- 21 minutes ago
Union Home Minister Amit Shah challenged Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to a parliamentary debate over electoral integrity allegations during the Bharatiya Janata Party's campaign in Karnal, Haryana. The confrontation coincided with political friction over Jharkhand Minister Dr. Irfan Ansari's remarks referencing regional unrest in Bangladesh and Nepal, which drew counteroffensives from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. In response, Congress called for a direct debate between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi while alleging parliamentary microphone muting. Concurrently, internal disciplinary actions led to the suspension of more than 200 Youth Congress office-bearers across eight states. Parliamentary discussions also evaluated floor decorum, speaking allocations, and attendance metrics. On policy matters, the central government detailed revisions to the Agnipath military recruitment scheme, introducing an optional two-year retention framework for non-absorbed Agniveers seeking permanent integration. Separately, Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri secured an unopposed election to the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh, and United States midterm election results were analyzed.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Hello and welcome. You're watching India First. I'm Gaurav Savant.
00:04Union Home Minister Amit Shah today challenged the leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi
00:08to debate allegations of vote-chori in parliament on the floor of the House
00:13instead of these battles on the street.
00:15The Home Minister was in Karnal in Haryana as part of the BJP's nationwide
00:20Save Democracy Remove Anarchy campaign against the Congress-led opposition.
00:25But the Congress has also hit back in more ways than one.
00:30But there's breaking news coming in.
00:32Jharkhand Health Minister and Senior Congress Leader Dr. Irfan Ansari
00:37is in the eye of a storm over his statement
00:41which is being seen as a warning saying words to the effect
00:46the government should learn its lessons.
00:50The government in Nepal thought they were everything
00:54but the people of Nepal uprooted them.
00:58The government in Bangladesh fell
01:00because they did not listen to their people.
01:04He then went on to say
01:0540 lakh students
01:0840 lakh students are ready to take to the streets in India.
01:14Rahul Gandhi has held them back.
01:17Modiji should take a lesson.
01:22This comes as Amit Shah accused the Leader of Opposition
01:26of disrupting parliamentary proceedings,
01:28spreading anarchy and questioning the electronic voting machine
01:32only when the Congress party or the opposition lost elections.
01:37He questioned Rahul Gandhi's frequent foreign visits
01:40and asserted Leader of Opposition
01:43why should he shy away from a parliamentary debate?
01:46Amit Shah's message is clear.
01:48If Rahul Gandhi has evidence to back his allegations
01:51then Parliament is the place to substantiate them.
01:55And then the BJP has now launched a multi-pronged offensive.
01:58We have Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath
02:00who's joined the counter-offensive.
02:02He, in fact, spoke of the emergency in 1975
02:05to question the Congress party's, as he put it,
02:08dubious credentials on democracy.
02:10He accused the Gandhi family
02:12of taking credit for electoral victories
02:14but blaming the EVM for the party's defeat
02:17or the Election Commission of India.
02:19He went on to say
02:21the Congress repeatedly puts family before nation.
02:25But the Congress refuses to fight on BJP's terms.
02:29It's actually setting its own terms.
02:31The Congress party insists
02:33there has to be a presidential style of face-off
02:35between Prime Minister Narendra Modi
02:37and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi
02:40arguing that the Prime Minister
02:42must accept the challenge
02:44and defend his record
02:45because Rahul Gandhi, according to Congress party,
02:47has very specific charges to make.
02:49Congress President Malikarjun Kharge
02:51accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi
02:53of avoiding questions on the very critical issue
02:56of vote-chory,
02:57of not appearing in Parliament,
03:00not taking questions from the opposition
03:02and not even holding a press conference
03:05in the past 12 years.
03:06He urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi
03:08to come forward,
03:09take questions
03:10and respond specifically
03:12to opposition's allegations on vote-chory.
03:15The Congress is countering the BJP's demand
03:17for a parliamentary debate.
03:20They say opposition
03:22is routinely denied an opportunity
03:24to speak in Parliament.
03:26Opposition claims
03:28the moment leader of opposition
03:29starts to speak
03:30or other opposition leaders
03:32try and speak,
03:33microphones are switched off,
03:36issues are not permitted
03:37to be raised on the floor of the House,
03:39and a meaningful debate
03:40cannot be held
03:41in such a situation.
03:43The big political question tonight,
03:45is this a political war
03:48to actually seek answers
03:50to the questions,
03:52very critical questions
03:53that are being raised on electoral integrity
03:55and democratic accountability,
03:57or will it just remain another round of
04:00accusations and counter-allegations?
04:03We'll get you all sides of this story,
04:05and then there's another angle
04:07that's now being looked into.
04:09We'll talk about that in greater detail,
04:11but first let me get you
04:12some of the highlights
04:14of the war of words
04:15between the government
04:15and the opposition.
04:42I'll talk about that in the comments
04:50of the war of the House.
04:52I'll talk about that in the comments
05:02of the war of the House.
