- 11 minutes ago
A debate on Congress's comments about Diwali and Eid covered political strategies, communal issues, and calls to focus on economic challenges.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00So in the run-up to elections, you're seeing how this battle is getting personal, bitter, and many could argue
00:07vicious.
00:08Let's begin with Mallika Arjun, Karge's comments on Diwali being Khushio Ki Eid, the words to that effect,
00:13and the subsequent escalation of the political war of words.
00:16Joining me on India First is Sardar R.P. Singh, National Spokesperson of the BJP.
00:20Salman Soz, National Spokesperson of the Congress Party.
00:23Sangeet Ragi is a professor, author, and political analyst.
00:28Also with me is Ashutosh, former journalist, author, and political analyst.
00:32Gentlemen, welcome.
00:33Sardar R.P. Singh, explain why is the BJP upset with Mallika Arjun, Karge's Diwali being described as Khushio Ki
00:41Eid, or words to that effect?
00:45Well, if Diwali is Eid of joy, then Eid should be Diwali of joy.
00:51Will Mr. Karge ever be able to say so?
00:53So, no, it's all calculated just because of the U.P. election.
00:58Even the tears which she is referring to, that her tears, she shed tears because of the bubbling structure, the
01:06distributed structure.
01:08That's also part of the same game plan.
01:10I mean, I see it's a bigger game plan where targeting a particular vote bank.
01:13That's how Mr. Karge has said what he has said, and he has roped in Eid along with Diwali.
01:19And so is Mrs. Sonia Gandhi.
01:22She, when she says, tears rolled down her eyes because of the bubbling demolition, the dispute structure demolition.
01:30But can I, can I, can I, can I, can I, can I, can I, can I, can I, can
01:31I, can I, can I, can I, can I, can I.
01:32As Mr. Karge will never say Eid Ki Diwali manai jaati hai, because they have never celebrated Diwali.
01:40I've never seen any Congress leader ever holding a Diwali get together.
01:43They always have a Eid Milan at their residence, and they call all people from all the communities also, although.
01:50But they hold Eid Milan functions.
01:53But will ever a tear roll for Girja Tikku, who was sought into two by the terrorists in Kashmir, Kashmiri
02:03Pandit woman.
02:05Tears rolled down for Bhaagikor, who was raped 27 times in a period of three days, and 500 women were
02:14kept naked, and the Congress men would take them and rape them turn by turn.
02:21So, tear has never rolled down for that.
02:24Let me begin, Salman Sos.
02:25You've raised two points.
02:26Can I have another one second, another one second, I will finish.
02:29I'll come back to you, I'll come back to you.
02:31Salman Sos.
02:32Another one second, another one second, another one second.
02:34And where was her tears when her husband got 27 and 33 official figure, butchered, although number one much more
02:43high, 27 and 36 six butchered by Rajiv Gandhi's order.
02:50Okay.
02:50Salman Sos, respond point by point.
02:53Has any Congress leader ever described Eid as Khushyon Ki Diwali?
02:57Why does Eid reference have to come into Diwali?
03:00BJP says this reflects the Muslim appeasement politics of the Congress.
03:04And if Sonia Gandhi shed tears for Babri, did she ever shed tears for the massacre of Sikhs in the
03:10national capital, sir, is the question that R.P. Singh asks.
03:17Gaurav, first of all, on Kharkiji's remarks, I will only say that Kharkiji is not the only leader.
03:24I mean, just talking about Hindu festivals and Muslim festivals together is not the first time this has happened.
03:30In fact, Prime Minister Modi referred to Diwali and Eid together in the context of Srinagar in 2024.
03:38In fact, Home Minister Amit Shah just this year mentioned multiple festivals together in 2026.
03:46So, I think that's not the real issue.
03:49And by the way, they talk about Sonia G. not, you know, shedding tears, for example, when Babri Machado was
03:56demolished.
03:57Do they not, are they hiding, are they trying to hide the fact that Prime Minister Vajpayee,
04:02Prime Minister Vajpayee apologized for it in 2002.
04:06L.K. Advani, the big BJP leader of yesteryears, he said it was the saddest day in his life.
04:14Mr. R.P. Singh won't have an answer for that.
04:17By the way, one of your, in one of your packages, please, please don't interrupt.
04:22Mr. R.P. Singh, let, let, let, let, let Salman Sos complete.
04:26I'll come back to you.
04:27You know, when you spoke, he didn't interrupt. Salman Sos complete your point, sir.
04:31In your package, somebody mentioned that in the, in Chhattisgarh, Daxalites attacked, CRP of Jawan and 75 were murdered in
04:40that attack.
04:41And Sonia Gandhi didn't say anything.
04:42What are you talking about?
04:43Sonia Ji was among the first to condemn it.
04:46What is this nonsense?
04:48They, you, all you have to do is Google it before you, before you try to misdead people.
04:52I'll tell you why, Gaurav, they're misdeading people.
04:55Let me tell you why.
04:56One, nobody wants to talk about the debate that Rahul Gandhi has, you know, challenged the Prime Minister for.
05:04Nobody wants to talk about 19% youth unemployment in this country.
