- 21 minutes ago
A political confrontation has emerged between the Bharatiya Janata Party and opposition parties over Diwali firecrackers, air pollution levels, and the Ayodhya Ram Temple.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Hello and welcome to An India Today's special broadcast that comes to you from Shenzhen in China.
00:05I'm Gaurav Savant. Shenzhen, once upon a time, used to be a small town of a lot of fishermen.
00:11Now, it's the IT hub. It's the IT capital of China.
00:16And we will, during the course of the next one week that I'm here,
00:20we will be talking about steps that China has taken to ease pollution,
00:24to become a manufacturing giant and a lot more.
00:28But today, our big focus on this broadcast is the massive battle that's taking place
00:35between the BJP and the opposition over Diwali, over crackers, over pollution,
00:42over the Divya Bhavya Ram Mandir in Ayodhya and, of course, on Maryadha Purushottam Shri Ram.
00:48There are many aspects to this battle that's being waged between the BJP and the opposition.
00:53And, for one, the BJP is saying that opposition is now being anti-Sanathan.
01:00They're targeting everything to do with Sanathan.
01:03They pick up festivals, they pick up any issue and they make it a target Sanathan incident.
01:09Take, for example, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
01:12On Dipavali and on crackers, he said, they're not targeting Diwali, they're targeting Sanathan.
01:20He said, go ahead, burst crackers, because this is one day of celebration.
01:24And on pollution, there's data that talks about pollution, which is much more than Diwali,
01:30around the year, in various parts of the country, and it needs to be tackled very effectively.
01:37It's just that Diwali gives a certain ecosystem in our country excuse to target the Hindu dharma or Sanathan.
01:45Now, we will listen to what Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath says.
01:49We'll also get you the opposition voices.
01:52And, of course, there's also data, and I want you to look at some of this data.
01:56I'll tell you what Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister is saying.
01:58At a government function, he said, and I quote,
02:00Some people are saying pollution has increased because of Diwali.
02:03So, what if it has increased? It will subside in a day or two.
02:07Why are you worried?
02:08Those who've polluted the entire system through their corrupt deeds are not questioned.
02:12But the public bursts firecrackers and celebrates with fireworks for one day,
02:16and suddenly, pollution becomes the big issue.
02:19Now, what is the Congress Party saying?
02:22Congress Party cites a 71% increase in pollution attributed to firecrackers,
02:28and allege that Supreme Court guidelines are not being followed.
02:32The bigger question, is Diwali the real reason for pollution in and around the national capital or the national capital
02:39region?
02:40Look at data, for example, and the overall trends.
02:44In 2022, Diwali AQI was 312 against 321.
02:49In 2023, it was 218 against November's overall AQI at 373.
02:55In 2024, it was 328 against 374.
02:582025, 345 against 354.
03:01What's the bigger picture that emerges?
03:04The bigger picture is the crisis extends way beyond Diwali.
03:09Diwali crisis may come, you know, there may be a pollution issue for a day or two,
03:14but what is the bigger picture that emerges?
03:17Delhi's pollution, and this is data that's been presented in Lok Sabha in July 2026,
03:22it points to multiple factors.
03:23In winters, remember, Diwali is one day, you maximum burst crackers on two days.
03:28Look at overall winters.
03:30Secondary particulate matter, transport, major contributors.
03:34What it also says, biomass burning 17 to 23% in summer.
03:39There is no Diwali in summer, there are no firecrackers in summer,
03:42but what's the bigger picture that emerges?
03:45Demolition and construction, they're the biggest contributors, 25 to 31%.
03:49Pollution crisis clearly is a year-round challenge.
03:53It is just giving people, some people, a select ecosystem excuse to target Deepavali,
03:59is what the BJP says.
04:00But this is only one part of the story, and during the course of the broadcast,
04:04I'll also get you what the Supreme Court has said.
04:06The Supreme Court has also talked about finding long-term solutions.
04:10Long-term solutions that others have found.
04:13Why just target Diwali?
04:15Is this just about targeting Diwali?
04:18Look at what Kirti Azad is saying.
04:22Now, Kirti Azad has taken this a step further.
04:25He's Trinmul Congress Member of Parliament.
04:27What does Trinmul Congress Member of Parliament say?
04:29He's triggered a fresh word of words.
04:31He's said words to the effect that he will not visit Ramlala Temple.
04:37He will not visit the temple.
04:39He has criticized Lord Ram's treatment of Matasita.
04:42And questioned, why is he even worshipped as Maryada Purushottam?
04:46He says he will never visit a Ram temple.
04:49The BJP has hit back and hard.
04:52In fact, they're saying that Kirti Azad is only reflecting, as they put it, the Hindu Virodhi Mansikta of the
05:00Trinmul Congress.
05:01Now, those are their words, not mine.
05:03They're saying that look at what used to happen in Bengal.
05:07If a Hindu festival clashed with a festival of another religion, then that, you know, processions of that religion were
05:13given precedence in Mamta Banerjee's regime over Hindu festivals.
05:18Then, remember, there's been this debate of Malikarjun Karge describing Diwali as Khushiyo ki Eid.
05:23That's triggered another round of war of words between the BJP and the Congress.
05:29And they're saying, overall, just join the dots.
05:32The opposition is indulging in minority appeasement politics.
05:36The BJP says this they will not permit.
05:40They will continue to look after the interests of the followers of the Sanatang Dharm.
05:45I want you to listen in to this intense war of words before I get you much more on the
05:49story.
05:49I want you to listen in to this.
06:20We want you to listen in to this.
06:22We are the ones that will be held at Hong Kong.
06:26This is the one-to-one.
06:32We have seen this.
06:35We have seen a lot of influence on our Afghan army.
06:42We have seen this in the NATO war.
06:43I am certain.
06:45We have seen this.
06:46There are some-tasting lenders here.
06:48foreign
06:54foreign
06:55foreign
06:57foreign
06:59I would not go.
07:03This is because
07:04I'm out of the day,
07:13In the day,
07:16I will be able to get
07:17So-called
07:17So-called
07:17So-called
07:17That I see
07:23foreign
07:31foreign
07:32foreign
07:32foreign
07:38। । । । ।
08:03। । । । । । ।
08:33। । । । । ।
08:45speech and Congress speech, they should spend half the time in tutoring Mr. Modi and preparing
08:51him for the upcoming debate with Mr. Rahul Gandhi.
09:21Is there merit in the BJP saying there is a pattern to anti-Hindu statements and actions
09:29of the Trinamool Congress?
09:33You see, it's not the job of the government of India or any representative of the government
09:38or the representative of the ruling party to distribute certificates of one's religion
09:46or to distribute certificates of whether one person is bad or good or at what category.
09:52So far, his or her personal choice or personal faith is concerned.
09:58That's none of the business of the government.
10:03If anything that's said by Mr. Azhar is illegal, very well, anybody from the ruling party can
10:10go and file a case against him.
10:11They are in power.
10:12They have access to the Supreme Court.
10:14They have access to the high court.
10:15They have access to the...
10:16They can issue direction to the local police station.