05:06राहूल जी मोदी जी की जरूरत नहीं है चर्चा करनी है तो एक पत्र रिकलो मोदी जी को हम SIR
05:17पर चर्चा के लिए विशेश संसद का सत्र बुलाने के लिए तयार है
05:26कर लेंगे चर्चा पूरी चर्चा वहां कर देंगे आप जूट बोलना बंद करो
05:35आपने पिछले कुछ समय से कॉंग्रेस की अराजकता को देखा होगा
05:45कैसे वहां अपने स्वार्थ के लिए दुनिया के सबसे प्राचीन और सबसे बड़े लोगतंद्र को ही अभी स्वस्निय बनाने की
05:57कुछ सी चेश्टा कर रही है
05:58आशरे होता है कि देश के संबेदानिक संस्ताओं पर अनलगल टिपणी करके लोगतंद्र के प्रतियनास्ता ब्यक्त करके
06:12कॉंग्रेस भारत के स्वाधीनता संग्राम सेनानियों की विरासत को अपमानित करने का पाप कर रही है
06:46पार्लेमेंट में चर्चा की बात है गर पार्लेमेंट का माइक तो बंद कर देते हो
06:49so
06:50I don't know
06:50I don't know
06:51I don't know
06:5624 hours
06:58I have
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17:29with the opposition and with the Bharatiya Janta Party.
17:31Where do they turn?
17:33What do they do?
17:34Does it possibly mean the creation of new political parties?
17:36Maybe, and I welcome that,
17:37which is why I've always consistently believed
17:40that an outfit like the CJP
17:42or necessarily any other outfit
17:43should become a political party
17:45because that is the right way in a democracy
17:47to channel dissent and dissatisfaction.
17:49They should contest against us as well.
17:50I look forward to that
17:51and perhaps joining alliance talks.
17:53But we must acknowledge that there is discontentment.
17:56To run away from that discontentment,
17:59is to be sort of delusional or to delude ourselves.
18:03And I think that is a very dangerous part to walk on.
18:05Sure.
18:07Jainand Dehad Rai, legally speaking,
18:10does what the Jharkhand minister said,
18:13and for the benefit of our viewers,
18:15I want to play it out once again
18:17so that you hear it in its entirety,
18:20does that constitute free speech,
18:23the drawing of a parallel with Nepal and Bangladesh,
18:26read with statements of leaders,
18:28like Neha Bora and Prashant Bhushan,
18:31elements of the civil society
18:32who are part of this wider movement.
18:34Listen in to the Jharkhand minister,
18:36Jai.
18:36I'm coming back to you with more.
18:37Listen in to Jharkhand minister,
18:39Dr. Irfan Ansari.
18:41Jai.
18:54Jai.
19:20Legally speaking, your take on this Jainand Dehad Rai as a lawyer.
19:26Got a good evening straight away.
19:28This statement by Irfan Ansari, the Jharkhand minister, apart from being highly, highly
19:32irresponsible, given that he himself occupies a ministerial post, apart from that fact,
19:39I mean, this is textbook section 152 of the BNS.
19:41What he's doing is he's trying to, you know, affect, you know, create disaffection towards
19:47the Union of India.
19:48You know, he's trying to basically stir up the people, stir up the youth against, you
19:53know, democratic institutions.
19:55This is the idea behind that statement.
19:57I think it's crystal clear.
19:58And I always believe, Gaurav, you know this, I always believe in taking people at face
20:02value.
20:03You have Mr. Ansari articulating his thought process so clearly for all of us to hear.
20:08He wants a Bangladesh, Nepal-like situation in this country.
20:12I don't think one needs to be a genius to recall what happened in Bangladesh and Nepal.
20:17There was virtually, there was bloodshed on the streets.
20:20You had this so-called, you know, disaffection that was drummed up.
20:24And I think I completely disagree with Anish when he says that there is a lot of disaffection
20:28on the streets.
20:29There may be pockets of disaffection.
20:32But what is being attempted right now, for instance, by Mr. Gandhi and others, you know,
20:36from the opposition is to essentially stir up these, you know, the notion, the narrative
20:41that there is disaffection amongst the people and lead to chaos and anarchy in this country.
20:46So that, as I always say, so that he can rule on the ashes of this country.
20:48Since you've made two direct references to Anish and to Brijesh Kalappa, both of you respond
20:53before I bring in Rohan Gupta.
20:54But Anish, you go first.
20:56You know, Jay, I think, of course, promoting disaffection towards the Union of India is a
21:02fairly broad section that has been used multiple times in the past against political opponents.
21:07So we should be careful about the way in which it can be used against a sitting minister,
21:10right?
21:11And I don't know if this statement necessarily qualifies as such.
21:14But I disagree that there's disaffection, right?
21:17I think the pockets of disaffection are far larger than you and I presume.
21:21And the ones that you see on the street are actually a microcosm of a much larger problem
21:26that exists.
21:27And until we acknowledge that, until we acknowledge that the future of work is coming under threat
21:31with things like AI, until we acknowledge that you have a sort of global financial crisis
21:36that might be looming on the horizon, that people don't have jobs with dignity,
21:39there is a public mood globally right now where young people feel threatened.
21:44They feel like they don't have a future, whether rightly or wrongly so.
21:48You cannot dismiss those concerns is all I'm saying.
