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Food safety authorities in Bengaluru and Mumbai intensified inspections of unhygienic eateries, while officials and food safety advocates highlighted stronger enforcement.
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00:00Good evening, hello and welcome. You're with the news today, your primetime destination news,
00:04newsmakers, talking points, the big talking point. Who is to blame for a parliament session
00:09that went horribly wrong, that lasted finally for just 12 hours in a month? The country's
00:16longest serving member of parliament, he was a parliamentarian in 1967, the grand old man
00:23Karan Singh will be among my exclusive guests on how parliament has changed. Also, food
00:29raids are rocking Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad. The Karnataka Health Minister U.T. Qadar
00:35will join me as to why the government has decided to enforce food hygiene laws across
00:41Bengaluru and more. But first, as always, it's time for the nine headlines at nine.
00:48The monsoon session of parliament ends amidst chaos and name-calling. Prime Minister Modi and
00:55Amit Shah in parliament, but only for a few minutes. Twelve bills passed, only one debated
01:01in the Lok Sabha. Government slams opposition's conduct. The opposition says, where was the
01:06Prime Minister and Shah when parliament was the place they needed to be?
01:16Congress President Malik Arjun Khargeir raises the alleged purification of a Haldwani ground after
01:22his rally in the Rajya Sabha. Union Minister Nadda says, condemned such acts will order a complete
01:28probe on the incident.
01:36Akali Dal chief Sukbir Badal attacked in Maharashtra's Nanded. Attacker Jaspal Singh arrested. Sukbir Badal
01:44out of danger. Akali Dal alleges a deep-rooted conspiracy, wants a CBI probe.
01:55Raul Gandhi mocks Prime Minister Modi's haglomercy, courts controversy after Congress Neta Sandeep
02:03Dixit on the stage with him makes a sexist remark against Italian PM Melanie. BJP hits back,
02:11calls Raul's remarks immature and brazenly endorsing sexism.
02:19Day 20 of the raging protests in Ranchi. Mahato's hunger strike enters day 12. Over 600 protesters
02:26booked for the assembly march.
02:31Air India mishap probe widens. The airline begins full screening of all pilots after AI-2379
02:38pilot tests positive for marijuana. Government pushes for a fast-track AI-2379 probe.
02:46Brajwal Grewana, who is lodged in jail in a rape case, gets caught using a phone in jail. Over 90
02:52porn videos found in his phone. Authorities order a probe.
02:58Just hours after taking action against prestigious law, University Nalsar students for protest against the Chief Justice of India,
03:06Bar Council of India forced to take a U-turn under pressure, revokes the ban they were imposing on the
03:12enrollment of Nalsar students with the State Bar Council.
03:15The students didn't want the Chief Justice at their convocation.
03:21And flash floods wreak havoc in Jammu and Kashmir. Cloudbursts blocked several roads leading to Zozeela Pass.
03:28Authorities working to restore the traffic. There is also a tunnel collapse in Chamoli in Uttarakhand.
03:44But our top story at the moment, there has been uproar and political pressure on the Bar Council of India,
03:51which was seeking to ban students from the prestigious Nalsar University in Hyderabad
03:57after the students had refused to have the, or wanted the Chief Justice of India not to attend their convocation.
04:05Now, the Bar Council under pressure says no such decision will be taken until an inquiry report is submitted.
04:13The Bar Council of India claims teachers and outsiders instigated the Nalsar students to boycott the Chief Justice of India,
04:21Surya Khan, at the proposed convocation.
04:24Joining me now is Anisha Mathur, who tracks the courts for us.
04:29Anisha, it appears that the Bar Council of India, which is headed by a BJP-link lawyer,
04:35has chosen to reverse his decision under pressure after originally saying they would deny permission
04:43to students who boycotted the Chief Justice from getting their Bar Council registration done.
04:50What is the latest that you can tell us?
04:53Well, Rajdeep, we've been seeing this for the, and this entire drama has played out over the last three odd
05:00hours alone,
05:01where initially a letter had been issued to the Nalsar Vice Chancellor,
05:06as well as to all state Bar Councils, saying that an inquiry must be conducted into this incident,
05:16where the Nalsar students had protested against the Chief Justice of India attending their convocation.
