- 7/7/2025
The Election Commission's special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar has sparked controversy, with opposition parties filing petitions in the Supreme Court challenging the move. The revision requires voters added since 2003 to submit proof of date and place of birth, effectively their citizenship. Opposition parties claim this targets poor, Dalit and Muslim voters and could lead to disenfranchisement. The EC maintains the revision is working smoothly, with 2.88 crore forms collected covering 37% of Bihar's voters. However, ground reports show many citizens struggling to provide the required documents. Former Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa says while roll purification is legitimate, the timing and new procedures raise questions. The Supreme Court will hear the petitions on Thursday. Concerns have been raised about the Election Commission of India's voter registration drive. A former Election Commissioner states there are practical and conceptual issues that need clarification, such as the acceptance criteria for enumeration forms and required documents. He calls for establishing open and credible channels of communication to address doubts, though stops short of saying the EC faces a crisis. The discussion also touches on allegations by some politicians that the EC is acting as a rubber stamp for the government, which the former official suggests should not be assumed without evidence.
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00:01Good evening, hello and welcome. You're with the news today, your primetime destination news.
00:05Newsmakers talking points start of another week, Monday night.
00:09Our big focus, the Bihar vote list revision controversy.
00:13As the election commission made voter rolls now a citizenship test,
00:18asking for all kinds of documents that many may not have.
00:22Former election commissioner, Ashok Lavasa will be among my special guests tonight.
00:27Also, is Donald Trump now moving to a new deadline for the tariff deal?
00:32We'll find out more on that.
00:34And the man who spotted Shubhman Gill first, former international player, Karsan Gavri,
00:39is among my special guests tonight.
00:41But first, as always, it's time for the Nine Headlines at Nine.
00:47Big political war over the election commission's revision of Bihar poll rolls.
00:53The Supreme Court now to hear the plea as all opposition parties go to the court,
00:59asking for the election commission to be brought in check.
01:08U.S. President Donald Trump set to unveil a series of trade deals,
01:13but the deal with India may get postponed to August 1.
01:16Trump warns of an additional 10% tariffs on countries siding with the BRICS nations.
01:25The Prime Minister's message against terror at the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro
01:30says there should be no hesitation in slapping sanctions against terrorists
01:34calls Pahlkam attack a blow to entire humanity.
01:36A Mumbai VVIP brat shocker on camera.
01:45Drunk MNS Neta's son abuses influencer, accused of ramming his car into her.
01:522611 prime accrues Tawawur Rana interrogation reveals that he was in Mumbai to oversee the 2611 attack.
02:07Rana trained with L.E.T. along with David Hedley.
02:11More details come out in his interrogation.
02:13Five people lynched to death on suspicion of practicing black magic in Bihar's Purnia,
02:21lynched then burned by a mob.
02:23Police recover five charred bodies, three accused arrested.
02:2978 people are killed in Himachal cloudburst.
02:32Mandi MP Khangana Ranaut visits flood affected areas
02:35after questions are raised over why she didn't reach Mandi earlier.
02:41Russian minister shoots himself dead hours after Putin fires him.
02:48Over a dozen suspicious deaths of Russian political leaders since 2002.
02:57And Akash Deep becomes the only the second Indian bowler after Chetan Sharma
03:02to take a 10-wicket haul in tests in England.
03:05Captain Shubman Gill, the highest Asian scorer in a single test match.
03:09It's been a weekend of records for Indian cricket.
03:24But the story that we've been breaking this evening,
03:26five people in Purnia in Bihar have been lynched to death
03:30and their bodies burnt later.
03:33According to the police, the shocking incident happened last night
03:36in Purnia's Tedgama village where the deceased were beaten up
03:40and killed by the local villagers on charges of practicing black magic.
03:45Three accused have been arrested.
03:46Five burnt bodies have been found by the Bihar police.
03:49The bodies have been sent for autopsy.
03:52RJD leader Tejasvi Yadav has made a statement ahead of the Bihar polls
03:56saying there's anarchy in Bihar, no law and order in the state.
03:59Criminals alert.
04:00Chief minister unconscious.
04:01Karab Bhuja party, thriving police defeated.
04:05So you clearly have just ahead of the Bihar elections,
04:08these instances coming up,
04:09which have clearly pushed the government on the back foot.
04:12But the opposition attacking them over this incident of tragic black magic,
04:17which has been used to target.
04:19Let's listen in to what was said by the police.
04:22Bihar, the police, the police, the police, the police, and the police.
04:52I got hit from my car and I got killed.
04:55I got killed.
04:58I got killed.
05:01Who killed me?
05:02I got killed.
05:06Okay, that's Shaka there coming in from Purnia.
05:09Meanwhile, we are also told that one person now has been arrested in the death,
05:15in the murder of a businessman in the heart of Patna a few days ago.
05:20Rohit Singh now joins me live from Patna.
05:23Rohit, give us more details first.
05:25We are told not just this lynching horror that's taken place in Purnia,
05:29but remember there was the businessman Khemka's murder,
05:32which took place in the heart of Patna.
05:34We are told one arrest now has been made in that case.
05:37All of this seems to be putting the Bihar government on the back foot there.
05:45Well, absolutely, Rajdeep.
05:47The kind, the manner in which several incidents of crime has taken place in the last 48 to 72 hours
05:52have raised big questions on Nitesh Kumar's governance and Gopal Khemka,
05:57a top businessman of Patna who was murdered on 4th of July.
06:02Now what the news we are getting is that one of the shooters,
06:05he is believed to be the person who shot dead Gopal Khemka.
06:10He has been arrested.
06:12His name is Umesh and he has been arrested from Patna city area.
06:17But the police right now is completely tight-lipped about this arrest.
