- 39 minutes ago
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has confirmed it will skip the upcoming INDIA bloc meeting in New Delhi, signaling political friction following the Congress party's post-poll alignment with Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in Tamil Nadu. The development coincides with opposition demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the suspension of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls following a Congress Working Committee resolution. In Tamil Nadu, political disputes continue over attacks on Chief Minister Vijay alongside fisherfolk protests in Chennai's Pattinampakkam opposing a twelve hundred crore rupee secretariat project. Meanwhile, speaking at the India Today Conclave South in Kochi, Congress Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament from Kerala Jebi Mather addressed women's representation in politics, questioned the linking of women's reservation to delimitation, and discussed Centre-state relations alongside constitutional protections.
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NewsTranscript
00:00And let's begin with breaking news that's coming in.
00:02As the countdown begins to the India Bloc meet that's expected to take place tomorrow,
00:06confirmation here on India today that the DMK will not be attending the India Bloc meet in the national capital.
00:12There's been a lot of suspense considering the DMK Congress divorce in Tamil Nadu
00:16or whether the DMK will continue to be a part of the India Bloc
00:20because they do still have a friendship, a relationship with other regional parties that are part of the India Bloc.
00:26But that's not the case. We can confirm for you that the DMK is not attending the India Bloc meet
00:32that's planned for tomorrow.
00:34The agenda may be the same of the DMK, but clearly they are hurt by the Congress ditching them and
00:39going with the TVK
00:40and they're showing it by not attending the India Bloc meeting.
00:43Rahul Gautam joins us live from Delhi, tracks the Congress for us from Od Madhav with this news break, joining
00:49us from Chennai.
00:50Rahul, I'm bringing you in first to understand whether an invite was even extended by the Congress to the DMK
00:55because constantly in the last few months, we've heard statements from Congress leaders suggesting
01:00that all is well, that the DMK is still part of the national India Bloc picture.
01:05That's clearly not the case.
01:08Well, Akshita, this time the entire exercise of bringing all parties together was, you know,
01:14initiated by Mamata Banerji and not Congress party.
01:16And therefore, what forces have informed us that an official invite was extended to DMK as well.
01:23And not just to DMK, but to other like-minded parties as well, for example, to Aam Adni party.
01:27But given the fact that we all know that how the relationship between DMK and Congress has gone sour
01:36after Congress party decided to go with TVK and we all know that how DMK has officially broke rank with
01:43the India Alliance
01:44when they, you know, insisted that their seating arrangement should be provided separately to them.
01:49And in fact, I must also tell this to our viewers that we asked this question, especially to KC Benupal,
01:55that are you making any outreach to DMK or to other like-minded parties to bring them together,
02:01to which he said that all this we're going to discuss tomorrow in the India Bloc meeting.
02:06So, as we speak, obviously, DMK will not be coming.
02:10In fact, some people in Congress tell us that DMK has made it very clear that they're not sharing any
02:16space
02:16or any dives with Congress going forward.
02:19So, it seems that as far as DMK is concerned, the situation is absolutely clear
02:24that from going forward, they'll not be seen around, anywhere around with Congress party,
02:28at least after what happened in Tamil Nadu.
02:33Now, here's what's interesting.
02:35The DMK has issued multiple statements on the EEC in the last one week,
02:38including former Chief Minister Stalin himself, who's condemned the CEC.
02:43The demand is the same.
02:44They're saying the CEC must resign and that they've constantly maintained the same stand.
02:48That's what the DMK says.
02:49And yet, amid in which the same agenda, same narrative is being spoken of,
02:52the DMK has chosen not to be there.
02:55Pramod, explain to us why the DMK has decided not to be a part of this meeting.
02:59Because from what Rahul tells us, the invite didn't go from the Congress.
03:02It went from Mamata Banerjee, from the TMC.
03:04And the DMK has no bad blood with her.
03:07Well, one thing is very certain, Achita,
03:09that there are like multiple faults to this particular kind of development currently.
03:12And the one thing, it started back in May after the election results.
