Telangana CM Revanth Reddy admitted to a severe cash crunch, citing difficulties in paying government salaries. The state is seeking a ₹4,000 crore loan from the RBI to meet salary obligations. Reddy urged employees to choose between salaries and dearness allowances due to financial strain.
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00:00The top story coming in from Telangana, after Himachal Pradesh, after Karnataka, another
00:04Congress government state saying that they are facing a massive cash crunch, this is
00:09not looking good.
00:10Chief Minister Revant Reddy says, and I quote him here first, we are facing a difficulty
00:16in paying salaries, unable to pay the salaries and the dearness allowance, the DA, and this
00:23remembers a big admission, but it also then raises serious concerns, who will it impact?
00:28Who is DA and whose salaries are going to be impacted?
00:32And saying there is dire financial status, but I wonder if the salaries are with regard
00:36to MLAs or possibly the ones who are working as employees with the government of the state.
00:44This is what Chief Minister Revant Reddy said.
01:28My colleague Abdul Basheer joins me for the latest on that.
01:53Abdul, good morning.
01:54You tell me about what precisely is it looking like right now when Chief Minister Revant
01:59Reddy says, we don't have money as much to be able to pay salaries.
02:03Well, Chief Minister Revant Reddy on a demand, on a question in the council on Saturday regarding
02:09the pending DAs for the government employees, he stated that it is very difficult to pay
02:14the salaries.
02:15He is, however, paying it on first of every month.
02:18So he's requested the government employees to continue their work.
02:21And when it comes to DA or the retirement amount, the government is trying to solve
02:26these issues as well.
02:28However, the handloan of rupees 4000 crores is being taken from the RBI to pay the salaries
02:34on first of every month, which is being implemented and given to the employees.
02:37And he has requested the employees to continue their work.
02:41He's also said that he'll provide all the accounts to the employees itself, and it'll
02:45leave it to them to decide.
02:48So exactly what should be paid first, is it the salaries or the DAs or the all pending
02:52dues to the government employees is what he stated.
02:55Now here, he's also said that the government is working on resolving the issues of the
03:01long pending DAs or the payment, you know, pending payments to the government employees.
03:06Did you hear of any of such issues in the previous government of the BRS, the KCR government
03:12earlier?
03:13Or how did you basically look at how Telangana before this government, if they face similar
03:18issues or is this the first time that we are hearing of this?
03:22Well, in the previous government also, they were pending DAs or if you remember, the retirement
03:29amount also was pending and to which the Telangana Chief Minister has cited in the assembly in
03:34the council itself that to get away with the retirement dues or the payment, which is given
03:40the retirement amount, which is given to the employees, which would be around for a clerk
03:45of around 50 lakhs to a higher official of about 1 crore 15 lakhs nearly is what he stated
03:52that to get away with this kind of payment, he had extended, KCR government during the
03:58KCR regime had extended the retirement age.
04:01Does this impact possibly the junior rung employees or the senior ones who are paid
04:07a hefty amount?
04:08Are we looking at any sort of categories or hierarchy here?
04:11No, there is no any sort of hierarchy that the Chief Minister is talking about, but he
04:16was talking about the all the government employees who are receiving their salaries in time,
04:21but only the DAs and the other dues are pending, which I will keep tracking the latest.
04:26So right now, it is about the DA, the dues or the reimbursements that usually come in
04:32with the salary, but possibly the basic salary will still go in.
04:36What does it look like for a state of Telangana?
04:38Remember that separated from Andhra Pradesh for the reason that it wanted to hold its own identity.
04:44Joining me now live is the BRS leader M. Krishank, BRS, remember, was the party in government
04:49before this.
04:50M. Krishank, you tell me, when you hear the Chief Minister of a state acknowledge that
04:54they are facing financial hurdles, do you think it will impact one and all or it should
04:59be a temporary phase?
05:01No, well, definitely it will impact, Pooja ji, because first you came on the basis of
05:08lies, gave a lot of promises.
05:11In fact, we remember India Today's conclave, our Chief Minister Revant Reddy ji very clearly
05:16explained when he was asked that how will you fulfil the Congress guarantees, the declarations,
05:22the 420 promises you've given.
05:25On that question, Chief Minister, I mean, then PCC President Revant Reddy very clearly
05:32said that Telangana, which is the fourth largest contributor as per the Reserve Bank
05:38of India, has clearly the surplus revenue where we can accommodate all these Congress
05:44guarantees, declarations, promises.
05:46This was what said by Mr. Revant Reddy.
05:49And after that, from day one, you started to keep out excuses of debts.
05:56Let me tell you that Reserve Bank of India has clearly mentioned that Telangana was a
06:01case of study where it had the potential to repay its loans much before the time frame
06:08because of the infrastructure, the capital expenditure which we did.