05:08Nobody wants to talk about stagnant wages in this country for the last 10 years.
05:12That incomes have not risen at all.
05:14Nobody wants to talk about, nobody wants to talk about the smart cities that Prime Minister Modi had talked about.
05:19And none of them just right now.
05:21Raise every of that issue and you must, and you must, however, show me one leader, one leader, who's called
05:29Eid Khushyon Ki Diwali.
05:31Because this Ganga Jamani Tahzeeb, is it a one-way street in our country, is the question that is being
05:37asked.
05:38But I will, I will, you know, come back to you to respond, but I want to bring in Sangeet
05:42Raghi.
05:42Because Sangeet Raghi, this reflects the secular credentials of the Congress Party.
05:48You know, why take offense to Diwali being described as Khushyon Ki Eid?
05:52What's wrong with it, sir?
06:04How do you expect that he will be talking the language of Hinduism?
06:08It is impossible.
06:10When Pradhan Manthari talks about, when Pradhan Manthari tells about, when Pradhan Manthari says that he is a party, then
06:18I will go ahead and give it one line.
06:21Congress Party
06:22का वैचारी खतना हो चुका है
06:25और जब मैं
06:26वैचारी खतना करा हूँ
06:28तो यह Party Congress
06:30आज जो है
06:32वो Gandhi, Nehru, Agra, Patel
06:36Kriplani
06:36यह Party नहीं है
06:38यह Italian National Congress है
06:41यह Indian National Congress
06:43नहीं है
06:43तो यह मूल अंतर आ गया है
06:46सभाविक तोर पे
06:48कोई भी व्यक्ति
06:50यदि दिपावली पर
06:52कोई अपना जाहिर कर रहा हो
06:54या संदेश देगा
06:55उसमें ईद कहां से आ जाएगा
06:57यह तो वैसे ही है
06:59एक महिला ने कहा था
07:00गांदी जी से भी कहा था
07:01कि भाई आप हमारे
07:03मंदिर में तो कुरान पढ़वा देते हैं
07:06जरा मस्चिद में गीता पढ़वा करके देख लीगे
07:09क्या इसी प्रकार की भासा आए
07:11इद के समय कि ये तो बड़ा होडी जैसा ते वहार दिख रहा है
07:13बहुलेंगे नहीं बोलेंगे
07:15इम्मत नहीं है एक
07:17दूसरी बात
07:19जो
07:20Congress के एक बड़े नेता ने कहा
07:22कि भाई, pollution पर
07:23तो
07:26पॉलूशन पर एक मिनिट में आँगा
07:27लेकिन आपने जो दो बाते उठाई
07:29I'll get Salman Sos also to respond
07:31but I want to bring Ashutosh into this conversation
07:33Ashutosh
07:34respond to Professor Raghi
07:36saying this is in his
07:38words not mine
07:40this is the intellectual
07:43circumcision of the
07:44Congress Party
07:45Vaicharik Khatna is Sangeet Raghi's language
07:48how would you respond to it sir
07:52Sangeet Raghi
07:53I don't have to say anything
07:54I don't have to say anything
07:55I don't have to take the issue with Gambheerita
07:56issue
07:57see
07:58Gaurab the important issue is
08:00this is basically a diversionary tactics
08:03why it is a diversionary tactics
08:05because government is facing
08:06facing problems on the different fronts
08:09and government has no answers
08:10frankly speaking
08:11they don't want to
08:13to talk about unemployment
08:14they don't want to talk about the price rise
08:16they don't want to talk about
08:17how India has been treated
08:19at the global
08:20at the global forums
08:22and how Mr. Trump is treating India
08:25these are the fundamental questions
08:27and since they have no answer
08:29to these questions
08:30they will talk about
08:31Diwali
08:32I always thought that BJP has got
08:37BJP is a very smart party
08:39but if you don't use your brain
08:41they are using their brain
08:43to communalize issues
08:45because they don't want
08:47that the narrative
08:48that the government is facing
08:50on a daily basis
08:51and has no answers
08:53to those questions
08:54and that is why
08:54these issues are being raised
08:56Gaurab I want to raise
08:58a very important question
08:59the important question is
09:01that today Prime Minister
09:02in uniform
09:04has spoken to
09:05a CRP of Javans
09:07in a political language
09:09this is first time
09:11in the country
09:12this is happening
09:12no Prime Minister
09:14has used
09:15a CRP of Javans
09:17meeting
09:18for the political purposes
09:20and what he is saying
09:21he is basically
09:22I am sorry to say this
09:23I have a lot of respect
09:24for the Prime Minister
09:25but the kind of language
09:27he has used
09:27is basically
09:28crossing the Lakshman Rekha
09:30and in India
09:31Indian democracy
09:32is safe and secure
09:33because here
09:34the civilian administration
09:36has an upper hand
09:38and armed forces
09:39are not to be politicized
09:41but the Prime Minister
09:42has used Diwali
09:43for the politicization
09:44of the armed forces
09:45this is really really sad
09:47and this has
09:48dangerous consequences
09:49I will get R.P. Singh
09:50to respond
09:51to the charges
09:52that you have leveled
09:53but I want to ask you sir
