- 5/30/2025
As a political war erupts between the Opposition and the Modi government over Operation Sindoor, we raise these questions on the show: Is Operation Sindoor now Operation Vote bank? Is Modi government playing image-building politics over Operation Sindoor?
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00:00I say to the whole world, India will identify and punish every terrorist and their backer.
00:30I say to the whole world, India has also seen the people of the country.
00:40When the war becomes the end of the world, what is the result?
00:47Oh
00:49Oh, yeah, yeah, oh
00:51Oh, God
00:53Oh
00:55Oh
00:57Oh
01:01Oh
01:05Oh
01:07Oh
01:17Thank you very much.
01:47Thank you very much.
02:17And do you want to blame the opposition at this time, at this hour, to politicize the
02:28thing just as a BJP leader, Dhumla Party, BJP Dhumla Party?
02:33Hello and welcome once again to the Roundtable.
02:45It's been a week when politics over Operation Sindoor appears to have taken over squarely
02:50from the military and even the diplomatic objectives.
02:54Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been crisscrossing the country yet again, holding rallies and
03:00roadshows hailing the operation.
03:02The BJP is even planning a Ghar Ghar Sindoor campaign next month.
03:08The Congress leadership has been raising questions, demanding a special session of Parliament and
03:13there have been skirmishes on social media between the government and several opposition parties.
03:19All this while an all-party delegation goes across the world to make India's case against
03:25Pakistan-based terror.
03:27So is this now about Operation Sindoor or as some are suggesting, Operation Vote Bank Politics?
03:35That's the big question that we hope to answer on the Roundtable.
03:39Joining us on the Roundtable, Dr. Sandeep Shastri, leading sophologist and political scientist.
03:46He's Vice President, Neeti Education Trust and National Coordinator, Lok Neeti Network.
03:51Rajat Sethi, political commentator, someone who's been associated with BJP governments in the past.
03:57Clyde Crasto, national spokesperson, NCP, Sharad Pawar faction.
04:01Dr. Ajay Alok, one of the leading spokespersons of the Bharatiya Janata Party.
04:06And Salman Sos, national spokesperson of the Congress.
04:11We'll be raising one big question after the other and getting all our Roundtable guests to respond to it.
04:18Let's start therefore with the big question, Operation Sindoor, is it about vote bank politics?
04:23The first question, is the Modi government playing image building politics over Operation Sindoor now?
04:30Why don't you take that straight away, Ajay Alok?
04:33Is this now about image building politics as the opposition is alleging?
04:42Well, image building is taken by those individuals and those parties whose image has scratched, who does not hold any image.
04:51There is no such case with Prime Minister Narendra Modi or with the Bharatiya Janata Party.
04:56Our image was always there in front of the public that we are right party, with a right mindset and with a nationalistic mindset.
05:04So, it's not a question of image building.
05:07Operation Sindoor is one activity which is attached to every Indian.
05:12You're saying it's not a question, sir, of image building.
05:14Can I just play what Prime Minister Modi said?
05:17Listen in to what he said and then I want you to respond to it, Dr. Alok.
05:20Listen in to Prime Minister Modi on one of his rallies in the last week.
05:24Thank you, Dr. Alok.
05:54लेकिन मोदी का लहू गरम होता है
05:59अरब तो मोदी की नसों में लहू नहीं गरम सिंदूर बह रहा है
06:19लहू नहीं गरम सिंदूर बहता है
06:22how do you respond Dr. Ajay Alok
06:24is this now about Prime Minister Modi and his muscular image
06:27or is this about the military objectives that the army and our armed forces achieved
06:32or the diplomatic objectives that we are trying to achieve with all party delegations
06:37first of all Rajdeep, Prime Minister saying all these lines
06:44is just to infuse the confidence and the strength among all Indians
06:50it's a one line which fills every Indian with pride
06:55it's nothing about image building and Prime Minister always had this image
06:58of a very strict administrator, of a very strict about protecting his own national interest
07:05number two, all the war in this country has been won by the army
07:09there's no doubt about it
07:11all the diplomatic efforts, whatever the India has done so far
07:14not only in this case but also during earlier cases
07:17it's at the behest of the political leadership
07:20the army in this country works under the behest of political leadership
07:23may it be 1948, 65, 71, 62, Kargil war, whatever we are saying
07:28and let's not demean our armed forces
07:32our armed forces are free to, at their will to work
07:36whenever they feel like
07:37today also in Bihar Prime Minister said the similar thing
07:39that if any attacks take place in future
07:42the army will respond and it will respond to their time
07:46place of their choice
07:48and weapons of their choice
07:51the free hand has been given
07:52so when the political leadership is strong
07:54everything comes from the political leadership
07:57whether the failure or success
07:58and if the success is being enjoyed by us
08:00why it is giving stomach ache to others
08:04they should enjoy the success of the country
08:06so please tell me
08:07and naturally the success of the country is always attributed
08:09the opposition says
08:10why should there be posters
08:11why should there be posters of the Prime Minister
08:14then in armed uniform across the country
08:17is that why should you have a Ghar Ghar Sindur campaign
08:20is that not exploiting in a way
08:23people's emotions, people's sentiments
08:24or exploiting the armed forces
08:26and their valor for political ends
08:28first of all let me clarify very clearly on your program
08:34there is no such activity as Ghar Ghar Sindur
08:38what has been falsely being propagated
08:40there is no such activity
08:41we are not going to do that
08:43Sindur is something which is very sacred
08:45it's always used by the married woman
08:47and only married woman can give a Sindur
08:50to another married woman
08:51it's not like Dika we start distributing Sindur
08:53this is a negative
08:54and this is absolutely demeaning campaign
08:57started by our opposition
08:59there is nothing like that
09:00and second thing
09:01the current leadership is holding
09:04is being held responsible for everything
09:07and if there is a picture of Prime Minister
09:11wearing Indian soldiers uniform
09:12there is nothing wrong in it
09:14we all can wear
09:15we all can don't the uniform
09:17if we want to
09:17nobody stops us
09:19and we do it
09:20I mean for each and everything
09:22out of Modi hatred
09:23you start assuming lot of things
09:26you don't have any logic behind it
09:28when the delegation is travelling abroad
09:31you are comparing the delegation to the terrorists
09:34I mean this is your mindset
09:35this is the opposition mindset
09:37that the delegation of the MPs
09:40is being compared to terrorists
09:41today they came out with another news
09:45let me complete
09:46let me complete
09:46let me complete
09:47one more night
09:4815 seconds I will take
09:49today they started financial terrorism
09:52do you know that
09:52today they started financial terrorism
09:55Congress on its official handle said
09:57that 37% of the currency is fake
10:00in Modi rule
10:01Modi has failed
10:02and this is being said by RBI
10:06when it was clarified
10:08RBI said
10:08that only it was compared from the last year
10:10when 4.18 crores fake currency notes were there
10:14of the value
10:15and today the value has gone to 580 crores