06:12But now, in just 15 months, in just 15 months, Revant Reddy's government has raised Rs 1,58,041
06:20crore of loans.
06:23And where has this money gone?
06:25No infrastructure built, no new medical college built, no new hospital built, no flyovers
06:31constructed.
06:32Where do you see, M. Krishnan, that the Revant Reddy's government has gone wrong, that it
06:37has led to this cash crunch?
06:40Just like what has happened in Himachal Pradesh.
06:45I believe it's repeating here too.
06:46Just what happened in Karnataka, wherever they are going with these guarantees, the
06:54impractical, impossible guarantees which they have promised, no proper planning.
07:00And today, you just go in front of the employees and say that you cannot disburse the funds
07:07which the pensioners should get or even the salaries.
07:14You have promised 2 lakh jobs in one year, which you haven't.
07:19The 50,000 jobs which you've given also were notified, the examinations were conducted,
07:25the certificates verification were done during BRS government.
07:29So Congress per se has not given jobs which they have promised.
07:33So without knowing this, based on having some good poll strategist, hiring poll strategist,
07:39you give promises, you say 2,000 pension to 4,000 pension, you say right to bandhu from
07:4410,000 to 15,000.
07:46Is that under implementation?
07:47But tell me this, M Krishank, let's also for a minute, if we sort of give benefit of
07:52doubt to Rewant Reddy, it's just been over a year that he's been in the government.
07:56Even the BRS government did face certain financial issues and concerns.
08:01Do you think it's fair to then target a leader who's taken over the government in 2023 and
08:07perhaps hasn't had time?
08:08Really, do you think that would be a fair assessment?
08:11Well, Pooja ji, number one, Congress is not ruling the state for the first time.
08:16Even before 2014, for decades and decades, Congress ruled this state.
08:20They took this state to a bad condition after which from 2014 to 2023, government of India
08:29or across India, many states look upon for many schemes towards Telangana, be it water,
08:36be it agriculture, even during lockdown, agriculture in Telangana did not stop, right to bandhu
08:43scheme did not stop, but today you have stopped it.
08:46What we say is, it's not a matter of like 15 months, we've given them ample time and
08:52that is why our leader KCRG did not speak up.
08:55Why till now he hasn't criticized this government is, number one, we've given them ample time,
09:00but 15 months is a long time.
09:03You should be having a vision.
09:05You have a proper manifesto committee.
09:08You should be knowing how suddenly now you go to the World Bank, even without having
09:12a DPR of Moosi, you ask World Bank to give 5,000 crore funds, you start demolishing.
09:18Okay.
09:19Prashant, stay on with me because what you were mentioning about Rehwant Reddy's exclusive
09:25conversation at the India Today Conclave, my team has been able to dig it out.
09:29Let's listen into this excerpt from India Today Conclave.
09:32How are you going to pay for the guarantees, 4,000 rupees to unemployed youth?
09:37Chief Minister is telling us that you realized only after you became Chief Minister that
09:58you can't pay for your guarantees.
10:00Not guarantees, repayment of loans.
10:02I'm not saying that I'm not going to pay for guarantees.
10:05I'm not able to repay for my guarantees.
10:08But Mr. Reddy, the charge is exactly that.
10:10By raising the kind of debt that you're raising, you're looking to pay your guarantees through
10:14that.
10:15And I'll give you some figures.
10:16Now, the situation of the state is where the positive balance for all 100% days in 2014
10:22is now at positive balance in less than 10% of the days.
10:26Now, there is a clear enormous fiscal deficit.
10:28And I'll give you more.
10:29You've already, I think, pledged, correct me if I'm wrong, 50,000 crores in 2024 budget
10:35for your guarantees.
10:36Alongside, your own Deputy Chief Minister has said that you're raising, what, 80,000
10:40crores as market debt?
10:42How does that work out?
11:05But you admit, Mr. Reddy, fiscally it's not prudent, this guarantee business, rewri, guarantee,
11:28whatever you might call it.
11:45How are you going to pay for the guarantees, 4,000 rupees to unemployed youth?
11:57Chief Minister is telling us that you realized only after you became Chief Minister that
12:10you can't pay for your guarantees.
12:12Not guarantees, repayment of loans.
12:15I'm not saying that I'm not going to pay for guarantees.
12:18I'm not able to repay for my guarantees.
12:22The big news coming in from Telangana, Chief Minister Rehwant Reddy accepting that there
12:27appears to be a massive cash crunch, especially when it comes to paying salaries.
12:32The dues, the reimbursements, the Dearness Allowance, the DA, possibly will not be able
12:37to be paid by the government.
12:38Remember, this comes in as the third state after Himachal Pradesh, after Karnataka.
12:42Now Telangana, where Congress governed states are facing a massive cash crunch.