09:55if you say
09:56that the government
09:57wants to run away
09:57or the BJP
09:58wants to run away
09:59from bread and butter issues
10:01that the country faces
10:02why give them
10:04an opportunity
10:04when you are
10:05the Congress Party
10:06President
10:06by saying
10:08things like this
10:09which you know
10:10will be used
10:11not just by the BJP
10:12but also by the AIMIM
10:14you know
10:15why not keep the focus
10:16entirely on bread and butter
10:17issues
10:18but be that as it may
10:19you know
10:20when people say
10:22you know
10:22you want to say
10:24Holy Mubarak
10:25or Diwali Mubarak
10:26I also want to hear
10:28Eid Ki Mangal Kaam Nain
10:30you know
10:31let it be equal
10:33in India
10:34does anybody ever say
10:36Eid Mangal Mai Ho
10:37you know
10:38Eid
10:39Gaurav
10:40I think we are a
10:41very
10:42we are a very old
10:44civilization
10:44yes
10:45I always say
10:46Holy Mubarak
10:47A very old civilization
10:48where Diwali was there
10:49long before any other festival
10:52long before
10:54centuries
10:55you know
10:56thousands of years
10:57before any other festival
10:58so you know
10:59we don't need a comparison
11:00with Eid
11:00to celebrate
11:01our festivities
11:02do we
11:03I think Gaurav
11:04we have to
11:04we have to get over
11:05this mindset
11:06I am sorry to say
11:07this is no comment on
11:08this is no comment on
11:10you
11:10neither a comment on
11:11by my fellow panelists
11:12but this is
11:15goes against
11:16the basic ethos
11:17of Vasudha Kutumbakam
11:18at the one end
11:19of the spectrum
11:20we say Vasudha
11:21that Vasudha
11:22is our Kutumbakam
11:22and at the other end
11:23we take an offense
11:24that somebody is calling
11:25Diwali's Eid
11:26I am saying
11:26Holy Mubarak
11:28Diwali Mubarak
11:29Sir
11:29you are Eid Mangal Mai Hai
11:30also
11:32Salman Bhai
11:33will say
11:34Eid Ki Mangal Kaam Nain
11:35Gaurav
11:38listen to me
11:39listen to me
11:40Salman wants to come in
11:42let Salman come in
11:43listen to me
11:43Gaurav listen to me
11:45listen to me
11:45I have no qualms about
11:47whether calling
11:48Eid Mangal Mai Ho
11:49or Diwali
11:49but this comparison
11:50is extremely
11:52extremely dangerous
11:54comparison
11:54because at least
11:56at least
11:56at least
11:58this is not a
11:59politics of hate
12:00at least this is not
12:01politics of hate
12:01so Eid Mangal Mai Ho
12:03becomes politics of hate
12:05but
12:07Diwali
12:07you know
12:08Eid Hai
12:09is politics of love
12:11okay
12:11Salman wants to come in
12:12come in sir
12:14Gaurav
12:15I would just say
12:16only Salman
12:17go on sir
12:18okay
12:18Gaurav
12:19I would just say
12:20that look
12:20I am a student of Urdu
12:21but I get a lot of
12:22messages in Hindi
12:23and I translate them
12:25and I get a lot of
12:26Eid Pe Shub Kaam Nain Ho
12:28so what's wrong with that
12:29what's the problem
12:30no nothing
12:30it's fine
12:31so I will tell you
12:33I will tell you
12:34Gaurav
12:34that in this particular case
12:36if there is something
12:37that as
12:37for Indian society
12:39if there is something
12:40that is really important
12:41it is
12:42in my view
12:42when you talk about
12:43Kharkeji
12:43he's a very respected
12:45leader of the
12:45Congress Party
12:46our one of
12:46what he's
12:47our senior most leader
12:48right
12:49he's been in public service
12:50for 50 plus years
12:51of course
12:51if there's one thing
12:53that I would say
12:54is really important
12:56in his context
12:57is that
12:59just a few
13:00months back
13:01in Uttarakhand
13:02they did a Shuddhi Karan
13:03where he appeared
13:05that I think
13:06is a much more
13:07very serious consequence
13:09for our country
13:10as a society
13:10oh absolutely
13:11but BJP
13:12and BJP
13:13and BJP
13:14has not
13:15yet
13:15I mean I don't see
13:16any senior leader
13:17I don't
13:18I didn't see the
13:18Prime Minister come out
13:19and say that
13:20this was wrong
13:20okay
13:21I want to bring in
13:22Sardar Arfi Singh
13:23or the president
13:26of the BJP
13:27Sir I also want
13:27your views
13:28I also want
13:29your views
13:29on the other
13:30senior Congress
13:30leader Malika
13:31you know
13:32Rashid Alvi
13:33and I'll come to him
13:34in just a moment
13:35where he says
13:36two festivals
13:36both joy
13:37only one is AQI
13:39and tell me
13:40how acceptable
13:42is that to you also
13:43but Arfi Singh
13:44Congress leader says
13:45this just shows
13:46the ignorance
13:47of the Bharatiya
13:48Janata Party
13:49or their lack
13:49of understanding
13:50of the secular
13:52credentials
13:52of this country
13:53Eid means
13:55festival
13:55you heard
13:56Pawan Kheda
