Leader of Opposition and former Congress president Rahul Gandhi raised the caste census pitch at the party's key meet held in Ahmedabad on Wednesday.
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00:01Good evening, hello and welcome. You're with the news today. This is your prime time destination. News, newsmakers, talking points, news without the noise, news with knowledge.
00:12Our talking point, Rahul Gandhi's caste census versus the BJP's Hindutva pitch. As the Congress holds its big AICC session in Gujarat, is the party short of ideas for a revival?
00:25What will it take to revive the Congress? Sachin Bailet is among my special guests today. He will join us live and exclusive in a little while.
00:33But first, as always, it's time for the Nine Headlines at Night.
00:3826-11 plotter Tahavur Rana, extradited from the US, is on a flight to India, will be taken into NIA custody upon landing.
00:47The trade war between China and the United States worsens. Beijing slaps an 84% retaliatory tariff on US goods in response to Trump's 104% tariff finds a complaint in the WTO.
01:05EU also set to vote on retaliatory tariffs on America.
01:09Rahul Gandhi reiterates his caste census demands as Congress will smash the 50% quota cap devoted to power.
01:20BJP questions Rahul, asks why has the Congress not appointed an OBC chief minister?
01:29Trail of provocative speeches and anti-India slogans and Murshidabad's anti-wakster in Bengal.
01:35Police arrest 22 rioters. Mamata Banerjee says WAKT amendments will not apply in Bengal.
01:45India's top-strang shipment for Bangladesh move days after Dhaka's interim leader, Mohamed Yunus, pitched for Chinese investments in his country, claiming India's northeast is landlocked.
01:56Bangladesh is the guardian of the ocean.
01:57India today's special investigation reveals how sex determination tests and female foetacides still rampant in Haryana.
02:08State chief minister takes note.
02:10Nayib Singh Saini promises action against lawbreakers.
02:15India clears a 63,000 crore deal to buy 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets for Navy.
02:21India to get 22 single-seater jets for twin jet as part of the deal.
02:28Another blow to Vijay Maliya.
02:30UK court rejects his appeal against a bankruptcy order.
02:34Courts upholds banks' position to be valid, dismisses two applications filed by him.
02:40Elon Musk escalates back with Trump advisor Peter Navarro over tariffs.
02:45White House inner circle ripped out in open after Musk calls Trump's aide a moron.
02:51The big story that's breaking at the moment, 26-11 terrorist Tahavur Rana is being brought to India and is on his way back to the country.
03:12Rana took off from the United States at 7.10 p.m.
03:15The flight is expected to reach Delhi on Thursday afternoon where he is expected to be immediately taken into NIA custody.
03:23Rana is believed to have been one of the key plotters in the 26-11 case.
03:27Joining me now is our National Bureau Chief Munish Pandey for more.
03:31Munish, Tahavur Rana's extradition, how is the NIA and the government looking at it?
03:39Do they believe that Tahavur Rana could hold the key to bringing out the Pakistan connection even more directly?
03:46Absolutely, Razdeep, and what we have been given to understand is that, you know, this message is going to be on a large scale.
03:56It is not only about 26-11 or the 180 lives which were lost, you know, during the 26-11 attack, but the government and NIA's plan is to expose Pakistan because Tahavur Rana is someone who was working with David Coleman Headley.
04:13Tahavur Rana is someone who was linked to ISI.
04:16There are evidence which has been collected by the Mumbai Police as well as the National Investigative Agency which links Tahavur Rana to the Pakistan connection.
04:25It is not only about Pakistan's ISI but also Pakistan army.
04:30So that is going to be the larger message of India as far as the global messaging is concerned that Pakistan is a state which has sponsored terrorism from last many years.
04:41And in 26-11 attack also, no matter how many times Pakistan, you know, refuses to accept that this was sponsored by them, India is planning to expose Pakistan on a golden, on a global platform.
04:58Right. Okay.
05:01Munish Pandey, we'll wait and see when Tahavur Rana comes back, what next the NIA does.
05:07But I appreciate you joining us with that piece of breaking news.
05:10Tahavur Rana expected in the country tomorrow.
05:13We'll have more details of the 9 o'clock show tomorrow night as well.
05:16Let me turn to today's top political story and it's coming from the Congress Party which had its AICC session in Ahmedabad in Gujarat.
05:26It's a symbolic place given the fact that Gujarat is also the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
05:33Centre stage, Rahul Gandhi once again reiterating his caste census demand.
05:38This time saying that the Congress would even smash the 50% quota cap if they came to power, giving priority to OBCs, minorities, Adivasis and Dalits.
05:50Take a look at what Rahul Gandhi claims is the recipe for the Congress revival.
05:55In a moment, Sachin Pilot will join me.
05:58But first, what happened in Ahmedabad today?
06:01An AICC session on the centenary of Mahatma Gandhi's ascent as Congress President in the year that marks the 158th birth anniversary of Sardar Patel.
06:15Held in Gujarat, a state where the Grand Old Party has been out of power since 1995.
06:23A summit high on symbolism, drawing a road map for a party.
06:28Bogged down by back-to-back election debauchers, adopted a resolution titled Nyaay Pat.
06:39Resolve, dedicate, struggle.
06:44The highlights of the resolution were the pledge to defend the Constitution.
06:49Work for social justice.
06:52Work for national harmony.
06:54Equal rights for women.
06:56Legal guarantee of MSB.
06:58The document claimed a rising economic injustice and called the Narendra Modi government's foreign policy a failure.
07:08The party also promised organizational empowerment within.
