- 11 hours ago
Political parties in Uttar Pradesh are stepping up efforts to woo Gen Z voters ahead of the 2027 assembly elections, with the 18-29 age group accounting for around 21 per cent of the state's electorate. The focus comes amid concerns over education, jobs and administrative issues. The state government has tightened monitoring of educational institutions and accountability measures, while the Samajwadi Party is developing a digital campaign using AI-generated content, memes and short-form videos to promote its employment and development agenda. Both the ruling party and opposition are increasingly focusing on youth concerns, recognising Gen Z's growing influence on online narratives and household voting decisions.
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00:00Good evening, hello and welcome. You're with the news today, your primetime destination news, newsmakers, talking points and today we
00:07have a big talking point.
00:08The race to woo Gen Z has really intensified. Every party wants to woo Gen Z, but who's winning that
00:17battle? That's a big talking point tonight.
00:19Also, India's maximum city is finding minimum open spaces. Will citizens get their way or not and protect the green
00:28spaces of Mumbai?
00:30That's our other special discussion. But first, as always tonight, it's time for the Nine Headlines at Nine.
00:38The Supreme Court constitutes a five-member high-powered panel to probe police excesses during the NEET protests.
00:46Earlier, Bihar and Delhi police denied that they had used excess force against protesters, retired Supreme Court judges, to be
00:54part of the panel.
00:57The Nalsar law controversy continues to explode. Lawyers protest outside Bar Council of India office, demand resignation of chairperson and
01:08BJP Rajya Sabha MP Manan Mishra. CJP supports the demonstration.
01:15Politics peaks over Bandai Matram after the Congress Working Committee decides to stick to only two stanzas.
01:22BJP rains fire. Home Minister Amit Shah says 1937 resolution was passed to woo Muslims.
01:29Sowed seeds of partition. Congress, he claims, is practicing appeasement.
01:37NCRT reconstitutes the political science textbook panel. Four members with RSS links in the panel. Opposition says this is a
01:44takeover of the education system by the RSS.
01:50Amit's a surge in sugar prices reportedly due to ethanol. Big move by the Modi government.
01:56They allow one million tons of raw sugar imports at nil duty until October 31st.
02:02Sugar Manufacturers Association deny any sugar shortage.
02:08Home Minister Shah chairs a meet with South CMs in Tamil Nadu's Mahabalipuram.
02:13Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay softens stand on deemed limitation during meet.
02:18Says percentage of Tamil Nadu seats shouldn't fall.
02:23A Marathi test begins for drivers of commercial vehicles in Maharashtra.
02:28RTO steps up checks on auto drivers and taxi drivers. Action to be taken against those drivers who failed to
02:36pass a Marathi test.
02:39Another big move by the Maharashtra FDA. Sale in open edible oil band across the state.
02:45Misbranded unregistered oil companies under Mundes Lentz, the head of the FDA.
02:54And a tragic incident comes to light from Andhra Pradesh's Vizak.
02:58Six-year-old Pranay Tej lost his life after the teacher slapped him.
03:02Andhra government murders legal action against the school.
03:08But tonight I want to start with a special focus.
03:11The big race to win over Gen Z.
03:14The demographic cohort between the ages of 18 and 29.
03:18It's become the political buzzword.
03:20From the BJP to the Congress to the Kokrut Janata Party.
03:24Everyone at the moment seems to be busy wooing and discovering the youth.
03:29While the Narendra Modi government has now decided to send its ministers to university campuses to engage with students and
03:36be more active on social media.
03:38The Congress with Rahul Gandhi at the helm is holding student rallies across the country.
03:44How is this Gen Z politics playing out?
03:49Why is it the most sought after vote bank?
03:51That's our special focus tonight.
03:53Take a look at our top story.
04:02A race is on to Gen Z and Gen Alpha.
04:05Political parties are working overtime to win over the youth.
04:08At a recent cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed his colleagues to reach out to university students.
04:15Under the One Day One University initiative, a union minister will visit a university every day, interact with students, listen
04:22to their concerns and discuss issues affecting young people.
04:25The outreach is also expected to highlight government schemes related to education, employment and youth development.
04:32This is in addition to a digital outreach drive launched by the government and the BJP.
04:37And the Prime Minister is leading from the front, engaging with the youth on Instagram.
05:01The Congress too is in the race.
05:02The party is holding Chhattro Ki Guj rallies in almost 800 cities.
05:07The next one on Saturday in Pune is exclusively for women and will be addressed by Rahul Gandhi.
05:12Students.
05:13At an event held to mark the birth anniversary of Rajiv Gandhi on Thursday, the leader of opposition claimed that
05:19his party listened to the concerns of the youth unlike the government.
05:22When Mr. Narendra Modi says, I forgive the students, meaning what?
05:27You are a bunch of jokers, I am very smart, I know everything, you don't understand everything and I forgive
05:34you.
05:34Then suddenly they got scared and Mohan Bhagwadji says, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, we should not
05:40attack the students.
05:41You are attacking the students every day because you believe you know the truth.
05:45If a student comes to me, in my mind, he knows or she knows her truth better than I will
05:53ever know their truth.
05:55My job is to listen to it.
05:59Meanwhile, the Kokoro Jantar Party, which is acting as a pressure group for now, has launched a campaign to fix
06:05schools without adequate facilities.
06:18The youth protests over paper leaks at Jantar Mantra that eventually led to the resignation of a union minister have
06:25proved to be a wake-up call for the country's politicians.
06:27The youth are now a vote bank nobody can afford to ignore.
06:32Political parties are struggling to catch up with a generation high on aspirations and restless for results.
06:37And they realise a lot depends on their communication strategy.
06:41Bureau Report, India Today.
06:45Okay, let's then turn to our big talking point tonight.
06:48Who is leading the race to woo Gen Z among our political parties?
06:53Were youth issues ignored till now?
06:56Have our parties only woken up to the Gen Z power now?
07:01And is social media key to winning over India's young and Gen Z?
07:07Those are some of the questions I'll raise.
07:09Supriya Srinath, Chairperson of the Social Media Digital Platforms and member of the Congress Working Committee, National Spokesperson joining me.
07:16Ashutosh Rangka is co-convener of the Kokruj Janta Party, Siddharth Yadav, National Media co-convener of the BJP and
07:23an advocate at the Supreme Court.
07:25Good to have all of you on the show.
07:27Let me start with you, Supriya Srinath.
07:30Do you believe that the political parties of this country have only now, after what happened in the last month,
07:38particularly with the Kokruj Janta Party taking up the issue of paper leaks,
07:42has woken up finally to Gen Z, this generation, this cohort between 18 and 29.
07:50Suddenly, it's the buzz.
07:57Thank you for having me on the show, and it's a good evening to you, your viewers and my fellow
08:00panelists.
08:01Absolutely not, Rajdeep.
08:02I think the young in this country have always mattered, and the young in this country have voted for the
08:07Congress.