13:57sir
13:58so do
13:59the Pavli
14:00mean festivity
14:00so you rightly
14:02said let them
14:02next time say
14:03sir
14:04yes
14:04why not
14:06what's the problem
14:07so I appreciate
14:09I appreciate
14:09I appreciate
14:12next time
14:13during Eid
14:14they will say
14:15Eid ki
14:16the Pavli
14:17the Pavli
14:18ki khushya
14:18Mubarak
14:19he won't
14:20never say that
14:21he can't
14:21afford to say that
14:22this I recreate
14:24again
14:24this is as per
14:25pure game plan
14:26keeping in mind
14:27the UP election
14:29and that's why
14:30the tears rolled down
14:31and that's why
14:32this mixing up
14:34Eid with Diwali
14:35and this is very clear
14:36I mean there's no confusion
14:37in my mind
14:37and neither the confusion
14:38in the voters mind
14:39they can go to any extent
14:41for the vote bank
14:43politics
14:43to even
14:45demeaning
14:46our cultural festival
14:47I mean
14:48it's not
14:49it's not a religious festival
14:51at all
14:51it's a cultural festival
14:52and they demean
14:53Mr. Kharkis demeaned that
14:55and Mr. Alvi
14:56has further
14:56done the harm
14:58to the congress
14:59also
15:00by saying that
15:03during Diwali festivities
15:04there's an AKI issue
15:05whereas
15:05there is no problem
15:07in Eid
15:07although
15:08there's a lot of issues
15:09being raised
15:09on the butchering
15:12of the bakra also
15:14the goat also
15:15Salman Sos
15:16BJP claims
15:17that there is a pattern
15:18to what the BJP
15:20describes as
15:20the anti-Hindu mindset
15:23they have come out
15:24with a list
15:25including
15:26Rahul Gandhi
15:27reportedly telling
15:28a former US ambassador
15:29according to
15:30WikiLeaks papers
15:31that the bigger threat
15:33to India
15:34is the rise
15:35of radicalized
15:36Hindu groups
15:37bigger than
15:38radical terror
15:38of Lashkar-e-Taiba
15:40and Jaisya Muhammad
15:40the worst to their effect
15:41or the home ministry
15:42during the congress party
15:44coining a term
15:46saffron terror
15:46or Hindu terror
15:47or veteran congress leader
15:50Digvajay Singh
15:51being part of
15:52a release of a book
15:52that said
15:5326-11 was
15:54RSS ki saadish
15:55virtually giving
15:57a clean shit
15:57to Pakistan
15:59state-sponsored
16:00radical Islamist terror
16:01whether it's
16:03ISI or Kassab
16:04they were given
16:05a clean shit sir
16:07by the way
16:08nobody's been given
16:09a clean shit
16:09as far as terrorism
16:10is concerned
16:10all governments
16:11in my living memory
16:14all governments
16:14have been fighting
16:15terrorism
16:15Pakistan-sponsored
16:16terrorism
16:17tooth and nail
16:18I don't think
16:18any government
16:19has given a clean shit
16:20to anybody
16:20as far as
16:21radicalization
16:22is concerned
16:24we believe
16:26that the RSS
16:26is not good
16:27for the country
16:28absolutely not
16:29good for the country
16:29their ideology
16:30is not good
16:31for the country
16:32and we've been
16:33fighting them
16:33and we'll continue
16:34to fight them
16:34but you know
16:35I don't
16:36you know
16:36RPC
16:37including calling
16:3826-11 RSS
16:39ki saajash
16:40when everybody
16:41knows
16:42even through
16:43court documents
16:44that it was
16:44Pakistan-state-sponsored
16:46radical Islamist terror
16:47but you know
16:47at an individual level
16:49people can make
16:49mistakes
16:50and they can
16:50respond to those
16:52things
16:52but I can only
16:53say this
16:53as far as the BJP
16:55coming up with
16:56this narrative
16:57right now
16:57including through
16:59Mr. RPC
16:59or anybody else
17:00Sudhanshu Trivedi
17:01or anybody else
17:02talking about
17:03this particular issue
17:05not addressing
17:07a senior Dalit
17:08leader's insult
17:09in Uttarakhand
17:10I think that is
17:11to my mind
17:11but I will only
17:13I will only say
17:14one more thing
17:14if you do not
17:15if you
17:16if you think
17:17that this is
17:18the real election
17:18or the real issue
17:20of the UP election
17:21then you're sadly
17:22mistaken
17:23real issues
17:23are going to be
17:25unemployment
17:26for young people
17:28their examination
17:29leaks
17:29they're going to
17:30talk about
17:31stagnation
17:32in wages
17:32and salaries
17:33and they're going
17:34to talk about
17:34what you're doing
17:35for the future
17:36that is what matters
17:37to the people
17:37of the country
17:38and that is what
17:39before I bring in
17:40Ashutosh and
17:40Professor Raghi
17:41RPC quickly respond
17:43you are diverting
17:44from bread and butter
17:45issues that the
17:46Congress party
17:46actually wants
17:47to raise in
17:48elections
17:48sir
17:49well Gawla
17:50one thing is very
17:52good Mr.