06:21And what they are only maintaining is that they are still carrying on with the investigation
06:26and trying to retrieve the weapon that was used in the crime.
06:31That is the pistol and also a scooty which was used in the crime.
06:34So basically they are trying to find the weapons and the scooty which was used in the crime.
06:40And what we are being told that tomorrow in all likelihood there is going to be a big, big breakthrough
06:47and a big press conference also in this regard where the police is going to make all the big exposure
06:53regarding the killing of Gopal Khemka.
06:56And as far as the Purnia story is concerned, Rajdeep, very, very shocking and extremely disturbing
07:02of how five people lost their lives.
07:05In fact, they were lynched by the villagers and it is a tribal area.
07:09Remember in Purnia, it is a tribal area where they have been killed on charges of practicing witchcraft and black magic.
07:17And today morning their bodies were recovered from a nearby pond.
07:20The police now really trying to ascertain whether they were first killed and then their bodies were burnt
07:26or whether they were burnt alive and then thrown into the pond.
07:29So these are matters of investigation.
07:31But the manner in which the Purnia incident has also come to light is very, very disturbing
07:36and raises big questions over Nitish Kumar's tall claims of Susharshan.
07:40Okay, Rohit Singh joining us.
07:42Just to add you details, as we said, not just the lynching horror that's taken place,
07:47but in the Khemka businessman who was, remember, killed in the heart of Patna.
07:53We are now told one arrest has been made.
07:57So the Nitish Kumar government being put on the defensive on a number of issues when it comes to crime and law and order.
08:04Remember, Nitish Kumar's government has consistently said that Lalu Prasad's time was an age of Jangal Raj.
08:12Now you've got the shoe in a way on the other foot.
08:17That horrific incident in Purnia and then, of course, the murder of a businessman in the heart of Patna
08:23where we are told one arrest now has been made.
08:27Rohit Singh joining us with all those details.
08:31Let's stay for a moment with Bihar because, remember, this is a state that goes to the elections in a few months from now.
08:38But there is a major controversy which has now reached the Supreme Court's doorstep.
08:43A controversy over the Election Commission and the manner in which they are going ahead with their voter list revision.
08:51At least six petitions have been filed against the Election Commission of India's move
08:56which will now be heard by the Supreme Court on Thursday.
09:00RJD's Manoj Jha, one of the petitioners in the matter, claims that the move has targeted poor Dalit and Muslim voters.
09:07TMC's Mahua Moitra has also filed a similar petition as have eight opposition parties now,
09:13including Congress, SENA, UBT, Samajwadi Party, NCP, SP and left parties.
09:19Activist Yogendra Yadav, in his plea, has called the poll body's move arbitrary, citing risks to marginalized communities.
09:26Two NGOs have also filed a suit in the Supreme Court.
09:30On the other hand, the Election Commission is sticking to its guns, claiming that the voter roll revision is working smoothly,
09:36with 2.88 crore forms collected already, which covers about 37% of the voters in Bihar.
09:43But what is the ground reality? Is this voter revision an attempt to disenfranchise some of the poor and minority voters?
09:53We decided to go to the ground. This is what we found out. Take a look.
09:58The Election Commission's special intensive revision of electoral rolls in Bihar has sparked fear among citizens.
10:11The voters who have been added to the list since 2003 have to submit proof to back their date of birth and place of birth.
10:19In effect, their citizenship. Village after village, town after town.
10:26People are worried they will be removed from the voter list.
10:32And all communities are equally affected.
10:35We are told that the government will not be able to get it from the government.
10:39Where do we get it from?
10:40We have no words, no words.
10:41We have Murukh, Burushur, Muralavachas, Gujarat,
10:45We will not get it from the government.
10:47We cannot get it from the government.
10:49We will not be able to get it from the government.
10:51We will not be able to get it from the government.
10:53Most people have Aadhaar card and voter card.
10:59But both are not accepted in the current revision.
11:03We have a government's proof of Aadhaar card.
11:06We have five people.
11:08When we were young, when we were young,
11:11we were not able to get it from the same time.
11:13Where did we get it from?
11:14It has increased.
11:15We have increased.
11:16We have increased.
11:17We have increased.
11:18We have increased.
11:19We have increased.
11:20We have increased.
11:21We have increased.
11:22We have increased.
11:23Where did we go?
11:24We have increased.
11:25We have increased.
11:26We have increased.
11:27We have reduced.
11:28Not right now.
11:29The situation is the same in Muzaffarpur.
11:32My husband, I am.
11:34My husband, it has not come.
11:36He told me to go to school and tell me to come here
11:39and ask her.
11:40My husband, our son, our family name is .
11:43Your name is Claire?
11:44Yeah.
11:45The last time he says that I am.
11:47Some who voted in the previous elections claim
11:50claim their names are missing now.
11:52The documents accepted by the EC include birth certificate,
12:21matriculation certificate, passports and other government documents.
12:27But many citizens don't have them and fear they won't be able to get the papers in time to meet the deadline.
12:37Bureau Report, India Today.
12:40And joining me now on this contentious issue is a very special guest, Ashok Lavasa, former election commissioner, joins me.
12:55Appreciate your joining us, Mr. Lavasa.
12:58What do you believe is the real issue here?
13:01The opposition is claiming that this election revision of roles could lead to disenfranchisement of citizens,
13:08of eligible citizens, simply because of the voluminous documentary evidence being asked for by the EC.
13:15The EC is claiming this is just an exercise to clean up the roles and purify them in a way.
13:21Where do you stand, sir?
13:24Thank you, Rajdeep, for having me.
13:26First of all, I think purification of electoral roles is a legitimate exercise.
13:32It's a legitimate expectation as far as the voters are concerned.
