- 4 minutes ago
The Election Commission of India has submitted an affidavit to the Supreme Court denying unilateral decision-making by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar regarding the Special Intensive Revision, stating all measures were adopted unanimously with the two Election Commissioners. The poll body addressed procedural questions on Form 6 and voter mapping, while political tensions intensified after reports indicated Karnataka officials submitted over 61,000 Form 7 deletion requests without mandatory reasons. In response, the INDIA bloc announced a protest rally at Ramlila Maidan on November 1 seeking the removal of the Chief Election Commissioner, while the Bharatiya Janata Party organized nationwide padayatras to counter the opposition's claims. In international news, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva secured a fourth term as Brazilian president following an election against Flavio Bolsonaro. In Kochi, Kerala, authorities invoked culpable homicide charges against the 17-year-old son of an additional district court judge after a fatal car crash claimed the life of scooterist Jaya Balakrishnan.
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00:02Good evening, hello and welcome. You're with the news today, your primetime destination news,
00:06newsmakers, talking points. It's going to be the battle of rallies and padhyatras.
00:13India bloc set to have a rally against the chief election commissioner on November 1st.
00:17The BJP too is setting off on padhyatras. Is SIR getting a traction on the ground?
00:24Importantly, who is winning the battle of narratives? Also, the big international story.
00:30President Lula wins a fourth term as Brazil's president. Is it a loss of face for Donald Trump
00:36who chose to back Bolsonaro instead and not Trump? Are we seeing a pushback against Trump's
00:44doctrine of expansion? All that and more. But first, as always, it's time to get cracking
00:50with the nine headlines at night. The Election Commission of India files an affidavit in the
00:57Supreme Court over the plea by Rahul Gandhi and other leaders over SIR. Claims SIR declaration
01:04in Form 6 is a separate document, denies any unilateral decision-making by Gyanesh Kumar.
01:14November set to become a mega battle of rallies. India bloc to go ahead with their protest against
01:22NCCC. Gyanesh Kumar at Ramlila Meidan on Sunday, November 1. BJP stopped guns to launch padhyatras
01:30across the nation on the same day.
01:34Big relief for LOP Rahul Gandhi in a 2018 defamation case over a remark against Home Minister Amit Shah.
01:42U.P.'s Sultanpur court acquits Rahul. Petitioner now to challenge the verdict in the High Court.
01:51Political heat intensifies over Malik Arjun Kharge's baap remark. BJP calls the comment a frustration
01:59of failures. Congress defends it. Claims Kharge referred to the Prime Minister's ideological mentor,
02:05the RSS. Senior DMK leader and a former Tamil Nadu minister, Anbeel Mahesh, arrested in a
02:13100 crore bribery case. DMK chief M.K. Stalin accuses a TVK government of political vengeance.
02:23Centre's big ethanol push amidst turbulent oil markets officially notifies 100% ethanol fuel
02:29for flex-fuel vehicles, E100 and E85 fuel to be only used in specially designed cars.
02:38A speeding Mercedes kills a 55-year-old man in Kochi. Additional district judge's minor son
02:44who was driving the car gets bail in hours amidst political uproar. Kerala government admits to lapses
02:50by police.
02:53And Lula de Silva wins a historic fourth term in Brazil. The 80-year-old secures
02:58a majority against former President Jair Bolsonaro's eldest son, Flavio, who was backed by Donald Trump.
03:08And ballot battle for Netanyahu. Israel to vote tomorrow amidst escalating tension in West Asia.
03:15Netanyahu becomes the first Prime Minister since 1988 to finish a four-year term.
03:33For the big story that's breaking this evening, the Election Commission of India has filed an
03:37affidavit in the Supreme Court where the Election Commission has denied unilateral decision making
03:44by the Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The Election Commissioners, the Commission of India
03:50Affidavit Access by India Today, has said that all decisions were approved unanimously by the
03:55CEC and two ECs. The Election Commission says Form 6 was not amended. As is being suggested,
04:02only the center can do it. So there was no violation of any law. According to the EC,
04:08EC, the SIR declaration in Form 6 where you had to do mapping was a separate document. EC says unmapped
04:16voters need not attend hearings. BLOs will now collect documents from unmapped voters. EC claims no name added or deleted
04:26without the nod of the state election officer. EC says experts from IIT and IISC will check the software. EC
04:35says Bengal appeals against voters.
04:37EC is filed by officers filed by officers of the CEO, the Chief Electoral Officer.
04:43So the EC trying in a way to answer its critics now in that affidavit. But Anisha Mathur, again, this
04:52will leave more questions than answers, particularly over Form 6 and what has been said in the affidavit where the
04:58EC says this is now a separate document. But is this a point by point rebuttal? What more details can
05:06you give about the EC's affidavit?
05:10See Rajdeep, remember the Supreme Court had issued notice on the 5th of October and had asked for a detailed
05:18response from the Election Commission and from the individual Election Commissioners on the allegations that had been raised about unilateral
05:27decision making, about changes in Form 6, about voters being inconvenienced and, you know, people being booted out of the
05:36voter rolls.
05:36The Election Commission has filed a short affidavit stating specifically that this is a, this affidavit has been approved for
05:45filing by a unanimous decision of the three members of the Election Commission.
05:48They've also said that this is a short affidavit that has been filed because of the Dashera vacations and that
05:55is why they've asked for time for specific point-by-point Paraguay's response to the petitions that have been filed.
06:02Remember, tomorrow is when the Supreme Court is set to hear about nine petitions on the same issues.
06:07First of all, they've said that the three SIR orders of June 25 as well as October 25 and May
06:1726 were issued unanimously after a decision-making process that was done according to the rules under the Constitution and
06:26the Election Commissioners Act.
06:27They've also said that any allegations to the contrary, and I'm reading from the academic here, any all contentions to
06:35the contrary are erroneous and denied, and the attempt to make aspersions against the Election Commission is unfortunate.
06:42They've also said that the petition is based only on a single news article, that the questions have been raised
06:49regarding integrity of the Election Commission, and that is why they have now clarified the process of decision-making that
06:57is followed by the Election Commission.
06:59And they've said, in fact, that there is a process by which files are circulated among the three Election Commissioners,
07:06that views are placed by the views of the EC as well as the CECs and the other officials are
07:13placed before the Election Commission, and after considering all the views, the decisions are taken and orders are issued.
07:20And if you can give me 30 more seconds, Rajdeep, there's one more point. There was a whole controversy over
07:26the work allocation orders that had been issued, and after which the two Election Commissioners had written to the Cabinet
07:34Secretary against that particular work order.
07:37The Election Commissioners has now clarified that that letter had been issued by an IS officer who had been sent
07:44on deputation to the Election Commission, and after the objections had been raised by the ECs, that particular work allocation
07:51order was never implemented.