05:22In fact, that letter, which was sent to media persons and it released at around 6.30pm,
05:29it clearly had been signed by Bar Council Chief Manan Mishra,
05:33said that as per some reliable sources, there exists groupism and dirty politics among some of the academic staff.
05:41They have played an active role in misleading, instigating and misguiding students.
05:46Additionally, what it said was that the Bar Council does not at this stage record that any person stands disqualified
05:57from enrolment,
05:58but then it had said that no student of Nalsar University of Law who has obtained the degree in the
06:04year 2026
06:05shall be enrolled by any state Bar Council as an advocate till further orders.
06:11What this letter at 6.30pm had said is that the VC has to conduct an inquiry into exactly what
06:18happened,
06:20who prompted these students to write the letter saying we do not want the Chief Justice to come for the
06:24convocation.
06:25In fact, it says university is requested to maintain a clear distinction between persons who signed or supported the representation
06:33and the persons who organized or coordinated the campaign, who mobilized the actual boycott or disruption.
06:40This is the letter that was issued at 6.30pm.
06:44Then at around 8.30pm, after massive online backlash, because we saw lawyers talking about it,
06:50we saw a lot of people talking about it, the Bar Council issued a second letter,
06:54this time saying that the unanimous view is that the majority of the students of Nalsar are innocent,
07:02were not inclined to take part in this move and therefore the order passed,
07:06the order passed by the chairman has been modified, all students will be entitled to get enrolment.
07:13Effectively, within a span of two hours, Rajdeep, the Bar Council of India,
07:16which is the regulatory body for lawyers and law students in the country,
07:21has effectively said that their chairman issued a letter that the council itself either did not endorse
07:27or did not agree with or at least has gone on to modify.
07:30But this has raised a massive storm on social media.
07:34Back to you.
07:36Okay, Anisha Mathur, on that story, remember Nalsar is one of the prestigious law institutes of this country.
07:41The Chief Justice was to address the convocation.
07:43Some students had written a letter saying that he should not be invited
07:47and they would boycott that convocation.
07:50Okay, let me turn from that controversy from the Bar Council of India
07:54to another controversy where Rahul Gandhi, never far away one would think from controversy,
07:59has found himself in a bit of a spot because at an event called the Rajnatma Congress in Delhi,
08:06a Congress outfit, the leader of the opposition, Rahul Gandhi,
08:10was explaining the Prime Minister Modi's foreign policy as diplomacy of hugs.
08:16He enacted the scene with Sandeep Dixit and then a rather distasteful, sexist comment
08:22was made by Dixit that has already sparked widespread criticism
08:26with the BJP quick to accuse the Congress of being immature and sexist
08:33and Rahul Gandhi for not condemning what Dixit said on stage with him.
08:40Let's first listen in to that exchange that took place on the stage.
08:46Foreign policy is this.
09:05Foreign policy, I mean, imagine the ignorance of foreign policy.
09:20Foreign policy is this.
09:33Foreign policy is this.
09:57Now, my take, because what I saw was particularly distasteful.
10:02Congress leader Sandeep Dixit's Modi Melanie remark is sexist, in poor taste,
10:08and a reminder of how quickly sharp political discourse can slide from legitimate criticism
10:13into unfortunate personal innuendo in this case.
10:18You can criticize Prime Minister Modi's policies, performance and politics by all means,
10:23But when the argument becomes about who is hugging whom, everyone loses, especially the opposition.
10:30Remember, when the BJP targeted Sonia Gandhi in very, very low-level language over her foreign origins,
10:37it was totally unacceptable.
10:39When Prime Minister Modi made his 50-crore girlfriend jibe targeted at Shashi Tharoor's wife,
10:45that was wrong and unacceptable too.
10:48Netas need to, for God's sake, stop this nudge-nudge, wink-wink politics.
10:53Don't reduce politics to a meme or an insta-reel.
10:57Hold power to account.
10:59Challenge their ideas.
11:01Attack their policies by all means.
11:03But leave the personal innuendo out of it.
11:07Because when politics descends into these kinds of sexual innuendos, nobody wins.
11:13Not even the person making the bad joke.
