- 5 weeks ago
On this episode of To The Point, host Preeti Choudhury covers key national developments, beginning with the government's revised UPI Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) framework taking effect on 15 October 2026.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:27Good evening, you are watching To The Point, I am Preeti Chaudhary.
00:29First up, allow me to take you through the headlines.
00:36Big development in Gurugram hit and run horror.
00:39Driver Kalyan Baisla nabbed and bought to his knees.
00:42Police claim video clearly show hit was deliberate.
00:46Attempt to murder, outraging modesty, charges also slapped him.
00:55Delhi government's big push for student safety.
00:57Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announces plans to develop hostel facilities for 10,000 students across the capital.
01:04Move after Satya Niketan horror.
01:12Government bars charges on UPI payments up to 2,000 rupees.
01:16Rahul Gandhi claims doors silently open to impose fee.
01:20BJP calls Congress a party of Nara's foofas.
01:29Alarming fake cancer drug racket busted in Bengaluru.
01:33Counterfeit life-saving drugs found in 90 hospitals and clinics in Karnataka.
01:37SIT formed pharmacy owner Viresh helped.
01:45Modi versus Congress over Rajasthan civic polls.
01:48Prime Minister Modi slams Jhoot Ki Goonj.
01:51Congress hits back, highlights vote share difference of just 0.94%.
02:14All right, we have the latest news update coming in with regard to all the speculation concerning UPI payments.
02:19A revised UPI merchant discount rate framework will take effect on select merchant transactions starting October 15, 2026,
02:29while keeping UPI completely free of cost for consumers and all transactions up to 2,000 rupees.
02:37Under the new rule, small merchants earning up to rupees 1 lakh per month via QR codes will pay 0
02:44MDR.
02:44A flat 5 rupee fee will apply to transactions above 2,000 rupees in specific categories like railway and fuel.
02:52And other high-value transactions will attract a 0.4% charge capped at rupees 300.
03:01The initiative also introduces a dedicated fund to upgrade digital payment infrastructure for small vendors and tier 3 markets.
03:09It's no impact on small-value UPI transaction up to 2,000 for all merchants,
03:15which account for more than 95% of most UPI transactions.
03:20I want to quickly cut across to my colleague, Karishma Sudhani, who's joining me for more for the latest updates
03:26on the story.
03:27Karishma, will you please break it down for us?
03:31Well, for the past few months, we have been explaining to users that the imposition of NDR is going to
03:39have no impact on small-value UPI transactions up to 3,000 rupees,
03:45which ideally comprise with more than 95% of the total volume of UPI when we talk about person-to
03:52-merchant.
03:52But what the government now is doing after their latest amendment of the Act is an NDR of 0.4
04:01% will be introduced on person-to-merchant ETI transactions above 2,000.
04:07And for transactions of 75,000 and above, the NDR will be capped at 300 per transaction.
04:13So, you know, look at this.
04:16Now, when we spend some time on buying products from e-commerce websites or entities which deal with large volume
04:26of transactions,
04:27then when a transaction is being attempted of more than 2,000, that e-commerce entity is liable to pay
04:370.4% NDR.
04:39And if its transaction is about 75,000, then it's going to be 300 rupees per transaction.
04:48Alright, and this new structure kicks in, 15th October, Karishma, because there's been a fair amount of politics which has
04:55been swirling around it.
04:57Would you give us a little more details in terms of, once again, we want to reiterate for the viewers
05:03who are joining us,
05:04this is only pertaining to commercial transactions.
05:09I would like to, of course, clarify to the users, and the government has also been, for a while now,
05:15been sharing that there need not be in confusion.
05:19No individual-to-individual UPI transaction is going to be taxed under NDR.
05:24So, tomorrow, if you and me, Priti, are going to have an exchange, if they're more than 2,000 rupees
05:30via UPI,
05:31then I don't owe any amount of NDR or additional taxation on that to you.
05:37This is person-to-merchant transactions only, and very much liable to big entities, big companies,
05:46who have a huge volume of transactions that are easily introduced.
05:53At 0.4% and at least 300 for high-value purchases, the government as well has done this because
06:01they do want to settle their balancing checks for the past five years.
06:09The Finance Ministry and banks have been bearing the expenditure cost of this technology via spending out of their own
06:20balances,
06:20and now they are passing this on to merchants who are dealing with huge volume of transactions.
06:27Karishma, for those asking, what of, can there be multiple under-2,000 rupee transaction with the same merchant on
06:34the same day?
06:37If there is an under-2,000 rupee transaction with the same merchant, there is going to be no imposition
06:43of MDR at all.
06:45It is similar to how a credit or a debit card works.
06:49While MDR on a credit or debit is slightly higher than what MDR on UPI has been introduced as,
06:58there is going to be no MDR, no additional money that will be paid when the transaction is below rupees
07:042,000,
07:05and when being paid to a merchant.
07:07Thank you, Karishma, for breaking it down to us in very simple terms.
07:11Once again, viewers, we will reiterate something that the government has also been saying,
07:15that this is only P2M transactions.
07:17To break it down, person-to-merchant transactions.
07:20All person-to-person transactions, individual transactions, will not face any fee at all.
07:26The new structure where person-to-merchant transaction is concerned kicks in starting the 15th of October.
07:38All right, let's now cut across to the big developing political story that we are tracking very closely.
07:42The BJP has now set a deadline of 2029 for rolling out the Uniform Civil Code across all BJP-NDA
07:51ruled states, 22 of them.
07:52But the big UCC push has already exposed a fault line within the NDA.
07:56While Amit Shah calls UCC the BJP's next major ideological commitment after Article 370,
08:03many of its allies are now expressing apprehension, even though supporting the move in Parliament.
08:09You have the JDU, which has rejected its implementation in the state.
08:13Even the LJP and Chirag Paswan has also sought wider consultation.
08:18Here's the full report.
08:38The BJP's big Uniform Civil Code push has now opened a fresh fault line within the NDA.
08:44Prime Minister Amit Shah has set a clear deadline, saying the UCC will be implemented in all 21 BJP-NDA
08:53ruled states before the 2029 Lokasabha elections.
09:13For the BJP, UCC is the next big ideological commitment after the abrogation of Article 370.
09:21But what exactly does the Uniform Civil Code propose?
