- 2 days ago
Tamil Nadu dominated the latest round of major developments as Finance Minister Mari Wilson presented the Vijay-led TVK government’s first state budget, announcing welfare measures and new spending priorities.
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00:05Hello and welcome. Good evening. You're watching Super 6 here on India Today. I'm Akshita Nanda
00:09Gopal. This evening over the next one hour, we'll get you all the big stories that we're tracking
00:15this evening. We've got lots lined up for you. But first, our focus is going to be
00:20Sheikh Hasina's live broadcast. After two years in exile, seeking refuge in India,
00:26in moments from now, we'll see her first ever video appearance. It's a virtual address
00:31and it's going to be about 90 minutes that she will speak for. But the reason this is grabbing
00:37headlines is, of course, the fact that you're going to see Sheikh Hasina making this address
00:42after nearly two years as she gets set to return to her home country, to Bangladesh. We'll get you
00:48those details. But also coming up on the show at 6.30 this evening, as always, we focus on the
00:52southern states. And today, you had the Vijay government's first budget being presented.
00:58Good budget, bad budget. There's a lot of politics over it. We'll break down for you the highlights,
01:04some of the big takeaways of that budget and whether it's lived up to expectations or not.
01:09So that's coming up at 6.30 this evening. I'm Akshita Nanda Gopal. We begin with the headlines.
01:18Meta head Mark Zuckerberg apologizes over child sexual abuse and deep fake content, but no mention
01:24of Prime Minister's video removal. Meta officials to be once again grilled by the IT ministry tomorrow.
01:35U.S. lawmaker slams proposed FCRA changes. Big strike on India's foreign donation law tweak.
01:41Republican Riley Moore flags concerns. U.S. lawmaker raises India's religious freedom issue,
01:48links FCRA to India-U.S. ties now.
01:55Jharkhand government officials hold talks with students at protesting site.
01:59Chief Minister Hemant Soren assures concrete solution over irregularities in exams.
02:03Activist Sonam Vangchuk to meet protesting students soon.
02:11A day after arrest drama, Udenidi Stalin lashes out at Chief Minister Vijay responding to India
02:17today's question on arrest drama, says Vijay is silent so far on all that played out.
02:28Multiple protests against Punjab government, exam fraud, pharmacy cheating, DA protests,
02:34BJP Congress, and government employees take on the Mount government.
02:50As Bangladesh marks two years of the July uprising today, you'll have former Prime Minister
02:57Sheikh Hasina making her first appearance today. Remember that for the last many months,
03:02she's been based in New Delhi, she's been based in India, though there have been very little details
03:07of exactly where she's been or where she's been provided refuge in the country.
03:11Sheikh Hasina will be addressing the media at 6pm to announce a future course and it's expected
03:16that she will be planning to return to Dhaka this year in a few months from now.
03:21I'll take you back to what had happened when in July 2024 is when Sheikh Hasina had to flee
03:28from Dhaka as a result of what was called the Gen Z protest there, of protests led by students.
03:34Sheikh Hasina has been convicted for many crimes by a tribunal in Dhaka, including killing,
03:40including corruption and several other charges. So the circumstances in which she'll return to
03:45Bangladesh, there's a big question mark over that. At the same time, there have been a lot of questions
03:51about this briefing that she is going to be holding in just a few moments from now from Delhi.
03:56And the Indian government has sought to distance itself from this particular address, saying that
04:02it's a private address, it's a private event and that it's not hosted by the Indian government.
04:07It's been a tightrope walk of sorts for India on this because we would want to ensure good ties
04:13with Bangladesh, but at the same time, not completely divert and distance from Sheikh Hasina.
04:18Listen in to what the MEA had to say on this event.
04:24The interaction that you are referring to is being organised by a private media entity.
04:33The government has no involvement whatsoever in it. Neither does it endorse any views that may be expressed at the
04:42forum.
04:45Let me bring in Gaurav Saman for more details on this. Gaurav, as we stand by for the first appearance,
04:52video appearance by Sheikh Hasina since all of the drama that played out in July 2024.
04:57Give us a sense really what's expected here. What will Sheikh Hasina speak of?
05:02Because there is a situation here where there's endless speculation that she's set to return to Dhaka in a few
05:07months from now.
05:09She's likely to announce a timeline of her return to Dhaka in just a few moments.
05:15We'll probably hear from her on that timeline because in the past she has indicated in 2026 she will be
05:21back in Dhaka.
05:22She's dismissed all those, you know, the death sentence in absentia against her, saying that these are fixed cases.
05:29Judiciary was being used politically to target her and her party and she wants democracy and Sonar Bangla, as she
05:37put it in the past.
05:38She wants the return of Sonar Bangla or that golden era of Bangladesh to return.
05:44We will be hearing from her on that roadmap, one, of her return to Bangladesh, two, perhaps that she's far
05:51more confident
05:52that, you know, that she will not, that death sentence will not be carried out
05:57and that her party workers who could not contest elections, you know, as members of the Awami League,
06:04they would be able to be in a position to once again regroup and start the political process.
06:10Of course, there is massive tension in Dhaka and across Bangladesh
06:14because the current establishment does not want her press conference to be aired anywhere in Bangladesh.
06:22So, not on television, not on radio, not on social media platforms.
06:26They've urged and legally said that this should not happen, this should not be broadcast.
06:31They raised it with India, but you just heard the additional secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs,
06:35the spokesperson, Randir Jaiswal, saying it's a private body that's carrying out an event.