08:07If it wasn't for the young, we wouldn't have formed a government in 2004 and in 2009.
08:12So it is absolutely wrong to say that we, you know, India's politicians have woken up to the young.
08:17The reality is that even before the protests started at Jantar Mantar, the NSUI and the IYC, which is the
08:24student and the youth wing of the Congress,
08:26had done multiple protests against paper leak.
08:29But of course, I mean, with all due respect to you, but legacy media would not show voices of protests
08:33against the ruling government, against the incumbent government.
08:36That's point number one.
08:37Point number two, Rahul Gandhi was meeting Gen Z and young students as way back as two years, when his
08:43Bharat Jodo Yatra was happening three years back.
08:45He was meeting the young Indians, and he figured out, and he would speak about how restless they were.
08:50I remember a public speech that he gave about three years back, and he said,
08:53Mr. Modi, you need to get your act together because the young are restless, and they want job opportunities.
08:58They do not want their papers to be leaked.
09:00We were talking about a jobs calendar three to four years back.
09:02The reality is that this government, which is in power, has brushed aside concerns of a generation that's young,
09:09concerns of a generation that's aspirational, concerns of a generation that has found it very wanting as far as their
09:16own opportunities for a good future are concerned.
09:18Papers have leaked one after the other.
09:20There have been six to seven instances of neat paper leak.
09:23Why has this government not woken up?
09:24And very briefly, I want to point out one more thing.
09:27It's not about engaging with Gen Z.
09:30This government treated Gen Z with a certain amount of contempt.
09:33That contempt will have to go because this is the youth, and this wants engagement.
09:38They don't want entertainment.
09:40And one last point I want to make is this government was very, very dismissive of the young.
09:45I mean, even while the protests were on, their incumbent MPs, Ranganar Anaut called them a generation gutter.
09:52There was another MP, Mr. Yogesh Chandolia, who called these bheriyas.
09:55Because the man who had to finally quit his job, Dharmendra Pradhan, was on record to say,
10:01this was India's youth clamoring for your attention, wanting the issues to be raised.
10:07These are the name callings that were happening.
10:09I mean, one of their Madan Rathaur, their sitting MP, called them Bhade Ke Tattoo.
10:14This is the kind of language that we're using for India's youth.
10:17This shows the contempt that you have for the young who've now taught you a lesson,
10:21who've taken the sheen of you, who've actually threadbare exposed you.
10:25And that's the power of youth anywhere in the world.
10:31Before I go to the BJP, ma'am, I just want to give you a bit of a fact check.
10:35You said that the youth have voted more for the Congress than the BJP.
10:39That's not true.
10:402019, 2024, I actually see the BJP maintains a much higher advantage among younger voters
10:47than they do among senior citizens.
10:49In 2019, 40% of young voters backed the BJP according to the CSDS post-poll.
10:5521% supported the Congress.
10:57So, at the moment at least, we don't know what will happen in the next election.
11:01The fact is that the BJP still gets a large support base among the young.
11:07Can I make a point there?
11:08Yeah, very quickly.
11:09Yes.
11:10Can I make a very small point?
11:13Which is exactly what I said.
11:15That in 2004 and 2009, when we came to power, we did not come to power without the youth.
11:20I accept that the youth did veer towards the BJP.
11:23But that youth has from then on gone on to become millennials.
11:27The Gen Z, which is 18 and above today, or even Gen Alpha for that matter, is holding this government
11:32to account.
11:33is actually showing a mirror to Mr. Modi.
11:35So much so that the BJP, in a very silly and a stupid way, has decided all their 75-year
11:41-olds are Gen Z.
11:42And that's the mistake the BJP is making.
11:44I'm glad they are making that mistake.
11:46Gen Z does not want you to become Gen Z.
11:49They want you to understand their issues.
11:51They want you to stand in solidarity.
11:53They don't want you to use their slang and their gestures that the Prime Minister suddenly started doing
11:57and made a complete fool of himself.
11:59They want a leader like Rao Gandhi who listens to them.
12:02And that's the difference.
12:06Can I?
12:07Okay, can I just get Siddharth Yadda?
12:09Because strong words have been used against your leadership.
12:11And therefore, you have every right to respond, Siddharth.
12:13Because at the moment, it appears the Prime Minister has told his ministers to get more active on social media,
12:19to start visiting universities and schools.
12:21Now, is that the answer or is that tokenism a knee-jerk reaction that Gen Z has rattled the government
12:28so much
12:28that they are saying, okay, let's now get on to Instagram, let's get on social media, let's go to the
12:32university?
12:33You've been in power 12 years.
12:34Has it only now sunk in that maybe there's a disconnect with the youth?
12:43Good evening, Rajdeep.
12:44Good evening to all your viewers.
12:46I do have a right to respond, but I would not choose to respond in the crass language
12:50as my learned friend from the Congress party has chosen to.
12:53But let me respond on the facts that she was speaking.
12:56She was right on only one account when she says that Gen Z doesn't want you to be Gen Z.
13:01That's absolutely right.
13:03And that's why I think she should go and suggest to her leader, who is now 57 years old,
13:07to stop calling himself a youth leader.
13:09He's not a youth leader.
13:10If he doesn't understand youth issues or if he doesn't understand what the youth is actually
13:15facing, so he should not keep himself telling that I am a youth and I project myself as a
13:21youth leader.
13:22There's youth in this country which is actually working in the manner, in the direction that
13:27the country needs and the country wants.
13:29This is point number one.
13:31Point number two, we are a party which actually gives representation to youth, which promotes
13:36the youth, not just in tokenism, but in mainstream policy making, making them part of decision
13:44making, making them part of the journey of Vixit Bharat.
13:47We have the youngest ever elected national president who is 45 years old when he was elected
13:53in the Bharatiya Janata party, unlike Rahul Gandhi, again, which I would want to reiterate,
13:58who is 57 years old.
14:00Point number three, in Udaipur, Central Working Committee in the Chintan Shivarta Congress had promised
14:05to themselves that we would have 50% representation of people under 50, not even youth, forget youth,
14:12but under 50 in the times to come.
14:15Today, out of 84 members in the CWC, there are only 13 who are under 50.
14:20So, the representation is 15%.
14:22So, I think, you know, the Congress is way beyond for themselves to be claiming somebody
14:28who cares about youth or youth representation or them being in mainstream.
14:32But that's not the whole point here, Rajdeep.
14:34The whole point is that it's actually Prime Minister Modi upon whom the youth of this
14:39country trusts.
14:40We have more than four crowd registrations in Pariksha Par Charcha.
14:43You would have seen the response, the kind of response that on one Instagram reel that
14:47had come, which even broke the record for the FIFA final reel that had come out.
14:53More than 300 million in 24 hours.
14:55That's the kind of connect that the Prime Minister had with people.
14:58The entire ecosystem that the youth of this country is currently living is the ecosystem
15:02built by this current government.
