- 2 months ago
In this edition of Unpolitics with Preeti Choudhry, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju opens up on the Government vs Opposition showdown, a possible special session of Parliament, pellet guns, patriarchy, Parliament and the Manusmriti.
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00:00:06Did you do all that it could take to make sure that the monsoon session was not a washout because
00:00:13it was?
00:00:14Yes, it did have a negative impact on my understanding about the opposition.
00:00:22They had decided not to let the parliament function.
00:00:27This monsoon session hasn't even been prorogued, which is officially where it is closed, the session.
00:00:33Can there be a special session?
00:00:35No, that I will not answer, but what I am answering you is...
00:00:37You won't answer that.
00:00:40Rahul Gandhi held an event which is smash patriarchy.
00:00:43So it is designed to hit the Hindu culture. It's a larger conspiracy.
00:00:48With you jumping into that river and swimming, it's become a talking point.
00:00:52There are people who are comparing you to Rahul Gandhi as well.
00:00:55Rahul Gandhi didn't exist in my mind. I am playing here.
00:01:06First up, sir, thank you for taking the time out. You've been on our wish list forever.
00:01:11And thank you for considering UNPolitics in India today. It's a pleasure. It's an honor.
00:01:16Mr. Rajiju, you're used to very rich introductions. You know, parliamentary affairs minister, you've held so many offices in the
00:01:23cabinet, four times MP.
00:01:24But so is the nature of our show, where we ask our guests to introduce themselves to our viewers.
00:01:31So what would Mr. Kiran Rajiju say to the viewers if he introduces himself to them?
00:01:36Well, before I became minister, I used to describe myself as a public figure, people's representative.
00:01:45But now I have changed it. Inspired by prime minister, I consider myself as a sevak, jan sevak.
00:01:53Ministers are actually the sevak, because we have the executive responsibility to serve the nation.
00:02:00So it's been quite some time now, I have been taking myself as a serious public servant, jan sevak.
00:02:10Mr. Rajiju, might we start with your political journey? What inspired you, A, you know, to join the BJP in
00:02:17the first place?
00:02:18I know you've been very influenced by your own father, who himself has a very rich political history as well.
00:02:24You've often quoted him. I've read so much about your father through your own quotes.
00:02:29So what led you to joining politics? Who were your influences? I'm sure your father was one of them.
00:02:34My father inspired me only as a citizen or as a person who should do something in life, but definitely
00:02:45not the politics.
00:02:46My father left politics in 1980. He was an influential person in those days, so they were just nominated. There
00:02:54was no election.
00:02:54My father was agency council member, Pradesh council member, then automatically converted into MLA.
00:03:01When NIFA became Arunachal Pradesh, my father automatically became the Pradesh council member.
00:03:08And then when we got the Union Territory status, and then we got the legislature, then he became MLA, and
00:03:16he won from Janta Party.
00:03:17So from the very beginning, we were not part of the Congress Party. My father got elected from Janta Party
00:03:26in 1977.
00:03:29But then he quit the politics, and I also thought I will follow a career which is suitable to my
00:03:36nature and my potential.
00:03:38You were a very big athlete.
00:03:40Yes, and besides that I was a very obedient law student. So I thought I might become a lawyer or
00:03:50some social worker.
00:03:52But then the destiny changed, and then around 1996, I decided to contest election. So I have contested lots of
00:04:04elections since then.
00:04:05And then I was associated with Akhil Bharti Vidyarthi Parashat for some time. And then I realized that Arunachal Pradesh
00:04:13is so far away from Delhi and nobody even know.
00:04:1699.9% of the Indians don't know Arunachal Pradesh. So I thought I must do something which will bring
00:04:23my state into focus.
00:04:25So AVBP was very patriotic kind of people's movement. All the students I found, they are very nationalistic in their
00:04:36approach.
00:04:37And then from there, I shifted to BJP.
00:04:42Padmanabh Acharya used to be the in charge of BJP for Northeast. So he told me that, Kiran, you speak
00:04:48so well, you are educated from your area, which is three, four days by walk.
00:04:53You have come this far. Why don't you join politics and join BJP?
00:04:57Then I immediately agreed. I said, yes, BJP seems to be the only party which will have a very strong
00:05:04nationalistic character and which will understand the feelings and aspirations of the people of Arunachal Pradesh and the border area.
00:05:13That is how I naturally joined BJP. And since then, I have been holding different capacity, you know, like national
00:05:22secretary, national executive members since a long time.
00:05:26Then I was, of course, a member of parliament. Then this is continuously third term with Mohdiji.
00:05:33You know, I have to say that you are one of the very few politicians that at a time when
00:05:38the Congress was in power, chose to go or at least was a more dominant party.
00:05:42Yes.
00:05:43Chosed to go with the BJP. But you also briefly, very briefly, were disillusioned with the BJP, went to the
00:05:48Congress, but went back to the BJP.
00:05:49No, I do not join. Somebody misreported that.
00:05:52Okay.
00:05:52In 2009, I spoke to Advani ji and Mohan Bhagwat ji and I told them that I will take a
00:05:59break from politics and I will spend some time doing some social work.
00:06:04Some people in Delhi reported that as I have joined the Congress party. There is no question of joining.
00:06:10But you were not working with the then Congress Chief Minister.
00:06:12The Congress Chief Minister appointed me as his principal advisor with a cabinet rank, but I politely turned down.
00:06:18I held the press conference. I told him that I am sorry, you have appointed me without my consent, so
00:06:25I will not accept it.
00:06:26But I will definitely help in anything which is in the interest of the state, but I will not accept
00:06:31the position because I have not joined Congress party.
00:06:35So when I have not joined Congress party, I cannot accept responsibility.
00:06:39Then Nitin ji told me that since you have not joined any other party, you have just taken a break,
00:06:45you continue your work again in BJP.
00:06:47That's how I came back and I fought election.
00:06:49In those days BJP was nothing in my state.
00:06:54True.
00:06:54So when the election happened, it was a simultaneous election, parliament and assembly election together.
00:07:02All the MLAs were won by Congress, but I defeated Congress by huge margin.
00:07:07So it was basically everybody voted for me, for member of parliament, but assembly, they still voted for Congress party.
00:07:17That is how I started my journey as opposition member.
00:07:21But before that, when Vajpayeeji was at the hem of affairs, he had made me member in the national commission
00:07:27for Kadi and village industries.
00:07:30And then I was there from 99 to 2004.
00:07:34So it's a long journey.
00:07:36And I have done justice to whatever responsibility have come over to me.
00:07:43Did you think you'd get this far?
00:07:45I never thought even becoming member of parliament.
00:07:49Becoming minister is beyond my own comprehension.
00:07:52I was thinking of just doing something good for the society.
00:07:55And my village got connected only after I became member of parliament.
00:08:00I got the road connected in 2007.
00:08:04But that time I was already a member of parliament, although in opposition party.
00:08:08But then I managed to get the road.
00:08:10So from there to this stage, it is only because a party like BJP, which has really supported people like
00:08:21me.
00:08:21And of course, when Modiji became prime minister, he picked me and put me into home ministry as minister of
00:08:28state for home in the first time.
00:08:30That was a huge exposure.
00:08:32But then I'm a person who will always grab any opportunity and go full throttle.
00:08:40I don't hesitate to work.
00:08:42That is why I have convinced myself that I will make a difference wherever I am.
00:08:48And I'm not scared of anybody.
00:08:50I'm a very bold person, very free man.
00:08:53I have a free lifestyle.
00:08:55I have a commitment towards my life, my own life, my state, my country, my society, my party.
00:09:01These are priorities there.
00:09:03But then besides then, I have a very independent lifestyle where I live my life to the fullest extent.
