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Former Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain was sent to judicial custody following his arrest by the Delhi Anti-Corruption Branch in an alleged Delhi Jal Board sewage treatment plant tender corruption case.
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00:00Good evening, hello and welcome. You're with the news today, your primetime destination news,
00:04newsmakers, talking points. Wednesday night, we've got plenty on the show today. Our fiery
00:09political debate is on the fact that as the central government cracks down through the ED
00:14on AAP Satyendra Jain and Samajwadi Party's Aazam Khan, the opposition is crying foul.
00:22Rule of law or washing machine at work ahead of elections in Punjab and UP.
00:28Also, a private hospital room now for Imran Khan orders the Pakistan Supreme Court.
00:35Why has that got the Shahbaz Sharif government spooked? Among my guests, the top Pakistani
00:41journalist Hamid Meir will join us. Plenty on the show tonight. But first, let's take a look
00:48at the nine headlines at nine.
00:54A big statement by U.S. Ambassador to India, Sergio Gaur, during his first visit to Srinagar,
01:00calls Jammu and Kashmir, an important part of India, says travel warnings to JNK likely
01:06to be downgraded.
01:09Former Delhi minister of the Aamadmi Party, Satyendra Jain, sent to judicial custody in the Delhi
01:15board scam. BJP takes collection agent Jaip, AAP cries political vendetta ahead of Punjab
01:21polls. In UP, Samajwadi Party leader, Aazam Khan's establishments are also raided.
01:30A big Gen Z outreach pushed by the centre. Modi government set to launch one-day one university
01:36programme to target Gen Z. Union ministers directed to increase their social media activity.
01:44A population pushed by Tamil Nadu chief minister Vijay sparks a controversy. 365 days maternity
01:51leave for a third child announced. TN parties, including BJP and Congress, oppose the move.
02:00Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu now alleges irregularities in the Andhra Pradesh
02:06government exams. Under the previous YSR government, Naidu dares Jagan to answer all the questions
02:12in Andhra Assembly. Jagan says he's ready.
02:1840 students fall ill in Bihar, Nalanda after detergent powder was reportedly served instead
02:24of salt in midday meal. Bihar government vows action against those responsible. It's an India
02:29Today special report.
02:32Nine people killed, including eight Bangladeshis after a massive fire breaks out in a hotel in
02:38Qatar. TMC demands impartial probe. BJP blames previous Mamta government of irregularities and lapses.
02:48Pakistan government files a review plea against a Supreme Court order to ship Imran Khan to a private
02:54hospital. Claims order exceeded the court's jurisdiction should be reviewed.
03:01An India beat Sri Lanka by 165 runs is the first test of the two match series. Spinner, Manav,
03:07Suthaar starts with a 10-weekend haul. Restartatak Jamal.
03:15Well, let's start with my top focus tonight. Two opposition leaders, two election
03:28bound states and fresh legal action that stirred a major controversy yet again.
03:33Former Delhi minister and AAP leader Satendra Jain, arrested in the Delhi Jalbord corruption
03:39case, was sent to judicial custody today, with the AAP alleging that the action is politically
03:45motivated ahead of the Punjab elections.
03:48Today, the enforcement directorate stepped up its action against jailed Samajwadi party
03:53leader Aazam Khan, conducting searches at 10 locations linked to him, including his
03:59trust and a university.
04:01Both cases involved long-running investigations, but have once again triggered familiar allegations
04:06of political vendetta and, yes, the washing machine.
04:11That's our top story.
04:13Our probe agencies being used selectively once again against opposition leaders.
04:19Take a look.
04:24Former Delhi minister and trusted lieutenant of Arvind Kejriwal, Satendra Jain, is once
04:29again at the center of a political stop.
04:32On Tuesday, Jain was arrested by the Delhi anti-corruption branch, along with five others, in an alleged
04:38corruption case linked to Delhi Jalbord sewage treatment plant tenders, and eventually remanded
04:44to judicial custody.
04:45The ACB alleges tender conditions were manipulated to favor Eurotech environment, and that bribes
04:52and kickbacks worth cross were rooted in the process.
04:56However, the Aam Admi party and Jain linked his arrest to the Punjab force, for which he
05:02is the party is going in charge.
05:21Jain's arrest has also sparked a massive political slugfest between the ARP and BJP.
05:47Jain's arrest is a collection agent in Punjab, which is a real estate agent, which is a
05:58foreign
06:26Interestingly, Jain was arrested in 2022 by the E.D. in a money laundering case, an investigation that eventually extended
06:34to the Jalboad scam as well.
06:37And today, Satinder Jain is not the only opposition politician facing the heat when it comes to E.D.'s actions.
06:44The Enforcement Directorate has conducted searches at 10 locations linked to jailed Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, his trust and
06:53the Muhammad Ali Johar University.
06:55The E.D.'s probing an alleged money trail involving government contract funds, specifically whether money was routed through private contractors
07:04and eventually used for the trust and university.
07:07The university has already been at the centre of multiple legal battles, including allegations of land irregularities and unauthorised construction.
07:16Azam Khan himself has faced convictions in several cases, including hate speech, the fake birth certificate case and the Dungarpur
07:25cases.
07:26But the latest E.D. action has once again triggered allegations of political vendetta.
07:32Akhilesh Yadav has accused the BGP of targeting Azam Khan.
