- 22 minutes ago
Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency diversion to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after the co-pilot attacked Captain Smit Majahar and attempted to seize control of the aircraft, which descended 14,000 feet and issued distress codes 7700 and 7500 before passengers and crew restrained the assailant. In New Delhi, leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc met to launch nationwide demonstrations seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the withdrawal of the SIR exercise, amid ongoing seat-sharing disputes between Congress and the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh. Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the conclusion of the BJP Nashamukt Punjab Yatra in Jalandhar, pledging to eliminate narcotics in Punjab by December 31, 2029, as political leaders and former law enforcement officials debated governance, de-addiction infrastructure, and narcotics seizure data ahead of state elections.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Good evening, you're watching India First. I'm Gaurav Saban. Big story coming in from West Asia.
00:06The pilot who saved more than 150 lives by fending off an alleged terror attack mid-air.
00:16An attempt by the co-pilot on board the Fly Dubai flight has been identified as an Indian pilot.
00:24Captain Smith Machar is an Indian national. He's from Gujarat.
00:29That's the information that's coming in. Captain Smith had joined Fly Dubai as a direct entry captain in June 2024.
00:38Now you remember India Today broke the story about how there was a mid-air scare.
00:44The co-pilot apparently, and this is what Israeli officials are saying, he tried to hijack the plane.
00:51He tried to actually ram the plane into the ground. That was the attempt.
00:56But the pilot, Captain Smith from India, he stopped him. He was stabbed repeatedly and yet he fought the co
01:06-pilot.
01:07Now information that's coming in, Captain Smith worked with SpiceJet between June 2011 and 2022 for about 11 years.
01:15He is a Boeing 737 fleet expert and has been very highly rated when it comes to safety and compliance.
01:27He's also mentored a number of pilots. But I will tell you a little more about him in greater detail.
01:34But let me get you more about this. So the images that you watch on your television screen, this was
01:38a Fly Dubai flight.
01:39This was a flight from Dubai to the Ben Gurion International Airport in Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.
01:48Israel's defense minister, Israel Katz, he's defined the incident that took place on board the Fly Dubai FZ1073 flight as
01:58a jihadist terror attack.
02:01Based on preliminary investigations, Israel Katz says the accused, the co-pilot, he intended to crash the plane and kill
02:10everyone on board.
02:12All on board, including the Israeli passengers and the pilots and the air crew, 180 of them.
02:21So this flight FZ1073 was heading from Dubai to Tel Aviv. This flight mid-air, it plunged 14,000 feet
02:30in just 30 seconds after the co-pilot mid-air.
02:34He stabbed the main pilot, which is Captain Smith. He repeatedly stabbed him in what is being seen as a
02:40suspected case of hijack or terror.
02:43Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said that the co-pilot who attacked the pilot has now been arrested.
02:50He's currently being interrogated by authorities in Saudi Arabia because the plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
02:57So the Israeli prime minister said that the pilot, the co-pilot, he tried to crash this plane.
03:04Passengers on board flight FZ1073 described scenes of panic after screams were heard coming from the cockpit.
03:13The flight was actually cruising at an altitude of approximately 34,000 feet before rapidly nose diving when it just
03:22lost altitude more than 14,000 feet.
03:25And then it gave out an emergency signal.
03:28First, the code 7700, which is a general emergency on board, and then code 7500.
03:347500 and 7500 is an emergency code to indicate unlawful interfering or a hijack.
03:40And this triggered fears of a hijacking within Israel, and Israel scrambled their fighter jets.
03:47Authorities tried to establish what's happening on board.
03:50The plane eventually, successfully and safely landed at Thabuk in Saudi Arabia.
03:57Reports say the co-pilot, and these are reports waiting independent verification.
04:03Reports from Jerusalem say that the co-pilot shouted Allahu Akbar before the stabbing spree, and then he was overpowered.
04:14I'll get you much more on the story, but first, listen in to Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
04:23This morning, there was a very serious security incident on a flight from Dubai to Israel.
04:29Almost all the passengers on the flight were Israelis.
04:33During the flight, as they approached the country, one of the pilots stabbed the other pilot,
04:38and apparently tried to crash the plane with everyone on board.
04:42I spoke with one of the Israeli passengers.
04:45He told me that the plane went into a spin and started to dive.
04:49He told me that somehow, he managed to break into the cockpit with one of the crew members,
04:53and together, they neutralized the stabbing pilot while he was trying to sabotage the plane's systems.
05:00Another flight crew member who was on the plane entered the cockpit and managed to stabilize the aircraft.
05:05I salute these heroes who showed resourcefulness and extraordinary courage.
05:10They saved many lives.
05:12They prevented a major disaster.
05:18This is extremely worrisome information that's coming in, information that's now being given out by Israel's prime minister,
05:26Benjamin Netanyahu, on this fly Dubai incident.
05:28And I quickly want to bring in India Today's ace team of correspondents and editors on this story.
05:33I have Sandeep, Unnithan, and Pranay Upadhyay, editor of India Today Global, joining me on this broadcast.
05:39Sandeep, this is extremely alarming.
05:42A plane with 180 passengers and crew on board takes over from Dubai,
05:46and suddenly when it's flying over Saudi Arabia or Jordan, it nosedives 14,000 feet.
05:53It's absolutely bizarre what happened.
05:55I mean, if you can't even trust the co-pilot or a pilot on board such a flight, it's very,
06:00very worrisome, Sandeep.
06:02Absolutely, Gaurav.
06:03I mean, what has happened is shocking beyond belief.
06:06And it's just 25 years since 9-11, Gaurav, just a few days back,
06:12we were observing the 25th anniversary of some of the most horrific terrorist incidents in the history of man.
06:18And here we are again, faced with this, you know, threat of pilots taking over aircraft and attempting to crash
06:27them.
06:27And Gaurav, you know, when I heard the Prime Minister of Israel's statement,
06:32I was reminded of United 93, which was the 4th of the September 11th aircraft.
06:38And that was the only aircraft which didn't fly into the target
06:41because the passengers rallied together and overpowered the hijackers
06:45and therefore they had to crash it into the Pennsylvania field before it could hit the Capitol Hill.
06:51And sadly, all of them lost their lives.
06:53All of them lost their lives, Gaurav.
06:54And here, fortunately, you know, here these passengers displayed exemplary presence of mind.
07:00150 of them, you know, overpowered this co-pilot
07:05and one of them even took the controls of the aircraft and, you know, landed it safely in Saudi Arabia.
07:11What a narrow escape it has been for all those passengers, Gaurav.
07:15Incredible story of survival, resilience and, you know, fortitude.
07:20Incredible.
07:21And it is, it just tells you that, you know, Israel, I mean, the people of Israel are, you know,
07:27they're exemplary, Gaurav, you know, so resourceful.
07:30And there were off-duty pilots, there were off-duty pilots of Israel on board
07:34returning from a vacation.
07:36And, you know, when the pilot was stabbed by the co-pilot.