09:25A common set of rules for marriage, divorce, inheritance and succession, irrespective of religion.
09:31A common code is already implemented in Uttarakhand.
09:36UCC proposes a ban on polygamy.
09:39Common minimum marriage age of 21 for men and 18 for women.
09:43Marriages below the legal age not allowed.
09:46Common rules for inheritance and succession with equal property rights for men and women.
09:52Mandatory registration of live-in relationships.
09:55Scheduled tribes have been exempted from its application.
10:00But the BJP's push for uniformity has now exposed differences within its own alliance.
10:06And the first note of dissent has come from Bihar.
10:09J.D.O. General Secretary Shyam Rajak has flatly rejected the idea of UCC being implemented in Bihar.
10:45Now the J.D.O.s.
10:46National Working President, Sanjay Jha, is set to meet Amit Shah to put the party's position on record.
10:53Another key ally and union minister, Chirag Paswan, has also called for consultation.
11:00The LJP RV chief says India's social fabric is diverse and has sought the UCC draft be made public,
11:08followed by extensive discussion with all stakeholders.
11:11His party, he says, will take opposition only after this process.
11:17But several other NDA allies have backed Shah's push.
11:20TDP, Shiv Sena and Jitin Mahji's HAM have extended unconditional support for the UCC.
11:27So Amit Shah may have set 2029 as the deadline,
11:32but the road to the Uniform Civil Code is already facing questions within the NDA.
11:38BJP is no longer battling just opposition resistance.
11:41It is also having to navigate differences among its own allies.
11:47Bureau Report, India Today.
11:52The UCC is the Bharatiya Janata Party's ideological and a political commitment.
11:57But how has it become a political hot potato?
12:00You'll know exactly why.
12:01Because our panelists this evening, viewers, are not so much as political party spokespersons,
12:06but political analysts.
12:07Because primarily, it's not just an uncomfortable and a sensitive topic for the BJP and its allies,
12:14but also the opposition.
12:16So every political party this evening has decided to steer clear of this debate.
12:21But joining me now is Mr. Rashid Kidwai, author, political analyst.
12:25Rajat Sethi, political analyst.
12:27Ashut Tosh, political analyst.
12:29Shahzad Poonawala, commentator, political analyst.
12:31Amitabh Tiwari, political strategist, commentator.
12:34And founder, VoteWide.
12:36All five of you will get two-minute time to put your points forward.
12:39And as we said, this is an ideological commitment, but politically extremely sensitive
12:45that no political party wants to even comment on the uniform civil code.
12:51And why is it so uncomfortable is a question that I pose to all five of you.
12:55Let's begin the chat with Shahzad, who's freshly out of the BJP.
13:00Would you want to go?
13:02Two minutes, Shahzad.
13:04Surely.
13:04First of all, let me tell you that I wanted to join you in the studio,
13:07but there's a massive traffic jam on B&B, so I'm here in the car.
13:12But having said that, look, I think larger social conversations are taking place.
13:18The way the BJP has been going about this is that they want to build social consensus,
13:24not just political consensus.
13:26And therefore, even in the four or five states that the BJP has actually implemented this,
13:30there has been a large consultation process.
13:32But by the way, let us now get to the question of why is the Congress party running away from
13:37taking a position?
13:38Isn't the Congress party the one whose founding fathers actually put UCC in the constitution?
13:43They swear by the constitution.
13:45This is a directive principle of state policy.
13:47They were the ones who implemented it in Goa.
13:49By the way, there are numerous Supreme Court judgments or Delhi High Court judgments,
13:54observations, findings, backing the UCC.
13:57And therefore, they should be the ones who are saying,
13:59smashing the patriarchy should be the ones at the forefront of this.
14:02I don't think the BJP is necessarily running away from this debate.
14:05In fact, they would prefer to have this debate.
14:06The HM has actually spoken.
14:08After the HM speaks or the PM speaks, the BJP is pretty much on that position.
14:12But now I have two or three questions to ask.
14:14Of those like Mr. OVC, who I consider to be a good lawyer.
14:18Mr. OVC, you have a uniform criminal code.
14:21Now, Sharia says that have everything as per Sharia.
14:24You're okay with the criminal code being uniform because you don't have to cut your hands there.
14:28You want the convenience.
14:30But when it comes to civil code, which is unfair to women,
14:33there you want special privileges.
14:35Why is that?
14:36In foreign countries where Muslims are staying, which are not Muslim countries,
14:40do they have the choice to say all this?
14:42Do they say we will not follow the civil code of that country?
14:46It is only and only a function of appeasement politics that we are now trying to pamper.
14:53Leaders like Mr. OVC and Congress Party and others are also getting into that.
14:57Now, coming to J.D.U.
14:57I think the J.D.U.'s position is more nuanced.
15:00What I read, one of their leaders has said that we are open to the idea.
15:02We are not wholesale rejecting the idea of UCC.
15:05I think many allies have supported it.
15:07Many more allies of the BJP will come on board.
15:09All right, a couple of things and we'll move on.
15:11But, Shehzad, you know, like you said that the BJP would be very happy to speak about it.
15:15It's not.
15:15There's a reason why you're here and there is no BJP.
15:17Because the BJP has chosen to steer clear from this conversation,
15:21like the Congress, and you're bang on on that aspect as well.
15:25Secondly, the sheer fact, you know, Uttarakhand has implemented it.
15:28Goa has always had the uniformed civil code.
15:30Gujarat has implemented it.
15:32Assam has implemented it.
15:33Madhya Pradesh has implemented it.
15:34But these are states, one, either where the Muslim population is really small
15:39or it is the BJP that doesn't need the help of any other ally in government there.
15:45So, you know, there is a nuance there as well.
15:47But I want to bring in...
15:48Just one line.
15:48I'll come back to you.
15:50Allow me to...
15:50Just one line.
15:51Because then everyone will get one line.
15:52Just one line.
15:53Just one line.
15:54No, no, no, not on the issue.
15:55Not on the issue.
15:56Something else.
15:57I just want to tell you, Preeti, that whether BJP is there on a panel or not
16:01does not ensure my presence anymore.
16:03So, BJP can also be on a panel with me.
16:05So, don't think I'm a replacement of BJP.
16:06We look forward to that day when we'll have the both of you.
16:09All right.
16:10I want to bring in Ashutosh to this conversation.
