NASA astronauts return after a nine-month stay on the International Space Station, originally planned for nine days. The crew faced challenges with packaged and freeze-dried food for the extended duration.
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00:00The first time you hear directly from Sunita Williams,
00:03what was it like in the space station?
00:05In space, literally, for nine months.
00:09A journey that was supposed to be for nine days
00:12turning into nine months.
00:14And that is when you realize the uncertainty
00:18and the difficulties one has to face.
00:21Packaged and freeze-dried food was eaten for nine months.
00:25Say she ate grilled cheese sandwich after landing.
00:29So the moment she landed,
00:31she decided she doesn't want to have the frozen food.
00:34And the first taste she wanted to have
00:36was the grilled cheese sandwich.
00:38Remember, this is the first time that you hear
00:40how Butch Wilmore, Sunita Williams were in the space.
00:44Many call it stranded.
00:46Many say it was also a lesson and work being done
00:49while they were on board the International Space Station.
00:52So what was the first step that she took when she landed?
00:56First hugged my husband and the dogs.
00:59Butch Wilmore says,
01:01responsibility of the space saga is on me.
01:04So they clearly realize the responsibility
01:07on their shoulders.
01:07Remember, it's incredible.
01:09A 59-year-old Sunita Williams
01:11and almost 62-year-old Butch Wilmore.
01:13And they've been on this mission together as a duo.
01:18Ate packaged and freeze and frozen dried food
01:21for nine months.
01:23The moment we landed,
01:24I ate a grilled cheese hot sandwich.
01:27So of course, that reminds you, remember,
01:28because of the toughness that one needs,
01:31not just physical stamina,
01:33but the fact that you realize the kind of uncertainty,
01:38but also the restrictions you have.
01:40There's only so much.
01:41And you have to, in many ways, ration that food as well.
01:45You didn't hear any of this on board
01:47because they also wanted to put out an image of optimism.
01:51Let's listen in to Sunita Williams.
01:55Oh, well, I'm back.
01:58First and foremost, we were always coming back.
02:00And I think people need to know that.
02:02And we're back to actually, you know,
02:03share our story with so many people
02:06because, you know, like you all mentioned,
02:09it's slightly unique and there's some lessons learned to it.
02:12And part of that is just resilience
02:15and being able to take a turn that was unexpected
02:19and make the best of it.
02:20And I think that is the biggest thing
02:22that I wanna pass down,
02:24particularly to kids who think that their life
02:27should be the straight arrow to what you want to do
02:30and you're just gonna get there.
02:31Well, you know, sometimes it takes some turns,
02:33some rights and some lefts,
02:34and you just keep focused on your goal
02:36and other doors might be open for you.
02:38So I think that's the biggest message.
02:40I would have to say yes, absolutely.
02:42You know, it's interesting.
02:43We go and launch, we knew it was a little bit unique,
02:45obviously, first time flying on a new spacecraft.
02:49So, yeah, that was interesting.
02:50But, you know, then life goes on up there.
02:53And I mentioned yesterday, you know,
02:54we pivoted and we are International Space Station
02:57crew members and we're doing what all of our other friends
03:01in the astronaut office do is go and work and train
03:04and do science, amazing science experiments
03:06up on the International Space Station.
03:08So, you know, I think you sort of get
03:10maybe a little bit tunnel visioned in what your job is.
03:12So it's, you know, do your job type of thing, right?
03:15And so you're not really aware of what else is going on
03:19down here, I hate to say that, you know,
03:21maybe the world doesn't revolve around us,
03:24but we revolve around the world, something like that.
03:26But, you know, I think we were just really focused
03:29on what we were doing and trying to be part of the team
03:32and making sure we pulled our weight for the team.
03:35Of course, we heard some things and I'll let, you know,
03:37obviously hand this off to Butch,
03:39heard some stuff from our friends and family
03:41that people were interested in wondering what's going on
03:43and concerned about our health and all that kind of stuff
03:46while we're up there.
03:47But, I mean, we were just part of the team,
03:49doing the job, filling in wherever we could,
03:51and then knowing that there's rotational flights
03:54and we will be coming home eventually
03:55on a rotational flight.
03:56So, no, I don't think we were aware to the degree,
04:00pretty honored and humbled by the fact of when we came home,
04:04like, wow, there are a lot of people who are interested,
04:07very thankful, very amazed that we could hopefully
04:10be one positive element to bring people together.
04:13I get to hug my husband and hug my dogs.
04:15And I'll say that in that order, but maybe not.
04:18No, I'm just joking.
04:19But, of course, food, you know,
04:21something that's just like for home, for me,
04:24like something that is very, you know,
04:25reminds you of home.
04:26And I had, my father was a vegetarian,
04:28so I had a good grilled cheese sandwich when I got home.
04:31So, that reminded me of him.
04:33So many who prepared us for our mission,
04:36the commercial crew program with NASA and Boeing,
04:40as well as SpaceX, really got us ready to go.