15:04When we inherited this government, we had a data running at Rs. 269 on an average for
15:091 GB.
15:10Currently, what are the prices for internet?
15:12Right.
15:12All of us know that.
15:13And that is that ecosystem.
15:15What was the status for startups?
15:17300, more than 350 startups in the country now register 2,40,000 startups.
15:22What was the status of unicorns?
15:24Only four unicorns in this country, now 110 plus unicorns.
15:27How many IITs?
15:28How many IAMs?
15:29How many AIMs?
15:30How many National Institutes of Importance?
15:31Should I give that data?
15:32Once you see that, you would realize that the entire status, the entire ecosystem that
15:37the youth of this country is living in.
15:38How much education, how much gross enrollment?
15:41Mr. Siddharth Yadav.
15:42Let me just complete it.
15:43Mr. Siddharth Yadav.
15:48Yes, go ahead.
15:50Can I take 10 seconds, Rajdeep, if you would allow?
15:53Yes.
15:54Rajdeep, my only point is, the youth of this country is what is going to be the driving
16:00wheel for Viksit Bharat 2047.
16:03The Prime Minister has given this vision with which the youth of the country can connect,
16:08not Rahul Gandhi.
16:09When we say we want to build a Viksit Bharat in 2047, it's the youth which is driving it.
16:14And it is us who is giving that youth that opportunity.
16:16All these political parties and leaders like Rahul Gandhi who want to capitalize on their
16:22sunken political ships and want to think that we are going to eat the rice in the country, I think
16:30the time for that is gone.
16:31The youth of this country can never, never accept a hypocrite leader like Rahul Gandhi, who has double standards, who
16:39would look away in certain instances.
16:41No, your 10 seconds is over.
16:42Mr. Yadav, Mr. Yadav, I gave you 10 seconds.
16:45And with that, I rest my case.
16:46You have gone well beyond that.
16:47I gave you 10 seconds.
16:49With that, I rest my case.
16:49No, no, I've heard it.
16:50Yeah, you've rested your case.
16:52Ashutosh.
16:52Can I make a small case?
16:53Yeah, good.
16:53Ashutosh Ranka, you know, I'm hearing the two major parties.
16:57One minute.
16:58A lot of this debate has been sparked off by the Kaukruj Janta Party in a way.
17:02Suddenly, it appears everyone is discovering Gen Z.
17:06How do you see it?
17:07When you hear the two major national parties, both now, Rahul Gandhi with Chhatro Ki Goonj,
17:12the prime minister now on Instagram, urging his ministers to also connect with youth in universities.
17:18How do you see it?
17:19Are you cynical or are you hopeful?
17:24Well, Azdeep, number one, I think it's a welcome change that finally the political parties of this country
17:32are talking about the youth and not just talking, but actually engaging in the genuine issues
17:36which the youth have been facing for a long, long time.
17:39Right. And, you know, in fact, not just the political parties, but the way parliament,
17:45although we could not see any productive debates in the parliament, but, you know,
17:49there is a clear intent, there is a clear push to talk about youth is a welcome change, number one.
17:54Number two, I don't really want to get into the fact whether it was CJP that started it,
17:59it was already happening.
18:02We are not in a race to take credit.
18:04The only thing that we want to make sure is, number one, you have to be accountable for your actions.
18:12Both these political parties are in governments in multiple states across the country.
18:17You will have to answer for the state of the government schools in your state.
18:21You will have to answer for the state of your colleges and universities in your state.
18:25You can't run away from this.
18:27You will have to talk about the unemployment rate in your states.
18:30These are concrete statistics.
18:32I don't want to know how many new IITs or IAMs you have built.
18:36I want to know how many of those IITs or IAMs actually rank in world top 100.
18:41I want to know which of those IITs are doing cutting-edge research in AI and city conductors.
18:46We want qualitative answers.
18:48That you can't run away from.
18:49The third thing is, this is a very smart generation.
18:53So you're saying?
18:55If any of these parties are doing it to develop a vote bank,
19:00this generation will see through you guys.
19:02So be genuine, be responsive, take feedback,
19:06understand what those issues are and actually try and address those issues
19:09and that's when the generation will support you.
19:13Otherwise, theatrics won't work with this generation.
19:16Can I make a small point?
19:19You know, you're using the word theatrics.
19:22You know, because there's a lot about,
19:24there's a lot of chatter at the moment that you've got to get on social media.
19:28Politicians have to get on social media.
19:29I just want to put this in and then get you in, Supriya Srinath.
19:32On Twitter, BJP has 23 million followers, Congress 11.5, CJP 0.39.
19:39On Facebook, BJP 18, Congress 12 million.
19:42On Instagram, BJP 9.7 million, Congress 15 million, Kokrut Janata Party 26 million.
19:49And then you have WhatsApp 3 million to BJP 1.3 million, Congress 0.55 million CJP.
19:54So, to take off from Ashutosh Ranka said, there seems to be this haste.
19:58Let's get on to Instagram.
20:00Let's get our reels viral.
20:02Whether it's Rahul Gandhi's reel or Narendra Modi's reel.
20:05Is this about competing over reels or the real issues that Ashutosh spoke about?
20:09Improve the quality of schools.
20:11Improve the quality of teaching in college and universities.
20:14Isn't that what the real battle should be about?
20:16Who has a model?
20:17Do you have a model for the youth of this country?
20:20When Rahul Gandhi talks of Chhatro Ki Goonj, he's pointing to the problems.
20:24But does he have an alternative model for the youth of the country?
20:31No, I'm sorry to say, as a leader of the opposition, he has every business to point out the problems.
20:36He has every business to hold the government of the day accountable and put them in the dock.
20:41And talk about the number of paper leaks.
20:42Talk about the number of unemployment opportunities that haven't been created.
20:46Talk about the jobs that lie vacant.
20:48Talk about an education system that has completely collapsed.
20:51Talk about an education system that's only being filled with the RSS stooges.
20:55And he has every business to talk about that because that is as relevant.
20:58But I just think I want to make a few points before I go on.
21:01But he should also provide solutions.
21:02You know, the BJP has really come a full circle.
21:04Let me please.
21:06I will provide solutions.
21:07Give me a minute.
21:08Please give me a minute.
21:09Be patient with me.
21:10It's very interesting to now see Narendra Modi tell his MPs and tell his party men,
21:15get active on social media, get active on Instagram.
21:18You know why?
21:18Because the BJP cannot push through his agenda on Instagram.
21:22Whether it is us or whether it's anybody else who's talking about the youth, we are calling the shots.
21:26Our engagement on Instagram, forget about the number of followers.
21:29We are, of course, much higher followed than Mr Modi and his party.
21:32But our engagement on social media is five times that of the BJP.
21:36Because we are speaking on issues that matter, unlike the BJP that is still preaching and believes
21:42a front camera can solve the problems of the youth.