16:12Ashutosh, quick views on why, even though it's an ideological commitment,
16:17a political commitment, which has reached fruition in certain states,
16:20yet highly sensitive.
16:24See, first of all, I welcome Sahajat Poonawalla in the club,
16:29a club of political analysts.
16:31First, it's a good club.
16:32He will enjoy this.
16:34Secondly, he might not be in BJP, but he's in the BJP.
16:38Now, let's come to the point.
16:39See, in principle, I support UCC.
16:43And I think UCC should be there across.
16:45But I'm here to expose the hypocrisy of the BJP.
16:49For the last 12 years, you didn't feel that the UCC should be there uniformly
16:53across the country.
16:55You didn't have any legislation.
16:58You didn't make any amendment in the parliament.
17:02So just now you are coming to the 2029 parliamentary election.
17:07And just before the 2027 assembly election in UP, you are faced with the crisis.
17:11And that's why you are coming up with a slogan called UCC should be implemented in all the BJP states.
17:18Now, the question is, in the last 12 years, you could not uniformly implement UCC even in the BJP-ruled
17:24states.
17:25Now, first of all, the Amit Shah should explain why BJP has BJP failed, has Narendra Modi failed, has Amit
17:31Shah failed?
17:31Why the BJP could not implement in the BJP-ruled state till now?
17:35That's the question number one.
17:36The question number two, I think, is much bigger.
17:38I think there is something happening in the corridor of power in Delhi.
17:42And it is basically, Mr. Amit Shah seems to be in the race to project himself as a Hindu Samrat.
17:48Because whatever is unsaid in the political corridor, everybody understands.
17:54So is he trying to place himself vis-à-vis Yogi Aditya Tanath or vis-à-vis Devin Fandavis?
18:01That's a question which I want to know because there are many things which we know we can't say on
18:05record because we are aware of what is happening around.
18:07So is it Mr. Amit Shah's opinion, his private opinion, is it the opinion of the Narendra Modi or is
18:14it the BJP's official policy?
18:15I do not know because Amit Shah these days seems to be quite loner in the BJP itself.
18:22All right, so you put the onus on the Home Minister, but let's bring in Rajat Sethi.
18:27Rajat Sethi, two minutes time. Why do you think it's become so troublesome?
18:31The likes of JD who supported it in Parliament and now are saying nothing doing, can't implement it.
18:35Similarly, BJP.
18:38Well, Preeti ji, it seems like according to Ashutosh ji, it's a conspiracy within a conspiracy.
18:44Let's make it lighter.
18:45I just feel that BJP, it has always been on the BJP's agenda for all these years and you require
18:53a time window, political, you know, the right opportunity to come in and push this core agenda.
19:02One of the last ideological agendas of the BJP which is still incomplete, I would say.
19:08I mean, but I don't agree with what Ashutosh ji has been saying.
19:11That way he can go and question even Baba sahab that why did he not go with this absolutely important
19:16credential of our constitution right at the outset.
19:19I mean, even that could have been possible.
19:21One of the rationales that was given in was primarily that, you know, the polity has to mature and mature
19:28to a level wherein, you know,
19:30people can come above their communal related differences in their ways of life, etc., and reach to a common ground
19:38where at least the civil issues could be brought at the same level playing field.
19:44And that there was a time window which was given in by our policy makers and our constitution forefathers and
19:51foremothers to actually allow the polity to mature to a level where they could all agree.
19:57And there can be a consensus across the country to do this.
20:00Now it has happened, and it is happening in several states.
20:03Same issues were brought in in Uttarakhand.
20:05Why is Uttarakhand going ahead?
20:06There were four or five lakh comments from the public which were brought in.
20:10It was a necessarily democratic exercise.
20:12Eventually it was passed.
20:13And currently there are several states which are working under the UCC framework.
20:18Supreme Court also, by the way, in n number of ways has dissected the issue of UCC
20:23and come to this conclusion across all the judgments that UCC is in sync with the core basic principles and
20:32tenets of our constitution.
20:33As recent as the Kohelo case of 2019, where the Supreme Court has established that this does not go against
20:40the religious sentiments of a community at all.
20:43So I don't see any problem with it.
20:45All right.
20:46But clearly some of the allies of the BJPC have a problem with it.
20:51And what's the problem, Rashid Kidwai, as you gauge, the Congress has?
20:56Because the Congress is in pretty much of a catch-22.
20:59The Congress could have come and defended its position on this debate or any debate when it comes to the
21:03UCC.
21:03But the Congress, ultimately, thinking that it is once again going to be labeled as a party which is, you
21:12know, favorable to appeasement politics,
21:14has decided to completely stay away.
21:18So, Priti, I think it's a wrong kind of premise to say that this UCC is aimed at appeasing or,
21:25you know, sort of opposing or torturing any particular community.
21:30UCC is part of the directive principles of the state is there in the, you know, the fourth schedule of
21:35the constitution and it must be implemented.
21:38But there is a process and the BJP in its election manifestos have been party to it.
21:43But this piecemeal approach is wrong as it reeks of, you know, overt politicization of the entire issue.
21:50If the BJP is concerned and feels strongly about UCC, they must bring a national law.
21:56And they must bring, you know, all states in the, in the ambit of this, this law.
22:01Because this law cannot be applicable in BJP rule states.
22:05To my mind, the best aspect of, you know, implementing UCC was to make it, you know, gender neutral, gender
22:12sensitive.
22:13Because there are, let's admit it, there are, you know, discriminations are there in many of the sort of, say,
22:18the personal laws.
22:19And that is where there was a pressing and craving need, but it should have been, you know, a political
22:23exercise.
22:24By doing this, why the BJP is not doing it as a central law?
22:29Because as you know, Preeti, implementation will also require some of the central laws.
22:33Because many of the issues we are talking about fall in the category of, you know, concurrent list.
22:38I think the opposition also does not, you know, have much understanding of what it entails, how the communities feel.
22:45And the Muslim community leaders, some of them very overtly, get into this debate without realizing what it means or
22:52what it implies.
22:53So there is a lot of confusion.
22:54Political parties are, as I said, you know, they are socially very conservative.
22:58They are not progressive.
22:59And it's not about Congress party.
23:00All political parties do that.
23:02Therefore, they lack that kind of, you know, ability to bite the bullet.