21:50That's a very critical point you make.
21:52And Rohan Gupta, that's something that the government should be aware.
21:55You know, there may be different reasons.
21:58SIR may be just one part of it.
22:01But other reasons could all come together.
22:03And I'll come to you to respond to it.
22:04But Rajesh Kalapa wanted to go first and then you respond.
22:07Go ahead, Mr. Kalapa.
22:09Yeah.
22:10See, Gaurav, Mr. Gurumurthy, who is the ideologue of the BJP and the RSS,
22:15has recently gone on record to say that there was no demand for regime change.
22:20In the 1st November, you know, rally, there was absolutely nothing at all about that.
22:26And that, I think, is more than amply clear.
22:28Now, if you're going to take any comment which is made by a political personality and more so a Muslim,
22:35and you're going to say, no, no, this is 100% treason and so on and so forth.
22:40I didn't use those words, sir.
22:41I didn't say treason at all, sir.
22:44But I can tell you, after having his words, there is absolutely no reason for any person with some intellect
22:52to suspect that the person was, you know, giving any kind of a, was trying to spread disaffection.
22:59I think it was a fair warning.
23:01I think the government also requires a fair warning.
23:04And that fair warning has come from Mr. Ansari.
23:07Fair enough, sir.
23:08You think, you look at it as a fair warning.
23:10Jay wants to respond, but Rohan Gupta wants to come in first.
23:12Go ahead, sir.
23:12Rohan Gupta.
23:13Sir, this is the problem.
23:15You know, the new brand ambassador of Congress Party, Neha Bura, clearly told that she got
23:19inspiration from Bangladesh students.
23:21And see situation of the Bangladesh students, what has happened to Bangladesh.
23:25And this is what Congress Party wanted to do this with country.
23:28They don't have faith in the democratic values.
23:30They don't have faith in our sansar.
23:32They don't have faith in the normal process.
23:34They don't have faith in the evidences that, okay, if you are allegating the election commission,
23:39we must produce evidences before CGI or before president or before parliament.
23:44They just feel that whatever they decide will be decided.
23:47And on Sadat, on the roads, they will decide the democracy, no.
23:51The minister's statement is very clear.
23:53Everybody in Congress Party, they have given up as far as the democracy is concerned because
23:57they are not willing the elections.
23:58They just want to set the narrative that we are losing elections because of the SIR and all.
24:04And at the same time, they want to do takhta palat by using undemocratic methods.
24:09This is the whole narrative of Congress Party, which the people of this country has completely
24:13rejected.
24:13They failed in Bihar.
24:15They will fail in India.
24:16And as a party in power, we are very happy that the opposition party has to succumb to
24:22the issues which are non-connected to the people, not connected to the people.
24:25Fair enough.
24:26Now, on the legal point, Jay, you wanted to respond to Anish and to Bridges Kalappa quickly
24:30before I move to the next point, sir.
24:33Just two points, you know, the fact that this person is a minister does not give him
24:37in law any extra immunity and it doesn't allow him to go and essentially say whatever he
24:42wants.
24:43That is very, very important for us to understand.
24:45The fact that he occupies, which is why I opened by saying that he occupies a very important
24:49ministerial position, Anish.
24:51It means that he has to speak with some degree of responsibility.
24:54He's involved directly in governance.
24:56So because you form the government, let's say in Jharkhand, therefore you should incite the
25:01youths, you know, in Delhi and say that 40 lakh young people will come out on the streets
25:05and teach you a lesson like Bangladesh and Nepal.
25:07Now, I think it would be highly irresponsible if we don't book this minister for sedition
25:15in terms of section 152.
25:16We need to make an example out of him.
25:18It doesn't matter if he's a minister.
25:20Let him come and explain what he wanted to say.
25:22And Gaurav, please remember, look at his reach.
25:25This is not some man on the street, you know, some common person who's making a statement
25:29like this.
25:30This is a person who's a minister.
25:32He's obviously an MLA.
25:33He has a large following.
25:34He's exhorting his supporters to come out and resort to violence.
25:39Okay.
25:39So let's take him at face value and let's test it out in the courts what he said.
25:43Fair enough.
25:44Let me now move to the other big point, Vijayesh Kalapa, which is a debate, a discussion in
25:50a parliamentary democracy.
25:52Should that not happen, you know, between the government and the opposition on any issue,
25:56including the special intensive revision of the electoral rolls and the irregularities
26:01that the Congress Party speaks of on the floor of the House, sir?
26:09See, Gaurav, the Prime Minister of India is an outstanding public speaker, and everybody
26:14recognizes that.
26:16Although he uses, you know, something to prompt him, I think he speaks exceptionally well.
26:23Why doesn't he test Mr. Rahul Gandhi in terms of, you know, who will do better?
26:29And this can't obviously be done in Parliament because first the speaker doesn't allow Mr.
26:35Rahul Gandhi to speak.
26:37And the Prime Minister never confronts Mr. Rahul Gandhi in Parliament at all.
26:41We have seen, even during the neat debate, the Home Minister came for a day, only on the
26:48very last day.
26:49So generally, both of them try to avoid, you know, confronting Mr. Rahul Gandhi.
