- 4 hours ago
A discussion explored how Gen Z has responded to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's recent outreach and remarks, while also examining whether the CJP could join the ongoing student-led protests in Jharkhand over the recruitment controversy.
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00:00Good evening, hello and welcome. You're with this news today special coming to you from Mumbai and I'll tell you
00:06why in a moment why I'm in Mumbai because our big talking point is the RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has
00:13reached out to Gen Z and Gen Alpha here at a convention where we are at the moment.
00:20How is Gen Z reacting to the RSS chief's outreach in the backdrop of the protests that have taken place?
00:28Also, why is the church opposing the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act bill so strongly? Plenty as always on the show
00:37tonight. We'll talk to Gen Z. But first, as always, it's time for the nine headlines at nine tonight.
00:44RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat backs the Gen Z protesters during an outreach event, calls for a dialogue with them, says
00:53they cannot be called anti-national for protesting. Andolan, within the framework of the constitution, is a legitimate right.
01:03Amidst rising tensions in West Asia, reports claim a heated confrontation took place between Trump and Hexet over dwindling U
01:11.S. stockpiles. White House rejects the report.
01:18Protesters in Rachi form a 11-member panel for talks with the Jarkhand government. Eight students, one lawyer, two technical
01:25experts, part of the panel. Chief Minister forms a four-member delegation for talks.
01:33Cockroach Janta Party forms a new national working committee. Dhitke to be the CJP's convener. New nationwide campaign, Kya Bolthi
01:40Public, will begin in September.
01:46Former Tehalka editor-in-chief Darun Dejpal convicted of rape sent to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. Dejpal to challenge
01:54the verdict in the Supreme Court.
01:58Amidst the concerns over the FCRA bill, Home Minister Shah meets Christian community members.
02:03Mizorahim Chief Minister also meets Home Minister Shah, submits a memorandum of six demands related to the FCRA bill likely
02:10to be tabled in Parliament next week.
02:14Punjab Congress' infighting intensifies ahead of Assembly elections. A scuffle breaks out during an organizational meeting in Ludhiana. Warring can
02:24be seen calling the channi camp RSS ke chamche.
02:29Tamil Nadu, leader of the opposition Udaimidi, Stalin leads BMK's black shirt protests amidst the budget session over Kaveri dispute.
02:38Opposition criticizes Vijay government's handling of the issue.
02:43An Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu dials Prime Minister Modi, discusses developments in West Asia.
02:49Two leaders review sustained progress in the India-Israel's special strategic partnership.
03:11Okay, but our big story that we are breaking at the moment, a short while ago, Mohan Bhagwat, the RSS
03:16Sarsang Chalag, spoke at length on the Gen Z protests for the first time in an outreach at a convention
03:23held by a student.
03:26Mohan Bhagwat said protest is legitimate. It is a means of dialogue. The students' grievances, he said, importantly, are genuine.
03:35The education system does need improvement, is what Mohan Bhagwat said.
03:40He said protest must be within the constitution's ambit. Today's generation is the most honest. Cannot talk on the crackdown
03:48without info, but it is not anti-national to protest and Andolan is legitimate.
03:54So clearly, Mohan Bhagwat making his views clear and many would say that they are rather different from what other
04:01RSS leaders have said or indeed even members of the government who questioned the protest that took place and resulted
04:07in the resignation of Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
04:10Let's begin by listening in to what Mohan Bhagwat had to say.
04:41And we also have to see that if we should see that if the Gen Z is laughing, then it
04:49is not laughing for violence, there is no doubt for it.
04:51There is no doubt for it. There is no doubt for it. Absolutely.
04:53We should have to fix it.
04:53We should have to fix it.
04:55There is no doubt for it.
04:56The agitation to do, according to me or of my authority, he should be correct.
05:04That is it.
05:04So, it's okay.
05:20Yes, sir.
05:35What happened, what happened, will you have to know what happened to this situation.
05:37For whom, the knowledge is not for me.
05:40Your father will not be complete. This is what I think.
05:43Yes.
05:43But, seeing it,
05:47where it is,
05:48it will have to do this.
05:50I can't say this now,
05:52what happened, what happened,
05:54because,
05:56I don't know the wrong thing,
05:57I'm also telling you, I'm telling you,
05:59I'm telling you.
06:00In the morning, I was coming,
06:02there were some modules in it,
06:06there were some people in it.
06:08I was reading it in the news.
06:10How it is not right, I don't know.
06:13But, if I said,
06:15I will have faith in them,
06:18then I will have faith in Jain Ji.
06:21When you said that,
06:22you should do a protest in a particular direction,
06:25in a particular manner.
06:27Now, sir,
06:27some times,
06:28it seems like we came out of protest.
06:31So, people will call us anti-national.
06:33People will say that,
06:35these people are agents of some country,
06:37and so and so.
06:38So, sir,
06:39I'm telling you,
06:42I'm telling you,
06:43that Jain Ji is agitating.
06:46So, it's not anti-national.
06:49It's our people.
06:51It's our next generation.
06:53Yes, sir.
06:53I've said it in our dialogue,
06:56I've told it in our dialogue,
06:57I want it.
06:58We want it.
06:59We want it.
07:00We want it.
07:01We want it.
07:02We want it.
07:03Then there is dialogue.
07:05There is a dialogue.
07:06We come to understand that.
07:07We come to understand that.
07:07Our thing comes to understand that.
07:09This happens.
07:10So, it needs to happen.
07:16I've done a lot.
07:17I don't even know what it is.
07:18If I have told it again,
07:22I was telling you.
07:23And today,
07:24I have told you also,
07:26that I feel like
07:28is that the new PDA is Genji Gen Alpha, which is our existing PDA, is more honest than that.
