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The Commission for Air Quality Management has enforced GRAP Stage 3 measures across Delhi NCR following a decline in air quality levels into the severe category ahead of Diwali.
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00:01Good evening and welcome to Five Live. I'm Pooja Shali and I'm going to take you through all the latest
00:06that's coming in from across the country.
00:08It's of course the top news that Capital Zaire has turned into a severe category now.
00:13We are well over 400 in half of Delhi's air monitoring stations.
00:17The situation is only expected to turn worse and a big breaking is coming up on that.
00:21So stay tuned on the Five Live as we tell you what's happening on this.
00:25Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has also taken a stern view of the Delhi pollution, quipping about weather.
00:32The weather is being enjoyed, taking sore motor cognizance of the pollution situation.
00:37The Supreme Court says Diwali gifting by the affluent class to maintain their status is adding to vehicular pollution.
00:44That Diwali has become about an elitist mindset and all of that is adding to the biggest contributor of rising
00:51AQI.
00:52In other news, there's been a bomb threat to Big B.
00:55Several prominent locations in Mumbai, including Amitabh Bachchan's house Jalsa, received a bomb threat.
01:01He's the latest Bollywood superstar to be threatened.
01:05But it's after all the festive season, so Ayodhya has been decked up.
01:09And I'm going to take you there because India Today's Maria Shakeel is reporting from Lord Ram's birthplace.
01:15Catch that special coverage sharp at 5.30pm.
01:19But first, let me take you through all the top headlines.
01:21Let's begin.
01:25CJI's big observation on Diwali culture, especially saying the culture of Diwali gifts and gifting of it is adding to
01:32vehicular pollution.
01:33He also observes stock commercialization of Diwali.
01:37The gifting process has become a status symbol.
01:46Is the internal rift in control right now, for now, in Jammu Kashmir?
01:51Dr. Faruk Abdullah rubbishing the rebellion within the N.C. meeting disgruntled MLAs, assuring that their issues will soon be
01:57addressed.
01:57MLAs were demanding removal of ministers who had completed two years in Cabinet and referred to a public humiliation.
02:08Bomb threat of some of Mumbai's most prominent locations, including superstar Amitabh Bachchan, has received.
02:16His residence, Jalsa, is where a bomb threat was received.
02:19The message has now been sent to the Bombay High Court.
02:22Agencies are investigating the threat message.
02:28For the investors, clearly, it is a happy dhanterus.
02:32Stock markets rallied for a second straight day, since it surging by over 1,700 points, reaching 81,000 mark
02:39for the first time in eight months.
02:40Indian markets, the outlier, were on a day that there was bloodbath in global markets.
02:50Salman Khan breaking his silence on his upcoming film, Matra Bhoomi, says makers were not even asked to change by
02:57any script by the government as the rumour-mongering is happening.
03:01Film's release, though, was postponed for a third time.
03:04The film will now hit theatres on 4th of December.
03:29If you're a resident of Delhi, NCR, listen carefully.
03:32Amid the whole pollution AQI issues that have been coming up,
03:35GRAB 3 has been now imposed.
03:38The CAQM has invoked GRAB 3 in Delhi and NCR amid worsening pollution.
03:43This is the big breaking news on Five Live.
03:45GRAB Stage 3 will introduce now strict measures, that means,
03:50to keep pollution in check, whether it's vehicular pollution, construction activities and other sources.
03:55What does GRAB 3 really mean?
03:58Non-essential construction and demolition work that could create large amounts of dust will now be restricted under GRAB 3.
04:04The BS 3 petrol and BS 4 diesel or lower emission standard for wheelers will now face restrictions as well.
04:11This also means any industrial work or operations out in the open will have to follow strict pollution control requirements.
04:18So GRAB 3, ladies and gentlemen, if you're a resident of Delhi NCR, has been invoked right away,
04:23especially because we've crossed 400 in parts of Delhi and NCR.
04:27Shivani Sharma getting us updates on that.
04:30Shivani, tell me more about this GRAB 3, why, what parts, what is the impact of it, what do you
04:35see around you?
04:41Pooja, this is Diwali week and we've been facing, since last week, we've been seeing high levels of AQI across
04:48Delhi
04:49and these are ranging from 400 to 600 and some places 650 also.
04:54So as a precautionary measure, the CAQM has now announced that GRAB 3 will be imposed across Delhi.
05:00That means stricter rules and the non-compliance will be held very strictly.
05:08And Pooja, we've been reporting these high and severe hazardous levels of AQI across Delhi
05:13and we are still to see the Diwali where the crackers will be burnt.
05:18And even today, we've seen a lot of observations in the Supreme Court while this matter was being heard.
05:23So this is GRAB 3 that has now been imposed.
05:27You can see the traffic on the roads where I'm standing right now.
05:30Despite these GRAB 2 and GRAB 3 restrictions, there is traffic on the roads
05:35and the commute time is also increased multiple at various places.
05:40The important transport hubs, be it the ISBT, be it the flyovers here, the Barapula flyover, the DND,
05:48every place is facing overcrowded roads and this is also contributing,
05:53the vehicle pollution is also contributing to the AQI worsening each day, Pooja.
05:58So now the GRAB 3 restrictions have been imposed in Delhi
06:01and there will be measure to see and implement these measures strictly
06:06because there has to be some impact of this plan.
06:09The winter action plan is already at place.
06:11The GRAB 2 measures were already imposed and now the GRAB 3 is at place.
06:16So here in the National Capital Region, the stricter measures will be seen
06:22and you see the traffic on the roads.
06:23The roads are busy, the traffic is very slow and most of the parts of Delhi are crowded right now.
06:31So these GRAB 3 restrictions have been brought in as a precautionary measure
06:36to check the air pollution that is increasing every day.
06:39Now as in your background, I can see the traffic snarl that only now escalate with the office hour that's
06:43happening.