23:07And that is a tragedy with UCC.
23:09And one final point.
23:11You see, the UCC, the basic thing is it should be universal.
23:14There should not be any exemptions.
23:15The moment you do exemptions, it is not UCC.
23:19Fair point.
23:20There are already exemptions on that, especially where the tribals are concerned.
23:23But I just want to quickly bring in Amitabh Tiwari into this conversation.
23:26Amitabh Tiwari, break it down politically.
23:28Because in Bihar, ally of the BJPJDU, which competes for the Muslim vote in the state of Bihar,
23:36in parliament might have said something else, but in the state are refusing the implementation of the UCC.
23:43The LJP, in most subtler, politer tones, have said that it needs wider discussion.
23:48You are going into an election where you'll possibly look at an ally in the state of Punjab,
23:55where the Akalis are concerned.
23:56The Akalis have always been a tad bit uncomfortable, where the idea of UCC comes in from.
24:02In the state of Uttar Pradesh, you have smaller political parties, which the BJP has as allies,
24:07who also compete for the Muslim vote.
24:09And even they won't be very comfortable with it.
24:13The RLD has already made its apprehensions clear.
24:19Well, see, the UCC has been the long-term political or ideological commitment of the BJP,
24:25and it feels that the time is ripe.
24:27Timing is very, very important in politics, and for the past three months,
24:31the party has been on the back foot on the narrative.
24:34So it perhaps feels that this is the time to hold discussions on UCC.
24:41It also feels that the core voter of the BJP is a bit disgruntled,
24:46because of the UGC norms, regulation issue, etc.
24:50And this too could help it bind the core voter.
24:53Now, as far as allies are concerned, allies like JDU or NJP are largely,
25:00they are like, or they behave like Muslim agonics,
25:03and they also perhaps feel that the BJP is on a back foot,
25:08because of the negative perception around the CJP protests, the Raman Bicap, etc.
25:13And this is the time to perhaps bargain with the BJP.
25:17They also have, largely the JDU also has a slice of the Muslim vote,
25:23and that's what it is trying to shield by giving the impression
25:26that it is not going to clearly align with the BJP on the UCC,
25:31on the UCC, and it wants a consensus to be built.
25:35So the allies are also perhaps feeling that the BJP,
25:39or there is a negative perception around the BJP,
25:41and this is the time to stick their neck out,
25:43not only in terms of political sense,
25:45but also to keep their vote banks intact,
25:50and that's what they are trying to do.
25:52See, this is also an attempt by the BJP to, for agenda setting,
25:56because for the past two, three months,
25:58a party which has been setting the agenda in the media
26:01for the past 10-12 years has not been able to do so,
26:05or has been found lacking,
26:06and through this issue,
26:08it also feels that it could then try to set the agenda,
26:11and we are discussing on this,
26:13the Congress, as you mentioned, is on a back foot,
26:15or is not very clear as to what its line will be on this issue.
26:20All right, I'd like to give all of you one minute time each
26:23to put your point forward.
26:24Let's begin with Chahizad.
26:25Chahizad, for the BJP, it seems,
26:27at least by this discussion,
26:29more about posturing, less about intent.
26:32So let me off the bat address two points
26:35made by Rashid and by Ashitosh,
26:37where they said,
26:38why not bring something centrally?
26:40Last 12 years, what have you done?
26:41OVC says,
26:42our life is finished,
26:44you're bringing this and imposing this without consultation.
26:47Rashid and Ashitosh say,
26:49why are you doing a lot of delay?
26:50Why don't you take it away?
26:51What do you do 12 years?
26:52So there's a contradiction in these points.
26:54Secondly, you can't bring a central law
26:57simply because this is in the domain
26:58of both states and centers.
27:00It's a directive principle of state policy.
27:02Thirdly, the reason why you can't doubt the BJP,
27:05and let me tell you both these things
27:06from first-hand information,
27:08Amit Shah saying something in the BJP
27:09means BJP is saying it.
27:11Point number one.
27:11Ashitosh, just like you can say something about
27:13Aam Admi Party with authority,
27:14I can say about BJP.
27:16Secondly,
27:17when BJP has delivered on 370,
27:19Ram Mandir,
27:20Women's Reservation,
27:21I think you should not challenge BJP
27:23on television debates
27:25that
27:26will do this whole thing.
27:27In the Salman Khan style,
27:29the people who say,
27:30and the people who don't say,
27:31they definitely do it.
27:33All right, fair point.
27:34One minute, Ashitosh.
27:35Go ahead, sir.
27:36Final submission.
27:37See, I think the UGC per se,
27:38which has been brought into the Uttarakhand,
27:40it's a draconian in itself.
27:42At the age of 18,
27:43you gave them right to vote.
27:45At the age of 21,
27:47he becomes adult
27:47and he or she
27:48is ready to choose anybody
27:49and can live freely.
27:51But look at the hypocrisy of the BJP.
27:54That they think that
27:56you can't have a live-in relationship
27:58with another person
27:59and if you do not inform
28:01to the administration
28:01and to the others,
28:03then you can be penalized
28:04and you can go to the jail
28:06for six months.
28:07Now,
28:08first you decide,
28:09you want to decide,
28:10determine the marital relationship
28:12between the two consulting adults also.
28:15You want to tell them,
28:16tomorrow they'll come and say,
28:17no, no, you can't do this
28:18and this, this, this, this.
28:21You can't produce kids.
28:22You can't produce this and that.
28:23What nonsense is this going on?
28:25Hurry.
28:25We are living in,
28:26we are living in an AI age
28:28and here the BJP wants to control
28:30the marital relationship
28:32of the two consulting adults.
28:34Why I should be,
28:34suppose I'm living with somebody else,
28:36why I should be going to the magistrate
28:38and telling them exactly?
28:40This is,
28:40this is ultra-conservatism,
28:42nothing else.
28:43All right.
28:45Rajat Sethi,
28:46final submission,
28:46one minute.
28:49see again,
28:50I,
28:50you can cherry pick
28:52what you want
28:53if you feel that
28:54live-in relationship
28:55should not be registered.
28:57I mean,
28:57look at some women,
28:58A lot of men lure women
28:59into live-in relationships
29:00and things
29:01do not materialize
29:02and a lot of women suffer.
29:04There is all,
29:05therefore,
29:05another side of the,
29:06of this perspective.