07:37And the honest appeal of the country and the service is in it.
07:43Genji's thing is that what happens is that the grievance is a genuine.
07:50There is a lot of need to do in India. It's not happening.
07:54That's why it's happening.
07:55It's not happening.
07:56So we need to have a dialogue.
08:01If it doesn't happen after a dialogue, then what do we have to do?
08:07And my experience is about Genji.
08:11When we were in Genji,
08:13it was like our PDA,
08:17that the big ones who say, they believe.
08:20We didn't ask questions.
08:21We need a logical answer.
08:34Okay, so there you heard Mohan Bhagwat saying dialogue essential.
08:37It is not anti-national to protest.
08:41These are citizens of the country.
08:43Joining me now are four young members of the audience who are associated with AIMUN from different parts who have
08:52joined me to get their reactions.
08:54I am joined here by Yatharth. He is from Agra.
08:57By Burhan, who is from Kashmir.
09:00By Harsh, who is from Nanded.
09:03And by Alfia, who is from Gorakhpur, but now lives in Mumbai.
09:06Good to have all four of you here.
09:08And I want to ask you,
09:09Do you agree with Mohan Bhagwat when he said there should have been dialogue with the protesters that these protesters
09:15are not anti-national?
09:17Do you believe that protests are legitimate?
09:19Totally, sir.
09:20Protests are legitimate.
09:20When they are in the government, they need to protest.
09:25They need to protest.
09:25And that is also a way to tell the government,
09:27that a Gen Z, an organization, a lot of people, a group, what they want.
09:31And I think that Mohan Bhagwat Ji has said all of us.
09:36Mohan Bhagwat Ji has said all of us.
09:46Mohan Bhagwat Ji has said all of us.
09:50Definitely.
09:51There should be...
09:52I mean, every protest is only effective when it is peaceful.
09:57So I believe it is very important that we don't call it anti-national,
10:02because this is completely for the youth.
10:05And we call youth the future of India.
10:07So my views are definitely like this.
10:10So as a citizen of India, and a youth of India,
10:16we don't need...
10:17We definitely don't need perfections everywhere.
10:21We just need transparency, and we just need accountability.
10:25Okay.
10:25What about you, Harsh?
10:27You think that, you know, dialogue is the way forward,
10:30that those in power should be reaching out to the young?
10:33Definitely, sir.
10:34I mean, one of the key things that stood out to me
10:37was when Mohan Bhagwat said that
10:38Samwad is one of the key things that has to come.
10:41I mean, he did notice...
10:43I mean, he did acknowledge that protests are a legitimate form,
10:46but Samwad is something which has to come first.
10:48But again, the question becomes that
10:50when people in power don't come in front to do Samwad,
10:53how exactly are the students or any part of the society
10:56supposed to, you know, not go to the other means?
10:59I mean, we've seen it everywhere.
11:00CA, NRC protests.
11:02We've seen JNU student protests.
11:03We've seen it all across the country,
11:05even when the Kain Batwa protests in MP,
11:08which still hasn't been resolved.
11:09They just picked up the protesters, took them away.
11:11There hasn't been any Samwad there.
11:13So what about that?
11:14That was just one part of the entire issue.
11:17So you're saying people...
11:18Gen Z is angry because there is no Samwad taking place.
11:21They're not...
11:21Is Samwad about going on Instagram
11:23and reaching out?
11:25Political parties are now all going there.
11:26Leaders are all going on Instagram.
11:28Is that enough?
11:28What do you mean by Samwad?
11:30How do they do Samwad?
11:31I mean, for now we have like parties like the CJP,
11:35which is of course not something which represents the entire Gen Z to say,
11:39but I mean it's one way forward.
11:41I mean, if the government cannot, you know,
11:43issue ways for them to interact with the youth,
11:46then I don't think youth has power in itself for them to do something like that,
11:50unless a leader comes in place.
11:51For example, Abhi Jeek Deepke.
11:53I mean, which of course all of us agree is not someone who all of us can stand behind
11:58because he comes from different ideologies.
12:00All of us follow different ideologies.
12:02But until and unless the government does not come in forward and, you know,
12:05does press conferences.
12:06Our Prime Minister hasn't done a press conference ever since he's been in power.
12:10So how exactly are we supposed to have a Samwad in the press conference?
12:13Interesting.
12:13Our Prime Minister, you say, hasn't done a press conference.
12:16Alpya, your first reactions to what you heard.
12:19Do you believe, therefore, that whoever is in power, in whichever state,
12:23we are seeing protests taking place in JMM, Congress, Rule Jarkhand,
12:26there have been paper leaks in Maharashtra also where we are.
12:29Do you believe the first thing is that those in power need to acknowledge their mistakes
12:33and reach out to the young?
12:35And what, how do you, how would you want leaders to reach out to you?
12:38How do you actually have, what kind of dialogue do you want?
12:43Well, here the point not only comes in terms of the dialogue,
12:46but connection between these two generations which are ages apart, experiences apart as well.
12:52The generation which has gone by, the generation which is right now,
12:55looks for quick actions, quick reactions from the government as well.
13:00In case of your, as you said, that Instagram is a way to speak, I believe, yes.
13:05Only because majority of these people are present over these social media apps.
13:09But what I say is that government definitely, definitely need to step up their game
13:14when it comes to speaking to us, when it comes to acknowledging our issues,
13:18and then coming up with solution as well.
13:20We are not saying that the problem is there, solution is tomorrow.
13:23We know solution will take time, solution will start with us.
13:26So what is the solution? Let's, you know, let's look at, for example,
13:29all of you young people are going through examination systems.