06:43But there is, remember, vehicular pollution is what has been mentioned as the dominant factor
06:48when it comes to pollution being added.
06:51And there are, of course, other causes as well.
06:53Shreya Chatterjee is also joining me.
06:54Shreya, what part of Delhi are you in right now?
06:57Shivani, stay on with me.
06:58And of course, it's needless to say, those of us in Delhi NCR,
07:02waking up this morning itself reflected the smog that we are breathing.
07:07Well, absolutely, Pooja, you know, and if you can see the smog that's constant right now,
07:11when we give lights from outside, this has become a problem.
07:14And that's one of the primary reasons we see that now GRAB 3 being invoked by the CAQM.
07:21In Dwaraka particularly, we've been seeing that the air quality has been clocking
07:26around 400 and even 400 plus during night time.
07:29Given that, we've seen now restrictions on construction.
07:33Now, schools will be shifted into a hybrid model.
07:35Government will also reduce their workforce.
07:38But this is still clinching in on as we are moving towards Diwali,
07:43how that also pans out, whether the pollution levels are under control.
07:48We have to wait and watch.
07:49But as of now, with the thick haze continuing with the kind of rising pollution level,
07:54we will see restrictions on some activities with this new GRAB 3 rule that's come in.
07:59Stay on with me, Shreya.
08:00As you can see in her background, after a while, you cannot see the skyline
08:04because that's how smoggy it is.
08:05And this is not the fog of Delhi.
08:08This is the smog and the smoke and the pollution that we are witnessing.
08:11And remember, as Shreya is also telling us,
08:14it's the healthy individuals breathing who are, of course, getting affected.
08:19Think of the vulnerable, children, elderly, those who are ailing,
08:23and what kind of concerns they have to now live with as well.
08:26So, it's absolutely turning as a nightmare that people of Delhi and CR are living with.
08:31Shreya, I request you to stay on.
08:33What does GRAB 3 mean that has been now involved?
08:35A strict ban on non-essential construction activities and demolition activities,
08:41which means stone crushers, mining operations will have to be completely halted under GRAB 3.
08:46The ban of entry of vehicles that are possibly polluting in nature towards Delhi,
08:52in Delhi city at least, are not going to be added.
08:56Physical classes up to class 5 may be suspended
08:59because children usually become the worst and first affected
09:03when it comes to pollution of this nature.
09:06And this, remember, is concerning to say the least.
09:10Shivani Sharma and Shreya Chatterjee continues to be with us.
09:13Shreya, I'm thinking of all the vulnerable groups here.
09:16We haven't even touched down to the festival right now.
09:19It's already so smoggy around us.
09:21What are the impacts that you're hearing or you can see around you?
09:25Because one was saying that their watery eyes is possibly just accidental.
09:29I'm sure many are going through that.
09:31Well, you know, because I'm someone who has tonsillitis,
09:33I can immediately understand when pollution season kicks in.
09:37You do have a bad throat when you wake up.
09:39You have, I mean, your eyes are somewhere down there lying, always burning.
09:45So all these kind of situations is going to make difficult,
09:49especially the vulnerable class that you were mentioning,
09:51the elderly, the children.
09:53Now that I have an eight-month-old, we can't take her out.
09:58These are all restrictions.
09:59That is because of the kind of pollution levels
10:01that are continuing in the national capital.
10:03We've seen, Pooja, all these years of covering pollution,
10:06Grap 3 and all these measures have been put before,
10:09but we're not really giving a solution to pollution.
10:11These are only curbs when pollution kicks in
10:14and becomes hazardous to toxic.
10:17But there's no permanent solution that's yet been offered.
10:20There's nothing that's working out.
10:22That's also the climate of the national capital, we agree.
10:24But there has to be some strict measures taking place,
10:27because clearly for years after year,
10:29Grap 1, Grap 2, Grap 3, they are imposed.
10:32But we never really get respite from this haze, this smog,
10:36which is really bothering now to everyone who's living in the NCR region.
10:40Well said, Shreya.
10:41And I can tell you, as mothers of young babies,
10:43it's heartbreaking to watch our little kids cough, watery eyes,
10:48and the kind of unnecessary ailments that they have to deal with.
10:51I used to look forward to this season in Delhi.
10:53I've grown up in this city all my life.
10:55This was the most beautiful time of the year,
10:57and now it's turning into a nightmare for years,
10:59and there's no solution.
11:00Shreya Chatterjee will be telling us more about
11:03how the next few hours are going to be.
11:05But if you're wondering, why Grap 3?
11:07Grap 1 was invoked, 2 then.
11:09Why have we come to the level 3 now?
11:12On November 2, ladies and gentlemen,
11:13I'm taking you through the numbers now.
11:15My team researched and found this out.
11:18The Equality Index stood at 324, 2nd November.
11:21By 3rd of November, it climbs to 350.
11:25By 4th of November, it has risen further to 377.
11:30A marginal improvement, it appeared on 5th of November.
11:33Air quality dipped slightly to 369.
11:35This can be several measures,
11:36if there has been a rainfall or perhaps a wind movement.
11:39But that relief was short-lived.
11:41This morning, 6th November,
11:44Air Quality Index climbed to 389 at least.
11:48That's a rise of 65 points in just 5 days,
11:51bringing Delhi dangerously close to the severe category.
11:54Possibly in areas it could have even crossed 400,
11:56all that we know.
11:57Because remember, there's also a point at the meter
12:00after which the air quality does not even cross.
12:03So poor category, severe, hazardous.
12:07This is what we are breathing.
12:08This does not discriminate between VVIP,
12:11elitists or poor.
12:12This affects one and all.
12:14Remember that.
12:15And that is why it needs a united society
12:17to fight pollution.
12:27Political showdown escalates over pollution.
12:29Manjinder Singh Sirsa, the Delhi Environment Minister,
12:32is doubling down on Punjab government
12:33over stubble burn.
