- 7/1/2025
In this episode of To The Point, the focus is on the upcoming Bihar assembly elections at the end of this year and the war of words between the BJP and RJD over the Waqf Act.
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00:00Good evening and welcome to The Point. I am Pooja Shali. Ladies and gentlemen, this evening I want to discuss that though in 2025, with Bihar Assembly elections for example coming up, we are not talking about again development, progress, vikas, welfare for all. We are talking about communal polarization yet again. What is the strategy agenda of our leaders and why? First, the headlines.
00:30Madras High Court pulls up Tamil Nadu Cops in custodial death shocker, says police is drunk on power. Judicial investigation ordered into Ajit's death case in custody. Brutal chilling video of the assault on victim that was ordered. He tried best to defend himself, eventually found with disturbing injuries on the body.
00:53Meanwhile, update from Bengal. After the gang rape horror allegations case, another minister downplaying the Kolkata rape case calls the gruesome assault a small incident.
01:09Another law college student meanwhile has come forth to claim that the sexual assault by the main accused, Monajit Misra, has happened to her too.
01:16Says he's been protected by TMC MLA and the college president.
01:25Meanwhile, the Congress party is in damage control mode, says no change in Karnatka, Chief Minister or the Deputy CM, dismissing the cabinet reject bus.
01:33Deputy CM DK Shiv Kumar says do not want Chief Minister's chair working to bring Congress Sarkar back in 2020.
01:46Meanwhile, what is the update of the Bengaluru Stampede?
01:49RCB created nuisance. Cops, not magicians or gods, says the tribunal on the Bengaluru Stampede.
01:55Also slams Karnatka government over mechanical IPS officer suspensions.
01:59The kin of AI-171 crash victims to sue Air India and Boeing.
02:11Families are set to move the UK court against Air India.
02:14Lawsuits are likely regarding the enhanced compensation that they feel they deserve.
02:18In international news, India-U.S. trade talks deadlock eight days to the deadline for the reciprocal tariff also and as much for the deal, but no agreement in sight.
02:35America wants India to lower the tariff and the agriculture sector, India firm, that that will not happen.
02:48Polarization peaks in Bihar polls.
02:56Samvidhan vs. Sharjavaad.
03:03BJP, we protect constitution, our JD appeases.
03:07BJP, we protectors.
03:37R.J.D. Vaqf Act promise stirs tensions in Bihar.
03:58Polls on communal polarization, not progress.
04:02That is our top focus on To The Point.
04:04So here's what we are discussing this evening on To The Point.
04:11Bihar assembly elections are expected by the end of this year, October, November likely.
04:16And barely months ahead of polls.
04:19Polarization has hit the ground and how.
04:21In the latest this morning, Bhartia Janata Party's Gaurav Bhatia has sharpened attack at the RJD and specifically at Teja Sviadha.
04:28Picking from what the former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar said on the stage, that the Vaqf Act will be thrown into the dustbin.
04:35BJP says this is Sharia Wad vs. Samvidhan Wad.
04:40Then the attack turns personal.
04:42BJP's Gaurav Bhatia said, ninth fail Maulana Tejasvi has not even read the constitution.
04:47The constitution debate that, remember, was basically started by Rahul Gandhi flaunting the book and the Mahagat Bandhan against the BJP, is now being turned on its head by this double-engine Sarkar.
05:00The question is, will this be now the Bihar discourse here on?
05:04Will the elections for the 243-seat assembly be fought on?
05:08Not development, not progress, not welfare for all, but on communal polarization.
05:13Listen in first to our leaders.
05:15What did Teja Sviadha say that led to a full-blown attack by the Bhartia Janata Party?
05:20This bill to, this court, this law will be done, which the court will be done by the Zhebara in the city of Bhutani, which will be done by theений of the Kalimani laws and the Bihar regime of Bihar in any kind.
05:28It will be done with no war, which will be done by the Bihar regime of the government.
05:33The climate of Bihar regime will be done by this court will not order a law.
05:40This kind of comes to the government, we will not have the law.
05:41The tomorrow day, the Naby Vail, the Zhebara national has failed,
05:45the Puurw, Upp, the Mokhari Sentri,
05:49नेता प्रतिपक्ष तिजस्वी यादव कह रहे थे कि भारत की संसत में पारित कानून वक्फ संशोधन को कूले दान में डाल देंगे
06:09नमाजवादी तुष्टी करण करने के मसीहा मौलाना तिजस्वी यादव जी ये बताईए हमें आप संविधान कभी पड़े हैं
06:27So remember these are the leaders of the RJD, of the BJP and other parties of course joining in because there are alliances as well
06:54Let's then debate and discuss what does this mean
06:57On the panel this evening, Tuhin Sinha, National Spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party
07:02Dr. Shyam Kumar, Spokesperson from the RJD
07:05Amitabh Diwari joins us, Political Strategist and Commentator to talk about numbers
07:09Why are these leaders making the kind of remarks that they are
07:12And also to add on and corroborate that further
07:15Sanjay Kumar, Co-Director Lokniti, CSDS and Cephologist as well
07:20I want to start with the BJP because this has now been escalated by the ruling party of the country
07:25Tuhin you tell me, your party which was the double engine Sarkar in Bihar and at the centre
07:30Has been about Vikas and progress
07:32Saying that we have been able to make a lot of difference in the past few years
07:36Then why bring in this whole argument of Namazwadi, Shariawad
07:41Why not stay with development based agendas to return to the government
07:44Does the BJP feel communal polarization is their final card?
07:50Well good evening Pooja, good evening everybody
07:52You know we have always been with Vikas and we continue to be with Vikas
07:56The 14% GDP rise in Bihar in the previous year
08:01The massive infrastructure development across Bihar
08:05And the improved law and order situation are the core issues for us
08:09But you know Tejasvi Adav's comments are problematic at many levels
08:14And that cannot be, those comments cannot be ignored
08:16Number one, they reveal the constitutional ignorance and illiteracy of RJD and the congress party
08:23A bill which has been passed by both houses of parliament and which has become a law
08:27Can only and only be stopped by a judicial process
08:31And you know at least for a bill for a subject which lies in the central list
08:37The Jasvi Adav does not have the right to throw it in the dustbin
08:41Number two, it reveals the hypocrisy of these two parties
08:46The congress party and RJD
08:47If you recall in 1985
08:49They had, you know, they had gone back on the decision of Supreme Court
08:53In so far as the Shah Bano case was concerned
08:56You know then
08:57The parliament, they used the parliament to overturn a judgment passed by the Supreme Court
09:02Here they just want to do the opposite
09:04But most importantly, if you recall, Mamata Banerjee had indulged in similar antics
09:10Immediately after the passage of this bill
09:13And what happened?
09:14What followed were Murshidabad riots
09:17Very pointed anti-Hindu riots in Murshidabad
09:20We believe that is what Tejasvi Adav is trying to instigate in Pihar
09:26Particularly in the areas of Simanchal
09:28And finally, you know, the sense of entitlement
09:31Perverse entitlement he comes with
09:34The language that he has used
09:35I think these are very serious questions
09:47Fair enough, let's take that to the Arjiri
09:48Dr. Shamkobar, your party, your leader basically started it
09:52How can you change an act that has been passed and cleared by the centre and the parliament as well
09:56And why are you even making that promise?
