- 7/8/2025
This episode of Super 6 covers a tragic accident in Tamil Nadu's Cuddalore where a school bus collided with a train, killing three children. The DMK alleges the railway gatekeeper didn't understand Tamil, citing a language barrier as a factor.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Hello and welcome. Good evening. You're watching Super 6 here on India Today.
00:03I'm Akshita Nandakopala. Over the next one hour, we'll be getting you all the big stories,
00:08the big headlines coming in from the southern states.
00:10Here's a quick look at what to expect over the next 60 minutes here on Super 6.
00:15Our top focus is on the heartbreaking story that's coming from Tamil Nadu's Kadalur,
00:20where a school bus went right into a track.
00:24The gate was open, passed by, and so the train rammed into it.
00:28Three children have died, but we're focusing on the kind of controversial comments that have come in.
00:33The DMK alleges that the gatekeeper's to blame, and because he was a non-local,
00:37didn't understand the Tamil that was being spoken, and that's what led to this tragedy.
00:42We're going to be talking about that and getting your details of what's known so far in the investigation is the DMK.
00:47Right, we'll tell you all about that.
00:49And from Tamil Nadu, we'll also focus on Karnataka, where yes, for the last two weeks and counting,
00:55the suspense, the speculation over CM change continues.
01:00DK Shivkumar is in Delhi currently.
01:03Tomorrow, Chief Minister Sidra Mayer will also be in Delhi.
01:07There's going to be a huddle with the high command not to decide on the CM, but on the MLC names.
01:12But at the same time, this is happening when you're seeing all of this lobbying.
01:16DK's loyalists continuing to speak out, pushing for a CM change,
01:21pushing for DK Shivkumar to take over as Chief Minister.
01:24We'll also be getting you the big story coming in from Andhra Pradesh.
01:28There's a big political fight in Andhra.
01:31A YSRCP in Neta's home has been vandalized.
01:33The same Neta who resorted to a shocking, below-the-belt insult of a woman Neta of the TDP.
01:41And so you're seeing an outright showdown between the YSRCP and the TDP.
01:46We'll be joined by representatives of both the parties here on Super 6.
01:50And then from Kerala, we'll be telling you all about the protests that broke out in Kerala universities.
01:57As you see in those images, rather dramatic moments as police officials also had to be called.
02:02And what's this about?
02:03Well, there have been allegations once again of saffronization of universities.
02:07It's been a big issue, a contentious issue in Kerala once again in focus.
02:12Those are the stories you can watch out for.
02:14First, as always, here are the headlines.
02:20Tragic accident in Tamil Nadu's Kadalur.
02:24School, bus and train collide.
02:27Three students killed.
02:28DMK alleges, railway gatekeeper didn't understand Tamil side's language barrier.
02:33Students claim there was no gatekeeper even present.
02:41Congress placed down CM race Nautica.
02:44Fresh clamor to make DKS new Karnataka chief minister.
02:47Congress leadership says we've taken no.
02:50Showdown over traders in MNSA in Maharashtra's Thanesh Sena Neta's joint protest alongside MNSA.
03:02Party workers detained in protestors' language war peace.
03:06Mumbai VVIP brat admits drunk driving MNSA Neta's son admits to consuming alcohol before joyride and abusing a woman regrets verbal abuse and rage.
03:31Bihar chief minister, Nitish Kumar's big Mahila outreach before polls.
03:4135% quota in jobs for women from Bihar.
03:45Women quota applies to all government jobs in Bihar.
03:49And Trump drops tariff letter bomb announces tariffs on 14 countries ranging from 25 to 40%.
04:02Deal with India soon as President Trump claims they're close to making a trade deal with India.
04:08And let's begin with the heartbreaking news that came in from Tamil Nadu's Kadalur of a speeding train ramming into a school bus.
04:28Three children died in this particular tragedy.
04:32Several others were injured.
04:34But there were questions that were asked about whether this tragedy could have been avoided.
04:38Who was to blame for the school van going right into a railway track while a train was passing?
04:44This school van, according to officials, was struck by a train while reportedly crossing an open railway gate.
04:50And so the bus was dragged for nearly 50 metres.
04:54Three children have died as a result.
04:57About four plus people in that bus have been injured.
05:01Now here's where it gets interesting.
05:02The DMK, multiple reactions that have come out since, have claimed that this accident, this tragedy that took place in Kadalur, was caused because of a language barrier.
05:12The gatekeeper at the spot, according to them, was a non-local, not a native Tamil speaker.
05:17And so they claim it's because of that that there was miscommunication, which is what led to the tragedy.
