- 8 months ago
The big talking points of this episode of News Today are the mega showdown over the Epstein files between Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and the Bangladesh elections.
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00:00Good evening, hello and welcome. You're with the news today, your prime time destination news,
00:05newsmakers, talking points. It's Thursday night and this is where you'll get all the day's big
00:10stories on the news today. Our big questions, the Epstein files, we are putting our focus on it.
00:17Is it a can of worms? Can a relationship with a convicted sexual offender be seen as professional?
00:25Has union minister Hadi Puri become an embarrassment for the Modi government and is Rahul Gandhi justified
00:32in raising the Epstein files issue? That's going to be our top focus. Also, who is winning the
00:38Bangladesh elections that have just concluded? Counting has begun. We'll have a right report
00:45from the ground. Plenty to look forward to. But first, as always, it's time for the nine headlines at nine.
00:52Amidst opposition, heat over email exchanges with Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted child sexual
01:00offender. Union minister Harti Puri tells India today that he was ambushed into meeting Epstein,
01:07knew he was controversial, but not about his conviction.
01:11EJP's Nishikan Dube brings a substantive motion against Rahul Gandhi demanding his expulsion from
01:21parliament and a ban on fighting polls. Congress says government running scared of their leader.
01:28Rahul Gandhi says he will continue to fight against the Indo-US deal, which he says is selling
01:34the interests of the Indian farmer. Hours after an arrest, court grants bail to Kanpur VVIP brat
01:46Shivam Mishra, asks him to cooperate with cops. Court cites serious procedural lapses by the police
01:53in the case involving a Lamborghini crash. Government approved the procurement of 114 Rafale fighter jets.
02:04Under the plan, 18 jets will be delivered in flyaway condition. The remaining 96 will be assembled in India.
02:11As voting ends, counting begins in Bangladesh. Early trends show Tariq Rahman's BNP taking a lead
02:21against an 11-party alliance led by the Jamaat-e-Islami. Ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina calls the elections a pass.
02:32Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan reportedly has lost 85% vision in his right eye.
02:40Pakistan Supreme Court orders a medical examination of his eyes. Imran Khan's family accuses Prime Minister
02:46Shehbaz Army Chief Munir of deliberate denial of proper treatment.
02:54A 25-year-old nurse who tested positive for Nipah virus a month ago passes away today due to cardiac
03:01arrest in West Bengal. She was put on a ventilator yesterday.
03:05Confusion grows after an Italian newspaper report claims Air India crash was caused not by a technical
03:14failure but by an alleged intentional act. AIB calls the report's speculatives as investigation not over.
03:26And doubts over star batter Abhishek Sharma's participation against Pakistan in the key game
03:32after he's ruled out versus Namibia due to illness.
03:35BCCI's medical team closely monitoring his progress.
03:39But our top story tonight. A day after Rahul Gandhi, the Congress leader launched his most fierce attack
03:55against the Modi government, accusing it of surrendering on the Indo-US trade deal and also
04:00bringing in the Epstein files. Ani Lambani and Union Minister Hardi Puri in his address, the BJP has hit back.
04:09Its MP Nishikan Dubey has moved a motion in the Lok Sabha that calls for Rahul Gandhi's expulsion
04:17and a ban on his participation of polls. An unfazed Rahul Gandhi though says that he will continue to fight,
04:25he says, against the Indo-US deal, even as a section of the Congress wants the resignation of Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri
04:33who they accuse of links with the disgraced sexual offender convicted Jeffrey Epstein.
04:41It's now Rahul Gandhi versus the BJP, this time on the Indo-US trade deal and also on the Epstein files.
04:50Today we'll look at those files closely, but first, take a look at our top story.
05:02Rahul Gandhi's speech during the debate on Union Budget has left the Treasury benches fuming.
05:11Large parts of his speech stand expunged.
05:14These include his references to Union Minister Hardi Puri and industrialist Ani Lambani,
05:27whose names are mentioned in the material linked to Jeffrey Epstein, released by the U.S. Department of Justice.
05:34Hardi Puri has rejected charges of direct ties to Epstein.
05:38The minister admitted meeting Epstein three or four times in eight years after he retired from diplomatic service
05:46and was working for the International Peace Institute.
05:48My boss in the IPI, Mr. Terrier Rod Larson, was the person who knew this particular infamous person,
06:01Mr. Epstein, as part of a delegation of the IPI or the ICM that I met Mr. Epstein on a few occasions,
06:12three or maximum four, in eight years, there are two references or one email.
06:21I meet Mr. Reid Hoffman of LinkedIn and after the meeting with Reid Hoffman, I send a message.
06:29The opposition is busy punching holes in Hardi Puri's defence.
06:35They point to the mail trail between Hardi Puri, Epstein and LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman
06:41to allege the former diplomat was closely linked to Epstein.
06:45According to the mails released, on September 24, 2014, Epstein wrote to Hoffman introducing Hardi Puri.
06:53The next day, Hoffman replies and Puri tries to set up a meeting with Hoffman.
06:59On October 4, Hardi Puri in his mail tells Epstein he's meeting Hoffman later in the day
07:05and Epstein gives his tips for making a pitch.
07:10On October 5, Hardi Puri offers to brief Epstein about his meeting with Hoffman
07:15and they agree to meet on October 10th.
07:21Epstein, which is the point of which, which is the point of Reid Hoffman,
07:25who are LinkedIn co-founder and the co-founder of India's war plan.
