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The News Today reports on the political controversy surrounding Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Election Commission of India's Special Intensive Revision exercise.
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00:00Good evening, hello and welcome, you're with the news today, your prime time destination news, newsmakers, talking points, happy Anand
00:07Chaturthishi, the final day of Ganesh Chaturthi, Visarjan day, well, CC Gyanesh Kumar is in the line of fire, should
00:16SIR be suspended, Sudhanshu Trivedi, Pavankheda, Ashutosh Ranka, as we look at all the political players and what they want
00:27and what happens next in that battle.
00:30at the election commission. Plenty to look forward to as always, but first, it's time for the nine headlines at
00:37nine tonight.
00:39The heat mounts on the chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Congress stages nationwide protests demanding his resignation, ECI rejects poll
00:48rigging charge, claims all SIR orders were unanimously approved by all the CECs.
01:00Amidst the raging controversy now, NDA allies urge CEC Gyanesh Kumar to come clean, TDP, Lok Jan Shakti party, Rashtriya
01:09Lok Morcha want the poll body to address concerns over electoral malpractices.
01:18Kamil Nadu chief minister Vijay rains fire on DMK over the Viramani sex scandal, says one man destroyed lives of
01:26children under previous regime.
01:28DMK hits back at Vijay for claiming false credit in the matter.
01:34Delhi rape survivor recounts horror, says one of the rape accused brandished a gun, threatened her.
01:41Authorities also announced tritus security measures at Delhi's parks.
01:48Another horrific incident comes to light from Bihar.
01:51Young woman harassed, assaulted by a mob in Bakha.
01:54The video comes days after the shocking incidents in Jammui and Samastipur.
02:02Delhi High Court pulls up the police over Prime Minister Modi's deepfake images on social media.
02:08Notice issued to top CJP leaders after police called them suspects.
02:12Meta are told to remove Prime Minister's deepfake posts immediately.
02:18Political storm intensifies after court allows US mercenary Matthew Van Dyck to travel home for a month.
02:26Congress renews Surrender Modi attack at Prime Minister Modi.
02:30Van Dyck had been caught and accused of spying in the Northeast.
02:35India today accesses charge sheet details in Ram Mandir Chandachori case.
02:40It names eight accused, 200 CCTV clips of theft instances, refers to mobile checks about bundles of money.
02:49And shooters Kamaljeet and Suruchwee Singh strike gold in the 10-meter airpip pistol mixed-team event at the Asian
02:56Games.
02:56It's India's second gold medal in the ongoing Asian Games in Japan.
03:07But our top story tonight, the story that we are looking at over the last few days.
03:13The Election Commission versus Election Commission Rao has escalated now into a full-blown showdown.
03:19The Congress today intensified its attack on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar,
03:24staging nationwide protests demanding his resignation.
03:27From protests on the streets to a petition in the Supreme Court and a possible impeachment motion in Parliament.
03:34As the allegations and counter-allegations intensify,
03:37the Election Commission finds itself under unprecedented political pressure.
03:42It's our top story tonight.
03:45What began as a rift within the Election Commission has snowballed into a full-blown political war.
03:52After cracks within the Election Commission over the SIR exercise were exposed,
03:57the opposition is demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
04:03The Congress is alleging vote-chori by the BJP with the help of the CEC.
04:28Congress workers staged protests in several states demanding Gyanesh Kumar's ouster.
04:34From Hyderabad to Kolkata to Patna, Chandigarh, Guwahati, Dehradun and Lucknow.
04:44Congress workers marched to state election offices, staged dharna, burnt effigies of the CEC
04:52and clashed with police at several locations.
04:56In Patna and Chandigarh, police fired water cannons at Congress workers.
05:03Sources tell India today, the India bloc is set to move a fresh impeachment motion
05:08against CEC Gyanesh Kumar in both houses of Parliament.
05:13Please understand what these two gentlemen are saying.
05:15Earlier, Rahul Gandhi led the opposition's charge
05:18and launched a frontal attack on the CEC and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
05:23That's what they're saying.
05:26The BJP has countered the vote-chori charge.
05:30The party said Gyanesh Kumar deserves the Padma Bhushan
05:34for removing names of alleged Bangladeshi infiltrators from voter lists.
06:02A petition has now been filed in the Supreme Court against CEC Gyanesh Kumar,
06:07seeking the declaration of all SIR decisions as illegal,
06:12restoration of the original Form 6 and prosecution of the CEC,
06:18Deputy Election Commissioner and the poll body's IT head.
06:23But the EC has issued a clarification saying that ECNet is a decentralized platform
06:29with access given to authorized officials through unique IDs and passwords.
06:34It's said that no other ECA officials can perform statutory functions on the platform
06:40and stressed that cyber security measures are in place to prevent malicious attacks.
06:47Amid the Rao, Gyanesh Kumar's scheduled visit to Mirat and Kashi have been postponed.
06:53EC sources have however said the decision is not linked to the recent controversy.
06:58From the streets to the court to a potential impeachment motion in Parliament,
07:04this showdown is set to escalate further.
07:08With Aseem Bassi and Rohit Singh, Bureau Report, India Today.
07:15Okay, we're going to get every political perspective on the show tonight.
07:18I want to first go to the BJP leader, MP spokesperson, Sudhanshu Trivedi.
07:23Good to have you on the show, Sudhanshu Ji.
07:25Congress today hitting the streets, calling for the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar.
07:29How do you see it?
07:30Do you believe that Gyanesh Kumar's position by the day is becoming more and more untenable?
07:35Even your own allies are questioning it.
07:37All the revelations of the last few days, Gyanesh Kumar must, according to the opposition, step down.
07:47I would like to respond in both the technical aspects.
07:50First, your word of revelation.
07:52On the basis of one media report on which the Congress is doing consistent press conference,
07:56you are a very senior journalist of the country.
07:58You know, does that media report has any document presented?
08:03No.
08:03Does that report has any court of any person?
08:08No.
08:09Does this have any on record statement of any person from inside election commission?
08:15No.
08:16Whenever a report is being made, then it is the question is asked to the concerned parties.
08:21And if anything doesn't have any document, doesn't have any statement, doesn't have any reference and court,
08:28then it is considered as unsubstantiated.
08:30So, I think Congress is, which is in a perpetual agitated mood,
08:35and I can say in the last 12 years, whenever you can just tell me one six month when they
08:41were not agitated on one issue,
08:42on the other, one Rafal, then LIC barbad ho gaya, HAL, SBI, SEBI,
08:47army is telling a lie about this, on the time of this note bandhi, then vaccine was wrong, then surgical
08:55strike,
08:56then the statement of air force on bala court, or whatever it is.
09:01So, they are in the mood, on a non-substantive report, they are asking a statement.
09:06Sudhanshuji, let's focus on the issue of today.
09:08Are you saying that an opposition party is not supposed to raise certain serious issues concerning the election commission of
09:15India,
09:15which is supposed to ensure that my right to vote is, the sanctity is retained?
09:21Are you saying that this is not a substantive issue to raise the decision-making process in the election commission
09:27of this country, sir?
09:31Sir, just I am asking, you are a very senior journalist, again, just one question, without any court, without any
09:37document, without any statement,
09:39how do you rate a story?
09:41Sir?
09:43Substantive or non-substantive?