07:39And Pranay, let me quickly bring Pranay into this conversation.
07:43Pranay, what more can you tell us?
07:45You've been speaking to your sources in Israel.
07:47We heard Israel Katz, the defense minister of Israel,
07:50who's described it as a jihadist terror attack.
07:54What more do we know of the co-pilot?
07:56And why is this being termed as a jihadist terror attack?
08:00Obviously, the horrific, you know, testimonies coming from the passengers on board this aircraft.
08:06In fact, you know, let me tell you, Gaurav, this flight is now taken off from Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.
08:12And now it is en route to Tel Aviv.
08:14It is about to land in Tel Aviv after, you know, after a few minutes.
08:18This is what we are being told.
08:20But having said that, you know, people, those who spoke to Israeli government officials
08:26and Israeli journalists as well on board that aircraft,
08:29they say that, you know, it was really horrific in terms of what happened in the cockpit.
08:34How, with the exemplary courage, these passengers have overpowered that pilot.
08:40And nobody knows that how and why he decided to stab the co-pilot.
08:46How did he get that pen knife inside the cockpit?
08:49And what exactly transpired at the beginning of the conversation or, like, what exactly happened?
08:55But this clearly shows that this is yet another attempt.
08:57And I think that is the reason why the Israeli government, you know, what we are being told that currently,
09:04Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, just before the statement,
09:07he was in a huddle with the security chiefs.
09:09He was with the Security Council, including Defence Minister Israel Kads.
09:13And, in fact, Israel is treating it as a possible terror attack or a plot to hijack the aircraft.
09:21And, in fact, Israel also offered the government of Saudi Arabia to send the three C-17 Hercules aircraft,
09:29C-132 Hercules aircraft, along with the fighter jets as well.
09:33But Saudi Arabia declined.
09:34And, in fact, the Fly Dubai aircraft, which is now carrying these passengers back to Tel Aviv now.
09:43Very, very alarming.
09:45And before I bring in Sandeep once again into this conversation, listen in to Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
09:50He's spoken to one of those on board.
09:52Imagine passengers, they managed to get inside the cockpit and then overpower the co-pilot.
09:58There is some information available about him, but we're still waiting for official confirmation about his origins,
10:03whether there's any verification of him having shouted Allahu Akbar before carrying out the stabbing and attempting to nosedive and
10:11crash this aircraft.
10:13Listen in to Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
10:18Citizens of Israel, this morning there was a very serious security incident on a flight from Dubai to Israel.
10:27Almost all the passengers on the flight were Israelis.
10:31During the flight, as they approached the country, one of the pilots stabbed the other pilot
10:35and apparently tried to crash the plane with everyone on board.
10:39I spoke with one of the Israeli passengers.
10:42He told me that the plane went into a spin and started to dive.
10:46He told me that somehow he managed to break into the cockpit with one of the crew members
10:50and together they neutralized the stabbing pilot while he was trying to sabotage the plane's systems.
10:57Another flight crew member who was on the plane entered the cockpit and managed to stabilize the aircraft.
11:03I salute these heroes who showed resourcefulness and extraordinary courage.
11:08They saved many lives.
11:10They prevented a major disaster.
11:14But imagine how worrisome the situation would have been.
11:19And some of these images, we don't want to show you these images because they're very disturbing
11:23when you see a lot of blood on the face of these passengers, crew members,
11:27and also the pilot who was repeatedly stabbed, the oxygen had to be given to him
11:33and then he was taken to hospital.
11:35Sandeep, is there more clarity on the condition of the pilot who was repeatedly stabbed
11:39and on passengers because some of the passengers were bleeding,
11:42some of the passengers had blood on their clothes?
11:45This must have been quite a bloody fight inside that cockpit and it's a very cramped cockpit.
11:51Yes, yes, Gaurav.
11:53And you know, you said it, you know, a fight like that in a cockpit where there's barely any room
11:58to stand,
12:00that would have been pretty terrifying.
12:01And we have those visuals, we can't show them, unfortunately, of the pilot who was stabbed repeatedly.
12:07There are visuals of him bleeding very, you know, profusely.
12:11And he's lying on the floor and he's being tended to.
12:14And this is the beauty of that flight, Gaurav, that the fact is that literally there were 150 Israelis on
12:20board.
12:21Literally all of them would have been combat trained, many of them would have been medics,
12:26there would have been specialists.
12:27So that pilot, tragic as this incident was, that pilot was in very good hands, Gaurav.
12:34And it's very likely that he will survive and he will possibly tell us what exactly happened
12:39in those very terrifying minutes inside the cockpit.
12:42What exactly led to this provocation?
12:45Why did this co-pilot suddenly turn violent and start stabbing him?
12:48Did he actually shout, as many witnesses are saying, did he shout, Allah, what was the plan?
12:54Was he planning to crash that plane down?
12:56Was he working alone?
12:57Was he working at the behest of someone else?
12:59So these are very big questions that literally the entire world will want to know, Gaurav.
13:03Because, you know, it comes at a very vulnerable time in the world where you're looking at multiple conflict theatres
13:10opening up
13:10and the last thing you want is for airline pilots or co-pilots in this case to start running amok,
13:17Gaurav.
13:18In fact, there already are reports that seem to indicate that there were global players who may have been involved.
13:24Of course, that's a matter of investigation.
13:27There's already a conflict going on in West Asia.
13:29But is there a silver lining?
13:31Does this pave the way?
13:32You know, for Israel and Saudi Arabia, they do not have diplomatic relations.
13:36Initial conversations was happening through outsiders when Israel offered to send in their planes to recover their people.
13:43And Saudi Arabia looked after all the passengers on board, gave them medical attention.
13:48And we'll talk about that in greater detail.
13:50But furthermore, Pranayopadhyay and Sandeep Unithan, many thanks for joining me.
13:54I now want to shift focus to our top political story at home.
13:58The opposition India bloc has upped the ante in their fight.
14:03Not just against the chief election commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, but also against the Bharatiya Janta Party.
14:09More than 20 opposition parties and leaders came together in the national capital for a crucial India bloc meeting.
14:16So from the Congress, there was Malik Arjun Karge, Congress Party president and leader of opposition in Lok Sabar Rahul
14:22Gandhi
14:22and Congress Party leader Sonia Gandhi.
14:24From the Thurmul Congress, Mamta Banerji and Abhishek Banerji were both there.
14:29From the RJD, Tejasvi Yadav.
14:31Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was representing the national conference.
14:34Mehu Aamufti from the PEDP was there.
14:36Supriya Sule from the NCP, Sharath Pawar Camp.
14:39And this meeting ended with a major announcement.
14:41A nationwide campaign, a protest week, a protest march to the EC office,
14:47major rallies across October and a joint rally on the 1st of November.
14:51But even as the India bloc had the show of unity,
14:55incidentally, Akhile Shadav of the Samajwadi Party stayed away.
14:58Samajwadi Party Chief Akhile Shadav, he skipped the meeting.