10:17but they said 37% total currency
10:20so this is what
10:21this is financial terrorism
10:22Congress is in the habit of aiding and abetting terrorism
10:25that's what they are doing now
10:26okay let me now
10:29let me get in Salman Saur
10:31Salman Saur
10:31according to the BJP
10:33hatred for Narendra Modi
10:34is guiding the responses
10:36of the Congress Party
10:38that you are simply unwilling
10:40to give the Prime Minister
10:42for according to the BJP
10:44taking the big risk
10:45of Operation Sindhur
10:46and targeting terror infrastructure
10:48in Pakistan
10:49Rajdeep I don't know about
10:53blind hatred
10:54we certainly do not hate the Prime Minister
10:56but I do think that there is blind adulation
10:58of the Prime Minister
10:59on part of the BJP
11:00and the BJP spokesperson
11:01made that very very clear
11:03just now
11:04you know Rajdeep
11:05the real heroes of Operation Sindhur
11:07are armed forces
11:08and you know
11:10they fight for India
11:11they don't fight for any political party
11:12and that is
11:13to my mind
11:14the core concern
11:15that we all of us should have
11:17all right thinking
11:18Indian should be concerned about that
11:19this was a soldier's triumph
11:21but what the BJP is doing is
11:23it is trying to rebrand
11:25it as a party poster
11:27and I think that is what we
11:29will not allow
11:30you know
11:31there are very very serious questions
11:32that I hope
11:33we will be able to get into
11:34because this is not just about
11:36politics
11:37you know
11:37from my perspective
11:39one minute
11:41Salman Sos
11:41Salman Sos was 1971
11:44also not about our soldiers
11:45was it not about
11:46field marshal
11:47Sam Manikshadar
11:48army leadership
11:49but the credit went to Indira Gandhi
11:51so according to the BJP
11:53if the congress wants to give
11:54Indira Gandhi credit for 71
11:55you must also give us credit
11:57for 2025 Operation Sindhur
11:59they are comparing the two
12:01but the credit for
12:04any military operation
12:06first and foremost
12:07first and foremost
12:09goes to those
12:10who put their lives
12:11at risk for us
12:12and our democracy
12:12and that is what
12:14we should always be
12:15concerned about
12:15you know
12:16the prime minister
12:17can go and make speeches
12:19and you know
12:20and he has made
12:22some fiery speeches
12:23as I see them
12:24but you know
12:25one of the ways
12:26to articulate
12:27our position
12:28is by me
12:30referencing
12:30one of my best friends
12:32and my political
12:33comrade
12:34Shashita Roop
12:35in a recent book
12:37maybe your audience
12:38may not know this
12:40but I just want to read
12:41and it's a long quote
12:42I'm not going to read
12:43the whole thing
12:43but just a couple of sentences
12:45it says
12:46and this is Shashi
12:47my good friend
12:48saying about the prime minister
12:49after 2000
12:51you know
12:52the 2016 surgical strikes
12:55etc
12:55he says
12:55the shameless exploitation
12:57of the 2016 surgical strikes
13:00along the line of control
13:01with Pakistan
13:02and of a military raid
13:03in hot pursuit
13:04of rebels in Myanmar
13:05as a party election tool
13:07this is what Shashi
13:08is saying in his book
13:09he basically says
13:11that this marked
13:12a particularly disgraceful
13:13dilution of the principle
13:15that national security issues
13:17require both discretion
13:18and non-partisanship
13:20so my point
13:22Rajdeep
13:22to you
13:23and to your audience
13:24and to my fellow panelists
13:25would be
13:25that
13:27Operation Sindhur
13:29was a soldier's triumph
13:31in the face
13:33of great adversity
13:34and hostility
13:35but
13:36we will not allow
13:37the BJP
13:38to repaint this
13:40as a party poster
13:41that will not be allowed
13:43we will not allow them
13:44we will ask
13:45very basic questions
13:47that we
13:48as the opposition
13:49not only do we have a right
13:51we have a duty
13:52and the people of India
13:54deserve answers
13:55and I would like
13:56to get into those
13:57whenever you permit
13:58we will come to those
14:00questions in a moment
14:01let's give everyone
14:02equal chance
14:03at the very outset
14:03Rajat Sethi
14:04do you believe
14:05that there is
14:06event management
14:07now taking place
14:08Prime Minister Modi
14:09according to his critics
14:11is a very good event manager
14:12it's one thing
14:12to have the military operation
14:14it's the other thing
14:15now to convert
14:16the military operation
14:17into some kind of
14:18event management
14:19where you go across
14:20the country
14:20on a road show
14:21even while
14:22according to the government
14:23itself
14:24Operation Sindhur
14:25is still on
14:25so Rajdeep ji
14:28what Salman Sos
14:29just said
14:30that he
14:30and his party
14:32the Congress party
14:32will not allow
14:33Prime Minister Modi
14:34I mean
14:36you know
14:37you have experienced
14:38for this past
14:39several years now
14:40that when it comes
14:41to nationalism
14:42it is BJP
14:43which
14:43you know
14:44wears it
14:44boldly up the sleeves
14:47they are confident
14:48about
14:49you know
14:49championing the cause
14:50of brute nationalism
14:52quite to the discomfort
14:54of the Congress party
14:55so no matter
14:56how you want
14:56to change the imagery
14:57but BJP
14:59would want
15:00a very strong
15:02muscular
15:02nationalistic image
15:04and they are not
15:05shy about it
15:06on the contrast
15:07is the Congress party
15:08which seems
15:09a little reluctant
15:10in terms of
15:11projecting itself
15:13closely
15:14with the nationalistic
15:15causes
15:15because clearly
15:16on the opposition side
15:17there was a big gap
15:18and Congress party
15:20could have emerged
15:21and tried to fill
15:21that gap
15:22by being an
15:22overly nationalistic party
15:23but they left that
15:25and they started
15:26poking holes
15:26into the Operation Sindur
15:28while the Operation Sindur
15:29was going on
15:29and therefore
15:30I go back to your question
15:32Rajdeep Ji
15:33see for BJP
15:35when it champions
15:36the cause of nationalism
15:37and a muscular one
15:38the lines tend to blur
15:40and this is why
15:41a lot of analysts
15:41might want to equate
15:42that there is a politicization
15:44of an operation
15:46but let me tell you
15:47this is what BJP is
15:48this will be blurred
15:50because this is
15:51what the core position
15:52of BJP's
15:54core thinking remains
15:55and will remain
15:56even under the leadership
15:57of Prime Minister Modi
15:58through and through
15:58therefore
15:59he would want
16:00to champion the cause
16:01he would want
16:02to build a consensus
16:03around the country
16:04and he would want
16:05to change the new
16:06and bring in a new normal
16:07see the doctrinal shift
16:09do not happen
16:10in closed rooms
16:11those have to be discussed
16:12debated
16:13in among wider audience
16:15that's how democracy operates
16:16Prime Minister Modi
16:17will take his message
16:18that I am moving
16:19this world
16:20called proxy war
16:21among the minds
16:22of every single Indian
16:23he will go to
16:24every single Indian
16:25and say
16:25from here onwards
16:26war is a proxy war
16:28or a war
16:28I mean
16:29we don't differentiate
16:30between army
16:31and the terrorists
16:31they are one and the same
16:32and he needs to repeat
16:33this ad nauseum
16:34okay let's get quick remarks
16:39again from
16:40from Clyde Cresto
16:41you have heard
16:41what Rajat Sethi says
16:43he says
16:43Prime Minister Narendra Modi
16:45is simply espousing
16:46his and the BJP's
16:48version of nationalism
16:49of his
16:50and the BJP's version
16:51of what our security
16:52doctrine will now be
16:53what's wrong with that
16:55well this is their
