- 2 days ago
In this video, anchor Akshita Nandagopal brings you the top political, legislative, corporate and law enforcement developments from across India, from Tamil Nadu’s delimitation resolution and the Parliament chaos to Karnataka’s cabinet portfolios, pilot dope-test failures and a major prison security lapse.
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NewsTranscript
00:03Hello and welcome. Good evening. You're watching Super 6 here on India Today.
00:06I'm Akshita Nandakopal. Over the next one hour, as always, here from India Today's newsrooms,
00:11we're going to get you all of the big headlines and all of the action coming in.
00:16So what's on the show this evening here on Super 6?
00:20We're going to give you a sense of how the delimitation issue was taken up in the Tamil Nadu Assembly
00:25today.
00:26The TVK, essentially seeking to corner the DMK, brought in this resolution on delimitation.
00:31And the DMK backed the resolution. But here's what's interesting.
00:34They've put out a slew of terms and conditions, essentially, saying we're not against delimitation.
00:39We want a fair delimitation. So there's a long list of buts, even as they've said yes to that resolution.
00:46And I'll run you through that list of what circumstances the DMK says could change their stand.
00:51Also coming up on the show here on Super 6, unfortunate events that played out in Parliament.
00:58A Lungiwala taunt was hurled at a South Indian MP.
01:02And this is no laughing matter because you see so much of these stereotypes being normalized on a daily basis.
01:08It's shocking that something like this happened in the House, in the Parliament.
01:11And no, as a South Indian, I can tell you, it's not funny.
01:14We'll get you that sequence and the outrage that peaked in Parliament, particularly South Indian MPs,
01:21who said it's simply not okay to make such comments.
01:24I'll get you all of those details. Here are the headlines first.
01:31Amid deadlock, Home Minister Amit Shah's direct challenge to opposition says,
01:35ready to give a statement, but opposition must let Parliament run.
01:38Rahul says, not interested in Home Minister's lecture and demands now his resignation.
01:48Government's big foreign funding bill climbed down.
01:51FCRA bill sent to JPC amid ruckus in Lok Sabha bows to a heavy pushback and protest from opposition.
01:58Congress, SP, move forward and say we want the withdrawal of the FCRA bill.
02:07Inquiry report against Justice Verma tabled in Lok Sabha impeachment motion likely in winter session.
02:13Justice Verma accused of three charges by panel.
02:15Conspiracy charge debunked.
02:23Vijay moves anti-delimitation resolution in Assembly.
02:26wants permanent freeze on 543 seats, urges all parties to pass resolution.
02:32DNK backs, AIA-DMQ opposes.
02:38Big blackout looms this evening at the Ranchi protest site.
02:42After power cut, now generator also removed.
02:44Power connection cut at students' protest.
02:46Generator removed under pressure of Sorain government.
02:54After failing dope test, Air India, Phuket, Delhi pilots grilled by aviation probe body AI-2379 pilot
03:01attested positive for marijuana.
03:03DGC asked to relook dope test framework.
03:21And we begin with breaking news that's coming in right now on the Karnataka cabinet portfolios
03:27for the last three days here on India Today.
03:29We've covered this issue and every day we've been told today is the day the portfolios will be out.
03:34So guess what? It's finally happened.
03:37The portfolios have been assigned for the ministers and we've got those details on our screens.
03:41Ten days after the cabinet expansion took place.
03:44Ten days after the ministers took oath.
03:46Now they know what their portfolios are.
03:49D.K. Shiv Kumar has retained finance.
03:51I'll just run you through some of the other names here.
03:53Zami Ramad getting the housing portfolio.
03:56Ramalinga ready getting environment.
03:58And Foreign Minister U.T. Khadar is Minority Affairs Minister.
04:01Let me bring in Nanga Jundwarkana for more details on this.
04:04Naga, good evening.
04:05Any big surprises that you see in the list?
04:08Good evening, Akshita.
04:09In fact, Ramalinga ready was unhappy about his irrigation portfolio.
04:12It's gone to Chaluray Swami.
04:14This is a crucial portfolio at least for the next 30 days because of the Kaveri dispute.
04:19Remember, tomorrow is a big Supreme Court case.
04:21And now a new minister takes charge.
04:23Chaluray Swami from Mandia district where Kaveri flows through.
04:26He becomes the irrigation minister.
04:28Santosh Laat keeps labour.
04:30Zami Ramad keeps housing.
04:32And the new entrance, the first-time ministers like Putrang Shetty gets animal husbandry.
04:38Raghumurthy gets tribal.
04:39Ajay Singh gets minor irrigation.
04:42Bal Krishna gets municipal administration.
04:43And these are the new phases that the Congress has inducted.
04:47Tomorrow is the assembly session.
04:48We'll have to wait and see the performance of all these ministers.
04:51But they don't even have time to take charge, go through the ministry or meet the officials.
04:57And to understand the ministry itself, it would take at least 30 days.
05:00So, we'll have to see what answers would they give in tomorrow to the opposition during the question hour.
05:05Just one more quick follow-up, Naga.
05:07I don't see any big churn, any big change, any massive revamp, none of that.
05:12So, then why did it take this long to release this list?
05:16Well, the demand for the seniors was there.