09:45No, no, the fact is, Mr. Sudhanshu Trivedi, that the story in the Indian Express has not been denied in
09:51terms of the facts that it put out,
09:52that there were 14 objections in the last 10 days, some of which called decisions illegal and unauthorized of the
10:00election commission.
10:01Do you concede that the election commission is split wide open?
10:05Are you telling me that if the election commission is split wide open and the commissioners themselves are calling decisions
10:10illegal and unauthorized,
10:12they are not serious since they concern the fundamental right to vote, sir?
10:18Now, I would like to respond technically.
10:21As per constitution, election commission decides everything by majority.
10:27So, if two election commissioners have put up any note of dissent, it's not possible to pass any order.
10:34So, it shows that the things which is said is totally non-substantive.
10:39And second thing, if you are saying that the election commission has done something wrong,
10:45then SIR has been challenged in Supreme Court by various persons of the opposition parties and up till now it
10:54has been totally upheld by the Supreme Court.
10:56Third thing, in Bengal and Bihar elections, there are two types of officers.
11:00One is BLO, Booth Level Officers, which is appointed by election commission.
11:03Then there are BLA, Booth Level Agents that are appointed by the political parties.
11:10So, with due humility, I would like to ask, in Bihar, how many RJD BLAs have filed a complaint?
11:15Second, how many Congress BLAs have filed a complaint?
11:18Third thing, they say that the evidence of CCTV can be given only till 45 days.
11:24Yes, because the evidence rule of election commissions in the 90s says that evidence can be procured till 45 days
11:32and it is part of evidence.
11:33I remember, Rajdeep Ji, in Rajya Sabha, I told that when Congress was saying that Maharaj Haryana had in 45
11:41days after 45 days, I said that it is within 45 days of Bihar election, in the winter session of
11:48last parliament, I asked them to go and ask for CCTV footage.
11:53They didn't ask.
11:54So, Funda is very clear that any change is my purpose.
11:58My purpose is that it is to have a regulation or not.
12:03Sudhanshu Ji, you are using the word hangama.
12:05You know, you seem to be taking it very lightly.
12:08You are also a senior politician.
12:09You are making very light of the election commission of this country being split wide open on very key substantive
12:15issues concerning in particular the manner in which SIR is being implemented in this country.
12:21Yes, the Supreme Court said the exercise is constitutionally valid.
12:24But what about the implementation and the concerns that have been raised?
12:2713 crore voters, Mr. Sudhanshu Trivedi, have been struck off the list across the country.
12:32There are serious question marks over the way Form 6 was chained and why it was chained without proper legal
12:39scrutiny.
12:40Are you telling me all of this does not require a more complete explanation from Mr. Gyanesh Kumar?
12:45Are you telling me that Gyanesh Kumar Ji can get away with just a one-page pro forma press release
12:50and all these charges will not be answered point by point?
12:56Yes, of course.
12:57In the press release, it has been categorically said that all decisions were unanimous.
13:02Second thing, Rajdeep Ji, can they quote any press conference in the last one and a half years in which
13:09all three election commissioners were not there?
13:11The answer is no.
13:12Can they show any statement by any election commissioner?
13:15In the previous time, the answer is no.
13:17Just an iota of a story of a newspaper.
13:24And Rajdeep Ji, you are a very old journalist.
13:26The same newspaper has published on 4th of April, 2012 Indian Express,
13:30that Indian Army was about to coup and overturn UPA government.
13:35Do you consider that it requires a clear categorical denial from the Prime Minister, from the Defence Minister on the
13:43floor of the House?
13:43You are shooting the messenger, sir.
13:44Just a statement by an officer from Defence Forces was said that these things mentioned were not correct.
13:50So it's the same case is here.
13:53Technically, I am talking absolute technical terms.
13:56There is nothing.
13:57And one more thing.
13:58On the issue of Form 6,
14:00it is clearly stated by election commission that there is no change in Form 6.
14:04As far as the asking for the parents is concerned,
14:07it is an old practice, 1987 and 2003.
14:11It is mentioned that whosoever was born,
14:14it is 20 years before our government came,
14:16it was mentioned that those who were born before 1987 need not to show any document.
14:22Those who were born between 1987 to 2003,
14:25then in that case, one of the parents should be an Indian citizen.
14:29And second condition was,
14:31none of the parents should be an illegal immigrant.
14:33So it was there very much before.
14:36And then why you are asking that right now?
14:38And one more thing.
14:38There were changes, sir.
14:39I am asking the millions of viewers.
14:41Sorry, one sentence.
14:43Millions of viewers that if somebody is saying that he is 18 years of age,
14:47he or she is 18 years of age,
14:48they want to become voter.
14:49And they are saying I am having no track record of my previous parents or grandparents.
14:54Okay.
14:55You are not denied.
14:56In that case, you have to show one of the 10 documents.
15:00And if somebody says that anybody who is unable to provide any track record of his family,
15:06unable to provide any document,
15:08but he or she should be given voting right,
15:13then this is treason.
15:14No one is saying that, sir.
15:16No, no, no one is saying that, sir.
15:1897 verified voters in Goa were also not kept on the centralized software.
15:26You see, the central point, Mr. Trivedi, that Rahul Gandhi is making
15:30is that electoral rolls in this country are being manipulated by a centralized software.
15:36Additions and deletions are being done without due process is the point,
15:40the charge he is making.
15:41And as you have seen, two of the election commissioners also said
15:44that the centralization of the software was something which was worrying
15:48because it was denying access to the electoral officers on the ground.
15:53And to be fair to Rahul Gandhi, he's been raising this for the last three years
15:57that the electoral rolls are problematic.
16:00And Gyanesh Kumar, according to him, that's a political statement he's making,
16:03is simply someone who's working at the behest of the Modi government,
16:06in particular the Home Ministry.
16:07Your response?
16:13Election commission has made it very clear
16:15that the addition and deletion has been totally powers with the ECIA.
16:19Yes, one thing is there.
16:20Once you have added or deleted,
16:22now you cannot change it.
16:24Now you have to be changed from central server.
16:27Because previously we had to be changed from central server.
16:31Now one more thing I would like to say.
16:36You know what is the problem with the opposition?
16:38We are discussing on the basis of a newspaper report.
16:43Now let me complete my submission.
16:44I am also quoting a newspaper.
16:46In 2024, Lok Sabha election, Congress leaders have written an article in Bangladesh newspaper,
16:53the Daily Star, that Modi has to go.
16:56Why they were writing the article in Bangladesh when the elections were going on in India?
17:01Now, to connect the dots.
17:04In 2024, in which constituency, the record margin victory is there?
17:09It is Dhubri constituency of Assam, in which Congress, Rakibu Lassan,
17:14won by a margin of 10,25,000 votes, more than three times of Rahul Gandhi.
17:19And CM of Assam, Himanta Vishwarma said that Dhubri is mini Bangladesh.
17:25And you know, Dhubri, Barpeta, Kareem Ganja are those areas which have said massive demographic change in the last 80
17:31months.
17:31So, article in Bangladesh newspaper, then biggest margin in that area,
17:36which is presumed to be having maximum Bangladeshi population.
17:39And then, when SIR was going in Bengal, the videos are available when hundreds of persons were accumulated on the
17:45border.
17:46And they were saying that we are from Bangladesh.