17:53Sourj has said
17:54that he never
17:55mentioned SIR
17:56so SIR is no more
17:57issue for them
17:57in UP election
17:58I mean just
17:59as per Mr.
18:01Sourj
18:01so it's bigger
18:02bigger issue for you
18:03sir given the
18:04number of votes
18:04that have
18:05apparently been
18:06cut
18:06sir sir sir
18:08if these have
18:09been the issue
18:09then they will
18:10not wait
18:10hue and cry
18:10on SIR
18:11which is all
18:12built up issue
18:12which is all
18:13false and
18:14propaganda only
18:15so they have
18:16all the right
18:17to do what
18:17they want to do
18:17but Mr.
18:18Sourj has come
18:18out with the
18:19truth
18:19and he has
18:20shown the
18:20merit to his
18:21leaders
18:21especially
18:21Rahul Gandhi
18:22in the first
18:22way
18:23but coming to
18:24the issue
18:24coming to
18:25the issue
18:25coming to
18:26the issue
18:27Gaurav
18:28how can we
18:29forget
18:30that Sonia
18:31Gandhiji
18:31never uttered
18:33a word
18:33for
18:34Mohan
18:35Chand
18:35Sharma
18:36you were
18:37there at
18:37that time
18:37when he
18:38was shot
18:39and later
18:40in he
18:40died
18:41he was a
18:42martyr of
18:43the
18:43battle house
18:43even then
18:44the tear
18:45rolled down
18:45only for
18:45the terrorists
18:46so this
18:48is a
18:48selective
18:49game plan
18:50of the
18:50congress
18:51party
18:51they do
18:52it
18:52intendingly
18:52keeping in
18:53mind the
18:54vote bank
18:54because they
18:54want to
18:55ensure that
18:55they consolidate
18:56that particular
18:57vote bank
18:57in UP
18:58very interesting
18:59point and
18:59Ashutosh wants
19:00to respond
19:01and that is a
19:01very you know
19:03is that a
19:03serious charge
19:04that the
19:04congress will
19:04find difficult
19:05to live
19:05down
19:06the statement
19:07of Salman
19:08Khursi
19:09the former
19:09external affairs
19:10minister
19:10Sonia Gandhi
19:11cried when
19:12she saw
19:12battle house
19:13pictures
19:13sir
19:14they were
19:15Indian
19:16Mujahideen
19:17terrorists
19:17that module
19:18once it
19:19was taken
19:20down
19:20Delhi became
19:21much safer
19:22and a brave
19:23inspector
19:23made the
19:24supreme
19:25sacrifice
19:25of his
19:26life
19:26is there
19:27merit in
19:27the BJP
19:28asking
19:28Ashutosh
19:29no tears
19:30for brave
19:30inspector
19:30Mohanchan Sharma
19:31but tears
19:32for those
19:33Indian
19:33Mujahideen
19:34terrorists
19:34see Gaurav
19:36give me
19:36give me
19:37give me
19:37give me
19:37a minute
19:37see Gaurav
19:38I think
19:39the BJP
19:40should learn
19:41a lesson
19:41from the
19:42victory of
19:43Abdul Al
19:44Said
19:44in Michigan
19:45less than
19:462%
19:47Muslims
19:47and he
19:48was called
19:48by the
19:50president
19:51as a
19:51lunatic
19:52jihadist
19:52you know
19:52what happened
19:53he won
19:55handsomely
19:55won
19:56because the
19:57people did
19:58not fell
19:59into the
19:59trap laid
19:59by the
20:00republicans
20:00I think
20:01the world
20:02is moving
20:02fast
20:03Bolsonaro
20:03is losing
20:04in Brazil
20:05Borbon
20:06is losing
20:06in Hungary
20:08Trump is
20:09losing in
20:09America
20:10America
20:11and because
20:12they are
20:12still living
20:13in the
20:13past
20:14the world
20:15has moved
20:15faster than
20:16them
20:16sooner BJP
20:18comes back
20:18to the
20:19issues
20:20related to
20:20the people
20:21otherwise BJP
20:22will face
20:23the same
20:24fate
20:24which these
20:25people have
20:26faced
20:26because they
20:27lived in
20:27the past
20:28they didn't
20:28want to come
20:29out
20:29Bolsonaro's
20:30victory
20:30Bolsonaro had
20:31to leave
20:31the country
20:32okay
20:32yeah okay
20:33RP Singh wants
20:34to respond
20:34Salman Sol
20:35want to come
20:35in but RP
20:36Singh go first
20:36and then Salman
20:37Sol
20:37Ashutosh
20:37Ashutosh
20:38how can you
20:39forget Kundarki
20:40and how can
20:40you forget
20:40Kistwar
20:41how can you
20:41forget
20:42Rezi Nagar
20:43highly Muslim
20:44populated areas
20:45and who won
20:46BJP won
20:47from these
20:47seats
20:48and also
20:48SIR
20:50Ashutosh
20:50I never
20:51interrupted
20:51Ashutosh
20:52I'm
20:53less respected
20:53of you
20:54you're not
20:54a congress
20:55spokesperson
20:55here
20:56and he
20:57is very
20:58well behaved
20:58today
20:59otherwise