04:44All of the trainers here at Johnson Space Center,
04:47the mission control teams all over the country,
04:50in Florida to California.
04:52So, throughout the whole country,
04:54as well as what we're doing now.
04:56You know, our teams here are getting us ready to get,
04:59you know, rehab and get ready to take on new challenges.
05:02So, you know, feeling good since we've been back
05:05almost two weeks now.
05:07Actually went out and ran three miles yesterday.
05:09So, I will give myself a little pat on the back.
05:11Our trainers are rocking it
05:13and getting us ready to get back to help out
05:17with the new astronauts
05:18as they're getting ready for their mission.
05:20So, the biggest thing I wanna say was thank you.
05:23All right, so that's the first time
05:25that we hear from the woman who we had been watching
05:28with regard to how her life has been in space.
05:30The first step that she took on 19th of March.
05:32Joining me, India Today's Senior Assistant Editor of Science,
05:35Sebu Kumar Tripathi.
05:36Sebu, good morning.
05:38I think this has been a logical conclusion to that journey.
05:42And she jokingly says,
05:44what I noticed was that I ate a grilled cheese sandwich,
05:48but it also reminds us of nine months
05:50of how she ate frozen food.
05:52And it reminds you of the kind of restrictions,
05:56limitations, and yet the toughness one needs.
05:59Definitely, I think spending nine months in space
06:03is incredible in more ways than one.
06:07To live on a mission where you are supposed to just live
06:10for eight days and then suddenly it extends
06:11for maybe eight to nine months.
06:14It takes a lot of physical and mental toll.
06:15And I think that's where food is very, very important.
06:19If you have good food,
06:20I think you had a good company on the space station.
06:22And NASA is known for preparing some of the most
06:25well-curated, well-processed,
06:28well-developed food for the astronauts.
06:31So, in the beginning,
06:32they had all the food that they had carried with them
06:35on the Skyline spacecraft,
06:37followed that our cargo resupply missions were conducted,
06:40and then all the food was sent from NASA
06:44to the space station.
06:45But then again, at the end,
06:46these are all processed, packaged food
06:48that have been prepared well in advance.
06:50So once she lands, I think that grilled sandwich
06:52must have tasted very, very nice.
06:54I'm sure.
06:55And it's in many ways a metaphor as well.
06:56You know, it's a victory, it's a return.
06:59Many thought it was going to be very difficult at one point.
07:02Sebu, thank you so much.
07:03And you've been tracking it since day one
07:05about this journey of Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore.
07:07Remember, over the next few days,
07:09this was the first reaction.
07:10Over the next few days,
07:11we'll have more and more about the lessons, details,
07:14and how many young enthusiasts watching both of them
07:17realizing that there's no deadline,
07:20that you can be able to fulfill your dreams
07:22at any age and how.
07:3124 hours to go.
07:32Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs are coming.
07:35And the world is watching, including India.
07:38Trump is set to unveil a tariff plan.
07:40Now, that will happen tomorrow, the 2nd of April,
07:43when he intends to start imposing it.
07:45But he's made it very clear.
07:46I want to first quote what Donald Trump says.
07:49We will be kind with the tariffs.
07:52Tariffs will be less than what others charge us.
07:55Remember that primarily the war has been
07:57with the next door neighbor, Canada, but also China.
08:01India is hopeful that given the kind of negotiations
08:04we have had in the past few months,
08:06perhaps India would be expecting relief.
08:11What you're going to see in two days,
08:13which is maybe tomorrow night or probably Wednesday,
08:17you're going to see, and they're reciprocal.
08:20So whatever they charge us, we charge them,
08:22but we're being nicer than they were.
08:25We have a lot of countries, friend and foe.
08:27I always say friend and foe,
08:28but the friend in many cases is worse than the foe.
08:31They took advantage of us.
08:33And we are going to be very nice
08:36by comparison to what they were.
08:38The numbers will be lower
08:39than what they've been charging us.
08:42And in some cases, maybe substantially lower,
08:44but we sort of have a world obligation perhaps.
08:48But we're going to be very nice.
08:49Relatively speaking, we're going to be very kind.
08:54So here's what you need to know
08:55about Donald Trump's reciprocal tariff.
08:572nd April, dubbed by Trump as Liberation Day,
09:01is when he'll unveil his long-planned reciprocal tariffs
09:04expected to include all nations,
09:06not just those with whom United States
09:08has a trade imbalance, which means American tariffs
09:11on foreign-made automobiles and parts
09:14will also come into effect.
09:15Three Asian manufacturing giants,
09:18South Korea, China, and Japan,
09:20have agreed to promote regional trade.
09:23Then there's, remember,
09:24because these cities are also focusing
09:26while they are major trading partners of the USA,
09:30but they've been at loggerheads among themselves as well
09:32over issues including territorial disputes,
09:34so they would rather want to end it now.
09:36The world is bracing for trade wars.
09:39Trump looks to upend American trading partnership.
09:42India, where does it stand, has adopted a cautious approach,
09:45emphasizing vigilance, adaptability,
09:48have had negotiations in the past few days
09:50and months as well.