10:20But to make an issue out of it, since they have failed in administration, since they have
10:25failed to contain the price rise, they have failed to provide fresh air, to provide a
10:34breathable air to the people of country, they bring these issues, issues which should
10:39not concern the government at all.
10:42The government is there to govern, to see that the rules are followed, to see that the...
10:48Since you're a lawyer, this is a political party challenging another political party.
10:58This is BJP challenging the Trinamool Congress.
11:00But I want to get Rajat Sethi to respond.
11:03Because government is not saying this on Ram Mandir.
11:07It is a TMC MP being responded to by the BJP.
11:11But I want to, you know, on that wider issue of Trinamool appeasing a vote bank, but Kirti
11:18Azad saying words like this.
11:20Rajat, where do you stand on this?
11:24Hi, Gaurav.
11:26So, we need to understand that there is a cultural context around it.
11:31In this region of Bihar, in the Mithila region, they don't name their children by the name
11:38of Ram.
11:39They also don't name their children by the name of Sita.
11:41Because they feel, because Sita, it was, you know, the maternal home of Sita.
11:48And it's more colloquial wherein they feel that, you know, injustice was done to her.
11:54And therefore, you know, we will...
11:57In fact, in a lot of Geet's, in a lot of folklore over there, this entire episode is talked about
12:05and talked about pretty openly.
12:06In Mithilanchal also, if somebody tries, from UP tries to marry a girl from Mithilanchal,
12:14they are also mobbed the way, you know, invoking what happened in Ramayan.
12:21So, there is a cultural context.
12:23But, you know, the way DMC's leader, who also hails from that very region, tries to make
12:30out, there is some kind of a cynical attitude, some kind of a signaling also, which is mixed
12:36in.
12:36And that is where it becomes more political and less cultural, wherein he is trying to
12:42invoke something which Mithilanchal sort of believes in.
12:46Therefore, in my opinion, again, it should not be a big issue, it should not be made out
12:51of it.
12:51But also, Mr. Kirdi Azar should know that there is cultural sensitivities around it.
12:55Whole of UP, major chunks of Bihar hold Bhagawan Ram in a different light.
13:01And there are many, many nuanced interpretations of what happened after Bhagawan Ram came back
13:08to Ayodhya.
13:10Therefore, without drawing in those nuances, if he just tries to make a very, you know,
13:17a remark very crassly or without the sensitivities, it is going to get reactions, and especially
13:24political reactions and political parties will make an issue out of it.
13:28And that is what is happening.
13:33Okay, I also want to for a moment talk about that wider aspect of the BJP saying, Juhi saying
13:41that this is systematic targeting of the Sanatan Dharm, because whether it's the Congress Party
13:47or the Samajwadi Party or the Trimul Congress, they all have a certain vote bank, Juhi saying,
13:52and the attempt is to get back or to appease their vote bank.
13:56Like, if Malikar Jun Khargev, for example, says, Diwali is Khushio Ki Eid, why do you need
14:01to bring in an Eid aspect to Diwali is the point that BJP raises.
14:06Or if Akhile Shahdav hasn't visited the Ram Temple so far, you know, he's saying there's
14:12an appeasement politics that's going on here, ma'am.
14:23If a person wants to visit the Ram Temple, he or she will, according to his own wishes
14:29and faith.
14:29I think he can look for certain pointers to talk about it.
14:34But I would say that the National President had always made it very clear that he will
14:40be visiting the Ram Temple and he wants to build the Kedahreswar Temple first and it will
14:46reach the state from 18 to 18 now.
14:48I do not know whether it will be declared that he will be after that or before that, but
14:52that will always be there on our agenda.
14:55And that's, I think the people of U.C. have no questions about that.
15:00But as I said, we have a state or the chief minister who looks for issues.
15:04When there are no issues and ignored issues, you know, from the covers of U.C. we can't
15:08there.
15:09U.C. saw the depots of, there were thousands of people collecting oil and they were being
15:14hit by individuals there.
15:17So that's the state where U.C. is that the economy is in distress.
15:21And maybe the mental distress which is going to be forced because of that, he doesn't
15:24want to handle that or the unemployment crisis or what's happening to the farmers or where
15:30the children are actually opening.
15:32So we have no comments on that, but we will visit the Ram Temple and we do not need any
15:39questions.
15:40Okay.
15:41Okay.
15:47So, Charu, you've heard, you know, both the TMC or our analysts from Bengal and of course
15:55the Samajwadi Party, they say when governance issues fail, when nothing else works for the
16:01BJP, the BJP invokes Lord Ram a religion to get that wider vote bank, their vote bank.
16:10So if the minority is going in for a vote bank, BJP is going for its vote bank as Yogi
16:14Adhita put it and I will come to the pollution aspect in just a moment.
16:17It's that assi bees ki ladai.
16:19You are reaching out for the assi, they are reaching out for the bees.
16:23No, absolutely not.
16:24And I'll explain why I'm saying that.
16:27Gaurav, good evening to you, to my fellow co-panelists and all our viewers tonight.
16:31See, our constitution gives us the freedom, article 25 of it gives us the freedom to celebrate
16:39our religion, to practice our religion in any way we see fit.
16:43For the longest time in India, what have we been seeing?
16:46Instead of one religion getting a special privilege, Hinduism seems to be getting special prejudice.
16:54And we have seen this time and time again, especially at the hands of the opposition.
16:57So this special prejudice, which comes behind all Hindu gods and goddesses, which comes behind
17:03all our celebrations, which comes behind all our festivals, it must be marked because what
17:08is being practiced by the opposition today is pseudo secularism.
17:11That is not secularism.
17:12Can you ever imagine?
17:14And I'm going to quote Kharge ji here.
17:15When he can so comfortably say, Khushiyo ki Eid.
17:18On Eid, is he going to say, Khushiyo ki Diwali hai?
17:21Can you ever imagine that happening?
17:23Recently, I think it was last year, the Congress handle wished everybody a happy Diwali by saying
17:29Jashne Diwali.
17:31Is that a terminology that has ever been used with the Hindu religious cultural festival of
17:36Diwali?
17:36So I think this division that everybody is talking about was created by the longest time
17:42by the previous UPA regime, currently the opposition.
17:45And we have put a full stop to that.
17:48And I think they cannot stand that.
17:49See, when everybody can celebrate their festivals.
17:53Why is it that Holi, we are discussing water, Diwali, we are coming down to saying,
17:58Arrey, but fire cackles jalayenge, toh environmental issues hajayenge.
18:01I say, discuss environmental issues.
18:03We must.
18:04We absolutely must.
18:06But if you're going to be discussing pollution, it has to be done in totality, right?
18:10You have to discuss industrial emissions also.
18:11You have to discuss vehicular pollution also.
18:14You have to discuss construction.
18:15You have to discuss crop burning.
18:17If you're doing all of that, okay.
18:19I will still give it to you that you have a discussion about flackers and regulations.
18:23But you know, we are a secular democracy.
18:25Yeah.
18:26We have a secular democracy.
18:28No religion gets special privileges in India.
18:31Every religion has to be equal in the eyes of the law.
18:36But we are still getting special prejudice.
18:38Have you not?