16:59kind of nationalism
17:00nationalism doesn't mean
17:01that you know
17:01you publicize
17:02you know
17:03something that has been
17:04done by the armed forces
17:05you know
17:06the blood in my veins
17:07starts boiling
17:08when I see
17:09you know
17:10that the army's
17:10valour
17:11bravery
17:11is you know
17:12demeaned by
17:13you know
17:13politicizing the whole thing
17:14see you know
17:15the BJP spokesperson
17:17said that
17:18the army works
17:19on the behest
17:20of the government
17:20let me tell you
17:21the army's duty
17:22is to protect our borders
17:23they suss out
17:24the situation
17:25they understand
17:26what the dangers
17:27are there for us
17:28on the borders
17:28they understand
17:29what the dangers
17:30are there in the country
17:31then they appraise
17:32and update the government
17:33and then together
17:34that's how all these
17:36things is worked out
17:36and how the protection
17:37of this country comes
17:38they don't work
17:39on the behest
17:40of the government
17:40they don't
17:41the government
17:41does not suss out
17:42the dangers
17:42the army
17:43the navy
17:44the air force
17:44armed forces do it
17:46so don't take it
17:47away from them
17:47and operation
17:48Sindhu
17:49and you know
17:50the success
17:50of the operation
17:51Sindhu
17:52is because
17:52of the armed forces
17:53they are the ones
17:54who went into
17:55the Pakistani region
17:57they are the ones
17:58who took care of
17:58the terrorists
17:59are you saying
18:00the prime minister
18:01is not entitled
18:03to take a message
18:04to the public
18:04no no
18:05Clyde Crasto
18:05are you very quickly
18:06telling me
18:08that the prime minister
18:08is not allowed
18:09to take this message
18:10to the public
18:11I'll answer that
18:11that this is
18:12this is the new
18:13new doctrine
18:14the so called
18:14Modi doctrine
18:15of striking terror
18:16the armed forces
18:16have done
18:17no no no
18:19you are not
18:21understanding this
18:22you take the message
18:23to the people
18:24but take the message
18:26of what the armed forces
18:27have done
18:28take the message
18:29of the terrorist state
18:30like Pakistan
18:30why doesn't he go
18:32and tell President Trump
18:33who equates India
18:34and Pakistan
18:35in the same breath
18:35how shamefully
18:36Trump is saying
18:37that I look at India
18:38and Pakistan
18:38the same
18:39you cannot take my country
18:40as same as Pakistan
18:41Pakistan is a terrorist state
18:43my country
18:44is the greatest country
18:45in the world
18:46so don't call
18:47you know
18:48take it that way
18:48fight with Trump
18:49tell him not to say this
18:51do they have the guts
18:52to tell Trump
18:53that you know
18:53you cannot equate
18:54India and Pakistan
18:55together
18:55you cannot do it
18:56I call Pakistan
18:57a terrorist state
18:58you cannot equate
18:58Pakistan and India
18:59together
19:00my country is great
19:01don't do that
19:01don't politicize
19:03the work
19:03and the hard work
19:04the valor
19:05of my armed forces
19:06okay
19:08Sandeep Shastri
19:09do you believe
19:11that this is politicization
19:12is Darendra Modi
19:13doing what he is
19:14with an eye
19:15on the elections
19:15is it once again
19:17a sort of redux
19:18of bala code
19:19although this time
19:20there is no
19:20general election
19:22on the anvil
19:22but state elections
19:23four or five months
19:24down the line
19:25Rajdeep
19:30converting
19:32key incidents
19:34in the life
19:35of a nation
19:35into
19:36a political
19:38advantage
19:38is nothing new
19:401971
19:42the Lok Sabha
19:45victory was a
19:46byproduct of the
19:47Bangladesh
19:48liberation war
19:491999
19:51Kargil was
19:54very very
19:55effectively used
19:56in the election
19:57so this time
19:59around what is
19:59being seen
20:00is
20:01Operation Sindhur
20:03which had
20:04the nation
20:05and its people
20:06coming together
20:07you have
20:08you have now
20:08the effort
20:09to try
20:10and take
20:10the political
20:11advantage
20:12of this event
20:13and to try
20:14and take
20:15ownership
20:16for this event
20:17so I think
20:18the larger
20:19point I am making
20:20is parties
20:20in power
20:21from the past
20:23to the present
20:24have done this
20:25but I am raising
20:26another question
20:27Rajdeep
20:28which I think
20:28our political
20:30party leaders
20:31need to address
20:32is the language
20:35of the current
20:36debate
20:37is the language
20:39of the current
20:40discussion
20:41that is going
20:43on across
20:43the country
20:44something that
20:45does justice
20:47to what
20:48the
20:48people of
20:50the country
20:51and the army
20:52actually
20:53did for us
20:55I am raising
20:56the question
20:57of are we
20:58seeing a
20:59accusations
21:00overload
21:01are we
21:03seeing a
21:04taking the
21:05credit
21:05overload
21:06by all
21:07political
21:08parties
21:08and are we
21:10seeing a
21:10deficit
21:11in
21:12recognizing
21:14those
21:14who played
21:16a key role
21:16in defending
21:17the country
21:18in the recent
21:20incidents
21:21that's an
21:21interesting
21:22point
21:23political
21:24benefit
21:25political
21:26parties
21:27are bound
21:27to pay
21:27remember
21:27there were
21:28several
21:28people
21:29I take
21:30your point
21:30there are
21:31several
21:31people
21:31who died
21:32in border
21:32villages
21:33do we
21:34care enough
21:35about them
21:35not just
21:36in
21:36Pahlgaam
21:36but remember
21:37in places
21:37like Poonch
21:38and Rajauri
21:39what about
21:39them
21:40but it
21:40brings me
21:40to my
21:41second
21:41question
21:42Congress
21:43leadership
21:44out to
21:45embarrass
21:45the
21:45Modi
21:46government
21:46at any
21:46cost
21:47you
21:48you start
21:48you start
21:48now
21:48because you
21:49said there
21:50are questions
21:51we want
21:51to raise
21:52because we
21:53believe that
21:53in a democracy
21:54any government
21:54must be
21:55accountable
21:55now
21:56do you
21:56believe that
21:57this is the
21:57right time
21:58already to
21:59raise those
21:59questions
22:00whether it
22:00is security
22:01lapse in
22:01Pahlgaam
22:02or your
22:03leader wants
22:03to know how
22:04many jets
22:04were shot
22:05down
22:05or he
22:07wants to
22:07know how
22:08was Trump
22:09allowed to
22:09announce the
22:10ceasefire
22:10do you
22:11believe these
22:11questions are
22:12in the
22:12national interest
22:13or is it
22:14only to
22:14embarrass the
22:15Prime Minister
22:15and the
22:18Modi government
22:18Rajdeep I'm
22:19glad you
22:20asked that
22:20question
22:20when is a
22:22good time
22:23to ask
22:23these
22:23questions
22:24if these
22:25questions
22:25cannot be
22:26asked now
22:26at the
22:27moment when
22:27we are
22:27facing this
22:28crisis
22:28maybe then
22:29we should
22:30ask about
22:30Pulwama
22:30because in
22:322019 we
22:32had Pulwama
22:33has there
22:34been any
22:34accountability
22:35for Pulwama
22:37do you
22:38know
22:38I mean
22:39you're a
22:39journalist
22:39you're a
22:40reputed
22:40journalist
22:41do you
22:41know what
22:42happened
22:42do you
22:43know who
22:43was responsible
22:44do you
22:45know for
22:45example
22:46there was
22:47a police
22:47officer
22:48Devinder Singh
22:49who was
22:50caught with
22:50terrorists
22:51what happened
22:52to him
22:52so when
22:54is the
22:54right time
22:55if not
22:56now
22:56and by
22:57the way
22:57there are
22:58certain
22:58questions
22:58your own
22:59leader and
23:00comrade
23:00Shashi
23:00Tharoor says
23:01this is not
23:01the right
23:02time
23:02your own
23:03leader and
23:03Shashi
23:04Tharoor says
23:05this is not
23:05the right
23:06time to
23:06ask questions
23:07Rajdeep
23:07you know
23:08that Shashi
23:10is a very
23:10close friend
23:11of mine
23:11Shashi
23:13is in
23:14on foreign