13:31You all have dreams, hopes, job aspirations.
13:34Do you believe to use your lingo, if I can, the examination system sucks?
13:39Does it?
13:40Yes.
13:40It does?
13:41It does.
13:42It does?
13:42Absolutely.
13:43What, what is it that troubles you about the education examination system at the moment?
13:47I mean, one of the first things that comes to mind is, I come from Nandir,
13:50which is a city which produces millions of doctors and engineers.
13:53Those are the only two parts that the students of that city know.
13:57I mean, not just Nandir, I know many of cities in Marathwada region,
14:01whether it be Parbani, Aurangabad, Nasik.
14:04Students there only know two parts.
14:05You see that you go into engineering, you either go into medical.
14:08I mean, if my parents never supported me, I would have been a mediocre student
14:12in a private engineering college.
14:14But now, right now, I am pursuing my dream of doing international relations.
14:17And that is something which I don't think I would have ever been able to do
14:21if I wasn't able to step out of the entire rat race of this education or examination system.
14:26Yeah, but how do you step out?
14:27Because people will say, you know, government says,
14:29they want to encourage an entrepreneurial culture among the young.
14:32Don't only look at need, don't look at JE, become entrepreneurs.
14:36How do you see that?
14:37As a young man from Kashmir, a state where a number of young youth believe
14:41they have very limited employment opportunities,
14:43is that what is driving your anger and grievance in a way?
14:47Definitely.
14:48If I speak about...
14:50I can completely understand why unemployment is a very emotional concern
14:55for the people in JNK.
14:57But I believe that all the recruitment processes should be merit-based.
15:02They should not be like...
15:03Generally, it should not be...
15:04It should not have any like, you know, any such criteria
15:07which like other people cannot match.
15:09There should be a merit-based...
15:11You think the system is rigged?
15:12There have been complaints in Kashmir also
15:14over the way government recruitment is done.
15:16Do the people feel that the entire system is getting rigged?
15:19Whichever state you are in, the system is getting rigged.
15:22Those who have access to those in power get employment.
15:25It is definitely getting rigged.
15:27But it is up to...
15:30It is definitely on the political leaders.
15:34It is, of course, on the government.
15:36And they need to take actions.
15:38We need quick actions as Gen Z's, as Alfie mentioned.
15:41You want quick action.
15:42But the thing is that there will be those who will say,
15:44Look, there is only so much governments can do.
15:48And we are such a large country.
15:50Millions of...
15:52It is impossible to provide so many millions of Indians jobs.
15:56Ten million Indians are entering the job market every year.
15:59It is not easy.
16:00How do you respond?
16:01Governments are putting their hands up and saying,
16:03What can we do?
16:04What...
16:04How many...
16:05How many jobs can be...
16:06Everybody wants a government job.
16:08As per...
16:08Do you want to join the government?
16:09What do you want to do?
16:11I am somebody who is aspiring to join the international relations.
16:15So, like, pursuing my studies there.
16:17And then pursuing my career in that particular field.
16:19But, per se, when it comes to your question, which is...
16:23There are people.
16:25There are no jobs.
16:26Whereas, if we see there are certain reports in place where...
16:29Recruitments have not happened properly in many, many years.
16:32There have been stagnant...
16:33Even recruitments, even in government jobs as well.
16:36The Indian market is growing largely.
16:39Not only because of India's relation with other countries.
16:42But India's growing GDP and other factors including.
16:45There is a lot that India has to offer.
16:48Not only to its youth, but to the world as well.
16:50Just that there is no structure to it.
16:52And there is no format to it.
16:54That it is reaching to us properly.
16:56And I guess...
16:56So, what is your anger about?
16:57What is your anger about?
16:59That there is everything there.
17:00But that is not reaching to us.
17:02Even in terms of employment.
17:03There is a lot of opportunities.
17:05But they never come to us in a systematic manner.
17:08You think the system is unfair?
17:11Yes, I believe.
17:12Yeah, it is.
17:12You think the system is unfair?
17:14I mean, as far as I think it is...
17:17Is it merit driven?
17:19Very much merit driven.
17:20No, they do...
17:21Yes.
17:22So initially, first of all, to clear my stand, what I said initially.
17:25What we started talking about.
17:26CJP, protests, and the rest of all Mohan Ji.
17:29I support him.
17:31Mohan Ji said that the government should be accountable and dialogue.
17:35But as a young person of India, I don't want to be represented by CJP.
17:40I, of course, want accountability from government.
17:42I, of course, want exam systems to be transparent.
17:46But I don't want to be represented by CJP.
17:49Because I think what they were trying to do, what march to sunset they were trying to do, was not
17:55something that I support personally.
17:57Okay, you don't support the march.
17:58But you support the idea of accountability.
18:01Am I correct?
18:02That all of you want accountability.
18:04Whoever's responsible for repeated exam irregularities.
18:07Joining me now also is a young man, Rishabh Shah.
18:11Rishabh heads.
18:12Aymun, come here, Rishabh.
18:14You've just interviewed Mohan Bhagwat, long interview.
18:16I want very quickly as we end the three big takeaways.
18:19Is there a sense?
18:20Because an RSS leader just a couple of days ago called the Jantar Mantar protests anti-national, anti-constitution.
18:26Today Mohan Bhagwat in the interview made it very clear.
18:28He doesn't see them as anti-national citizens of India.
18:32What were your three big takeaways?
18:33So honestly, I've not gotten the time to process it.
18:35You know it very well.
18:36We just finished it and I'm just saying bye to everybody.
18:38But the one first thing, like you said, that the people who were protesting were not anti-national as such.
18:43And their demands were genuine and there needs to be dialogue per se.