17:48And they were telling we are from that area of Bangladesh.
17:51And they were also accepting we have done voting for four times.
17:54Fourth point, connect the entire dots.
17:56Akhtar Hassan, Hussain, MP of Bangladesh, has said in the Parliament of Bangladesh
18:01that if BJP's government, if it comes to Bengal, it will be a problem.
18:06We will have to come to that many people.
18:07Now, connect all the dots and then you will get very clear why everybody wants
18:11that without documents, without any previous connection,
18:15everybody should be given citizenship.
18:17Sir, till now, the election commission has not even told us
18:21how many illegal so-called ghuspetyas they have found.
18:24They should be telling that.
18:25But I want to ask you this, Sudhanshu Ji.
18:27In May 2024, Lok Sabha, Vidhan Sabha.
18:30Between them in five months, Maharashtra's number of voters increased by 40 lakhs.
18:34Now, suddenly in August, they go down by two crores.
18:37Now, all of this is raising serious questions over the way SR is being implemented.
18:41Who is driving this SR?
18:42Gyanesh Kumar?
18:43And there is a belief that Gyanesh Kumar, therefore, has much to answer for the SR being implemented.
18:49Was it done, as many believe, with an agenda to win West Bengal at all costs
18:53because the BJP was desperate to win that state?
18:55Agenda is done.
18:56Now, according to Rahul Gandhi, the BJP wants to capture all elections.
19:01He says this is the reason why he claimed there is no anti-incumbency in any other state
19:06because BJP wants to capture it through electoral rolls.
19:08A final reply on that?
19:13I have already said, again I am reminding, how many BLAs, Booth Label Agents,
19:18which are the political party, has given complaint during Maharashtra election?
19:21Answer is almost no.
19:23Now, anti-incumbency.
19:25Yes, of course, there is an anti-incumbency against Congress.
19:28Since 1967, they couldn't come back in Tamil Nadu.
19:31Since 1977, not in West Bengal.
19:33Since 1990 in U.P. and Bihar, 1995 in Gujarat, 1999 in Odisha and in Tripura.
19:40And to the surprise and to the knowledge of everybody,
19:43they cannot win their own constituency.
19:47The anti-incumbency is so high that rivalry,
19:50they have to win on the rehm-o-karam of Samajwadi Party.
19:53Since 25 years, Samajwadi Party is supporting Congress in Amity rivalry.
19:57And in Vainal, they cannot win without the fuzzle-o-karam of the Muslim League.
20:02Yes, of course, he's correct.
20:04It is the anti-incumbency against the family,
20:06which is trying to portray against...
20:08I have given so many examples in which the BJP was not there.
20:1134 years of communist rule.
20:12Now, there's 25 years of BJD rule.
20:1515 years of Lalu Prasad Yado rule.
20:17So, that's why we want to say that whatever he's saying...
20:21Or one more thing.
20:23Rajdeepji, you remembering in the press conference, he said
20:25that how you came to know about anti-incumbency?
20:29His reply was, when I was seven years of old.
20:31And Indra Ji was Prime Minister.
20:33Rahul Gandhi's date of birth is 19 June 1970.
20:36So, he completed seven years of 19 June 1977.
20:39And Indra Gandhi lost the election in March 1977.
20:43So, when he was seven years old, Indra Gandhi was out of power.
20:46Who doesn't know the history of his own family?
20:49And he's saying that at the age of seven years,
20:51he was understanding the competency and entering the mercy.
20:54Such a huge level of wisdom.
20:55And such a level of skewed...
20:58Whatever you can say, we cannot match it.
21:02You're a good spokesperson.
21:04You seem to be today also defending Gyanesh Kumar.
21:07But let me leave it there.
21:08I appreciate you joining me and giving that strong defense.
21:11What you believe is a strong defense of the election commission.
21:15Good to have you on the show.
21:16Okay, let's go across now to Pawan Khera.
21:18Rajya Sabha MP and the head of the Congress's media self.
21:22Good to also have you, Pawan Khera, on the show.
21:25Sudhanshu Trivedi just saying that the arguments that the Congress is making
21:28for the removal of Gyanesh Kumar simply don't hold water.
21:32That all of this is a sign of frustration and desperation of the Congress.
21:35It can't defeat Narendra Modi.
21:37How do you respond?
21:38That he's saying Rahul Gandhi just doesn't get it.
21:43First of all, why is Sudhanshu Trivedi, who is the BJP spokesperson,
21:48coming to the defense of Gyanesh Kumar Gupta?
21:52That's our first question.
21:53Number two, right for the last two years, Rahul Gandhi and our other leaders
22:00have been talking, giving evidence from Mahadevpura, from Maharashtra,
22:04from Haryana, from different parts of the country,
22:06evidence of wrongdoing by the election commission
22:09under the patronage protection of the election commission of India.
22:13Well, some of you believed us, some of you didn't believe us.
22:15Now, from within the election commission, some things have come out.
22:21These things have come out because of the media.
22:23The media has brought it out, not the Congress party.
22:26So now let the election commission respond.
22:29Where is Gyanesh Kumar Gupta, who had the audacity as a bureaucrat,
22:33had the audacity to challenge his opposition,
22:38asking him to give some evidence or apologize to the country
22:41within 48 hours when Rahulji did his press conference.
22:45Now, 23rd September, the expose came out, Rajdeep.
22:48We are still waiting.
22:49Where on earth is Gyanesh Kumar Gupta?
22:54You know, Mavan Khera Ji, the fact is,
22:58can you on the basis of a newspaper report at this stage,
23:01which the BJP says does not even have direct attributed comments,
23:05ask for the resignation of Gyanesh Kumar.
23:07The fact that there are differences in the election commission,
23:10the fact that two election commissioners deferred on certain issues,
23:13the press release of the election commission says,
23:15all decisions were passed unanimously.
23:18They've reiterated that today, including on SIR.
23:21In the circumstances, therefore,
23:22the BJP and the government says,
23:25what is the, why should Gyanesh Kumar resign?
23:27Differences are okay, but the decisions were unanimous.
23:32Well, one after the other,
23:34not just one newspaper report, which is the Indian Express,
23:38it's the Reporters Collective, it's Hindustan Times,
23:41the VIP listing of voters in Delhi,
23:45half of Delhi deleted from voters list,
23:4813 crore people deleted from India,
23:50from across the country.
23:53Every day, something or the other is coming out against him.
23:57And the guy refuses to even acknowledge
24:01what came out in the Indian Express
24:03is not just that two people deferred,
24:06but there are several anomalies,
24:09which are happening under the watch
24:13of Gyanesh Kumar Gupta.
24:15Answers will not come.
24:17We don't need any answers.
24:18The country is done with answers.
24:20No, we need a resignation.
24:22We need this man,
24:24who is supposed to be the watchdog
24:25of the electoral process in this country,
24:28is absolutely compromised.
24:30You are saying we need the resignation,
24:33but is this demand for resignation,
24:35Mr. Khera,
24:35simply trying to set the narrative somewhere
24:37that India's elections are not free and fair?
24:39Is this about creating this perception?
24:42Because, you know,
24:43you've asked for resignation in the past
24:45of various officials in the Modi government.
24:47In most cases,
24:47no one has stepped down.
24:48So, is this actually about getting
24:50Gyanesh Kumar to resign?