09:59Promise welfare, promise jobs, promise employment
10:02That's what the BJP had said that they have been able to successfully bring in
10:05BJP says you are appeasing one section, one community
10:09That is your vote bank
10:10No, no, I tell you very frankly
10:14With regard to the working democracy
10:17There is nothing across the ancient democracy
10:20I hope you know it quite well
10:22And my friends from BJP also knows
10:24And we have already filed petition in the Supreme Court
10:28I hope you people are quite aware
10:29Many petitions have been already filed
10:31So we are fighting the legal battle
10:33And in coming days
10:35We will also fight political battle democratically
10:38So wait for some time
10:41Time will, you know, give an answer
10:44So what kind of law they have brought
10:46To undermine the autonomy of certain communities
10:50Such as to fuel the polarization
10:52You know, so these are certain fundamental questions
10:55So we are fighting in this direction
10:56With regard to how we will change
10:58There are two ways
10:59Political, politically
11:01We will raise certain fundamental questions
11:03How the parties in power who are working
11:06To divide, polarize
11:08You know, making the citizen
11:11A second grade citizen
11:12The community's sentiment
11:14So these are not fundamental questions
11:16So we are fighting for the person
11:18Who is standing at the last
11:19BJP says you are instigating
11:22You are instigating violence
11:24There could be riots
11:25With what the statement
11:27That has been made by Teja Shvi Adha
11:28Nothing like that
11:30Don't give any misinterpretation
11:32The constitution is a supreme for us
11:36Baba sahib is, you know, his ideology
11:38Is a, you know, great source of inspiration for us
11:41So you are working
11:43Whatever we will do
11:44We will do as per what Baba sahib taught us
11:48Baba sahib gave us such a great constitution
11:51Through that democratic process
11:53We will change amicable in society
11:56We want to build, you know, such a society
11:59That is a democratic
12:00Tohin, Baba sahib has been brought in here
12:03Saying we have to have the equal society
12:04That Baba sahib, Dr. Abiyaram
12:06Once again, you know, they have once again
12:09Revealed their ignorance in Baba sahib's constitution
12:12The provision for waqf was not there
12:14It was introduced by Nehru in 1953
12:17Besides, you know, two very spurious legislations of 1995
12:21Specifically clause 40 of 1995
12:24Which gave unbridled powers to the waqf board
12:27To claim any property as their own
12:30You know, that has been undone
12:32The spurious legislations of 1995 and 2013 have been undone
12:37We stand, it has nothing to do with any community
12:40We stand for transparency
12:42And mind you, you know, the allegations of land loot
12:45From the waqf, who are the leaders accused?
12:47All of them are from the Congress party
12:48So Congress party is a lot to explain
12:50It doesn't call transparency
12:52Dr. Shamkubar, we will put that image
12:52Gaurav Bhatia has brought that again this morning
12:55That you are talking about B.R. Ambedkar
12:56But that image of B.R. Ambedkar
12:58Allegedly at the feet of Lalu Prasad Yadav
13:00That he doesn't care
13:01Do you want to say something about it?
13:03Because that is also something that the BJP is bringing back in
13:05Then I'll go to other panelists
13:07No, no, actually
13:09That is an unnecessary discussion and debate on the Baba Sahab
13:12Everybody knows
13:13In Bihar, in India
13:15We are the follower of Baba Sahab
13:17We are working in the direction
13:18What Baba Sahab thought of
13:20Whatever he has said
13:21That discourse for, you know, democracy
13:23And these people
13:24Who have come just
13:26Their, you know, love and affection for Baba Sahab
13:28It's just electoral, I tell you
13:30So they are making
13:31Electoral
13:32Only for the, you know, this election is approaching
13:34Nothing else
13:35Only election issue
13:38No concern
13:38No concern to the RJD
13:40That this, that image
13:41Gaurav Bhatia's flaunting
13:42Will become a concern
13:43We respect Baba Sahab
13:44Baba Sahab is our, you know, father
13:47He has made everything
13:48He has given everything for all of us
13:50Everyone in this country, in the world
13:52Okay
13:53So what, what sense they are talking
13:54This is a kind of the moral confidence
13:57They are, this is utter surprising for all of us
13:59That they are talking about Baba Sahab
14:01They, they, they don't have any moral courage to
14:04Okay, let's, let's, let's then go to other panelists as well
14:07I want to bring in Sanjay Kumar here
14:10When I look at the numbers
14:11And because this has been about communal polarization and bug fact
14:14That's why I'm bringing this in
14:15And we'll put out that data as well
14:17Clearly members of the Muslim community
14:19Have contributed well to RJD's success over the years
14:22RJD realizes it has been a strong component of their success
14:2623% vote share was for them in 2020
14:30But I also interestingly see that for the BJP
14:33The vote share for, by the, and from the Muslim community
14:36Was 25% in 2015
14:38Though it dipped to 19% in 2020
14:41Do you feel, as we look at some of these numbers
14:44And the surveys that are being done
14:46That RJD realizes that this is their best bet
14:49The BJP meanwhile alleges
14:51This is appeasement on religious issues
14:53There's no doubt that for RJD
14:57Muslim vote is crucial
14:59Muslims are in sizable number
15:01If we look at the Bihar electorate
15:03Roughly in the range of 18 to 19%
15:05If you look at historically
15:06The data about how Muslims have been voting
15:10Muslims have voted for RJD
15:12In favor of RJD in a very large number
15:14So we have been talking about RJD as a party, MY
15:17Core support of RJD's MY
15:19Comes from Muslims and the Yadavs
15:21So while it is important for RJD
15:23To mobilize votes for other caste community
15:26In order to be in a strong electoral race
15:29But I think that's the core
15:30MY factor is the core of RJD
15:33And that is why it is so important for them to try and retain the Muslim vote
15:37Try and retain the Muslim vote to the extent that Muslims have been voting in favor of the party
15:43And do you think that that is the confidence that they have in this elections as well
15:50Or do you think that there will be other agendas that could come in?
15:52Do you believe that you see the communal polarization in the days to come
15:56Over these similar issues in Bihar elections?
15:59No, in an election there will be other issues
16:01I am not saying that the entire election will be contested only on the communal issues
16:05Correct
16:05But yes, this is going to be one of the key issues
16:08Polarize, not polarization in a sense
16:12Try and mobilize your core supporters
16:14Try and keep your core supporters with you
16:16So that's going to be the core issue in this election
16:19I don't think they are too worried about the Muslim vote
16:22But there is some anxiety
16:24Some anxiety
16:25Why do you think that?
16:27Because they would recollect what happened in 2020 assembly election
16:30They lost marginally
16:31And there were few conferences where AIMIM candidate polled a sizable number of Muslim votes
16:37Some of them managed to win assembly elections as well
16:40This time there is a new entrant in Bihar politics
16:44Jan Swaraj party
16:45They are also trying to appease the minorities
16:48They are trying to make inroads among the young voters
16:51And these are young voters
16:53And the minorities form the core support base of RJD
16:57I think these are the few factors why there is some anxiety among the RJD leaders
17:03And they are trying hard to keep the Muslim vote
17:07Amitabh Tiwari, let's talk about the ground sentiment
17:11If Biharis want development and progress
17:13And it's a crucial state election, 243 seats
17:16Why is eventually the political showdown on polarization?
