The Lok Sabha is set for a high-voltage showdown on April 2, 2025, as the BJP-led NDA pushes for the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill.
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00:00Countdown to the Waqf Bill in Parliament
00:10Minister Rijiju says 8 hours for discussions
00:14Total time to be allocated for discussion on Waqf Amendment Bill would be 8 hours
00:21Opposition unites against the Bill
00:24All eyes are Nitish Chandra Babu and Chirag Paswan's parties
00:36Catholic Bishops pack the Bill
00:43Progressive Muslims pack coal for Waqf reforms
00:50Opposition unites against Waqf Bill
01:01Opposition unites against Waqf Bill
01:10Opposition unites against Waqf Bill
01:20Opposition unites against Waqf Bill
01:28Opposition unites against Waqf Bill
01:35Opposition unites against Waqf Bill
01:44Kerala Catholic Bishops Council and Catholic Bishops Conference of India
01:51Both supported the Waqf Amendment Bill
01:54They requested lawmakers to adopt an unbiased and constructive approach
01:59Dargah Ajmey Sharif Chishti said Waqf reforms are necessary
02:04This will weed out the corruption in the system
02:09Only the corrupt are backing the crusade against reforms
02:16How do numbers stack up in Lok Sabha?
02:19Will lawmakers adopt an unbiased and constructive approach?
02:22We get you all sides of the story over the course of the next one hour
02:25I'm Gaurav Sawant
02:27Let's get started with the headlines at 5
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04:05So at 12 o'clock tomorrow the government is all set to table the Vax Amendment Bill
04:11Eight hours have been allocated for discussion
04:14The stage is set for the Vax Showdown
04:17Both the NDA and the opposition blocs have prepared
04:23Or are in the process of preparing their strategy
04:26So the NDA is trying to get both the JDU and the TDP on board
04:33Their support crucial to see the passage of the Vax Amendment Bill
04:38The opposition bloc strategy meeting will take place in about 55 minutes
04:43From now close to 6 is when the India bloc strategy meeting happens
04:48To chart out their course
04:51How will their numbers add up
04:54So we'll get you all sides of how preparations are going
04:58Information we seem to be getting from Union Minority Affairs Minister
05:03And Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiran Rijiju
05:06Is that eight hours have now been allocated for the discussion
05:10But if the discussion takes longer then they'll try and get a sense of the house
05:14The discussion can go on
05:16According to the time allocated as per the strength of the party
05:20There can be a discussion
05:22Everybody should come forward, everybody should participate in a discussion
05:26Whatever are their points of view
05:28Just present it on the floor of the house
05:30And then let's take this forward
05:33Don't boycott it, don't stay out of it
05:35I want to quickly bring in India Today's Piyush Mishra
05:38Joining us with the latest on this big story
05:41The Vax Amendment Bill
05:43Is the government confident of passage
05:46How is the government shoring up numbers
05:48Especially getting crucial allies like TDP and JDU on board Piyush
05:55Government is very confident of getting this bill passed
05:59Because it has already got the support of TDP, LJP, JDU
06:03And other constituents who are part of India
06:05Apart from this, the sources within the government are telling us
06:08That there are some MPs who are likely to vote in favour of this
06:13By going against the party line
06:16And a good number, this bill is going to be passed
06:19With a good number, a huge majority
06:22That's what the government believes
06:24And that is why the government, BJP in fact
06:28Already talks with various other political parties
06:31Who are part of India
06:3412 hours were asked by opposition
06:37But the government has decided to allow 8 hours
06:40In the business advisory committee meeting
06:42Today in the morning at around 12.30
06:44When this meeting took place
06:46Opposition political parties walked out of BSE meeting
06:49By saying that the government did not listen to their demand
06:52Of having discussion on Manipur and epic issue
06:55They are also saying that the government is trying to dilute
06:58The work issue and the Manipur issue
07:00And that is why they walked out
07:02But it has now been decided that
07:05The government is now going to bring work permit bill
07:08Tomorrow at 12 noon
07:10And is very confident of getting the bill passed
07:13From Lok Sabha
07:15It wants to have a wider deliberation on this bill
07:23The government has already said that
07:25It is very much ready to have a discussion
07:27On each and every clause, each and every point
07:29Which will be raised by the opposition
07:31Stay with me for a moment
07:32That's a crucial point that you are raising
07:34Government says let's discuss it threadbare
07:36Let's discuss every aspect
07:38That the opposition wants to raise
07:40So when barrister Asaduddin Owaisi claims
07:43That this is unconstitutional
07:45Discuss it on the floor of the house
07:47When opposition leaders say
07:49This is infringement on rights of minorities
07:52Or interference in their internal affairs
07:55And a violation of article 26 of the constitution
07:58Government says discuss it on the floor of the house
08:00But what about numbers?
08:02Everything boils down to numbers in parliament
08:05And the JDU, big big big story
08:07Because there was tremendous suspense
08:10Where is the JDU on this?
08:12And the JDU we are told has just made its stance clear
08:15On the vakf amendment bill
08:17The JDU will back vakf bill in parliament
08:21The JDU has said they are with the government
08:24On the vakf amendment
08:26The JDU had suggested certain changes
08:31They wanted certain clauses to be added
08:34Certain modifications to be made in the JPC
08:37We are told several Muslim leaders in Bihar
08:41Had met Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar
08:44They had their apprehensions
08:46He passed them on to JDU leaders in Lok Sabha
08:50In the JPC they were taken up
08:52And now they have been assured
08:54That all their apprehensions have been addressed in the bill
08:57Let's quickly listen in to Ramna Thakur
09:00In conversation with Piyush Vishraw
09:04If the government is bringing a bill
09:07Then we are with the government
09:09We are in front of the government
09:11We have to oppose what the opposition says
09:15We will study what is in the bill
09:18Only then will we make a decision
09:34If everyone is on board
09:36But I want to bring in Piyush Vishraw
09:38Piyush, JDU had certain apprehensions
09:42Initially Lallan Singh had very strongly said
09:45That they stand with reforms
09:48They want reforms
09:49And they accused the opposition of fear mongering
09:52But in middle of all of this
09:55There were some apprehensions
09:56That it could adversely impact their Muslim voters
09:59In Bihar in the upcoming elections
10:01What is the thinking in the JDU now?