05:23The gatekeeper, identified as Pankaj Sharma, not from Tamil Nadu, has been suspended after the incident, has also been arrested as part of the ongoing investigation.
05:33There's no doubt that there was some error, clearly, on the part of the gatekeeper and also, of course, on the part of the van driver that he chose to drive through,
05:41despite this being a crossing, a railway crossing, didn't watch out for whether a train was coming.
05:45But is there a language angle to this entire tragedy?
05:49Is it because the gatekeeper didn't understand the language?
05:52That's something the investigation will reveal.
05:54But here's a look at some of those reactions in a ground report.
05:57That lone pair of shoes that you see over here was worn by a student who was not aware of what was going to happen today.
06:07That student was going to his school on a van, but unfortunately, because of human error, that did not happen today.
06:14That is the condition of the van in which five students were trying to go to their school today morning,
06:20and all they had to do was cross this crossing.
06:23This is a manned railway crossing, and they were supposed to cross it around 7.40 a.m.,
06:28but there are two versions to the story.
06:30On one side, the railways claim that the driver of the van attempted to actually ask and request the gatekeeper to keep the gate open,
06:40and because of that mistake, the train hit the van, causing death of three students.
06:46However, the eyewitnesses at this spot and the Kummer Lake villagers here claim that was not the story.
06:52They claim that the gatekeeper did not close the gate on time.
06:56Imagine, this is the track that we are standing, and this is a track where high-speed trains actually ply through,
07:01and what happened is that as they come from here, the villagers claim that as this particular railway crossing was kept open,
07:09that that particular van tried to cross this, and because of which an accident occurred,
07:13children's body, one child's body was on this track.
07:17There was a piece of a leg of a student on this track, and over there, there is a shoe, there are tiffen box,
07:24and there were also school bags and everything, which have been now removed from this spot,
07:28and in this condition, three students have died, an extremely unfortunate accident
07:34that should not have happened in Kadalur, Semenkupam, but that happened because of human error.
07:40Who is to be blamed? That is still being investigated by railway authorities, railway police, and Tamil Nadu police,
07:46but because of human error, three innocent lives, the future of India, three lives have been lost.
07:54Daniel, Pramod, Madhav, for the train.
07:56Daniel, Pramod, Madhav, for the train, train towards, from Vilupuram to Mailadudurai passenger,
08:02crossing Semangupam, level crossing, that is hit by one school van.
08:08So in that, one student died on this spot, another student died in the hospital.
08:16So two casualties.
08:18So another two students and the driver is getting treatment in GH Kadalu.
08:25So further investigation is going on by railway police and railway authorities and state police also.
08:34Already there was an incident, there was an accident here and the railway authorities themselves had stated
08:40that it was because the person did not know the Tamil language, he could not understand what is told to him.
08:46The same thing has happened now.
08:48So it is always better in such important positions.
08:53The people who know the local language should be posted so that that will be helpful.
08:58That will at least save the people.
09:00So many questions arise over this tragedy.
09:10But the number one is whether it was negligence and whether it was clear problems and a fault of the gatekeeper
09:17as well as the van driver that led to these three school children dying.
09:22There are conflicting versions that are emerging among the eyewitnesses.
09:26The van driver has blamed the railway gatekeeper, saying he wasn't present.
09:30No surprise there because he's trying to shun the blame himself.
09:33Even as there are questions about why the van driver drove right through a railway crossing
09:37without looking if a train was approaching, even if the gatekeeper wasn't there.
09:41One of the injured students has however rejected what the van driver has said.
09:44The injured student maintains the gatekeeper was very much present,
09:48but highlights that the gatekeeper did nothing.
09:51From a face sale, looking at the versions that are coming out,
09:54there definitely seems to be a fault of both the van driver and the gatekeeper.
09:58The van driver has been injured, which is why he is right now in the hospital.
10:01The gatekeeper identified as Pankaj who has been taken into custody.
10:05He's a non-local and so the DNK is alleging that he is to blame.
10:08The gatekeeper is open for the gatekeeper.
10:13Yes sir
10:17Are you going to get the gate?
10:19Yes
10:21Is there any signal on the rail?
10:23Yes sir
10:25Is there any signal on the rail?