24:51Do you really believe
24:52if Gyanesh Kumar goes out tomorrow,
24:54suddenly the elections of India
24:55will be free and fair?
24:56Is it all at the doorstep of one individual?
25:01No, there will be fear in the institutions,
25:04in the people who occupy these institutions,
25:06that they are not supposed to just be
25:08his master's voice.
25:09They have to do their job
25:11and do it honestly.
25:13Dharmin Pradhan had to go
25:14after Rahul Gandhi sat on a dharna
25:16at the Prime Minister's house,
25:17after the CJP sat on a dharna
25:20and Jantar Mantra.
25:21People have to go.
25:22And Gyanesh Kumar Gupta
25:24is just the beginning.
25:25It is the puppeteers
25:27who are being attacked,
25:29who are being questioned,
25:30who are being called out.
25:32Gyanesh Kumar Gupta is just,
25:34he's just a pawn.
25:36And Rajdeep,
25:40in Chandni Chowk,
25:42in a particular booth,
25:43there's just one voter left.
25:45Everybody else eliminated.
25:46There are,
25:47in the election results we have seen,
25:50there are booth after booth,
25:51there are examples
25:52of people getting one vote,
25:56two votes,
25:57whereas their entire family lives there.
25:59So, we know what's happening.
26:01Rahul Gandhi has been talking about it
26:03for the last two years.
26:04None of you believed it.
26:06Now, I told you so moment again
26:09for Rahul Gandhi.
26:10I mean, he gets these moments
26:11every three, four months.
26:13You know, you're saying
26:15it's a told you so moment
26:16of Rahul Gandhi,
26:17but Pawan Kheda,
26:17the truth of the matter also is,
26:19as the BJP is now putting it,
26:21they claim anti-incumbency
26:23is not against Mr. Modi.
26:24The fact is,
26:25it's against the Congress,
26:26which is why,
26:27and they're giving examples,
26:28Congress never returns to power
26:29in several states
26:30across a long period of time.
26:32And they are giving
26:33those hard facts,
26:34whether it's in Uttar Pradesh,
26:36whether it is other states,
26:38West Bengal, for example,
26:39the Congress hasn't come back
26:41to power for years.
26:42Are you saying,
26:42therefore, on what basis
26:44are you saying that
26:44the anti-incumbency
26:46is against Mr. Modi
26:47and because that anti-incumbency
26:49is not being witnessed,
26:50the election commission
26:51is compromised.
26:52They are saying
26:53that's an insult
26:54to the voters of the country
26:55who they claim
26:56are voting for Narendra Modi.
27:00I'll take all these arguments
27:02at face value for a minute.
27:04Tell me,
27:05why was the law
27:06of appointing
27:07the election commissioner changed?
27:09Why did the parliament
27:11throwing 141 MPs out
27:13pass that law
27:14of giving lifelong immunity
27:16to the CEC?
27:17Why?
27:18If everything is hunky-dory
27:19and Narendra Modi
27:20is so popular,
27:21why do you need
27:22all these laws?
27:23Why do you need
27:24to block SSR
27:25to block the Gen Z voters?
27:27Why do you need
27:28this kind of NSIR?
27:30Why do you need
27:30all central forces
27:33occupying West Bengal
27:34six months before
27:36the elections?
27:36Narendra Modi
27:37is popular.
27:38Why do you need
27:38all these things?
27:39Why do you need
27:39to do all these things?
27:40Tell me.
27:41So,
27:42we are also talking
27:43hard facts,
27:44Radhip.
27:44The fact that
27:46the law was changed,
27:47the fact that
27:47the CJI was removed,
27:49the fact that
27:50lifelong immunity
27:51was given
27:52are hard facts.
27:54You can't
27:55question these facts
27:56also.
27:57You know,
27:58Mr. Khera,
27:59I want to understand
28:00therefore,
28:01has the,
28:02you know,
28:03you are saying
28:05the puppeteers
28:06are the ones
28:06behind
28:08Gyanesh Kumar.
28:09Presumably,
28:09your reference,
28:10you didn't name them,
28:10is to people
28:11in the Narendra Modi
28:12government.
28:13Yesterday,
28:14Rahul Gandhi
28:14seemed to refer
28:15to Amit Shahji,
28:16for example,
28:17as a benefactor
28:18of Gyanesh Kumar.
28:19Now,
28:19there are those
28:20who will say
28:21that when the
28:21Congress was in power,
28:22there were
28:22chief election
28:23commissioners
28:23close to the
28:24Congress.
28:25They specifically
28:26name,
28:27for example,
28:28Naveen Chawla
28:28as someone
28:29close to the
28:29Gandhi family
28:30who became
28:30chief election
28:31commissioner.
28:32They are saying
28:33puppeteers running
28:34the election
28:35commission using
28:36Amit Shah's
28:36photograph as
28:37if to suggest
28:38there is a
28:38jugalbandi between
28:39Amit Shah and
28:40Gyanesh Kumar.
28:41This is all
28:41based on your
28:43attempt to create
28:44a perception,
28:46a narrative.
28:50People were
28:50close to us.
28:51Obviously,
28:52we have been in
28:53power for so long.
28:54We have been in
28:54government for so long.
28:55Bureaucrats will
28:55get close to some
28:56leader or the
28:57other.
28:57That's okay.
28:58That happens.
28:58But did you ever
29:01see Congress
29:02Party protect
29:03the chief election
29:05commissioner through
29:06the act of
29:07parliament,
29:07giving him
29:08lifelong immunity?
29:09Did you ever
29:10see Congress
29:10Party
29:11diluting the
29:12norms and
29:13trying to
29:13appoint people?
29:15Did you ever
29:15see Congress
29:16Party removing
29:16the norm of
29:17preserving the
29:19CCTV footage in
29:20the voting
29:22booth?
29:23Everything has
29:23been done.
29:24Why?
29:25So don't
29:26compare what
29:26happened during
29:27Congress Party
29:28and not what's
29:28happening now.
29:29In any case,
29:30two wrongs don't
29:30make a right.
29:31What we did was
29:32not wrong.
29:33Well, show us
29:33one wrongdoing.
29:34Show us one
29:35wrongdoing where
29:36the people were
29:36out on the streets,
29:37where all of you
29:38were doing stories
29:39against the election
29:39process, where the
29:40sanctity of voters
29:41list was completely
29:43lost.
29:43Show me one
29:44example.
29:45And then let's
29:46talk hard facts
29:46since you love
29:47that word.
29:48Is the opposition
29:50united though,
29:51Mr. Khera,
29:52on this?
29:52Because you've
29:52got a situation
29:53when an impeachment
29:54motion was moved
29:55in February this
29:56year by the TMC
29:57against Gyanesh
29:58Kumar in
29:58Parliament, the
29:59Congress did not
30:00fully back it.
30:00When there was a
30:01vote-chori yatra
30:02that Rahul Gandhi
30:03took up last year,
30:05opposition parties
30:06like the TMC
30:06didn't stand by you.
30:07I want to
30:08understand now,
30:09is the opposition
30:10fully behind
30:11impeaching or
30:12forcing Gyanesh
30:13Kumar to go or
30:14is this still a
30:14Congress-led, Rahul
30:15Gandhi-led,
30:16personal agitation?