12:47What is happening?
12:48I'm joined by the BRS leader here about what is happening in the state.
12:53Mr. Krishank, tell me this, because it appears that, do you think too many guarantees were
12:59given by the Congress when they were getting elected and now they realize they cannot fulfill
13:05one and all, very similar to what happened in Karnataka?
13:08Absolutely, Pooja ji.
13:10See now, repayment of loans cannot be an excuse, because I'll tell you, the facts speak something
13:16and Rehwant Reddy garu's claim speaks something else.
13:20He says that all this Rs 1,58,041 crores has been utilized for the repayment of the previous
13:28government's loans, which is absolutely untrue, because the finance minister recently released
13:34a document called the Statistical Survey, the Telangana Atlas, in which it is clearly
13:39mentioned that monthly, the Congress government has paid only Rs 2,000 crores for the repayment
13:45of loans, number one, which counts up to around Rs 22,000 crores per year, which is
13:52a normal thing.
13:53And let me tell you, that in the parliament, the figures when they were released, Telangana
13:59is not in the top 20 states of debts, not at all in the top 20 states.
14:06The Reserve Bank of India has clearly quoted that Telangana is fourth largest contributor
14:11to India's economy.
14:13Now suddenly, how has it become so helpless that we cannot pay salaries, you cannot start
14:19your guarantees, at least prove us that how are you going to deliver your guarantees,
14:26except for the bus scheme, except for the bus scheme, which also has its own troubles,
14:31because you have still not paid to the RTC, except for that, Raithu Bharosa was not completed
14:36loan waiver.
14:37Let me tell you, Chief Minister in India today says we have given Rs 21,000 crores.
14:43The finance minister says only Rs 8,000 crores have reached to the farmers.
14:49In every village, if there are 600 farmers, out of 600 farmers, 500 farmers are saying
14:54that they don't want it.
14:55Let me ask you one question before I let you go, M Krishan, because it was Revant Reddy
15:02who had also accused the BRS government, I read here, accusing the previous government,
15:07which was led by a party of wasting, for example, Rs 1 lakh crore for the construction
15:13of the Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project.
15:16It got damaged within three years and that the previous government wasted a lot of money
15:20on different projects that never materialized.
15:23What would you say to that?
15:25Across Telangana today, farmers are protesting for water released.
15:30If water has to come, it has to come from the same Kaleshwaram, be it Kondapochamma
15:35Sagar, be it Ranganayak Sagar, the barrages, the reservoirs, which have been constructed
15:41by the BRS government, that has been the boon today.
15:44That has been what the farmers are demanding.
15:48And what has Congress wasted?
15:49If Congress is talking, Pooja ji, about wastage, SLBC tunnel today, it shows the Congress's
15:57work there.
15:58It has collapsed.
15:59It has taken lives, eight lives, even though it was red flagged.
16:04Even though there was a report that there was seepage.
16:08The surface has a trouble.
16:10Even then Congress started works for their commissions.
16:13Eight lives have gone, 50 lives were missed.
16:17That is called wastage.
16:18But today Kaleshwaram, which Rahulji also came and visited, but that Kaleshwaram is
16:24delivering today.
16:25It is standing rock solid.
16:27It is standing rock solid.
16:28Even if there was an earthquake recently, even if there were floods recently, the Kaleshwaram
16:34continues to deliver, but Congress politicized the Kaleshwaram project, while their own project,
16:40their own work, SLBC tunnel, entire country has recently seen how it has collapsed.
16:46So I don't think Congress can actually still point out at Kaleshwaram, because today people
16:52are doing dharanas, please release the water for agriculture from the same Kaleshwaram.
16:58I want to appreciate you M Krishyank for taking all the questions and remember this is going
17:02to be difficult for Revant Reddy, you are talking about salaries for your government
17:06employees across categories and if there is difficulty right now into even paying salaries,
17:12what next is then coming for Telangana and how will they be able to put it back on track
17:17for the state to function.
17:18It's one of the youngest states of India and perhaps how can the center come in here and
17:24the state to ensure that it's going to run smoothly.
17:27We will be tracking that.
17:32Alright, news now coming in, Enforcement Directorate is conducting raids over alleged liquor gate
17:41in Tamil Nadu now.
17:42Remember after Delhi, are we looking at a liquor scam in Tamil Nadu now?
17:47BJP is protesting and likely will do that in just a short while, that will begin.
17:52Cops have meanwhile in Tamil Nadu detained the BJP leaders and workers ahead of the protest.
17:57BJP protest rally has been blocked, leaders detained, 1000 crore rupees TASMAC scam has
18:04dropped.
18:05Tamil Nadu is what the allegation is to which M K Stalin's party leaders say, this is just
18:10Vendetta politics of how Tamil Nadu has stood defiant against Hindi imposition.