12:35Sirsa shared a certain map illustration
12:37and took to social media sites saying this,
12:40and I quote him here,
12:41the satellite detected stubble fire
12:45demands accountability,
12:46not political excuses
12:47by Ahmadinei party-led Punjab government's
12:49Environment Minister,
12:51who also happens to be
12:52the Chief Minister Bhagwanth Man.
12:53So they've clearly found a way
12:55to target Bhagwanth Man here
12:56and the Punjab government.
12:58They are saying,
12:58and this is what the Delhi government
12:59has been maintaining for a while now,
13:01we are doing our best.
13:02But it's because of Punjab,
13:04they say,
13:05that the stubble burning continues there
13:07and therefore we are impacted
13:08because when the wind blows,
13:10all of this comes and hits
13:11national capital Delhi.
13:12I can tell you,
13:13ladies and gentlemen,
13:13early morning in Delhi NCR
13:15is proving to be very difficult.
13:17It's smoke.
13:18You know what you're breathing
13:19is not good air.
13:21At this point,
13:22it's very interesting
13:22and the map that we are showing you
13:24on your screens,
13:25there is also Sangroor in it.
13:27Sangroor is the constituency
13:29of Bhagwanth Man,
13:30the Chief Minister.
13:31Look at that map.
13:32So there are places like
13:35Tarantaran,
13:36Firozpur,
13:37Fazilka,
13:38Sangroor,
13:38several other areas
13:39including Amritsar,
13:41Patiala,
13:41which if though,
13:43and this is a fire count,
13:44this is not the air quality index,
13:46just to put in perspective for you.
13:47So this is where,
13:49according to the BJP
13:50that have shared this video,
13:51they are saying and claiming
13:53that the fire count
13:54in so-and-so cities of Punjab
13:56is at this level
13:57and you can see the border cities
13:59are at its worst
14:00where the stubble burning
14:01is still happening.
14:03As we look at these images,
14:05we then had our colleagues
14:07check on the ground
14:07and our colleagues
14:08have been reporting
14:08for the past few days
14:09consistently.
14:10There is no end
14:11to stubble burning.
14:13And that's why
14:14I bring in my colleague
14:15Aseem Bassi on this.
14:16Aseem,
14:17I went in 2019,
14:19I remember,
14:20to parts of Punjab.
14:21It was Bhatinda at that time
14:22and alternative measures
14:23were being provided
14:25to farmers.
14:26Whether it was about
14:28biofuel
14:29and other options
14:29and it looked like
14:31the next few years
14:31could be easy.
14:32In 2026,
14:34stubble burning
14:35is still on.
14:40Yes, definitely.
14:41The machinery was been given.
14:43The happy seeders
14:43and alternative measures
14:44were told
14:45how to ensure
14:47that the stubble burning
14:48is not used.
14:50But, yes, definitely
14:52you are right
14:53that despite machinery given,
14:55education given
14:55to the farmers
14:56and also
14:57the cases disturbed,
14:58red entries made
14:59and also
15:00the fine imposed,
15:01still
15:01the stubble fire
15:04is on in Punjab.
15:06Today,
15:07as of 5th November,
15:08as on 5th November,
15:102,787 cases
15:12were reported
15:13whereas
15:1324 hours ago,
15:152,347 cases
15:17were reported,
15:18a steep rise
15:18of 400 cases.
15:20But now,
15:21what the problem is,
15:22in the past few days,
15:23we have seen
15:23brisk number of burnings
15:25in Sangroor,
15:26in Tarantara,
15:27in 586.
15:28So,
15:29despite the claims
15:30of the government
15:30that a lot of effort
15:32is paid,
15:32a lot of machinery
15:33is given,
15:34still the farm fires
15:35is prevalent in Punjab.
15:36Although,
15:37there is one reality
15:39there as well
15:39that as compared
15:40to the previous year,
15:41the number has come down
15:42as compared to
15:432011,
15:44things started,
15:4590%
15:46things have come down.
15:47But,
15:48close to 3,000
15:49farm fires cases
15:50have come till now,
15:51around 28,000 now.
15:53Still,
15:53that is a worry
15:54because there is
15:55a lot of politics
15:55going on
15:56with Delhi government
15:57blaming Punjab
15:57and Punjab saying
15:58I do want to highlight
15:59what you are telling us,
16:00because it is important
16:01for the viewer to know
16:02measures have been taken
16:04and I am sure
16:04by all governments
16:05because everyone is
16:06impacted with it.
16:07So,
16:07whether it is subsidies,
16:09machines that have
16:10been provided,
16:10alternate measures,
16:11but there is some reason
16:12that these stubble burning
16:14at least,
16:14we are unable to ensure
16:16that it comes to an end.
16:17We don't need this
16:18in these parts,
16:19in these states
16:20because it is impacting
16:21one and all.
16:22Thank you very much,
16:22Aseem.
16:23And remember the kind
16:23of long-term impact
16:24we are not even aware
16:25that we will have
16:26because of this toxic air.
16:28And while this is happening,
16:29the Supreme Court
16:30has taken a grim view
16:31of the situation.
16:32It may not be directly
16:34about the pollution crisis,
16:35but it is also about
16:36what is adding on to it.
16:38It is a festival
16:39everyone wants to meet
16:40and greet.
16:41We want to be ensuring
16:42that we celebrate it as well.
16:43Sure.
16:44The Chief Justice of India,
16:46however,
16:46questioning a growing practice
16:48of commercialization,
16:50of how gifting and greeting
16:52has become a status symbol
16:53and not simply about Diwali.
16:56And it is adding
16:56to vehicular pollution
16:57in Delhi.
16:58This could become
16:59a controversial comment as well.
17:01But he is questioning
17:02how Diwali
17:02has increasingly
17:03become commercialized.