07:28They were all about Hardi Puri in which capacity and capacity were all about?
07:33Hardi Puri was the time of a retired diplomat.
07:35The government was closed to the embassy of the government.
07:38The government was there.
07:39The government was not there.
07:40The government was here.
07:41In parliament, the BJP has launched a counter-attack.
07:51While the party did not move a privileged notice, its MP Nishikan Dubey is moving a substantive motion seeking action against Rahul Gandhi.
08:11They go to Vietnam, go to U.S. and live with their own powers, who are with their own powers, who are with their own powers and who are with their own powers.
08:21Yesterday, what was the code word?
08:23Authenticate.
08:25Authenticate was yesterday. Today is what?
08:27Today is your own.
08:29My hand teacher...
08:31It's a ruling privileging motion today.
08:33American financer and child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was convicted in 2008 and he served time for more than a year.
08:43He died allegedly by suicide while awaiting trial in a federal case in 2019.
08:50Six years later, the Epstein files are shaking our politics in India.
08:55Bureau Report, India Today.
08:57And today in an exclusive interview to India Today's Maria Shaqeel,
09:05Hardy Puri insisted that he had been ambushed into meeting Epstein and he had conducted no criminal misconduct
09:12and he was not aware of the full gravity of the crimes of Epstein when he met him in 2014.
09:19Listen in.
09:20But Mr. Puri, in 2008, Jeffrey Epstein had already been convicted of his offense as a sexual offense.
09:35Whoever is doing your research for you...
09:37And you meet him in 2014.
09:38Whoever is doing your research for you...
09:39Let me tell you.
09:40Whoever is doing your research for you, tell him to find out.
09:43In 2008, how many people knew about it?
09:47I didn't know him in 2008.
09:48I didn't meet him in 2008.
09:49I am again telling you something.
09:51He was part of something in the Florida state, okay?
09:57Where there was a charge for which he got a house sentence, etc.
10:01But, oh, I can tell you, I didn't know him in 2008.
10:03I didn't meet him in 2009.
10:05When I first met him in the year of the Lord, I think 2013, and I've put it on record,
10:12I was ambushed into taking... going for a meeting with him along with half a dozen others.
10:18And then...
10:19He had served 18 months in jail.
10:20No, first of all, first of all, I don't know why you're fixated on your 18 months in jail.
10:25It was a... whatever it is.
10:26I condemn that.
10:27But point is, did everybody know about it?
10:29Did you know the kind of people I was meeting?
10:31He was sending an email to the White House, General Counsel, saying, you know, tell porters to come for this meeting.
10:39There are a lot of important people here.
10:41Was he meeting important people or not?
10:43I'm not important.
10:44But I'm just one of the people.
10:45I used to meet 900 people in a year when I was ambassador or I met later.
10:50So, please, I think it is also good for you to get a perspective that when I met him,
10:56I did not meet him because I wanted to meet him.
10:59And you know, by the way, the second email says, he's telling Terry Aron Larson,
11:02the president of the IPI, who was famous for the Oslo Accords.
11:06He's telling him, two-faced, question mark.
11:09And that guy says, if you meet an Indian and a snake, kill the Indian first.
11:13So, that is my association.
11:15So, let's raise the big questions tonight.
11:18Are the Epstein files a can of worms?
11:21Can a relationship with a convicted sexual offender be seen as purely professional?
11:28Has Hardeep Puri become an embarrassment for the Modi government?
11:32Or is Rahul Gandhi guilty of a smear campaign against Union Minister Hardeep Puri?
11:39The Epstein files are focused.
11:41Joining me now on our face-off, Nasir Hussain, Senior Congress Rajya Sabha MP,
11:46and Aparajita Sarangi, two-time BJP MP from the Lok Sabha.
11:51Appreciate both of you joining us.
11:53Aparajita Sarangi, to you first.
11:55That question straight direct.
11:57Hardeep Puri's email exchanges with Jeffrey Epstein, someone who was a convicted sexual offender.
12:06Are they assuming the proportion of an embarrassment for the Modi government?
12:12Or do you believe this is simply a smear campaign that you can ignore?
12:18A very good evening.
12:23You have said what I wanted to say at the end.
12:27This is all politically motivated and Shri Hardeep Puri, we must remember, is a career diplomat turned politician.
12:37He has huge number of years in his kitty, plethora of experience in the administration side.
12:47And now, of course, he has been the minister for quite some time and he knows how to frame policies at the national level.
12:53So, he is a very mature diplomat turned politician.
12:57And when he says that there was some kind of professional talking three or four times with them,
13:05I think we should believe, we should trust him.
13:08You know, I mean, we should not be so...
13:11No, but why should we trust him? No, no, ma'am, why should we trust...
13:14No, no, you're saying we should trust him because, ma'am, ma'am, just a minute.
13:18Ma'am, you're saying we should trust him because he's a career diplomat who's been involved.
13:23Okay, fair enough.
13:24But just look at some of the email exchanges.
13:27They're very direct.
13:28One of them, Mr. Puri praises Epstein's taste in people.
13:32He also refers to the exotic island where, remember, the belief is that's where many of these offenses took place.
13:39The fact is, Hardeep Singh Puri today says, I had no idea who...
13:45Of Jeffrey Epstein's being convicted, I only knew he was controversial.
13:49That cannot be a defense.
13:51It reflects poor judgment at the very least.