30:20It's, Razdeep,
30:21the entire country,
30:22the citizens are
30:23realizing that
30:24something is
30:25absolutely amiss
30:26in the election
30:27process.
30:28When the citizens
30:29get that realization,
30:31political parties
30:32can't be so
30:32isolated, completely
30:34alienated from what
30:35the people of
30:36India think.
30:37We absolutely
30:38are convinced
30:39that all right-minded
30:41people, outside
30:43India and some
30:44of them inside
30:45India, I welcome
30:46what Chirag Paswan
30:47had to say today,
30:49will stand by this.
30:50They will stand by
30:51the people of India.
30:52That's the faith that
30:53I have in our
30:54political parties.
30:55My final question
30:56then to Mr. Keda,
30:58does the Congress
30:58party support at
31:00least the cleaning
31:00of electoral rolls
31:01or not?
31:02Do you want the
31:02electoral rolls of
31:03this country to be
31:04cleaned up?
31:04The BJP says,
31:06and the election
31:06commission says,
31:07SIR is part of
31:08the process of
31:09cleaning up
31:09electoral rolls to
31:10ensure only genuine
31:11voters vote in
31:13the country.
31:16Mr. Modi may
31:17like to believe that
31:18whatever he does has
31:19happened for the
31:19first time in the
31:20country, but SIR
31:21had happened in
31:222003 also.
31:23Did you see this
31:24hue and cry?
31:26Because there was
31:27sanctity of
31:27institutions, because
31:28there was a
31:29sanctity of the
31:30process.
31:30That sanctity
31:31stands completely
31:34compromised, diluted
31:35and exposed.
31:36There is nothing
31:38left of the word
31:39sanctity in the
31:40election commission
31:41of India.
31:41Gyanesh Kumar
31:42Gupta will pay a
31:44heavy price for
31:45what he has done
31:45to this country.
31:46He should
31:48apologize to the
31:49country.
31:50He should turn
31:51approver if he
31:52doesn't want to
31:52face the kind of
31:53trial which is in
31:54store for him.
31:56Pavan Khaira, for
31:57joining us on the
31:57show tonight, we
31:58have heard two
31:59views.
31:59Appreciate you also
32:00joining us, Sudhanshu
32:01Trivedi first, now
32:03Pavan Khaira.
32:04Okay, I want to get
32:05a third player in
32:05because the Kokruj
32:06Janta party is back
32:08and they are saying
32:09that if Gyanesh
32:09Kumar doesn't resign
32:11by this weekend,
32:12they are starting an
32:13agitation from
32:13October 2nd, Gandhi
32:15Jainti.
32:16Ashutosh Ranka,
32:17co-convenor CJP
32:18now joins me.
32:19Ashutosh Ranka, is
32:20this in some way
32:23Kokruj Janta party
32:242.0, you got
32:25Dharmendra Pradhan's
32:26resignation, now you
32:27want to target
32:28Gyanesh Kumar, are
32:29you serious?
32:30Do you really
32:30believe that Gyanesh
32:31Kumar can step
32:32down a constitutional
32:33body because the
32:34CJP wants him out?
32:38First of all,
32:38Razdeep, let me
32:40just say that it's
32:41good to see you in
32:42a different look, I
32:43like the kurta, I
32:44just wanted to point
32:45that out first.
32:46Now as far as
32:47Gyanesh Kumar is
32:48concerned, it's not
32:49about what CJP
32:50wants, it's about
32:51what the people of
32:52this country want.
32:53And let me just
32:55give you a very
32:55concrete example of
32:56what I mean by
32:57that.
32:57I have been in
32:58remote tribal areas
32:59of Rajasthan for
33:00almost a week now
33:01and I went to a
33:02village called
33:03Pahara in
33:04Pratapgarh, which
33:05doesn't have a
33:06phone network 80
33:07years after
33:07independence and
33:08this is like a
33:09few kilometers away
33:09from Udaipur.
33:10I was visiting
33:11schools there,
33:12schools are in
33:12horrible condition
33:14and then people
33:15there are saying
33:15that this school
33:16will be fine,
33:17do it fine,
33:18but our vote is
33:19getting
33:20to talk about
33:21that.
33:23We have to ask
33:23the government
33:24to ask
33:24the government,
33:25we don't like it,
33:26we don't have to change it.
33:28We have to
33:28keep our vote
33:28getting
33:28to people on the ground
33:32feel that their
33:33elections are being
33:34stolen, people on the
33:35ground know that the
33:36elections are
33:37compromised, it's not
33:38a playing even
33:39playing field and let
33:40alone it being an
33:41unfair game.
33:42It is a rigged game,
33:43it is a fixed match.
33:44It is not that
33:45only pitch is
33:46over-kha-verd
33:46so you have to
33:47play batsmen
33:47extra carefully.
33:49Pitch,
33:50empire has
33:51fixed the decision
33:52fixed.
33:55So you are
33:57telling me
33:58that from
33:59school
33:59Sudharo
34:00you are going
34:00to go to
34:01EC
34:01Badlo
34:02or EC
34:02Sudharo.
34:03You are going
34:03to move
34:04away from
34:04your school
34:05Sudharo
34:06agitation
34:06to EC
34:08Badlo
34:08and you are
34:08telling me
34:09the people
34:09in a village
34:10in Udaipur
34:11or in Rajasthan
34:13are echoing
34:13this feeling?
34:14That they
34:15actually believe
34:15that there is
34:16rigging going
34:17on in the
34:17election commission?
34:19They've all
34:20voted in recent
34:21elections.
34:22Absolutely,
34:23absolutely.
34:24People on
34:25the ground,
34:26there is a
34:26very strong
34:26sentiment on
34:28the ground
34:28right now
34:29that the
34:29elections are
34:30compromised.
34:30And as far
34:31as the
34:31school
34:31thikaro
34:32campaign is
34:32concerned,
34:33as I said,
34:35the campaign
34:36will continue,
34:36we have been
34:37visiting schools,
34:37we will continue
34:38visiting schools.
34:39But none of
34:39these campaigns
34:40matter if the
34:42political change
34:43is simply not
34:43possible.
34:44What if
34:45tomorrow the
34:46people of
34:47Rajasthan decide
34:47that this
34:48government is
34:49not ready to
34:49fix the schools,
34:50we will vote
34:50them out?
34:51Doesn't matter.
34:52The elections
34:53are compromised.
34:54The playing
34:55field is rigged.
34:56So yes,
34:57at this point
34:58in time,
34:59our democracy
35:00is at stake.
35:01And we have
35:02to protect it
35:02at all costs.
35:04Are you all
35:05going to do
35:05your own
35:05agitation as a
35:06result?
35:07You've got the
35:07Congress Party
35:08agitating,
35:08calling for
35:09Gyanesh Kumar to
35:10go.
35:10You've got other
35:10parties to do.
35:11Now,
35:11Kokruj Janta Party
35:12wants to start
35:13Jantar Mantra 2.0.
35:16So see,
35:17it's not about
35:18our own agitation
35:19or their own
35:21agitation.
35:21Everyone needs
35:22to speak in
35:23one direction.
35:24And I'm glad
35:24that not just
35:26Congress but
35:26other political
35:27parties, I was
35:28following what
35:29happened in
35:29Jantar Mantra
35:30today as well.