18:19TASMAC corruption, 1000 crores has been openly declared by the ED.
18:26Openly ED has told it's a TASMAC corruption and the TASMAC minister is known for his corruption
18:36activities has been jailed.
18:38The atrocity of the DMK government, the fearness of the DMK government about BJP and to hide
18:45their corruption, they are surrounding us like that.
18:49We won't fear these type of custodies.
18:53Ahead of the BJP protest, that's what the BJP netas are saying, Pramod Madhav joins
18:57me for the latest on that.
18:59Pramod, tell me also about the BJP protest that's expected and then how this ED raids
19:04are happening because this sounds very similar to how it turned into big trouble for Arvind
19:09Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia in Delhi, are we looking at similar situation for the Tamil
19:14Nadu leaders?
19:15Pooja, one of the interesting factors when it comes to Tamil Nadu is that in the state
19:23of Tamil Nadu, the actual liquor consumption for the public is being sold under a banner
19:27called as TASMAC which comes under the Tamil Nadu government and this is where the enforcement
19:31directorate went ahead and conducted raids at multiple offices that belongs to TASMAC
19:35and now the ED has also released a statement claiming that three FARs have been filed,
19:40one about selling liquor over the price, two about the actual TASMAC officials colluding
19:48with distillery owners and such information has been procured by them and the ED believes
19:53that this actual allegation can go up to 1000 crores and this has been picked by the opposition
19:58in Tamil Nadu government and Annamalai, the BJP leader actually had a plan by 11 am to
20:04hold a protest in front of Talamudu Nadarajar building but already the BJP leaders have
20:10been either detained or placed under kind of house custody, for example, Vinosh P. Selvam
20:15was detained in the morning while Tamizhi Soundarajan, a large police group has been
20:20placed in front of her house, Pooja.
20:22Pramod, as we stay on with this big story, more and more visuals are coming in, remember
20:26that MK Stalin is defiant, he says all of this is Vendetta politics, ED is raiding for
20:32a liquor gate controversy, tell me more about this liquor controversy, Pramod, in the sense
20:37that the government of the state clearly has decided to deny and reject any of the charges
20:44but what is this controversy that has erupted in the first place?
20:52One basic controversy that actually surrounds Tasmac for the consumer is that like at least
20:56a minimum of 10 rupees is extra, I mean to sort from anybody who buys Tasmac liquor from
21:02Tasmac shops in Tamil Nadu, Tasmac shops are in large number, in fact in 20, since 2016
21:07there have been issues where the parties have said that liquor should be banned in
21:11the state of Tamil Nadu and even the minister who is actually responsible for Tasmac, he
21:15comes under the department called as Department of Liquor Prohibition, so this is a very big
21:20issue in the state of Tamil Nadu and the first FAR by ED is on this issue and the second
21:24one is about distillery owners actually providing kickbacks to officials from Tasmac and several
21:31distillery like company names have also been listed by the ED over here and this is why
21:36it's a very big issue and BJP has also taken it up, very big protest was planned for the
21:41day but it looks like several leaders across the state have already been detained even
21:45not allowing them to come to Chennai itself and that is why Annamalai has also like put
21:50it on Twitter stating that he is opposing whatever DMK is doing right now, Pooja.
21:54Alright Pramod stay on with me because more and more visuals that are coming in on this
21:58story, MK Stalin's ministers are currently going to be facing the axe, Pramod which minister
22:06are we looking at in the DMK government in Tamil Nadu who possibly could face arrest
22:12in this case? Pooja like if we go ahead with what has happened
22:19in Delhi and Telangana there is a quite big issue that like possibility that ED can actually
22:23go ahead and make multiple arrests on this matter but for now it looks like the first
22:28person who actually can get involved is the actual minister of the department which is
22:32Senthil Paraji who was already arrested earlier in a different case and right now once again
22:37this has come to light over here and this is why BJP claims that definite action should
22:43be taken in fact even Vijay from TBK went ahead and he released a statement yesterday
22:47demanding an independent investigation on this matter also Pooja.
22:52Alright so we will be tracking more on this, Pramod will be on top of the story, these
22:56are the visuals coming in of the BJP that has organised a protest, we are told already
23:02the Tamil Nadu police officials have detained the BJP leaders, workers and karyakartas.
23:09Are we looking at big leaders who are at this protest, Pramod as visuals come in from Chennai
23:14about it looks like some of the leaders are being detained, taken away by the cops, has
23:19the protest started, tell us more.
23:49Alright as you were speaking Pramod, visuals are coming in, looks like Tamil Sai has also
24:18been detained for now by the cops and other leaders as well, now remember BJP is protesting
24:24over other issues saying one the DMK has been misinforming, rumour mongering being done
24:31by the DMK government on the national education policy and other issues, now a protest in
24:37which the latest visuals that have come in looks like some of the leaders including Tamil
24:41Sai has been a former governor who is a senior leader of the BJP currently being taken away
24:47and detained by the cops.