11:17In my view, Sandeep Dixit should be apologizing for the kind of remark that he made on stage there with
11:26Rahul Gandhi.
11:27And Rahul Gandhi too should clearly distance himself and condemn it.
11:32Okay, all of this coming against the backdrop of the monsoon session of parliament that finally ended today.
11:39The session which started on July 20th has seen mostly ruckus and sloganeering inside the House leading to repeated adjournments.
11:47The Lok Sabha started with the full rendition of the national song, Vande Matram.
11:52And the entire House, including opposition MPs, stood while the song was being sung.
11:58And we also saw Prime Minister Modi finally make an appearance in the Lok Sabha along with the Home Minister,
12:06Amit Shah.
12:07The first time they've attended the session since the first day on July 20th.
12:12Typically, both the Treasury benches and the opposition blamed each other for the disruptions.
12:18Listen in to what both sides had to say.
12:20I have said that the government was prepared to say that the government was prepared, but the government didn't see
12:28it.
12:29The government came in the 20th century to the Rastriya Ghan.
12:35Do you remember that the government didn't come?
12:40The government didn't come, the government didn't come, the government didn't come.
12:50The government didn't come.
12:52Shouldn't it have happened Сергеlek?
13:10My way and highway are going to do my way.
13:13It is a result.
13:15He said that I have 24 hours of speech for 24 hours.
13:20I will give you all the answers.
13:24That means that your opinion is something else.
13:27You don't want to move on.
13:30You want to keep your mind on your mind.
13:34You want to keep your mind on your mind.
13:35Now Rahul Gandhi has been exposed.
13:37You are seeing it.
13:38For the government,
13:41Swami Amit Shah Ji has written a letter.
13:43Amit Shah Ji has written a letter to the speaker.
13:45He is also running away.
13:47He is silent.
13:50Let me give you some facts about these monsoon sessions.
13:54Prime Minister Narendra Modi Amit Shah Ji only attended the first and the last day.
13:59That too for a few minutes.
14:00This is the first time that a prime minister and a home minister have not sat in the Lok Sabha.
14:05At least in parliamentary history of recent times in a session.
14:09Twelve bills were passed.
14:11But nine were passed without discussion.
14:14Many of them were passed inside five minutes.
14:18Question hour was held for a total of only nine minutes in the Lok Sabha.
14:23Leading to one percent productivity.
14:26Just two out of the 360 questions were answered orally.
14:32Only one legislation saw a proper debate.
14:35Which was the paper leaks neat bill debate.
14:38That lasted over 11 hours.
14:42Time now for a special guest to join us.
14:57Joining me now is a very special guest.
15:00He is India's oldest living parliamentarian by vintage certainly.
15:04Because he is the only parliamentarian who was there way back in 1967.
15:08Almost six decades ago.
15:11Good to have you there.
15:12Dr. Karan Singh looking sprightly at the age of 95.
15:17But I want to ask you.
15:19As someone who has seen parliament over the years.
15:22Yes Raji.
15:23Are you disappointed, disillusioned, angry by the fact that we are seeing session after session.
15:31This confrontation between government and opposition.
15:35Is this troubling for someone like you who grew up in the Nehruvian age of parliamentary democracy?
15:42Yes.
15:44Yes, it is very disappointing Raji.
15:47Extremely disappointing.
15:49Because parliament is the basis of our democracy.
15:53And debate is the basis of parliament.
15:55Now if parliament stops debating.
15:58If bills can be passed in favour of those in favour of those against say no.
16:03Within half an hour you can pass nine bills.
16:06Then where does the discussion go?
16:08And both sides I think are responsible.
16:11I don't want to blame any one side.
16:14I do feel that the opposition this time has been a little unnecessarily aggressive.
16:22That's my own personal view.
16:25You are saying the opposition has been unnecessarily.
16:28I think if on the Shah had gone there and said he would speak.
16:31You are saying the opposition has been unnecessarily aggressive.
16:34Aggressive.
16:34But we have seen also the fact that the prime minister and the home minister didn't even enter the house
16:40till the very last day.
16:42I mean that's also unprecedented.
16:44So it seems almost as you said you have got an ultra aggressive opposition.
16:47That is absolutely astonishing.