29:07But if you feel that
29:08this is ultra-wires,
29:09go and challenge
29:09in the court of the law
29:11instead of debating it
29:12on a television.
29:12It does not matter much.
29:15Repeatedly,
29:15again,
29:16I want to say
29:16on the legal side of it,
29:18central government,
29:19if they attempt to do it
29:20at the state level,
29:22this,
29:23in a recent 2023 case,
29:24this was a Varunwal case,
29:26Supreme Court has said
29:27that if the states feel
29:28that they can go ahead
29:28and do the UCC implementation,
29:30they are free to do that.
29:31It is not per se ultra-wires.
29:33Therefore,
29:34it is a strategy of the BJP.
29:36They don't want to
29:36unnecessarily nationalize
29:38this agenda
29:38from a 2029 election perspective.
29:40They treat it
29:41as an ideological obligation
29:42and they have to do it.
29:43They are just asking
29:44their states
29:45where they have
29:46duly elected governments
29:47to go out and implement
29:48without creating
29:49too much of ruhaha.
29:50If they wanted that,
29:51they could have taken
29:51to the center
29:52and make it a poll election.
29:53Yet another...
29:54Okay.
29:55All right.
29:56Rashid Kidwai,
29:56you know,
29:57there were questions
29:57raised by Shahzad
29:58on to your perspective.
30:00Your point, sir.
30:01Yeah,
30:02so the state policy
30:03means it's a recent state,
30:04not a kind of,
30:05you know,
30:06the union of states
30:08that one state
30:08or another state.
30:10Key point is
30:10the BJP is shooting
30:11in the dark.
30:12You see,
30:12they could not bring
30:13implementation of
30:15delimitation law
30:16or women quota law
30:20or they were talking
30:21about one nation,
30:22one election,
30:23all kind of plans
30:24that they are talking about.
30:26But they are not,
30:27they don't have
30:27that kind of political
30:28or moral courage
30:29to implement it
30:30because suddenly
30:31as Amitabh Tiwadi
30:33was saying,
30:33things are not going
30:34as per the BJP's plan.
30:36So there is
30:36element of uncertainty
30:38and they want
30:39to break it
30:39into a kind of,
30:40you know,
30:40Hindu-Muslim binary,
30:42particularly on the eve
30:43of Uttar Pradesh elections
30:44and get some kind
30:45of political dividend.
30:46Mr. OEC doesn't represent
30:49even the aspirations
30:49of the Muslims.
30:50He's an ally
30:51of Mr. Shahzad Puneabala's
30:53former party.
30:54So it's an agenda-driven
30:56narrative
30:56that is sought to be built.
30:58All right, okay,
30:59you have seven seconds
31:00to spare,
31:00but Amitabh Tiwadi,
31:02one final comment,
31:03sir, one minute.
31:05Essentially, of course,
31:07it has,
31:09the decision
31:10or the announcement
31:11clearly has eyes
31:12on the state elections
31:14which are due in 2027.
31:16Uttar Pradesh
31:17being the major
31:17or the bigger state
31:19of Dub Daja semi-finals
31:20to the final in 2029.
31:22We've seen the BJP
31:24facing setbacks in UFI.
31:26the more
31:30the elections
31:31become local
31:31and the more
31:32it is fought
31:33on caste lines
31:34and not on the larger
31:36Indutra lines.
31:37And what happens
31:38is that we've seen
31:39in 2024
31:39that the BJP
31:40did suffer losses.
31:41So I think
31:44this could be used
31:44as an electoral plank
31:46in the state
31:47of Uttar Pradesh
31:48to galvanize
31:49its core voters
31:50and also
31:51in an attempt
31:52to keep the voters
31:55voting on the line
31:56of Indutra
31:56and not get divided
31:58on lines of caste.
31:59That could be
31:59one of the reasons.
32:00And also
32:01it's a complex issue
32:02where a consensus
32:04is needed
32:04and the allies
32:05are also taking
32:05their time out
32:06to build consensus
32:07on this issue.
32:08Well, that consensus
32:09is far from reaching
32:11quorum there.
32:12All right.
32:12That's all the time
32:13that we have for.
32:14Shahzad,
32:14you wanted to come in
32:15for 10 seconds.
32:15I really don't have
32:16the time
32:17but 10 seconds
32:17I can give all of them.
32:18All of you.
32:1910 seconds.
32:19Make your 10 seconds,
32:20sir.
32:20Start now.
32:22So my point
32:24is only this
32:24that today
32:25the conversation
32:26should have been
32:26not about Hindu
32:27versus Muslim
32:28but about women's
32:29empowerment,
32:30gender rights
32:31versus those
32:32who say
32:33smash the patriarchy
32:34in a slogan
32:34but never in substance.
32:36That should have
32:36been the real debate
32:37and I'm sure
32:37Ashutosh
32:38the veteran
32:39of this club
32:39which I founded
32:40actually.
32:41Ashutosh,
32:41I was in the media
32:42and then I went
32:43to politics
32:43so I'm a founder member
32:45but I think
32:46that should have
32:46been the debate.
32:47Smash the patriarchy.
32:49All right.
32:49Ashutosh,
32:50your point.
32:50I think this is
32:51basically an anti-Jengi
32:53kind of a thing
32:54where you want
32:56to control
32:57not only the marital
32:58affairs of youngsters
32:59but also want to
33:00control their
33:01conjugal relations.
33:02Tomorrow the BJP
33:03will come up
33:03that you can't
33:04have an affair
33:04with this girl
33:05or with that man
33:06with this, that, something.
33:07I think the BJP
33:08is getting
33:11I don't want
33:12to use the word
33:12but it's such
33:13a backward looking party.
33:15It's really
33:17and I really
33:18enjoy when the
33:19Girass thing
33:19is getting up
33:20in the morning
33:20and making a reel
33:21for the Jinjis
33:22to connect on Insta.
33:23I think that's
33:24a hilarious
33:24most hilarious thing
33:26I've ever seen.
33:27Okay.
33:28We're going to
33:28leave it at that
33:28and I'm going to
33:29and Rashid Kidwai
33:30and Amitabh Tiwari
33:31will be carried forward
33:32for our debate
33:34on Rajasthan
33:35so we are going
33:36to leave
33:36this debate
33:37right now.
