The big taking point of this episode of News Today is the face-off between Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
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00:00Good evening, hello and welcome, you're with the news today.
00:03This is your primetime destination, news, news makers, talking points.
00:07Our big talking point is coming from Parliament, where the latest face-off pits Rahul Gandhi
00:12against the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
00:15Rahul is claiming the Lok Sabha Speaker is silencing him, not allowing him to speak.
00:21The Lok Sabha Speaker and the BJP claims that Rahul is treating Parliament casually.
00:28Is the Speaker biased against Rahul Gandhi?
00:31That's the question we'll raise tonight.
00:34First, as always, it's time for the 9 headlines at 9.
00:40A fresh face-off breaks in Parliament as the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi, claims
00:46that he's being gagged in Parliament, claims he's not being allowed to speak in the House
00:51by Speaker Om Birla.
00:53BJP hits out, claims that Rahul Gandhi needs to learn Parliamentary decorum first.
01:01Yogi Adityanath says Muslims are safe in India because Hindus are safe.
01:08Says it was a Mrityunjay Mahakumar, not a Mrityukumar, on the Opposition's attacks on him.
01:15A senior Delhi police team visits Justice Verma's residence in the Cash Hall probe.
01:21Police visit the site where the fire broke out as the inquiry gathers momentum.
01:31More trouble for stand-up comedian Kunal Kamra.
01:35A privilege motion filed against him in the Maharashtra Legislative Council
01:39for derogatory remarks against Deputy Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde.
01:45An AIDMK-BJP meet in Delhi sparks more political buzz ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu election.
01:52Sources say EPS wants a reduced role for State BJP Chief, Anna Malai.
02:01Crackdown in the Mahadev betting app case.
02:05The CBI now raids ex-Chattisgarh Chief Minister, Bhupesh Bagel.
02:09Searches in more than 60 locations by the probe agency.
02:15A woman IAS officer, no less than the Chief Secretary, claims she was mocked over her skin colour.
02:23Chief Secretary, Sarda, reveals trauma in a social media post.
02:30BJP expels Karnataka MLA Basangowda Patil Yatnal for six years over remarks against party and BS Yedirappa.
02:39Yatnal alleges role of vested interest behind his removal.
02:44The Trump administration's Signal Gate scandal explodes further.
02:49US National Security Advisor takes full responsibility for the group chat leak
02:54while House spokesperson calls the entire Atlantic report a hoax.
02:59But let's get you the latest first which is coming in from Karnataka in the Ranya Rao gold smuggling case where another person has been arrested.
03:19In the Ranya Rao gold smuggling case the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence has just arrested Sahil Jain
03:26for his alleged role in disposing of the smuggled gold linked to Ranya Rao.
03:31Sahil was produced before a magistrate at his residence late last night
03:35following which the DRI secured four days of custody for further investigations.
03:39Sources tell India Today that Sahil is a key link in uncovering the broader smuggling network.
03:45So first it was the actor, Ranya Rao.
03:48Now we are getting news that there's been another arrest in this case of this major gold smuggling that took place.
03:55Remember Ranya Rao was caught while she was travelling out from Bengaluru airport on her way to Dubai where she was making several trips.
04:04Sagai Raj, our correspondent in Bengaluru is joining me with the very latest.
04:08Sagai, give us more details of who has been arrested, what Sahil Jain's connect is to Ranya Rao.
04:16In the investigation, the accused have revealed that they had connection with Sahil Jain
04:20and there was also technical evidence including the call log of Ranya Rao as well as her password in this particular case.
04:28And subsequently he was being summoned and he was being questioned.
04:31And what we also get to learn through our sources is that he might be the person who might have been involved in disposing the gold.
04:40He is from Bellary and they have informed their father as well that his son has been arrested in this particular case.
04:46And he has been taken into custody for four days.
04:48He was produced yesterday in the magistrate and the judge has given four days of custody to the DRA.
04:54And DRA will continue the investigation.
04:56The sources have told India today that Sahil was the main person who was getting the gold and he was the person who was disposing it in Bengaluru.
05:06But who is Sahil Jain? What does he do?
05:08According to sources, he is one of those persons who is into gold business.
05:15He runs a jewellery shop but it is all subject to investigation.
05:20These are the source-based information that we get to learn that he had gold business in Bellary.
05:25His father is from Bellary and probably he is the person who was taking the gold.
05:30He is one of the persons who was getting this particular gold through Ranya.
05:36Okay, Sagar Raj telling us more details clearly.
05:39This will continue to develop the story of the gold smuggling case involving an actor Ranya Rao there in Bengaluru.
05:48Let's turn to our top political story today where the Lok Sabha saw some more drama.
05:53This time a direct face-off between Speaker Om Birla and the Congress's leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi.
06:01The Speaker claimed that the leader of the opposition was not observing the decorum of the house,
06:07did not allow Rahul Gandhi to speak and instead adjourned the house.
06:11Rahul Gandhi hit back saying that the Speaker is silencing him and not giving him an opportunity to speak on multiple occasions.
06:21It has sharply escalated now into a bitter face-off between the Speaker and the leader of the opposition
06:27with 70 Congress MPs reaching the door of the Speaker claiming that the opposition is not being allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha.
06:37Is Rahul Gandhi being gagged or is he protesting too much? Take a look.
06:57The decorum of the house is not in accordance with the high traditions of the house.
07:03In this house, there are father, daughter, mother, daughter, husband and wife.
07:07It is expected from the leader of the opposition that he is the decorum of the house.
07:12Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla ticking off members, especially the leader of opposition, right before he adjourned the house on Wednesday afternoon.
07:22The Speaker, however, did not mention what prompted him to reprimand the member.