03:14And how Congress, we can clearly say, you know, Congress, in the way DMK believes,
03:18ditched DMK and joined TVK with the five MLAs,
03:21which they actually won when they were with the alliance that was led by DMK.
03:25So, definitely still calling them as backstabbers at this point.
03:28So, what is happening is that like on one side,
03:30DMK says that they are not at all interested to be in this indie block
03:32as long as Congress is going to play a major role in it.
03:35And the second part is also, Achita, we had an earlier news break
03:38where Pani Muri apparently, we've been told our sources state,
03:41that a kind of like attempt is being made for a probable third front.
03:44So, DMK is also working on this particular matter.
03:47Just like you mentioned, DMK is steadfastly opposing SIR.
03:50MK Stalin very clearly said that the SIR was a kind of,
03:53it should not be done in that manner.
03:54MK Stalin, the president, warns the resignation of the chief election commissioner and such.
03:58But now, it looks like DMK has decided that it is time for it to go ahead the national way.
04:03So, it looks like they, you know, the party itself has decided to go ahead
04:06and create a new form of a front or so.
04:09So, all of a sudden developing stage.
04:10But right now, they have made it very clear,
04:12they still call Congress as backstabbers.
04:14And that's the reason they have decided not to take part in this particular meeting,
04:17this program, Achita.
04:21So, just the bad blood with Congress,
04:23just the fact that Congress is part of that meeting
04:25is enough for the DMK to say we will have nothing to do with this.
04:29The invite may be from another leader.
04:30They may be planning their own third front
04:32in which regional players, regional blocks matter.
04:34But despite that, the DMK says where the Congress is,
04:37we will not be.
04:39Thanks very much, Pramoda and Rahul Gautam,
04:41for getting us those details.
04:45But all eyes clearly are on the India Bloc meeting
04:47that will take place tomorrow.
04:48And who attends, who doesn't?
04:50The DMK has confirmed they're not going to be a part of it.
04:52Parties like ARP 2 don't seem to be keen on attending.
04:56Remember that the Congress today held a CWC meet
04:59and the focus, the spotlight was on their demands
05:02as far as the CEC's resignation is concerned.
05:05Rahul Gandhi reportedly has taken that a step further.
05:07Not just the CEC's resignation,
05:09but also the Prime Minister's resignation,
05:11the Home Minister's resignation.
05:13That's what the Congress is going to push forward with.
05:16But, yes, while the Congress puts forth these demands,
05:19the question is how much of pressure
05:20can the opposition really build up
05:22unless they come together as one voice
05:25against the government,
05:26which at this point, that test,
05:29the results of that will be revealed tomorrow.
05:51The political temperature
05:53over the Election Commission is rising.
05:56After revelations
05:57that two Election Commissioners
05:59raised 14 objections over matters related to SIR,
06:03the Congress,
06:04which has already taken voter deletions to the streets,
06:07now wants to take the fight further.
06:12The CWC met on Tuesday
06:15and passed a resolution,
06:16saying,
06:17Vote Chori is organised by CEC Gyanesh Kumar
06:20on behalf of Prime Minister and Home Minister
06:23and nothing short of their resignation
06:25will ensure the safety of the Constitution.
06:27The party sought immediate resignation
06:29of CEC Gyanesh Kumar,
06:31immediate suspension of SIR
06:33and immediate restoration
06:35of 13.3 crore voters
06:37deleted from electoral rolls.
06:40Sources tell India today
06:42that Rahul Gandhi told the CWC
06:44the 2024 elections were fixed.
06:47The Prime Minister is shaken after protests
06:50and the Congress will work with the lies
06:52in its fight over SIR.
07:21The BJP has hit back.
07:48But the CWC meet is only the first act.
07:51On Wednesday,
07:53India block parties are set to meet
07:55to work out a joint strategy
07:57on the Election Commission and SIR Rao.
08:00Yet, even before that meeting,
08:02there are signs of disorder
08:03within the opposition camp.
08:06SP Chief Akilesh Yadav
08:07is skipping the meet,
08:09citing prior political engagements
08:11while senior SP leaders
08:12are expected to attend in his place.