16:53I mean Pandey Jamarlar Nehru you have to sit at 11 o'clock every day in his seat in parliament.
16:59And for the prime minister and the home minister number one and number two not to come to the house
17:05at all except for the last day is astonishing and again very unfortunate.
17:12So I think that on both sides there has been a lack of camaraderie.
17:18You see you must not look upon your opposition as an enemy.
17:23They are opponents.
17:24They are political opponents but they are not enemies.
17:27Yeh jo shatut ho raha hai.
17:29As if they were enemies.
17:31This is very unfortunate and it's against all norms of parliamentary procedure.
17:36You've seen it over the years.
17:38When did the decline begin?
17:39I for one am very shocked.
17:41When did the decline begin?
17:43I mean you mentioned Jawala Nehru would come to parliament every morning and sit there at 11 am right through
17:49question hour.
17:50When did the decline begin? In the Indira years, Rajiv years or later?
17:58I wasn't in parliament.
17:59I wasn't in parliament with Jawala Nehru.
18:00He was my mentor.
18:02Yes.
18:02But I was up with Sadri Riasat and JNK.
18:04Yes.
18:05I came into parliament with Mrs. Indira Gandhi and for 10 years I was in her cabinet.
18:10So I have seen parliament in both houses, both on the treasury benches and the opposition.
18:16And my good friend late Arun Jetli once said that disruption is also a part of parliamentary procedure.
18:25I entirely disagree.
18:27Disrupting parliament is disrupting democracy.
18:31I think that that is the worst thing that can be done is to disrupt parliament.
18:36Because that is our highest place where we are supposed to worship that in a sense.
18:45And then if this sort of thing goes on and shouting and screaming on both sides and a total lack
18:53of any sympathy and empathy, it is very disappointing.
18:57And I hope it doesn't continue because it has been going on now for some years.
19:01And if it goes on like this.
19:03You see, two things happened, Rajdeep, this time.
19:06One was that great students' uprising.
19:09I would call it great because it was astounding.
19:13Absolutely astounding for thousands and thousands of students to arise like that peacefully.
19:20That and the Chandachori of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya.
19:26I mean these were two events.
19:27These should have been discussed threadbare.
19:31I mean how can parliament be so disconnected with what is happening on the ground?
19:39I mean these are the two things that should have been discussed.
19:42I mean we passed one bill and that's about all that it did.
19:49You know, you said you don't want to get into a blame game.
19:55But who should take the primary responsibility of running the parliament?
19:59You've been both in government and in opposition.
20:02Do we put that responsibility on the treasury benches or does the opposition taali do haats se bachti hai as
20:09they say?
20:10Who do we blame for it?
20:12Yes, you see it's very difficult to, I think both are to blame frankly.
20:19Technically it is the government that is supposed to run the parliament.
20:24So technically if you look at it, the responsibility is of the government.
20:29But the government cannot run the parliament unless there is cooperation and coordination.
20:33And I have always felt, Rajdeep, that when a house is disrupted, it is the opposition that loses.
20:40Because that is the opportunity to ask questions.
20:44And one of the great tragedies which nobody is mentioning, question hour has disappeared.
20:49Question hour, Harold Lasky said in his parliamentary government in England,
20:54question hour is the most precious hour in parliament.
20:57Well, any member, any back venture can get up and ask a question.
21:01Question hour is the name of Nushani and nobody is missing it.
21:07Can I, can I just…
21:08So I am very, very upset at the way things are going on.
21:10Can I bring in two points?
21:11You, you know, you mentioned the Nehruvian years.
21:14And, you know, Jawala Nehru actively encouraged the young Atal Bihari Vajpayee to shine as a parliamentarian.
21:21And there was, as you said, therefore, there were political opponents but not enemies.
21:26Do you believe that's what has changed? And when did the change take place as I asked you earlier?
21:31When do you believe that this deterioration, that political, that the person on the other side of the aisle becomes
21:38your enemy?
21:39When did this change? Has society, has our politics become very hyper-polarized?
21:44And how was it when you were there? Was Indira Gandhi willing to reach out to the other side of
21:49the aisle?
21:49Yes, very polarized, very polarized. At least to some extent she was, yes.
21:55Although I must say that I think towards the end of her period the change had already begun coming in.
