- 2 days ago
The big talking point of this episode of News Today is the BJP's 'Mission 360' to get a two-thirds majority in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha as the stage is set for a stormy monsoon session next week.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Good evening, hello and welcome. You're with the news today, your primetime destination news, newsmakers, talking points Thursday night, the
00:07big talking points tonight.
00:08The BJP is set to push its Mission 360 in Parliament at any cost. Will delimitation redraw India's political map
00:18forever?
00:19Where does the opposition stand? That critical political question on the news today.
00:24Also, the death of 11-year-old Veehan when a tree fell on his bus. The BMC gives itself a
00:31clean chit. Veehan's parents speak out.
00:33I'll have that exclusive with them on the show today. Their tragedy before your eyes.
00:40But first, as always, it's time for the Nine Headlines at Nine.
00:46Stampede scare on the first day of the Puri Ratyatra in Odisha.
00:50Over a hundred injured, one devotee dies due to suffocation while waiting to witness the divine chariot.
01:00Ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament, DMK keeps its options open over the contentious delimitation bill that will redraw
01:09India's political map.
01:11Sources say DMK will take a call only after the bill is introduced in Parliament.
01:20First legal setback for the centre's E20 push. Raipur Consumer Court pulls up Maruti for misrepresenting car as E20 compliant.
01:30Orders to replace car of refund full cost. AutoGiant says it will challenge the verdict.
01:38Supreme Court questioned the three-language policy for Class 9 students asked to implement it from Class 6.
01:44Court also urges Tamil Nadu not to oppose the education policy as it does not mandate Hindi.
01:52Another Rajya Sabha MP quits TMC.
01:56Koyal Malik resigns from the party, meets Union Minister Bhupinder Yadam.
02:01Mamta says leaders leaving party under pressure.
02:07Support pours in for activist Sonam Vangchuk as his hunger strike enters its 19th day.
02:14Arvind Kejriwal meets Vangchuk at Jantar Mantar.
02:17Congress urges him also to end the strike.
02:22The DK Shiv Kumar cabinet expansion in Karnataka gets further delayed after Congress President Kargay rushes to Bengaluru.
02:29Talks on cabinet may resume in next two days.
02:36Amidst the blocked Strait of Hormuz, Iran tells Houthis to close Red Sea gateway.
02:41U.S. hits the power network.
02:43Reports say Trump leaning towards expanding U.S. military operations in Iran.
02:49And it's messy magic once again that takes Argentina to the World Cup final.
02:54England lose after being one-upped Argentina to now face Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday.
03:14For the big story that we are breaking this evening, at least one person is dead due to suffocation after
03:19a stampede-like situation at the Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra.
03:24Around 100 people were injured during the Yatra, one seriously injured.
03:31Large number of people, of devotees, people experiencing respiratory problems.
03:36Around 50 people have now been admitted to a hospital.
03:40While the administration is monitoring the situation, steps to control the crowds and safety of devotees is now becoming important.
03:49Remember that surge of crowds takes place every year, really, at the Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra.
03:54But this year, one person dead after that stampede scare.
03:58I'm going now across to Anupam Mishra for the very latest.
04:02Anupam, as I've said, this isn't the first time we've seen stampede-like situations at the Jagannath Puri Rath Yatra.
04:08But we know now one person dead, several injured.
04:12The government every year promises crowd control.
04:14But yet again, we've seen a terrible stampede take place.
04:19Well, yes, Rajdeep, last year also a similar kind of incident happened in this iconic Rakhya trend today itself.
04:28More than 100 people are admitted it at present in, basically mainly in Puri Medical College and different medical centers.
04:36And it happened due to excessive people, excessive devotees turned up at Puri Jagannath Dham and they wanted to see
04:49the chariot.
04:50And at that moment, incident happened at the iconic Grand Road.
04:54Basically, what we are getting to know is that the humidity was excessive today and a lot of people, crowd
05:04pressure were there.
05:05So a lot of people who were admitted in hospital complained about breathlessness, exhaustion.
05:11And a lot of people have already been treated and discharged also.
05:15But a sad part is that one person has died in the incident and three to more, four people are
05:22said to be critical in the incident.
05:25So it happened last year also.
05:27So does the government have any response?
05:30Since it's happening year after year, the government every year says we have got crowd control measures in place.
05:36What is the government's explanation?
05:39Well, you know, we are yet to hear from the government about the incident.
05:45Last year also, when the incident happened, later government claimed that every arrangement was made.
05:51And this time also.
05:51And let me tell you, a lot of people have evacuated very quickly.
05:56But it also raises questions about the arrangements in Puri Jagannath Dham, where everyone knows that lots of devotees will
06:06be turning up.
06:07So this is, the questions are being based also.
06:11Right.
06:11This is an annual feature and a very tragic, of course, happening there once again at the Puri Ratiyatra.
06:18Appreciate Anupam Mishra joining me there with those details.
06:21Let me turn to our top political story of the day.
06:25Now, the monsoon session of parliament is set to begin next week on Monday.
06:29And this could become a critical session, particularly for the Narendra Modi's government's attempt to bring in a major delimitation
06:38bill that would redraw political constituencies,
06:41increase the number of Lok Sabha seats from 543 to over 800, along with women's reservation.
06:49While the BJP is working overtime to secure the numbers that it could not when it tried to pass a
06:56similar bill in April,
06:58the Congress, too, has now begun belatedly to try and build an united opposition front.