05:18Like Muniapa, who's been a seven-time MP and been a union minister,
05:22wanted social welfare very badly and he was holding food and civil supplies.
05:27So, to convince him and to convince other seniors who wanted better portfolios,
05:31it took too much time.
05:32And this time around, one thing, Alshita,
05:34that the High Command was persistent about getting involved themselves.
05:38When Sidra Maya was there or any other ministry before,
05:42High Command was not completely involved.
05:44But this time around, every minute decision was left to the High Command
05:47and that's why it took time.
05:49All right, Naga, thanks very much for joining us with those details.
05:52So, 10 days on, the Karnataka cabinet portfolios have finally been allocated.
05:59Okay, let's get you a top story here on Super 6.
06:02What transpired in the Tamil Nadu Assembly today?
06:04You had a resolution being introduced by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay on delimitation.
06:09Now, the TV case made their stand very clear.
06:11They're saying ensure a freeze on 543 seats.
06:14No increase anywhere, no question of increasing anyone's share,
06:18any state's share, including that of Tamil Nadu's.
06:20Now, when this resolution was brought in, there was one question.
06:23What will be the DMK stand?
06:25And Udayniti Stalin, the leader of opposition, made it very clear
06:28that the DMK is against delimitation in its current form.
06:33What does that mean?
06:34In its current form meaning that the draft bill,
06:36which was tabled earlier by Hominas Tamasha,
06:38which the DMK had already opposed.
06:40So, what this means is there are a whole lot of terms and conditions.
06:43The DMK is saying we want a fair delimitation.
06:46We're not against delimitation.
06:47So, we don't know if we'll be for the 50% formula that's now being proposed.
06:51Which is why we're saying that even as this resolution was passed with DMK backing,
06:56there were a whole lot of butts in that list.
06:59Here are the details.
07:13The Tamil Nadu assembly passes a resolution on delimitation.
07:17The resolution was passed on three major points.
07:21It says the 543 Lok Sabha seats must remain fixed.
07:26There should be no change in the state-wise allocation of Lok Sabha seats
07:30and 33% of women's reservation should be provided in state assemblies.
08:04Chief Minister Vijay also spoke about the discrimination against southern states
08:09due to the proposed delimitation exercise.
08:31The Congress, the DMK and left parties supported the resolution.
09:02The AIADMK, PMK and BJP rejected the resolution.
09:31The AIADMK, PMK and right control.
09:35The AUTHORITY, PMK, PMK and right control.
09:36of the delimitation bill by Lok Sabha
09:39is concerned. Does the
09:40party's support for the resolution
09:42against delimitation mean
09:44that it has finally made up its
09:46mind? The answer is awaited.
09:50With Apoorva Jachandran,
09:52Anaga Keshav and Pramod Madhav,
09:55Bureau Report, India Today.
10:00Okay, let's open this up. Joining us on this broadcast
10:02here on Super 6, we've got Vinoj Selvam
10:04of the BJP. We've got
10:06Harish Mohamed Ibrahim, as well as
10:08Mr. Murali Dharad, political analyst on this
10:10broadcast. Mr. Harish, I'd like to begin with you
10:12on what really the DMK
10:14stand is on delimitation.
10:16Is it a 100% nowhere
10:18against delimitation, even if it's a
10:2050% formula? What exactly
10:22is the terms and conditions here?
10:25We are
10:26pretty much clear, even the first
10:28party to go ahead and give an
10:30enlightenment procedure or the process
10:32to the entire India is the DMK.
10:34When it was proposed, even by
10:36February 2024,
10:38and even by
10:402026, by April,
10:43gathering all the seven
10:44state heads of particularly
10:46from Congress
10:48and the other opposition
10:49ruling states,
10:50Mr. M. K. Sallin,
10:52then Chief Minister,
10:53have made sure to form a committee
10:55on a fair
10:56delimitation.
10:58I think it is fair delimitation.
11:00So, by then, the DMK
11:02stand was clear, and even by now,
11:04they are very much clear that the
11:06fair delimitation is the only
11:07request which has to be
11:09tabled down in the Parliament.
11:11What's the definition, sir?
11:12What's the definition of a fair
11:13delimitation?
11:14If it's a 50% formula, is that a
11:16fair delimitation?
11:18No, the 50%
11:19delimitation process, which has to
11:21have each and every process
11:23should be followed, and that has to
11:25be drafted in accordance with
11:27the 1971 census, is what the
11:30DMK is recommending for.
11:32But at the last session of the
11:34Parliament, Mr. Amit Shah
11:36have made sure that the last
11:37one hour of the session, he was
11:38going to draft on the particular
11:41points.
11:42But having said that, whether the
11:44upcoming session is going to be
11:45tabled for this particular bill,
11:47no, there is no chance about it.
11:49So, coming November, there will be
11:50a monstration.
11:51Only by then, the next drafted
11:53bill for this particular delimitation
11:55is going to be tabled out.
11:56So, at that point of time, the
11:58TMK will go ahead with each and
12:00every clause, and will make sure
12:02that 1971 census should be
12:04followed in first and foremost
12:05place.
12:06If that is going to happen, then
12:08the 7.18 proposition, which is
12:10going to cut across state by state.