07:28Congress MP Rahul Gandhi wanted to speak but did not get the opportunity.
07:3870 Congress MPs met the Speaker and registered their objection.
07:42A little later, Rahul Gandhi speaking to the media accused the Speaker of not allowing him to speak.
07:52After he said that, I said, look, as LOP, let me speak. Let me say what he just ran away.
07:59So, I don't understand what is going on. This is no way to run the house, frankly.
08:04I mean, literally, Speaker utke, matlab ekdum nikal gaye, mujhe matlab ek shabd nahi bolne diya.
08:09Aur pehle mere waare mein kuch bolne hai. Wo bhi bilkot pata nahi kya bola, unsubstantiated.
08:17Aapne mere waare mein kuch bola hai, ghoom kar chale gaye. Aur koi matlab arjaan kar diya, koi zarurat nahi thi.
08:25Rahul Gandhi claimed it was the Speaker who wasn't following convention.
08:32I am, jekki mujhe house mein, leader of opposition ko ek convention hai ki bolne diya jaata hai.
08:40Jab bhi main khada hota hoon, mujhe bolne diya jaata hai.
08:44Toh pata nahi matlab yeh kis prakaar se house chal raha hai.
08:49Jo hum kehna chahate hain, hum kehne nahi dete hain.
08:53Aap sabse fiksha ki jaate hai ki aap sadan mein, sadan ki maryada aur shalinta ke uchh maabdando ko banaya rakhe hain.
09:02Though the Speaker, Rom Birla, did not mention the reason for his displeasure,
09:06the BJP shared this message on social media, highlighting an exchange between Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi.
09:18The budget session of Parliament has been relatively productive, with no major disruption so far.
09:25So is the face-off between the leader of opposition and the Speaker just a storm in the teacup?
09:33Bureau report, India Today.
09:37Let me go first straight across to PDT Achari, former Lok Sabha Secretary General,
09:44to understand whether Rahul Gandhi as the leader of the opposition has the right to speak every time he gets up in Parliament.
09:52PDT Achari, that's the claim which the opposition is making,
09:56that Rahul Gandhi as leader of the opposition must be given the privilege of speaking when he is on his feet.
10:02The Speaker did not allow him to speak and this is not the first time that's happened.
10:06When he wanted to speak on the Kumbh Mela, he wasn't allowed to speak.
10:10Do you believe that Rahul Gandhi has a case or does he protest too much?
10:16Well, you know, I must say that the leader of the opposition in a legislature has certain privileges.
10:26The first thing is that he can intervene in the House whenever he wants.
10:33And the Speaker normally, that is the convention. There is nothing in, there is no rule or anything.
10:41But the convention is that the Speaker will allow the leader of the opposition to make his observation.
10:49That has been the convention, I think, the world over.
10:53No, you are saying it's the convention, not the rule. Let me get that clear.
10:56You are saying the convention is that if the leader of the opposition gets up on his feet,
10:59even in zero hour or question hour or at any stage in the debate,
11:04the Speaker allows him to have a word in? Is that what you are telling me?
11:08Yes, that is the convention. But there is no rule about it.
11:12That is the convention the world over.
11:15Does that mean irrespective, because the charge which is being made is Rahul Gandhi was not observing the decorum.
11:21Sources are telling us that he was speaking to his fellow MPs while the debate was on.
11:26Is that, can the Speaker take the line that the leader of the opposition is not observing decorum?
11:33Or has the Speaker gone too far?
11:36Well, I do not want to judge what the Speaker has said.
11:42The point is, you know, when something happens in the House,
11:48in full view of the House or when the Speaker observes something happening in the House,
11:52then naturally the Speaker will take notice of that and if there is something which goes on in the House,
11:59which is against the decorum or which is undignified and things like that,
12:05then the Speaker certainly has a right to make observations about it.
12:10And he can bring it to the notice of the House and the members about that.
12:17But here I do not know what exactly has happened.
12:19But do you believe that the Speaker in general, I am asking you now,
12:24you have been observing this present Lok Sabha, Om Birla has been Speaker now for six years.
12:29Is there a sense you get that he is biased against the opposition, does not give them enough time to speak,
12:34because Rahul Gandhi is not the first opposition leader to question Om Birla and the way he is handling Parliament.
12:41Well, I, you know, as a former Secretary General,
12:45I do not sit in judgment on the way the Speaker conducts the House.
12:51That is something, you know, that the Speaker is an experienced person
13:03and he knows how to conduct the proceedings of the House.
13:07But here if there is a problem,
13:10if the leader of the opposition feels aggrieved about a particular thing which the Speaker does
13:17or the way the Speaker behaves or the Speaker conducts the proceedings,
13:21he can bring it to the notice of the Speaker.
13:24That is what normally is done, either in the House or maybe he can have a chat with the Speaker in his chamber
13:31and register his protest.
13:34Does the Speaker have complete, is the Speaker the ultimate authority?
13:42That once the Speaker has given a particular ruling, neither Rahul Gandhi or dare I say even Prime Minister Modi,
13:49no one can question the Speaker's ruling?
13:52Well, that is the convention. The Speaker's ruling is final on a particular matter
13:58and nobody can question the ruling. But of course, after the Speaker has given a ruling,
14:04a member can seek a clarification. He cannot challenge the ruling of the Speaker.
14:10But here, the Speaker has not given any ruling on a particular matter.
14:13The Speaker has made an observation and it is not very clear whether somebody has given a notice to the Speaker
14:20drawing his attention to something which has happened in the House or outside.
14:24That is not very clear. Normally, the Speaker makes such observations in the House
14:34on the basis of some notice which is given to him by a member.