07:04But much has changed between April, when the government was defeated on the floor of the House and could not
07:10secure a two-thirds majority for a constitutional amendment,
07:14to now how things are panning out.
07:16It's our top story.
07:20A flurry of meetings in the national capital ahead of the monsoon session of parliament that begins on Monday.
07:27The core teams of both BJP and Congress held meetings amid rising buzz over the contentious delimitation bill
07:34that proposes to raise the number of Lok Sabha seats from 543 to 850.
07:43The Congress Parliamentary Strategy Group, led by Sonia Gandhi, met at her residence on Thursday.
07:51Congress President Malik Arjun Khadge wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi,
07:55reiterating the party's demand for an all-party meeting on the proposed legislation
08:01before the Constitution Amendment Bill is brought again to Lok Sabha.
08:34まheela Arjun Khan
08:41The top BJP leadership met on Wednesday.
08:44Sources say agenda included picking a new team for party chief Nitin Nabeen
08:48and bills to be taken up in parliament.
08:52While the delimitation bill failed to pass muster earlier,
08:55this time party leaders appear more confident.
09:05Our NDA government was the president of the government,
09:08which was all the other.
09:10The government was the one who had been punished by the party,
09:13whether it's Congress or the government,
09:17whether it's a government, whether it's a government,
09:18whether it's a government or a government,
09:19they were removed from the party line.
09:23They were surprised that this is a party,
09:28because they are not a party.
09:29They are not a party.
09:31They are not a party.
09:32Then why are they not?
09:35The BJP's confidence stems from a new division in opposition ranks.
09:42We will consider supporting if the 50% cap is to be discussed.
09:50We are all together with the government. We are working for the government. We will be together with them.
09:58The DMK so far has stuck to its stand, but sources say a final decision will only be taken when
10:04the bill is brought in parliament.
10:08Delimitation as proposed earlier will alter the state autonomy, the political participation of Tamil Nadu in the decision making and
10:18the electoral dynamics of the country.
10:20So there is no change in the stand of the DMK as far as the proposed delimitation is concerned that
10:28was brought out by BJP in the last parliamentary session.
10:30We will continue to oppose it vehemently.
10:35The NDA needs two-thirds majority in Lok Sabha to push through the Constitution Amendment Bill.
10:41The current strength of Lok Sabha is 540, which puts the two-third mark at 360.
10:47The NDA has 293 MPs. It expects the support of 20 TMC rebels who have merged with the NCPI, 6
10:56Shiv Sena UBT rebels, 4 YSRCP MPs, 1 Independent MP, taking its tally to 324.
11:05If the BJP manages the support of 22 DMK MPs and 8 NCP Sharad Pawaar faction MPs, the NDA tally
11:13rises to 354, just six short of the magic mark.
11:20BJP's Mission 360 has all the markings of a political thriller.
11:25With the monsoon session set to begin next week, national politics looks set for some serious turbulence.
11:32And the delimitation bill is at the centre of the impending storm.
11:37With Masami Singh and Piyush Mishra, Bureau Report, India Today.
11:45So is the BJP going to push ahead with its Mission 360 at any cost?
11:50The delimitation bill, is it now Modi government's top agenda to in a sense secure its power in the country?
11:58Is the government trying to redraw India's political map once and for all?
12:03Now that the opposition is divided and many say demoralized, is it a clear advantage to the BJP?
12:10Joining me now is GVL Narsimha Rao, former Rajya Sabha MP and senior leader of the BJP.
12:17I'm also joined by Brajesh Kalappa, National Spokesperson Congress,
12:21by Ghansham Tiwari of the Samajwadi Party and Clyde Crasto, National Spokesperson NCP Sharad Pawaar.
12:28GVL Narsimha Rao, to you first.
12:30Am I right to say that the BJP is going into this session with one single agenda?
12:36Mission 360, Sam, Daam, Danda, Bhaed.
12:39You will break parties.
12:40You've done it with the Sena UBT.
12:42You've done it with the TMC.
12:44You want to do whatever it takes now to reach that magical number of 360
12:48and get a two-thirds majority to pass delimitation along with women's reservation.
12:54Rajdeep, good evening to you, all the panelists and the viewers.
12:59This agenda was a very important legislative agenda for the BJP and that is the reason why we brought in
13:08into this into a special sitting of parliament in April this year.
13:13And if different parties have changed their stance or if parties have really split because of their own internal contradictions,
13:22you cannot say if we had the will to do it, if we only wanted to do it, we could
13:27have done this in March itself, in April itself.
13:30So what has happened after April is the public mandate in West Bengal, which actually clearly punished parties which have
13:40voted against this bill in different states.
13:43In West Bengal, I think we won a landslide victory because people rejected Threnamul on this.
13:49DMK went into elections making this a major election agenda, criticizing the bill, but they got routed.
13:57So therefore, the public mood is very much in favor of implementing this legislative agenda, this reform agenda.
14:05This country, given its vast size, given the massive expansion of our population,
14:11we certainly need a much larger parliament to serve the needs of the people.
14:17I think a country which is much smaller than us, like UK has had always had 650 members in their
14:24lower house of parliament.
14:28So India certainly needs a bigger house and also needs a representation for women.
14:34We already have a women's reservation passed by parliament with support from all political parties from across the political spectrum.
14:43And therefore, we expected a similar support forthcoming for the Constitution Amendment Bill, 131st Constitution Amendment Bill, as well as
14:52a delimitation bill.
14:53And this delimitation is not happening for the first time.
14:57We have had a delimitation commission constituted in 1976, when the Congress was in power, based on 1971 census.