12:12Because if we are going to take for
12:14the 2026 census, which is going to
12:17be the one which the BJP is eyeing
12:19for 2029 elections, then the
12:22proportionally, the Kamaladu will get
12:24somewhere the lower quota from
12:27currently 39 since we are holding
12:29off.
12:29And it will be reduced to somewhere
12:31around 59 to 60.
12:34So, if that is going to happen, then
12:35the North will particularly, which
12:38had made sure to not follow the
12:39population mechanism, population
12:41control mechanism, will gather a
12:43higher more seeds than the South
12:45particularly.
12:46But the percentage…
12:47The percentage maybe remains the
12:49same.
12:49Vinoj Selvam, you want to comment on
12:51this, on what Harish is saying about
12:52the delimitation exercise and how the
12:54BJP is proposing to bring it in?
13:01Firstly, the TVK government has to
13:03understand that the delimitation
13:05process is something which has to be
13:07followed as per the constitution and it
13:09cannot be changed as per your whims and
13:12fancies.
13:12The delimitation process is a must and if the
13:15delimitation process was done as per the
13:18original plan, that is the population census, then states
13:21like Tamil Nadu and Kerala definitely do get
13:23affected.
13:24So, keeping this in mind, making sure that
13:27no states gets affected, the Honorable
13:30Home Minister had proposed a system where
13:32a uniform 50% increase of seats will be
13:36brought into act which will ensure that
13:37the voice of the Tamil Nadu MPs will not go
13:41down in the parliament.
13:42But at the same time, we will have to
13:44understand the statement made by the
13:46Chief Minister Vijay when he was just the
13:48leader of the TVK.
13:49He had given out a statement where he says
13:52that the issue of the number of members of
13:55parliament does not affect the common man.
13:58It is not the ordinary citizen's problem.
14:00Now, that itself is primarily wrong because
14:03the member of parliament is nothing but the
14:06voice of the common man in the parliament.
14:08He is going to be representing the common man.
14:10He is going to talk for the common man.
14:11Now, you have a problem with the number of
14:13NGOs being reduced but you don't have a problem
14:15with the number of MPs being reduced.
14:17You have a problem with foreign voices, you know,
14:22having to be heard.
14:23But then you don't have a problem with the
14:24voice of the Tamil Nadu citizen being heard in
14:26the parliament or not.
14:27It's as simple as that.
14:29Just throwing around fancy words like federalism and
14:32democracy and representation does not make you a true hero.
14:35You have to understand the crux of the matter.
14:38We need to understand what the delimitation brings to the table.
14:41So, without even knowing what is there in the bill,
14:43blindly opposing it and then passing a resolution in the
14:46assembly is nothing but the DMK style.
14:49The DMK did that before.
14:50Now, the TVK is following the same footsteps.
14:52Tamil Nadu's representation should increase.
14:55We should have more members of parliament representing our people.
14:58We are a state of almost seven crore people.
15:00So, we need more MPs to represent our people and it's a must.
15:04So, we should understand that and…
15:0539 to 59 sure.
15:07The concern is that other states then will see a much bigger increase
15:11and so we'll have a greater representation than the southern states.
15:17That is a concern that's constantly being raised.
15:19It's a uniform increase.
15:19They already have more representation.
15:25Okay, let me bring in…
15:26The representation is going to be…
15:27The increase is uniform.
15:28It's the same 50 percent.
15:29No, the BJP is highlighting that the percentage remains the same.
15:32The numbers have always been in this manner.
15:33Mr. Murali Daran, what is the strategy really of the TVK
15:36in bringing this kind of a resolution?
15:39If there are documents we can refer to Vakshita, I don't think we'll have a problem
15:44because there's no clarity.
15:45That is why everybody's assistant.
15:47So, it's a caveat by TVK saying that if you're going to reduce, you know,
15:53the number of seats or the percentage which it was based on from 1971,
15:59and that's a problem for every state.
16:02So, all the states which have actually gone ahead and implemented
16:06and proper birth control mechanism, etc., those states will suffer.
16:10Whereas the states which have not implemented that,
16:12where the population has gone up, they're going to prosper because of that.
16:15So, that definitely TVK does not want.
16:17That's why they're insisting on, you know, the 543 should remain
16:21and the 39 from Tamil Nadu, that also should remain.
16:25No, but Mr. Murali Daran, you will concede…
16:27You will concede that there is a need for this kind of an exercise,
16:31a delimitation exercise to call for a freeze.
16:34Is that really the solution?
16:36I mean, there's one which is fair representation.
16:39The DMK says fair delimitation.
16:41Is the TVK then completely dead against delimitation?
16:44No, no, no. I don't think TVK is dead against it
16:47because one portion of it is 33% reservation for MML.
16:51That they agree. Yes, it should be implemented what may come.
16:55But at the same time, if it's a proportionate 50% increase of seats,
16:59let's put it in black and white.
17:01You know, UP will get 40 seats more, which will make it 120.
17:06And we will get another 20 seats more, that will make it 60.
17:09Nobody is going to have a problem.
17:10But if that's going to change, if it's going to be in favour of the North
17:14and North decides who's going to be the Prime Minister,
17:17let's understand the only capable candidate for the Prime Ministerial ship is Mr. Vijay.
17:23Mr. Vijay eradicates corruption in the next five years
17:25and he is going to be the competitor for Mr. Modi ji.