15:01Of course, he sent a party representative.
15:03The official explanation was that he's preparing for Rajasabha elections.
15:06But the timing is extremely significant.
15:10Uttar Pradesh heads to elections in 2027.
15:12There are several indications.
15:13All may not be well, at least for now, between the Congress and the Samajwadi Party.
15:19There is a divide between the two over seat allocation.
15:22The Congress is demanding upwards of 150 seats.
15:25The Samajwadi Party is offering under 100, maybe 80, maybe 90, maybe a little more.
15:32One of the biggest flashpoints remains the Rai Bareli Amethi belt.
15:36The Samajwadi Party wants three to four seats in this region.
15:40It's even eyeing Unchahar and Amethi.
15:44The Congress is unwilling to give up what it considers is its family bastard.
15:49But that's not the only flashpoint.
15:51Akhile Shadav chose Rai Bareli as the starting point of his PDA yatra.
15:55The Congress response announced, you know, campaigns from the Samajwadi Party stronghold.
16:01United in Delhi, but divided in Uttar Pradesh.
16:04In fact, that's the question that even the Bharatiya Janata Party is asking that is the India bloc together?
16:13They look at it as Rahul Gandhi's pet peeve, which had absolutely no traction in Bihar.
16:20And Akhile Shadav realizes it, according to the BJP, there will be no traction in UP.
16:25And the UP ke ladke may not be together on vote chori, is the BJP's claim.
16:30We get to more in this report.
16:35The India bloc is turning up the heat on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
16:41More than 20 opposition parties came together in Delhi today.
16:46Congress, RJD, TMC, National Conference, PDP, left parties, NCP's Sharad Bawar faction, all in the same room.
16:56The message was clear.
16:58A joint campaign against Gyanesh Kumar and the SIR exercise.
17:05Save democracy marches from October 2nd to 8th.
17:09A march to the Election Commission on October 6th.
17:12A request for meeting with President in second week of October.
17:16Five major rallies in October and November over the vote chori.
17:20A mega rally in Delhi on November 1st.
17:23An appeal for an early resolution of all SIR-related cases in the Supreme Court.
17:30Resignation of Gyanesh Kumar and rollback of SIR, these are the key demands of India bloc.
17:38This is personal commitment of all India leaders.
17:43We are going to ensure that the people who have destroyed Indian democracy are punished.
17:50Doesn't matter how senior they are, who they are, Indian democracy is bigger than every single person in this country.
18:01Rahul Gandhi, meanwhile, is confident that the India bloc will stand together and fight this battle.
18:08Again, I also mentioned to all the opposition leaders that they are the collective defenders of the Indian Constitution.
18:21And it is an honour for us to work together and we are confident that over the next few months
18:29we will make serious changes in the country.
18:38But while the opposition is putting up a united front against the election commission, there are serious question marks over
18:45the unity within the bloc.
18:49Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav skipped today's crucial India bloc meeting.
18:55The reason given, preparations for the Rajya Sabha elections.
19:01Akhilesh also attempted to brush aside speculation of a rift.
19:06Saying that the BJP's biggest concern is that the India bloc is united.
19:12But the Congress-SP fault lines are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
19:17Especially with the 2027 Uttar Pradesh elections looming.
19:24SP is offering it 85 to 90 seats.
19:27The tussle is over the Rai Bareli Amethi seats, while the SP wanting 3 to 4 seats in the region.
19:33The SP is eyeing Unchahar, Har Chandapur and Amethi seats, while the Congress is not ready to give away its
19:41strongholds.
19:43And the political messaging from both sides has only added fuel to the speculation.
19:49Akhilesh Yadav chose Rai Bareli, a Congress bastion, to launch his PDA yatra.
19:56The Congress in turn announced plans to campaign in Samajwadi Party strongholds.
20:01A tit-for-tat that has raised fresh questions over the alliance ahead of the UP polls.
20:07And then came another pointed remark from Rahul Gandhi's trusted aide, Imran Masood.
20:14He claimed that the Congress-SP alliance would perform better if Rahul Gandhi leads it.
20:28The Samajwadi Party has hit back, saying Congress cannot compete against the BJP on its own.
20:55The opposition seems united in its fight against election commission.
20:59But when it comes to fighting elections, the divide is there for everyone to see.
21:05Bureau Report, India Today.
21:12So the battle lines are very clearly drawn.
21:14Congress and India Bloc are talking about saving democracy.
21:18There's a march on the 2nd of October and they intend to take it down to district level with their
21:23demonstrations.
21:23BJP says this is the first admission of failure by the combined opposition that they cannot defeat the BJP electorally.
21:32And they're resorting to anarchy or words to that effect.
21:35And they also say Akhilesh Yadav is staying away.
21:37That's an indication he still believes he's in the fight electorally.
21:43Let's throw it open for a wider discussion.
21:45Pradeep Bhandari, national spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janta Party.
21:48Dr. Pooja Dripati, national spokesperson of the Congress Party.
21:51Shantanu Gupta, political analyst and author, as is Rashid Khidwai.
21:56All experts in their domain and Pradeep Bhandari.
22:00Opposition is now united.
22:03They've closed ranks from Mamata Banerjee to Akhilesh Yadav sending his representative.
22:08This is a war to save democracy.
22:10And Rahul Gandhi says it's an honor.
22:12Everyone is fighting together.
22:14Their first target is Gyanesh Kumar.
22:17Does the opposition war cry,
22:19Vareed B.J.P. sir?
22:25Gaurav, this is not opposition saving democracy.
22:29This is opposition attempting to save Parivar Vahar.
22:32Let me just quote certain things.
22:35Quote,
22:35Rahul Gandhi's Prime Minister Narendra Modi's biggest TRP.
22:39Do you know who said this?
22:40The lady who was sitting beside Sonia Gandhi and who Sonia Gandhi patted on the back.
22:45This is Mamata Banerjee.
22:46Unquote.
22:47Let me move further.
22:49If one does nothing and is abroad half the time,
22:51then how will one do politics?
22:53For politics, there should be continuous endeavor.
22:56Do you know who said this?
22:57This is the lady Mamata Banerjee about Rahul Gandhi who Sonia Gandhi patted on the back.
23:01Let's move further.
23:03Quote,
23:03Rahul Gandhi tohmarai neta hai nahi,
23:06na indi gadbandan ke bhi wo neta nahi hai.
23:08Unquote.
23:09Do you know who said this?
23:10It is Ram Gopal Yadav who said this about Rahul Gandhi.
23:13Let us move further.
23:14Akhilesh Yadav.
23:15They want to remake their party, not oust the BJP.
23:18Congress leadership, their style of working, their borrowed candidates,
23:21they do not want to stop the BJP.
23:23They want to help the BJP.
23:25It is Akhilesh Yadav.
23:26This is why Akhilesh Yadav personally did not come to the meeting
23:29because there are elections in Uttar Pradesh
23:31and Akhilesh wants to do bargain for the seat sharing.
