- 6 days ago
The Kerala Congress deleted a social media post demanding Chief Justice of India Surya Kant’s resignation after he declined to meet Opposition leaders over a sub judice matter. The Supreme Court Bar Association condemned the remarks, saying such posts undermined the judiciary and interfered with the administration of justice. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and the BJP also criticised the Congress, accusing it of attempting to undermine constitutional institutions. The post was removed following widespread criticism from the bar association and political leaders.
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NewsTranscript
00:00Good evening, you're watching India First. I'm Gaurav Savant.
00:04The political battle over the special intensive revision of the electoral rolls
00:10of what the Congress Party and the opposition call is vote chori.
00:16This battle has now moved from Sansat to Sadak and to the Supreme Court.
00:22Eleven opposition India bloc leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallika Arjun Kargay,
00:28have now moved the Supreme Court.
00:30These are the images that you see on your television screen.
00:33They are now seeking supreme intervention.
00:37That's right, they're seeking Supreme Court's intervention to invalidate the entire SIR process.
00:45The special intensive revision of electoral rolls should be declared illegal and invalid is their demand.
00:52But there's a question that's been put to them.
00:55Can the opposition turn allegation of vote chori into a legal case without evidence of vote chori?
01:04And that's the question that the Bharatiya Janata Party has put to the Congress Party.
01:10In fact, Rahul Gandhi himself spoke of President Draupadi Murmu seeking evidence when they went and met her,
01:18when 10 members of Parliament submitted a memorandum to her.
01:23So the opposition's attempts to meet the Chief Justice of India did not succeed.
01:28Chief Justice of India, Surya Khan, he made it very clear that the issue is being addressed.
01:34It is before the court.
01:35And any meeting at this stage with opposition leaders would violate judicial propriety and the separation of powers.
01:44His message was clear.
01:45Use the legal route.
01:48There are remedies that are available.
01:50There are routes that are available.
01:52That's the route to take and not political delegations to meet the CGI.
01:57Rahul Gandhi has accused the Narendra Modi government of protecting the Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar.
02:02And he's called this entire process of SIR an assault on free and fair elections in India.
02:10He said President of India sought proof of vote chori during the meeting and said he would submit proof that
02:19he claimed he's had multiple times in the past.
02:22Now BJP has dismissed his charges as baseless.
02:25They've accused him of blaming institutions for electoral defeat, election after election, state after state, year after year.
02:34They've branded Rahul Gandhi a Hava Hawaii Neta.
02:38The government has accused him of making baseless allegations against constitutional institutions.
02:43Meanwhile, there's now another confrontation that's brewing on the streets of Delhi.
02:47The Kaukrut Janta Party, the CJP says it sought permission to carry out a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar.
02:55And they've now given the government a 24-hour ultimatum.
02:59Either that permission should be granted or the onus is on the government.
03:03But the Delhi police insists that's not possible.
03:08Jantar Mantar has now been denotified as a protest site.
03:11There are three other sites that have been designated as protest sites.
03:16The Delhi High Court has agreed to hear a plea challenging this move tomorrow.
03:20So from the Supreme Court to the streets of Delhi, the political battle over SIR is widening,
03:25the opposition demanding accountability, the BJP questioning the motives,
03:30going to the extent of saying that there are foreign forces at play here.
03:34But ultimately, it's for courts of law to decide.
03:38And this battle has now moved to the Supreme Court of India.
04:06New day, same political showdown.
04:13The India block, led by Rahul Gandhi, marched towards the Supreme Court on Monday,
04:19targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged electoral irregularities
04:25in the special intensive revision of the electoral rolls.
04:30Rahul Gandhi was joined by opposition leaders including Akhilesh Yadav of the Samajwadi Party
04:35and Tejasvi Yadav of the RJD, Supriya Sule of the NCP Sharad Pawar
04:42and Saugata Roy of the TMC demanding accountability from the Election Commission.
04:49This has nothing to do with impeachment.
04:52This is to deal with the irregularities and illegality of the EC and its caution.
04:56It shows the mind of every youth and every woman and every student of this country.
05:06And the India alliance is united and we are standing together on an important day in the history of India.
05:13Before the march, Rahul Gandhi described the mobilization as Shivji's Bharat,
05:19renewing his demand for the CEC's resignation.
05:24You have made a mistake.
05:28You are not the mind behind the mistake.
05:32We are after the people who are behind what you did.
05:40It is very easy for you.
05:41Resign, get out of the way.
05:44The dance is going on.
05:45This is the dance of Shivji's.
05:47In this case, there is no one can come in the back of Shivji's.
05:51The opposition demanded accountability.
06:11But India Block's bid to meet CJI's Suri Kant hit a roadblock.
06:17The Chief Justice of India declined a request to meet the opposition delegation pointing to established legal remedies.
06:52Amidst the showdown, BJP launched a sharp counter-attack.
06:56Calling Rahul Gandhi a Hawa Hawai Neta who continues to make baseless allegations.
07:03What I have to say to the government and to the people of India, I say from here.
07:27I have to say that Rahul Gandhi is a Hawa Hawai Neta who is a Hawa Hawai Neta who is
07:46a Hawa Hawai Neta.
07:52Meanwhile, the Delhi police scrapped Jantar Mantar's designation as a designated protest site.
08:00Ram Leela Meidan, Buradi Ground in East Delhi are the alternate protest sites now.
08:10And the street war has escalated.
08:14BJP women workers targeted the Congress over its smash-the-patriarchy stance,
08:19raising sexual harassment allegations against Congress MP Bimal Akhoi jammed by JNU students.
08:47It's protest versus protest and from Sansad and then Sadak to now the Supreme Court.
08:56The opposition is escalating its fight against the CEC.
09:02One side alleges vote chowri, the other cries political vendetta.
09:07And with neither side showing signs of backing down, the showdown is all set to escalate.
09:15With Mossmi Singh, Maria Shaqeel and Freethi Chaudhary in Delhi, Bureau Report, India Today.
09:27So there's escalation on multiple fronts.
09:29Kerala Congress in a social media post targeted Chief Justice of India, Surya Khan, demanding his resignation.
09:35They said, and I quote,
09:36If law and order is not your domain, resign now.
09:40We will find your replacement who can handle it.
09:43Unquote.
09:44This after the Chief Justice of India rejected the request for a personal meeting with opposition leaders,
09:49citing that the issue is subjudice and it is not proper for him to meet.
09:54Now the Supreme Court Bar Association has issued a statement condemning this social media statement,
10:00seeking the resignation of Chief Justice of India, Surya Khan.
10:04The Supreme Court Bar Association in a statement said,
10:07Such statements belittle the judiciary and amount to an attempt to interfere with the administration of justice.
10:15It calls upon members and others to maintain the dignity and decorum of the Supreme Court of India.
10:22The Bharatiya Janata Party also slammed the Congress.
10:25Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister and Minority Minister Kiran Rajiju said,
10:31Congress wants to destroy the Constitution.
10:33In a social media post, he said, and I quote,
10:37I had said this earlier,
10:39Next target of the Congress party is the judiciary.
10:43Congress wants to destroy all the constitutional and democratic institutions of India.
10:48All anti-India gangs are now joining hands.
10:52All patriotic Indians will also come together.