13:54So, I ask you again, is he an embarrassment for your government because of these email exchanges
14:00that seem to go beyond the professional and seem to talk of a very personal equation that he was attempting to build up with Epstein?
14:08And why?
14:09Why should he be building up this equation with Jeffrey Epstein in the first place?
14:15See, it is always very easy to talk about anything because, you know, you want to be in the newsprint.
14:27Now, here, there is a very senior, very erudite, very experienced politician, the minister who has been there for quite some time,
14:39holding press conferences and saying under what circumstances he met him.
14:44So, under these, I think, in this kind of situation, I think it's always very important that we look into the issues and trust him.
14:52Now, let me tell you that he was part of the International Peace Institute, a New York-based think tank,
15:00and it was a professional exchange that took place, and he himself says, not three, but four times.
15:07See, if somebody who would have had some kind of hanky-panky or something, you know, something to hide,
15:15would not come out and say, no, I have met him three and four times.
15:18I mean, I really like the way he handled the press conference, or rather, he conducted the press conference from his own side.
15:25So, he's definitely an asset for the government and not a liability, not an embarrassment at all.
15:30And, as far as Rahul Gandhiji is concerned, he did raise this issue even on the floor of the house in the Lok Saban,
15:38where he did so, I was very much present there.
15:40See, the point remains that Rahul Gandhiji is habitual offender, if I can say so, 110 CRPC.
15:50I don't desist from saying this, because, you know, he loves to indulge in baseless criticism.
15:57He never actually, you know, substantiates his claims, whatever he has been saying.
16:03He talked about Pegasus. You know what happened about Pegasus.
16:06He talked about the Rafale deal, and about Rafale deal, we are aware of the fact that he got reprimanded by the Supreme Court.
16:14He talked about the China border issue, that, you know, we have surrendered to China, our territories have gone, and ultimately, not an inch was lost.
16:22Even Narwani has said that, the army chief.
16:25So, I think Rahul Gandhiji, being a habitual offender, would be doing this, because he wants to remain relevant.
16:31And, we are well aware of the fact that Congress never performed so badly in the last 140 years.
16:40When Rahul Gandhiji has been the LOP, and he has been kind of indirectly holding the wings of the Congress, we know what's happening to the Congress.
16:49So, he indulges in this kind of talks. We need to ignore all these statements.
16:55You're saying he's indulging, ma'am, you're saying he's indulging in sensationalism to remain relevant.
17:01I want to still focus on the facts.
17:03Hardeep Singh Puri refers to Jeffrey Epstein as my friend in an October 4, 2014 email.
17:10He seeks his advice on meeting with Reid Hoffman of LinkedIn.
17:14You have to tell me, how do you explain this level of familiarity with a convicted sex offender, and what is the specific advice that Hardeep Puri should seek that couldn't come from legitimate diplomatic channels?
17:27That's the question.
17:28The question is, at the end of the day, Hardeep Singh Puri, in these emails, comes across as someone who is trying to woo Jeffrey Epstein, and through him, get to Reid Hoffman.
17:41Why should he be doing any of this? And all these years later, across many countries, all those associated with Jeffrey Epstein are finding themselves in the line of fire.
17:53Why should Hardeep Singh Puri not be able to provide more specific answers?
17:58Mr. Puri has repeatedly said that his interactions with Epstein were professional and limited, and these took place decades ago when he was a diplomat, and had nothing to do with Epstein's criminal conduct.
18:16Now, being a diplomat, being a foreign service officer, you as part of a particular organization, you get in touch with so many number of people.
18:28One does not have to do anything with the antecedents of a person concerned.
18:32And you know, you meet at different levels, you talk about different things.
18:35You don't call them your friend.
18:36This doesn't mean that there is any kind of, I would say, criminality to be attached to it.
18:41I don't think this is absolutely having any kind of substance.
18:46And Rahul Gandhiji is a past master in the art of scooting and running away.
18:53He is a hit-and-run master, and this is what we call him.
18:59The parliament now is not in session for a couple of days.
19:04You will see, I'm telling you, in a day or two, he will just be flying to some other country.
19:08He will not be in India.
19:10So again, he will come back around 8th March, 9th March, when we start the discussion.
19:14Okay, this debate though...
19:15He will again create a flutter with some statement, some flex.
19:18Yeah.
19:19Yeah.
19:20Please continue.
19:22Okay.
19:23You know, you're...
19:24I'm asking you questions more on Hadi Puri.
19:26You're switching it to Rahul Gandhi.
19:28Let me take those answers, though, that you've given to Nasir Hussain.
19:32You've heard what Aparajita Sarangi is saying.
19:34Rahul Gandhi has talked about this.
19:35She's saying that Rahul Gandhi is running a smear campaign.
19:38Hit-and-run campaign that Rahul Gandhi is trying to create a perception through innuendo
19:45that Hardeep Singh Puri had something to hide.
19:48The truth of the matter is that there is no evidence of criminal misconduct,
19:53if I may say so, on the part of Hardeep Singh Puri.
19:56It's not that he's gone on the so-called exotic island of Jeffrey Epstein.
20:01He's having conversations with him.
20:03Yes, he's calling him my friend.
20:05Yes, he's seeking his advice.
20:06But the truth of the matter is, where is the evidence of criminal misconduct
20:11and is what Aparajita Sarangi is saying, Rahul Gandhi is engaging in a smear campaign.
20:16Your response.