14:39And then the House must know, the House has the right to know the full facts about it.
14:43Who has given the notice and what is the matter and against which member it has been given.
14:49All these matters, you know, should be known to the House and also the context.
14:53So you are saying the Speaker will have to give clarity as to why he didn't allow Rahul Gandhi to speak?
14:59He will have to give the context, whether this was based on any complaint, what was the reason?
15:05A. B. If so, does Rahul Gandhi have any forum where he can claim to have been aggrieved
15:14beyond going and meeting the Speaker personally? Is there any other forum, any other way,
15:18if he claims he has been gagged?
15:21Well, there is no other way either because the Honorable Speaker has made his observation in the House.
15:26Certainly, he has a right as a leader of the opposition, he has a right to raise this matter in the House
15:32and draw the attention of the Honorable Speaker to this.
15:35And he can say whatever he thinks about it. So that is the way, that is the normal way.
15:43The conventions you are saying, therefore, very clearly are when the leader of the opposition is on his feet,
15:49he should in normal course be allowed to speak. But the Speaker also has the final word.
15:53And therefore, Rahul Gandhi versus the Speaker has become a testy issue.
16:00I appreciate you joining me, PDT Acharya, to tell us what the conventions of the Lok Sabha are.
16:06Let's raise the big questions then. Is the Lok Sabha Speaker biased against Rahul Gandhi as the Congress claims?
16:13Is there no level playing field in Parliament?
16:16Is the BJP justified in claiming that Rahul Gandhi is someone who is treating Parliament casually?
16:21These are some of the questions I will raise. Joining me now is Sujata Paul.
16:26She is Spokesperson of the Congress. We also are joined by Sanju Verma, National Spokesperson of the BJP.
16:33First to you, Sujata Paul. The fact is, Rahul Gandhi is claiming that he hasn't been allowed to speak by Om Birla.
16:43Is Rahul Gandhi protesting too much is the question we are raising at one level.
16:48What is the specific charge that you are making?
16:54What is the job of the opposition and the leader of opposition?
16:59To raise issues of the people of this nation so that there is redressal of their grievances.
17:06Also to bring certain issues to the Parliament so that the government's power can remain in check.
17:14This is what an opposition is supposed to be doing.
17:18The leader of opposition, as per convention, as you discussed with Mr. P. D. T. Achary.
17:23It has been the norm that the leader of opposition, whenever he is on his feet, he will be allowed to speak.
17:29But why is it that this is happening? There is no constitutional morality in the BJP.
17:34And therefore, they do not believe in the principles of democracy.
17:38Those who believe in...
17:40What was the issue that Rahul Gandhi wanted to raise with such urgency?
17:44Because let's be very clear, one of the charges against Rahul Gandhi is that he has not participated in enough Parliament debates.
17:52When I look at the numbers, Rahul Gandhi's numbers of participation in many debates are well below that of an average MP.
18:00Mr. Sardesai, if Rahul Gandhi is not being allowed to speak, how can you question what has happened in the past?
18:08He hasn't been allowed to speak as leader of opposition today.
18:11He wasn't allowed to speak when the Prime Minister was speaking on the Kumbh.
18:16When Rahul Gandhi wants to raise issues of people's concern, he's not allowed to speak when he wants to talk about unemployment.
18:23When he talks about the issues that are plaguing this country today, the economy of this country.
18:29Why is the government not willing to listen? And I'll tell you why.
18:32Because if you remember that the Prime Minister was so offended when he took Mr. Adani's name in Parliament
18:38that after that all cases were speeded up and he was convicted. Do you remember that?
18:44And after that, how is it that the Prime Minister will allow Mr. Rahul Gandhi to speak?
18:50Why should he adjourn the house? Why should he adjourn and leave?
18:57Ma'am, I don't allow anyone now to speak for more than a minute on a particular issue.
19:01Please keep that in mind. So, equal time to use, therefore, Sanju Verma.
19:04Sanju Verma, we are still not being even given a reason by the Speaker as to why Parliament was adjourned.
19:12The Lok Sabha was adjourned. But the fact is, both last week over the Kumbh Mela and today,
19:17when Rahul Gandhi got up to speak, he was not allowed.
19:20Therefore, there is a case being made that this is a non-level playing field
19:25where the Speaker is not allowing the leader of the opposition to speak as per convention.
19:30Your response?
19:32Rajdeep, first and foremost, the audio is extremely patchy. Am I loud and clear?
19:37You are loud and clear, ma'am. Don't worry.
19:40Okay, good to hear that. You know, first and foremost, let's get this very clear.
19:45Om Birla, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, is the presiding officer of the house.
19:51He decides whether members will be suspended or not, whether the house will be adjourned or not.
19:56He is the final arbiter in terms of the proceedings of the house.
20:01He is the final interpreter of parliamentary conventions and precedents on the floor of the house.
20:07And this is not Sanju Verma saying so. Article 93, 94, 95 and 96 of the Constitution,
20:14the very book which is bandied about by the opposition.
20:17At every given opportunity, Rahul Gandhi gives a speech to the Modi government.
20:27But I need to tell your audience this. Rahul Gandhi is a leader without a cause.
20:33He is an icon of class. And I'll tell you why.
20:36The fact of the matter is that this is the same Rahul Gandhi who talks about being victimized.
20:42Meri aawaz ko gahane ki koshish ho rahi hai. But, you know, he abuses his parliamentary privileges.
20:50Forget about being leader of the opposition. Even as a parliamentarian,
20:54I can't think of too many people who on foreign soil have said,
20:58you know what, India gave away 2000 square kilometers on a golden platter to the Chinese.
21:03Or you know what, a large chunk of democracy is coming under in India.