17:04It's about expensive gifts,
17:06social status,
17:08among the affluent,
17:09especially,
17:09and an elitist mindset
17:11that is set in.
17:11The Supreme Court
17:13is calling for a return
17:14to more traditional ways
17:15to celebrate the festival,
17:17of course,
17:17but don't allow it
17:18to become a display
17:20of wealth and consumption.
17:21And because of this
17:22gifting culture,
17:23it's adding on
17:24to the vehicular pollution
17:25at a time like this.
17:26This is three-judge bench
17:28headed by CGI Surya Khan,
17:29comprising Justices
17:30Joy Mile Bakchi as well
17:32and Veebo Hanna,
17:33hearing a Suomoto case
17:34on Delhi's NCR air pollution.
17:36And the hearing opened
17:37with a pointed remark
17:38from the Chief Justice of India.
17:40I quote it here.
17:40I hope you all are enjoying
17:42the weather in Delhi.
17:44The court flagged
17:46vehicular emissions
17:46as a major contributor
17:48of the pollution crisis,
17:50expressing concern
17:51over bumper-to-bumper traffic
17:52on roads
17:52that connects Delhi
17:53with other NCR cities.
17:55And is public transport
17:56not adequate,
17:57not enough,
17:58because that can help
17:59reduce people's dependence
18:00on private vehicles?
18:01The court has also said
18:03that an earlier direction
18:04to prevent vehicles
18:05from whether idling
18:07at toll plazas,
18:08is that not being implemented?
18:10What about the measures
18:11that have been taken?
18:12Even though Centre
18:13did get a word of appreciation
18:14from the court
18:15on the measures taken,
18:17but also mentioned
18:18it isn't enough.
18:19Our legal correspondent,
18:20Anisha Mathur,
18:21breaking it down for us.
18:22Anisha,
18:24is it the gifting culture
18:25that the court pointed to?
18:27Is it the commercialisation?
18:29Is it saying,
18:30don't celebrate festivals?
18:31What is it specifically
18:33that the court pointed at?
18:34See,
18:35Pooja,
18:35in very simple terms,
18:37what the court
18:38was pointing out
18:38was the fact
18:39that vehicular pollution
18:40is the single largest
18:42contributor
18:42to pollution
18:44in Delhi NCR
18:45outside of these
18:4612 days,
18:4715 days of
18:48stubble burning.
18:49Because the court
18:50is looking at
18:51all the sources
18:52of pollution
18:52in the national capital region.
18:54The top,
18:55of course,
18:56being in this season
18:57is stubble burning.
18:59And on that,
19:00good news given
19:01by the centre
19:02claiming at least
19:03that there has been
19:04a significant reduction
19:05of almost 90%
19:06in Punjab
19:07and 98%
19:08in Haryana
19:09between 2021
19:10and 2026
19:12when it comes
19:13to stubble burning
19:14cases.
19:15That there has,
19:16the paddy residue
19:17burning cases
19:18have in fact
19:18reduced by
19:19more than 90%
19:21in both Punjab
19:22and Haryana.
19:22But then came
19:24the second big issue,
19:26vehicular pollution.
19:27The bench started
19:28with the question
19:30of traffic jams,
19:32idling of traffic
19:33at toll collection plazas
19:35and then came
19:35the question,
19:36well,
19:37can the bar members
19:38themselves reach
19:39Supreme Court
19:40without getting
19:41stuck in jams?
19:42On that point,
19:43a senior lawyer
19:44present in the court
19:44pointed out that,
19:45well,
19:46if that is to be the case,
19:47then maybe the culture
19:47of gifting
19:48and people travelling
19:50around the city
19:51to give gifts
19:52should be questioned
19:52as well.
19:53And the court said,
19:54that needs
19:55a cultural relook.
19:56We need to remember
19:57what the festival
19:58or the culture
19:59is all about.
20:01What is interesting
20:02to note,
20:02however,
20:03Pooja,
20:03is the fact
20:04that the Supreme Court,
20:05after taking note
20:06of what the farmers
20:07were doing,
20:08has gone straight
20:08to what the elites
20:10of the national capital
20:11region are doing.
20:12It is the big vehicles,
20:14it is the SUVs,
20:16the gas guzzlers
20:17that were in the crosshairs
20:18of the Supreme Court,
20:19which again and again said,
20:21how are you ensuring
20:23that BS6 vehicles
20:24only are operating?
20:26How are you ensuring
20:27that vehicles
20:27from outside NCR
20:29when they come into Delhi
20:30are not polluting
20:31because even if it comes
20:33in for a short period,
20:34it will still pollute?
20:35How are you ensuring
20:36that these big SUVs
20:38with one single person
20:39in it,
20:40which is travelling
20:41around the city
20:42and leading to traffic jams,
20:45is going to be controlled?
20:46And in that context,
20:47the court said,
20:48there needs to be
20:49a cultural shift
20:51that people need to remember
20:52what the festival
20:54is all about
20:55and that is where
20:55the Supreme Court bench
20:56also mentioned
20:57that there has been
21:00major promotion.
21:00pollution to such a level
21:02that's caused
21:02respiratory concerns
21:03and other ailments.
21:04Anisha Mathur
21:05tracking all the latest
21:06from the legal corridors.
21:07Anisha, thank you very much
21:08for now because
21:09what the Supreme Court
21:10also said
21:10were crucial remarks
21:12on the issue
21:12of stubble burning
21:13that is leading
21:13to this massive pollution
21:14in Delhi.
21:15The court is asking
21:16for a more practical approach
21:17to tackle stubble burning,
21:19farm fire
21:20because the farmers
21:21also need support.
21:22They need financial incentives
21:23so that they can
21:24stop setting
21:25their own fields on fire.