00:09:12I don't compromise with my taste, my choice, and my preferences.
00:09:18And you are right there because you have also, Mr. Rijijub, you've put Arunachal Pradesh on the map.
00:09:25You were one of the few who have done it.
00:09:27A lot of people look at you and identify Arunachal Pradesh.
00:09:30And you're right, a lot of people in this country seem to have a disconnect.
00:09:32So you are responsible for that.
00:09:34Yes, and just to add to that, because I am the first cabinet minister from Arunachal Pradesh.
00:09:43Since 1952, we had been sending members of parliament from Arunachal.
00:09:48But I am the first cabinet minister.
00:09:51That is the first major achievement.
00:09:54But beyond that, as a tribal, I have become law minister of this country.
00:09:58Before me, to become a law minister was something like, for the privileged,
00:10:04not those who are known as highly intellectual, who have in-depth knowledge about the legal system,
00:10:11who understands jurisprudence.
00:10:13All these things were attributed to a person who would be law minister.
00:10:17You don't think you're intellectual?
00:10:19No, no, I am a very simple man.
00:10:21And then, after we are Ambedkar, I am the first person from reserve category to hold the position of law
00:10:29minister,
00:10:29and the first Buddhist to become a cabinet minister in this nation.
00:10:34We normally say that this is the land of Buddha.
00:10:36But can you believe it?
00:10:37I am the first Buddhist, official Buddhist, to be a cabinet minister of this country.
00:10:43Well, you're right, there are many firsts there, sir.
00:10:45Yes.
00:10:45Because you said, you live your life, you have your preferences, you have your tastes.
00:10:51And, you know, that is something which has an endearing quality about you.
00:10:55You're one of the few BJP leaders who directly connects to the youth.
00:11:00And I'll just go back to where you've come from.
00:11:03You jumped into that river, and you're already, you know, and when you look at images like that.
00:11:08For example, you're someone, sir, who sings, who dances, who eats, who wears his life on his sleeve.
00:11:14Yes.
00:11:15Which is very refreshing for any political leader.
00:11:19So, my question to you is, let's begin, you know, okay, let's begin with a political question.
00:11:23Right.
00:11:24With you jumping into that river and swimming.
00:11:26Now, that's raised quite a few eyebrows, it's become a talking point.
00:11:32There are people who are comparing you to Rahul Gandhi as well.
00:11:35I don't know when I am doing something which is of my interest, nobody else come into my mind.
00:11:42Leave alone Rahul Gandhi ji.
00:11:45I mean, I don't think about anybody when I'm swimming in that gushing rivers in Arunachar Pradesh,
00:11:50which is, you know, a child's play to jump and swim there.
00:11:54It is only people like me who grew up there, we know it.
00:11:57I jumped it and just to inspire my followers, I put it in social media.
00:12:03It's not like because Rahul Gandhi is doing it and he's done so many of these videos.
00:12:07I've been swimming since childhood, ever since I was four years old.
00:12:10Rahul Gandhi ji must have taken some training coaching.
00:12:13I don't need training coaching.
00:12:16It was a simple video where I have shown it that this is the way we swim in our village.
00:12:22And the congresspeople started trolling me, saying, oh, you're comparing with Rahul Gandhi ji,
00:12:27you can't swim like Rahul Gandhi and all.
00:12:29Rahul Gandhi didn't exist in my mind.
00:12:31But they started just comparing.
00:12:33Then I hit back.
00:12:35I said, I'm playing here.
00:12:38I don't need any teaching or teaching.
00:12:40I don't need any coaching.
00:12:42Rahul Gandhi ji said, I need training, coaching, I need money.
00:12:46I don't need money without money.
00:12:48I don't need money.
00:12:50This is my way of life.
00:12:51And just to tell you an interesting part,
00:12:54some people were trolling on my swimming style.
00:12:58Diving. Diving position.
00:13:00That's what they said.
00:13:01In that kind of flooded water, deep, around seven, eight meters depth.
00:13:07And then the logs are coming because it's a very monsoon type of, you know, that water.
00:13:15The river is in spade.
00:13:16Yeah, the river is in spade.
00:13:17In such water, you can't dive with your heads down and you don't open your eyes down there
00:13:24and you swim with a straight body, not flat like you swim in a swimming pool.
00:13:29Because if you swim straight, the water will hit you.
00:13:33So your body has to be straight.
00:13:34When I was around seven, eight years old, I was already a swimming expert.
00:13:40Great swimmer.
00:13:41I used to go deep and spend more than two minutes under the water.
00:13:46And this was half of my body used to emerge from the water.
00:13:50That was my level of lake movement and all.
00:13:53And people think that I was walking.
00:13:55Just imagine I pity those people who really doesn't understand.
00:14:00All those who don't understand that swimming in such deadly high current river is not everybody's cup of tea.
00:14:11But then I was basically warning people that don't jump into such river unless you are a swimming expert.
00:14:19It was basically a message.
00:14:21But people took it otherwise and they started comparing with Ahur Gandhi.
00:14:24You've had a little bit of an interlude with Mr. Pawan Khera on your choice of clothing for swimming as
00:14:28well.
00:14:29I mean, it's very funny.
00:14:30He was saying that I was swimming half naked.
00:14:33So I asked him, do you swim with full coat and suit?
00:14:37I mean, sometimes, you know, he is a grown up man, but I think he is bereft of basic things
00:14:43in life.
00:14:45He doesn't have a sense of talking and he doesn't have a common sense of things which are very normal.
00:14:52You know, you don't swim with your jacket and all.
00:14:56You have to swim with your clothes off.
00:14:58Anyone's telling me that, oh, I have swum without clothes in my body.
00:15:01I mean, I feel sorry for him.
00:15:03He's a first time MP.
00:15:04He has not given his maiden speech yet in the parliament.
00:15:08I have fought eight elections.
00:15:10He's a novice in politics.
00:15:13I have such a long career I have.
00:15:15I'm not an old man.
00:15:17I'm not very extremely senior.
00:15:19But look at my experience, 35 years.
00:15:22And he's teaching me about politics and about how to conduct myself.
00:15:28Basically, people should try to learn first, get experience, and then you can make expert comments or opinions and all.
00:15:38Just don't fall into anything.
00:15:40Simply, when I'm doing something which is non-politics, why you have to drag into politics?
00:15:47Swimming is not politics.
00:15:48It is something with just an awareness campaign, giving to the people that don't swim if you're not a swimming
00:15:56expert.
00:15:56That's all.
00:15:57And they have started comparing me with Rahul Gandhi.
00:16:00Rahul Gandhi has nothing to do with me.
00:16:02He's not my leader.
00:16:03He doesn't belong to my party.
00:16:04The only person I will listen to is Modi ji and my senior party colleagues.
00:16:11I have nothing to do with the Congress party.
00:16:13When it comes to policy and other important matters of the governance and parliamentary things,
00:16:19then we'll discuss things with the opposition leaders.
00:16:22In a normal conduct way of life, in a social way, nothing to do with the opposition party.
00:16:28We have to be a little sporty.
00:16:30Mr. Rajiju, is it a deliberate attempt on your part to make yourself as a more relatable leader?
00:16:36I am like that only.
00:16:38It is an attempt.
00:16:39I am like that.
00:16:40You are like that.
00:16:41I don't need to make an attempt.
00:16:41Because it seems that you are, if you compare yourself, you know, as a journalist,
00:16:46if I'm to compare Mr. Rajiju with most other BJP leaders, you're someone who has this X factor.
00:16:53There's a certain amount of, you know, in Gen Z terms, a coolness to you.
00:16:56And maybe that's why you're more relatable to the youth of this country.