06:39Government of India has nothing to do with it.
06:41Okay, Gaurav, just stay with me. I'll bring our viewers' attention also to the images on the right of our
06:45screens.
06:46That's the live event right now, where in moments from now, you're going to see the first video appearance
06:52of the former Bangladesh Prime Minister of Sheikh Hasina.
06:55Geeta Mohan is also live with us.
06:57And Geeta, you know, Gaurav just touched upon this as well, about the situation that India finds itself in.
07:02In the last two years, of course, you have had India providing refuge to Sheikh Hasina,
07:08but at the same time trying to ensure that the country has good ties with the current Bangladeshi regime.
07:14So with this address, does it put India in a bit of a tight spot?
07:19Well, it is, it has been a difficult position for India after Sheikh Hasina has been in New Delhi.
07:28Things have looked difficult between New Delhi and Dhaka.
07:31So yes, it is going to be difficult, Akshita.
07:33And not the first time she's had audio link conversations with her supporters in Bangladesh.
07:40She's spoken in Bangla with various media channels or organizations in Bangladesh.
07:47She's also done print interviews, including with us.
07:51And in those print interviews recently, she said that she's going to go back to Bangladesh in December.
07:56What we're given to understand, Akshita, is that this, in all probability, is going to again be an audio link
08:02conference and not a video conference.
08:06So we have to wait and see whether if it's, whether she'll be, she'll finally be showing herself or not.
08:12But what we're given to understand is that her son certainly is joining from the US through a video link.
08:18Sheikh Hasina will be joining through an audio link and will be addressing the people.
08:23So yes, as we can see, the event is underway.
08:25And in moments from now, we'll hear her speak and in all probability announce her return to Bangladesh.
08:31Despite the fact that there are cases against him, some of the cases where she has also been indicted.
08:38Okay, so from what Geeta is telling us, this doesn't look like there will be a video appearance.
08:43There's been very little really known, Gaurav, about where Sheikh Hasina has been.
08:48She's been in Delhi, but where she's been, you know, what she's been up to, no details whatsoever.
08:53It's been kept under the wraps completely, completely top secret.
08:56But now why is the situation considered, you know, apt for her to return to Bangladesh?
09:03What's changed in the last few months that she's decided to return to Dhaka now?
09:08Perhaps realisation that instability in the region adversely impacts everybody, including the people of Bangladesh.
09:14Their economy has gone into tailspin.
09:17Good relations with India are in Bangladesh's interests and they too realise that.
09:22So moments from her, from now we are likely to hear from her.
09:25But look at the situation two years ago.
09:27The manner in which she had to flee Bangladesh.
09:30Remember, those protesters, they reached her residence, they ransacked her residence.
09:36Some of the images of her personal belongings, including her personal clothing items in the hands of those elements.
09:43Those pictures went viral almost across the world.
09:46And the manner in which she was able to just about get to the airport, get to that C-130
09:51aircraft, fly out of there.
09:53And it was in distress that, you know, she approached India and India granted her asylum and that she was
09:59able to land in Delhi and be taken to a safer location in and around the national capital.
10:05So we know where she stays.
10:07But, you know, for her own security concerns, that information is not filtered out, given the number of radical Islamists
10:13who could try and target her.
10:15But the fact that the situation has stabilised, elections have happened, how fair and free were they, is an issue.
10:23Western countries are also now looking at the situation.
10:25They do not want, you know, the situation to destabilise.
10:28So you don't want another Pakistan coming up.
10:31India clearly doesn't want another Pakistan in our neighbourhood.
10:35You know, fortunately, Bangladesh became Bangladesh from East Pakistan once upon a time.
10:40But radical Islamists once again were trying to rear their ugly head there.
10:43There, that situation to an extent has been contained.
10:46But ISI has been travelling very frequently to Bangladesh.
10:50That's a cause for concern.
10:51China has been trying to make deeper inroads.
10:53That's a cause for concern.
10:55So, you know, it remains to be seen how this situation now moves forward on that long road to return
11:01to democracy in Bangladesh,
11:02where every political party is at least able to contest elections and let the people decide who wins.
11:08You know, there's no doubt that all that plays out in Bangladesh, there's huge repercussions for India too,
11:13which is why even a briefing like this is of huge consequence, huge significance for India.
11:20The Indian government has maintained that this is a private event.
11:22The government has nothing to do with it.
11:24But what we're also hearing, Geeta, is that this event that we're streaming live right now on our channel is
11:30not being reflected anywhere in Bangladesh.
11:33That the Bangladesh government has completely blacked out this particular conference, this particular appearance briefing by Sheikh Hasina.
11:43Well, absolutely, Akshita.
11:44Look, there are a few things that have happened in Bangladesh.
11:47One is that Awami League is a banned entity in Bangladesh.
11:51Secondly, if you look at the Bangladesh foreign ministry statement, Sheikh Hasina is called a fugitive.
11:59The administration in Dhaka has been insisting and asking for the repatriation or extradition of Sheikh Hasina.
12:08So there is no way that what Sheikh Hasina says, although and albeit we see a lot of the statements
12:15that she's been making in the recent past,
12:17reach Bangladesh because when she speaks in Bangladesh, it's used by many in social media, on social media platforms.
12:24But this event, which is being covered over here and has been organized at the Foreign Correspondents Club in New
12:31Delhi,
12:31there's a blanket ban on the coverage of this press conference in Bangladesh.
