- 11 minutes ago
Speaking at the India Today Conclave, Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe addressed his sweeping enforcement drive against food adulteration and substandard pharmaceuticals across the state. Rejecting notions of personal publicity, he asserted that media attention must focus strictly on the larger public health issue, stating, "This has to become a public movement." Mundhe detailed systematic measures underway, including digital tracking to trace milk supplies directly to dairy cattle and sustained surveillance covering food establishments, active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturers, and hospital supplies. He also defended statutory notices served to celebrities over surrogate endorsements under the Food Safety and Standards Act. Responding to speculation regarding his tenure and frequent transfers, Mundhe reaffirmed that robust administrative institutions outweigh temporary personnel, explicitly stating that politics is not his cup of tea.
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00:00The fact that there was far more applause when Tukaram Munde, the FDA commissioner's name was raised compared to the
00:08politicians is a sign of the times.
00:11Please welcome the man who's become a household name in Mumbai, Maharashtra and India now, Tukaram Munde.
00:19Thank you. Really grateful.
00:22When I said that, does that worry you?
00:24You just, you know, half an hour ago, we had Eknaj Sindegi just a few minutes ago, the deputy chief
00:30minister.
00:31And now we have you and I'm introducing you by saying that you're getting more claps than the politicians.
00:36Are you OK with that or not?
00:39I think it goes with more responsibility.
00:44And in a way, I learned to be more responsible.
00:47So it's not worrying about worrying, but it definitely is opportunity to contribute better.
00:54The reason I'm saying this a few days ago, New York Times had you on the front page, a profile
01:00of yours.
01:00My mother sent it to me early morning in on WhatsApp saying, look at it.
01:04Tukaram Munde is now making the headlines in NYT.
01:07You have become a folk hero.
01:09And when bureaucrats become a folk hero, they have to worry because politicians don't like bureaucrats stealing the show.
01:16Are the politicians calling you up?
01:18I want an honest answer, Tukaram Munde ji.
01:23We don't want you in the headlines.
01:26Has any politician of Maharashtra rung you up in the last few months?
01:29No.
01:31Nobody.
01:31Nobody has told me to tone down the actions, restrict yourself or even about what you are calling media attention.
01:41Because this media attention is not about me.
01:44The media attention is about the issue of food safety.
01:47It is about drug efficacy.
01:49It is about safety of the people.
01:52And ultimately, as I say, public health issue.
01:54And whatever media is writing or showing is the mirror.
02:03And it's not even pittance of it.
02:06This goes far beyond it.
02:08The issue is much, much larger and bigger than what we can imagine.
02:13And I tell this and speak this with absolutely humility and responsibleness.
02:23Because the issue of food safety affects all of us right from conception stage to the last moment we are
02:32there.
02:32And the same way we are interacting with medicines, drugs, every day.
02:37So as a result, it is part and parcel of our lives.
02:40So if it becomes an issue, rather, in the beginning itself, I had told even media people also and my
02:48officers also, this has to become a public movement.
02:51And I think why it has to become a public movement?
02:54Because it affects not only public health, it affects our economy, it affects our GDP growth, it affects our farmers
03:02also.
03:03So that is where the context lies.
03:05As we have to understand and gauge the repercussions of unsafe and substandard food and drugs.
03:11Has it, though, become a public movement?
03:15The reason I'm asking you is when you, when we told the hotel that you're coming for the session after
03:21lunch, I could see that the people in the kitchen were worried.
03:29Is it a public movement or is it at the moment based on fear?
03:37You know, a bit like Gabbara Singh.
03:39So, I mean, is that the image?
03:42Do you want this to be driven by the fear factor?
03:44Or should it be more voluntary that everyone recognizes the importance of food safety in particular?
03:49I think right now it is a fear factor and it is also self-motivation.
03:55Both the things are there.
03:56But we have still a lot of time and a lot of actions to take place for self-compliance and
04:04becoming a movement.
04:05So when does it become a public movement?
04:07When both demand and supply sides both work together.
04:11So, yes, there is definitely a fear.