23:33You have Uddhav Thakre who is with Rahul Gandhi
23:37but decided to attend it virtually did not come.
23:40Heman Sorain who is part of the government
23:42decided to attend virtually did not come.
23:44Vijay who is part of the government in Tamil Nadu
23:46decided did not even comment or attend it.
23:48So the truth is Rahul Gandhi yet again has failed
23:51to garner the support of the members in the opposition
23:54and this is yet again attempt to relaunch Rahul Gandhi.
23:57Earlier it was EVM, now it is SIR
24:00but the truth of the matter is
24:01Rahul will continue to be secluded in the opposition
24:04with leaders in the opposition
24:05not even believing in Rahul Gandhi's leadership.
24:07Fair enough, let me take this to Dr. Pooja Tripathi.
24:11Mamata Banerji may be with you
24:13but the battle now will be in 2029.
24:16The first major battle ma'am is 2027
24:19to test your battle plan in Uttar Pradesh and Akhilesh Yadav
24:23chose to stay away.
24:26Does that worry you ma'am?
24:29Of course not, girl.
24:30You know, I am happy that Pradeep Handali
24:32didn't bring the photograph of George Soros
24:35and just made a comment out of it
24:37because they are everything.
24:38They are politics.
24:39Day and night.
24:40It revolves around what somebody said about Rahul Gandhi.
24:43What's at stake here is democracy.
24:45What's at stake here is a compromised election commission.
24:49What's at stake here is election commission being run
24:51like a Gyanesh Kumar Gupta Private Limited.
24:54And that's the fight is about.
24:56Beat 2027 elections, beat every state elections.
24:59You know, they can sit arrogantly and claim
25:01both in parliament and Ahaut
25:03that why don't you leave 15 years now?
25:05You don't leave.
25:06The way Gyanesh Kumar is acting in cahoots with you,
25:09you don't leave.
25:10And that's the whole fight is about.
25:12And that's why the opposition is together.
25:14As far as Ahilash Yadav is concerned,
25:16he talked on phone to Khadageji
25:18and he talked on phone to Mr. Gandhi too.
25:20And also he was there for his Rajasabha
25:22or Gyan Dijkstra's nomination.
25:25And that's why he could not attend.
25:26And his tweet is aptly clear that he is with.
25:28And I think every opposition party
25:30is ideologically aligned to the idea
25:33that we want to take democracy back
25:35from a party which is acting,
25:39which is acting along with election commission
25:41to shatter every democratic ideas of the country.
25:45Be it form sex alteration,
25:47be it ECIN and centralization,
25:49be it dissent of two election commissioners
25:51above one election commission,
25:52chief election commissioner.
25:53Everything is wrong with election commission.
25:56But the problem here is somebody said,
25:58something about Rahul Gandhi,
25:59somebody said they can't move beyond that.
26:02And that's the reason they're actually
26:03indulged in vote jury
26:04because they know legitimately
26:06and by the power of people's choice,
26:09they won't be in power for so long.
26:12Let me get Shantanu Gupta
26:13and Rashid Kidwai to respond to that.
26:15Shantanu Gupta,
26:16Akhilesh Yadav is planning
26:18the battle in Uttar Pradesh on ground.
26:20Rahul Gandhi is leading the charge
26:22on the national stage.
26:24So it is a very well-coordinated effort
26:26according to the India Alliance.
26:29But then they say,
26:30if elections are fair,
26:32BJP will lose
26:34with Gyanesh Kumar's help,
26:36match fixing as the Congress says,
26:38Yogi will win
26:39or BJP will win Uttar Pradesh.
26:41But sir,
26:42post 2024,
26:43when Samajwadi Party and Congress together
26:46actually stole a march over BJP,
26:48are you worried
26:49or is there reason for the BJP
26:51to be worried in Uttar Pradesh?
26:54Gaurab,
26:55out of the 75 elections
26:56that happened post 2024,
26:59only 5 elections happened
27:00under the watch of Gyanesh Kumar.
27:02So how will they explain
27:03losing the other ones?
27:05Like almost 71 elections
27:06out of which they lost
27:07almost half of them.
27:08How will they prove it?
27:10I think that's the point number one.
27:12Second,
27:12I think the biggest problem
27:13is the problem between
27:16Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi.
27:18So if you go to Akhilesh Yadav's office
27:20in Lucknow,
27:21you'll see posters of
27:22Bhavi Pradhan Mantri
27:23for Akhilesh Yadav
27:23for Jandil ki Badai.
27:25Right?
27:25So all,
27:26and a lot of his pravaktas
27:27when they come on TV these days,
27:29they use the word
27:30Bhavi Pradhan Mantri
27:30for Akhilesh Yadav.
27:31He always say,
27:32we are the third largest party.
27:35Right?
27:36Yes.
27:36And that's why he took on the turf
27:38of Rahul Gandhi
27:39and started his rally from Raiber Ely.
27:41He did not participate
27:42in the meeting today.
27:43Right?
27:43The nomination can be done today.
27:44Today is not the last day
27:45of nomination.
27:46They're doing the press conference
27:47at the same time.
27:48They're trying to eat away
27:49the headlines of each other.
27:50It's very obvious.
27:51See, what Imran Masood is speaking,
27:53what Ikra Hassan is speaking,
27:54they're not speaking on their own.
27:55What Ajay Raj is speaking,
27:57what Rajend Gautam is speaking,
27:58these are big leaders.
27:59They're not speaking on their own.
28:00Right?
28:01So there is a huge clash.
28:02And, and, and,
28:04Mulaim Singh Yadav
28:05advised Akhilesh Yadav
28:06Congress
28:09don't show your vote bank
28:10to Congress.
28:12So Mulaim Singh Yadav
28:15They're vying for the same
28:16Muslim vote bank
28:17and I'll come to that
28:17in just a moment.
28:18The vote bank is same.
28:19The vote bank is same.
28:20One, it goes back to
28:21the bigger party.
28:22So Congress,
28:23nationally bigger party,
28:24Akhilesh Adav fear
28:24that it will not come back.
28:26So Akhilesh Adav
28:27wants to give them
28:28hardly 25,
28:3030 seats.
28:30They're,
28:30they're trying for 100,
28:31150 seats.
28:32So it's the tussle
28:33for seat sharing.
28:34Nothing else.
28:35Let me get Rashid Kedvai.
28:37Few people understand
28:38the Congress
28:39and the politics around it
28:41better than Rashid Kedvai.
28:42For Rahul Gandhi,
28:44vote chori was a very major issue
28:46even in Bihar.
28:47Not as much for
28:48Tejasvi Yadav and the RJD.
28:50The results are there
28:51for all to see.
28:52Sir,
28:53do you see history repeat itself
28:55in Uttar Pradesh
28:55with Rahul Gandhi
28:57and the Congress
28:57supercharged about vote chori
28:59and Akhilesh Yadav
29:00actually fighting
29:02the elections on ground
29:03with real issues
29:04that impact voters
29:05of Uttar Pradesh.