23:15lands
23:15he's representing
23:16our country
23:17and that is
23:17excellent and
23:18he should do
23:18that
23:19but as far
23:20as our
23:21own people
23:22are concerned
23:23here
23:23we must
23:25ask some
23:25very basic
23:26questions
23:26which are
23:27necessary
23:29why
23:30because we
23:30don't want
23:31a repeat
23:31of what
23:32happened in
23:32Pahlga
23:33there were
23:3326 families
23:35that were
23:36who lost
23:38innocent souls
23:3926
23:40women lost
23:43their husbands
23:43their loved
23:44ones
23:44how did
23:46that happen
23:46why was
23:48there not
23:48even
23:49minimal
23:51security
23:52around that
23:52should that
23:53not
23:53should not
23:54that come
23:55to mind
23:55should that
23:56not be
23:57posed
23:57forget
23:58forget
23:58what happened
23:59Ajay Alok
24:00Ajay Alok
24:01let's give
24:03everyone
24:03equal time
24:04Rajdeep
24:05I'll just
24:05ask one
24:06more
24:07question
24:08Ajay can
24:10you know
24:10respond
24:11at leisure
24:11then
24:14Operation
24:14Sindhu
24:14happens
24:15and of
24:15course
24:15I'm not
24:16going to
24:16go into
24:16the foreign
24:17minister's
24:18statement
24:18about at
24:19the start
24:19of the
24:19operation
24:20we called
24:20up Pakistanis
24:21and we
24:22told them
24:22we're going
24:22to do
24:23this
24:23and they
24:23did
24:24something
24:24else
24:24to us
24:25I'm
24:25not
24:25getting
24:26into
24:26that
24:26but
24:26I'm
24:27asking
24:27you
24:27Rajdeep
24:28and I'm
24:28asking
24:28the
24:29country
24:29if
24:31there
24:31is
24:31a
24:31heinous
24:32terrorist
24:33attack
24:33on
24:33India
24:34should
24:35our
24:35allies
24:36not be
24:36standing
24:37with us
24:37is it
24:38too much
24:38to ask
24:39what has
24:40happened
24:41to the
24:41world
24:42that it
24:43does not
24:43stand
24:43with us
24:44when they
24:44should be
24:45like they
24:46used to
24:46that is a
24:48very very
24:49important
24:49question
24:50should we
24:50not ask
24:51what happened
24:51to America
24:52our ally
24:53strategic
24:54partner
24:54that basically
24:55rehyphenated
24:57India and
24:57Pakistan
24:58does not
24:59there is no
25:00security council
25:00resolution
25:01holding Pakistan
25:03accountable for
25:04hosting terrorists
25:05who might
25:05attack
25:06who have
25:06attacked
25:07Pahlkam
25:08that is
25:09these are
25:10serious
25:10questions
25:11because they
25:11go to
25:12our national
25:12security
25:13Salman
25:14Sos
25:15I'm going
25:16to put a
25:16clock now
25:17and a
25:17limited time
25:18to each
25:18of our
25:18guests
25:19but you
25:19Ajay Alok
25:20respond to
25:20that
25:21Salman
25:21Sos
25:22says
25:22what is
25:22the harm
25:23in asking
25:23questions
25:23democracy
25:24is about
25:24accountability
25:25when you're
25:25in power
25:26you want
25:26to take
25:27the credit
25:27for what
25:28our military
25:29has achieved
25:29then you've
25:29also got to
25:30answer the
25:30questions as
25:31to what's
25:31gone wrong
25:32you're
25:35absolutely
25:36right
25:36with democracy
25:37comes
25:38accountability
25:38there's no
25:39doubt about
25:39it
25:39and with
25:40power
25:40especially
25:40well let
25:42me give
25:42you a
25:42situation
25:42I'll ask
25:43you guys
25:43a question
25:44especially
25:45to Salman
25:45Salman
25:46if you
25:48let go
25:49a murderer
25:49off
25:50by citing
25:52humanitarian
25:52grounds
25:53and tomorrow
25:55that murderer
25:56again murders
25:5715 people
25:59who's
26:00responsible
26:00you
26:02or that
26:02murderer
26:03of course
26:05it's you
26:05because you
26:06let him
26:06go
26:06I hold
26:09congress
26:09party
26:09responsible
26:10Manmohan
26:10Singh
26:10responsible
26:11Sonia
26:11Gandhi
26:12responsible
26:12because
26:13in 2010
26:14when they
26:14let go
26:1425
26:15terrorists
26:15back to
26:16Pakistan
26:17in the
26:17name of
26:17creating
26:18goodwill
26:18gestures
26:19right
26:20that
26:21person
26:22was
26:22involved
26:23in
26:24re-attack
26:24that person
26:25was involved
26:25in 2013
26:26who was
26:27killed
26:27in
26:28Operation
26:29Sindhu
26:29so
26:30congress
26:30party
26:31is
26:31responsible
26:31for all
26:32this
26:32terrorist
26:32attack
26:32because
26:33you
26:33keep
26:33no no
26:35but
26:35that's
26:36a dangerous
26:37argument
26:37because
26:38people
26:38will go back
26:39to 1999
26:392000
26:40when you
26:41had a deal
26:42in
26:42Kandahar
26:43that resulted
26:44in Masood
26:44Azhar
26:45being given
26:45back
26:45dangerous
26:46politics
26:47it was
26:47Masood
26:48Azhar
26:48Masood
26:49Azhar
26:49Masood
26:50Azhar
26:50was not
26:51a humanitarian
26:51gesture
26:52Masood
26:53Azhar
26:53was exchanged
26:54because
26:55of our
26:55Indian
26:55people
26:56life
26:56were at
26:57risk
26:57the whole
26:58plane
26:59was kidnapped
26:59and it
27:00was done
27:00with the
27:01cabinet
27:01measure
27:01the whole
27:02cabinet
27:02was there
27:03no no
27:03answer my
27:04straight question
27:05is the congress
27:06entitled to ask
27:07questions
27:08sir is the congress
27:09entitled to ask
27:10questions
27:11on security
27:11absence
27:12as to
27:13on
27:13hello
27:15hello
27:15Razheep
27:16Razheep
27:17let me come
27:18I have heard
27:19you question
27:19everybody is
27:20entitled
27:21everybody is
27:22entitled for
27:22a question
27:23but congress
27:23party has
27:24been asking
27:24questions
27:25after 22nd
27:26only
27:26one side
27:28they say
27:28we are
27:28with the
27:29government
27:29we are
27:29withstanding
27:30with the
27:30government
27:30on this
27:30terrorist
27:31attack
27:31we are
27:32with the
27:32government
27:32we are
27:32with the
27:33government
27:33and every
27:34second day
27:34from 22nd
27:35May
27:3622nd
27:37April
27:37they have
27:37been asking
27:38questions
27:38they have
27:39been putting
27:39that all
27:40you remember
27:41that
27:41Nimbu and
27:43everything
27:44on the
27:44Rafale
27:44where is
27:45Rafale
27:45when we will
27:46take action
27:46when we will
27:46take action
27:47when we
27:48took action
27:49Rahul Gandhi
27:50Revan Threddy
27:50everybody
27:51how many
27:51Rafale
27:52was shot
27:52how many
27:52Rafale
27:53was shot
27:53who gave
27:54who passed
27:55on the
27:55information
27:55they had
27:56even
27:56they were
27:57so
27:57disastrous
27:58they called
27:59our external
27:59affairs
28:00minister
28:00as a
28:00mukbir
28:01as an
28:02agent
28:02of Pakistan
28:03I mean
28:03all kind
28:04of
28:04all kind
28:05of
28:05verbal
28:06shit
28:06was used
28:06and you
28:07are saying
28:07congress
28:07is asking
28:08no it's
28:08interesting
28:08what you
28:09are saying
28:09who doesn't
28:10want to
28:10no
28:10Ajay Alok
28:11it's
28:11interesting
28:11what you
28:12are saying
28:12because at
28:12the very
28:13outset
28:13you are
28:13right
28:14sir
28:15at the
28:15very outset
28:16the congress
28:16said
28:16whatever
28:17the
28:17Modi
28:17government
28:18decides
28:18to do
28:18we'll
28:19support
28:19them
28:19eventually
28:19started
28:20asking
28:20questions
28:21I want
28:21to play
28:21one of
28:21those
28:22questions
28:22Revant
28:22Reddy
28:23the Telangana
28:24chief minister
28:24what he
28:25said
28:25and I
28:25want Salman
28:26to respond
28:26listen
28:27in to
28:27what
28:27Revant
28:28Reddy
28:28said
28:28to
28:29to
28:30go
28:31to
28:31go
28:31to
28:32go
28:32to
28:33મੱન પાકિસાં પૂકાકાકંંંવી જપ�્યાંજરીં એંતાગીં પહીસાંરસુરહીંગીંદાં હાકિસાં હર્યાક�
29:03I want a quick answer to this, Salman Sos.
29:08Is this the kind of question at this moment to ask?
29:11How many Rafales have we lost?
29:13This will be used according to critics by Pakistan tomorrow.
29:15Let's be complete.
29:17No, no, no.
29:18So, Rajni, I'll come back to you.
29:21Just on the chief minister of Telangana and his comments about Rafale.