07:53They've also argued that the quasi-judicial and other functions are directly under the ambit of the Election Commission as
08:00a whole.
08:01Some powers are delegated to the CEC as the chairman, and some powers are delegated to the officers who work
08:09under the supervision of the Commission itself.
08:12They've in fact also argued that there are certain communications that are issued, there are documentations that are issued in
08:23the name of the Commission.
08:24What is more important for the voters is that the Election Commission has unequivocally said that Form 6 has not
08:32been amended.
08:33They've said that there is a declaration that has been added to the Form 6, and in fact they've justified
08:40that declaration, the mapping, voter mapping that we've been talking about for several months now, Rajdeep.
08:47They have said that voter mapping was introduced after the experience of the Bihar SIR, where mapping was not available,
08:56and that is why voters had to submit a number of documents and had to undergo a lot of verification
09:03and resubmission.
09:04In fact, they've said that the need to make, and I'm quoting again, the need to make all facilities through
09:13the statutory authorities and voters on an online platform, there were steps taken by officers to whom responsibilities have been
09:18assigned.
09:19And on a review of the manner in which Form 6 and the declaration were displayed on the IT platform,
09:27some concerns arose for the reason that the manner in which the declaration was presented was such that it could
09:34be construed as though an amendment has been made.
09:37They've admitted that the online form, the online declaration was made in a way that people would feel that the
09:45form itself has been amended.
09:48However, they've clarified that form 6 can only be amended by the centre, and the declaration was only a measure
09:54to enable a person seeking registration as a voter to dispense with the need for filing extra documents during the
10:01claims and objections period.
10:03So, a lot is being said in this affidavit, Rajdeep.
10:05We will keep analysing this, of course, particularly in the light of the hearing that is tomorrow in the Supreme
10:11Court.
10:12Back to you.
10:12Well, the truth of the matter is, the fact is that that particular decision on Form 6 was described by
10:19one of the election commissioners as illegal and unauthorised.
10:22So, it's not simply just a decision that was taken.
10:25There will be questions that will be raised on specific points that were made during that decision-making process.
10:31But Anisha Mathur for joining me with those details, appreciate your joining me.
10:36The big story, of course, the election commission now finally filing an affidavit before the Supreme Court, claiming that its
10:43decisions were unanimous and not only taken by the chief election commissioner.
10:48Now, all of this is not stopping the politics around the election commissioner because the national capital in particular is
10:54bracing for a political showdown ahead of Diwali.
10:57Rahul Gandhi today dug his heels in, saying the India bloc will go ahead with the November 1 rally.
11:04This despite a section of traders warning of festive business losses.
11:08According to Rahul Gandhi, the rally will be called off in 30 seconds if Gyanesh Kumar resigns.
11:15The BJP, for its part, is preparing a nationwide padiyatra counter-offensive, accusing the India bloc of spreading anarchy.
11:24It's our top focus tonight.
11:36India bloc's rally against alleged vote chori is firmly on track for November 1st at Ramlila Maidan, despite mounting appeals
11:44from traders to push it beyond the festive season.
11:47Congress President Malika Arjun Kargay laid all doubts to rest on Monday, posting a video on social media calling for
11:54people's support.
11:55Vote, save the vote, save the country, go Delhi.
11:581st of November, Sunday, Ramlila Maidan, New Delhi.
12:02This is a time of drought, but at this time, you are looking for the challenge of the government.
12:10But the government doesn't really care about it, because they know that they just want to vote chori.
12:20But for Delhi's traders, the political showdown comes at the worst possible time, the peak Diwali shopping season.
12:35Rahul Gandhi, however, has a message for the traders.
12:39If the Chief Election Commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, is removed, protests against the special intensive revision of electoral rolls will also
12:47stop.
12:48Meanwhile, the BGP is also taking the battle to the streets.
12:52As part of its ongoing Lok Tantra Bachao, Rajakta Hatau campaign, running from October 23rd to November 5th,
13:00the party is organising nationwide padhyatras, deploying senior leaders, union ministers and BGP chief ministers.
13:09On November 1st, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath will lead a padhyatra in Lucknow.
13:15Union Home Minister Amit Shah will take part in a padhyatra in Hyderabad on November 2nd,
13:20followed by another in Karnal, Haryana on November 5th.
13:24Meanwhile, the political battle is already getting personal.
13:28In Patna, Congress Chief Malik Arjun Karge lost his school on Sunday,
13:32after a remark from the audience about Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
13:49The BGP has strongly condemned the remark.
14:16With political rallies competing for the streets during the festive season,
14:21the question is, which narrative will work on the ground?
14:24Bureau Report, India Today.
14:29So let's raise the big question on our face-off tonight.
14:32Will the BJP's anarchy warning now counter the Congress's vote-chori charge?
14:37Is SIR getting enough traction on the ground?
14:40Is the India bloc fully united in this SIR fight?
14:43And who is winning the battle of narratives as of now?
14:47On our face-off today is Sanju Verma, BJP's national spokesperson,
14:51and Shama Mohammed, the Congress's spokesperson.
14:53Good to have both of you on the show today.
14:56I want to understand from you, Shama Mohammed, at the very outset,
15:01is the belief that the Congress is going to go, has decided,
15:05come what may, you're going to go on with these rallies and programs,
15:09because the BJP is showing no signs of backing off when it comes to Gyanesh Kumar.
15:15So how long are you going to sustain this?
15:17Is this going to be the calling card now right up to 2029?
15:21Are there no other issues that you want to take up?
15:25Okay, Rajdeep, when you're introducing,
15:27you said the BJP's person is a national spokesperson.
15:30I also happen to be a national spokesperson,
15:32not just a spokesperson of the party.
15:34I'm officially a national spokesperson.
15:36So when you do introductions, do a fair introduction,
15:38not just give an introduction to the BJP person.
15:41Madam, I don't want to get, you know, that's a very, you know,
15:44okay, you're a national spokesperson.
15:45That's not, you know, that's not the debate.
15:47Now come to the debate, madam.
15:48Then you introduce both as that.
15:49Madam, please come to the debate.
15:51Otherwise, I will, I want the debate.
15:53Please.
15:54Madam, this is not my issue.
15:56I'm going to be very clear with you, ma'am.
15:58I apologize if you feel that I did not use the word national.
16:01If you feel that, but for God's sake, focus on the issue.
16:05No, I need to focus on what you speak also.
16:08Now it is, this issue SIR is very, very important
16:12with Mr. Gyanesh Kumar doing whatever he has done.
16:15Let's understand we have had SIR before in 2002.
16:18And SIR is never done one month before an election in a state
16:22like it was done in Bihar.
16:24Two months before in West Bengal.
16:26Never has it happened.
16:28And then as you've seen, after Rahul Gandhi has hit the street,
16:33many things have changed.