20:59he's
20:59very well
21:00behaved
21:01but coming
21:02to that
21:02issue
21:02coming to
21:03the issue
21:0549
21:06crore
21:07people
21:07have come
21:07out of
21:07the poverty
21:09just
21:09as per
21:10the World
21:10Bank data
21:10you never
21:12speak about
21:12that
21:13because it
21:14doesn't suit
21:14you
21:15because you
21:16have a
21:16selective
21:16agenda
21:17I appreciate
21:19you following
21:20a particular
21:20ideology
21:21and following
21:22a particular
21:22agenda
21:22you can have
21:23a right
21:23to do
21:23that
21:24but fact
21:24is that
21:26country is
21:26moving ahead
21:27and you can
21:28compare us
21:29with America
21:29or France
21:29or whatever
21:30is happening
21:30there
21:31here people
21:32are satisfied
21:32I'll give
21:33you this
21:33recent example
21:34the dark
21:35union
21:36election
21:36the student
21:37union
21:37election
21:37BJP
21:38Swari
21:38Vedarki
21:39Parishas
21:39has won
21:39the
21:41Orissa
21:42student
21:42union
21:42election
21:43the Punjab
21:44union
21:44election
21:45the
21:45university
21:45union
21:46election
21:46before I
21:50bring in
21:50Professor
21:50Ragi
21:51Ashutosh
21:51wants to
21:52respond
21:52to you
21:52sir
21:52go on
21:53Ashutosh
21:54you know
21:55what was
21:55the fundamental
21:56issue
21:56in US
21:57the
21:586.25
21:59dollar
21:59per gallon
22:00diesel
22:01and 4.56
22:02dollar
22:04per gallon
22:05petrol
22:06that was
22:07the fundamental
22:07issue
22:0840%
22:09you know
22:10Trump
22:10wanted to
22:11make America
22:12great again
22:13he wanted
22:14to
22:15he was
22:15basically
22:16spreading
22:17hatred
22:17to the
22:18society
22:18society
22:19rejected
22:20it
22:20they accepted
22:21somebody
22:22who was
22:22called
22:22a lunatic
22:24jihadi
22:24you know
22:25I want
22:26BJP to
22:26come back
22:27to the
22:28real
22:28roti
22:28kapla
22:29makan
22:29issue
22:29the
22:29unemployment
22:30the
22:30price
22:31rise
22:31it's
22:32going
22:32high
22:32it's
22:32going
22:33beyond
22:33people's
22:34purse
22:34and if
22:35BJP
22:35does not
22:36come to
22:36that
22:37my doubt
22:38is the
22:39BJP
22:39will cut
22:40a very
22:40humble pie
22:41in
22:412027
22:42assembly
22:42election
22:43and in
22:432029
22:44parliamentary
22:44election
22:45if they
22:45keep repeating
22:47these communal
22:48issues
22:48like
22:48Prime Minister
22:49did in
22:502024
22:50and the
22:51Prime
22:51Minister
22:51should
22:52learn
22:52from
22:522024
22:53campaign
22:53okay
22:54Prime Minister
22:55should learn
22:56from
22:562024
22:57campaign
22:57Professor
22:58Raghi
23:00Rashid
23:01Alvi
23:01a senior
23:02Congress
23:02Party
23:02leader
23:03speaks of
23:04the
23:05secularism
23:05in this
23:06country
23:07sees nothing
23:08wrong in
23:08comparison
23:09between
23:09Eid and
23:09Diwali
23:10he in
23:11fact
23:11used
23:12words to
23:12the effect
23:12any
23:13distinction
23:14between
23:14Eid and
23:14Diwali
23:15both
23:15festivals
23:16of joy
23:16Eid
23:17does not
23:18lead to
23:18an increase
23:19in
23:19AQI
23:20air quality
23:21index
23:21or words
23:22to that
23:23effect
23:23Professor
23:23Raghi
23:24you wanted
23:24to raise
23:25this point
23:25why you
23:25so upset
23:26with this
23:26statement
23:28Gaurav
23:29first I
23:29must
23:30lose my
23:30complaint
23:31because you
23:32gave this
23:32proportionate
23:33time to
23:34my
23:35undear
23:35friend
23:36Asutos
23:38let me
23:39begin with
23:41that India
23:43doesn't need
23:44Arabic word
23:45to express
23:46its cultural
23:47to give
23:49cultural and
23:50religious expression
23:51in India
23:51even
23:52even
23:53the word
23:53saheed
23:53saheed
23:55us
24:24who
24:27Just a moment. Hold on, sir.
24:30Sir, but the language is the same.
24:33That there are new languages and there are a lot of different languages.
24:37But do that as it may be? My question to you is very specific.
24:40Sir, because the time is the same.
24:42The statement of the Rashi Dalvi is that the Eid and Diwali are both happy.
24:46But the EQI is not.
24:49What was the effect of that effect on that?
24:52Sir, I have to tell you one line.
24:53Sir, I have to tell you one line.
24:55The whole world is democracy.
24:58Someone tell me that in the world there is no democracy and existence.