08:16Shif Sena, UBT and MNS
08:18will attend the meet virtually
08:19as they are holding their own demonstrations
08:22in Mumbai this week.
08:36The DMK has already distanced itself
08:39from the India block
08:40after Congress's post-poll alignment
08:43with Vijay's TVK in Tamil Nadu.
08:45So, as Congress escalates its fight
08:48against the Election Commission,
08:49the bigger test may be
08:51whether the opposition can turn that anger
08:54into a united front.
08:56The CWC has drawn the battle lines.
08:59Wednesday's India block meet
09:01will show how united that front really is.
09:04Bureau Report, India Today.
09:07Okay, let's switch over to news
09:09from Tamil Nadu
09:10and the big controversy
09:12that's playing out right now
09:14over former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister
09:15AIADMK Chief
09:16Edapati Parniswami's comments
09:18against Chief Minister Vijay.
09:20We've constantly seen
09:21Chief Minister Vijay's personal life
09:23being dragged into the spotlight
09:24by the opposition.
09:25The latest on that list is EPS
09:27who took a jibe
09:29at Chief Minister Vijay's image
09:30of being mama, Anna, uncle,
09:34brother, Tambi, younger brother
09:36to the people of Tamil Nadu.
09:38That's a projection the TVK
09:39has constantly made.
09:40It is over this
09:41that EPS has in fact
09:43attacked the TVK
09:44and attacked Chief Minister Vijay
09:45saying someone
09:46who's not a family man himself,
09:49what will he understand
09:49about the love that a family shares
09:51suggesting essentially
09:52and highlighting the fact
09:54that you've got the Chief Minister
09:55going through the divorce proceeding
09:57with his wife, Sangeeta.
09:59Highlighting his personal life
10:00once again, EPS took this jibe
10:02leading to a political showdown
10:04and a response also
10:05from the TVK.
10:06In fact, it wasn't just EPS
10:09but you had DMDK
10:10Chief Premalata Vijaykanth
10:12also mocking Vijay and Trisha
10:14saying that their appearance
10:16together in UK
10:17at that race
10:18with superstar Ajit
10:19was disgusting.
10:20That's the word she used.
10:22Now, right after that
10:23you had Adhavarjuna,
10:24the Tamil Nadu minister
10:25responding to EPS
10:27saying that AIA-DMK
10:29has lost his essence,
10:30it's nowhere close
10:31to what they represented
10:32when the AIA-DMK
10:35was under MGR
10:36or Amma.
10:37Listen in to those reactions
10:38and what EPS said.
10:52Thank you so much for joining us.
10:54Thank you so much for joining us.
11:01Rights, all I do now, read, pay me loud.
11:03It's positive for me and word.
11:11It's the last thing I've everобbed.
11:14Let's go all this long time and let's do this.
11:16Here's a word.
11:18If I'm with the Lord.
11:21Why I'm totally with the White People.
11:22Isn't it so bleaching to Seattle that they are people ages 116.
11:25How expected of the New Rip's monthages me their people.
11:29you see me, me, me and you see me, me and I told you what you see me
11:37why did I say that? if you see me, me and me
11:44you see me you see me and me and me and me and you see me, me and I see
11:51you
11:52Where are you from?
11:54Where are you from?
11:56Where are you from?
12:00So, what can we say?
12:03How much of this is,
12:07I'm concerned about this.
12:23Thank you very much.
13:14Thank you very much.
13:16Thank you very much.
13:59Thank you very much.
14:17Thank you very much.
14:40Thank you very much.
14:55DMK MP Kanimori also hit out at Chief Minister Vijay over the incident, saying that in Tamil Nadu, prices of
15:02food items and incidents of murders are competing with each other to rise every day.
15:08TVK is yet to respond to DMK's attacks. Law and order in Tamil Nadu remains a serious issue. In just
15:16two days, nine murders took place in Chennai, a development that has raised alarm.
15:21With Anagar Keshav, Bureau Report, India Today.