00:17:00And the BJP, I don't know if you'd agree or disagree, doesn't have too many of those leaders.
00:17:06No, you can't say BJP.
00:17:07You see, Indian culture and Indian ethics have certain ways, you know, how you have to conduct in public life.
00:17:16And this Gen Z word and this term is not our concept.
00:17:22It's not our creation.
00:17:23It is a Western created concept influenced by Western media and social media.
00:17:29That's why I don't use the term Gen Z as such.
00:17:32I say UI, youth, the next generation.
00:17:35Every generation has to come, no?
00:17:38As per the classifications as you're a boomer, I'm a millennial, they are Gen Zs.
00:17:43But that is classification given by them.
00:17:46Western classification.
00:17:47I don't buy that actually.
00:17:48I'm a very original man.
00:17:50I'm a very traditional, original and free kind of a man.
00:17:55So, I am guided by my culture, my ethics.
00:17:59But then my way of life, how I live, is absolutely as per my own choice.
00:18:05But then when I'm in, say, political party, the art which is created, how to function as a BJP worker,
00:18:15that I will always maintain.
00:18:16But do you agree, Mr. Rajivu, that the BJP does have a dearth of, you'll call them yuva netas, or
00:18:23netas are more relatable to the youth?
00:18:25That is perception.
00:18:26BJP leaders are extremely…
00:18:29Tell me one more like you.
00:18:31Mr. Thakur, maanlo, but tell me one more like you.
00:18:34No, it's not good to take names, because then you are classifying.
00:18:38Okay.
00:18:38See, in the cabinet, Prime Minister himself and all the cabinet ministers, we exchange free views, we give our expert
00:18:49opinion, and we talk about subject and all.
00:18:53There's no restriction as such.
00:18:55And then when the cabinet meeting is over, all the cabinet ministers are very jolly, we talk, we have fun.
00:19:02And then when we meet the party…
00:19:03Does this really happen, Mr. Rajivu?
00:19:05Yes.
00:19:05You know, the perception outside is that Prime Minister, aapko batate hai, wahan per, and everyone comes out, takes a
00:19:10dictation and comes out.
00:19:12Are ya bahar mein kon ye baat phailate rehte hain?
00:19:14I must tell you, I have never seen a person in my life who can listen more than Modi ji.
00:19:24He sits and listens and listens and listens.
00:19:27Nobody else will have that kind of patience which Modi ji has.
00:19:32And who has built this kind of image outside?
00:19:36I think journalists like you, I mean not you particularly…
00:19:40Okay, sir.
00:19:40You can say journalists like me.
00:19:42That's okay.
00:19:42I have created Modi ji's image that he doesn't listen to me.
00:19:45But I haven't seen any of them.
00:19:49Even some of my minister colleagues, they listen less because they have to say.
00:19:53Modi ji always listens.
00:19:57He will offer his suggestion at the last.
00:20:01He speaks for less than 5% and 95% is always for the other colleagues.
00:20:11Those who have met Modi ji in life, in life, ask them how they listen to me.
00:20:15And how do they make the image in the outside?
00:20:17Modi ji does not even clarify.
00:20:19He thinks that I am going to do my work.
00:20:21People who say, don't say.
00:20:24So that image is created by basically media, I think.
00:20:28But sir, the image is also boasted of the lack of, you know, a press conference.
00:20:33Yes.
00:20:33In the press conference, if you all saw the last time, when Modi ji was the chief minister of Gujarat,
00:20:41how did the media orchestrated Sanjayo ji
00:20:46thought and organized in an organized way?
00:20:49Of course, all of us said that in the press conference,
00:20:49they have been going to do a campaign for me.
00:20:52When I was going to do a campaign for me,
00:20:55I had to do a press conference.
00:20:59And in each press conference,
00:21:02I had to talk about the interaction with one person.
00:21:05I had to talk about the interaction with one person.
00:21:09There is a different one.
00:21:10How many interviews do you have?
00:21:12I don't know.
00:21:14How many people have given you the previous two years?
00:21:28that's what you know i i do and agree and i accept that he's given a lot of interviews
00:21:33you can say that it is a media generated image that you know he doesn't listen the prime minister
00:21:40doesn't listen we don't think that the prime minister doesn't listen i think the prime minister
00:21:42listen i don't know what i understand i understand what you're saying but you know i'm a i wasn't
00:22:06there on the time of when the prime minister or i wasn't a journalist at the time when the prime
00:22:10minister was the chief minister in 2002 i was still in school then but uh there is a perception
00:22:16that maybe we should have press conferences because you know you don't like the term gen c but a lot
00:22:22of young kids today look at other countries where there are press conferences and whether head of
00:22:28state prime minister to press conference take off the interaction karta sida logo say sida bat karta
00:22:35jitna engagement prime minister karta chai scientists ke logo se abataiye korn sa pradhan mantri
00:22:42jho isro ke scientist se itna interaction karta hai tell me who else is the prime minister who has
00:22:48interacted with the students every year during the exam time during other occasions like the way
00:22:54prime minister does with athletes olimpic jane se pahle baat kertethe aane ka baat kertethe aane ka baat
00:23:28kore hindi kore koin kore kore kore koreta khun kore korea korea karat ka korea karat hakiki hai korea
00:23:40You can see that the people of Mohdijji are connected with the people of Mohdijji are not talking about India,
00:23:48in the world.
00:23:49The people of Mohdijji are connected with the people of Mohdijji.
00:23:54Maybe there is no leader of the people of Mohdijji today and it is difficult for further.
00:23:58Sir, I'll move on, Mr. Rajiju.
00:24:01I'm glad you're saying it and I have to say that you're also one of those rare ministers we've had.
00:24:06And it cuts across party lines, and I'll say it on camera, who has not asked me to vet questions.
00:24:11Before we sat down, you didn't once say, what are your questions? What will you ask? I don't want this.
00:24:16So I am...
00:24:18Yes, no, I am glad. You're taking every question and it's amazing and it's quite cool.
00:24:22Because even from the opposition, sometimes we will have leaders who will vet questions, despite what you see.
00:24:29So thank you. I'll come back to what is... Let's begin with the latest right now.
00:24:34You know, Rahul Gandhi made a call in Pune, held an event which is smash patriarchy.
00:24:44You yourself, a lot of leaders from the BJP have reacted. You yourself reacted.
00:24:49Yes.
00:24:49The Congress's charge, Mr. Rajiju, is that patriarchy is not restricted to religion,
00:24:54while you have, somewhere down the line, put it into binaries of Hindu and Muslim.
00:25:00See, it's a very serious issue for me, personally, because I'm also the Minister for Minority Affairs.
00:25:07When leader of opposition talks about smash the patriarchy, that means it is basically, he wants to say that the
00:25:16females should be given freedom,
00:25:18females should have their own way of life. Then I questioned him, what about the Muslim women?
00:25:23Are Muslims not our betis, our sisters? What about those who want to have a Sharia law? What about the
00:25:32triple talaq?
00:25:33What about the millions of Muslim girls subjected to polygamy and tortures and all?
00:25:40Why are you talking about Manusimity and only Hindu culture? So it is a design to hit the Hindu culture.
00:25:49It's a larger conspiracy. That is why not this time, but I had stated earlier that why India was subjugated
00:25:58by the foreign rules for over thousands of years.
00:26:01That is because half of the Hindus themselves are not supporting the Hindu cause or Hindu culture.
00:26:10Because if you are targeting or try to weaken your own Hindu structure, then you are going to weaken your
00:26:20own community.
00:26:21If there are bad practices in Hinduism, that must be called out. Sati has been declared as invalid or crime.
00:26:32Or child marriage has been declared as null and void. Polygamy, this is declared non-valid now.