10:56Now we are just hearing that the Congress party in Kerala
11:01has just deleted this post after the Supreme Court Bar Association and other condemnation which came
11:08that said, Dear Surya Khan, if law and order is not your domain, resign now.
11:12We will find your replacement.
11:14Who can handle it?
11:16Now, should they be saying something like this?
11:20Is there merit in the Supreme Court Bar Association saying,
11:24Do not demean the higher judiciary, the Supreme Court of India,
11:28the majesty of the justice of Supreme Court?
11:32I want to quickly cut across and bring in Rahul Gautam into this condemnation.
11:36Rahul, fast-paced developments through the day today.
11:40Tell us more about what the Bar Association said.
11:43And we are just hearing that Kerala Congress has since deleted this post.
11:50Well, you know, the same, you know, handle on its Kerala Congress.
11:56This is not the first time when it has run into a scandal or a controversy.
12:00There has been passed into instances as well.
12:03As far as the Supreme Court Bar Association is concerned,
12:06they have in fact condemned the tweet saying that this is nothing but an attempt
12:10on the part of a political outfit of Congress party to belittle the judiciary and its sanctity.
12:19So, in a way, and in fact, BJP is also going hammer and tong on this issue as far as,
12:25you know, this tweet is concerned.
12:26They are saying that this only shows that how now Congress and opposition parties are going
12:30after judiciary and all they want is unrest and anarchy in the country.
12:36Expect that given the fact that the tweet has already been deleted,
12:40that a clarification might come in.
12:43And the Congress party would obviously say that, you know,
12:46the tweet was, you know, if something was interpreted in a wrong manner,
12:51it would be distorted.
12:52But as I was telling you earlier also, this said handle has been a troublesome handle
12:57for Congress party and has been running into controversy.
13:00Obviously, on one hand, Congress party is trying to create a narrative that they are
13:04fighting for democracy, they are fighting for, you know, justice for the people.
13:07At the same time, the very institutions that they are seeking justice from
13:11are being attacked by their own handle.
13:14So, clearly, you know, there is a self-goal on the part of the Congress party.
13:19Okay. Now, it's not just the Kerala Congress.
13:23It is, in fact, now a wider attack.
13:26When you have a Union Parliamentary Affairs, you know, Minister Kiran Rijiju,
13:31Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Minister Kiran Rijiju says,
13:33I knew they would target the judiciary next.
13:36The BJP is saying these allegations are hawa, Hawaii.
13:39Where is the evidence?
13:40Rahul, you cover the Congress.
13:42You've been speaking to Congress leaders.
13:44What's their response on the evidence bit,
13:47which apparently Rahul Gandhi himself said was being raised,
13:50was raised even by President Draupadi Murmo?
13:54Well, the sole criticism of Rahul Gandhi and Congress party has been for so long
13:59that they are indulging into a hit-and-run job
14:02and they are only making allegations and not substantiating them
14:06by not putting enough evidence in public domain.
14:10But now, given the fact that they have already approached our Supreme Court,
14:13expect now that the legal expert of the Congress party...
14:18In the Supreme Court, breaking news coming in India today gets you the latest
14:23on the Congress party petition in the Supreme Court.
14:27The petition challenges the Election Commission's functioning,
14:32the legality of key decisions taken during the special intensive revision,
14:38it's alleged arbitrary voter deletion and the integrity of the electoral database.
14:46The most significant aspect is that the petition does not seek to overturn
14:52the Supreme Court's earlier judgment upholding the special intensive revision
14:57of the electoral rolls.
14:59Instead, it questions whether the Election Commission implemented the SIR lawfully
15:07and whether the Chief Election Commissioner exercised powers
15:12without approval of the other two Election Commissioners.
15:17Let me now get you some of the details that India Today has been able to get.
15:22The CC stands accused of unilaterally exercising the Election Commission's powers.
15:30Was a nationwide SIR approved by the full Election Commission?
15:36Which means the Chief Election Commissioner,
15:39who's only the first amongst equals,
15:41and the other two Election Commissioners.
15:45The Supreme Court's TN session judgment invoked against unilateral decision-making
15:51in this petition of the party.
15:55Another critical point raised is Form 6.
15:59This petition alleges that Form 6 was modified illegally.
16:06It also demands independent audit,
16:10not just of ECINET,
16:13but also of ERO-NET.
16:16Of course, this is just the first
16:18that we've been able to access.
16:20There's much more on this story that's coming.
16:23The Congress has taken this fight
16:25from Sansat to Sadak and the Supreme Court.
16:28You've heard the BJP hitting back,
16:29saying that these allegations are all Hava-Hawai.
16:32Where is the proof of vote-jury?
16:34Now, does this petition in the Supreme Court
16:37give us an inkling of what lies ahead
16:41and what the Congress is seeking?
16:43Joining me on this special broadcast
16:44are Sayyid Zafar Islam,
16:45BJP's National Spokesperson
16:47and former Rajya Savai MP.
16:49Salman Sohz, National Spokesperson
16:51for the Congress Party.
16:52Advocate Pranav Dhawan joins us,
16:54Spokesperson of the CJP.
16:56Vikram Singh is former Director General
16:57of Uttar Pradesh Police,
16:59joins us as a security expert on law and order.
17:02And Jai Anand Dehadrai
17:04is an advocate in the Supreme Court,
17:06joins us with a legal perspective.
17:08I want to begin by asking Salman Sohz
17:11the latest on this petition
17:14and the issue of proof that is being raised.
17:18So, in the political circles,
17:20the Congress Party and the opposition bloc
17:22want the SIR process to be stopped.
17:25Here, there are questions being raised
17:27about the ins of the SIR process,
17:32whether it's Form 6
17:33or whether decisions were taken
17:35either unilaterally
17:36or by consensus
17:38or by majority decision.
17:40The SIR process,
17:41which means it's okay,
17:42Sayyid Zafar Islam,
17:43and what do you make of this Kerala Congress tweet?
17:46Or I'll just come to the Kerala Congress tweet
17:47in just a moment.
17:48Respond to the petition.
17:52To me or...?
17:53Salman, Salman Sohz.
17:54Are you asking me?
17:55Okay.
17:55Yes, Salman Sohz.
17:56So, Gaurav, first,
17:57I think the SIR process now,
17:59as it has become pretty clear to everybody,
18:02is a deeply flawed exercise
18:04and potentially illegal
18:06because what we've seen
18:08through some of the exposés that have come out,
18:10it seems that the chief election commissioner
18:13was running a one-man show.
18:15And the other two commissioners,
18:17in certain cases,
18:20expressed in writing
18:22that what was being done
18:23was unauthorized or illegal.
18:25Now, we approached the Supreme Court,
18:27we approached the chief justice,
18:29and the chief justice said
18:30that we should file a petition,
18:31and that is exactly what we have done.
18:34And by the way,
18:35we should be asking very tough questions
18:37of the election commission
18:38or the selection commission,
18:39as they call it.
18:40You will remember, Gaurav,
18:42that in West Bengal,
18:42there's still about 37 lakh appeals
18:46that are pending.
18:4737 lakh appeals.
18:49And reports say
18:50that it'll take about 12 years
18:51to complete that.
18:52Meanwhile, in Delhi,
18:54there were about 30 lakh cases
18:57that were unresolved
18:58as of September 20th.
19:01And then,
19:02after we started protesting, etc.,
19:04Were all of these given
19:05to the president of India?