10:04Well certainly the JDU, TDP had some reservations
10:08They had some apprehensions
10:09And that is why the parties like JDU and TDP
10:12Both had vouched for sending this bill
10:15To the Joint Parliamentary Committee
10:17We still remember that when this bill was
10:19Initially introduced in the parliament
10:20By Minority Opposition Minister Kiran Rajju
10:22It was the TDK and JDU
10:24Who had also supported the demand
10:26Of the Joint Parliamentary Committee
10:28And in that committee
10:29When the voices of JDU were heard
10:32They had given at least 2 amendments
10:35And TDP had given 3 amendments
10:37Now in the fresh bill which has been passed
10:39With 14 amendments
10:41In this amended bill
10:43The government has accepted all the amendments
10:45Which were given by JDU and TDP
10:48And that is why both the parties
10:50Have made it very very clear
10:51That yes, the government is going to vote
10:54In favour of this bill
10:57Again, pause for passing and consideration
11:00So the government is not going to face
11:01Any kind of problem when this bill is tabled
11:03Tomorrow 8 hours of discussion will take place
11:05Beginning discussions will be initiated
11:09By Minority Opposition Minister Kiran Rajju
11:11Who is going to table the bill
11:13And after that we can expect
11:14Leader of Opposition to speak
11:15And then the other speakers from opposition
11:17And government will speak
11:18And detailed discussion will take place
11:20What you have told
11:21That the likes of Asadul Oase
11:23Imran Masood from Congress
11:25Akhilesh Yadav from Somali Party
11:27They all are going to speak
11:28And then BJP will have its own speakers
11:31And other NDLIs will also put their point forward
11:34As far as their concerns are
11:36Or their support for the bill is concerned
11:38So most likely by tomorrow itself
11:40This bill is going to be passed on Lok Sabha
11:42After the final reply by the government
11:46Very very interesting times ahead
11:48So 12 o'clock tomorrow
11:50Is when Kiran Rajju, the Minority Affairs Minister
11:53And the Parliamentary Affairs Minister
11:55He presents this bill
11:57The Waqf Amendment Bill
11:58Another big story we are getting here
12:00On India today
12:01And that is the Telugu Desam Party
12:03The TDP has
12:05Pledged full support to the government
12:07On the Waqf Amendment Bill
12:09The TDP has extended total support
12:11To the amendment
12:13In the Waqf Amendment Bill
12:15Saying all their issues
12:17Have also been addressed
12:19TDP to vote in favour of the Waqf Amendment Bill
12:22Three amendments have been suggested
12:24By the Telugu Desam Party
12:26In the JPC
12:28And all of them have been adopted
12:30In the Waqf Amendment Bill
12:33Amendments with regards to
12:35The user, the Waqf user
12:38The amendments with regard to
12:40The district collector, the district magistrate
12:43Not being the final authority
12:45Not the determining authority
12:47Is something the TDP insisted on
12:49That's also been accepted
12:51And they also sought increasing a deadline
12:53For submission of digital documents
12:55By six months
12:56That too has now been accepted
12:58So we are told that even the TDP
13:00Is now on board
13:05The Waqf Amendment Bill
13:07Which was amended
13:09After this report of the joint parliamentary panel
13:11Will be taken up for consideration
13:13And passage tomorrow at 12 noon
13:15So it's an eight hour long debate
13:17That's been proposed by the
13:20Now
13:22Will they be able to see this through?
13:24We'll get to the story of how numbers
13:26Appear to stack up
13:28But by all accounts
13:30It's not just the BJP
13:32With its 240, the TDP
13:34The JDU, the HUM
13:36Their alliance partners
13:38All of them
13:40Are as of now on board
13:42We get you more in this report
13:45Allah o Akbar
13:47Allah o Akbar
13:49The stage is set for a fiery showdown
13:51Over the Waqf Amendment Bill
13:53The bill will be tabled
13:55At around noon on Wednesday
13:57As per the decision taken
13:59In Lok Sabha Business Advisory Committee
14:01Eight hours have been allocated
14:03To debate Waqf Amendment Bill
14:05In Lok Sabha
14:07The total
14:09Time to be allocated
14:11For discussion on Waqf Amendment Bill
14:13Would be eight hours
14:15Extendable
14:17After taking the sense of the house
14:19Rijiju warned opposition
14:21Against fear-mongering on Waqf
14:25I just want to say
14:27That if
14:29There's nothing to say in the bill
14:31Then make an excuse
14:33And make an excuse
14:35For the Business Advisory Committee
14:37To walk out
14:39Don't do all this
14:41The time has been set
14:43Speak openly
14:45We want to hear
14:47And we are ready
14:49To give an answer
14:51To each point
14:53Though TDP and JDU
14:55Have cautioned the centre
14:57Against implementing the new law
14:59Retrospectively
15:01Saying they will reveal their cards