10:27Yes sir
10:29The gate is open
10:33The signal is open
10:35The signal is open
10:37The train is open
10:39The signal is open
10:43The signal is open
10:45The signal is open
10:47The signal is open
10:49The signal is open
10:53So you heard there from the van driver
10:55who says that the gate was open
10:57which is why he drove right through
10:59The other version that's emerging
11:01is that the van driver
11:03told the gatekeeper open the gate
11:05and went right through
11:07Now that's something of course
11:09that has to be confirmed
11:10but the railways at this point
11:11based on their initial investigation
11:13maintain this is what happened
11:15which is why they say
11:16yes the gatekeeper is responsible
11:18but so is the van driver
11:20The DMK maintains
11:21and many DMK leaders have spoken out
11:23saying that it's the gatekeeper
11:25who didn't really understand
11:26what was happening
11:27I'll bring in Pramut Madhav
11:28who's joining us live from Kadalur
11:30where this tragic accident took place
11:32Pramut there are questions
11:34about whether this was an accident at all
11:36who is to blame here
11:38the van driver
11:39or is it the gatekeeper
11:40what are you picking up
11:41from the eyewitnesses you spoke to
11:42because you know
11:43you've got all these statements
11:44coming in
11:45very conflicting
11:46and amid that
11:47the DMK is saying that
11:48this has something to do with language
11:49Ashtar, one thing is very clear
11:54the entire village of Sirmankupam
11:56is completely devastated
11:58because a sister and a brother
12:00from a same house has died
12:02and their relative another child
12:04has also died in Pondicherry's Jippa as well
12:06and the bigger question is that
12:08throats of rupees are being actually
12:10every year spent on this particular issue
12:12which is called as manned and unmanned gates
12:14which means the gatekeeper is responsible
12:17for letting trains during such periods
12:19because this is a particular track
12:21where high speed trains
12:23like you know fly almost 20 minutes every day
12:25so this is like something very serious
12:27and that's the reason such questions are being raised
12:29but even before a question like kind of an investigation
12:32could be conducted
12:33Southern Railways came forward and said
12:35that it was the driver who went ahead
12:38and asked the gatekeeper to open the gate
12:40we saw the gate, it's not an easy thing for a driver to pass
12:43just like that
12:44because someone has to keep it open
12:46and we also saw that one person
12:48the gatekeeper must be there
12:49and he has to hold a green or a red flag
12:51to provide the signal
12:53so there is definitely negligence in there
12:55but unfortunately DMK has also used particular situation
12:58to go ahead and say
12:59that Tamil Nadu is being neglected
13:01when it comes to railway budget
13:02we did speak to MRK Panit Suwilam
13:04who is the agriculture manager
13:05Let's just play that out Ramon
13:06what you are referring to right now
13:07we are just putting that out on our screens as well
13:10the DMK minister
13:11who has now spoken out
13:12blaming the centre
13:14saying that the central government
13:15is neglecting Tamil Nadu in the railway budget
13:18and that's what has led to such issues
13:20highlighting essentially poor infrastructure
13:22and that that's why there was scope
13:24for this kind of a tragedy
13:25to even take place
13:26and then you have the DMK minister
13:28speaking to us
13:30saying that it's also because
13:32you've got non-native language speakers
13:34appointed in such roles
13:35so the DMK going back to language
13:37saying that because the gatekeeper
13:39was someone who wasn't a local
13:41couldn't speak Tamil
13:42this happened
13:43this tragedy played out
13:44and that's why we have to do it
13:45to avoid the
13:53street
13:54from the streets
13:55to help us
13:57to help us
13:58to help us
13:59see our faces
14:00with us
14:01and theADs
14:04and theADs
14:05to help us
14:07through theく
14:08the government
14:09and the government
14:10and the government
14:11I am told that they are not to do anything with the deal.
14:20It is not a railway budget.
14:24I am told that.
14:26I am told that they are not to do anything with India.
14:32I am told that they are not to do anything.
14:36Do you think you are talking Hindi?
14:41What about the gatekeeper, sir? Has he been arrested?
15:07The inquiry is ongoing. Initially in the morning, the gatekeeper was there at the location and there was a small L&O situation and that has been controlled now. But as I already mentioned, police is undertaking an investigation and proper action will be taken against all concerns. We have also come and given relief to the families in presence of the honourable ministers. So right now we have been focusing on it. We look into the statement which has been issued by the railways and we'll respond to them officially.
15:33You've heard from the state government. Let's tell you what we're picking up from the Indian Railways. Sources in the Indian Railways have spoken out about this tragedy and the DMK's allegation that this is a result of poor infrastructure and a lack of funds being provided to the state of Tamil Nadu.
15:52Now the railways have made it very clear that we're not in a regional structure but in a national structure. And so Railways appoints people from across the country, specifically responding to the criticism from the DMK that this has happened because non-natives are being deployed in these kind of sites, essentially suggesting that North Indians have been brought to Tamil Nadu who don't understand the language.
16:15This is the statement that's come in from the railways right now. I'll bring in Pramood Madu for a quick straight reaction on this.
16:22Pramood, you know, even as you're seeing this back and forth, just run us through why the DMK is making this allegation.