16:34The election commission, after that said, you know,
16:37it's put out its machinery and said those voters
16:41who are in the states where SIR has happened,
16:44which have been arbitrarily deleted,
16:46eligible arbitrarily deleted voters to look into that.
16:49Then in the 20 states or odd, and in which SIR has happened,
16:55they've also gone in for a summary revision
16:57to see to it that eligible voters are, you know, put back.
17:01Number three, you saw what the Supreme Court has said,
17:04that they did not have anything to do with this Form 6,
17:09the additions in the Form 6.
17:10And that the Supreme Court came out and said recently.
17:13I mean, this Form 6 issue has been happening for some time.
17:16I was in Kerala when the SIR happened.
17:18And they wanted to know in the Form 6, which is for new voters,
17:22is of 2002 whether your parents were there in the SIR.
17:26So there has been a lot of things in which deletions have happened.
17:30And also, let's not forget, 16 lakh voters in West Bengal,
17:35where the judicial officers said, yes, they are eligible.
17:40The election commission puts a case against that, you know.
17:45So it is the election commission or the head, Gyanesh Kumar,
17:48is like, how can I delete as many voters as possible?
17:53Whereas what is, why didn't we get voting rights in our country?
17:57Is to include as many people to vote.
18:01And that is my democratic right.
18:02That is your democratic right.
18:04And it is Sanju Verma's democratic right.
18:06But if you're going to take it away, we're going to fight till the last.
18:09And last but not the least, one very important point.
18:12Even YSRCP, which normally stands with the NDA, has come out.
18:16He himself, they have come out and said, Jagan,
18:19that, you know, there are problems in Gyanesh Kumar.
18:23There are discrepancies in this SIR.
18:25This has to go.
18:26So every opposition in this country,
18:29and as you've seen how the protests are,
18:31as my leader, fighting on the street,
18:34beaten by police, arrested innumerable times,
18:38and saying that, you know, this is wrong.
18:40And the people have come out.
18:42The youngsters have come out.
18:43Everybody is out there with Rahul Gandhi
18:46and all the opposition leaders,
18:47I heard you, I heard you, since you're,
18:49since you're being very specific on spokesperson national,
18:53let me also say Rahul Gandhi has not been arrested.
18:55He was detained.
18:57So let's be very clear.
18:59Since you have decided to go into semantics, ma'am,
19:02we should all be very clear about what we say and how we say it.
19:05Very easy, you know, to say arrested, he was detained.
19:09But I want to ask you, Sanju Verma,
19:12it appears the Congress is not backing down from the November 1 rally.
19:16They are determined to go along with the India bloc into a series of rallies.
19:20And Shama Mohammed is right that the EC has rolled back many of the contentious decisions that were taken.
19:26And they are now even saying, even in the affidavit,
19:29that they will make sure that the BLOs go door to door to ensure that people who have been left
19:34out are,
19:36if they are eligible, they will be brought back.
19:38To that extent, clearly the Congress's campaign, they can say, has worked.
19:43The BJP on the other hand is calling it anarchic.
19:46How is it anarchic to demand that eligible voters be put back on the voter rolls?
19:51Where is the anarchy in that?
19:55Now, Rajdeep, you know, you posed a very pertinent question.
19:58So let me dive straight into the hard facts.
20:00Point number one, there is this entire brouhaha.
20:03Tera crores voters have been deleted.
20:05Thirteen crores voters deleted.
20:06So very quickly, 2.8 crores are dead voters.
20:09Three crores are absentee voters.
20:12Six point three crores are people who permanently shifted and one crore are duplicate voters.
20:18So that is how we arrive at 13.1 crore voters.
20:21And if somebody does not get the chance now to vote,
20:24that does not mean he or she has been permanently disenfranchised.
20:28He or she can approach the appellate tribunals.
20:31Point number two, SIR was held in 1952, 57, 1961, 64, 1983, 87, 1992, 95, 2002, 2003.
20:41So for somebody to say that now SIR in 2025 or 2026 is illegal,
20:48but it was valid in 57, it was valid in 2004,
20:51I think that is a whole lot of balderdash.
20:54Point number three.
20:54No, no, can I just stop you also?
20:56I must stop you whenever y'all make factual mistake.
21:00No one has called SIR illegal.
21:02The design and execution of SIR in 2025-26 is being deemed illegal.
21:08Let's be very clear.
21:09SIR has been held in the past, you are right.
21:11But it does not mean that SIR per se is illegal.
21:14The way it's been designed and executed is illegal.
21:17So Rajdeep, since you are not getting into, you know, general rhetoric,
21:22but sticking to semantics, which are very, very specific.
21:26No, I'm sticking to specifics.
21:27I'm sticking to specifics.
21:29Be specific.
21:31Rajdeep, you know, you will then tell me after three minutes your time is over.
21:34I would very humbly request you, please allow me my time without interjecting.
21:38Because, you know, then you will still pay their gown.
21:40Anyone makes factual errors, I will interject, otherwise I will let you a free run.
21:45I did not give any factual errors.
21:47I would like you to play out.
21:49There are at least a hundred utterances by Malik Arjun Khadgei, by Rahul Gandhi,
21:53by Priyanka Vadra, by, you know, the entire Darbari ecosystem,
21:57including the likes of Abhishek Manu Singhvi,
21:59who comes regularly in exclusive one-on-one interviews on your show.
22:03They have been legitimized SIR in no uncertain terms.
22:08And I don't see any anchor telling them that,
22:10why are you delegitimizing the process?
22:13The process cannot be the punishment.
22:16And let me tell you one more thing.
22:17You want facts?
22:18You want facts?
22:18Let me tell you.
22:19The fact is in 2018, Abhishek Manu Singhvi approached the court saying,
22:24there are 5-0, 50 lakh duplicate voters in Telangana.
22:28When we said that it will be like Telangana, Abhishek Manu Singhvi says,
22:32the Modi government wants to loot elections.
22:36This is the same Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who again in 2018 said,
22:39there are 44 lakh duplicate voters in Andhra Pradesh.
22:43When we said that we will do this in Andhra Pradesh,
22:46this is the same Abhishek Manu Singhvi's face.
22:49Ramesh Chenithalla, one of the senior most Kerala Congress leaders
22:53and the Union Cabinet Minister there, along with VD Satishan,
22:57in 2021 approached the court saying, there are 4.34 lakh duplicate voters in Kerala.
23:04When we said that Kerala is very necessary to be in Kerala,
23:07the same Darbari ecosystem said,
23:09SIR is not something that we want to be done,
23:13because this is the tool of the vote.
23:14So the limited point is, there have been many people,
23:18from Abhishek Manu Singhvi to Ramesh Chenithalla,
23:20to Rahul Gandhi, who have delegitimized SIR.
23:23The fact is, it's not working.