15:03After going through
15:05Waqf Law draft
15:07Whatever is coming
15:09We have met a lot of people
15:11This is from our side
15:13That it should not be retrospective
15:15If there is something in the past
15:17Then it should not be affected
15:19This is what our party
15:21Had said
15:23I think the committee
15:25And the government will keep this in mind
15:27UP Chief Minister
15:29Yogi Adityanath
15:31Slammed loot of public land
15:33In garb of Waqf
15:35These people have
15:37For a few people
15:39They have created
15:41Loot dens
15:43On any government property
15:45Forcibly
15:47It has become a medium
15:49And reform
15:51Is the demand of this time
15:53Every reform is opposed
15:55But
15:57According to the situation
15:59We should be ready
16:01For such a reform
16:08To deprive Muslims of land
16:10And a direct attack on constitution
16:14Since BJP has come to power
16:16BJP's aim is
16:18How to destroy
16:20This country
16:22This bill is coming
16:24Before the bill comes
16:26Property is not being looted
16:28People are being killed
16:30People are being killed
16:32People are being killed in police
16:34If they have doubts
16:36This Waqf bill is unconstitutional
16:38This Waqf bill
16:40Article 14
16:42Article 25
16:4426, 29
16:46Is a grave violation
16:48This is not a Waqf bill
16:50This is a Waqf Barbad Bill
16:52Will the Waqf bill pass Lok Sabha test
16:54Or there is a surprise in store
16:58With Aishwarya Paliwal
17:00Bureau Report, India Today
17:06Of course there are some
17:08Even amongst the Muslim community
17:10Who are strongly in favour
17:12Of reforms in the Waqf
17:14And they want this Waqf amendment bill to come
17:16But there are also other minorities
17:18For example the Catholic Bishops Council of India
17:20They want reforms
17:22Because they say their land too
17:24Has been usurped
17:26And I spoke to the Ajmer Sharif Dargah's
17:28Chief
17:30Syed Nasiruddin Chishti
17:32He has very strongly
17:34Advocated reforms
17:36And the Waqf Amendment Act
18:04The property
18:06Dedicated
18:08According to the desire of the donor
18:10Is being used or not
18:12According to the market value of the property
18:14Rent should be paid
18:16And the property
18:18Dedicated
18:20In the name of Allah
18:22Is being used
18:24For the poor
18:26For the orphans
18:28And for the upliftment of the community
18:30Which Waqf Board
18:32Which Waqf Board is running the school
18:34Which Waqf Board is running the college
18:36Which Waqf Board is running the hospital
18:38It is not running anywhere
18:40So what is the meaning of Waqf?
18:42Where is the money of Waqf going?
18:44You have made a gang in the whole country
18:46And they are doing all the work
18:48The employees of the Waqf Board are never transferred
18:50You tell me
18:52The state employee of the Waqf Board
18:54Will stay in the same post all his life
18:56And will retire
18:58There is no transferable post
19:00You are saying a big thing
19:02Where is the money of Waqf going?
19:04Where is the money of Waqf going?
19:06That money
19:08For Muslim women
19:10For children
19:12For the needy
19:14To benefit the Muslim community
19:16So if that money
19:18Is going somewhere
19:20And you are talking about corruption
19:22Then so many Muslim organizations
19:24And so many political parties
19:26Which are political parties
19:28Then why are they opposing
19:30This Waqf Amendment Bill?
19:34These people will tell
19:36The organizations
19:38Why they are opposing
19:40But I am also a Muslim
19:42I want to tell everyone
19:44I am also a Muslim
19:46I know this is Allah's property
19:48But Allah
19:50Forgives those who drink alcohol
19:52Allah will not forgive those who eat his goods
19:54Everyone's duty is to
19:56Keep their hands on their hearts
19:58Pick up the Qur'an
20:00Maybe in your section
20:02There is an amendment
20:04For that, discuss it thoroughly
20:06Approach the political party
20:08Approach the opposition
20:10But you say
20:12This amendment should not happen
20:14This is your political fight
20:16You are misguiding the community
20:18You are going to mosques, dargahs
20:20Where is the provision in this act?
20:22Tell me
20:24You are saying a big thing
20:26Allah will never forgive those who eat his goods
20:28This is what you have to say
20:30So don't you believe
20:32If this Waqf Amendment Bill is brought
20:34Then the rights of Muslims will be snatched
20:36Or the government
20:38In their religion
20:40Is interfering
20:42Is interfering
20:46See the rights of Muslims
20:48What is in Waqf
20:50In Waqf, there are the rights of the one who does Waqf
20:52Waqif
20:54Donor
20:56These are the rights of the one who does Waqf
20:58The relation of Waqf
21:00Is with the one who does Waqf
21:02See those people
21:04Whose property is not being utilized
21:06If they have rights
21:08Then they will have rights
21:10How is this related to the common Muslims?
