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Delhi pollution debate: Experts flag local emissions; US strikes Iran before midterms
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00:00Good evening, hello and welcome. You're with the news today. This is your primetime destination news, newsmakers talking points.
00:07Let me tell you our big talking points tonight. What to expect in the US midterm elections?
00:13That's the big question we'll raise today. Also, are the Trump-led Republicans heading for a defeat that could change
00:19the course of the world?
00:21Or is Donald Trump, as some are speculating, going to order an attack on the Iranian nuclear facility?
00:30That's going to be our top focus. Also, that air pollution question.
00:34What is driving air pollution once again across the national capital? Is double-burning the key factor?
00:41Lots to talk about, but first as always, it's time for the Nine Headlines at Night.
00:48Voting underway in the crucial US midterm elections. World watches with a bated breath.
00:54US bombs Iran, Ireland, just as the voting begins. Projections are giving Democrats an upper hand in both houses and
01:03a defeat for Donald Trump.
01:09Rahul Gandhi doubles down on debates over foreign funding, tells Prime Minister Modi, choose the stage, venue and judge for
01:17an open debate.
01:18Home Minister Shah hits back.
01:20There's Modi government ready for debate on any issue in the real parliament.
01:26Amidst voter-chory showdown and more questions, Election Commission of India breaks silence now on alleged wrongful deletion,
01:35urges voters whose names were missing from voter rolls to submit Form 6 for fresh conclusion without fear of any
01:42prosecution.
01:45The national capital records its worst air quality in 200 days.
01:51AQI slips to severe category before Diwali's central pollution body cracks down on Punjab over stubble burning,
01:58even as Madhya Pradesh is the worst when it comes to pollute stubble cases.
02:05Bombay High Court comes down heavily on the Netas who criticized actor D.A. Mirza's Diwali ad for the BMC.
02:13says India is a secular nation, advises the Mumbai civic body to restore the video at once,
02:18moments after it was taken down under pressure from local politicians.
02:25After firing on Tiger Shroff, actor Tushar Kapoor allegedly gets an extortion call from Vishnoy gang seeking 5 crores.
02:34Police suspect call might be a hoax.
02:39DSF personnel attacked with sticks during an anti-smuggling operation in Tripura.
02:43Police launched probe, 9 persons arrested in connection with the case.
02:51Enforcement directed attaches additional assets worth 510 crores linked to the Anilambani-led reliance group.
02:582 planes, 6 blots among the seized assets.
03:01Total value of attachments jumped to 23,100 crores.
03:08The football world is shocked and in sadness after Spanish footballer Jesus de Miguel dies a day after a horrible
03:15collision
03:16with the opposition goalkeeper during a Spanish second division match on Monday.
03:21He died of cardiac arrest.
03:39But the big story that we are breaking at the moment, there's the big US midterm test for Donald Trump
03:45in the United States.
03:46Remember the election the world is watching at the moment, battle is on for the US House and the Senate
03:54and it's an election that could change the course of Donald Trump's presidency.
03:58Remember the US bombed Iran this morning just hours before those midterm polls began
04:04and latest predictions are giving the Democrats an upper hand in both the houses
04:08which could significantly reduce Donald Trump's room for maneuver and that could affect India and the world
04:16and also possibly the course of the war in West Asia.
04:20I want to go to our man in Washington DC, Rohit Sharma, who tracks every move there.
04:25Rohit, voting has begun.
04:28Are most exit polls now predicting that the Democrats could win both houses?
04:33That's the sense, Rajdeep, across all the polls, including some internal polling of the Republicans
04:41who have said that there's a good chance that not only will they lose the House but also the Senate
04:46and that was one of the reasons why President Donald Trump had been campaigning really hard
04:51in those red states of Texas and Alaska and North Carolina and South Carolina,
04:55some safe Senate seats that nobody would have imagined six months ago
04:58that the president would have to campaign in.
05:01So that also tells you that at the end of the day, you know, tonight we'll possibly know what happens
05:06in the House
05:07but the Senate races could be too close to call, Rajdeep, but looks like it's heading that way
05:12that President Trump will have to work with Democratic leaders not only in the House but also in the Senate.
05:21Okay, Rohit, we'll come back to you for more details.
05:24Remember, counting will begin early morning in India.
05:28All of this, of course, against the backdrop of the war in West Asia.
05:32That's why the world is on the edge.
05:34The United States today carrying out airstrikes on Iran's Qashem Island
05:38just hours before voting began on those midterm polls.
05:43Trump, who had earlier said no to any fresh attacks,
05:47in an interview to Fox News, hinted that the U.S. could target an Iranian nuclear facility
05:53in the pickaxe mountains, this has led to growing concerns
05:56as to whether the war could actually be escalated by Donald Trump
06:00even if he is to suffer a midterm poll defeat
06:04with Iran threatening retaliation if it is an attack in any manner.
06:09It's our top story tonight.
06:21The U.S. launches airstrikes on Qashem Island in the Strait of Hormuz.
06:29The limited strikes targeted Iran's surface-to-air missiles, according to American media.
06:35The attack on the island of strategic importance came just hours before the midterm polls began in the U.S.
06:48There have been reports that Trump is under pressure from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
06:53to launch fresh attacks on Iran.
06:57Tucker Carlson, a former supporter of Trump, claimed the Israelis won the U.S.
07:01to target Iranian nuclear facility in Pickaxe Mountain.
07:06In an interview to Fox News, President Donald Trump on Monday said,
07:10and I quote,
07:11We might have to go after pickaxe.
07:13It's not a big deal.
07:15We can do that in one hour.
07:17Unquote.
07:18Earlier, Trump had claimed the U.S. is winning the war.
07:23Winning with Iran, easily winning.
07:26Their Navy is gone.
07:27Their Air Force is gone,
07:29playing all over the runways of Iran in little pieces.
07:33The anti-aircraft, their missile capacity is way down,
07:38and their missile building capacity is way down.
07:42And they want to make a deal.
07:44And that could happen.
07:49Iran's chief negotiator and parliament speaker Mohamed Bagir Ghalibab
07:52has hit out, saying it was up to the U.S. to stop the war.
08:03The countries of the region should know
08:05that the Islamic Republic of Iran,
08:07while standing ready for battle with its finger on the trigger,
08:10has given the American side a firm and rational response.
08:14The ball is now in America's court to prevent the war.
08:21The West Asia war is a top midterm election issue in the U.S.
08:26Analysts believe voters angry over the rising cost of living
08:30may punish Donald Trump's Republican Party
08:33and deny the majority in the House of Representatives and Senate.
08:37If that were to happen,
08:39Trump's position could weaken within the U.S.
08:44Bureau reports, India Today.
08:47Okay, so let's raise the big question on the election the world is watching.
08:51Are Trump-led Republicans headed for defeat in the U.S. midterm polls?
08:55What's the central issue at the moment for the U.S. voter?
08:59What will a Republican defeat mean for the Trump presidency
09:03and indeed for India and the world?