15:04We have also had a delimitation commission constituted post-2002 delimitation bill, which actually got carried out during the UPA
15:14era.
15:15And the delimitation came into effect post-2008, based on 2001 census.
15:21So what is this, all this fuss about?
15:24This is not happening for the first time.
15:26What is the fuss about?
15:27Because let me just explain to our viewers, we should have an explainer.
15:30What is the delimitation bill?
15:32Effectively, we have 543 constituencies in the Lok Sabha.
15:36Now, this is the last time there was delimitation was, remember, in 1971.
15:41Since then, the number of constituencies have been frozen.
15:45How do they go up from 543?
15:47The government now says that they will have over 800 constituencies in the country.
15:52And the delimitation exercise of redrawing the map will take place.
15:57It's happened in 1971.
15:58It's happened at various times.
16:00But the number of constituencies have remained the same since 1971, including by Vajpayee's government.
16:06I want to get you, Brajesh Kalappa.
16:09GBL Narsimha Rao is saying, why is the opposition, particularly the Congress, so scared of delimitation?
16:14What is it in delimitation that frightens you?
16:18Indira Gandhi, 1971, delimitation happened.
16:20Why in 2026 should Narendra Modi not make an effort?
16:25The population of India has doubled since 1971.
16:28Why not have delimitation?
16:33See, Rajneep, I think the answer is very clear.
16:36The fact is that you're linking the women's reservation to delimitation and to the census,
16:43which was a wholly unnecessary exercise.
16:45As Mr. Narsimha Rao has very eloquently stated, this passage of the Women's Representation Act was passed unanimously in Parliament.
16:56And this was way back in 2023.
16:59Where was the difficulty to have it brought into effect?
17:02No.
17:03The idea is to try and draw some political mileage out of it.
17:08And this ultimately did not work in West Bengal, because ultimately the BJP had to rely on the exercise called
17:15the SIR.
17:16And the SIR exercise is the only thing that got the BJP a victory, because it's clear today that 31
17:23lakh contestants were there and the BJP won by 30 lakh votes.
17:28So, therefore, the point is that the BJP is only showing the people of the country an illusory image so
17:39that they can rework the numbers in Parliament.
17:42And through this exercise of SIR, they have now been able to break the TMC and bolster its numbers.
17:50They have done the very same thing with the UBT and with the AAP.
17:54Now, point is this, that there is a lady, and we are now concerned about the Women's Reservation Bill Act.
18:01There is a lady who has rejected a suitor.
18:05And that suitor has been rejected on account of the fact that he's an alcoholic and he's a wife beater
18:10and so on and so forth.
18:11Now, just merely because he comes with a new set of clothes, suited and booted, he is not going to
18:18be accepted again.
18:19I think the BJP ought to understand this.
18:21Merely bolstering their numbers by this manner, by sheer horse trading, is not going to help them.
18:29Because ultimately, people have seen through their game.
18:32So, you know, this is something which I think the BJP leadership must keep in mind.
18:36No, no, let me get very clear.
18:37Try to confuse the people with all kinds of issues.
18:39No, no, Mr. Kalappa, let me get this clear.
18:41Is the Congress Party saying that you will, that if delimitation is delinked from Women's Reservation, you have no problem
18:48with it?
18:49Am I to understand that for you, it's about linking delimitation with Women's Reservation?
18:54What is the problem?
18:55Is it that southern states…
18:56They're scared of elections.
18:58No, no, one of the…
18:59No, no, one minute.
19:00One of the concerns is that the southern states could lose out.
19:03Is that the feeling?
19:04The government is saying we will increase 50% proportionately outside the…
19:08all over the country.
19:09So, if Tamil Nadu will go from 39 seats that they have at the moment to…
19:13they will add another 20 seats there.
19:15So, they'll go to 60.
19:17UP will go from 80 to 120.
19:19So, proportion will remain the same.
19:25The Congress Party is concerned with the fact that it was Mrs. Gandhi's idea originally to have a Women's Reservation
19:31Act and so on and so forth.
19:33I think the fact that Rajivji also 33% and so on and so forth.
19:38So, we have a long, you know, we have always had stakes in this entire exercise.
19:43Now, you don't want to give BJP credit.
19:46You are saying that you're worried that…
19:47No, you're worried that BJP will take credit for Women's Reservation.
19:51Is it?
19:51Is that your worry?
19:54No, no, no, no.
19:55There's no question of taking reservation credit.
19:58That is not the point.
20:00Point is that as far as reservation is concerned, that's something which the Congress has always spoken for and will
20:07always continue to do.
20:08But trying to link it now to the census effort and to the delimitation, I think, takes away from the
20:15act, takes away from the fact that women are going to be unpowered.
20:19Ultimately, the point is to give the women a poorer deal than the better one.
20:26This is the idea.
20:27Okay, just a minute.
20:28You see, GVL, Narasimha Rao, you have 543 MPs now.
20:32You can bring in Women's Reservation which has already been cleared and have 181 male MPs.
20:36You're not doing that.
20:37Instead, you've linked it to delimitation and going back to the 2011 census.
20:41There seems to be an unusual hurry that you want to do it so that it comes in 2029 and
20:47thereby you are hoping to expand your footprint.
20:50This is about politics.
20:51A political agenda to expand your power base, not about Women's Reservation and the southern states are worried they will
20:59lose out.
21:01Razdeep, I think I hear a lot of confusing arguments.
21:04I think the Congress is not concerned.