18:48That was one big takeaway.
18:49The second was on education.
18:51I've been for the longest time saying that India needs a larger budget in terms of education and more accountability
18:56on education.
18:57He finally said 6% should be given to education.
18:59And the third for me was LGBTQ where I spoke to him about the issue and he said that same
19:04-sex marriage will come at some point.
19:06But same-sex companionship, it needs to have a proper process and a formal structure to it.
19:11So, these come to the top of my mind.
19:14I've not processed it completely.
19:15Once I process it, perhaps the answers will change.
19:17I will ask you very quickly, all of you, and I want honest answers.
19:21Do you have faith in the political system of the country?
19:24Honest answer.
19:26I want an honest answer now.
19:28I don't.
19:29Yes, no, more, no.
19:30I don't.
19:31You don't have faith in the political system.
19:32You don't think that they will be held accountable permanently.
19:35They get away with it.
19:36No.
19:37Not right now, but will have in the next generation of the political system.
19:41Okay.
19:41You hope next generation.
19:42Yes, young man.
19:43Definitely not.
19:43You have no faith in the political system.
19:45Zero.
19:46Young man.
19:46Young lady.
19:48Democracy, yes.
19:49Politics, not.
19:50Democracy, yes.
19:51Politics, no.
19:52Rishabh.
19:52You know, at the end of the day, there's a sense of, there's a disillusionment.
19:56Let's be honest.
19:56And we saw that, you know, the audience was cheering every time you ask the kind of questions
20:01which angered them about pellet guns being used, about, you know, being called anti-national.
20:09There is a sense of disillusionment.
20:11Do you see hope or are you also someone who's disillusioned with the system?
20:15I'm a millennial, so I do see a lot of hope.
20:18And I do believe that dialogue can solve a lot of issues.
20:20Dialogue such as these will continue to restore faith in Gen Z and Gen Alpha that the government
20:26and people who are in power and positions of power are listening.
20:29My only request is to all political parties and people who watch your show, because I
20:33know many Arudite people watch it, is that continue having dialogue.
20:36If dialogue breaks down, then people will come on the streets.
20:40And the number of young people on the streets in terms of protests across Jarkhand, Rajasthan,
20:44Delhi, Bombay, was evidence of the fact that this generation cannot be given just a few
20:50breadcrumbs here and there.
20:52This generation demands wholesale changes and dialogue is the best way forward, is what I think.
20:57Okay.
20:57I also want to say that Rishabh got his news priorities right.
21:02He had invited Mohan Bhagwat several months ago, well before the Gen Z protests.
21:07And therefore, it just so happened, serendipitously, it came at the right place, right time.
21:11Thank you all very much for joining us with your views.
21:14Clearly, this is a new generation out there.
21:16They don't believe the system.
21:18By the way, there is something.
21:21Alfia, can you come here please?
21:23Y'all were showing me, what does this mean?
21:25Clock it.
21:26Clock it.
21:27What does clock it mean for your generation?
21:29Clapping, which is basically applauding something.
21:31Clock it, which is, we are appreciating.
21:33When you appreciate, you have to do this, is it?
21:35Yeah.
21:37My God, I am a boomer.
21:38Okay.
21:39Let's return to the news.
21:41Because while these Gen Z have been teaching me a thing or two, what is the Kokhrut Janata
21:46Party up to today?
21:47Well, the Kokhrut Janata Party today announced the formation of a national working committee.
21:53After two days of brainstorming in Sambhaji Nagar in Aurangabad, it has launched a six-month expansion framework
22:00with Abhijit Deepke, the founder and national convener, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das are co-conveners.
22:07And they have also announced their support for the student protests in Jarkhand.
22:11Well, I spoke or joining me now is Ashutosh Ranka.
22:16He joins me there from Sambhaji Nagar.
22:18Good to have you, Ashutosh, on the show.
22:21What does this mean?
22:22You are starting a new campaign.
22:24Can you tell us what is this new campaign, which is called Kya Bolti Public?
22:29What is this campaign all about, Ashutosh?
22:33No, Raj, I think what CJP has been able to achieve in the last couple of months is incredible.
22:39The youth of this country has really woken up.
22:42So, what has happened in the last couple of months is just incredible.
22:48The youth of this country have achieved something that was unthinkable a couple of months ago.
22:54And this is not just about Mr. Prada's designation, but the broader ask for accountability.
23:00The fact that the youth of this country doesn't fear this government anymore, that's been an incredible victory.
23:07The nation is looking at CJP with high hopes.
23:10And that's why we have decided to really go across the country, really hear people out.
23:17The biggest complaint this generation has had from the government is the fact that there was no one who was
23:24ready to listen to them.
23:25And that's exactly what we want to change.
23:28Starting September 1st, this Kya Bolti Public campaign intends to begin a listening tour, one of the biggest of its
23:37kind across the country.
23:39We'll be going around meeting students, meeting youngsters, asking them what exactly is that they want.
23:45How do we come up with a broader reforms agenda for the youth of this country?
23:50And that's exactly what we'll be doing over the course of next few months.
23:57Ashutosh, the question I want to raise, though, is that there are those who believe that you are increasingly veering
24:04to perhaps moving towards a, you're calling it a protest movement.
24:09But many believe this is a prelude to forming some kind of a political party, possibly backed by the armed
24:16army party.
24:16How true is that?
24:17Is this now the first prelude towards a political party?
24:22No, I think we have been very clear that we want to continue working as a political pressure group for
24:27now.
24:28And as a part of that movement, we want to reach out to every town, every district, every village of
24:35this country.
24:35We really want to hear people out.