13:37It's also something which the political parties have been demanding.
13:41So, election commission is fully empowered to carry out purification of electoral roles.
13:47I think the controversy arises because of several issues.
13:53One of them being whether this is the appropriate time when a state is facing the election just four months from now or three months from now.
14:04So, whether it is the appropriate time.
14:07The second is that the distinction that has been made between pre-2003 and post-2003
14:14is that the procedure that was followed in the past?
14:19Or is there something different that ECI is attempting to do?
14:25And I think the other thing which is more fundamental is the adherence to the provisions of Article 326,
14:35which clearly says that only citizens of India and those who are above 18 years of age who are not otherwise disqualified,
14:44they are eligible to vote.
14:46So, I think there are some technical issues underlying all these three things
14:52and that probably has created the furor.
14:57With due regard, sir, it's more than just technical, isn't it?
15:00I mean, you yourself have written or been quoted as saying the electoral roles do not become necessarily a test for citizenship.
15:08That it cannot be that if I don't have a particular document, I am ineligible to vote,
15:15especially if I am already someone who has an Aadhaar card, has a ration card.
15:21Suddenly, I am being told, no, no, this won't do.
15:24You'll even have to provide in some instances the birth certificate of my parents.
15:29Now, in a state like Bihar, the concern is people don't have that.
15:33It possibly is true of different parts of the country.
15:36So, is it just the suddenness of it all or also the substance of it which is troubling?
15:42That's right. So, even the substance is technical because you have a situation where under the Citizenship Act followed in the country,
15:55there is no single document that is issued by the state to any citizen which will certify his citizenship.
16:05That has been the situation since the beginning and I don't think the situation has fundamentally altered in the last seven decades.
16:12But the fact is that the Election Commission of India, which is charged with the responsibility of conducting elections
16:20and protecting the rights of people to vote, has been conducting elections, has been creating electoral rolls for the last more than seven decades.
16:31At the same time respecting Article 326, the difference is that it is authorized to create its own procedure which it has been following.
16:43So, the point is whether it should continue to follow that time-tested procedure?
16:48What's your view? What's your view? Because, you know, in the past, your Aadhaar card was seen by, you know, many believed Aadhaar card should have been enough.
16:57The Election Commission itself, Mr. Lavasa, brought out epic cards. This was done a short while ago.
17:05They themselves held a general election a year ago and several state elections subsequently.
17:10So, the question is arising, why suddenly? Is there this thing?
17:14That's what I said. That is what I said. The suddenness of this. Because, in itself, purification of electoral rolls is a good exercise.
17:23It's a desirable exercise. It's a desirable exercise because we don't want people to be enrolled in more than one constituency, etc.
17:30We don't want people who are eligible to be left out, etc.
17:34So, but the point is that as the Election Commission of India has said that they want to do it in the entire country.
17:41So, I thought that they should have chosen states which have some time to go for the elections, where they would have the facility of explaining to the people what they're attempting to do, what is the procedure that they want to follow?
17:57Is there something new in the procedure that they have now prescribed? And then people would have tried to understand and respond to the Election Commission's requirement.
18:08So, that's what I said, the suddenness of this and the short time which is available.
18:14But the other more substantive thing, as I said, is that in the past, the Election Commission has given the right to vote to people by creating epic cards, by enrolling them, after following a due process which it has prescribed.
18:32And that process, by the way, meant two things, basically.
18:36One, submit a set of documents which Election Commission has prescribed. And secondly, subject yourself to a proof of very physical verification of your ordinary residence.
18:50So, these are the two fundamental pillars of ECI's satisfaction so far.
18:56So, does that mean when they suddenly change the rules in a way and ask for additional documents, does it mean that the earlier system of these epic cards has failed?
19:04Is this the Election Commission, in a way, admitting that the electoral rolls have loopholes?
19:09No, that is exactly my point, that if after 2003, say in the case of Bihar, people have been enrolled by following a due process,
19:19and they have also, some of them would have voted in general elections, in state assembly elections.
19:26And today, if they fail to produce any of the documents which has been prescribed, what happens to their stakers?
19:33Right, and there is an element of arbitrariness even when you use 2003 as a cut-off date.
19:40I mean, suddenly it seems that if I am eligible before 2003, no problem.
19:46Your verification is fine, but if I have registered post-2003, a question is being brought in.
19:52I mean, there is an arbitrariness which is very worrying. Why 2003?
19:56Yeah, so the distinction which the Election Commission has made in the case of Bihar for 2003 is because the last SIR was conducted in 2003.
20:06But the point, Rajdeep, which we all need to understand, and I think the Election Commission owes it to the people of this country to explain whether they, in the previous SIRs, whether in Bihar or in any other state, did they follow this procedure or the procedure which they are now following is different?
20:26And if it is different, why is it different?
20:29Would you support Mr. Lawasa the view that an Aadhaar card should be enough, that an Aadhaar card is enough, or do you believe the fear of duplication of Aadhaar card leads the Election Commission to say, we can't only go by Aadhaar cards?
20:43No, as I said, look, the Aadhaar card, in any case, even the Aadhaar Act does not say that it is a proof of citizenship.
20:51And it goes back to the point that I was making that there is no single document in the country under the Citizenship Act, which is issued by the competent authority to tell the citizens that they can prove their citizenship by using this card.
21:09So in the absence of that, the Election Commission, which is charged with the responsibility of enrolling voters and conducting elections, they have devised their own procedure.
21:19I mean, you go back in time in 1951, when the first election was held, who had citizenship documents?
21:27But a voters list was created, an electoral rule was created. And therefore, the Election Commission has the authority to invent its procedures, if it is not inconsistent with any existing law.
21:44That's what they have been doing in the last seven decades.