16:27Are they suggesting that the gatekeeper opened the gate because he didn't understand what the van driver was telling him and that's where they say, you know, language barrier came up?
16:36That seems to be the kind of explanation from TK Silangovan. But Akshita, I have to make it very clear.
16:44Once the gate is closed or once the train's coming over, the gatekeeper is not supposed to listen to anybody.
16:49It doesn't matter who the person is because it's a kind of like life threat situation.
16:53But here, as the railways went ahead and said that the van driver and the gatekeeper had a conversation, TK said, like, perhaps that is because he did not understand the language, it went ahead.
17:03But there is a bigger kind of point behind it because be it DMK or its ally parties have been constantly claiming that when it comes to Tamil Nadu, prominence is given to non-Hindi speakers in Hindi, like in railway jobs.
17:14And that is being reflected here as well, Akshita.
17:16Unfortunate, really. You know, there's no doubt that the gatekeeper here must be investigated as should be the van driver.
17:25Whatever be the circumstances, even if the gatekeeper understood, didn't understand the language, clear protocol, whichever language it is, suggests that there's no circumstance in which he should be opening that gate.
17:35And so there will be serious questions asked about whether we're undermining this whole tragedy by dragging in language and whatnot.
17:41But Pramod, thanks for those details. Unfortunate tragedy that's played out, heartbreaking, and our condolences to the families there who've lost their loved ones.
17:51Three children have died as a result of this tragedy. As a result, let's be clear of negligence.
18:00All right, let's move on on Super 6 and tell you what's been happening in Karnataka.
18:04We've been tracking very, very closely the power struggle in the Karnataka Congress.
18:09The Karnataka legislators, who are DK Shriv Kumar loyalists, continue to speak out one after another, making their campaign clear, DK is for chief minister.
18:19Will we see any movement on that? Remains to be seen.
18:22But why is the Congress not doing anything, cracking the whip on these loyalists from speaking out, seeking a CM change?
18:28Interestingly, you had Randeep Surjewala today, the Karnataka in-charge leader, saying that, look, these statements come and go.
18:35Meaning, essentially, that the Congress is not going to crack down on the DK's loyalists, who continuously are campaigning for a change in CM.
18:42From Karnataka to Delhi, the CM's suspense continues.
18:53While DK Shriv Kumar is in Delhi for meetings with the High Command, Sidra Maya will be in the capital tomorrow.
19:00On the 10th of July, the two leaders will be part of a key huddle where MLC seats will be discussed, the meeting at the time of uncertainty and speculation.
19:09And DK Shriv Kumar's loyalists continue their DK for CM Khoras.
19:14The leadership cannot be stagnant. The leadership has to change. The leaders have to grow. New leadership has to come.
19:39So, whenever the opportunity is given, it will definitely happen. But individuals airing out their views should not be considered that it is a protest.
19:51While the rumblings continue, the Congress seemed to be intentionally turning a blind eye.
19:56Instead of cracking down on legislators who are openly batting for a CM change, the Congress seems to have chosen to merely ignore it.
20:04Not the best sign for Sidra Maya.
20:06Amid this political buzz of a churn, the BJP has lashed out at the Congress over the truckers' protest in Karnataka, leading to a delay in dispersing rise to beneficiaries of the Anna Bhaagya scheme.
20:34Both CM, Deputy CM and entire cabinet is busy in saving their chairs. Therefore, in Karnataka, this government is dead as people are concerned and people are waiting eagerly to throw out this government as soon as possible.
20:52With months to go for Sidra Maya to finish two and a half years as CM, DK Shivakumar's camp has kicked off a rather public CM change campaign.
21:02But the question is, is the high command listening?
21:05Bureau Report, India Today.
21:07Okay, let me bring in Sagaraj, who's been tracking all the latest updates from Bengaluru.
21:15Sagar, it looks like the action slowly from Bengaluru is shifting to Delhi.
21:19DK Shivakumar is already in Delhi.
21:21Tomorrow, Sidra Maya will be here.
21:23There's going to be a meeting with the high command.
21:25We understand there is no, you know, agenda of CM change or any of that that will be brought up.
21:31But there's no doubt that this meeting happening at a time when we've seen so much of speculation is what everyone's going to be talking about.
21:38Absolutely. And this comes after many of them are openly talking about the pact between DK Shivakumar, Sidra Maya, and high command,
21:48whether it is Emilia's or even Swamiji's has openly spoken about it.
21:53And even DK Shivakumar did not rule out that there was a pact.
21:56He in fact went on to say that one of the pacts it is we will discuss within our own party.
22:01I need not discuss all those things in public.