23:26That is Rahul Gandhi's misfortune.
23:27But my final point,
23:29what has been the biggest allegation against Gyanesh Kumar?
23:32I say allegation.
23:34It is that Gyanesh Kumar faced dissent,
23:37and he took unilateral decisions.
23:39And today your audience needs to hear this.
23:41You are a very reputed anchor.
23:43Your audience should know that the affidavit
23:45filed by the Election Commission in the Supreme Court
23:48has not been filed by Gyanesh Kumar alone.
23:51It has been filed by Gyanesh Kumar along with his colleagues,
23:55SS Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi.
23:58It is a common affidavit, which means...
24:00So if there is a common...
24:02You know, if there...
24:03That's a good...
24:04No, no, that's a good point you make.
24:06But the point is,
24:06why don't they then hold a joint press conference?
24:08If they can do a common affidavit,
24:10which they have no option to do.
24:11Please understand,
24:12they had no option but to file a common affidavit.
24:15Why don't they do a joint press conference then?
24:21So your audience needs to know
24:24there is a common affidavit
24:26by the Election Commission of India
24:28in the Supreme Court
24:29where it is clearly mentioned
24:31every decision on SIR
24:33was by way of a consensus.
24:36No decision was unilateral.
24:38Every decision was unanimous.
24:40And I'm so glad,
24:42without naming Indian Express,
24:43the Election Commission has called out
24:46the bluff of Ritika Chopra
24:49and Indian Express
24:50which did a hit job.
24:52Madam, they are not called...
24:53No, no, no, one minute.
24:55No, no, no, madam.
24:56Madam, the fact is...
24:58It was a hit job.
24:58No, no, no, no, no.
24:59Now, see.
25:00No, no, I...
25:01Now, please...
25:01Madam, you use words like
25:03hit job.
25:04Let's wait.
25:05Those are unfair.
25:06Ritika Chopra of Indian Express
25:07with great detail
25:09has given the entire...
25:10No, no, no.
25:11I will not accept it.
25:12has given the sequence of events
25:13including on record...
25:15Please put a fader down.
25:16Including on record,
25:18Sandhu called
25:19the Form 6 decision
25:20illegal and unauthorized.
25:22So we want to wait
25:23to see what they have to say
25:24in the Supreme Court
25:25on that specific decision
25:26which was illegal and unauthorized.
25:28But Shama Mohammed,
25:29there is the point.
25:30You see,
25:31it's very clear
25:32from what Sanju Verma says,
25:33from what every leader says.
25:34I repeat,
25:35the BJP is standing by Gyanesh Kumar.
25:37Now, you may claim
25:38that the Election Commission
25:39as a result of the campaign
25:40of the India Bloc
25:41has rolled back
25:42some of the decisions.
25:43But the fact of the matter,
25:45Shama Mohammed,
25:46is that there are those
25:48who are saying,
25:49is this SIR going to become
25:50an election winning issue?
25:53Will it actually influence voters?
25:55At the end of the day,
25:57you want an issue
25:58which is going to touch
25:59the hearts of the voters.
26:01Instead,
26:02traders are now saying,
26:04why are you having a rally
26:04in the middle of Diwali?
26:05Or just before Diwali?
26:07It will cause inconvenience.
26:08Does the Congress recognize
26:10there are other bigger issues?
26:11Price rise,
26:12sugar prices are up.
26:14Why don't you take up
26:14direct issues
26:15that are confronting
26:16the people at the moment?
26:18Okay.
26:18So Rajdeep,
26:19every time Rahul Gandhi
26:21takes up an issue,
26:23you say,
26:24oh,
26:24he has now moved on
26:25to another.
26:26So let's understand,
26:27Rahul Gandhi took up
26:28this issue two years ago.
26:29He's consistent with it.
26:30And this is,
26:31like I mentioned,
26:32a democratic right to vote.
26:34Now,
26:35you've got in the
26:35traders' issue.
26:37The traders' issue is that
26:38it is Diwali's on the 8th.
26:40This rally's on the 1st.
26:41And let's understand,
26:42there are people
26:43coming from all over,
26:44from Haryana,
26:46Madhya Pradesh,
26:47from Gujarat,
26:48from everywhere
26:49people will come
26:50to Ramlila.
26:50So if first this happens,
26:52they will have business
26:53on second,
26:54third,
26:54fourth of all these people
26:55in that area.
26:56So the business
26:57is just going up.
26:58And I don't know
26:58who's put pressure
26:59on these traders.
27:00I want to,
27:01a very important point
27:02I want to take up is,
27:03she said,
27:04there is an affidavit
27:05filed in the Supreme Court,
27:07filed by all.
27:08Now,
27:09you know how this
27:10government functions.
27:11We have seen
27:12businessmen,
27:13like what happened
27:14to the airport in Mumbai,
27:16has been sold
27:17to Adani,
27:19under pressure.
27:20How do we not know
27:21the other two
27:22election commissions
27:23are not under pressure
27:24by the central government?
27:26They have,
27:27let's also not forget
27:28a businessman
27:29who was put in jail
27:31in Tamil Nadu.
27:32His company
27:33was taken over
27:34by Adani.
27:35So there are definitely
27:36pressure put onto
27:38these elections.
27:39Like you said,
27:39they can come out
27:40into a press conference,
27:41clearing all doubts
27:42instead of going
27:44to the Supreme Court.
27:46and then she spoke
27:48about the Appellate
27:49Tribunal.
27:50You know,
27:50let them all go
27:51to the Appellate
27:52Tribunal.
27:52Yes,
27:53in West Bengal
27:54they went to it
27:55and you know,
27:56at that point,
27:5627 lakh voters
27:58were deleted.
27:59But once they went
28:00to the tribunal,
28:02of the number of people
28:03who went,
28:03around 16,
28:0499% have come back
28:06into the electoral roll.
28:07But what is the point
28:09that's out of a
28:09very small,
28:10no, no,
28:10many are 93,
28:12again,
28:13I will,
28:13madam,
28:14I will focus on facts.
28:1593% have come
28:16out of a very small
28:18number out of the
28:19total 22 lakhs
28:20who have gone in appeal.
28:21Rajiv,
28:22can I finish my point?
28:23What I'm trying to say
28:24is that it is
28:25if an election is over
28:26and you're trying
28:27to get them back
28:28into the roll,
28:29they have won.
28:29Vade Janata Party
28:30has won right now
28:31as you've seen.
28:32And what you've seen,
28:33as you see,
28:34you have these polls
28:35coming out
28:36after Chattisgarh
28:37election last,
28:38after the Haryana election.
28:40Everywhere it was
28:41supposed to be
28:41the Congress winning.
28:42And then you suddenly
28:43hear the Bhatia Janta
28:45Party winning.