21:26The bench
21:27that was headed
21:27by the CGI
21:28took note of
21:29some of the steps
21:30that have been taken
21:31to address
21:32the farm fire issue
21:33and that the fact is
21:35that the stubble burning cases
21:36have come down
21:37over the past
21:37five to six years
21:38and that is where
21:40Centre did get a word
21:41of appreciation
21:42in how the farmers
21:43were being helped.
21:44But the court
21:44then also made it clear
21:45enforcement alone
21:46cannot solve the problem.
21:48Farmers need to
21:49not only be made aware
21:50of alternatives,
21:51they need to be provided
21:53with alternatives
21:53that are accessible,
21:55financially viable
21:56and helping them
21:56as well to sow
21:57the next crop.
21:58The court suggested
21:59putting gram panchayats
22:01at the centre
22:01of the process
22:02so don't think
22:03that gram panchayats
22:04are just about
22:04a local issue.
22:06They can help
22:07impact villages,
22:08towns and even cities.
22:10The idea is to make
22:11crop residue management
22:12facilities available
22:13at village level
22:14rather than expect
22:15individual farmers
22:17to arrange machinery
22:18on their own.
22:19The bench stressing
22:20that the need
22:21to spread awareness
22:22and involve local bodies,
22:23farmers will then
22:24understand the benefit
22:25of managing stubble
22:27without burning it.
22:29If you are wondering
22:30why is that important?
22:31Stubble burning
22:32has been a major
22:33contributor to pollution
22:34in Delhi and NCR
22:36especially as the wind
22:37blows toward Delhi
22:38even if stubble burning
22:39is not reported
22:40from National Capital.
22:42Punjab is the biggest
22:43culprit of it right now
22:44where farm fires
22:45are still being reported.
22:47What are the numbers
22:48telling us?
22:49Our team dug deep
22:50and found out
22:51the recorded numbers.
22:522,787 incidents
22:54of stubble burning
22:55this season itself.
22:575th of November
22:5888% of Punjab's
23:01Pari region
23:02had been harvested.
23:03This means the window
23:04to prevent further
23:05farm fire
23:06is narrowing.
23:09It's also therefore
23:10important to flag
23:11otherwise what the
23:13Supreme Court has said
23:14on multiple levels.
23:15Remember barely about
23:15a few days ago
23:17because of the
23:18upcoming festival
23:18there's also an alternative
23:20to that so people
23:20can enjoy the festival
23:22without feeling that
23:23there is any sort
23:24of restriction
23:25and that was about
23:26the firecrackers.
23:27The court had pointed
23:28very clearly earlier
23:29this week
23:29and the order
23:30that can have
23:31far-reaching consequences.
23:32The Supreme Court
23:33remember had ordered
23:34that the use of
23:34firecrackers
23:35shall be confined
23:36between 6 to 7 a.m.
23:39and 8 to 10 p.m.
23:41on the two days.
23:42That is on the day
23:44before Diwali
23:44which is called
23:45the Chhoti Diwali
23:46and of course
23:46on the big day.
23:48Bursting of crackers
23:49will not be allowed
23:50within a 300 meter
23:51radius of hospitals
23:52nursing homes
23:53primary and district
23:55health centers
23:56old age homes
23:57and any notified
23:58silent zones.
23:59This is what the
24:00court has said
24:00which means
24:01there will be zones
24:02declared as
24:03no cracker zones
24:04that shall be marked
24:05on the ground
24:06that shall be published
24:07according to the
24:08court order.
24:09The same restrictions
24:10shall also be applicable
24:11to educational institutions.
24:13But what about
24:14firecrackers
24:15where the green
24:15crackers have come in?
24:17The court had said
24:18and I quote it here
24:19imposition of a blanket
24:20ban seems to be
24:21the ideal solution
24:22according to the court
24:23but the court is
24:24short of adequate
24:25data on that
24:26to decide whether
24:27a complete ban
24:28is the best solution
24:29and therefore
24:30at this point
24:31it is imperative
24:32that the earlier
24:34restrictions that
24:34have happened
24:35have served its purpose.
24:36There has been
24:37no significant improvement
24:39in AQI
24:39despite 2024
24:41ban as well
24:42so of course
24:43pushing forward
24:43if possible
24:44for people
24:45to use
24:46the green
24:46crackers.
24:49Let's move on
24:50now to other stories
24:51coming in.
24:51Mumbai
24:52has gone again
24:53on a high alert.
24:54What happened?
24:54A threatening email
24:56targeting some of
24:57cities' most prominent
24:57landmarks
24:58and stars as well.
25:01Among the locations
25:02named in the threat
25:03is the resident
25:04of Bollywood
25:04megastar
25:05Amitabh Bachchan.
25:06The threatening email
25:07was sent to the
25:08Bombay High Court
25:09naming the Bombay
25:10Stock Exchange,
25:11the Worldly Racecourse
25:12and Amitabh Bachchan's
25:14Bangaloo Jalsa.
25:15The threat
25:16immediately triggered
25:16a security alert.
25:17Police and security
25:18agencies are
25:19investigating the email
25:20its source
25:20and are working
25:21to trace the sender.
25:23The security checks
25:24have been carried out
25:25although no suspicious
25:26object has been
25:27reported so far.
25:28But remember
25:29for a star like
25:29Amitabh Bachchan
25:30this is not the first
25:32security scare
25:33that he's faced
25:33in recent days.
25:34Last weekend
25:35itself the megastar
25:36continued his
25:37decades-old tradition.
25:38He met the fans,
25:39waved to them
25:39outside Jalsa
25:40but a significant
25:42change.
25:42Look closely
25:43on his screens.
25:44You noticed it.
25:45This was Amitabh Bachchan
25:47greeting his fans
25:48from behind
25:49a transparent
25:50protective
25:51glass enclosure.
25:52Additional security
25:53around him.
25:54His son
25:55actor Abhishek Bachchan
25:56present with the
25:57veteran while
25:58waving to the crowd.