22:03So he has categorically mentioned there is a pact between them, whether who will become the chief minister after 200 years or who will be the first term and second term.
22:12So probably the high command has to decide on this as everybody is predicting the fortune of DK Shivakumar.
22:19DK Shivakumar is still a case that he will not cross the Lakshman Rekha of high command.
22:26Okay, Sagar, thanks very much for getting us those details.
22:29Let's see what happens in the next few weeks.
22:31Remember that the 2.5-year term comes to an end in November.
22:36That's when Sidra Maya completes two and a half years as chief minister.
22:40Will there be a change?
22:41Well, there are certainly many, many developments that suggest that DK Shivakumar is pushing for it.
22:49Okay, let's move on and talk about the big political fight that's playing out in Andhra Pradesh between the YSRCP and the TDP.
22:57You have a YSRCP leader Prasanna Kumar Reddy's house in Nellor being vandalized.
23:02These are the images of how his home was vandalized right after he made a derogatory comment against the TDP MLA Prasanthi Reddy.
23:11This has become the biggest face-off right now between the YSRCP and the TDP.
23:16According to the YSRCP, TDP supporters did this, vandalized their homes, stormed into the YSRCP Neta's house when he was away,
23:25damaged furniture, glassware, and also vandalized the two cars parked outside.
23:30Now, this is what the YSRCP claims.
23:32TDP has dismissed having any role really in this attack.
23:36But mind you, there's been a huge controversy for the last many days over comments made by Prasanna Reddy,
23:42the YSRCP leader in question here, the misogynist remarks that he made against Prasanthi Reddy,
23:47the TDP leader who's married to an MP Prabhakar Reddy.
23:52He made comments saying that, you know, she blackmailed her husband into marriage,
23:57that she might poison him in his sleep.
23:58And so there have been condemnations pouring in from all of the leadership,
24:03including Nara Lokesh, who's called the remarks a crime
24:05and asserted that this is not Jagan's jungle raj.
24:08Pawan Kalyan, Andhra Pradesh, Deputy Chief Minister, also lambasted Vice-RCP
24:13and said that we will ensure that legal action also is taken against the leader.
24:48Thank you very much.
25:18Thank you very much.
25:48Thank you very much.
26:18Thank you very much.
26:48And now, you've got the TDP MLA who he targeted.
26:52She's filed a complaint seeking the YSRCP leader Prasanna Reddy's arrest.
27:18What's the evidence the YSRCP has to point fingers at the Telugu Desem party?
27:25Well, that's very evident, right, Akshita?
27:29And that is a clear instruction from the TDP office to get that whole thing vandalized.
27:35And we're talking about a woman.
27:38Let's not forget, the mother of, you know, the ex-MLA was also in the home when this whole thing was happening.
27:44You know, and she's like really scared when this whole thing is happening.
27:49You know, the point here is the state of Andhra Pradesh is now on national news all the time, all these days, with a lot of violence and political vendetta.
27:58The question is, why is that happening just in the last few months?
28:02What did change?
28:03The change is the governance.
28:05And we actually see a lot of political vendetta.
28:08In the same journalist fraternity as you do, Akshita, there were 63 cases that got filed against the reporters.
28:1511 were actually beaten.
28:17You know, the SESC atrocities that are happening in the state.
28:20You know why the state is coming all the time into national media with just this political vendetta news?
28:26We didn't see this earlier.
28:27And this is scary in the state now.
28:30And then if this misogynism is a thing, I think TDP has a patent for that.
28:36You know, they were abusing the honourable leader of us, Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy's wife, on camera.
28:42And not just that, Roja, who happens to be our honourable MLA, they were speaking as if, you know, I just don't want to say that on record.
28:51All the derogatory comments that any woman can never listen.
28:54But two wrongs don't make a right, Kartekaru.
28:58What has been said right now is also very, very objectionable and unacceptable.
29:04We are not endorsing that, Akshita, at the same time.
29:07Let the judicial process kick in.
29:09Who has given them the right to enter their home and vandalise the whole home?
29:14And his own mother was sitting there in the home.
29:18She's like 70, 80 years old in age.
29:20Why are we not talking about that violence deliberately made in the broad daylight or in the evening?
29:27No one is talking about it.
29:28And then how many cases?
29:292,466 cases, Akshita, on record.
29:33What has been filed against YSRCP supporters?
29:37About 300 murders.
29:38198 women cases.
29:41Why all of this is happening just in the past few months?
29:44That is the debate that nation should talk about.
29:47Let me give a chance to also Deepak Reddygaru to make his opening comments on this.
29:52Deepak Garu, what do you have to say to the YSRCP's allegation that this is the TDP going after its opposition, going after the YSRCP?