19:07Because what the Congress Party
19:08mentions in television studios,
19:11does it back it
19:13in terms of evidence?
19:15And when the president
19:16asked for evidence,
19:17was it submitted there?
19:18Has it been submitted in courts?
19:20Or is this,
19:21as some argue,
19:22a perception battle?
19:23But be that as it may.
19:24No, no, no.
19:25The president,
19:26first of all,
19:26the president was very gracious
19:28to meet our leadership,
19:30and she has asked for proof,
19:32and we have the proof,
19:33and we will deliver the proof to her.
19:34And by the way,
19:36like I said,
19:38if the election commission
19:40could resolve 20 lakh cases
19:43within less than 10 days
19:45in Delhi,
19:46why were they not able
19:47to resolve appeals
19:49in West Bengal
19:50at this super fast level?
19:52Because they wanted
19:53to do vote chowri.
19:54And that is exactly
19:55what they did.
19:56Otherwise,
19:57Manta Banerjee
19:57would not have lost
19:58the election like she did.
19:59Now that will be decided
20:01by courts of law.
20:02But Syed Zafar Islam,
20:03the battle is now
20:04from Sansad to Sadak,
20:06and now finally
20:06the Supreme Court of India.
20:07Look at the crowds today.
20:09Congress,
20:10NCP,
20:11SP,
20:12RJD,
20:12left,
20:13galvanized the carder.
20:14Congress saying,
20:15vote chowri,
20:16Gyanesh Kumar will have to go.
20:18Their resistance is building,
20:19and now,
20:20they've actually filed
20:21a petition in court.
20:23Well,
20:25Gaurav,
20:26today,
20:26Congress Party
20:27and Rahul Gandhi
20:28both stand exposed.
20:30Because all along,
20:31he was saying that
20:31they are fighting
20:33for democracy,
20:34but now,
20:35they clearly stand exposed
20:37because they are not
20:37fighting for democracy
20:38or not fighting
20:39for anything else,
20:41but for the lust of power,
20:43that's why they are
20:43on the street.
20:45Because,
20:45had they been really keen
20:47to,
20:48if so-called
20:49save the democracy
20:50approach they had,
20:52they could have met
20:53election commissioner,
20:54chief election commissioner,
20:55because he is more than
20:56keen to meet,
20:57but they are not formally
20:59asking,
21:00election commissioner
21:01for an appointment,
21:03and they are not
21:03even intending to,
21:05because their true intent
21:05is not out and clear
21:07that they do not want
21:08to meet the election commissioner,
21:09they have some,
21:09they are up to something else.
21:11Because even in today's
21:12press conference,
21:13Rahul Gandhi spoke
21:14can say that,
21:15I want,
21:16say,
21:17elected,
21:17chief election commissioner
21:18to turn approver,
21:19because I have nothing
21:19against him.
21:21Because everyone knows
21:22that there is no proof,
21:23he has no proof,
21:25it's only the allegation
21:26he is making
21:27without any substance.
21:28And he will get,
21:29again,
21:29get exposed
21:30in the court of law,
21:31because in the court of law,
21:33all this allegation,
21:34without a basis,
21:36will definitely,
21:37will expose him further.
21:39For a legal perspective,
21:41let me quickly bring in
21:41Jai Anand Dehadrae.
21:43Jai,
21:43is there evidence
21:44in public domain
21:45that will stand scrutiny
21:48in a court of law
21:49when it comes to
21:50vote jury,
21:52form 6 being changed
21:54or,
21:54you know,
21:55whether a decision
21:56was taken unilaterally
21:57by consensus
21:58of all three
22:00or majority
22:00of two against three,
22:02two against one.
22:03These are the cases
22:04that they have put
22:05in court,
22:06points raised in court.
22:07But does any of this
22:08indicate vote jury?
22:11Aurob,
22:12good evening.
22:13I was listening
22:13to Mr. Salman Soz
22:15from the Congress Party
22:16very, very carefully
22:18when he opened his remarks
22:19and he said something
22:20very interesting.
22:21He said,
22:21and I quote,
22:22it is clear to everyone
22:25that there has been
22:25some irregularity
22:27in the election commission.
22:28Now,
22:29for one,
22:30you know,
22:31I,
22:31for one,
22:31it's not clear to me.
22:32So if he has any proof
22:34or any evidence
22:35or if the Congress Party
22:36has proof,
22:36if their leadership,
22:37Mr. Rahul Gandhi,
22:38has proof,
22:39the point is,
22:40please come out with it
22:41and tell the entire country
22:43that look,
22:43this is the proof we have
22:44that the election commission
22:45has acted in a manner
22:46that is unconstitutional.
22:48That is point one.
22:48Point two,
22:50finally,
22:50Mr. Gandhi
22:51has,
22:52you know,
22:52taken the bait
22:53according to me
22:54and has decided
22:54to file this petition
22:55in the Supreme Court
22:57of India
22:57and that is right.
22:58That is the correct,
22:59responsible way
23:00for the leader
23:01of the opposition
23:01to take up an issue.
23:02So I applaud him for that.
23:04But the point is,
23:05Gaurav,
23:05that even in filing
23:06a petition,
23:07you cannot file,
23:08you know,
23:09a petition in the Supreme Court
23:10on the basis
23:11of your personal conjectures
23:12or because you surmised something
23:14or because you believe something
23:16to be a particular way.
23:17As Mr. So said right now,
23:19you know,
23:19he said,
23:19it's clear to everyone.
23:20No, sir,
23:21I'm sorry,
23:21it's not clear to anyone.
23:23Certainly,
23:24they've managed to create,
23:25spin this narrative
23:26now in the public domain
23:27that there is something,
23:29you know,
23:29illegal or something unholy
23:31that has happened
23:32in the election commission.
23:32But even that,
23:33Gaurav,
23:34that earlier,
23:34you know,
23:35argument that was being made
23:37that out of the three
23:37election commissioners,
23:39you know,
23:39there wasn't consensus
23:40between them
23:41when those decisions were made.
23:42Even that myth
23:43has been busted now.
23:45When you see the press note
23:46of the 26th of September,
23:48they've said all decisions
23:49were unanimous.
23:50So Mr. So's is right.
23:51If they were,
23:53if those decisions
23:53were not unanimous
23:54in terms of Section 18
23:56of the law,
23:56which I'm sure he knows,
23:58then he would have a case
23:59to make that there is
24:00a problem with the functioning
24:01of the election commission.
24:02But when they've come out
24:03and they've said
24:03that there isn't any,
24:04then I don't understand.
24:05And one last point
24:06on the Form 6 issue,
24:07when the ADR judgment
24:09came out in May of this year
24:10regarding the SIR exercise,
24:12Gaurav in Bihar,
24:13the Supreme Court
24:14has clearly laid down
24:16in terms of Section 21.3
24:18of the Representation
24:19of People's Act,
24:19which was brought in
24:20as an amendment
24:21by, guess who?
24:23Jawaharlal Nehru,
24:24Prime Minister.
24:24He brought in that amendment
24:25in 1956,
24:26which made it incumbent
24:27upon the election commission
24:29to conduct regular SIRs.
24:30So I don't know
24:31what they're talking about.
24:32No, but under the garb
24:34of that, you know,
24:3621-3,
24:38was a form attached,
24:40you know,
24:41the attached form
24:42on grand parents?