20:17Rajdeep, I think instead of answering the questions you posed to the BJP spokesperson,
20:27she was speaking and diverting the issue and she was all about like Rahul Gandhi hit-and-run.
20:34Rahul Gandhi is hitting them in every session and the people actually who are running are
20:40Bharatiya Janta Party.
20:41And in this session, it was not only Bharatiya Janta Party MPs, but also the Prime Minister
20:47himself who ran away from Lok Sabha without replying to the House on the motion of thanks
20:54from the President's address.
20:57She mentioned Pegasus, Rafael, and I would also like to add Hindenburg.
21:01I would like to also add Panama files, I would like to also add Chinese scuffles that is happening
21:10on the border and Chinese taking over lots of land, etc., etc. and so on.
21:14The moot question is, we are an opposition party.
21:17When there is an issue, when there is something in the public domain, when there are some revelations
21:23happening across the world concerning our polity, our economy, our country, it is the duty of
21:28the opposition party, parties or opposition MPs to raise the issue when they are in session.
21:35So Rahul Gandhi, well within its rights, as the leader of opposition now, earlier as the
21:42MP from the opposition party and leader of opposition party.
21:46He can raise issues, Mr. Nasser Hussain.
21:48He raised several issues.
21:49No, no, he can raise issues.
21:51He has every right to raise issues, Mr. Hussain.
21:56But when you link it to US trade deal, when you link it to Narendra Modi, when you suggest
22:00there is criminal misconduct, that the Prime Minister is under a chokehold from the Americans,
22:07then you are asking people to make a leap of belief in what Rahul Gandhi is saying is
22:14the truth.
22:15I can only go by what the Epstein files show.
22:17Epstein files show, Hardeep Singh Puri on a few occasions was in touch with Jeffrey Epstein.
22:22You could call it error of judgment.
22:25The BJP is saying, where is the criminal misconduct that Rahul Gandhi seems to allege?
22:32No, Radeep, the whole problem with the Bharti Janta Party, they don't want to discuss any
22:38issues that are raised by the opposition.
22:41Was there a discussion on Pegasus?
22:43Was there a discussion on Rafale?
22:45Was there a discussion on Hindenburg files?
22:47Was there a discussion on Chinese aggression?
22:49Was there a discussion on Panama files?
22:51Was there any discussion?
22:52Was there any discussion?
22:53See, why is the government scared of discussion?
22:57When the opposition poses questions, raises issues, they have to be ready for discussion.
23:03The problem with the BJP spokesperson is they want to brand Rahul Gandhi as someone who
23:10does a guerrilla warfare, comes, attacks and run away.
23:13That is not the issue.
23:14He is there.
23:15He wants a discussion.
23:16Opposition wants a discussion.
23:18It is not just Rahul Gandhi.
23:19The entire opposition is asking for a discussion.
23:22So now, in the trade deal, when the entire country is on a back foot, we all know how
23:29it will impact our farmers.
23:30We all know how it will impact our economy.
23:33We all know how the US president is dictating terms.
23:36He is telling us that we can't buy cheap oil from Russia.
23:39He is telling, in the future he will tell you can't buy oil from Iran, from other Gulf countries,
23:44from other countries.
23:45We'll have to buy only from Venezuela.
23:47When he is putting up tweets, on his tweets we are getting to know when the parliament is
23:51in session, it is the duty of the government to inform the parliament as to what is happening
23:56with the trade deal.
23:57Instead of that, we get to know from the US president's tweet.
24:00Can I bring you back?
24:01And now, when the trade and commerce has been made a statement.
24:04Can I bring you back to the Epstein files?
24:06I want to.
24:07Just one second.
24:08We wanted.
24:09Rajiv, Rajiv.
24:10Rajiv, just one second.
24:12We wanted clarification on the trade deal.
24:14Nothing has happened.
24:16Rajiv want to know why is this government bending, kneeling, succumbing to the dictates of the
24:32US president and signing such an important trade deal.
24:36You made that point.
24:37I want to know ... 15 Sir, my discussion is on the Epstein files, not on the US-India trade
24:38deal.
24:39Rahul Gandhi and your other leaders like Pawan Khera are suggesting that Hardeep Puri has something
24:41Puri has something to hide, that Hardy Puri, according to Pawan Khera, his continuance
24:47in office is untenable because of his email exchanges with Jeffrey Epstein.
24:53That's the point I want to clear answer.
24:56Why is the Congress saying that Hardy Puri should resign?
24:59See, see, see, I'll tell you something, Rajiv, when certain, see, these revelations that
25:08are coming from different parts of the world on different issues, they are not something
25:13with the Congress party has gone and dug.
25:15We are not digging into something and bringing out.
25:18This is something which has come in the normal course or through revelation through some other
25:23sources and which is there in public domain.
25:25When they are there in public domain, it is the duty of the opposition party to raise the
25:29issue, as simple as that.
25:31And the party that is there in power is to defend themselves.
25:33That can only happen when they allow a discussion.
25:36And who is not allowing a discussion?
25:37It is the government that is not allowing the discussion.
25:39Can I, can I, can I take this point?
25:41It is as simple as that.
25:42I, I've taken your point, sir, I have taken your, I have taken your point.
25:46Let me take that to Aparajita Sarangi.
25:48Yeah, Aparajita Sarangi, the point that is being made by, by the Congress MPs, you don't
25:53want a discussion.
25:54You don't want a discussion on Rafael.
25:56You didn't want a discussion on Chinese incursions.