21:12Common Muslims go out to earn
21:14They don't even know what Waqf is
21:16What happens in Waqf
21:20So there are those who say that the Waqf Amendment Bill
21:22Is anti-Muslim
21:24They're saying that it's unconstitutional
21:26That it's discriminatory
21:28Joining me now
21:30On this special broadcast on Five Live
21:32Is Zeenat Shaukat Ali, Founder Director
21:34General of the Wisdom Foundation
21:36And Zeenat Shaukat Ali
21:38I want to understand from you Madam
21:40Is the Waqf Amendment Bill
21:42Anti-Muslim
21:44Will it take away Muslim properties
21:46Their Masjids
21:48Their Khankars
21:50Their Ibadat, the Kabristan
21:54No, I don't think that it is anti-Muslim
21:56At all
21:58Islam itself has always
22:00Been for reform
22:02That's point number one
22:04Islam is a religion of the future and the present
22:06And we have to move on
22:08And there have been
22:10A lot of discrepancies as we have seen
22:12Misuse
22:14Non-accountability
22:16By the people who have been
22:18Controlling Waqf as from now
22:20I don't think we have to go into any
22:22Further details because that is all out
22:24In the open and that should
22:26Never have happened
22:28And what the Supreme Court has also given certain
22:30Guidelines, I think those guidelines
22:32Need to be followed
22:34At the same time you see
22:36There are two or three
22:38You know factors that
22:40Are disturbing me in my mind
22:42Because I am for
22:44Reform and I do feel that
22:46You know every act
22:48You know has to look
22:50Into the future and into the
22:52Betterment of the community and this
22:54Is for the betterment of the community that
22:56You know we are looking at but there are
22:58Two or three things for example
23:00That you know are
23:02Disturbing me and that I
23:04Would like to bring that out and that is
23:06You know that the
23:08When the JPC
23:10They have been
23:12The opposition
23:14Has been stating that
23:16You know that their
23:18Dissent notes have been deleted
23:20The dissent notes that have been
23:22Presented by the opposition because you see
23:24We are an open society and
23:26Parliament is a ground, open ground
23:28For discussion of very serious
23:30Issues of this nature but
23:32When they have said that they
23:34When the report was tabled
23:36Certain points of theirs have been
23:38Deleted to which the government
23:40Said that you know that they
23:42Were right to do so
23:44In the deletions because
23:46The
23:48Aspiration that were expressed by the
23:50Committee were not quite right
23:52But now they have agreed
23:54That these dissent notes will be looked
23:56Into so I think you know we
23:58Need a deeper, more
24:00Transparent, more open
24:02You know discussion so
24:04That we may have
24:06In future laws that are
24:08Going to be beneficial
24:10Not only to the Muslims but
24:12Take them on, take them ahead
24:14And you know join the national
24:16Mainstream in many issues
24:18So is there merit when it is said
24:20That certain political parties
24:22For appeasement, vote bank
24:24Politics are doing fear mongering
24:26That
24:28Kabristan will be taken away, graveyards
24:30Will be taken away or mosques will be
24:32Taken away or madrasas will be taken
24:34Away because minority affairs
24:36None of this is true, none of this
24:38Will happen and let's have an open
24:40Debate in parliament
24:42With that the whole nation can watch
24:44It will be live on television
24:46Yes Gaurav, I completely
24:48Fall in line and I agree with that
24:50That there has to be an open debate
24:52And you know when what you're talking
24:54About is there are certain myths that have
24:56Been created that mosques will be taken away
24:58You know the entire
25:00Functional working
25:02Of certain committees will be
25:04You know handed over so all
25:06There are many myths that have
25:08Revolved around this and
25:10They have taken a sort of a
25:12Dimension that is leading people
25:14To say that this is a very anti
25:16Constitutional act
25:18So these
25:20Myths have to be overcome
25:22Clarifications have to be presented
25:24Now for example there is one
25:26Clarification that I would need
25:28Is that if there is any action
25:30To be taken on the
25:32Work board or taken against the
25:34Work board then there is a
25:36District collector who has been
25:38Appointed who can make a decision
25:40On certain matters
25:42Now to my mind I think a single
25:44Individual looking at
25:46Such a vast, this has been
25:48A vast and controversial territory
25:50Why not go to the courts
25:52If there is a dispute then
25:54Why should the courts not
25:56Look at it instead of
25:58Perhaps when you read the bill
26:00There is a provision which was not
26:02There earlier madam
26:04There is a provision now
26:06To appeal in courts
26:08Which was not there earlier
26:10Which has been introduced and perhaps
26:12When you go through
26:14And that was the point I was coming to
26:16On India Today we are putting out
26:18Facts, the myths that have been
26:20Spread that there is no, you know
26:22The district collector is the final authority
26:24That was an apprehension that the Telugu Desam
26:26Party had also voiced
26:28DC should not be the final authority
26:30That has been addressed and you know
26:32When the government was talking about it
26:34They said you can approach courts
26:36Any decision you approach courts
26:38Earlier you could not against an order of the
26:40Now you can is what the government
26:42Says but go on madam
26:44Thank you, that's a clarification that I did not know
26:46I'm happy, I'm happy about that
26:48Okay, now the second point is
26:50You know my second
26:52Misapprehension in my mind
26:54Is that you know there are going
26:56To be you know
26:58As India we are a secular
27:00Country with many religions
27:02Many cultures and we have always had
27:04Mixed words but somehow with religious
27:06Endowments
27:08Now for example there are the Parsis, there are the Jains
27:10There are the Buddhists
27:12You know there are the Sikhs etc
27:14You know all of them
27:16When they have you know
27:18Their own endowments they do not
27:20There are no non-Muslims
27:22On those endowments
27:24I would say that yes
27:26You have non-Muslims on Muslim endowments
27:28But is that secular
27:30To say that on no other endowments
27:32Do we have non-Muslims
27:34It has to cut across
27:36In all fairness
27:38You see what my point is
27:40That as a secular democratic