21:07And I'm surprised by the US and European Union.
21:09But that's not an answer. Sanju Verma, you know, as I said, one minute each.
21:15No, no, Sanju Verma, just a minute. Equal time.
21:19You're not answering my question. I asked you, I gave you two specific examples
21:24where the speaker has not allowed Rahul Gandhi to speak. Just a minute.
21:28Just a minute, ma'am. The speaker has not allowed Rahul Gandhi to speak.
21:32Your answer is, the speaker as presiding office has primacy. Yes, he does.
21:36But is he being fair? In your view, Sanju Verma, is the speaker being fair?
21:42Or is the speaker biased?
21:45Rajdeep, I have tremendous respect for you. Please showcase your neutral credentials
21:52as you tom-tom about them so often.
21:55Your 60 seconds start.
21:58I interjected her as well. I am asking you to answer my question.
22:03I'm giving you 60 seconds uninterrupted. Is the speaker of the Lok Sabha fair or biased?
22:10My time starts now and you will not heckle me even if you're tempted to do so.
22:16With great humility, I say that. Thank you, Rajdeep Sardesai.
22:19Yes, 60 seconds from now. Let me repeat.
22:22Rahul Gandhi goes on foreign soil and says,
22:25large chunk of democracy has come undone in India.
22:28PIDDI media, not Modi media, PIDDI,
22:32Rahul Gandhi goes on foreign soil and says,
22:36you know what, in India, the Sikh community is not allowed to wear a turban,
22:40not allowed to sport a kada and not allowed to visit gurudwaras.
22:43And what happens? PIDDI media,
22:46Rahul Gandhi goes on foreign soil and says,
22:49you know what, the Modi government has gifted away 2,000 square kilometers
22:53on a golden platter to China despite Amit Shah, despite Jai Shankar,
22:58despite Prime Minister Modi, despite Rajnath Singh saying,
23:01we have not given a single inch of territory.
23:03PIDDI media is fed up with this.
23:06And my last point is this.
23:08Rahul Gandhi, speaker Om Birla,
23:11does not need lessons in constitutional propriety from you.
23:15Tell me, Rajdeep, with your hand on your heart,
23:18because I know you have a thinking mind,
23:20but with your hand on your heart today, tell me,
23:22how many parliamentarians can you think of who are weak,
23:24who have, you know,
23:27is this not your drawing room,
23:30that you have kissed someone's cheek, you have kissed someone's forehead,
23:33you have winked at someone.
23:35I am just, ma'am, your one minute is up,
23:38but you just now raised something,
23:40because that is quite an interesting aspect that you just raised.
23:42No, no, no, please, one minute, ma'am.
23:44One minute, your 60 seconds are up.
23:46I have counted them, your 60 seconds are up,
23:48but I must ask you this.
23:50You just now said, you just now said,
23:51that Rahul Gandhi touched the cheeks,
23:53and the BJP's IT cell has put out a video
23:56of Rahul Gandhi touching the cheeks of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
23:59Now, if the speaker of the assembly feels,
24:02of the parliament feels that that is against decorum,
24:04he should say so.
24:06Also, the question arises, Sanju Verma,
24:09that when the prime minister was coming into the Lok Sabha today,
24:12all the MPs got up and started clapping,
24:15and they are also being said that,
24:17are they following the decorum?
24:19This is the charge the opposition makes.
24:21Can I ask a very nice question?
24:23Please go ahead.
24:25Yes, that's a very nice question.
24:27I will tell you this.
24:29In a television news studio,
24:31it is the editor-in-chief who takes the call.
24:33And I know, at prime time, at 9pm,
24:35Rajdeep Sarvesai is the boss of his show.
24:37He decides what will be aired.
24:39He decides whether to give Sanju Verma two minutes
24:41or twenty seconds.
24:43Correct?
24:45Now, on the floor of the parliament,
24:47on the floor of the Lok Sabha,
24:49Om Birla will decide,
24:51whether to give a hug,
24:53or a kiss,
24:55or a wink,
24:57or a fly kiss.
24:59Shouldn't there be a little bit of dignity,
25:01restraint, or restraint?
25:03Rajdeep Sarvesai,
25:05ask questions today of Rahul Gandhi,
25:07not of Om Birla.
25:09You made your point.
25:11I have allowed you more time than I have allowed the other side.
25:13Now, audio down.
25:15Sujata Paul, respond to what you have just heard.
25:17You see, the argument which is being made
25:19is that if Rahul Gandhi
25:21took the government more seriously,
25:23was there every day,
25:25front bench taking on the government
25:27day after day,
25:29then he would have a much stronger case
25:31than if he isn't speaking out
25:33day after day.
25:35Then, you see,
25:37the BJP turns around and said
25:39he treats parliament very casually.
25:41Rajdeep,
25:43I don't think that the BJP spokesperson
25:45has answered a single question
25:47that you asked her.
25:49She ranted about what Rahul Gandhi
25:51did, etc. etc.
25:53What happened
25:55between him and his sister.
25:57These people do not respect relationships
25:59and that's where it ends.
26:01People do not have respect
26:03for a relationship as sacred
26:05as that of a brother and sister.
26:07That is why they come up with these
26:09privileged issues.
26:11And this clearly proves that
26:13they do not want to see Rahul Gandhi.
26:15What I said right at the beginning.
26:17What did the BJP spokesperson say?
26:19She said that he abuses the Prime Minister.
26:21The Prime Minister should answer
26:23how many times he has abused
26:25former Prime Ministers
26:27of the country.
26:29How many of their parliamentarians
26:31have used abusive language
26:33inside parliament?
26:35Have you forgotten Nishikant Dubey
26:37and Ramesh Biduri?