15:51He's essentially running that house for Viramani, allegedly supplying girls, minors for him as well. They're in custody. And we've
15:57accessed the bail police.
15:59What have they said while arguing for bail? What has Shanti said? Shanti's argued that the case is primarily based
16:05on poor evidence, calling the pen drive poor evidence.
16:10She said that this was handed over by an unidentified person. And so the complainant is neither the alleged victim
16:16nor an eyewitness. Her plea also claims that no child victim has been identified, examined or produced, and that there's
16:23no medical examination or victim statement.
16:25Now, also, another point that Shanti's raised in her bail plea is that there's been a huge delay in the
16:31investigation, suggesting that it's been more than six years, referring to one incident, the alleged crime of 2019, saying after
16:39so many years, suddenly this case has come up.
16:42And so there's no direct allegation against her of sexual assault or of harassment. She's around 60 years old. So
16:49she's also raised a delay in her production before the magistrate is a ground for bail.
16:54This comes even as a second POXO case has been filed against Veeramani. And that's something the police are investigating.
17:02This complaint has been filed by the mother of an alleged assault victim.
17:07Now, the NCPCR, which is the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, has also taken cognizance of all of
17:14the allegations. The Tamil Nadu police has, of course, formed an SIT, an all-woman SIT to probe the case.
17:20The DNK is also stepped in here with DNK MP TR Balu moving the Madras High Court, seeking an SIT
17:27questioning of Chief Minister Vijay and several ministers, essentially suggesting that the TV case should be in the dock over
17:35allegations they have made of the DNK protecting Veeramani.
17:40Okay, let's focus now on all of the protests, the politics over the proposed new secretariat in Chennai, in Patinampakkam,
17:47right by the Merida Beach, a foreshore estate, and very, very close to Chief Minister Vijay's residence.
17:53Now, this has led to a big showdown as fisherfolk who live in that particular area are up in arms,
17:59raising issues, opposition to the plan to go ahead and build a new secretariat.
18:03Why are they against it? They're saying, one, that it will mean that they lose access to the sea and
18:08that will therefore affect their livelihoods.
18:10Remember that the area we're also talking about is where their settlement is.
18:13So, one of the biggest issues that the fisherfolk there raises, will our buildings, will our homes be targeted?
18:20Will we have to clear up our area to make way for this secretariat?
18:24And that's led to a protest.
18:25The TV case constantly said, this is a proposal, we're looking into what the fisherfolk have maintained.
18:30But the DNK and the AIA-DNK have also raised this issue, saying that the fisherfolk will be left stranded
18:36as a result of this Patinampakkam plan.
18:40My livelihood should be protected and we strongly support them.
18:45And I contested from the same constituency in future.
18:49If this GEO is not withdrawn, definitely I also will go and participate in the protest.
18:55Even as the Tamil Nadu government has issued a GEO wherein it has proposed that a new secretariat will be
19:01built at Patinampakkam,
19:03constructed as a cost of this 1200 brooch, the public of Patinampakkam are unhappy with this decision.
19:09In fact, protests are continuing on and across Patinampakkam.
19:14Today, the fishermen community have once again started protests here in Patinampakkam.
19:19Slogans that are demanding, is there any kind of justice to this kind of GEO that has been forced?
19:27In fact, the fishermen community are questioning only one thing.
19:30Why is it that the Tamil Nadu government has taken up this particular land,
19:35the land in which they have been living generation after generation,
19:40affecting their livelihood by bringing in such a new GEO?
19:43In fact, the public of Patinampakkam have been protesting for quite some time now
19:50and several public today as well have taken up the protests,
19:53demanding if there is any justice and protesting, recalling for the GEO that has been issued by the Tamil Nadu
20:02government,
20:02saying that should this new secretariat be constructed,
20:07then it will go ahead and destroy the livelihood of the community here in Patinampakkam.
20:17Okay, as we get you all of those news updates, don't forget that I am in Kochi because of the
20:21India Today Conclave South.