21:44But I have two instances to point out here because some very ugly things were said.
21:49You want to talk about people's age.
21:51At 75, the BJP was putting people in the Mark Darshak Mandel.
21:54Why did Mr Modi not make way for younger generation?
21:57Why did he not go?
21:58You said your president is elected.
22:00Who elected this president?
22:01Because his name was suddenly announced.
22:03Like you think you're a chief minister, you're a president.
22:07So what's your election?
22:09Tell me, our president is democratically elected by 10,000 people who are elected members of the AICC.
22:15I also want to make a very small point on the recent reshuffle that happened within the BJP.
22:21Who all was shifted out?
22:22There were two big changes.
22:25Their social media head was shunted out and the head of their Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morcha was shunted out.
22:31What does that tell you?
22:32Their social media messaging and narrative is clearly not landing.
22:35And their youth head was being able to make no difference whatsoever.
22:40But it brings me to the big agenda that any of us should be asking.
22:44The home minister wants to talk about everything under the sun.
22:47The home minister has to answer one question in yes or no.
22:51There were students protesting.
22:53They're not anti-nationals.
22:54They were asking for their rights irrespective of the political ideology or their affiliations.
22:59who fired pellet guns at them.
23:02Did you order the pellet guns or did you not?
23:04If you did not order, you are incompetent.
23:07If you did, this is what you're doing to the youth of this country.
23:10You have one question to answer.
23:11They believe they can get away with murder.
23:21They believe they are standing with the youth.
23:23A girl was, I mean, if you saw where the police man was putting the bait in, it would put
23:28any of us to shame.
23:29A girl landed on a ventilator.
23:31There were pellets fired.
23:32A boy lost his eye.
23:34And a girl lost her girl.
23:35They are telling us that nothing really happened.
23:37They are standing for the youth of this country.
23:39Have you seen the social media or otherwise the chatter amongst the youth?
23:42The kind of memes that came out of there against the prime minister.
23:46Because the strong man, 56 inch, that charade has gone.
23:50The youth has pulled it apart.
23:52And the youth is holding you accountable.
23:54Rajdeep.
23:55And Rajdeep, because you mentioned twice over.
23:58Okay, I've heard you.
23:59Rajdeep, because you mentioned it twice over the Chhatro Ki Goonj.
24:02That is a...
24:05Yes.
24:06Let me finish my point and then you can come in.
24:08Complete.
24:09Quickly complete.
24:10I'll finish my point.
24:11Rahul Gandhi's Chhatro Ki Goonj.
24:13Yeah, yeah.
24:13I'll get you to see that.
24:14Rahul Gandhi's Chhatro Ki Goonj, whether it was Kota or whether it was...
24:18Whether it was Kota or whether it was Dehradun or whether it was Prayag Raj or for that matter Pune.
24:22The BJP governments in all these states have made a huge hue and cry.
24:27They have created every obstacle possible.
24:29This despite the fact that this program is not a Congress program.
24:34This program gives the young, gives the students an opportunity to voice their concerns from a large platform.
24:40And all of you are forced to relate.
24:41And even then the BJP has a problem.
24:44So yes, we will find the solution.
24:45We have the solutions.
24:47We will put the solutions.
24:48Madam, I've heard you now.
24:49They are in government.
24:50Hold them accountable.
24:51I am waiting to see the solutions.
24:53You've identified?
24:54Okay.
24:55You're in government.
24:56Therefore, Siddharth Yadav, you seem to be in a more difficult position.
25:00Supriyar Srinath Congress points out the problems, whether it's paper leaks, whether it's the condition of schools, colleges.
25:06The question is, you are in government.
25:07You are accountable.
25:08Is accountability to be met by what the Congress is claiming theatrics?
25:14You mentioned Pariksha Pe Charcha.
25:16The Prime Minister talking to young students about how to appear for exams.
25:20Is that really going to be what the youth want?
25:22Or do the youth want actually something more meaningful, which is accountability?
25:27The debate seems to be moving away from, you know, who has more followers on Insta, who has more followers
25:34on Twitter, to something more serious, which is accountability.
25:37If my school infrastructure is crumbling, if papers are leaking, if I don't have quality jobs available to me, should
25:45that be the debate?
25:50Yes, I'll respond to that, Rajdeep.
25:52And before I just come to that, since the Congress spokesperson has mentioned the election of the national president, we
25:57must not forget what Malik Arjunji had said after his election.
26:01That I am elected, but the high command is someone else.
26:03And I bow down to the high command because they have elected me.
26:06So a party who comes from a high command culture like that should not teach anybody about internal democracy and
26:12how presidents are elected.
26:13But having said that, you know, she made a statement that the youth president of the BJP was shunted out.
26:18I don't remember a youth president of the BJP who worked for more than six years in the history of
26:22BJP.
26:23Current president also had worked for six years and there was a change that was due to happen.
26:27I think, you know, when you make such statements, it's the same feeling of when you celebrate like this after
26:33having 99 seats.
26:34This is the same feeling like that.
26:36You don't need to do it.
26:37But, you know, she's the social media inchard of the Congress Party and she said, she made a statement that
26:42we have way more followers.
26:43No, no, no, no, Shubhriya, she did not interfere with you.
26:47Madam, he did not interfere with you.
26:49Let him complete.
26:49Ma'am, I did not utter a word when you were speaking.
26:51Siddharth, focus.
26:52I did not utter a word.
26:53I'm the anchor, focus.
26:54Answer my question.
26:55Answer my question.
26:57I'm responding.
26:58Yes. So, she made a statement. I need to set the record straight, Rajdi, because your show is a very
27:05widely viewed show. And she made a statement that, you know, we have way more followers than Narendra Modi or
27:10BJP. Narendra Modi on Instagram has 102 million followers, the first world leader in history to cross 100 million. How
27:17many does Congress and Rahul Gandhi have? 12.7 million. On X, he has 106 million, the first serving world
27:22leader to cross 100 million.
27:24No, no, but is that the issue?
27:26Siddharth bhai, is that the issue?
27:28No. Siddharth bhai, is the issue about how many followers? No, no, Siddharth bhai, that's my question to you.
27:33Rajdeep, I know. Yes.
27:37Rajdeep, it's not. And let me, just allow me to complete. I know it's not. I'm setting the record straight
27:43because no false statements can run on national television just like that.
27:47You can't come here and say something's worth building a narrative and then go away and then say, no, we
27:52have more youth attached with us. The CSDS survey shows every age group in the last elections
27:57at seven percentage points more voting for the BJP than for the Congress. But leave that apart. I want to
28:02come to accountability.
28:03And when I come down to accountability, I ask you one question. You said that we are in power and
28:08that's why we have to be unaccountable. But what about Jharkand? Students in Jharkand are not students. Students in Karnataka
28:15are not students. Students in Punjab are not students. Students in Himachal are not students. Who is in power there?