04:15But I want and everybody wants in the department, including the government, that it should become a system.
04:21Not an ad hoc act of a particular officer, of a particular place, of a particular industry.
04:25But it has to become a system.
04:28And that system will start working and stabilize only when there is a demand side to it.
04:34It means the people who are consumers have demand safe and standard food and efficacious medicines on the one hand.
04:40And the supply side, which is there, the processor where you are sitting, what else you are talking about,
04:45they have to also abide by compliances, rules and regulations.
04:49And their motto has not just to put food in the plate, which looks good, which looks safer, but which
04:59isn't.
04:59So that's where the supply side has to work.
05:02So both demand and supply side working on the one hand.
05:06Regulator working on the other hand that it actually is there.
05:10And, of course, ultimately leading to the benefits to the society and families at last.
05:15That's how public movement will take place.
05:17And we are working towards that.
05:18Are we seeing, though, a genuine change to Karam Mundi Ji?
05:21It's one thing to have the headlines.
05:22When you, for example, go to a cafe, Mondegaard, one of the iconic restaurants of Mumbai,
05:28and then, you know, suspend its license, it makes the headlines.
05:32But this is a city with thousands of restaurants, thousands of establishments, famous for its street food.
05:38What would Mumbai be without its street food?
05:41I mean, do you believe that this culture is spreading to the people, to someone, say, with a pav bhaji
05:46stall,
05:47who perhaps does not have the same facilities as someone, perhaps, in a big restaurant or a big hotel has?
05:52Is it really spreading this food safety culture?
05:55I think it's spreading.
05:57We may differ on the numbers, we may differ on the scope at which or the pace at which it
06:03is spreading.
06:04But it is spreading right from the street food vendors to the so-called iconic or the big establishment in
06:12food sector or drug sector.
06:14I can give a number of examples.
06:15Whether it's a vodapa or whether it's a sandwich, you look around the paper on which it is served.
06:20It's a food-grade paper.
06:21I'm not saying it's 100% as on today, but we are moving towards that.
06:25It has started.
06:25The oil, particularly reused oil, has gone down, not by much, maybe 5-10%, but the movement has started.
06:34Let us look at rural areas.
06:36Let us look at the food industry.
06:37For example, milk.
06:39Milk is one of the biggest or the highest consumed items, food item, across the world, in India, in Maharashtra,
06:46everywhere.
06:46Whether it's a tea or whether it's a consumption directly by the child for drinking it for poverty purposes or
06:52what we call milk products, different milk products, whether it's a sweets or something else.
06:57Now, where do we crack and where does it work?
07:02Actually, ultimate goal of, say, milk adulteration or substandard has to begin.
07:08We can tackle only when we are able to trace each drop of milk to the animal.
07:15Then it is possible.
07:16Without that, it is not possible.
07:17Is it possible and feasible?
07:19Absolutely, it is possible and feasible because we have milk collection centers, private or cooperative, whatever those are there.
07:26We have chilling centers and we have dairies.
07:28What we have started in Maharashtra now, last 15 days back, we had to work a little bit on that.
07:33And we have listed out, say, hundreds of milk collection centers where my teams are going.
07:40They are checking, checking from each point of view, whether there is adulteration, whether it is unsafe, whether there is
07:47good manufacturing practices, good collection practices, good health practices are being practiced.
07:52And we will lead it to the farmer because supposing one day milk collection center collects 10,000 liters of
07:58milk per day.
07:59Now, what we are going to do is this 10,000 liters is coming from, say, 500, 1,000 farmers.
08:05And each farmer has a number of animals, milk animals.
08:10So do there exist that much milk animals on the one hand and that much milk is produced over there.
08:15But there is a data in animal husbandry department which is at the back end.
08:18So we are going to ultimately take that data at the back end.
08:22We will check it here.
08:23In the last, next few months or maybe six months to one year down the line, we are going to
08:29use digital system to track it down.
08:33Because every animal is tagged with ear tag.
08:36It has its details.