28:46And whenever it comes
28:47to a state which is
28:47ruled by Congress,
28:48there is anti-incumbency.
28:50But when it comes
28:51to states ruled by
28:53BJP like Gujarat,
28:54Madhya Pradesh,
28:55Haryan Day,
28:55there's never an
28:55anti-incumbency issue.
28:57They keep winning.
28:57So, of course,
28:58there has been issues
28:59from then on to now.
29:01And this vote chori...
29:02That cannot be evidence
29:02of vote chori, ma'am.
29:04Just because you lose,
29:06it cannot...
29:06That cannot be evidence
29:07of vote chori.
29:08I'm sorry.
29:08What I'm trying to tell you,
29:09Rajdeep,
29:10is vote chori has been
29:11happening from the
29:12Bihar elections onwards.
29:13And we have proved it.
29:14Rahul Gandhi has proved it
29:15in Karnataka.
29:16He has done press conferences.
29:17He's out on the street.
29:19And let them...
29:19We are concerned
29:20about price, right?
29:21Definitely, we are concerned
29:22of employment.
29:23But this, if I tomorrow
29:25have an election,
29:25we have four elections
29:26next year, isn't it?
29:27And if this happens,
29:28it's repeated in UP
29:30and people cannot be...
29:32They don't see their names
29:33in the electoral roll
29:35and they can't vote.
29:36Then what do we do?
29:37And we have seen in Delhi
29:38also 20% of minority
29:39was deleted.
29:41I've heard you.
29:42Madam, madam,
29:43now I've heard you.
29:44Madam, madam,
29:45I've heard you.
29:46Shama Muhammadji,
29:47I've heard you.
29:48Final word,
29:48therefore, Sanju Verma.
29:50You see, Sanju Verma,
29:51the fact is,
29:52the fact, Sanju Verma,
29:54is that the BJP
29:56or the election commission
29:57in this case
29:58is being accused
29:59in some way
30:00of a lack of transparency.
30:02There are lots of these issues
30:03that have been raised
30:04by Rahul Gandhi
30:05in the India bloc.
30:06What does the election commission
30:07do?
30:07Roll back.
30:08Many believe a roll back
30:09is an admission of guilt
30:10that you got your decisions
30:12wrong in the first place.
30:13Now suddenly you're telling
30:15the Supreme Court,
30:16no, no,
30:16that the addition
30:17of the mapping document,
30:19the annexure
30:20is a separate document.
30:22You're suddenly trying
30:23to cover your tracks.
30:24In such a situation,
30:26I repeat,
30:27don't you accept
30:28that instead of using
30:29the word anarchy,
30:31the Congress could well say
30:32we are protecting democracy.
30:34How does protecting democracy
30:37become anarchy?
30:39Madam,
30:39the question is not
30:40to you,
30:41put a voice down.
30:42Go ahead.
30:44Go ahead,
30:45Sanju Verma.
30:46We are having a same debate
30:48and thank you.
30:49You know,
30:49so that was a very direct question
30:51and I don't have the habit
30:52of shoving uncomfortable truths
30:54under the carpet.
30:55So first response,
30:56first point,
30:57Congress was in power
30:58in Madhya Pradesh
30:59for 43 years,
31:00in Odisha
31:01for 41 years,
31:02in Dihar
31:03for more than 30 years,
31:04in Tamil Nadu
31:05for 20 years,
31:06in Uttar Pradesh
31:07for more than 18 years,
31:08in Goa
31:09for 15 years.
31:10Never did the BJP
31:12after losing
31:13all those elections
31:14say
31:14that the vote
31:15is destroyed.
31:16never did a BJP leader
31:18come on national television
31:19and do
31:20Rona Dhana.
31:21BJP does not play
31:22the victim card.
31:23BJP does not cry foul.
31:25BJP does not cry wolf.
31:26What does Rahul Gandhi do?
31:28After losing
31:29Bengal elections,
31:30they said,
31:30Bengal mei chori hui hai.
31:31After losing
31:32Haryana and Maharashtra,
31:34yaha toh chori hui hai.
31:35But after winning
31:36Kerala,
31:36Rahul Gandhi says,
31:37I thank the people
31:38of electorate,
31:39I thank the people
31:40of Kerala
31:41and the electorate
31:42there for reposing
31:43their confidence
31:44in the Congress party.
31:45Madam,
31:46you are changing
31:47the goalposts.
31:48I asked you a question.
31:49You give me a...
31:50the goalposts.
31:51You know how...
31:52Put Shama Mohammed's
31:54audio down.
31:55Please put it down.
31:56Question is not to you.
31:57my point.
31:57I need to finish
31:59my point.
31:59I heard him for
32:00only three minutes.
32:02So the limited point is,
32:03when Rahul Gandhi
32:04Karnataka,
32:05Telangar,
32:06Himachal,
32:06Jitte hai.
32:07Rahul Gandhi
32:08says,
32:09all the good
32:09of the people.
32:10When Rahul Gandhi
32:11Maharashtra,
32:12Haryana,
32:13Bengal,
32:14Harte hai,
32:14then they say,
32:15you don't need
32:18to have an IQ.
32:19When I say you,
32:20I don't mean you.
32:21I mean the Darbari
32:22ecosystem.
32:23You don't need
32:24to have an IQ
32:24of more than
32:255050 to realize
32:27Rahul Gandhi
32:28is a sore loser.
32:30Rahul Gandhi
32:31does not have
32:32what it takes
32:32to understand
32:33that if you lose,
32:34you need to go
32:35back to the
32:36drawing board.
32:37You need to do
32:37two things.
32:38Atma chintan,
32:40atma mantan.
32:41Rahul Gandhi
32:41ko atma chintan,
32:43atma mantan ka
32:44matlabhi
32:45maalum hai.
32:46And my final point,
32:47she spoke for a lending.
32:48I will just give
32:49two examples.
32:50No, no.
32:51I have a minute.
32:52I have a minute.
32:53No, no.
32:53Gyanesh Kumar ko
32:54leker today,
32:54there is so much
32:55halab lu,
32:56you know,
32:57Rajdeep,
32:57sorry,
32:58Rajdeep.
32:58There is a man
32:59called TN Session.
33:01He was the
33:02cabinet secretary.
33:04He was the
33:04chief election
33:05commissioner.
33:06He was then
33:07after Rajiv Gandhi's
33:08death,
33:08accommodated in the
33:09planning commission.
33:10He was also
33:11given a ticket
33:11to contest
33:12from Gandhi
33:13Nagai
33:13that he lost
33:14to L.T.
33:14What's your
33:15point?
33:17MS Gill,
33:18who was the
33:18chief election
33:19commissioner,
33:20was made a
33:21union sports
33:22minister by
33:23Sonia Gandhi's
33:24kitchen cabinet
33:25and by
33:26Manmohan Singh.