00:26:40So this kind of many practices, even many social reformers have come. They have not abused Hinduism. They have asked
00:26:50for reforms within the Hinduism.
00:26:51So the issue is a larger one. If the leader of opposition had targeted everybody, saying that no religion should
00:26:59have this kind of binding control over the daughters and the girls, then I would have said, oh, this is
00:27:04a good one.
00:27:05But you are connecting Manusimriti and then, you know, smash the patriarchy, only targeting Hindu, not mentioning about triple talaq.
00:27:15Muslim women come to me. I have met, since I have become Minister for Minority Affairs, I have interacted with
00:27:22so many Muslim women, the girls, they equally deserve the support of the government.
00:27:27So the Congress have to answer what Shah Bono case teach us. Rajiv Gandhi himself changed the law itself under
00:27:39the pressure of the clerics.
00:27:41So that is why I said that if you take a stand, take a universal stand. Don't target one community.
00:27:49That is my point.
00:27:50So you are saying as the leader of opposition, it was the responsibility of Rahul Gandhi to touch on patriarchy
00:27:55in every religion, not just one religion.
00:27:58Yeah. Speak about all religion.
00:28:00Sir, away from politics. You know, you are a practicing Buddhist. I am a young woman. I am a practicing
00:28:05Hindu.
00:28:06And I do feel and I would think it is something that we know that Hinduism is one of the
00:28:11most liberal religions in the world.
00:28:13Absolutely.
00:28:13It is, it is open to question. It encourages debate and discourse. So when we speak of Manu Smriti, there
00:28:22are lots of young women out there who are looking at the government in power today
00:28:25and saying that why must we, women of this country, adhere to texts that might be part of a civilizational
00:28:34history, but are deeply problematic and patriarchal.
00:28:38And Manu Smriti has excerpts which are, why shouldn't we denounce them?
00:28:42Exactly. That's what I'm saying. The government is not putting Manu Smriti as the yardstick to government.
00:28:50India is run by the constitution. The spirit of a constitution governs, not Manu Smriti.
00:28:55Manu Smriti is a belief system. If somebody believes in it, then you have a right to oppose and you
00:29:00have a right to defend.
00:29:02That is democracy. If somebody is supporting something which is there prescribed in Manu Smriti, that is his right.
00:29:11In democracy, how can you say that you don't, you can't subscribe to that? True.
00:29:17So that is why I said when Sonia Gandhi Ji and Raul Gandhi Ji said that we cannot tolerate RSS.
00:29:24So you don't subscribe to RSS means let it be, no? Those who believe, let them believe.
00:29:40This kind of attack, this kind of concerted attack against RSS has made RSS the largest social organization in the
00:29:48world.
00:29:49And this kind of concerted campaign against Modi Ji made Modi Ji the most popular leader not only of India
00:29:56but of the world.
00:29:58That is why you should not make this kind of regulated campaign which is actually trying to mislead the people.
00:30:07My point is if you don't subscribe to any religious text, you object to that or you raise your opinion
00:30:15which is different from the other person.
00:30:18But don't say that the other person doesn't have a right to believe such a way.
00:30:22No, I hear you, sir.
00:30:23You just said that you don't subscribe to certain things.
00:30:26That is your right.
00:30:27No, I hear you and I'm glad you're saying this because I'll tell you why.
00:30:30Because you said sometimes there's perception.
00:30:32There is perception, sir, that, you know, and it has been bolstered by certain leaders from your party that if
00:30:39you say anything against.
00:30:40Don't say your party.
00:30:40Everybody is independent and everybody is citizen of India.
00:30:45And they're allowed.
00:30:46So there are people who will have their own opinion.
00:30:50True.
00:30:51Only if BJP has certain guideline, I will not go against the BJP guideline or my party's policy.
00:30:57But with regards to your social movement and your religious belief, how does government control your religious belief system?
00:31:06I 100% hear you.
00:31:08So let me ask you a question which is devoid from politics.
00:31:11If a young girl out there today says that I want to denounce Manusmriti and paths in which they, or
00:31:18those paths which are patriarchal in nature, should she be labeled anti-Hindu?
00:31:23Those who have left Hinduism and embraced Buddhism with Ambedkarji, has anybody been jailed?
00:31:31And lakhs of people, those who were called as untouchable, they renounced Hinduism and they embraced Buddhism.
00:31:42I agree.
00:31:43On 14th October 1956 also, thereafter also.
00:31:48Hindu is the only liberal religion which has allowed this to happen.
00:31:53Can this happen in Christianity?
00:31:55True, I agree with you.
00:31:56Can this happen in Islam?
00:31:58No.
00:31:59You try in any of the Islamic nation, try to get this very Islam believer converting into another religion.
00:32:07I agree.
00:32:08So please appreciate Hinduism.
00:32:09100% you're right.
00:32:10Hinduism is the only philosophy which has given so much of freedom.
00:32:14100% sir.
00:32:15So that's why I agree because we are unlike other religions.
00:32:18Hinduism is unlike, like you said Christianity, unlike Islam.
00:32:22It gives me the reason and the space and a safe space to question my religion.
00:32:27So that's all I'm asking.
00:32:28So I'm not, not me.
00:32:29If a girl out there says, I don't want to subscribe to it.
00:32:32So she's not anti-Hindu.
00:32:34She just…
00:32:34But who has jailed them, I'm asking you?
00:32:35Sir, there are not jailed sir, but there are a lot.
00:32:37I'll tell you why.
00:32:38Because…
00:32:38Calling is difference of opinion.
00:32:40But how can somebody be jailed only because…
00:32:45No, not jailed.
00:32:45Or treated as illegal or taken action only because one has given an opinion.
00:32:49But if you say, you want to break India, cut chicken neck and break North East, I will be the
00:32:55first person to tell…
00:32:56Of course.
00:32:57Of course.
00:32:58And we'll get to that also because you have given full detail.
00:33:01We'll get to that later.
00:33:02I want to stick to smash the patriarchy and because, you know, I'm also deeply invested in it.
00:33:07Because I'll tell you why.
00:33:08Not what Rahul Gandhi said at all.
00:33:10I'm just, as a woman, invested in women empowerment.
00:33:13So I will ask you another question.
00:33:15Today itself, sir, because there are so many times your party has gone out and struck a reconciliatory chord.
00:33:24Yet you have certain members of your party.
00:33:26And I'll give you an example.
00:33:27One advertisement comes out, sir, of Kriti Sanan, where she's dressed in an outfit which is revealing.
00:33:34And she's tying Rakhi to someone.
00:33:36There is a full social media campaign and bullying.
00:33:39And a part of it is your MPs like Kangana Ranaut.
00:33:42That's…
00:33:42Again, I'm coming to you back.
00:33:44Hmm.
00:33:45If she has the right to do certain things, if there is criticism, that is also part of freedom.
00:33:51How can you restrict that?
00:33:52Sir, that advertisement has been pulled down.
00:33:55That is another issue.
00:33:56That…
00:33:56This is a commercial issue.
00:33:57I don't get into that.
00:33:59Hmm.
00:33:59My point is, if you have freedom to express things as per your choice, why are you restricting
00:34:05others from disagreeing or opposed to that?
00:34:08I 100% agree with you.
00:34:09That's…
00:34:10Everyone…
00:34:10Everyone…
00:34:11Yes.
00:34:11Everyone has a freedom of expression.
00:34:13But when a parliamentarian…
00:34:17And I'm talking about your colleague Kangana Ranaut.
00:34:29Kangana Ranaut is a first term MP, very junior.
00:34:33And sometimes I will tell her how to function in a parliament business and other things.
00:34:40But…
00:34:40But you are a minister.
00:34:41You are the parliamentary affairs minister.