20:23And earlier today, I was in conversation with Congress Member of Parliament in Rajasabha from Keralam,
20:29Jebi Mathir, on representation of women, on what makes Keralam stand out and the South perspective in Delhi.
20:37Take a look at that conversation.
20:39Welcome, first of all, Jebi, to the India Today Conclave South.
20:42And we're in your land, Ningal Day, Natal, Eprasham, we're having the India Today Conclave South.
20:49You've seen generations of politics in the sense that your family has been in politics.
20:54You've kind of grown up in that world.
20:56How would you define the politics of today in Keralam?
21:01Very good morning to all of you.
21:03First, let me take this opportunity that we are delighted that India Today's Conclave South is happening in Kochi,
21:11the queen of Arabian Sea.
21:14So, very, very delighted.
21:16Now, coming to your question, like how do you see the politics of today?
21:21Politics of today has transformed so much where the organizations or the politics which we have seen probably 20, 30,
21:3440, 50 years ago, that has transformed.
21:37Now, whether the transformation that has happened is not just about the politicians, the transformation has happened, how we look
21:47at politics, how media looks at politics, how the constitutional bodies look at their duties,
21:55how the independent organizations or those who are accountable, those who are supposed to abide by their constitutional role, how
22:07the degradation has happened.
22:09Now, all that are at the national level.
22:12But in Kerala, if I were to say, we are still clinging on to the very basic democracy, whether it
22:21is from grassroots, you look at very,
22:24if you look at political parties, you take any political parties, now Kerala, it is the Congress and the LDF,
22:32predominantly, you look at the politics of today,
22:36we still maintain a very CADA-based, systematic, grassroots approach in terms of politics and organizations concerned.
22:45But to your answer, Kerala cannot be separated from India.
22:49So, India, if we look at it, we have reached a time, a defining moment in India's history, a time
22:59where it is for everybody to stand up and speak to protect the constitution of India.
23:06I think I would say, whether it is Kerala, whether it is Andhra Pradesh, whether it is Jarkand, whether it
23:12is Chhattisgarh, whether it is Punjab, whether it is Kashmir, anywhere, India as such, if we look at it,
23:17the politics of today demands that we may be faced with many consequences, there may be threats, there may be
23:25a lot of inconvenient situations,
23:30but whatever it is, the primary aim of any politician who wants a good for the country should be to
23:37stand up and speak and protect the constitution should be the idea.
23:41You found a common thread, a common theme there, where you've kind of bridged any differences that there is in
23:48politics between Kerala and Delhi.
23:50You are someone who sees what's happening in Kerala, and then you also see what's happening in Delhi.
23:55Is it challenging to represent Kerala in Delhi?
23:59It's so poles apart.
24:01You found that common theme, but it is poles apart in its politics, in its nature, in its very essence.
24:07Because we, whether it is Kerala, I see where, I am saying whether it is Malayali or whether it is
24:15any other state,
24:17if we genuinely believe in what we are supposed to be standing for, nothing stops us from saying that whether
24:25it is in Kerala or whether it is in Delhi.
24:27We would look up to anyone, we would look at anyone in their eyes, and we will say, we will
24:33have the courage to say that you are wrong, what you are doing is not right.
24:38So you are saying that it doesn't matter?
24:40It doesn't matter, because...
24:42Is it hard, is my question.
24:44Is it hard to represent a state like Kerala that, you know, most politicians in Delhi don't understand much about?
24:50There is always that, you know, we keep using this term on India today, tyranny of distance.
24:56Do you sense that when you go to Delhi?
24:58I don't feel that at all.
25:00There is no tyranny of distance.
25:02There is tyranny of power that is happening in the country now.
25:05And with the tyranny of power, how can we get the country out of tyranny of power is what my
25:13concern is.
25:13There is no tyranny of distance.
25:15There is no tyranny of language.
25:17There is no tyranny of issues.
25:20The tyranny of power needs to be shown their way.
25:25You're a woman who's, you know, paved her way in politics.
25:30What's that like?
25:32You know, representation of women in politics is something everyone speaks of in parliament.
25:36It's a big, big talking point about reservation and the need to have more women representation in parliament.