21:47So what would you suggest, given this controversy, if you were an Election Commissioner today, what would you suggest?
21:52Do you keep this process on hold, allow the elections to take place, and try, or at least at the very least, call a meeting of all the parties to allay specific concerns?
22:03Or push the date by which you want this exercise complete?
22:06Many believe that the short duration that you've given, that the exercise to be complete by July 25th, is simply bizarre and ridiculous.
22:14Rajdeep, I think all the options that you suggested should be tried. You should have a meeting with the political parties, explain to them what is your purpose, what is it that you are trying to achieve.
22:26And if indeed it is a feeling of the field functionaries and the political parties that this exercise cannot be satisfactorily completed in the given short time, then pause it and do it later.
22:41Because after all, the electoral roll was published as recently as January 2025.
22:48That's right.
22:49And subsequently there is a procedure for updating the electoral roll as per the representation of People's Act and the registration of voters' rules.
22:57So I think all those procedures are there. People have voted on the basis of an existing electoral roll.
23:03Now, I just want to point out, Rajdeep, that theoretically, let us see what will happen to those who fail to submit the documents to establish their claim.
23:16What will be their fate? They will not be able to vote. That is one. But by inference, are they not citizens? And if they are not citizens, who will determine their citizenship?
23:31We already had an experience in Assam where D voters list was created.
23:38Doubtful voters. Now, till this day, after so many years, it is not known what is the fate of those who were put in the D voters list.
23:48Except that when they were included in the D voters, they could not vote. But 20 years down the line, we don't know what is the fate, whether the state has been able to determine their status and whether they have got back their status as citizens.
24:04So I think these are very critical issues. And we need to discuss them with all the stakeholders and take a very well-considered, calm view in the matter, by which you achieve the purpose of purifying your roles, but at the same time, not at the risk of disenfranchising people who already have existed in your electoral rolls.
24:27Right. Let me therefore conclude by asking you, and this is a more direct question. The opposition is saying that this exercise is being done at behest of the government in power, with an eye on Bihar and more crucially later on Bengal.
24:41Mamta Banerjee of West Bengal Chief Minister says this is NRC from the backdoor. This is an attempt to disenfranchise many of the poor, minorities, OBCs, and the general impression that the EC is acting as the rubber stamp of the Modi government.
24:57How do you respond to that? How do you respond to that? You've been part of this organization. Is there a serious, is this charge, Rahul Gandhi's even gone further virtually claiming that decisions taken by the election commission are basically decisions mandated to them by the Modi government.
25:13Well, politicians are entitled to say anything. There is no way in which you can judge the intention of why a decision was taken. So I don't want to get into that area.
25:27But is there a perception problem? Does the election commission face a perception problem when such serious charges are made, all the more making it important that the EC allays these fears?
25:36You see, as they say that you should not judge the outcome of the exercise till the exercise is complete. That is one. The other is you should not even try to read motives in something which a constitutional body has decided.
25:55But the fact is that in the implementation of the decision that has been taken, there are practical issues and there are conceptual issues. So those issues need to be sorted out. For example, let me give you one more example.
26:12That if it is said in the notification that if it is said in the notification of 24th of June, that those who have submitted their enumination forms by 25th of July, their names will appear in the draft electoral rules.
26:28Now, at the same time, the instructions also say that the form needs to be duly filled, accompanied by self-attested forms. So, is there clarity that only forms which will be accompanied by those documents will be accepted?
26:46And all those who do not submit the attested forms, their things will not appear in the draft electoral rules. Further, if indeed, as the advertisement which has appeared yesterday in some papers, that those who just sign the enumeration forms, those forms will get accepted.
27:10But does it therefore mean that they will not be asked to produce the relevant documents subsequently? So, I think these are all open questions. And till these questions are satisfactorily answered, doubts will linger.
27:25You see, in fact, Mr. Lavasa has said there have been no changes in the instruction virtually suggesting that the advertisements put out in the papers is not what the EC intends to do with this exercise.
27:37So, there's a lot of confusion. You're saying we need clarity. I will ask you one more time. Do you believe, and maybe a yes or no answer, do you believe that the Election Commissioner of India faces a credibility crisis in its supposed status as a neutral empire?
27:56Well, I would not use the word crisis, but I would certainly say that there is a need to establish open and credible channels of communication.
28:09Okay. Okay. Okay. I think you've gone as far as you could in raising vital questions that I do hope that the Election Commission of India will answer. The public has a huge faith in the idea of free and fair elections in this country. All the more important for the Election Commission to be totally transparent in any exercise it conducts. Ashok Lavasa, for joining me on the show. Thank you so much.
28:37Thank you. Thank you very much.
29:37Thank you very much.
30:07Thank you very much.
30:09Thank you very much.
30:15Thank you very much.
30:17Thank you very much.
30:19and he pointed out that there have been earlier instances
30:22where judges due to health concerns or family issues have been granted extensions.
30:28What he also is saying is that he had requested the current Chief Justice
30:32as well as the former Chief Justice, Justice Khanna, for an extension
30:36and he had said that he will try and move out by the 30th of June
30:40because that was the date given by the contractor
30:43who is working on the alternative accommodation
30:46that has been allotted to him by the Government of India.
30:50Now remember, Justice Chandrachur as a former Chief Justice
30:52is able to get alternate accommodation from the Government.
30:57But what we are seeing here is this letter that has come out
31:01from the Supreme Court Administration which is saying that he was allotted,
31:05he was allowed an extension only to the 31st of May.
31:09That post 31st of May he is staying there in a manner that is not correct
31:14and that is why this letter was sent to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development
31:18to initiate eviction proceedings really against the former Chief Justice.