26:54I think it's a very fair offer from Mr. Rahul Gandhi.
26:56Okay.
26:56By saying that, please, let's have a one-to-one debate, one.
27:00And two, if you're going to have a debate in Parliament, then where does Mr. Mohan Bhagwat
27:07have a role?
27:08Mr. Mohan Bhagwat is not a member of Parliament.
27:10Okay.
27:11Right?
27:11They wield power without being elected.
27:14So therefore, it has to necessarily, willy-nilly, it has to be done outside.
27:18Okay.
27:18So therefore, I think the best place is outside Parliament.
27:21Let the Prime Minister come.
27:23Let Mr. Mohan Bhagwat be the judge.
27:24And I would suggest Gaurasavant can be the anchor for this entire event.
27:28Fair enough.
27:29I would love to be the anchor, you know, should this be possible.
27:33But in a parliamentary democracy, you are saying that the opposition is not given fair play
27:39on the floor of the House.
27:41Rohan Gupta respond.
27:43The opposition says their mics are switched off.
27:45You heard Mr. Masood.
27:47And again, you know, when I refer to your UP, BJP, UP Congress Chief, Vijish Kalappa, it's
27:53not because of his religion, but because of his statement.
27:55Again, a question about the Jharkhand Minister was not about his religion.
27:59But only about, you know, his statement.
28:01But respond, Rohan Gupta, opposition is not given a fair opportunity on the floor of the
28:05House, sir.
28:06Okay.
28:07I'll give the numbers to prove that what opposition is given, what opposition has done.
28:122026, monsoon session, only 15 to 19 percent Parliament could run.
28:172025, monsoon, only 29 percent.
28:2024, winter session, only 52 percent.
28:2223, budget session, 33 percent.
28:2521, monsoon session, 21 percent.
28:27In the 2018 budget session, 21 percent.
28:292016, winter session, 15 percent.
28:32What opportunity are you talking about?
28:34When Manipur session was called, you people did walk out.
28:37When 370 happened, you did walk out.
28:39When Bukk 4 opened, you people went out.
28:40So, whenever you get opportunity to speak inside Parliament, you run away.
28:44Obviously, when you have somebody who's trying to startly a voice, people can't speak.
28:49Because that is what you can do.
28:51You don't trust the Parliament and you are forced to organize Mokk Parliament because that
28:54is the only place where your leader can become Prime Minister.
28:57No, but the point he raises is, that's a very pertinent point he's raising, Rohan Gupta,
29:02which you must respond to.
29:03At least in a mock Parliament, you know, Meera Kumar permits Rahul Gandhi to speak.
29:08In Parliament, Congress alleges Rahul Gandhi is not permitted to speak, sir.
29:12Sahil, allegations, you tell me under which rule Congress party has substantiated about
29:16the bike.
29:18We have seen leader of opposition switching off his own mic himself and saying that,
29:22the whole country has seen that.
29:23If you are in the Parliament, if any rule is breached, definitely Congress party can
29:28cite the rule and definitely question the government.
29:31Your allegations don't work.
29:32It is not your headquarters or your party office or a residence of your leader.
29:36It is run by the rules, regulations.
29:38You cite me one rule, I am challenging Congress party, where Congress party is...
29:43It's run by the rules of BJP and RSS.
29:45Absolutely, you don't want to follow the rules.
29:47For zero hours, there are the rules.
29:48For asking questions, there are the rules.
29:50No, we will follow the rules of the BJP and RSS once we become members of the BJP and RSS.
29:55This is nothing that you will follow your own rules.
29:57This is not your office.
29:59This is Parliament.
30:00And I am challenging you under one rule.
30:02You tell me where Mike of Mr. Rahul Gandhi's speech stop and Congress file, TS file, re-inwriting
30:06complaint to the speaker regarding that.
30:08Fair enough.
30:09Anish Gawande, again, I want to bring you in because people say that the country doesn't
30:13listen to Gen Z enough.
30:15They don't listen to youngsters enough.
30:17And it's always such a treat to listen to intelligent young, you know, youngsters who
30:22really think big for the country.
30:25But tell me, a debate on merits, should it be on the floor of the House in a parliamentary
30:29democracy or a debate on the streets?
30:32I would love a debate which is moderated by me.
30:35But then in a parliamentary democracy, what's the best way forward?
30:38Why does it have to be either or, Gaurav?
30:41Why can't we have both?
30:42So I think to begin with, political mudsling about Parliament has to stop.
30:48The refusal of both sides to work together, and in this part, I will discredit the BJP
30:54a lot more because I think they have a lot to answer for as to why they have not come
30:59with an honesty of intent to the table and allowed Parliament to function.
31:02You'll remember LK Advani ji and Smushma Swaraj ji saying that it is the job of the Parliamentary
31:06Affairs Minister to ensure that Parliament remains functional.
31:09When the BJP is in power, they cannot abdicate their responsibility.
31:13So they must bring both sides to the table and have that level of trust that allows Parliament
31:18to function.
31:19That being said, if the Parliament is the only place for such a debate to take place, then
31:25why did LK Advani ji challenge Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to a public debate in 2009?