09:04Could Trump actually order an attack on Iran's nuclear facility,
09:08which is why the world is watching so carefully?
09:11Joining me now, two special guests.
09:13Jeffrey Ross Gunter, former U.S. diplomat, joins me.
09:16Also being joined by Troy Blackwell,
09:18former advisor to Vice President Kamala Harris.
09:20Good to have both of you on the show.
09:22Mr. Gunter, your first reactions to the fact that just today,
09:28the U.S. has bombed an island in Iran
09:31and there are these speculations over whether the Trump presidency
09:35could even order an attack on a nuclear facility at Pickaxe Mountain in Iran.
09:40What's your sense?
09:41Is Donald Trump getting more and more desperate
09:43as the midterm polls show him possibly losing?
09:47Well, first and foremost, Donald Trump is never desperate.
09:50Donald Trump has the ability to make things happen.
09:53As a U.S. ambassador, Ambassador Gunter, I would remind you,
09:57I have extensive experience in foreign affairs.
10:01And let there be no misunderstanding,
10:03the attack against Iran was a defensive action.
10:07The United States has always said that if we are attacked,
10:10we will attack you.
10:12And I must say the Iranians can very easily stop this
10:15by declaring that they will no longer have a nuclear weapon,
10:18stop killing 50,000 of their own people,
10:20stop being the number one state sponsor of terror
10:23around the world and free, free the 90 million Iranian people
10:28in their country.
10:33But are you saying, therefore, that Donald Trump
10:36could well go ahead with an attack, nuclear attack,
10:39an attack on an Iranian nuclear facility
10:42irrespective of what the midterm poll results are?
10:45It's a great question.
10:47The answer is absolutely he will.
10:49And he will do it in less than an hour.
10:51Their Navy at the bottom of the sea.
10:54Their air force crumble.
10:56Their drone capability diminished dramatically.
10:59Intercontinental ballistic missiles practically gone.
11:02The ability to manufacture weapons is practically,
11:06absolutely eliminated.
11:08This has been a fantastically executed war of attrition.
11:12We didn't have tens of thousands of Americans
11:15storming across the Iranian border,
11:18incurring huge casualties.
11:20This is a very successful war of attrition.
11:22And if you don't believe me, go ask the Ayatollah.
11:25Oh, wait, he's gone.
11:27If you don't believe me, go ask Soleimani.
11:30Oh, he's gone.
11:31If you don't believe me, go ask the head of the Navy.
11:33He's gone.
11:34This is successful, despite the narrative that's being promoted
11:38against Donald Trump, because so many people have not only TVS,
11:42but let's face it, depending upon the country you're from,
11:46you can have ITDS, Indian Trump Derangement Syndrome,
11:50or Iranian Trump Derangement Syndrome.
11:53The war has been a success.
11:54You're right.
11:55The American public is divided over it.
11:58But the question is, is that a messaging problem,
12:01or is that an absolute result problem?
12:06Well, all of this, of course, you know, you're saying go and ask the Ayatollahs,
12:11but at the moment we are going to ask the U.S. voters,
12:13because they are actually voting.
12:15Troy Brackwell, you heard Ambassador Gunter suggesting that
12:18Donald Trump's going to go ahead, prosecute the war,
12:20irrespective of what happens in the midterm elections.
12:23What's your view as a former advisor to Vice President Kamala Harris?
12:27Do you believe Donald Trump is running out of time?
12:29And, as I said at the outset, getting more and more desperate,
12:33and an election defeat could make him even more desperate.
12:37Yeah, thanks for having me.
12:39With all due respect to the ambassador, I vehemently disagree.
12:43I think that President Trump is desperate,
12:46and he's throwing a lot at the wall.
12:48What we've seen is not what the president had promised.
12:51He ran on no new wars.
12:54He ran on bringing down the costs for American families.
12:58And he has not delivered on that promise for two years,
13:01for the last two years.
13:03And he's expecting those in his parties to do well based off of his failures.
13:08You know, the war in Iran, yes, Iran is a state sponsor of terror.
13:13But the war that was started in Iran was started without congressional approval,
13:17therefore making it an illegal war.
13:20Because of what is happening in Iran,
13:22we have a high cost in terms of oil and diesel and gas,
13:27and the Americans are feeling it.
13:29President Trump has also put tariffs on many of our allies,
13:32including India and Canada.
13:34People are feeling that when it comes to lumber,
13:37when it comes to steel,
13:38when it comes to our groceries,
13:40what we're getting at the supermarket.
13:41The American people are feeling the burden of that.
13:44And the reality of this situation is that the majority of Americans
13:48aren't even Republican or Democrat.
13:51About 44% of the American public are independent voters,
13:55and they're looking to see how has the president delivered on,
13:59you know, his economic policy.
14:00What did he promise around taxes and no new wars and affordability?
14:04And so far, Trump 2.0 has been an utter failure.
14:08You know, the president is reaching.
14:10He's overreaching.
14:11He's, you know, trying to discredit elections
14:14that before they even happened.
14:16The president is desperate.
14:21You're saying the president is desperate,
14:23but what if, as most polls are showing,
14:25the Democrats win both houses,
14:27they win the House of Representatives and the Senate.
14:30Do you expect a pushback?
14:31Do you expect them to say to Donald Trump,
14:33enough is enough,
14:34that we do not want this war to be prosecuted,
14:37we do not want irrational tariff policies?
14:39Will they push back,
14:41or will Donald Trump as an imperial executive presidency
14:44push ahead with his agenda?
14:46What's your sense, Mr. McAuliffe?
14:48Yes, Democrats already have a 100-day plan
14:51to push back when we win back the House and Senate today.
14:55So that's number one is affordability.
14:58There's already plans about reeling in the president on tariffs,
15:01reeling in the president on this war.
15:02It's one of the reasons why the president is spiraling
15:05and talking about, you know,
15:07bombing different cities today.
15:08It's the reason why he's talking about
15:10even if Democrats have a majority,
15:12he's going to try to veto everything.
15:14He's trying to figure out every way possible
15:17other than working with what, you know,
15:19the American people have decided.
15:22So we expect everything from this president.
15:24We expect him to throw everything at the wall.
15:26We expect him to spiral.
15:28We expect him to pretty much, you know, defect.
15:32His back is against the wall, and he knows it.
15:34But this is how President Trump is.
15:37I mean, you know, for a grown man,
15:38he acts like an erratic child.
15:40We expect nothing less.
15:43You know, therefore, Ambassador Gunter, in conclusion,
15:48if America is voting decisively,
15:51will the president get the message
15:53that this is a country where the president promised
15:56he's not going to take America into any more wars?
15:58He promised that he would ensure affordability.
16:01Prices have risen.
16:02The gasoline prices have risen.
16:04Will he not see this as a mandate against him
16:07and will have to change his style of presidency?
16:11Troy seems like a decent guy
16:13who's entitled to his opinion,
16:15but he's not entitled to the facts.
16:17Inflation under sleepy and demented,
16:20100% demented,
16:22with end-stage demented Joe Biden,
16:25we had inflation well above 5%.