26:00You didn't want a discussion for the longest time on COVID.
26:03Anything that is seen to embarrass the government, you don't want a discussion.
26:06And then you say, we are going to file a privilege motion.
26:08The truth is, you ask Rahul Gandhi to authenticate the charges.
26:12Rahul Gandhi is putting forward the Department of Justice report on the US Department of Justice
26:18on Epstein.
26:19In that report, Anil Ambani is seen to be virtually again influence peddling, almost seeking appointments
26:26through Epstein for Delhi's leadership.
26:28Hardeep Puri is seemingly in some kind of a relationship to, is trying to get Jeffrey Epstein
26:37to get him appointments or get Reid Hoffman through Jeffrey Epstein to come to India.
26:42Now, is Rahul Gandhi not entitled to ask questions on it in Parliament?
26:47The moment he asks questions, the BJP seems to, he seems to get under your skin.
26:58My esteemed colleague from the Congress was deviating from the topic today.
27:04He was beating around the bush because he knows he doesn't have answer to your questions.
27:11He has absolutely no evidence, no substance to actually, you know, kind of qualify whatever
27:20Rahul Gandhi has been saying about Epstein files about Hardeep Puri ji.
27:24Now, as far as Hardeep Puri ji is concerned, he called a press conference and he has said
27:30very candidly that when he was a diplomat, he had certain number of exchanges, not three,
27:37but four times, and he had nothing to do with Epstein's criminal conduct.
27:42Now, having heard from him and government of India supporting him in this matter, saying
27:50Emails are contradicting Hardeep Singh Puri claimed, ma'am, just a minute, ma'am, just a minute.
27:56Hardeep Singh Puri in that press conference claimed of meeting Epstein as part of a delegation
28:01from the IPI.
28:03However, emails show him having one-on-one meetings at Epstein's residence, February 2015,
28:09January 2016, May 2017, June 2017, including requests to drop by for a chat and deliver a book.
28:16Now, this seems to me to be a relationship that is not strictly professional.
28:22And this is therefore a relationship with a convicted sexual offender that your union minister was in.
28:28How can you not, how can you just brush it aside?
28:31You're a woman, you can't casually just brush it aside.
28:34You just said, seems to me.
28:40Now, seems to me is not the answer, Rajdeep.
28:44Pegasus also, they tried to convince the entire world they failed.
28:47And, you know, we don't have to have discussion.
28:49The Supreme Court reprimanded them.
28:51In Rafale, the same thing happened.
28:53China bought an issue, same thing happens.
28:55So, my point is that here there is no evidence, no substantive evidence.
29:00And as far as this particular person is concerned, Epstein is concerned,
29:05Sri Hardipuriji actually does not want to get into it because he says he was a diplomat.
29:11And as a diplomat, you meet hundreds and thousands of people.
29:15And you don't check the antecedent of every person.
29:18You don't do one-on-one meetings, ma'am, with convicted sexual offenders.
29:22I'm sorry.
29:23Diplomats don't do one-on-one meetings with convicted sexual offenders and call them my dear friend.
29:31And as far as...
29:32Okay.
29:33Okay.
29:34I want to give a final word to you.
29:36I want to give a final word here to...
29:38Sound and fury is signifying nothing.
29:43Okay.
29:44Let me bring in, therefore, one last time, Nasir Hussain.
29:47And Nasir Hussain, sound and fury signifying nothing.
29:51Parliament session gets over.
29:52Rahul Gandhi will forget about it.
29:54The Congress will also move on to the next issue.
29:57And the issue will be forgotten.
29:59Are you all serious about raising these issues in and outside parliament?
30:04Or is it spit and run politics?
30:06Final answer.
30:07Do you want Hardy Puri to step aside?
30:10Can India investigate Epstein files?
30:13That's already being done in the United States.
30:17Rajdeep, again, I'll stick on to my stand.
30:24Our BJP spokesperson was again and again mentioning Rahul Gandhi, calling him names, saying that he doesn't have a right to raise issues.
30:32If somebody is well-versed with parliamentary democracy, it is very clear the leaders of the opposition, MPs from the opposition, it is their right to raise issues in the parliament.
30:43And those issues are not something which they have created or dug up from somewhere.
30:48These are the issues which have been revealed by somewhere.
30:51All these are the issues that have been there in public domain.
30:55And she was mentioning about courts.
30:57That means the BJP spokesperson and the BJP thinks that parliament is not the right place to discuss issues concerning the security of the nation.
31:06And the courts will have to deal with it.
31:08And in number of the cases she mentioned, Congress had gone to court.
31:11Somebody must have gone to the court.
31:12Congress wants to debate and discuss these important issues in the parliament.
31:17We will continue to do so.
31:19Rahul Gandhi ji will continue to do so.
31:22And Rahul Gandhi ji will continue to raise the issues in the parliament.
31:24I want to speak for 30 seconds.
31:26Thank you so much.
31:27Okay.
31:28Yes, yes.
31:29Take your 30 seconds, Aparijita.
31:31Quickly.
31:3130 seconds.
31:32Yes.
31:33See, there was budget session and number of hours had been earmarked to talk about the budget.
31:41He talked about everything except the budget.
31:43This is one part.
31:44He did not even know what were the components of the budget, what were the countenance of the budget.
31:48We had 18 hours earmarked for motion of thanks on presidential address.
31:53He chose to talk about something else in Indochina and a particular unpublishment.