12:39So, yes, in mainstream media in Bangladesh, the press conference will not be visible.
12:44But surely expect quite a few of the statements that she will be making be put out on social media.
12:50And that will be accessed by many in Bangladesh as well.
12:54All right. We'll watch out for that particular statement from Sheikh Hasina.
12:58Not sure yet if it's going to be just an audio release or if it's going to be a video
13:04statement.
13:04We're standing by for those images live coming in from the national capital.
13:09Thanks for the moment, Gaurav and Geetha.
13:10We'll connect with you once again the moment we see that first appearance by Sheikh Hasina.
13:14I want to move on for the moment to the other big breaking news that's coming in.
13:18And this is on the showdown between government and META, the social media giant.
13:22Let's cut across to a news break coming in on that.
13:31As META officials appeared before the government today, appeared before Minister Ashwini Veshit of today,
13:38here's what we've heard from our sources.
13:40That Mark Zuckerberg has issued an apology, reportedly has apologized for the kind of child sexual abuse content
13:48that's so openly available on META's platforms.
13:52Also has apologized, in fact, for the deep fakes that have been doing the rounds of the social media platform
13:58and their inability to crack down on it.
14:02So as we get those details also that are coming in, what we can confirm for you,
14:06government sources speaking to us, have also said that these platforms were grilled
14:11because they have a responsibility to ensure safety of children,
14:14they cannot earn money from advertising child abuse content and claim safe harbor.
14:20What is this about?
14:21There were some exposés that showed how on Facebook, on META,
14:26you had child sexual abuse content not just being offered, but also being sold.
14:33And that's why the government has cracked down and summoned this META team.
14:37The Ministry of Information and Technology has confirmed that Mark Zuckerberg sent his apologies
14:41for that content, for deep fake content and errors in operating the platform.
14:46I will highlight, though, that there's been no apology that's come in from META
14:50over the fact that the Prime Minister's video, the selfie video, wasn't available for about two hours.
14:56It was one of the reasons why the META team was summoned to Delhi.
14:59It was one of the reasons over which they were asked to clarify.
15:03And while they have clarified on that, regretted, expressed, in fact, that it was a technical error,
15:08Mark Zuckerberg's apology has been reserved for, in fact, the kind of content that's been put out
15:13on his page by META, in fact, on Facebook.
15:18And so the fact that the government has pulled him up on that,
15:20for the deep fake content, for errors in operating the platform, that's what he's apologized for.
15:25So, Aishwarya Paliwal is joining us with more details on this.
15:28Aishwarya, take us through, really, the big takeaways of this particular meeting.
15:32We understand they will be around, too, tomorrow.
15:35Well, they definitely will be around, too, tomorrow, Akshita.
15:38Because, see, we are seeing a lot of clarification coming in at the moment.
15:42In fact, apologies also have been sent by Mark Zuckerberg.
15:45But this is not enough, because, you know, it is the Prime Minister that we are speaking about, Akshita.
15:49And this is something that the government has very often told the platform,
15:53that these kind of things will not be taken lightly.
15:55And this is nonetheless Prime Minister Modi, when he was trying to send out a very crucial message
15:59to the students who were sitting at Jantar Mantra.
16:02The message was very, very clear that, you know, you need to believe in the government.
16:08For such a crucial message, how is it that the operating system actually had some kind of glitches?
16:14It was made very clear to the people that this is something which will be looked at.
16:19And also, you know, do you understand that all these platforms at the moment,
16:24they speak about the fact that the headquarters are in the US, but they will follow the Indian law.
16:28So, this apology is something which clearly is not enough.
16:31Tomorrow's meeting is also very, very crucial, Akshita.
16:34All eyes on tomorrow's meeting that the IT Minister, Ashwini Vashenov, will have with the Meta office.
16:38All right. Thanks very much, Aishwarya, for joining us with those details tomorrow.
16:42Round two of that huddle.
16:43But the government has talked tough with, in fact, the Meta team that appeared before them
16:48today in the national capital.
16:50And reportedly, Mark Zuckerberg has also sent across, communicated his apologies.
16:54We are also, of course, tracking the big takeaways on the government,
16:59raising questions to Meta on why the Prime Minister's video was removed briefly,
17:03which Meta has maintained is a technical error.
17:06But India's regulatory push against big tech is what the bigger picture is here.
17:10From alleged child safety lapses to content moderation, platform accountability,
17:15Meta is facing heat on multiple fronts.
17:18And while there's been several attempts to really push back from the government on this,
17:23this time you had a summoning of the Meta team by the government.
17:28A high-level government meeting followed by a parliamentary ultimatum.
17:31The message from New Delhi is very clear.
17:33Comply with Indian laws or face tougher consequences.
17:40Big tech is now facing one of its biggest regulatory reckonings in India.
17:46Meta in particular is under intense scrutiny as the Narendra Modi government
17:52tightens the screws on multiple fronts, from child safety and content moderation
17:57to platform accountability.
18:00The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology held a high-level meeting
18:05with Meta's global leadership, including Joel Kaplan, who heads their public policy
18:11to review the company's operations in India.
18:16After the 45-minute long meeting, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has apologised.
18:23According to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology,
18:26Zuckerberg acknowledged issues related to child sexual abuse material,
18:31deep fake content and errors in the operation of the platform.
18:35The Ministry said Meta admitted that significant amounts of money
18:38had been spent to boost certain types of content.
18:41The company apologised and expressed regret over the lapses.