21:06They are confused.
21:07An entire opposition is confused.
21:09Let me flip this question.
21:12What is the difficulty?
21:13You're saying why should we implement Women's Reservation so early?
21:18We have waited for 40 years.
21:20I think Congress, Surya Gandhi…
21:22No, no, Mr. Narasimha Rao, you can implement it tomorrow morning using 543.
21:27No, you cannot implement it.
21:30Why?
21:30Because it said…
21:31No, no, the 106th constitutional amendment that was passed in the House said the delimitation carried out…
21:41Sorry, census carried out after 2026 will be the basis for Women's Reservation.
21:47And without amending that bill, you cannot do it tomorrow as you wish.
21:52I think that bill has to be…
21:53Act has to be amended.
21:55And if it has to be implemented in total, 2027 census results will not be available for delimitation before 2029.
22:04Which means women of this country have to wait until 2034 for Women's Reservation to actually become a reality.
22:12So, this government wants to…
22:14You see, this is possibly…
22:15This could have been thought of earlier.
22:17But because in this time frame, this is not happening, we decided to amend the Act.
22:22It's a simple amendment.
22:23If you have no problem with Women's Reservation, what is your problem in doing it from 29?
22:27No, no, no, Mr. Narasimha Rao, answer very quickly my question that the southern states are worried.
22:32The DMK, for example, which now may well change its mind, are worried that they will lose out.
22:37Because delimitation, one person, one vote, North Indian states get the advantage.
22:42Do you believe that the 50% rule is a fair rule?
22:45Absolutely.
22:46I think the Honorable Home Minister, I think at the end of this debate, before the voting,
22:51he actually offered to change right into the bill and bring a fresh bill into the House.
22:59And people were not convinced at that time.
23:01And people of this country see the logic.
23:04If you're saying 50% increase will happen across the board, it almost means you have a freeze on the
23:10number of seats.
23:11And why should political parties, you see, southern parties, some of them may have this irrational logic.
23:17But what is it about Samajwadi Party?
23:20What is it about Rashtri Janta Adal?
23:22Are they also opposing this because they don't want an increase in the number of seats?
23:25Let me ask that question.
23:28Let me raise that question.
23:30First, I'll come to you, Ghancham Tiwari, and then I'll come to you.
23:33Ghancham Tiwari, the question that is being raised by GVL Narsimha Rao.
23:36Is the Samajwadi Party opposed if UP's number of seats are increased from 80 to 120, 50%?
23:42Do you want that increase or not?
23:44Why is the Samajwadi Party opposing delimitation?
23:48Good evening, Rajiv.
23:48Thank you to you, my fellow co-op panelists and the viewers.
23:51There are five important points that I will relate together.
23:54And please allow me to complete those five simple points.
23:56One, basic statistics of BJP says, let's start with Women's Reservation Bill and delimitation together.
24:02The April session, where 130 members of parliament spoke, 70 from opposition.
24:07And they nuanced every aspect.
24:09These are 70 MPs from across the country.
24:12And the highlight of that conversation is, if you look at Manipur, that has been burning for nearly 1200 days,
24:18parliament has met for roughly 180 days since Manipur has been burning.
24:24Manipur has barely any representation.
24:26And as a result, there is no voice.
24:27That is the example of what the BJP model of delimitation does.
24:31Why does BJP want it?
24:33I'll tell you another statistic.
24:34BJP total has roughly 2000 MPs and MLAs.
24:37Of this, only 10%.
24:38180 to 200 are women.
24:41Of this, 755 to 800 are MPs and MLAs with criminal charges.
24:45Of this, 700 to 830 are leaders who have defected into BJP from other parties.
24:51So, today, BJP has four times more criminals than women.
24:55So, definitely, it is not about Women's Reservation Bill.
24:58Then what is it about?
24:59It is not about representation.
25:00It is about your party.
25:02It is about a word called scam that BJP wants.
25:04What is scam?
25:06The scam is sabotage.
25:07C is corruption.
25:09A is arm twisting.
25:11And M is manipulation.
25:12This is a party that in the last 12 years have amassed 20 to 25,000 crore.
25:17Any of your viewers can Google it.
25:20They will know that BJP has so much donations.
25:22So, a 25,000 crore party is an empire.
25:24No, so how will delimitation change it?
25:26Ghan Shabdiwari, why are you all worried about 80 seats going to 120?
25:32No, I am saying, the point I am trying to make, Rajdeep, is that BJP wants to capture the democracy
25:38of the country.
25:39As a result, it wants to throttle the caste censors.
25:43It wants to throttle women themselves.
25:45It wants to delay everything.
25:47And it wants to put a model of delimitation that has been practiced in Assam.
25:51It wants to put a model of delimitation that forever captures the democracy of India.
25:58So, you are saying that the BJP's delimitation exercise will change the constituencies like it did in Assam to favor
26:04the BJP so that they can capture democracy in 2029.
26:08In your view, therefore, this is not a genuine delimitation exercise, but an exercise to capture total power at all
26:15costs.
26:15Am I correct?
26:17Here is a summary.
26:18In your words, here is a summary from the parliament debate where 130 MPs spoke.
26:21They said, do the census, include caste censors, allow women reservation and then come to delimitation.
26:28It's a very simple step.
26:30This is 130 members of parliament spoke in a special session which was eventually BJP was repeated.
26:35So, if BJP does not hear the voice of the parliament, because it's the scam, sabotage, corruption,
26:42arresting and manipulation and capture the democracy.