07:15Rahul Gandhi, speaking at the event, touched upon caste census, communal harmony, election clean-up and handling of Trump tariffs.
07:24Congress President Malik Arjun Khargayi also reiterated the party's demand for caste census.
07:54He pointed out how Dalits are discriminated even today.
07:58He pointed out how Dalits are discriminated even today.
07:58The Congress left.
07:59The Congress leadership declared that district-level leaders will be involved in
08:23The Congress leadership declared that district level leaders will be involved in ticket selection in the coming assembly elections.
08:31Some delegates spoke out against political opportunism and the tendency of leaders to switch parties.
08:39Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi skipped the session, but sources say there's a bigger role in store for her ahead of crucial assembly polls in many states next year.
08:52The big question remains, how was the AICC session in Ahmedabad any different from similar sessions in the past?
09:01And how can it help the Congress revive itself?
09:06With Maasami Singh and Rahul Gautam, Bureau Report, India Today.
09:13Let's take that question then straight to one of the faces of the Congress' gen next.
09:18Sachin Pilot joins me, Senior Leader Congress.
09:21How is the Congress going to revive itself?
09:23What is the recipe you gave us from this AICC session in Ahmedabad that should indicate to observers that the Congress can revive itself Sachin Pilot?
09:35So this session, Rajdeep, as you've mentioned in your story, is quite historic because in Gujarat, you know, that's where the land of Mahatma Gandhi and Sada Patel and the resolution that the Congress party adopted unanimously had a few things that are important for us to look at.
09:49So one that we have taken upon ourselves to be a constructive opposition, we will take the government to task.
09:55The year 2025 will be an organization to do a mass outreach program, mass contact program, reach out to the public and empower our district units.
10:06This is going to be a different sort of selection process than we've had previously.
10:11That's for the organization.
10:12But from the party standpoint, you mentioned earlier about caste census.
10:16I just want to reiterate, all we're looking for is a scientific way to have a headcount where we know exactly who is living in what condition and what geographical areas.
10:26The budgetary allocations, the programs, the money that we spend is ad hoc.
10:30There is no scientific understanding or capturing of the effects of that spend unless we know who's placed how well.
10:36And I think the reservation issue, more than seven or eight states have already crossed the 50% limit.
10:42So let us understand that who are the ones who are deserving the most, use the scientific data to target those who need the help and support.
10:50Why should we bind ourselves with 50%, 40%, 60%? Let that be a total open census.
10:56And then we must know who's placed where.
10:58And I tell you, the gap between the rich and poor, I want to add one data point, Rajdeep.
11:01Today, 1% of India owns 40% of this country's assets.
11:05The top 10% Indians own 70% of India's assets.
11:09So the huge widening gap between rich and poor is a huge concern for all of us.
11:14And we want an equitable growth.
11:16We want to empower competition, empower young people, have investments, create jobs.
11:20The government has failed to do so.
11:22And we're doing the best we can to make sure the government lives up to its promises.
11:25You know, Sachin Pilate, you mentioned organization.
11:28Let's come one by one.
11:29You mentioned organized.
11:30This is going to be the year of the organization of the Congress.
11:33I've been hearing this for the last few years.
11:35I want to know what is so different.
11:37Every time for the last few years, I hear the Congress recognizes organization problem.
11:41We are going to strengthen the organization.
11:44The truth of the matter, it's not happened.
11:46So what is different this time compared to the past?
11:50We have now adopted a resolution that says 50% of all party positions will go to people who are under the age of 50.
11:58Historic.
11:59We've never done this before.
12:00A formal adoption by the Congress in Udaipur is being implemented.
12:04The backwards, the Dalits, the tribal, women, young people, minorities.
12:08They form the chunk of this population in India.
12:10We want to make sure they're in the front line of public policy.
12:13They're in the front line of party leadership.
12:15Give them those positions.
12:16And like I said to you earlier, empower the district units.
12:19This is something that we have now embarked upon just recently.
12:22So these are all new initiatives the Congress has taken in this AICC session in Anderabad.
12:26No, but Sachin Pilot, I recall two years ago in Udaipur, the Congress said one person, one post.
12:33And yet we have several leaders, including Malikarjun Kharge, who have more than one post.
12:37He's leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha and he's Congress president.
12:42You've said in the past that you will ensure that 50% of all posts will be OBCs, Dalits, Adivasis.
12:47There are still states where that does not happen.
12:50You speak of caste census.
12:51You have a state in Karnataka.
12:53You are in power there.
12:54Why don't you bring a caste census there?
12:56You see, the Congress, unless you walk the talk, people will wonder, are you really sincere and keen about bringing this dramatic change?
13:07This change is brought from within.
13:09Nobody has asked us to do it.
13:11It was the leadership in the Congress party, Mr. Karge, Mr. Gandhi, Mrs. Gandhi, who decided to bring up one of these changes.
13:16In Telangana, we've actually implemented that.
13:21Oh, you've done it?
13:24Yes, you've done it in Telangana.
13:26Just recently, hardly a month ago, we've done it in Telangana.
13:28And Karnataka will follow suit very closely.
13:30But a national census is what you're looking for.
13:33And the government is shying away from it.
13:35I think they want to keep people in the dark as to how they do allocations and allot money and what schemes and programs.
13:40What schemes and programs are going to be implemented.
13:42And I ask you, if today we have technology, we have the method and means to get scientific data.
13:48Why should we not adopt that?
13:49Why must we not know what exactly are living conditions of people who are getting benefits?
13:53Perhaps, if they've got enough, we can stop it.
13:55Perhaps, those who have not got it, we must target those.
13:57And they can be a follow-up.