33:38Thank you
33:38Shahzad and Ashutosh
33:39for joining me
33:41this evening.
33:41Let's quickly
33:42shift focus.
33:43The Rajasthan
33:44local body polls
33:45are out.
33:46The verdict is out.
33:47It gives the BJP
33:48the numbers
33:49but not quite
33:50the sweep
33:50that it would
33:51have wanted.
33:51The BJP
33:52has emerged
33:53as the single
33:53largest party
33:54winning over
33:544,100 wards
33:56across the state
33:57but the Congress
33:58is holding ground
33:59and more than
34:002,200 independents
34:02have also won.
34:03Here's the full story.
34:17The BJP has won
34:19the numbers game
34:20in Rajasthan's
34:21urban polls
34:22but it has not
34:24won the sweep
34:24it was looking for.
34:27Across 10,244 wards
34:31BJP has won
34:334,179
34:35around 41%.
34:37Congress has
34:393,613
34:41around 35%.
34:42The independents
34:44have emerged
34:45as the third force
34:46winning 2,273 wards
34:49over 22%.
34:57The BJP has also
34:59secured clear
35:00majorities
35:00in 5 of Rajasthan's
35:0210 municipal
35:03corporations.
35:04Congress has won
35:05but 4 corporations
35:07have thrown up
35:08hung war debts.
35:14In the municipal
35:16councils too
35:16BJP has the
35:18numerical advantage
35:19of 21 against
35:21Congress's 17
35:22with independents
35:23controlling 9.
35:28The biggest setback
35:30for the BJP
35:31came on
35:32political home turf.
35:36Jalawar and Baran
35:37Vasundra Raji's
35:39long-standing
35:40strongholds
35:40slipped away.
35:42Congress won
35:43Jalawar
35:44while
35:44Arm Admi Party
35:45made its Rajasthan
35:46debut by taking
35:47Baran.
35:48And in
35:49Chief Minister
35:50Bhajanlal Sharma's
35:51Bharatpur
35:52independents
35:53won 36 wards
35:54against 20
35:55for BJP
35:56and 7
35:57for Congress.
35:59But there is
36:00another number
36:00that complicates
36:01the comparison.
36:04Since the last
36:05civic poll cycle
36:06between 2019
36:08and 2021
36:09Rajasthan
36:10has added
36:112,770
36:13wards
36:13a 37%
36:14increase
36:15in the total
36:16number of
36:16seats.
36:16The BJP's
36:18tally of
36:18wards won
36:19however
36:20has risen
36:21by 57%.
36:22Congress's
36:23tally has
36:24increased
36:24by 19%.
36:28Congress
36:29has blamed
36:29the delimitation
36:30process
36:31alleging
36:31the new
36:32boundaries
36:32disadvantaged
36:33the party.
36:49The verdict came
36:50amid the UGC
36:52agitation,
36:53CJP's
36:53activism
36:54and a sizable
36:55under-40
36:56voter base.
36:57several Gen Z
36:58candidates
36:58have also won.
37:01BJP has
37:02gained ground
37:02but no sweep.
37:05And with
37:06over 2,200
37:07independents
37:08winning
37:08the bigger
37:09message is
37:10clear.
37:10BJP may have
37:12won the numbers
37:12but independents
37:14hold the key
37:14to power
37:15in many local
37:16bodies.
37:18Bureau report
37:19India Today.
37:23All right,
37:23let's try
37:24and understand
37:25how Rajasthan
37:26voted in its
37:27local body
37:28polls.
37:28Our two
37:28analysts are
37:29with us,
37:29Amitabh Tiwari
37:30as well as
37:31Rashid Kidwai.
37:32Amitabh Tiwari,
37:33would you want
37:33to go first
37:34if you're reading
37:35in the Rajasthan
37:35local body
37:36results?
37:37No, see
37:39essentially
37:39if you see
37:40Rajasthan
37:40has always been
37:41a bipolar
37:42contest between
37:43the Congress
37:43and the BJP
37:44and for the
37:45past almost
37:46three decades
37:46the state
37:47has slipped
37:47between Congress
37:48and BJP
37:49in the state
37:50level elections.
37:52BJP is almost
37:53holding on to it
37:54because we don't
37:54have the vote share
37:55but even if you
37:56assume that
37:5741% of seats
37:59it has won
38:00and 35% Congress
38:01which means that
38:02largely they have
38:02held on to
38:03their vote shares
38:04of 2023 elections.
38:08There is
38:09anti-incumbency
38:09but the anti-incumbency
38:10vote is getting
38:11split.
38:12So the
38:13message for the
38:14Congress is that
38:14it is not being
38:15able to consolidate
38:16the anti-incumbency
38:18with 22% of the
38:19seats being won
38:20by independents.
38:21So a sort of
38:23a third front
38:24or a front
38:25which is not
38:26reposing confidence
38:28in either the BJP
38:29or the Congress
38:30is emerging.
38:31Mind you,
38:32Rajasthan also
38:33has had in the
38:33past
38:34significant number
38:35of DST
38:36and independent
38:37MLAs
38:38even in the
38:38state elections.
38:40Also this shows
38:44that there is
38:45a scope
38:47for a
38:48new level
38:48of politics
38:49and if
38:49several
38:50Zenzi candidates
38:51have won
38:52and some of them
38:53have won
38:53from the
38:54independents
38:54it is also
38:55showing that
38:56the youth
38:56may have
38:57voted for
38:58some of the
38:58independent
38:59candidates as well
39:00again showing
39:01a no confidence
39:01in both the
39:02Congress
39:02and the BJP.
39:04However it is
39:04a hyper local
39:06election
39:06the number of
39:07votes cast
39:08in each
39:08vote is very
39:09less
39:10so is the
39:10margin
39:11so significant
39:13inferences
39:13cannot be drawn
39:14largely
39:15both are
39:16holding on
39:17to their
39:17votes you can
39:18say
39:18but there is
39:19a third
39:19front
39:20or a force
39:21which is
39:21emerging
39:22and the
39:22Congress's
39:23inability to
39:24consolidate
39:24the anti-incumbency
39:25vote
39:26is again
39:26being seen
39:27in this
39:27state
39:27as is
39:28being seen
39:28across many
39:29states
39:30in the
39:30country.