00:34:42That's what I'm saying.
00:34:43As a parliamentary affairs, I can guide for parliamentary procedure.
00:34:46But I can't guide her what to speak, what not to speak.
00:34:49I agree.
00:34:49These are personal choice.
00:34:51But should some leader show restraint?
00:34:54And I'll give you another example.
00:34:55At the same time, when the prime minister was striking such a reconciliatory throne of forgiveness,
00:34:59with students.
00:35:00At the same time, you had certain ministers like her again, who called Gen Z gutter generation.
00:35:06No, no.
00:35:07That I heard it.
00:35:07She didn't say that.
00:35:08She says that those who abuse…
00:35:11She later…
00:35:11Not everybody…
00:35:12She clarified it.
00:35:13Later clarified it.
00:35:14The prime minister has shown his big heart.
00:35:18Hmm.
00:35:18Just imagine.
00:35:2017 years old, 18 years old girls abusing prime minister and his mother.
00:35:25Is it Indian culture?
00:35:27You can criticize.
00:35:28You can oppose.
00:35:30Why are you abusing the prime minister and the dead mother?
00:35:34If we try to defend such culture, I'm sorry, we are misguiding the youth.
00:35:41If we promote or we applaud such abuse and such languages…
00:35:46It will not be…
00:35:48I agree.
00:35:48There should be no space for abuse in this country and you're very right.
00:35:51But I also think and I hope you'll agree with me that both boys and girls are equal in that
00:35:57ethos.
00:35:58I'm saying during the protests.
00:36:00Right.
00:36:00Whoever…
00:36:01Whoever.
00:36:01So it can't be just because the girls abuse, they are worse off than the boys.
00:36:04No, the girls' videos were shown more.
00:36:05That's why people say that girls should be more docile.
00:36:07That's right.
00:36:07But for me, boys, girls should be equal.
00:36:09Equal, right?
00:36:10I'm glad you're saying it.
00:36:11Thank you for saying it.
00:36:12It's really important.
00:36:13Because, you know, just because a girl abuses…
00:36:16I'm not saying abuse is right.
00:36:17Abuse is wrong.
00:36:18One should never abuse.
00:36:18I will never ever remain silent if somebody abuses.
00:36:24True.
00:36:24I will tell you that that's wrong.
00:36:25You can't be quiet.
00:36:27And it's equal for boys.
00:36:28The Prime Minister is so forgiving.
00:36:31You gave me so much to my mother.
00:36:37Then, let's forget the old thing.
00:36:40You have to take care of yourself and go ahead.
00:36:43Which, you know, fatherly figure, Prime Minister will give so much of space and so much of heart out.
00:36:51I mean, what do you do with such a lot of people?
00:36:55No, I think that was a welcome gesture sir.
00:36:58And I do agree that…
00:36:59I think…
00:37:00But right after that, it did percolate down.
00:37:02People did say that and think that, you know, this was a great gesture that came in from the Prime
00:37:08Minister.
00:37:08Yes.
00:37:08I was just speaking about the surround sound and we don't really need to speak about the surround sound.
00:37:12But let me get back because we are talking of the protest.
00:37:16Did your party somewhere down the line misread the Gen Z protest?
00:37:21Misreading Kaka, where's the question?
00:37:24I'll tell you why, because…
00:37:25No, no, no.
00:37:26Let me give you a very calculated thing, how I look at this particular whole episode.
00:37:37There was a paper leak through some professors, some students.
00:37:43They have a nexus.
00:37:45Government will trust somebody, some commission, somebody, some officers.
00:37:50Minister doesn't run examination.
00:37:52It has to be run by a body.
00:37:55True.
00:37:55The body is there.
00:37:57And to conduct election, to conduct examination, there is a body NTA.
00:38:01Those people who are at the helm of affairs, they are not ordinary people.
00:38:07Something happened there.
00:38:08Let's not go into detail because it will take a lot of time.
00:38:10Okay.
00:38:10The paper leak happened.
00:38:13The moment it was discovered, exam was cancelled, re-examination was conducted.
00:38:20Prime Minister gave a very clear cut direction that come what may, you must complete exam on
00:38:28time, re-examination and ensure fairness.
00:38:31It was done.
00:38:33Examination completed.
00:38:37After so many days, some Am Admi workers started forming this Cockroach Party.
00:38:45Basically, this Dipke and all, they are Am Admi workers.
00:38:48Do you think it's the Am Admi Party?
00:38:49Definitely.
00:38:49There's nothing, no doubt about it.
00:38:51Everybody knows that.
00:38:52So this Am Admi generated group, they came from America, he was Am Admi worker.
00:38:58They formed a committee.
00:39:00They formed a committee or something called some CJP, something like that.
00:39:05And then, they started protests, bringing one person from Ladakh and went on hunger strike.
00:39:14Still, government was allowing them to have protests, peaceful protests.
00:39:21All those days, there was peaceful protests.
00:39:24True.
00:39:25What is there about misreading?
00:39:26It is only when they've tried to forcefully try to enter into the parliament, then they were physically prevented.
00:39:35The problem is, thousands of students, they don't know Am Admi was behind all these things.
00:39:42They thought that issue is genuine.
00:39:44When the examination issue comes up, when there is issue of paper leaks, everybody is concerned.
00:39:51So it is not supporting these Am Admi workers, these Dipke and three, four people.
00:39:58It's not about them.
00:39:59The issue was important.
00:40:01That's why people supported the issue.
00:40:03True.
00:40:03But then, by that time, we had already conducted election, sorry, examination.
00:40:07And the prime minister has already announced a series of measures.
00:40:11And then, government thought that if so many students desire that government should talk to them,
00:40:19two senior ministers went and talked to them.
00:40:21And then, one commission was formed to ensure that we come out with a greater solution for better examination system
00:40:34in the future.
00:40:35And then, subsequently, a very strong bill was brought in the parliament for controlling this kind of paper leakage and
00:40:44this kind of crimes.
00:40:47So that is why in the parliament, I said, we are the one who listen to the students.
00:40:53Mm-hmm.
00:40:54So there is no question of misjudgment.
00:40:56You did?
00:40:56We listened.
00:40:57We talked to them.
00:40:58We brought reforms.
00:40:59We did it.
00:41:00Unlike Congress, when there was protest, they imposed emergency.
00:41:04Mm-hmm.
00:41:04And when they protest during our time, we listened to them and we brought law.
00:41:09Tell me which is better.
00:41:10I questioned the Congress and the Samajwadi people.
00:41:14After protest, imposition of emergency is better or listening to the students, talking to them, and bringing reformative law is
00:41:23better.
00:41:24Definitely, we listened to the students.
00:41:27You did.
00:41:27You did listen to the students.
00:41:29And you did, for whatever reasons were best at that time, accept their demands.
00:41:33So, but in terms of narrative, I want to ask you a very straight question, sir.
00:41:37Is there a perception that the BJP lost the narrative war during the Gen Z protest?
00:41:43We are not working for narrative.
00:41:44We are here to serve the citizens, serve the nation.
00:41:48If we are busy building the narrative, who will govern the country?
00:41:53People of the nation have given such a huge mandate to Modi ji for the third time.
00:41:58Modi ji has said that in Modi 3, we have to perform three times faster than what we have done
00:42:06in the first two times.
00:42:07That is our focus.
00:42:09We are not here to build narrative and build a different kind of a story.
00:42:13Okay, let me ask you this in a different way because you spoke of the RSS.
00:42:18The RSS chief in a public meeting said, and I want to quote here so I don't get it wrong,
00:42:28Jantar Mantar exposed the systematic flaws in the government.
00:42:33Failure in the system was there.