28:20It's the Congress party. When Congress party is in power, no accountability has to be questioned. Nobody, not even CJP,
28:27nobody will come up. Because there are very different standards there.
28:30She said, you know, when we did a Gunch Karikram in Kota, Pune, Dheradun, I was going to, I was
28:36waiting to hear Rachi, Bangalore, Shimla. I could not hear those. Why is that? Because accountability for students is not
28:45the real issue for Congress party.
28:46Rajdeep, you, you take it or you leave it. It's the Bharatiya Janta party, which is working to structurally improve
28:53how the youth of this country have to function, have to live, how to, has to take his education and
28:59how he has to get employment.
29:00Give me one example. No, no, no, Mr. Yadav, Mr. Yadav, give me one example.
29:06No, no, Mr. Yadav, Mr. Yadav, one minute. Mr. Yadav, no, no, Supriya, she did one minute. Mr. Yadav, give
29:12me one example that you have improved structurally in the last 12 years.
29:16Structurally. Give me two examples. Yes.
29:19I'll give you two. Rajdeep, Rajdeep, I'll give you two and not one. I'll give you two.
29:24I'll just speak about the startups. 350 startups in this country in 2014. 2,40,000 startups. In the last
29:32one year, the data that I have is 23.3 lakh direct jobs in this startup ecosystem that we have
29:39built.
29:40In this startup ecosystem, had we heard of terms like AI, investments, venture capitalists, seed funding, angel investors before 2014?
29:50Please remember that. Please remember those times. Please remember a time when it was so difficult to do business in
29:56this country.
29:57When the youth of this country had no aspirations. When the youth of this country coming from tier two, tier
30:01three cities could not even think that I can build something.
30:04I had four unicorns, Rajdeep. And today, 110. All these unicorns which have come up, have come up from tier
30:11two, tier three cities.
30:12These are young children, millennials, who work very hard to set up their businesses.
30:18This is one. This is one. Two. Should I come to the second question?
30:22I've heard you, Siddharth. I've heard you, Siddharth. Very quickly, 30 seconds. Give me a second example.
30:29I'll rest my case if you don't allow me time. Yes. Okay. Okay. I'll give you a second example.
30:34On education, Rajdeep, in this country, the kind of, you know, I feel very sad when Ashutosh would sit here
30:41and say that we don't want more IITs.
30:43That's what he said. We don't want more IITs. In 65 years, the number of IITs that you build in
30:50this country are doubled in 10 years.
30:52And then we have a young person who's, I think, the same age as me, who would come and say,
30:56I don't want more IITs.
30:57And he comes out of a protest from NEIT. 50,000 seats in NEIT raised to 1,40,000. 1
31:05,40,000. More opportunities.
31:07We are having double the doctors in this country. For PG NEIT seats, there were 32,000. Increased to 78
31:14,000.
31:15You, I have limited.
31:15113% increase.
31:17Siddharth, I gave you extra time.
31:19I've heard you. I've heard you. Siddharth, I've heard you now.
31:24Now you can rest your case. Ashutosh Ranka.
31:26You see, it is now coming, it is coming down to glass half full or glass half empty. You see,
31:33the glass here, the Kaukrut Janta Party seems to suggest that structural issues are, have not been addressed.
31:40You've got the BJP throwing numbers on startups and on unicorns and suggesting, look at that, India. And therefore, it's
31:48glass half full versus glass half empty.
31:52Rajdeep, a couple of things. Number one, I think Siddharth clearly decided to misquote me. I was talking about the
32:00quality of IITs, not just the numbers that should be looked at.
32:04Siddharth should tell us what are the placement statistics across these IITs. And I know the numbers because I've been
32:09an IITian myself.
32:10I know the placement situation in IITs across the country right now and especially in the new ones.
32:15Siddharth should tell us what is the status of infrastructure in these IITs and new aims that have been announced.
32:22Siddharth should tell us what is the status of research in these institutes.
32:25What is our world QS ranking of the topmost institute? What was that number like 10 years ago? Number one.
32:31Number two, I think this has been a perennial problem with BJP.
32:36Siddharth said that before we had heard AI from 2014. That's like Congress saying that before we had heard social
32:42media from 2005.
32:43You didn't do anything to bring AI in this country. AI was a global phenomena and it's the youth of
32:49this country that was smart enough, brilliant enough to adopt AI and make sure that some of these biggest startups
32:56being the servants of the world are actually in India.
33:00So please stop with this whataboutery. The question that you should rather answer is what unique did India do in
33:06the last 10-12 years to set us apart for next 15, 20, 30 years?
33:11What is our AI policy? What is our hydrogen policy? What is our quantum mechanics policy?
33:17How will that distinguish us from the rest of the world? How are we going to compete with the US
33:21and the China and the Koreas of the world?
33:24Don't do this whataboutery, that we have here and have so many startups have been here.
33:29Good thing is that startups have been there. How are you supporting these startups?
33:32How many startups are making actual products in the world? How many startups are making supply chain optimising?
33:39How many startups have supported them in the government? You talk about all these things.
33:42The global trends will adopt our country. Our country is very smart.
33:48Number three, again, what I am trying to say is, address those fundamental issues. Answer, answer, how will we respond
33:59to this burgeoning population?
34:01Answer, how are we going to provide jobs? You are talking about 23 lakh jobs that the startups have provided.
34:06But don't forget that you promised 2 crore jobs a year. Where are those jobs going to come from? What
34:11are you going to take?
34:122 crore jobs, where are you going to come from? Tell the country. You are talking about 2 crore jobs
34:16for 10 years.
34:18And you are talking about accountability. Why are we going here? Why are we going here? Why are we going
34:33there?
34:33You know, Ashutosh, just to correct you, government says that the Prime Minister never committed to 2 crore jobs.
34:39He never, no, no, one minute. Ashutosh, government says they never committed to 2 crore jobs a year.
34:44This is a misconstruing of statements that were made. But I take your larger point that jobs are a critical
34:51issue.
34:52And that's where I want to bring my other two guests at the moment. You see, Supriya Sinead, I will
34:56come back to you on this.
34:57You are saying Rahul Gandhi is identifying the problems that Gen Z have. The crucial issue is provide me a
35:03model.
35:03You're in power in Karnataka. You're in power in Himachal. You're in power in Telangana. You're in power in Kerala.
35:09Provide me a model that Gen Z will say, wow. Where is that wow model that will give Gen Z
35:15a sense that, yes, the Congress has a model for us for the future?
35:23Oh, we have a model in Karnataka. And we have a model in Telangana. And of course, Kerala, we've just
35:28found a government and we'll have a model there too.
35:30But before I go to these models, Rajdeep, I want to bring this debate back to where we started.
35:35We are talking about Gen Z. Let's talk about Gen Alpha. Let me please finish. Let me finish.
35:40Have patience, just like we have patience with everybody else.