07:35The BGP says investigative agencies are simply pursuing allegations of financial irregularities.
07:42Two opposition leaders, two states heading for elections next year, both facing legal action after E.D. raids.
07:51Ultimately, the question is not whether politicians should be investigated.
07:55It is whether the law and probe agencies is being applied consistently or selectively.
08:01Bureau reports, India Today.
08:05Okay, let's raise the big questions.
08:07Two poll-bound states, two big actions by the enforcement directorate.
08:11Is it simply a coincidence or is this another political power push?
08:17From the ACB arresting AAPS, Punjab, Coinchad, Satyendra Jain, to now the E.D. raiding a university link to Samajwadi
08:25Party leader, Azam Khan.
08:27Two opposition leaders in two opposition-bound states.
08:30Is this, as I said, merely a coincidence?
08:33Why is Jain under the scanner of the Delhi Jalboard and not Raghav Chadda?
08:39Remember, Raghav Chadda was vice chairman.
08:41He's now a BJP MP.
08:44And is this really the due process of law or the washing machine, once again, as work?
08:51The much maligned washing machine that the BJP is accused of by the opposition parties.
08:56Joining us now on our face-off, Sanju Verma, national spokesperson, BJP.
09:01Anmol Panwar, he's the national spokesperson, Aam R.B. Party.
09:06Dhanşam Tiwari, national spokesperson of the Samajwadi Party.
09:10To you, Anmol Panwar, since it's your leader, Satyendra Jain, who once again finds himself in the eye of a
09:16storm.
09:17The government is saying the law is taking its own course.
09:20These are tenders that were floated without due process, causing loss to the exchequer.
09:27This was a case that was filed in 2023-24.
09:30It has now been taken to its logical conclusion with the arrest by the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
09:36Your response?
09:37Good evening, Rajdeep ji.
09:39Rajdeep ji, this is a politically motivated case.
09:43It's a completely fabricated case.
09:45There's no basis to it.
09:46And the reason is that Satyendra Jain ji is Punjab co-in-charge and elections are coming in February 2027.
09:55He's looking after the organizational work in Punjab.
09:58That is why BJP has arrested him in a false and fabricated case.
10:02Now, as you said that they are alleging corruption in DJB tenders.
10:06But look at the facts, Rajdeep ji.
10:07This tender was floated in October 2022, whereas Satyendra Jain ji was arrested by the same Chandachor government in May
10:172022.
10:18So, how is it possible that a person who is behind bars can do corruption?
10:23So, this itself proves that the BJP is rattled by the kind of work which the Aam Admi Party government
10:29has done in Punjab.
10:30And that is why they are trying to tarnish the image of our party.
10:34And likewise, they did in 2025, when this PWD corruption case was filed against him.
10:42And after six years of investigation and countless raids, the same CBI admitted before the court that there's not even
10:49a shred of evidence against him.
10:50And a closure report was filed by the CBI.
10:53Likewise, in this case, there's no evidence against him.
10:56There's no money trail.
10:58And he's not an absconder.
11:00So, what's the need to arrest him after two and a half years of filing this F.I.R.?
11:06It's a proof that he's scared and he's filed by the wrong place.
11:15Let me take what you've said.
11:17I've heard you clearly.
11:18Sanju Verma ji, you know, respond to this.
11:20Because cases are filed in 2023-24.
11:24We are now in 2026.
11:26Just with five months to go for Punjab elections, the Punjab AAP Cohen charge is arrested.
11:32Ditto with Aazam Khan.
11:33Suddenly, money laundering charges have now been added to previous charges to someone who's already in jail.
11:39And the sense is Uttar Pradesh elections are coming up.
11:43The BJP wants to distract from Chandachori in UP from the other issues that are confronting the party in Delhi.
11:50What do you do?
11:51Arrest opposition leaders.
11:52How do you respond that this is a misuse of the ED, according to the opposition?
11:59You know, Rajdeep ji, let me put a few points out there for the benefit of your audience.
12:03Point number one.
12:05Satendra Jain was the PWB and water minister in 2022.
12:10The Vigilance Directorate filed an FIR in May 2024.
12:16So, for anyone to say that this coincides with the upcoming Punjab elections is a whole lot of balderdash.
12:23Because in 2022, when Satendra Jain was the minister of Armin Kejnivali,
12:28then the Delhi jailboat scam was completely destroyed by the Sariyantra.
12:36And I'll just say one thing.
12:38Anyone who has an IQ of more than 5050 knows this Rajdeep ji that to establish a crime pertaining to
12:46corruption,
12:47three things need to be there.
12:48Malafide intent, a money trail, and proceeds of crime.
12:52The malafide intent has been established because the tendering process under the inept and incompetent leadership of Satendra Jain,
13:01the tendering process was tampered with, tenders were falsified in order to give advantage to a company called Eurotech Environmental
13:10Private Limited.
13:12Money was routed to Satendra Jain and his colleagues slash associates through a company called A& Enterprises.
13:20Money trail of 1.52 crore established, proceeds of crime of 1717.7 crore established.
13:27And the other thing I want to tell your audience is that Anmol Panwar lied blatantly.
13:33On the 27th of February, Armin Kejnivali this year and Manish Sisodia were given a discharge by the court.
13:42But a discharge is not akin to acquittal.
13:47The CBI filed a revised petition on the same day and now the liquor scam accused Kejnivali and Sisodia will
13:54also have to come before court
13:56when the next hearing starts on the 5th of October in a few weeks from now.