16:27Currently, it's down to 3.5%.
16:29As far as resolving wars around the world,
16:32the president has been amazingly effective.
16:35I think he has helped the India-Pakistan conflict
16:37as well as adding to the Abraham Accords.
16:40There is no great message here.
16:43Sorry to intervene, Ambassador Gunter.
16:44If everything is going so swimmingly,
16:47why is the president likely,
16:48why are the Republicans losing?
16:50As most exit polls are pretty cool,
16:52why are the Republicans losing
16:53if everything is going so swimmingly?
16:55That's a great question.
16:57And you know something,
16:57you have to look at history to understand this.
17:00If you look back in history,
17:01mid-term elections tend to go to the opposite party
17:04in American politics.
17:06I don't believe this is some great referendum on Donald Trump.
17:09I don't believe people want to go back
17:11to a president of the United States
17:12who couldn't even sign a signature,
17:14who used an auto pen.
17:15A president of the United States
17:16in the case of Joe Biden,
17:19who let 20 million immigrants flood across the border
17:23with wild, wild incompetence.
17:26You don't want to go back to that.
17:28Americans don't want to go back to this.
17:30I believe that the House is a tough race.
17:32I'll give you all that.
17:34But I do believe that we will hold the Senate
17:36because they are supporting radical Islamic maniacs
17:40like al-Sayed in Michigan.
17:43Individuals who wanted to basically dissolve the U.S. Senate.
17:47Individuals who's blaming America for 9-11.
17:50This is not what the Americans want.
17:51Let me push you again.
17:52Ambassador Gunter,
17:53do Americans want to go to war?
17:56Don't Americans want this war to end?
17:58This war was supposed to be prosecuted in a week,
18:01two weeks.
18:02It's gone on for more than six months.
18:04Don't most Americans want the war to end?
18:05As most people in this country or indeed the world do, Ambassador?
18:10It's a great question.
18:12And most Americans want to make sure that Iran does not have a nuclear weapon.
18:15If you think Americans are happy with oil prices,
18:18imagine what oil prices would have been
18:20if the Ayatollah was still talking about 77 virgins
18:24and had a nuclear bomb.
18:27They are a danger and threat to America,
18:30the world, India,
18:31and let's face it,
18:33the weak, terrible, demented leadership of Joe Biden
18:35led to much of this mess.
18:37And if you don't believe me,
18:39look at the millions of people that have been killed
18:40in the Russia-Ukraine war
18:43as a result of having a president
18:44who could not think it had an auto pen.
18:47This is not a reflection necessarily on Donald Trump.
18:50It's a typical, typical midterm election.
18:53I believe we will hold the Senate.
18:55The House is going to be tough.
18:56I will give that to my fellow colleague, Troy,
18:59and let's see what happens.
19:04Troy, very quickly, therefore, in conclusion,
19:07do you believe that this will be from,
19:11come tomorrow,
19:12if the elections go the way the exit pollsters
19:14are predicting a different Trump presidency?
19:16Or is he the kind of figure
19:18who's not going to change the way he is?
19:19Are Democrats reconciled to the fact
19:21that Donald Trump has veto power as well?
19:24A quick answer.
19:26Yes, Democrats have every plan possible.
19:30We understand that of how President Trump operates,
19:33we understand that he will not accept
19:35the results lightly.
19:37We know that he will feel like his back
19:39is against the wall and lash out.
19:41So we expect every possible reaction
19:43that you could expect from someone like Donald Trump.
19:49Okay, I'm going to leave it there.
19:50Clearly, the world is watching that big election.
19:53Thank you, Ambassador Gunter, Troy Blackwell
19:55for joining me there.
19:56We'll wait and see how the results play out.
19:59All the live results, of course,
20:00right through the night here on India Today.
20:03Let's move on to our big story at home.
20:09Okay, let's turn then back home
20:12to our special focus today.
20:14And our special focus today
20:15is on an issue that recurs year after year
20:19with seemingly no real solutions.
20:24Because in this first week of November,
20:27just days ahead of Diwali,
20:30the national capital's air pollution
20:32has once again worsened.
20:35The AQI, the air quality index,
20:38on October 29th was 222,
20:41which is considered poor.
20:43There were two days of relief,
20:44October 30 and 31st due to rains.
20:47On 1st November, AQI back at 261,
20:50poor category.
20:51Today, it has jumped up further,
20:54350, which is considered very poor.
20:59So the country's national capital,
21:01very poor air quality index,
21:02some of the most polluted cities
21:04remain in the country at the moment.
21:08The Delhi Environment Minister, though,
21:10is saying don't blame us,
21:12blame the previous Kejriwal government in Delhi,
21:14which was in power for 10 years,
21:16and is also blaming
21:19farm stubble burning in Punjab.
21:23Smaller farmers in Punjab
21:26are claiming they have no option
21:28but to burn the stubble
21:30to get their fields ready
21:31for the next harvest season.
21:33While the data does show
21:35that there is a dramatic fall
21:38in the number of farm fires
21:40in Punjab since 2020,
21:43NASA's satellite images
21:45continue to reveal
21:46that the farm fires
21:47haven't entirely gone away
21:49and they're also in Pakistan's Punjab area
21:52from where they could move
21:54here to India.
21:56So we're going to discuss that
21:58in a moment,
21:58but first take a look
22:00at this ground report
22:01from Kamaljeet Singh Sandhu,
22:04the stubble burning
22:05and its impact
22:06on worsening air quality.
22:14Delhi jokes again.
22:16Over 400 kilometres away,
22:18the paddy fields of Punjab
22:20have started to burn.
22:21Satellite data
22:22and ground reports
22:23show the number of fires
22:25is climbing.
22:26As of November 2nd,
22:28Punjab has already recorded
22:301,612 farm fires,
22:33making matters worse
22:34is stubble burning
22:35across the border
22:36in Pakistani Punjab
22:37which recorded
22:3813,241 fires.
22:41The fire hotspots
22:43in Pakistan
22:44are concentrated
22:44in districts
22:45around Lahore.
22:47As the next season
22:48draws closer,
22:49small and marginal farmers
22:51say they are forced
22:52to burn stubble.
22:54There is no problem
22:55that pollution is
22:57but it is a political issue
22:59of the government.
22:59If you give up
23:00the price of Rs.6,000
23:00you give up
23:13farmers say
23:14Punjab is being blamed
23:15unnecessarily.
23:38Meanwhile, there has been
23:39a big reduction
23:40in stubble burning.
23:41Roughly 90 to 94%
23:43dropped from the 2020 peak
23:45which saw 83,000 fires
23:47to 5,114 in 2025.
24:16Several farmers still resort
24:17to stubble burning
24:18leading to pollution
24:19leading to pollution
24:19not just in Punjab
24:20and Haryana
24:20but also in Delhi.
24:23Now, many,
24:23especially in the
24:24Ahmadi Party say
24:25how is the stubble burning
24:28reaching way back
24:29in Delhi?