08:37And if we match those details with the milk produce, I think the adulteration of unsafe milk will go down.
08:43So this is the philosophy on which we are hitting.
08:46But to cut long story short, right now we are checking that and many of the milk collection centers, chilling
08:53centers, dairies, which were not complying, they are complying.
08:58Major dairy crackdown has happened.
09:00And as a result, we are seeing a movement that, yes, we have to be compliant because the cost of
09:05non-compliance will be much more higher than the compliance.
09:08That's the philosophy on which we are working.
09:09But the fact is, sir, it cannot be only one department, one officer who takes this up as a mission.
09:17One restaurant owner who is a friend told me, please tell Tukaram Mundeji, I adhere to the best standards in
09:24my restaurant.
09:24Who is going to ensure that the street outside my restaurant is also observing the same high sanitation standard?
09:31Where is the BMC there?
09:33So it's very well for one officer to take the firm stand that you are.
09:38But it requires the entire system to work together.
09:40And that's the worry that this person has.
09:43He said, I will be held responsible for what happens in the kitchen.
09:46Who is going to be held accountable for the lack of sanitation on the streets of Mumbai?
09:50So can Tukaram Munde operate in isolation?
09:53No, he cannot.
09:55Nobody for that matter can.
09:57Because we are an ecosystem, we are a society.
10:00Agreed.
10:01But as a FDA commissioner, I will act with authority which is there.
10:07That is my jurisdiction.
10:09So restaurant cannot speak about the unsanitary condition outside his restaurant or hotel and not speak about the unsanitary or
10:17unsafe food inside.
10:19So you cannot compare it to him.
10:20No, no, he is saying, I will, no, no, his argument is when is Tukaram, when are the rest of
10:25the, of the government system going to adhere to the same standard?
10:29You've seen municipals, canteens, canteens of judges.
10:32None of them are also observing the kind of standard they should.
10:35So it cannot be one, this cannot be a one person crusade, sir.
10:40This has to be changing the entire system.
10:42The ecosystem has to change of government.
10:44That's where I was saying it has to become a public movement.
10:47It has to become a people's movement.
10:49So when I say people's movement, it cannot be limited to only food safety.
10:52When food safety comes, there are multiple stakeholders.
10:55Each stakeholder, for example, when I say it has to become public movement, does it mean only the kitchen?
11:02No.
11:02It has to start with kids, those who go to the school, they have to get sanitary, nutritious food.
11:09They have to advise Aga Dung Dad.
11:11School has to be part of that.
11:12We have started working on that.
11:14Eat Right School campaign has become in Maharashtra.
11:17Stop junk food in school.
11:18Yes, exactly, we have started.
11:19And it's a huge response, and not only from the schools.
11:23Please understand, it is from the parents as well.
11:25I have got hundreds of mails from the parents saying that, thank you, my children were actually not listening.
11:32Now we can tell, Tokaram uncle is doing it, you have to speak to him.
11:36I have got the mails on that.
11:37So this is how you work in it.
11:40Same goes about, then because we started with this one, two years and above, then we came up with this
11:46infant milk product order.
11:48Now zero to two years we are taking care of.
11:50Next we will be up for nutraceuticals.
11:52So we are going sector by sector, age by age, so all this, because what has happened is food sector
11:59has never been given the importance which it needed.
12:03We have been speaking about food security for decades, right, from WHO, World Bank, FAO, you name it.
12:11And what is the tagline by United Nations, World Bank, and FAO?
12:16Food security, no food security without food safety.
12:19That is a tagline.
12:20But we conveniently miss food safety.
12:24Because food safety is the base on which, because food security will ensure whether there is a plate in the,
12:31I mean there is a food in the plate or not.
12:34But whether food security, basically food safety will ensure whether it is actually creating and increasing your health or it
12:45is downgrading your health.
12:47So without food safety, food security is null and white.
12:51That we have to understand.
12:52Unless we make that premise that food security will come only after food safety or along with food safety will
13:00not give that priority.
13:01That has to begin right from people up to the government, not only state and India government, world over.