27:42Nation a very proud
27:44Nation with an excellent constitution
27:46We also must have
27:48That you know if we are introducing
27:50Other people of other
27:52States who may be experts in the line
27:54Into one kind of
27:56Endowments the other endowments
27:58Also should have the same
28:00Should corruption and waqf be investigated
28:02Should you know
28:04How much land does
28:06Waqf actually have
28:08Where is that income coming from
28:10How is that income being spread
28:12Spent if the government is
28:14Looking into it or
28:16Authorities are looking into it
28:18Is that interference in internal affairs
28:20Of Muslims
28:22No I think that is very correct
28:24Because you know by user what the supreme court
28:26Has laid down I have seen those carefully
28:28I think those are very correct parameters
28:30That have been placed
28:32And accountability even by the
28:34Muslims for their own trust
28:36You know you have to be accountable
28:38For everything that you are doing and they have shown
28:40They have not shown that kind of
28:42A systematic you know
28:44A clean sheet that I
28:46Would be able to give
28:48As far as that is concerned there has been
28:50A lot of corruption and
28:52To ensure that documentation is
28:54Done you know I want to understand from you
28:56How is a property
28:58A waqf property what is the
29:00Document that's available all of
29:02It should be online there should be a
29:04Portal there should be transparency
29:06Is that good madam is that
29:08What is the what is required
29:10Absolutely because you see you
29:12Cannot say that what happened 500 years
29:14Ago and you know there is no
29:16Documentation there has to be proper
29:18Documentation as a
29:20Supreme court has said who has
29:22Given this land to whom at
29:24What stage what have you done
29:26Even the such our committee report
29:28You know
29:30It's stated that you know
29:32The multiplication of the monies are
29:34Minimal it was I think 2.7
29:36Percent if I'm not wrong
29:38Maybe making a mistake on that so
29:40You see all that has to be considered
29:42You're right I am falling in line
29:44With it but what my
29:46Where is all that money going
29:48Where is all that money going is it actually
29:50Benefiting Muslim widows
29:52And is it benefiting
29:54Those children
29:56And it has to be examined and
29:58Looked into my only
30:00Point of discussion is that
30:02When you're forming now you know we are
30:04Moving one step on we are removing
30:06The corruption we are trying to get people
30:08Into line we are trying to give the
30:10Benefits to the community
30:12Institutions you know
30:14Economic development of the community
30:16All that will count my only
30:18Question was that you know
30:20That other trust also must
30:22Include we must have a
30:24You know a panel
30:26Cutting across all endowments
30:28With certain rules and regulations
30:30Must apply perhaps like a uniform
30:32Civil code you know let it be
30:34Uniform for every religion same
30:36Rules in the country should apply to
30:38All that's a pertinent point you
30:40Make there ma'am I
30:42Need to slip into a quick break here
30:44But this is a story we'll be tracking and Zeenat
30:46Shaukat Ali as always many thanks for joining
30:48Me here on this five live special
30:50There is
30:52Anger in India's northeastern
30:54States after Bangladesh's chief
30:56Advisor to the government Nobel
30:58Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus
31:00Made a reference to India's
31:02Seven sisters the
31:04Seven landlord states
31:06Saying that
31:08Bangladesh is the guardian
31:10Of the ocean and that's the
31:12Access that they have political
31:14Leaders of the northeastern states have
31:16Hit back and hit hard
31:18At Professor Muhammad Yunus this
31:20After Bangladesh's interim government
31:22Advisor raked up the seven sisters referring
31:24To them as landlocked in a bid
31:26To woo China and to seek
31:28More Chinese investment in
31:30Bangladesh so Professor Muhammad Yunus
31:32Is rather desperate
31:34Appeal to Beijing to invest
31:36In Bangladesh
31:38Has drawn an angry
31:40And a strong response from chief
31:42Ministers of several Indian states for example
31:44The Assam chief minister Heman Biswas
31:46Sarma he called Professor Muhammad
31:48Yunus's comments provocative
31:50And unacceptable he
31:52Warned that such statements actually reflect
31:54A deeper strategic consideration
31:56And long-standing agendas
31:58That must not be
32:00Ignored to counter such risks
32:02Heman Biswas Sarma called for scaling
32:04Up infrastructure that's a very pertinent
32:06Point he's making and hear this
32:08Carefully Heman Biswas Sarma chief
32:10Minister of Assam is calling up for
32:12Scaling up infrastructure across
32:14The region particularly by focusing
32:16On that very narrow
32:18Siliguri corridor or the
32:20Chicken's neck corridor I'll tell you more about it
32:22During the course of the broadcast
32:24Now Tipra Mota
32:26Party chief Pradyut Manikya
32:28Has also issued a very strong
32:30Response suggesting that India
32:32Should take a more aggressive approach
32:34Towards securing India's
32:36Access to the seas for the
32:38Northeast he suggested
32:40In some ways a route
32:42Through Bangladesh
32:44Congressors Gaurav Gogoi TMC's
32:46Abhishek Banerjee they too
32:48Slammed Professor Muhammad Yunus so this isn't just
32:50Government or ruling party but
32:52This is India speaking in
32:54One voice from
32:56Gaurav Gogoi of the Congress party
32:58To Trinamool Congress' Abhishek Banerjee
33:00This is India
33:02Speaking in one voice this shows
33:04The collective power of
33:06Our country so Professor
33:08Muhammad Yunus told Chinese
33:10Investors he was trying to woo them that
33:12India's Northeastern states are landlocked
33:14And that Bangladesh is the
33:16Only guardian of the Indian Ocean
33:18What are the implications
33:20The ramifications why
33:22Did he see this how should India
33:24Read this and see
33:26Through his designs
33:28Seven
33:30States of India
33:32Eastern part of India called
33:34Seven sisters they are
33:36Landlocked country landlocked region of
33:38India they have no way to reach out
33:40To the ocean we are the only
33:42Guardian of the ocean
33:44For all this region so this
33:46Opens up a huge possibility
33:48So this could be an extension
33:50Of the Chinese economy
33:52Build things produce things
33:54Market things
33:56Bring things to