18:47The centre reiterated that global platforms must comply with Indian laws,
18:52while Meta presented its position.
18:55Officials say regulatory engagement with digital platforms will continue.
19:01Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology held a high-profile meeting
19:06with the top executives of Meta in New Delhi at Electronics Niketan,
19:11where the Secretary of MIT has not only discussed the concerns of non-compliance
19:16with Meta officials, but also raised issues about the removal of Prime Minister's video from Facebook.
19:23Meta's global affairs chief, Joel Kaplan, is in India, along with other top officials.
19:28And the discussions are going on.
19:31The explanations are being sought, and government is quite strict on the non-compliance issue,
19:36not only with regards to the illicit content, but also the removal of PM's video.
19:42The pressure has escalated after the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights
19:47ordered a formal probe into reports that Instagram advertisements
19:51allegedly facilitated access to child sexual abuse material.
19:55The government questioned how such content slipped through Meta's moderation systems
20:01and sought a detailed explanation of the safeguards in place.
20:06Stakes have risen even further, with the parliamentary panel issuing Meta a three-day ultimatum
20:12over the removal of a video featuring Prime Minister Modi
20:15and warning that Facebook's safe harbour protection could be reviewed,
20:20a move that could expose the company to greater legal liability.
20:46Meta's footprint in India is enormous.
20:49The company has an estimated 57 crore WhatsApp users, 48 crore active Instagram users
20:55and 40 crore Facebook users, while India also leads global engagement with Meta's AI tools.
21:03Digital advertising remains its big revenue engine,
21:06backed by WhatsApp's commercial ecosystem and Reels' monetisation.
21:13According to media reports, Meta generated an estimated Rs. 29,392 crores in gross advertising revenue,
21:22Rs. 3,792 crores in operational revenue and Rs. 647 crore in net profit
21:31and paid Rs. 5,993 crore in income tax, making India one of its critical markets.
21:38But New Delhi's message is unmistakable.
21:42Access to India's vast digital market comes with accountability
21:47and big tech will be expected to answer for alleged lapses.
21:53With Shivani Sharma, Bureau Report, India Today.
22:04The revered Shabrimala Temple in Kerala finds itself in another controversy, another alleged scam.
22:11After all that played out over the gold loot and the investigation that's still underway,
22:17there's now a geese scam that's emerged.
22:20The Kerala High Court has now formed an SIT to conduct a probe into the alleged irregularities
22:25involving ghee at Shabrimala in Kerala.
22:28It's largely milma ghee that's provided across.
22:32That's the state-run milk body.
22:34And so it's milma ghee that's provided at Shabrimala as well.
22:37The High Court has observed that the ghee procurement had proceeded,
22:41despite objections raised by the Devaswam Commissioner.
22:44And therefore, there are questions about whether there was inspection done,
22:49how such a large quantity of ghee could have been procured without first verifying its quality.
22:54And so now there's an SIT that will look into the quality of ghee that's provided at Shabrimala.
23:01It's not the first temple where we've seen this controversy.
23:03You will remember that in Tirupati 2, there's been this massive showdown,
23:07political fight over the kind of ghee that was provided by the TTD at the temple.
23:13And now in Shabrimala 2, similar controversy that's playing out.
23:17And this is the second such issue in Shabrimala.
23:21Because for the last few months, we've been seeing what's dominated headlines from this temple
23:25is the gold case, the gold loot case, where gold essentially from the idols was missing.
23:33And so while the gold plating was missing in some of the idols,
23:37particularly those outside the Sanctum Sanctorum of Shabrimala temple,
23:41that investigation is still underway.
23:43And it's gone right up to the top officials.
23:46Now, you've got these allegations of a ghee scam as well.
23:50Shibhimul is joining us with more details on this.
23:52Shibhi, run us through what really we know about these allegations now.
23:56Why has the High Court found the need to actually ensure there's a deeper investigation into this?
24:02Well, Akshida, the issue is that low-quality ghee was supplied to Shabrimala.
24:08In fact, Shabrimala had entered into an agreement with the Milma.
24:12Milma is the equivalent of Nangini and Karnataka.
24:15Milma is the state-owned cooperative milk federation.
24:18So they entered into an agreement to provide ghee to Shabrimala to make the prasad.
24:23There was an investigation report that found that the ghee that greased from Milma were of low-quality.
24:29In fact, in between this journey from Milma's office to Shabrimala, the people entrusted with it changed the ghee.
24:38In fact, they changed the Milma ghee and replaced it with low-quality ghee.
24:42So that was a larger conspiracy that took place, is what the investigation that, you know, the report submitted by
24:48the vigilance found out.
24:50And the High Court observed that there was also some lapses in giving the agreement to Milma.
24:55There was a better tender that was available, but still the agreement was given to Milma, the tender was handed
25:02over to Milma.
25:03And that was a part of larger conspiracy, is what the High Court has found.
25:08So the High Court says that the Devasam Board also failed to check the quality of the ghee.
25:13If, you know, any product that's brought to Shabrimala, it has to pass a quality check.
25:17Well, that was not conducted.
25:18And Tirwabarnam, the Devasam Commissioner, was against giving this tender to Milma.
25:24Okay.
25:25All right, Shibhi, thanks for those details.
25:27We'll track, really, the takeaways of that investigation very, very closely.
25:33Let's move on to news from Tabarnadu.
25:34Yesterday, of course, we saw what dominated headlines across the country.