24:38We want the people of this country to help us draft a reforms agenda, which will have education system at
24:44the center, but also institutional accountability from mainstream media, from the election commission, from the judiciary.
24:52We want to form a collective, a collective of all forms of organizations, activists, civil society groups to come together
25:01and as a collective build this nation together.
25:04That's exactly what we will remain focused on.
25:08People are free to speculate as they wish.
25:11They have been speculating about us for the last couple of months.
25:14We have been very open and transparent with what we want to achieve, what we intend to achieve.
25:19We exactly achieved what we set out to achieve and we will continue working hard for the people of this
25:24country.
25:28You know, because it will be seen as a very ambitious agenda to say, we are going to bring solidarity
25:33with all these groups, you know, and there are specific issues.
25:37For example, in Jarkhand, when there are student protests, will CJP land up there?
25:42If tomorrow there is a paper leak in another part of the country, will CJP land up there?
25:46I mean, is CJP simply now going to go from one agitation to the other?
25:51Is it about agitational politics, street politics?
25:54Or is it, as I said, about building something more permanent and strategic?
26:00Are you going to do tactical politics?
26:03Or are you going to do something more long term?
26:07Rajdeep, we are creating a platform for the youth of this country.
26:10A platform where their issues are not just addressed, not just heard, but also addressed and taken up at the
26:16highest possible levels.
26:17Now, whatever shape or form that requires us to do, we will do that.
26:21And as far as protests across the countries are concerned, not just Jarkhand, in wherever, whichever state, whatever political parties
26:29in power,
26:30irrespective of the political party in power, we will stand with the students and youth of this country.
26:36We stand with the students of Jarkhand.
26:39We stand with the students from all over the country who have struggled with this system,
26:43who have been let down by this system, and who are still looking for reasons to find some hope in
26:51this system.
26:51We stand with all of them, whatever political party be in power in that respective state.
26:59Okay, I'm going to leave it there. Ashutosh Ranka for joining me there from Shambhaji Nagar.
27:04Thank you so much.
27:05Meanwhile, speaking of political parties, leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi has announced his support for student protests for reforms.
27:15All student protests, he says, including the current ongoing protests in Jarkhand,
27:20where, remember, the Congress is a partner of the Jarkhand Mukti Morcha in government.
27:25Listen in to what Rahul Gandhi said.
27:28The students are protesting for their rights. Please support them.
27:34Look, the student protests are protesting against the education system.
27:41I have said it in the air, in the air, in the air, in the air, in the air, in
27:47the air, and in the air.
27:49I am going to go and say,
27:50I am going to go and say that our education system is collapsed,
27:56and very dangerous and oppressive.
27:59Every government should listen to the students about the students,
28:03and we should take action to change the education system.
28:08Whether it is the government of Congress, the national government, or the Jarkhand government.
28:15Now, the fact is, on the ground, the protests in Jarkhand have carried on for almost a fortnight.
28:21Today, the government reached out to the protestors,
28:23and a delegation is likely to meet state government officials.
28:27Again, the question is the manner in which recruitment exams in Jarkhand
28:31have allegedly been leaked and rigged with paper leaks.
28:36My colleague, Preeti Chaudhary, has been in Rachi.
28:38She filed this ground report. Take a look.
28:43Why did you come here? Why did you come here?
28:46How did you come here?
28:47Like Shibu Sorenji will go to the Jarkhand and Nirmata.
28:51There were some dreams and aspirations.
28:55There were some aspirations.
28:56In those dreams, the mother of our daughter,
28:58and our master's minister, Hemant Sorenji,
29:01has worked on water.
29:03As a son and as a CM, he failed Shibu Sorenji.
29:07So, for that, the movie, the famous dialogue of Gangs of Wasaypur,
29:12that is, that is, that the poster of Shibu Sorenji,
29:16that says, that the mother of Shibu Sorenji,
29:18that is, that the son of your daughter,
29:18that is, that the son of your daughter,
29:19that is, that the son of your daughter,
29:20How did you come here?
29:24I have a more emotional investment from the monetary investment.
29:26For that, that, I have an emotional investment,
29:29which is a big part of my children,
29:32I have been working for my,
29:34and it is an investment of my students.
29:36Sir, your name is Rahul Kranti.
29:40Rahul, why are you as connected with this Kranti?
29:44It has been working for the Prime to the people,
29:47and it has been working for the capital.
29:49The family has been working for money.
29:50We have prepared for the years from this country.
30:20How many years have you been doing?
30:22How many years have you been doing?
31:04How many years have you been doing?
31:18How many years have you been doing?
31:21How many years have you been doing?
31:28How many years have you been doing?
31:48How many years have you been doing?
31:56How many years have you been doing?
32:11How many years have you been doing?
32:31How many years have you been doing?
32:44How many years have you been doing?
32:59How many years have you been doing?
33:19How many years have you been doing?
33:20How many years have you been doing?
33:26How many years have you been doing?
33:46How many years have you been doing?
33:50How many years have you been doing?
33:52How many years have you been doing?
33:53How many years have you been doing?
33:53this particular bill has led Christian organizations to worry, to feel so worried.
33:59What is that aspect?
34:00The government claims that they are going to make the entire process transparent.
34:06Why are you worried?
34:10Sirajdi, first of all, good evening and thank you for having me on your program.
34:16Let's say transparency and accountability is needed at all times
34:22for everything.
34:24It hasn't to be only about foreign money.
34:26It has to be about Indian money too.
34:29It has to be about demonetization.
34:31It has to be about electoral bonds.
34:34It has to be about PMK's fund.
34:36It is to be about the money the RSS is getting.
34:39Let's have transparency and accountability across the board.
34:43And I think that is something which the country needs,
34:47which has been steeped in corruption.
