- 2 days ago
India will prioritise its national interests and not compromise on safeguarding its farmers, fishermen, and dairy sector, even if it comes at a significant cost, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Thursday. His statement is being viewed as a strong rebuttal to US President Donald Trump's decision to impose a 50% tariff on India over its continued imports of Russian oil.
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NewsTranscript
00:00All right, we have some news just coming in at this point in time.
00:03This has got to do with the Prime Minister's clearest message to bully.
00:06Trump will never let down farmers, is what the Prime Minister has said,
00:10saying that he's ready to pay a personal price for the same.
00:14It's a resounding, no-compromise, woke rye from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
00:20Clearly, the gloves are off here.
00:22Modi hints at an all-out counter at US bullying.
00:26The American president particularly coming down heavily on India.
00:29India says we are ready to pay a huge price,
00:33but the interest of farmers comes first, says the Prime Minister.
00:37This has got to do with the US being bitter about India not allowing access to agriculture,
00:42protecting the interest of our farmers.
00:45And that's the reason why things have worsened.
00:52Karishma is getting in more details on that story,
00:54but before that, let's take a listen.
00:55India says the Prime Minister.
00:58India says the Prime Minister.
00:59in
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01:52Today, Bharat is ready.
02:22The US since day one has been asking its greater market access especially when it comes to goods pertaining to agriculture that is rice, milk, maize, genetically organized, organic, genetically organic crops and so yeah.
02:46Now India has taken a very strong stance since the beginning that it's not going to let its domestic farmers, domestic industry be impacted.
02:58Because the minute you give that wider access and you let that happen then there is going to be an issue with the way our systems and policies have been working especially around agriculture.
03:13So it's a very politically sensitive move that we are taking of course our country is taking its neck out in order to take a strong and firm stand of the fact that we are okay to absorb 50% tariff but we are not okay to let go of something that we've been building on for years.
03:32Let's not forget when it comes to data about 18 to 20% of our GDP comes from agriculture so we clearly will not be able to let that go.
03:42We cannot have that access, that market access cut down and the fact that we've been building on the whole concept of Atmanivar Bharat and self-reliance.
03:53This will not be taken in good stride for us domestically if we have to budge into U.S. demands.
04:01Piyush also is with us. Karishma continue to be with us.
04:04Piyush this is the Prime Minister's reiteration.
04:06Obviously it also comes at a time when the government is under a fair amount of spotlight with the opposition waiting for one small opportunity for the government to take any decision which would be against our farmers.
04:17And hence the government is taking this position that the interest of farmers comes first, isn't it?
04:24Well that's right Asriya, the government has once again made it very clear that the interest of farmers comes first and this is a stand which the government has been taking since the time U.S. announced that it is going to impose.
04:36If you remember that in the last few months there are multiple negotiations that have taken place between India and America in which America always wanted India to import a few products like non-witch, milk, GM, props.
04:50On which what we are told from our sources within the government that we are not going to import any kind of non-witch milk because not only the religious sentiments will be hurt but it is also going to hurt our farmers economically.
05:04And that's what the Prime Minister is also highlighting that okay he's ready to pay a huge price for that but for PM Narendra Modi the interest of farmers comes first and that's what he has once again highlighted.
05:17Remember that he was speaking during a program in which multiple organizations of farmers were also present and in front of farmers itself the Prime Minister has highlighted that the interest of farmers is very very important and it is paramount.
05:30That's the stand which the government has been taking and once again the Prime Minister has reiterated this.
05:36Be with us, Piyush Karishma getting in those details.
05:38Listen in once again to what the Prime Minister said.
05:40The Prime Minister said.
06:10The Prime Minister said.
06:40All right, I'm going to go straight across to Tom Valkan of the Bharatiya Janata Party for more on that.
06:45Tom Valkan, clearly the interest of the farmers and of fishermen, like the Prime Minister said, has been put forth.
06:52But there's a price to pay and we're seeing that very hard decisions, difficult decisions that have been taken by the U.S. administration, which could cost us, dear, isn't it?
07:03Well, Prime Minister Modi has said what he had to say.
07:07And that is the reality because we can't be imposed to do the dictates of a foreign head of state.
07:19So we are ready to pay the price.
07:21Prime Minister set the example that India first and we will continue to do that.
07:28Our interests are important.
07:30We will have to do some sacrifices, yes, but we are ready to take on whatever comes our way.
07:37And we will support the agricultural sector, the farmers, the fishermen and other sectors, which are a priority to India.
07:48We will not make any compromise.
07:50That's what the Prime Minister said.
07:52I also want to ask you, Mr. Valkan, this also comes at a time when there is obviously the opposition's eyes on you, isn't it?
07:59On the government, on what it decides to do vis-a-vis the interests of the farmers.
08:03Fair amount of pressure because obviously there can't be any decision that is going to be taken against the interests of the farmers.
08:10Our agricultural economy is something that we have to protect and this is what the government is doing.
08:15Yes, when we support the farmers, the opposition will scream that our interests are being compromised.
08:25But the reality is farmers have always been the priority of our Prime Minister.
08:30Fishermen is something that we will protect.
08:34And the other sectors, sensitive sectors that the Prime Minister mentions, will be protected.
08:39And he has reiterated these points and I think the opposition is trying to build a narrative this way or the other, you know, go against the state.