13:58They can be an outcome budget of what we've been spent.
14:02So, this is something that we've asked as a party.
14:04And I think most people will agree that we must use the scientific technology at our disposal to serve the national interest.
14:10What is wrong with that?
14:11No, no.
14:12So, are you saying that the battles of the future will...
14:14Because the BJP is very clear.
14:15Clarity, Hindutva pitch.
14:17The Congress seems to be veering to the pitch that caste census will be the way we will combat Hindutva.
14:22There will be those who will say, you are also playing divisive politics.
14:25Jitni abadi utna hak could mean tomorrow.
14:30Further division this time around caste.
14:32You accuse the BJP of dividing the country on community.
14:35They will in turn accuse you of dividing the country on caste.
14:38And OBCs, the Prime Minister himself is an OBC.
14:43He only became OBC after becoming Prime Minister.
14:46When he was CEO of Gujarat, he never mentioned about being OBC.
14:49And if you care to read a resolution, very clearly we've said our constitution provides for every single Indian to have equal rights.
14:56No one can be discriminated on religion, caste, what food they eat, what clothes they wear.
15:01I think it's happening in India.
15:03There is a bipolarity.
15:04There is now a two way of looking at things.
15:07People are being discriminated.
15:08Minorities, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs are being attacked.
15:11I think the sense of fear that is being, you know, that has been inculcated.
15:15And also the institutions that we have nurtured for 75 years systematically being eroded in a systematic way to make them more transparent, to let them not have biases in their functioning.
15:28That's what we're striving for.
15:29And we as opposition are within our rights to make sure that constitutional bodies are left from politics.
15:34And why, for example, is the way that you elect the chief election commissioner has been changed.
15:40It was chief justice, leader of opposition and Prime Minister.
15:42Today, CJR is out.
15:43It's Minister, Prime Minister and LOP.
15:45So, two to one.
15:46You always have your way.
15:47You always get your guy in position.
15:48We are saying what was the need of tampering with the selection process of the chief election commissioner, for example.
15:54You know, the chief election commissioner.
15:56Sir, Mr. Pilot, during the Congress, Raj, the Congress was accused of having its officers as election commissioners.
16:03But the question is, the question, Mr. Pilot, for example, you said you will raise the issue of minorities, Dalits.
16:09In the past, there's a sense the Congress is a little reluctant to take up issues of minorities for fear of being seen as anti-Hindu.
16:16That's what the BJP's Hindutva pitch has done.
16:18You're not willing to come out openly and speak out on certain issues.
16:22Is the Congress very clear that you will speak out on all these issues without fear of the BJP?
16:29Rajdeep, I cannot be more clear.
16:31Every Indian citizen, if this nation, is equal in the eyes of law.
16:36The Constitution has given us the right to be equal.
16:39Religion, caste, crete, sex, gender, food habits, cultural habits have nothing to do with it.
16:44And if anybody whose rights are being infringed upon, who's being brutalized, he or she needs to be protected.
16:50And if it's what's happening with the VAKF bill is a clear indication of how they want to divide the narrative in this country on Hindu and Muslim and Mandir and Masjid.
16:58Jobs, agriculture, investments, wealth creation, competition, this monopolistic attitude of running economic policies.
17:05They're all under question.
17:07But because the people in power today fail to hear the voice of the people or the opposition, they're carrying on.
17:13But ultimately, I think what we stand for, what our constitution stands for, what the Congress party strives to achieve is what people in India want to see.
17:20One of the key questions is how do you address the youth population?
17:24I heard Shashi Tharoor's speech during your session where he said that we need to get the new voters back into the Congress fold.
17:34We need to increase our footprint in that sense.
17:37What are you offering as an attraction for new young voters, many of whom have gone with the BJP?
17:43They represent, many believe, the politics of aspiration.
17:46How will you attract the newer, younger demographic that is not worried about what the Congress did 100 or 150 years ago?
17:54But what will you do for them now and for the future?
17:58Fair enough. We are a young country.
18:00And young people who are educated, who have the skill sets, need to be given that platform.
18:04They can display their imagination, their creativity, they can be gainfully employed and have proper competition.
18:09We must create wealth, but in the right ways and right means, people must have the opportunity to prove themselves.
18:16And today, I think what we need to do, Rajdeep, is India must live up to its potential.
18:21This youth dividend will become a liability very soon.
18:25If you're not able to deliver on our promises, if you're not able to get the young people motivated, and we as a Congress party represent a liberal, open atmosphere of debate, discussion and disagreement.
18:38So today, what is happening is that one shoe fits all, one ideology, one way of thinking, one way of talking is being forced upon people.
18:44But look at our colleges and campuses. Look at the fear this government has tried to create in the minds of young people.
18:50The divisions on religion are really now eating at the false lines that already exist in our society.
18:57We have to come together as a nation. We can differ ideologically, but we can't do it at the cost of putting the country back.
19:03We have to look forward, be progressive, be liberal, be open minded, be open to discussion and debate that are hardly happening today in campuses and colleges across the country.
19:12But there is one elephant in the room, which is Rahul Gandhi himself. He's not the Congress president, but he was holding center stage today.
19:21I want to understand, how do you see Rahul Gandhi's role now? Is he an asset? Is he someone who's yet untested as some suggest? Is he a liability?
19:32How is Rahul Gandhi seen by your party? Is he the face of the future? Is it Malik Arjun, Gharge and Octogenarian? Or dare I say, is it the Sachin pilots of the world?
19:42I think we're a team, Rajdi, first and foremost. 2024 looks of our election. I have no hesitation in saying that Mr. Rahul Gandhi's 4,000 kilometer padiyatra across the country really united not just the party, but also the country.