22:02After the party, Congress party split and after that there was a sharper polarization.
22:08But I think that the fact that our politics has become so polarized now, not only at the center but
22:14at the states.
22:15I mean, look at what's happening in the states.
22:17This is not democracy for God's sake. Democracy is debate.
22:24Democracy is some co-operation and co-ordination.
22:29Ye toh shatattva ho ga, yeh democracy kaha rehi. Yeh toh dushwani ho ga hi.
22:33Democracy dushwani nahi hai. Nahi honi chahiye.
22:38I feel very strongly on that.
22:40Can I also ask you about the role of the speaker?
22:42In those days, was the speaker seen as a completely neutral umpire above partisan politics?
22:49Because at the moment those in the chair are also accused of being hyper-partisan.
22:54Do you have a message for those in the chair?
22:56Question are, they need to encourage, they need to give opposition equal time, government equal time.
23:01Not give only one side. Do you believe the time has come for those presiding officers also?
23:06What was it like then and what is it like now?
23:12I must say we had very, very impartial presiding officers.
23:20And there was no question of anybody, you know, judging them, saying that they were only to one side.
23:29But now what is happening is that the presiding officers, if I may respectfully say so, have got to be
23:36very, very careful.
23:38Because any impression that they are leading towards the governing party or the ruling party will be very detrimental to
23:47the whole debate.
23:49So they have a very major role to play.
23:51They are trying to play it, I must say, to give them credit.
23:54Both the speaker and the Lok Sabha chairman, Raj Sabha chairman have been trying their best.
24:01But they have to be careful, very careful.
24:04Can I therefore ask you in conclusion, what is the one piece of advice you would give Prime Minister Modi?
24:10Yes.
24:11And what is the one piece of advice you would give Rahul Gandhi?
24:18Well, Prime Minister Modi, I would say that he bowed to the parliament, you remember, when he came in first.
24:25Yes.
24:25It is a sacred institution.
24:27And therefore, even though he may be busy, when he is in India, he should put in an appearance in
24:33parliament.
24:34He doesn't have to speak, but he must put in his appearance.
24:37He must be seen when he is in India.
24:40When he is abroad, of course, it is a different matter.
24:43And to Rahul Gandhi, I feel that, you know, I have known him since he was a child.
24:50He is growing, but sometimes he gets a little distinct.
24:54For example, they say that if Home Minister is guilty, he should resign.
24:59If he is not guilty, he should resign.
25:00I mean, if you want to move a major person like the Home Minister, you have to have a proper
25:07debate.
25:08You have to make your case.
25:09Simply to say in two words, did you organize a shooting?
25:13If so, you must go.
25:15Did you not?
25:16If you have done, then you are incompetent.
25:18Therefore, you must go.
25:19I mean, this is…
25:20These shortcuts are not going to work, Rajdeep.
25:23I am sorry.
25:24Can I…
25:24Rahul, I think, also has got to…
25:27Yes.
25:28Can I ask you…
25:29Be a little more cautious.
25:31Can I ask you in conclusion, do you know…
25:33Who is the best parliament…
25:35Who is the best parliamentarian in your…
25:38That you've had while you were in parliament all those years and that you've seen?
25:42Is there someone who shines out or one or two people who shined out for you as India's best parliamentarian?
25:48I would say…
25:48I would say…
25:51Professor Hiran Mukherjee…
25:53Of the left.
25:54Of the CPM.
25:55Yes.
25:55He was a great parliamentarian.
25:57Nas Pai, the socialist…
26:00From my state of Maharashtra.
26:01He was a great parliamentarian.
26:01Yes.
26:02You know, there were people who, when they spoke, the government was there.
26:06Nas Pai is from your area.
26:07Yes.
26:07He always said that the Ratlagiri mangoes are the best in India.
26:12Yes.
26:13I'm sure you agree.
26:14Yes, I do.
26:15I…
26:15But there were great parliamentarians, there's no doubt.
26:18Right.
26:19Well, I hope…
26:20But…
26:20You know, those sort of parliamentarians seem to have disappeared now.
26:24Well…
26:25You know, Dr. Karam…
26:26I'm not a bad parliamentarian myself…
26:29No, no, you were not a bad parliamentarian yourself.