09:52Mexico has announced plans to implement
09:54retaliatory tariff on American goods.
09:56Canada, another neighbor nation to America,
09:59has responded defiantly, saying again,
10:01retaliatory measures, 25% tariff that Canada will put
10:05on $155 billion worth of American goods.
10:09European Union has expressed readiness
10:11to respond collectively to any threat coming in
10:14from American trade tariffs.
10:16So expect a big, huge war in the next 24 hours
10:20and how that will reflect in geopolitics.
10:24It's sharp with all countries, so let's see what happens.
10:27There are many countries.
10:30I have been in a room for about 15 countries, 10 or 15.
10:33So you're starting with all countries?
10:35Essentially all of the countries that we're talking about.
10:38What are we talking about?
10:41Let's bring you some domestic news now.
10:42It's the WACF showdown that you can expect
10:44in the parliament now, possibly in the next 24 hours.
10:47The much anticipated WACF bill is set to be presented
10:50in the Lok Sabha on the 2nd of April
10:52and it marks a significant legislative development.
10:55The bill which aims to reform the administration
10:58of the WACF properties, however, has sparked a debate.
11:00Remember, BJP is accusing some political parties
11:03and organizations of trying to create unrest,
11:06mislead the public about WACF bill provisions,
11:08as per sources.
11:09Senior BJP ministers are expected to hold discussions
11:12with India bloc leaders before the bill is presented
11:15in the parliament to ensure a smooth passage on this.
11:18But despite government assurances,
11:19as details are on your screen,
11:21opposition parties have vowed
11:23to resist the WACF amendment bill.
11:25They're calling it a direct attack on the constitution.
11:28The Janata Dal United, an alliance partner of the BJP,
11:32has cautioned the centre against implementing
11:34the new law retrospectively,
11:35stressing that existing mosques, dargah,
11:38other Muslim religious sites,
11:40should not be interfered with.
11:45It is welcome and any sensible person or organization
11:50will understand that the WACF amendment bill
11:54is a concern for poor Muslims,
11:55for poor Muslim women,
11:58for poor Muslim children.
12:01As per the WACF Act,
12:03some people have seized WACF properties
12:07and are using them for their personal use
12:09or for their business.
12:11The government's intention is to help poor Muslims
12:14and to use the money generated from it
12:19for the benefit of poor Muslims.
12:21Can't the government see that 99.9% of Muslims
12:26in the country are opposing it?
12:29Can't the government see that the entire opposition
12:32is standing against it?
12:34Can't the government see that Muslims
12:37are continuously protesting?
12:39Do you want to prove that the WACF law
12:43that you are bringing is correct
12:45by standing against one Christian and one Muslim?
12:48In the WACF bill, there are so many contentious issues
12:53and opposition parties are taking it up
12:56inside Parliament and outside Parliament.
12:59The core purpose of this bill
13:03is to target the minority community.
13:07Now, at this time, it is the Muslim minority.
13:12And of course, there are other issues also
13:16with the WACF property, land
13:18and people are staying there for years together.
13:21Those things will have to be examined
13:24and justice cannot be denied to anyone.
13:28Injustice cannot be done to anyone.
13:31Let me now tell you about what Bengal Chief Minister
13:33Mamata Banerjee has said
13:35and that has got the BJP and the TMC
13:37locked in a fierce war of words.
13:38In the latest, Mamata Banerjee recently made headlines
13:41for a visit to London, remember,
13:42where there was this whole protest and a controversy.
13:45But during an Eid prayer in Kolkata,
13:48during the festival of Eid,
13:49she was addressing a gathering at the Red Road,
13:52it's where Bengal CM criticised the BJP,
13:55but said she does not follow the ganda dharma
13:59created by the party,
14:00accusing it of fostering division for its own gain.
14:04The remarks immediately sharply condemned
14:06by the Bengal BJP saying this is provocative speech
14:09and you are saying it from the stage
14:11of an Eid-ul-Fitr event.
14:12Trinamool Congress backing Mamata Banerjee's remarks
14:15accusing the BJP of discriminating
14:16in the name of Hinduism
14:18and spreading a false narrative.
14:20So ganda dharma has become the big narrative.
14:22Will the BJP at the national level jump on this?
14:45We divide society in the name of dharma.
14:50We do not support such distorted Hinduism.
14:56We support original Hinduism.
14:59Mamata didi believes in original Hindu dharma.
15:05Mamata didi is secular.
15:08She herself is from a Hindu-Brahmin family.
15:11The speech given by the Chief Minister today
15:18has never been given by a Chief Minister
15:19of any state in the history of independent India.
15:23Many people say that the BJP is a divisive party.
15:27After hearing this, we have reached 2-303.
15:31The BJP is winning all the elections.
15:34Why is the public winning?
15:35Mamata Banerjee is very scared.
15:41She keeps talking about the BJP in everything she says.