00:42:35So you accept there was a systematic flaw.
00:42:37If there was certain improvement or certain reforms required, that is why new law was brought in.
00:42:51If everything is perfect, you will never need parliament to make another law.
00:42:55Fair point.
00:42:56It is evolving.
00:42:57It is all dynamic.
00:42:58And we listen to the people.
00:43:00We are the people who are there because people wanted us to govern this nation.
00:43:08So we have to listen to them.
00:43:09We are not there from the aliens.
00:43:11I am going to ask you another question.
00:43:13A lot has been said about excessive force.
00:43:15You say that no bullets were fired.
00:43:17But on the 23rd of July, sir, the Delhi police, where the RAF was concerned,
00:43:23there are two diary entries which say that two rounds of pellet guns were fired under the order of a
00:43:28DCP.
00:43:29This is official documentation.
00:43:31I have counted many agitations, 30-40 agitations, where people were killed during Congress time.
00:43:40True.
00:43:41In this agitation, you also have followed this agitation closely.
00:43:46There was no loss of lives, which is such a relief for us.
00:43:52That is why I give the example, whether it is Gujarat or Punjab or Telangana or UP or Assam or
00:44:01anywhere during Congress time,
00:44:03Whenever there was large-scale protest and agitation, there were always police firing and there were always cases of death.
00:44:14Some of them died.
00:44:16Some of them died, a few thousands of people died.
00:44:18But in this protest, there was no knowledge of a student or human being of a student or a student,
00:44:25that there was no big deal, in such a big protest.
00:44:29When they had been told that they had been in Parliament in Parliament,
00:44:32the police stopped.
00:44:33They were physically stopped, they were physically stopped,
00:44:36And they were physically stopped.
00:44:36And the police stopped and you go to Parliament.
00:44:40Some things basic things are the basic.
00:44:41You should know it.
00:44:42This is not the order of the home minister.
00:44:45It is the manual of the police.
00:44:47When you declare a 144 or a restriction,
00:44:52or whenever the court says that the protest is illegal
00:44:57or beyond a point, the area is a protected area,
00:45:02then the police will act as per the law, as per the manual.
00:45:07The home minister doesn't give the order for firing.
00:45:09It's a basic thing.
00:45:12But overall, the management of the responsibility
00:45:15is the government.
00:45:17That is why I said,
00:45:19if you just open up the old cases of agitations in India,
00:45:24thousands of people were killed by the police firing
00:45:26and all were under Congress regime.
00:45:30And in this protest, not a single life was lost.
00:45:34And that is a professional management of Delhi police.
00:45:37If we don't want to kill the police,
00:45:40who will give the police tomorrow?
00:45:42If anything happens, we will kill the police.
00:45:45The police will also call the police at night.
00:45:48And there will be some law and order problems,
00:45:50the police will call the police.
00:45:51The police are in our security.
00:45:53And the police, as we speak,
00:45:56the police people are harassed.
00:45:58If you don't have to protest,
00:45:59you should have to protest as well.
00:46:01If you don't want to march,
00:46:04Why do you march to the police?
00:46:04Why are you killing the police?
00:46:06Why are you killing the police?
00:46:06So the police have been restrained.
00:46:08When they kill the police,
00:46:09the police also have to do good.
00:46:11That's why I said,
00:46:29Even in this, it's the DCP.
00:46:31The DCP had order.
00:46:45If you're a leader of opposition, then you should behave like a leader of opposition.
00:46:50Your languages must have weightage.
00:47:07Parliamentary democracy is all about people and we are here to serve the people.
00:47:15I'm going to talk about the parliament, sir, but I'll ask you one last question on that.
00:47:23Is there regret that pellet guns were used because some of them did hit young students?
00:47:31See, anything which is under investigation or proceedings going in the court, then we
00:47:37should not make comments on the details.
00:47:40I only said that someone is not dead because there's so much agitation that no one knows
00:47:45that.
00:47:46So this is a good thing, right?
00:47:48So I'm just talking about that.
00:47:50How can I tell you about the details?
00:47:51I don't have to tell you about the details.
00:47:54The court will look into the matter and the authorities, police, etc.
00:47:59I don't have to tell you about the details.
00:48:00Sir, you as parliamentary affairs minister, Mr. Rajiju, as well as the government and the
00:48:05treasury benches, did you do all that it could take to make sure that the monsoon session was
00:48:12not a washout because it was?
00:48:14Yes.
00:48:15It did have a negative impact on my understanding about the opposition because I thought, after
00:48:26all, we are all responsible people to run our parliament.
00:48:32Whenever I have gone out to the opposition parties, I have reached out to everybody.
00:48:39In a private note, all are okay.
00:48:41But then when they have taken a stand, then they stick to that.
00:48:45They have taken a stand, the Congress and Samajwadi, that they will not let parliament
00:48:50function.
00:48:51So, rest are all just excuses.
00:48:55They have decided not to let the parliament function.
00:48:58So, I don't think that any extraordinary appeal would have had any impact.
00:49:06I, because I had a long discussion with Rahul Gandhiji.
00:49:10Even Priyanka Gandhi was also sitting there when I had a discussion with Rahul Ji.
00:49:15He had only taken a stand that he will not compromise on certain things.
00:49:20And especially on Home Minister, he said, Home Minister has to just give a statement and
00:49:27resign.
00:49:28Democracy doesn't function like that.
00:49:30Home Minister is a responsible person and he will do everything responsibly.
00:49:37But how can he just act as per this childish demand?
00:49:42A statement though or resign?
00:49:45You don't behave like that in a parliamentary democracy.
00:49:48See, one thing, you know, as somebody who watched parliament, I do agree that the opposition
00:49:53constantly kept changing goalposts.
00:49:56Went from one to the other.
00:49:57Their charges, and you tell me if it's true sir, they say that the Home Minister and the
00:50:01Prime Minister never came to the house.
00:50:02They came to the parliament but never came to the house.
00:50:05He came to the same.
00:50:10I don't understand the peace.
00:50:13Who wants to talk about the Congress Party?
00:50:15Like, I don't have a seat here.
00:50:20Then I'll tell you why you sit, I didn't have a seat.
00:50:23I didn't have a seat at home.
00:50:25Then I'll tell you why you come to my house.