08:50Their hate for Modiji is reflected in their hate for India and they are fighting India.
08:59And I think the leader of the opposition is leading this tirade.
09:03And I don't think there's going to be any compromise by the government of India on these grounds.
09:07Right. I'm going to leave it at that for the moment.
09:09Tom Baddakin, the Bharti Jinta Party, our editor of Business Studio, Siddharth Zarabi, is also with us.
09:14Siddharth, what's your take on what the Prime Minister has said?
09:17Retrading that there is a personal price to pay, but they're willing to take it.
09:21Very tough decision, really, as far as India is concerned, to not succumb to the pressure from Donald Trump.
09:27But here comes a double whammy of doubling of tariffs.
09:31India is going to clearly suffer in all of this, isn't it?
09:33Siddharth, the moment the tariffs went beyond what was the pre-April rate, whether it becomes 50 or 100 percent doesn't matter,
09:43because it is clear that exports to the United States will see an impact, there will be some disruption.
09:50So that's pretty much factored in.
09:51And I can say that our trade negotiators and the decision-making establishment had factored in a negative possibility all along.
10:02But what is the most significant part right now from the Prime Minister's latest statement,
10:08and without taking names, he has made it very clear,
10:11that the onus to blink on preventing a full-blown cold war, so to say,
10:18on the trade and economic front with India is now on President Trump.
10:23Prime Minister Modi has made it clear he is not going to blink.
10:27That is, I think, the centrality of the message in the last 48 hours.
10:31This has been an evolving situation.
10:34But as of now, with these remarks, it is very clear that 500 million people to take care of.
10:41And this is not about politics, as some people might suggest.
10:45It's about farm sector livelihood.
10:47It's about decades and decades of carefully constructed food security architecture,
10:54which cannot be, you know, done away with or dismantled due to the whims and fancies of one particular leader.
11:02And that's the centrality of the point.
11:05And I would just end by saying that the proposed visit of the U.S. trade team later this month,
11:14as and when, if it were to happen, it's very clear that India is now drawing red lines once again.
11:21Those red lines have already been made clear to the U.S. side during closed-door negotiations.
11:27What is now interesting is that those red lines are now being made public for the world to see and understand
11:34what India is willing to do and unwilling to consider.
11:38All right.
11:39Be with us, in fact, Samajwati Party leader Rajiv Rai is also with us.
11:44Rajiv Rai, your take on what has been said by the Prime Minister, a parcel price to pay.
11:49On one hand, we are seeing doubling of tariffs in India.
11:51On the other hand, we are seeing Pakistan really cozing up to the U.S.
11:55your take on the current situation as far as the tariff war really is concerned, the fallout of it.
12:01First of all, the government should apologize to Nathan for being so psychophant with Trump.
12:06Atki Bar, Trump, Sarkar and Lamutia, all those.
12:10I mean, they are clueless.
12:11They are clueless where to lead, where to go with the foreign policy.
12:15First time we are seeing totally bankruptcy of our foreign policy and foreign activities.
12:21Whatever today we are facing, just because the government is clueless, directionless, spineless and speechless.
12:30So, they should take up the responsibility of whatever today is happening with this.
12:35And this is, again, my honorable Prime Minister's emotional dialogue.
12:40This will not go well with this country now.
12:42Enough is enough.
12:43You know, Rajiv Rai, at the end of the day, we also have to factor in that we are dealing with a rather whimsical sort of leader in President Donald Trump,
12:52who has taken decisions, which may send out confusing signals as well, isn't it?
12:57No, no, no.
12:58We all, the whole country is with the government and army.
13:01But this BJP government keep basing us and projecting us as a gentiness.
13:05No other country will do.
13:06When there is a war, when there is an enemy on our doorstep, and all the parties are there,
13:11we should send a signal that whole 1.4 billion people are together.
13:15They keep talking something which has no meaning.
13:19That is the reason this U.S. has gone to the extent that posing up with the Pakistan and distance.
13:27Now, you are not good with any other country.
13:30None of the neighbors are good with us.
13:32Who should take up the responsibility?
13:33Not a single country stood by with us when there was a crisis.
13:37Someone has to take up the responsibility, no?
13:39For that, also Nehru, our opposition has to be blamed.
13:42All right.
13:42I'm going to leave it at that for the moment, Rajiv Rai of the Samajbadi Party.
13:46They're talking about the fact that it's the BJP government to be blamed.
13:50Why did they walk an extra mile in the sense that those slogans of Afkibar, Trump, Sarkar,
13:55and all that really seems to have backfired here with the Prime Minister.
14:00Now, essentially talking about the fact that as far as this personal equation is also coming,
14:05there is a price to pay.
14:06He's ready to pay it.
14:07However, the need of the hour really is to protect our agricultural sector, says the Prime Minister.
14:16He's ready to pay it.
14:46So as far as I can't understand the role ofRET et gaps,
14:54I will take it.
14:55It sounds like that ourけers,
15:00the Peeps are going to earn if you win.
15:03It sounds like that I will do a lot.
15:06For my country, for my country, for my country, for my country, for my country, today, Bharat is ready.
15:36Of course, in the context of Trump really doubling down on the imposition of tariffs and bullying us, or at least trying to bully us.
15:45The Prime Minister is a master in his words, and he always uses very hard words.
15:52And we are expecting action from him now.