25:04I want to know this.
25:06Please, Asutosh, don't be ruffian.
25:08Don't be ruffian.
25:09It is unacceptable.
25:10Show personal attachment.
25:12Second, second, second, second.
25:15No, no, no, no. It is a matter of debate.
25:18It is a matter of debate because you quoted a person who won an election in America.
25:23General, one by one, we will have a session on this.
25:27We will discuss.
25:27Please, don't disturb.
25:29Please, don't disturb.
25:29I am not disturbing you.
25:31I am not disturbing you one by one.
25:32You are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are, you are communalizing
25:35the entire debate.
25:36He was, he was, he supported Muslim Brotherhood.
25:40I have to respond.
25:40No, you can't, this can't be allowed.
25:43This can't be allowed.
25:43You can't, you can't, you can't, you can't, you can't cast, you can't cast a person
26:02who is spreading, who is spreading, who is spreading, who is spreading hatred against the Muslims.
26:06Are you the congress, don't give platform to this man.
26:10One by one, gentlemen, one by one.
26:12Hold on, hold on.
26:14Okay, hold on.
26:15One by one.
26:16Communalize the Pauli.
26:18Okay, one by one.
26:19One by one.
26:20Why is it what should be expressed?
26:21No, he is communalizing.
26:23Dora is communalizing on the entire debate.
26:25There should be no place for it.
26:28Salman Sos wants to come in, Salman Sos wants to come in, RPSing wants to come in.
26:32Gentlemen, my question is very, very specific and, you know, Salman Sos, put your hand on
26:39your heart.
26:39Are you okay with Rashid Alvi's comments, Eid and Diwali, both are festivals that bring
26:45joy, but AQI increases only in one or worse to that effect.
26:49Are you okay with that?
26:50Of course, I'm not okay with that.
26:52I'm not okay with that.
26:53Why?
26:53I can say that to you.
26:54I'm not okay with it, and you should not have said that.
26:57But I will say this, Gaurav, just a couple of things, because it's important.
27:01Professor Raghi, I don't know him, but from his, it seems to me that his perspective is
27:06that Muslims are enemies of Indians.
27:09Like, I'm, Gaurav, your enemy.
27:12That's what it means, basically.
27:13That's what he's propagating on national television.
27:15I think I condemn it, and I think we should all condemn it.
27:18As far as our BJP spokesperson friend is concerned, I think, I don't know where
27:24they're getting the information.
27:25They keep repeating misinformation.
27:27He again talked about Mrs. Gandhi and said that she did not say anything about the death
27:33of Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma.
27:35And of course, he's wrong.
27:37On September 19, 2008, the day he was killed, she condemned that.
27:43She expressed her grief, and the UBA government gave him an Ashoka Chakra.
27:48Why is he repeating falsehoods on national television?
27:51Why?
27:51Two very pertinent points you raised.
27:54I'll get both Professor Raghi and R.P. Singh to respond to both.
27:57But go ahead, sir.
27:58You want to complete your point?
27:59You have another point to make?
27:59I was again saying that on national television, let us at least have, we can have disagreements,
28:07but let us not bring in falsehoods, and let's not bring in incendiary kind of comments like
28:14what Professor Raghi was making, because this is not acceptable.
28:18Okay.
28:19But again, Rashid Alvi's comments, are they incendiary or are they not?
28:23They're not acceptable.
28:25I'm telling you, they're not acceptable.
28:27Fair enough.
28:28First, Professor Raghi and then R.P. Singh.
28:31How is it communal, Gaurav, when I say that Hindi is sufficient or Sanskritic words are sufficient
28:38or Hindi language are sufficient to express the cultural idioms of India?
28:44That's not what he's saying.
28:45We don't need any, we don't need Arabic word at all.
28:49We don't need it.
28:50No, sir.
28:50You said, you said that Muslims are 15 percent.
28:53Secondly, I asked a very pertinent question, mister.
28:56No, no, no.
28:56You said, you said Muslims are 15 percent in India, and that's a problem.
29:01Where was the cultural tolerance in Kashmir?
29:04Answer that.
29:06When the Kashmiri pundits were kicked out, where was your secularism?
29:11You said that in America, Muslims are 1 percent or 2 percent, that's not a problem.
29:16In India, it's a problem.
29:17Should you be ashamed?
29:19What professor, where was your cultural, which university are you teaching at?
29:22Okay.
29:23Okay.
29:23Give me a moment.
29:25Give me a moment.
29:26Give me a moment.
29:27Sir, Professor Raghi, you may believe it is not required to use words like Mubarak, but
29:34you know, Malikarjun Kharge may believe that Khushyon ki Eid is required.
29:40So, you know, we're a secular country.
29:41We're a large country and there's freedom of expression for all.
29:44But fair enough, you may have a point of view.
29:46But R.P. Singh wanted to come in on the AQI aspect of Rashid Alvi's statement.
29:51Is that acceptable?
29:53Is that okay?
29:54Both Eid and Diwali are festivals of joy, but only in one AQI goes up.
29:59Why are you upset with that, R.P. Singh?
30:02Well, why to raise the AQI issue?