24:30There is Haryana in between
24:31but the instances
24:32of stubble burning
24:33have reduced.
24:34However,
24:35they still continue
24:36to happen.
24:37For instance,
24:38there are 700 cases
24:39many of them
24:39being hotspots
24:40especially in Tarantaran
24:42and Amritsar area
24:42but also in far-flung areas
24:44like Sangroor
24:45is where
24:46stubble burning
24:47is taking place.
24:48With camera person
24:50Gunjeet,
24:50this is Kamal Jeet Sandhu
24:51in Sangroor
24:52for India Today.
24:53Okay, let's raise
24:54then the big questions
24:55on our talking point
24:56tonight.
24:57What is driving
24:58the national capital's
24:59air pollution?
25:01How does one stop
25:02stubble burning
25:03by farmers
25:04across large parts
25:05of this country
25:06particularly Punjab?
25:07Is Delhi's air quality
25:09set to worsen further?
25:11Is there a political
25:12will to fight pollution
25:14not just in the
25:14national capital
25:15but across this country?
25:18Chandra Bhushan,
25:19CEO,
25:19International Forum
25:20for Environment,
25:21Sustainability and Technology
25:22is joining me.
25:23Vimlendu Jai,
25:24environmentalist and CEO.
25:26Green the Map
25:27is also with us
25:28and Anumita Roy Choudhury,
25:29Executive Director
25:30at the Centre for Science
25:31and Environment
25:32is with us.
25:33Thank you all very much
25:34for joining us.
25:34Let's cut the chase
25:35and come to the big question
25:37of stubble burning
25:39right at the very outset.
25:40Chandra Bhushan,
25:41today we heard
25:42the Environment Minister
25:43of Delhi squarely
25:44blaming Punjab,
25:45even accusing
25:46the Amadmi Party government
25:48there of a conspiracy
25:49of allowing farmers
25:51to go ahead
25:51with stubble burning
25:52only to ensure
25:53Delhi gets foul air.
25:55Quite apart
25:55from the politics,
25:57do you go along
25:58that the sudden
25:58worsening of air quality
26:00is only because
26:01of stubble burning
26:02from Punjab
26:03and other parts
26:03of North India?
26:06Rajdeep,
26:07we have now eyes
26:08in the sky
26:08so we can see
26:09whether stubble burning
26:10is happening or not
26:11and there is not
26:12one eye.
26:13We have multiple
26:14satellites,
26:15both from India
26:16as well as
26:17from other countries
26:18which is monitoring
26:20stubble burning
26:21both in Pakistan.
26:23So if you look
26:24at the satellite map
26:25today of stubble burning
26:27of last one week,
26:28you see the following
26:29things.
26:31In India,
26:32Madhya Pradesh
26:32has the highest
26:33stubble burning.
26:34By the way,
26:34it is not Punjab
26:35right now.
26:36There is increasing
26:38burning of stubble
26:39in both part
26:42of Punjab
26:42in Pakistan
26:43as well as our part
26:45and in Haryana.
26:46Actually,
26:47you have large burning
26:48happening in Palwal
26:49which is on the
26:50border of Delhi.
26:52So stubble burning
26:53certainly is contributing
26:54to pollution
26:55in NCR region
26:57and it is not just
26:58because of Punjab.
26:59You are getting
27:00foul air from MP,
27:02partly from UP,
27:03Haryana,
27:04Punjab.
27:04And if you look
27:06at the haze
27:07over the subcontinent,
27:08you can clearly see
27:10now we have
27:11about 800 km long
27:14and about 100 km wide
27:17haze over
27:18Indo-Gangetic plain.
27:20So stubble certainly
27:21but there is also
27:22pollution from industries
27:23and stubble
27:25automobile
27:26which is contributing
27:27to it.
27:28But stubble burning
27:29has just started.
27:31You will see
27:31more and more
27:32stubble burning
27:33happening in next
27:34two weeks
27:35which will foul
27:36the air further.
27:41You know,
27:42you've told me
27:43something that
27:44many of our viewers
27:45probably didn't know
27:46which is Madhya Pradesh
27:47today at the moment
27:48has the highest number
27:49of cases of stubble
27:50burning.
27:50And Vimalindu,
27:51I want to put up
27:51some numbers of
27:52stubble burning
27:53in Punjab
27:53because the data
27:54shows that there
27:55has been some
27:56decline certainly
27:57in recent times
27:59that could also
27:59do with harvest season.
28:01But September 15
28:02to November 2,
28:032023 we had
28:0411,262 cases
28:06in Punjab.
28:072024 it was
28:083,916.
28:102025 it was
28:122,262 cases
28:14of stubble burning
28:15in Punjab.
28:16And 2026
28:17it has been
28:171,612.
28:19So there seems
28:20to be a decline
28:21in stubble burning
28:22at the moment.
28:24Some are saying
28:25much of this
28:25is happening
28:26at night time
28:27when satellite images
28:28can't capture
28:29these fires.
28:30But do you go along
28:31with what
28:32Chandrabhushanji is saying
28:33that look
28:33this is just
28:35one of the many
28:36factors
28:36and it is
28:37particularly
28:39noticeable
28:39at this time
28:40of the year
28:41and could get worse.
28:43So Rajdeep
28:44we need to understand
28:44that stubble burning
28:45is not the
28:46whole story
28:48and it's not
28:48the whole year story.
28:49It's very very important
28:50for us to understand
28:51that yes
28:51for the last couple
28:52of days
28:53we've actually seen
28:54the instances
28:55of stubble burning
28:56increase
28:57in and around Delhi.
28:58Of course
28:58meaning to say
28:59that in and around
29:00the ambient air quality
29:01has got affected
29:02but rather than
29:03looking at the
29:04visible hedge
29:05I think all of us
29:06need to develop
29:06the scientific temperament
29:08and understand
29:08the data
29:09that the government
29:10presents to us.
29:11The reason why
29:11I said that
29:12it's not a whole story
29:13and it's not a whole year story
29:14is that we've seen
29:15that stubble burning
29:16contribution
29:17ranges from
29:18around 5%
29:18to 22%.
29:19In fact
29:20yesterday
29:21it was around 8.25%.
29:22Day before
29:23it was 18%.
29:24And of course
29:25the contributors
29:26are all along.
29:27Indeed
29:28stubble burning
29:28needs to stop
29:29but it becomes
29:30a very very convenient
29:31excuse for all of us
29:32sitting here
29:33and for the government
29:35because of the politics
29:36involved with this
29:37in order to blame
29:38the farmers
29:39squarely
29:40where the 80% pollutants
29:42right now
29:43while we accept
29:44government's own data
29:45that 18% to 20%
29:46contribution
29:47to the ambient
29:48air quality of Delhi
29:49is because of stubble burning
29:50we want to conveniently
29:52ignore the 80%
29:53contributors
29:54right now
29:54and we want to
29:55conveniently ignore
29:56what pollutes
29:57Delhi NCR
29:58365 days.