24:43No, there wasn't.
24:44That's the issue
24:44that the Congress party
24:46raises repeatedly, sir.
24:46Gaurav, can I quickly,
24:47can I quickly answer that
24:49if you'll permit me?
24:50Can I quickly,
24:50instead of me raising
24:51that question,
24:52can I get Salman Sos
24:52to elaborate on it
24:53before I come to
24:54Dr. Vikram Singh
24:55and the CJP?
24:56Salman Sos,
24:57quickly before Jai
24:58wants to respond to that.
25:00I think I should just
25:02make a slight amendment
25:04to what I said earlier.
25:05Those who are willing
25:06to be open to listening
25:08to and seeing
25:09what's happening
25:10in the country,
25:11if they would just read
25:12the Indian Express expose,
25:14where it is documented
25:16that the two election commissioners
25:18who are not
25:18the chief election commissioner
25:20wrote that what was happening
25:23on Form 6
25:24was illegal and unauthorized.
25:26Okay?
25:27If the gentleman
25:29who's a Supreme Court advocate
25:31cannot see that,
25:32I cannot open his eyes
25:33to that.
25:34Now, as far as,
25:34as far as we are concerned...
25:36Let me respond to that.
25:37No, no, you can respond.
25:38Let me just finish.
25:40I want to ask you, Gaurav,
25:42not the gentleman
25:43or anybody else.
25:44I want to,
25:44I want to ask the people
25:45watching at home.
25:47Just as an example,
25:49in Maharashtra,
25:50you had 40,000 net voter additions
25:52between Lok Sabha
25:53and Assembly election
25:54within four and a half months.
25:5618 months down the road,
25:5818 months down the road,
25:592.07 crore voters have been,
26:02you know,
26:02are not in the SIR,
26:04not on the voter rolls.
26:05Maharashtra's population
26:06has been growing.
26:07They said 75 lakh voters
26:09have shifted permanently.
26:11If they've shifted,
26:12they've not disappeared.
26:12They should be on the roll
26:13somewhere else,
26:14either in Maharashtra
26:15or somewhere else in the country.
26:17I don't see Maharashtra
26:18as a great migration,
26:19out-migration place.
26:21So, I'm just saying...
26:22political question,
26:24I will get Syed Zafar Islam
26:25to respond
26:26on the legal question.
26:27Jainan,
26:27the Hadra is subsequently,
26:28you've raised Maharashtra,
26:30before that you've raised Bengal
26:31and Delhi.
26:32But quickly,
26:33Syed Zafar Islam.
26:35See,
26:36as far as
26:38SIR exercise
26:38is concerned,
26:40rest of the things
26:41will of course be spoken
26:42and the spokesperson
26:43of the
26:44election commission
26:46of India.
26:47But as far as
26:47SIR exercise
26:48is concerned,
26:49then he must listen
26:50to his own colleague
26:51Manu Sangviji.
26:52He has very clearly
26:53advocated time and again
26:54his video,
26:56you can see his video
26:57that voter lists
26:59should be cleaned up.
27:01Why should be cleaned up?
27:03Because there are
27:03many bogus voters
27:04and that should be cleaned up.
27:06He was advocating it
27:07when the election commission
27:08is undertaking
27:09that exercise
27:09to clean up that voter list
27:11and electoral role
27:13should be
27:14only consisting
27:16of bona fide Indians,
27:17citizens of this country.
27:18then what is the problem
27:20they have?
27:21They are having
27:21two problems.
27:22One,
27:23they had bogus voters
27:24like in the Russian card.
27:25They had 5 crore,
27:26more than 5 crore
27:27bogus Russian card holders
27:29which of course
27:30during Congress regime
27:31nobody was,
27:32even those 5 crore people
27:33had never born
27:34in this country.
27:35They were part of the
27:36list of the election,
27:37the Russian card.
27:39And likewise
27:39in the Aadhaar card
27:404.88 crore
27:41they have been removed
27:42because they had
27:43never been born here.
27:45Likewise
27:45in electoral roles
27:46Mr. Manu Sangviji
27:47was right
27:48and he was very clear
27:49that there are bogus voters.
27:51He must perhaps
27:52didn't realize
27:53that it was
27:53their bogus voters
27:54which was part
27:55of that electoral role.
27:56Now it has been cleaned up.
27:58On the legal point
28:00quickly,
28:01okay,
28:01Jainant Dehadrai,
28:02on the legal point
28:04respond,
28:05yeah.
28:06Yes,
28:07very quickly Gaurav,
28:07you know,
28:08with great respect
28:08to Mr. Sos,
28:09I would only say this to him
28:11that on the form 6 issue,
28:12you know,
28:13I invite his attention
28:14to the fact
28:14that there has been
28:15no amendment
28:16to form 6.
28:16This has been recognized,
28:18admitted by the Supreme Court
28:19of India,
28:20no less.
28:21The only change was
28:22that an additional layer
28:23of verification
28:24was brought in
28:25because
28:25Section 23.1
28:27empowers,
28:28grants a residual power
28:29to the Election Commission
28:30of India
28:31to conduct an SIR.
28:32And if you trace
28:33that power,
28:33Gaurav,
28:34you take it to the Constitution
28:35under Article 3.24.1,
28:37the preparation of roles
28:39specifically
28:40is contemplated
28:41by the Election Commission
28:42of India.
28:42So what does
28:43Mr. Sos want?
28:44It seems to me
28:45as an outsider.
28:46It seems
28:46that Mr. Sos,
28:47his party
28:48and those who support
28:49his party
28:50on our eastern flank,
28:52they seem to want
28:53Bangladeshis,
28:54Rohingyas
28:54to come into our country,
28:56easily get
28:56Aadhar cards issued
28:57by the state government
28:58incumbents
28:59who were there earlier,
29:00such as the TMC,
29:01and then basically
29:02vote for them
29:03and change the
29:03demographic
29:04of those areas.
29:06There is a national security
29:07angle to this entire thing.
29:08Gaurav,
29:09it's a very serious issue.
29:10And today,
29:11I feel that
29:11Mr. Rahul Gandhi
29:12is so desperate
29:13to grab power
29:14in whatever way
29:14he can,
29:15that he will do so
29:16even on the ashes
29:17of this country
29:18if he can.
29:19This is the tragedy
29:19of India.
29:20Sir,
29:20that's a very grave charge
29:21to level on the leader
29:22of the opposition
29:23in our country,
29:24but be that as it may,
29:25I'll get Salman Sos
29:26to respond to it directly.
29:28But Dr. Vikram Singh,
29:29is this a perception battle?
29:32Votechori,
29:32says Rahul Gandhi.
29:34You know,
29:35Bangladeshis
29:35and Rohingyas
29:36getting vote
29:37and being,
29:38you know,
29:38their votes being reduced
29:39or their names being removed,
29:41says the BJP.
29:42What do the crowds
29:43present on the streets
29:45indicate?
29:47Very much,
29:48Gaurav Ji.
29:48Who am I to say?
29:49Rahul Gandhi himself
29:50has said
29:51this is a battle
29:52of perception.
29:53This is a battle
29:54of something
29:54of information,
29:55something akin
29:56to information warfare.
29:57I would say
29:58with my experience,
29:59it is akin
29:59to an information warfare.