34:49And I think we must have transparency and accountability.
34:53And there is no question about that.
34:56Secondly, it's good that there has been dialogue between some Christians,
35:02including the Chief Minister of Mizoram, and with the Home Minister.
35:06I think dialogue is very important.
35:09But look at the provisions of the bill.
35:13It very clearly says for a certain non-compliance,
35:17all the assets will be taken up by a designated authority and so on.
35:24It's very clear.
35:24If you look at Chapter 3A of the bill, it very clearly states.
35:32So what does it mean?
35:33There is a provision which also says about places of worship,
35:37which will continue as places of worship,
35:40but those will also be taken over.
35:43Now, let's not fool ourselves with, say, with wordings.
35:50Why do we need an FCRA which is more stringent, more draconian?
35:57There can be anti-national activities done also with Indian money.
36:01Are we looking into that?
36:07But can I specifically ask you,
36:10it appears that the gravest concern is Section 16A.
36:14It states that when an FCRA registration is cancelled, surrendered,
36:18or deemed to have seized,
36:19all foreign contributions and assets derived from them
36:23automatically provisionally vested in a government-designated authority
36:27without prior judicial review or independent adjudication.
36:31Is that the worry that the control that organizations,
36:35maybe an NGO or a church-led organization has over funds,
36:39funds got from abroad,
36:40you will lose that overnight
36:42because some government bureaucrat decides
36:45that there is something that you've done wrong
36:48or there is some compliance deficiency?
36:52Yes, definitely it's a cause for concern.
36:54Now, some of these assets have been built,
36:57whether it is a hospital,
36:59whether it is a school,
37:00a hostel,
37:02or a social center.
37:03Let's say the work done by the Mother Teresa's sisters,
37:07which has been recognized the world over,
37:10and they have homes for the dying,
37:13for the destitute.
37:15Now, suppose there is a non-compliance.
37:17Are you going to take away all those assets?
37:20Are you going to take all the vehicles,
37:22all the ambulances?
37:24I think this is ridiculous.
37:26And civil society,
37:28as people have been constantly been saying,
37:30are being throttled in the country today.
37:33Civil society has done yeoman work
37:36and service to the country.
37:37And the people who are going to suffer
37:40with these stringent amendments to the FCRA,
37:44with these draconian provisions,
37:46are going to be the poor,
37:48the excluded and the exploited,
37:50the marginalized,
37:51and definitely the minorities
37:53who have been serving the country
37:55selflessly, I believe.
38:01You see,
38:02you know,
38:03the government seems to though
38:04be giving an assurance that
38:06whatever they are doing
38:07will be in the public interest.
38:10That they are not,
38:11it is only when there is a clear violation
38:14of the rules and guidelines
38:15will they act.
38:16Is there a lack of faith?
38:17Is part of the problem
38:18a lack of trust?
38:20Purely,
38:21because over the years,
38:23there are those
38:24within the Christian community
38:26who feel they have been
38:26unfairly targeted,
38:28missionaries have been targeted
38:29by RSS outfits
38:30like the Bajrang Dal.
38:32Is this because of a lack of trust?
38:33Do you feel
38:34this is one more encroachment
38:36in your religious freedom?
38:38Yes,
38:39there's definitely
38:40a trust deficit
38:41because you look
38:43at the amount of cases
38:45that have been
38:46against Christians,
38:47Christian personnel,
38:49against Christian,
38:50say,
38:51assets or structures
38:53all over the country.
38:55It has been systematic,
38:57it has been calculated,
38:59and the perpetrators
39:00have literally got away
39:02with,
39:03I can dare say,
39:04with murder.
39:05Nothing has been happened.
39:06F.I.R.'s
39:07are not being
39:08easily filed.
39:10And in fact,
39:11the perpetrators
39:13of the crimes
39:13are just released.
39:16And those,
39:17the victims,
39:18are very often
39:19jailed,
39:20incarcerated,
39:21or penalties
39:22being imposed on them.
39:23The people
39:24who create
39:25these crimes,
39:26the perpetrators,
39:28do so
39:29with impunity,
39:30fully assured
39:31that there will be
39:33that immunity
39:34given to them
39:35by their bosses
39:36hired up.
39:38That is consistent.
39:39So definitely,
39:40there is a trust deficit.
39:41And I'm not sure.
39:44So why is the government
39:45wanting to bring
39:46this FCRA law
39:47at this time?
39:48Why don't they,
39:50say,
39:51civil society
39:52across the board
39:53is saying,
39:54withdraw this law
39:55in total.
39:57There is enough
39:58for provision
39:58in the existing
40:00FCRA law
40:02in the act
40:03in order to ensure
40:05checks and balances.
40:07There must be
40:07checks and balances.
40:08There must be
40:09transparency
40:10and accountability.
40:12But
40:14make,
40:15give the
40:15current provision
40:17some teeth.
40:17That's all.
40:18We don't have to have
40:19new,
40:20draconian,
40:22very targeted
40:22kind of
40:24provisions
40:25which they call
40:26amendments today.
40:31Okay,
40:31I'm going to leave
40:32it there
40:34Father Prakash
40:35because as you say,
40:36this issue
40:37is
40:38simmering.
40:39There are several
40:39political parties,
40:41even allies
40:41of the government
40:42who reportedly
40:43are raising
40:44questions over
40:44FCRA
40:45and it may
40:46require a lot
40:46of convincing
40:47for this
40:48FCRA bill
40:49to go through
40:50next week
40:51in parliament.
40:52We'll do a deep
40:52dive on that
40:53sometime next week.
40:54Thanks very much
40:55for joining me
40:56here on the
40:57show today.