29:59Very good evening, Bhav.
30:03This is another attempt by YSRCP just to, you know, make themselves feel relevant.
30:11The people of Andhra Pradesh haven't even given them an opposition status looking at the five years of rule what they had.
30:18Let me be very frank.
30:20I was a legislator during Jagan Mohan Reddy's five-year tenure.
30:24What is happening now in Andhra Pradesh, even if you are absolutely liberal, it is not even 1% of what these people have done earlier.
30:33Every woman leader belonging to Telukhudesham party was in tears in the five years of Jagan Mohan Reddy's government
30:40because they would brutally attack a character of all women leaders in TDP.
30:47You can see what kind of a post were put in the last five years.
30:50And similarly, what happened in this particular incident is this former MLA comes out and says,
30:57the leader was in MLA and her husband is an MP, saying that the wife is going to kill her own husband in the night for money.
31:06And the next thing is, brutally, he started talking about her character.
31:10So this level they have stooped down to.
31:13So at such cheap levels, I don't think a single woman would ever come into politics also.
31:19So here the question is not violence.
31:22It is the question that we have to respect our woman.
31:25This is exactly what our Chief Minister has been telling for the last two months.
31:29We are not going to tolerate such kind of a derogatory comments on any woman in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
31:35And similarly, Lokesh, she also has condemned such kind of acts in any number of incidents.
31:41This is not just one man.
31:41So let's get this out of the way, Karthik, very clearly.
31:44You know, when these kind of comments are made, and you have listed instances where you have claimed that DDP also has done this.
31:50But like I said, you know, two wrongs don't make a right.
31:53Is there a clear apology from the YSRCP for the kind of words that were used by your leader?
31:58The question here is about, Mr. Deepak, please.
32:06The question here is about violence, Akshita.
32:08The question here is about the Red Book Constitution that is happening in the state.
32:13As we said, we don't endorse any sort of violence.
32:16That's on record.
32:16No, we'll talk about that.
32:18I'm 100% going to talk about that.
32:20But let's focus on my question right now about the comment that was made by Prasanna Reddy, against Prasanthi Reddy.
32:26Is that something the YSRCP is okay with?
32:28If not, why haven't you asked the leader to apologize?
32:31Why hasn't the YSRCP put out a statement saying it's unacceptable, the words he's used?
32:37The point here is, as I said, we don't endorse any such violence or such misogynist remarks.
32:43That's on record.
32:43Why don't you condemn it?
32:44There were n number of instances that has happened where never ever TDP has come forward.
32:53Where the Honourable Chief Minister's wife is also dragged into stuplo commends on record by the media channels owned by TDP and IDDP.
33:01And as I said, there were n instances people like Roja were all dragged into as stuplo as possible.
33:08The point here is, they were always attacking in terms of the credibility of a woman in the state.
33:16You know, they hear the question again is about why in the past couple of months, we have repeatedly getting into the national level just on the violence.
33:26This never happened in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
33:28This is all for the wrong reasons we are representing into the national media now.
33:31Why?
33:32The question is that.
33:33The question is that.
33:34I'll come to violence.
33:35I'll come to violence.
33:36Truth is a very big casualty here.
33:37Truth is a very big casualty here.
33:38Truth is a very big casualty here.
33:39No Deepak Garu.
33:40Deepak Garu.
33:41First, first, first, first.
33:42Let me, you know, just kind of break this down.
33:45First to the allegation from the YSRCP that TDP also is a habitual offender when it comes to insulting and targeting women.
33:53And he's given you instances.
33:55Absolutely false.
33:56On record, Akshita.
33:57This is just a pretext to divert from this subject ma'am.
34:01In fact, our Home Minister is a Dalit lady and she was on air not once multiple times in tears with the way she was trolled and the way she was attacked and the way comments were being put out by YCP leaders.
34:15So, this is not just one case.
34:17You can dig into the media reports itself.
34:20Not one.
34:21Every woman leader belonging to Telukh Desham in the last five years, they were on air in tears with the way the YCP leaders were commenting on them, attacking them on social media.
34:34So, this is not just a one-off incident.
34:36This is a regular practice by the YSRCP party.
34:40And here the question is, even till now, they don't come and condemn the comments which has happened in this latest incident rather than talking about the violence.
34:47The point, Mr. Deepak, the point.
34:49It's not about diversion, Mr. Deepak.
34:51This gentleman representing YCP is a fresh face from the last one month.
35:00He was not in Andhra Pradesh when the YCP government was ruling.
35:04Let's talk about real problems, sir.
35:06He's one resident in Telugu living somewhere in Hyderabad.
35:09He has no clue about what is going on in Andhra Pradesh.