35:43Inke syllabus mein Gen Z ke bahaar se Gen Alpha a gaya. Gen Z toh sambal nahi ra tha. Gen
35:47Alpha khada ho gaya hai.
35:48The girls or the people who cannot even see or there are children who cannot hear or speak,
35:53they are talking about such dilapidated infrastructure as far as the education institutions are concerned.
35:59I mean, I will just throw some statistics at you which will tell you what has happened under the Modi
36:03government.
36:04This is a data of the last 12 years. 96,000 government schools have shut down.
36:08There are 1.19 lakh schools that lack electricity.
36:12There are almost 99,000 schools that don't have a girl's toilet.
36:15So you can imagine why the girls are dropping out of schools.
36:18There are schools and a large number of them, almost 61,000 crores that have no toilet at all.
36:23The reality is that you can keep throwing data here.
36:26We can keep talking about the AI and what we are doing with the AI.
36:29The world saw. There was an AI summit that happened.
36:31I think as far as the entrepreneurs are concerned, huge respect for them and what they are doing.
36:36But as far as the government is concerned, some of the most favorite poster boys have said that we've missed
36:40the bus on AI.
36:42But I do want to say, because this point was raised again and again by the BJP.
36:46Rahul Gandhi had the moral integrity to stand there.
36:49He supported the students here in Delhi.
36:52He also spoke for the students in Jharkal.
36:54Despite being a coalition partner, he consistently raised their voice.
36:58He wrote to the chief minister.
36:59And eventually the chief minister and the students could get together, come on a solution.
37:04And that protest ended.
37:06And it ended peacefully.
37:07It ended amicably with students sloganeering Rahul Gandhi's Zindabad by the very end.
37:12But the reality is nobody called them bhediyas.
37:15Nobody called them generation gutter.
37:17No pellets were fired at them.
37:19Nobody lost their eye or their ear.
37:21The reality is that you have to appreciate the one big fact with the BJP doesn't want to.
37:27That the youth cannot be engaged with the way you want them to.
37:30The youth doesn't like you speaking from a high pulpit mitro.
37:34The youth is not going to be enamored because you're making a front camera video.
37:37The youth wants respect.
37:39They want their issues to be listened to.
37:40They want a leader who's empathetic.
37:42And as far as the model is concerned, Rajdeep, as far as our guarantees in Karnataka and Telangana are concerned,
37:52almost all of them have been full.
37:53The reality is we had a CWC yesterday and one of the big core issues of the CWC was the
37:59student protests,
38:00the clamor coming from the youth.
38:03And what we need to do, and this is widely being discussed,
38:06that we need to set examples which we already are.
38:09So I'm sorry.
38:10The BJP cannot walk away from the fact by quoting statistics.
38:13None of this is your doing.
38:15You are insulting.
38:17You are demonizing the youth of this country.
38:21Madam, Madam, I've heard you.
38:24I've heard you very loudly and clearly.
38:26I want to give Siddharth equal time.
38:29No, no.
38:30Okay.
38:31Come on.
38:32Now, Siddharth Yadav, therefore, let me give you a final word.
38:35Do you believe that this has been a wake-up call?
38:38Is there a wake-up call?
38:39Have you all received a wake-up call?
38:4112 years into power, you'll have suddenly realized we have missed out on the Gen Z bus.
38:46A quick answer, please.
38:48For all the talk of startups and unicorns.
38:51Rajdeep, first of all, I appreciate that Ashutosh Ranka and the CJP has all expectations from the BJP.
39:00We will live up to all expectations.
39:02I hear the optimism in his voice.
39:05He knows it's only the BJP who can solve it.
39:07But I had asked him specific questions.
39:09There are students in Jharkand, not students.
39:11In Karnataka, are they not students?
39:12In Punjab, are they not students?
39:14Why would you have double standards?
39:16If you claim yourself to be their voices, then you should have double standards.
39:21But okay, I don't expect much from them.
39:23If they expect from us, we'll solve it.
39:24But my learned friend from the Congress Party was saying about schools, false narrative, Rajdeep, false narrative.
39:31The central government runs Kendri Vidyalis, Navode Vidyalis, P.N. Shri schools.
39:3750, name 50 Kendri Vidyalis, 50 Navode Vidyalis and 50 P.N. Shri schools.
39:43No, don't quote anything.
39:45Ma'am, don't get right.
39:47Ma'am, don't start jumping on.
39:48I do not see a one.
39:49Please go ahead.
39:50But after the debate also, I challenge her, put 15 years of each of these three schools, put it on
39:57total.
39:59Right.
40:00And Rajdeep, you know, when you ask me that it's a wake-up call for us, I don't think so.
40:04We have woken up from 2014.
40:07We have woken up to build this economy for our young people.
40:10We have woken up.
40:11You know, it's not India following the global trends that Ashutosh said.
40:14We built UPI.
40:16We gave UPI to the world.
40:17We built a digital economy set up.
40:20We built an internet economy in this country.
40:22And it's Indian young people who have done it.
40:25If Skyroot is doing something, there's an ecosystem which is supporting that.
40:29It's not the world who's coming out and seeing us.
40:31If we are coming and landing our, you know, a satellite on the dark side of the moon, which the
40:36world is not able to do it, it's India doing it, Rajdeep.
40:39Not a wake-up call for us in 2026.
40:41We have woken up from 2014 and will continue to work until 2047.
40:45Okay, I've heard you.
40:46I want to give...
40:47Sitting here.
40:49Okay, I want to give Ashutosh the final word because in many ways I maintain that it was the Kaukrut
40:54Janta Party's movement that in a way has put Gen Z center stage, whichever way you look at it or
40:59not.
40:59But Ashutosh, is there something that...
41:01You are unfair to give everybody a final word other than me.
41:03Do you really believe that this gener...
41:07No, no, no, madam, I've given you equal time.
41:09I've given you more time than the others also.
41:11But Ashutosh, a final word.
41:13Sum it up for us as you see it.
41:15Sum it up.
41:16Let's get a quick sum up from you.
41:1830 seconds.
41:20The only thing I can say is we have a huge task at our hand.
41:25This is a ticking time period.
41:29This is a critical time in the history of this country.
41:33It's a critical moment.
41:34It will become a demographic disaster very soon if critical issues are not addressed.
41:48So all of us need to stop doing whataboutery, address these genuine issues.
41:5280 years of independence, we are still talking about fixing the primary education.
41:56We are still talking about government schools.
41:58So it should be a moment of shame for all of us.
42:01It should be a moment of wake-up for all of us.
42:03And we really need to come together as a country and solve some of these structural issues.
42:12I'm going to leave it there.
42:13I've heard three fine voices today.
42:15It's been one of the better debates I've had.
42:18Madam, if I allow you 10, then the other side will.
42:21But, you know, I will give you 10 and no more.
42:24And no point to be repeated.
42:2610 seconds and no more.
42:28Your time starts now.