33:58China bring it out to the whole
34:00Rest of the world that's
34:02Production house for you
34:04So that's the opportunity we should seize
34:06And we should implement we should get it done
34:08Nepal has
34:10Unlimited hydropower which is a
34:12Blessing Bhutan has unlimited
34:14Hydropower that's a blessing
34:16We can bring it to our purpose
34:18We are setting up our factories and so on
34:20And
34:22From Bangladesh you can go
34:24Anywhere you want because the ocean is our
34:26Backyard so this is
34:28Opportunity that we want to take
34:30And not necessarily it will be
34:32Something you produce and sell it to the world
34:34You can produce in Bangladesh
34:36Sell it to China too
34:38Assam is connected
34:40To the rest of India through
34:42The chicken neck
34:44Chicken neck is an important
34:46Discussion even in political
34:48Lexicon also
34:50Many people threaten
34:52That we'll cut the chicken necks
34:54And we'll disrupt northeast
34:56But today
34:58Our railway minister has announced
35:00That over the chicken neck
35:02There will be four railway
35:04Tracks to increase
35:06Railway connectivity to Assam
35:08And
35:10I am sure at appropriate
35:12Time he'll also
35:14Announce minimum two
35:16Railway lines under the chicken necks
35:18That is also
35:20I am sure
35:22That is also in his mind
35:24And obviously that is
35:26Going to come and we are a
35:28New India under the leadership
35:30Of prime minister Modi and we are
35:32Capable of delivering that
35:34I think this is a very shocking
35:36Statement by chief advisor
35:38Muhammad Yudus. He has absolutely no right
35:40To make a statement like that. He knows
35:42That the northeast is an integral part of
35:44India and we have had very close
35:46Discussions with the government of
35:48Bangladesh on access by northeast
35:50India to the
35:52Bay of Bengal. I must say
35:54That we must condemn the statement because
35:56The manner in which it was made
35:58Although the northeast belongs to Bangladesh
36:00You know and actually
36:02This I must tell you that this is an old habit
36:04Of the BNP government
36:06Well as you know
36:08Very well we created Bangladesh
36:10And you also know
36:12That we did not take
36:14Any cartographic advantage
36:16And now Bangladesh is saying
36:18That China must help
36:20And China must
36:22Get into the seven states
36:24If Mr. Yunus thinks
36:26That he can get away with he is sadly
36:28Mistaken because India is not what
36:30India what they are used to
36:32That we
36:34Never thought in terms of
36:36These strategic advantages
36:38Now India is
36:40Fully aware of it and Mr. Yunus
36:42Idea is only
36:44Going to remain as an idea
36:48So Hemant Biswa Sarma very specifically
36:50Spoke of the chicken's neck
36:52Or the siliguri corridor
36:54Let's tell you a little more about it
36:56Before I bring in our special guest on this broadcast
36:58The chicken's neck
37:00Or that siliguri corridor is a very narrow
37:02Strip of land in Bengal
37:04It's about 60 kilometers
37:06Long and just about
37:0822 kilometers wide
37:10Borders Nepal, Bhutan
37:12And Bangladesh
37:14As you can see it connects the
37:16North-Eastern states to
37:18West Bengal and the rest of the country
37:20But how should one view
37:22This statement of Professor Muhammad Yunus
37:24Joining me on this special broadcast
37:26Is Ambassador Veena Sikri India's former
37:28High Commissioner to Bangladesh
37:30Also with me is Lieutenant General
37:32Syed Atta Hasnain he is former Kashmir Corps
37:34Commander but someone who has also served
37:36Extensively in this area and Ambassador
37:38Sikri you said India
37:40Should not condemn this statement
37:42Now why
37:44Is this statement
37:46Not above board in your appreciation
37:48Well two things
37:50I think we have to say very clearly
37:52First of all you know you are talking
37:54About as if Bangladesh controls
37:56Every access for the North-East
37:58I must tell your viewers
38:00That sorry
38:02As in the North-Eastern states
38:04They do have access to Calcutta port
38:06They have been doing it for 70 years
38:08We have agreed with the government of Bangladesh
38:10We have agreement with them of
38:12Longstanding over the last 15 years it has been
38:14Evolved for giving the North-East states
38:16Access to the Bay of Bengal
38:18Through Chittagong port and Mongla port
38:20This is the Chittagong port which comes
38:22Through Tripura and then you have
38:24A bridge on the river Feni and then
38:26You come to the 75 km Chittagong
38:28On Mongla port side which is just one day
38:30Sailing from Kolkata you have
38:32The riverine transport going all the way across
38:34To Zakirganj
38:36So these are agreements
38:38Now if Bangladesh does not want to
38:40Abide by these agreements
38:42It's a very serious matter
38:44Because you expect that international agreements
38:46Between two countries they should be abided by
38:48But instead UNICEF is pretending
38:50That these agreements don't exist
38:52And that you know Bangladesh has full
38:54Control and they are the guardians of the ocean
38:56Which is completely incorrect the guardian of the
38:58Bay of Bengal are three countries India
39:00Bangladesh and Myanmar there is no such thing
39:02As you know Bangladesh being guardian of that
39:04Now if and the second thing that is
39:06Very disturbing on what he said is that he is talking
39:08About you know bringing electricity from
39:10Bhutan bringing electricity from Nepal
39:12Now here they all have to go through India
39:14So as far as India is
39:16Concerned UNICEF is absolutely
39:18Sure that India will give access
39:20To electricity from Bhutan to Bangladesh
39:22Electricity from Nepal to Bangladesh
39:24But Bangladesh will not
39:26Give access to north eastern states
39:28To go through Chittagong and Mongla port
39:30This is completely one sided
39:32He should not expect anything like that
39:34In fact if Bangladesh
39:36Thinks that they are going to deny
39:38Access to north eastern states to the
39:40Agreed access to Chittagong
39:42And Mongla ports then why should
39:44India respect the rights of a lower riparian
39:46State and give them any share in the
39:48River waters these are
39:50Everything is based on give and take everything
39:52Is based on a mutual understanding
39:54On friendship on trusting
39:56Each other but
39:58This clearly is an indication General
40:00Hasnain that India
40:02Or Bangladesh is giving
40:04India no reason
40:06Under Muhammad Yunus to trust