26:39The way they have conducted
26:41themselves in parliament?
26:43But no.
26:45Today, they have a problem with Rahul Gandhi
26:47because he talks about the real
26:49issues of the country.
26:51That is why they are
26:53privileging the entire...
26:55Your time also is up.
26:57Sanju Verma, you know,
26:59you're saying that Rahul Gandhi
27:01treats parliament casually.
27:03The question will arise,
27:05does Prime Minister Modi
27:07also treat parliament seriously enough?
27:09Today, there was a question
27:11in Question Hour which was
27:13directed at the Prime Minister's office.
27:15Instead of the Prime Minister
27:17addressing that question,
27:19Jitendra Singh from the government did.
27:21The Prime Minister of the country
27:23is supposed to address questions
27:25in parliament.
27:27Instead, when he comes,
27:29there's clapping,
27:31there's Modi, Modi, Jai Shri Ram.
27:33Is that also the way
27:35parliament should be conducted?
27:37It's not a political rally
27:39taking place in parliament.
27:41And surely the Prime Minister
27:43must also get up to answer
27:45questions like Jawaharlal Nehru
27:47used to do when he was
27:49Prime Minister.
27:52Or, you know,
27:54some two-bit troll in the Congress
27:56or some two-penny spokesperson
27:58of the Congress.
28:00Now, wait, wait, wait.
28:02You said so much, I heard.
28:04Prime Minister Narendra Modi
28:06on the eve of Lok Sabha 2024 elections
28:08held 89 interviews.
28:10Unfortunately, you were not
28:12a part of those 89,
28:14so don't take out your
28:16grouse against Prime Minister Modi.
28:18And as far as Jawaharlal Nehru is concerned,
28:19let me give you one
28:20bigger point because
28:21it's about the economy again and again.
28:23Today, if you really
28:24talk about...
28:25Ma'am, ma'am, ma'am,
28:26ma'am, look, ma'am,
28:27I don't want...
28:28I asked you a question,
28:29please answer my question.
28:30India's GDP has crossed
28:314.3 trillion dollars.
28:32You're not answering
28:33my question, though.
28:34India's GDP has crossed
28:354.3 trillion dollars.
28:36Wait.
28:37We are going to be
28:38the world's
28:39fourth-largest economy
28:40in a few months from now,
28:41overtaking Japan.
28:43But Rajdeep Sardesai
28:44is fed up.
28:46He will talk about
28:47Nehru...
28:48Rajdeep Sardesai
28:49asks questions.
28:50Rajdeep Sardesai
28:51has the courage
28:52to ask questions
28:53to everyone.
28:54He has the courage.
28:55I am going to be
28:5660 years old.
28:57I have the courage.
28:58I am asking you
28:59a question today.
29:00I am asking you
29:01a question.
29:02Why does the
29:03Prime Minister not
29:04answer questions
29:05in question hour?
29:06Rahul Gandhi
29:07treats Parliament
29:08casually.
29:09How does the
29:10Prime Minister
29:11treat Parliament?
29:12Answer my question.
29:13Yes.
29:14The point is,
29:15look at you,
29:16how intolerant you are.
29:17You constantly
29:18heckle me.
29:19Please keep quiet.
29:20Ma'am, I am asking
29:21the other side
29:22also questions.
29:23Now, let me finish.
29:24Don't heckle me now.
29:25Please.
29:26Very patiently...
29:2730 seconds.
29:2830 seconds
29:29uninterrupted.
29:30No.
29:3160 seconds
29:32uninterrupted
29:33and you will
29:34not give in
29:35to temptation.
29:36Rajdeepji,
29:37your stomach
29:38starts aching
29:39when you start
29:40talking.
29:41No, she has to
29:42answer my questions.
29:43I will tell
29:44what I need to say
29:45because I have seen
29:46a lot of people
29:47who have
29:48a lot of
29:49enthusiasm
29:50and enthusiasm
29:51and enthusiasm
29:52and enthusiasm
29:53and enthusiasm
29:54and enthusiasm
29:55and enthusiasm
29:56and enthusiasm
29:57and enthusiasm
29:58and enthusiasm
29:59and enthusiasm
30:00and enthusiasm
30:01and enthusiasm
30:02and enthusiasm
30:03and enthusiasm
30:04and enthusiasm
30:05and enthusiasm
30:06and enthusiasm
30:07and enthusiasm
30:08and enthusiasm
30:09and enthusiasm
30:10and enthusiasm
30:11and enthusiasm
30:12and enthusiasm
30:13and enthusiasm
30:14and enthusiasm
30:15Mr. Ishaq Banerjee
30:16is indicted
30:17Madam please wait
30:18Ms. Sujataji.
30:21Let me come to
30:22the main point.
30:23I always believe
30:24Rajdeep in 20 seconds
30:25The proof of the
30:26pudding is in
30:27the eating
30:28actions speak
30:29louder than words.
30:30Today Prime Minister
30:31Narendra Modi
30:32has shown
30:34Jan Dhan Yojana
30:35World's Largest
30:36Financial Increase
30:37scheme
30:38Rajdeep Sardesai
30:39gets curd
30:40in his mouth.
30:41Ayutthaman's
30:42World's Largest
30:43Healthcare Insurance
30:44I asked you a question, I asked you a question, you don't answer my question, why does the
30:56Prime Minister not take questions in question hour?
30:58But okay, volume down, I want to come to you Sujata, Sujata, Paul, I want to understand
31:03from you, I gave the numbers of Rahul Gandhi, how many debates has he participated in, how
31:09many questions?