25:42What is your one message to many others who may be seeking to enter politics?
25:46Women in particular, is it hard?
25:50Any, any field you take is a hard, any field you take depends on the seriousness you give to that
25:57field.
25:58But if you take any field very lightly, then it is lightly.
26:01But politics, you have to have that passion.
26:05You have to have the courage.
26:07You need to have that ability to face any and every challenge.
26:12But still, I think for women, women are known for multitasking.
26:16They manage their home.
26:17They manage their responsibilities at home.
26:21But they, when they are, I'm sorry for all the men sitting here about multitasking, I have to admit that
26:30it is the women.
26:31I'm sure the men will agree too.
26:33I'm sure the men will agree.
26:35The men will also agree.
26:35They would take the newspaper in hand.
26:38The first thing they do, they will conveniently sit and read whether women will be taking care of the children's
26:43breakfast and the lunch packed home.
26:45While reading the paper.
26:47While reading the paper and watching the news.
26:50So, for me, I always say that it is about the passion that matters.
26:56Now, I am from a municipal councillor background.
26:59My background is municipal councillor.
27:01I am very proud of that.
27:03I have contested municipal elections three times on a congress hand ticket.
27:08So, what I believe, see, if we are able to understand the concerns of the people at the grassroot, you
27:15can address the concerns at national level also.
27:18But, see, that level of, whether it is you are a municipal councillor or I was a municipal vice chairperson
27:26and then I am Raj Sabha MP.
27:28It doesn't matter for a woman whether you are at the bottom level or the top level or the mid
27:34level.
27:35Your commitment, dedication and your decision-taking capacity and more importantly, the passion, the boldness, the courage.
27:44All these are the things that matters.
27:45I don't think we are in an age where we should sit and discuss whether women should be or whether
27:50women can do.
27:52Look at the Asian Games gold medal.
27:54Who has got more home?
27:56It is the women you take.
27:58And you look at positions.
28:00You look at positions.
28:01Everybody wants to discuss whether women should be given.
28:04There is no discussion also.
28:06Hardly it is given.
28:06But I am very fortunate Congress party has sent me to Raj Sabha from a very grassroot political, that is
28:14the basic.
28:15Anybody can have the grassroot in India as per the system.
28:19And I am also from an organizational background where from the youth congress where I have climbed up the ladder
28:25from the block level to the state.
28:28So it doesn't matter.
28:29My message to all the women who wants to be interested in politics, come jump in, but be ready to
28:35face all the challenges with a smile.
28:39I am glad you have said that.
28:40And you have highlighted that, you know, women do it so much better.
28:43I am sorry again, but women do it so much better.
28:45But I will highlight this, ma'am.
28:48Grassroot politics in Kerala sees a lot of representation by women.
28:51That doesn't somehow translate.
28:53I will give you some numbers.
28:54Kerala has 11 women MLAs out of 140, 7.9% of the assembly.
28:59There are two women ministers in a 21-member cabinet.
29:03Nine tickets were given by Congress to women in this assembly election.
29:07One during the Lok Sabha.
29:10You hear a lot of the terms smash the patriarchy.
29:13But is all of that just sloganeering?
29:15Is women representation a pipe dream?
29:18And nothing more than that for every political party.
29:20I am highlighting the Congress because you would be in a place to answer for them, ma'am.
29:25No, definitely I agree with you when you say that is this enough?
29:30Means the answer is a big no, this is not enough.
29:32But at least we are moving forward is what I want to tell you.
29:35Are parties walking the talk on it?
29:37No, we are walking the talk.
29:39We are, now if you ask me how many Rajasabha MPs are there from Congress in, from Kerala,
29:46it is only one and that's a woman and that's me.
29:48Now, if you ask me, for after so many years, we are having two women ministers from Congress in Kerala.
29:56So, step by step it's happening.
29:58There are efforts being taken at the organizational level also.
30:02There are specific steps taken to ensure that women come to the forefront.
30:08But I would reiterate that this is not enough.
30:10This is definitely not enough.