15:56Not only the words, there should be actions, because Mr. Trump has announced that 25% plus 25% tariffs.
16:03And we are just hearing the words from the Prime Minister after a long gap.
16:09But he should act now.
16:12Prime Ministers must act, not only speak.
16:15Good to hear his words.
16:21And make that statement in Parliament.
16:23But he is making this in the address to the MS Swamidathan Foundation.
16:30That's a good thing.
16:31But we expect action from him.
16:35You know, but I also want to ask you, Manikam Tagore, that in principle, do you agree with what the Prime Minister has really said now?
16:42That, you know, we can't allow access to our agricultural sector.
16:46Our farmers' interest and the interest of our fishermen really comes first here.
16:50Do you, in principle, agree with that?
16:51Yes, we stand with farmers, and we hope that the government keeps its word.
16:57Let us not forget that 700-plus farmers market themselves for the fight to protect the farmers' rights against this government.
17:07That is Mr. Modi's government.
17:09Therefore, these words, high-granting words, the big slogan words, all good.
17:16But in real terms, what is the action?
17:19Protecting the farmers' rights is the most important thing.
17:21Farmers, 700-plus farmers, market themselves to protect their own land and own cultivation.
17:28This is the government on which we are speaking about it.
17:30But with the Trump administration, the fight, let the Prime Minister call Mr. Trump that he is doing this to attack India.
17:40Modi is not at all ready to mention the word Trump here.
17:43Twenty-eight times he has called us that he has done the deal, and now twenty-two times he has increased the tariff.
17:51He is threatening, blackmailing us on these kind of words, and we are silent.
17:56All right. I am going to leave it at that for the moment.
18:01Manikam Tagore there of the Congress Party, though the Prime Minister has now clearly spoken about how the interests of the farmers come first.
18:07I think that message was sent out loud and clear by the Indian government,
18:10and hence the kind of bullying tactics that we are seeing on the part of U.S. President Donald Trump.
18:16The opposition is asking what was the need, really, for the BJP and the Prime Minister to walk an extra mile.
18:22For example, the Samajwadi Party has questioned the use of the slogan,
18:26Apkibar Trump Sarkar as well.
18:29What was the need to do this is the question that the opposition is asking at this point in time.
18:36Unexpected, though the imposition of tariffs on the part of U.S., really doubling it,
18:42a warning of even secondary sanctions, and essentially trying to arm, twist India.
18:48However, we clearly have refused to budge at this point in time with the imposition or the declaration of the imposition of steeper tariffs
18:57on Indian goods over New Delhi's continued purchase of Russian oil, opening really a new front in its trade wars
19:05before another wave of duties really take effect.
19:10Well, this additional 25% tariffs on Indian goods coming into place in three weeks,
19:18tacking atop a separate 25% duty, entering into force, taking the level to 50% tariffs on many products.
19:28This is something that India has condemned, calling the move unfair, unjustified and unreasonable.
19:34The Foreign Ministry also indicating that India began importing oil from Russia
19:39as traditional supplies were diverted to Europe over war,
19:43noting that Washington had actively encouraged such imports to strengthen global energy market stability.
19:50India has said, with the Prime Minister reiterating that we will never compromise on the interests of our farmers,
19:57being seen clearly as a strong response to a Trump tariff bomb there.
20:05Prime Minister Modi said that India will not be looking into,
20:08or rather will not be compromising with the interests of the animal, husbandry, industry and our fishermen as well.
20:16When Donald Trump has been asked about why he's singling out India over Russian trade,
20:20he essentially spoke of secondary sanctions.
20:24This is President Donald Trump essentially raising the tariffs on India,
20:33and this is also expected to play out in Parliament,
20:36with the Congress now seeking a discussion on the same.
20:45India is ready to counter Trump, is what is clear.
20:49The Prime Minister is to review the impact with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Commerce Ministry.
20:56Energy imports, including Russian oil, not affected.
20:59No US sanctions on Russia, so no change for India in that sense.
21:03Tariffs, US protectionism, not a strategic threat.
21:08We'll respond calmly to protect trade and economy is what India's strategy seems to be here.
21:14This is through our sources within the government.
21:17Also, to tell our viewers a little about the ongoing tariff war really between both the countries.
21:25India stands up to Trump's tyranny in that sense.
21:29The Prime Minister, like I said, is to review the impact.
21:32Our reports are based on market analysis.
21:35Overall objective to ensure energy security for 1.5 billion Indians.
21:40This is extremely unfortunate, unfair, is what has now been said by India.
21:45This is something that has been said on the part of the government's response to the imposition of these tariffs,
21:52and double of these tariffs now at about 50% on many products.
21:57Those, Donald has delivered another big blow.
22:00After announcing an extra 25% tariff on India, the total tariff now is at 50%.
22:06Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a clear message to Trump,
22:10has said the farmers were of pivotal importance and the nation will not let them down.
22:15He's also now said that, or rather, Trump has threatened to impose secondary sanctions,
22:20hinted that US administration could impose more similar sanctions on China.
22:26US has imposed the sanctions as a penalty for the continued support,
22:30or rather, import of Russian oil, bringing the total tariff to a staggering 50%.
22:36The penalty tariff will take effect in 21 days.
22:39However, India has hit back sharply, saying US targeting of India over Russian oil imports is unfair,
22:45unjustified and also unreasonable.