35:32Everyone should
35:32speak in one
35:33direction and
35:33everyone should
35:34speak in one
35:35voice.
35:36Will you join
35:37hands?
35:37Are you willing
35:39to join hands?
35:39Are you willing
35:40as a newbie
35:42political force
35:43if I may call
35:44you that to
35:44join hands with
35:45the older parties
35:46like the Congress
35:46if they come to
35:48you?
35:48I think
35:49working together
35:50doesn't always
35:51mean that
35:51everyone is
35:52in one platform
35:53and they are
35:54doing the same.
35:55If at this
35:56point today
35:57Congress is
35:58talking about
35:58Gyanesh Kumar's
35:59resignation,
36:00CJP is
36:00talking about
36:01Gyanesh Kumar's
36:01resignation,
36:02all the different
36:03civil society
36:05organizations are
36:06talking about
36:06his resignation,
36:07that means we
36:08are already
36:08speaking in
36:09one direction.
36:10In fact,
36:11not just these
36:12organizations,
36:13not just political
36:14pressure groups
36:14like ours,
36:15there is a
36:16strong sentiment
36:16on the ground
36:17that people
36:18want him
36:18gone.
36:19People want
36:20this election
36:20commission to
36:21be fixed
36:21structurally.
36:22People want
36:23the elections
36:23to be free
36:24and fair.
36:25You are telling
36:26me in a remote
36:26village in
36:29Rajasthan,
36:29this is the
36:30top issue
36:30that Gyanesh
36:31Kumar should
36:32go?
36:32Are you really
36:33telling me that?
36:38What I'm saying
36:39is that people
36:41across the
36:42country, not
36:43just the ones
36:44living in cities
36:45who can speak
36:45English, who
36:46understand the
36:47nitty gritties and
36:48technicalities of
36:49how election
36:51commission functions,
36:52people living in
36:53far off villages
36:54also feel that the
36:55elections have been
36:56rigged, that their
36:57votes are, that
36:59a lot of people
37:00across the country
37:01are being denied
37:01the right to vote.
37:02People feel that
37:03vote-chori
37:04is happening.
37:05BJP says,
37:06forget vote-chori.
37:07You are voting
37:07who is giving
37:08the vote-chori.
37:09BJP says,
37:10Narendra Modi is
37:11an extremely
37:11popular leader.
37:12You have to
37:12accept this
37:13popularity.
37:14Opposition
37:14parties are
37:15unwilling to
37:15accept the
37:16popularity of
37:17the leader.
37:17Hence, they
37:17claim there is
37:18vote-chori.
37:22No, I don't
37:23understand that
37:24why BJP
37:25defend the
37:26election commission
37:27coming.
37:28At least
37:29technically,
37:31I mean, we
37:31all know how
37:32election commission
37:32has been
37:33operating, but
37:33at least on
37:34the paper,
37:35election commission
37:35is supposed to
37:36be an
37:36independent
37:37statutory body.
37:39So why is the
37:39chief election
37:40commissioner not
37:41coming and
37:41giving a press
37:42conference,
37:42clarifying what
37:44the Indian
37:44Express report
37:45said?
37:45Why are the
37:46other two
37:46election commissioners
37:47not coming out
37:48and denying
37:49what the
37:50Indian Express
37:51report says?
37:52I have not
37:53heard any
37:53form of
37:54disagreement
37:54with the
37:56dissent that
37:57was talked
37:57about in
37:57that investigation.
37:58But yes, I
37:59have definitely
38:00seen Samit
38:01Patra coming
38:01on television,
38:02doing press
38:02conferences.
38:03I have seen
38:04Sudhanju Trivedi
38:05and I have seen
38:06all the other
38:06BJP spokespersons
38:07coming out.
38:08Because you are
38:08linking Gyanesh
38:10Kumar to the
38:11BJP.
38:12You are saying
38:12Gyanesh Kumar
38:13is only a pawn
38:15in the hands of
38:16the real puppeteers
38:17and the BJP.
38:18Naturally,
38:18they will come
38:18out to defend
38:19him.
38:20And they are
38:21absolutely
38:22confirming that
38:24relationship.
38:26They are
38:26absolutely
38:26confirming that
38:27relationship.
38:28Gyanesh Kumar
38:29is a question.
38:30If Gyanesh Kumar
38:31is going to
38:31defend Gyanesh Kumar,
38:33the other
38:34election commissioners
38:35defend the
38:36order was
38:37wrong.
38:38Everything was
38:38unanimous.
38:39So can I
38:40get in conclusion?
38:41Are you telling
38:42me October 2nd,
38:43if Gyanesh Kumar
38:43is not out of
38:44office, we are
38:45going to see
38:45Jantar Mantar
38:462.0?
38:49Absolutely.
38:50Absolutely.
38:51We will take it
38:51to the streets.
38:52We will make
38:53this a national
38:53movement.
38:54People across
38:55the country have
38:57to be mobilized.
38:57They are already
38:58charged.
38:59This is about
39:00saving and
39:01protecting our
39:01democracy.
39:02This is about
39:04protecting our
39:04fundamental right,
39:05about our
39:06constitutional right
39:06to vote.
39:07Who the hell is
39:08Gyanesh Kumar to
39:09deny us that
39:09right?
39:1013 crore citizens
39:11in this country
39:12have been removed
39:13from the voter
39:14list.
39:15The only data
39:16point that we
39:16have about how
39:17these appeals
39:18fared out in
39:19tribunal is that
39:19of Bengal.
39:2090% of those
39:21voters who were
39:22deleted got back
39:23on that list.
39:25Extrapoliting that
39:26means that 12
39:26crore voters,
39:27genuine voters
39:28have probably been
39:29denied the right
39:29to vote.
39:30There can be
39:31nothing more
39:32dangerous than
39:32this in a
39:33functioning democracy.
39:34Let me leave
39:35it there.
39:36Ashutosh Ranka
39:37joining me there
39:38saying that they
39:39will start an
39:40agitation to
39:41remove Gyanesh
39:42Kumar if he
39:42doesn't step
39:43down by the
39:43weekend.
39:43Good to have
39:44you also on
39:45the show.
39:45Three different
39:46points of view.
39:46You decide what
39:48really Gyanesh
39:49Kumar should do.
39:50But the fact is
39:51on the ground.
39:52Let's look at on
39:53the ground what's
39:54happening and
39:54particularly here in
39:55the national
39:56capital where
39:57remember nearly
39:5847.6 lakh
39:59voters, almost
40:0050% are either
40:02have been deleted
40:03while notices
40:04have gone out
40:05to more than
40:0533 lakhs.
40:06At the two, it
40:07comes to more
40:08than half of
40:08Delhi's electorate.
40:09Now, former
40:10diplomats, senior
40:11citizens say the
40:12process is proving
40:13impossible to
40:14navigate.
40:15Shivani Sharma
40:16brings you the
40:17details from one
40:18high-profile colony
40:20in the heart of
40:21the capital.
40:26The special
40:27intensive revision
40:28of the voter
40:29list in Delhi
40:30has seen
40:31deletion of
40:3247.57
40:33lakh voters.
40:36Of the
40:36remaining 97.54
40:38lakh voters who
40:40made it to the
40:41draft roll, the
40:42election commission
40:42has served notices
40:44to more than
40:4433 lakh people.