31:10I repeat my charge, Rahul Gandhi needs to lead from the front, in 2014 he did not become
31:16leader of the opposition, he chose to be a backbencher, ditto 2019, now in 2024 as leader
31:22of the opposition, he should be there every day taking up the debates.
31:26If he does that, automatically his stature will rise, whether the speaker tries to allow
31:31him or intervenes in what he says.
31:34Aren't you innocent, Rahul Gandhi, you know very well that the Prime Minister, once he
31:40has decided that he doesn't want to see somebody's face, he is adamant about it and he will go
31:45to any extent to ensure that that person doesn't come before him.
31:49Now are you saying that the Prime Minister is influencing Om Birla, is that the charge
31:54you are making?
31:55That Mr. Om Birla should answer, because this is a question that I am asking Mr. Om Birla
32:01directly through your platform today, as to why is he not allowing the leader of opposition
32:07to speak?
32:08Because dissent is vital to this democracy of ours, and he is undermining our democracy
32:14by stifling the voice of dissent which will be raised over there to prevent majority tyranny
32:21in this nation, which is happening today in the parliament.
32:25And we will not allow it, the leader of opposition will not allow it.
32:28But when you talk about the interviews, as the BJP spokesperson spoke about, 89-stage
32:35interviews is what we saw.
32:37We saw the Prime Minister dividing the country during the Lok Sabha campaign, when he spoke
32:43about the Mujras, etc.
32:45But when you think about parliament today, the leader of opposition is a face which has
32:51been reserved for the opposition, for the voices of the people, and the Prime Minister
32:56does not want to hear any voice other than his own.
33:00He also does not want to hear parliament.
33:02I have heard you, your time is out.
33:03You claim the Prime Minister does not want to hear any voice other than his own.
33:07Sanju Verma on the other hand claims the Prime Minister's actions speak louder than words.
33:12Either way, what we have seen in parliament is unfortunate.
33:16The convention is that when the leader of the opposition is on his feet, he is allowed
33:20to speak.
33:21Om Birla will eventually have to answer the question, why did he not allow Rahul Gandhi
33:26to speak both last week on the Kumbh Mela and today when he got up to respond?
33:32Is the opposition leader therefore justified in claiming that he is being gagged?
33:38Let's turn from that storm to another storm, this time in Mumbai over the stand-up comedian
33:43Kunal Kamra.
33:44Today the Maharashtra government doubled down on him, vowing to investigate the comedian
33:49over his satirical song on Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
33:53Not only has the comedian been summoned once again by the Mumbai police, the Maharashtra
33:58government now says that they will move, or the BJP says it will move a privilege motion
34:03against Kunal Kamra in the Legislative Council.
34:06Listen in to what Eknath Shinde said.
34:29Let me go to Ritwik Bhalekar to find out more.
34:32At Ritwik, it seems that the Maharashtra government is determined to target Kunal Kamra
34:36by hook or by crook.
34:39The police has sent a second summons, now there is a privilege motion against him.
34:43There was even talk that the Mumbai police was ready to go to Puducherry to try and get
34:47him back.
34:48What are you hearing?
34:51Absolutely, today was the last day of the ongoing Maharashtra budget session and from
34:59Aurangzeb Kabbas to Kunal Kamra, all these issues were echoed in the three weeks budget
35:06session.
35:07But today, on the final day, Eknath Shinde came up and spoke about Kamra controversy.
35:14He categorically blamed Uddhav Thackeray camp, saying that some cowards are trying to defame
35:20him by putting forward hypocrites like Kunal Kamra.
35:24And he has dared Uddhav Thackeray to come face to face and fight with him if he has
35:28the courage.
35:29Now, it seems that it's not just the Kamra controversy, but it's again Shiv Sena versus
35:35Shiv Sena war, which will escalate in the coming days.
35:40And obviously, Kunal Kamra, several FIs have been filed and today, in Legislative Council
35:45of Maharashtra Assembly, even the privilege notice has been moved against Kunal Kamra.
35:51Well, the Maharashtra government surely has other bigger challenges than filing privilege
35:57notice against Kunal Kamra, but we'd wait and see.
35:59Mr. Kamra is based in Puducherry.
36:01What makes the Maharashtra government and the Mumbai police does in that case?
36:05Let me turn to our other big focus.
36:07The April 2 deadline set by U.S. President Donald Trump for reciprocal tariffs is looming.
36:12Today, India and U.S. began their formal bilateral trade negotiations in the national capital.
36:18Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Brendan Lynch is leading the American trade delegation
36:23for the talks that could last as many as five days.
36:26External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met the U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO, Suzanne
36:31Clark.
36:32Jaishankar later claiming that active and intense negotiations are underway between
36:36India and the U.S.
36:38The big question is, will the two sides be able to reach some kind of a trade agreement?
36:44Remember, let's listen in to what they had to say.
36:50On trade, we had a very open discussion.
36:54And the result of that discussion was that the Prime Minister and the President agreed
37:01that we would conclude, you rightly said, not a free trade agreement, but a bilateral
37:08trade agreement by fall this year.
37:12And that is what is currently under discussion.
37:17We have a team here.
37:18By the way, it's not that they are kicking off the discussion.
37:22My colleague, the Trade Minister, the Commerce Minister was in the U.S. last month.
37:29And since then, actually, we've been working the trade account through virtual means.
37:35So there's a very active and intense trade discussion going on at this point of time.
37:44Let me go straight across to business today.
37:46We are now told that the talks could go on as long as five days.
37:53What do you know is on the table in these talks between India and the United States
37:58when it comes to tariffs?
37:59Well, Rajdeep, you know, initial talks have just begun.
38:02But what three to four agenda items my government sources have told me is the fact that American
38:07bourbon, whiskey, California wine, and Harley Davidson motorcycles is what the U.S. state
38:12authorities have been looking after from India to provide a further relief.