17:28It's not Rahul Gandhi or anyone else.
17:31So, why not?
17:32Keep our options open and ensure that, you know,
17:35South India has a good chance
17:37and we have a Prime Minister who is going to eradicate corruption,
17:40not just in Tamil Nadu, but throughout India. Why not?
17:43You know, you've made a comment that Adhav Arjuna also mentioned in assembly.
17:48Mr. Harish, you know, the TVK is pushing…
17:51I mentioned it one month ago, Akshita.
17:53You said it one month ago.
17:55Yes, there's a whole lot of chatter on it on social media as well, Mr. Harish.
17:58You know, you're seeing this resolution and a whole lot of talk by the TVK saying
18:02why doesn't Tamil Nadu have a larger say in national politics
18:06and so Vijay as Prime Minister?
18:10That the time will tell who is going to be the Prime Minister candidate.
18:13If it is so, if Vijay is going to contest for the upcoming elections,
18:19we are welcoming that. We don't have any second say about it.
18:22But having said that, whether this delimitation process should be encouraged, yes, of course,
18:25because then by 1971, when the first census, when that kind of delimitation happened during…
18:32with the 1971 census, at that point of time, the population was almost 40 crore.
18:37Now we have been almost three times more.
18:39So we need much more larger representation, not only for Tamil Nadu, but across the country,
18:46we need to have a higher representative to go ahead and function for them.
18:50Because per constituency, there was almost 10 lakh people left for one MP.
18:54No, so you're agreeing that greater representation is needed.
18:57Of course, of course, because…
18:59But the resolution, sir, speaks of a freeze.
19:02No, that's fine. You have to understand both nuances.
19:04Which the DMK is backed.
19:06Akshita, give me a second.
19:07Sure.
19:08We are pretty much clear that, number one, the merging of Women Empowerment Reservation Bill
19:14and the delimitation should be broken down into two halves, number one.
19:18Number two, if there is any kind of delimitation exercise should be done,
19:22either it has to be done with the 1971 census,
19:25or it has to be taken with the accordance of 50%.
19:28Yes, of course, how the breakup has been doing, how the breakup has been done.
19:33We have to make sure to know about that.
19:36Without those kind of documents in hand,
19:38you can't go ahead and make something thin in the air, right?
19:42So, BJP's stand is very much clear.
19:46They want to give the higher representation to the North.
19:48But the DMK stand is very much clear.
19:50We want to know what is there in the delimitation bill,
19:53which is going to be redrafted and presented,
19:55not in this coming session, or at the November session,
19:59we have to go through in detail before we come in.
20:02But whatever they are done, there has to be done.
20:04This kind of exercise is inevitable.
20:07But if that is done, it has to give a proper proposition
20:10to the entire states of this country.
20:12Sure, Mr. Harish, you have laid out what the DMK's plan is here,
20:16what your strategy is and what your statement is on delimitation.
20:20But here's what the resolution said.
20:21It said freeze 543 seats, which means essentially no delimitation.
20:27That's not what the DMK's stand is.
20:28And yet, why was there backing for the resolution?
20:32When a ruling government brings out such kind of a breakup,
20:38having to make sure to put a freeze on the particular 1971 census
20:42and to go ahead and have a delimitation with the particular order,
20:45then there is no second thought about it.
20:47Because even the vice versa, it is directly for the fair delimitation.
20:52Fair delimitation applies even the 1971 freeze as well.
20:55So, there is no second thought whether it is going to affect the TVK bringing motion or not.
21:00It is secondary.
21:01Even by then, by 2024, February, when the DMK made sure to put an assembly session,
21:08the same point was being taken at that point of time as well.
21:11So, either, number one, 1971 census should be freeze and make sure the delimitation process is being done.
21:19So, I will only say that there is a lot of speculation.
21:22We have had two statements, one from the BJP, one from the DMK,
21:25by senior leaders today saying there are no permanent friends or enemies in politics.
21:30And that has got everyone questioning whether we are going to see some big twist coming up.
21:34But Mr. Vinod Selvam, I will bring this back across to you for that narrative really that is being created
21:38once again.
21:39That the BJP stands for the North.
21:41And so, before you had the DMK, now you have got the TVK essentially taking that stand again that we
21:46cannot trust the BJP.
21:52This divide and rule system doesn't work in India anymore.
21:55Today, we had seen this minister, Adhavarjuna, quote Abraham Lincoln when he was speaking in the assembly.
22:01Someone must have written a script for him and he has come and read it out.
22:04I don't even know that if Adhavarjuna understands that Abraham Lincoln always stood for the union together.
22:10He did not fight for the divide.
22:12There was a divide because of slavery between the North and South in America and that led to an eventual
22:17civil war.
22:18But Lincoln always stood for unity, the union to stand together.
22:21So, similarly, in India, there is no North and South enmity.
22:24We are together as a nation.
22:26We are India and we are proud of it.
22:28And Adhavarjuna should stop being a motor mouth and giving loose comments,
22:31especially in the house of the assembly like what he has done.
22:34We've had prime ministers from Karnataka.
22:36We've had prime ministers from Andhra.
22:37So, whichever party is able to elect the individual as their leader in the parliament
22:42becomes the… happens to help the nation as the prime minister.