29:27The issue, I think, was made murky by the foreign minister himself,
29:31who said that at the start of the operation we contacted the Pakistanis,
29:35telling them that we're not going to strike military bases, etc.
29:38And, by the way, did that risk the lives of our security forces?
29:44That's a legitimate question as far as I'm concerned.
29:46But I want to just tell Ajay, I want to remind him,
29:48and I want to remind the viewers that they're telling us
29:52that we should not be asking questions now,
29:54and just after Operation Sindhu was launched, we started asking questions.
29:58When the Mumbai terrorist attack was going on,
30:01the current prime minister, who was the chief minister at that time,
30:06was shamelessly grandstanding in Mumbai.
30:09Have you forgotten?
30:10We have not forgotten.
30:12The country has not forgotten the shamelessness
30:15displayed by the BJP leaders at that time.
30:19Let Ajay Alok get a response to that, and then I'll go to the...
30:22Ajay Alok, you see, where you stand depends on where you sit.
30:25Today, you're blaming Rahul Gandhi for asking questions.
30:27Now, the Congress is saying, what about Prime Minister Modi,
30:30when he was chief minister, while 2611 was on,
30:33he was targeting Manmohan Singh's government.
30:35See, I'm not blaming anyone for their action.
30:41The intent is to be blamed.
30:43When Prime Minister, who was the chief minister,
30:45was there in Mumbai, when Mumbai attack happened,
30:47he was standing with the people.
30:48He was also standing with the people when Kedarnath happened in 2013.
30:52Then also, he was chief minister.
30:54He was with the people and is still with the people.
30:56You guys are not with the country.
30:58You even have...
30:59Shashi Thariru is your best friend.
31:01What he was being called.
31:01He is the best spokesperson for the BJP.
31:04You started abusing Shashi Thariru, whom you have left.
31:08I don't know what will happen to Salman Khurshiv,
31:09because he also said that Article 370 New World was a good step.
31:13That led to normalcy in Kashmir.
31:15He gave this statement today.
31:17Now, I'm sure the whole Congress Party is going to come after him.
31:20Anybody who stands with the nation,
31:21anybody who doesn't take a nationalistic stand,
31:24why Congress Party has a problem with that?
31:25Okay, let Clyde Cresto jump in.
31:30He's been raising his hand.
31:31Very quickly, Clyde Cresto, keep your answer short.
31:33No, for Clyde Cresto also.
31:36For Clyde Cresto also.
31:37What he has said in the earlier comments.
31:39Supriya, so...
31:39No, wait, no, let him respond.
31:41Ajay, please.
31:42Ajay, let him speak now.
31:44Ajay, let him speak.
31:44Ajay, look, the question is for me.
31:47This is not right.
31:49Rajdeep, I think you are not doing the right thing.
31:51You promised that everybody will get equal time
31:52and you are not giving us equal time.
31:54No, no, one minute.
31:55Clyde Cresto, Clyde Cresto, just a minute.
31:57Do you agree with what Salman...
31:59No, no, one minute.
32:00Your leadership has been much more careful in not asking questions.
32:03You don't even want a special session of parliament.
32:05The Congress wants a special session.
32:07No, so ask me a question.
32:07Saraj Pawar has not said a word.
32:10So please answer the question.
32:12Why is your party very silent?
32:14Your party seems to be standing firmly with the Modi government.
32:18No, no, no, nobody is silent.
32:20Rajdeep, Rajdeep, you know,
32:22you are speaking in dual voice right now.
32:24It's not that we are not asking questions or not speaking.
32:26We are definitely speaking.
32:28You took an interview with our MP, Mrs. Supriya Sule.
32:31Okay, we've been speaking.
32:32What have you said?
32:33That right now, while we are outside the country
32:36and we are talking about India as Indians,
32:39we do not want to raise certain questions.
32:41But when the right time comes,
32:43we will raise all the questions that the Congress is raising.
32:46We will do it.
32:46Right now, we are representing India
32:48and we want to tell the world how Pakistan is dealing with us,
32:52how they are a terrorist state.
32:54But let me tell you and let me assure you
32:55that all this politicization of operations hindu
32:59by the Bharatiya Janta Party,
33:01we are not going to keep quiet.
33:02When the right time comes,
33:03when we come back to India,
33:05when the parliament session comes,
33:06we will raise all the questions.
33:08We will ask for all the right answers.
33:10And let me tell you one thing.
33:12That in a parliamentary democracy...
33:15One minute, let me finish.
33:15Now, you've not given me enough time.
33:17The role of the opposition
33:18is not to just and toe the line of the party incumbent
33:21or the government incumbent.
33:23You have to show the mirror
33:24to the people who are in government
33:26what right or wrong they are doing.
33:27If the BJP is getting hurt by the right question,
33:30that means they are doing the wrong.
33:32Why are they getting hurt?
33:33If they are not doing anything wrong,
33:35why are they getting hurt?
33:36All the right questions are being asked.
33:38For us, we are not quiet.
33:40Do you believe it's the right answer?
33:42Just a minute.
33:43Clyde Crasto, do you...
33:44One minute.
33:44This is not a monologue.
33:45Clyde Crasto, not a monologue.
33:48I'm asking you a straight question.
33:49Do you believe it's the right question
33:51to ask how many jets were down by the Pakistanis?
33:54Do you believe it is the right question
33:56to ask how many jets were down?
33:58Do you believe it's the right question?
34:03That's why he said it.
34:05How will I answer that?
34:07Let's ask him the question.
34:08Ask him your answer comes there.
34:10Why should I get into answering that kind of question?
34:13No, one minute.
34:14Wait.
34:14Don't put words in my mouth.
34:16No, no, no, sir.
34:17When the right...
34:17No, no, let's move on.
34:18Bring the voice down.
34:19All the right questions will be answered.
34:20Okay, let's move down.
34:21Let's move on to the next question.
34:23Link to what was just said.
34:25Is there unity abroad,
34:26but polarization at home?
34:28Are we seeing unity
34:29with all the delegations going abroad together?
34:32together?
34:32But is there polarization at home?
34:35Before I come to you,
34:36Rajat Sethi and Sandeep Shastri,
34:39let's play what Vijay Shah said.
34:41Because that, in a sense,
34:42reflects the kind of...
34:44Some of the unfortunate rhetoric
34:46that we've seen play out at home.
34:48This is a Madhya Pradesh minister of the BJP.
34:50Listen in to what he said.
34:51Rajat, you know,
35:18you've heard what Vijay Shah says.
35:20Of course, politicians at times
35:22tend to speak without thinking.
35:25And this might be one example of it.
35:27But there will be those who will say
35:28this is precisely the problem.
35:30We want unity abroad,
35:32but at home we polarize
35:34our own domestic constituencies
35:36and play to them.
35:37Is this part of the problem?
35:40Well, isolated cases,
35:42if you want to draw out
35:44those isolated cases
35:45and broad brush
35:46how internal democracy is
35:48or how internal discourse is,
35:50that would be too much of a stretch,
35:52Rajat Deeb Ji.
35:53For the past around 15 days,
35:55we've been admonishing
35:56the remark of this minister
35:58in no uncertain terms.
36:00I at least have been pretty clear
36:01as to what he said.
36:03That is,
36:03even if it came out
36:04as a slip of tongue,
36:05he should still be...
36:07not just be restrained,
36:08he should be sacked.
36:09That's my position.
36:10And I don't have any doubts about it.
36:12But the discourse,
36:13this is still one of the leaders
36:15of the BJP at a state level.
36:17But here on the other side,
36:18you have a Rahul Gandhi
36:19who has the guts to go out
36:21and meet Ilhan Omar
36:22in the United States
36:24and no question should be asked from him.
36:26He is the leader of the opposition.
36:29He occupies a constitutional position
36:31and he still goes out and meets.
36:33Can he make it public
36:34as to what kind of discussions
36:35he had with Ilhan Omar
36:36who openly vouches for POK,
36:38not being part of India
36:40and being firmly
36:41who believes that entire Kashmir
36:42belongs to Pakistan?