22:48Not just that.
22:49It's also made it clear that it will take all necessary steps to protect its national interest.
22:54Meanwhile, sources have told India today that India is ready to counter Trump's tariff tyranny.
23:01Government sources suggesting the Prime Minister's office will review the impact of Trump's new tariffs
23:07with MEA and Commerce Ministry officials.
23:10Government sources clarifying energy imports, including Russian oil, remain unaffected
23:14and that the tariffs are not being seen as a strategic threat.
23:18India penalties, do you have any similar plans to enact more tariffs on China?
23:26Could happen, could happen, depends on how we do, could happen.
23:30There are other countries that are buying Russian oil.
23:33It's okay.
23:33Like China, for instance, buying more.
23:35Why are you singling India out for these additional sanctions?
23:38It's only been eight hours, so let's see what happens over the next...
23:43We're going to see more secondary sanctions very soon.
23:44You're going to see a lot more.
23:45So this is a taste of what...
23:46You're going to see a lot more.
23:47You're going to see so much secondary sanctions.
23:50You know, China has not stood out there and refused to let President Trump take credit
23:57for his role in the ceasefire.
24:00China has not had its leader have a long conversation with Trump on the phone
24:04and essentially dictate to him what's right and what's wrong.
24:09These are things that happen with India.
24:11And so I think that that's why perhaps President Trump would reserve some of his greatest ire
24:16on the trade and tariff front for India and for the Indian government.
24:21Indeed, it's a double standard.
24:23It's hypocritical, whatever you want to say.
24:25But I do think that that might help explain why India, which has been such a close partner
24:32of the U.S., has been singled out for particularly harsh treatment by the U.S. president.
24:36Unfortunately, given just how the relationship has been developing in recent days,
24:44you know, this new announcement is not all that surprising.
24:48And the president has also appeared very committed to following through with tariffs.
24:53And in that sense, despite the potential impact, the damaging impact this could have on the U.S.-India
25:01relationship, it's not that much of a surprise to me that in the end, the president decided
25:06to follow through on his threat to impose this additional penalty.
25:09I think that this is the worst crisis that the relationship has faced over the last two decades
25:17of strategic partnership.
25:19I would argue that there is potential for this relationship to be salvaged,
25:24not just because of the natural shared interests and the strategic convergences and all that.
25:31But this is a relationship that is multifaceted and has many different areas of cooperation
25:36that play out on parallel tracks and have the insulation to withstand shocks to the broader relationship.
25:44Invar RBI governors categorically said that India contributes more to the global economy than United States.
25:51You are all aware we have a very robust growth rate, 6.5 percent.
25:58And in fact, you know, as per IMF, 6.4 percent and 3 percent growth rate of the world when they look at that,
26:07we are contributing about 18 percent, which is more than U.S.,
26:11where the contribution is expected to be much less at about, I think, 11 percent or something.
26:15So we are doing very well and we will continue to further improve.
26:23All right.
26:23Earlier we spoke to Seema Sidohi and Professor Andrew Latham on what they think about this ongoing trade war.
26:29Let's take a listen.
26:31And the Europeans are allowed to import Russian oil and gas.
26:35The Chinese are certainly doing it.
26:36And the United States is importing other materials from Russia, critical minerals, et cetera.
26:44And yet India is being singled out.
26:46And my conjecture is that Trump thinks he won against Japan.
26:52He got them to roll over and play dead.
26:54Indonesia, the European Union.
26:57And the only fly in the ointment, as it were, the only country that has stood up to him is India.
27:03And I think it's really emboldened him on the one hand that he beat Japan in the European Union
27:09and enraged him that he can't get his way with India.
27:12And so he's he's doing what, you know, the art of the deal suggests.
27:15He's ratcheting up the pressure on India.
27:17But he doesn't understand that the Modi government only has so much wiggle room here,
27:22that there are certain domestic constituencies, which in the agricultural sector, for example,
27:27which he simply cannot alienate if the BJP is to have any hope of winning again in the future.
27:32So the the room for Modi to to give Trump what he wants is pretty limited.
27:39Now, there are things that that the Modi government could do.
27:41It could, for example, cut back on the re-export of oil.
27:46It's making a lot of money, not just consuming Russian oil, but then selling it on the world market
27:50and making some money could cut back on that, for example.
27:54There are some other things that could do with respect to defense industry.
27:58And there are some things that he could do diplomatically, just give Trump a phone call
28:02and maybe, you know, stroke his feathers a little bit.
28:05But it is it is ironic that India is being singled out this way and in a way that's likely
28:13to alienate America's best strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific.
28:17Right.
28:18We have more news coming in telling you about Operation Akal with rages on in Kulgam Forest.
28:24Exchange of fire between forces and terrorists.
28:27Three army javans have been injured in the crossfiring today itself.
28:31Nine army javans injured in Operation Akal in the last seven days.
28:35Seven fresh exchange of fire with lush rural terrorists inside Akal Forest area.
28:41Three army javans have been injured.
28:43Nine army javans have suffered injuries is what we're learning.
28:46This was launched after intelligence and new terror hideouts.
28:54The Jammu and Kashmir operation spanning across forest belts,
28:58multi-agency coordination to flush out entrenched militants.
29:03Operation Akal is the most high-tech in large-scale counter-terrorism offensives in Jammu and Kashmir,
29:10entering its seventh day really today.