15:45Now that the state has been properly managed,
15:48there is no need for her to worry about what the BJP thinks.
15:51She is aware of what the BJP thinks and what is in the mind of the BJP.
15:56She will not be able to understand.
15:58The hateful statements of the leaders of the BJP
16:03should be ignored.
16:06If there is any kind of conflict in the country,
16:11the children of the leaders of the BJP and RSS are not killed.
16:16The children of any leader are not killed.
16:19The children of poor people are killed.
16:23That is why I will also appeal to the public
16:26that the Indian People's Party that has been created in this environment,
16:30the Hindu Muslims should live together as they used to live before.
16:37I would like to ask the BJP people
16:42that since when have they become the owners of Sanatan Dharma?
16:46If Sanatan Dharma has been around for a long time,
16:49then when the BJP was not born,
16:51the Jan Sangh was not born,
16:52and it has been around since before that,
16:54then why do they blame themselves for everything
16:58that they are the owners of Sanatan Dharma?
17:00How have they defamed Dharma?
17:03They have made Dharma a business.
17:06They have made Hindu Dharma and Sanatan Dharma a medium to get votes.
17:13They have created the worst situation of Dharma.
17:20The Aurangzeb debate continues to rage on,
17:23but the RSS has come with very interesting comments.
17:25The RSS this time downplaying the controversy
17:29over the Nagpur tome specially,
17:32and ever since we have seen the violence also that have come in.
17:36Remember what has happened is that
17:38they have called the controversy in Nagpur unnecessary,
17:42while the Uttarakhand government has gone on a renaming drive
17:45in the Hill State to remove traces of Aurangzeb's rule.
17:49RSS leader Suresh Bhaiyaji Joshi called the tome showdown unnecessary.
17:53He says anyone who has faith can visit Aurangzeb's tome,
17:57which he claims was built due to India's inclusivity,
18:00but this comes after days after senior Sangh leader
18:03also called the Mughal ruler irrelevant in the present day.
18:07How is then the Uttarakhand government responding differently?
18:11They have renamed at least 10 areas including Haridwar's Aurangzeb Nagar
18:15to Shivaji Nagar, calling it a bid to preserve India's cultural heritage.
18:20In this renaming drive in the Hill State,
18:22among the changes are for example, Aurangzeb Nagar renamed to Shivaji Nagar,
18:26Mohammadpur is now Mohanpur,
18:29Khanpur has been changed to Krishnanagar,
18:32in Dehradun itself, Miyawala area is now Ramjiwala,
18:36Nawabi Nagar in Nainital will likely be now known as Atalmarg.
18:40So these are some of the changes that have come in.
18:42RSS has a different take on this.
18:56Let me now tell you about upcoming Ram Navami on the 6th of April
19:26and there is a plan on itinerary for Prime Minister Modi.
19:29The new Pamban Bridge is set to be inaugurated by PM Modi.
19:33It has a long and rich history.
19:35Will be the first lift rail bridge near Rameshwar in Tamil Nadu.
19:39Remember, of course, has a certain historic connect too.
19:42India Today's Anagha Keshav went to ground zero to find out,
19:45assess what is the situation like.
19:48On the occasion of Ram Navami,
19:56Prime Minister Narendra Modi set to inaugurate the new Pamban Rail Bridge
20:00in Rameshwaram on April 6, 2025.
20:03The new bridge will be another landmark of Indian infrastructure
20:12as it is India's first vertical lift sea bridge.
20:17The project began in February 2020
20:21with the foundation stone laid by Prime Minister Modi in November 2019.
20:26This bridge has been completed at an estimated cost of 535 crore rupees.
20:32The Pamban Bridge has always been the most defining image of Rameshwaram
20:38with the old bridge having been built in 1913.
20:43This kind of vertical bridges are built in areas with high maritime traffic
20:47such as United States, Canada, UK, France, Germany and Russia.
20:52India's new Pamban Bridge too joins this global list
20:56as India's first vertical lift structure.
20:59It's also built with high and advanced technology
21:03thereby allowing it to withstand harsh marine conditions.
21:07It can also accommodate trains that run in very high speeds
21:11thereby making travel all the more smoother and easier.
21:15If you see the old bridge, it's an engineering marvel
21:18which was constructed in 1914 and opened on February 22.
21:21I can state that the new Pamban Bridge is a modern engineering marvel
21:26with modern technology and totally electro-mechanical mechanism.
21:31If you see the entire bridge, it is 2.08 km
21:34and it's connecting our normal land to Rameshwaram.
21:40The bridge consists of 145 spans
21:43and features a unique vertical lift mechanism
21:46that allows the central span to rise vertically to a height of 22 meters.
21:51Unlike the old Pamban Bridge which took 25 to 30 minutes to lift and allow ships to pass
21:58the new bridge can lift in just 5 minutes.
22:01The new structure is designed to accommodate double tracks
22:05and high speed trains reflecting modern railway standards.
22:09A bridge between history and modernity.
22:12The Pamban Bridge that has stood the test of time has now undergone a magnificent makeover.