18:39You say you're getting special prejudice.
18:42I can tell you with examples.
18:42I will give you examples from the government of Karnataka.
18:45For example, they've done reservations in the name of a religion which our constitution
18:50doesn't even allow.
18:524% reservation for contractors who come from one specific religion.
18:55They have allotted funds religion wise, which is again not allowed by a constitution.
19:00But the government of Karnataka has time and time done that again.
19:03They have given out scholarships only to Muslims.
19:06So, the thing is that when you are going to defy the very word and the very spirit of the
19:11constitution,
19:12we are going to speak up on these issues.
19:14See, secularism is not a one-way street.
19:16The respect has to be given to every single religion and not be kept to your one specific
19:21vote bank.
19:22First, Juhi Singh and then Tawseef.
19:24Okay.
19:26Okay.
19:26Juhi Singh respond.
19:28The BJP says there is the typical Muslim vote bank politics.
19:32Go ahead, ma'am.
19:33Respond.
19:35Gaurav, I think I agree with you that, of course, the solution is a larger issue.
19:39But is the government of India, is the government of India doing enough to tackle that solution?
19:45Of course.
19:45I agree.
19:55I agree with you.
19:56I agree with you.
19:57We have this whole B-20 summit.
20:00We did not come up with a statement also, what are we doing for climate change.
20:05Even as I said, that who have said what and what the TJP needs to fix up and what the
20:11BJP
20:11says about the prejudice of the harach, I have no idea, because there is a constitution
20:18that we should be concerned about the fact that the constitution is there, that 1.30
20:23crore voters have been taken off the list of the electoral rolls, which are expressed
20:29and it does not think with the panchayati, that's why maybe they are not holding the
20:34panchayati regulation, the centralization is gone in the U.S. So there are bigger issues,
20:38more important issues than really turning up divine resolution, and nobody is being
20:46put into the panchayati, all the Hindus and Muslims, everybody is still, you know, is peaceful
20:54and we are staying together, but the people are still, and the answers will come.
21:01So there is no opinion that the constitution will be protected with that.
21:08You are saying there is no appeasement of Muslims? Tawseef, the BJP lists out appeasement
21:14politics and they are saying look at one religion being given precedence over the other in a
21:19state like Bengal when TMC was in power. Restrictions on holy celebrations at Sonjuri
21:25heart in Shanti Niketan over concerns over damage to greenery. KMC removed Vishwakarma
21:31Puja and extended Idul Fitr holidays for Hindi medium school following a backlash that notification
21:36was withdrawn. Durga immersion controversy, Mamata Banerjee government accused of restricting
21:42Durga idle immersion on September 30th to before 6pm citing it coincides with Muharram which was
21:50permitted again then on 2nd of October. Bengal council for higher education replaced Ram
21:57Dhenu with Rang Dhenu in reference to rainbow. And these are things, they are just some examples
22:02of what the BJP sees as Muslim appeasement politics of the opposition.
22:09Gaurav, the list that you have read is bogus and debatable. But on the contrary, what I will list
22:17out is a clear fact. What is happening when cowardly regatta is performed?
22:23No, hold on, hold on, hold on. You've said it's bogus. You've said it's bogus. Tell me,
22:28tell me how is it bogus? Tell me how is it bogus? Hold on. No, Tawseef. Yes.
22:33When you say it is bogus, why is it bogus? No, no. It is no fatwa that it is bogus.
22:39No,
22:40there has to be a reason. Yes, I will give you the reason. But let me list out what BJP
22:45does. In cowardlyatra, helicopters are there to shower flower petals on the cowardlyatis.
22:55Show me when that is done by government when the Muharram procession is going on or when Christmas
23:00mass is going on or when there is a celebration of Sikh festival. No, none. Secondly, mosques,
23:07thousands of mosques are demolished across country on one or the other pretext. Thousands
23:14of mosques on record. Name me, there are thousands of illegal temples on the street. There are so
23:23many religious places you will find. Which are also, which are also demolished, which are also
23:29demolished and are shifted to other areas. Gaurav, please don't defend BJP. Let the BJP
23:36spokesperson defend it. I am not defending BJP. I am not defending BJP. All I am telling you
23:42is when… It is ironic. It is ironic. Gaurav, it is ironic that BJP speaks about special treatment
23:48and appeasement. BJP indulges in special treatment only to appease their voter bank, the newfound
23:57Hindu voter bank, which they have kind of told the people of India that the Hindus are voting
24:05for BJP. But the SIR story speaks otherwise. The election commission, the protest against
24:11the chief election commissioners speaks otherwise. Their people are not even voting for BJP.
24:17It is all managed. And the genuine voters have been deleted. So what is BJP saying here?
24:24Neither are they proving that they have received real votes from the so-called Hindu voters and
24:31yet they continue to do this appeasement politics by trying to impress upon the people that because
24:37of the Hindu appeasement, Hindu voters are coming out and voting them. But the fact remains that
24:43dozens of houses caught fire during the Diwali celebration. There is no talk about it. That
24:48the air condition went from bad to worse in metropolitan city, the capital of India and then
24:54the capital of Bengal and so many other metropolitan cities. Non-breathable air government is providing.
25:00Because of Diwali. But they are saying we should keep mum. Yes. They don't talk about it. They
25:06are allowing the people to destroy the environment because they want to appease Hindus. And they
25:12are trying to impress upon the people that as if Hindus are voting them. But the SIR. So you are
25:17saying Diwali destroys environment. Firecrackers destroy environment only on Diwali. No one is voting
25:21for VJP. Fair enough Tawseef. Fair enough Tawseef. Fair enough Tawseef. Rajat. There is a
25:26hotel in the EVM counting. How can VJP get more than the voters?
25:32Sir again no fatwa. Again no fatwa can say that. It has to be said. It has to be said
25:38by
25:38courts of law. It has to be said by courts of law. But you know just because you feel
25:45that it doesn't become the truth. But Rajat Sethi wants to respond. Rajat Sethi Tawseef
25:50says one Diwali leads to environment pollution. Two he says BJP is indulging in Hindu vote bank
25:57or vote chauri and it's just pretending it is a Hindu vote bank.
26:03So Gaurav I couldn't make up make out what of what all gibberish was just spoken of.
26:09But I'll leave it there. But my larger point remains that number one policy making should
26:14be as secular as possible. Keeping cultural sensitivities in mind. And I believe if the
26:21pollution is a concern we should all come about and understand together what needs to be done.
26:26I believe toxin emitting fireworks is a problem. Therefore if it is a well recognized and established
26:36problem and the solution that was provided was green crackers. The problem that everybody
26:42and the detractors of Diwali festival should have asked is where are the supply chains for
26:46green crackers. How much of availability of green crackers was was there on the eve of
26:52Delhi festival, Diwali festival. It was actually very hard to find places which actually sell
26:58large amounts of green crackers. So there could have been other ways in which you could have
27:03framed your question. But this attack that happens straight on to the festivities is done with a deliberate intent.