30:01Half-truths,
30:02blatant lies
30:03and also
30:04deep fakes
30:05and fakes
30:06seem to be ruling
30:07the roost.
30:07And therefore,
30:08serve as much venom
30:09as you can possibly
30:10and try to dress up
30:12in verbiage.
30:14And this is exactly
30:14what every political party
30:16seems to be doing today.
30:17Now,
30:18you went to the
30:19President's House,
30:20you went to the Supreme Court,
30:21you went to the Agashwani,
30:23you almost landed up
30:24at the Parliament,
30:26the PM House.
30:27Are you in any way
30:28concerned with
30:29the constitutional norms?
30:30The Constitution
30:31is in a lot of money.
30:31In a lot of money,
30:32you are in a lot of money.
30:33The manner in which
30:34you are desecrating
30:35the Constitution
30:36and yet you have
30:37the audacity
30:37to carry the Constitution,
30:39I would be very surprised
30:40if you can tell me
30:41the number of articles
30:42in the Constitution
30:43and the vanity
30:44of the fundamental rights
30:46and the fundamental duties.
30:47You will not be able
30:48to tell that.
30:48I can guarantee that.
30:49And therefore,
30:50Mr. Sos,
30:50you are there.
30:51You would be well advised
30:52to educate
30:53your party leadership
30:54into the rudiments
30:55of the Constitution.
30:56It is so easy
30:57to carry the Constitution
30:58and spread lies about it.
31:01Mr. Sos,
31:01I'll come to you
31:02to respond,
31:02but give me a moment
31:03to try and bring in
31:04Advocate Pranav Dhawan.
31:05I think we have
31:05an audio link
31:06back with him
31:06and he's been raising
31:07his hand for quite some time
31:09to come in, sir.
31:10Sir, apologies for the delay.
31:11Sir, is the police
31:13or is the government
31:14following double standards?
31:16Congress carries out
31:17this dharna
31:18in the heart of the city
31:20from, you know,
31:21initially,
31:22Jantar Mantar,
31:23one day,
31:23Parliament,
31:25you know,
31:25Akashwani Bhawan,
31:26one day on,
31:28towards Supreme Court.
31:29The CJP is told
31:30Jantar Mantar
31:31is denotified
31:32as a protest spot.
31:33Is the CJP being told
31:35to go to Burari,
31:36East Delhi or Ramlila
31:36ground to protest?
31:38What will the CJP do?
31:41Gauravji,
31:41I'll just say one thing
31:43which is that
31:43the government
31:44is not trying to
31:46put us in different camps
31:48or to double speak here.
31:50What the government
31:50is actually doing
31:51is constitutional harakiri,
31:52there is a right
31:53to peaceful protest
31:54for citizens of India.
31:55CJP as a representative
31:56of the people of India
31:57will fight for that right.
31:59There is no need
32:00for the kind of escalation
32:02that has happened
32:03on just accessing
32:04Jantar Mantar.
32:05And access to Jantar Mantar
32:07flows in from
32:08the fundamental right
32:09to freedom of expression
32:10of the people of India,
32:11which is why
32:12we have given a call
32:12that within 24 hours
32:14a permission
32:14should be granted to us
32:15within the contours
32:16of the law.
32:17We reiterate
32:18the standard operating procedure
32:20which contemplates
32:21a 10-day notice
32:21is outside the force of law.
32:23It does not flow in
32:24from the statutory rules
32:25drafted under
32:27the Police Act.
32:28To go beyond
32:29the legal point,
32:30I want to also point out
32:32that the Indian Express report
32:34makes it clear
32:35for any rational citizen
32:38of this country.
32:39And Indian Express
32:39has had two follow-ups
32:41on the report.
32:41Shows that in Bengal,
32:44the SIR was done
32:45in such a bad way
32:46and the SIR appeal process
32:47has made the judges
32:48so frustrated.
32:49They are resigning
32:50in large numbers.
32:51They had a meeting
32:52of an emergency meeting
32:54where they said
32:54that they are unable
32:55to serve notices
32:56on those
32:57whose voting rights
32:59have been challenged.
33:00The basic pillars
33:03of the rule of law
33:03are not being followed
33:04against these citizens
33:06of India.
33:07And it is our duty
33:08as citizens
33:08to fight for our
33:09fellow citizens.
33:10and we are not
33:11going to get divided
33:12between Congress,
33:13BJP,
33:13AAP or CJP.
33:15For us,
33:16it is the fight
33:17for the fellow citizens.
33:17That's exactly what
33:18the government
33:19is being accused
33:20of doing,
33:20trying to divide
33:21the CJP
33:22and the Congress.
33:23But the issues
33:24both raise
33:26pertain to SIR
33:27where process
33:28is also the punishment
33:29as in the case
33:31of Bengal
33:31as pointed out
33:32in reports, sir.
33:34Well, let me ask
33:35anybody who is
33:36speaking about
33:38SIR exercise
33:39and whether
33:40there is any flaw
33:41process which is
33:43being followed
33:44by ECI.
33:44Then who should
33:46contact?
33:47They should be
33:47contacting
33:48the Election
33:48Commission of India.
33:50They should be
33:50speaking to
33:51the Chief Election
33:52Commissioner
33:52and the Commissioners.
33:53But they are
33:54hitting the street.
33:56Why they are
33:57hitting the street?
33:57Because they know
33:58that they just
33:59want cheap publicity.
34:00They want to
34:01destabilize the government.
34:02They want to
34:03drag the government
34:03in this controversy.
34:04But we know
34:05for sure
34:06what is their agenda.
34:07Who is pushing
34:08them from behind?
34:09Who is managing
34:09the CGP
34:10and other
34:11political parties
34:12from behind?
34:13We are absolutely
34:14clear.
34:14We will expose
34:15them.
34:15Keep exposing them.
34:17Sir, you are
34:18just innuendos.
34:19Sir, just innuendos.
34:21If you know
34:22if it is illegal,
34:23take action.
34:23If it is not illegal,
34:24let them do what
34:25they are doing.
34:26No, no.
34:27We are not fortunate.
34:28Two seconds.
34:30Two seconds.
34:31All I am saying
34:31that, see,
34:32we know exactly
34:33who are behind them.
34:34But we also
34:35No, is it illegal?
34:37No, I am saying
34:38Timely be transparent.
34:41I am coming to that.
34:43Please allow me to speak.
34:44All I am trying
34:45to tell you is that
34:45if they want to have
34:46a peaceful protest,
34:47they can have.
34:48But we have seen
34:49their intention
34:51is very bad.
34:52They want to
34:52create violence
34:53all over.
34:54Their intention
34:55is violence.
34:56They want
34:58to mislead the people.
34:59They want to drag
35:00the people
35:00in this controversy.
35:01They want to use
35:02the youth
35:03as a shield
35:04and we will not
35:05let it happen
35:06for sure.
35:06We have protected.
35:08We have safe.
35:09We were considered
35:09on safety and security.
35:11Advocate Pranam Davan,
35:11quickly respond.
35:12Dr. Vikram Singh
35:13and Salman Sos
35:14both want to come in.
35:15I have a 10 second response.
35:17Advocate Davan, go on, sir.
35:17Just a 10 second response.