29:12Joint forces of the Indian Army, the police and the Central Reserve Force have zeroed in on the dense Akal Forest.
29:19Meera has more on that.
29:21Nine army javans insured in the last seven days.
29:25Meera, take us to the details of this particular operation which is underway.
29:29Well, Sneha, this is one of the longest ongoing operations in the history of insigency in Jammu and Kashmir.
29:39It's day seven, as you rightly said.
29:41And the latest that I can share with you is that three more army personnel have been wounded in this encounter.
29:46And this has happened overnight, intense exchange again deep inside Akal Forest area and this led to these injuries.
29:55They have been hospitalized and army joint forces are trying their best to corner this Lashkar group deep inside the forest area.
30:03Multiple challenges.
30:05As we have been saying since day one, it's a thick foliage area, a lot of tree line and ample opportunity inside in the form of caves, boulders for this Lashkar squad to hide and engage the security forces.
30:18Our sources say that they seem to be very well trained, have weaponry for night operations as well.
30:26And probably there is a well-entrenched hideout inside the forest area that they're using for supplies.
30:31All those challenges.
30:32And then from the last two days, you also have had very heavy rains in the area.
30:37The cloud cover is low.
30:39Visibility has dropped.
30:40So all these factors, multiple complexities making this operation challenging.
30:45But the security forces are on it.
30:48And so far, one body of a terrorist has been recovered.
30:52Two more are lying in the operational area.
30:55And so that tells you that three have been gunned down.
30:58But the operation is still ongoing and it is a tricky operation.
31:02All right.
31:03A tricky operation is what Amir is telling us.
31:05So tell our viewers about this operation, which has been ongoing for seven days.
31:10This is India's biggest forest-based offensive, really, to smoke out terrorists from this densest terrain.
31:17It's been launched after intelligence on new hideouts of these terrorists.
31:21The operation in Jammu and Kashmir, spanning forest belts and multi-agency coordination to flush out entrenched militants.
31:30More news coming in at this point in time.
31:40This has got to do with the High Court Judge Cash Hall matter.
31:43The verdict is being pronounced as we speak.
31:47These are details that we have with us.
31:49We will be going across to our reporters for more.
31:52From that, from the Supreme Court of India.
31:55This is Justice Verma, Cash Hall matter, which is being heard.
31:59It's a crucial day in that sense with the verdict being pronounced.
32:03Remember, it approached the Supreme Court in connection with the impeachment also in the Cash Hall case.
32:09With the court then questioning Justice Verma over his petition against impeachment.
32:15The verdict in this matter is being pronounced as we speak.
32:19Let's try and go across to my colleagues for more on that.
32:23But this controversy broke out with the recovery or the accidental recovery rather of Cash in Justice Verma's house when a fire took place essentially.
32:33Details that we have with us at this point in time is that the court is pronouncing its verdict today.
32:50I'm going to in fact read out from what the court essentially has said.
32:54As far as this matter is concerned, this is the Yashwant Verma case.
32:59What is for consideration before Supreme Court?
33:01First of all, to tell our viewers, the court to pronounce the verdict considering three aspects challenged by Justice Yashwant Verma.
33:09The findings of Internal Inquiry Committee.
33:13The legality of the in-house procedure.
33:16The Chief Justice of India has a recommendation to the President and Prime Minister regarding his removal.
33:22Nalini has more on that.
33:23Going straight to you, Nalini.
33:25The verdict being pronounced.
33:26What's the latest, Nalini?
33:27Yeah, the verdict is currently being pronounced by the bench of Justices Deepankar Ratta and A.G. Massey.
33:35And what they've stated is that they are going to tread very cautiously with this judgment.
33:39They are not going to look at any aspect that is not absolutely necessary when it comes to giving the decision regarding Justice Yashwant Verma's petition.
33:48The big breaking news that's coming in right now is that the Supreme Court has said that the entire procedure regarding the in-house inquiry committee and the consequential report that came out of it, in fact, does have legal sanction, which means that it's not an unconstitutional procedure.
34:04They have also gone ahead and said that the CTI and the committee both followed the procedure except for one aspect, which was regarding uploading of that video on the Supreme Court website when the report had been released by the Supreme Court at that particular time.
34:21So keeping that in mind, the Supreme Court also gone ahead and said that we have said nothing turns on us since the opportune moment that you did not come before the court.
34:31And remember, Sreeha, the Supreme Court is analysing this after already stating during the course of the hearing that the conduct of Justice Verma had not inspired confidence.
34:42So which is why the Supreme Court has said that she framed six questions and she's given the answer to those six questions despite the fact that an observation had been made where the conduct of the judge did not inspire confidence.
34:54But the Supreme Court has said that it was not precisely the requirement of the procedure.
34:58In one case, the CTI had given a chance and that can't be claimed as a matter of right by Justice Yashwant Verma.
35:06He also goes on to say that some observations have been made and they have made sure that nothing that is in this judgment is going to adversely impact any other process against the judge regarding his impeachment.
35:20So the Supreme Court has taken extra caution to ensure that none of its observations in this judgment in Justice Yashwant Verma's petition actually impacts the parliamentary proceedings regarding his impeachment.
35:38So the petition now that we can confirm is that the petition has been dismissed with some observations, which means that the inquiry committee report stands as has been decided by the Supreme Court.