26:00Because there have
26:01been a series of
26:02threats, attacks,
26:03attempted assassinations
26:04even in the past
26:05few weeks.
26:06Actors Tushar Kapoor
26:07and Ayushman Khurana
26:08have allegedly received
26:09threat calls.
26:10Police have arrested
26:11a Bengaluru-based
26:12IT engineer
26:12in connection
26:14with these threats.
26:15Before that came
26:16the incident that
26:17shook the film
26:17fraternity of course
26:18Tiger Shroff's car
26:19came under fire in
26:20Juhu.
26:20Though he managed
26:21to escape unhurt,
26:23two others were
26:23injured.
26:24Thirteen people
26:25were arrested in
26:26connection with that
26:26attack.
26:27Laurence Bishnoe gang's
26:29name was seen as
26:30behind this attack.
26:31Earlier this year,
26:32gunshots were fired
26:32outside filmmaker
26:33Rohit Shetty's
26:34residence in Mumbai.
26:35A social media
26:36account claiming links
26:37to the Bishnoe gang
26:38even took responsibility
26:39of this attack and
26:41more.
26:41So there is clearly
26:42a pattern and that
26:43is why there is a
26:44certain fear and
26:45scare that has spread
26:46in the Mumbai film
26:47industry and that is
26:48the reason that the
26:49city has been on high
26:51alert.
26:51But let's hope that
26:52our security agencies
26:53are on the job and
26:54no criminal gangster,
26:55their network or nexus
26:57will be able to
26:57succeed.
27:00Moving on now,
27:01the Wall Street
27:02crashing.
27:03Asian markets
27:05follow.
27:06Trillions of dollars
27:07wiped out in a
27:08matter of hours.
27:09But as global markets
27:10bleed red, Indian
27:12stocks held their
27:13ground.
27:14In fact, foreign
27:15investors are returning
27:16to Dalal Street in a
27:18big way.
27:18So the question we
27:19ask here is,
27:20India emerging as
27:21a safe haven amid
27:23the global market
27:24meltdown.
27:25Fingers crossed on
27:26that and a special
27:27report.
27:33A bloodbath on
27:35Wall Street, a sea
27:37of red across
27:38Asia, trillions of
27:40dollars wiped out
27:41in hours.
27:43By the time India's
27:44stock markets prepared
27:46to open Friday
27:46morning, investors had
27:48every reason to fear
27:50the worst.
27:52The selling had
27:53begun in the United
27:54States where technology
27:55and artificial intelligence
27:57stocks had been
27:58driving the rally for
27:59months before spreading
28:01across Asia, where some
28:02of the world's biggest
28:03chip makers had powered
28:05stock markets to record
28:07highs.
28:07Both tumbled in a sea of
28:09red.
28:10But when trading began in
28:12Mumbai, the script took
28:14an unexpected turn.
28:15Indian stocks held their
28:17ground with a nifty and
28:18sensex showing resilience in
28:21face of a global meltdown.
28:22And there was a striking irony.
28:25India, which had been questioned
28:27for missing out on the global
28:29AI-led stock market boom, was
28:31now emerging as a relative safe
28:33haven from the very sell-off that
28:35was battering its global peers.
28:38The scale of the financial
28:39carnage was extraordinary.
28:41In Taiwan, home to the world's largest
28:44contract chip maker, TSMC, the benchmark
28:47TIEX index plunged more than 8% in early
28:50trade.
28:50In South Korea, home to
28:52tech titan Samsung and SK
28:54Hynix, the Kospi crashed more than 9%, triggering a
28:5820-minute trading halt.
28:59In Japan, the Nikkei slummed more than 7% in early
29:03deals.
29:03The markets that had benefited most from the AI boom
29:06were now bearing the brunt of its sudden reversal.
29:10The epicenter of the sell-off was Wall Street, where
29:14an estimated $3 trillion in market value was
29:17erased from S&P 500 companies in a single light.
29:22The Nasdaq Composite crushed 5.5 points, and
29:27S&P 500 fell more than 4%, while the Dow Jones
29:31lost nearly 3.5%.
29:32For many stocks, it was the worst trading
29:35day since COVID.
29:36All 11 sectors' indices of the S&P 500 ended in
29:41the red, with technology stocks leading the
29:44decline, followed by industrials, discretionary
29:47consumer business, energy and financials.
29:50At the heart of the panic was a fundamental
29:52question.
29:53Could the companies building the world's AI
29:55infrastructure continue spending at the same
29:58breakneck pace?
29:59Victory of the Democrats in the US midterm
30:02elections have raised fears of tougher regulations
30:05and new restrictions on data center construction, threatening
30:09to slow the massive investment boom that had propelled
30:12technology stocks higher.
30:14So the sell-off today, I think, is a confluence of a number
30:18of factors.
30:19One is concerns about financing of data centers, and that's been
30:25exacerbated by the blue tsunami in Congress, which at the margin
30:32should make data centers harder to permit, put up obstacles to them.
30:38And then I think what we're seeing today particularly is some kind of liquidation,
30:43meaning some investors have reached the limit where they just have to liquidate risk entirely.
30:51Nvidia lost more than 9%, while AMD, Micron, Western Digital and SanDisk suffered even steeper losses,
31:00as investors rushed to cut their exposure to the AI and digital storage trade.
31:06The big question now is how quickly the enormous investments will start generating returns.
31:11The big question now is whether this is a temporary panic or the beginning of a more lasting shift in
31:17global investment.
31:19Analysts say the demand for AI has not disappeared, but investors are beginning to question the speed and cost of
31:26building the infrastructure behind it.
31:29I don't think the AI trade stops here because of some regulation or potential regulation, maybe some increased costs of
31:38building it out.
31:39The demand is not going to slow down.
31:41Maybe where data centers get built out, that changes.