31:31Why did Prime Minister Modi as Chief Minister of Gujarat stage a mock Red Fort Independence
31:38Day address and challenge then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to a public debate?
31:46Okay.
31:47You cannot have that hypocrisy, right?
31:50You cannot have that hypocrisy.
31:52And Dr. Manmohan Singh agree, but be that as it may, Rohan Gupta, you wanted to come in.
31:58See that this is the core problem with the opposition party today.
32:01When you ask questions, they'll ask the counter questions.
32:03They will not have the reference.
32:04We are talking about leader of opposition and asking the Prime Minister, talking debate outside.
32:09Definitely, why can't he discuss the same points inside the Parliament?
32:13He's talking about SIR.
32:14Congress party has made SIR such a big issue.
32:17If Congress party has one single evidence, don't you feel Sahil talking inside the Parliament
32:21will give more mileage to Congress party if they have substantial evidence?
32:25Then why are they running away and talking on the roads?
32:28Let's go.
32:28We are, I'm challenging.
32:29I'm giving challenge to Congress party.
32:31No, but I want to ask the opposite question.
32:33One, one, one, I never interrupted.
32:35One instance where there is evidence of vote chori which is submitted to any of the constitutional
32:42chief.
32:43Whether CGI, whether it is president or inside the Parliament.
32:47When democracy, the Parliament is the temple of democracy, why you are disrespecting that?
32:51There can be other issues you can keep on discussing.
32:54But when you are questioning the constitutional body, chief of the country, which is one of
32:59the epic constitutional bodies, obviously you should be responsible and you should ask
33:04debate inside the Parliament, which Mr. Amit Shah has clearly told.
33:07We are ready for all the debates.
33:08I am challenging Congress party to accept the challenge and produce the evidence inside
33:13the Parliament.
33:13Let me also get a legal perspective on this.
33:15Wait, wait, wait.
33:16I have just one question.
33:17Jay, Jay, any dispute.
33:18One small question to him.
33:22Can I quickly begin, Jay, and then I will come to you for your question.
33:24And we will extend this debate.
33:26We will extend this debate.
33:27Jay and Nandahad Rai.
33:28Any dispute between two parties, two political parties can either be resolved on the floor
33:37of the House, in courts of law, or in courts of people through elections.
33:43Now, unless, of course, there are some who are willing to follow what the Congress calls
33:47as a warning or a caution Dr. Irfan Ansari model of 40 lakh on the streets, if that is
33:53the new template.
33:54But where do you stand on this?
33:56Gaurav, this is what I think, I mean, as an outside observer, when Mr. Rahul Gandhi makes
34:01such a statement, being the leader of the opposition, that the Prime Minister could come
34:06outside, sit across the table from me, we can have a judge there, we will debate like
34:12that, it comes across as a very unserious, very churlish, very immature statement.
34:19The fact is that we are a parliamentary democracy.
34:21No, but why do you say that, sir?
34:22Sir, I'll explain.
34:23We are a parliamentary democracy.
34:25There is a calendar specified for when parliament functions.
34:29And the rest of the year, the Indian Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi, is responsible for
34:34governing a country of 1.4 billion people.
34:37That is his core responsibility, to govern.
34:40Now, that's a very, very serious, onerous duty and responsibility cast upon him.
34:45When the leader of the opposition, who's certainly, you know, constitutionally, democratically
34:49required to keep him in check, as the shadow government, resorts to these childish antics.
34:55I mean, he reminds me of Mr. Bean, frankly.
34:57When he comes out and he asks, you know, he says all of these things to the Prime Minister.
35:01What stops him, I wonder, as even the Home Minister asked, I believe, in a remark of his,
35:07what stops him from coming to parliament?
35:10The whole country watches Lok Sabha proceedings, Gaurav.
35:12If he has something to say, he should expose the government in parliament.
35:16But obviously, it's my way or the highway.
35:18So, Mr. Gandhi, his entitlement, that whole dynastic, you know, hangover that they suffer from,
35:25you know, it continues to linger on.
35:26So, it has to be there.
35:27Rajesh Kalapa wants to respond to that.
35:29Also, take my question, sir.
35:31BJP says Rahul Gandhi is unable to convince even his own youth leaders about his cause.
35:38And BJP is citing this action taken against youth congress leaders for alleged organizational
35:45indiscipline for the no-show at the Ramlila Maidan.
35:48Apparently, youth leaders are also not happy about the center staging of Neha Bora by Rahul Gandhi,
35:55according to reports that have been published.
35:57Your take on that, Mr. Kalapa?
36:00No, like I said, there are a lot of reports regarding the differences between Prime Minister Modi and H.M.
36:06Amit Shah.
36:07There are also reports of differences between both of them with Mr. Yogi Adityanath.
36:14So, there are all kinds of reports.
36:16So, let's not go by these reports because they are neither here nor there.
36:20Now, I think as far as…
36:21But discipline reaction against youth congress leaders has been put out by the congress.
36:25One minute, one minute, one minute, Gaurab.
36:27I object strongly to the usage of language of Mr. Deha.
36:31Look, either you don a political hat and you come and speak, right?
