen walking through knee-deep water in several areas.
49:01In Maharashtra's Vaseh Vidar, even hours after rain stopped, many homes are still inundated with waste-deep water completely disrupting
49:11the lives of residents.
49:13Locals report that their furniture, electronic appliances, important documents and household items have been rained due to the water.
49:21Heavy rain continues to lash Mumbai with severe waterlogging, disrupting Western Railway services.
49:28The IMD has forecast more heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds over the next few days, keeping the city on
49:35high alert.
49:37Heavy monsoon showers battered Surat inundating several low-lying areas and throwing normal life out of gear.
49:45Waterlogged roads brought traffic to a crawl while flooding in residential neighbourhoods and commercial hubs disrupted daily activities across the
49:55city.
49:55Heavy rainfall triggered a major landslide in Nudarakhand's Teheri, leading to the collapse of a house.
50:02The landslide occurred around 4 p.m. on Wednesday, following which authorities evacuated two restaurants, both side stores.
50:13And days after tragedy struck Weynard, the rescue operation continued, but so do the questions.
50:19As the death toll rises and people remain missing, the focus is now shifting from relief to accountability,
50:24with allegations of lapses and unscientific mud dumping coming under the scanner.
50:29Leaving you with this report, take a look.
50:36Three days since disaster struck Weynard once again, forcing residents to relive the haunting memories of the catastrophe that devastated
50:47the region in 2024.
50:55Another trail of grief, another chapter of loss, another community pushed back into its worst nightmare.
51:05The death toll is climbing. Several people are still missing.
51:12Rescue teams are pressing on through unstable terrain, battling harsh conditions in a desperate race against time to find survivors.
51:24The rescue operations are taking place by dividing the region into four zones.
51:28The first and the third zone is where the authorities say has a possibility of recovering more people, more bodies,
51:37is what the authorities say.
51:39So the focus will be on the first and the third zone.
51:41When the landslide took place in Churumala, Mundakai, a lot of bodies were recovered from the river.
51:45So today that focus will be on the river also.
51:48But the first and third zone, that will be the main focus, is what the administration has informed.
51:57Amid the ongoing operation, leader of the opposition, Pinnarei Vijayan,
52:01accompanied by CPIM State Secretary M. V. Govindan,
52:05visited the affected area to assess the ground situation and review the rescue and relief efforts.
52:14But the story is no longer just about the rescue mission.
52:17It is also about accountability.
52:20Why did this happen again?
52:22Could it have been prevented?
52:27Former Chief Minister Vijayan alleged serious lapses in preventive measures,
52:33claiming that excavated mud and debris were not cleared,
52:36despite authorities having a two-week window to act.
52:40He argued that those failures must now come under serious scrutiny.
52:59A day earlier, the Chief Minister had also taken cognizance of the tragedy
53:04and sought a report into the cause of the landslide.
53:09As the investigation gathers space,
53:12the spotlight has turned on the construction company executing the tunnel project,
53:17facing allegations of unscientific mud dumping.
53:22For Vainad, this is no longer just another landslide.
53:26It is a test of accountability,
53:29a question of whether warning signs were ignored,
53:32and whether yet another tragedy could have been prevented.
53:36With Shibimol KG from Vainad,
53:38Bureau Report, India Today.
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