22:20The old bridge, while it took minimum 35 to 40 minutes to open up its gates for ships to pass through
22:27the new bridge that we are talking about, the vertical girder system
22:31only takes 5 minutes and 30 seconds.
22:33Just imagine the amount of time saved over here.
22:36That itself speaks volumes about the kind of effectiveness, efficiency
22:40and the kind of engineering marvel that Indians have installed here for the first time.
22:47And number two is regarding the safety feature.
22:50If the wind speed crosses 58 kmph, then there is a very efficient alert system in place
22:57to ensure that no train passes through this railway track.
23:01So, 58 kmph is the said limit.
23:04There is an entire system of computerized systems in place over here that works like clockwork
23:10thereby ensuring that safety system is not compromised at any cost.
23:16On the Pamban Bridge with Cameraperson Daniel Anagar Keshav reporting for India Today.
23:22With regard to the Parliament, the Congress Lok Sabha MPs are going to have a meeting at about 9.30 am.
23:27It will be addressed by the LOP Rahul Gandhi
23:30but I believe that's tomorrow, so we'll be tracking all the latest on that.
23:34The meeting by Congress Lok Sabha MPs at 9.30 am will be addressed by LOP.
23:41Amit Bhardwaj joins me for the latest on that.
23:44Amit, go ahead.
23:45Leader of opposition wants to strategize ahead because the government also is prepared
23:49and I believe this should be on the work issue.
23:51Right Pooja, we know for a matter of fact that the biggest bill that's getting everyone's attention
24:02is the Waqf Amendment Bill, the amendments that the government wants to bring in the Waqf Bill.
24:07And it is certainly being opposed by certain Muslim groups
24:11and the India Alliance parties are also by and large in opposition to the amendments
24:16that are being brought in the Waqf Amendment Bill.
24:19And the Congress party being the principal opposition party is certainly in opposition
24:24to what's the amendments that are being proposed by the government.
24:28So what we are given to understand that Rahul Gandhi will be meeting the Congress party MPs
24:33in the parliament next day and he will be also addressing the parliamentary party,
24:39the MPs from possibly both houses.
24:42So this could be very much on the lines as to how to strategize
24:45what should be the Congress party's strategy on the Waqf Amendment Bill
24:49along with other issues as far as the floor management is concerned.
24:54So we'll also have to see as to whether by the time this meeting is convened
24:59whether the other India bloc MPs or their representational leaders are also called for the meeting
25:04or there will be a separate meeting of the India Alliance MPs together to strategize a floor strategy
25:11because we had seen ever since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections have been over
25:16in every parliamentary session whenever there is an important bill or a strategy to corner the government
25:24we have seen the India bloc leaders coming together and strategizing it for the Lok Sabha as well as the Rajya Sabha.
25:30So certainly Rahul Gandhi will be meeting the Congress party MPs
25:33and he will be addressing, the leader of opposition will be addressing these MPs possibly.
25:39And this is very interesting because Amit as you are telling us
25:42we are putting the numbers also below on our screens for the viewer.
25:45Of course remember the NDA has the majority but even then it can be neck and neck
25:50and eventually it will be about the strategies by both parties to convince as much the public
25:55about which way should the Waqf Amendment Bill go.
25:58Thank you very much Amit for now.
26:00We'll be tracking all that and more coming in from the parliament.
26:03In the Lok Sabha remember, expect that in the next 24 hours we are expecting the Waqf Amendment Bill.
26:08This has had strong connotations, there has been communal overtone
26:12but eventually the government believes sweeping arbitrary powers of Waqf needs to go.
26:17The much anticipated Waqf Bill will be presented likely tomorrow is what we are told, 2nd of April
26:22and will mark a significant legislative development.
26:25It aims to reform the administration of the Waqf properties
26:28and has sparked a fierce debate like we have seen in the past few days.
26:31BJP accusing political parties and opposition, even some organizations
26:36of trying to create deliberate unrest, deliberately mislead the public
26:40about the provisions in the Waqf Amendment Bill.
26:43Senior BJP ministers therefore will be deployed.
26:46They'll be holding discussions with even India bloc leaders
26:49before the bill is presented in the parliament
26:51and they want to ensure a smooth passage in this case.
26:54Despite the government's assurances however, opposition is also very clear.
26:58They have taken a pledge, they will not let the Waqf Amendment Bill clear
27:02and they are saying this is a direct attack on the constitution as well.
27:06Interestingly amid all of this, one of the alliance partners of the government
27:10of the centre of the NDA, the Janata Dal United prominently focusing in Bihar
27:14has cautioned the centre against implementing the new law retrospectively
27:18stressing that already existing Dargahs, mosques, other Muslim religious sites
27:22and areas should not be interfered with.
27:26It is welcome and any sensible person or any organization will understand
27:32that the Waqf Amendment Bill is going to worry the poor Muslims.
27:37It is going to worry the poor Muslim women, poor Muslim children.