17:19Because I think the netas wouldn't make comments if they don't sense what's happening on the ground
17:25Why do you feel, given the numbers, previously and now
17:28And the surveys that are coming in
17:30That for the RJD and as much for the BJP to an extent
17:34This is the Trump card to score
17:37Now see I mean electorally if you see any strategy is dependent upon charging the core
17:44Which is the MY for the RJD or the Mahagadbandan
17:47And then adding certain vote blocks on top of it
17:51Because they need to add an EBC or a Dalit vote on top of it
17:55Now we have to understand the context
17:57The context is that in 2020 the alliances were equal in vote share
18:01And the difference was only 12,000 votes
18:04Now out of 18% Muslim vote
18:0713% went to the Mahagadbandan
18:101% to the NDA
18:11And 4% to others
18:13Which were primarily AIMIM and other parties
18:16If you see Purnia administrative division
18:19Where the Muslim population is highest
18:2146%
18:22There are 24 seats
18:24The Mahagadbandan could will only 7
18:26AIMIM won 5
18:27And the BJP led Gadbandan or alliance
18:3112 seats
18:32Of the 32 Muslim influenced seats
18:35Where the population is more than 30%
18:38The Mahagadbandan won only 8 out of 32
18:4118 seats were won by the NDA
18:44So this is the context
18:45So it is very very important for the Mahagadbandan
18:49Especially at a time
18:50When Chirag Paswan's party is joining the NDA
18:54And bringing 5-6% vote share
18:56That they need to consolidate this vote bank
18:59They got only 75%
19:01But this could go up to 85-90%
19:04As we have seen in the Lok Sabha election
19:06And it is an emotional issue
19:08The Vakf bill is an emotional issue
19:10See whether it is constitutionally possible or not possible
19:14Is not very relevant to the voter
19:16What is relevant to the voter is that
19:19Is being said
19:20Which backs or supports the community
19:23Or is seeking votes from the community
19:25Is at least
19:26Even if that may not happen
19:27Even if they may not happen
19:30At least in the near future
19:31See even in caste census
19:34When the reservation is being
19:36Or the caste survey is being done in states
19:39And when the reservation is being increased
19:41From 50 to 65 in Bihar
19:43Or the Maratha reservation is increased
19:44Yes
19:45Everybody knows that the courts are going to turn it down
19:47Correct
19:48Because ultimately the change has to be made
19:49In the 9th schedule of the constitution
19:52Or the 10th schedule perhaps
19:54But it is the intent which the voter sees
19:57Or the vote bloc sees
19:58That at least this party
20:00Which is championing our rights
20:01Is at least saying that it will do it
20:03It may or may not be possible
20:05That is another matter
20:06And it's an emotional issue
20:07But polls are about promises as much
20:11Even if not polarization
20:13But this time it's polarizing promises
20:15That are being made
20:17Tohin I want to bring you in
20:18When Gaurav Bhatia this morning said
20:20This is communal politics being done by the RJD
20:22To appease one section
20:24BJP is the one defending provision
20:26RJD is pursuing Sharia politics
20:29But what language was this against Tejasvi Adav
20:329th fail
20:33Maulana
20:34You're a national party
20:36And as a double engine sarkar
20:39And you've said that
20:40Objecting to what Tejasvi is saying
20:43Do you think such kind of language
20:44Should be a part of our discourse Tohin?
20:47And this is
20:48I want to add here
20:49This is from what
20:50Some of our PSE numbers
20:52That have come in
20:52Shows Tejasvi Adav
20:54Could actually be a front runner
20:55There is popularity increasing
20:57For the former deputy CM
20:58You know
20:59As far as Tejasvi Adav's education is concerned
21:02You know
21:02I don't think
21:03What Gaurav Ji said
21:05Was against the facts
21:06So if you know
21:08Gaurav Ji has passed Standard 9
21:10Or if he is highly educated
21:12He can make a claim
21:13But you know
21:14The point is
21:15There are times
21:16When certain words are used
21:19In reaction to the words used by
21:20And we are appalled
21:22By the words used by
21:23Tejasvi Adav
21:24You know
21:25The bill mind you
21:26Has been passed
21:26By both houses of parliament
21:28Similarly
21:29They had reservations about CAA
21:31They had reservations about
21:32Abrogation of Article 370
21:34Even the abrogation
21:35In the case of abrogation
21:37Of Article 370
21:38The case in Supreme Court
21:39Went on for a good 4 years
21:40But eventually
21:41The ruling was in favor
21:43Of the central government
21:44But when you use this language
21:46That
21:46Sometimes such
21:49Crash
21:50Sometimes such vulgar
21:51You know
21:52Insinuation
21:53Gets a reaction
21:54But I think
21:56You know
21:56There are things
21:56Beyond the language
21:57I think it is
21:58The overall
21:59Sense of
22:00Perverse entitlement
22:01Which both
22:02RGD
22:02And the Congress
22:03Party
22:03Come with
22:04And I think
22:05The Congress
22:05Is the BJP
22:06Concerned
22:07What if
22:07RGD's
22:08Government
22:09Tenure
22:10Returns to Bihar
22:11What happens
22:12To the BJP
22:12Then
22:13Well as far as
22:15The bill is concerned
22:16It won't make
22:17Any difference
22:17Whatsoever
22:18Because
22:18Political survival
22:21Political survival
22:21Of the BJP
22:22If the RGD
22:23And Lalu Prasad
22:24Nadav
22:24Tejashtri
22:25Nadav
22:25The Yadav
22:25Tenure
22:26RGD
22:26You know
22:27RGD
22:27Will not come to Bihar
22:29Because still
22:30The ghosts of
22:31Jungle Raj
22:32Have not been
22:32Exorcised
22:33You know
22:33If you recall
22:34In all the 3 or 4
22:36Instances
22:36When they have
22:37Managed to be in
22:37Power
22:38With Nitish Kumar
22:39Primarily
22:40People trusted
22:41Nitish Kumar
22:42They did not
22:43Trust
22:43RGD
22:45Independently
22:46Because the ghosts
22:47Of
22:47Jungle Raj
22:48And I have
22:48Personally witnessed