27:11We all know that Gaurav that immediately after Diwali the AQI actually came down considerably. The AQI
27:19numbers were back to 200 to 300. Of course it is not good. But you cannot sort of wish away
27:25that things will
27:26automatically change. Also when you do that the picture is incomplete if you don't talk about
27:31vehicles on the streets, on the roads of Delhi. Also we need to talk about what is happening in the
27:37entirety of Punjab. Even till now satellite data is also saying there are thousand plus incidents of
27:42of Barali burning. If Barali is still burning in spite of direct instructions from the Supreme Court.
27:48Just because there is an election and this is an election season, no political party wants to talk about it.
27:54You know, so if policy making has to be done, we will have to remove these low hanging sort of
28:00fruits that
28:00come out of politics and by posturing. Only then you will come to conclusions.
28:05Just by attacking somebody's religion is not good. And this is where I differ. I mean,
28:10if you look at the way a bunch of leaders from the Congress party go, they don't look at the
28:15problem
28:15in its entirety. They will cherry pick and will dog whistle to specific religions and try to pit them
28:22against the other religions, primarily doing the very classic vote bank politics which have rendered them
28:27so useless in politics. They go back to the drawing book because they are so used to it.
28:34I want to get back to Tawseef. I want to get back to Tawseef because it's a very sensitive issue.
28:43Tawseef,
28:44you know, when you say Diwali adds pollution and Tawseef, you know, it's a little gibberish as, you know,
28:52Rajat puts it. Look at the source of winter pollution and it's not just pollution on one day.
28:58Transport causes 19% to 24%. In summers, it's 18% to 21%. There is no Diwali in summers,
29:05but pollution remains extremely high. Industry 8% to 10% in winters, 15% up to 15% in
29:11summers.
29:12Dust, construction and demolition, 10% to 18% in winters, 25% to 31% in summers.
29:18Biomass burning, biomass burning, 17% to 23% in winters, 11% to 14%. And this is all data.
29:24It's not one day. But look at all the vultures who come down only for one day.
29:30Diwali hai toh pollution hai.
29:32Bhai, December mein there is no Diwali. Summers mein there is no Diwali.
29:35Why the systematic targeting of Diwali is the question that Rajat Sethi asks.
29:41Gaurav, first of all, you should rephrase the sentence. You said that Diwali causes pollution. That is not what I
29:50said.
29:50What I said is that… You said that, sir. You said that.
29:54I did not say Diwali causes… These celebration… The way in which… Crackers.
30:01Crackers.
30:01…is being celebrated… Yes.
30:02…by the firecrackers beyond the permissible limit without following the Supreme Court guidelines.
30:08That is causing the pollution. So, there is a huge difference between one and the two.
30:13The government's duty, the administration's duty is to follow the direction of the court.
30:18But what is happening is that at the ground level, they want to appease a certain population.
30:23They want to give a free hand to their own karyakartas. And then their own karyakartas want to show that,
30:30oh, we are Hindu, Ridai, Samrat, and we are the… This is a Modi government, and we can do anything
30:35we want.
30:36And they don't care about the Supreme Court guidelines. They don't care about the police presence.
30:41And they will go on to do whatever they want. In the end, who is suffering? The society as whole
30:45is suffering.
30:46I am suffering, you are suffering. Who are the people whose houses got burned? Please tell me, were they Muslims?
30:51They were not. So, in the end, the society suffers if we don't follow the guidelines set by the government.
30:59I am saying, when the government, when the court sets the guidelines, what is the problem?
31:04Why should the BJP politicize it? Why should the BJP try and look for political dividend and not follow that
31:10guideline?
31:11As simple as that. Because they want to do politics. They are waiting…
31:16Okay.
31:16They are always on the election mode as if there is an election happening next week, so they cannot afford
31:22to, you know, offend any particular vote bank.
31:25We are sick and tired of this. As in the current population, which is mainly the young generation, the Gen
31:34Z very well understand the politics that BJP is indulging into.
31:38And they have refused. They have refused the politics. Nothing wrong in what Khadike Ji is saying.
31:45Did you not see Muslim households celebrating, joining the celebration with the Hindu brothers in this Diwali? Did you not
31:53see that? Did Muslim families or the Muslim friends of the Hindus…
31:58Tawseef, I will wait… I will wait for you… I will wait for you… I will wait for you… I
32:08will wait for you to say on Eid…
32:10Yes…
32:11Why will… I will wait for you to say on Eid… I will wait for you to say on Eid…
32:13Yes…
32:14And if you are… you know, when you say that…
32:17And when the Congress party says that…
32:18Why will…
32:19I will wait for the Eid…
32:19Then say it…
32:20Then say it…
32:22Yes…
32:22I am saying it now…
32:23I will wait for the Eid…
32:23What is wrong in that?
32:24I would like to see…
32:26Sure…
32:27I have said it…
32:27Sure…
32:28Good…
32:28That's the way this country should be.
32:30Rajat,
32:33say it.
32:35Say it.
32:36Again, my...
32:42You know, this television secularism
32:48and secularism on the ground
32:49has to be practiced, sir.
32:51But Rajat, respond.
32:54No, no, Gaurav.
32:55Again, the kind of statement
32:57that I've been made by everyone around us
33:03is just too childish.
33:04If we are to look at policy interventions,
33:07we have to consider year-round policy interventions,
33:10put the government under pressure
33:12that what are they doing every single day.
33:15The air does not go bad only around Diwali.
33:17The other times it does not become a story,
33:19but the consistent AQI numbers
33:21are always between 100 and 200.
33:24It's in the poor category throughout the year.
33:26It is only that it gets severe
33:28around the time when there is a run-up to the Diwali.
33:32It coincides with the harvest season
33:34in Punjab and in Haryana.
33:36It comes down to Diwali.
33:39But the planning and all the difficult
33:41or the sort of boring policy interventions
33:43that have to be done
33:44have to be done throughout the year.
33:45If you start cherry-picking,
33:47automatically the mouths open up
33:49as soon as it's the next year of Diwali.
33:51That is problematic.
33:52Because when that is the question,
33:54you are trying to score political points on it.
33:58You are not interested in any kind of policy measures.
34:00And this entire issue of pollution,
34:02which is a commons problem,
34:06and collectively all of us suffer,
34:08and individually nobody wants to build a cat.
34:10And this way you can't even hold the government
34:12because all state governments
34:14are of various ruling parties.
34:15They will keep on passing the buck to each other,
34:17and we will end up not having any concrete solution.
34:20I am telling you,
34:21crackers is not the problem
34:22if green crackers are available.
34:24But where is it?
34:26Where are those factories?
34:27What are the incentives
34:28that are being given to those people
34:29to set up green cracker factories?
34:31And then...
34:32No, the Supreme Court has listed out
34:35and we put it out on your television screen.
34:36The Supreme Court has listed out reasons
34:42that Supreme Court talks about vehicular pollution,
34:45it talks about construction,
34:46it talks about Parali,
34:47biomass burning,
34:48it talks about multiple issues.
34:50All of that is there.
34:51But, you know,
34:51Juhi Singh,
34:52it is this concentration,
34:53and the problem is year-long.
34:57But Diwali's Eve
34:58all of the environmentalists
34:59are made on the holy eve,
35:01all of the water conservation specialists
35:02are made on the holy eve.