14:03So, Kejnivali has not got a clean check.
14:05Sisodia has not got a clean check.
14:07Can I, ma'am, can I, can I, ma'am, can I, can I just stop you for a moment?
14:13You see, it's very interesting.
14:14I'm going through some old tweets where in this precise Delhi Jalbord case, guess what?
14:19But BJP leaders are claiming that Raghav Chadda, who was vice chairman of the DJP, of the Delhi Jalbord at
14:27the time, was involved in these irregularities.
14:29These are on-record statements made by your leaders that Raghav Chadda should be prosecuted.
14:34Now Raghav Chadda has joined you.
14:36I don't hear Raghav Chadda's name.
14:37I hear Satyendra Jain being arrested.
14:40This is where the washing machine point comes out.
14:42Your leaders accuse Raghav Chadda of the irregularities in the tenders distributed in Delhi Jalbord.
14:48Now it is Satyendra Jain, because Raghav Chadda has joined you.
14:52Rajdeep, now you ask me a question, please.
14:55We are having a very sensible debate.
14:56Let me respond to that.
14:57I think I have done a zillion debates on your show.
15:01And you always come up with this washing machine jive.
15:04You are the same Raghav Sardesai.
15:06You used to say Raghav Chadda is the next best thing after brown bread.
15:11Now that Raghav Chadda has crossed over from Ahmadinejee party to BJP,
15:15Raghav Sardesai cannot digest it.
15:17But one minute, please.
15:18Let me finish.
15:19Today I will not allow you to digress.
15:21No, no.
15:21I am only giving the facts.
15:22I am only giving the facts.
15:24I have nothing for or against Raghav Chadda, ma'am.
15:27I am only giving you the facts.
15:28Your leaders were accusing him of corruption at the time.
15:32I am coming to your point.
15:33Wait.
15:34Wait.
15:35Today I will not allow you to digress from the fact
15:38that Satyandar Jain is accused of criminal conspiracy.
15:42Satyandar Jain is accused of falsifying the tendering process.
15:46I will not allow you to digress from the fact
15:48that a discard is not equal to,
15:50a discharge is not equal to acquittal.
15:52Raghav, do you remember the day
15:54Ardhin Kejriwal was discharged?
15:56I was on your show.
15:58You said, Sanju Verma,
15:59Ardhin Kejriwal ko to clean shit mil gahi hai.
16:01Sahab, clean shit nahi mili.
16:03Na Kejriwal ko, na Sisodia ko.
16:05Will you take that your words?
16:07October mein here hi da rahi hai.
16:08Madam, madam, you said,
16:10madam, you made that point.
16:12Madam, madam, I have limited time.
16:14You made the point.
16:15You didn't answer my direct question.
16:17Today you are saying Satyandar Jain
16:19is the main conspirator.
16:21But what was your party,
16:23why was your party then blaming Raghav Chadda
16:26for the Delhi Jalbot scam?
16:28This is exactly what your party did a few years ago.
16:31They claimed your party even held press conferences
16:35accusing Raghav Chadda of being involved in it.
16:38Rajdeep, I did answer your question
16:41on Raghav Chadda the day you tell me.
16:44How is it that Lalu Prasad Yadav,
16:47whose big conviction came in 2013
16:49when he was arrested when the Congress-led UPA
16:52was in power,
16:53and Rahul Gandhi and Lalu Prasad Yadav
16:55are playing badminton?
16:57Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rahul Gandhi
16:59are making mutton-dhari?
17:01Have you ever asked Rahul Gandhi
17:03how is he enjoying delicacies
17:05along with a convict called Lalu Prasad Yadav
17:09who is no longer an accused?
17:11He is convicted in the 4-4-4-8-8-8-8-8-8-8-8.
17:16Have you questioned Lalu Prasad Yadav
17:18and Rahul Gandhi coming together?