35:51Yashwant Verma challenged the inquiry committee whether or not it was constitutional.
35:56He said that he was not given a fair hearing.
35:58The principles of natural justice were not followed.
36:00But now that the Supreme Court has dismissed this petition, that means that not only have they upheld the inquiry committee report, but they've also gone ahead and said that the recommendation that was made by the Chief Justice of India on the basis of that inquiry committee report,
36:16where he had written to the PMO and the President to initiate impeachment proceedings against Justice Yashwant Verma,
36:22that too was not without legal sanctions.
36:26The CTI was in his authority to do that.
36:28So, big setbacks, Neha coming in for Justice Yashwant Verma from the Supreme Court.
36:33It remains to be seen how the things now progress before the Parliament, because that's essentially where he will now have to challenge his impeachment motion if he expects to get any relief.
36:42You know, I want to ask you, Nalini, any question really with this blow coming in from the Supreme Court today,
36:48that his petition has been dismissed, his plea has been dismissed in that sense, rejected by the court,
36:53upholding the legality of In-House Probe in the matter,
36:56any other option really before Justice Yashwant Verma?
37:01Well, there are options before him anyway were limited,
37:04because even this petition had been filed as an afterthought,
37:08which is something that the Supreme Court had also noted earlier.
37:11The Supreme Court had asked that if you wanted to challenge the entire process of the inquiry panel,
37:15why did you not come to the Supreme Court earlier when the inquiry panel was constituted or when the hearing was going on?
37:22Why did you wait for such a long time to make this challenge before the Supreme Court?
37:25But at the same time, the options before him are limited.
37:30Now, all he can possibly do is face the impeachment proceedings in the Parliament,
37:34ensure that he not only appears before the committee and that he is given to understand he anyway plans to do,
37:41because there is no other option for him except for to comply with the process.
37:46So, it remains to be seen what happens now before the Parliament,
37:48but essentially there is no relief coming in for him from the Supreme Court,
37:52because now not only on the administrative side, which was done by the former Chief Justice of India,
37:56but now also on the judicial side, the Supreme Court clearly said that the inquiry panel report was constitutional,
38:04the entire process behind it was constitutional,
38:07and that none of the allegations that have been raised by Justice Verma hold any water,
38:11at least before the report on judicial ground.
38:13All right. This is what is now being said by the court.
38:16In fact, to take our viewers through the details,
38:18this was a petition before the Supreme Court of India that has been dismissed by the Apex Court today.
38:24Developments and Nalini is reporting on with the court saying,
38:26the in-house inquiry procedure has got legal sanction.
38:30It's not a parallel procedure.
38:32The Supreme Court saying both the CGI and in-house committee has followed the procedure,
38:37both followed procedure except on one aspect on uploading of the footage.
38:41Going back to Nalini for more on that.
38:43Nalini, take us through the details of what exactly had the petition also released said,
38:47and this clearly has got no bearing on the impeachment proceedings against Justice Yashwant Verma, isn't it?
38:53Absolutely.
38:55Both the proceedings are completely parallel and independent of each other.
38:59And in fact, even the inquiry committee report that was submitted by the in-house inquiry panel,
39:06which was constituted by the former Chief Justice of India, Justice Sanjeev Tarna,
39:09even that report is going to have little value before the proceedings in the parliament.
39:14But coming to what Justice Verma has said in his petition,
39:17he essentially challenged the entire inquiry committee report and the findings of it
39:22on the basis of the fact that the procedure was not properly followed.
39:26He had said that he did not get a right to cross-examine the witnesses who had appeared before the inquiry committee.
39:33He had also gone ahead and said that the inquiry committee had reversed the burden of proof,
39:37which means that they had put the proof on Justice Verma to prove that the cash did not belong to him.
39:43And he said that this was unheard of in law
39:46and it was not his job to prove that the cash did not belong to him.
39:50But at the same time, the Supreme Court has said,
39:53the Supreme Court has looked into each of these aspects
39:55and it has devised six questions of law that it has answered in its judgment.
40:00At the very outset, it said that our first question is that whether we should even entertain this petition,
40:07considering the fact that we had made an observation
40:09that the conduct of the judge did not inspire confidence.
40:13And this is something that the Supreme Court has said multiple times during the course of the hearing,
40:17that the conduct of Justice Verma, the way he had challenged the inquiry committee report at the last second,
40:23along with the fact that he had never even gone to check that particular location
40:27where the fire had occurred after his return from Bhopal back to his residence,
40:32all of this conduct did not really inspire confidence,
40:35which is why the Supreme Court said that despite this observation,
40:38we have still formulated five more questions of law
40:42that they have answered during the course of this judgment,
40:46which also includes as to whether or not this CGI was authorized or empowered
40:50to write to the PMO and the President
40:52and recommend impeachment proceedings be initiated against Justice Verma.
40:57Because that was one of the grants that he had challenged.
40:59And he said that nowhere does it mention that the CGI has this power
41:03to recommend impeachment proceedings.
41:06So all of those questions have been answered by the Supreme Court today.
41:09Of course, the petition has been dismissed and we are still waiting for the detailed copy of the judgment.
41:14But just to take you through a quick few highlights,
41:17the Supreme Court has said that the in-house inquiry procedure was legal,
41:20it had legal sanction and it is not a parallel and constitutional procedure.