31:57Then I come in, Rajiv, for 10 seconds.
31:58Now, here, in the statements of Rahul Gandhi, there is no consistency, no conviction.
32:05And as far as this particular issue is concerned, no evidence and no substance.
32:09Ma'am, you made that point earlier.
32:12You made that point earlier.
32:14Last 10, let me give the same 30 seconds now to Nasir Hussain.
32:17I want to say emphatically that we really need to stop this.
32:22No, no, ma'am, you made your point.
32:24Let him have his 30 seconds.
32:25Your 30 seconds are up.
32:26Rajiv, the point is very clear.
32:31During the discussion on the president's speech, anybody can raise any issue that has been raised by the president.
32:38There, we tried raising issues.
32:40The party that is there in power ran away from discussion, including the prime minister, didn't answer to any of the questions that were raised there.
32:48Point number one.
32:49Point number two, the India-US trade deal is something to do with economy.
32:54Budget is something to do with the economy.
32:56The budget, just one second.
32:58Budget is something to do with the economy.
33:01And when there is a hidden agenda and the government of the day surrenders, kneels and succumbs to a foreign power and signs some deal, which is not in the interest of our economy, then we will have to raise it.
33:13Thank you so much.
33:16Okay.
33:17Nasir Hussain, Aparjita Sarangi for joining me on the debate.
33:22I appreciate you joining me.
33:24Thanks very much.
33:32Okay, let's turn to the story that's breaking this evening.
33:35Voting has finally ended in the crucial Bangladesh elections that are underway.
33:41And Tariq Rahman, the son of the late Begum Zia and the Bangladesh National Party are leading in the early polls as predicted.
33:51Bangladesh polls early results showing, leads showing Tariq Rahman's Bangladesh National Party leading.
33:58Bangladesh's High Commissioner has said that voter turnout likely to be over 60%.
34:03Majority have voted in favor of the referendum.
34:06More than 7.5 crores have voted in this election.
34:10Indrajit Kundu is our man on the spot in Dhaka.
34:13Indrajit, have the polling day gone on mostly peacefully or have there been stray instances of violence?
34:20Well, it's been mostly peaceful.
34:25There has been one reported death of a BNP leader in Pulna and sporadic incidents of scuffle and violence.
34:32But given the context of Bangladesh elections and what we've seen in recent elections,
34:36this has been primarily a very, very peaceful election.
34:40And the kind of scenes that we've witnessed all across Dhaka the entire day,
34:46there was a sense of jubilation, there was a sense of relief,
34:49and people really came out in large numbers, cutting across, you know, social strata, men, women, you know, the youth.
34:57Large participation.
34:58There were massive, massive queues at several of these polling stations.
35:02In fact, even though polling ended 4.30 p.m. Bangladesh time,
35:06there were a lot of people who were waiting at these polling centers,
35:09and the National Commission did ensure that they were able to carve their vote,
35:14and only then the counting process has begun.
35:16As you just said, the BNP, of course, is claiming that they are en route to victory.
35:20The Jamaat-e-Islami is also claiming the same.
35:22But what we've learned from sources, even though these are very initial trends,
35:26and, you know, paper ballot has been counted,
35:28so flow process, overnight counting would be on.
35:31But Tariq Rahman is leading, is what we are told, from his own seat.
35:35And the BNP also says, through their BNP sources,
35:38that they are, you know, leading this entire election.
35:43Okay, Indrajeet Kundu, with those details joining us from Dhaka,
35:48we'll get more updates from you.
35:50Now, I want to understand the significance of these Bangladesh polls.
35:53Joining me now, Shafkat Rabhi, political columnist,
35:56founder of Centrist Nation, joins me from Dhaka.
35:59Subir Bhaumik, veteran journalist and author who's tracked Bangladesh for years, joins me.
36:03I appreciate both of you joining us.
36:05Subir, to you first.
36:07Do you believe that this is a watershed election in Bangladesh,
36:11or is it, as Sheikh Hasina has called it, a farce,
36:14because the Awami League is not participating in the election?
36:17When your major party doesn't participate, can the elections truly be called free and fair?
36:24Well, I'll make three points here.
36:27Number one, the authority holding this election, interim government.
36:32Yeah?
36:33There is no place for an interim government in the Bangladesh constitution as of now.
36:37Secondly, this election is tagged along with a referendum.
36:42There is no provision in the existing Bangladesh constitution for a referendum.
36:49Now, the subject of the referendum is to pave the way for a new constitution,
36:54but at the moment, Bangladesh is supposed to be functioning on the basis of an existing constitution,
37:01which is the 1972 constitution.
37:03There is absolutely no provision either for a referendum or for an interim authority in the constitution.
37:10So, therefore, there is obviously a question, a serious question of legality about both the authority conducting the election
37:18and also the way it is conducted, which means tagging an election along with a referendum.
37:24Bangladesh has had a referendum before, but never tagged with an election.
37:27Also, if you look at the whole paper of, you know, on which people are supposed to excise their opinion in the referendum,
37:35I mean, it's too long.
37:37The referendum is usually a yes and no thing.
37:39Here, the thing is usually, you know, it's a long thing and it's very confusing.
37:44These are two.
37:45Secondly, can you say there is election...
37:48Let me just explain to our viewers, just a minute.
37:52Can you say election in India is inclusive if Congress is not a part of it?
37:57Can you say the election in U.S. is inclusive if the Democrats are not part of it?