33:27That was you
33:29scratch my back,
33:30I will scratch
33:31yours.
33:31I have heard
33:32you.
33:33I have heard
33:34you.
33:34None of this
33:35answered my
33:35question about
33:36need for
33:37transparency.
33:37That's all I
33:38asked for you.
33:39You've gone
33:40into what about
33:41me.
33:41I'm done.
33:42I'm done.
33:42Sanju,
33:43Varma,
33:43Shama,
33:44Mohammed.
33:44I would
33:45request you
33:46next time
33:46when a
33:46question is
33:47asked,
33:47please give
33:47a direct
33:48answer.
33:49The anchor
33:50has no
33:50option but
33:51to interrupt
33:52you all.
33:52But I
33:52appreciate both
33:53of you
33:53joining us
33:54and giving
33:55us two
33:55different
33:55perspectives
33:56over this
33:57battle of
33:58narratives.
33:58Thank you
33:59very much.
33:59Now let's
34:00talk about
34:00this special
34:01intensive revision
34:02and how it's
34:02playing out
34:03on the ground.
34:04In Karnataka,
34:05election officials
34:06have filed
34:07forms to
34:07delete over
34:0861,000 names.
34:10These deletions,
34:12if approved,
34:12will be in
34:13addition to
34:14the 1.07
34:15crore names
34:16removed during
34:17the enumeration
34:18phase.
34:18Earlier,
34:19it was reported
34:19that 1.28
34:21lakh applications
34:22to delete names
34:23were filed in the
34:24month just before
34:25SIR started.
34:26Why are these
34:27bulk deletions
34:28taking place?
34:29Is Form 7
34:30that allows these
34:32deletions to take
34:32place being
34:33misused?
34:34Sagai Raj
34:35reports?
34:40The special
34:41intensive revision
34:42of electoral
34:43rolls is under
34:44scrutiny for
34:45deletions across
34:45the country.
34:51latest data from
34:53Karnataka show
34:5461,059
34:55Form 7
34:56applications for
34:57deletion of
34:58names were
34:58filed by
34:59poll officials.
35:00But these do
35:01not mention the
35:02reason for
35:02deletion, which
35:03is mandatory
35:04under rules.
35:05These forms are
35:06related to those
35:07who were issued
35:08notices over
35:09mapping and
35:10logical
35:10discrepancies.
35:11over 1.07
35:13crore voters
35:14were already
35:15deleted from
35:16the rolls during
35:17the enumeration
35:17phase.
35:19Earlier, it
35:20was revealed that
35:21bulk applications
35:22for deletions were
35:23filed even before
35:24the SIR kicked
35:25off.
35:27More than
35:281.28
35:29lakh Form 7
35:30applications to
35:31delete names were
35:32filed in the month
35:33preceding the
35:34enumeration exercise
35:35according to a
35:36report in the
35:37Hindu.
35:37These included
35:38445,878
35:41applications submitted
35:42by third parties
35:43accounting for
35:4535.6% of all
35:47deletion requests
35:48received between
35:49May 14 and
35:50June 16.
35:51Of the third
35:52party applications,
35:532,254 were
35:56bulk applications
35:57filed by just
35:58102 objectors.
36:00Vasamma from
36:01Sindhanur filed
36:0296 applications,
36:04the highest by an
36:05individual during
36:05the pre-SIR period.
36:07The applications
36:08by third parties
36:10cited death in
36:1136,439 cases
36:13while 6,775
36:16cited absence
36:17or permanent
36:18shifting as the
36:19reason for seeking
36:20deletion.
36:21The data reveals a
36:22concentration of
36:23applications in
36:24North Karnataka.
36:25More than 28,000
36:27applications were
36:27filed in just
36:29four Assembly
36:29constituencies,
36:30Bagalkot,
36:31Velagavi,
36:33North Sindhanur
36:33and Nipani.
36:34The applications
36:35were filed before
36:36booth level
36:37officers began
36:38distributing SIR
36:39enumeration forms
36:40on June 30.
36:41It is not known
36:42if names were
36:43deleted based on
36:44these applications.
36:47The Congress
36:48has demanded an
36:49investigation into
36:50third party
36:51applications for
36:52deletions.
36:53and much before
36:55the SIR 1.25
36:56like voters
36:58are being
37:01deleted or
37:02in the process
37:03of deletion by
37:04submitting the
37:05forum 7.
37:07It is something
37:08absurd.
37:09How could this
37:10happen?
37:13The BJP
37:13dismissed the
37:14Congress's
37:15criticism of
37:15SIR, arguing
37:17that the
37:17revision process
37:18is constitutional.
37:19Congress is
37:22simply making
37:22allegations
37:24that
37:25calling vote
37:27shorty.
37:28SIR taken
37:29place but
37:29nobody opposed
37:31it because
37:32it is a
37:33legal and
37:36actual process.
37:37Now, they
37:38wanted to
37:39make an
37:40allegation
37:40because they
37:42have no other
37:43subject to
37:44oppose.
37:45The big
37:46question now
37:47is whether
37:47the Election
37:48Commission
37:48will provide
37:49a detailed
37:50account of
37:50how these
37:51applications
37:51were received,
37:52verified and
37:53processed before
37:54the SIR
37:55enumeration
37:56exercise began.
37:58With
37:59Sagai Raj,
38:00Bureau Report,
38:01India Today.
38:05Okay, let's
38:06turn from there
38:07to our big
38:08international story
38:09and one of our
38:10top headlines
38:11today.
38:11Two very
38:12significant election
38:13results have
38:13come in from
38:14Brazil and
38:15Serbia.
38:16In Brazil,
38:17Luis Inacio,
38:18Lula da Silva
38:19has won a
38:20fourth term as
38:21Brazilian president
38:21at the age of
38:2280.
38:23In a big
38:23comeback after
38:24losing the first
38:25round, Lula
38:26defeated the
38:27far-right candidate
38:28Flavio Bolsonaro,
38:29the son of
38:30former president
38:31Javier Bolsonaro.
38:32The 80-year-old
38:33leftist leader got
38:3451.79% votes
38:35against Bolsonaro's
38:3748.21%.
38:39Bolsonaro, however,
38:40has refused to
38:41concede defeat,
38:42alleging that
38:43there were
38:44question marks
38:44over the
38:45voter turnout.
38:46In Serbia,
38:47Aleksandar
38:48Vucic lost a
38:49snap parliamentary
38:50election after a
38:51decade as
38:52president.
38:52Vucic was
38:53defeated,
38:54interestingly,
38:55by a student-led
38:56protest movement
38:57which won 52.6%
38:59votes.
39:00The student
39:00movement was
39:01formed only two
39:02years ago,
39:02raised corruption
39:03as a main
39:05election issue.