41:25It also goes on to say that both the CGI and the in-house committee
41:29followed the procedure that was laid on.
41:32The procedure was followed in all aspects except for one,
41:35which was when the video of the cash that was found in the outhouse was released
41:41as the part of the press report that was put out on the Supreme Court's website.
41:45This, remember, Seha, is something that the Supreme Court had said even earlier
41:48that possibly they should not have released the video at the outset.
41:52Another thing that the Supreme Court has said
41:54that even on uploading of the footage,
41:57the Supreme Court said nothing turns on it
41:59since Justice Varma did not come at the opportune moment.
42:03Again, something that the Supreme Court has said in the past earlier,
42:06that he should have approached the court in a judicial petition earlier
42:10if he'd wanted to challenge the in-house procedure.
42:13The Supreme Court also said that he has not sought relief regarding that in his plea.
42:17The Supreme Court also said that CJI giving opportunity to Justice Varma for hearing
42:21was not requirement of the procedure,
42:23which means that the CJI was not bound to give a hearing to Justice Varma.
42:28Yet, Justice Varma was asked by the CJI
42:31to place for his stand and his opinion on the entire matter
42:35before the inquiry committee was set up.
42:37And CJI has also said that it cannot be claimed as a matter of right.
42:41The Supreme Court also said, if I give a pardon,
42:43that it cannot be claimed as a matter of right
42:45that the CJI asks for your stand.
42:47And on whether the writ was maintainable,
42:49the Supreme Court said once again
42:51that his conduct did not inspire confidence
42:56but despite that this judgment has been given,
42:58important clarification that has come in at our outset is that
43:02nothing that has been said by the Supreme Court
43:04should impact any other proceedings,
43:06including the proceedings that are yet to happen
43:08before the Lok Sabha or the Parliament of India.
43:11All right.
43:11Now, Nishirma, getting in those details and telling us
43:14about Justice Varma's plea that has today been dismissed
43:16by the Supreme Court.
43:18Remember, this has got to do with the Cash Hall case
43:20that was, in fact, being heard.
43:23This had got to do with the petition of Justice Varma.
43:27Today, this has been dismissed by the Supreme Court.
43:31The court saying the CJI is giving an opportunity
43:33to Justice Varma for hearing,
43:35which was not requirement of the procedure.
43:37It cannot be claimed as a matter of right.
43:41Underscoring that they've done this,
43:43they've rejected Justice Varma's plea,
43:45but they heard his petition.
43:47What about the writ was maintainable?
43:49This is something that has been said by the Supreme Court
43:51as well.
43:52His conduct did not inspire confidence.
43:56And this is something that the court has said today.
43:59You know, elaborate on this, Nalini.
44:00The very fact that the court talking about the conduct
44:02not inspiring confidence.
44:04Yes, this is something that has been stated multiple times
44:09by the Supreme Court during the course of the hearing.
44:12Essentially, talking about not only at what time
44:15he chose to file this petition before the Supreme Court,
44:18asking, challenging the inquiry committee report
44:21and the process related to it,
44:23but also how he had conducted himself
44:27at the time when this entire controversy had happened.
44:30For example, after he had come back from Bhopal,
44:33because he was not in town when the fire had occurred,
44:36after he had come back,
44:37he did not visit the location where the fire had occurred,
44:41the outhouse,
44:42even once to assess the kind of damage that had happened.
44:46Even the inquiry committee in its report had said
44:48that they found this very odd
44:49because irrespective of how valuable or not valuable
44:52the things in a house are,
44:54if there's a fire,
44:55it's common for a person to go and check
44:57how much damage it will cost.
44:59Another thing that the inquiry committee report
45:01had raised regarding his conduct
45:02was the fact that when his transfer was communicated to him,
45:06he immediately had accepted the transfer to Alabad
45:10without asking for the reasons behind it
45:12and much before the deadline for his acceptance
45:16was set to expire.
45:18So just within a few hours of it being communicated to him,
45:21without any questions,
45:22he accepted the transfer,
45:23which was again something very odd
45:25that the inquiry committee found.
45:27They said that any sitting judge,
45:28if he's suddenly informed of his transfer,
45:31he is likely to at least ask why he's being transferred.
45:34Another important thing regarding his conduct
45:36that the inquiry committee report had highlighted
45:38was that despite the fact that he claimed
45:41that there was possibly a conspiracy against him
45:44on the basis of which...
45:46Nalini, I'll come back to you in a moment from now.
45:48In fact, Nalini Kohli is also now joining us.
45:49Thank you for your time.
45:51Your take on what has been said
45:52as far as Justice Verma's plea
45:55before the Supreme Court is concerned,
45:57it has now been dismissed by the Supreme Court.
45:59Your reaction to that?
46:01That is the correct position.
46:03And it was expected.
46:05In fact, a lot of people were wondering
46:07that why was there a need
46:09to move a petition in this manner?
46:11Because first,
46:12the King Chief Justice of India,
46:14Mr. Sanjeev,
46:15Justice Sanjeev Khanna,
46:17he had followed to the T
46:19what was the prescribed mechanism
46:21as provided in the Veera Swami judgment.