27:42Till now, due to the Waqf Act, some people have seized the properties of Waqf
27:48and they use them for their personal use or for their business.
27:53The aim of the government is that the poor Muslims can benefit from it
27:58and whatever money is generated from it can benefit the poor.
28:03Is the government not able to see that 99.9% of the Muslims in the country
28:09are opposing it?
28:11Is the government not able to see that the entire opposition of the country
28:15is standing against it?
28:17Is the government not able to see that Muslims are continuously protesting
28:21that a Christian and a Muslim man are protesting.
28:25Do you want to prove that the law of Waqf is right?
28:31The Waqf Bill, there are so many contentious issues and opposition parties
28:37are taking it up inside Parliament, outside Parliament.
28:41The core purpose of this Bill is to target the minority community.
28:49Now, at this time, it is the Muslim minority.
28:54Of course, there are other issues also with Waqf property, land
29:01and people are staying there for years together.
29:04Those things will have to be examined and justice cannot be denied to anyone.
29:10Injustice cannot be done to anyone.
29:13Let's try and get a perspective on that.
29:16Joining me India Today's Piyush Mishra.
29:18Piyush, good morning.
29:19Tell me about the strategy of the government, but also the opposition.
29:22Even though, of course, numbers are more with the NDA,
29:25but interesting how the JDU has a caution.
29:28Opposition parties are set.
29:29Who do you think is strategizing better and how?
29:33BJP is in touch with not only the NDA allies, Pooja,
29:37but also with few constituents in India alliance.
29:40That's what Kiran Rijuji yesterday had claimed.
29:42So, BJP has got, the NDA has got a robust strategy
29:45as far as passing this Bill is concerned.
29:47Yes, there were some apprehensions with JDU, TDP and also LJP,
29:53but sources within these parties are now telling us
29:56that all these apprehensions have been dealt with
29:59and the amendments of those have been put in by these parties
30:03have also been accepted by the government
30:05and a fresh Bill will be tabled in the Parliament.
30:07So, they are going to support this Bill when it is tabled.
30:10But on the other side, there are various other political parties
30:13like Congress, Samajwadi Party, Aam Aadmi Party,
30:17NCP, Sharm Pawar, UPGT, all are opposing this.
30:22And that is why we can expect a few days to the left of budget session,
30:29but the government has requested opposition political parties
30:32not to do the vote bank politics and support this Bill
30:36in the welfare of poor sort of Muslim community.
30:39We'll have to wait and watch Pooja, how it is tabled
30:42and when it is tabled and what kind of discussions take place
30:45and how many hours are also allotted for the discussion on this entire Bill.
31:12For example, look closely on your screen.
31:13Allows non-Muslim CEO, at least two non-Muslim members
31:17to be appointed by the state government.
31:20These are some of the contentious points that we are looking at
31:23of the Waqf Amendment Bill.
31:24There is a joint parliamentary recommendation on appointee
31:27that shall be officer at the joint secretary level
31:30or a higher appointee who shall have the knowledge
31:33of the Muslim law, of the Muslim jurisprudence
31:36and therefore with regard to that will be able to decide better.
31:39Some of the contentious points coming in are for example,
31:41district collector can decide if there is a disputed property
31:45like we have seen of cases in the past,
31:47is Waqf or if it belongs to the government.
31:50So that decision in many ways, one will lie with the district collector
31:55that gives them a power, but also the decision in disputes
31:59currently which is made by the Waqf tribunal.
32:01So Waqf decides right now, if this property should be with the Waqf
32:05or should be granted to someone else.
32:08Now the district collector may possibly decide.
32:10Now the JPC recommendation giving power to decide disputes
32:14to officer more senior than the district collector as well.
32:18The contentious point here is it may junk the concept
32:21of the Waqf by user referring to the property
32:25as Waqf based on long term use for religious and charitable purposes.
32:29So that's basically what the Waqf intended to do.
32:32That the properties would be for certain charitable purposes
32:35but many did question if that was happening or not.
32:38Amit all of this, remember look closely on the screen.
32:40Now the bill can make Waqf properties which don't have a valid Waqf Nama disputed.
32:45That's been a contentious point.
32:47So every Waqf property will have to be registered on central database
32:50within the six months.
32:52That's the JPC recommendation and the law will be passed.
32:56Not registering on portal could result in forfeiting right
32:59to move court in case of dispute as well.
33:02So that is what has come in, in this case.
33:04If that happens, the JPC recommendation is Waqf tribunal will comprise
33:09the district judge, state government officer of the joint secretary rank.
33:13So these are some of the main points that have come in.
33:15Let's take in another.
33:17The tribunal's decision can be challenged in the high court.
33:21So there are of course layers that have come in into this case
33:24with regard to how it proceeds.
33:26Now for example, the deadline for registration
33:30Waqf tribunal will comprise district judge,
33:32state government officer of joint secretary rank.
33:34Tribunal's decision can be challenged in the court as well.
33:37So we'll be tracking more of that, more and more details that are coming in.