36:36But you can't, on the one hand, behave like an expert on some subject and then say somebody is childish,
36:44somebody is churlish and all this.
36:46I strongly object to this.
36:48Point taken, sir.
36:48This kind of language by somebody who states that he is neutral and he is all this.
36:55I think this doesn't kind of mix.
36:57Please, if he wants to, let him join a political party.
37:02I'll get him to respond on that.
37:04I'll get him to respond on that.
37:05But on merits of youth congress leaders being suspended.
37:09I think this is the first thing that you as a channel should do that stop people who have
37:13political, strong political views in favor of a political party appearing as neutral experts.
37:19Okay.
37:19This is the first thing.
37:20And this is not personally against anybody.
37:22But I'm telling you as a channel.
37:24Again, sir, my question to you was on congress parties suspending youth congress leaders for
37:29their alleged no-show for alleged organizational indiscipline, sir.
37:37Mr. Kalappa.
37:39No, see, as far as youth congress workers are concerned, see, we wanted to have a very peaceful rally.
37:47We were very keen that everybody there should have a sense that there is absolutely no scope
37:55for misbehavior.
37:57So, therefore, we needed a cadre there in full strength.
38:00And this is the reason that when lakhs of people converge in an area, then it is essential
38:06for proper form to be maintained.
38:09And this is the reason why we were so insistent that there must be a youthful force there.
38:15And this is the reason why the party cadre has taken this extremely seriously and tried
38:22to pull them up.
38:23Fair enough.
38:23Rohan Gupta wants to respond and I want to bring it, Jainan, they have the right to respond
38:26to what you said.
38:27But I want to link this to the Bangladesh and Nepal kind of situation.
38:31Fair enough.
38:31The problem here is, Congress party leadership, they don't understand the vibration, Mr.
39:00Kalapa, you've heard your say, Mr. Gupta, I'll tell you the core problem.
39:18Mr. Kalapa, sorry, you couldn't complete your point, quickly complete your point before
39:36I bring in Ashish and Jai.
39:38No, I didn't have anything to say.
39:40I was only saying that Mr. Rohan Gupta gets very rattled.
39:43When I start to speak and he has to speak over me, so I was just making a point to
39:47him.
39:47Fair enough.
39:48You're supporting Nea Bora.
39:49She's a leftist and you are supporting Nea Bora and disrespecting your workers.
39:53Who is Nea Bora?
39:54Is she in our party?
39:56Why don't you take her, Mr. Gupta?
39:58Who is Nea Bora?
39:59You also in our party, now you have stepped to the other side.
40:02We will do this and you have disrespected your workers.
40:06Where will you be the party?
40:08Where will you be the party?
40:08You are disrespected your workers.
40:09You are making the leftists.
40:11You are making the right of Congress party.
40:13Jai, you wanted to quickly respond to the point made by Mr. Kalapa.
40:16The last 30 seconds that I have on this part of the show, quickly respond, sir.
40:19See, I don't take offense to what Mr. Kalapa says.
40:23I don't get personal ever, but I understand the difficulty that he has being in the Congress.
40:27Everyone has to be very sycophantic towards the Gandhis, otherwise they lose their position
40:32in the party.
40:32That's how it's run since Mr. Nehru was the Prime Minister.
40:35But I should remind him of the history of his own political party.
40:40It is Mr. Nehru who brought in censorship and today again he gives me this unsolicited advice.
40:45I am a third party observer and I simply made a remark.
40:48I only said this, that I want Mr. Rahul Gandhi, who occupies the position of shadow government leader.
40:57I want him to ask important, you know, searching questions to the government of India.
41:03I want him to ask difficult questions from this government.
41:05But why doesn't he become a more serious person and ask good important questions
41:10and put the government on the map, on the mat in parliament?
41:13Why does he resort to these childish antics outside?
41:15Put the government on the mat, on the floor of the house.
41:20Anish, for starters, is that the best way forward, at least in a parliamentary democracy?
41:26If there's a debate on the floor of the house, we all get to see it.
41:30We all get to hear.
41:30And then the voters, the people of this country make up their minds.
41:35Kaurav, instead of asking a hundred questions about why we should have a debate in public,
41:43I think we should ask just one simple question.
41:45Why not?
41:46Why should we be afraid of a public debate?
41:49Who is afraid of a public debate?
41:51No, where is the question of being afraid is my point.
41:54We are a parliamentary democracy.
41:56Hesitant.
41:56Why should you be afraid?
41:58Why should you be reticent?
41:59Why should you be reluctant?
42:00Why should you be apprehensive?
42:02You know, that's a point that can be made by either side.
42:04Why is one afraid of having a debate in parliament?
42:07We are a parliamentary democracy.
42:08There are systems to be moved by that system.
42:11But that's a debate for people to answer.
42:13I think both sides have presented strong arguments about whether or not they have current faith
42:19in the way the parliamentary affairs minister is running parliament.
42:22Now, there is dissatisfaction.
42:24One way out of it is by resolving the deadlock that has existed in parliament.
42:28Evidently, we've not been able to resolve that deadlock.