40:58Okay,
40:58the big story
40:59that also has
41:00come in today,
41:01the Goa bench
41:03of the Bombay
41:03High Court
41:04handed a
41:0410-year sentence
41:06for rape
41:07to former
41:07editor-in-chief
41:08of Tehelka
41:09magazine
41:09Tarun Tejpal
41:11convicting him
41:12of allegedly
41:13raping a
41:13junior colleague
41:14at a Goa resort
41:1513 years ago.
41:17Setting aside
41:18the 2021 judgment
41:19of a trial court
41:20that had acquitted
41:21him,
41:22the High Court
41:22directed Tejpal
41:23to surrender
41:24before the Goa
41:25police within
41:26two weeks.
41:26Tejpal says
41:27he's going to
41:28appeal to the
41:29Supreme Court.
41:30Take a look.
41:3513 years,
41:37two verdicts,
41:38one case that
41:39refused to fade.
41:42From acquittal
41:44to conviction
41:46and a 10-year
41:47rigorous jail
41:48term,
41:50the Tarun Tejpal
41:51case has now
41:52taken a dramatic
41:53turn.
41:54The Bombay High
41:55Court's Goa bench
41:56has convicted
41:57Tehelka founder
41:58Tarun Tejpal
41:59in the 2013
42:00rape case,
42:01overturning
42:02the Goa trial
42:02court's 2021
42:04acquittal.
42:04In the judgment,
42:06the High Court
42:07came down heavily
42:08on the trial
42:09court's approach,
42:10observing that
42:11it allowed the
42:12defense to harass
42:13and humiliate
42:14the survivor
42:15during trial.
42:16The court said
42:17the judgment
42:18overlooked basic
42:19human coping
42:20mechanisms and
42:21warned against
42:21judging a survivor
42:23through the lens
42:24of social stereotypes.
42:25It asserted that
42:27credibility must be
42:28assessed on evidence
42:29and facts
42:30not on whether
42:31a survivor
42:31confirms to a
42:32narrow cultural
42:33mode.
42:37This judgment
42:38of the High Court
42:39today has come
42:40as a solace
42:41for that victim
42:43and it was
42:44a judgment
42:45which is passed
42:46based on justice
42:47and the evidence
42:48that is there
42:49on record.
42:50Today I feel
42:50that justice
42:51has been done
42:52and I am happy
42:53that the state
42:54has been able
42:55to provide justice
42:56for a victim girl.
42:58Investigation
42:58was holpura
43:00and has been
43:01presented properly
43:02before the
43:02trial court
43:04as well as now
43:05during the arguments
43:06and the High Court
43:07has really gone
43:09extensively
43:09in appreciating
43:11the arrogance
43:12which was canvassed
43:13and accordingly
43:14the order has come
43:15for setting aside
43:16the equity order.
43:18Inside court,
43:19the 62-year-old
43:21sought leniency
43:22citing his age,
43:23wife and two daughters.
43:26Tejpal also claimed
43:27he was a political
43:28victim.
43:30We have no doubt
43:31that we have
43:32been after 13 years
43:33of a political
43:34vendetta
43:34and after the
43:35TELKA
43:35and after the
43:37trial court.
43:38We have been
43:39in this trial court
43:39for a half-half
43:40and a half-half
43:40and a half-half
43:41and a half-half
43:42and a half-half
43:43and now we have
43:44been after.
43:45But we will fight.
43:46We have
43:47complete faith
43:48that there are
43:49so many judges
43:49in the judiciary
43:49that there are
43:50such a judge
43:51who will see
43:52and will come
43:55in the face.
43:56Goa Chief Minister
43:57Pramood Savant
43:58hailed the
43:59High Court
43:59verdict.
44:28TANUN TEJPAL
44:29goes back to
44:30November 2013.
44:32A woman journalist
44:33working with
44:33TELKA
44:34accused Tejpal
44:35of sexually
44:36assaulting her
44:37inside a Goa
44:37resort elevator
44:38during the
44:39magazine's fest.
44:41Days later,
44:41Tejpal stepped down
44:43as TELKA
44:43editor-in-chief.
44:45He was arrested
44:46on November 30,
44:472013
44:48and spent nearly
44:49six months
44:49in custody
44:50before the
44:51Supreme Court
44:51granted him
44:52bail in 2014.
44:53Then came
44:54the first
44:55major twist.
44:56In 2021,
44:58the Goa
44:58trial court
44:59acquitted
45:00Tejpal,
45:00citing what
45:01it described
45:01as inconsistencies
45:03in the
45:03prosecution's
45:04case and
45:05questioning the
45:06complainant's
45:06conduct and
45:07messages.
45:08The court
45:09held that the
45:10prosecution had
45:10failed to prove
45:11the charges
45:12beyond reasonable
45:13doubt.
45:14But the Goa
45:15government challenged
45:16the acquittal.
45:17And now,
45:18in 2026,
45:19the verdict has
45:19flipped.
45:20The Bombay High
45:21Court has
45:22convicted Tejpal.
45:23The legal
45:23battle,
45:24however,
45:25is far from
45:25over.
45:26Tejpal has
45:27now approached
45:27the Supreme
45:28Court,
45:28seeking a
45:29stay on
45:29the High
45:30Court order.
45:32From
45:32allegation,
45:33to acquittal,
45:34to conviction.
45:35And now,
45:36the Supreme
45:36Court test
45:37next.
45:39With Vidya
45:40in Mumbai
45:40and Ritesh
45:41Desai in
45:42Panji,
45:43we are
45:43to report
45:43India Today.
45:48Okay,
45:48let's turn
45:49from that
45:49to an
45:49India Today
45:50follow-up.