35:11No, no, no.
35:12One second.
35:13Karthik, Karthik, quick response from you and then I'm going to focus on the vandalism, the violence.
35:17Karthik, quick response.
35:18Let's get back to the point.
35:20They couldn't face me and they're actually allegating.
35:23The point here is even India today is in Delhi.
35:25Doesn't give the fact that they don't talk about Andhra Pradesh.
35:28No, let's not go into personal aspects, Mr. Deepak.
35:31The point here is on record, there were instances where GDP led channels have deliberately deliberately deliberately...
35:45Just hold on, please.
35:46One at a time.
35:48One at a time.
35:50make his point point is repeatedly derogating our honorable uh you know leader's wife roja and many
35:59other leaders even mr moorthy who happens to be a tdp leader they they have to go into stoop
36:05where i can i can't even refer on on this national media what those people have said to the women
36:10leaders of our party and even in the recent past akshita an sc lady is tied to a rope i mean tied
36:16to a tree with a rope and we as a social media got so active and then the human rights commission
36:22has actually come on play and after that we see that home minister is coming out and giving a
36:25response so you know such incidents are repeatedly happening the state akshita the question is why
36:32andhra padej is coming into news for all the bad reasons for the national okay let's focus let's
36:36talk about the violence let's talk about the violence that broke out at a ysr cpa leader's house
36:41uh deepak garu your response to that particularly to the vandalism that's been reported at his house
36:47look what he said is condemnable but surely we're not going to endorse violence and vandalism of this
36:52kind absolutely ma'am in fact uh in another incident which took place on a dalit uh the sad punch
37:00although it was nothing to do with the party the three who were linked to linked with that were
37:05arrested within immediately so even in this case the former mla himself said the minute he called
37:11the dsp a lady she came running to the spot immediately so that is how quick the government
37:17and the police responded in this case also we don't endorse any type of violence but the fact
37:23here is women in politics have to be respected you cannot continuously uh you know uh pass derogatory
37:31comments on them and attack their character agreed but i hope you know making that an excuse to kind
37:36of say that you know this kind of violence and vandalism is also okay uh mr deepak reddy because
37:41the ysr cp is saying that the tdp was involved in this vandalism and violence have they been identified
37:46yeah ma'am let me make one thing very clear not just a spokesman i am a zonal coordinator heading a
37:54zone in andhra pradesh i know all our mlas have been continuously asking us about the past
38:00mistakes which ycp has done and they want to file cases and attack them legally but our government has
38:07not given them a green signal we are focusing only on development and the welfare of the people so that
38:13is the style of functioning of our chief minister so here ycp comes up with these uh stories just to
38:19make themselves relevant and just to say that they're still afloat in politics because they don't
38:25even have uh opposition status in andhra pradesh the fact is even now they haven't come out and
38:31and condemn the bad comments which are continuously being leveled against ladies in uh in politics in
38:38andhra pradesh so we are absolutely clear we don't support violence but we we are we are our chief
38:44minister and lokeji have clearly said the honor of women in politics will be upkept and it is the
38:51responsibility your response the tdp saying you know they have a no-nonsense approach when it
38:55comes to this kind of violence neither do we neither do we akshita and we don't want any
39:00political discourse from tdp on that matter you know if our sources are right mr lokej was also in
39:07the same district when the attack was happening by the way you know if really they have any chastity
39:12towards women we actually want them to disgrace and again prove that tdp is more interested in drama
39:17than dignity the point here is please let's not get into a national level for all the bad reasons
39:23rule properly prefer sensitivity or sensationalism why there were 2500 cases 720 just on social media
39:30720 cases just on social media your journalist fraternity 63 people were booked 11 people were
39:38beaten 300 murders 198 women no karthik karthik i'm going to go back to the question i asked you
39:45earlier which is what is the evidence i i agree you know this kind of a crackdown uh is unprecedented but
39:51it's not something we haven't seen before unfortunately the reality is journalists are targeted by every
39:55government but karthik uh what is the evidence that you know that on basis of which the ysrcp has said
40:01the tdp is involved in the vandalism akshita if you spend just five minutes looking at prasanthi's
40:07statement in the past one two days she comes out and tells that no we don't know who are they again
40:12she comes and tells that we know who are they and we telephoned and then not to do such things
40:17and again she changes her words you know even if you spend five minutes on what she spoke
40:22there is a mere contradiction in the way she is actually setting up the narrative where even an
40:27elementary school kid would understand that this is a coordinated tdp attack on the house of our
40:32our honorable mla and again akshita in the same district never ever never ever this this has been
40:39there has been such a there has been such a violence there has been such a violence
40:43okay mr deepak i'll give you a chance to respond you got to allow me mr deepak just hold on
40:48let karthik finish and then i'll come to you deepak karthik just hold on