24:48Pramod we are staying on this big story coming in from Chennai, what about the reactions
24:53tell us from the Dravida Munetra Karagam, what is the DMK saying about the ED raids,
24:58about the controversy over liquor gate and more.
25:04One thing about this particular issue is that the minister for the particular department
25:08Senthil Pallaji has gone ahead and he has refuted whatever the charges that were placed by the
25:12ED.
25:13ED has stated that like the actual DDs that were taken by those who have asked for the
25:17tender, the KYC details were mismatching and the ED has also said that it looks like even
25:22when the tender clearly stated that the rule stated that there should be more than one
25:27player when it comes to acquiring a tender, tenders were given to somebody like in certain
25:31conditions where there was only one person who has sought a tender.
25:34So the three FARs are very clear, one is over pricing, second one task mark officials getting
25:41kickbacks from distillery owners and the third one is that higher officials of task
25:46mark actually getting bribes from, collecting bribes from retail owners and also for like
25:52getting money for transfers.
25:54These are the three important FARs which have been filed by ED when it comes to the ED raid
25:58on task mark shops Pooja.
26:01All right stay on with me, more and more visuals now coming in, these are BJP leaders being
26:05detained by the cops, let's try and dip in for a while and listen in to what's happening,
26:10what appears to be a conversation with police.
26:24Conversation with the cops and eventually we did see her visuals coming in of being
26:29taken into a police vehicle and this is reflected that the protest will not continue for very
26:36long.
26:37I take that question to you, if the big leaders are going to be detained, looks like the workers
26:41also were detained in a police bus, women personnel coming forth to take away Tamil
26:46Sai Sandhya Rajan as well, that means there wouldn't be a BJP protest so to say for very
26:51long.
26:55We are not exactly sure Pooja, it looks like the police have decided to detain these leaders
26:59just like you mentioned for the same reason but still we are not sure what exactly is
27:02happening in Annamalai's residence because it's almost 50 kilometres from Chennai and
27:06he has definitely said that he will conduct the protest in one way or the other and that's
27:11the reason a large contingent of police have also been deployed in front of Rajaratnam
27:15Stadium, pretty soon we'll be there also to find out but right now leaders inside Chennai,
27:19close prominence like Vinod Shri Selvam and Tamarishai have been detained for now Pooja.
27:26Stay on with me, Pramod let's go across now to these visuals coming in from on the ground
27:30interacting with the police personnel, remember because Tamarishai is a woman, women personnel
27:35have been pushed ahead and there is also a visual that I saw where she is also being
27:42taken away, as we stay with these visuals Pramod tell us the reasons of the protest,
27:47is it the liquor gate controversy, is it also about the national education policy, what
27:54is this really protest on the grounds of?
27:56Well this time it's not about national education policy or three language policy,
28:03Annamalai very clearly stated that this issue is only pertaining to the task market and
28:07in fact the actual area he has chosen that kind of has a connection with the kind of
28:12like you know we can actually find a kind of connection between what is happening here
28:15because that particular building, Talamuthu and Natarajar that actual names are of Moripol
28:21which means those who died during the language war, so that the name of the building it's
28:26named after them, so this is where Annamalai wanted to hold the protest kind of like you
28:30know finding a different connection to the issue but he very clearly stated that this
28:33is solely about the task market scam and he claims that a minimum of 1000 crores after
28:39DMK came to power that is since 2021 and that's the reason the BJP wanted to take it very
28:44big but for now all the leaders of BJP most of them inside and around Chennai are being
28:48detained as we speak Pooja.
28:51Alright so these are the visuals coming in as Pramod Madhav is telling us this is primarily
28:56on the task mark issue the ED raids that are current here.
29:09Big news coming in from Punjab remember Hindu temple that was attacked with a hand grenade
29:14A sensational encounter of the killing of the accused has been caught on camera.
29:20It hurled grenade at the Hindu temple in Amritsar where there was a priest inside though escaped
29:26unhurt but 24 hours after that incident we are told one of the main accused Gursidak
29:32has died in the encounter.
29:34There is link of Pakistan ISI which is under the lens.
29:38Punjab police says the cops shot in the encounter.
29:42These are the details coming in visuals on your screen after the encounter possibly in
29:46some fields what exactly happened was he already in custody.
29:49Remember 3 suspects were taken in arrest by the Punjab police who had said that was from
29:55Bihar and that they were on route or trying to flee to Nepal but they were caught.
30:01Is the one killed one of them or is this specifically a separate attacker because that was with
30:06regard to logistics supply.