30:00So imagine
30:00right now
30:02the prime time
30:03discussion that we are
30:03having is
30:04how do we blame
30:05the farmers?
30:06But right now
30:06in last couple of years
30:07we've all
30:08in the month of November
30:09we wake up to this
30:11to this haze
30:12or which is visible
30:13and the invisible
30:14poison
30:15poisoning of our lungs
30:16and of our children
30:17and our elderly
30:18and we don't do enough
30:19and the onus
30:20lies on the government
30:21on respective governments
30:22of state
30:23and also of the centre
30:24so therefore for me
30:25as in my
30:26my blunt point
30:27would be
30:28that yes
30:28stubble burning
30:29needs to stop
30:30but disproportionate
30:31blaming or attribution
30:32while the scientific evidence
30:34presented by the government
30:35itself
30:36says that 80 to 90%
30:38pollution
30:38even on the peak days
30:40of pollution
30:41is because of the local
30:42sources
30:43and we don't do
30:44jack about that
30:45versus
30:45we only squarely
30:47blame
30:47the party
30:48which is in power
30:49somewhere else
30:53you know
30:54I'll just throw
30:55those numbers up
30:56because
30:56let's look at
30:57Delhi pollution
30:58breakup
30:58what causes pollution
31:01as of November 2nd
31:022026
31:03just on this day
31:04itself
31:04the decision support
31:05system for AQM
31:06in Delhi
31:07is our source
31:07transport
31:08listen
31:09look at these numbers
31:10carefully
31:1020.1%
31:12transport
31:12stubble burning
31:14comes second
31:14at 8.6%
31:15so transport
31:17well ahead
31:17of stubble burning
31:18residential
31:195.1%
31:20industries
31:214.1%
31:22construction
31:232.8%
31:24road dust
31:251.5%
31:27Anumita
31:27I know
31:28you've been
31:28an expert
31:29on road transport
31:30it almost seems
31:31you know
31:32we can do
31:32this discussion
31:33year after year
31:34as Vimlendu
31:35saying
31:35very easy
31:36to blame
31:36the farmers
31:37say look
31:37stubble burning
31:38is the reason
31:38why it's
31:39been aggravated
31:40but when I look
31:41at these numbers
31:41transport
31:4220.1%
31:44so
31:44clearly
31:45the problem
31:46is not just
31:47stubble burning
31:48it aggravates
31:48the problem
31:49but the real
31:50issue is
31:51what do we do
31:53about
31:53transport
31:54in particular
31:57Clearly Rajdeep
31:58what is very clear
31:59from the data
32:00that you are
32:01showing today
32:01that stubble
32:03burning
32:03is a problem
32:04but it is an
32:05episodic problem
32:06and it is
32:07highly variable
32:08when it is
32:10at its peak
32:11and it varies
32:13across all
32:15days
32:15and the
32:16contribution
32:17to Delhi's
32:17air quality
32:18changes
32:19dramatically
32:20between very
32:21low
32:211-3%
32:23to 20%
32:24but
32:25the stubble
32:26burning
32:26is also
32:27in many ways
32:28detracting
32:29attention
32:30from the fact
32:31that the
32:32round-the-year
32:33pollution sources
32:34which are
32:35one of the
32:36biggest contributors
32:37to the problem
32:38of Delhi's
32:39air quality
32:39NCR's
32:40air quality
32:41that we are
32:42not paying
32:42adequate attention
32:44to deal
32:44with that
32:45problem
32:45that despite
32:46all of these
32:47if you look
32:48at the data
32:48today
32:49that the
32:50vehicles
32:50top the
32:51chart
32:51especially
32:52during winter
32:53when you are
32:54comparing
32:54there were
32:55hourly contribution
32:56of different
32:58sources to
32:58Delhi's
32:59air quality
33:00that clearly
33:01brings out
33:02the fact
33:02that we are
33:03now so
33:04fixated on
33:05the emergency
33:06and the
33:07episodic action
33:08that we are
33:09not paying
33:10attention
33:11to more
33:12systemic
33:12and round-the-year
33:14attention that is
33:15needed to build
33:16infrastructure to
33:17cut emissions
33:18from the more
33:19toxic sources
33:21of pollution
33:21which are
33:22fouling up
33:23the air
33:24not only
33:25in Delhi
33:25but across
33:26NCR
33:27and the
33:28endogangetic
33:29plain
33:29and those
33:31are much
33:32more complex
33:32problems
33:33because the
33:34kind of
33:34motorization
33:35and the
33:36trapping of
33:36pollution
33:37that is
33:37happening
33:38due to
33:39growing congestion
33:40inadequate
33:40public transport
33:42all these
33:43are adding
33:44up and
33:45worsening
33:45the situation
33:47that we are
33:48trapped in
33:48right now
33:49so clearly
33:50what we are
33:51talking about
33:51please move
33:52out of
33:52the emergency
33:53mode
33:54to more
33:55systemic
33:55action
33:56so that
33:57you can
33:57sustainably
33:58cut emissions
33:59from the
34:00real sources
34:01that are
34:02around the
34:03year
34:03stubble
34:04is only
34:05the icing
34:06and it
34:06only tips
34:07the peak
34:08during these
34:09difficult times
34:10and the early
34:10winter
34:11but the real
34:12problem
34:12is really
34:13what is
34:14trapped
34:15across the
34:16region
34:17coming
34:17continuously
34:18from vehicles
34:19industry
34:20open burning
34:21of waste
34:22and this
34:23shows
34:23that we
34:24have
34:24completely
34:25failed to
34:26develop
34:26adequate
34:27infrastructure
34:28and systems
34:29to make
34:30it
34:30and therefore
34:31we don't
34:32want any
34:32more plans
34:33we really
34:33now need
34:34on the
34:36real progress
34:37in action
34:37okay
34:37I want to
34:38stop you
34:39I want
34:41I want to
34:42stop you
34:42for a moment
34:42if only to
34:43understand
34:44therefore the
34:44solutions
34:46we're accepting
34:47that stubble
34:47burning is
34:48one of the
34:48problems
34:49there are
34:49other problems
34:50as well
34:50let's look
34:51for solution
34:51Chandabushan
34:52what would
34:52your answer
34:53to a solution
34:54be
34:54let's
34:55how do you
34:56for example
34:58over the
34:58years we've
34:59been talking
34:59of incentivizing
35:00farmers
35:01to ensure
35:02for example
35:03on the stubble
35:04burning front
35:04to ensure
35:05that they burn
35:05less trouble
35:06despite that
35:07small farmers
35:08in particular
35:08say it's
35:09unproductive
35:10for them
35:10how do you
35:11incentivize it
35:12now you're
35:12telling me
35:13today on the
35:13show
35:13Madhya Pradesh
35:14is even worse
35:15than Punjab
35:15so clearly
35:16it's not just
35:16a Punjab
35:17problem
35:17how do you
35:19incentivize
35:19farmers
35:21when it comes
35:22to stubble
35:22burning
35:22is there a
35:23solution
35:24first of all
35:25can I
35:25I want to
35:26just respond
35:27to what
35:28Vimlendu said
35:29okay
35:31I think it is
35:32important to
35:32understand that
35:33we should not
35:34be selective
35:34about data
35:35okay
35:36everyone knows
35:37that stubble
35:38burning is a
35:39problem for 30
35:40days
35:40okay
35:41saying annual
35:42average doesn't
35:43help any
35:44month okay
35:45that it is
35:452% or
35:4620%
35:48any scientific
35:49data and
35:50report you
35:50have for the
35:51last 20
35:51years very
35:53clearly shows
35:53that in those
35:5430 days not
35:56only Delhi the
35:57entire
35:58endogangetic
35:59plane is
36:00overwhelmed by
36:01stubble
36:02burning
36:02okay so we
36:04can keep
36:05chasing around
36:06the tree the
36:07fact of the
36:07matter is
36:08that 30
36:09days if you