29:06How do you see this?
29:09So,
29:10Gaurav,
29:11it is a bit of a,
29:11you know,
29:12a paradox
29:12because alliance
29:14like the India alliance
29:15is generally,
29:16it's for the Lok Sabha election.
29:17It's not for the purpose
29:18of assembly elections
29:19and all parties
29:21have been on record
29:22within the India alliance.
29:24The India alliance
29:25is for national level politics
29:26for Lok Sabha,
29:28not for the state assembly.
29:29So,
29:29it's a bit of a tricky situation.
29:29But it will be tested
29:30in Uttar Pradesh now, sir.
29:32Absolutely.
29:32And political parties
29:34do,
29:34you know,
29:35do this kind of posturing
29:36when it comes to
29:37seed share,
29:38it comes to,
29:39you know,
29:39what is their freedom,
29:39all these things are there.
29:41The Samajwadi Party
29:42and Congress
29:43have trust deficit
29:44at the ground level
29:46that among workers,
29:47right?
29:47The leadership thing,
29:48I think Rahul,
29:49Priyanka,
29:51Akhilesh Yadav,
29:52Nimpil Yadav,
29:53they are,
29:53they are quite friendly
29:54and they are,
29:55they understand everything.
29:56I think we should not
29:57read too much into it.
29:58But the real problem is,
29:59you know,
30:00the traction
30:00and at the ground level
30:02things are there.
30:03And there are,
30:04of course,
30:04elements like
30:04Imran Masood
30:05or like oddballs
30:06who keep making statements
30:07and just to enhance
30:09actually the bargaining power
30:10or so.
30:11These are all not,
30:12you know,
30:13I would say,
30:13straight this thing.
30:14This is also
30:15kind of,
30:16you know,
30:16coordinated this thing.
30:17I was just looking
30:18pictures,
30:19Gaurav,
30:19and many of the thing,
30:21at least five,
30:21six political parties
30:22for the benefit
30:23of everyone I'm saying,
30:24they've been allies
30:25of the NDA
30:25also in the past
30:26from the PDP
30:27to Mamta
30:28to International Conference.
30:30They all have been
30:30part of the NDA.
30:32So these political parties,
30:34regional parties
30:35have their interests
30:36and alliance politics
30:38is India,
30:38Gaurav,
30:39is from the position
30:40of strength,
30:41not from position
30:42of weakness.
30:42There is very little
30:43ideological compatibility.
30:45There is very little
30:45acceptance of leadership.
30:47So these are all
30:48inherent contradictions
30:49are there
30:50which the BGP
30:50has also faced.
30:52This time they are better off
30:53because they have
30:53Mr. Narend Modi
30:54who's seen
30:55as a much stronger
30:56and a much bigger leader
30:57in the mold
30:58of Indira Gandhi
30:59and others.
31:00So that's the benefit
31:01the BGP has.
31:01There are some hiccups
31:03but I think we should not
31:04read too many things
31:05into it.
31:06Okay, so you say
31:07Ikra Hassan
31:08and Imran Masood
31:09sparring
31:09are hiccups
31:10but sir,
31:11when there's conversation
31:1250 seats to the Congress
31:14or 150 seats
31:15that the Congress
31:16is demanding
31:16where would the
31:17meeting ground be
31:1880, 90, 100, 110
31:20and that is where
31:21we'll see what the
31:22bargaining power
31:23of either side is.
31:24But Pradeep Bhandari,
31:25Congress and the
31:26India bloc,
31:27they are coming together
31:28for a bigger strategy.
31:30They'll sink
31:31their differences
31:31because they have
31:32to take on
31:32the Bharatiya Janata
31:34Party and what
31:35they've planned
31:35is five big
31:36opposition rallies
31:37as part of this
31:38campaign,
31:38mega rally in Delhi
31:39on 1st of November
31:40on the issue
31:41of vote chori.
31:42In fact,
31:42Mallikarjun Kharge
31:43is taking it
31:44a step forward.
31:45He says future
31:46elections should be
31:47conducted using
31:47ballot paper
31:48instead of EVMs.
31:50So, sir, the India
31:51bloc has a strategy.
31:53First, SIR,
31:54then remove EVM
31:55and VVPAT,
31:56remove Gyanesh Kumar,
31:58bring in ballot paper.
31:59You have a big
32:00fight ahead of you,
32:01sir.
32:05I'll tell you what is the
32:06strategy of the
32:07India alliance.
32:08You see this picture?
32:10Gaurav, if your viewers
32:11can see this picture,
32:12do you know this name
32:13of this gentleman?
32:14Is he a Samajwadi
32:15Party?
32:16Is he an individual
32:17who belongs to
32:18the Samajwadi Party?
32:20This man is a man
32:21who is a son of a
32:21son who is very
32:23very close to a
32:24capitalist and that
32:25capitalist named
32:26Mr. Ambani and
32:27Rahul Gandhi till
32:28yesterday used to
32:30slander two
32:30capitalists which
32:31is Mr. Radani
32:32and Mr. Ambani
32:33and you have your
32:34Akhilesh Yadav
32:35showing the face
32:36to Rahul Gandhi
32:37that bro, we do
32:38not take you
32:39seriously.
32:39This is their
32:40strategy and this
32:42exposes Akhilesh
32:43Yadav telling
32:43Rahul Gandhi that
32:45this is how
32:45seriously I take
32:46you in the entire
32:47scheme of things
32:48whether it is
32:49in Uttar Pradesh
32:49or nationally.
32:50So point number
32:51one, this exposes
32:52their strategy and
32:53this is their real
32:53inherent contradiction
32:54because Akhilesh
32:56knows that Congress
32:57is a Chalu Party
32:58which he said in
32:582024.
32:59So today the
33:00consensus on the
33:01panel, Gaurav,
33:02has been it is
33:03nothing to do with
33:03SIR, it is nothing
33:05to do with election
33:05commission as
33:06Rashid Kirwai who
33:07covers the Congress
33:08very very closely
33:08said all is an
33:10attempt to ally
33:10alliance, realignment
33:12in order to get
33:13the fight of
33:142029 where
33:15none of these
33:16people have been
33:17able to declare
33:17Rahul Gandhi as
33:18their consensus
33:19candidate.
33:20In fact, even
33:20Mamata Banerjee when
33:21she was asked the
33:22question that whether
33:24Rahul will be the
33:25candidate of 2029,
33:26Mamata Banerjee
33:27kept mum and it is
33:29very very naive I
33:30would say to think
33:31that you know whether
33:32it is Imran Masood who
33:34makes a statement or
33:35Ikra Hassan who makes
33:36a statement, they are
33:37making those statement
33:37without the consensus
33:39and approval of their
33:40leadership.
33:40So there is a massive
33:41infighting which is
33:42going in Achilles
33:43Yadav and Rahul
33:44Gandhi for seat
33:45sharing and both
33:46know that they have
33:46to sit in the
33:47opposition.