31:44I do think it just represents a bit of a re-rating, a bit of a slowdown in the actual
31:50build-out of AI,
31:51and that's what we're seeing in terms of repricing.
31:54I do think it is a little bit drastic when you look at some of the moves in a single
31:57day
31:58and what's being extrapolated out from the midterm elections.
32:02But while global investors were fleeing technology stocks, foreign money was returning to India.
32:07And that could be the biggest story emerging from this market route.
32:12On Thursday alone, foreign institutional investors bought nearly 15,000 crore rupees worth of Indian shares,
32:19their biggest single-day purchase in more than a year, extending their buying streak to five sessions.
32:26Two factors seem to be helping India.
32:29Its limited exposure to the global AI hardware boom and the sharp fall in crude oil prices,
32:34which eases pressure on an economy that imports most of its oil.
32:38And as global funds reassess their investments,
32:41India's banks, domestic businesses and improving corporate earnings are beginning to attract fresh attention.
32:48In short, India may have missed part of the AI party, but it has also avoided much of the hangover.
32:55Bureau Report, Business Today Television.
33:00Hello everyone and welcome to this special broadcast.
33:02I'm coming to you live from Ramki Pauri in Ayodhya.
33:07And right here, if the camera could move and show,
33:11the stage is set for what will be a spectacle that will happen tomorrow.
33:16Lakhs of Diyas being put up and they will be all lit up tomorrow
33:21when Yogi Adityanath, Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, arrives here.
33:26This has been almost like a phenomenon happening every year since 2017.
33:33Every Diwali ever since Yogi Adityanath won the battle for Uttar Pradesh,
33:38there has been, the number of Diyas has, you know, increased every year.
33:44It started with one lakh Diyas in 2017 and went up.
33:49Every year it would be about one Guinness Book of World Record after the other.
33:54And this time around, the volunteers are saying that there are 30 Diyas which will be lit up.
34:00I can see some volunteers here.
34:02Tell us about it.
34:03Who all are you?
34:05You call yourself volunteers.
34:07How many Diyas in all you have been working for?
34:10How many days now?
34:12To be honest, it's really, really, really hectic.
34:15But at the end of the day, at the end of this festival, it's all worth it.
34:19So here in Ayodhya, our kind of welcoming Sri Ramji
34:23is by making a record every year and breaking it the following year.
34:28So, yeah, this is the grand celebration we do here.
34:31Last year, what was the record?
34:33What was the record this time?
34:34This time, it's 30 lakhs.
34:35No, no, I think last year it was over 30 lakhs.
34:38And this time, I think we have more than 60 lakhs diya.
34:43More than 60 lakhs diya.
34:44So it will be another record that will be set tomorrow.
34:48As I said, we break our previous record.
34:52Yeah, every year, every following year.
34:53Tell us about who you are.
34:55Are you college students?
34:58When do you start working?
34:59We are college students from fine art department.
35:03These are all, you can see, these are all decorated by us.
35:08We are volunteers who decorated these rangoli.
35:12So we are sitting here for like hours.
35:14It's been like more than 10 hours we are sitting here
35:18and doing every possible job we can do to make it.
35:21I must say, let me bring in Samarth, my colleague as well.
35:25Samarth, you have been covering the Potsava in Ayodhya for six years.
35:31Viewers, I last visited Ayodhya in 2024 for covering the consecration ceremony of Ram Temple.
35:40And the spectacle here, this time around, is going to be even more grand.
35:47Then we saw a massive light and sound show.
35:50Even right now, there is this light and sound show behind me.
35:54And I'll ask my VJ to show that.
35:56That will be all lit up tomorrow.
35:59There will be a massive light and sound show tomorrow as well.
36:02So Samarth, give us a sense of what you have seen change in the last six years.
36:07See, a lot of changes I have seen, Maria.
36:10See, I haven't seen this grand stage so far in Ayodhya.
36:14This is literally massive.
36:16Usually we know that Ramki Paradi background, which was the architecture,
36:19the original architecture we used to see here.
36:22But this time around, they have changed it a bit
36:23and have made a makeshift structure right over there.
36:26If you can clearly see the tomes of that particular area,
36:28a temple-like tome structure has been given right over here.
36:31And right here, the VFX and the LED light they are using,
36:36they are literally, see, this is the clear visual out here,
36:39where the entire Ramayana, we know what the chapters of Lord Ram,
36:43which inspires millions and millions of Indians,
36:46will be portrayed over here.
36:47And as you showed, the diya's already being placed,
36:50more than 30 lakh diya's,
36:51and the excitement of volunteers right over here.
36:54So this is all making it.
36:55And what's interesting is that it started as
36:59diya's being put up along this entire bank of River Saryu.
37:04But in years that followed,
37:07people in Ayodhya, residents of Ayodhya,
37:09started participating in it,
37:12and they started, you know, lighting up diya's
37:15on their houses, the terrace of their homes as well.
37:19So that's the nature of participation,
37:21which has been there over several years now.
37:24Yogi Adityanath, who faces an important political battle
37:27in a few months from now, will be here.
37:30He has been coming here every year since 2017,
37:34when he became the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh
37:37for the first time,
37:38was sown in in February of 2017.
37:42And every year it has been about
37:44increasing the scale of Depotsab.
37:47So who all are expected tomorrow?
37:50See, Vice President of India will be here.
37:51CM Yogi Adityanath, like every time around,
37:54he'll be here.
37:54And the most interesting part when CM arrives here
37:57is that particular, the welcome of Lord Ram.
38:00Imaginary Lord Ram, Sita Mata and Lakshman,
38:03they come with a helicopter.
38:05In a way, that helicopter is being shown
38:08as a pushback viman.
38:09When Ram returned after, in a way,
38:11defeating Ravan in Lanka,
38:13after the Lanka Vijay,
38:14then that was the day from then,
38:16Diwali was celebrated.