30:08These are the details coming in that the one who attacked who threw the hand grenade
30:13the one you see on your bike was caught and killed in an encounter in Punjab.
30:19So that's the big news coming in a sensational encounter that has been with regard to how
30:26law and order has become a huge concern in Punjab but how will this encounter be seen
30:31why did there have to be a shootout was he not arrested was he about to be arrested
30:36did he try to flee.
30:37These are some of the details we will try and ascertain coming in from Amritsar in Punjab.
30:42Remember for a border state any law and order situation also takes serious turns.
30:48Kamaljeet Sandhu is joining me for the latest on that.
30:50Kamaljeet tell us more about this encounter where did it happen what is the Punjab police
30:55saying about it.
30:56First of all let me tell you as far as law and order is concerned that has been a huge issue
31:03especially we have seen several incidents taking place.
31:06But in the past few days what we have seen is been a turnaround as far as Punjab police
31:11is concerned because there have been several encounters.
31:14Now there has been an incident where a temple was targeted especially in Amritsar and there
31:20was a lot of criticism and that is where they have got information and they surrounded that
31:25particular youth who is also an accused.
31:29We have been told he was shot at and this is where what we have been told is that he
31:34is in a critical condition.
31:36But this is not the first for Punjab police in recent we have seen it in Munda we have
31:40seen it in elsewhere also the number of encounters by Punjab police with gangsters is actually
31:46going up.
31:47Now there is no CCTV coverage as far as that particular incident is concerned.
31:51There is also input that this happened in an isolated area.
31:57But clearly there seems to be a lot of pressure coming in on Punjab police as far as the number
32:02of incidents are concerned.
32:03In the past we have also seen Punjab police denying certain incidents.
32:07But here it is they seem to actually going on an overdrive mode.
32:11There is an encounter taking place.
32:13So this we have been told is on the outskirts and this is near the airport road in an isolated
32:18spot where the encounter took place.
32:20And what we have been told is that one of the accused has now actually been critically
32:26injured in this entire incident.
32:57What we hear is currently with regard to the TASMAC raid that is happening by the enforcement
33:03directorate currently in Tamil Nadu.
33:05Look at that.
33:06You see Tamil Nadu Tamil Sai Soundarajan emerging out of that window in the bus the police bus
33:12where they are being detained.
33:14Former governor, senior leader of the BJP.
33:17Most of these leaders are being detained.
33:19Let's tune in for a while to the sounds coming in from the ground.
33:30Pramod Madhav joins me on the phone line for this.
33:33Pramod tell us who all are there as part of this protest.
33:36What's happening?
33:50Following the raid what happened is that three FIRs have been filed.
33:54The first one is about TASMAC shops collecting excess amount than the actual MRP.
33:59The second one is about distillery companies offering kickbacks to the officials of TASMAC
34:03for supply orders.
34:04And the third one about senior officials of TASMAC indulging in collection of bribes from
34:08the retail TASMAC shops and for transfer and posting of TASMAC stuff etc.
34:13So these are like really big allegations and FIRs that have been brought.
34:18The enforcement directorate and that is the reason BJP has picked it up.
34:22This is happening simultaneously where the opposition party AIDMK has called for a no
34:26confidence motion and while all other parties are busy in the assembly there are no confidence
34:31motions against the speaker.
34:32BJP has gone ahead and said that it's going to protest against this particular issue as
34:36the assembly session is occurring.
34:37Pramod stay on with me.
34:39Pramod stay on with me.
34:40Joining me on the phone line is Tamil Sai Sondarajan.
34:43Ma'am what exactly happened on the ground?
34:45You were protesting and then you got detained.
34:48We are in a democratic country.
34:51We are not allowed to move out of our house.
34:53What is this?
34:54From the morning, in the morning itself so many policemen surrounded my house and all
35:00our Karyakarthas came and they didn't allow us even to move out of my house.
35:04When I wanted to move out of my house they have arrested me.
35:07We are, the corruption charges are disclosed by the ED.
35:12Only on that issue we are, we announced a silent protest.
35:17They are not allowing even from the morning, early morning itself they have surrounded
35:20my house.
35:21What are the police telling you ma'am?
35:23Why wouldn't they let you out?
35:24Ya that's what I told.
35:26Where is the warrant?
35:27Why you are not allowing me from moving my house, from my house?
35:31They told only you, if you want to go to the agitator, only you.
35:34Because for a political leader 200-300 Karyakarthas will be there.
35:40We told we silently will go and protest.
35:43They didn't allow us.
35:44The Stalin government is fearing because corruption charges are rampant.
35:49Because they are with corruption charges and if you question them they are arresting us.
35:54Their house arresting all the Karyakarthas.
35:56They are not allowing us to move from the house.
35:59So we are not fearing.