19:57And we raised our tally from 50 to 100. Credit of all that goes to Mr. Gandhi. I think we must appreciate the fact that he put himself out there in the face of everything that came at him.
20:07And Mr. Gharge is our elected Congress president. And Rahul Gandhi is leader of opposition. So as leader of the opposition, it is incumbent upon him to take on the prime minister. He's doing it, you know, deliberately and diligently.
20:19He's one man who's taken on Mr. Modi in parliament and outside parliament. And the Congress party has fought its way through independence. We have lost two elections, but doesn't mean they will dictate the future of a Congress party.
20:29We have leadership at state level. We have central leadership. We have Mrs. Gandhi as party chairperson. All of us work together, consult, debate, discuss and then formulate policies.
20:39But yes, he's leading from the front, a fearless man who has taken the entire state power of the government of India and yet not relented. I think we owe him that appreciation of leading the Congress party this far.
20:51So he is your face. He is your mascot. The reason I'm asking you, there's a sense that the Congress party still lacks the aggression that it needs on the ground.
21:00It's one thing to be aggressive at a party session. The session is over. You all will go back to your various posts across the country.
21:07The Congress has become a lazy party. It's not passionate enough on the ground to take on a juggernaut like the BJP.
21:14Congress party is a dynamic, flexible, vigilant Congress party. We are in the opposition and I understand what our role is.
21:23We have been on the streets. You said we'll go back. I'm going to Patna day after for the Padhyatra. Elections are coming in Bihar.
21:29We're fully prepared for that. And this whole year, nine, ten months are focused on developing a cadre at the booth level to enthuse, encourage and excite our Congress workers,
21:38get young people onto the fold. We are doing it as we speak. But this year, I think for the sake of repetition,
21:45this year is an organizational year. We have very few elections, Rajdeep. This year, we are focused on that.
21:50And believe you me, and I say this all the time, today's opposition is tomorrow's government.
21:55Today's opposition is tomorrow's government. Where will Sachin Pilot be?
21:59Will he be still looking at that? What is your future in all of this, if I may ask? When will they empower the pilots of the world? Or will you still have the old guard?
22:12Rajdeep, I think nobody can tell the future. Neither you nor I. We can work in the present. And currently, our job today is strengthen our party.
22:20Whatever jobs and responsibility I get from the party, I do it diligently. What the future holds, I don't know.
22:25But I can tell you one thing. The Congress party will fight tooth and nail for our principles and convictions.
22:30And the people of country have a lot of faith and expectation from us. And we hope to deliver.
22:35Sachin Pilot, for joining me while you're on the road, we will wait and see whether the Congress party walks the talk this time,
22:41particularly when it comes to organizational issues. But for now, for joining me, I appreciate it and appreciate you taking the time.
22:49Thank you so much.
22:51Okay, let's, you know, we've heard from Sachin Pilot. Let's widen this to those who observe politics in the Congress party in particular.
22:59Is the Congress party really in a position to revive? Rahul Gandhi's caste pitch versus the BJP's Hindutva?
23:08Is the Congress still running short of ideas, new ideas for revival? Is organization, which Mr. Pilot spoke about, the key to the party's revival?
23:16The party's revival? And the elephant in the room, are the Gandhis a liability or an asset for the Congress?
23:22Sanjay Jha is someone who's been with the Congress party. He's now still, I guess, suspended.
23:28Javed Ansari, senior journalist, has covered the Congress for decades.
23:32Rajat Sethi is someone who's been associated with the BJP's campaigns. He also joins us.
23:37I just appreciate all of you joining us. Sanjay Jha, I want to come to you first.
23:40You very interestingly today put out on Twitter a five-point agenda for revival of Congress saying they should have a shadow cabinet, have a model state, which should be showcased.
23:52What do you really believe is the key to a Congress revival? Is it possible to revive the elephant?
23:59Rajat Sethi, let me tell you that if the most corrupt, divisive and authoritarian government of the BJP has been so successful and continues to win elections, the credit must be shared equally between Prime Minister Modi and the Congress party.
24:19I believe in politics, like in sports, your opponent doesn't defeat you. You lose it.
24:25And I think the Congress is a classic example. I was loving your conversation with my friend Sachin. He's a very dear friend of mine and I have a lot of respect for him.
24:33The truth is that, Razit, the Congress needs to stop wasting his time on these usual resolutions. It is time for execution.
24:43You know, all the pontification and inclusive India, the idea of India, secularism, the minorities, Dalits, caste reservations are absolutely legitimate.
24:54But the only way you can actually change India's rather darkening and slippery democracy and its future is if you win elections.
25:03I would have liked this AICC session to be focused on, one, inspiring the cadre. I can tell you I've traveled a lot during my active period with the Congress.
25:15And I say hats off to these guys who actually go door to door and in campaign who are not invited to these AICC sessions.
25:23They are the people that the Congress party needs to invigorate. And, you know, my five ideas apart where I even talked about a bloated Congress working committee.
25:32The fact that you need vice presidents to invigorate the party, you need a more robust, these are the big ideas that the Congress party needs to incorporate.
25:41Now, you know, if you follow this AICC session and I support the Congress, I will continue to do so.
25:47The problem is that if you don't defeat the BJP, all these grand ideas come to not absolutely zero.
25:55And I feel one of the problems that a lot of people in the cadre have is does the Congress party have accountability when you see people repeatedly fail?
26:06Are they making space for other people to come and, you know, experiment with their own leadership or their own style?