35:19If CJP
35:19and the mass movement
35:20of India
35:21is being supported
35:22by some nefarious forces,
35:24why was there
35:24a negotiation
35:25with these nefarious forces
35:27on the 25th of July?
35:28Is this government
35:29admitting
35:30Gadgar government?
35:31Is this government
35:32admitting to be soft
35:33on national security?
35:34Please don't make
35:34a mockery
35:35of national security.
35:36Please don't turn
35:36Delhi into a police state.
35:38Please don't bring
35:38our parliamentary forces
35:39from where they are
35:40doing their job
35:41and they need to
35:42protect our national security.
35:44Till today,
35:44people have nightmares
35:45about Pehelgaam
35:46and we are not going
35:47to let you
35:47make a mockery
35:48of national security.
35:49If you find
35:50even one shred
35:50of evidence against us,
35:52hang us by whatever
35:54bars you want.
35:56Put us behind bars.
35:57Jainand,
35:58that's a fair point.
36:00That's a fair point
36:01that Advocate
36:02Dhawan raises.
36:03That if there is
36:04anything illegal,
36:05take legal action
36:06as per law.
36:08If anti-national forces
36:09as is being alleged
36:10are at play,
36:11take legal action.
36:13Why in windows?
36:15Two quick points.
36:16Two very quick points,
36:17Gaurav.
36:18One, I must congratulate
36:19Pranav.
36:20I think he highlights
36:21some issues
36:22and I think he is well
36:23within his rights
36:24to highlight those issues
36:25as they are a youth movement.
36:26Please go to court
36:27and bring them up.
36:27But I want to just
36:28remind everybody
36:29about one thing,
36:30Gaurav.
36:30You'll remember this.
36:31Mr. Rahul Gandhi
36:32had been raising
36:32these questions
36:33and doubts
36:34about the election commission's
36:35functioning for quite some time.
36:37What did the election commission say?
36:38They asked him to place it
36:40on an affidavit,
36:41whatever his allegations were,
36:42and to file it
36:43with the election commission.
36:44Do you remember
36:45what Rahul Gandhi's response was?
36:46He said,
36:47I've taken an oath in parliament.
36:48I'm not going to file an oath
36:49and give it to you.
36:50What sort of entitlement is this?
36:51Which takes me back
36:52to exactly what Mr. Vikram Singh
36:53very rightly says.
36:55He's a highly respected
36:57former IPS officer,
36:58one of the most senior.
36:59He's seen 40 years
37:00of public service.
37:00He's right in saying that,
37:02look, there are
37:02constitutional processes
37:03and mechanisms.
37:04We're a rule of law country.
37:05Just because your last name
37:07is Gandhi
37:07doesn't mean that you're immune
37:08from the rule of law
37:09in this country.
37:10Follow the process
37:10like every other citizen
37:11in this country.
37:12Fair enough.
37:13Dr. Vikram Singh,
37:14you wanted to come in
37:15on the point
37:15that the BJP raises
37:16on national security
37:18or foreign forces
37:20being at play.
37:21Sir, you're an officer
37:23who's enforced law
37:24for decades.
37:25If there is
37:26an iota of evidence,
37:28should that,
37:29should an FIR
37:29not be filed?
37:30Should legal prosecution
37:32not take place
37:33in case there is
37:34anti-national activity
37:34that's underway?
37:37A FIR may or may not
37:38be filed,
37:39but the fact of the matter
37:39is that the antenna
37:40should be very high
37:41and all of them
37:42should be put
37:42under surveillance
37:43and get them
37:44once you have
37:45incontrovertible evidence.
37:46I repeat,
37:48incontrovertible evidence
37:49on the basis
37:50of suspicion,
37:50on the basis
37:51of hearsay,
37:52it's not going to work.
37:53We have had cases
37:53of UAPA failing
37:55in the courts of law
37:55because they were halfway.
37:57Therefore,
37:57do your homework
37:58appropriately.
37:59The consequence
38:00and the end
38:00of the product
38:01is such
38:01that there can be
38:02no mistake
38:03about the act.
38:03There is a foreign hand.
38:05Look at the manner
38:06in which they have
38:07such deep pockets,
38:08the manner in which
38:09they travel by
38:10charter flights,
38:11they travel with
38:12the highest levels
38:14of luxury
38:14and therefore,
38:15I would say,
38:16this is what is known
38:16in the police language
38:17as suspicious activity
38:19reporting system.
38:20Everything is suspicious,
38:21but that has to be
38:22consolidated as
38:22actionable intelligence,
38:24evidence,
38:24and then a charge sheet.
38:26Fair enough.
38:27Salman Soz
38:27wants to respond to you
38:28and Jainand,
38:29go on Salman Soz.
38:31Well,
38:31first of all,
38:31I would just say
38:32to our friend,
38:33the advocate,
38:33that he should
38:34represent the BJP
38:35because when you
38:36talk about the leader
38:37of the opposition
38:38in such a manner,
38:40a constitutional
38:41functionary,
38:42you should just
38:42join the BJP.
38:43Nobody takes you
38:44seriously.
38:45As far as
38:46this canard that
38:48Bangladesh
38:48is an argument.
38:50Salman Soz,
38:51this is your argument.
38:52You'll make a
38:52personal jab,
38:53you'll take a
38:54personal jab at me,
38:55but you can't
38:56substantiate anything
38:57that I've said.
38:57I've been shown
38:59even a speck of
38:59evidence and guess
39:00what?
39:00We're a democracy.
39:03You will have
39:04your turn.
39:04You will have
39:06your turn,
39:06but you cannot
39:07interrupt me.
39:08Why are you
39:08interrupting me?
39:10Why are you
39:10interrupting me?
39:11Is this your
39:12tactic?
39:12Is this your
39:13tactic?
39:14Why don't you
39:14just keep quiet
39:15and wait for your
39:16turn?
39:17All you can do
39:17is take other
39:18person personally.
39:19Wait for your
39:19turn.
39:20Wait for your
39:21turn.
39:21You will have
39:22what democracy?
39:22You have to
39:23wait for your
39:24turn.
39:24You said your
39:25stuff about the
39:25opposition.
39:26Now you wait.
39:27Mr. Salman Soz,
39:28you have no
39:29substance.
39:30You should just
39:31wait and wait
39:33your turn.
39:34Wait your turn.
39:35Gentlemen,
39:35gentlemen, let me
39:36intervene.
39:37Wait your turn.
39:37I listen to you
39:38patiently.
39:39Gentlemen, let me
39:39come in and intervene.
39:40Finally, okay, all
39:41faders go down right
39:42now.
39:44A point is made and
39:45then a counterpoint is
39:46made.
39:46Both guests speaking at
39:47the same time.
39:48No one hears anything.
39:49Salman Soz, request to
39:51all our guests, to all
39:52our guests, no
39:53personal attacks.
39:54All our guests are
39:55very well respected.
39:56Salman Soz, make
39:57your point, sir.
39:59I do not interrupt
40:00anybody on national
40:01television.
40:02I should not be
40:02interrupted.
40:03They should just
40:03wait their turn.
40:03Go on, sir.
40:04You want to support
40:05the BJP?
40:06By all means, do it.
40:07Don't come in the
40:07garb of some
40:09unaffiliated person.
40:10Now, as far as
40:11this whole cannot
40:12of India and
40:13On the screen, but
40:15let Salman Soz
40:16complete his point so
40:17that the point and
40:18counterpoint are clear.