35:03You know,
35:05Raksha Bandhan,
35:06all of the women's rights activists
35:08are made on the Raksha Bandhan,
35:09the patriarchy,
35:10and Karwa's 34th is the patriarchy.
35:12This ecosystem is...
35:15Is this...
35:17Is this targeting
35:18one specific religion?
35:20Because all of them again
35:21remain silent
35:22if there is anything
35:23in any other religion.
35:25who is responsible for this policy-making
35:27and policy interventions,
35:29right?
35:29It's not related to Central Germany
35:30completely.
35:31Who is in power in UP?
35:33It's been 12 years there
35:35and 10 years here,
35:36so suddenly to say
35:38that policy-making
35:39and policy intervention,
35:40of course,
35:41I agree with that,
35:43that the solution
35:44is not just related to the
35:45first of all,
35:46and secondly,
35:47I would also say
35:47that it's not just the air quality.
35:49Lucknow was flooded
35:51with a few days of raids,
35:53but our mayor had nothing
35:54to do with the matter
35:55because she was too busy
35:57looking for
35:58Dhip Kvetia
35:59until she found man.
36:00So, of course,
36:01the leaders have to focus.
36:03Policy-making and policy-intermenting
36:04have to be in things
36:06the whole year long
36:07because this problem
36:08is going to intensify
36:09and this means
36:10if you have sex,
36:12transportation,
36:13air pollution,
36:14transportation,
36:15this has become
36:15a part of our life.
36:16Your life is well,
36:17I think that we are living
36:18as much worse.
36:20So, yes,
36:22anybody who is making
36:23the statement
36:24relating to a particular
36:25festival
36:26is actually
36:27a trivializing issue
36:29which India is taking
36:31and it is becoming
36:32serious every day.
36:33So, let's look at
36:35the bigger picture
36:35and let's track
36:36of the bigger picture
36:37that the government
36:38is supporting this.
36:39That is the main
36:39stakeholder here.
36:41And what are they
36:42doing about it?
36:43The questions
36:44they should be asked
36:44because they're not
36:45as to which statement
36:46are made by
36:47an individual.
36:49If that is important,
36:50that's also the problem,
36:51of course,
36:51we can discuss it.
36:52Yes, of course.
36:56Fair enough.
36:57Now, we've got you
36:58all sides of the debate.
37:00Now, you have to decide
37:01where you stand
37:02on these very critical issues
37:04because we do need
37:05to find a solution
37:05to the pollution
37:07that we face
37:08and that we suffer
37:09and it impacts
37:10future generations.
37:11But this pollution
37:12isn't just
37:13on Diwali Eve
37:15and a day after Diwali.
37:16A year-round solution
37:18has to be found.
37:20Everyone together
37:21keeping India first.
37:23I want to thank
37:23all our guests.
37:24Three CRPF personnel
37:25were injured
37:26when bike-borne
37:27assailants
37:28suspected terrorists
37:29targeted
37:30a CRPF,
37:31a Central Reserve
37:32Police Force
37:33Naka
37:33in Jammu and Kashmir
37:34and this happened
37:35in Kulgaam.
37:37The security forces
37:38personnel
37:38were at a Naka
37:40or a checkpoint.
37:41A motorcycle
37:42slowed down
37:43and suddenly
37:44the terrorists,
37:45suspected terrorists
37:46opened fire
37:47at the security forces.
37:48As you see
37:49in these images,
37:50some of it
37:51has been caught
37:51on CCTV cameras.
37:53Now, there is
37:53an intense operation
37:55which is a search
37:56operation right now
37:57to one,
37:59try and identify
38:00the bike-borne
38:01assailants
38:01and two,
38:03to figure out
38:03one,
38:04where they got
38:04the weapons from
38:05and two,
38:05how they targeted
38:06the security forces
38:08in Kulgaam.
38:09Remember,
38:10very recently
38:11security forces
38:11and especially
38:12the CRPF,
38:13they have celebrated
38:15one year
38:16of casualty-free
38:18operations
38:18and this is a
38:19very, very
38:20major achievement
38:21for a Central
38:22Armed Police Force
38:23that has been
38:23deployed very
38:24extensively
38:24from Jammu
38:25and Kashmir
38:26to the
38:27erstwhile
38:28Red Terror
38:28hit corridor
38:29and also
38:30in aid of
38:31civil authority
38:32wherever they are
38:32called,
38:33the Rapid Action
38:34Force has elements
38:35in various parts
38:36of the country.
38:37So, it's a force
38:38that is seeing
38:39action very
38:40extensively
38:41but this targeting
38:43especially at a
38:44time when it
38:45was said
38:46post-operation
38:47Sindur
38:48and intense
38:48operations on
38:49ground,
38:50a large number
38:51of foreign
38:52terrorists
38:52had been
38:52neutralized,
38:53local terrorists
38:54were down
38:55to just a
38:56handful
38:56in Jammu
38:57and Kashmir.
38:58This incident
38:59has happened.
39:00Meer Farid
39:00joins me
39:01from Srinagar
39:02for more.
39:02On this also
39:03with me
39:03is senior
39:04journalist
39:04Sandeep Unithan
39:05whose track
39:06counter-terror
39:06operations for
39:07decades.
39:08Meer, what's
39:09the latest
39:10any idea
39:11who these
39:12attackers
39:12were
39:13and what's
39:15the effort
39:15in trying
39:15to locate
39:16them?
39:19Well,
39:19Gaurav,
39:20the SOPs
39:21are being
39:21followed.
39:22Ever since
39:22this attack
39:23in fact
39:23took place,
39:24we know
39:25that the
39:25first few
39:25hours
39:26how the
39:27security
39:27forces
39:27respond
39:28are critical
39:29if you
39:30have any
39:30chance
39:30of catching
39:31these
39:32assailants.
39:32Now,
39:32exactly
39:33that's
39:33what's
39:34happening
39:34right now.
39:35The security
39:36forces,
39:36that's the
39:37police,
39:37army,
39:37CRPF,
39:38quick reaction
39:38teams are
39:39on job.
39:40On the
39:40basis of
39:41CCTV footage,
39:42intel inputs,
39:43they have
39:44paroned off
39:45certain pockets
39:46of Kulgam,
39:47especially areas
39:47around the
39:48attack spot,
39:49and intense
39:50search operation
39:51is continuing.
39:52But quite
39:53clearly,
39:53as you've
39:54seen in the
39:54previous attacks,
39:55this is not
39:56the first
39:56of its kind
39:57shoot-and-scoot
39:57attacks have
39:58happened in
39:59the Kashmir
39:59Valley,
39:59and these
40:01people do
40:01ricky these
40:02spots,
40:03they select
40:03their targets,
40:05and then most
40:06of these targets
40:07are selected
40:07based on the
40:08escape routes,
40:09whether they
40:09get a clear
40:10escape route,
40:11and in this
40:11case,
40:12it seems that
40:13they had
40:13their plans.