33:48This is why they are
33:49only and only fighting
33:50for their good back.
33:51That is the only truth
33:51of the game.
33:52Let me get Dr. Pooja
33:54Tripathi to respond to
33:55this.
33:55Ma'am, you have heard
33:56what Imran Masood said.
33:58You have heard what
33:58Ikra Hassan said.
33:59Imran Masood says
34:00Rahul Gandhi will lead
34:01the charge.
34:02Ikra Hassan insists that
34:03Congress is not there
34:05in Uttar Pradesh.
34:06It has to be Achilles
34:08Yadav if they stand a
34:09chance against the BJP
34:10or words to that effect.
34:12And they also point out
34:13and you heard Pradeep
34:14Bhandari point out that
34:16in the Samajwadi
34:18party they openly call
34:19Achilles Yadav
34:21Bhavi Pradhan Mantri.
34:22Both parties are growing
34:25at the cost of each
34:26other.
34:26How will they collaborate?
34:27Because the BJP says
34:28beyond the Congress
34:29and India Bloc eco
34:30chamber there is no
34:32real traction on ground
34:33for return of ballot
34:34paper or seeking
34:36C.E.C. Gyanesh Kumar's
34:37removal.
34:39You know as long as
34:40the C.E.C. Gyanesh Kumar
34:42Gupta you know
34:44warms up his throne
34:45there will be no
34:46traction on ground
34:47because you know
34:48he is acting in cahoots.
34:50Overnight voting
34:50percentage is increased.
34:52Form 6 hasn't added
34:53an extra.
34:54Form 7 has
34:55pre-printed names
34:56of the people
34:57whose votes
34:58have been cut.
34:5913 lakh people
34:59have been disenfranchised
35:01and mind for 20 years
35:03BJP government
35:03is there
35:0413 lakh people
35:05have fake voting
35:06cards.
35:0713 lakh people
35:07are infiltrators.
35:09Forget the
35:0913 crore
35:11I'm sorry.
35:1113 crore
35:12voters are
35:14infiltrators.
35:14This is a
35:15gross failure
35:16of Bharati Janta
35:17Party government
35:17and he can put
35:18down the photo
35:19because he
35:20this gentleman
35:21is the son
35:22of the candidate
35:23your supported
35:24candidate in
35:25Jharkand.
35:26And when you
35:26gave the Rajasabha
35:27ticket to Mr.
35:28Diamond Merchant
35:29Dholakya
35:29how long he has
35:31been serving as
35:32the Bharati Janta
35:32Party
35:33and which
35:34tent and which
35:35dhari he was
35:36bichai.
35:36When you gave
35:382016 when you
35:39gave a Jharkand
35:40Rajasabha seat
35:41to a steel
35:42businessman
35:43in the steel
35:44industry
35:44how long he
35:45was the
35:45for Bharati
35:46Janta Party.
35:47The party which
35:48sits with Adani
35:50and gives
35:50every infrastructure
35:53every project
35:55everything
35:55to one
35:58and that's
35:58where we are
35:59saying
35:59we are not
36:00against
36:00capitalists
36:01we are
36:01against
36:02cloning
36:02capitalists
36:02we are
36:03against
36:04everything
36:05being sold
36:06out to Adani
36:06the tenders
36:07being diluted
36:08the moms
36:09being sidelined
36:10everything
36:11just because
36:12of the
36:12Okay fair
36:13enough you've
36:14raised a point
36:14Mr. Bhandari
36:15wants to respond
36:16before I bring
36:17in Shantanu
36:18and okay
36:19go on
36:20respond sir.
36:24Gaurav
36:25Puja is an
36:26intelligent
36:26spokesperson
36:27so she will
36:27not listen to
36:28me but she
36:29will definitely
36:29listen to her
36:30leader Rahul
36:31Gandhi
36:31so let me
36:31quote Rahul
36:32Gandhi
36:33on 7th
36:33December
36:342020
37:03Ambani
37:32Samajwadi
38:02party has
38:03said and I
38:04quote that an
38:05SIR is essential
38:06for a free and
38:06fair election
38:07so stop being
38:08anti-democratic
38:09and pro-parivar
38:10apologize to the
38:11people of the
38:11country
38:12Puja the party
38:12I would have
38:13shame in left
38:14in the congress
38:14party
38:15so let's go on
38:16so let me quickly bring in
38:16Rashid Kidwai for an
38:18analysis on this aspect
38:20that is repeatedly
38:20being made because
38:21Rashid Kidwai when the
38:23congress says we'll go
38:24back to ballot paper
38:25we want Gyanesh Kumar
38:26to be removed
38:27CEC is you know
38:29or the election commission
38:30is a handmaiden of the
38:31government in power
38:32it's the same
38:33EVM
38:34it is the same system
38:36that helps the
38:37congress party win
38:38Kerala or win
38:40Karnataka or win
38:41Himachal Pradesh or
38:43win Telangana or the
38:44BJP loses Jharkhand
38:46so how is it that the
38:47same EVM and system
38:49is acceptable if the
38:50congress is winning
38:51and unacceptable if the
38:53congress is losing
38:55so one of the two
38:56points one is that I
38:57think we should not
38:58link you know the
38:59election outcome
39:00outcome with the
39:02aspect of whether
39:03people are you know
39:04permitted to vote on
39:05and denied their
39:07chance to vote so
39:08these are two very
39:08different things I
39:09think on factually
39:10what you're saying is
39:11correct if you go to
39:12the congress you know
39:13political resolution of
39:14their last plenary in
39:162018 the congress
39:18very categorically in
39:19their political
39:19resolution said that
39:21it's time for go back
39:22to ballot paper so I
39:24think you can accuse
39:25and criticize the
39:26congress for not
39:27adhering to what they
39:28had said in their own
39:29political resolution at
39:30a AICC plenary that
39:32all elections
39:33subsequent elections
39:34should be on ballot
39:35paper this is
39:36something that is
39:36there I think one
39:37more point that Mr.