40:08Bangladesh every action
40:10Appears to be more hostile
40:12Than his previous one
40:14See Gaurav
40:16There is no doubt about it
40:18That this message which
40:20Muhammad Yunus
40:22Was conveying was not
40:24A message from Bangladesh proper
40:26It was actually a message
40:28Right out of the ISI
40:30Book itself
40:32Because the ISI has been
40:34Very active here you know
40:36It has been very very active
40:38And because of that
40:42Putting words in his mouth
40:44Making the statement from time
40:46To time we know
40:48That in this kind of
40:50Diplomatic standoff
40:52These kind of statements
40:54Make a difference make a huge
40:56Difference this is
40:58To put India off
41:00Create some kind of
41:02A rift with the
41:04Chinese and hope like
41:06Hell that Bangladesh
41:08Will be the beneficiary of it
41:10It's quite clear
41:12That Bangladesh
41:14Will probably
41:16Try or attempt to do something
41:18In their own infrastructure
41:20To create
41:22Obstacles for the movement of
41:24Indian traffic
41:26But it's not necessarily
41:28That it will happen this is just a question
41:30Of a lot of rhetoric which is going
41:32On and this is also
41:34The radicals behind
41:36Him who are making these statements
41:38Attempt is to provoke
41:40That's the whole idea the attempt is to provoke
41:42And we need not
41:44Get provoked I think
41:46The Assam chief minister the honourable
41:48Chief minister statements were absolutely
41:50Correct bang on today
41:52That we have
41:54That we will continue
41:56To create our infrastructure
41:58That infrastructure will be guarded
42:00Will be secured and will
42:02Be utilised as per our
42:04Requirements all the time
42:06Ambassador Sikri
42:08India had permitted Pakistan
42:10To punch far above its weight
42:12For decades
42:14Only to realise that
42:16Pakistan you know as the external affairs
42:18Minister very recently put it
42:20That you know the DNA
42:22Is bigoted Pakistan cannot
42:24Change you cannot expect better from Pakistan
42:26Are we to understand
42:28Under the likes of Muhammad Yunus
42:30And the radicals who are
42:32On centre stage in Bangladesh
42:34Bangladesh is no different from Pakistan
42:36It's the same DNA
42:38Well actually
42:40One must understand your question is
42:42Absolutely correct but one must understand
42:44That these are the people the people
42:46Who are in power today the Jamaat-e-Islami
42:48Backed by Pakistan with the Radhakas
42:50They are the ones who lost in 1971
42:52And surely they have the same DNA
42:54They do have the same DNA because they were
42:56On the same side in 1971
42:58They didn't want the creation of Bangladesh
43:00So today when
43:02Yunus is there as a puppet
43:04With the Jamaat-e-Islami and Hizb ut-Tahrir
43:06And all the Islamist parties behind him
43:08The Hifazat-e-Islam
43:10And the Islami
43:12Handolan Bangladesh
43:14They all want to follow the Pakistan playbook
43:16But I must tell you that one thing is there
43:18Yunus is losing popularity
43:20Very fast in Bangladesh
43:22Nobody expected this kind of a rise
43:24Of radical extremism
43:26And them trying to take over
43:28In fact Yunus is copying the Islamist playbook
43:30Because
43:32His special assistant
43:34Mahfuz Alam who is a member of Hizb ut-Tahrir
43:36Already tweeted
43:38Showing West Bengal and the North Eastern states
43:40And all of them as part of what is called
43:42Banglastan
43:44They said he is going to become one of them
43:46Of course he deleted the tweet later
43:48But you know the damage had been done
43:50So I think that one has to understand
43:52This playbook that is there
43:54And they are trying to provoke India
43:56As General Zaid Atta has then very correctly said
43:58Into responding
44:00But I think that we have to be very clear on this
44:02And we cannot be quiet on it
44:04Because this will only encourage Yunus
44:06To go and do some more
44:08Such like threats and to
44:10Posture himself a thousand times bigger
44:12We have to see that Yunus
44:14Is a constitutionally illegal government
44:16Absolutely
44:18Unelected leader
44:20Playing in the hands of radical Islamists
44:24An economy that was doing well
44:26In Bangladesh is suddenly
44:28General Hasnain
44:30It's in tatters
44:32In Bangladesh but it's exactly in an opportunity
44:34Like this to divert attention
44:36From their failing economy
44:38From their collapsing society
44:40Bangladesh would want to focus
44:42On one
44:44Trying to bring their religion to unite their country
44:46And trying to paint India
44:48As the villain
44:50And perhaps using
44:52Our northeast as part of
44:54You know in their playbook
44:56Is that an apprehension?
44:58What are countermeasures that India must take?
45:02See Gaurav
45:04We have
45:06Followed a very very sensible
45:08Stable policy so far
45:10Since the 5th of August
45:122024
45:14There have been attempts to intimidate us
45:16At all at every juncture
45:18I think the kind of statements
45:20Which the honourable
45:22Chief Minister of Assam
45:24Has just made is the kind of thing
45:26Which sort of is a good response
45:28Without any rhetoric
45:30Typical
45:32And a good Indian response
45:34I would say
45:36We have not been intimidating ourselves
45:38We haven't used any strong language
45:40At all
45:42Tomorrow or the day after the Prime Minister
45:44Will very well meet Mohammad Yunus
45:46At the BIMSTEC meeting too
45:48We don't know whether there's going to be a meeting
45:50On the sidelines yet
45:52But I think the way our diplomacy
45:54Has gone has been a very very mature
45:56Display
45:58That's the way it should continue for the moment
46:00Although we must continue to keep
46:02Our necessary
46:04Diplomatic tools also sharpened
46:06So that if it comes
46:08If push comes to shove
46:10Then we must go all out and ensure that
46:12So Ambassador Sikri
46:14We are told military to military
46:16Relations between India and Bangladesh
46:18Were, are and perhaps
46:20Shall remain extremely strong
46:22But can the military
46:24Drill some sense
46:26Into these radical Islamists
46:28In Bangladesh
46:30I'm told there was a meeting between
46:32Ambassador Mohammad Yunus and
46:34General Waqar Usman, the army chief
46:36Or do you think the situation has gone
46:38Really out of hand and even the army
46:40May not be in a situation or a position
46:42To control it
46:44No, the army I must say
46:46Is the one factor of authority
46:48And stability in Bangladesh
46:50And they are the one factor