13:09The moment we start that, I think things will start taking place.
13:14And second point, once we start here, then it has to go backward to the farmer, right for producer, and
13:20forward to the value chain where it is consumed.
13:23That's how it works.
13:23You know, a lot of the headlines are from the inspections, the suspensions you've done of pubs, eateries, hotels, clubs,
13:32cracking the whip on the, or all of them for flouting food safety roles.
13:36But you've also, in recent weeks, cracked down on pharmaceutical enforcement, you know, food and drugs.
13:44Drugs don't get the kind of importance, perhaps, that food gets.
13:47Action that you've taken against, reportedly, 880 drug manufacturing and sales establishments.
13:56Are we now, therefore, also seeing an improvement in the quality and safety of medicines that are reaching patients?
14:03Or is that still a big challenge?
14:05It's a challenge, but we have started working, and we are taking actions, right, from pharmacy to the manufacturer.
14:13We are not looking at an isolation pharmacy.
14:17Anything we find in a pharmacy, we are tracking it up to the manufacturer.
14:22Whether it's about, not only, earlier what used to happen is we used to just focus on medicines.
14:27Now, we are just not focusing on medicines.
14:29We are focusing on all parts of drug, including if it's the blood, or it's consumables, or it's medical equipments
14:38and devices, whether it's even cosmetics.
14:41All sectors we are covering, we are taking down, tracking down, acting against those who are non-compliant, strengthening the
14:48mechanisms of surveillance, enforcing it.
14:51And there are license cancelled days.
14:53There are FIS done.
14:54There are search and seizure suppressions done.
14:56Few days back, we have taken actions against the big, big names also.
14:59So, we are working there, in Maharashtra, we have almost 2,000 plus manufacturing units in drug sector.
15:10So, we have tracked it down, we are working on it, and I believe times to come, it will work.
15:15Just one point about manufacturing, what you call APIs.
15:19Actually, that is the base of your drugs.
15:21So, when active pharmaceutical ingredients are used, till now, my department are not looking into it.
15:30We have started looking at it.
15:31Those manufacturing units, which are producing APIs, we have tracked it down, to utter surprise, some of the equipments which
15:38found were absolutely rusty.
15:41So, that is the base of manufacturing industry.
15:43So, we are working and tacking down that also.
15:45And no one has called you from government, no politician has called, I repeat, no one has called you.
15:50Believe me, Rajdeep, this posting, I have not been called once by anybody to go slow on this.
15:57That's a good sign.
15:58That's a sign, maybe, that maybe our politicians are waking up.
16:02But, you know, I just want to give some figure, just in terms of the pharma crackdown.
16:07Between June and August 2026, just in these three months, 11.41 crores of drug seizures in Maharashtra,
16:19as opposed to 13.64 crores over the entire previous financial year.
16:25So, in three months, you've done, or two months, you've done what was not being done in many ways in
16:30the previous one year.
16:32You know, all of this leads me to fear that what happens if you leave?
16:36Eventually, what you've had, 25 transfers in 21 years.
16:41So, there will come a day when you will be transferred out.
16:44You'll be probably sent to Rhodes because the chief minister, deputy chief minister says he wants to fill all potholes.
16:50You might be put as, you know, the commissioner in charge of potholes tomorrow.
16:55Then what happens?
16:56Do you really see all these crackdowns, all of what you're trying to do, actually sustaining beyond you?
17:04This is my concern, sir.
17:05That's why I'm asking this.
17:07See, what we have to understand is, when you work, system has to work.
17:13I have been saying, institutions are of paramount importance.
17:16Manning those are temporary.
17:19So, manning those are temporary people.
17:21So, people like me will come and go.
17:23So, when it needs to be permanent, it has to be institutionalized and system has to be built in.
17:29Then it will be stabilized.
17:30It has to be strengthened.
17:31And then it has to become part and parcel of the institution.
17:35To do that, yes, I will require some time.
17:38It is not something I got some magic wand.
17:40So, I just do it and everything will happen.
17:42No.