25:37The arrest of Leader of Opposition, Odaeditee Stalin.
25:40He appeared in the Assembly today and once again lashed out to Chief Minister Vijay,
25:45saying that he was illegally taken into custody,
25:47questioning why there's been silenced from the Chief Minister on his arrest.
25:52The political fight, the political war of words continues.
25:54We round up all the reactions for you in our next report.
26:01A remark with double meaning, an arrest, pale and an escalating political battle.
26:10The face-off between Chief Minister Vijay and Leader of the Opposition, Udaeditee Stalin,
26:15has grabbed the nation's attention.
26:18Soon, after being released on bail in Tanjivore on Tuesday,
26:22Stalin Jr. launched a sharp attack on his rival.
26:54I said to him,
27:03And he continued to defend his comments.
27:37It all began with Udayanadi's remarks loaded with sexual innuendo against Acta Trishra.
27:45His arrest triggered a massive controversy in state-wide protests by the DNK.
27:53Sir, what do you have to say regarding the CM's silence?
27:57Because yesterday we saw the drama that unfolded with your arrest and everything.
28:00And we have to ask him. No, he is only silent. We have to ask him. Please go question.
28:05The DBK defended the arrest.
28:29Vijay and Udayanadi are now the two main polls in Tamil Nadu's politics.
28:33As they chart their political paths, more showdowns are expected in the days ahead.
28:39With Apoorva Jayachandran, Bureau Report, India Today.
28:47The biggest headline that emerged in the Tamil Nadu Assembly today was a presentation of the Vijay government's first budget.
28:53So quickly, let me run you through all of the highlights, really, of what came in from that budget today
28:59that was presented by the Tamil Nadu Finance Minister, Murray Wilson.
29:03So some of the highlights are on your screens. On education, 44,567 crores that's been allocated just for school
29:11education.
29:12There has, however, been a bit of politics on this as well, with the BJP suggesting that the amount has
29:17come down.
29:18It should be greater than this.
29:20But you will see that there's quite a bit of a Gen Alpha, Gen Z outreach in the budget, which
29:24I'll tell you about.
29:25Anti-drug campaign. This is a pet project, really, of Chief Minister Vijay.
29:29And so 7 crores has been allocated for this campaign in schools particularly.
29:34This was announced in the budget today.
29:36A couple of promises that were made by the TVK government.
29:39One was that the breakfast scheme launched by the DMK, the erstwhile DMK government,
29:45is now being extended to classes 6 to 8.
29:47And so for that, a budgetary allocation of 710 crores has been made.
29:52Besides this, one of the promises that was made by Chief Minister Vijay, by the TVK in their manifesto,
29:59was about giving gold and giving gold rings essentially for every newborn.
30:05So for newborns in Tamil Nadu government hospitals, a gold ring will be given.
30:10So they're living up to that promise.
30:12This wasn't the only promise that they made to women too.
30:15Brides will get 8 grams of gold and a silk saree, which is huge.
30:19You know, 8 grams of gold will be given to every bride in the state of Tamil Nadu.
30:24This was a promise made.
30:25So they are going ahead and fulfilling that by making the announcement in the budget.
30:29And then, like I said, Gen Alpha, Gen Z outreach, helmets, cycles that will be provided to every household where
30:37there's a youngster.
30:38This is a step being taken to ensure that the children of, in fact, these homes have a way to
30:44head to their schools,
30:46take care of their chores and are provided with a way to travel across their village.
30:51Let's get you some of those highlights and moments from the Tamil Nadu assembly session when the budget was table.
30:57Because remember that even as I've got you some of those highlights, the DMK has called this a waste budget.
31:03Here are those reactions.
31:07The Vijay government presents its first budget with major focus on education, welfare and social development.
31:15The government allocated 44,567 crore for school education.
31:22It also announced 7 crore for anti-drug campaigns in school, special schools for classes 9 to 12 and 710
31:30crore for the breakfast scheme for students in classes 6 to 8.
31:34A massive 29,863 crore has been embarked for the municipal administration and water supply department.
31:43Among the headline welfare measures are 1 gram gold rings for newborns in Tamil Nadu government hospitals,
31:493,937 crore for the social welfare department,
31:5410 crore for AI training institutes,
31:568 gram gold for silk saris for brides and helmets and bicycles for Gen Z beneficiaries.
32:03The government also reiterated its opposition to the Mekedatu Dam project,
32:08asserting it will protect Tamil Nadu's rights over the Kaveri waters.
32:13The opposition has dismissed the budget claiming there is nothing new in it.
32:31What do you have to say on the budget sir?
32:34There is nothing new in this budget. They have just changed the names of all the schemes that were implemented
32:39by us.
32:40They have just changed the name of the schemes. There is nothing new in this budget. It's a total zero
32:45waste.
32:47AIADMK General Secretary EPS said the TVK manifesto promised much more than what was announced in the Assembly.
33:18The TVK manifesto had promised 2,500 rupees monthly cash assistance for women,
33:246 free LPG cylinders a year,
33:274,000 monthly unemployed assistance for youth,
33:30free bus travel for women and 25 lakh rupees health insurance per family.
33:35The opposition says none of these key promises found a place in the budget.
33:39The Vijay government, however, defended the allocations, blaming an empty state treasury.
33:45It alleged that the previous DMK government had looted public funds, leaving behind severe financial constraints.
33:53With Anaga Keshav and Apoorva Jaichandran, Bureau Report, India Today.