46:52That the people of Bangladesh recognise
46:54That they are a factor of authority and stability
46:56And what they say will prevail
46:58On 24th of February
47:00Just about four weeks ago
47:02Or five weeks ago
47:04Actually General Waqar Usman, the army chief of Bangladesh
47:06Made a very strong statement
47:08Pointing directly at Yunus
47:10And saying enough is enough
47:12And the army had been called out
47:14And given police powers
47:16And given magistracy powers
47:18But they have been lying low
47:20They have been acting very normally
47:22Because they don't want to make it very obvious
47:24That the army is there
47:26But he said that he will take action
47:28And if the situation continues
47:30The way it is
47:32And he decried the complete anarchy
47:34The complete law and order breakdown
47:36The breakdown of the economy
47:38And he was reflecting the grave sense of dissatisfaction
47:40That exists among the people of Bangladesh
47:42After that of course there has been a meeting
47:44And there has been
47:46Some kind of a make up
47:48But I think General Waqar Usman's statement
47:50Stands there very strongly
47:52And should the situation continue as it is
47:54Anything can happen in Bangladesh
47:56And I think we have to be very clear
47:58That the popularity of this regime
48:00Of Yunus
48:02And backed by the Jamaat-e-Islami
48:04And you know the party that is being made
48:06By the so called students, they aren't really students at all
48:08They belong to the Islami Chhatra Shabeer
48:10You know the National Citizen Party
48:12Even that has got no traction at all with the people
48:14The people are not going for their rallies
48:16You know they are spending a lot of money
48:18Having Iftar parties
48:20And taking 100 car convoys
48:22Where is all the money coming from
48:24So there is a lot of dissatisfaction
48:26We have to of course keep a very close watch
48:28On the situation
48:30And we would like there to be
48:32Early, very early elections
48:34That are free, fair and inclusive
48:36We have said we will be with the elected government
48:38And we will do that
48:40You know before I bring in General Hasnain
48:42I also want your response on how India
48:44Has reacted as a nation
48:46So yes we saw a statement
48:48From a ruling party chief minister
48:50Or a SAM chief minister
48:52But we also saw a statement
48:54From Congress Party's leader Gaurav Gogoi
48:56We also saw a statement
48:58From Trimul Congress' Abhishek Banerjee
49:00Who said it's a disgusting remark
49:02By Mohammed Yunus
49:04You know
49:06Deeply concerning and unacceptable
49:08Says Gaurav Gogoi, Congress Party leader
49:10Isn't that the best response
49:12India speaks in one voice, Ambassador Sikri
49:14That message goes across loud and clear
49:16Absolutely
49:18I think it's very good and I think it's good
49:20India kept quiet and following the situation
49:22And all the people
49:24Belonging to the neighbouring states of Bangladesh
49:26Whether it is West Bengal
49:28Whether it is Assam
49:30You know and they have spoken up
49:32And this is very very good
49:34Because them speaking up shows that
49:36The states adjacent to West Bengal
49:38What he is describing as the seven sisters
49:40They are speaking in one voice
49:42And they will not let Bangladesh do anything
49:44To affect the sovereignty, territory
49:46And integrity of India
49:48You see as one with the Government of India
49:50With the Central Government of India
49:52With everybody, the Congress Party has also spoken
49:54And this is very good
49:56So I think that the message has gone out loud and clear
49:58And I think that this has only hastened
50:00The demise of the Yunus regime
50:02In Bangladesh because the people of Bangladesh
50:04Are fed up, their factories are closing
50:06There was a report for example the other day
50:08How Bangladesh
50:10Is wanting to get
50:12Cotton for example that they get from India
50:14They are trying to get it from Pakistan
50:16It is taking them 45 days
50:18And with delay
50:20And higher prices compared to India
50:22Which comes in 2 or 3 days
50:24But still
50:26And much cheaper, electricity that is so much cheaper
50:28Than they would get from anywhere else
50:30But then unfortunately they seem to be cutting their nose
50:32To spite their face
50:34General Hasnain
50:36And this is where does lack of border fencing
50:38Along the India-Bangladesh border
50:40And Union Home Minister Amit Shah
50:42Recently raised it in Parliament
50:44Does that remain
50:46A major cause for concern
50:48That a major part of it still hasn't been fenced
50:50Well Gaurav
50:52Yes that definitely is
50:54A matter of concern
50:56But I don't foresee
50:58An immediate kind of solution
51:00To that because this will have to go through
51:02A fair amount of negotiation
51:04But to come back to your question regarding
51:06The Indian response
51:08I did hear your remarks earlier too
51:10Which I thought you were completely bang on
51:12That this is a dream kind of a response
51:14From India
51:16Where you find complete consensus
51:18My mind only goes back to 1994
51:20Where we had all party resolution
51:22All the parties coming together
51:2422nd of February
51:26To say that the whole of J&K
51:28Belonged to India
51:30This is exactly the kind of thing
51:32Which is happening in the North-East at the moment
51:34And I hope this will continue
51:36As far as the issue of
51:38The Bangladesh Army is concerned
51:40If Bangladesh Army is concerned
51:42I do have one opinion
51:44I think this is probably the most important
51:46Entity in Bangladesh today
51:48And Vakaro Zama is a very important
51:50Individual personality
51:52In this whole game
51:54And I hope that he remains
51:56Stable and remains in power
51:58Because he will make the difference
52:00At the end
52:02That's a very pertinent point
52:04You're making this
52:06Ambassador Veena Sikri and General Hasnain
52:08Guys, many thanks for joining me here
52:10On India Today
52:12And we'll be tracking developments in Bangladesh
52:14And the region very very closely
52:16Because Bangladesh
52:18Under Muhammad Yunus may want to cut its nose
52:20To spite its face
52:22But that can't be at the cost of India's security
52:24That's very clear
52:26Will Prime Minister Narendra Modi grant him audience
52:28And meet him
52:30On the sidelines of BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok
52:32That's another story
52:34We'll be tracking very closely