17:42It requires a lot of effort.
17:43It requires a lot of thinking.
17:45It requires a lot of design.
17:47And then, once it is done, to put in place and stabilize it will require some time.
17:54If I get time, I'll definitely be able to stabilize the system, make the system, which will last long.
17:59But, whether that system will work and will last long, will not just depend upon the people manning it,
18:09but on the people who it is meant for.
18:12So, when I say who it is meant for, it is meant for all, say in Maharashtra, 13 crore people.
18:18Unless the people, 13 crore people want it, it will not last long.
18:22How many people in this room, all Mumbai cars want it?
18:26Those raise their hands who want it.
18:28That is 99.9 percent.
18:30I don't see any.
18:30So, you've got the people support.
18:32So, when they raise hand here, my request to all of them is raise hand when it matters.
18:39Not just in the hall, which they are sitting here.
18:42Raising hand here is very easy.
18:45But, when it matters, you have to raise your voice.
18:47When it matters, you have to raise the issue.
18:49And, it may be against me.
18:51I'm not saying raise voice against somebody.
18:54What I'm saying, raise voice on the issue.
18:57For your benefit, for my benefit.
19:01How many of them are willing to do that?
19:04Actually raise hand when you go to a restaurant.
19:06How many actually?
19:07Be honest.
19:08See, it has gone down.
19:10See, now it has gone down.
19:10Exactly.
19:11The numbers have gone down.
19:12So, you've got to walk the talk.
19:13You can't only expect the FDA commissioner to do that.
19:15So, what I mean to say here is, basically, what does it in concrete terms mean?
19:21The question is, when I say, you have to raise your hand or voice when it matters.
19:25It means, whatever you are consuming, you have to ask the question,
19:29Is it safe?
19:30It is standard.
19:31Now, what is it?
19:32How to identify?
19:33In coming days, you will show those areas also.
19:36There will be a lot of information, education, communication activities from FDSI.
19:40We are going to launch.
19:42And, believe me, I think this is breaking for you.
19:44Because, you have India Conclusion.
19:47So, this is going to eat right movement in Maharashtra.
19:51We are launching eat right movement in Maharashtra.
19:54Eat right movement?
19:55Yes.
19:55Eat right movement.
19:56Because, ultimately, it is not about regulation.
20:00It is about eating habits.
20:02What we eat.
20:04What you consume.
20:05Day in and day out.
20:06What our children eat and consume.
20:07We should know what to eat, how to eat, how much to eat also.
20:12So, this is a public information movement that you are going to launch.
20:15Absolutely.
20:16For example, just to give you an example.
20:17Yes.
20:18Everybody has almost a freeze in their house.
20:21How many of us know how the freeze is used in the kitchen?
20:26And, I am posing a question.
20:27I am damn sure 99.99% will fail in this hall everywhere how to use a freeze.
20:34Because, that is actually the way it has to be used.
20:37What product, what vegetable is to be kept, where it has impact on contamination.
20:43In that also cross-contamination or flavoring of it also.
20:46So, that all those activities will be taking place in next few months.
20:51So, eat right movement is the way we are going.
20:53We are going to eat right school, eat right places, eat right worshiping places, what you call bhog.
20:59All these will be very active, including on digital media.
21:03Just not something kind of a call.
21:05You generally pejoratively say, oh, it is a government movement.
21:08No.
21:08I want it to be a public movement.
21:10Do participate.
21:11Give suggestions.
21:12We will act on it.
21:13But, awareness campaign will be of the highest quality.
21:17It is meant to awaken you.
21:19It is meant to awaken the system.
21:21And, it is meant for your and my benefit.
21:24You know, it's...
21:25You have targeted, sir, restaurants, drug manufacturers.
21:30But, I also saw, interestingly, the other day, you are also targeting celebrity endorsements.
21:36You know, notices to Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgan, Tiger, Shroff over alleged surrogate promotion of prohibited tobacco-related products.
21:45Now, there are those who will say this is an overreach.
21:48Is Tukaram Munde going well beyond what an FDA commissioner is to do?