00:50:29on the one hand they don't allow parliament to function and on the other side they are
00:50:33accusing the home minister pm of not coming to the parliament
00:50:41let me tell you frankly not as a bjp minister i'm telling you as a member of parliament
00:50:48i feel sorry for congress mps of congress mps now have started thinking that their primary duty is
00:50:58to raise slogans and abuse is ko normalize ka diya kya hal ka diya congress was a party with such
00:51:07dignified leaders in the past stalwarts the congress leaders were inspiring and stalwarts
00:51:13those days look at the people who are running congress party now and this congress mps
00:51:21holding those placards abusive language every day modi chore modi modi i mean you are reducing
00:51:31parliament this abusive language against your prime minister if you have guts to oppose prime
00:51:37minister speak with content this is they say that uh the treasury benches is it's become
00:51:45you know most mps that i speak to from the opposition say that parliament has become very hostile
00:51:50one bill after the other without discussion is being pushed through and the latest charge from
00:51:56mr jairam ramesh is that this monsoon session hasn't even been prorogued which is officially
00:52:01uh lee where it is closed the session it is and he's asking why hasn't it happened that is
00:52:06up to the government whenever parliament is to be called it is the government which decides and
00:52:12requests the rastrapati to call the session and when the the house is not prorogued then the session
00:52:22can be called can there be another session it is nothing it is nothing new which we are doing can
00:52:28there be a special session no that i will not answer but what i am answering you is you won't
00:52:32answer
00:52:32that what i'm answering you is right since 1952 after this interview i will give you the list right
00:52:41after 1952 there were numerous occasions where parliament session was adjunct sign a die but not
00:52:52prorogued and the session was summoned again and there are numerous instances where the
00:53:02prorogued had happened much later congress can quote conveniently many things just to accuse the
00:53:11government but i will not buy those arguments my primary point is when we wanted the discussion
00:53:22on the bills we allotted the bills we allotted the time each bill was given time to discuss
00:53:30in loksabha and rajasabha that's all after time was given the congress people run away and they they
00:53:38will go outside get and raise slogan again now i told many congress people
00:53:45many congress mps have started worrying that at the end of their tenure how will they answer their
00:53:58voters the voters have elected them to question the government to put forward the voice of the people
00:54:06they are the fortunate lots who got elected each members of parliament each member of parliament
00:54:13in india represents roughly 2.5 million people and they are the privileged lots and they are unable to
00:54:21raise questions and put many things which government would have answered so sir i infer that there could be a
00:54:29special session called you are saying you won't answer it but pull it as a journalist you have every
00:54:34right to have inferences and as a senior journalist you are very experienced in reading the things
00:54:41you can read both ways yeah but then as a parliament affairs minister i'm always open to people's
00:54:50scrutiny thank you observation also and then when the time comes we'll all know we'll all know
00:54:57is delimitation still on agenda already a prime minister has made a very clear-cut commitment to the
00:55:05women of this nation that women reservation and the the commitment given by the parliament to the
00:55:14women of this country will be fulfilled that is a commitment given by the prime minister
00:55:25so based on that we are working but sir why can't you understand with that no i understand so that
00:55:30means you are working but then why can't uh reservation be given on the current strength of the house which
00:55:35is 543 why must we have delimitation or anything else what you must have read 2003 delimitation that
00:55:41provision there delimitation woman reservation we call the woman reservation as nari shakti vandan adheniyam
00:55:51when the nari shakti vandan adheniyam was passed in 2023 you read the provision this will be implemented
00:56:00on the basis of delimitation conducted after 2026 the census available there
00:56:08uh
00:56:19the reservation is tied up with the census delimitation
00:56:34let me on the sideline of it uh you seem to have a decent working relationship with rahul gandhi at
00:56:41least as parliamentary no with everybody rahul gandhi ji and everybody everyone i have no problem with
00:56:47any colleague we are all colleagues and it seems like that as well you also had a really fun inter
00:56:53uh you know change with rahul gandhi where you asked him about working out and tell me if it's
00:56:57true and he said you come home and you work out with me there was a jitsu he's a very
00:57:01interesting
00:57:01person uh private method we had you know besides politics also we had discussed about your fitness
00:57:09in common
00:57:13publicly i have said that we are not enemies we are just political rivals
00:57:19and as a parliamentary affairs minister it is my duty to reach out to the opposition
00:57:51who out of the opposition
00:57:54is uh listens to you most who you think that he is a reasonable
00:57:57person
00:57:58is
00:57:58uh
00:58:06uh
00:58:10uh
00:58:11uh
00:58:11uh
00:58:20So on the face of it, on the face of it, he's always very amiable.
00:58:33But Rahul Gandhi asked you, sir, that you come and work out with me, we'll do Jitshu together.
00:58:55I must tell you, when is the leader of opposition, Prime Minister, make sure that I sit and listen.
00:59:05He's a different thing that Rahul Ji makes a lot of noise, and he's a dignified thing.
00:59:11He doesn't say that he doesn't say that he doesn't say that he doesn't say that he doesn't say that
00:59:14he doesn't say that he doesn't say that.
00:59:42He is the first Prime Minister, Modi Ji, who brought down the stairs of the parliament,
00:59:50who brought down before the constitution book, before he took oath as Prime Minister.
00:59:57And he was the one who started the constitution day celebration in 2015, 26 January.
01:00:04He was the one who started the Samvidan Samman Yatra.
01:00:09Modi Ji is the one who has given full order to Ambedkar Ji through this .
01:00:18I want to explain. It will take a long time.
01:00:20So, Prime Minister is very particular about system, rule, ethics and precedence.
01:00:32So, I wish the opposition leader also equally reciprocates in this manner to lift the dignity of respective position.
01:00:46Personally, I'll take the last ten minutes of your time, sir, and I'll do very quick questions.
01:00:52First, do you have friends on the other side, in the opposition side?
01:00:56It looks like you are always fighting.
01:00:57No, they talk about our party in the parliament. I think we all are friends.
01:01:02Friends, okay. I'm glad. As long as there is some camaraderie.
01:01:05Last ten seconds, ten minutes, sir, you, you know, the Prime Minister made the reference to Dimagi Naksal.
01:01:12And then you gave a breakdown of who Dimagi Naksal is.
01:01:15I want to ask you a question.
01:01:17In this country, if someone disagrees with the government, criticizes the government,
01:01:22or critiques the government, questions the government.
01:01:26Aadeh Dimagi Naksal.
01:01:27Let me rephrase it, since you are representing a very prestigious media team in India today.
01:01:39I have to be absolutely correct in what I say.
01:01:43When Honourable Prime Minister referred to Dimagi Naksals, he made it clear who are those Dimagi Naksals.
01:01:51That there were confusion.
01:01:52Then I also said, in response to Chidambaram and other people, they said,
01:01:57Ishara opposition ko nagzal bata diya.
01:02:00I noted down three points.
01:02:03I want to add one more.
01:02:05Right.
01:02:06Number one is, those who are supporting the separatist.
01:02:13In Article 370, which leads to the separatism mindset.
01:02:19Those who don't follow the constitution of India.
01:02:23Because the Maoist and the Naksalites, they hold their own court.
01:02:32I agree.
01:02:34So they don't follow Indian constitution.
01:02:36So anybody who supports them are Dimagi Naksals.
01:02:39Third.
01:02:41Those who say that chicken neck should be cut and not it should be thrown out.
01:02:47Anybody supporting those people.
01:02:49There are many advocates and civil workers openly saying you check the internet.
01:02:55Openly saying that,
01:02:57the chicken neck should be cut and we support them.
01:03:02There are people like that.
01:03:03And the people who are sitting in the middle of the bell.
01:03:05They are Dimagi Naksals.
01:03:07Or fourth.
01:03:08You're adding one?
01:03:10Yeah.
01:03:10That's the headline then.
01:03:11Let me.
01:03:12The fourth one is,
01:03:14anybody who is trying to stop the economic growth of India.
01:03:21There are many development projects happening in the country.
01:03:25They have to stop the development projects.
01:03:28To stall the development projects.
01:03:31That is to stall the growth of India.
01:03:33Of this country.
01:03:34They want to raise some kind of...
01:03:37They use sometimes the Innosian Tribals.
01:03:41T.
01:03:57That old lady.
01:04:02Medha Patkar?
01:04:03Medha Patkar.
01:04:04Medha Patkar.
01:04:06had caused so much of loss to the nation. Now, if she apologizes that during that time
01:04:13she opposed that project, which has now benefited millions in Rajasthan, in Gujarat, in Madhya
01:04:21Pradesh, now if she apologizes to the nation, what is the point? She has wasted our precious
01:04:26duty 30 years. So many of these people, they will instill some kind of fear in the mind
01:04:35of the local people and inject lots of, you know, diluted things and let them protest.
01:04:42They will instill it. And anybody, the fourth is anybody who is opposed to India's growth,
01:04:53means who are working to stall India's economic growth, they are Dimagi Naksal.
01:04:58But sir, then why did the BJP handle take out a video which had all opposition leaders in
01:05:02YouTube as Dimagi Naksal?
01:05:04Who is the Dimagi Naksal?