38:16In fact, India, U.S. state officials are in talks for further tariff reductions and my
38:20sources have been telling me that the Indian government is further now opening up to reduce
38:24those duties.
38:25In fact, in the budget, we saw that the duty on bourbon, whiskey was cut from 150% to 100%
38:32earlier.
38:33And discussions include increasing U.S. exports of pharmaceuticals and chemicals to India
38:37as well.
38:38In fact, we also saw that tariffs on Harley Davidson motorcycles were reduced from 50%
38:42to 40% as well in the budget.
38:44India's imports from the U.S. of the pharmaceutical products is also very significant.
38:48We saw an increase of 78% to 88% from 2,23,000 crores in 2021 to about 4,00,000 crores in
38:562021, which apparently decreased to 27% and subsequently increased to 10% in 2024.
39:03Now we are expecting that the government will be opening up the sectors for these three
39:08to four immediately so that the reciprocal tariffs which come into effect on April 2
39:12will have a little subsiding effect and eventually the talks for bilateral trade and of course
39:16the treaties must go on on time.
39:18So what you're suggesting phase by phase, it's high-end motorcycles, for example, like
39:23Harley Davidson's and indeed whiskey products, which could be on the table for now when it
39:28comes to tariff reductions.
39:29We'll wait and see how that goes.
39:31Chetan, thanks very much for joining me.
39:33I want to go straight across now to Dr. Anup Wadhwan, he's former Commerce Secretary.
39:36He's dealt with the United States on trade talks in the past.
39:41Dr. Wadhwan, your sense of these trade negotiations that have begun, it seems under pressure from
39:47Donald Trump and the US administration putting that April 2 deadline where he plans to bring
39:53in reciprocal tariffs.
39:55We've already cut tariffs on high-end motorcycles, on whiskeys.
39:59Do you see this now all happening in a phased manner?
40:01How do you see this play out?
40:03Yeah, so I think we are trying to work out the framework within which the negotiations
40:10will happen.
40:11They're trying to work out the entire scope of the negotiations.
40:14So that is a starting point.
40:17And of course, there is some element of pressure in this, but in some ways, it's a logical
40:21restart to the negotiations we had during President Trump's first term.
40:28And I think India is as interested as the US is in resolving this sort of trade friction
40:34that is there between us.
40:37And what about the key areas like pharmaceuticals, agriculture products, where India's interest
40:42could be affected by any kind of tariff wars or pushing us for tariff reductions?
40:50Should we be concerned about what could happen?
40:53Right, so those will be our asks.
40:57We'll have some asks also in a trade agreement.
41:00And you know, by definition, a trade agreement is supposed to be balanced and mutually beneficial.
41:05So while they have some ambitions, you know, for exporting certain products to India, we'll
41:10have similar ambitions on our side.
41:12So certainly, you know, it should be a balanced agreement on goods.
41:18Now, you're saying it should be a balanced trade agreement, Dr. Vadavan, but the fact
41:22is there is a certain asymmetry of power here.
41:25America is coming from a position of strength.
41:27Donald Trump talking about deadlines and promising reciprocal tariffs across the board from the
41:322nd of April.
41:33We are coming into these negotiations, therefore, under some amount of pressure.
41:37Does this make it more difficult for us to get what we want, our asks on pharmaceuticals,
41:43for services, for example?
41:48I think that asymmetry is somewhat exaggerated, and it will be in many ways a psychological
41:58disposition that might be there.
42:00I don't think in principle there's a major asymmetry.
42:04You know, let us say, for instance, that we are not able to reach a trade agreement or
42:09we are not able to give the US side a certain confidence at this stage for them to put out
42:14the reciprocal duties.
42:15Even then, you know, the heavens will not fall for us.
42:20The tariffs will have some impact.
42:22And then, of course, we'll have no option but to put our own reciprocal duties.
42:26So that will have a certain impact on their exporters also.
42:31But do you see, therefore, a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement coming into place
42:37by the autumn of this year, as is being suggested by some?
42:42Because even you negotiated during Trump 1.0.
42:45It didn't work out then.
42:47Do you see a bilateral trade agreement happening in this specific case, or are we heading for
42:54extreme uncertainty in the next six months?
42:57See, I see a limited goods deal happening by the autumn, and that should, I think, resolve
43:07many of the concerns the Americans have with regard to access to our market.
43:13I see that happening, but they must, you know, put the reciprocal duties on one side.
43:20Let's imagine a scenario, let us say they put reciprocal duties on 2nd April.
43:26What option do we have?
43:28We certainly can't live with the option that, okay, let them be in place, and now we're
43:31going to negotiate a trade deal.
43:32At the end of the deal, they might come off.
43:36The only option we'd have at that stage is to respond with similar duties on our side.
43:41So the Americans should understand that these reciprocal duties are not compatible with
43:47a trade deal negotiation done in good faith.
43:51So may I ask you, in conclusion, the best case scenario.
43:54How do you see these trade talks, crucial trade talks between India and the US, building
43:59over the next week, and dare I say, over the next few months?
44:02What's the best case?
44:05I think the best case scenario for us is to make it very clear to the Americans that we
44:10are serious about a good faith negotiation that quickly gives an outcome on the goods,
44:17you know, agreement.
44:19And given that the reciprocal duties have no place in that arrangement, you can't have
44:27a situation where we are negotiating a trade deal, and in the interim, we are facing reciprocal
44:32duties.
44:33It may not be acceptable, you know, for us, for various reasons, we can't accept that.
44:38So we must convince them that put this reciprocal business aside, and let's quickly negotiate
44:44a trade deal that gives you all your ambitions that you want on goods, and gives us something
44:50in return.