38:03So, without Aumili, let's face fact, Aumili is not some Nizamat or Khilafat.
38:08Aumili is a party which has ruled Bangladesh for half of its post-independence history.
38:14It's the party which led the liberation war.
38:16It's a party which commands easily 35 to 40 percent of the popular vote.
38:20You keep it out of the election and you pretend it's an inclusive election, it's a joke.
38:25It's an absolute joke.
38:30Okay, just to explain, the election, this referendum that Shubir spoke about is the July National Charter 2025,
38:38document drafted by the interim government under Mohammed Yunus,
38:42proposing constitutional reforms like term limits for Prime Minister,
38:46two-chamber parliament focus on Bangladeshi identity.
38:48I want to bring in Shafkat Rabi.
38:50Shafkat Rabi, you're saying, you're hearing Shubir Bhavmi calling the election a joke
38:55because Avami leak is not participating.
38:58How do you see it?
38:59Do you see this as a watershed election?
39:01Yeah, you're on mute, Mr. Rabi, you're on mute.
39:15Okay, sorry.
39:16Thanks for being into your show.
39:18Yeah, can you hear me now?
39:20Is that good now?
39:22Can you hear me?
39:24Yeah.
39:24Okay.
39:24All right.
39:26So I was about to say, okay, great.
39:29So the election and the government is not illegal because the Yunus government has a Supreme Court ruling at the beginning of its formation.
39:40So it is not illegal, number one.
39:42Number two, the gentleman brought up the example of Congress not being in the election or Republican Party not in the election.
39:49Unfortunately, neither Congress nor the Republican Party ever fled from a country.
39:54So that's the statistics you also need to consider when you are making those statements.
39:59And thirdly, when 60% of the population shows up for an election, jubilantly, just like the way your reporter was saying, with festivity, takes part in an election.
40:13An election is not devoid of people.
40:15You can see the people on the street.
40:16And there are many polls, polls after polls after polls that were conducted over the last one and a half years.
40:23AOMLIC's popularity is no longer crossing more than 10, 15%.
40:27Even the AOMLICers are actually voting today.
40:30They chose their party, whichever that is.
40:33So we need to take context.
40:35We need to take a background into our consideration when we talk.
40:38But yes, fleeing a country with the entire apparatus is an extraordinary thing that happened to Bangladesh, which AOMLIC did.
40:45And they are all in India, by the way.
40:47So you guys should know better what happened with them.
40:50Can I ask you, Shafkat, Rabi, the rise of the Jamaat-e-Islami and the manner the Jamaat-e-Islami has cobbled together this alliance?
41:01Is this a worry for you or not that you have religious fundamentalist forces who are now trying to occupy the center stage of politics?
41:13Should that worry you or not in Bangladesh?
41:15In a democracy, people should have their views.
41:20Jamaat-e-Islami currently benefiting from the anti-establishment sentiment which AOMLIC left behind.
41:27And this is not an Islamic phenomenon.
41:31It is a political phenomenon that's benefiting Jamaat-e-Islami.
41:35They also took the students, the leaders of the student revolution with them.
41:39And that's what giving them a lot of credibility among the young people, which is about 40% of the population below the age of 35.
41:46So these are the factors that's fueling Jamaat's current electoral viability.
41:54Not to do with religion or other things.
41:57Let me bring you in there for Shubir.
41:58Don't worry about it.
41:59Shubir, this is an election, as is being said, which is an anti-establishment election.
42:05This is an election.
42:06The BNP may well benefit from it.
42:07But the truth of the matter, if the people of Bangladesh wanted an election, possibly minus the Abami League,
42:14because Sheikh Hasina has fled from the country, they're getting an election at the end of the day.
42:19This could well at least mark some kind of a transition to a new government, elected government headed by BNP.
42:26Don't you think that that is a positive sign?
42:31Not at all.
42:32For a very simple reason.
42:34If you are so sure that Abami League is unpopular, Abami League will not get 10% of the popular world,
42:39let it contest the election.
42:41And then let the people of Bangladesh decide who they are voting for.
42:47You know, you keep them out of the election.
42:49What did you say?
42:50Okay, number one.
42:52What did he say?
42:53He said, no, no, I have just not, I'm not allowing their political activity at the moment.
42:59I've not banned the party.
43:00What do you mean?
43:01You don't allow a political party.
43:03Now you tell me that I'm not allowing you to do journalism.
43:06I'm a professional journalist.
43:08What does that mean?
43:09You are not allowing me to do what I'm trying to do.
43:13Here, you are saying that you're not allowing a political party to contest the election and it's not a regular ban.
43:20If you are so damn sure, as the gentleman here said, and I can tell you if Abami League today contests the election, I'll bet my head.
43:28They will not get less than 30% or 35% of the popular vote any time.
43:33Okay, 10, 15%, these are all cook-ups.
43:36The point here is, for very simple reasons.
43:40If you are so sure that Abami League is unpopular, Abami League is dead and gone, let them contest the election.
43:49And this is supposed to be a fair election.
43:51It is held under an authority, which is certainly not pro-arming.
43:54So, where is the fear?
43:58Okay, can I ask my guests?
44:04Can I?
44:05Okay.
44:05No, no, no.
44:06Sir, I've got limited time, Shubin.
44:08We have a longer discussion.
44:11Yes.
44:12No, no.
44:13Yes.
44:13This gentleman talked about the figures.
44:16Until 11 o'clock, only 14% vote had been cast.