36:44Now, let me again tell you
36:45to what previously
36:46Salman Soush was saying,
36:47what is the right time to question?
36:49Absolutely.
36:50Let there be a parliament session
36:51and you should raise
36:52the right question.
36:53But in communications,
36:54there is something
36:55that is said very clearly
36:56that it is not what you say
36:58that matters.
36:58It is what gets heard.
37:00That is what is more important.
37:02In the case of the Congress Party,
37:04what is being heard
37:05is being heard across the border.
37:06It is being played out
37:08all of these speeches
37:08of these Congress leaders
37:09are being played out
37:10by the Pakistani television.
37:12What does it say?
37:14It clearly says
37:15that somewhere down
37:15when you're asking
37:17about planes being lost by India,
37:19there is, you know,
37:20there is a very pathetic
37:22kind of a sinister smile
37:25that you want to,
37:26you know, bring to yourselves
37:28that see Modi fail
37:29or perhaps India
37:30or India's operations fail.
37:32This is why you're repeatedly
37:32having this question.
37:33Tell me in Second World War,
37:35did America not lose
37:36their submarines and ships
37:37and war planes?
37:39Does that determine
37:40who wins a war,
37:41who loses a war?
37:42How shameless
37:43and how pitiful
37:44can our constitutional position
37:45holders like the
37:46Chief Minister of Telangana
37:47be when they're trying
37:49to belittle India's cause
37:50by calling out
37:51how many planes
37:51have been lost?
37:52Those are operational matters
37:54for God's sake.
37:55Don't you have
37:55the basic decency
37:56and you still occupy
37:57a quality position?
37:58my real problem is
38:00that deep down
38:01We've also heard today
38:02Dr. Subramaniam Swami
38:04say the same thing.
38:05You see, the question is
38:06should the government
38:07not be transparent
38:09about it, Rajat?
38:10Sadistic pleasure
38:11is the word
38:12that I was looking for.
38:12They get sadistic pleasure.
38:14Maybe the government
38:14could have been
38:15more honest about it.
38:16The sadistic pleasure
38:16is trying to elicit
38:16from this whole thing.
38:19Okay.
38:20Maybe the government
38:21could have been
38:21more honest.
38:22Maybe the Congress
38:22is trying to derive
38:23sadistic pleasure.
38:24Interestingly,
38:25Subramaniam Swami
38:25today is also echoing this.
38:27But Sandeep Shastri
38:28is part of the problem.
38:30The fact that we are
38:30so polarized domestically.
38:32Our politics
38:33has become so shrill.
38:34Prime Minister
38:35goes to Bengal
38:35and says
38:36almost seems to
38:38liken Operation Sindhu
38:39to a potential
38:39Operation Bengal
38:40where elections
38:41will take place
38:42next year.
38:43Mamta Banerjee
38:44then hits back
38:44and talks about
38:45Sindhu and the
38:46Prime Minister's
38:47personal life.
38:48Is politics
38:49so polarized
38:49in this country?
38:55Rajatip,
38:56two points on that.
38:58When an all-party
38:59delegation goes abroad
39:01and there is
39:02unity abroad,
39:03I think that is
39:04something that
39:04needs to be lauded.
39:06Back home,
39:08there is no shadow
39:09of doubt
39:09that there is
39:10intense polarization
39:11of ideas
39:12and this is again
39:13not something new.
39:15What is new
39:16for me
39:17is the
39:18shrillness
39:19of the debate,
39:21the personalization
39:22of the debate,
39:24the language
39:25used in the debate
39:26and the
39:27low level
39:29of accusations
39:30that are made
39:31in the debate
39:32across the
39:33political spectrum.
39:35That I think
39:36for me
39:37as a citizen
39:38of the country
39:39as an observer
39:40of politics
39:41in this country
39:42is disheartening.
39:44Let us have
39:45our polarization,
39:46let us take
39:47our stands,
39:48let us take
39:49diametrically
39:49opposite positions,
39:51perfectly fine,
39:52but can there be
39:53some
39:54sagacity,
39:56some wisdom,
39:57in our debate,
40:01can our language
40:02be much better
40:03and not make it
40:03personal accusations,
40:05can we raise
40:07that standard
40:08to the next
40:09end,
40:09that's the question
40:10which is worrying
40:11me today.
40:12And it is not
40:13the polarization,
40:15but the way
40:15that that polarization
40:17is being taken
40:18forward
40:19in the language
40:20we use
40:21and in the
40:22idioms
40:22that we
40:23put forward
40:24in the debate
40:25across the
40:26political spectrum.
40:29One of the
40:30problems though,
40:30and this comes
40:31to my next
40:32question,
40:32is social media
40:33becoming the
40:34arena for
40:35Operation Sindhu
40:36politics?
40:37We see
40:37lots of tweets
40:38across the board,
40:39we see memes.
40:40I want to show
40:41a couple of those
40:42memes at the moment
40:43and I want to
40:43get reaction.
40:44There was a BJP
40:45meme that showed
40:46Rahul Gandhi
40:47and General
40:48Munir being
40:49merged.
40:49The Congress
40:51then hit back,
40:52they showed
40:53a meme
40:53of Narendra Modi
40:55and Shabash
40:58Sharif being
40:58merged.
40:59Please look at
41:00them in a moment
41:00and I want to
41:01ask you all,
41:02is this what we
41:02want to see,
41:03the kind of
41:03memes we are
41:04seeing,
41:05the kind of
41:05images that are
41:06being played
41:07out,
41:07has social media
41:08become the
41:09arena?
41:10Rajat Sethi,
41:10why don't you
41:11kick off this
41:11one since you
41:12also know
41:13social media
41:13well?
41:14We are seeing
41:15on social media,
41:16Rajat,
41:17this polarization
41:17play out.
41:18On the day
41:19Operation Sindhur
41:20was launched,
41:21BJP put out
41:21an ad targeting
41:23former Prime
41:25Minister Manmohan
41:25Singh and his
41:26handling of
41:2726-11.
41:28Congress then
41:28hits back.
41:29Is this what
41:30we want to
41:30see?
41:31Is social media
41:32part of the
41:32problem?
41:34No, I think
41:35media and social
41:36media both
41:37sort of joined
41:38hands in terms
41:39of belittling
41:40the overall
41:41operation and I
41:42believe BJP
41:43being in power,
41:45they should have
41:45shown some
41:46restrain.
41:46clearly, I
41:48think the
41:49lowest level
41:50that was hit
41:51was hit when
41:51the accusation
41:53was made
41:53none other
41:54than by Mr.
41:54Rahul Gandhi
41:55himself when
41:55he accused
41:57the external
41:59affairs minister
41:59Jai Shankar of
42:00being or acting
42:02in connivance
42:02with Pakistan,
42:04equating him
42:05with treason.
42:06That was where
42:07I think all
42:09levels, all
42:10thresholds of
42:10politics and
42:11some decency
42:12in politics was
42:12destroyed and
42:14bulldozed.
42:15started with
42:16Congress and
42:16then I think
42:17the BJP
42:18reacted to it
42:19which shouldn't
42:19have because
42:20you are
42:20currently leading
42:21the country
42:21and you need
42:22to show certain
42:23strategic composure
42:24when it comes to
42:25setting the
42:25narrative and
42:26clearly if
42:27Congress is
42:27going on to
42:28a track of
42:28accusing external
42:29affairs minister,
42:30no sane Indian
42:31is going to
42:31believe even if
42:32a leader of
42:33opposition claims
42:34anything and
42:35they went on
42:35and on.
42:36Look at what
42:36Mr. Khera
42:37actually went
42:38out.
42:38Let Salman
42:39Sos respond to
42:40that.
42:40It just slipped
42:41and the narrative
42:43became very
42:43Sos respond.
42:46Salman Sos,
42:47when your leader
42:48virtually suggests
42:50that the foreign
42:50minister of the
42:51country is a
42:51Jai Chan,
42:52then what do
42:53you expect?
42:53I mean the
42:54quality of the
42:55this is the
42:56leader of the
42:57opposition.