34:00So as we told you, one of the criticisms that's coming from the opposition,
34:03whether it's the DMK or the AIADMK,
34:05is that many promises were made by the TVK in their manifesto that's not reflected in the budget.
34:11Which are these promises? Let me break it down for you.
34:14One of the promises in the manifesto made by the TVK, made by Vijay, was of 2,500 rupees monthly
34:21cash assistance for women.
34:23There's been no mention of it in the budget just yet.
34:26Now, we'll have to see if there's an announcement made in the coming months.
34:29But for now, nothing on that.
34:31Again, a promise that was made is of 6 free LPG cylinders per year.
34:36Remember that the elections in Tamil Nadu happened during the LPG crisis.
34:39And so this promise was huge.
34:41Again, no mention of this in the budget.
34:45What about the unemployment assistance for youth?
34:484,000 rupees was announced as a monthly unemployment dole for youngsters who don't have a job.
34:54This was again announced in a big way by Vijay.
34:57No mention of it in the budget so far.
35:00Free bus travel for women.
35:02No announcement in the budget itself.
35:0525 lakh rupees of health insurance per family.
35:08Now, again, this was a promise made in the manifesto.
35:11There's been no announcement on this.
35:14So as we just discussed, several key promises made by the government are still missing from the budget.
35:18But like I said, you could see it coming in the months to come.
35:21The new budget, meanwhile, claims a 690 crore rupees reduction in the state's debt.
35:28But what does that number really mean?
35:30Tamil Nadu, of course, there's been a lot of talk about the rising debt burden in the state.
35:35Tamil Nadu will spend 78,683 crores next year just on paying interest on money it's already borrowed.
35:44In comparison, it will spend 56,985 crore rupees on capital expenditure.
35:50Building roads, hospitals, schools, power infrastructure and other public assets.
35:56That means for every 100 rupees spent on creating new assets, the government will spend 138 rupees servicing its debt.
36:04So you see that difference there.
36:05The interest payments are contractual.
36:08They have to be paid first even before a single new welfare scheme or infrastructure project is funded.
36:13So does this mean that the state's debt is actually coming down?
36:17Well, in reality, barely.
36:20The budget estimates Tamil Nadu's outstanding liabilities at over 10 lakh crore.
36:25To be exact, 10,98,768 crores in 2026-27.
36:32690 crore rupees lower than the projection made by the previous government.
36:36And that was in February a few months ago.
36:39That amounts to a reduction of just 0.06% on a chart that's thinner than the outline of the
36:46bar itself.
36:46In fact, the same budget also projects that the state's outstanding debt will increase by 98,936 crores compared to
36:55the current financial year.
36:57So if I were to break that down and give you the overall picture, the annual increase in debt is
37:01nearly 143 times larger than the much publicized 690 crore rupees reduction.
37:07It's important to get those figures in place in perspective.
37:10Because while we speak of freebies, promises made to the manifesto, can Tamil Nadu actually afford to be pumping in
37:16more money on that front?
37:17Because its debt burden is something that's constantly been spoken of.
37:21Let me bring in on this broadcast, Felix Gerald, spokesperson of the TVK from the Dravid Amunetra Kargam.
37:28We have Veer Srinidhi.
37:29We'll also have Mr. Suman Si Raman, political analyst, joining us on this broadcast.
37:33Srinidhi, I'd like to begin with you with your opening comments of what the DNK makes of the budget that
37:39was presented today.
37:41Today's budget is a waste budget. It's a zero benefit budget for the people.
37:46And the main significant factor being 4,000 crores rupees is actually reduced in the education allocation.
37:54So we see this as a waste budget.
37:58You're calling it a waste budget, but Sridi, you look at some of the takeaways, some of the highlights of
38:03that particular budget.
38:04You know, they've spoken of the breakfast meal scheme. Your government had done it. They've extended that particular scheme to
38:10classes 6 to 8 as well.
38:11They've gone ahead and announced that with every newborn, there will be gold that will be handed over for every
38:17bride.
38:18Similarly, gold will be given. Those are steps that will help people.
38:22Okay, Akshita, let me ask you something. They said they are going to be giving gold to all the children
38:28who are being born.
38:29Then they later iterated it to saying it's only for the children who are born in government hospitals.
38:36So, as such in Tamil Nadu, we have very less infant mortality and maternal mortality rates.
38:43And Tamil Nadu is always known for its brilliant medical infrastructure thanks to the Dravidian governments earlier.
38:49But just being a gold drink, do you think it is going to benefit any of the children which are
38:55being born in hospitals?
38:56Then what about the children who are born elsewhere?
38:59Okay. And the education, I said 4,000 crores is reduced.
39:02And all these schemes that you're talking about, the other significant schemes, whatever was announced today,
39:07it's all renaming of the DMK government schemes which were brought earlier.
39:12It can be the laptop scheme. It can be the, you know, building the house scheme.
39:18So, all these schemes, if you see, he's just remaked.
39:23Vijay, being a hero, he was very famous for all of his remake movies.
39:28Until the last Jananagan, it was a remake movie.
39:31So, just like that, in this budget session also, conveniently, he did everything of all DMK schemes.
39:38Okay, we're having a bit of a problem, Sriniti, with your connection. I'm going to try to fix that.
39:42In the meanwhile, go across to Felix Gerald for his response to the DMK calling this, Mr. Gerald, a zero
39:48budget, a waste budget.
39:50They're saying there's nothing new in this, that you've picked up all of the DMK's initiatives and renamed it.