22:49That
22:49Growing up
22:50In the undivided
22:51Bihar
22:51Of you know
22:521990s
22:53I have grown up
22:54In Jamshedpur
22:54I have seen
22:56Those days
22:57And people can
22:58Never forget
22:59That
22:59When the
23:00When the
23:00Family members
23:01Of Lalu Yadav
23:02Were personally
23:03Involved
23:03In intimidating
23:04And threatening
23:05People
23:05So
23:06Jungle Raj
23:07Is not going
23:07To come back
23:08And people
23:08Want a vision
23:09For the state
23:10I take that
23:10To you
23:11From our
23:12PSC
23:13That the kind
23:14Of data
23:15It may show
23:15That Tejasvi
23:16Yadav
23:16Is rising in
23:17Popularity
23:18There could be
23:19An anti-incumbency
23:20Factor
23:20But like
23:20The BJP
23:21Says
23:21Jungle Raj
23:23Allegation
23:24That's coming
23:24In
23:25That there
23:25Were serious
23:26Issues of
23:26Law and
23:26Order
23:27During
23:27The Lalu Prasad
23:28Yadav
23:29Tenure
23:29And people
23:30Will not
23:31Vote for
23:31That
23:31To return
23:32To Bihar
23:32Even though
23:33Even though
23:33There may
23:33Issues
23:34Are present
23:34I just
23:36Would like
23:37To tell
23:37You
23:37Very simple
23:38Point
23:38What is
23:39A pathetic
23:40Condition
23:40Of Bihar
23:41Law and
23:41Order
23:42We are
23:42Well aware
23:42I don't
23:44Want to
23:44Discuss
23:44Anything
23:45Everybody
23:46Who is
23:47Watching
23:49This show
23:49Or maybe
23:50They are
23:50Aware of
23:50The facts
23:51And data
23:51Of crime
23:53Rates
23:53In Bihar
23:53That is
23:54A sharp
23:55Rise
23:55In every
23:56Kind
23:56Of crimes
23:56People
23:58Will reply
23:58In just
23:59Few months
23:59Later
23:59I tell
24:00You
24:00I hope
24:01You will
24:01Organize
24:01More
24:02Program
24:03On that
24:04Definitely
24:04There
24:06So
24:07There is
24:07Not
24:07Much
24:08To debate
24:09If
24:10You
24:10Want
24:10To
24:10Discuss
24:10The
24:11History
24:11We
24:12Are
24:12Open
24:12To
24:13Discuss
24:14Everything
24:15But
24:15You
24:16Know
24:16That
24:16The
24:16Question
24:17Comes
24:17From
24:18Who
24:18Is
24:18Ruling
24:19Parties
24:20Who
24:21Is
24:21There
24:21Is
24:21A
24:21Double
24:22Angel
24:22Serkaal
24:22And
24:23I
24:23Would
24:23Like
24:24To
24:24Just
24:24Call
24:24You
24:24In
24:24Every
24:25Data
24:25That
24:26It
24:26Is
24:26A
24:26Double
24:27Angel
24:27Filled
24:27Serkaal
24:28That
24:29Every
24:30Parameter
24:30On
24:31The
24:31Development
24:31Where
24:32Does
24:32Bihar
24:33Ranks
24:33You
24:34Know
24:34When
24:34Tejasvi
24:35Yadav
24:35Ji
24:35Come
24:36With
24:36Nitish
24:37Kumar
24:37Ji
24:37Then
24:38There
24:38Was
24:38A
24:39Survey
24:39Of
24:40Social
24:41And
24:41Economic
24:41Of
24:42Every
24:42Kind
24:4294
24:43Lack
24:45People
24:45What
24:46The
24:46Kind
24:47Of
24:47Data
24:47Come
24:48Over
24:48But
24:51In
24:58The
24:582022
24:59When
25:00Nitish
25:00Kumarji
25:01With
25:02The
25:02Alliance
25:02Of
25:02BJP
25:03Is
25:03Ruling
25:03Bihar
25:04For
25:04The
25:04Last
25:04Two
25:05Dictates
25:05Let
25:06Me
25:06Tell
25:06You
25:06Let
25:06Me
25:07Please
25:07Please
25:07Take
25:07My
25:09Question
25:09Last
25:1020
25:11Years
25:11What
25:12Is
25:12Happening
25:12People
25:13Of
25:13Bihar
25:13Are
25:13Well
25:14Aware
25:14And
25:15With
25:15Regard
25:16To
25:16That
25:16Educational
25:17Qualification
25:18If
25:18You
25:19Want
25:19To
25:19Discuss
25:19The
25:20Educational
25:20Qualification
25:21Of
25:21The
25:22Leaders
25:22We
25:23Can
25:24Discuss
25:24In
25:24Some
25:24Other
25:25Demate
25:25That
25:26What
25:26Is
25:26The
25:26Parties
25:27That
25:27Kind
25:28Of
25:28Controversy
25:28Kind
25:29Of
25:29Discussion
25:30Of
25:30The
25:30Leaders
25:30Okay
25:31I
25:31Have
25:32To
25:32Interrupt
25:32You
25:33There
25:33Because
25:33Your
25:33Leader
25:33Has
25:34Spoken
25:34Up
25:34That's
25:35The
25:35Big
25:35News
25:35Coming
25:35In
25:36Tejashvi
25:36Yadav
25:36Waiting
25:37Back
25:37At
25:37The
25:37Bhartia
25:37Janata
25:38Party
25:38Stay
25:39On
25:39With
25:40Disham
25:40Kumar
25:40Tejashvi
25:41Has
25:42Responded
25:42To
25:42The
25:43Maulana
25:43Comment
25:44By
25:44The
25:44Bhartia
25:45Janata
25:45Party
25:45And
25:46I
25:47Want
25:48The
25:48Viewer
25:48To
25:48Listen
25:48In
25:49What
25:49Has
25:49Tejashvi
25:50Yadav
25:50Said
25:50It's
25:51A
25:51Compliment
25:51Calling
25:52Me
25:52A
25:52Maulana
25:53Is
25:53A
25:53Compliment
25:53Because
25:54That
25:54Means
25:54A
25:54Scholar
25:55Let's
25:55Listen
25:56In
25:56To
25:56The
25:57Leader
25:57Of
25:57Opposition
25:58In
25:58The
25:58Bihar
25:58Assembly
25:58Former
25:59Deputy
25:59CM
26:23Moulana
26:24Means
26:25Vidwana
26:25Hota
26:26Hai
26:26Okay
26:29So
26:29It
26:29Looks
26:29Like
26:29Even
26:30Tejashvi
26:30Response
26:31Has
26:32Some
26:32Very
26:32Strong
26:32Scathing
26:33Words
26:33But
26:33That's
26:33What
26:33Bihar
26:34Election
26:34Discourse
26:34Is
26:35Going
26:35To
26:35Be
26:35A
26:35Quick
26:36Word
26:3615
26:37Second
26:37From
26:37Our
26:38Political
26:38Panel
26:38Then
26:39I
26:39Will
26:39Go
26:39To
26:39Our
26:40Other
26:40Experts
26:40As
26:40Well
26:41What
26:41Do
26:41You
26:42Say
26:42To
26:42That
26:42Now
26:43To
26:43Hinn
26:43Sina
26:44When
26:44Tejashvi
26:45Yadav
26:45Says
26:46It's
26:46Good
26:47It's
26:47A
26:53Party
26:54Which
26:54At
26:54One
26:55Point
26:55Of
26:55Time
26:55Was
26:56Very
26:56Brazen
26:57That
26:57You
26:57Know
26:57It
26:57Wanted
26:58To
26:58Restrict
26:58Itself
26:59To
26:59Two
26:59Communities
26:59Which
27:00Is
27:00MY
27:00And
27:01At
27:01One
27:02Point
27:02Of
27:02Time
27:02It
27:03Used
27:03To
27:03Instigate
27:04People
27:04With
27:05Slogans
27:05Like
27:06You
27:08Know
27:08I
27:08Can
27:08I
27:08Don't
27:09Want
27:09To
27:09Mention
27:09The
27:09Four
27:10Communities
27:10Which
27:10Were
27:11Targeted
27:11By
27:11This
27:12Particular
27:12Slogan
27:13But
27:13This
27:13Is
27:13An
27:13Outright
27:14Cast
27:15Party
27:15This
27:15Is
27:15An
27:16Outright
27:23Dr.