45:50We've been
45:51investigating
45:51the story
45:52of the
45:534,200
45:54Kanpur
45:55Lucknow
45:56Expressway
45:56that is
45:57already facing
45:58fresh scrutiny
45:59after it's
46:00gone for
46:00five repairs
46:01within just
46:0220 days
46:03of its
46:04inauguration.
46:05With videos
46:06of pedestal
46:07fans being
46:07used to
46:08dry patch
46:09sections
46:10going viral,
46:11the National
46:11Authority's
46:12Highway
46:13Authority of
46:14India has
46:14declared the
46:15builder PNC
46:16Infratech
46:17a non-performer.
46:18But guess
46:19what?
46:19Even amidst
46:20this controversy,
46:21the company
46:22has now
46:22bagged fresh
46:23highway contracts
46:24worth nearly
46:253,500 crore
46:27rupees.
46:28Here's a
46:28report on
46:30the story.
46:39All hands
46:40on the deck
46:41and pedestal
46:42fans too.
46:43When an
46:44expressway built
46:45at a cost of
46:464,200 crore
46:47rupees undergoes
46:48repairs five
46:49times within 20
46:50days of
46:51inauguration,
46:52then these are
46:53desperate times.
46:55And desperate
46:56times call for
46:57desperate measures.
46:58like using
46:59pedestal fans
47:00to dry patch
47:00works being
47:01done on the
47:02Kanpur-Laknaw
47:03expressway.
47:03in the
47:05way,
47:05you can see
47:06what
47:06you can see
47:08in the
47:10You can see
47:23how you can see
47:24the
47:25on the
47:34The National Highway Authority of India on Wednesday issued notice to declare PNC InfraTech
47:41Limited which billed the road as a non-performer.
47:44The company will also be fined 2% of its performance security as penalty.
47:48It has happened that the water is running inside.
47:53The water is running down to the ground.
47:58When we are excavating, the ground is running out of the ground.
48:01The water is damaged from the ground.
48:04There are 5 locations.
48:07There are only 5 locations.
48:08There is no danger in 98% of the state.
48:14There is no danger in any way.
48:16The traffic is running out of the road today.
48:19But PNC InfraTech which under fire for its poor construction was awarded two contracts
48:25with combined worth of Rs 3,483 crore from the National Highway Authority of India on July 16th.
48:33The two projects are Barabanki-Mustafabad four-lane highway project with a project cost of Rs 1,728 crore and
48:42Mustafabad-Biswan four-lane highway project with a project cost of Rs 1,755 crore.
48:49Both projects are to be completed within 24 months from the appointed date and will be operated for 15 years
48:56after construction.
48:59Meanwhile, the buzz around ownership of PNC InfraTech is growing.
49:04Pradeep Kumar Jain is the chairperson of the company.
49:07He's the brother of BJP Rajasaba MP Naveen Jain who was a whole-time director till 2017.
49:15MP Naveen Jain remains a shareholder in the company.
49:19The six-lane, 63-kilometre Kanpur-Lakhnau Expressway cost the taxpayer Rs 4,200 crore.
49:27While the poor quality of work has taken the sheen of the project, the company behind the work still seems
49:34to be shining.
49:35With Simar Chawla, Bureau Report, India Today.
49:41Good story there by Simar Chawla, a story that we will continue to follow.
49:46Let's turn to another series that we are doing here on News Today.
49:50The State of Education because that's really top of the mind at the moment.
49:54Today we want to tell you the story of two classrooms, more than 200 students,
49:59and eight classes that are squeezed into the same campus.
50:03That's right, at a government school in Bihar's Muzaffarpur,
50:06children are studying under a leaked tin shed,
50:09classrooms are overcrowded, and teachers are juggling multiple grades all at the same time.
50:15As rain and heat disrupt the lessons, children are asking one basic question.
50:21When will they get a proper school building?
50:25Take a look at this report.
50:33228 students, eight teachers, and just two rooms.
50:39This government middle school in Muzaffarpur, in Bihar, somehow copes by clubbing classes.
50:48While classes one to five are held in one room, students in grades six, seven, and eight study under a
50:55tin shed.
50:58I have also looked at the trustee.
51:01And the trustee in the land of trustee, the trustee, they have also looked at the trustee.
51:09And I have written so many times, that we have given such great trustee in any bank,
51:17so that we can write the trustee and make the trustee in this place.
51:25When it rains, the children get wet. In the heat, they suffer the scorching sun.
51:58.
51:59.
52:00.
52:07The school lacks adequate benches and desks.
52:10With multiple classes running simultaneously, the noise level is too high.
52:21Teachers acknowledge that providing quality education under such conditions is impossible.
52:30One class. One class. One class. One, two. One, two.
52:35The problem is, what can we do? If there is no place, then we have to learn.
52:44The new Talaim Government School is praying for a new lease of life.
52:48But when will the Education Department take note of the school's dismal conditions?
52:55With Mani Bhushan Sharma in Muzaffarpur, Bureau Report, India Today.
53:23The Prime Minister has released a new Instagram video urging social media users to share videos with their favorite handloom
53:31products to make India's handloom diversity popular.
53:35He has also urged netizens to use the hashtag National Handloom Day.
53:40Guess the political battle is being fought on Insta now.
53:45Thanks for watching.
53:46You stay well. Stay safe.
53:48Good night. Shubhraatri.
53:49Jaihin. Namaskar.
53:50Jaihin. Namaskar.
54:20ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ
54:33ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ
54:53ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ
54:56ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ
54:57ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ
54:58ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ ॐ
55:15We can pray for our work in the city of India.
55:22We will also have some small small small people to do this with 8th grade.
55:28Come on, we will buy something from the house.
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