17:20you see you are you have become a master you are you are the latest i am now giving sanju
17:26varma the
17:27title of chess grandmaster every move i make you then move the pawn in another direction but i want
17:33i want gansham tiwari who's listening patiently gansham tiwari sanju varma is saying whether it's
17:39an azam khan look azam khan has been convicted he's in jail at the moment satendra jain has
17:45faced arrest before he's now been re-arrested every time an opposition leader is arrested
17:50your leadership seems to suggest it is linked to the elections now elections take place
17:55all the time in this country are we saying that the raids conducted on azam khan's university or
18:01indeed the arrest of satendra jain can only be seen through the prism of elections
18:06good evening rajiv to you the u.s and the fellow co-panelists in orwell's word in a time of
18:12universal
18:12deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act so we are in in it for the revolutionary act
18:17now what is the revolutionary act a basic search any any of your viewers will do will tell you that
18:23of the 2000 mps or mlas of bjp 800 it's a historical record it's a guinness record it's a plot
18:30on our
18:31democracy 800 are mps and mlas with criminal charges just run through the sitting ministers of
18:37bjp in any state sitting chief ministers sitting ministers in modi cabinet and you will
18:42run out of of ink when writing about the criminal charges of sitting ministers and mps and mlas and
18:48and chief ministers of bjp that's one second on raghav raghav said in october 23 press conference
18:54that 95 of all cases pursued by edcbi this was his press conference are against opposition he quoted
19:01a number that 3100 locations have been rated mostly in in opposition ruled states so bjp understands this
19:08in run up to this monsoon session when general shah was or people who follow general shah were
19:14claiming that bjp after which is their model of fear and greed has amassed nearly two-third majority in
19:21parliament this general shah and our prime minister modi could not show up in the parliament so when you
19:27when you create a multi-billion dollar capital empire bjp has amassed 25 000 crores in last 12
19:34years in political donations and an authoritarian regime that can muster two-third majority so-called
19:40two-third majority uh in the back of akibar chasopar being a failed campaign then anything is expected
19:46this is a tyrannical regime they will go and and throw away the books throw with the constitution
19:51and go after anyone but you also answer my question no no you are throwing words like no
19:56no one minute mr tiwari mr tiwari you are saying authoritarian regime tyrannical regime has a has
20:03amassed large amounts of funds but the simple question here is the enforcement agencies at the
20:09moment seem to have claim to have enough evidence to take uh to raid azam khan's university and a
20:16trust that he controls now the question is are you all saying y'all are innocent or are you all
20:22saying
20:22it is selective let us be very clear one thing is to say it's being selective the other thing is
20:27to say
20:27that y'all are innocent no i think i i think azam khan ji did a cardinal mistake by building
20:33a university
20:33in a country where one education minister has resigned and the temporary education minister is the
20:38supporter of rapist of bilkis pano so in such a country if you build a build a university
20:43then obviously you are enemy of the state if you try to educate the children of india and tell them
20:49that look you have to think with your mind you don't have to become and if you think you have
20:53your mind prime minister will call you what mental naxal or or dimagi naxal that is what you will be
20:59called if you are educated your degree is authentic you build a university you do your job in this
21:04country you will be called dimagi naxal you don't switch parties you will be called dimagi naxal
21:08so in this regime azam khan ji did a terrible job of building a university with which by the way
21:13mr adit nat when he came to power he had more criminal records than all the degrees and data
21:20that sanjee varma will have so this is the regime that we are living this is why i call it
21:25and and when
21:25i say no no you see any you're also can do it no no no mr azam khan has also
21:34faced very serious
21:35charges sir of corruption one minute sanjee varma hold on hold on you know i want to put since you
21:40say that i don't i'm going to put facts before you and then you should respond maharashtra ajit power
21:46the late ajit power once he joined the nda mumbai police file closure report in the maharashtra
21:52cooperative bank scam it department gave him a clean sheet praful patel joined the nda july 2023 cbi
21:59case was closed on the air india indian alliance merger march 2024 chagan bujbal joined nda in july
22:062023 under ed probe the court say the trial now is still on uh you've got pratap sarnai joined the
22:15nda
22:16november 2022 probe has slowed i can go on and on narayan rane probe has slowed down the moment he
22:23joined the bjp suvendu adikari chief minister accused in narda case probe stopped after he joined bjp
22:29either the probe stops or slows down that's why the opposition seems to believe that these cases are
22:38linked to the way elections are fought i've got a series there also that just before elections
22:43you all tend to arrest or raid people who are connected to those states whether it is in
22:50karnataka dk shiv kumar in punjab charanjit singh channi uh in tamil nadu stalin in each case just before
23:00election there are raids so is this a coincidence now let me respond and rajdeep with no offense to you
23:07rajdeep sardesai audience needs to know that rajdeep sardesai's spouse is a rajya sabha member from
23:15the tmc that is a disclaimer that rajdeep sardesai should put before he conducts a debate on political
23:21parties yes please i have told it several times to you i am not connected she is okay yes yes
23:30will you
23:30say that yes your wife is i am giving you facts are you disputing my facts are you disputing my
23:37facts
23:37are you disputing my facts i am i am saying it to you i am saying it openly i it's
23:44not hidden
23:45madam if you want to come on my debate you answer the facts let me rebut rajdeep you are a
23:51journalist i
23:52have not been abusive i have told you patiently but your face is all rattled why have i abused no
24:01i
24:02am not rattled ma'am why i am not rattle
24:07ma'am respond but you don't allow me to
24:14keep quiet now let me respond in 2023 abhishek manu singhvi on the behest of 14 opposition parties
24:26went knocking on the doors of the supreme court saying the bjp-led modi government is demonizing
24:33the opposition by weaponizing the ed and cbi and a three-judge bench led by justice khan
24:40wilkar told abhishek manu singhvi that if you want to fight your political battles that should happen