27:24Shyam
27:25Kumar
27:25Do
27:25You
27:25Think
27:25This
27:26Is
27:26Defiance
27:26Resilience
27:27Desperation
27:28How
27:29Do
27:29We
27:29Look
27:29At
27:29This
27:29Response
27:30But
27:30He
27:30Also
27:31Added
27:31Some
27:31Words
27:33That
27:33I
27:33Don't
27:33Know
27:34If
27:34He
27:34Should
27:34Have
27:35Said
27:35That
27:35And
27:36We
27:37Pay
27:37Out
27:37That
27:37Reaction
27:37In
27:38Just
27:38A
27:38Short
27:38While
27:38Again
27:39How
27:39Do
27:39We
27:39Look
27:40At
27:40This
27:40Statement
27:41Yes
27:41Go
27:41Ahead
27:41Dr.
27:42Shyam
27:42Kumar
27:42I
27:43Would
27:43Like
27:43To
27:44Just
27:44A
27:44Very
27:44Simple
27:45Point
27:45Yes
27:46We
27:46Are
27:46Largest
27:47Party
27:47Even
27:47Today
27:48Even
27:50Today
27:50Largest
27:51Party
27:51In
27:52Bihar
27:52Largest
27:52Parties
27:53In
27:53Bihar
27:53Even
27:54Today
27:54In
27:55The
27:55Kind
27:56Of
27:56All
27:56The
27:56Leaders
27:57From
27:57Every
27:57Party
27:57Was
27:58Coming
27:58Working
27:59For
27:59Them
27:59Compagning
28:00For
28:00Them
28:00Addressing
28:01Every
28:01Issue
28:02We
28:02Are
28:02Largest
28:03In
28:03Number
28:03Secondly
28:05What
28:05He
28:05Is
28:05Talking
28:05The
28:06Problem
28:06Why
28:06The
28:06Problem
28:07Is
28:07Rising
28:07Every
28:07Day
28:08Because
28:09The
28:09Kind
28:09Of
28:10The
28:10Popularity
28:10Which
28:11Tejasvi
28:11Yadav
28:12Is
28:12Gaining
28:12And
28:13Just
28:13The
28:13Momentum
28:14Is
28:14Becoming
28:14In
28:15The
28:15Favor
28:15Of
28:15The
28:15RJD
28:16And
28:17Maha
28:17Gatwandan
28:17Alliance
28:18So
28:18That
28:19Is
28:19A
28:19Real
28:19Problem
28:20I
28:20Tell
28:20You
28:20The
28:21Kind
28:21Of
28:21Climate
28:22Kind
28:23Of
28:23The
28:23Statement
28:24Was
28:24Coming
28:24On
28:25The
28:25Person
28:25Holding
28:26A
28:26Constitutional
28:26Position
28:27It
28:27Is
28:27Utter
28:28Surprised
28:28You
28:29Objected
28:29To
28:29The
28:30BJP
28:30Statement
28:31Dr.
28:31Tejasvi
28:33Saying
28:33Tappori
28:34He
28:34Tappori
28:35Hai
28:35And
28:36Basically
28:37Of
28:37Course
28:37Tappori
28:38It
28:38Means
28:38Roadside
28:39So
28:39To
28:40Say
28:40Is
28:40This
28:41Okay
28:41In
28:41Response
28:42How
28:42Do
28:42You
28:42Justify
28:43Your
28:43Behavior
28:44If
28:44You
28:44Are
28:45Accusing
28:45The
28:45BJP
28:45Of
28:46The
28:46Same
28:46I
28:47Would
28:47Like
28:48To
28:48Just
28:48The
28:48Kind
28:49Of
28:49Problem
28:49That
28:49Is
28:49Rising
28:50For
28:50The
28:50Couple
28:51Of
28:51Days
28:51And
28:52Even
28:52Previous
28:52Some
28:53Because
28:53Of
28:53The
28:53Kind
28:54Of
28:54Popularity
28:54Momentum
28:55That
28:55Is
28:56Getting
28:56In
28:56The
28:56Favor
28:56Of
28:57Mahakad
28:57Bandar
28:57This
28:58Government
28:59Is
28:59Just
28:59Going
29:00Taking
29:01Farewell
29:01In
29:02Just
29:02Few
29:02Month
29:02Later
29:03So
29:03That
29:04Kind
29:04Of
29:04Problem
29:06Is
29:06Rising
29:07They
29:07Are
29:07Speaking
29:07Anything
29:08Anyway
29:09That
29:09Is
29:09A
29:09Real
29:09Issue
29:10If
29:10You
29:10Go
29:10And
29:11Find
29:11Fact
29:13From
29:13The
29:13Ground
29:13This
29:14Is
29:14The
29:14Real
29:14Problem
29:15And
29:16They
29:16Are
29:16Talking
29:16About
29:16Us
29:17Of
29:17Everything
29:18They
29:18Are
29:18For
29:18Better
29:18People
29:19Are
29:20Going
29:20To
29:20Give
29:21Their
29:21Mandate
29:21We
29:22Are
29:22The
29:22Largest
29:23In
29:23Number
29:23My
29:23Dear
29:23Friend
29:24From
29:24BJP
29:25You
29:25Have
29:26Many
29:26Parties
29:27Alliance
29:28There
29:28How
29:28Many
29:29Number
29:29Of
29:29The
29:29Respected
29:30Honorable
29:31Nitish
29:31Kumar
29:31Amitab
29:32Dival
29:32You
29:34Heard
29:34What
29:34Tejasvi
29:35Said
29:35And
29:36Clearly
29:36About
29:37How
29:37The
29:37Discourse
29:38Is
29:38Becoming
29:38Among
29:39The
29:39Netas
29:39In
29:39Bihar
29:40But
29:40Let's
29:40Talk
29:41About
29:41Tejasvi
29:41It's
29:42Not
29:42About
29:42Lalu
29:42Prasad
29:43Yadav
29:43That's
29:44More
29:44Like
29:44A
29:44Forgotten
29:45Era
29:45If
29:45Not
29:45Forgotten
29:46It's
29:46Mentioned
29:46As
29:47A
29:47Jungle
29:47Raj
29:47But
29:48Do
29:48You
29:48Think
29:48Tejasvi
29:49Yadav
29:49As
29:50The
29:50Next
29:50Generation
29:50Of
29:51The
29:51RJD
29:51Is
29:52Either
29:53Giving
29:53A
29:53Tough
29:54Fight
29:54Or
29:57At
29:57Least
29:57Becoming
29:58The
29:58Face
29:58And
29:58He
29:58Realizes
29:59It
29:59That
30:00To
30:00Counter
30:00The
30:00BJP
30:01JDU
30:01He's
30:02Becoming
30:02A
30:02Face
30:03Will
30:03That
30:03Work
30:03For
30:04The
30:04RJD
30:04Are
30:04People
30:05Are
30:05Ready
30:05For
30:06A
30:06Young
30:06Leader
30:07Like
30:07Tejasvi
30:07Even
30:08With
30:08These
30:09Comments
30:09That
30:09Are
30:09Coming
30:10In
30:10So
30:11Clearly
30:12He
30:12Has
30:12Immersed
30:13As
30:13The
30:13Fulcrum
30:14Of
30:14The
30:14Opposition
30:15And
30:16We've
30:16Seen
30:17In
30:17Your
30:17Surveys
30:18Seavoter
30:18Surveys
30:19Also
30:19That
30:19He's
30:20Leading
30:20As
30:21Chief
30:21Minister
30:21In
30:21terms
30:23Of
30:25Cricket
30:26Analogy
30:26Tejasvi
30:27Is
30:28The
30:28Captain
30:28Of
30:28Mahagadbandan
30:29Strong
30:30Player
30:31In
30:31Good
30:31Form
30:32But
30:32The
30:33Vice
30:33Captain
30:33Which
30:33Is
30:33In
30:34Poor
30:34Form
30:35On
30:36The
30:36Opposite
30:36Side
30:37You
30:37Have
30:37NDA
30:38The
30:38Captain
30:39Is
30:39Nithi
30:39Kumar
30:40In
30:40Poor
30:40Form
30:40But
30:41You
30:41Have
30:42The
30:42Vice
30:42Captain
30:42And
30:43Other
30:43Players
30:43Like
30:44The
30:44BJP
30:44And
30:45Shirak
30:45Who
30:45Are
30:46In
30:46Good
30:46Form
30:46So
30:47Essentially
30:47It
30:48Is
30:48The
30:4817%
30:49We
30:49Have
30:50Been
30:50Also
30:50Putting
30:50A
30:51Lot
30:51Of
30:51Numbers
30:51There
30:52Are
30:52Undecided
30:52Voters
30:53Roughly
30:53In
30:54Bihar
30:54At
30:54This
30:55State
30:55Tejasvi
30:56Also
30:57Have
30:57Been
30:57Able
30:58To
30:58Consolidate
31:00The
31:00Youth
31:00Vote
31:01Because
31:01It
31:01Is
31:01Linked
32:09you think a Jansaraj party, a Prashant Kishore can make?