40:47Those impacted
40:48include former
40:49diplomats, bureaucrats,
40:51politicians and
40:52judges.
40:54Former diplomat
40:55G. Partha
40:56Sarthi, who has
40:57voted throughout his
40:58life, tells India
41:00today his name
41:01has not been mapped
41:02to the 2002
41:03electoral roll
41:04and that a
41:05booth-level officer
41:06has visited his
41:07residence for
41:08verification.
41:10Partha Sarthi
41:11described the
41:12SIR process as
41:13questionable, with
41:15many discrepancies in
41:16the process.
41:21First sacked the
41:22bosses, that I'm
41:25very clear, because
41:27they have caused
41:28harassment to the
41:28public and to
41:30ordinary people like
41:31me in our 80s.
41:34And it was totally
41:37done in a very
41:38casual manner.
41:41Many in his
41:43apartment complex,
41:44where several former
41:45diplomats live, have
41:47been served notices.
41:49The issue is the
41:50process.
41:51The process is
41:52dystopian.
41:53It's designed to
41:54exclude rather than
41:55include.
41:57And now we get a
41:59notice, Shihid
42:00they were supposed to
42:00appear with documents,
42:02and it's still not
42:04clear what is
42:04acceptable, what is
42:05not acceptable.
42:06There's a lot of
42:07confusion.
42:08The very fact that
42:09there is so much of
42:10confusion in the
42:11common man, including
42:15us, who are well
42:17educated people, and
42:19we represented India
42:20abroad.
42:21It is obvious that
42:23the excise was not
42:25well thought of, at
42:26least in the
42:27implementation.
42:28And implementation is
42:29very haphazard.
42:31Election officials in
42:32Delhi claimed names of
42:34most prominent voters
42:35who have received
42:37notices and have been
42:38cleared after
42:39verification.
42:41Earlier notices were
42:42issued to Delhi
42:42Chief Minister Rekha
42:44Gupta, former Delhi
42:45Chief Minister Arvind K.
42:47Triwal, External
42:48Affairs Minister S.
42:50Jai Shankar, former
42:52Deputy PM L.K.
42:53Advani, and many
42:55other prominent
42:55personalities.
42:57After this fiasco, the
42:59Election Commission
43:00asked the BLOs to
43:02mark VIPs in their
43:03wraps, indicating
43:05preferential treatment
43:06government for them.
43:07The Election Commission
43:09has now clarified the
43:10same facility will be
43:11extended to the voters
43:13with special abilities,
43:14the elderly aged over
43:1680, eminent artists,
43:18sports persons, public
43:20servants, senior
43:22journalists, and other.
43:24With Shivani Sharma, Bureau
43:26Report, India Today.
43:32So amidst this utter chaos,
43:35should the SIR exercise be
43:37completely suspended or
43:39actually scrapped?
43:40What's the legal position?
43:41Joining me now, Arya Maa
43:43Sundaram, senior advocate of
43:44the Supreme Court of India.
43:46Mr. Sundaram, appreciate
43:47you joining us.
43:49There is this big battle now
43:50over whether SIR should be
43:51suspended or scrapped.
43:52What's your view on the
43:54legal position, given the
43:55fact that the Supreme
43:56Court has already given
43:57it constitutional validity?
44:01The fact, Rajdeep, is
44:03in any kind of scheme,
44:06policy, legislation, there
44:08are two aspects.
44:09One is the legality of
44:10what is sought to be done.
44:12The other is the legality
44:14in the manner of doing it.
44:16You see, very often you
44:17say that an authority has
44:19the power to pass and
44:20work.
44:20But the manner in which
44:22the order has been passed
44:23can always be subject to
44:24judicial review.
44:25So here, while the concept
44:28of the SIR, the scheme of
44:29the SIR policy has been
44:31approved, if in its actual
44:33functioning, there are
44:35various irregularities, there
44:37are procedural flaws, there
44:39are problems which come in,
44:40those can always be
44:42questioned.
44:42Even though the
44:43constitutionality of the
44:44concept has been upheld,
44:46the correctness of the
44:48actions being implemented
44:50they're under, are always
44:51subject to judicial review.
44:53So I would say that while
44:56constitutionally it has been
44:57upheld that there can be an
44:58SIR, on that we cannot
45:00question it, you can still
45:02always question the manner in
45:04which it is being
45:04implemented, which is where I
45:07think we are right now.
45:09Right now where we are is
45:11that it's given a second innings
45:13for people to say, look, the
45:16very fact that the manner of
45:17implementation has so many
45:20problems, has so many
45:22irregularities, has so many
45:23illegalities, would that not
45:25therefore militate against the
45:27SIR itself as being something
45:30which is so fraught with
45:32problems that it cannot be
45:34implemented and should that not
45:36be taken a second look on?
45:37So what you are effectively
45:39telling me is judicial review
45:40could well now be done given
45:42the manner in which SIR has been
45:44implemented, the fact that
45:46there were serious differences
45:47within the election commission
45:48on the way it was being
45:49implemented, questions over
45:51the centralized software that
45:53overrules election
45:54registration officers, form 6
45:56rules being changed, all of
45:57this you are saying could lead
45:58to a fresh judicial review, am
46:00I correct?
46:02Absolutely, yes.
46:05So there is nothing sacrosanct in
46:07that sense about the SIR that
46:09even at this stage it can be
46:11suspended or scrapped till these
46:13concerns over implementation
46:14at least are addressed?
46:16Well, whether it is to be
46:18scrapped or suspended at the
46:20first instance, is an executive
46:22decision, a policy decision by
46:24the government.
46:25It can be a legislative decision
46:27also.
46:28But if the government decides not
46:30to and goes ahead with this,
46:32then it can always be open to
46:35an action in a court of law to
46:38relook at the manner in which it
46:41is done and to invoke judicial
46:44review into that and then see
46:47whether the courts feel that it
46:50needs to be suspended on the
46:52ground that so many basics have
46:55gone wrong, that there are so many
46:58reasons to be ironed out, that there
47:01are so many problems yet to be
47:03solved.
47:03And therefore, as on date, its
47:06implementation is fraught with a lot
47:09of irregularities, procedural and
47:11otherwise, and therefore, is it
47:13something which has to be put in the
47:15back burner until all this can be
47:17ironed out?
47:18The reason I'm asking you this, it may
47:20be too late if there is a judicial
47:22review.
47:23We've seen what's happened in West
47:24Bengal.
47:2522 lakh appeals filed against those
47:27whose names were deleted and barely a
47:29fraction of those have been hurt by
47:31the tribunal so far.
47:32And out of the cases hurt, 93% have
47:34been found to be eligible citizens.
47:36But none of those citizens could vote
47:38when Bengal went to the polls in
47:39April.
47:40So it almost seems whatever the court
47:42does now, it'll be too little too late
47:44because people's names have already
47:46been deleted.
47:50Let's understand one thing.
47:52In matters like this, the court is
47:53the last recourse, not the first
47:54recourse.
47:56It is expected that an executive will
47:59do everything that is necessary, which
48:01is in the public interest and for the
48:03public good.
48:03It is expected that legislature will
48:06pass laws which are in the public
48:08interest and for the public good.
48:10It is when the executive and
48:11legislature fail that when one comes
48:14to court, you cannot say,
48:16the courts are failing because it will
48:18take a long time.