42:58If he starts
42:59calling the
42:59foreign minister
43:00Jai Chan,
43:01what's the
43:01message going
43:02on?
43:04Rajdeep,
43:05I'm sorry
43:05but what Rajat
43:08seems to really
43:09be somehow he
43:11can't get Rahul
43:11Gandhi out of
43:13his mind but
43:14you know it
43:15Rajdeep.
43:16He's my
43:17leader of
43:17opposition.
43:18Do you
43:19approve of the
43:22leader of the
43:22opposition calling
43:23the foreign
43:23minister Jai
43:24Chan?
43:25I'm trying to
43:25make a point
43:26and the point
43:27is that for
43:28the last 15-20
43:29years Rajdeep,
43:30you know it,
43:30everybody knows
43:31it, that the
43:32BJP ecosystem
43:33has been painting
43:34Rahul Gandhi as
43:35the biggest
43:35traitor on the
43:36face of this
43:36planet.
43:38Our prime
43:39minister has
43:40used incredibly
43:41unfortunate language
43:43that everybody's
43:45aware of.
43:47Again, my
43:48old friend,
43:50the late
43:51Sunanda Pushkar
43:52and he called
43:53her a 50-crore
43:53girlfriend.
43:54So please
43:54don't give me
43:56all these kind
43:57of homilies
43:59of this is so
44:01unfortunate and
44:02the leader of the
44:03opposition is saying
44:03this and that.
44:04There's a
44:05legitimate question
44:06to be asked of
44:06Mr. Jai Shankar.
44:08If not for the
44:09comments that he
44:09made about
44:10Operation Sindhu
44:10but certainly
44:11about the
44:11diplomacy that
44:13we should have
44:14been engaged
44:14in so that we
44:15would at least
44:16have a lot more
44:17support.
44:17In fact, you
44:18should be asking
44:19these questions.
44:20Why aren't you
44:20asking a question
44:21about how China
44:23supported Pakistan
44:25during this
44:26crisis and we
44:27are running a
44:28hundred billion
44:28dollar trade
44:29deficit with
44:30China?
44:30That is not a
44:31question.
44:31You never ask
44:32these questions.
44:33I find it
44:33incredible.
44:34On the one hand,
44:35you said that there
44:36should be
44:36BJP's nationalism
44:38and some amazing
44:39thing and that
44:40is what they're
44:41tom-tomming.
44:41I can tell you
44:42that on behalf
44:43of the Congress
44:43Party that we
44:45take national
44:45security as a
44:46solemn responsibility.
44:47For us, this is
44:48not a sloganeering.
44:51You talked about
44:52Dr. Manmohan Singh.
44:53Let me tell you
44:54about Dr. Manmohan
44:55Singh.
44:55Just a second.
44:56Let me tell you
44:57about Dr. Manmohan
44:57Singh.
44:58You implied that
45:00we love Pakistan.
45:02Let me tell you
45:03that Pakistan,
45:051971, we are all
45:06aware what happened
45:06to Pakistan under
45:07Congress rule.
45:09But after 2008,
45:11what happened to
45:12Pakistan?
45:13Pakistan's economy,
45:14their per capita
45:15income was more
45:16than ours.
45:16And look what
45:17happened to the
45:17Pakistani economy
45:19after 2008.
45:20Who went on the
45:21Financial Action
45:22Task Force
45:22gray list?
45:24How did that
45:24happen?
45:25It happened under
45:26Dr. Manmohan Singh
45:26because he pushed.
45:28There were Security
45:29Council resolutions
45:29against Pakistan.
45:31Where is your
45:32Security Council
45:32resolution right now?
45:33Why don't you talk
45:35about this?
45:35I raised all
45:38questions of all
45:39parties so I get
45:41into trouble.
45:42But I take your
45:43point.
45:43Ajay Alok.
45:44Just a minute,
45:45sir.
45:46No, no, sir.
45:46Just a minute.
45:47Ajay Alok, why don't
45:48you also respond?
45:48This low-level
45:49discourse.
45:50You heard what
45:50Vijay Shah said.
45:52You've heard people
45:53have called,
45:54your leaders have
45:54called Malik Arjun
45:55Kharki.
45:56He's been called
45:56a gaddar for
45:57comments he's made.
45:59Just as they call
46:00someone Jai Chan,
46:01you call gaddar.
46:01Rahul Gandhi,
46:02they say,
46:04is acting as a
46:05Pakistani agent.
46:06The quality of
46:07discourse.
46:08Shouldn't the
46:08Prime Minister say
46:09enough is enough
46:10and pull up a
46:11Vijay Shah?
46:11It's not for
46:12Rajat Sethi to
46:13ask for sacking
46:14of Vijay Shah.
46:15The Prime Minister
46:15could have sacked
46:16him.
46:16That could have
46:17sent out a
46:17strong message.
46:18See, the lowest
46:23discourse started
46:24just after 22nd,
46:25if you remember.
46:26I'll make you
46:26recall Robert
46:27Vadra, what he
46:28said on 23rd,
46:30where he said
46:30that because of
46:31coercion of
46:31minorities and
46:32because of all
46:33the ill-doings on
46:34minorities of this
46:35country, this
46:36attack has
46:37happened.
46:38This was Robert
46:39Vadra, none
46:39other than anyone
46:40else.
46:41Who else was
46:42this?
46:43Was this the
46:44voice of Priyanka
46:44Gandhi or Rahul
46:45Gandhi?
46:46That minorities
46:47are not being
46:47treated well?
46:48So, as a part
46:48of repercussion,
46:49they did
46:49Pahlkam.
46:50One after the
46:51other, they
46:51kept on doing
46:52it.
46:52One after the
46:53other.
46:54My friend
46:54Salman is
46:55constantly saying
46:56what about
46:56the international
46:57support?
46:58Now, let me
46:59remind him.
47:00For the first
47:00time in OIC,
47:03the resolution
47:03on Kashmir has
47:04been dropped
47:05for the first
47:06time.
47:07Earlier, what
47:07used to happen?
47:08Even Iran, who
47:09was supposed to
47:09be our friend,
47:10they also used
47:11to vote against
47:12us, not this
47:13time.
47:14The entire, the
47:14whole world is
47:16supporting us.
47:17The whole world
47:17except for three
47:18countries, which
47:19we all know.
47:20Wherever the
47:21international
47:21delegation is
47:22going on, we
47:22are getting full
47:23support.
47:24Even in Qatar,
47:25even in Iran,
47:26where Supriya
47:26Suley has
47:27gone.
47:29So, Islamic
47:29nations are also
47:30supporting, the
47:31Christian nations
47:31are also supporting,
47:32we are getting a
47:33good enough support.
47:33We don't want
47:34military support
47:35from anyone.
47:35Ajay, Alok, do
47:37you approve, just
47:38as I asked you,
47:39does he approve
47:39the language of
47:40Jurchan, do you
47:41approve the
47:42language of
47:42Gaddar, do you
47:43approve the
47:44language of
47:44calling someone
47:45a Gaddar?
47:48I will say
47:49somebody, a Gaddar
47:49who happens to
47:50be a leader of
47:51opposition and his
47:51voice is being
47:52heard in Pakistan
47:53assembly.
47:54I will say that
47:55leader a Gaddar,
47:57if in the time of
47:58crisis he speaks
47:58against the country
47:59and his voice is
48:00taken to UN,
48:01and his lines
48:03are being repeated
48:03in UN and
48:04Pakistan assembly,
48:06then I will call
48:06him Gaddar.
48:08I will call him
48:08Gaddar when
48:09Galwano was
48:09happening and he
48:10was having dinner
48:10with Chinese
48:11embassies.
48:12I will call him
48:12Gaddar.
48:13I will call
48:14Congress Party
48:14Gaddar because
48:15till today we
48:16don't know what
48:16is the resolution
48:17of the Congress
48:18Party with Chinese
48:19Liberation Army,
48:20what they signed,
48:21what was the
48:21pact.
48:22I will call Gaddar
48:23when Rajiv Gandhi
48:24Foundation will take
48:2550 lakh rupees
48:26donation from
48:27Chinese embassy.