32:13Who will Prashant Kishore really impact?
32:15Will it be to the NDA or the Mahagat Bandhan?
32:17So, a compilation of questions there for you.
32:20Yes, there are many questions in this question.
32:22First, I don't think that this is going to be the only issue in these elections.
32:27As we come closer to the day of election,
32:29there will be many more issues which will come into the forefront.
32:32This is an issue much in advance before the election,
32:37even the elections have been announced.
32:38So, I really don't think that this is going to be the only issue in these elections.
32:42The issues of unemployment, migration,
32:46those things are also going to come into play
32:48when elections become closer to the day of election.
32:54Prashant Kishore, there is a lot of noise his party is making.
32:57Prashant Kishore himself is making a lot of noise.
32:59Young voters are rallying behind Prashant Kishore.
33:03He is also trying to make inroads among or dent the Muslim vote.
33:06So, whatever vote he is going to poll,
33:08I think the bigger damage he is going to do
33:10is to the India Gadbandhan, not to the NDA.
33:14While it is not that he will be damaging only India Alliance and not the NDA,
33:18but I think the bigger damage would be to the India Alliance, not to the NDA.
33:22That is my assessment at this moment.
33:25We are still three months away from election.
33:26But as we come closer to the days of election,
33:29these assessments will change because maybe the nature of campaign and the nature of politics
33:34will also change in the coming months.
33:36Tuhin Sina, your party are tapori leaders and any worker also of RJD is enough to counter you.
33:44And the promises being made by the RJD is the reason that possibly the Mahagat Bandhan will return.
33:50What do you say to what Tejashvi Yadav is saying and the RJD strategy?
33:54Because eventually, Shyam Kumar is correct,
33:57RJD still has a very strong hold when it comes to a certain section.
34:02Whether it's the Muslim or the Yadav vote or the underprivileged groups,
34:05you call it Jungle Raj.
34:07But there are people who believe RJD is their saviour.
34:10Well, this delusional behaviour of RJD suits us.
34:15You know, in the last elections, Nitish Kumar's party had used a line,
34:20which essentially means that Bihar has got used to Nitish Kumar ji.
34:27Bihar is happy with the development which the state has witnessed since 2005.
34:33Of course, there were a couple of years when Nitish ji was not in power.
34:37But fact is that overall development has been so humongous.
34:42Imagine a 14.5% GDP growth.
34:44Imagine seamless road connectivity across Bihar.
34:47Imagine 20 hours of electricity during the day.
34:50All of these would not have been possible with an RJD government.
34:54This is something which people realise and that is what puts us ahead.
34:58Dr. Shyam Kumar, I want to pick up one issue.
35:02Is it, would it be correct to say that you're making promises
35:06which wouldn't really be fulfilled?
35:09When RJD leader Tejashvi Adav said 100% domicile policy
35:14will give jobs only to people from Bihar,
35:18primarily in a country like India,
35:21where migration is such an important issue,
35:23do you think this is a fair policy?
35:25Can this be implemented?
35:27How will that impact the development of the infrastructure projects
35:30coming in from other states as well?
35:32and then you promise the VAKF Act to be thrown in the dustbin?
35:36Are these false promises?
35:39Or are these promises that you feel can be fulfilled and how?
35:43See, I tell you very frankly,
35:45we are the party who do not,
35:47you know, give the, you know, in a vacuum.
35:50We are, we do not see,
35:51so the picture,
35:53a golden picture.
35:55We deliver governance.
35:56When you remember,
35:59when Tejashvi Adav was a deputy chief minister,
36:02the lots of jobs,
36:04five lots of jobs he has given the young,
36:07you know,
36:07school teacher and many other related jobs,
36:10that he is a man of action.
36:12His man is not,
36:13you know,
36:13simply does not believe in the,
36:16some programs.
36:16He believes in the action,
36:17delivery,
36:18governance.
36:20And when he,
36:21you know,
36:21joined with this,
36:22you know,
36:22Nithish Kumar,
36:24when he,
36:25you know,
36:25as a deputy chief minister,
36:27what kind of revolution he did?
36:29All kinds of surveys have been conducted without data.
36:33Can you do anything?
36:34The first,
36:35he tried to bring the data,
36:37what are the core issues of Bihar?
36:39So he delivered,
36:41and then 94 lakh people came,
36:43we came to know,
36:44these are the poor fellows.
36:45We have to work in concrete,
36:47not giving five kilo rassan.
36:50We will give for jobs.
36:52They will deliver five kilo rassan to the other people,
36:54I tell you.
36:55We are the socialists.
36:57We are the real socialists.
36:59What,
36:59you know,
37:00kind of the vision,
37:01every other job.
37:02You have been in the government earlier.
37:04How much of change really came?
37:06Law and order is still a big issue,
37:07even though,
37:08Tohin Sina says,
37:09possibly people have short memory,
37:10they may not remember.
37:12But those who do,
37:12will constantly raise this Jangal Raj issue.
37:15No,
37:15I tell you,
37:16please take,
37:16you know,
37:17you know,
37:18go ahead.
37:19I would like to make you very much clear.
37:21This is your media perspective.
37:22You can have it.
37:23But this was a social justice Sarkar in Bihar.
37:26From 1990s to 2005,
37:29the kind of the social building,
37:30social change that was brought at that point of time,
37:33I think you people have to also look at it.
37:36I think you will not speak the same language,
37:38but BJP and JDU is speaking.