33:40Opposition is clear they will not let it pass.
33:43Government says it's important for it to be passed.
33:45We have some news coming in. Let's take a look.
33:53BJP National President J.P. Nadda held a virtual meeting
33:56with all BJP MPs from the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.
33:59J.P. Nadda asking all the MPs to collect public opinion from across the country
34:03on one nation, one election.
34:06So that's a big news. Is that the big next step?
34:08Remember, ONOP in many ways has been a government priority.
34:12Piyush Mishra continues to be with us.
34:15Piyush, tell me more about this.
34:17MPs have been told to collect opinions of people
34:19not under the banner of the BJP.
34:22So there could be in many ways a survey that needs to be ascertained.
34:25Tell me more about that.
34:28That's right, Pooja. What we are now learning is that
34:30BJP in the coming few days is going to collect the public opinion
34:34on one nation, one poll.
34:36And that will happen not under the banner of BJP
34:41because the top leadership of BJP has now told all the MPs
34:46to collect views in a neutral manner
34:48so that BJP can understand what is the nation mood on one nation, one poll.
34:53Though this bill is already there under the scrutiny of the Joint Parliamentary Committee
34:58but apparently BJP wants to collect the people's views
35:01so that it can move ahead accordingly.
35:04Yesterday there was a virtual meet which was chaired by BJP's National President J.P. Radha
35:08in which all MPs of BJP from Lok Sabha and Rajasthan had participated
35:13and they have been advised to reach out to all people across the country
35:17to speak to NGOs, to various stakeholders
35:20to understand the people's mood as far as the one nation, one poll issue is concerned.
35:25ONOP is going to be the next big issue
35:28so we'll be keeping our eyes out for what precisely happens in that
35:32and importantly remember how will the opposition react on that.
35:36Pooja, thank you very much.
35:50Pooja, thank you very much.
36:20Ending the remarks, they are saying it's the BJP that discriminates in the name of Hinduism
36:24it spreads a false narrative and hate.
36:26Here's what Bengal CM said
36:28and how that term could now become the big showdown point for the Bharatiya Janata Party.
36:50It's a bad thing.
36:52It's a bad way to divide society in the name of religion.
36:59We don't support such distorted Hinduism.
37:05We support original Hinduism.
37:08Mamata didi believes in original Hinduism.
37:14Mamata didi is secular.
37:16Mamata didi is from a Hindu Brahmin family.
37:20The speech given by the Chief Minister today
37:25has never been given by a Chief Minister of any state in the history of independent India.
37:30Many people say that the BJP is a divisive party.
37:35After listening to this, we have reached from 2 to 303.
37:39The BJP is winning all the elections.
37:42Why is the people winning?
37:44Mamata Banerjee is very scared.
37:49That's why she keeps talking about the BJP in everything.
37:54The state should take care of itself.
37:56She doesn't have to worry about what the BJP thinks.
38:00The BJP is aware of what the BJP thinks.
38:05She won't be able to understand.
38:07The hateful statements of the leaders of the BJP
38:12should be ignored.
38:14If there is any kind of conflict in the country,
38:20the children of the leaders of the BJP and RSS are not killed.
38:24The children of any leader are not killed.
38:28Poor people are killed.
38:30The children of poor people are killed.
38:32That's why I will also appeal to the people
38:35that the Indian People's Party that has been created in this environment
38:39The Hindu-Muslims should live together as they used to live before.
38:46I want to ask the BJP people
38:50that since when have they become the owners of Sanatan Dharma?
38:54If Sanatan Dharma has been there since ancient times,
38:58then when the BJP was not born,
39:00the Jan Sangh was not born,
39:02it has been going on since before that.
39:04But why do they claim that they are the owners of Sanatan Dharma?
39:09This is how they have defamed Dharma.
39:12They have made Dharma into a business.
39:15They have made Hindu Dharma and Sanatan Dharma
39:18as a medium to get votes.
39:21They have created the worst situation of Dharma.
39:35Ask the people.
39:37The people who work in the army,
39:39they have only one identity.
39:41Be it Hindu, be it Muslim, be it Sikh, be it Shia.
39:45See what Ramakrishna said.
39:48See what Swami Vivekananda said.
39:50We believe in Ramakrishna.
39:53We believe in Swami Vivekananda.
39:55But we believe in Sanatan Dharma,
39:58which was created by Ramakrishna.
40:01Which was created by the Jumla Party.
40:03That Dharma does not belong to the Hindus.
40:06You have given it to the Hindus.
40:09And the Hindus do not hate you.
40:13And Krishna does not hate you.
40:17There are some political leaders
40:20who do business with it.
40:23They do business.
40:25They will be fooled by the business.
40:28If all of you stay together,
40:31there will be no division.
40:58In your state, how is the Bengal BJP taking this?
41:01I wonder if the National BJP from Delhi
41:03will also jump in on this word that she has used,
41:06Gandha Dharm.
41:08Good morning Pooja.