40:53mr deepak finish hold on you gotta allow me speak so in that district it's always for dignity
40:59we have never seen such an incident happening you can check the records and this person happens to
41:04be five six times mla his father was a minister and they they actually hold a legacy and we have
41:10never seen a history like this why in 2025 such things are happening what did change the governance
41:15got changed and i want to i want to let mr deepak know it's not about opposition we still have 40
41:20percent rock solid vote share which can't be tampered and again twisting your arm mr deepak in
41:262029 election is not very far because of the atrocities that you're doing to the state of
41:30andhra pradesh okay deepak ready deepak ready quickly your comment because i'll have to wrap
41:34this up then uh what is the action you say violence is condemnable what is the action that the
41:38government has taken to identify the people behind this vandalism what action has been taken
41:42against them ma'am ycp spokesperson stands totally exposed because the the former mla himself came
41:50on air today and he said the minute i came to know about it i called the dsp which was a lady dsp
41:57officer and she immediately rushed to the spot so if we were involved we the dsp would not have come
42:04to the site so it's very evident that we had nothing to do with it and uh and what is being
42:10peddled by ycp is false because their their former mla himself has come on air and said that
42:15so here the point is the the spokesperson of ycp doesn't live in andhra pradesh he has absolute
42:22no knowledge about uh the facts which are going on on the field other than reading the note which
42:26is sent by his party and try to protect his party without any basis the the the fact of the matter is
42:33this is this is this is let's let's stay away let's stay away from you know personal comments let's
42:40stay away from personal comments mr deepak reddy let's talk about the issue at hand here that was
42:44the level of comments which the ycp leaders were putting out derogatory on this is descending this
42:50is descending into a political back and forth which wasn't the intention here it was to get
42:54hopefully a message of condemnation from both the tdp and vice rcp the one misogynistic comments are
43:00not okay and neither is violence and vandalism ideally we should be all on the same page or on
43:05that and that's where i'd like to leave it thank you very much to both the tdp and vice rcp uh to
43:10deepak reddy as well as karthik for joining us here on india today
43:14all right let's move from andhra pradesh to kerala the kerala university turned to a battleground
43:22dramatic scenes that unfolded at the kerala university this is in thirvananthapuram where you
43:27had sfi members storming the premises of the university they were protesting against the
43:31governor the governor remember in kerala currently is rajendra vishwanath arlekar he's also the
43:37chancellor of the universities these sfi members gathered protesting alleging attempts were being
43:43made to saffronize universities an issue that you see coming up across the country in kerala too
43:49has been a big big talking point because they say that these universities are under the influence
43:54of the sang parivar things took a violent turn as if i workers were seen breaking open the gates
43:59storming into the office complex the police were deployed in large numbers but unable to prevent
44:04the breach and finally many of these students were also taken into custody what do these protesters want
44:10they want the resignation of the vice chancellors of both kerala and kerala universities accusing them
44:16of aligning with the sang parivar dramatic scenes are unfolding at the kerala university campus here
44:24in the state capital thirvanthapuram with major commotion taking place between the uh sfi activists
44:31the student union of cpm as well as the police now this is against the governor of kerala rajendra
44:38who's also the chancellor of universities in the state uh... alleging that he's trying to saffronize
44:44the universities in kerala it all started when governor used a picture of barat madha allegedly
44:51used by the rss holding an rss holding a saffron flag against which the ministers in the state had
44:58raised huge protests they had boycotted the event at rajpavan saying that for official programs such
45:05symbols of organizations cannot be used only those symbols permitted by the constitution can be used
45:12is what uh the minister said they boycotted the program following which a tussle broke out between
45:18the governor and the state government now later governor was also the chancellor of universities
45:24was coming to kerala universities to university to attend a program and a similar picture of barat madha
45:33was used for the program at the university also against which sfi raised protests saying that
45:39such symbols cannot be allowed in universities it's the symbol of rss if governor is trying to
45:45make raj bhavan the headquarters of rss then we are not going to permit it is what the sfi said
45:52and universities cannot be used for such purposes what the sfi said and they raised huge protests back then
46:00major commercial broke out at the university in kerala kerala university later following the
46:09commercial the vice chancellor of the university suspended the registrar of the event who allowed
46:16the protest saying that he allowed to take the protect allowed the protest to take place at the
46:21university now this protest is against the governor for suspending for uh the suspension of the
46:29registry registrar by the vice chancellor and also for the barat mother controversy that's been ongoing
46:35in the state since a long time dramatic scenes there in kerala intervenant
Recommended
0:58