26:44Okay.
26:44You made that point.
26:45I want to come to you, Clyde Crasto, because Supriya Suley has set the cat among the pigeons.
26:50This is a party that opposed delimitation along with other opposition parties in April.
26:55Now, you've got a situation where she says if the government is uniformly increasing the numbers by 50% across
27:01states,
27:01she's ready to consider it.
27:03It seems that the opposition, including your party, is now slowly moving towards the NDA viewpoint.
27:10Absolutely not, Rajdeep.
27:11When you talk about it, talk in totality.
27:15When she says we'll consider, and also the fact of the matter, we consider not alone.
27:19Along with the India blog, along with the Congress, along with the Shiv Sena UBT,
27:23we'll all come together, discuss together.
27:25There has to be an all-party meeting.
27:26Everything has been said by her.
27:28The fact of the matter is that whatever is being done by the Bhatia Janta Party to bring this delimitation
27:33bill together,
27:34it's an absolutely thought-out process.
27:36Now, I heard my friend Jivalji saying that, you know, this cannot be implemented until 2034.
27:42So, the point is, you started off in such a way.
27:45It was a very nice, conniving and very smart way to do it.
27:48Put it together along with the delimitation and women reservation.
27:51So, if you do not vote for it, then you call the opposition as anti-women.
27:54But if you are so pro-women, deliming both, bring it together.
27:58Like you said, we can implement it tomorrow morning.
28:01Why are they not doing it?
28:02It's their government, it's their numbers, it's their majority.
28:04No, no, but you, I take your point, but you answer.
28:07Are you ready?
28:08Is Supriya Suleys a sign that the NCPSP is willing to reach out to the government on delimitation?
28:13Yes or no?
28:14No, we have to consider.
28:16We need to wait and see what the draft is, read about the whole thing.
28:20What are the pointers?
28:21Talk together with our India blog people.
28:23We'll come together and then we will see what has to be done.
28:26Let it be introduced first.
28:27You can say whatever you want to say, but let it be introduced first.
28:30And then we'll consider the whole thing, how it is played out.
28:33Okay, now let me tell you the India…
28:35Not alone, not alone.
28:36Just a minute, sir.
28:37Along with the India blog.
28:38NDA needs two-thirds majority in Lok Sabha to push through this.
28:41The current strength of the Lok Sabha, look at the numbers, is 540.
28:44Which puts the two-thirds mark at 360.
28:48Now the NDA itself has 293 MPs.
28:51It expects the support of 20 TMC rebels who formed a party called NCPI.
28:56Six Shiv Sena UBT rebels, four YSR CP MPs, one independent MP, taking its tally to 324.
29:03If the BJP then manages the support of 22 DMK MPs, eight NCP Sharad Pahar faction, the NDA tally rises
29:11to 354.
29:12Just six short of the magic mark.
29:14The key therefore is the DMK.
29:16Now they've not come on the show today.
29:17When I asked a DMK member to come on the show, they said they are waiting for instructions from MK
29:23Stalin on the party stand.
29:24Does that worry you, Brijesh Kalappa?
29:26Between April and now, the opposition has splintered.
29:30The TMC lost badly in Bengal.
29:33Its MPs have gone.
29:34The DMK, you ditched them to join hands with the TVK.
29:38And therefore, you have, and the Shiv Sena UBT split.
29:41The Congress, you are partly responsible.
29:44Because you wanted a mantra like a ministry in Tamil Nadu, you ditched the DMK.
29:48Why should they stand by you today?
29:54See, Rajdeep, as far as the DMK is concerned, the DMK is with the Congress party because it believes what
30:03the Congress party has always been stating.
30:05And both our ideas are ad item.
30:08And that's the reason the DMK is with us.
30:11But you ditched them in Tamil Nadu.
30:13You ditched them in Tamil Nadu and you want them to stand with you in Delhi.
30:17In a...
30:20No, no.
30:21In every marriage, Rajdeep, there are differences.
30:23And we have to overcome these differences.
30:27It's by the action of overcoming these differences that we move forward.
30:31And as far as the women's reservation is concerned, the DMK and the Congress party are completely ad item.
30:40Right?
30:41First part.
30:42Second part is that as far as the numbers are concerned, numbers are a matter of concern for the government
30:49of the day.
30:50They are not going to have an easy go on this.
30:52The very fact that the larger number of voter share, vote share is with the opposition, with the India group.
31:01And it's a different matter today that they have purchased some MCs.
31:05Some MPs have gone to them for various reasons.
31:08But that doesn't take away from the fact that the vote share of 2024 is higher with the India block
31:16than with the NDA and the BJP.
31:18At the end of the day, we are a first part.
31:19So, this is something I think the BJP must understand.
31:21Because I take your point.
31:24But I want to give a final word to you, GVL Narsimha Rao.
31:27Because GVL Narsimha Rao, it almost seems as if the BJP wants to redraw the political map of the country
31:34to its advantage.
31:34One of the members on the panel said, they fear what will happen in India will what happen in Assam.
31:41You cut out the constituencies which were seen to be Muslim dominated, reduce the opposition, the potential seats that the
31:49opposition could win.
31:50This is all about the BJP 2029 manipulating the process of this country to have absolute dominance.
31:58Rajdeep, I think the reality, the real fear for the opposition is they are completely out of touch with people.
32:06They are scared of facing people.
32:09They are scared of elections.
32:10And therefore, they come up with, they cook up all kinds of fancy stories every election.
32:15I think this is a legis...