31:24What Justice Chandrachur told us in the phone conversation that I had with him today
31:29is that because of his daughter's health concerns,
31:33he needs a house that is not only wheelchair accessible
31:36but can also accommodate the kind of medical equipment that they need.
31:40And that is why he has been asking for this extension
31:44and now he has said clearly that he is ready to move out,
31:47he is in the middle of packing,
31:49a lot of his things in the house have already been moved
31:53and in the next few days he will be moving out.
31:56But this controversy really Rajdeep has raised certain eyebrows,
32:00has raised a lot of questions about how this entire process works,
32:04how exactly the extension works and what kind of relaxation could have been given,
32:10what kind of relaxation was given and why this kind of letter was sent
32:14and more importantly how this letter leaked out.
32:17Back to you.
32:17Okay.
32:18Anisha, Mathur, on that developing story,
32:21thanks very much for joining us.
32:23Let's turn to more breaking news coming in in just a few moments from now.
32:28U.S. President Donald Trump is all set to release details or letters of trade deals
32:36that America has signed with around a dozen countries.
32:40What Donald Trump had tweeted earlier today is letters will be sent to some countries at 9.30pm IST.
32:48The new tariffs meanwhile will take effect from the 1st of August.
32:52This leaves open the question,
32:53will trade deals deadlines also extend to the 1st of August.
32:58The suspense on the India-U.S. trade deal remains
33:01while Donald Trump gets set to release letters to at least a dozen countries
33:06with whom the United States is set to announce trade deals this evening.
33:12Siddharth Zarabi joins us, Editor of Business today.
33:15Siddharth, a lot of confusion at the moment.
33:18The original trade deals or the concessions
33:21that Donald Trump had given different countries were to extend to July 9th.
33:25Now we are told April 1st could be the new deadline.
33:29Can you give us some clarity,
33:31where does this leave the Indo-U.S. deal in particular?
33:35Well, Rajdeep, you said April 1 and that could be Fool's Day.
33:39What you were referring to was the 1st of August.
33:41What it really implies is that
33:46U.S. and Donald Trump
33:49has pushed back the deadline
33:52for imposition of much higher tariff rates
33:55by three weeks at least
33:57to the 1st of August.
33:59Why would this be?
34:01Perhaps because some deals are
34:03at the very last night.
34:06And what is the current situation with India?
34:08We've been trying to get
34:11and piece together a picture.
34:14What really has happened is
34:15a week-long extended visit
34:17by the Indian trade team
34:19led by the Special Secretary
34:20in the Commerce Ministry, Mr. Agarwal,
34:23had very detailed discussions
34:26with the U.S.
34:27We have drawn our red lines
34:29and there are likely to be
34:31no concessions on those red lines,
34:32which is agriculture or dairy.
34:36As far as our offer is concerned,
34:40we have made a pretty generous offer
34:42and by all accounts,
34:44it seems that a final announcement
34:46which will be left to President Donald Trump
34:49as he has been doing in many such instances
34:53could well happen within hours.
34:55But you know the nature of the manner
34:58in which President Trump
34:59has made these announcements,
35:01gone ahead, backtracked.
35:02Japan has walked away complaining
35:04that they don't know what to do.
35:06See what happened with Vietnam.
35:08So obviously,
35:09New Delhi is tight-lipped about it
35:12and we will obviously have to wait
35:14for what comes from Washington.
35:16Okay, let's leave it there,
35:17Siddharth Zarabi,
35:18joining us at that moment
35:19with the very latest.
35:20All of this coming against the backdrop
35:22of the BRICS nations
35:23having gathered over the weekend
35:25in Rio de Janeiro.
35:27U.S. President Donald Trump
35:28threatening BRICS nations
35:29with an additional 10% tariffs.
35:32Now, that includes India and China
35:34if they supported anti-American policies
35:36of the BRICS group.
35:38So Donald Trump is once again
35:40showing that he is intending
35:43to push his tariff agenda ahead.
35:46Take a look at this report.
35:48As July 9 deadline
35:54for new tariff imposition approaches
35:56and letters expected to be sent to countries,
35:59U.S. President Donald Trump
36:01has announced a new diktat
36:03for the BRICS nations.
36:06Trump has threatened new tariffs
36:08on any nation supporting
36:09anti-American policies
36:11of the BRICS group.
36:12In his Truth Social post,
36:14Trump said the U.S. would impose
36:17an additional 10% tariff
36:18on any country
36:19aligning themselves
36:20with the anti-American policies
36:22of BRICS,
36:23with no exceptions.
36:26But he did not refer
36:27to any anti-American policy
36:29in his post.
36:32With unstable economy
36:34and policy of America first,
36:36disrupting major economies
36:37of G7 and G8 developed nations,
36:40BRICS, which stands for
36:42Brazil, Russia, India, China
36:44and South Africa,
36:45is providing a platform
36:46for multilateral diplomacy
36:48amid conflicts and trade wars.
36:52But China, the leading nation in BRICS,
36:55responded, saying that the group
36:56does not target any particular nation,
36:59though condemning trade tariffs.
37:05The BRICS mechanism
37:06is an important platform
37:08for cooperation between
37:09emerging markets
37:10and developing countries,
37:12advocating openness,
37:14inclusiveness,
37:15win-win cooperation
37:16and non-confrontation.
37:18Not against any country.
37:23We have indeed seen
37:27such statements
37:27by President Trump,
37:29but it is very important
37:30to note here
37:31that the uniqueness
37:31of a group like BRICS
37:32is that it is a group
37:34of countries
37:34that share common approaches
37:36and a common world view
37:37on how to cooperate
37:38based on their own interest.
37:41And this cooperation
37:42within BRICS
37:43has never been
37:44and will never be directed
37:45against any third country.