39:31Fair point
39:31I want to
39:32bring in
39:32Rashid Kidwai
39:33Rashid
39:33how do you
39:34analyse these
39:35results
39:35also the
39:36Congress
39:36is celebrating
39:37but
39:38this is
39:39also
39:39I think
39:40this is a
39:41word of
39:41caution
39:41coming in
39:42for the
39:42Congress
39:42the kind
39:43of
39:43anti-incumbency
39:44that the
39:44Congress
39:44has anticipated
39:45at the
39:46back of
39:47the
39:48incumbent
39:49chief
39:49minister
39:49Mr.
39:50M.L.
39:50Sharma
39:51one would
39:51have thought
39:52the Congress
39:52could have
39:53done better.
39:54Absolutely
39:55Priti
39:56there is no
39:56reason to
39:58celebrate
39:58or rejoice
39:59because this
40:00should have
40:00been a
40:01much better
40:02performance
40:02on the
40:03part of
40:03Congress
40:04actually
40:04Priti
40:05and you
40:05know
40:05Rajasthan
40:06very well
40:06the real
40:07problem is
40:07about
40:08political
40:08leadership
40:09it's about
40:09accountability
40:10you know
40:11probably
40:11there was
40:12a lot of
40:12fight between
40:13Ashok Gailot
40:14and Sachin
40:15Pilate
40:15and now
40:16Pilate is
40:16there in
40:17you know
40:18estatalizing the
40:19election in
40:19Punjab
40:20where he
40:20should have
40:21been there
40:21in the
40:22thick of
40:22things
40:22in Rajasthan
40:24perhaps as a
40:25state
40:25president
40:25because Mr.
40:27Govindar Tassar
40:27has already
40:28had you know
40:28two terms
40:29almost two
40:29terms there
40:30and there
40:30is a
40:31problem of
40:31you know
40:32who will be
40:32the face
40:32that
40:33Chehra
40:33part is
40:33very much
40:34important
40:34for 2028
40:36elections
40:36assembly
40:37elections
40:38in Rajasthan
40:39having said
40:40that I
40:40think both
40:41sides have
40:41reasons to
40:42worry but
40:42the congress
40:42has more
40:43reasons to
40:43worry and
40:44I must say
40:45that you
40:46know
40:47it is very
40:48difficult to
40:49gauge the
40:49popular sentiment
40:50on the basis
40:51of municipal
40:52elections because
40:53Amitabh would
40:53vouch for it
40:54see the
40:54municipal elections
40:55are very
40:56different from
40:56assembly elections
40:57as assembly
40:57elections are
40:58very different
40:58from
40:58Lok Sabha
40:59election
40:59so this is
41:00in Rajasthan
41:01it's more
41:01you know
41:02it's always
41:02very glaring
41:03because the
41:03BJP got a
41:04good mandate
41:05then they
41:05lost you
41:06know 12
41:06Lok Sabha
41:07seats in
41:08Rajasthan
41:08so this is
41:09a kind of
41:10eye opener
41:10for both
41:11political parties
41:11but for
41:12congress they
41:13need to get
41:13a man
41:14you know
41:15in charge
41:16of Rajasthan
41:16and the
41:17time is
41:18you know
41:18they are
41:18losing out
41:19because
41:20if they
41:21can't defeat
41:22you know
41:22a week chief
41:24minister
41:24then how
41:25would you
41:25expect you
41:26know a
41:26person of
41:27this
41:27Chachar
41:27or someone
41:28else was
41:29there
41:29fair point
41:30fair point
41:31Mr. Kidwai
41:32thank you
41:32Mr. Tiwari
41:33and Mr. Kidwai
41:34for joining us
41:35this evening
41:35appreciate it
41:36we'll have you
41:37back on the show
41:38so that
41:38is a breakdown
41:40of possibly
41:41how Rajasthan
41:41voted
41:42because you've
41:42had both
41:42competing camps
41:44expressing and
41:45claiming victory
41:46but it isn't
41:47quite as what
41:48it seems
41:48with that
41:49I want to
41:49quickly step
41:50into the next
41:50news break
41:51that's coming
41:52in
41:52and that is
41:54from Guru Gram
41:55after being
41:56apprehended
41:57news break
41:57coming in
41:58now this
41:59is
41:59about
42:01Kalyan
42:02Baisla
42:02the man
42:03who
42:03hit a
42:04woman
42:05biker
42:06on Guru Gram
42:07golf course
42:08road
42:08after being
42:09apprehended
42:09the accused
42:10in Guru Gram
42:11hit and run
42:12case
42:12Kalyan
42:12Baisla
42:13attempted to
42:14escape from
42:15police custody
42:16on the
42:16pretext
42:17of urinating
42:18the accused
42:19fell while
42:20trying to
42:20flee
42:21sustaining
42:21minor injuries
42:22he was taken
42:23to the hospital
42:24administered
42:25first aid
42:25the police
42:26arrested the
42:27accused
42:27following the
42:28first aid
42:28treatment
42:29so
42:30the man
42:31in question
42:32Kalyan
42:33Baisla
42:33who till
42:34yesterday
42:34was pretending
42:36to be
42:37not just
42:37belligerent
42:38but also
42:39victim shaming
42:40tried to
42:41flee
42:42anyway
42:42he had
42:43left
42:44and hid
42:45in Rajasthan
42:46from Gurgaon
42:48when the
42:49Gurgaon
42:49police
42:50reached
42:51Rajasthan
42:52and tried
42:53to apprehend
42:54him
42:54he tried
42:54to flee
42:55under
42:55pretext
42:56of
42:56urinating
42:56he fell
42:57sustained
42:58certain
42:58injuries
43:01alright
43:01peers
43:03that's the
43:04latest
43:04that we are
43:04getting in
43:05what is
43:06heartening
43:06to note
43:06of course
43:07is that
43:08finally
43:09Kalyan
43:10Baisla
43:11is being
43:11charged
43:12with
43:12attempt
43:12to
43:13murder
43:13but