24:47in the political space and abhishek manu singhvi's petition was dismissed and he admitted that between
24:542004 and 2014 when the congress was in power there were 72 leaders who were arrested and 69 of these
25:0472
25:04leaders belonged to the opposition party including bjp very quickly bs yadurappa was arrested in 2011
25:15madhu koda was arrested shibu soren was arrested a raja was arrested khani mori was arrested
25:22om prakash chautala was arrested at some point jainalita was arrested m karuna niti was arrested
25:28lalu prasad yadur was arrested and during one minute during all these arrests of big political
25:34leaders largely the congress or its alliance partners were in power point number one my final point is
25:41only this i want to ask the amati party on your show opi sony arrested by the kejriwal led government
25:51in
25:51punjab
25:55opposition party leader arrested by amati party in punjab godi media
26:01media
26:03saadhu singh and sundar shah marora again opposition
26:07madam madam madam madam madam you have today engaged uh producer
26:26voiced out my madam you have engaged today in classic water boundary i am not suggesting that any
26:32government is immune to it but since you're in power in the center you will know one minute one
26:37minute i during the upa times upa no no one minute ma'am madam madam producer you see during the
26:44upa
26:45times interestingly even upa leaders were arrested now what we are finding opposition leaders are
26:50arrested but anmol panwar the larger case the fact is law will take its own cause mr kejriwal and
26:56amadmi party have always said cutter imandar if you are a cutter imandar party you should be ready to
27:02face the law without without worry satendra jain has nothing to hide the court will eventually ensure
27:08that he's released rajdeepji the fact is that the bjp government they are dictators they are killing
27:17democracy in broad daylight they want to crush the opposition parties and they are misusing
27:22investigative agencies as the honorable supreme court said during a hearing that uh this ed and cbi
27:27they are working as cased parrots secondly you said uh you raised question about corruption and many
27:35turncourts who joined bjp against whom the prime minister of our country from the ramparts of the
27:39red fort said ye itne koroda ka rashtachari ye itne koroda ka rashtachari and you named several of them
27:44you know the reason why uh they love corrupt listen to this
27:49tainted leaders joining your party no bar everybody is welcome even they are welcome
27:54with a red carpet ruled out for them
27:57party is open everybody
27:59he's not been given a clean check
28:02even people who have nine cdi cases against them
28:05that is welcoming everybody
28:08nirmala sitaramanji is saying that all corrupts are welcome we are welcoming everybody secondly if they
28:14are really concerned about uh corruption and if they really want to wipe out corruption then why are
28:20they not acting against the delhi government rekha gupta government wherein 22 000 crore rice scam
28:27600 crore health scam and 90 crore cycle scam there are there are multiple evidence and today the acb the
28:35same acb before the honorable court has admitted that all the files pertaining to 700 crore health scam in
28:42delhi they are destroyed to ye mahabhrashtachari hai in ka maksad kewal or kewal vipaksh ko khatam karna hai
28:49and on your show i'm on your show uh sanju varma ji said
28:54ke bhai uh malafide intent has been established money trail has been established now the lawyers
29:01the advocates who are watching this show they they might be laughing at sanju varma because
29:06she don't even know the basic procedure basic legal procedure the fact is that for the last three
29:13years they were shouting at the top of their voice that there's a multi-crored so-called liquor scam
29:18but what happened after three years our leaders were put behind bars not a single evidence not a
29:23single money trail and after countless rates more than thousand rates not a single penny was recovered
29:28and eventually all the 23 abuse were discharged and discharge stands on a higher pedestal than
29:34acquittal she don't even know basic procedure of law yeh samasya hai in ke saad i'm gonna leave
29:39that case was not even fit for trial you know ganjsham tiwari i'm anmol ganjsham i've heard all of you
29:47patiently i've heard even sanju varma she's yeah no no no sanju ji i've given you sufficient time you've made
29:55personal attacks i've have listened to them very carefully i want to make it very clear madam to
30:00you and to all our viewers i remain a journalist who will ask questions of all i remain a journalist
30:06who will ask questions of all that is my soul dharma and i will continue to do that now if
30:12if those
30:12questions are not answered i will ask counter questions i asked you a question about mr agap chadda
30:17i didn't get an answer i asked the others about azam khan's track record when it comes to alleged
30:24corruption i didn't get a clear answer and when i asked the mrb party whether they are ready for
30:29the law to take its own course i didn't get an answer eventually i believe that we must for
30:35democracy to function the law must be same for all whether you belong to the government or whether
30:39you belong to the opposition we cannot have washing machine politics but because washing machine
30:44politics goes against the basic principles that everyone yeah so everyone must be okay i've taken your
30:52point why should you suffer the process maybe the punishment at times in this country but sanju varma
30:58i've heard you i've heard you patiently i've run out of time thank you all very much for joining me
31:03here
31:03on our top talking point okay let's turn from that heated debate to our next story the audit report of
31:10the pm cares fund was officially out yesterday nearly two years after the end of the 24 25 financial year
31:19it covers and while the delay
31:21itself raises questions the bigger political debate is over the fund's finances what exactly do the audit figures tell us
31:29and why
31:30is there's so much of political controversy around them aishwarya paliwal has that story
31:40the latest audit report of the pm cares fund is now out putting the funds finances back in the political
31:47spotlight the moment the moment the audit report was made public many questioned the almost two-year delay
31:53in filing the audit the opposition is also questioning the numbers particularly the fact that the fund had
32:01a closing corpus of around 8 452 crore rupees while expenditure during 2024 25 was just 87.85 lakh rupees
32:13but there is an important distinction in the audit figures the 8 452 crore rupees is the accumulated corpus
32:22not the amount received during 2024 25 the funds began the year with around 7 lakh 173 crore rupees and
32:32received approximately 1 lakh 280 crore rupees during the year of that around 470 crore rupees came from
32:41interest while 324.66 crore rupees was money returned by implementing agencies and the 87.85 lakh figure is