26:31You came well prepared to parliament and that's what we need.
26:34We need people who come with preparation, are ready to discuss, ready to debate.
26:38Yes.
26:39But then both sides need to reach out to each other in a spirit…
26:43Do some depth homework.
26:43That's right.
26:43But they need to reach out to each other in a spirit of mutual respect.
26:47I think the message you've sent, treat them as opponents, not your enemies.
26:51Shatruta mat kariyeh.
26:53The moment that happens, then parliament loses out.
26:56Yes.
26:56Dr. Karan Singh, as always a privilege talking to you on the show today.
27:01Thank you very much.
27:02And…
27:03It's a pleasure to have you on the show.
27:04My favourite anchor.
27:05Thank you very much, sir.
27:11My favourite anchor.
27:12I guess my average age of those who watch my show is steadily going up.
27:17Okay.
27:17Let's from there turn to another controversy because a political firestorm has erupted over
27:22a Shuddhi Karan Yagna in Uttarakhand's Haldwani.
27:26After Congress President Malikarjun Kargay's rally at the same venue saw a group doing Shuddhi Karan.
27:35The Rao reached parliament too.
27:38The BJP forced to distance itself from it.
27:40Take a look.
27:58The BJP does not subscribe to such activities.
28:03Never.
28:05A speech.
28:09A Shuddhi Karan Yagna.
28:12And now, a political storm.
28:18A route that began in Uttarakhand's Haldwani Ramlila ground has now reached parliament, triggering
28:24a fierce face-off in the upper house.
28:27After my speech, Congress President questioned whether such an act is compatible with democracy
28:34and the constitution.
28:35I have not given the name of any society, any religion.
28:43I just told them to tell them.
29:05The BJP was quick to rebut the charges.
29:10Leader of House, J.P. Nadda, called the incident deeply distressing.
29:38So what exactly happened in Haldwani?
29:40On August 8, Kargay addressed the Congress's Vijay Shankanad rally at the Ramlila ground.
29:47Three days later, members of the Shri Ram Sena Dharmarth Seva Nyas conducted a purification
29:54ceremony at the venue.
29:56The organization said the ritual was carried out over what it called objectionable slogans
30:01raised during the political program.
30:20But on the ground, the issue has taken a sharper political turn.
30:25The Congress staged a massive protest.
30:39But the BJP is distensing itself completely.
30:59A stage in Haldwani has triggered a battle over caste and political conduct.
31:07We are a report India today.
31:14Okay, let's turn from there to another of our special focus.
31:17A food safety crackdown is now spreading across Bengaluru from Mumbai.
31:22From luxury hotels to government canteens and major food raids.
31:26Raids have uncovered hygienic kitchens, expired food, labeling violations,
31:31putting food safety firmly under the scanner.
31:35At the moment, Bengaluru is witnessing it.
31:38Take a look.
31:56The crackdown on eateries in two of India's biggest cities, Mumbai and Bengaluru, has made
32:02national headlines.
32:05The food raids have reached some of Bengaluru's most prominent government premises on Wednesday.
32:15Officials inspected food establishments at the Vidan Sada and the Vikas Sada.
32:19They found conditions at a restaurant to be unhygienic.
32:25Let me take you through these hotels.
32:27And this is where the raid took place yesterday.
32:30And the department found that there was substandard food quality and hygiene was not maintained,
32:38is what the department had been told.
32:42The inspections began with a bang on the 7th of August, when 63 star and 5 star hotels
32:47across the IT city were raided.
32:51The search uncovered several violations like expired food, incorrect FSSI labeling, unhygienic
32:57kitchens, improper storage of meat and poultry, fungal growth in vegetables, and poor segregation
33:03of vegetarian and non-vegetarian food.
33:08The enforcement drive also led to the seizure of more than one ton of food products and nearly
33:12100 litres of milk, curd and used cooking oil.
33:16Kitchens at Hotel Sky in UB City and pegs and bottles were seized or closed for enforcement action.
33:22The department also inspected international food chains including KFC, McDonald's and Subway.
33:42The crackdown which first started in Maharashtra is still on.
33:58The FDA has suspended the license of four Domino's Pizza outlets and one Pizza Hut establishment
34:04after a state-wide inspection revealed severe violations.