21:52Is he sort of reach, you know, targeting these high-profile individuals only for the headlines?
21:58Do you believe that an FDA commissioner should be sending notices to those who are doing these advertisements?
22:03Do you think that I need any headlines beyond New York Times?
22:09You know.
22:10So, that's not the objective.
22:12The objective is very, very...
22:14You believe it's within your purview to be sending notices to them for surrogate advertising?
22:18I'll give the law.
22:19I'll give the section of that.
22:21Food Safety and Standard Act 2006, Section 24.
22:25You can just Google it, and you'll come to know very clearly written.
22:30Those who endorse, including endorse, I'm going on.
22:34How to do due diligence and how to ensure that whatever they're endorsing, advertising, promoting, by actions, words, demeanor.
22:45These are the words of the Act.
22:47You can just check in.
22:48They have to abide by these rules, and 2018 regulations, advertising, regulations of food safety, clearly prohibit this activity.
22:57So, it is absolutely within my purview.
22:59I'm actually doing my job.
23:02And, as I say, this is just the beginning.
23:04Much more to follow.
23:05No, no.
23:05Much more to come means what?
23:07What is the warning you're sending to these celebrities?
23:09If they carry on with these...
23:10I'm not giving...
23:11No, sir.
23:11One minute.
23:12If they carry on with these advertisements of these alleged prohibited products,
23:17as you call them, will you act against them?
23:21Absolutely.
23:22You'll act against these filibstarts?
23:24I mean, there should not be any doubt among any violators.
23:28And I'm using this word very carefully and responsibility.
23:32Violators, whoever violates the law, they have to face the law.
23:36So, we have taken the hearing.
23:38They wanted hearing.
23:39They wanted more and more hearing.
23:40We are giving them one more hearing.
23:42And, accordingly, matter will proceed as per the law.
23:45Whether this is a particular person or somebody else.
23:48And, it is just not about prohibitive item.
23:50It is about food safety.
23:52It is about food.
23:53So, this advertisement regulation just don't apply to prohibitive.
23:56It applies to all food items.
23:59Wherever there is a violation of the regulations, they are equally responsible.
24:03This is after the act and regulations later than under.
24:06It is not something I have created.
24:08I am just trying to implement it and will implement it.
24:10Have you received responses to these notices?
24:12I have received the responses.
24:14They have sought one more hearing.
24:16We will give the hearing.
24:16My assistant commissioner hearing that.
24:18And, after that, we will proceed as per the law.
24:20You know, you keep saying proceed as per the law.
24:22You have had a mixed track record with the courts.
24:25Some court, the Bombay High Court suggested that you had crossed boundaries in a particular case.
24:32Asked you to revoke the suspension.
24:34The Supreme Court came in support against you against a 5 lakh compensation that you were being asked to pay.
24:41Are you worried that the courts could crack down on what you are doing?
24:45No.
24:46Please understand.
24:47So, when the High Court penalized FDA.
24:50They penalized FDA.
24:52FDA.
24:52So, at that point in time, also, in phrase, this question was asked.
24:56And, I had responded that I still believe that we have done the right thing.
25:00We have followed the due process.
25:02And, that's exactly justified in the Supreme Court.
25:04Supreme Court has said that, no.
25:07High Court actually did not do the right thing by penalizing.
25:12And, that revoked it very clearly.
25:13So, it means our standard, FDA standard was correct.
25:15Now, when High Court orders something, I take it very seriously.
25:21We take it very seriously.
25:23If we find that, yes, we have aired, my officers have aired, either in the process or in interpretation or
25:30implementation, we will rectify.
25:32There is no question about it.
25:33But, if we think that we have not aired, of course, we will go for resorting to the legal provisions
25:38available to us.
25:39That's what we will be doing.
25:41So, on the other hand, for example, the case about drugs.
25:44Because, the two cases, where High Court said that, again, you give the same words or other words were used.
25:51They said that, you are going overboard, there are no need, why are you taking hash actions?