30:12We have a deputy speaker also who is a woman after so many years in Kerala.
30:16So, that's also from Congress.
30:17So, smash the patriarchy is a slogan given by Rahul Gandhi ji.
30:25Definitely, that's a very big motivating force.
30:28That is very genuine.
30:30And I believe that he genuinely wants women to come to the forefront and Congress party also.
30:37So, and now the reservation, let's talk about reservation, reservation who had, how many women we have in local bodies,
30:46including me, earlier.
30:48I agree.
30:49I agree.
30:49Local level, it's…
30:50No, local level.
30:51Who brought it?
30:51And Kerala leads the way in that.
30:52Who did walk the talk?
30:53It is Congress party.
30:55It is Rajiv Gandhi.
30:56That let us accept.
30:58Now, what the ruling dispensation, what the central government now currently doing is, they talk about reservation, but they don't
31:05want to give reservation.
31:06They only want to give, try to bring in reservation under the garb of delimitation.
31:11They are clubbing the two.
31:13They are clubbing it.
31:14Their intentions are, definitely, they have intentions for everything.
31:18That is what we are seeing in every sector, everyday news, everyday events.
31:22But delimitation and women reservation, if the central government was genuine, they should not club it with delimitation.
31:30Give women reservation to the existing numbers.
31:32Who is stopping them, if they are genuine, but they are not genuine?
31:36There are two aspects here, and you've highlighted some of the numbers, and Congress is taking that step.
31:42You know, one is on gender, the other is on a generational gap in politics.
31:46Again, that very often, what we define as a youth netta is not really a youth netta.
31:52In, for example, again, Kerala, the average age of the cabinet is about 57 years.
31:58Do you think that's good enough?
31:59Or do you think that, you know, we need to have younger blood in politics as well?
32:04There should be a mix of young blood experiences, what I believe.
32:09It's not just the case that it should be only young, but sometimes experience also is required.
32:16And a combination of young blood and the experienced will be the best combination, is what I believe.
32:24Even now, we do see our sports minister, Kerala sports minister is a youth congress president.
32:32He's very young.
32:33He's the first time MLA and Congress has made him the minister.
32:37So there are many young ministers under 50.
32:41We have many number of ministers who are under 50.
32:44So all that is a good message which we are giving.
32:48But just by saying only youth, I do not agree to that.
32:52We need to have the experience also.
32:55So I've mentioned two aspects here, gender as well as age, because there's a lot of conversation, discourse about these
33:02two aspects very often in politics.
33:04But I will also say, as you've mentioned, ma'am, that Kerala leads on many fronts on this.
33:10It's a state that has always been extremely progressive and has kind of shown the way to the rest of
33:15the country.
33:16Is that something that Delhi recognizes when you speak to your colleagues, other members of parliament?
33:21Do they always kind of put Kerala in the pedestal that it deserves to be in?
33:25Kerala has its own unique features.
33:30Kerala was the first state to be 100% literate, which we are very proud of.
33:36Kerala is definitely, if we look at the health or the education sectors, we are way ahead when compared to
33:47many other states.
33:48Now to your question whether the parliamentarians in Delhi gives that recognition to Kerala.
33:55I think everybody has about Kerala, whether it's tourism or whether it is about the fellow parliamentarians, they always share
34:08very good thoughts about Kerala.
34:10Now, if your question is whether Delhi means the government, I think I'll have to say that Kerala is always
34:20not given a priority, which they should be given by the government.
34:26And for that matter, Kerala is also a place, if you look at the media, media of Kerala is very
34:33critical.
34:35Critical, Kerala medium, I still feel.
34:39That's a good thing, if they're critical.
34:41They're critical.
34:42They're critical.
34:43Of the government, right?
34:43Of the government, of the center, I'm saying.
34:46And let me take this, since we are talking about media, let me also say that how, where do we
34:52stand in the media of what we believed in as media?
34:57Where do we stand?
34:58I take this opportunity to take you to the time of Nehru.
35:03Nehru and Shankar.