40:14Many,
40:15many,
40:15many angles
40:16the security
40:16forces are
40:17looking into,
40:18our sources say
40:18there could be
40:19a case where
40:20they could have
40:20dumped their
40:21weapons and
40:21tried to merge
40:22into the
40:22population or
40:23slipped into
40:24some kind of
40:24fight out.
40:25So,
40:25all these
40:26angles,
40:27these are
40:27angles of
40:28investigation,
40:28and right
40:29now,
40:30as we've
40:31been saying,
40:31the focus
40:32is not
40:32just this
40:33attack,
40:33but how
40:33to prevent
40:35another such
40:35attack happening
40:36because still
40:36the time
40:37they're at
40:37large,
40:38that is
40:38a strong
40:39possibility.
40:40Varu.
40:44Stay with me,
40:45Sandeep,
40:46the nakas
40:47or the
40:47checkpoints
40:47are the
40:48most vulnerable
40:48or the
40:49sentries of
40:50any security
40:51forces camp
40:51or convoys
40:52because they
40:53are the
40:53first in
40:54the line
40:54of fire
40:55and terrorists
40:55have the
40:56initiative.
40:57Are you
40:57surprised at
40:58a time when
40:59everyone was
40:59hoping that
41:00the situation
41:00is returning
41:01to as
41:02normal as
41:03it can get
41:04in the
41:04current
41:04circumstances?
41:05There's this
41:06incident.
41:07The apprehension,
41:07Sandeep,
41:08this could also
41:08be a hybrid
41:10terror attack,
41:11you know,
41:12work somewhere
41:12during the
41:13day,
41:13suddenly carry
41:14out a terrorist
41:15attack,
41:15dump your
41:15weapon and
41:16go back
41:16to your
41:16day job?
41:17Yeah,
41:18absolutely
41:18Gaurab.
41:19And you
41:19know,
41:19this shows
41:20the kind
41:21of desperation
41:21among the
41:22terrorists to
41:22show that
41:23they're still
41:24relevant,
41:24you know,
41:25and as you
41:25mentioned,
41:262026 is one
41:27of the lowest
41:28incidents of
41:28fatalities
41:29since the
41:31start of
41:32militancy in
41:33Jammu and
41:33Kashmir since
41:331989.
41:34That's a
41:35huge,
41:36huge record.
41:36In fact,
41:37I was looking
41:37at the
41:37figures.
41:38There were
41:3931 deaths
41:39caused by
41:40natural
41:40disasters this
41:41year and
41:42only 24
41:43fatalities in
41:43terror-related
41:44incidents,
41:45which means
41:45that there
41:46are more
41:46people who
41:47have died
41:47out of
41:47natural
41:48causes like
41:49cloudbursts
41:50and flash
41:50floods and
41:50all that as
41:51opposed to
41:51terrorism.
41:52But we
41:54have to be
41:54vigilant at
41:55all times.
41:56You know,
41:57even though
41:57recruitment is
41:58down to
41:58historic lows,
42:00something like
42:00they're being
42:02recruited only in
42:02single digits
42:03now.
42:04Groups like
42:05the Resistance
42:06Front, which
42:06is believed to
42:07have been behind
42:08this attack,
42:08are literally on
42:09the run.
42:10But through
42:11incidents like
42:12this, attacking
42:12Cheknaakas,
42:13throwing a
42:14grenade here,
42:15firing a
42:15few shots,
42:16they're trying
42:16to show that
42:17they're still
42:17relevant and
42:18they're trying
42:19to arrest
42:19this huge
42:21downslide in
42:22terror incidents
42:23in Jammu and
42:24Kashmir.
42:25A historic
42:25downslide,
42:26if I can put
42:27it that way,
42:28since in
42:29decades.
42:30And this is
42:31something that
42:32the government
42:33must take full
42:33credit for.
42:34Had it not been
42:35for the strong
42:36stance of
42:36Operation Sindhu
42:37in 2025,
42:38the situation
42:39in Jammu and
42:40Kashmir would
42:41have been what
42:41it was in
42:42previous years.
42:42But this
42:43points to a
42:44secular decline
42:45in terrorism,
42:47terrorist recruitment,
42:49cross-border
42:50activity.
42:50But at the
42:51same time,
42:51security forces
42:52cannot afford
42:53to let their
42:53guard down
42:54because possibly
42:55terrorists are
42:56looking out for
42:57that little
42:57opportunity here
42:58where they can
42:59carry out
42:59sensational strikes
43:01and come back
43:02to being relevant
43:03once again.
43:08In Jammu and
43:09Kashmir,
43:10they say,
43:10Farid,
43:11that the
43:12moment you
43:13create a
43:13vacuum in
43:14any area,
43:15you thin out
43:16troops,
43:17that's where
43:17terrorists or
43:18hybrid terrorists
43:19try and fill in
43:20that vacuum.
43:21And we've seen
43:22this in cycles
43:23over decades.
43:25You know,
43:26the moment
43:26security forces
43:27would thin out,
43:28remove a brigade,
43:29remove a sector,
43:30remove a picket,
43:31and that's when
43:31terrorists start
43:32roaming around
43:32more freely.
43:33Has there been
43:34some thinning out
43:35of troops on
43:35ground?
43:39Well,
43:40Gaurav,
43:41off late,
43:41we've seen,
43:42in fact,
43:43the last some
43:44years,
43:44the kind of
43:46clampdown,
43:47the iron hand
43:48approach that
43:49was missing
43:50over the years.
43:50It's not just
43:51about anti-terror
43:52operations,
43:52but it's also
43:53about the
43:54oxygen,
43:55the money
43:56channels,
43:56the overground
43:57network,
43:57the complete
43:58circle that
43:59feeds the
44:00these terror
44:01operations,
44:02that has been
44:02taken care of
44:03through multi-agency
44:04effort.
44:05We've been
44:05reporting non-stop
44:06on that,
44:06and that has
44:07led to
44:08the recruitments
44:10coming down,
44:11these foreign
44:12terrorists not
44:13finding the
44:14safe evidence
44:14that they used
44:15to hideouts,
44:16et cetera,
44:16weapon couriers,
44:17et cetera.
44:18So all that
44:18has dried out,
44:19but you
44:20definitely still
44:22have sleeper
44:22cells.
44:23Now,
44:23as far as
44:23your question
44:24of thinning
44:25down troops,
44:26definitely as
44:27far as areas
44:27that have not
44:28seen terror
44:30related incidents
44:31or there are
44:31no reports
44:32of any
44:32recruitments,
44:33et cetera,
44:33over a period
44:34of time.
44:34And I say
44:35over a period
44:35of time means
44:36last some years
44:37there definitely
44:38has been thinning
44:39down in the
44:40form of CRP
44:41of mostly
44:42taking over,
44:43army has been
44:44moved out
44:44of certain areas,
44:45but again,
44:46as far as
44:47incidents and
44:49dynamic process
44:50of intel
44:50generation and
44:51wherever there
44:53is a need,
44:53more troops
44:54are deployed.
44:55So it's not
44:55just that they're
44:56removing troops
44:57from certain areas,
44:58wherever it is
44:59required,
44:59more troops
44:59are being sent
45:00in.