26:12I mean, these are realities.
26:14I take your point and let me take your last point of accountability.
26:19And to you, Javed Ansari, you know, I was seeing a picture there and maybe we'll play that picture there again.
26:24A number of the Congress leaders I saw in their pictures are politicians who've been either chief ministers in the 1990s
26:30and since suffered defeats or led their party to consecutive defeats and yet they're still around.
26:36The truth of the matter is some say nothing succeeds in the Congress as much as failure.
26:41You don't bring in the new guard.
26:43You are not willing to experiment enough where you've done so like Telangana, you have succeeded partly.
26:48Do you believe that's a fundamental problem that the Congress has been unable to affect a generational change?
26:56Yes, I think I agree wholeheartedly with this.
27:02One of the major problems with the Congress party is its inability to change and change in time and its ponderous style of functioning.
27:10It's all very well to flag issues, to call for caste censors, to, you know, Rahul Gandhi built up a whole lot of momentum with his Bharat Johor Yata.
27:20But they couldn't encash it in the manner they ought to have because they don't have an organization.
27:27The single biggest issue that is dodging the Congress party continues to dodge the Congress party is the lack of an organization.
27:35But you heard Sachin Pilate saying this is going to be the year of the organization.
27:42Do you believe that?
27:43I also heard Rajiv Gandhi say in the centenary, the ICC centenary in Mumbai.
27:50I heard Narasimha Rao.
27:51I heard Mrs. Sonia Gandhi.
27:53I heard Dr. Manmohan Singh.
27:55I heard PV Narasimha Rao.
27:57I've heard Rahul Gandhi.
27:59All of them said the same thing, but nothing has changed.
28:02The big question is why?
28:03Who's stopping them from making these changes?
28:06I'm sorry I'm being skeptical, but who is preventing them from making these changes?
28:11It's all right.
28:12Yes, I agree.
28:13The BJP, the prime minister is very authoritarian.
28:17You have a biased election commission.
28:19You have the odds stacked against you.
28:21But at least do what you can do, which is to affect the change, to invigorate the organization.
28:27And that has not been happening.
28:29From a young boy, I've become a grandfather.
28:32But nothing has changed in the Congress party.
28:34Well, the Congress looks in that sense aging.
28:37Rajat Sethi, you would have a slight smile as you're hearing those cynical views.
28:41We've heard them before.
28:42There's a friend saying more things change, the more they remain the same.
28:46But do you sense that the Congress can still pose a challenge to the BJP,
28:51given what happened in 2024 Lok Sabha?
28:53Or do you believe the Vidant Sabha has exposed the limitations of the Congress
28:57and Rahul Gandhi simply is not the answer?
29:00You're on mute, Rajat.
29:07Sorry.
29:08Well, let me break it this way.
29:11So, BJP-RSS combination is absolutely unique in this world.
29:18This kind of a model where one organization remains embedded in the society with its deep roots.
29:23They meet every morning, has no political agenda per se.
29:27But there is a connect with the society 24 x 7 x 365.
29:32And then BJP, you have those typical politicians who do their necessary politics through the year.
29:37And they tend to do hard work, organizational work.
29:40But it is genuinely supported by this parallel rail that runs along with it.
29:45This model Congress doesn't have.
29:47Now, you've reached to a point where Congress, with its hollowed out organization from within,
29:54with the thought process, the set of ideas which are of old generation.
29:58Today, they're talking about Kham formula, which is five decade old formula of Gujarat politics.
30:04You can't bring it and repackage it in this day and age.
30:07It's just not going to work.
30:09I think the problem of Congress party is two, threefold.
30:11First of all, they've run out of ideas.
30:13They have just shown complete bankruptcy.
30:15On one day, they'll be like, okay, we are the champions of minorities.
30:18The other time, they will be in double mind.
30:21Should they go out and support full-fledgedly Vakf or not?
30:24That conviction is not there.
30:25Today, we are hearing in the resolution, they are like, see, we have gone too far on the minorities.
30:29We shouldn't do that.
30:30Perhaps we should pick this OBC ticket.
30:32So this lack of conviction results in a lack of mission for your common karekartas.
30:38You tell me, where is that zeal in a common karekarta on the grassroot of a Congress party to fight,
30:43to fight for his life on those issues?
30:45Where is that mission statement?
30:47It is not there.
30:48And most, when your leader himself is seen hopping on multiple ideas, depending on his mood,
30:54you cannot instill confidence in your karekarta.
30:57And no matter how many, and I agree with Sanjay Ji, how many resolutions you do, how many CWC, AICC meetings you do,
31:04your common karekarta will not feel energized to work hard for on the ground and get the police beatings,
31:10ready to say no to people on the grassroot and still work hard.
31:15That formulation is not there.
31:17And on top of that last point, Rahul Gandhi is the symbol of haves in this haves and have nots battle.
31:23He is a princeling with a silver spoon and he carries on.
31:28His power is unabated in the Congress party.
31:30How will you go?
31:31How will he himself talk about the downtrodden of our society?
31:35That paradox that is there is so stark, so extremely stark that it will be very, very hard for him to have believability in his words.
31:46That's where I see strong contradictions that party will have to deal with that contradiction.
31:50Sanjay Ji, good last point made by Rajat Sethi says, Rahul Gandhi is a fifth generation dentist.
31:55Yes, he speaks passionately now about the caste census.
31:58But you are an entitled politician speaking about empowering people from disadvantaged groups.
32:07Is there a paradox as Rajat Sethi suggests or do you believe Rahul Gandhi is the right person to lead the Congress into the future?