32:17There was gerrymandering done in Assam.
32:19Mr. Rao, in Assam, the way the constituencies were manipulated is well known.
32:23And the opposition's election commission will be manipulated.
32:29There is a credibility crisis.
32:31Rajdeep, if you say the...
32:32I think this is complete...
32:33This is a canad.
32:35This is pure bankam.
32:37It is an attempt to really start the BJP negatively.
32:41This is a constitutional process that is given in the constitution.
32:45Article 82 of the constitution says a body will be established to carry out this after every census.
32:53In this country, we have not had several delimitations.
32:56But after 2008...
32:58In 2008, did the congressman...
32:59But the body will be controlled by you.
33:01The fear is the body will be controlled by you.
33:03You will decide who...
33:05Come on.
33:05This is a constitution...
33:06No, this is a body that will have a representative from the judiciary.
33:12It will have a representative from the election commission.
33:16It will also have a state election commissioner.
33:18Okay.
33:18If the congress is in power in Karnataka...
33:21Do they not appoint their state election commissioner?
33:25Okay.
33:25I think it's a complete bunkum.
33:27This is only an attempt to really blame the BJP and to take away our electoral success.
33:32These are the cooked up stories that the opposition comes up with.
33:35What kind of electoral success are they talking about when they are breaking parties and taking away MPs?
33:40What parties?
33:41Are you there to...
33:42You are bringing...
33:44GBLG.
33:45Come on.
33:45The world has seen how you are breaking...
33:47Kasro, are you so weak...
33:49Are you so weak that your leader cannot inspire confidence among your own MPs?
33:53You are using ice treatment.
33:54Okay.
33:55Okay.
33:55Time out.
33:55You are using ice treatment.
33:57Okay.
33:57Ice treatment is being used by your party to bring people into your party.
34:01Ice.
34:01Income tax.
34:02CBI.
34:03ED.
34:03All kinds of...
34:03I think you are accusing your own party leaders.
34:06Okay.
34:07Not us.
34:08There are other parties.
34:08We are safe and sound and we are happy where we are.
34:11Okay.
34:11I'm going to leave it there.
34:12Gentlemen.
34:13Gentlemen.
34:13It's the news without the noise.
34:15You are calling it ice.
34:16Income tax.
34:17CBI.
34:17ED.
34:17That's another word being used now for washing machine in the past.
34:21But either way.
34:21The fact is the delimitation bill could well redraw the map of this country, which is why
34:25it will be looked at very closely.
34:27The BJP's Mission 360.
34:30From there, let's come to a human interest story.
34:33The death of 11-year-old Vihar Srivastava a fortnight ago, after a tree fell on his school
34:38bus during the monsoons in Mumbai, had raised serious questions over civic negligence.
34:43Now, an inquiry report by the Mumbai Municipal Corporation, accessed by India Today, has
34:48recommended fines on the contractor and consultant involved in the project, but has not held any
34:54BMC official accountable.
34:56The findings have triggered more criticism.
34:59Even Mumbai's mayor is questioning the report and demanding more accountability.
35:04Take a look.
35:10Vihar Srivastava's death, more than two weeks ago, had left the country shocked.
35:16The 11-year-old school kid lost his life while returning home after a tree fell on his school
35:22bus in Shembourg on June 30th.
35:27India Today has accessed details of the probe, conducted by a panel appointed by the Prihan
35:33Mumbai Municipal Corporation.
35:36The inquiry committee has recommended imposing 5 lakh rupees fine on Gawar Construction Limited,
35:42which carried out the excavation work near the tree for the storm drain project.
35:48The panel also proposed 2 lakh rupees fine on Mahimdura Consultants, which was supervising
35:53the work.
35:55Incidentally, the three-member probe committee did not hold any BMC official accountable
35:59for the accident.
36:01The BMC is now under fire for giving itself a clean shit.
36:33The
36:37The opposition is questioning the probe.
37:02Meanwhile, BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhire has directed the implementation of recommendations
37:08by the Inquiry Committee, which include formulating an SOP for tree safety and appointing tree
37:15experts to supervise pruning.
37:17The larger question of accountability of government officials remains unanswered.
37:22With Mustafa Sheikh, Bureau Report, India Today.
37:30And while the politics persist, the real tragedy is that of the parents of young Vihant
37:37Shri Vastava.
37:38I spoke to them earlier today.
37:40Listen in to them.
37:43Our heartfelt condolences.
37:45I heard of this when I was in Mumbai those days and my heart went out to you and to
37:50your
37:51family.
37:51So please accept my condolences first before anything else.
37:56I thank you also for joining me at this moment.
37:59I know it's difficult.
38:00But what would you like to say?
38:02Because now the BMC or the mayor is admitting to negligence.
38:06How do you respond?
38:12I think the report itself is not transparent.
38:17While you are making the contractor and concerned liable, but the people who are coordinating
38:22these jobs and works, they are not held liable.
38:26And they are given clean shit by their own department.
38:30Our demand is ki at least there should be a fair re-inquiry into the incident led by independent
38:37people and experts who can determine ki that is not a natural disaster.
38:43It's a man-made disaster.
38:46And it's a complete work of negligence.
38:50There should be a fair inquiry.
38:53That's what I want to say.
38:55You know, you're saying it's a man-made disaster.
38:57Within BMC also, there are disagreements.
39:00Yeah.
39:01You know, you're saying it's a man-made disaster, Gaurav.
39:04It's not a natural disaster.
39:05It's not a natural disaster.