45:01But as I said,
45:02there are
45:02sleeper cells
45:03and off-led
45:04are sources
45:04said last
45:05some days
45:05there have
45:06been more
45:07communication
45:07that has
45:08been intercepted
45:08of the
45:09handlers
45:09in POK
45:10telling the
45:11CADA here
45:12whatever is
45:12left to
45:13carry out
45:14some sensational
45:15strikes,
45:16show their
45:17presence.
45:17Obviously,
45:18it seems
45:18that last
45:20some time
45:20the normalcy,
45:22I mean,
45:22the government
45:22is trying
45:23to showcase
45:23normalcy,
45:24saying time
45:25and again
45:25that Kashmir
45:26has changed,
45:27normalcy has
45:27returned.
45:28So it seems
45:29that this
45:29has hit them
45:30and they
45:31want to show
45:31their presence
45:32and send
45:33this message.
45:34They're still
45:34very much here
45:35and they are
45:35operationally capable
45:36to carry out
45:37an attack
45:37and that's
45:38why it seems
45:39this surprise
45:40attack is
45:41intended to
45:42deliver that
45:43message.
45:47Okay,
45:48because Sandeep,
45:49the situation
45:49actually is
45:50there's trouble
45:51in Pakistan
45:51occupied Jammu
45:52and Kashmir
45:53and the
45:53handlers in
45:54Pakistan
45:54occupied Jammu
45:55and Kashmir
45:56they would be
45:56desperate to
45:57shift focus
45:58to what's
45:58happening here
45:59especially when
46:00people there
46:01are talking
46:01about the
46:02development,
46:03the peace,
46:03the prosperity
46:04in Jammu
46:05and Kashmir
46:05here versus
46:07the atrocities
46:08that Pakistan
46:08army has
46:09carried out
46:09on POJK.
46:11These terrorists
46:12who've carried
46:13out this
46:14attack must
46:15be identified
46:15that entire
46:16sleeper cell
46:17because somewhere
46:18down the line
46:18Pakistan is
46:20trying to
46:20ensure India
46:21burns and
46:22no one focuses
46:22on trouble
46:23there.
46:24Yes,
46:25Gaurav,
46:25absolutely.
46:26That is the
46:26big worry
46:27there and
46:27that's why
46:28I was saying
46:29that you
46:29cannot even
46:31discount
46:32even an
46:32attack like
46:33this,
46:33a hit and
46:34run attack
46:34which is
46:35not a very
46:36complex kind
46:36of a terror
46:37attack but
46:37that cannot
46:38be discounted.
46:39You have to
46:40get to the
46:40bottom of it,
46:41identify the
46:42sleeper cells,
46:43the people
46:44who did the
46:44recce,
46:45the funding,
46:46the weapons,
46:46all of that
46:47needs to be
46:47done because
46:48even one
46:48terror attack
46:49is one too
46:50many and
46:51that clearly
46:52points to
46:53heightened
46:54vigilance,
46:55the need for
46:55heightened
46:55vigilance and
46:56not to let
46:57our guard
46:57down because
46:58given the
46:58fact that
46:59you have
46:59an adversary
47:00as you
47:00mentioned
47:00just across
47:01the line
47:02of control
47:02who has
47:03his own
47:04problems
47:04there in
47:05POJK
47:06and he
47:07would like
47:08to shift
47:09attention away
47:10back into
47:11Jammu and
47:11Kashmir.
47:12That's the
47:12reason for
47:12us to be
47:13all the more
47:14vigilant and
47:14that is
47:15possibly what
47:15Mir Farid was
47:17mentioning,
47:17the fact that
47:17there has
47:18been a huge
47:18crackdown on
47:19these terror
47:20cells,
47:21multi-agency
47:21coordination to
47:22ensure that
47:23these terrorists
47:24don't get the
47:25kind of free
47:26run that they
47:26once did in
47:27Jammu and
47:27Kashmir.
47:28But that
47:28said,
47:28it is a
47:29historic
47:30decline in
47:31terror,
47:31violence in
47:32terrorist
47:33recruitment,
47:34funding.
47:35It is
47:36practically where
47:37we were with
47:38the last days
47:39of the Maoists
47:39a few years
47:40back,
47:40Gaurav.
47:44Okay.
47:45Of course,
47:45there are some
47:46who actually
47:46believe that the
47:48more Pakistan
47:48bleeds, the
47:49safer India
47:50is.
47:51I wonder how
47:52serious should
47:53that line be
47:54taken because
47:55when Pakistan
47:56remains in a
47:56jelly state,
47:57it's not in
47:58a position to
47:59bleed India.
48:00And it is in
48:01a jelly state,
48:02whether it's in
48:02Pakistan or
48:03Punjab and
48:03Kashmir, in
48:04Khyber Pakhtun
48:05Hwa, in
48:05Balochistan,
48:06trouble also
48:07mounting in
48:08Sindh and
48:08pockets of
48:09Punjab,
48:09perhaps a
48:10little more
48:11on the
48:12AFPAC border.
48:13We'll track
48:13that story very
48:14closely.
48:14But then when
48:15we talk of
48:16problems, we
48:16also talk of
48:17solutions and
48:18there is an
48:18attempt to
48:18find a
48:19solution when
48:20it comes to
48:21the Russia-
48:21Ukraine war.
48:22While they've
48:23had intense
48:24bombardment and
48:25drone strikes and
48:26attacks that
48:26have been
48:26taken place
48:27between Russia
48:28and Kiev,
48:29Russia targeting
48:30multiple cities
48:32in Kiev and
48:32Kiev targeting
48:33multiple oil
48:34refineries in
48:34Russia, there is
48:35an effort to
48:36find peace and
48:37India has a
48:39role to play.
48:39Of course,
48:40these efforts
48:41right now are
48:42in the UAE.
48:43These are US
48:44broker talks that
48:45are happening
48:46between Russia
48:46and Ukraine.
48:47President
48:48Zelensky has
48:49hinted that it's
48:50moving in the
48:51right direction in
48:52the past
48:52conversations.
48:53he has hinted
48:55that if there
48:56are guarantees
48:57that Ukraine
48:58will not be
48:59targeted, they
49:00can talk about
49:00moving forward.
49:02Russia, of
49:02course, wants
49:03to know for
49:05sure they will
49:06not be targeted
49:07and that NATO
49:09forces will not
49:10be in Ukraine.
49:12That's their
49:13red line.
49:13And the
49:14territory that
49:15they have in
49:15their control
49:16will remain in
49:17their control
49:18for now.
49:19Is that
49:19acceptable?
49:20There are
49:20baby steps
49:21that have
49:21been taken
49:22towards finding
49:23peace in the
49:24UAE.
49:25Listen in to
49:26what Randhir
49:26Jaiswal, the
49:27spokesperson for
49:28the Ministry of
49:28External Affairs
49:29had to say
49:29about it.
49:30I'll get you
49:30more on the
49:31story.
49:33I'm very happy
49:34what I hear.
49:36We will see
49:36what can be
49:37done.
49:38And I was
49:40from the very
49:41beginning with
49:42Steve and
49:43with Jared,
49:44I was very
49:45very clear with
49:46them that this
49:47is not my
49:49how to say
49:50it.