36:01What is this?
36:02They are doing wrong things in a democratic country.
36:05Stalin government is fearing because we will expose the corruption charges.
36:09Why were you protesting ma'am?
36:10What was the reason that you were on the ground with the BJP Karyakarthas?
36:14Plasma corruption, the ED has disclosed.
36:17Thousand crore corruption has occurred in the plasma.
36:21We are very confident it wouldn't be thousand crores, it will be more plasmas.
36:27So we want to expose it.
36:30We want to condemn that corruption charges.
36:33We want to be with the people of Tamil Nadu.
36:36So they are not even allowing us to move from the house.
36:39They are house arresting us.
36:41Where are you presently?
36:43Where have they kept you?
36:44Where have you been ordered to stay?
36:46In a marriage hall.
36:48300 of my Karyakarthas have been kept in a marriage hall.
36:54What was the reason?
36:55Because I was very curious also about your venue of protest.
36:59That it was the Talamadu Narjarar building.
37:02Because it's the whole language war also coming in here.
37:05Was there a reason that you decided to organise the protest here?
37:08No, because that is the plasma's office.
37:12So we want to protest against the plasma corruption in that area.
37:17When we asked, actually we gave permission, we asked permission.
37:21They are not allowing us.
37:22And they are not allowing us to protest.
37:24They are not allowing us to move from the house.
37:26They don't know.
37:27Because whatever may be the situation, they should allow me to come out of my house and move.
37:31No, they are not allowing even to move, to get into my car.
37:34They have surrounded my house from the early morning.
37:37What is going on in Tamil Nadu, we don't know.
37:40We highly condemn this.
37:41But whatever may be the situation, we are not fearing.
37:43We will fight it out and we will be with the people of Tamil Nadu.
37:47Are you saying DMK is worried, concerned that the BJP,
37:50a party that hasn't really been able to be in the government,
37:53but is making these noises and is out on the streets right now?
37:57Yeah, definitely. They are fearing.
37:59They are jittery.
38:01They are not confident about their governance.
38:04So they are doing all these atrocities.
38:06Alright, Tamil Sai Sondararajan speaking to India Today.
38:09Thank you very much for now.
38:18And now, on its own home ground,
38:21the Baloch Liberation Army continues to target Pakistan Army officials
38:25in a series of coordinated attacks.
38:27This is, remember, only the second attack and a deadly one that has come in
38:31right after the hijack and hostage crisis of the Jaffar Express.
38:35In the Naushki region in Balochistan,
38:37eight convoys of soldiers were ambushed by the BLA
38:40and in a very clearly well-planned assault similar to the express, the train attack.
38:45These are the exclusive images, look at that, accessed by India Today.
38:49Shows the exact moment of that explosion,
38:52the devastating aftermath of the rocket attack.
38:55This is BLA's Majid Brigade fighters
38:58completely destroying the army buses of Pakistan.
39:01Assault then followed by an attack from the Fateh Squad.
39:05Surrounded the vehicles, opened fire on Pakistani soldiers,
39:08resulting in the death of 90 personnel at least.
39:12Of course, Pakistan trying to downplay the casualties of its soldiers.
39:16In just the past week, remember, whether it's escalating tensions,
39:20but sending a clear message of defiance against Pakistan.
39:24But look at that.
39:25This is the Balochistan, Baloch Liberation Army, the BLA fighters,
39:29who've been in well-planned assaults,
39:31targeting the soldiers of Pakistan Army specifically,
39:35even in, remember, the Jaffar Express hostage crisis.
39:38They released women and children, they said,
39:40but ensured they charged at the Pakistan Army officials.
39:45Their agenda is clear.
39:46And right now, Pakistan would rather take care of its own soil
39:50than cause interference in neighborhoods.
39:54Big news coming in,
39:55after mystery gunmen killed the top Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist
39:59who was involved in mastermind of several attacks in India,
40:03in Jammu and Kashmir.
40:04Pakistan is boosting security for the Lashkar chief.
40:08Just imagine this.
40:09For Pakistan, their Lashkar chief is someone they feel they must protect,
40:15someone with known credentials of terrorism charges against him.
40:21Pakistan, we are told, has decided to boost the Lashkar chief's security
40:26for the reason because he could be attacked as well by the unknown gunmen,
40:31so to say.
40:32Top intel sources have said,
40:33ISI tightening Hafiz Saeed's cover,
40:36enhanced security also for Hafiz Saeed's son, Talha,
40:39because the incident that happened where Abu Qatal was neutralized,
40:43while he was also a top Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist,
40:46but he's Hafiz Saeed's aide.
40:48And remember, Abu Qatal,
40:50Abu Qatal intelligence agencies in India believe,
40:53was behind the Rajouri attack,
40:55behind the Riyasi pilgrim attack as well in Jammu region,
40:59and therefore he's been neutralized.