32:52expenditure for the financial year alone not the fund's total spending since its creation congress party
32:59however is seeing red in the funds that have been collected under pm care
33:30so the political debate now is a
33:32essentially this the opposition is questioning why so little was spent in the financial year 2025
33:38while the government's position is that pm cares is an emergency reserve that does not have to be
33:44emptied every year after all the government very firmly believes that by making this audit report public
33:51it has poured cold water all over the speculations that were happening and they have also been able to
33:57blunt the criticism that was coming in from the opposition party with regards to the pm care fund
34:02but many still believe that the government needs to be more transparent across all sectors
34:07in days to come this is ashwara paliwal reporting for india today
34:11to the big story from the south where tamil nadu is making a big push to tackle its falling fertility
34:17rate
34:17but in the process stirring a controversy the vijay led government announced 365 days of maternity leave
34:25for women government employees having a third child up from 12 weeks the move comes amidst growing
34:32concerns over south india's declining fertility and fears around delimitation with tamil nadu recording a
34:40fertility rate of 1.7 can such measures trigger a demographic reset in the south and are they wise
34:47moves to have larger families take a look in a major push to address india's falling fertility rate
35:00tamilado government has announced a big maternity benefit for women government employees the vijay led
35:07tamil nadu government has extended maternity leave to 365 days for women government employees who have
35:15a third child up from the existing 12 weeks the move comes amid growing concerns over the sharp decline
35:21in fertility rates across southern states while the proposal received unanimous support in tamil nadu
35:28the congress has questioned the push for a third child tamil nadu is a very successful state
35:34because of its two-child norm any kind of alterations from that part must be discussed in a much better
35:42forum the move comes at a time when southern states are already raising concerns over delimitation and the
35:50possible impact of population-based criteria on their representation in parliament and tamil nadu is not
35:58alone in pushing the second child debate chief ministers chandrababu naidu in andhra pradesh and revanth reddy in
36:06telangana have also spoken in favor of encouraging larger families amid declining fertility rates
36:33according to the national family health survey fertility rates across south india have fallen sharply
36:40telangana stands at 1.9 children per woman andhra pradesh karnataka and kerala are at 1.8
36:48tamil nadu has the lowest fertility rate among these states at 1.7 tamil nadu has now taken the lead
36:57on
36:57maternity leave with this move the initial proposal was for 90 days which after 15 years has now been
37:05expanded to 365 days of leave for a third child this has brought the southern demographic agenda into
37:12focus could such measures change the demographic landscape of south india over time with anaga
37:19keshav and promote madhav bureau report india today okay let's turn from there to my other special focus
37:26tonight which is across the border where pakistan's political confrontation over jailed former prime
37:32minister imran khan has now moved into a new arena the hospital pakistan supreme court had ordered
37:38khan's transfer yesterday from adila jail to islamabad shifa international hospital while also allowing
37:45access to his personal doctor and weekly meetings with his family that order was challenged today by the
37:52shabazz sharif government why is islamabad pushing back so hard against khan even though the medical reports
37:59suggests that his condition could be deteriorating what are the political implications here take a look
38:06at this report and then we'll be joined by a special guest from islamabad
38:20pakistan's power struggle has entered a new phase
38:25and this time the battlefield is not parliament it's not the streets it's a hospital
38:34pakistan's supreme court had ordered jailed former prime minister imran khan to be shifted from adiyala
38:39jail to islamabad shifa international hospital the supreme court order is significant it directs that khan
38:46be shifted to the shifa international hospital where a medical board will examine him that board can
38:51include his personal doctor faisal sultan the court has also ordered weekly meetings with his family
38:56and telephone calls with his sons living abroad for imran khan's supporters it's a major breakthrough
39:03his sister noreen was allowed into adiyala jail after authorities had blocked his sisters from visiting
39:09him for months even his wife bushra bb met her husband for around half an hour the first such direct
39:14family contact in months but the pakistani government is fighting back having filed a review petition in the
39:47supreme court
39:49Islamabad argues that prison rules require a medical board to decide whether an inmate
39:54needs hospitalization.
39:55And if hospitalization is required, prisoners are generally sent to government hospitals.
40:00So why should Imran Khan be treated at a private hospital?
40:03But Khan's family and party have been demanding access to his personal doctors and its transfer
40:08to a hospital for months.
40:09His family has claimed that Khan has lost much of his vision in his right eye.
40:13The government has disputed that claim.
40:14So why is the Pakistani government so determined to keep a 73-year-old former prime minister
40:20behind bars?
40:21Is it really about prison rules or medical procedures?
40:24Or is it about something much bigger?
40:26Because Imran Khan is not just another prisoner.
40:29He remains the biggest political headache for Pakistan's powerful military establishment
40:35and particularly for Field Marshal Asim Munir.
40:38Bureau Report, India Today.
40:41So what lies ahead of the former Pakistan prime minister and cricket captain?
40:47Joining me now is senior Pakistani journalist Hamid Meir joins me from Islamabad.
40:52Appreciate your joining us.
40:54Mr. Meir, the latest medical reports about Imran Khan submitted to the Supreme Court yesterday
40:59suggests that he has a troubled medical condition and prolonged imprisonment and isolation could
41:05cause potentially irreversible damage to his health.
41:09How serious is the condition of Imran Khan, Hamid Meir?
41:15Thank you, Rajdeep Sahib.
41:17Imran Khan is in the jail since the last three years.
41:20He was arrested in August 2023.
41:23And during the last three years, he was given many chances.
41:30He was offered many deals that he can come out of the jail, he can make a deal with the
41:37concerned
41:37quarters, like Nawaz Sharif did many times in the past, but he refused.
41:42Now the thing is that his eyes are not in a good condition.