25:56And, then, you notice, we gave notice, we followed, again, we have canceled their licenses.
26:02So, if court believes that, yes, there is something wrong, and we believe that it has interpreted correctly, we will
26:08abide by that.
26:09If we think that their interpretation is something wrong, or facts are not taken into account, we have our own
26:14way of fighting legal battle.
26:16I have just got a couple of minutes left.
26:19We have one of India's leading hoteliers joining us.
26:21He is also looking at what you are doing very carefully, of one of India's leading hotel chains.
26:27But, I want to ask you this.
26:28You now have 34.15 lakh Instagram followers.
26:32Your number is wrong.
26:34It's gone more?
26:35It's gone more.
26:36So, this was, when I last looked, okay, so that's about 40 lakhs.
26:42It's reached now 40 lakhs.
26:43That's more popular than even the chief minister, who's at about 3 million.
26:47Deputy chief minister, who's about 1.3 million.
26:51As I said, the New York Times has dubbed you as a rock star.
26:54I don't know what that word exactly means, but they say rock star.
27:00Are you, I mean, the line was, diners revere him, owners fear him, India's food inspector is a rock star.
27:08When you hear all of this, someone tells me that maybe Tukaram Munde is planning on a political career.
27:14Is that true or not?
27:15Are you planning to make the transition into politics?
27:18I was waiting for the question.
27:20I thought I'd ask it at the end.
27:23Anyway, see, as I have been saying, politics is not my cup of tea.
27:27I am a public servant, I am a civil servant.
27:30I am trying to perform this role as of today.
27:35And being a human being, I stay in the present or try to stay in the present, neither in the
27:41past nor in the future.
27:43Because if I worry about the past, as you said, 25 transfers, I'll worry about the transfers.
27:47I don't do that.
27:49If I worry about the future, I'll not be able to take care of the present.
27:52So, I'm trying to take care of the present.
27:54So, I don't venture much in prophecies.
27:57So, I will not prophesize anything about this.
28:00Let me do my job.
28:01I'm trying to do it the best of the ability.
28:03And let us move in the right direction.
28:06That's what I will tell.
28:07My headline will be, Tukaram Munde doesn't rule out a political career.
28:11But my statement is not that, very clearly.
28:14Because if I had asked me, say, a few days back, would you be a FDA commissioner?
28:18What would I have answered?
28:19Or if I had asked, say, way before in 2000 or 1990s, when I was working my farm in childhood,
28:26would you be somewhere?
28:27I even didn't know what IIS is.
28:30So, prophesizing is not something good.
28:32What I am saying is, politics is not my cup of tea.
28:36I am a public servant.
28:37I am trying to do the job or the rather role, trying to perform my role, where I am placed
28:42today.
28:42Let's do that role properly.
28:45Let's make this place better to live and lead a meaningful life.
28:50That's what I would put it.
28:51You know, that's very well put.
28:53I remember asking you when you gave up, your first interview you gave me before you spoke to any other
29:00channel.
29:00And you said that, I'm not worried about the celebrity status.
29:04If doing your public duty makes me a celebrity, then it's you who have to ask yourself, why has that
29:12happened?
29:12That doing a public duty in this country also makes you a celebrity.
29:16And maybe that's a question all of us should ask ourselves.
29:21But what you've done is, I think, put a four-letter word, sir, called hope.
29:26Indians are hoping that they can get their systems right.
29:29And at the heart of that is if government officers like you do public duty and do it honestly,
29:36without always being free and fair with whoever you deal with,
29:40I think you will earn the respect and the trust of the people.
29:44I think you have earned that in the last few months.
29:47I hope you will continue to do that.
29:49And whoever comes in the FDA commissioner's chair after you will carry forward this public movement that you've started.
29:56Eat well.
29:57What did you say?
29:58Eat right.
29:59Eat right.
29:59The eat right movement has begun from Mumbai and Maharashtra, made spread to every corner of this country.
30:06Tukaram Munde for joining us here at the India Today Conclave.
30:10Thank you very much.
30:11Pleasure.