37:41Would you want to elaborate on that?
37:43Because I'll take that question to Tohin.
37:44Social justice upliftment means what?
37:47Yeah,
37:48I would like to elaborate.
37:49That 15 years,
37:51you know,
37:51RJD and Janata Dal was in power.
37:54People have given that such a big,
37:56huge,
37:56big mandate in vacuum.
37:58You know,
37:59at that time,
38:00at that point of time,
38:01the election commission,
38:02TN session was election commission.
38:04Everyone knows about TN session.
38:07In that perspective,
38:08we have got the mandate to rule.
38:09That means it was a people government.
38:12At the social justice,
38:13what he delivers,
38:14voice,
38:14in the democracy,
38:15one doesn't have voice.
38:16Right to speak.
38:17Today,
38:17you can speak.
38:18What will happen?
38:19What is happening on the ground?
38:20You are well aware.
38:22You know,
38:22I don't want to speak at that,
38:24you know,
38:24line,
38:24but at that point of time,
38:26in the Bihar,
38:27and the leadership of the,
38:28our leader,
38:29Lalu Prasad Yadav,
38:30the big change,
38:31that was a social change.
38:32People do not have right to even speak.
38:35Final comment, Tohin,
38:35before I wrap it up with Amitab Tiwari as well.
38:38Well, you know,
38:38it doesn't.
38:39But you keep saying Jangal Raj.
38:41What he's saying is also important in the sense,
38:44because I've reported from Lalu Prasad Yadav's rallies,
38:47when he spoke,
38:48he definitely catered to an audience and told them,
38:51for example,
38:51on reservations,
38:53that these parties want to take away our reservations.
38:55And you could see the sense of anxiety,
38:58the fear that was felt.
39:00Now,
39:00we can debate on what stand that is.
39:03However,
39:04RJD has catered to a group to make them believe,
39:07if they go,
39:08there is going to be mayhem against them.
39:11You may,
39:11you may argue that people will not remember,
39:14you know,
39:14the younger generation will not remember Jangal Raj,
39:17but will,
39:18will they also not remember the corrupt practices of the RJD?
39:22Will they not remember that Lalu Yadav ji is a convicted criminal?
39:25He's out on bail.
39:27Will they not remember that this is a party where the entire family is facing very grave charges in the land for jobs scam?
39:33But now Tejasui is leading it.
39:34Tejasui is the big face now.
39:35Land for jobs.
39:36No, no.
39:36So,
39:36the point is,
39:39the loot and corruption have been a culture of the RJD.
39:44You know,
39:45Tejasui Yadav has not been in government so much,
39:47barring a couple of years.
39:48Give him five years,
39:49he can also loot.
39:51The legacy of loot,
39:52the legacy of corruption of RJD has been so grave.
39:56You know,
39:57there are many instances for a moment if I can buy your argument,
40:00even if I buy your argument that the younger generation may not remember Jangal Raj,
40:04they will remember the spate of corruption charges against the entire family.
40:09And they will be very apprehensive giving Bihar in the hands of a family that will loot the state all over again.
40:16So,
40:16I want you to have the final comment based on data, surveys, experience, expertise, and that is two to three months away from elections.
40:26Do you believe that this showdown is only going to get sharper, and must I say, uglier as well, in the kind of words that are being spoken?
40:35Do you believe the issues will be of welfare, jobs, opportunities, welfare, development of Bihar that it so desperately needs?
40:42Or perhaps, it will be back to the kind of discourse we are hearing.
40:52Essentially, it is going to be a closer election.
40:56In 2020, we saw it was a tie.
40:59Even in 2024, Lok Sabha election, if you see, and the social justice part you mentioned,
41:05NDA's tally declined from 39 to 30, and NDA's from 1 to 10.
41:09So, that seems to have worked.
41:11But what is going to happen is that there is a myriad of factors and issues which will play out.
41:16Caste, religion, development, unemployment, price rights, etc., etc.
41:21And largely, it is going to be a seat-by-seat contest.
41:25Correct.
41:25Because a lot has happened under Nitish Kumar's rule.
41:31But if you see, Tuhin Shinaji is mentioning about corruption.
41:34In 2020, RGD had 20 seats.
41:38After Lalu ji was convicted, in 2020, the party became the single largest party in Bihar.
41:44So, it shows that this is not an issue which is resonating, at least, with his core voters and supporters.
41:53Interesting.
41:54It happened in Bihar.
41:55But still, I will just give you one data point.
41:57In 2005, when Rabdi ji left as CM, Bihar's per capita income was one-third of national average.
42:07Even today, it is one-third of national average.
42:09So, somehow, this Nitish model of development versus Lalu's model of development, we are going to see this again and again resonating across the next three to four months.
42:21Social justice versus economic development and whether there is Jangal Raj or whether the law and order has deteriorated under Nitish Kumar's rule.
42:30Because RGD has upped the ante now on the law and order, if you see, over the past three, four months.
42:37So, law and order during the Lalu Prasad Yadav time or law and order this time under the NDA Sarkar.
42:43Eventually, can we have a better discourse, discourse that's more healthy, appropriate, in chosen words?
42:50That, well, most of us know, is only going to turn sharper and ugly in the days to come.
42:54However, it's a crucial state, important state for the country and we hope important issues will be addressed by our NITAs with their promises.
43:01Thank you very much to our panelists who have put out their best views.
43:06And we leave it, of course, to the viewer and the resident of Bihar to be able to decide.
43:11Thank you very much.
43:11India-US trade talks was to be a huge development in the days to come.
43:15However, the deal appears to have hit a deadlock over agriculture while the government is firm on our dairy industry specifically.
43:24This is now about domestic interests versus American interests.
43:28India and the United States of America remain logged in a stalemate right now.
43:31There are key agriculture demands with sources of the Indian government telling us this channel Business Today Television that the deadlock is still not resolved.
43:40What does this mean?
43:40Now, according to top officials, India has made it absolutely clear that it will not budge on the dairy industry.
43:49It's a sector that employs over 800 million people.
43:52Many of them are smallholder farmers.
43:55So according to our sources and top officials, there is no question of conceding on dairy.
44:00That's a red line that the government has said.
44:03India has also formed not to compromise on agriculture, especially not at the cost of its rural economy.
44:09So then where do the interests stand?
44:12The United States of America aims to enter into a wide range with regard to agro economy and automobiles.
44:17That's what the U.S. interest has been while India has made changes.
44:21For example, remember in the Harley-Davidson States.
44:25India is seeking duty concessions for a range of labor-intensive sectors.
44:29Textiles, garments, gems, jewelry, leather goods, plastics, chemicals and so on and so forth.
44:35According to our sources, these concessions do not hurt any domestic interest in the U.S.A.
44:40and therefore unlikely to face resistance.
44:42Special Secretary Rajesh Agarwal, leading the Indian delegation in Washington,
44:45has extended his stay by another day in an attempt to break the impasse.
44:50Talks are expected to continue through Wednesday.
44:52Foreign Minister Ajayi Shankar also scheduled to meet his U.S. counterpart Marco Rubio
44:56on the sidelines of a diplomatic meeting.
44:59But this interim trade agreement is being positioned as a first step
45:02toward a broader bilateral trade deal.
45:05Aims to avert steep tariff of up to 26%, remember, on Indian exports.