39:08This was a tree.
39:09Many trees have fallen in Mumbai.
39:11More than a thousand trees have fallen.
39:13And there are serious question marks over why so many trees have fallen in such a short
39:18period of time.
39:19You seem to believe that these trees were not looked after.
39:23The roots had withered away.
39:27There were complaints.
39:28I'm told citizens in and around Chambur had even complained.
39:31And yet no action was taken.
39:33Is that why you're saying this is a man-made disaster?
39:36That this could have been prevented?
39:41Right.
39:42If everyone knows that this was a risky work and they have informed the person who are
39:47doing it, the care should have been taken and this could have been avoided.
39:53And Vian might be with us.
39:56Did people from the colony complain?
39:59Do you know if people had complained earlier about these trees?
40:02There have been some reports that people from the area had complained that all these trees
40:06were very dangerous.
40:07They could fall at intact.
40:08Right.
40:13Yes.
40:13We have heard that there was previously complained regarding this tree.
40:18Yeah.
40:19Jui, do you want to say anything?
40:20I know for a mother this is...
40:21So if everything is...
40:24Yeah, go ahead.
40:25Jui, do you want to say something?
40:27As someone who is the mother of the child, what would you like to say today?
40:35I just want justice for my son, Vian.
40:39Nothing else.
40:40What does justice mean for you?
40:42People who are accountable should be punished.
40:45Right.
40:46You know, the BMC...
40:47The person who are accountable should be given proper punishment.
40:50Right.
40:51The BMC is saying they have punished some...
40:53I mean, suspended lower officials.
40:56Officials have been suspended.
40:57Are you saying that's not enough?
41:03No, they should set some proper guidelines.
41:06Right.
41:07Because these incidents happen every year.
41:10It's not that it's the first time this has happened.
41:12One month back also there was similar incident in Khar.
41:15One year back it was in Vikroli.
41:18So, it's not that they have been following proper guidelines.
41:24So, if it's not taken proper action, the same incident will repeat every year.
41:30You know, it's been a few weeks since this tragedy happened.
41:33Has the BMC or the mayor officials been in touch with you?
41:37Have people from the government or the local MLAs, MPs, anyone reached out to you and the family and assured
41:44that they will take action?
41:49I think after the incident, Mayor, we met the mayor, local MLA and cooperator were also with us.
41:57So, they have updated us about the incident.
42:00The inquiry will be, is already initiated and some action will be taken.
42:05But the outcome of yesterday's report was shocking to all of us.
42:09The way it was given a clean sheet and the conclusion of those reports.
42:16It's a complete shocking for us.
42:20And we have very less faith now, it will be done properly next time.
42:26So, our only request is key, the inquiry should be initiated again with the independent and expert persons.
42:37And the whole set of people who are associated with this job of tree, around the tree, they should be
42:44held accountable.
42:45It's not merely a conductor who is at a fault.
42:48The person who is supervising it and planning it, they are also liable for this.
42:53And the cost of negligence should be that key in the future.
42:57It should set an example to others.
43:00That's what our main demand is.
43:02Have you told exactly this to the mayor and the officials who met you that we want an inquiry which
43:08holds specific individuals accountable?
43:10It's not enough to just blame the contractor that those involved in this entire exercise of protecting trees who have
43:19failed in their duty,
43:21all of them must be held accountable.
43:22Have you informed this to the authorities that that is your demand?
43:27We were hoping that this will be the outcome, what you told.
43:32But unfortunately, after yesterday's report, this is not the same.
43:36So, we are requesting through media only to begin the re-inquiry in a transparent and clear manner.
43:45You know, Gauri, you just mentioned that every year something or the other happens of this kind and it's extremely
43:52tragic, I repeat.
43:53You want to tell us your, you know, about Vihan himself.
43:58I was reading and it was very touching how much he loved cricket.
44:01He had a cricket ball that he would always take along with him.
44:05I'm sure you've been speaking to his friends, the parents of his friends, all those who are in the school
44:10bus.
44:12You want to tell our viewers what, what, a little bit about your son and, and, and, and just so
44:18that they know what kind of a boy he was.
44:27It's very difficult for us to speak, uh, but, uh, you are a very loving child and who loves cricket
44:35and, uh, he wants to make others happy.
44:41Has the school cooperated with you?
44:43Has the school fully cooperated with you in all the inquiries and all that you're doing because the school also
44:48is a stakeholder?
44:53The school has, uh, done their job, uh, they've helped us in everything, uh, they've met us, and, uh, yeah.
45:01So, so what you're telling us is that any kind of closure for you will come only when you feel
45:07that there has been full and complete accountability for all those who have been responsible for what has happened, am
45:13I right?
45:17Right.
45:19And you want this to be a time-bound inquiry.
45:22This cannot be a prolonged inquiry.
45:23This should be a time-bound inquiry and accountability should be fixed on specific individuals.
45:31Our demand is only whenever such incident happened, there should be a fair and transparent inquiry and the process should
45:37be set so that in future there are no repeated incidents.
45:41All I can say is that our thoughts and prayers are with you, and I believe that whoever is responsible
45:48must be held accountable, not enough to dismiss it as only a problem of the contractor or to even suggest
45:54that it is a natural disaster and no one can be held accountable.
47:39The audit also flagged.
47:41The audit also flagged.
47:46The audit also flagged.
47:52The audit also flagged.
47:54The audit also flagged.
48:13is also under consideration.
48:15The audit also flagged.
48:20The audit also flagged.