36:10are looking at
36:10severe pollution
36:11it is the
36:13tipping point
36:13is stubble
36:14burning
36:15is automobile
36:16a problem
36:17the answer is
36:17yes and as
36:18Anumita said
36:19that answer has
36:20to be solved
36:21365 days which
36:23we are not
36:23doing stopping
36:24traffic at
36:25Gurgaon border is
36:26not helping
36:27pollution this is
36:28what Delhi is
36:29doing and
36:30stop this is
36:31what you know
36:31on the from
36:32the first all
36:33the vehicle which
36:34is not Euro 6
36:35has been stopped
36:36at the border of
36:37Delhi it is
36:38creating more
36:38problem and
36:39pollution than
36:40it is solving
36:41problem in
36:42pollution in
36:43Delhi now as
36:44far as solution
36:45is concerned I
36:47will say that
36:48stubble burning
36:49is actually
36:50expanding pan
36:51India now we
36:52see it in
36:53UP it is
36:54spreading to
36:55now Odisha
36:56in Maharashtra
36:57we can see
36:58stubble burning
36:59happening slowly
37:00this this this
37:02habit of burning
37:03stubble is
37:03increasing and
37:05the fundamental
37:06issue is we do
37:07not have use
37:08of stubble
37:09earlier we
37:10used to use
37:11stubble for
37:12our animals for
37:13constructing house
37:14as well as for
37:15mulching in our
37:16farm we now
37:18have less animal
37:19we don't construct
37:21our house with
37:21stubble we don't
37:23keep it year
37:23round so what do
37:24farmer do it is
37:25not only about
37:26short window of
37:27short window that
37:29they have to when
37:30they move from
37:31Kharif to Ravi that
37:32is a problem but
37:33the bigger problem
37:34is what do we do
37:35what do they do
37:35with that stubble
37:36our food production
37:38has increased by
37:391.5 times in
37:41last 20 years
37:42therefore stubble
37:43burning has
37:44increased but the
37:45use has not
37:45increased which
37:47means that the
37:49best solution is
37:50to find an
37:51economic use of
37:52that stubble and
37:53there is multiple
37:54economic use of
37:55that stubble you
37:56can use it to
37:57make paper you
37:58can use it to
37:59produce power you
38:00can use it to
38:00produce compost you
38:02can use it to
38:03produce fuel for
38:04boilers so
38:06instead of
38:08incentivizing farmer
38:09and giving them
38:10incentive not to
38:11burn which actually
38:12could be encouraging
38:13other farmers to
38:14burn I think we
38:17need to think about
38:18what is a right
38:19incentive and
38:20package of practice
38:21which will increase
38:22market access to
38:23stubble that is the
38:25fundamental answer
38:26because this is no
38:28more a Punjab problem
38:29we are now seeing
38:30this problem
38:30spreading across
38:31the country and
38:33and that is where
38:34the answer is
38:35economic you know
38:36that's an
38:37interest of
38:37stubble you know
38:39market right make
38:43stubble act you
38:44know market
38:44accessible that's
38:45very interestingly
38:46put because
38:47Vimlindu what
38:48Chandabushan is
38:48saying look 30
38:50days are a
38:50problem you can
38:51go on that this
38:52is a problem right
38:53around the year but
38:54at the moment we
38:54are focusing on this
38:55particular month in
38:56a few days there'll
38:57be Diwali then
38:57people will blame
38:58crackers for a
38:59rise in pollution
39:00truth of the
39:01matter is even
39:01before Diwali the
39:02air quality has
39:03worsened because of
39:04stubble burning we
39:05cannot run away from
39:06the problem that in
39:07this particular time
39:08of the year stubble
39:09burning contributes
39:10disproportionately to
39:12the worsening air
39:13quality therefore we
39:13need solutions
39:15no absolutely
39:16Rajdeep nobody's
39:17saying that stubble
39:17burning is not a
39:18problem I never said
39:19that I said it
39:20ranges as Anubita
39:21also said that it
39:22on any given day
39:23in this 30 day
39:24window it ranges from
39:251% to perhaps
39:26no you're saying
39:27don't blame the
39:27farmers you're
39:29saying don't
39:29blame the farmers
39:30I'm saying when
39:30you're trying to
39:31solve the problem
39:31of air pollution
39:32in Delhi NCR when
39:34all of us are
39:35discussing this crisis
39:36of air pollution or
39:37AQI of 415 of
39:38Delhi rather than
39:40actually looking at
39:4082% contributors of
39:42ambient air quality
39:43of Delhi it's very
39:44important very easy
39:45for us to only talk
39:46about farmers and
39:47then now when you're
39:48asking me in terms of
39:49solution and only with
39:50regard to not air
39:51pollution but to
39:52stubble burning we
39:53need to understand that
39:54we need to rather than
39:55solving the symptom we'll
39:56have to look at the
39:57source it's not about
39:58what do you do with
39:59the stubble it's about
40:00can we actually all the
40:01studies that have taken
40:02place in last one
40:03decade is looking at
40:04that can we stop
40:05stubble from production
40:06itself rather than
40:07looking at its disposal
40:08which largely means at
40:10certain amount of
40:11agricultural reforms
40:12which is needed in
40:14and not just in
40:15Punjab and also when
40:17we know that it is
40:18actually across states
40:20and therefore we need
40:21the central government
40:22to really intervene
40:23in all of this
40:24conversation Razdeep
40:25when we talk about
40:26air pollution taking
40:27it beyond stubble
40:28burning we need to
40:29understand the
40:29allocation of adequate
40:31resources is the
40:32biggest challenge that
40:33India is facing we are
40:35looking at solving the
40:36biggest problem of our
40:37century the biggest
40:38public health emergency
40:39the biggest killer with
40:41peanuts of resources that
40:42we actually allocate so
40:44it's very easy for us to
40:45give the example of
40:46London and Beijing and
40:47every other country but
40:48we do if we do not have
40:50adequate resources on the
40:51table adequate infrastructure
40:53on the table and
40:54imagine if we keep
40:55repeating the failed
40:56experiments of past
40:59years yesteryears imagine
41:00what did we do about
41:01Diwali last year we're
41:02doing the same thing
41:03we're still bursting
41:04firecrackers so-called
41:05green firecrackers and
41:06therefore my humble
41:07submission here is not
41:08that stubble burning
41:09should continue
41:11stubble burning should
41:12stop but should as
41:14Anubita said that the
41:15elephant is in the room
41:17Delhi has its own
41:19perennial local problems
41:21of open burning of
41:22garbage of transport we
41:24still have imagine it's
41:25been 10 years and we
41:26still have a deficit of
41:27around 6,000 to 10,000
41:28buses so therefore fine
41:30stop that stop it from
41:32Madhya Pradesh stop it
41:33from Punjab stop it from
41:35Palwal but other
41:36systemic comprehensive
41:38continuous solutions has
41:40to be sought and has to
41:41be delivered rather than
41:43through press conferences
41:44hitting at at political
41:46parties and that's exactly
41:47what we've seen when our
41:48army party was in power
41:49here they did the same and
41:51blaming Punjab and right
41:52now it's it's BJP which is
41:54in government and blaming
41:55Punjab because that becomes