39:06But it is to
39:07Lula that I want
39:08to focus today
39:09because this
39:10victory comes at
39:11a time when
39:12remember,
39:12he is someone
39:13who has taken
39:14on Donald
39:14Trump.
39:15Donald Trump
39:16actively
39:16campaigned against
39:18Lula or at
39:18least endorsed
39:20Bolsonaro.
39:21Lula started as
39:22a union leader
39:22in the late
39:231970s,
39:24contested
39:25presidential
39:25elections in
39:2689, 94, 98,
39:27lost them.
39:28He won the
39:29election in
39:292002 to
39:31become Brazil's
39:32first elected
39:32working-class
39:33president,
39:34stepped down
39:35after two
39:35consecutive terms
39:37because Brazil
39:38doesn't allow a
39:38straight third term,
39:40return to
39:40power after
39:41winning the
39:422022 election.
39:44Joining me now
39:44to understand
39:45why Lula's
39:46victory is so
39:47important,
39:48Alan Lickman
39:49joins me,
39:50political analyst,
39:51distinguished
39:51professor of
39:52history at
39:52American University
39:53and Paulo
39:54Antonio
39:54Pereira Pinto,
39:55former
39:55Brazilian diplomat
39:57and author who
39:58served as the
39:58council general
39:59of Brazil in
40:00Mumbai.
40:00Thank you both
40:01very much for
40:01joining us.
40:02I want to
40:02come to you
40:03Mr. Lickman
40:03first.
40:04Why is this
40:06victory so
40:07significant of
40:08Lula according
40:09to you?
40:10It is of the
40:12utmost significance.
40:13Let's not forget,
40:15Brazil is the
40:16most populous
40:17nation in
40:18Latin America
40:19with over
40:20210 million
40:23people,
40:24far outpacing
40:25Mexico,
40:26which is
40:27second.
40:27It is
40:28seventh in
40:29the world
40:30in its
40:31population.
40:32So Brazil
40:33is of grand
40:34significance.
40:35Americans, and
40:36what this
40:37election was
40:38testing was
40:39the durability
40:40of the
40:41right-wing
40:43wave, which
40:44has really
40:44swept across
40:45Latin America,
40:47places like
40:48El Salvador,
40:50Chile,
40:51Argentina,
40:52Colombia,
40:53Ecuador,
40:53even Costa
40:55Rica.
40:55This election
40:56counters that
40:58right-wing sweep,
41:00which has been so
41:01important in
41:02Latin America.
41:03and it shows
41:04that Brazilian
41:05democracy is
41:07still alive and
41:09well and likely
41:10to survive into
41:11the future.
41:12This is also a
41:13big blow to
41:15Donald Trump on
41:16the eve of the
41:17American midterm
41:18elections.
41:19They are just
41:20eight days away.
41:22And while Donald
41:23Trump did not
41:24officially endorse
41:26Bolasaro,
41:27clearly that was
41:28his candidate.
41:29That was what he
41:31preferred to happen
41:32in Brazil, and
41:33it's a big black
41:34eye.
41:34And just like
41:35Donald Trump,
41:36Bolsonaro does
41:37not believe any
41:38election is fair
41:39unless he wins.
41:41You know, there
41:42was an extension
41:43of voting, but it
41:45was supported by
41:46both parties, not
41:48just the Lula
41:49party.
41:50So Bolsonaro
41:51does not have any
41:53sound basis for
41:54challenging this
41:55election.
41:56But just like
41:57Donald Trump in
41:58America, it
41:59doesn't matter.
42:00So long as he
42:01loses, it
42:02couldn't be a
42:03fair election.
42:05I want to bring
42:06in Mr.
42:07Pereira Pinto for
42:09a moment because
42:11it appeared that
42:12Lula was facing
42:13huge odds.
42:14He was struggling
42:16in the first round,
42:17wins in a face-off,
42:18and many believe it
42:19was voter mobilization
42:20and the decisive role
42:22of turnout.
42:22If there's any
42:23lesson from Brazil
42:24is that you've got
42:25to bring your
42:25voters to the
42:26polling booths,
42:27that's a lesson for
42:28us here in India
42:29as well, that
42:30eventually parties
42:31which bring out
42:31their voters to
42:32the polling booths
42:33are the ones that
42:34win.
42:34What, according to
42:35you, turned the
42:36election for Mr.
42:37Lula?
42:44Mr. Pinto, what,
42:45according to you,
42:46turned the election
42:47for Mr.
42:47Lula?
42:52Okay, I'm going to
42:53try and see if I can
42:57get to my guest in
42:58Brasilia.
42:59Can you hear me,
42:59sir?
43:03Okay, we will try
43:06and connect to him.
43:07But Mr.
43:08Likman, you know,
43:08you're making the
43:09larger point of
43:10believing that this
43:11is the resurgence of
43:13the left.
43:13many will say that
43:14is it premature to
43:15see this as a
43:16political realignment
43:17across Latin America?
43:18This is, as you
43:19rightly said, many
43:20other Latin American
43:21countries today have
43:22moved to the right.
43:23What, according to you,
43:24makes Lula different?
43:27What makes Lula different,
43:28I think you put your
43:29finger on it.
43:30He had real
43:31grassroots support.
43:33You know, he has
43:34working-class roots.
43:36He's been elected
43:37several times already.
43:39And as you point out,
43:42mobilization is
43:43everything in these
43:45elections.
43:45Let's not forget,
43:46he was behind in the
43:48first round before the
43:50runoff, and all the
43:51polls, every one of them
43:53had him within the
43:54margin of error, but
43:55had him behind.
43:57So what happened was,
43:58he made inroads in the
44:00southern areas, which
44:01were generally strong
44:03for the right, and did
44:04well in the northern
44:05areas that tended to
44:07support the left.
44:08This shows the
44:10importance of doing
44:11real politics, of
44:14getting your message
44:15out and getting your
44:16voters to the polls.
44:18We'll see to what
44:19extent that happens in
44:20the U.S.
44:21elections in just
44:22eight days from now,
44:24when, like in
44:26Brazil, you might
44:29have more of a
44:30mobilization of the
44:31democratic left and
44:33the republican right.
44:34At least the polls are
44:35showing more enthusiasm
44:36against Trump than for
44:38him.
44:39Interesting.
44:40Paolo Antonio
44:41Pereira Pinto, if you
44:42can hear me now, what
44:43was Lula's secret
44:45source?
44:46What, according to you,
44:48made...
44:48Thank you very much
44:48for having me.
44:49Yeah.
44:50What was the secret
44:51source?
44:52Why do you believe Lula
44:53won despite the odds?
44:55Well, I think that he
44:57was defending democratic
44:59and civilizational values
45:01against fascism and
45:04regret and neglect for
45:06the rights of the
45:09working classes.
45:10That's what made him
45:11win.
45:12And what does it mean
45:13for a country like India?