49:53This is
49:53country of
49:54our nation.
49:55It's not
49:56real estate.
49:57And that's
49:58why all these
49:59topics are
50:00very sensitive.
50:01It's not the
50:02topic of the
50:02land.
50:03It's not about
50:03square kilometers
50:04or not only
50:05about square
50:06kilometers.
50:07We speak
50:07about different
50:08things which
50:09are very, very
50:10sensitive for
50:11the people,
50:11not for me.
50:13It's been
50:13very good
50:15speaking with
50:15everyone.
50:16We've had
50:16a daily
50:17conversations
50:17with both
50:18sides.
50:18I think we
50:20really identified
50:21narrowed the
50:22gaps as to
50:23what we need
50:23to get
50:23through.
50:23And I
50:24think we
50:24have some
50:25good ideas
50:26on how to
50:26bridge it.
50:27And hopefully
50:27today we'll
50:27be able to
50:28have an
50:28open,
50:28frank,
50:29and fulsome
50:30dialogue for
50:30things tomorrow
50:31to try to
50:32further make
50:33progress.
50:36I want to
50:37quickly bring
50:37in Sandeep
50:38Unithan
50:38for more on
50:40this.
50:40Sandeep,
50:41where are
50:41peace talks
50:42right now?
50:43And are
50:44we hoping
50:45against hope
50:46that it
50:46will finally
50:47lead to
50:47peace?
50:49Well,
50:50absolutely.
50:50You know,
50:51given the
50:51fact that
50:52the Russia-Ukraine
50:52war is going
50:53to enter its
50:54fifth year,
50:55just a few
50:55months from
50:56now,
50:56it's going
50:56to be one
50:57of the
50:57longest wars
50:58and the
50:58bloodiest
50:59conflicts of
51:00the 21st
51:00century.
51:01And given
51:02the fact that
51:03India has
51:03tremendous
51:04stakes in
51:05ending this
51:05conflict,
51:07it's no
51:07surprise to
51:08many that
51:08India chose
51:09to now step
51:10up and play
51:11a very active
51:11role in the
51:12mediation.
51:13And while we
51:14were quite
51:15reticent in
51:16the beginning,
51:17but off late
51:18in the last
51:18couple of
51:18months,
51:19India has
51:19decided to
51:21step up
51:21and play
51:24peacemaker.
51:24It has
51:25given a
51:25peace proposal
51:26ahead of
51:27these talks.
51:28There is
51:28talk of a
51:29food corridor
51:30that India
51:31has proposed
51:33where grain
51:34exports can
51:35be exported
51:36out of
51:37Russia and
51:37Ukraine
51:38without being
51:39attacked and
51:40targeted.
51:40energy
51:42supplies are
51:42not attacked.
51:43So this is
51:43to ensure
51:44there is a
51:44stability to
51:45this current
51:46conflict and
51:47both sides
51:47can sit down
51:48together and
51:49negotiate a
51:50peace process.
51:51The fact is
51:52that this is
51:53one conflict
51:54where Indian
51:54nationals have
51:55been caught
51:56in the
51:56crossfire.
51:57In the early
51:57days of the
51:58conflict,
51:59you had
51:59Indian
51:59students who
52:00were stranded
52:01in Ukraine
52:01and were
52:01brought back
52:03under very
52:04extraordinary
52:04circumstances by
52:05the government
52:06of India in
52:062022.
52:07And now you
52:08have this
52:09prospect of
52:09Indian
52:10seafarers
52:10being caught
52:11in the
52:11line of
52:12fire in
52:12the Black
52:12Sea shipping
52:14lanes where
52:15India has
52:16voiced its
52:17concern on
52:18several occasions.
52:19So this is
52:20one more
52:22chance for
52:23us to play
52:25peacemaker and
52:25hope that these
52:26talks which are
52:27underway, very
52:28critical talks,
52:29that they can
52:31lead to this
52:31end to a
52:32conflict that
52:33has been
52:33nearly five
52:35years on.
52:37and the
52:37world economy
52:38is literally
52:39being taken
52:40by this.
52:40were to talk
52:41about the
52:41nuts and
52:42bolts of
52:42this,
52:42Sandeep,
52:43because I
52:44was on
52:44ground covering
52:45this conflict
52:46in Ukraine
52:46when those
52:47tombs were
52:47extracted and
52:49that safe
52:49corridor was
52:50found.
52:50And of course
52:51when Prime
52:51Minister Narendra
52:52Modi traveled
52:53both to
52:53Russia and
52:54to Ukraine
52:54in an
52:55effort.
52:56One, food
52:57corridor.
52:58Two,
52:58fertilizer
52:58corridor.
52:59Extremely
53:00important,
53:00not just for
53:01farmers of
53:02India, but for
53:02farmers of the
53:03global south.
53:04now the
53:05big question
53:06is, Sandeep,
53:07are both
53:07sides very
53:08serious that
53:09Ukraine is
53:10okay with
53:10losing almost
53:1120% of
53:12their territory,
53:12Sandeep?
53:13That's the
53:14biggest sticking
53:15point,
53:16Gaurav.
53:16There can
53:17be no
53:17settlement
53:18without that
53:20question of
53:20territory.
53:21I mean,
53:2120% of
53:23Ukraine's
53:23territory is a
53:24large,
53:25large amount
53:27of territory
53:27and there is
53:28no way that
53:29Ukraine can
53:30recapture that
53:31kind of
53:31territory without,
53:33you know,
53:33given the
53:33stalemate
53:34that the
53:34war is at
53:35currently.
53:36And, you
53:37know,
53:37Russia is not
53:38going to give
53:39up that
53:39territory that
53:39it has spent
53:40blood and
53:41treasure over
53:41the last
53:42four years
53:42capturing.
53:43So that is
53:43literally the,
53:44you know,
53:45the crux of
53:46the issue.
53:46How will
53:47you, you
53:48know,
53:49negotiate an
53:50end to
53:50this kind
53:51of a
53:52conflict where
53:53one side
53:54has occupied
53:5520% of
53:56another
53:56country's,
53:56you know,
53:57area and
53:58that is
53:59literally at
54:00the heart of
54:01this issue.
54:01And the fact
54:02is that every
54:03country has
54:03tried,
54:04the United
54:05States has
54:05also tried to
54:06play peacemaker,
54:06but that
54:07question of the
54:08territory,
54:08that's literally
54:09the elephant in
54:10the room,
54:10Gaurav.
54:14Okay.
54:15In fact,
54:15that's the big
54:17issue.
54:17U.S. at one
54:18point of time
54:19trying to play a
54:19peacemaker and yet
54:20supplying missiles,
54:21patriot missiles to
54:22Ukraine or Europe
54:24arming Ukraine
54:25against Russia.
54:25is that the
54:27best way peace
54:28can be found
54:28or everyone
54:29puts their
54:30head together
54:30and try and
54:31find a peaceful
54:33resolution.
54:33Right now,
54:34that effort is
54:35being made in
54:35the UAE and
54:36we're tracking
54:37that story very
54:38closely.