22:47Today, we don't have a prime minister from North India, we have a prime minister from West India.
22:52The suggestion is that the BJP…
22:54Yes, we have a prime minister from West India.
22:55…is going to give greater might, greater heft to states where the BJP stands at greater chance of winning.
23:04That is not the case.
23:06Any…
23:07No one imagined that ten years back that in West Bengal there will be a BJP government.
23:11Today is a BJP government.
23:12Tomorrow it's going to happen in Tamil Nadu.
23:14Today all the parties have stuck to one stand.
23:17They're talking about separatism.
23:18They're talking about a lot of anti-national standards being taken by parties.
23:23The BJP is going to be very convicted about this stand about being nationalist and about our ideologies.
23:28And with the same thing, we won't be able to winnow the people of Tamil Nadu.
23:32It's a matter of time.
23:33It's eventuality.
23:33If we can do it in West Bengal, if we can do it in Orisa, we will do it in
23:37Tamil Nadu.
23:38So, we…
23:39And eventually, there will be a day when the BJP might even elect a prime minister from Tamil Nadu to
23:44head the nation.
23:45So, it's all left to time to answer.
23:48So, Adhavarishwana trying to create this rift is what is wrong.
23:51The DMK did that and the DMK paid a heavy price for trying to create a rift.
23:55Today, they're sitting in opposition.
23:56The TVK is a new party.
23:57The young party, the chief minister should be able to curtail their ministers from speaking utter nonsense in assembly.
24:03The elimination process is necessary.
24:06We have an increased population just like how the DMK spokesperson had mentioned.
24:10We are a population…
24:10We are a country of 1.4 billion people.
24:12We need more member of parliament to represent them.
24:1520 lakh people having one MP is not enough.
24:18We need more voices to be heard.
24:20These people will be representing the citizens honestly and truly in the parliament,
24:24bringing greater good to their people, bringing greater good to the nation.
24:28TVK needs to understand.
24:29I request the CM to take time to read the bill.
24:32Cinema, punch dialogues will help your movies.
24:34But there's no bill to read.
24:35It will not help under the state.
24:35There's no bill to read right now.
24:37It will not help run a state.
24:39There's no bill to read right now.
24:41Once the bill is there…
24:42So, without a bill, why are you opposing it?
24:43Why are you opposing it without even a bill?
24:46There's no bill.
24:47Then what's the necessity for passing a resolution to oppose delimitation?
24:50There's not even a bill in place.
24:51Okay, fair. Mr. Muraludharan…
24:51That's my point.
24:52So, this is just jumping the gun.
24:54This is pure theatrics.
24:58Let's say, if there's no bill and if there's no fear of BJP doing this, I don't think anybody
25:05is going to pass a resolution or even speak about it.
25:10There is always a fear that the BJP is capable of doing this.
25:14At least they speak about nationalism, etc.
25:17But when their leaders come to Tamil Nadu, none of them could address the gathering in English,
25:21which people of Tamil Nadu can very well understand.
25:24They always want to use Hindi.
25:25Even if they know a little bit of English, they don't want to speak in English.
25:29You know, that's divisional.
25:31That's what Tamil Nadu, you know, wants to resist and protest.
25:35Does that really translate, sir, does that really translate to anti-Tamil Nadu?
25:40See, it looks like, you know, it looks like you're trying to push Hindi onto us.
25:44When people of Tamil Nadu are saying that, no, we are prospered better.
25:47We are a grown state.
25:49We are like a number two state or number one in most of the indices.
25:53Just with Tamil and English, we stay that way.
25:55We don't want Hindi is what we're saying.
25:57If at all somebody wants to learn Hindi, they can learn.
25:59But don't push it on us. Don't shove it down our throat.
26:02And this is the problem with BJP.
26:04And BJP is comfortable with the Hindi-speaking states.
26:06And the rest of the states, they are not.
26:09It's Kerala, it's the same problem.
26:10Tamil Nadu is the problem.
26:11Karnataka is the same problem.
26:13So, all these English-speaking states are very well, you know, developed states.
26:17They're going to have a problem.
26:19Vinoj, final word.
26:19They have a problem.
26:25Well, the spokesperson who's taking up for TVK, the political analyst,
26:29doesn't seem to understand that the BJP has ruled Karnataka for several years.
26:33The BJP is now the principal opposition in Telangana.
26:36The BJP is now a part of the coalition in Andhra.
26:39So, the BJP is coming very strongly in the south.
26:41The people are accepting a party which promises development for them.
26:45Not just theatrics and not just trying to create a rift and divide.
26:48That politics does not survive.
26:50BJP is a political party with an ideology.
26:52They are proud of our mother tongue.
26:55We speak Tamil very, very well much in Tamil Nadu.
26:57And the party is growing at its own pace.
27:00So, trying to create this fear-mongering that BJP is trying to push Hindi down your throat.
27:04This nonsense.
27:05This is what the DNK did.
27:06So, stop this language war.
27:08Stop this north-south divide.
27:09Talk about unity.
27:10Talk about development.
27:12The TVK government has been losing project after project to neighboring states.
27:15So, let's talk about what should actually be done to promote Tamil Nadu as a state,
27:19rather than trying to create this sort of a situation which is not doing any good for the state.