43:14with
43:15what we
43:16have seen
43:16as a
43:17hit and
43:17run
43:17case
43:18coming
43:18in
43:18from
43:18Gurugram
43:19should
43:19it
43:20just
43:20be
43:21read
43:21as
43:22road
43:22rage
43:22here
43:23are my
43:24two
43:24sets
43:25Kalyan
43:26Baisla
43:26who
43:26deliberately
43:27rammed
43:28his
43:28vehicle
43:28into
43:29a
43:29woman
43:29biker
43:29in
43:30Gurugram
43:30has
43:30finally
43:31been
43:31arrested
43:31and
43:32rightly
43:32charged
43:33with
43:33attempt
43:33to
43:33murder
43:34but
43:34we
43:35would
43:35do
43:35the
43:36greatest
43:36injustice
43:37to
43:37this
43:37case
43:37if
43:38we
43:38were
43:38to
43:38dismiss
43:38it
43:39simply
43:39as
43:39road
43:40rage
43:40or
43:40as
43:41another
43:41hit
43:42and run
43:42incident
43:42this
43:43was
43:43as much
43:43about
43:44male
43:44entitlement
43:45as
43:46it
43:46was
43:46about
43:46road
43:46rage
43:47what
43:48rammed
43:48into
43:48Sia's
43:49bike
43:49was
43:49not
43:49just
43:50a
43:50vehicle
43:50driven
43:50by
43:51Kalyan
43:51Baisla
43:52it
43:52was
43:52also
43:53in a
43:53very
43:54real
43:54sense
43:54a
43:55bruised
43:55male
43:55ego
43:56on
43:56four
43:56wheels
43:57Sia
43:57refused
43:58to
43:58stop
43:58when
43:59she
43:59was
43:59allegedly
43:59demanded
44:00to
44:00and
44:01that
44:01rejection
44:01that
44:02refusal
44:02to
44:03comply
44:03was
44:04simply
44:04too
44:05much
44:05for
44:06Kalyan
44:07Baisla
44:07and
44:08that
44:08is
44:08why
44:09viewers
44:09we must
44:10look
44:10beyond
44:10the
44:11phrase
44:11road
44:11rage
44:12because
44:12road
44:12rage
44:13explains
44:13the
44:17entitlement
44:17behind
44:18it
44:18we've
44:19seen
44:19versions
44:19of
44:20the
44:20same
44:20story
44:20play
44:21out
44:21before
44:21remember
44:22Manu
44:22Sharma
44:23who
44:23pulled
44:23the
44:23trigger
44:24at
44:24Jessica
44:25Lahl
44:25after
44:25she
44:26refused
44:26to
44:26serve
44:26him
44:27a
44:27drink
44:27different
44:28circumstances
44:28different
44:29crimes
44:29actually
44:30different
44:30decades
44:31but
44:31beneath
44:32them
44:32lies
44:33a
44:33disturbing
44:34and
44:34a
44:34very
44:35familiar
44:35idea
44:35how
44:37dare
44:37a
44:37woman
44:38refuse
44:38a
44:38man
44:39the
44:39belief
44:40sometimes
44:40subtle
44:41sometimes
44:41overt
44:42that
44:42being
44:42a
44:42man
44:43comes
44:43with
44:43an
44:43inherent
44:44right
44:44to
44:44power
44:45to
44:45authority
44:46and
44:47to
44:47obedience
44:48many
44:48boys
44:49are
44:49taught
44:50these
44:50lessons
44:51from
44:51birth
44:51that
44:52boys
44:52are
44:52tough
44:52strong
44:53aggressive
44:53and
44:54have
44:54a
44:54right
44:54to
44:54anger
44:55that
44:55girls
44:56are
44:56gentle
44:56pretty
44:57compliant
44:58even
44:59in the
44:59most
45:00balanced
45:00of
45:00families
45:01little
45:01boys
45:02see
45:02these
45:02lessons
45:03play
45:03out
45:03in
45:03the
45:04books
45:04they
45:04read
45:04the
45:05movies
45:05they
45:05watch
45:06and
45:06the
45:06media
45:06constantly
45:07feeding
45:08into
45:09their
45:09subconscious
45:10sadly
45:11this
45:11entitlement
45:12is
45:12even
45:13reinforced
45:13through
45:13every
45:14religion
45:14where
45:15by the
45:15sheer
45:16virtue
45:16of
45:16gender
45:17men
45:17have
45:18long
45:18expected
45:19to be
45:20given
45:20priority
45:20special
45:21treatment
45:22and
45:23even
45:23voluntary
45:24subservience
45:25gender
45:26based
45:27privilege
45:27and
45:27entitlement
45:28are not
45:29new
45:29concepts
45:29but
45:30what
45:30can
45:30be
45:31new
45:31is
45:32our
45:32willingness
45:32to
45:33acknowledge
45:33and
45:34hopefully
45:35move
45:35towards
45:36correction
45:36so let
45:37us
45:37today
45:38acknowledge
45:39this
45:39biker
45:40Sia
45:40did
45:41not
45:41simply
45:41face
45:42road
45:42rage
45:42on
45:42golf
45:43course
45:43road
45:43she
45:44faced
45:44the
45:44full
45:45force
45:45of
45:45male
45:46entitlement
45:47and
45:47the
45:47fury
45:48of
45:48a
45:48bruised
45:48male
45:48ego
45:49when
45:50that
45:50entitlement
45:51was
45:51challenged
45:52this
45:53is not
45:53merely
45:53about
45:54one
45:54incident
45:54one
45:54road
45:55or
45:55one
45:55man
45:55it
45:56is
45:56about
45:56a
45:56mindset
45:57that
45:58assumes
45:58that
45:59being
45:59a
46:00man
46:00automatically
46:01grants
46:02you
46:02authority
46:02grants
46:03you
46:03priority
46:04and
46:05grants
46:06you
46:06the
46:06right
46:07to
46:07be
46:07obeyed
46:08and
46:08perhaps
46:09the
46:09first
46:09step
46:09towards
46:10changing
46:10that
46:11very
46:11mindset
46:11is
46:12to
46:13call
46:13it
46:14out
46:14because
46:15entitlement
46:16does not
46:16become
46:16acceptable
46:17simply
46:18because
46:19it
46:19has
46:19existed
46:20for
46:20generations
46:20it
46:21becomes
46:22our
46:22responsibility
46:22to
46:23recognize
46:24it
46:24to
46:24challenge
46:25it
46:25and
46:26to
46:27correct
46:27it
46:27with
46:28that
46:28it's
46:29a wrap
46:29on this
46:29bulletin
46:30thank you
46:30for joining
46:31us
46:31up next
46:31Gaurasal