44:20Suddenly, at 12 o'clock, the figure goes up to 32%.
44:23This is a manufactured turnout, okay?
44:26And realities will come out.
44:27There are obviously a lot of people there in Bangladesh who have a problem of speaking the truth.
44:32Because our reporters on the ground did see, our reporters on the ground have seen, sir, our reporters on the ground have seen very long queues.
44:41But I want to ask my friend from Bangladesh in conclusion, what would a BNP government mean for India-Bangladesh ties?
44:47Is Tariq Rahman ready?
44:49Just a minute.
44:51Just a minute.
44:52Is Bangladesh...
44:54Okay.
44:55But the end, I will go by my reporter on this, Shubir.
44:59I'm asking my guest from Dhaka, do you believe that if Tariq Rahman wins, the BNP wins, he will try to reset elections with India?
45:06Yes or no?
45:06A quick answer.
45:09Well, no political party in Bangladesh is going to do anything detrimental to the national security of India.
45:17Let that be Jamaat, let that be BNP, let that be the communists.
45:20Nobody.
45:21Okay.
45:21So, you should not worry about that.
45:23Awamilik's biggest friend are these gentlemen.
45:25They are still shouting on TV channels for a party that fled a country.
45:30Anyway, I'm not getting to that.
45:31But yes, both political parties will honor a respectful relationship with India.
45:38Right.
45:42A reciprocal relationship.
45:43We'll have a more detailed discussion once the results...
45:47We'll have a more detailed discussion once the results come out.
45:50But I appreciate my guests joining us on this major election that's taken place in the neighborhood.
45:57Let's turn to tonight's Get Real India story.
46:00The Lamborghini crash in Kanpur that has become much more than a road accident,
46:06but actually offers a mirror to how our system is grossly unequal.
46:11Delayed action by the police in the first case, then procedural lapses,
46:18eventually the swift release of the VVIP brat who allegedly was driving the Lamborghini
46:24when several people were injured.
46:27He gets released on a modest bond.
46:30Questions are now being raised yet again about the influence over the justice system of power and paisa
46:37and how it overshadows questions of guilt.
46:41Take a look at Get Real India.
46:54A supercar crashes.
46:58Six injured, yet the man behind the wheel walks free.
47:01In Kanpur's Lamborghini crash, a troubling perception grows stronger.
47:08When power intervenes, accountability weakens.
47:13Shivam Mishra, accused in the high-profile crash, roams free within hours of his arrest.
47:19Arrested after four days of mounting pressure,
47:21he spends barely six hours in custody before walking out on a personal bond of just 20,000 rupees.
47:30Here is how the farce unfolded.
47:34After his arrest, Mishra undergoes a medical examination and is produced before the court.
47:40In an unusual move, he argues his own case.
47:45The court refuses police remand, directs him to cooperate with the investigation
47:50and raises questions over the notices issued by the police.
47:55What led to the arrest was not surrender,
47:58but surveillance.
48:00What led to the arrest was not surrender, but surveillance.
48:04CCTV footage changed the course of the case.
48:29Two crucial clips tell a damaging story.
48:35Shiva Mishra allegedly behind the wheel
48:37and an apparent attempt to change the Lamborghini's number plate.
48:44Police allege there was an effort to mislead investigators.
48:50A different driver was allegedly presented.
48:53A false affidavit was filed.
48:55The probe was steered off track.
48:59Investigators say Mishra did not cooperate when summoned,
49:04raising serious questions about whether the system was bending to protect
49:08the tobacco baron, KK Mishra's son.
49:13The case also exposes major lapses in the initial investigation.
49:17No immediate alcohol test.
49:20No mention of Mishra's name in the original FIR.
49:23Affidavits claiming a different driver.
49:28Four crucial days lost before action was taken.
49:33While rejecting the application for Srivam's judicial remand,
49:36the Sessions Court pulled up the police.
49:39The court observed that police flouted legal procedure
49:43and the arrest process was marred by major flaws.
49:46The court noted that an arrest without due process is considered unjust.
49:54The court today also raised concerns over the Bosch-Tab investigation by Kanpur police
49:59and called the arrest of Shivam Mishra illegal.
50:02Now it remains to be seen that what action will be taken by Kanpur police
50:05who is already under the scanner for the shady investigation.
50:08With video journalist Shivam Shukla, this is Shavala in Kanpur for India Today.
50:12Yet another case, as we said,
50:16where the criminal justice system of this country has much to answer for.
50:21We'll keep asking the questions
50:23and we'll keep asking the questions of those in power.
50:27Thanks for watching.
50:28Stay well.
50:29Stay safe.
50:30Good night, Shubratri.
50:31Jayind.
50:32Namaskar.
50:32Namaskar.
50:33Namaskar.
50:34Namaskar.
50:35Namaskar.
50:36Namaskar.
50:37Namaskar.
50:38Namaskar.
50:39Namaskar.
50:40Namaskar.
50:41Namaskar.
50:42Namaskar.
50:43Namaskar.
50:44Namaskar.
50:45Namaskar.
50:46Namaskar.
50:47Namaskar.
50:48Namaskar.
50:49Namaskar.
50:50Namaskar.
50:51Namaskar.
50:52Namaskar.
50:53Namaskar.
50:54Namaskar.
50:55Namaskar.
50:56Namaskar.
50:57Namaskar.
50:58Namaskar.
50:59Namaskar.
51:00Namaskar.