41:57a convening narrative rather
41:58than scientific conversation
42:00around do we really want to
42:02solve this air pollution
42:03crisis of the air shed and
42:06not just of the political
42:06boundary because air doesn't
42:08stop at the toll plaza saying
42:09that oh well this air belongs
42:11to Burdaan and this and
42:12therefore it should not stop
42:13a vehicle you can stop but not
42:14the not the air in that sense
42:16not the pollutants in that
42:17sense and therefore that
42:18comprehensive regional air shed
42:19plan for Delhi NCR and for
42:21North India is important and
42:23that can only happen if you
42:24have big bucks on the table
42:26and structure on in in the
42:28place and structure does not
42:29mean happy cedar or super
42:30cedar it has to mean that you
42:33will have to bring in certain
42:34amount of farm revolution you
42:36will have to really look at
42:37crop crop rotation we'll have
42:39to look at what do we grow and
42:41how do we grow otherwise you
42:42will solve those double
42:44building for 10 days and create
42:46another problem and we are
42:47creating we are creating these
42:48states as cancer states i you
42:54know it actually comes
42:55therefore to a governance
42:56issuant again you know it
42:57is whether environment is
42:59central to our governance
43:00program i just want to know
43:01anumita very quickly in
43:03conclusion given the fact that
43:05the Delhi government claims look
43:06we put in place various
43:08measures that we are doing
43:10mechanical road sweeping
43:11machines are being being
43:12deployed roads are being
43:14redeveloped we are stopping cars
43:16that are not bs6 compliant from
43:18entering Delhi do you believe
43:20that there are one two three
43:21three silver bullets is there a
43:23silver bullet out there or is
43:25this as vimlendu points out a
43:27larger governance problem where
43:29we are not willing to put the
43:30environment at the center of any
43:32strategy a quick response
43:35rajdeep i do not believe now from
43:37all the years of experience that
43:40there are any one or two silver
43:42bullets that can fix this very
43:44clearly solutions to the
43:46problems that we have just
43:48discussed whether that's
43:49double burning and all the all
43:51other perennial sources of
43:53pollution solutions are known what
43:55we have not been able to fix is how
43:58to upscale implementation of the
44:00solution just not in Delhi but
44:03across the region and airship and
44:05we are the huge deficiency in the
44:08investments infrastructure planning
44:11system development and that's
44:13where we are falling who fully
44:15short and we cannot therefore fix
44:18all this problem with this quick fix
44:20graph measure
44:21where would you start
44:22Anumita the prop
44:24Anumita no no but i'm saying
44:26Anumita where would you start
44:27rather than quick fix graph
44:29measures where would you start if
44:30you had to start if you were
44:31advising the environment ministers of
44:34all these states where should they
44:35start in three in three critical
44:37areas ensure that you are seeing
44:41massive clean energy transition
44:44across all sectors vehicles becoming
44:47zero emission industrial processes
44:50are becoming cleaner and also the
44:54waste burning and the waste
44:56management is actually meeting the
44:59target of zero landfill policy so
45:03which means that we now need a
45:05mobility transition we need energy
45:08transition and massive circularity
45:10across the region so that there is no
45:13waste left whether crop waste or any
45:16other form of waste in the open to
45:18the world that is the scale of change
45:21we now need we don't have to debate and
45:23discuss solution solutions are all
45:25known right then and we know
45:27everything that you need to do but
45:29now put the money where they are
45:31needed and build the systems and
45:33infrastructure
45:37right so it is actually then comes
45:40down to will political will you know
45:42it comes it comes to your political
45:45will the solutions are out there do the
45:47set does the center and the state
45:49government have the political will to
45:51implement it otherwise year after year
45:53we will continue to debate the
45:56worsening air quality at this time of
45:59year three fine voices joining me i hope
46:01someone in the environment ministry is
46:03also listening to all of you thank you
46:05very much for joining me on the show
46:07tonight thank you okay so while delhi is
46:12struggling with air pollution as it
46:14always does at this time of the year in
46:17mumbai the country's commercial capital
46:19there is another controversy that concerns
46:22pollution because a message urging a
46:25cracker free diwali has triggered a
46:28political storm in mumbai the mumbai
46:31municipal corporation pulled down a video
46:34featuring actor dia mirza who is also an
46:38ambassador for climate change after some
46:42bjp leaders objected to her inclusion in
46:46this civic body campaign for a cracker less
46:50diwali the bombay high court though has
46:53questioned the bmc's decision more so
46:56because other celebrities their videos
46:59haven't been pulled down so was dia's video
47:05pulled down only because she belongs to a
47:07particular religion the bombay high court
47:10was very clear festivities in this great
47:13country of ours do not have a religion
47:16anyone can celebrate them and has pulled up and
47:20demanded that the bmc restore dia mirza's video
47:24take a look
47:26mashkar mumbai karo
47:29diohaaroka mausama a gaya hai aur diwali ke khushiyan manati
47:33wakt hamei pariyavaran aur swastka bhi dhyana hai
47:37an appeal for cleaner air has turned into a political storm
47:41dia mirza's cracker free diwali message was pulled down by the bmc
47:46after some city bjp leaders objected to her inclusion in its campaign
47:52this even as mumbai battles a sharp rise in air pollution
47:56with the city's average aqi more than doubling in october compared with the
48:00second half of september now the bombay high court has come down heavily on the
48:05bmc calling india a secular country the court said a festival is for everyone
48:11and no one can be isolated because of their religion it called dia's message a
48:16really good one stressed that this was purely an environmental issue and added
48:22that asking people to avoid crackers does not take away their right to
48:26celebrate diwali the court said it is disturbed by stray comments by some
48:31leaders and said it is ideal to restore the video
48:35but the political backlash has been sharp and chief minister devendra fad
48:40naviz has defended bmc's decision
48:43i think that the dhyana mirza has made a video of mumbai's message
48:47in diwali's message in mumbai's message in mumbai's message in mumbai's message
48:51how happy and love can they tell us how to do it
48:55about many celebrities and videos about it
48:57and why did the video of the bjp talk about it
49:00the
49:00the
49:06the
49:11the
49:36Diyamirza, Meenwal defended the video, saying it was made at the BMC's request
49:40and was about public health, not religion.