27:24Okay. I've run out of time.
27:25Mr. Murali Dharam, Mr. Harish and Mr. Vinoj, thank you for joining us here on India Today.
27:30We don't know what really the draft of the delimitation bill really holds.
27:35But a resolution has been passed.
27:37The TVK said freeze.
27:39Freeze this particular number of Lok Sabha seats at 543.
27:42Don't attempt to increase it at all.
27:45Essentially, they've taken a stand against delimitation right now.
27:48But there was another issue that was brought up in the Tamil Nadu assembly by Minister Adhav Arjuna.
27:55Why shouldn't the next prime minister come from South India or even from Tamil Nadu?
28:01He argued that if five or six northern states come together to determine who becomes the prime minister,
28:06the political equation must change.
28:08And so he said, therefore, while speaking on delimitation, power cannot remain concentrated in states like UP Bihar and Gujarat.
28:16Now, what's interesting about this is the fact that in the last few weeks, months, you've had many of Vijay
28:23supporters,
28:23many TVK fans on social media constantly amplifying exactly this narrative of Vijay for prime minister,
28:31of Vijay in 2029 fighting in a general election.
28:35This is, of course, a statement that's been made right now by Adhav Arjuna.
28:39Maybe not too much to read into, but in line with essentially what's being spoken about so much on social
28:47media.
28:51I think it's true.
28:59It's true.
29:05It's true.
29:10It's true.
29:13It's true.
29:36It's true.
29:41I think it's true.
29:45Like I said, everyone connecting it through all of this talk of social media that Vijay
29:50will be contesting in 2029.
29:52But let's break down for you, shall we, all of the South Indian Prime Ministers that India
29:57has seen.
29:59Now, right now, if you look at it, there's only been ever in India's history two Prime
30:05Ministers from South India.
30:06P.V. Narsimarao from 1991 to 1996, of course, from erstwhile United, Andhra Pradesh.
30:13H.T. Devagauda from Karnataka was very briefly the Prime Minister from 1996 to 1997.
30:19But this is it.
30:20This is the legacy, really, of South Indian Prime Ministers in the country.
30:24And now you've got the TVK making a pitch saying, look, why not have someone from Tamil Nadu
30:29which India has never seen.
30:31India has never seen a Prime Minister from the state of Tamil Nadu.
30:38But also, I will highlight this.
30:40Currently, if you look at the Modi government and the power circles, there is quite a bit
30:46of South Indian representation.
30:48The Vice President, CPRCP Radhakrishnan, from Coimbatore, of Tamil Nadu.
30:53So you've got Tamil Nadu represent right there.
30:55And even in the Cabinet, even in the Modi government, Nirmala Sitaraman, Union Finance Minister.
31:01So the top five there, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman from the South.
31:05Dr. S. Jaishankar, also External Affairs Minister, again from South.
31:09H.T. Kumaraswamy, Union Heavy Industries Minister from Karnataka.
31:13Also, key role that he plays as part of the NDA in the Modi government.
31:18Rammohan Naidu, Civil Aviation Minister.
31:21TDP represent, essentially, in the Modi government.
31:25G. Kishan Reddy, Union Mines Minister and MOS Home as well, again from Telangana.
31:31L. Murugan, from Tamil Nadu, contested the Assembly elections.
31:35Didn't work out, so remains a Union Minister.
31:37There is the MOS of Parliamentary Affairs.
31:39Shobha Karanlage from Karnataka is an MOS for Labour and Unemployment.
31:44This is just a highlight for you that there is a lot of South Indian representation
31:48currently also in the power corridors of the country.
31:55Okay, let's, in fact, focus now on the other big story coming in.
32:00And this is something that played out in Parliament today.
32:03You had, essentially, today in Parliament, a member of Parliament from South India
32:10who's allegedly called Lungiwala.
32:13Left MP from Kerala, John Britas, objected strongly and rightly so to the term Lungiwala,
32:19which he says was used by Sushmita Dev against him in Parliament.
32:22He's filed a privileged motion.
32:24And no, words like Lungiwala isn't just casual banter.
32:28As a South Indian living in Delhi, I get called all kinds of things.
32:32I get called a madrassi.
32:33I'm mocked for what is known as my South Indian accent.
32:37I get a particularly racist, colourist stereotype of South Indian equals dark skin,
32:42which, for what it's worth, we embrace.
32:44I've learnt, unfortunately, to normalise it, though I know I shouldn't.
32:48Why?
32:49Because when even members of Parliament think it's okay to make a comment like Lungiwala,
32:54what else can the South Indian expect?
32:57This coming from an MP makes it 100 times worse.
33:00You hold public office.
33:02You don't get to turn millions of South Indians into a costume,
33:05into a catchphrase or a punchline.
33:07Calling a South Indian colleague Lungiwala isn't edgy,
33:11it isn't clever and most definitely isn't harmless.
33:14It's the kind of cheap stereotyping that survives because people keep pretending
33:19that this is a joke.
33:21Pass it off.
33:22Keep making these same comments.
33:23And I really should not have to say this.
33:25But as a South Indian, let me tell you, it simply isn't funny.
33:33Okay, let's move on and also get your details right now of the entire controversy
33:38surrounding actor Trishan.