37:46The threat to American economy
37:52from BRICS
37:52is the growing demand
37:53for de-dollarization.
37:55An idea was floated
37:56to create
37:57a common currency
37:58for trade
37:58between each other,
38:00thereby reducing
38:01the dependency
38:01on dollars.
38:03Brazil,
38:04the host
38:05of the 17th BRICS summit,
38:07proposed the idea
38:07whereby countries
38:08should not be forced
38:09to trade
38:10in U.S. dollars.
38:12Russian President
38:13Vladimir Putin
38:14seconded
38:15President Lula's idea.
38:18We all see
38:19that the world
38:20is undergoing
38:20fundamental changes.
38:22The unipolar system
38:23of international relations
38:24serving the interest
38:25of the so-called
38:26golden billion
38:27is becoming
38:28a thing of the past.
38:29It seems that
38:30the creation
38:30of an independent
38:31settlement
38:32and depository system
38:33on the BRICS platform
38:35will make currency
38:36transactions faster,
38:38more efficient
38:38and safer.
38:41However,
38:42India has been
38:43dismissing the claims
38:44of de-dollarization
38:45or introduction
38:46of any new currency
38:47within BRICS.
38:50I don't think
38:51there's any policy
38:53on our part
38:53to replace the dollar.
38:55As I said,
38:56at the end of the day,
38:58the dollar
38:58as the reserve currency
38:59is the source
39:00of international
39:01economic stability.
39:02The suggestion
39:03or the assumption
39:05that somehow
39:05there's a united
39:06BRICS position
39:07against the dollar
39:08I think is not
39:09borne out by facts.
39:11The original BRICS group
39:13had first met
39:14in 2009.
39:15The bloc later
39:16added South Africa
39:17and last year
39:18included Egypt,
39:20Ethiopia,
39:20Indonesia,
39:21Iran
39:22and the United Arab
39:23Emirates
39:23as members.
39:26Mahashweta Lala,
39:27Bureau Report,
39:28India Today.
39:32I want to go
39:33to a special guest
39:33now,
39:34Dr. Mukesh Aghi,
39:35President and
39:35Chief Executive Officer
39:36of U.S.-India
39:37Strategic Partnership
39:38Forum joins me.
39:39A lot of uncertainty,
39:41Dr. Aghi,
39:42over what happens next,
39:44particularly over
39:44the next 48 hours
39:46and indeed beyond that,
39:47Indo-U.S.
39:48nuclear,
39:49Indo-U.S.
39:49trade deal
39:50at stake.
39:51Your response,
39:52is Donald Trump
39:53someone who just
39:54thrives on this
39:54uncertainty?
39:55Well,
39:57you have to look
39:58at the centrality
40:01of his approach
40:02dealing with issues
40:03and that is
40:04create a chaotic
40:06environment
40:06and convey
40:08your messaging
40:08itself.
40:09In regards
40:10to the trade
40:11deals around
40:11the nation,
40:12that's how it
40:13started and
40:14he reacted when
40:15the markets
40:16reacted in a
40:17very negative
40:18fashion.
40:19But at the
40:19moment,
40:20I think what
40:21we're seeing
40:21is a much
40:22more structured
40:22approach coming
40:24through one
40:25nation at a
40:26time.
40:26They've done a
40:27deal with UK,
40:28done a deal
40:28with Vietnam
40:29and some kind
40:30of agreement
40:30with China.
40:31I think India
40:32would be the
40:33next one,
40:33a much more
40:34solid agreement
40:36with the two
40:36countries which
40:37we expect to
40:38see come out
40:39in the next
40:3948 hours.
40:40But to answer
40:41your question,
40:42yes,
40:42sometimes chaos
40:43is brought in
40:44to drive the
40:45agenda itself.
40:46You're saying
40:47next 48 hours
40:48but there's also
40:49a feeling that
40:49the deadline
40:50could be extended
40:50to August 1st.
40:52I mean,
40:52is Donald Trump
40:53likely to blink?
40:54Some believe
40:55that a lot
40:56of this is
40:57posturing.
40:57We've seen
40:58a bit of that
40:58with China as
40:59well.
41:00Do you believe
41:00with India as
41:01well,
41:01all this tough
41:02talk,
41:0210% additional
41:03tariffs on
41:04BRICS countries,
41:05is this Donald
41:06Trump simply
41:07negotiating hard?
41:09Absolutely.
41:10I think basically
41:11you are negotiating
41:13through the
41:14truth social,
41:15Twitter,
41:16X itself.
41:17But more
41:18important you
41:18have to understand
41:19is that the
41:20businesses are
41:21focused on trying
41:22to drive the
41:22trade agenda.
41:23If you look
41:24at the trade
41:24between the
41:25two countries
41:26in the last
41:27three months
41:27has gone up
41:28by 15%.
41:29The Indian
41:31trade negotiators
41:32have been
41:32watching D.C.
41:33for a long
41:34time,
41:35sincerely trying
41:36to negotiate
41:36a trade deal.
41:37And as we
41:38understand,
41:39at least an
41:39interim deal,
41:40there is an
41:41agreement on
41:416,000 plus
41:42item itself.
41:44So we believe
41:44that a step
41:46one trade deal
41:47will happen
41:48between the two
41:48countries because
41:49it helps
41:50India,
41:51it helps
41:51the United
41:51States both
41:52on the job
41:53creation side,
41:54both on the
41:55trade side.
41:56And all numbers
41:56show that if
41:57India and
41:57the U.S.
41:58can sign a
41:59trade deal,
42:00you will see
42:00a 64% growth
42:03trade between
42:03the two
42:04countries and
42:05it will have
42:05an impact
42:05of almost 1%
42:07on India's
42:08GDP also.