48:27I will call them
48:28Gaddar.
48:31Rajdeep, can I
48:32say one thing?
48:33The fact is,
48:33we are seeing
48:34the discourse,
48:35you have 10
48:35seconds, Salman
48:36Salman so quickly
48:37respond because
48:38he has called
48:39your party a Gaddar
48:40for what he is.
48:42Yes, yes, yes.
48:43You know, I think
48:44the audience can
48:45see the level to
48:48which BJP
48:49spokespersons have
48:50to fall that they
48:52would call the
48:53leader of the
48:53opposition.
48:54I am just,
48:55I am showing you
48:55the mirror.
48:56Hundreds of
48:56millions, please
48:57don't, please
48:58don't, please
48:59don't, please
49:01don't interrupt
49:01me.
49:01I did not
49:02interrupt you.
49:02And what I've
49:03said is that
49:03you can refute
49:04anything.
49:04Please don't
49:05interrupt, why
49:05are you interrupting
49:06me?
49:07Do you not want
49:07to hear me?
49:09Do you not want
49:09the audience to
49:10hear me?
49:11Very quickly,
49:12Salman, 10
49:13seconds.
49:14The level of
49:15the BJP
49:15spokesperson who
49:17would call the
49:18leader of hundreds
49:20of millions of
49:21Indians who voted
49:22for our party, he
49:24would call them a
49:24traitor.
49:25I think the real
49:26traitors in my
49:27view are those who
49:28do not acknowledge
49:29that China has
49:31intruded into our
49:32territory and then
49:34basically give up
49:35territory without
49:36without saying a
49:38word.
49:39I think that is
49:39that is treasonous
49:40behavior to my
49:41mind.
49:42I'm not saying
49:42that the prime
49:43minister is a
49:44treasonous behavior.
49:44I've heard both
49:44sides.
49:44I think the BJP
49:46should be very
49:47careful.
49:47Sir, you made
49:48your 10 seconds
49:48up.
49:49I'm asking the
49:50final question.
49:51Okay, my final
49:52question.
49:53Should a special
49:54session of
49:54parliament be
49:55called?
49:55I want quick
49:56responses, 30
49:56seconds each.
49:57Starting with you,
49:58Clyde Cresto.
49:59Do you want a
50:00special session of
50:00parliament called?
50:01When this question
50:02was asked to your
50:02leader, Sharad
50:03Pawar, he didn't
50:04seem to indicate
50:05that he preferred
50:06such a session.
50:07He didn't want it.
50:08But other parties,
50:09Congress, TMC, seem
50:10to want it.
50:11What's your view?
50:12Should a special
50:12session of parliament
50:13be called so that
50:14we don't have to
50:15have TV debates?
50:16You can debate
50:16all this in
50:17parliament.
50:20We have to
50:21debate it in
50:22parliament.
50:22No doubt about
50:23that.
50:23But at the
50:24moment, my
50:25leader, Mr.
50:25Sharad Pawar,
50:26said at the
50:26moment, while our
50:27delegations are
50:28outside the
50:29country and
50:29putting our
50:30point across and
50:31showing the
50:32world, there is
50:33a state like
50:33Pakistan, we
50:34don't need to
50:34get into a
50:35session.
50:35But once all
50:36this is done,
50:37we should have
50:38a session, the
50:39question should
50:39be raised and
50:40a lot of
50:41answers should
50:41be given by
50:42the incumbent
50:42government.
50:43Because they
50:43cannot go away
50:44from a lot of
50:45questions that
50:45is staring in
50:46their faces, that
50:47is being asked
50:48by a lot of
50:48people.
50:48And we will
50:49ask that
50:49question,
50:50Rajdeep.
50:50Be assured,
50:51we will ask
50:52all the right
50:53questions, the
50:53opposition stands
50:54together to
50:55ask the right
50:56questions.
50:58Okay, your
50:5930 seconds is
50:59up.
51:00I will ask
51:00therefore, who
51:01benefits from
51:02all of this
51:03politically?
51:03Sandeep
51:03Shastri, wear
51:04your
51:04cephalogist
51:05hat.
51:06Who benefits
51:06from what
51:07we've seen
51:07happen from
51:08April 22nd
51:10to now the
51:11end of May?
51:13Who has
51:13benefited
51:14politically?
51:19Rajdeep,
51:20recall 2019
51:21as to who
51:22benefited between
51:23March and
51:24July of that
51:25year when
51:26certain events
51:27happened.
51:28Now, who
51:29benefits depends
51:30on who is able
51:31to take the
51:32message across
51:33strongly.
51:34And given
51:35current trends,
51:37it very clearly
51:38seems that the
51:39ruling party at
51:39the centre has
51:40the advantage in
51:41that sense.
51:42But also, going
51:43back, Rajdeep, to
51:44your other
51:45question, should
51:46we have a
51:46session of
51:47parliament?
51:47yes, if you
51:49are going to
51:51allow it to
51:52run, if you, I
51:54mean, you are
51:54all parties, if we
51:56are going to have a
51:57session of parliament
51:57where every day is
51:58adjourned, I don't
51:59think it serves any
52:00purpose at all.
52:01Okay.
52:04Rajat Sethi, who do
52:05you think has
52:06benefited politically?
52:07Has Mr. Modi's
52:08image become
52:09larger than life
52:10as a result of what
52:12has happened?
52:13Or do you believe
52:14that the public
52:15out there is also
52:17sometimes seeing
52:18through some of
52:19these yatras,
52:20Thiranga yatras
52:21that take place and
52:22do not want the
52:23exploitation of
52:23armed forces?
52:24I think Prime
52:26Minister Modi
52:27already, you
52:28know, occupies a
52:29larger-than-life
52:29image, and I
52:30therefore don't
52:31believe one state
52:33election here and
52:34there is going to
52:35make any changes to
52:36BJP's fortune.
52:37Largely the shock
52:38and awe factor that
52:40is associated with
52:41these surgical
52:42strikes and
52:43Operation Sindur is
52:44settled.
52:45Now the public
52:45expects their
52:46political leadership
52:47across the aisle to
52:49actually respond in a
52:49similar manner.
52:50So I don't think
52:51BJP or Prime
52:52Minister Modi would
52:53be weighing in
52:54when it comes to
52:55political benefits,
52:56so to say, of
52:57Operation Sindur.
52:58And let me tell you,
52:58Bihar, a false
52:59state, is one state
53:00which clearly
53:01delineates between
53:02what we expect from
53:04our leadership and
53:05what are the genuine
53:06issues of the state
53:06of Bihar.
53:07That is what I feel
53:08and therefore I don't
53:09think BJP is trying
53:10to take any
53:12political credit out
53:13of this at all.
53:15The mission behind
53:16what I sense as an
53:17analyst of Prime
53:17Minister's tour around
53:18the country is to
53:19weave a narrative
53:20so that no future
53:22leader who occupies
53:23the chair of the
53:24Prime Minister
53:24responds with
53:25anything lower
53:26than what Operation
53:27Sindur has conducted
53:28and set as the
53:29lower benchmark
53:30of our response.
53:33Okay.
53:35Let me leave it
53:35there.
53:36I think we've
53:36heard all sides.
53:38We've had a fiery
53:39debate at times
53:40which perhaps again
53:41reflects some of the
53:42polarities in Indian
53:43politics.
53:44But as we've seen,
53:46national interest
53:46has also shown a
53:48rare unity in the
53:50last several weeks.
53:51I only hope that
53:52some of the language
53:53and the rhetoric
53:54is measured in
53:55future.
53:56That's one of the
53:57lessons that we
53:57learned because it's
53:58that kind of rhetoric
54:00that ends up
54:01polarizing the
54:02atmosphere and then
54:03benefiting those who
54:05seek to divide and
54:06rule any society.
54:09I appreciate my
54:11guests joining us on
54:12this very special
54:13debate of politics
54:14around Operation
54:15Sindur.
54:16Thanks for
54:17watching.
54:18Stay well.
54:18Stay safe.
54:20Jai Hind.
54:21Namaskar.
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