39:38Bhandari is making
39:39he's factually
39:39incorrect about you
39:41know dragging a name
39:42of an industrial house
39:43etc because in the
39:44last time when Rahul
39:45Gandhi you know had
39:47this PPT presentation
39:48the starts of
39:49democracy it had
39:50various names but a
39:51name of a particular
39:52business house was
39:53missing it was not
39:54there it was a
39:55notable omission and
39:56second thing to say
39:57to point a person who
39:58was a business person
39:59in this kind of you
40:01know political debate is
40:02I think unfortunate
40:02because all political
40:03parties except for the
40:04left on the various
40:06time have brought
40:07industrialists and
40:08oh Mr. Kidwai
40:10allow me
40:11and they have stakes
40:12in society
40:13they have stakes in
40:14society
40:14so why not
40:15Mr. Khadir Bhandari
40:1630 second quick
40:17rebuttal before I
40:18bring in Shantanu
40:19Gupta 30 second
40:20quick rebuttal sir
40:21Mr. Kidwai
40:23Mr. Kidwai
40:24I am not factually
40:25incorrect you are
40:26there is admission of
40:27guilt on your part
40:28so you are saying
40:29there is a deal
40:30which has happened
40:30between that capitalist
40:31house this is why
40:32that name of that
40:33capitalist has been
40:34removed and
40:35Akhilesh Adav has
40:35given a ticket
40:36so speak the truth
40:37do not hide
40:38number two
40:38if you are so
40:40unfortunate about
40:40raising the name
40:41of the capitalist
40:42please tell me
40:42when Rahul Gandhi
40:43was raising the
40:44name of the
40:44capitalist
40:45where is a single
40:46tweet of yours
40:47Mr. Kidwai
40:47which criticized
40:48Rahul Gandhi
40:49when he was
40:49raising the name
40:50of Adani and
40:51Ambani
40:51show me a single
40:52tweet of yours
40:52when you express
40:53disappointment
40:54and when you
40:55were unfortunate
40:55when Rahul Gandhi
40:56raised the name
40:57of the capitalist
40:58and politics
40:58I will clap for
40:59you on this show
41:01no no no
41:01Mr. Kidwai do not
41:03shoot the goalpost
41:03I respect you a lot
41:05no no
41:06you made an argument
41:08that it is
41:08unfortunate to
41:09bring the name
41:09of a capitalist
41:10on the show
41:11sir
41:11I ask you
41:14Shantanu Gupta
41:15when it comes
41:17to the fight
41:17in Uttar Pradesh
41:18there may be
41:19differences between
41:20Samajwadi Party
41:21and Congress
41:21but they will
41:22have to sink
41:23their differences
41:24if they have to
41:25take on the BJP
41:26after 10 years
41:27of Yogi Adityanath
41:28being Chief Minister
41:29and BJP being
41:30in power
41:31because Rahul Gandhi
41:32is now Leader
41:32of Opposition
41:33Congress is
41:34with 99 seats
41:36Akhilesh Adav
41:37realizes he cannot
41:38win in Uttar Pradesh
41:39without Congress
41:40so Congress
41:41will demand
41:42and get more
41:42seats
41:43even if it is
41:44a tactical retreat
41:45for Akhilesh
41:45he has to make
41:46that tactical retreat
41:47should that worry
41:48the BJP sir
41:50I think
41:51before answering
41:52that
41:52that's a beautiful
41:52question
41:53just on
41:54Rashidji
41:54Rahul Gandhi
41:56did drop
41:56of the photo
41:57and name
41:58of Ambani
42:00in the recent
42:01PPT
42:01just 3 weeks
42:02back
42:02in the Indore
42:03presentation
42:04Ambani's photo
42:05was there
42:06so what happened
42:07in these 3 weeks
42:07that Ambani's photo
42:09was dropped
42:10that's very drastic
42:11and I am sure
42:11if you have access
42:12and insight
42:13do tell us
42:14that why Ambani's photo
42:15was dropped
42:15within 3 weeks
42:16you have far better
42:17access
42:17no I don't have
42:19access to Rahul
42:19and Ambani's
42:20you and Mr. Bandari
42:20both of them
42:21okay
42:22so you know
42:23the issue of Uttar Pradesh
42:25gentlemen I have
42:25only 30 seconds
42:26ladies and gentlemen
42:27on this part of the show
42:28just 30 seconds
42:29respond
42:30they'll sink their
42:31differences
42:31because they have
42:32to take on the BJP sir
42:33that should worry
42:34the BJP
42:35coming to UP
42:36Gaurav
42:36coming to UP
42:37I think
42:38Samajwadi party
42:39is far more
42:39in begging position
42:40than Congress
42:41because Congress
42:41has nothing to lose
42:42they have 2 seats
42:43they may have 0 seats
42:445 seats
42:44they are not even a player
42:46they are like
42:46smaller than
42:47the smallest party
42:47but Akhle Shadav
42:49his highest vote
42:50percentage in 2024
42:51is only 33%
42:52right
42:53so he needs a 6-7
42:54person
42:54he doesn't have
42:54any player
42:55who can contribute
42:56so he will
42:57back borrow steal
42:58he will do some
42:59positioning
42:59but he has to
43:00go with Congress
43:01anyhow
43:01and Congress
43:02should bargain
43:03for at least
43:0385 seats
43:04which they got
43:05in Lok Sabha
43:0517 into 5
43:06and they will
43:08bargain for that
43:08and that's why
43:09this messaging
43:09this posturing
43:10is happening
43:11okay
43:11so demand
43:12150
43:13get anything
43:14between 85 and 100
43:15we'll be tracking
43:16that story
43:16very closely
43:17I want to thank
43:17all our guests
43:18because this is a debate
43:19we will continue
43:20to have over
43:20next several days
43:21and weeks
43:22because this does
43:22intend to escalate
43:24in the days ahead
43:25that big story
43:26coming in
43:26from Punjab
43:27Chitta is once again
43:29emerging as a major
43:30political flashpoint
43:32in Punjab
43:32the white drug
43:34with 2027
43:35assembly elections
43:36now approaching
43:36so you have
43:37union home minister
43:38Amit Shah
43:38he was in Jalandar
43:40today
43:40and he spoke
43:42of the
43:42Nasha Muk
43:43Punjab
43:43Yatra
43:44the home minister
43:45hit out at the
43:46Aam Admi Party
43:46government
43:47on the drug
43:48menace
43:48he promised
43:49the people of
43:50Punjab
43:50the state
43:51will be drug
43:51free
43:52by December
43:5331,
43:542029
43:54if the BJP
43:56comes to power
43:57so BJP's
43:58Nasha Muk
43:58Punjab Yatra
43:59that was launched
44:00on the 18th of September
44:01with 4 Yatras
44:02covered about
44:034000 km
44:04in all
44:04117
44:06constituencies
44:07we get you more
44:09in this report
44:18Chitta has become
44:19one of Punjab's
44:20biggest political
44:21flashpoints
44:22ahead of the
44:232027
44:24assembly elections
44:26and the BJP
44:28is putting
44:28the drug
44:29menace
44:29at the centre
44:30of its
44:30Punjab
44:31campaign
44:31as part
44:33of the
44:33party's
44:33Nasha Muk
44:34Punjab
44:34Yatra
44:35union
44:36home minister
44:36Amit Shah
44:37was in
44:38Jalandar
44:38today
44:38and he
44:39made
44:40one big
44:40promise
44:41to Punjab
44:41a drug
44:42free state
44:43by December
44:4331st
44:442029
44:45if the BJP
44:46comes to
44:47power
44:47I
44:49have
44:50to
44:51Punjab
44:52people
44:52say
44:55Punjab
44:57there are
44:58many
44:59of the
44:59months
44:59but the
45:02is
45:03the
45:04people
45:17shah also launched a direct attack on the bhagwantman government accusing the
45:22amalmi party government of allowing the drug trade to flourish in the state
45:44bjp's nasha mukta panjab was launched by the party president nitin nabeen on september 18th from
45:49pathan code four yatras covered nearly four thousand kilometers across all 170 assembly
45:56constituencies before culminating today in jalandar the congress which is also targeting
46:05amalmi party over the chitta issue has dismissed the bjp campaign as a flop show
46:11the ruling amalmi party however says its fight against drugs is already underway and
46:32has defended its record in panjab me amit shah ji panjab ke bethe bhagwantman ko manz
46:41se galiyan de karke apni khisya hat me tarayte kiyong gali de rete kyunki unki yatra itne
46:48din se chaluri 4 admi niai osi yatramen 2007 se 2017 ke bich mein akali bhajpa
46:54the drug issue has gained fresh political traction in recent weeks in sangroor 50 year
47:08old gulzar singh died by suicide after accusing the mank sarkar of not doing enough to stop the