48:20However, the executive and legislature
48:23doing what they are doing is
48:25perfectly OK.
48:26That's not the case at all.
48:27Let me explain something else to you
48:29since you touched on it.
48:30According to me, the manner in which
48:33this whole SIR, voters removal,
48:35electoral rolls being revisited, etc.
48:37has been done, the number of pending
48:40cases there, I do not even see how they
48:42can be hurt and disposed of in any
48:44reasonable time.
48:45We are talking, I would say, a decade
48:48to actually go through all these cases
48:50and decide them.
48:52We don't have the infrastructure
48:53machinery which can decide on all
48:56these matters.
48:56Like somebody complains today, their
48:58decision is given by the evening.
49:00That doesn't exist.
49:01When that is not so, then even the
49:04citizens protest, the complaint.
49:06And don't forget, democracy is the
49:08fulcrum of our constitution.
49:10And a free and fair elections is the
49:14fulcrum of democracy.
49:16And a fair election commission is the
49:19fulcrum of free and fair elections.
49:21Right now, we are having doubts at the
49:23very root as to the election commission's
49:25functioning.
49:26It's a very worrying factor.
49:29Actually, what it really boils down to is
49:31the SIR was an idea which in itself
49:37cannot be faulted.
49:39However, its implementation and the
49:42correct manner in which it was done
49:43was imperative.
49:44And there the executive and especially
49:46the election commission have failed.
49:49And that's why the people are in
49:51complaint.
49:52Strong words from you there, A.R.
49:54Maasundaram.
49:54Good to have you on the show to give
49:55us the legal position.
49:57Okay, let's take a break at this
49:58point.
49:58And when we return, I'm turning to
50:00the other big story that's got a bit
50:01drowned out in the national media.
50:04The Viramani case.
50:05Center of what is really now a pot
50:08boiler in Tamil Nadu.
50:10Raising serious questions over the
50:12manner in which cases involving
50:16crimes are investigated in this
50:18country.
50:19Back in a moment, was there a cover up?
50:22Let's turn to another big story on the
50:24news today.
50:25The Viramani case is now at the center
50:27of Tamil Nadu's latest political
50:29flashpoint.
50:29A case that's raising serious
50:31questions over an investigation into
50:33a very, very serious crime.
50:35First closed, later reopened.
50:37The question is what happened in
50:38between?
50:39Take a look at a question surrounding
50:41the probe and the alleged cover-up of
50:43the case.
50:48Tamil Nadu's epstein files are making
50:50headlines now.
50:53Industrialist Viramani's free run,
50:55despite facing grave charges of
50:56sexually abusing minors, is a telling
50:59commentary on how the rich and mighty
51:01can get away with anything.
51:05Congress leader Ranjan Kumar claims he
51:07had lodged a complaint and even submitted
51:10screenshots related to the 84-year-old
51:13Granite Baron to the police in 2024.
51:17But no action was taken.
51:20The twist came on October 6th, 2025, when a
51:24whistleblower left a pen drive and a note
51:26at the office of the Indian Community
51:28Welfare Organization, an NGO run by
51:32A.J. Hariharan.
51:34The pen drive allegedly contained video
51:37evidence. Hariharan handed over the pen
51:40drive and note to the anti-wise cord
51:43of Chennai police.
51:47A lot of questions arises.
51:49Why are you taking it all the way to the
51:51A.V.S. anti-wise cord?
51:53You might have given to the local police.
51:55Why not you give?
51:56No, we work very closely with the anti-wise
51:58cord for the last 20 years.
52:00We told them this is happening.
52:02Then they said, if you are sure that
52:04this is an abusive video, you complained.
52:06Then we raised a complaint.
52:09But after nearly four months, the police
52:12dropped the investigation in February.
52:15One explanation given by the police was that
52:18the image was unclear and grainy.
52:20But we are living in the age of technology,
52:23where A.I. can be used to enhance footage.
52:27The other explanation was that the man's
52:29identity could not be confirmed from the video.
52:32Some argue, Veeramani had a clean image
52:35and no prior cases.
52:37But since, when does the absence of prior cases
52:40or a clean record establish innocence?
52:44The next big twist came in August,
52:46when a special Boxo court refused to close the case
52:50and ordered reinvestigation.
52:54The fresh probe led to the arrest of Veeramani,
52:57his alleged accomplice, Shanti,
52:59and her husband, Mahendra Simham,
53:01and his employee, Ganeshan.
53:03The delay in investigation raises two big questions.
53:07If the complaint was filed by Congress leader,
53:09Ranjan Kumar in 2024,
53:11why was no action taken then?
53:13And despite the pen drive and address details,
53:17why was no action taken by the police?
53:20And why was the investigation closed instant?
53:25Muro Report, India Today.
53:33Tamil Nadu's Epstein Files.
53:35We'll keep tracking that story in the days ahead.
53:37I want to turn to our good news story
53:39where Suruji Singh and Kamaljeet
53:42ended India's wait for a gold medal
53:45in shooting at the Asian Games,
53:46clinching the top prize
53:47in the 10-meter mixed-air pistol event.
53:50Suruji and Kamaljeet were in fine form
53:52and they spoke to us.
53:55Exclusive interaction with my colleague,
53:57Rahul Rawat.
53:58Listen in.
53:58Shooting their way to gold,
53:59pretty much on target.
54:01There are, there are, there are.
54:02And shooting from the Asian Games,
54:04the first gold medal is finally coming.
54:07Kamaljeet and Suruji,
54:09both shooting today,
54:1210-meter air pistol mixed team event
54:16and gave India gold gold.
54:18And such shooting,
54:20there was no way to go along with them.
54:23There was no way to go along with them.
54:24Yes, sir.
54:24Absolutely.
54:25Sir, let's go, sir.
54:27I don't have anything in my mind.
54:28I mean, this is that I have to do my best.
54:32My match.
54:33Then.
54:35Suruji.
54:40I didn't have anything in my mind.
54:42I just want to focus on my new game.
54:44I just want to focus on my own.
54:46Kamaljeet,
54:46let's talk a little bit about your background.
54:48If I can talk to you about the Army,
54:51if you want to join in the Army,
54:53it was apparently that you wanted to join in the Army.
54:56But unfortunately,
54:57you didn't join in the Army.
55:00You wouldn't join in the Army.
55:00And now,
55:01you can't join in the Army.
55:04There is a lot of satisfaction in my mind.
55:10Yes sir, it was pretty good.
55:14I was doing athletics in my childhood.
55:20I left my injury and I got shooting.
55:34And that's why I'm dressed in my traditional Indian wear.
55:37Because today is Ganesh Chaturthi's Visarjan day.
55:40And that's what we did a short while ago.
55:43Said goodbye to Ganpati Bappa and hope that he'll be back next year.
55:47And we hope that you had a peaceful, prosperous and hopefully not too noisy Ganpati.
55:55Full of devotion and colour.
55:59The goodbye always of course comes with one familiar request.
56:02Ganpati Bappa, Moriya, Puchya Varshi, Lavkariya.
56:06Come again soon.
56:07For now, stay well.
56:08Stay safe. Good night.
56:10Jubratri.
56:11Bye bye Bappa.
56:12Bye bye viewers.
56:13That was the news without the noise.
56:14Have a good weekend.
56:15Bye for now.
56:16Jubratri.