41:46As far as my information and understanding of Imran Khan is concerned, I think physically,
41:51he has no problem.
41:53His blood pressure, according to the medical report, is OK, it's normal.
41:57But the problem is in his eyes.
41:59And that's why in the last couple of months, he was quietly sent to different hospitals of
42:10Islamabad late nights and eye specialists, they checked his eyes.
42:15So that's the problem.
42:17And I think this is nothing new in the political history of Pakistan.
42:22History is repeating itself.
42:24Same kind of relief was given to Nawaz Sharif in 2019 when he was convicted in Al-Azizia case.
42:32But the courts ordered to shift him to the hospital.
42:36So now the history is repeating itself.
42:38But unfortunately, Nawaz Sharif is in panic that why the Supreme Court gave some little
42:45relief to Imran Khan.
42:46You know, you mentioned there, Hamid Mir, you mentioned there the lawyers of Imran Khan.
42:53You mentioned there Imran Khan's eye condition.
42:56Now the lawyers of Imran Khan six months ago, Hamid Mir said, Imran has lost nearly 85% of
43:03his vision in his right eye.
43:04So it is obviously very serious.
43:08Imran Khan was losing his eyesight very fast a few months back.
43:13But then as I told you that he was given an opportunity, unlike other political prisoners,
43:24the jail authorities, they arranged his meeting with some eye specialists in PIMS, Pakistan Institute
43:34of Medical Sciences in Islamabad.
43:36So he was brought from jail to the hospital, and not once, many times, and he was given
43:43special treatment to satisfy himself or his lawyers.
43:49But then a ban was imposed on his meetings with his families, with his lawyers, with his
43:55friends.
43:55Because most of them, after meeting Imran Khan, they used to speak to media and make some
44:02very fiery statements.
44:04So that's why his meetings were banned.
44:07But now I think that his eyes are in bad shape.
44:12So that's why the Supreme Court of Pakistan gave this order to shift him to the hospital.
44:19You know, you also mentioned, you also mentioned, Hamid Meir, that Nawaz Sharif is in a panic,
44:24that the government of Pakistan is in a panic.
44:27Why are they panicking?
44:28I mean, what is wrong in sending Imran Khan to a hospital as the Supreme Court warns?
44:33Why file a review petition against him?
44:35Why should they be panicking if the health demands, if Imran's health demands he goes to the hospital?
44:41What explains the Sharif's discomfiture?
44:45Yes, Rajdeep, this is a very interesting question.
44:49And I am trying to control my law.
44:53You see, actually, there are many factors.
44:56The main factor is that Nawaz Sharif and his party, they himself got relief from courts and
45:07from concerned quarters by making quiet and secret deals.
45:12So they think that we got relief from the courts.
45:16So now Imran Khan is also getting relief from courts out of some secret deal.
45:24The second thing is that the Pakistan Tariq and Saf, which is founded by Imran Khan,
45:33they announced a long march towards Islamabad on September 27th.
45:39And the chief minister of Khaibar Pakhtunkhwa, Suhail Afridi, who is a young man and he is a blind
45:47supporter of Imran Khan, he is trying to mobilize public to march towards Islamabad.
45:55The second thing is that Bilal Bhutto Zardari, who leads the second biggest party in the National
46:02Assembly of Pakistan, and an ally of the government, is angry with the government these days.
46:07The third thing is that the current government or some institutions, they want to make some
46:15new provinces in Pakistan.
46:16But Bilal Bhutto Zardari is not ready to support that move.
46:23And the most interesting point, which is related to India, is that there is a threat of a cockroach
46:33movement in Pakistan.
46:34Because some people are now started saying that the youngsters in Pakistan are not happy with
46:44the system. Even the home minister of Pakistan, who is a very powerful minister, Mr. Mohsin
46:52Natwee, he recently made a statement and he said, our system is failed, totally failed. And he is the
46:58home minister. The young people, they have no confidence in the parliament, in the judiciary.
47:04So, the remarks of one Supreme Court judge in India created a cockroach movement. So, there
47:10is a threat that these kind of circumstances in Pakistan can create another cockroach movement
47:17in Pakistan. So, that's why I think that the Supreme Court gave some relief to Imran Khan that
47:23his party is planning to march towards Islamabad. So, I think they are trying to control the situation.
47:31But if I may ask, is Imran Khan still, am I to understand that Imran Khan, Hamid Mir, is
47:37still the most popular leader in Pakistan there, politically? And is the army willing to allow
47:42Imran Khan to come out of jail? Or does the army also fear Imran Khan out of jail?
47:49You see, no doubt Imran Khan is a popular leader in Pakistan. But right now, the decision which
47:57created panic in the ranks and foils of Nawaz Sharif, that decision came from Supreme Court
48:03of Pakistan, not from the army. So, we can say that, yes, one senator of Nawaz Sharif's party,
48:15his name is Nasir Bhatt, he said a conspiracy is being hatched against Nawaz Sharif. And he also
48:22claimed that Imran Khan will be transferred to his home very soon. So, this is what the senator of
48:29Imran Khan is saying. So, I think that they are in panic. Right. And the army is not under discussion
48:36right now. The under discussion is the panic in PMLN. So, if PMLN is in panic, maybe others are also
48:44in panic. But does the army, does the army, Hamid fear Imran Khan? Does they see it? Does the army
48:50see Imran Khan as someone who could challenge the authority if he's out of jail? The official
48:56position of Pakistan army spokesperson is very clear. They say that we don't interfere in politics.