33:40The fact that politicians constantly keep making comments about her,
33:43dragging her into the political spotlight,
33:45despite her having no role in politics whatsoever.
33:49She returned to social media with a post that she's put out,
33:52which many are claiming is actually a retort to all of the comments coming in.
33:57The actor's return to social media sparked fresh speculation
34:00amidst the ongoing many, many controversies involving her name.
34:11Almost a week has passed since Trishakrishnan found herself
34:14at the centre of a controversy she never publicly addressed.
34:21As the Rao gathered momentum, the actor chose to stay away from social media,
34:26keeping her silence through the storm.
34:31Now, she's back on social media,
34:33and her return comes with a few carefully worded messages
34:37that have caught attention.
34:40The actress first shared glimpses from her grandmother's
34:4390th birthday celebrations surrounded by family.
34:47However, it was the two Instagram stories that followed
34:50that became the talking point.
34:53One appeared to take aim at drama,
34:55while another spoke about the privilege of being overwhelmed
34:58by a life one once prayed for.
35:01But adding to the intrigue,
35:03her mother also shared a cryptic message,
35:04urging people to focus on themselves,
35:07make money,
35:08and the pointed sign of,
35:10mind your business.
35:12Neither Trishakrishnan nor her mother
35:13has directly addressed the controversy
35:15or confirmed any interpretation of their post.
35:18The attention around the post comes against the backdrop
35:21of the recent Rao involving DMK leader
35:24Udaya Nidhi Stalin.
35:26While addressing a gathering,
35:27he was criticising TVK leader
35:29and Tamil Nadu chief minister Vijay,
35:31when sections of the crowd reportedly began chanting Trishakrishnan.
35:40His response was widely interpreted
35:43as a double entendre directed at the actor,
35:45triggering widespread outrage.
35:48Meanwhile, Udaya Nidhi has maintained
35:50that his remarks were misinterpreted
35:52and denied making any personal reference to Trishakrishnan.
36:00However, following complaints
36:02filed by the TVK Women's Wing
36:03and the National Commission for Women,
36:05a case was registered against him.
36:09He was arrested from his Chennai residence
36:11before later being granted bail.
36:15Entertainment Bureau, India Today.
36:18A major leadership transition is taking shape
36:21at one of India's biggest business houses.
36:23After nearly a decade at the helm of Tata Sons,
36:26N. Chandrasekharan is set to step down as chairman
36:29when his current term ends,
36:31which is in February 2027,
36:32putting the spotlight firmly on who succeeds him
36:35and what the change means for the Tata Empire.
36:39Let's get you this report by Business Today.
36:41I've been very proud of being part of the Tata Empire.
36:52After four decades with the Tata group,
36:55N. Chandrasekharan's Tata innings is now getting over.
36:58N. Chandrasekharan is set to step down as Tata Sons chairman
37:02after completing his current term.
37:05Chandra has decided not to seek reappointment
37:08after his term ends on February 20, 2027.
37:13The move sets the stage for a leadership transition
37:16at the top of the Tata group,
37:17with the succession process expected to begin soon.
37:21Tata stocks are also likely to remain in focus
37:24as investors assess the implications
37:26of the leadership change.
37:29In his statement,
37:31Chandrasekharan said he would not seek another term
37:33and asked the board to decide on his successor
37:36at the earliest.
37:37He said the move was aimed at ensuring
37:39a smooth and proper leadership transition.
37:42The decision comes after the board failed
37:44to reach a resolution on his appointment
37:46nearly six months after its February 24 meeting.
37:50The reappointment proposal did not have unanimous support
37:53with one board member withholding support.
37:57Chandrasekharan's exit comes at a critical juncture
37:59for Tata Sons and the wider Tata group.
38:02The next chairman will have several key challenges on the table.
38:06These include turning around loss-making Air India,
38:09reducing losses in the group's digital businesses
38:12and navigating the potential listing of Tata Sons.
38:15The group will also have to address the regulatory requirement
38:18around upper-layer NBFC deregistration.
38:24Chandrasekharan's Tata journey spans four decades.
38:27He joined TCS as an engineer in 1987
38:30and rose to become its CEO and MD in 2009.
38:35He joined the Tata Sons board in 2016
38:38and took charge as chairman in 2017.
38:41Under his leadership, the Tata group returned to aviation
38:44with the acquisition of Air India in 2022.
38:47His current term as Tata Sons chairman
38:49ends on February 20, 2027,
38:52marking the end of a decade at the helm of the group.
38:56The next chapter now rests with the successor
38:58and the challenges waiting at the top of Tata Sons.
39:04Vera Report, Business Studio Television.
39:10VVIPs are VVIPs in India, no matter where they go,
39:13even if they are behind bars.
39:15Why am I saying that?
39:16Well, here's the latest instance.
39:18Former Hassan MP, Prajwal Rewana,
39:20he's serving a life sentence.
39:22A life sentence in a rape case.
39:25Now, what's come to the fore is that
39:27he was in his possession,
39:29he had a mobile phone inside Bengaluru's central prison.
39:32A similar situation, if you remember,
39:35played out with actor Darshan,
39:37again in the Bengaluru central prison in 2024.