32:14You see, Rajat says the right thing, but I can give you an example of Donald Trump.
32:19A man who's been a multi-billionaire and owns the most glitzy five star hotels, but is a hero of the working class and the white unemployed American in the rust belt.
32:34It's all about the way you position yourself and the way you have your political communication.
32:39It's a paradox, but it's a solvable paradox.
32:42Here is the point, Rajat Sethi, the Congress party has not won an absolute majority on its own since 1984.
32:51You know, people don't understand that even within the party that you have been on a secular decline for a long time.
32:59I expected in this particular AICC session for whatever I have got of it, that the entire focus should have been on how do we win this and you require a combination of an organizational renewal, ideological clarity, political campaign, leadership.
33:15Everybody had to be focused on how do I deliver brass tacks bottom line.
33:21Politics is doesn't give you a silver medal.
33:24The winner takes it all.
33:25And that's the kind of approach you need in politics.
33:28I'll give you one example.
33:29You'll find it fascinating.
33:30I agree with what Javed said and what even Rajat said.
33:34Rahul Gandhi does an extraordinary two Bharajoro yatras.
33:39And his political brand is still down after a year.
33:42I mean, I can't imagine a single politician who would do such a mammoth, wonderful walk of such an inclusive nature.
33:51Hard work, not easy for anyone to do.
33:54And the Congress and Rahul himself has allowed that advantage to fritter away.
33:58I think these are the issues.
34:00The Congress, Rajdeep, I'll be very frank with you, is an incrementalist party at its core.
34:06And it is not able to reconcile that in the age of Mr. Modi and Shah, you need to be probably more risk taking.
34:13You need big ideas.
34:14You got to reimagine the Congress.
34:16And I'll throw up one more suggestion on your show before, you know, it ends.
34:20I would request the Congress party today through your program to kindly resign from leading the India Alliance.
34:27Let the India Alliance get an Akhilesh or a Mamata Banerjee or a Mr. Stalin or Udav or even Arvind Kejriwal.
34:34Focus on your organization revamp and renewal.
34:372025 is a year that gives you a window.
34:40You're fighting one Bihar election with the RJD being the big brother.
34:43Focus on what you need to do in the future.
34:46Spend time internally to sort your issues out.
34:49And if you have a new leader in the India Alliance, you'll still be a leader of opposition.
34:53You still have 100 members in the parliament and you will actually allow a diversity of leadership voices.
34:59Many will say that ship has sailed.
35:02The Congress could have allowed Nitish Kumar to become convener.
35:05He wouldn't have left.
35:07Potentially Chandra Babu Naidu could have joined you and who knows you would have been in power today.
35:11That's the nature of Indian politics.
35:13As some say Congress has never missed an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
35:18But Javed Ansari, as someone who's tracked the party, do you see anything, any hopeful signs for this party at all?
35:25Do you believe that the tide can turn or do you believe that the Congress needs its best is in the past now?
35:33It still lives too much in the past.
35:36Well, all that you say is partly true, but there is still some hope.
35:41The intent is there.
35:43The intent is there, but you need to be able to put that into practice.
35:47You need to be able to affect those changes.
35:50Like Sanjay said, there's been no dearth of resolutions in the Congress party.
35:54If you pick up this booklet, the history of the Congress is just full of these pious resolutions.
36:00But please translate that into action.
36:03Who's preventing you?
36:05Maybe it's too tired.
36:06Maybe it's too tired.
36:07Maybe it's a party of power which cannot deal without power for the last 10 years and therefore doesn't know how to deal with life without power.
36:15It doesn't have the luxury.
36:16It doesn't have the luxury of being tired and of being, you know, living in the past.
36:21If they want to, you know, if they want to exist, if they want to continue, they need to be able to affect those changes.
36:29You mentioned to me when we were speaking earlier today, the three C's that the Congress needs.
36:34What are those three C's?
36:36The Congress needs continuity.
36:38It needs conviction and it needs consistency and clarity.
36:44Okay.
36:45Those are four C's.
36:46Four C's.
36:47And above all…
36:48Continuity is the one which, you know, is the question mark.
36:53Because do you believe that the Gandhi's alone can run the Congress, Javed Ansari?
36:58Well, nobody alone can run it.
37:01The Gandhi's can be at the helm, but there has to be greater teamwork.
37:04And it just doesn't mean that greater…
37:07You know, Gandhi is running it with the help of one gentleman.
37:10Okay.
37:11There needs to be…
37:12Rahul needs to build a team like Rajiv Gandhi did.
37:17He picked these youngsters, not just one youngster.
37:20He picked a lot of these people, the Ashok Gailots, the Ahmed Patels, the Rajesh Pirates, etc.
37:26And built a team.
37:28That's what Rahul Gandhi has not been able to do.
37:30Okay.
37:31I just want to get Rajat Siddhi…
37:33Rajat Siddhi for a final word.
37:36Is the BJP worried about the Congress or is the Congress the perfect enemy?
37:40When I look at the numbers, the BJP strike rate against the Congress is pretty phenomenal in the last three elections.
37:45They win, you know, almost 80% in two of the last three elections, general elections, 80% in direct contests.
37:52Is the Congress at all worried about…
37:54Is the BJP at all worried about the Congress or more worried about some new leader emerging from the regional parties or from some other party?
38:01Is Rahul Gandhi the perfect enemy?
38:04Well, one thing that you will realize when you speak to a BJP worker on the ground.
38:09They are always, you know, worried about the opponent getting a chance.
38:14They have greater sort of worry and they therefore have that mission, that zealousness to work hard on the ground.