35:05What the, what was the kind of critics that happened and what was the response of Prime Minister Nehru that
35:12of those times years ago?
35:14He had, he had the courage to say, don't spare me Shankar.
35:19Do we hear anything like that?
35:21No, let me complete.
35:24And then, if you look at the present, you know, that period of the, how, about 1500 cartoons, Shankar has
35:32made of Nehru.
35:34And Nehru is the, it is not just about, it was pure, critical and very, on, even on the policies,
35:43even on the decisions taken by Pandit Jawallal Nehru, Shankar was critical.
35:47I appreciate India today, not because I am sitting in, I am sitting in a forum of India today.
35:54Especially recently, the India today has been showing the spine to criticize the present government, criticize Prime Minister and the
36:03Home Ministers.
36:03Now, if we say a media is criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Prime, Home Minister Amit Shah, everybody is
36:11taken by surprise.
36:12Because that has become very, very rare.
36:16Now, India today, I also appreciate, now we are, since we are talking about media, you are so sorry.
36:23You are so sorry, which started, I think 2013 or something?
36:27Yeah, yeah.
36:28There, with Bollywood music and the 3D imagination.
36:33If you ask me whether you look up to Mr. Narendra Modi Amit Shah, no.
36:39But still critical and is there.
36:42But if you look at whether that's so sorry, is more of a entertainment.
36:47But I am happy that entertainment, through entertainment, criticizing happens.
36:53But where do we stand in media?
36:55Where do we stand as a nation?
36:58Do we hear critics?
37:00Do we see criticizing policies?
37:03Gyanesh Kumar issue, how many channels are discussing?
37:06How many newspapers are writing?
37:08One newspaper had, definitely it was a bold step.
37:11And then, India today, again I am saying India today discussing it.
37:15But how many channels are discussing less important things like, suddenly they want to discuss about very relevant matters.
37:23Gyanesh Kumar issue is about, how from, I am saying if I am, I have contested as a municipal councillor
37:30in a ward.
37:31If the election is compromised, if the voter list is compromised, what happens to the election?
37:37What happens is, what is happening in our country today?
37:41No, you're right ma'am.
37:42But I think also, where you have highlighted what India today does, for the media there have also been a
37:48lot of questions, sure.
37:49But it is the media that's highlighted what's happened also.
37:51Yes, that's what I also said.
37:53And you're right, India today is always, of course, focused on the truth.
37:57We've put the spotlight on that.
37:59Because our time is up ma'am.
38:00And I started off speaking about your experience in Delhi as a member of parliament representing Kerala.
38:06I'd love to know, what's the one South stereotype you face a lot in Delhi?
38:13If we happen to speak one line in Hindi, then suddenly everybody will ask you,
38:19Oh, you speak Hindi?
38:20Or if you happen to talk about a Bollywood movie or a Bollywood song, then they are like, the kind
38:31of surprise they have on their face.
38:33Oh, you know Hindi songs?
38:35You know Hindi movie?
38:36I think India is for everyone.
38:40Everybody, Shah Rukh Khan is for everyone.
38:42Whether it is in Kerala, whether it is in Kochi or Delhi or Bombay, wherever, everyone has to celebrate that.
38:47But I think that's a surprise element.
38:50If at all, on a lighter way, if I were to say that, that kind of surprise happens when it
38:56comes to, that there is a perception in the mind somewhere in the North, that we are not supposed to
39:04be entertained by the Bollywood or by Hindi.
39:11We see, we are for unity in diversity.
39:13Our language, whether it is Hindi, whether it's other languages, we appreciate every language.
39:19We don't have the shock if, if it is somebody else, we don't get shocked if some, any other language
39:26is said like that.
39:27But I feel in Delhi, that is what happens that if we know Hindi or if we know this, it
39:32is taken by surprise.
39:34Shah Rukh Khan is for everyone. Mohan Lal Mamuti is for everyone.
39:38Yes.
39:38But thank you so much.
39:39India Today is for everyone.
39:41I couldn't have said it better.
39:42Thank you so much, ma'am, for joining us here at the India Today Con.