45:09It's a deadline that looms with urgency.
45:12America is also pushing for a breakthrough before the 9th of July.
45:16Listen in to our External Affairs Minister, Dr. S.J. Shankar.
45:19Within a month of the change in administration,
45:23we actually have conceptually an agreement that we will do a bilateral trade agreement.
45:31That we will find a fix which will work for both of us.
45:36Because we have our concerns too.
45:37And it's not an open-ended process because that's often the frustration of trade negotiations.
45:46You know, we did four years of talking in the first Trump administration.
45:51You know, they have their view of us and, frankly, we have our view of them.
45:55And the bottom line is that the deal didn't get done.
46:00This time around, we are certainly geared up for a very high degree of, I would say, urgency.
46:07I mean, we see a window here.
46:10We want to seize that window.
46:11So, you know, so our trade teams are ready, you know, they're really charged up.
46:18This is normally a complaint in the past which used to be made about us.
46:21That we were the guys slowing it down.
46:23So, it's actually today the other way around.
46:25And I think that urgency we are trying to really communicate on all three accounts.
46:32Breaking that news for the India Today Network, my colleague Karishma Sudhani joining me live from Delhi.
46:38Karishma, how much of dairy agriculture industry is going to be a part of whether this trade deal goes through?
46:44How?
46:44Because time is running out as well.
46:46What are you picking up?
46:47What are your sources telling you?
46:48Well, Puja, I think the big question that is currently being debated is the fact that to what extent will India try to protect its farmers at the stake of a tariff loom that is ongoing and is going to kick in anytime soon?
47:07India has taken a very clear and a tough stance that it's not going to let its two major sectors be impacted.
47:14One is, of course, dairy and the second one is the rice sector.
47:19And besides this, also, there are a lot of other sectors that India's trade minister has keenly mentioned, including that of some organic, genetically produced organic crops, which U.S. has been asking for an access towards the American markets.
47:36But India, it's clear that it has to protect the interest of its local farmers.
47:41In return, there are some other kind of concessions that India is willing to make.
47:47But India will have to be careful on this because this is a situation that could be repeated.
47:52It was back in 1960s and 1970s that India had also done something similarly with U.S. back then.
47:59And the problem was that once things come back on the negotiating table, it is very difficult to go back from what the tariff has been put, especially when there is a change in supply and demand.
48:11And as in when production and global supply market changes, you may want to take a fall.
48:17But looking in mind, the kind of metrics we have had and the dialogue and negotiations going on with the U.S., it's very difficult if we have to go back on the negotiations.
48:26So this decision in, say, the next four to five days is very, very important.
48:32Very crucial. And our team is there on the ground, senior diplomats as well.
48:36Joining me, Pranay Upadhyaya, India Today Global Pranay.
48:39This is where diplomacy, political discourse, reaching out, back channel talks, all of that comes to surface.
48:45What are you picking up? What does this mean with regard to India-U.S. relationship?
48:51You pointed out, Pooja, that it's a very complex, you know, negotiation process.
48:56You heard external affairs minister S.J. Shankar.
48:58India remain committed to conclude this deal.
49:00But, you know, it's a complex process.
49:03You have to decide about the different tariff line.
49:05India has different ideas. India has put forth the ideas of reducing the tariff line for over 60% of the products.
49:13But there are certain red lines, which you also mentioned.
49:15Agriculture remains a red line because we have a large agriculture sector and dairy is also part of it.
49:20And, you know, we have to factor in that India is the 20th, India produces, as far as the global milk production is concerned, 23% of the global milk production comes from India.
49:29We are the largest milk producer country.
49:31And also, for the farmer income in India, dairy is also an important factor and a part of it.
49:38When we talk about doubling the farm income, dairy remains a factor with which we can achieve that target.
49:44So, you would recall, Pooja, that in 2022, India pulled out of the RECP, the Regional Economic Partnership Agreement, just because of the dairy sector.
49:53And U.S. is pushing for the, like, apples, the tree nuts and, like, you know, hay, and, you know, such products, you know, alpha, alpha, hay.
50:02These are the products which U.S. is pushing forward as far as these trade negotiations.
50:06So, it will be how India manages to retain its equation with the U.S.A., with Donald Trump, but to ensure our domestic interests are not harmed, especially with regard to farmers in agriculture and dairy.
50:16Thank you very much, Pranay Upadha and Karish Mahasudani, for the latest on that.
50:19I have some big news coming in, Pranay. Stay on with me on that.
50:23The Bonhomie over, Donald Trump and Elon Musk appear to be again in a showdown, this time of a subsidy.
50:34What's happening? Is there a deportation warning to Elon Musk by the U.S. President?
50:40Sometimes friends, sometimes foes.
50:43We'll take a look when he was asked about whether deportation of Elon Musk will happen.
50:48This is amid, remember, a lot of issues that have come in, whether it's regard to the ICE,
50:52the deportation that's happening, but it's Elon Musk after all.
50:56Trump also said Musk could lose a lot more than an electric vehicle subsidy that would be eliminated if the big bill of tax breaks and spending cuts becomes low.
51:04So, this is what Donald Trump has said.
51:06Amid all of this, what happened was a big, beautiful bill earlier, but it's after Elon Musk saying we need to close up shop,
51:14move back to South Africa as the feud between the powerful men is escalating.
51:20Listen in to Donald Trump.
51:20I don't know.
51:24I think we'll have to take a look.
51:26We might have to put Doge on Elon.
51:29You know what Doge is?
51:31Doge is the monster that might have to go back and eat Elon.
51:35Wouldn't that be terrible?
51:37He gets a lot of subsidies, Peter.
51:39But Elon's very upset that the EV mandate is going to be terminated.
51:45And you know what?
51:46When you look at it, who wants?
51:47Not everybody wants an electric car.
51:50I don't want an electric car.
51:51I want to have maybe gasoline, maybe electric, maybe a hybrid, maybe someday a hydrogen.
51:57If you have a hydrogen car, it has one problem.
52:00It blows up, you know.
52:02So, I'm going to give that one to Peter.
52:04I'm going to let Peter test it up.
52:05So, from standing with the Tesla truck, expressing support now to a possible deportation risk.
52:12Pranay Upadhyay joins us.
52:13Pranay, what is happening here?
52:15Clearly, you can make out.
52:16These two visuals tell the entire story.
52:18From White House lawn having Tesla, shiny Tesla cars in the backdrop.
52:23To the situation where, you know, Elon Musk is being targeted by none other than the US President Donald Trump.
52:28So, once, you know, their friendship and partnership, which was termed as bromance, has now turned out to be a fisty fight among these two giants.
52:36Because one is the corporate leader and, like, you know, richest man on the planet.
52:39And between the most powerful politician on earth.
52:43So, this has become, like, you know, a very fisty fight between these two individuals.
52:47But clearly, you can make out that, you know, something has really gone wrong between these two individuals.
52:53And like it is said, Pranay, in politics, there are no permanent friends and foes.
52:58Not even when it comes to the richest man and the most powerful man, Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
53:02Thank you very much for now.
53:03Pranay Upadhyay with all the details on that.
53:05That's all the time I have for.
53:06Thank you so much for watching.
53:07To the point.
53:08I'm wrapping up for now.
53:10I'm wrapping up for now.
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