49:43At the time when Mumbai is grappling with deteriorating air quality,
49:47a campaign urging citizens to cut down on pollution
49:50should have remained a conversation about public health.
49:54Instead, the focus shifted from the message to the messenger.
49:58The High Court has now brought the debate back to where it began, the environment.
50:03But the larger question remains,
50:05can a city that celebrates its diversity make an environmental appeal a question of religious identity?
50:13Vera Report, India Today.
50:18Okay, let's turn to another controversy that's been boiling.
50:22First, it was the Delhi Gymkhana in the national capital.
50:26Now, it is the Air Force Sports Complex inside the Air Force Station,
50:31not too far away from the Prime Minister's residence that has been shut down last week.
50:37The government's proposal to take over the land has raised concerns within the Air Force,
50:42particularly because the station is not just a recreational facility,
50:47but it also houses important military security and administrative installations.
50:52And now it has emerged that the outgoing Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh had raised the issue
50:58with the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh just days before his retirement.
51:04Why is the Government of India targeting an Air Force Sports Complex?
51:10Take a look at the story.
51:14The Indian Air Force usually bids farewell to its chief
51:17with a golfing-out retirement event at the Air Force Sports Complex
51:21located near the Prime Minister's residence.
51:24That is a tradition.
51:26But this year, Air Chief Marshal A.P. Singh's retirement ceremony,
51:30scheduled on October 20th, got abruptly cancelled.
51:34After the complex was shut following a survey by the Land and Development Office
51:39under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
51:42The 40-acre land parcel falls within the Air Force station on Lok Kalyan Marg.
51:47It has now emerged that on October 26th, just days before his retirement,
51:53the former Air Chief had raised concerns with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
51:57about the proposed takeover of the land.
52:00He emphasised that the Air Force station's operational, administrative and security requirements
52:06made it important for the land to remain under IAF control and sought reconsideration of the move.
52:14The concern, according to Air Force personnel,
52:16is more about the Air Force station than just the sports complex.
52:22Established in the 1940s, the establishment has remained under IAF control for decades.
52:28The station supports air headquarters and more than 5,000 personnel.
52:32It has accommodation for married and unmarried personnel,
52:36training facilities for airmen and agni veers,
52:39medical facilities and other administrative infrastructure.
52:42It also has important air defence assets,
52:45including equipment for countering drone threats
52:47under the Delhi Integrated Air Defence Centre.
52:50The Air Force sports complex is also in the closed vicinity.
52:54The 40-acre land parcel that has now been sealed,
52:58the sports complex of the Indian Air Force has been sealed.
53:00The VIP-89 shield that happens to be the air defence systems,
53:06the integrated air defence systems for the Delhi security,
53:10the VIP security, that also is in that vicinity of the 40-acre land
53:16that has now been sealed and will be taken by the government.
53:19The closure of Air Force Sports Club has disappointed Air Force veterans.
53:24The only way it hurts is the manner and method in which it played out.
53:29It was service chief's farewell.
53:32He should have been allowed time
53:34and if Air Force had certain objections,
53:36they should have been processed.
53:37Of course, if the land is to be used for public good,
53:40it can be and it should be taken away.
53:42But the manner and the method in which the whole process played out
53:45is not good.
53:48The proposed takeover of the Air Force sports complex
53:51is part of a wider government exercise
53:54to reclaim prime land parcels around the Prime Minister's residence.
53:59The government had earlier initiated action
54:01to take over Delhi Gymkhana Club,
54:04Jaipur Polo Ground and Delhi Race Club.
54:06Will Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, the new IAF chief,
54:11now be able to convince the government
54:13and halt the takeover remains to be seen.
54:16Vishwani Sharma, Bureau Report, India Today.
54:20Welcome back.
54:21You're with the news today.
54:22Let's turn to another of our top stories.
54:24A revolt has hit the ruling national conference
54:27in Jammu and Kashmir.
54:29Aga Ruhullah, the firebrand NC MP from Srinagar,
54:34has quit parliament and the party following differences
54:37with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah,
54:39who he says has not done enough
54:41to uphold his election promises,
54:44particularly the promise of statehood
54:46for Jammu and Kashmir.
54:48Ruhullah's departure couldn't come at a worse time
54:51for the national conference.
54:52A section of the legislators are also threatening to rebel
54:56after being denied cabinet ministerships.
54:58My colleague Meir Fareed now reports from Srinagar.
55:13Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah
55:15is facing rebellion.
55:18National Conference MP Aga Sayyad Rohullah Mehdi
55:22announced his resignation from parliament and party
55:25at a rally in Badgam on Tuesday.
55:31Speaking on a day that marked his father's death anniversary,
55:35Mehdi accused the national conference
55:37of straying from core election promises,
55:40most notably the fight for Article 370.
56:06Mehdi's resignation comes at a time
56:08when there is severe discontent.
56:10Wadeen Di National Conference
56:12over the recent cabinet expansion.
56:17More than 15 MLAs held a meeting last week
56:20to plan their future course of action.
56:23Internal democracy and national conferences.
56:24What are the numbers for the national conference?
56:24I have made a bill to make it
56:30that there are demands.
56:31That will be sent to Mr. President,
56:33and Mr. Omar has sent to Mr. Omar.
56:36That will not be sent to the other president.
56:36However, he will also send not to Mr. Akbar.
56:38The other people can follow this session.
56:39We will go and leave the national conference.
56:41People will't leave any of the national conference.
56:44People will leave a national conference.
56:44People will leave any of the national conferences.
56:46And the people who are sent out of this arena is
57:04After the expansion, there are no cabinet berths available anymore.
57:09Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has a tough task ahead to ensure peace in the party.
57:14With Meir Fareed, Bureau Report, India Today.
57:17Okay, let's leave you with our image of the day.
57:20A tragic helicopter collision in Nepal's Solukumbu district has claimed one life and left two others injured on the base
57:30camp towards Everest.
57:31The accident occurred when the rotors of two helicopters belonging to fishtail air and dynasty air collided while landing in
57:40the Kumbu region on the way to Everest.
57:43The deceased has been identified as a 47-year-old Indian national, Vasand Kumar Balara Madu.
57:50The injured passenger, 53-year-old Shailesh Kishan Patel, is a New Zealand citizen of Indian origin.
57:58The fishtail air helicopter pilot has also sustained injuries.
58:02Those are frightening images that I leave you with today.
58:06Let's hope the coming days I can get you better, happier images as we come up to Diwali.
58:14Thanks for watching.
58:15Stay well.
58:16Stay safe.
58:17Good night.
58:18Shubratri.
58:18Jai Hind.
58:20Namaskar.