48:22The audit also flagged.
48:29The audit also flagged.
48:43with cattle registration through Bharat Pashudhan AB being mandatory.
48:48This audit has exposed large-scale irregularities in Rajasthan's cattle subsidy scheme.
48:54The key question now is whether the state government will recover the allegedly misappropriated subsidy
49:00and strengthen safeguards to prevent similar cases in the future.
49:04With Sharad Kumar and Suresh Kumar, Bureau Report, India Today.
49:11Think about it, misusing gaumata for personal profit.
49:16Corruption, I'm afraid, is endemic.
49:19Let's turn to tonight's Get Real India story.
49:22From empty fields where buffaloes graze to campuses that exist only on paper.
49:27An India Today investigation has now uncovered startling irregularities in Madhya Pradesh's B.Ed. colleges.
49:34Even after university inspections flagged serious deficiencies, 125 private colleges received conditional approval.
49:42But they are only on paper.
49:44Last week we told you about hospitals that exist only on paper in Madhya Pradesh.
49:48This time it's B.Ed. colleges.
49:51Ravish Pal Singh now reports.
50:02Where classrooms should stand, buffaloes graze.
50:07Madhya Pradesh's colleges approved on paper, but missing on the ground.
50:40Locals say they've heard the Shri Ram.
50:42be at college's name for years, but they've never seen students.
50:47The same land parcel is also linked to Phal Millenium College and Bagla Mukhi College.
50:52In fact, locals told us Bagla Mukhi College shut down years ago.
51:13When India today reached the campus, the building was locked.
51:17Inside, the ground floor was being used as a tailoring and embroidery training center.
51:49Our investigation then reached Saviour College in Bavadya Kalan.
51:54Where the B.Ed. college shares its campus with a school and a local society office.
52:24University inspection reports flagged serious irregularities.
52:29Colleges not found at registered addresses, colleges operating elsewhere, deficiencies in infrastructure.
52:39Yet 125 private colleges were granted conditional approval.
52:44After submitting notarized affidavits, the minister now promises another inquiry.
53:07As government promises action, the big question remains.
53:11If colleges exist only on paper, who is preparing the teachers who will shape the next generation?
53:19With Ravish Pal Singh, Euro Report, India Today.
53:27Get Real India, the stories you won't see on primetime elsewhere.
53:31Okay, let's turn to the latest from FIFA, where the first half of Argentina vs. England semi-final was more
53:39of a street brawl.
53:40The second half was a ballet.
53:42That's how the England vs. Argentina semi-final played out in Atlanta.
53:47And at the end, there was one person who once again showed there's no one quite like him.
53:52The GOAT, the greatest of all time, the one and only Lionel Messi.
54:09Messi's Argentina fought and fought.
54:11And they produced yet another comeback to seal a place in the World Cup final.
54:16Messi inspired the comeback.
54:19England scored first as they did in 2018, where they lost to Croatia 2-1.
54:26Enzo Fernandes...
54:27With a place in the final at stake, both Argentina and England made plenty of aggressive challenges in the first
54:33half.
54:36Nida wanted to give the other an extra inch.
54:40Another flash point.
54:42Yeah, here it comes.
54:44England drew first blood in the highly anticipated semi-final, when Anthony Gordon converted a cross from the right side.
55:05It's a team that believes in magic, and the magic moment came in the 85th minute.
55:10Oh!
55:12This one's on target.
55:13Oh, the referee's got his hand to...
55:15An inspired strike from Enzo Fernandes restored parity in the match.
55:19I'm not getting anywhere near that one.
55:24What a beauty.
55:25He had the sight up.
55:27And now he smashed in the equaliser.
55:29The defending champions kept searching for a second.
55:32And it was courtesy the talisman that they found it.
55:36Oh, and England are in trouble.
55:38And maybe through Lautaro Martinez, they're going out to the semi-final stage.
55:45Messi laid the perfect cross, which was perfectly put into the net by Martinez.
55:49Thumped.
55:50Thumped in the back of the neck by Lautaro Martinez.
55:54Climbs majestically.
55:55Hangs in the air.
55:56Totally unmarked.
55:57Argentina competed yet another comeback.
56:00But this one will taste sweeter than the rest.
56:03You can see Stoneswell's back on.
56:05Sports Bureau, India Today.
56:12The incredible Lionel Messi.
56:14Well, we leave you, therefore, with an image of the day.
56:16Not just our image of the day, but possibly one of the images of the World Cup.
56:20The final is Argentina versus Spain.
56:23We take you to a moment nearly two decades in the making.
56:27When Argentina take on Spain in the final, Lionel Messi and Lamin Yamal won't just be rivals on the pitch.
56:33They'll be reuniting.
56:34Back in 2007, a 20-year-old Messi, then just starting out at Barcelona, took part in a charity photo
56:41shoot for a UNICEF calendar.
56:42The pictures show him bathing an infant Yamal in a plastic tub with the baby's mother lending a hand.
56:48Fast forward to today, the baby is now a 19-year-old Spanish sensation who's taken the tournament by storm.
56:55Messi versus Yamal.
56:57What a story.
56:59The legend of all time versus a future superstar.
57:03Who will win?
57:04You wait till Sunday.
57:06Thanks for watching.
57:07You stay well.
57:08Stay safe.
57:08Goodnight Shubratri.
57:10Jai Hind Namaskar.
57:11That was the news without the noise.
57:13Bye for now.
57:14Bye.
57:14Bye.
57:15Bye.
57:16Bye.
Comments