30:05I mean, has Diwali been celebrated from last 10 years or 8 years when the AQI issue has started happening
30:11in city?
30:11I mean, it has been celebrated millions of years from millions of years.
30:15I mean, we don't know how many thousands of years Diwali has been celebrated.
30:19But again, as I said, there's an agenda behind it.
30:23I reiterate what I said earlier.
30:25There's an agenda behind it.
30:26Agenda is very clear.
30:28Comunalizing the election because of the vote bank politics.
30:31And they can go to any extent I'm reiterating.
30:33You will see many more things of this shortcoming in coming days.
30:36Mr. Khadrga, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi.
30:38Where they will try to target their vote bank, which is a Muslim vote bank.
30:42And they have all the right to do so.
30:44I'm not denying them that right.
30:46Give me another second.
30:48Give me another second.
30:49Another second.
30:49Another second.
30:54Professor Raghi, RPC wants to quickly complete this point.
30:58For the vote bank.
31:00Okay, I've overshot my time.
31:02And again, again, we are an old civilization.
31:06And we have accepted everyone within the civilization.
31:09But that doesn't mean that you hurt the civilization.
31:12I mean, you're hurting the civilization.
31:15Are you saying Rashid Alvi's comments have hurt the civilizational ethos?
31:18Is that what you're saying?
31:20Obviously, I'm saying we have assimilated everyone who has come from outside and they are part of our civilization.
31:25Till the time you accept, yes, we are part of the Indian civilization.
31:29Fair enough.
31:29And that is...
31:31Fair enough.
31:32Okay, everybody wants to comment.
31:33But just on a statement of fact.
31:35On India today, we give out facts.
31:36And perhaps Rashid Alvi should look at this.
31:396th of November.
31:39This is before Diwali.
31:41This is even before Chhoti Diwali.
31:42AQI, 4 o'clock was 382.
31:46382.
31:47AQI on Chhoti Diwali was 369.
31:51AQI on Diwali was 376.
31:54AQI after Diwali, after Diwali is 344.
31:58And this is the CPCB, 4 p.m. every day, Ashutosh.
32:02So, every day, it is being taken.
32:05You know, this targeting of Hindu festivals, this one-way street secularism in our country.
32:11That, you know, Raksha Bandhan is patriarchy.
32:13Holi is pollution.
32:14Diwali is pollution.
32:16Somewhere down the line, there has to be a Lakshman Rekha, Ashutosh.
32:19Gaurav, Gaurav, 468, severe.
32:24AQI, 468 right now.
32:25Let me just put it in the context.
32:28Please give me 30 seconds.
32:30Whatever that gentleman has said, it's not right.
32:35Let me put it in the context.
32:36You also agree what Rashid Dalvi is not right?
32:38Absolutely, I do not agree.
32:40Why?
32:41Let's have a debate.
32:43No, but why isn't it right?
32:45No, let me come.
32:46But let me tell you one thing.
32:49Do we really need these crackers?
32:52That's a separate debate.
32:53Is RPC trying to tell us...
32:56There are many who would say, do we actually need to slaughter animals on other festivals?
33:01Gaurav, let me complete.
33:02Gaurav, let me complete.
33:03But that's another thing.
33:05Is RPC trying to say...
33:07Is RPC trying to say that the Supreme Court has no understanding of Indian civilization?
33:13Is RPC trying to say that the Supreme Court has no understanding of Indian civilization?
33:17The Supreme Court is asking repeatedly, here and on, every year and every year.
33:22The Supreme Court has said that India is a Hindu country.
33:25A Hindu as part of the civilization.
33:29The Supreme Court on a daily basis is saying, are you not concerned about the health of your kids?
33:38Are you not concerned about the health of old people?
33:40Are you not concerned about the health of the heart patients?
33:45Why we need firecrackers?
33:47Why we need firecrackers?
33:49Respond to RPC, the last 30 seconds on this part of the show.
33:54Well, if I go by his definition...
33:56We don't need firecrackers.
33:58Okay.
33:59If I go by his definition, then booshing the lamps and so spoil the water.
34:05Let's...
34:06Give me...
34:07I never...
34:08Whatever is wrong is wrong.
34:11Supreme Court boss...
34:13You first few.
34:14Satipratha has justified the same way.
34:16Satipratha has always justified it.
34:18Sir, Satipratha has always been justified.
34:22If you are talking about the society for women...
34:28Why is it only Satipratha and why not Halala?
34:31You must speak on everything, isn't it?
34:34Exactly.
34:35Why is secularism here such a one-way street?
34:38No, Gaurav, if Satipatha is wrong, Halala is equally wrong.
34:42Good. I would expect our analysts to say that in equal terms, sir.
34:47In equal terms, sir. For all.
34:50Gaurav, let me ask you a simple question.
34:52Are you comfortable with the firecrackers?
34:54On another debate. I've run out of time. I've really run out of debate.
34:57It's an absolutely outstanding debate.
34:59And it's such a treat to have Salman Sohz, Arshutosh, Professor Raghi and Sardar R.P. Singh on India First.
35:05And I hope to have you back tomorrow and day after as we take this debate and many other questions
35:10forward.
35:10I want to thank you all for joining me.