45:14You've got President
45:16Lula having committed
45:17strongly, for example,
45:18to BRICS.
45:19Do you believe that
45:21Lula is seen as
45:23someone who now wants
45:24to build a stronger
45:25coalition of the G...
45:29of countries from the
45:31global south, bring
45:32together a kind of, if
45:34I may call it an
45:35anti-Trumpian alliance
45:37in some form or the
45:39other?
45:40Walter, I have a very
45:42personal opinion about
45:44that.
45:44First of all, if you
45:45don't mind, I'd just
45:46like to make a short
45:47introduction about myself.
45:49I'm a retired ambassador.
45:51I don't speak on behalf
45:52of the government of any
45:54official institution.
45:56And so I have my
45:57personal opinion is that
45:59Brazil does not have to
46:01follow some definite
46:03rules like China, you
46:07know, is advocating the
46:10Silk Roots and things
46:12like that.
46:13We have to find our own
46:14trails.
46:16And of course, of course,
46:17India is very much on our
46:19imaginary because, as you
46:21know, Brazil was discovered
46:24among brackets by
46:26Portugal when the Portuguese
46:27were trying to find their
46:29way to India.
46:30So India is always in our
46:33imaginary since we go to
46:35primary school here in
46:37Brazil.
46:37So this is a country to
46:40which we find ourselves
46:42very much attached.
46:44And besides that, you are
46:46the largest democracy in
46:48the world.
46:48So since we want to stay
46:53as a democratic country,
46:54as we showed yesterday on
46:57Lula's victory, India is
46:59very important to us.
47:00Right.
47:01You know, this whole
47:03belief, though, Mr.
47:05Likman, in conclusion,
47:06that what we are seeing
47:08is, as Lula put it, and
47:12as Mr. Pinto is putting,
47:13a fight for values.
47:14Do you believe that this
47:16fight is now with the
47:18midterm polls in the
47:19United States?
47:19We're hearing that as
47:20well.
47:21This is a fight for
47:22democratic values versus
47:23what Donald Trump is
47:24seen to represent.
47:25Is that going to be now
47:26the new contestation,
47:28Mr.
47:28Likman?
47:29Besides that, we are
47:30fighting for our own
47:31sovereignty.
47:33Yes.
47:33We are so great.
47:34I take your point.
47:35I take your point, Mr.
47:36Pinto.
47:36This is a fight you're
47:37saying for sovereignty.
47:38Yes, Mr.
47:39Likman?
47:40Yes.
47:41Absolutely.
47:42Democracy is on the
47:43ballot in this midterm
47:45election.
47:45By an overwhelming
47:47majority, voters are
47:49worried about the
47:49corruption and the
47:51self-serving and the
47:52grift of the Trump
47:53administration.
47:54They're worried about
47:55their democracy.
47:57Yes, inflation,
47:58and the economy, as
48:00you would expect, is at
48:01the top of voter
48:02concerns.
48:03But democracy has
48:05moved up.
48:05It is now one of the
48:07more significant of
48:08voter concerns, and
48:10that is clearly a
48:12barrier to the
48:13election of
48:14Republicans because
48:15they are tied to
48:16Donald Trump.
48:17One of the Likman
48:18rules of politics is
48:20that House and Senate
48:22candidates cannot run
48:24away from the
48:25president of their
48:26own party.
48:27I've studied that.
48:28It doesn't help.
48:30You are inevitably
48:31tied to Trump and
48:33all the issues people
48:34have about our
48:35democracy.
48:36Well, we wait and
48:37see how that plays
48:38out in a U.S.
48:39election.
48:39For today, the focus
48:40has been on Lula and
48:42what he's achieved in
48:44Brazil.
48:44I appreciate my
48:45guests both from
48:46Brazil and the
48:47United States joining
48:48me here on the show
48:49tonight.
48:49You can see those
48:50emotional scenes there
48:51in Brazil.
48:52Let's turn to our
48:53other big story where
48:53a shocking hit-and-run
48:55case in Cochin,
48:56Kerala, a judge's son,
48:57a lower court judge's
48:59teenage son, took a
49:00Mercedes for a joyride
49:02early Sunday morning.
49:03He ran over a
49:04scooterist who died on
49:05the spot.
49:06The police, who were
49:06initially lax, were
49:08forced to act following
49:09protests by the
49:10victim's family and the
49:11public.
49:11Get Real India story
49:13reported by Shibby
49:14mall.
49:40Another hit-and-run in
49:42Kochi, the victim, a
49:47street food vendor.
49:52The accused, 17-year-old
49:55son of an additional
49:56district court judge.
49:58The teenager took his
50:00father's Mercedes at
50:01around 2 a.m. Sunday
50:02for a drive.
50:0320 minutes later, his
50:05car hit Jayabalakrishnan's
50:07scooter from behind.
50:08He reportedly died on
50:10the spot.
50:10The accused did not
50:12stop, but the car stalled
50:14a kilometre away due to
50:15a glitch.
50:16Police claimed the
50:17suspect was not drunk,
50:18but was allegedly
50:19driving the car at a
50:21high speed.
50:22The suspect got bail at
50:23the police station
50:24within an hour.
50:26Following protests by
50:27Jayabalakrishnan's
50:28family and locals, the
50:30police added culpable
50:31homicide charge.
50:33Culprunt got bail after
50:35one hour.
50:36My father's body just got
50:38after 12 hours of big
50:40procedure.
50:41The one who killed my
50:42father got bail in one
50:43hour.
50:44See, see how the law
50:45works for this influence
50:48people and poor people
50:49like us.
50:50His father said that this
50:52is the first time he's
50:53taking this vehicle and
50:55he's driving for the
50:56first time.
50:57But it's not like that.
50:58We have already got the
51:00evidence that in the
51:01previous month he had
51:02taken reels with that
51:03same vehicle.
51:27State Home Minister
51:28Ramesh Channithala admitted
51:30lapses by the police in the
51:31investigation.
51:46This is the second
51:47incident of hit and run in
51:49Kochi within a month.
51:52A 19-year-old driving a
51:54Mini Cooper ran over three
51:55youngsters on a scooter on
51:57October 11th, killing all
52:00three.
52:11The accused, Suhail
52:13Sajeev, was sent to jail.
52:16The rising number of road
52:18accidents have become a
52:19major concern in Kerala.
52:23With Shivimol KG, Bureau
52:25Report, India Today.
52:32Shocking visuals coming in
52:34from Kerala.
52:35As we keep saying, one of
52:36the worst, among the
52:38maximum casualties that we
52:40get are because of these
52:41road accidents, hit and run
52:43accidents.
52:43And we simply need to
52:45create greater deterrence
52:48to those who misuse, as in
52:51this clear case, an
52:52underage driver running over
52:55an elderly man.