39:55What you can expect from DMK? Okay, this budget is almost 110 pages.
40:01They would have not even studied the entire budget once. Okay?
40:04And they can, they, because that's why they are saying this.
40:09Because, Vera, I see this budget as not just a budget. It's a complete reform in the government.
40:17This budget aims to eradicate corruption. Okay?
40:21I will tell you, because no media will talk about this. What I am going to say, no media will
40:26talk about, they will all talk about the popular gold and, you know, other schemes.
40:32But this budget is very, very unique. For the first time in Tamil Nadu, they have modified, you know, procurement
40:39reforms and tender, I mean, tender reforms.
40:43This is, this is where your massive, you know, corruption was started. And again, faceless administration. For any, for example,
40:55for GST, for approval of buildings, you need not to go.
40:59If you, physically, if you go, there is a possibility for bribery. And this budget exactly eradicates that. Faceless administration.
41:09From your computer, you upload things. From a nearby e-save center, you can upload things.
41:14Okay.
41:14And this is how, we are, that is what I am saying. The opposition, we are not able to see
41:20this kind of thing. And direct, public, overseas apps. For all the government, if there is a pothole in the
41:30road, you can upload the photograph. If there is no, no work is done, you can upload the development. This
41:35is how they have, and also they have, you know, revenue leakage,
41:40plugged in liquor manufacturing. It will save almost 1000 crores revenue per annum. Okay. So, this is, this is a
41:49very, very unique budget. Nobody have, you know, implemented this kind of, you know, corruption eradication system in this, in
41:59the budget before.
41:59Okay. So, you are saying the thrust, the highlight, the headline is crackdown on corruption, which has been a mission
42:05for Chief Minister Vijay. Yes.
42:07Our viewers have heard from the DMK and the TVK. Sir, give me a moment. Let's get an impartial view.
42:12Mr. Sumansi Raman, what did you make, sir, of the budget? Good evening.
42:16Yeah. Good evening, Akshita. See, I think the budget is disappointing. I mean, quite honestly, I expected much more from
42:24the budget. You know, we are just borrowing 1,70,000 crore plus, you know, which is basically what the
42:31DMK was doing.
42:32They were borrowing 1,000 crore, 1,20,000. Now, it's gone up. And also, the fact that there is
42:39no vision. Normally, we look for vision in the budget. Many of what things which Felix mentioned now are things
42:45which various governments have experimented with.
42:48We need to see the proof of the pudding is in the eating and we'll have to wait and see
42:51how successful these initiatives are, this faceless administration and online initiatives.
42:58You know, those are things which we've been hearing for 15, 20 years from almost every government. So, we have
43:02to wait.
43:03My point is, budget allocation for education has been cut, which is something which is extremely disappointing. I think it's
43:10in recent budgets, this is the first time that allocation for education is being cut.
43:15Moreover, look, capital expenditure is still 10% of the budget. Now, you've got states like Gujarat, states like Telangana,
43:24which are our competitor states, who are having a capital expenditure of 20%.
43:29Okay, perhaps their budget size is not the size of Tamil Nadu, but proportionately, you've got to look at, you
43:35know, increasing your capital expenditure.
43:38Well, that's been, unfortunately, yeah, that's unfortunately been the reality of Tamil Nadu's finances, priorities.
43:44You're borrowing to pay salaries, Lakshita. You're borrowing for pensions, you're borrowing for salaries, you're borrowing for interest payments.
43:50That trend, unfortunately, hasn't changed, Mr. Gerald, and the point that Mr. Sumansi Raman has also been brought up by
43:57the DMK about the amount for education reducing being brought down.
44:01Let me clarify on that. Again, it's a fake myth. Okay, I will tell you why. In the last budget,
44:10DMK allotted some $46,000, but actual spend was $42,000.
44:14And now they are talking about the, actually, DMK spokesperson giving a, you know, $4,000, actually $2,000 difference.
44:23That $2,000, you can equate exactly with the amount that the federal government stopped to give Tamil Nadu for
44:32PMC school issue.
44:34You can see that, I think, $2015 course or something like that. To compensate that, they increased their budget to
44:40$46,000. Okay?
44:42They spent only $42,000. Why, why you have to give a fake narrative in a media like this?
44:49So, you do your homework and see, today, the finance secretary have clearly explained, last government, they have spent only
44:56$42,000.
44:57Sriniti, do you want to respond to that? You've got a clarification that's coming?
45:01No, no, no, no, no, one point.
45:03Okay, Mr. Sumansi Raman, yeah.
45:05Money, money, no, no, money which comes from the center, money which is contributed by the center cannot be part
45:10of this.
45:10It's not considered as part of state budget. It is money which is being received under a separate heading in
45:16the same thing.
45:16I agree. I agree.
45:17Now, to say that your education budget is X, 40, no, Felix, just one point, Felix.
45:23The point is, the Samagra Siksha or PMC schools, the money which the center did not give, does not come
45:31from the state's own budget.
45:33It is money allocated by the center for a central project. So, you cannot say that the education budget of
45:39the state is factoring in money which the center is giving. That is not right.
45:43So, my point is, there has been a 4000 crore reduction. What they spent is irrelevant. In every department, no
45:51department I know, except a handful of them actually spends 100% of their projections.
45:56Invariably, the spending is 80%, 85%, sometimes it is even 60%.