39:40He was seen, as you see in that picture there,
39:42smoking a cigarette, sipping coffee with his friends
39:44while in prison, almost as if he's on a picnic.
39:46He had phones with him,
39:48he had a TV in his cell, all of that.
39:50The Karnataka government right now
39:52is saying they're taking strict action.
39:54But the situation suggests otherwise,
39:56because we're seeing this happen
39:57over and over again in Karnataka,
40:00whether it's with Darshan or now with,
40:02in fact, Prajwal Rewana.
40:04Same, smartphones available to them at their disposal.
40:08Maybe it's taking a few bribes to go ahead
40:10and ensure you get all the perks you need
40:12at the central prison in Bengaluru.
40:14Not so long ago,
40:14there was a raid too conducted at that prison
40:16in which they'd seized so many mobile phones.
40:19Almost every prisoner had one.
40:23During the raid,
40:25they have conducted search over
40:27many VIP personalities.
40:30Prajwal Rewana is also staying
40:32along with one other person, Pratap Rai.
40:34In that barrack,
40:35one Android mobile phone has been seized.
40:38And now,
40:38CCB has given a complaint
40:40to Parapanagra police station.
40:41So, investigation has been conducted in that.
40:44But pursuant to this seizure of this phone by CCB,
40:47we have placed this assistance
40:50to end of prison,
40:51Iranna Rangapur,
40:52under suspension
40:53and we have issued so-called notice
40:54to the SP of the prison.
40:56More importantly,
40:57I found a lot of faults
40:58within the administration.
41:00So, that's why yesterday,
41:02we decided to have a surprise raid
41:05in the prisons
41:06and in certain cells
41:08with certain high-profile prisoners
41:12and other prisoners,
41:13we have found mobile phones,
41:16notebooks and things
41:17that are not allowed in the prisons.
41:19So, quite naturally,
41:21it seems like our people
41:22are hand-in-glove
41:23with the prisoners
41:26and we have issued a strict warning.
41:30We are also doing
41:31a digital infrastructure audit
41:34of the prisons
41:35and whoever is responsible
41:37for ensuring these prisoners
41:40have access to devices
41:43or have access to anything
41:45that is more than necessary
41:47will be taken to task.
41:48I don't know, madam.
41:50I don't know all those things.
41:52I don't know.
41:53That is not a concern to me.
41:55That is the responsibility
41:56of the government.
41:58That is the responsibility
41:59of the home department.
42:02Whatever illegal issue is there,
42:04they will take action.
42:05Why are you going to ask?
42:06The responsibility
42:07to look after all those things strictly
42:09that is left to the government.
42:13Okay, let me take this across
42:15to Nagarjun Dwarkhanath
42:16for more details.
42:17Naga, you know,
42:18it's almost as if
42:19there's one prison
42:20constantly is the same issue
42:22that comes up
42:23of these VIP prisoners
42:24getting the best benefits,
42:26getting the best perks.
42:27Darshan earlier
42:28and now it's the same situation
42:30with Prajwal Rewarna.
42:31Well, absolutely.
42:32It starts off with Sassikala.
42:33In fact, if you remember,
42:34Apshita,
42:35there are allegations
42:35that she was allowed
42:36to walk out of the prison
42:37and then come back
42:39and the issue starts back then
42:40and many more
42:41VIP cases also.
42:43Now, CCB has raided
42:44they have found
42:45one Redmi phone,
42:46Android phone
42:46in Prajwal Rewarna's barrack
42:47and one charger
42:49and also one pen drive.
42:50All of them
42:50have been seized,
42:52confiscated
42:52by the CCB police
42:54and what's interesting also
42:55is that there was
42:56another undertale prisoner
42:57in the same barrack
42:58called Prataparai.
42:59So, the police
42:59is now investigating
43:00who does this phone belong to?
43:02Is it belonging to
43:02Prajwal Rewarna
43:03or the other prisoner?
43:05And both were using it together.
43:06All these angles
43:07will be probed.
43:08However, both of them
43:09have been named in the FIR
43:10and the Home Minister
43:11has gone on to say
43:12that there's a nexus
43:13between officials
43:14and the prisoners
43:15and that's the reason
43:15why the raid had happened
43:16and Chokor's notice
43:17has been issued
43:18to the IPS officer
43:19to the prison department
43:20and also suspension
43:21of one official
43:22in the prison department.
43:23You know, ultimately,
43:24there's a lot of outrage
43:25after any of these cases
43:26come to the fore.
43:28Naga's right,
43:28Sashikala,
43:29Darshan,
43:30now Prajwal Rewarna
43:31and then forgotten
43:32until a few months later
43:33once again a surprise raid
43:34throws up exactly
43:35the same result
43:36of people having
43:37mobile phones,
43:38having all sorts
43:38of illegal items
43:39in their cells.
43:41Clearly,
43:42there's a need
43:42for a larger
43:43clean-up here
43:44and a crackdown
43:45perhaps
43:46in the Parapanagraharra prison.
43:47Thanks very much,
43:48Naga,
43:48for getting us
43:49those details.
43:50And that's all
43:51we have time for
43:52in this edition
43:52of Super 6.
43:53Thanks very much
43:53for tuning in.
43:54I'll see you same time
43:55tomorrow at 6pm.
43:56at 8pm.
43:56I'll see you soon.
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