42:30When we asked for one hour to debate air pollution,
42:34we got 10 hours of debate on Mandi Mataram instead.
42:37So we are not allowed to put our legislative agenda forward.
42:40So why are we pretending that the government is allowing the opposition to speak in parliament?
42:43So, be that as it may, I think a public debate is welcome.
42:47In South Mumbai, Lok Sabha constituency, we have a very strong tradition
42:51where you have the two candidates facing each other
42:53and sometimes the three candidates facing each other
42:55doing public debates before an election.
42:57Excellent. Rohan Gupta, why are we scared of a public debate?
43:02Nobody is scared of public debate.
43:04But why are you disrespecting the parliament?
43:06I think parliament is a much bigger platform to display your knowledge
43:10or display your logic or arguments.
43:12Why are you disrespecting that?
43:14We are not a presidential form of this thing.
43:16And when he's asked about Lal Krishna Advani, let me tell you,
43:19it was Mr. Mohan Mohansi who questioned, who dead Mr. Lal Krishna Advani.
43:22He questioned his record as a home minister and then he replied,
43:25Why are you running away from parliament? Why are you running away from parliament?
43:28Why are you running away from there? You did there before.
43:29You have evidence.
43:31The parliament is a place where you can display your evidence and get something in your favor.
43:36When you do it on road, obviously the sanctity won't be there.
43:39So I am challenging Congress Party, accept the challenge to discuss all your issues.
43:43Inside the parliament, nobody is going to stop your mic.
43:46But there should be logic in your arguments and don't run away when the session is fixed like always.
43:50Sir, whether there is logic in their argument or not has to be decided by the people of this country
43:55through their vote is what I personally believe.
43:58But be that as it may, you know, we got our viewers all side of the story.
44:03Now, it's for our viewers to decide.
44:05I want to thank all our guests for joining me on this absolutely fantastic debate with great guests that I
44:11had.
44:12I now want to get you what the government is talking about the changes in the Agniveer system.
44:18The centre says they've opened a new pathway for Agniveers to enter regular military service
44:25with 75% of Agniveers to get a two-year extension.
44:29So, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, he's thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi
44:33for the Agniveer extension decision, saying it will provide an opportunity
44:38for all willing Agniveers to enrol in regular service.
44:43He said the move aligns with defence reforms aimed at building a younger, fitter military
44:49and preparing India's armed forces for the changing nature of warfare.
44:54So what exactly does the revised arrangement mean for Agniveers?
44:59Defence officials have actually given a detailed explanation answering some of the questions
45:04about eligibility, absorption and respect and maintenance of seniority.
45:11So let's break it down point by point.
45:13First, will all Agniveers have a chance to join the regular cadre of the army?
45:19The answer is yes.
45:20The new arrangement opens a pathway for all 100% of Agniveers to be absorbed into regular service.
45:29So how will this work?
45:31The first 25% will be absorbed after completion of their first initial four-year engagement.
45:40The remaining 75% will get an additional two-year engagement period,
45:45after which, should they meet the criteria, they too will be considered for regular absorption.
45:53Is there a numerical cap on the second phase of absorption?
45:58The answer is no.
46:00Defence officials say there will be no numerical limit on how many of the remaining Agniveers can be absorbed.
46:07But what is this eligibility criteria that's being spoken of?
46:13One, willingness to continue.
46:16If you're willing to remain in the armed forces, then you have your standard chance.
46:23But then it's not just willingness, it's also physical fitness.
46:27You have to remain physically fit to be absorbed in the armed forces.
46:32And three, discipline.
46:33Discipline will be a key consideration.
46:37No vigilance charges, no indiscipline.
46:40Another very important aspect that's being raised is about seniority.
46:45Will your seniority be maintained?
46:48And government officials are clarifying that the remaining 75%
46:53will also not lose their seniority from the initial lot.
46:58Once absorbed, they will immediately be placed with their own batch mates
47:03who entered the regular cadre after the first four years of initial tour of duty.
47:09They will not be junior to the subsequent batches.
47:13And finally, has the Agnipat scheme been rolled back?
47:19The government's answer is an emphatic no.
47:22The scheme remains in place with an additional two-year engagement period introduced
47:28to create a wider pathway into regular military service.
47:34News is coming in.
47:36Union Minister Hardeep Puri has been elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh.
47:44Hardeep Puri was declared elected by the returning officer Umesh Sharma
47:48on the last day of withdrawal of nominations.
47:51He, in fact, was the only candidate in the fray after the nomination papers of two other candidates
47:58were rejected during scrutiny.
48:00The Madhya Pradesh BJP chief, Hemant Khandelwal, collected Hardeep Puri's certificate of election
48:07from the returning officer in the presence of party MLA, Rameshwar Sharma.
48:13So, on the last day of the scrutiny of papers, the nomination of the other two candidates,
48:20Now, both the candidates who were backed by the opposition Congress were rejected.
48:26The bi-poll, if necessary, would have taken place on the 12th of November.
48:32The Rajya Sabha seat fell vacant after the resignation of former Union Minister El Murugan
48:38from the Rajya Sabha last month, which necessitated a bi-poll.