41:01For now.
41:02But would the unknown gunmen now go after Hafiz Saeed as well?
41:09Just imagine this,
41:10that Pakistan already facing so much crunch and issues,
41:14accused of sheltering terrorism,
41:16go ahead and put in extra resources,
41:19already facing crunch on one side,
41:21but extra resources to shift top POK terrorists to a safe house.
41:26And then they say that we do not support terrorism,
41:29we are a peaceful nation,
41:31but clearly a fear has gripped Pakistan.
41:34One after another there have been these killings that have taken place,
41:37nevertheless of terrorists, of criminals,
41:40and by unknown gunmen.
41:43But the terror, the establishment of Pakistan is in a tizzy,
41:47because they forever believed that they may support Hafiz Saeed,
41:51in this Islamic Jihad,
41:53in this sort of aggression,
41:55especially the kind of atrocities that he's tried to inflict on Indians,
42:02on innocent people of Jammu and Kashmir,
42:04just think about Rajouri,
42:05think about Riyasi,
42:07where innocent people, women, children, men,
42:11and from the forces as well,
42:13the Indian Armed Forces also,
42:14that were attacked,
42:15when they were en route their deployment.
42:18The man you see behind Hafiz Saeed is Abu Qatal,
42:21the Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist,
42:23who has been neutralized by unknown gunmen,
42:25he's a close aide,
42:26as is considered of Hafiz Saeed.
42:28Are the Pakistan establishment concerned,
42:32that Hafiz Saeed could be the next one.
42:36Alright, joining me right now for the details on that,
42:39Arvind Ojha for the latest.
42:41Arvind, this is such a shocking thing,
42:44that Pakistan has used its extra resources,
42:46to keep a known designated Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist's head,
42:51in a safe house,
42:53how much of his involvement is there?
42:58Absolutely, and see,
42:59Pakistan's authority says that,
43:02he's under arrest, in jail,
43:05but the India Today,
43:06the sources of top intelligence,
43:08have said that,
43:09Hafiz Saeed is in Lahore,
43:11and on 15th March,
43:12the way his close aide,
43:14and India's most wanted terrorist,
43:16Jiaur Rahman,
43:17alias Abu Qatal,
43:19was murdered by an unknown gunman,
43:21and after that,
43:22Hafiz Saeed's security has been increased,
43:24not only Hafiz Saeed's,
43:26but his son Talha Saeed's,
43:28security has been increased.
43:30Do you know,
43:31in 2021,
43:32Hafiz Saeed,
43:33where he lives in Lahore,
43:34near his residence,
43:35there was a suicide attack,
43:37in which Hafiz Saeed was saved,
43:39his son has also been attacked,
43:41apart from that,
43:42there are many terrorists of Lashkar,
43:44who have recently been killed,
43:46by an unknown gunman in Pakistan.
43:48After that,
43:49especially,
43:50the chief of Lashkar,
43:51Hafiz Saeed,
43:52his security has been increased,
43:54and this is the fear of an unknown gunman,
43:57Pooja,
43:58that Hafiz Saeed,
43:59for many years,
44:00has not been seen,
44:01on the public stage,
44:02his son,
44:03definitely,
44:04comes in front,
44:05sometimes,
44:06but Hafiz Saeed,
44:07if you remember,
44:08has never been seen.
44:10Now,
44:11the way the situation has changed in Pakistan,
44:13the terrorists,
44:14especially India's most wanted terrorist,
44:16the unknown gunman,
44:17is targeting them,
44:19in such a way,
44:20that the secret agency of Pakistan,
44:22the army of Pakistan,
44:23is concerned about Hafiz Saeed,
44:25and the sources of the intelligence agencies,
44:28have told us that,
44:29his security has been reviewed yesterday,
44:31because on Saturday,
44:33the unknown gunman,
44:34had killed India's most wanted terrorist,
44:36and the associate of Hafiz Saeed,
44:38so on Sunday,
44:39his security has been reviewed,
44:41and his security has been increased.
44:43You are saying a very important thing,
44:45the designated terrorist of the UN Security Council,
44:48Hafiz Saeed,
44:49who is also known as the mastermind,
44:51for the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks,
44:53who is supposedly in Pakistani custody,
44:56is supposed to be serving a jail term,
44:58but like our sources,
44:59and like Arvind Doja,
45:00has been able to access information,
45:02Pakistan instead is pooling in resources,
45:04to keep him safe,
45:05because if his close aides are being killed by,
45:07who are these unknown gunmen,
45:09are they coming for Hafiz Saeed too,
45:12very soon,
45:13we will be tracking that and more,
45:14this is Arvind Doja,
45:15thank you for the latest updates,
45:16coming in.