47:15chitta problem his family and others alleged that he faced pressure after raising the issue
47:20the allegations have triggered a political controversy while police investigations are
47:26underway and before that a young man was detained and allegedly tortured after displaying black
47:32flags to chief minister bhagwantman over the drug issue with elections approaching the drug issue is
47:38becoming one of the biggest tests for amalmi party and arguably the biggest political weapon for the
47:45bjp bureau report india today
47:53and joining me on this special broadcast is shashikant former director general of the
47:59panjab police someone who's well aware of the magnitude not of the problem of the crisis of drugs
48:07in panjab the battle that lies ahead and the failure to win this battle mr shashikant as always welcome
48:14sir there is an external aspect to this drug problem in panjab and that is pakistan a state
48:20sponsor of terror but there is also an internal aspect sir you've led the panjab police why has
48:26india failed our one of our best states in terms of you know hardy soldiers being sent to the armed
48:34forces to the police in this war on terror a very important state why is why is it that it
48:40almost
48:40appears we're fighting a losing battle to drugs in panjab the answer is the monetary angle this drugs
48:49for the first time were recovered during the time of militancy when a section of guys who were uh in
48:56touch with militants they started getting this money from pakistan's isi and to they used to sell it
49:02tend to use to go through panjab to abroad but again to add to that panjab has been basically was
49:09basically a drug sorry a gold smuggling route for the gold smuggling panjab and the western guards of
49:16maharashtra bombay when the prices of the uh gold somewhat established internationally stabilized then
49:24the next thing was drugs and as you know you can google later you can see anything most of the
49:32intelligence agencies all of the world they are themselves involved in the drug smuggling
49:36why because it gives money for their operations because what happens is that of course the money
49:44is given to all organizations all over the world under a special fund called secret service fund which
49:50has to be uh shown and indicated in the national budget but for this kind of uh work sometimes they
49:59require lots of money so they're going to this drug trade that's the reason how this drug trade
50:04started and flourished and is flourishing further in panjab sir so in it's big money and big money that's
50:12flowing in every direction world over uh narcotics actually funds anti-national activities terror
50:19activities uh drug mafia crime syndicates human trafficking is there any genuine effort to curb it in
50:27panjab uh let's say in the past decade or past half a decade in your appreciation
50:33no in capital letters sir i exposed the panjab drug record way back in 2012 2011 12 and since then
50:41i
50:42have been fighting both outside in the field with the political parties inside the courtrooms with chief
50:47justices etc etc etc even i had approached the national government national government also on certain
50:53occasions wrote them good letters also but it appears somehow the other nothing has come out and no
50:59political party in panjab was or is sincere about this particular crisis because of the sorry for
51:08they saying this thing because of the drug money is a big thing i'm not talking of elections you require
51:13lots of money from where the money comes of course a part of it is donations but again that it's
51:19true now
51:19that the donations wherever they come from they are not to be indicated all sorts of mafias are there
51:24road mafia book mafia education mafia drug mafia there's no dearth of them so this kind of so you
51:31say it's a very well oiled system that's been functioning in panjab but tell me this uh when union
51:38home minister amit shah spoke of naxal muk bharat there was a concerted effort and there was a special drive
51:46that was launched it took time there were casualties but 31st march 2026 aim achieved a large number
51:54surrendered a large number were neutralized areas you know cobs were set up company operating base in
52:00the heart of naxaland and the problem to a very large extent has been dealt with is there a strategy
52:07to deal with that situation with drugs in panjab sir that both the situations are different here in this
52:14case like i submitted there is a money angle with the main angle in naxal thing that angle was not
52:20there and as of date again this problem is there and all the leaders are coming all the political
52:26parties have started raising like in previous years that is going to be the major issue on which
52:31the panjabi elections are going to be contested by all the political parties everybody is going to
52:36say that they are they're in a position to do it but as we have seen ever since uh of
52:42course
52:42elections were not really in 2011 when i exposed the drug racket but again it has been the major
52:48issue the only issue during each and every elections every party had been saying and they have been
52:53coming into power on account of this promise that when they come someone said that they'll do they'll
52:58stop it in 15 days you know about it sir somebody said they'll do it in a couple of years
53:03but nothing
53:04has fructified the situation remains to six months but amit shah is talking about 31st of december
53:112029 and you've been dgp of the state if all resources were actually provided and with single-minded
53:18attention if there's war declared on drugs do you think this is a problem from 2026 to 2029 in three
53:25years to win this war is it possible no not possible because i my position is in fact all the
53:32departments
53:33of the government are involved if you really want to eradicate drugs it is health is this job
53:39opportunities it is de-addiction of the persons they're uh they're they're they're they're stuff
53:44there there's uh an induction into some sort of jobs uh people are who are into the addiction centers
53:51i call them addiction center not de-addiction center because from their buprenorphine all these things
53:56things are going into the mouth open market so it is a problem which has to be uh share faced
54:02and there has to be a proper study involving all the departments of the government sir if the
54:09government does it seriously mr shah has come here welcome i wish him all the best but okay instead of
54:17just saying it he should have brought a specific action plan that's what people want to say right
54:24now people are saying that it was just a sort of a roadshow mobilization drive he said good things but
54:30again no specific time bound action plan was given there needs to be a national action plan to deal
54:39with this menace of drugs there is an external aspect there is an internal aspect and do keep in mind
54:43panjab actually accounts for nearly 58 percent of heroin that was seized nationally in 2025 and as mr shashikanth
54:52points out so bad is the problem that it's not just heroin now there are uh you know synthetic drugs
54:59that
54:59are very simply uh available there are drugs that are available not just in deduction centers but also
55:04inside prison and the punjab and haryana high court flag 83 percent rise in drug dependence among inmates
55:12after they enter jails in punjab that's the level of the crisis mr shashikanth as always many thanks for
55:19joining me all eyes now on union home minister amit shah and his pledge can panjab become drug free we'll
55:29be
55:29tracking that story very closely because this would actually require arjun's resolve of yudhai krit nishchaya
55:39take a firm resolve and fight that is all i have for you on india first this evening many thanks
55:45for
55:46watching