40:19There are 13
40:21crore people who
40:22have been left off
40:23the rolls.
40:23That is larger than
40:25the adult population
40:26of Bangladesh.
40:27Do they think
40:28we are fools?
40:29If there are 13
40:30crore Bangladeshis
40:32in this country,
40:32then the Home
40:33Minister should
40:33resign.
40:34Why isn't he
40:34resigning?
40:35And the gentleman
40:36who wants everybody,
40:37he's the former
40:38UP Director General,
40:40he wants everybody
40:41to be under
40:41surveillance.
40:42Sir, you have
40:43retired now.
40:44Relax.
40:45Now we'll have
40:45accountability in this
40:46country.
40:47We will have
40:47accountability in this
40:48country.
40:49That 13
40:49crore has been
40:50clarified repeatedly
40:51by...
40:52Let me just say
40:53something with
40:53Zafar Islam.
40:56Zafar Islam wants
40:57us to protest.
40:59Zafar Islam's idea
41:01of protest is going to
41:02only Dr. Vikram Singh.
41:04Dr. Vikram Singh
41:05wants to respond
41:05again by request.
41:07There is a saying
41:08in Urdu
41:08I know I have
41:11offended and rubbed
41:11salt in some raw
41:12wound and that
41:13must have offended
41:14some people.
41:15Surveillance is an
41:15essential part of
41:17law and order
41:17machinery everywhere
41:18in the world.
41:19We show all our
41:19guests so that
41:20those points are
41:21made to all.
41:22I know I cut
41:24rather too deep.
41:25Sorry for that.
41:26Okay, Zafar Islam
41:28wants to come in.
41:28You people.
41:30Zafar Islam wants
41:31to come in.
41:31This is the kind
41:32of language that
41:33ultimately...
41:33Salman, this is
41:34my turn and I
41:35think you should
41:36not speak.
41:37First of all,
41:38the direct
41:38comment, personal
41:39comment about
41:40a retired IPS
41:41officer with such
41:42credible past
41:45and distinguished
41:47career which he
41:47had is very
41:51bad.
41:51I mean on part
41:52of a congress
41:52spokesperson, then
41:53he shouldn't have
41:54made this kind
41:54of comment.
41:55Having said that,
41:56let me come back
41:57to the question
41:57which we are
41:58discussing and the
41:58issues which we
41:59are discussing.
42:00I again request
42:01Mr. Rahul Gandhi,
42:03all the opposition
42:04leaders, stick an
42:05appointment with
42:06the election
42:06commissioner, chief
42:07election commissioner.
42:08Go with all the
42:11evidence you have.
42:12Show the evidence.
42:13Discuss with them.
42:15They are there to
42:15dispose of all the
42:17queries you have.
42:18Perhaps now they've
42:19moved a step ahead
42:20now that the matter
42:21is in court.
42:22But Advocate
42:22Dhawan, since you
42:23are an officer of
42:23the law, Advocate
42:25Pranav Dhawan, will
42:26the CJP also
42:27implead itself since
42:28you are battling the
42:29same case and
42:30cause?
42:31Will you also
42:31implead yourself in
42:32this case?
42:33Will you fight on
42:34the streets or
42:35will you fight in
42:35courts?
42:36We will fight for
42:38the people of
42:38India's right to
42:39peacefully protest.
42:40We are waiting for
42:41the Delhi police very
42:42patiently for 24
42:43hours.
42:43Congress party as a
42:45national opposition is
42:46taking its own
42:46strategy.
42:47We are all working
42:48towards the same
42:49goal of ensuring
42:49accountability.
42:50against the
42:53severe blows that
42:54have been made to
42:56electoral integrity in
42:57our country.
42:57We are committed to
42:58constitutional institutions
42:59and we reject any
43:01advice to the
43:02government of India to
43:03use illegal surveillance
43:05against anyone.
43:06We hope that is not
43:07the kind of discourse
43:08that we descend to on
43:09national television.
43:10If there is an agenda of
43:13foreign powers as the
43:14BJP or some seem to
43:17claim, if there is,
43:19then all evidence needs
43:21to be put out in public
43:22domain.
43:22At the same time, if the
43:23Congress says there is
43:24votchori, all evidence has
43:26to be put out in public
43:27domain for courts of law
43:29in India to decide.
43:31It's ultimately the courts of
43:32law.
43:33When there is any dispute,
43:35it has to be decided by
43:36courts of law.
43:37We will be reporting all
43:38sides of the story,
43:39getting you every part of
43:40the story with our very
43:41well-respected guests and
43:43I want to thank all of
43:44them for joining me here.
43:45Dr. Vikram Singh, Salman
43:47Soh, Sayyad Zafar Islam,
43:48Advocate Dhawan and
43:49Jainan Dehad Rai.
43:50Many, many thanks for
43:51joining me.
43:51Big story coming and it's
43:52a big win for India's
43:53fight against Pakistan
43:55radical Islamist terror.
43:57Four terrorists including
43:58a top Lashkar-e-Taiba
43:59terrorist, they were killed
44:01after mines laid as part
44:03of anti-infiltration grid
44:04detonated when these
44:06Pakistani terrorists were
44:07trying to infiltrate across
44:08the LC in the KG, in the
44:10Krishna-Ghati sector in
44:12Jammu and Kashmir.
44:13Reports say that an
44:15improvised explosive device
44:17or a landmine, an
44:19anti-personnel mine, it
44:21exploded in a forward
44:22village.
44:23One of the frontline
44:25villages' security was
44:26heightened following the
44:27incident and this
44:28incident took place near
44:29the Nangitakri area where
44:30infiltrators reportedly
44:32triggered an anti-
44:33personnel mine.
44:34All four were killed
44:36on the spot.
44:38That's information coming
44:39in.
44:39We'll be tracking the
44:40story more on that as
44:42the story develops.
44:43I want to quickly cut
44:44across to that big story
44:45that's also coming in
44:46from Saudi Arabia.
44:48Riyadh is facing an
44:49alarming escalation and
44:50attacks at the King
44:52Khalid International
44:53Airport.
44:53So the King Khalid
44:54International Airport has
44:55come under attack for the
44:57fourth time in five days.
45:00There was a missile strike
45:01at Terminal 4.
45:02It triggered a massive
45:03fire.
45:04A second cruise missile was
45:05intercepted very close to
45:07the airport.
45:08It was intercepted mid-air,
45:10averting possibly a much
45:12bigger attack on the
45:14airport.
45:14The images that you see
45:16on your television screen,
45:17they're chilling.
45:18These are images that were
45:19released by Saudi state
45:20television.
45:21It captures an airport
45:22terminal that was
45:23transformed from a routine
45:24passenger hub, as you see
45:26in that image, into a scene
45:27of chaos and panic.
45:29Passengers can be seen
45:31running for their lives as
45:32debris falls from the roof
45:34and chaos engulfs the
45:35terminal.
45:35The human toll is also
45:37mounting.
45:38At least 14 are fear dead,
45:41including an Indian national
45:42who succumbed to his
45:43injuries.
45:44This has been confirmed by
45:45the Indian embassy.
45:46Three other Indians remain
45:49in hospital.
45:50They're critical, but stable.
46:0510th October, at around 3pm
46:08local time, Riyadh airport was
46:10full of passengers.