49:01No, no. But, you know, you're smiling when you're saying that, because you know better than anyone
49:09else that, you know, the army is, after all, the one that runs Pakistan. So, I mean, I must ask
49:15you
49:16this. Do you see Imran Khan, given the present situation, making a political comeback, or is that
49:22a closed door? Yes. In 2019, when Nawaz Sharif was in jail, and there was no chance that he will
49:33come
49:33out of the jail, and Imran Khan was the Prime Minister of Pakistan. So, I used to face this question
49:42many
49:42times, that will Nawaz Sharif be able to come out of the jail, and can he join the politics again?
49:52So, I used to say, this is Pakistan, anything can happen in Pakistan, any time. So, now if Nawaz Sharif
50:00can come out of the jail, and he can get not only bail, he was acquitted from the case in
50:09Al-Azizia case,
50:10Al-Azizia steel mill case, he was convicted for seven years. And Imran Khan is facing conviction
50:17in Al-Qadr trust case, 14 years imprisonment. So, if Nawaz Sharif came out of the jail, and he was
50:26acquitted, this is Pakistan, anything can happen, Imran Khan can come out any time.
50:31You know, I'm going to leave it there. You know, as you said, anything can happen in Pakistan,
50:37those are famous last words you've given. What tomorrow will bring Hamid Meir?
50:44Oh no, I'm looking forward to seeing what will happen tomorrow, it's written on the wall,
50:49but I cannot share with you. You know, what do you mean when you say writing on the wall?
50:56Is Imran Khan going to be out of jail soon? Not soon, but he will be out.
51:06Right. Okay, not soon, but he will be out. That's a big news point you're giving. We'll wait and see
51:12when Imran Khan is allowed out of jail. For now, Hamid Meir, for speaking to us on that big story.
51:18Thank you very much.
51:21Okay, let's take a break at this point. When we return, Get Real India, a bizarre and dangerous
51:27incident in Bihar's Nalanda. Over nearly 40 students fall ill after allegedly being served detergent powder
51:36instead of salt in their midday meal. That story, when we return. You're watching the news today.
51:42Let's turn to a Get Real India shocker now. A major mix up in a midday meal. Students at a
51:49school in
51:49Bihar's Nalanda were served detergent powder. Yes, detergent powder instead of salt in their meal.
51:57And several of them have been hospitalized. While the children are safe, the bizarre blunder has raised
52:02serious questions over food safety violations, negligence in school and quality of midday meals.
52:08This is our Get Real India story from Bihar.
52:21A school in Bihar witnessed a bizarre blunder that put the lives of several students at risk.
52:27In a shocking mix up, students at Nalanda's Parasi Middle School were served detergent powder
52:33instead of salt in their midday meal. Soon after, the students complained of stomach pain and nausea and
52:40nearly 40 students were rushed to hospital. According to a teacher at the school,
52:46the salt and washing powder containers were kept side by side leading to the blunder.
52:52A school in a small purchase of a small business.
52:52In a small amount of children, the loss was reduced, then the burden was reduced, then the loss was reduced.
52:58And after that, the loss of a black man had been reduced.
53:04And a small child was reduced.
53:08And an unworked child was given to us immediately.
53:30Panic ensued among parents before doctors assured that all students are safe and are receiving
53:36proper treatment.
53:48Bihar Rural Development Minister Shravan Kumar later met the students at the hospital and
53:53said they were being closely monitored.
53:55He directed the hospital to ensure proper treatment and assured strict action against
54:01those responsible.
54:02One child was the only one child that was covered, all these two and three people had
54:15been laid.
54:17The profession was faced with this and theglio came to us and the瞬间 to make up our
54:20mental health.
54:21When there was a solution, the problem is that there was a problem with us.
54:26These days I was given up to three people.
54:28Three people were given up with the service, through the孩子, from the cultures, from the
54:44While the children being safe is an immediate relief, the incident has reignited serious
54:50questions over food safety regulations and basic monitoring at schools.
54:55Only when negligence is on the menu does washing powder end up on a plate in the first place.
55:02Bureau Report, India Today.
55:06Okay, that's all that we could pack in tonight, but I want to leave you with our image of the
55:10day.
55:11Gen Z, a generation that has in recent weeks earned the attention and respect of a country
55:16watching it challenge authority, question the establishment and demand accountability.
55:21But in a viral video from Cargill, that phrase was invoked for something rather less noble.
55:27A confrontation with security personnel at a checkpoint.
55:30A woman was left waiting near the mini-marked check post in Dras after police stopped travel
55:36on the connecting road.
55:38Frustrated by the delay, she confronted security personnel questioning why others, including
55:43a minister, had apparently been allowed to pass.
55:46Repeatedly insisting she was Gen Z and would not tolerate this nonsense.
55:51JNK Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has likened, we are Gen Z, to the old school.
56:00warning that such behavior could quickly erode Gen Z's goodwill.
56:05So has Gen Z earned a voice or is it now in danger of abusing a privilege?
56:10Think about it.
56:11Stay well, stay safe, good night, Shubratri.
56:14JAHIN NAMASHKAH.
56:16JAHIN NAMASHKAH.
56:16JAHIN NAMASHKAH.
56:23JAHIN NAMASHKAH.
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