42:32I will only say that all of us need to use any platform available to amplify the concerns of the
42:38youth and find solutions.
42:39You know, let's not weaponize social media against the youth.
42:43And let us not demonize the youth.
42:45Something that my opponents in the BJP have done.
42:47I really believe you need to take strong action against all your MPs who are calling our most promising generation,
42:53generation gutter.
42:54That is not on.
42:55And I would rise above politics and say that.
42:58Okay.
42:59Okay.
43:00I've heard you.
43:01Your 10 seconds is up.
43:03Siddharth Yadav, Ashutosh Ranka and Supriya Srinidh for joining me on what has, as I said, been an energetic debate.
43:11I appreciate you all sparing the time on the show tonight.
43:16Thank you very much.
43:17Let's turn to another big story tonight.
43:19Our special focus, the Bombay High Court today stopped the Mumbai Municipal Corporation from converting a football ground in Bandra
43:28to an exhibition center.
43:30The decision comes as a relief at a time when many of Mumbai's public spaces are under threat and citizens
43:38in different parts of the city are raising their voice.
43:41Remember, Mumbai has little open land left.
43:44And one question is becoming increasingly important.
43:47Where every square foot matters, who gets to decide what happens to the spaces that belong to all Mumbai cars?
43:55This is a story that should concern everyone living in a metropolis in this country.
44:01Take a look at a special report.
44:14For Mumbai's football community, this is more than just a piece of land.
44:19This ground in Bandra has been a nursery for generations of footballers.
44:23hosting grassroots coaching, school tournaments, local leagues and competitive football.
44:30The BMC recently cleared a move to change the reservation of the Neville D'Souza football ground from a playground to
44:37an exhibition center.
44:39The Mumbai Football Association challenged the move in the Bombay High Court, which has stopped the civic body from implementing
44:45it.
44:47The Football Association claims the entire exercise is not feasible.
44:5115,000 to 16,000 kids, they play on this ground.
44:54Everything is already set up.
44:57To shut down this ground and move somewhere else is not easy.
45:01Like as Benerjee sir said, like throughout the year, almost 2,000 matches, it happens.
45:07So if this ground goes, I don't know what will happen to these kids.
45:12Bandra MLA and Maharashtra cabinet minister, Ashish Salar, has offered an alternative, saying that the government will look for another
45:19plot for the exhibition center and provide an alternate football ground.
45:24But the Football Association says the proposed alternative at Bhoiwada is not currently available for use.
45:30The Neville D'Souza ground is only one part of a much larger battle over Mumbai's open spaces.
45:39In Juhu and Anderi West, residents are opposing the allotment of three reserved open spaces, measuring around 16 acres to
45:47the Srivillepale Kailavani Mandel, the educational trust headed by BGP MLC Amrish Patel.
45:55Residents fear that handing over such spaces to private trusts could eventually restrict public access.
46:01It's highly frustrating that the public open spaces are marked in your DP.
46:07It's a public open space.
46:09Why do you need, what do you need to give to any private organization?
46:16The trust, however, denies any irregularity.
46:23And now a group of 127 architects, urban designers, planners and allied professionals has entered the debate.
46:31The Mumbai Architects Collective has written to the Chief Minister and the BMC Commissioner, warning that what may appear to
46:38be individual decisions are beginning to indicate a larger pattern.
46:42We certainly hope that there is a silver lining and the government does actually open its arms or a platform
46:49for a discussion where we can positively contribute towards a larger idea of a sustainable master plan and larger vision
46:56for development of the city.
46:58I think what's really missing as a key factor in everything that's happening in Bombay is the idea of building
47:05with nature, not building against nature.
47:09How much of Mumbai's remaining public land can be repurposed before the city loses the very spaces its residents need
47:16most?
47:19With Mustafa Sheikh in Mumbai, Bureau Report, India Today.
47:25Okay, so who decides what should be done to the open spaces in our cities like Mumbai?
47:31That was a special face-off that I recorded earlier.
47:35Take a look.
47:37So, as more and more open spaces, playgrounds seem to be handed over for commercial use and to private trusts
47:46in Mumbai, what does this mean for India's commercial capital and its retreating green lungs?
47:54Joining me now, leading architect Salir Randewe joins me and I'm also joined by Shaina NCR, politician from the ruling
48:02Shiv Sena.
48:03I appreciate both of you joining us.
48:05Salir Randewe, give us first your perspective as an architect.
48:09You and other architects have protested against the way open spaces are being given over for convention centers and commercial
48:18purposes.
48:19Why do you believe this is such a serious challenge now for Mumbai?
48:26It starts with the fact that Mumbai has got an open space ratio per person of just about 17 square
48:34feet per person.
48:35If you translate it and look around you, it's 4 feet by 4 feet of space is the total amount
48:40of open space that you have.
48:42The World Health Organization recommends that you should have 100 square feet of open space per person.
48:49So, you're drastically short.
48:51You know, there was a time when people said, well, let, you know, Mumbai ko Shanghai banao.
48:56Shanghai, with its density, has got an open space ratio of, you know, more than 4 square meters.
49:01That's almost 50 square feet per person.
49:04Even Hong Kong has got a, you know, ratio which is double of Mumbai.
49:08We've got a, you know, it's a 22 million population city.
49:13And the low-hanging fruit seems to be that, you know, anything that is left open can be monetized.
49:19You know, and it's really shocking.
49:21I mean, you know, it's so tragic for the fact that, you know, you sort of population, you know,
49:26it's almost like having a courtyard in your house and you decide, you know,
49:30now I can monetize the courtyard and I build on top of it.
49:32I mean, it's ridiculous.
49:34It's just absolutely doesn't make any logical sense that you're looking at all the open spaces
49:39and they're just being given over and, you know, taken over and usurped.
49:43I mean, that's really sad.
49:48You know, I have to ask you this, Shaina NC, because even my old college Gymkhana on Marine
49:54Drive, Wilson College Gymkhana being handed over again to a private trust.
49:59The fact is across Mumbai, this is happening.
50:02We now have complaints from Juhu.
50:04We have a football ground in Bandra, which is going to be handed over for a convention center
50:09as it is limited open spaces and even those are being taken over by builders and cronies
50:16of political parties, including your political party.
50:19Whatever happened to Green Mumbai?
50:23So, Rajdeep, yes, the challenges are many.
50:26We have one and a half crore population, but there are attempts by the BMC and our government.
50:32Our own leader, Eknanji Shinde, has really championed the cause for a central park in the 225
50:39acre Mumbai race course.
50:41And, you know, there are 10 football grounds, there are cycling tracks, jogging grounds.
50:47And the idea is that Mumbai should get its lungs that it rightly deserves.
50:52If we look at the coastal road also, you have 70 hectares of garden space and public plaza.
50:58And this is an endeavor in that direction.
51:02The BMC is tirelessly working, Rajdeep, as we speak.
51:05There are 125 small gardens which are open for beautification, like NGOs, even our own NGO.