46:11Most of them were dressed in
46:13white, the outfit for pilgrims
46:15heading towards Mecca to perform
46:18the Umrah rituals.
46:19That's when the deadly strike
46:21hit the terminal, resulting in
46:23a fireball explosion, sending
46:28debris falling from the ceiling
46:30onto the travellers below.
46:3113 people were killed and over
46:34300 injured.
46:37The General Authority of Civil
46:39Aviation announced that King
46:41Khalid International Airport in
46:43Riyadh was targeted by another
46:44attack in the afternoon.
46:45Authority clarified that the
46:48attack resulted in injuries and
46:51that damage assessments and
46:52safety inspections of airport
46:54facilities are underway, in
46:56coordination with relevant
46:57authorities.
47:04Iran-backed Houthis claimed
47:06responsibility for the attack.
47:11King Khalid International Airport was
47:13closed down after Saturday's attack.
47:16This was the deadliest strike on the
47:18kingdom in over a decade.
47:24While the injured went through
47:26treatment, it became clearer that the
47:28strike on 10th October had a greater
47:30impact on the region's geopolitical
47:33stability.
47:3313 dead included four Saudis, two
47:37Bangladeshis and nationals of the
47:39United States, Jordan, Palestine,
47:42Syria, Sudan, Egypt and India.
47:4946-year-old Mohammed Youssef from
47:51Hyderabad became one of the casualties
47:53of this Houthis strike.
47:56Youssef was at the airport with his
47:58family to travel to Medina for Umrah.
48:00Both his sons were injured and went
48:03through emergency surgeries.
48:04His wife and daughter were unharmed,
48:07but his aunt, too, was injured and
48:09released after treatment.
48:11The sheer magnitude of the strike now
48:14threatens to widen the war that now is
48:16limited in Iran.
48:17I think it's terrible.
48:20Well, you're going to find out, Steve,
48:22but I think it's terrible.
48:24Were the Saudis able to defend themselves?
48:27Well, they're able to defend.
48:29Look, the Saudis are good fighters,
48:31but I think the attack was a terrible
48:33thing.
48:3811th October, Houthis attack Terminal 4 of
48:41Riyadh airport, once again killing one
48:43and injuring 11 people.
48:47Saudi Arabia has recently stepped up its
48:50military involvement in Yemen.
48:51They have launched strikes against the
48:54Houthis and have backed a government
48:56counter-offensive after Houthis seized
48:59strategic territory along the Red Sea coast
49:02last month.
49:06I quickly want to cut across and bring in my
49:09colleague Sandeep Unnithan, senior journalist
49:11for more on this.
49:12Sandeep, very alarming situation.
49:15Saudi Arabia is seeking American
49:16intervention, but that's fraught with
49:19danger of the escalation going to Babal
49:22Mandab.
49:23Absolutely, Gaurav.
49:24You know, Saudi Arabia is facing one of the
49:26most gravest security challenges possibly
49:29in its history.
49:30You know, never has the kingdom being attacked
49:33this way.
49:34You know, its oil refinery, oil refining
49:38capacities have been hit, its pipelines
49:40have been hit, and now consecutive attacks
49:43on Riyadh International Airport.
49:45Two attacks in two days.
49:46These are the worst attacks on any GCC country
49:49since the 28th of February.
49:51Saudi Arabia is in a very, very tough position
49:54right now.
49:55Its oil exports are paralyzed, its airspace is
49:58contested, and all of this being carried out
50:01by, you know, guerrillas in the mountains
50:03of North Yemen who have in the last month
50:07captured all of Yemen's sea coast, putting
50:09them in a dominating position over the
50:11Babal Mandab through which Saudi Arabia's
50:13oils is exported to the rest of the world.
50:17So, Sandeep, the big question at this point of time is
50:20with a great, you know, pomp and show, this
50:25Mecca agreement was inked.
50:27Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, three Sunni
50:31Muslim countries came together for the defense
50:33of Saudi Arabia.
50:35Now, four attacks in five days.
50:37Saudi Arabia is being hit.
50:39Their airport, their oil infrastructure, their cities.
50:42In fact, there are reports that even Dhamam airport,
50:44an attempt was made to target it.
50:47Where is the Mecca agreement?
50:48Is it working?
50:49Is it not working?
50:50Well, Gaurav, it's a good question because ever
50:53since the Mecca agreement has been signed,
50:55I don't think any of the partners foresaw that it
50:57would need to be called to action so quickly.
51:00It was signed on the 7th of August.
51:02And just a month over that, on the 11th of September,
51:06the Houthis began their offensive.
51:07They captured the Yemeni sea coast.
51:10And they started attacking Saudi Arabia in a way
51:12that we've not seen, at least in the 21st century.
51:15And now Saudi Arabia is in such a deep, in a crisis.
51:20And they've been calling out to their partners,
51:22Turkey, and most importantly, Pakistan.
51:25Now, Gaurav, we know Pakistan has the largest army
51:29in the Islamic world, 600,000 soldiers.
51:32But they have been making all kinds of excuses.
51:35They don't want to deploy to Yemen,
51:37given their own internal situation,
51:39how fragile it is internally.
51:41There is an insurrection in Khyber Paktoonkwa,
51:44in Balochistan.
51:46There's civil unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
51:50Asim Muneer is facing a very grave, grim internal security challenge.
51:55Can he afford to deploy troops?
51:58They're talking numbers, 30,000, 40,000.
52:01These numbers have been tossed around.
52:02So, the last 30 seconds that I have on this part of the show,
52:06don't they already have air defense systems in Saudi Arabia?
52:09And their J-10Cs, their much-touted Chinese-built fighter jets.
52:14So, the J-10Cs and the surface-to-air missiles,
52:17all of them, the air defense system doesn't seem to be working
52:20against these Houthi missiles.
52:23Yes, Gaurav, and that's exactly what we've seen in the other theater of the war,
52:27in Iran as well.
52:28Iran has been able to get through,
52:30its Iranian missiles have been able to penetrate the GCC countries' air defense network.
52:35And this is what is happening in Saudi Arabia as well.
52:37They have interceptors,
52:38but not enough to stop all of the missiles and all of the drones.
52:42And, Gaurav, you know, interceptor missiles are not enough.
52:46If you have to get to the Houthis, you have to deploy boots on the ground.
52:49And that is something that none of the coalition partners seem to be wanting to do right now,
52:55given the fact that we've seen how terribly it's worked in the past.
52:59In 1967, Egypt deployed a third of its army.
53:02They got sucked into that Yemeni conflict,
53:06and it was a defeat in the war with Israel that followed.
53:11We saw that just about 10 years back when the UAE, Saudi Arabian forces were humiliated by the Houthis.
53:18So, this is something that Pakistan and Turkey are very aware of,
53:21and they don't want to deploy troops, at least in the numbers it would take.
53:25But will they have an option, or since they've signed the Mecca agreement,
53:30which may be a defensive posture,
53:32but look at these attacks that are taking place,
53:34and should they intensify, then will Pakistan have to deploy?
53:38And will America carry out strikes on Houthi forces?
53:42All of those developments, we'll be tracking them very closely.
53:45Sandeep, for the moment, many thanks for joining me.
53:47A quick break.
53:48That's all we have for you on India First.
53:50Many thanks for watching.