48:43So, Murugan's term was due to end on the 2nd of April, 2030.
48:50Now, amidst all this speculation over a cabinet reject,
48:53Hardeep Puri being elected to Rajya Sabha seems to suggest
48:57he will remain a key part of Team Narendra Modi.
49:02I quickly want to cut across to my colleague Aishwarya Paliwal,
49:05who's getting us the latest on this big story.
49:08So, Aishwarya, all that speculation that it's exit, you know, Hardeep Puri,
49:14clearly not happening.
49:16Well, definitely, you know, Gaurav, this is something that, in fact, is on expected lines
49:21because on the last day of the withdrawal,
49:23Hardeep Puri, in fact, was the sole candidate in the frame
49:26as the papers of the other two nominees were, in fact, rejected after the scrutiny.
49:30And what is now being declared by the returning officer, Omej Sharma,
49:35is that unopposed, we are seeing BGP leader
49:40and the Union Petroleum Minister, Hardeep Puri,
49:43being elected unopposed from the Rajya Sabha seat in Madhya Pradesh.
49:46Gaurav, this was the same seat that he was vacated
49:48just a couple of days back by Al Murugan
49:51when he said that he wanted to go back to Tamil Nadu
49:54and work for the Bharatiya Janta Party in the state of Tamil Nadu.
49:57So, this is something which will keep the BJP's numbers intact
50:00and also all the speculation that was doing around
50:05Wittrick's cabinet free shuffle,
50:07that is something which now, that speculation will die down
50:10and also, you know, shows that the BJP has faith in Hardeep Puri
50:14and the kind of work that he's done over the past many years, Gaurav.
50:18Aishwarya, for the moment, many thanks for joining me.
50:20Keep tracking that story.
50:21I will come back to you for more.
50:23I have to slip into a quick break here.
50:24On the other side, the other big story.
50:27Now, President Trump is in the line of fire internally
50:31after the debacle of the Republicans in the midterm elections.
50:36So, first, Jerry Vance, the vice president,
50:38he blamed the Iran war for the midterm debacle.
50:42Now, President Trump agrees with him.
50:45Details coming up.
50:48So, the Republicans' setback in U.S. midterm elections
50:51has triggered a massive political storm within the Trump administration.
50:55U.S. Vice President Jerry Vance has identified the Iran war
50:59as the key reason behind their massive defeat.
51:03Jerry Vance admitted that the war caused Republicans' votes.
51:06Some of the very voters who voted Donald Trump in par in 2024 switched sides.
51:11They voted Democrats.
51:13President Trump defended his Iran policy.
51:15He acknowledged that the conflict may have contributed to the electoral loss,
51:19but Trump has partially blamed the Iran war for the outcome.
51:22He insisted if he had to take the same decision again,
51:25he would have taken the same decision once again.
51:28I quickly want to cut across and bring in my colleague Sandeep Unnithan Fomo on this.
51:33And Sandeep, Donald Trump may be seen as lame duck,
51:37but the fact does remain, even within the Republican Party,
51:41there are leaders who are distancing themselves from the Iran war
51:44and from President Trump.
51:46Is J.D. Vance the first to do so?
51:49Absolutely, Gaurav.
51:50You know, there are cracks that have shown up in the Trump administration
51:53post this debacle.
51:55I mean, people are calling it a landslide of historic proportions
51:59of the kind that we've not seen, at least in the 21st century.
52:02And now, J.D. Vance, the vice president,
52:04is someone who's had presidential ambitions.
52:07And it's very likely that with this very unprecedented post on X,
52:12600-word analysis of what went wrong,
52:15where he, as you mentioned,
52:17he's mentioned the fact that a lot of Republican voters turned out,
52:20but they all voted Democrat.
52:22And he has given out a roadmap of what the Republican Party needs to do
52:26to, you know, put up a fight in 2028,
52:29which is basically go back to their core voters,
52:32end the war in Iran,
52:34you know, reassess their, you know, ties with Israel,
52:37all of this.
52:38It was almost like a presidential stump speech, Gaurav.
52:41And the last 30 seconds, Sandeep, if I may,
52:45the Democrats, now when they want Trump to lawyer up,
52:49or team Trump to lawyer up,
52:50there may be more within the Republican fold
52:53who may abandon the president.
52:56Absolutely, Gaurav.
52:57And, you know, when Trump comes under attack,
52:59there are going to be a lot of people who are going to cut and,
53:02you know, cut loose,
53:03because they want to protect their political futures.
53:05They are very young politicians.
53:07Vance is in his 40s.
53:09Marco Rubio is also in his 40s.
53:11These are very young politicians
53:12who have a very long political career ahead of them.
53:16And if Trump goes down,
53:17they want to ensure that
53:18he doesn't take them all down with them.
53:20They want to continue, you know,
53:22in US elections beyond a Trump presidency,
53:24which ends in two years from now.
53:26He's not going to get a third term.
53:27So it's very clear that everyone's trying to,
53:30you know, secure their political...
53:31So they want the Republicans to live to fight another day.
53:34And that's a story that Sandeep and I
53:35will be tracking very closely.
53:36Sandeep, many thanks for joining me.