46:24So therefore,
46:25when there is a judgment of the Supreme Court
46:27by a large bench,
46:29when there is a procedure prescribed,
46:31if the Orgible Chief Justice of India
46:33follows that,
46:34thereafter,
46:35an inquiry committee is constituted,
46:37which includes two chief justices
46:39of the High Court,
46:40a senior judge
46:41of the Karnataka High Court,
46:43they go into it,
46:45Justice Verma
46:45decides not to present himself.
46:49They look at the entire evidence.
46:51They then look at the video footage,
46:52everything,
46:52give it there,
46:53the recommendation goes
46:54as per procedure.
46:55From that perspective,
46:57the bench
46:57of the Honorable Supreme Court,
47:00Justice Dutta,
47:01and others,
47:02Justice Dutta,
47:03specifically,
47:04are these queries
47:05on the first day
47:06as reported in the media?
47:08And then,
47:09today,
47:09what has come
47:09is unexpected life.
47:12Okay.
47:12I'm going to leave it at that
47:13for the moment,
47:14Nalini Kohli,
47:14thanking you for joining us.
47:16Nalini continues to be with us
47:18as well.
47:19Also,
47:20Srishti Oja
47:20is getting in more details.
47:22Srishti was in court
47:23when that matter
47:24was being heard.
47:25The court today,
47:26Srishti upholding
47:27the legality
47:27of in-house probe
47:29in the case
47:29and dismissing the plea,
47:31the petition
47:31of Justice Verma.
47:33Even as we saw
47:37throughout the hearing
47:38of this particular case,
47:39the Supreme Court
47:40time and again
47:40during the hearing
47:41also pointed out
47:42that the entire
47:43in-house procedure
47:44has been upheld
47:46even by multiple
47:47previous judgments.
47:49And if Justice Verma
47:49is questioning
47:50the very procedure,
47:52in a way,
47:52he's also questioning,
47:53seeking review
47:54of those judgments.
47:56Another important question
47:57that was pointed out
47:58was also that
47:59why did Justice Verma
48:00not appear before,
48:01not challenge
48:02the entire procedure
48:03earlier,
48:05considering he thought
48:06the entire procedure
48:06was unconstitutional?
48:09And why did he appear
48:10before the committee
48:10in the first place?
48:11So,
48:12the observations
48:14that have come in
48:14from the court
48:15and the judgment
48:16that has come in
48:17from the court
48:17is very much
48:18keeping in line
48:19with all the observations
48:20that were made
48:20by the top court
48:21during the hearing
48:21as well.
48:22They've clearly said
48:23firstly,
48:23the in-house inquiry
48:24procedure
48:25has legal sanctioned.
48:27It is not
48:27a parallel procedure.
48:29So,
48:29they've clearly
48:30set aside
48:30that argument
48:31put forth
48:31by Justice Verma's
48:33legal team.
48:33Secondly,
48:34as far as the procedure
48:35followed by the committee
48:36and the CJ
48:37in this particular case
48:38is concerned,
48:39the court has clearly
48:39said the Chief Justice
48:40of India
48:41and the in-house committee
48:42that was constituted
48:43by him
48:43scrufflessly followed
48:45the entire procedure
48:46except to one aspect.
48:47One aspect
48:48that the top court
48:48has flagged
48:49that should not
48:49have been done
48:50is the uploading
48:51of the footage
48:52on the Supreme Court
48:53website.
48:54However,
48:55even as far as
48:56that aspect is concerned,
48:57the court has said
48:58that even on the aspect
48:59of uploading of footage,
49:01nothing really turns on
49:02since Justice Verma
49:04did not come
49:05at that point
49:07and challenge
49:08the uploading
49:08of the video
49:09and also the fact
49:11that he's not
49:11sought any particular
49:12relief with regard
49:14to the footage
49:15upload in this
49:16particular case.
49:17Not just that,
49:18we've also seen
49:18the top court
49:19say that CGI
49:21not giving
49:22an opportunity
49:23to Justice
49:23Yashwant Varma
49:24for a hearing
49:25was not a requirement
49:26of the in-house
49:27inquiry procedure.
49:29Remember,
49:29Justice Verma's
49:30counsels
49:31during the hearing
49:32had said
49:33that there's been
49:35violation of principles
49:36of natural justice
49:37as well
49:37because Justice Verma
49:38had on multiple
49:39occasions
49:40sought an opportunity
49:41to get a hearing
49:43by the then CGI
49:46Sanjeev Khanna
49:47but was denied.
49:48He also gave
49:48an example
49:49of a similar
49:50case in the past
49:52when a high court
49:52judge was given
49:53three opportunities
49:54by the CGI
49:55to appear before
49:56the CGI.
49:57However,
49:58the court has
49:58now said
49:59that just because
50:00a special consideration
50:01was given
50:02by a CGI
50:03once does not
50:03mean that
50:04that can be
50:04claimed as a
50:05matter of right
50:06and it isn't
50:07exactly a part
50:08of the in-house
50:09inquiry procedure
50:10that Justice Verma
50:13can claim it
50:14as a matter of right.
50:15You know,
50:15we'll continue to get
50:16more details
50:17for our viewers.
50:18Be with us.
50:18I'm just going to ask
50:19you to continue
50:20to be with us.
50:20Shresti Hoja
50:21getting into those details.
50:22Nalini also telling us
50:23about the court
50:24rejecting Judge Verma's
50:25no opportunity
50:26charge as well
50:27and his plea
50:28as well
50:29that stands
50:30rejected.