44:51And, you know, take it from there.
44:55So the hope, therefore, what you're saying is there could be a win-win deal.
44:59Focus on the bilateral trade agreements, do not get tangled into a reciprocal tariff war.
45:04Well, we hope that Donald Trump is listening to you, or those in the Trump administration
45:09there, Dr. Vadhavan, former Commerce Secretary of India.
45:13Let's turn to tonight's Get Real India story, stories that we get you from different parts
45:17of the country that often slip off the map.
45:20What do you do if a government doesn't listen to your needs?
45:23Well, people in a village in Uttar Pradesh seem to have decided enough is enough.
45:28So they've decided to collect funds on their own to build a bridge that they've been trying
45:34to get the government to build for years.
45:37Here is our Get Real India story from a village in Ghazipur.
45:43They waited for the government to build a bridge, but when no help came, the people
45:56of Kayampur and Sona villages in Ghazipur decided to take things into their own hands.
46:02They started building the bridge across Mangai River through crowdsourcing.
46:10The foundation of the bridge was laid on February 25th, 2024 by Allahabad High Court
46:16Judge Justice Shekhar Kumar Yadav.
46:20The work is being done under the supervision of a retired engineer.
46:37At present, villagers use a temporary bamboo bridge, which is rendered useless during rains.
47:03When it rains heavily, we have to travel by boat and the water from one village to another
47:09gets depleted.
47:10So we are one hour late to go to school.
47:13Now that the school has been built, it will be very convenient for the children to go to
47:19school, to the hospital in Ghazipur, to the principal's office in Ghazipur.
47:23The 40 km of time that will be saved will be very useful.
47:30After videos of the bridge went viral, district authorities stepped in.
47:35What is the strength of this bridge and can it be built under the auspices of the PWD
47:43department?
47:44And what is its weakness?
47:45So that there is no accident of any kind, there is no talk of public safety.
47:51We will check this.
47:54People of the villages, which are dominated by the Yadav community, claim that the bridge
47:59is a proud example of self-reliance.
48:02With Vinay Kumar Singh, Bureau Report, India Today.
48:10A bridge too far at the moment.
48:13Let's turn to our fact-check segment.
48:15A photo of a man at an IPL match holding a poster featuring offensive language directed
48:20at the Mughal emperor.
48:22Aurangzeb is making rounds on social media.
48:25The photo shows a Chennai Super Kings fan in a yellow jersey holding an anti-Aurangzeb
48:30poster.
48:31And India Today fact-check found that this image was digitally altered.
48:35AI Sana has more.
48:37You are watching fact-check segment where we bust fake news.
48:41Amid the ongoing controversy over Aurangzeb's grave in Maharashtra, a photo of a man at
48:45an Indian Premier League IPL match holding a poster featuring offensive language directed
48:50at the Mughal emperor is making rounds on social media.
48:53The photo shows a Chennai Super Kings fan in a yellow jersey holding an anti-Aurangzeb
48:57poster.
48:58India Today fact-check found that this image was digitally altered.
49:01The original photo shows film director Ratna Kumar, a Chennai Super Kings fan, holding
49:06a poster with admiring words for cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
49:09Hence the photo is fake.
49:11This fact-check on viral fake news is done by India Today's team AFA.
49:15This is AI Sana signing off.
49:19Okay, let's turn to our good news today's story as we end the show.
49:23It's coming from Kashmir where the Badam, the almond is blooming.
49:27The Badamwari garden in Srinagar is a big hit this spring season with the tourists.
49:33Take a look.
49:44Kashmir is blooming.
49:47After a long hard winter, the Badamwari garden is now truly a garden of almonds.
49:55Nestled in the foothills of Kohimaran Hills, the 14th century garden in Srinagar is famous
50:02for its magical vistas and almond fragrance.
50:09It hasn't bloomed yet but still it's so good.
50:12It feels so good and peaceful.
50:15Flowers are really nice and for him this is the first time for snows and all this.
50:20It's kind of like a new experience for him as well.
50:23The garden will soon get bigger.
50:25The floriculture department is adding lavender gardens from next year which will be an added
50:31attraction and give a longer spring experience for tourists.
50:45While Srinagar's famous tulip garden has become the biggest spring advertisement of Kashmir tourism,
50:52the almond alcove of Badamwari is not far behind.
50:57The garden has attracted hundreds of tourists this year.
51:05So this is absolutely stunning, scintillating scenes as far as spring season in Kashmir is concerned
51:12and in that Badamwari obviously because of this beautiful almond bloom is a top choice of majority
51:21and tourists who are right now coming to Kashmir make sure that they come to this almond garden.
51:28For Cameraman Tarik Lone, Mir Farid, Srinagar for India Today.
51:35Lovely images from Srinagar.
51:37Now to an image of the day which some may feel is a bit problematic.
51:42I'll tell you why in a moment.
51:44Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta's convoy stopped on a flyover in Delhi
51:48as the Chief Minister stepped out on seeing some stray cows.
51:52Now nothing wrong with that but the fact is as the Chief Minister instructed her officials
51:58to find a shelter for the cows, it was the aam aadmi, the ordinary citizen who had to wait patiently.
52:05The entire road was blocked, there was a traffic jam because the Chief Minister was trying to find
52:12or telling her officials to find a shelter for the cows.
52:15Take a look at that traffic jam and then ask yourselves,
52:19sometimes VVIPs need to put the aam aadmi's interests ahead of those of the cows.
52:27I hope the lesson is learnt.
52:29Thanks for watching. Stay well, stay safe. Good night, Shubhratri. Jai Hind. Namaskar.