38:20They perhaps have greater hope that Congress might come in and therefore I need to work hard than even an average congressman.
38:26This is the, this is the clear difference.
38:28This is why BJP consistently and it's through its cadres, through its various aspects of, you know, engaging the cadres around small, small micro events.
38:36But also not allowing a level playing field.
38:38Rajat Sethi, while you valorize the BJP's efforts and organization and resources, we also, there's also a sense the BJP no longer under Shah Bodhi allows a level playing field in Indian elections.
38:49See, no, no politics is a level playing field. Congress has been the Goliath for seven decades in our, in our country.
38:56So they, they talking about being this poor David, it's that story is not going to cut the ice.
39:01They have been in power for a fairly fair share amount of time.
39:05They, they have exemplified through whatever they did or didn't do acts of commission omission.
39:09They, they have laid before this country what we are.
39:12We don't need a test from a Rahul Gandhi to tell, oh, no, we are not this.
39:15We are something this.
39:16See, this is why I'm saying at this day and age, when they need to speak to a youngster like me, they need to have an elevator pitch.
39:23Tell me what is their elevator pitch of their, their entity, their company?
39:26What do they stand for?
39:27They can't put it in one line.
39:28And this is the challenge before Congress party.
39:30And they, this is.
39:31Okay.
39:32Sanjay Jha likes one-liners.
39:34Give me a one-liner.
39:35Rajdi.
39:36Beyond anti-Modhism.
39:37Resolutions.
39:38Resolutions.
39:39Beyond anti-Modhism.
39:40What is the one-liner Congress gives as a pitch?
39:43No, no Rajdi.
39:44Come on Sanjay Jha.
39:45Look at the one line pitch.
39:46Look at their CWC resolution.
39:48It's a 10 page resolution.
39:50You cannot make head or tail out of that entire resolution.
39:52And if you look at it, they are, they are, they are talking about Sardar Patel.
39:57A perfect slippery slope on which BJP would love to drag the Congress and every single leader of the Congress.
40:04You know.
40:05Yes.
40:06Your one-liner Sanjay.
40:07I just have time for a one-liner.
40:08Rajat.
40:09Yeah.
40:10I have time for a one-liner.
40:11Rajdeep.
40:12I believe my one-liner is to the Congress supporters, workers, the people watching your program who support the Congress.
40:19One-liner to everyone from the Congress will be, you fought for India's freedom struggle and you defeated the British and brought to the end the British Empire.
40:28And now you are losing to Mr. Modi and Mr. Shah.
40:31Come on.
40:32The Congress can be much better than that.
40:34Okay.
40:35Let me leave it at that.
40:37Let me leave it at that.
40:38Rajat Sethi, Sanjay Jha and Javed Ansari, the Congress always makes for interesting discussion.
40:47And maybe observers seem to be more worried about the demise of the Congress at times than the Congress party itself.
40:53That's another debate for another day.
40:55But I appreciate my guests joining me on the show tonight.
40:59Let's turn to tonight's ground report which comes from Murshidabad in West Bengal.
41:02At least 22 people have been apprehended following instances of violence and arson during a protest rally against the passage of the Wak Amendment Act 2025 in Murshidabad.
41:12The issue has escalated into a political face-off with TMC and BJP blaming each other ahead of the West Bengal elections next year.
41:19Take a look.
41:20Amid rising tensions following the violence in Murshidabad, West Bengal over the Wakf bill, India today has obtained video footage of provocative statements made during the rally held to protest against the new law.
41:42The rally organized by the Imam Mohijjan Association and supported by various social welfare groups was characterized by inflammatory speeches.
42:06Some even calling for protests similar to those in Bangladesh that ousted Sheikh Hasina from power.
42:16The
42:45The rally turned violent when the protesters blocked National Highway 12 and police tried to clear the road.
42:56The police claim a rumor about a protester getting seriously injured triggered the arson.
43:04The writers ran berserk, throwing stones at police and setting police vehicles on fire.
43:10The police fired tear gas and resorted to Lathi Chaj to regain control of the situation.
43:24This is now a full-blown political war between the TMC and BJP.
43:30Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee vowed to fight against the Waqf law but urged the Muslim community to maintain peace.
43:37The BJP lashed out at the Mamta government over the violence.
44:00At least 22 people have been arrested following the violence in Murshidabad.
44:02At least 22 people have been arrested following the violence in Murshidabad.
44:14Meanwhile, West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose has sought a report from the Mamta government.
44:20At least 22 people have been arrested following the violence in Murshidabad.
44:26Meanwhile, West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose has sought a report from the Mamta government.
44:32With Suryagi Neeroy, Inderjeet Kundu and Rajesh Saha, Bureau Report, India Today.
44:42Let's turn from there to our Get Real India story.
44:50Now, it was exactly a decade ago that Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched his Beti Padao, Beti Bachao campaign from Haryana.
44:58Ten years later, India Today exposes the dark underbelly of this campaign,
45:04particularly in the context of sex determination tests in Haryana.
45:09The faces who are the key players of a mega-scandal that show the hollowness at times of political slogans.
45:16Shreya Chatterjee's report will also show you how these touts are among those who are offering female feticide.
45:25Take a look at this report on female feticide in Haryana.
45:30With the help of our contacts in Hisar, we made a breakthrough.
45:45We were given the details of a woman named Usha at the Hisar civil hospital.
45:50Usha worked as a health worker in AIDS prevention,
45:55but behind that facade was a key player and a trusted tout in the illegal sex test business.
46:04To expose this racket, we went undercover, posing as a family from Panipat.
46:10We dialed Usha for an appointment, saying we were desperate to ascertain the gender of our unborn child.