46:01But sir, I think the point being made by Mr. Sumansi Raman is you don't compare with the spend, you
46:06compare with the allocation.
46:072240 crores. Minus…
46:07You compare with the allocation, sir.
46:09Minus…
46:09No, no. I am not comparing the allocation. I am not counting the 2000 crores of central government money. But
46:15they have to camouflage that. They have increased…
46:19It is a kind of, you know, extra accountable, they showed it, numbers. But actually, they spent 42 crores only.
46:28Okay, we have…
46:29If you calculate that way…
46:30Sriniti, do you want to comment?
46:31We have given 2000 crores extra, compared to the last government spend.
46:37It is allocation versus allocation. It is spend versus allocation. But Sriniti, go ahead.
46:42The whole of Tamil Nadu was waiting to hear what is being announced regarding the 2500 rupees monthly assistance scheme
46:49for the women. Nothing about that was spoken.
46:52And how about that 4000 rupees that was promised for the unemployed youth?
46:56See, we all know that en masse, these youngsters and, you know, women, they were all in fancy for the
47:032500 rupees and 4000 rupees.
47:05But nothing of that sort was announced in today's budget. And everything that was done was just renaming and remaking
47:11DMK's earlier scheme.
47:13See, DMK came to power at the midst of peak Covid. And still, we were chasing the 1 to 1
47:19.5 trillion dollar economy.
47:21And we ensured that the industry collaborations also made us happen. But now, everything is convenient for TVK.
47:27A, they have the numbers with all the coalition support, but still, the key significant schemes for which they promised.
47:34And this gold rate scheme, that's not going to, anyhow, you know, improve the medical infrastructure.
47:41That we all know. It's just a fancy scheme that they are announcing.
47:45Okay. Okay. I'll just… Sure. Okay, Mr. Felix General, go ahead and then I'll bring in Mr. Sumansi Raman. Go
47:50ahead.
47:54Mr. Pikut Phras, PhrasD, go ahead and say, what's the cost of the world?
47:59Yes, thank you. You are going to be doing that.
48:01Yes, that's right.
48:01Mr. Pulis, the money is going to be out of these signs.
48:03And then it doesn't work.
48:04My friends, I'm looking for the money.
48:16The money is going to be out of this.
48:18But it's at the time.
48:18It's the money is a lot of money.
48:18And so, what's the money here, this is, if you want to come to the money,
48:20you know, this is money, what's the money is going to be out of this.
48:20So, I mean, that's where the money is going to be out of this.
48:20Let us wait. We will make money and give back the money to the people.
48:26You don't expect in 100 days.
48:29But one thing, one thing I can assure you, this budget will stop a heavy leakage,
48:35heavy leakage in Tamil Nadu state economy and especially the state money.
48:42That I can assure you.
48:44Sir, Mr. Felix Gerald, the other question that constantly comes up
48:47and I'll bring in Mr. Suman Si Raman also on this is about the debt burden.
48:52You know, the TV case constantly said we've inherited an economy with a rising debt burden.
48:58What really can be done about that, Mr. Suman Si Raman?
49:00Is this unfortunately the reality of our politics that this is the state of Tamil Nadu's economy
49:05and this is what we have to make do with?
49:08No, but Akshita, I think the most sensible thing that this government has done
49:13is not to announce that 2500 rupee scheme.
49:16Thank God for small mercies. At least they didn't go and announce that
49:20and further burden the state exchequer with more of debt.
49:23So to that extent, we can thank Mr. Vijay for not doing that.
49:28Having said that, I think that there are, there are, this was an opportunity to take unpopular decisions.
49:35This was an opportunity to try to see where subsidies could be cut, where things could be rationalized, where schemes
49:41could be streamlined.
49:43But this is the first budget, Mr. Suman Si Raman.
49:45Could they afford to take unpopular decisions so soon?
49:47That is why it is time, because there is no electoral pressure. There is nothing on the annual except a
49:55few handful of by-elections.
49:56There is nothing coming up till 2029. If you don't take unpopular decisions now or in 27, when will you
50:02take them?
50:03By 28, you will be staring at the Ilok Sabha elections coming up and there would already be anti-incumbency
50:09against the government in two and a half, three years.
50:11So this was a golden opportunity. And I think that they've blown it. I don't see this budget as doing
50:17anything significant.
50:18Okay.
50:18Except, you know, more redistribution of freebies.
50:2310 seconds, Mr. Gerald, 10 seconds.
50:25Madam, if you see, if you understand, in last five years, mining, in mining alone, 20,000 crores leakage.
50:32Okay. To fulfill, to give thousand rupees for every woman, all you need thousand crores per annum.
50:38That comes from one, from one department. From alcohol, you know, manufacturing.
50:4410,000 crores.
50:4510,000 crores. Mathematics is incorrect.
50:47Okay.
50:47You need 10,000 crores.
50:49I'm sorry, you actually need 15,000 crores.
50:51Because you're going to give it for 1.5 crores to women.
50:54Okay, okay.
50:54My apologies.
50:5510,000 crores.
50:56Okay, my apologies.
50:57My apologies.
50:58I've run out of time.
50:59I'm so sorry, gentlemen.
51:00I've run out of time.
51:01Mr. Subansi Raman, Mr. Felix Gerald, thank you for your time.
51:03Thank you to Sriniti as well for joining us on this broadcast and wrapping up this edition of Super 6.
51:07We leave it to you, the viewer, to decide if this was a good budget or a bad budget.
51:11Thanks very much for tuning in.
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