41:10You know that war of words has started
41:12between BJP and TMC
41:14the moment Mamata Banerjee had used Gandha Dharm.
41:18It's all about political blame game
41:21at present going on in Bengal.
41:23I tell you that BJP for the past one month
41:26is pushing for its Hindutva agenda
41:29very aggressively in West Bengal.
41:31And that has somehow rattled,
41:33I think, Mamata Banerjee.
41:35She has said all things earlier also.
41:39In fact, she has started speaking about religion
41:42for the past one month.
41:44And two weeks back she has said this in assembly also.
41:48But this time she had said this on a religious assembly
41:52and that is the Red Note Namaz.
41:55That's what BJP is targeting
41:58and launched a scathing attack on Mamata Banerjee.
42:01In fact, initially Mamata Banerjee started
42:03attacking BJP and said that
42:05BJP's Hindu Dharm is not the Hindu Dharm
42:07which she follows.
42:09She follows the Dharma of Vivekananda
42:11and Ramakrishna Paramhansa
42:13and that is the real Hindu Dharm.
42:15And she said this earlier also.
42:17But right now the whole issue is
42:20standing on a word which she used
42:23that is Gandha Dharm.
42:25And the war of course has started
42:27between BJP and TMC.
42:29And I'm sure that
42:31central leaders will also jump in.
42:34Keep tracking the latest on that.
42:36Is the BJP possibly strategizing
42:38on how to now take on this comment
42:40that Mamata Banerjee has said?
42:42TMC claims they are targeting the BJP.
42:44What does the BJP have to say on it?
42:46Anupam, thank you very much for now.
42:49The Gandha Dharm, as Mamata Banerjee says
42:53and the Aurangzeb showdown on another.
42:55But the RSS has come in this time.
42:57Now the RSS is trying to downplay the controversy
42:59especially with regard to the Aurangzeb tomb in Nagpur.
43:02They've called the controversy unnecessary.
43:05But the Uttarakhand government instead
43:07is on a renaming drive.
43:09RSS leader, let's begin one by one.
43:11Suresh Bhaiyaji Joshi
43:13calling the tomb showdown unnecessary
43:15and says that anybody who wants to go and visit
43:17the Aurangzeb tomb also can go and visit.
43:20But this comes after senior Sangh leader
43:22also called the Mughal ruler
43:24irrelevant in today's time, in today's discourse.
43:27But it's the Uttarakhand Hill State Government
43:29that's gone on a renaming spree.
43:31For example, 10 areas
43:33including in Haridwar
43:35there is an Aurangzeb Nagar
43:37that has been renamed to Shivaji Nagar
43:39saying that this is a bid to preserve India's cultural heritage.
43:41But that's not all.
43:43For example, I want to take you through one by one.
43:45Aurangzeb Nagar becoming Shivaji Nagar.
43:47Mohammadpur is now Mohanpur.
43:49Khanpur, Krishna Nagar.
43:51In Dehradun, the Miyawala area
43:53will now be called Ramjiwala area.
43:55While Nawabi Nagar in Nainital
43:57will now be known as the Atal Mark.
43:59So these are some of the changes that have come in
44:01from the Uttarakhand government.
44:06Maharaj Shivaji and Aurangzeb
44:08will be compared.
44:10So our roots should be
44:12connected to Shivaji.
44:14The citizens of our country
44:16should be connected to Shivaji.
44:18He also respects Rahim Raskhan.
44:20It's a good thing.
44:22But Rahim Raskhan
44:24has tried to connect
44:26with the roots of Krishna.
44:28But he has no attachment
44:30towards India.
44:32It's like the British.
44:34Why did the British
44:36fight the war of independence?
44:38Why did they liberate the country?
44:42My colleague Vidya joins me from Mumbai
44:44on this. Vidya, good morning.
44:46Tell me more about how the RSS is responding
44:48to it because I think it's very interesting
44:50and why are they trying to downplay
44:52or call the Aurangzeb controversy
44:54irrelevant?
44:56In the last few weeks
44:58we have seen the way this entire
45:00controversy
45:02propelled out of...
45:04If you look at it, there was the
45:06Nagpur incident wherein
45:08there were riots that were witnessed.
45:10One of those things that
45:12the RSS people
45:14have also realized is
45:16this entire issue was getting
45:18propelled out of
45:20hand.
45:22The riots were certainly not something that
45:24anyone was looking forward to.
45:26With this incident really taking place
45:28of heavy rioting and
45:30damage to property being done in Nagpur itself
45:32which is the heart of RSS.
45:34What we are
45:36wanting to know is that's one of the reasons
45:38why now these kind of statements are coming forward
45:40especially now after
45:42Raj Thackeray had also
45:44spoken about it and saying that
45:46the history cannot be read through
45:48WhatsApp messages. One needs
45:50to go through the real history before
45:52speaking about it.
45:54Alright Vidya, I'll keep tracking
45:56the latest on this. So this is going to be interesting
45:58how the RSS and the BJP
46:00respectively are heading on the Aurangzeb
46:02showdown.