42:09So you are
42:10seeing a
42:10potential win-win
42:11deal, am I
42:11correct?
42:13Absolutely.
42:14I think you
42:14can't have a
42:15deal which is
42:15win-lose.
42:16You have to
42:17have a win-win
42:18deal.
42:18Yes, there
42:19will be some
42:19perception,
42:20there will be
42:20some irritant
42:21initially, but
42:22overall, if it's
42:23not a win-win
42:23deal, then you
42:24will not have
42:25a successful
42:26deal between
42:26the two
42:26countries.
42:28Dr. Mukesh
42:29Aagi for
42:29joining me.
42:30We'll wait
42:30to see when
42:31that deal
42:31happens and
42:32get you for
42:33a longer
42:33discussion on
42:34that once
42:34the terms
42:35of the deal
42:36become public.
42:36But thanks
42:37very much
42:37there for
42:38joining me
42:38from London.
42:41It was
42:41quite a
42:42weekend for
42:43Indian
42:43cricket.
42:44India winning
42:45the Birmingham
42:46Test in at
42:47Baxton to go
42:48one-all with
42:49England in
42:50that big
42:50series.
42:51But the
42:51man of the
42:52moment is
42:52Shubhman Gill,
42:53the Indian
42:53captain who
42:54broke almost
42:55all kinds of
42:56records while
42:57totalling a
42:58mammoth 430
42:59runs across
43:00two innings,
43:01a double
43:01century and
43:02150 being
43:04achieved for
43:04the first
43:05time in the
43:05history of
43:06Test cricket.
43:07At the age
43:07of 25,
43:09Shubhman Gill
43:10is already the
43:11new star of
43:12Indian cricket.
43:13Now a star
43:14is born but
43:15a star is
43:16born because
43:16over several
43:18years he's
43:19mentored and
43:20guided by
43:21different people
43:21some of whom
43:22discover his
43:23talents at an
43:23early age.
43:25Well I'm
43:25joined today by
43:26a very special
43:27guest.
43:27Karsan Ghavari
43:28was an all-round
43:30player who played
43:31for India in the
43:321970s and early
43:3380s and he
43:34discovered if I
43:35may say so
43:36Shubhman Gill's
43:37talent when he
43:37was just 11 or
43:3912 years old.
43:39Karsan Ghavari
43:41Ji I appreciate
43:41your joining us.
43:42I'm told that you
43:43were doing a fast
43:44bowlers camp in
43:45Mohali many years
43:47ago.
43:47Shubhman was just
43:4811 years old and
43:49you suddenly discovered
43:50him when you saw
43:51him batting with a
43:52tennis ball.
43:54What was it about
43:55Shubhman that as
43:5511 year old and
43:5712 year old excited
43:58you so much that
43:59you asked the
44:00Punjab cricket
44:00authorities to
44:02immediately induct
44:03them into the
44:03under-15 team?
44:04Well Rajdeep thanks
44:10very much you know
44:11for having me this
44:12evening and I'm
44:14very glad you know
44:15to talk to you and
44:17talk about you know
44:18Shubhman Gill.
44:19Well the reality
44:22goes like that in
44:24around 2000 and
44:252001 we had a
44:29camp you know
44:30organized by the
44:31BCCIA and NCA for
44:34a fast bowlers only
44:35and we had a
44:36limited fast
44:37bowlers around you
44:39know 17-18 from
44:41all over India and
44:43we having our you
44:46know trainings practice
44:47and bowling and
44:49everything the drills
44:50were on but we had
44:52no batsmen to to
44:55bet against our
44:56fast bowlers.
44:57So that's the time
44:58we I've requested
44:59you know Mr.
45:01Shisul Kapoor and
45:01Mr. Pandav who was
45:03the president you know
45:04at that time to send
45:07you know some under
45:0916 under 19 good
45:11batsmen to face our
45:14bowlers and we had a
45:15camp of fast bowlers
45:17for you know like one
45:20month camp for under
45:2216 another camp you
45:24know for under 19
45:25another camp you know
45:26for under 23 that's a
45:28time when we were having
45:29time when we were having
45:29the first camp of it
45:31under 16 and one day we
45:35were just practicing you
45:37know outdoor at Moholy
45:39and it started raining so
45:43naturally you know we
45:44never wanted to take any
45:46risk of our young fast
45:48bowlers while bowling you
45:51know gets you know slipped
45:52you know while delivering or
45:55going through the follow
45:57through and all that so we
45:59stopped practice and we
46:02gave the rest you know to all
46:03our boys because indoors you
46:07know at that time was not
46:08available because some work was
46:10going on at Punjab Cricket
46:12Association so we called it off
46:15and myself and Yogendra Puri
46:18was my assistant coach and it
46:23was not a heavy rain as such it
46:25was just grizzling and we never
46:29took a chance you know for our
46:30young fast bowler to get injured
46:32or something like that so we
46:35called it off and we went you
46:37know just across the road there
46:39is another small ground outside
46:42you know Maholi stadium that's
46:45where you know a lot of boys
46:48were playing you know cricket in
46:50the rain and one boy in a in a
46:55man I mean I don't know whether
46:57it was a match or they were
46:58practicing but you know one guy
47:01young guy was playing so
47:03correctly technically and the way
47:06he was striking the ball you know
47:09I thought you know this guy has got
47:12a lot of you know a fire a lot of
47:14spark and you know you know a bar
47:18kai koi baut achha lagta hai to
47:21immediately after the mark me
47:23rhajate a part of the deal me
47:24rhajate so you know I I just ask my
47:28the assistant coach you know Yogi
47:31Yogi Yogi square hum log humare
47:35hao par under 16 bula te practice
47:37ke liye over there ke sir but
47:39us ke liye we have to take
47:40permission from PCA and all that I
47:43said that can be done so we were just
47:46you know walking back at the boundary
47:48line you know there was only one
47:52gentleman was just you know waiting and
47:57in the rain I asked him I said sir do
48:01you know the boy who's betting right
48:05now who's that he said he's my son I
48:09said what's his name he said sure I'm
48:11Gill and his father Sukhinder Sukhinder
48:14Singh he said he's my son I said you