01:05:06The BJP is a whole campaign, sir.
01:05:10No, no.
01:05:11Handle is a tweet.
01:05:12Nobody has said that all opposition members are Dimagi Naksal.
01:05:26I'm glad you're saying it, sir, because this video was tweeted out by the BJP social media
01:05:31handle, which had labeled opposition.
01:05:47You will also support me.
01:05:49No, anyone, I agree with your points. I'm not saying, but I was just saying that there has been,
01:05:54but I'm glad that you're saying that what you're saying. I want to just come back to what is Kiran
01:05:59Rajivu looking ahead for?
01:06:02I am looking forward with the responsibility which I have with me to serve the nation as I've been doing,
01:06:11but I hope I can do more with the responsibility which I have.
01:06:17It is fortunate to work with Modiji as a colleague of his cabinet and to serve the nation.
01:06:24I cannot imagine a better person to lead the nation in this kind of situation.
01:06:31I have seen the parliament and I've seen different prime ministers in the past.
01:06:36You know, those days you are young, but you are not that young.
01:06:41You will remember those days during summers, the ministers used to go to holiday with the family,
01:06:50Europe, America, Singapore.
01:06:51Sir, what's wrong in holiday?
01:06:53You should do a little bit.
01:06:54You should do a little bit.
01:06:55You should do a little bit.
01:06:55We cannot do it.
01:06:56My job is a holiday.
01:06:58Wherever I go, you know, this is a bad precedent.
01:07:03No, no, no.
01:07:04Holiday should be allowed, sir.
01:07:05No, no.
01:07:05You should leave the minister.
01:07:08Who wants to do a holiday?
01:07:09Who wants to do a holiday?
01:07:10You should leave the minister and go to holiday with the holiday.
01:07:13Sir, you are saying you shouldn't enter politics if you don't want to.
01:07:16No, no.
01:07:16If you don't want to.
01:07:17You are right.
01:07:19You will spin this thing.
01:07:21I will not spin anything.
01:07:22I swear.
01:07:23My point is before 2014.
01:07:27The minister was lit with light.
01:07:30The minister was lit with light.
01:07:31The minister was lit with light.
01:07:33The minister was lit with light.
01:07:33The minister was lit with light.
01:07:35We didn't come to this.
01:07:36Do you see some lit with light in a ministry?
01:07:41Very welcome.
01:07:42Very welcome.
01:07:50Sir, latest news.
01:07:52The opposition is picking it up.
01:07:53I want you to answer it.
01:07:55You come from Arunachal Pradesh.
01:07:56Have there been some more transgressions from China to our side in Arunachal Pradesh?
01:08:01See, it's a very sensitive issue, so I have to be absolutely careful and also truthful to put the facts
01:08:11before the nation.
01:08:14The entire Arunachal Pradesh portion is undemarketed.
01:08:21Not a single stretch is demarketed.
01:08:26Only there are border points where the PLA and our Indian army, they meet.
01:08:34That's called flag meeting.
01:08:36So when the area is not demarketed, certainly there are cases of our forces and their forces moving and crossing
01:08:47over to each other's claimed territory.
01:08:50The problem is, ever since 1914, when the McMohan line was drawn, an imaginary line was drawn on the map,
01:09:02there was no border infrastructure development from our side.
01:09:07The Chinese also started very late, but unfortunately, we started the border roads very late.
01:09:16In the 70s and 80s, there were some border roads, but that was just a nominal movement, you know, not
01:09:26reaching exactly to the border point.
01:09:28But 2014, when Modi came to power, he started building the road infrastructure along the border.
01:09:36So when we were building the roads, the Chinese have already built, so they have a larger movement and they
01:09:44have a better deployment.
01:09:46Thereby, they have built infrastructure in certain areas where we also have claim, they also have claim.
01:09:55That is why the issue raised by border people in Arunachal Pradesh, they are valid.
01:10:03But somebody tried to say that, oh, 50, 60 kilometers, the Chinese have come inside Arunachal.
01:10:09These kind of statements are damaging because the border problem is two, three kilometers, at the most four kilometers like
01:10:19that, because the area is very vast.
01:10:21An attempt to rename places from our side and their side.
01:10:25How does that help?
01:10:25And then if you come to the technical level, I think the Chinese have played some psychological game.
01:10:36They have started naming some of the passes and some of the areas in Arunachal Pradesh, which will have no
01:10:44bearing or no practical effect on us because Arunachal Pradesh is purely an Indian territory.
01:10:51It is an Indian state. I belong to Arunachal Pradesh.
01:10:54So by naming, the Chinese government will not gain anything.
01:11:00But on the other side, now we are building the infrastructure.
01:11:03I think our borders are more safe now because we are adequately prepared to protect our territory through proper infrastructure
01:11:13and our forces deployment.
01:11:16Sir, are we looking at a reset with China? Because after Kalwan, we are looking forward to the visit of
01:11:21Mr. Xi Jinping.
01:11:22See, policy, I cannot speak about policy because the talks are going on and MEA should be responding to the
01:11:29policy matter.
01:11:30I hear you on that, sir. So you speak about Arunachal Pradesh.
01:11:33Can we ask you to speak to one very young citizen of India and Arunachal Pradesh, who was not very
01:11:41happy till about a week ago.
01:11:43Are we allowed to do that? You can. You can connect. Thank you.
01:11:47So there's this little tinkle who had put out a video on social media.
01:11:51So little tinkle had put out a video first saying that she's not people are saying that she's not Indian.
01:12:00She's Chinese. Now she says, OK, because she got so much love in return from India that now she said
01:12:06that she's Indian.
01:12:10But I'm sure she'll really be happy to speak to somebody like you. Let's see if she can.
01:12:16It's something that she can talk about.
01:12:17The minister of Mr. Ji is a minister, Kiran Rajivu, uncle.
01:12:22Are you ok to be called uncle? No problem.
01:12:25The minister of Mr. Ji is a minister, Kiran Rajivu, uncle.
01:12:27Will you speak to her with him?
01:12:32Yes?
01:12:34Just for a minute, sir. I will make her name.
01:12:35That's the young girl.
01:12:37Tinkle, her name is Tinkle.
01:12:39Tinkle, hello.
01:12:42And which Chinese do you want to tell me?
01:12:44I am.
01:12:47I am.
01:12:47I don't want to tell you.
01:12:51You love Indian people.
01:12:54You are very famous.
01:12:55Do you know?
01:12:57Yeah.
01:12:58So cute.
01:13:01Do you if you can meet your house?
01:13:07Can I?
01:13:09Can you come from Delhi?
01:13:13Yes.
01:13:14That's very good.
01:13:15You can eat your house in my home.
01:13:19Then come from Delhi.
01:13:23Okay.
01:13:25Yes.
01:13:27I'm Kiran Rijiju.
01:13:29Ask your mom.
01:13:30She will tell you.
01:13:33Bye-bye.
01:13:38God is making the heart.
01:13:41Bye, Tinkle. Thank you.
01:13:42Thank you, Mr. Rijiju.
01:13:44You have taken out so much time for us.
01:13:46And like I said earlier,
01:13:48it's very rare that you have leaders
01:13:51who are cabinet ministers
01:13:52and positions like you
01:13:53who have taken every question we have asked you.
01:13:55Thank you so much.
01:13:56It's a pleasure.
01:13:57It's an honor.
01:13:58It's an absolute pleasure for me also
01:13:59to have a very free and frank exchange of views.
01:14:02Thank you, sir.
01:14:03I'm glad.
01:14:04I hope that you continue doing more conversations
01:14:07like that with us on India today.
01:14:09Certainly.
01:14:10Thank you, sir.
01:14:10Appreciate it.