38:18People started lighting up diya.
38:19So that's what the UP government
38:21always establishes here.
38:22With the chopper, they come in
38:24and it is being shown as a pushback viman.
38:26And later, CM Yogi Adityanath
38:29is in a constitutional position,
38:30but he acts like a saint
38:32who welcomes,
38:33do that particular tilak of Lord Ram,
38:35Lakshman,
38:36and welcomes them alongside Hanumanji.
38:38Every year round.
38:39And this is the most interesting feature
38:41of this Ramayan,
38:42which happens after the Jhaakipad,
38:44in the afternoon.
38:45And after that,
38:45he comes here.
38:46This time around,
38:47he'll be coming with the vice president here.
38:49And then the other records
38:50we have seen every year.
38:52This time around,
38:53there has gone par to the records.
38:55It's more than 30 lakhs now.
38:56A volunteer was telling me
38:58it's more than 60 lakhs,
38:59in fact, Samar.
39:00So that's certainly a fascinating number.
39:02But a few days ago,
39:04when Yogi Adityanath was here
39:07to inspect the entire,
39:09you know, the numbers
39:10and how the preparations
39:12which has been put in place,
39:14he spoke something
39:16very, very political.
39:17Remember,
39:18Akhilesh Yadav had challenged him
39:20that he should contest from Ayodhya.
39:23Of course,
39:24referring to the big battle
39:26which happened in 2024,
39:28when despite the consecration ceremony
39:30where the BJP was hoping
39:32that the Hindu vote consolidation
39:34would happen,
39:36that did not really happen.
39:37And the Samajwadi party
39:39won from Ayodhya.
39:41It was a Lok Sabha election.
39:42So the Lok Sabha constituency
39:44was won by the Samajwadi party.
39:47At that time,
39:48Yogi Adityanath,
39:51you know,
39:51essentially said
39:52that there were multiple reasons
39:53for the loss of the BJP.
39:56But let me give you more voices
39:57of the volunteers
39:58who are all here.
40:00So are you volunteers
40:01or are you locals?
40:03No,
40:03we are locals.
40:04We are locals.
40:05We are locals.
40:05Are you here to see?
40:06Yes,
40:07we are here to see.
40:08We are here to see.
40:10You are here to see.
40:10You are here to see.
40:10Announcements are also
40:11for removing.
40:13Tell me.
40:14I am here to see.
40:15I am here to see.
40:17I am here to see.
40:17And I am vlogging.
40:19I have multiple content.
40:20So I am here to see.
40:22You have content created?
40:23Yes, ma'am.
40:24Yes, ma'am.
40:24Okay.
40:25So you have come to create content
40:27when the dipottsav actually happens to me?
40:29Yes, ma'am.
40:30All the festivals for the shoot, ma'am.
40:33I am going to be here to see.
40:36I will shoot all the content.
40:39My personal content is also family vlogs.
40:41Yes, ma'am.
40:42So you are a content creator.
40:43Tell me about yourself.
40:44I am Rajkumar Mishra.
40:46Currently, I am studying as a student of Awad Vishwavidyalay.
40:50Right now, I am working as a member of the accounting committee
40:53of this dipottsav.
40:55In this dipottsav.
40:56So you are counting?
40:57Yes.
40:58In this event,
40:59our target is Awad Vishwavidyalay.
41:09We are like,
41:10we are talking about too many people.
41:11They are interacting with any of our family.
41:14It's a scene.
41:15Okay.
41:24I am thinking about this.
41:25It's going to be with us.
41:25We are talking about this.
41:26This commission is telling you.
41:26I am coming to be in this country.
41:26We are talking about it.
41:27We are talking about that.
41:30We are talking about this country.
41:31This country is telling us.
41:31Exact figures, number of Deep.
41:35So what really is the nature of preparation?
41:38I'm leaving you with this story.
41:39Thanks so much for watching.
41:41And we'll be coming with a special broadcast tomorrow
41:43when the Dipotasav actually begins.
41:46And all these Diyas will be lit up tomorrow evening.
41:59Ayodhya is getting ready to light up like never before.
42:04With just a day to go for the Dipotasav,
42:07the city of Lord Ram is already glowing in all its festive splendor.
42:14From the main roads and intersections to temples and ghats along the Saryu.
42:20Colourful lights have transformed Ayodhya into a dazzling spectacle.
42:25And as night falls, it almost feels like the entire city has dressed up for the big celebration.
42:36Ramki Nagari Ayodhya is ready to be prepared.
42:40Dulhan Kitarke Puri Ayodhya is set up to the whole Dharmpath.
42:45The whole Dharmpath is set up to light.
42:57But the real magic will unfold along the banks of the Saryu.
43:02This year, the target is to light up Ayodhya with 30 lakh earthen lamps across Ramki Peddi and 56 ghats.
43:11And the preparations are already in full swing.
43:16Around 35,000 volunteers are working round the clock, arranging the Diyas in neat rows.
43:25It will be made offloor to be prepared.
43:29There is a fear in the Prakashya, which is revealed in the royal processes.
43:37This year, the Rangoli will meet the Dharmpath.
43:41Is the name of the Prakashya, which is set up the 7th November to be present,
43:46It will be the second time for the Aajudhya.
43:51When I am familiar with the Dharmpath.
43:52who are volunteers here, 35,000 volunteers, are located in this car.
43:59And if the lights and the hours aren't enough to leave you spellbound,
44:03there's technology adding to the spectacle.
44:08A trial of the grand laser show has already been held at Ramki Perdi.
44:13Set to the tunes of Ramdhun,
44:15colourful laser beams lit up the Saryu riverfront,
44:19offering a glimpse of what visitors can expect on the big night.
44:25Ayodhya is all set to celebrate its 10th Deepotshav in spectacular style on Sunday.
44:32With Mayank Shukla, Bureau Report, India Today.