48:18know please you know from tomorrow on
48:20words ask him to come and join our nets
48:25and play our fast bowlers in the nets
48:29or either in the nets or in the indoors
48:32and by a couple of days time you know
48:35indoor were all set already so very
48:41religiously you know he started
48:43practicing with our boys you're you're
48:46telling me at the age of 11 and 12
48:47Shubhman Gill already had something
48:50special what was that special was it
48:52his technique what was it that stood out
48:54for you very very special quality well
48:58you know the his technique and he is you
49:05know correct you know way of playing
49:08shots and that's really struck you know
49:12with me so all these years later invited
49:16him and you know religiously right but
49:20all these years later Karsan Bhai did
49:23you think he would become as good as he
49:24has become you saw you seen the great
49:27Sunil Gavaskar you've seen Virat Kohli
49:29you've seen Sachin Tendulkar is Shubhman
49:31Gill going to be the next great Indian
49:33batsman oh yes I mean he has got all the
49:39potential he has got all the talent and
49:41you know halfway through he has already
49:45proved it and you know I don't think you
49:49know if he plays another 10 12 15 years he
49:53will he will break many records and I'm
49:56very sure about it see records are to be
50:01broken and they know somebody so dedicated
50:06like you know Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma or
50:09you know now you know Shubhman Gill you
50:12know these are the guys you know who can do
50:14it and even if he does when he does it at the
50:18end of his career I will not be surprised
50:21okay I'm going to leave it there
50:24sir Karsan Gavri you've seen all these
50:26greats yourself at close quarters you are
50:28saying you won't be surprised if Shubhman
50:30Gill breaks even more records than some
50:32other than than many of the greats you've
50:34watched but for a cricketer who's spotted
50:37him at 11 and 12 yeah thank you very much
50:40for that contribution to Indian cricket you
50:42contributed of course on the field well
50:44well yes Radev yes Radev one more thing I
50:51really want to thank not the Gill family
50:55but you know the people who gave him the
50:59opportunities I'm a I personally must
51:02thank Mr. Pandava and Mr. Sushil Kapoor you
51:06know when he was 12 years old and he was
51:09Punjab Cricket Association he was never in the
51:13picture I insisted you know to this two
51:17gentlemen I said please put him in in
51:21under 14 team and he might do wonders but
51:26and they did they listened to me they did
51:29that and he was included in 14 teams with
51:33the Punjab Cricket Association under 14
51:37team and since then he started playing
51:40you know for them and after 14 he's for a lot of
51:46France and since then he has never looked back
51:50that's right the rest is I would say is history
51:52Carson Gavri for joining us and telling us that
51:55wonderful story I appreciate you joining us
51:58thank you so much Carson Gavri telling us the
52:01story of how Shubman Gill was spotted now
52:04India's stunning win in Birmingham was
52:06punctuated by some individual performances none taller than that of 28 year old Akash
52:12Deep comes from Sasa Ram in Bihar went on to play for Bengal but it's been a
52:17tough ride for him and he dedicated his award to his sister who's battling cancer
52:23take a look at the story of a hero called Akash Deep
52:30Hailing from Sasa Ram in Bihar
52:32young Akash Deep was initially dissuaded to play cricket by his father
52:37he shifted to Durgapur in West Bengal in 2010 on the pretext of finding a job
52:43but the dream to play for his country didn't leave him a dream that kept the fire burning inside him
52:53he wasn't the first choice at the start of the series but in his first ever match in England
53:00Akash Deep came up with a performance that is more than just a footnote in India's historic test win
53:07it was after completing a stunning 10-4 that he revealed that he had his ailing sister on his mind
53:17Akash Deep is the most important thing that I have never known for the past two months
53:26my sister is suffering with cancer last two months now she is stable now she is good
53:36so I am the most happy that she will be the most happy that she will be the two months
53:39that she will be the most happy that she will be the most happy that she will be the most happy
53:44His sister Akhan Jyoth Singh a resident of Lucknow despite her ongoing fight against cancer was happy to see her brother make the country proud
54:01proud.
54:31After months of distress and suffering, there was finally some cheer and joy in the house.
54:46Hundreds of miles away in Bamingham, Akash Deep impressed with a stunning ten-wicket
54:55hall that paved the way for an Edgbaston epic.
55:03It was only the second instance in Test history that an Indian bowler took ten wickets in a
55:08match in England.
55:12The last wicket of the match also fell to him as Akash Deep and the whole of India celebrated
55:18a win of historic magnitude.
55:22What a story, what a great Indian story.
55:30Let me leave you though with our image of the day and what could be one of the big comebacks
55:34of Indian television.
55:36Actor turned politician turned now actor again.
55:39Smitty Rani is all set to return as the iconic Tulsi Virani.
55:43The face that once redefined Indian soaps and ruled prime time for several years.
55:48Smitty Rani is returning to TV for the sequel to Kyo Ki Saas Pi Kabhi Bahu Thi and the first
55:54look of her iconic character has been revealed.
55:57You can see that on the left of your screen.
56:00Smitty Rani is back.
56:01She may have lost a methi but she seems to have won a new role in television.
56:08We wish her well as we wish all of you goodnight, goodbye, shubratri, jaihin, namaskar.