51:13There are so many NGOs that have taken on certain spaces.
51:16And we do understand that the challenges are many, but you have to come up with solutions.
51:21Now, the encroachment that you see in Mumbai...
51:24No, no, no, no, why, why, no, no, madam, madam, why, no, no, no, the challenges are many.
51:30All the more, if there is a football ground, why are you changing it from a playground to an exhibition
51:35center?
51:36I mean, you don't take into account the concerns of the citizens.
51:39No residents are consulted.
51:41No architects are consulted.
51:43The government goes and hands over the plot for a convention center.
51:46You're handing more and more open spaces to commercial centers.
51:50That's the way the challenge is getting even more difficult.
51:53Why are you existing open grounds, surely, that have been for decades kept for playgrounds for children.
52:00Why are you taking them over?
52:04Well, that decision has not been taken completely.
52:06So, please let me say, yes, the challenge is that you have only 2% open space.
52:11But the kind of development that Mumbai is seeing, be it the coastal road or, as I mentioned, the mile
52:17of Shmiris, is a step in the right direction.
52:21Now, whether you have gardens, playgrounds, and there are certain places where even illegal encroachments are being cleared.
52:28We are not getting into the blame game of which government, what time, when, what.
52:32But you do understand that there are illegal encroachments, there are parking issues, there are development pressures.
52:39And if we have to look at this holistically, this is not as if it's a decision which is taken
52:44only by corporators.
52:46There are technocrats, bureaucrats, and Ashwini Bede, as a Mumbai municipal commissioner, has a head and heart both in the
52:54right place.
52:55And I'm sure that the Mahayuti will only make decisions which are in the larger interest of public at large.
53:04You know, Salim Randi Bede, are citizens being consulted?
53:08Here you've got Shaina NC telling me, you know, we are going to convert the Mahalakshmi race course into a
53:12central park.
53:13I mean, I hope to live to see that day when it's really a central park.
53:17But do you believe that citizens at all are being consulted?
53:20Is that part of the problem?
53:21My first point is that all these so-called open spaces that are being, you know, referred to, one is,
53:28you know, race course and, you know, coastal road and all that, are all in South Bombay.
53:34That's where the population actually is stabilized or actually, you know, sinking.
53:38I mean, if you look at the actual facts, the majority of the population of Mumbai is actually living, you
53:44know, in the suburbs.
53:45I mean, in the suburbs, the population of South Bombay, the percentage of green space in South Bombay is perhaps
53:51very, very good.
53:52If you add all the Meidans, the Rani Chabag, all those areas.
53:56Look at, you know, when you're looking at the northern, I mean, it's like almost like two different cities here.
54:01You know, and, you know, whatever small, I mean, there is a, there was a, you know, recent sort of
54:07thing that happened in the last one and a half years.
54:10Something was, you know, there were two places in Bandra and Juhu, which were called a park.
54:15Some worthies in this area decided, oh, it's a park, so I can park my car.
54:19So then suddenly it was going to become a parking lot.
54:22I mean, you know, it's almost like the, the, the sort of leadership has become real estate agents here.
54:28You know, that they're looking for open spaces.
54:30Can I now, you know, convert this in, you know, consider.
54:33The solution, first of all, let me tell you, is that when you're sort of developing and this is any,
54:37it's a simple, yeah, okay.
54:39So let me just, let me just put this down.
54:41It's a planning exercise that if today we know that there is a density increase that is going to happen
54:46in various parts of Bombay,
54:48it's FSI is five and six and all that sort of thing.
54:51We do our calculation to say, you know what, the population of this area or this whole precinct will increase
54:57by, whatever, 5 lakh, 10 lakh, 50 lakh people.
55:00I need, I know that I need to supply them more water.
55:03I need to supply them more electricity.
55:05I know that more sewage is going to be generated.
55:07And I plan for this from the beginning.
55:10So before all this comes up, I've already put it into place.
55:13We are increasing the population of our city,
55:16but the open spaces are actually being shrunk here.
55:19Where is the open, if it's a right for open space, I think it's a fundamental right.
55:23Why do, you know, and it's very perverse to say, you know, then go to court, you fight it out.
55:27I mean, come on, you know, put the people first.
55:30I assume that any leadership in the city, the elite in the city should put the leadership, put the people
55:36first.
55:36Right.
55:37You know, the solution is that they have to start getting empathetic about real things.
55:41Okay.
55:43You know, these are things that people need.
55:45I mean, I need fresh water.
55:46Because, you know, the buzzword that I keep every time, I take your point.
55:51I take your point because the buzzword every time I come to Mumbai now is redevelopment.
55:56It's almost as if the entire city is being handed over in parts of the city to a group of
56:02builders with political connections for redevelopment.
56:05But redevelopment must also involve the right to protect open spaces.
56:10And that's the message that we want to give the politicians of Mumbai.
56:15That surely open spaces, the right to an open space, as Salil Randiwe there is pointing out, is also to
56:22be seen as a fundamental right that the people of a city have.
56:26Shaina NC, Salil Randiwe for joining me there.
56:29Thank you very much.
56:32Okay, let's leave you tonight, though, with a good news today's story.
56:36Tulsi Ram Gedam is a man on a mission.
56:39A tribal from Maharashtra is leading efforts to build a road to his village after his wife died without getting
56:45medical attention because an ambulance could not reach his house.
56:50I want to leave you with that special story with the hope that these stories inspire all of us to
56:58contribute and give back to society.
57:01Thanks for watching.
57:02Stay well.
57:03Stay safe.
57:04Good night.
57:05Shubhra 3.
57:05Jayin.
57:06Namaskar.
57:26Tulsi Ram Gedam in a mission to build a road to his village.
57:33Two months ago, his pregnant wife, Sangeeta, died during childbirth.
57:39She could not reach a hospital on time because there is no motorable road from Ghodna Kapi, where they live.
57:47There was no motorable road from the village to the village.
57:50This is why, two months ago, the village died during this village.
57:55This was because the village didn't have an ambulance to the village and they couldn't get the treatment in the
57:58time.
58:01The village has already been two months and there is no problem.
58:06Finally, the village has decided to get the decision to take the village to the village.
58:27Sangeeta's death, however, does not seem to have moved the administration.
58:33Fed up by the apathy, Tulsi Ram recently led a drive with villagers to clear a path leading
58:39out of the village.
58:41That will connect to a nearby road constructed under the Mukhyamantri Gram Sadak Yojna in 2021.
58:50That road is roughly 1.5 kilometers away from the village.
59:12Ghodnakappi in Maharashtra's Chandrapur district is a settlement of 20 houses surrounded by hills.
59:19Villagers say even two-wheelers can't reach them due to the lack of proper road.
59:26Tulsi Ram is now determined to ensure no one else in the village suffers his fate.
59:32With Vikas Rajurkar, Bureau Report, India Today.
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