46:16Hello?
46:22Usha ji.
46:23Usha ji, I am speaking.
46:25We had to do USG for our wife.
46:29I was here in the civil hospital.
46:32How long did you find the coronavirus?
46:35I have two daughters.
46:37We had the chance to have two daughters.
46:39Convinced about her background, Usha finally agreed to facilitate the test.
46:58She spoke in a business-like tone, explaining the cold economics of the illegal business.
47:03From Hissa to the farthest corners of Haryana, the price for deciding the fate of her foetus
47:24ranges between Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 1 lakh.
47:28And Usha was only the tip of the iceberg.
47:32She agreed to meet us in person to seal the deal.
47:35Talking to Usha, we also learnt this was not a bad thing.
47:42Talking to Usha, we also learnt this was not just a gender test.
47:49It was a full package deal.
47:56It was a full package deal.
48:03And Usha, we also learnt this was not just a gender test.
48:10So, how does this racket thrive despite a strict law?
48:17First, it is difficult to track down slippery doubts and secretive clinics.
48:24The other factor is new technology.
48:31Ultralight USG scanners controlled through mobile phones smuggled in through the porous Nepal border
48:38enable criminals to conduct illegal sex tests anywhere from rented rooms to moving vehicles.
48:44To pin down such underground networks, the PCP and DCP and DCP raiding teams mostly rely on decoy patients.
48:51We spoke to one such decoy, Neelam, who has risked her life to expose rampant feticide in Haryana.
49:16We are doing daily 5 to 7 years.
49:19The women, ladies, brothers and sisters, are told that we are a girl in our house.
49:25The girl is going to play once.
49:28I was with my team.
49:30I was pressurized to say, do it, do it.
49:33But I didn't do it.
49:34My mother tells me that you have been born with her daughter,
49:37but I didn't do it.
49:39The girl has been born with the name of our family,
49:41but you have finished the name of her.
49:43The illegal sex test racket is not confined to Haryana alone.
49:49It is as rampant in Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi and neighboring Uttar Pradesh.
49:56During our investigation, we also managed to get clinching proof of an illegal sex determination clinic operating in Western Uttar Pradesh.
50:04The video was captured 4 to 5 years ago by the Haryana PCP and DTT,
50:10and is part of the case evidence.
50:12of her家 might look like her Regan degli Cuocan.
50:22The girl is r contract.
50:30I tell you the guy.
50:36So, that's 18 days?
50:39the doctor seen in this hidden camera footage was arrested but walked out and
50:55being he's perhaps back to his business our investigation also led us an accused under
51:09the PCP NDT Act who is now out on bail Rakesh Ahuja a known offender was arrested after raid
51:19in his our village where he was caught conducting an illegal ultrasound procedure along with two
51:24others in a bitter escape Ahuja jumped off the roof of the house breaking his leg in the process
51:30despite his injury and legal troubles
51:53Ahuja continues to run a makeshift clinic he denies his involvement in the illegal ultrasounds test
52:00claiming he was merely accompanying a friend when the raid happened yet in the same breath
52:06he complains that he never got paid for all his troubles on that fateful day
52:10when asked how his friend managed to escape Ahuja claimed that the police took 10 lakh rupees bribe
52:25to let him go
52:32Ahuja further revealed how notorious operators like Dr. Anant Ram continue to run their business without fear
52:44according to him Anant Ram who is currently in jail still manages to organize ultrasound procedures from behind bars
52:50Anant Ram who is currently in jail
53:07Anantra, I'm going to go to jail.
53:09You're going to jail?
53:11No, he's out. He's got a person who's got a person.
53:14Then?
53:16You're going to jail at the Supreme Court order?
53:19Ma'am, he's got a person who's got a person who's got a person who's got a person.
53:22He's got a person who's got a person.
53:24He's got a person who's got a person.
53:26Wait a second.
53:27Ultrasound means normal ultrasound?
53:29Normal ultrasound.
53:30I'm not very careful.
53:32Link, link, link.
53:34No.
53:35You watched how ruthless and cold the people operating these underground clinics are.
53:44The story now takes an even more personal turn as I go in as a decoy in a Beti Bachao, Beti Padao raid.
53:54Stay tuned for a raid that has been caught on camera.
53:58To tonight's good news, today's story.
54:03Now, in recent times, there's a belief that the Hindu-Muslim divide is such that a Hindu can't win from a Muslim-dominated area and vice versa.
54:12Well, a village of Siroli in Haryana's new district, which is Muslim-dominated, has elected its sole Hindu panchayat member as the Sarpanch.
54:2230-year-old Nishak Chauhan is now a Sarpanch of a panchayat which has 15 members, of which 14 are Muslims.
54:30Perhaps, Haryana can show the way.
54:33It's our good news story of the day.
54:36Thanks for watching.
54:37Stay well.
54:38Stay safe.
54:39Good night.
54:40Shubratri.
54:41Nisha Rani is the new Sarpanch of Siroli village in Haryana's new district.
54:49Her recent election as village head is special for one big reason.
54:54Nisha was picked as Sarpanch of a Muslim-dominated village where 14 of the 15 members are Muslims.
55:0210 panchayat members took part in the election and all voted for Nisha Rani.
55:31She replaced Rukhsina, who lost a no-confidence motion.
55:52Nisha Rani's election as Sarpanch in a Muslim-dominated village is seen as a message of harmony.
56:13We support India today.
56:14Nisha Rani.
56:15Nisha Rani.
56:16Nisha Rani.
56:17Nisha Rani.
56:18Nisha Rani.