34:26The conditions listed included unhygienic conditions, inadequate segregation of raw and cooked food,
34:32gaps in pest control, missing expiry dates and so on.
34:36Under the Safe Food, Safe Maharashtra campaign, the FDA inspected 104 establishments on Tuesday.
34:43Two were ordered to shut immediately, 95 received improvement notices and five had their licenses
34:49suspended outright.
34:54With Nagarjun Dwarakannath in Bengaluru and Mustafa Sheikh in Mumbai, Bureau Report, India Today.
35:12And joining me now is UT Kader, Karnataka's Minister for Health and Family Welfare.
35:17He's one of those who's determinedly leading this charge, demanding food hygiene.
35:22Good to have you, Mr. Kader, on the show.
35:24It's very interesting that the government itself is now conducting raids through the Food Safety and Drug Administration
35:31on the Vidhan Saudha canteens, on Indira canteens.
35:36You're even raiding government restaurants and canteens on the basis of wanting greater food hygiene.
35:45Is this now a drive to completely clean up Bengaluru?
35:50And is that at all possible in a country with so much of street food, so many restaurants, people eating
35:57in all kinds of conditions?
35:58Do you really think it's possible to really have a successful drive for food hygiene?
36:08Our mission is to make Karnataka healthier again and stronger India is our determined duty.
36:17As far as now, we are not bothered whether it is Five Star Hotel or whether it is Indira Canteen
36:24or whether it is Vidana Saudha or Arogia Saudha or whether it is our international food outlets or warehouses like
36:34Blanket or Amazon or Zumoto.
36:37That is not important for us. We are concerned of the people. The people of Karnataka and our society is
36:43important.
36:44So whatever makes them healthy, that is our duty.
36:48We are not against any company or any hotels or any multinational outlets.
36:55We want to know what they are doing is not right and the people should have awareness that everything is
37:02not right on the food.
37:03So ultimately, the health is mainly concerned what food they consume.
37:09Today, the non-communicable diseases are like communicable diseases.
37:15Cancer, kidney and heart like Covid.
37:18If this continues within a few days, a few years more, after five to ten years, there are a lot
37:24of problems in Karnataka and India too.
37:26So it is a responsibility of each and everyone.
37:29No, no, Mr. Kadar, if I may stop you for a moment.
37:32The fact is that all these canteens, restaurants have all existed for years, for decades.
37:37Suddenly, the government seems to have got hyperactive and said, no, we are cracking down on food hygiene.
37:41That's why I asked you, do you believe it's possible to do it in a country like India, where as
37:46you well know as a long-standing MLA, food is cooked in all kinds of kitchens.
37:50Are you saying it is possible to impose uniform standards in a country like India where five-star hotels, Indira
37:58canteens and street corner food will have the same standards?
38:01Is that possible?
38:06See, nothing is impossible.
38:08But the civic society should join together.
38:10The citizens of India have to discipline themselves.
38:14When we can show, see this is the thing, be careful.
38:17Then if they want to go there only, what's our problem?
38:21Why we have taken the multinational outlets?
38:23Today, chicken is stored for more than six to seven months, minus 18 degree.
38:29What bun you prepare today will be very hot tomorrow.
38:32But the bun is from two, three months.
38:34If that is very soft, what are the chemicals, additives are put for that?
38:39This we should tell them.
38:41This is two, three months old bun and this is maybe two, three months old chicken.
38:45If they or their children want to eat that, then what we can do?
38:50But as a responsibility, it is my duty to tell the public this is a issue.
38:54Be careful, consider health.
38:57And early morning, maybe anything cold drink or any other…
39:01No, no.
39:01So are you going to impose uniform standards?
39:03Are you saying you will have uniform standards for all?
39:06Whether you are a five-star hotel, whether you are a street corner, street side stall.
39:12Because many will say you will destroy livelihoods.
39:14There is someone who is surviving on a street side stall.
39:18You will say, no, no.
39:18This is unhygienic and it will be closed down.
39:21Do you believe it will damage livelihoods?
39:24See, even…
39:27See, in these rays it is shown, in the street food also is healthy food and five-star also may
39:33not be healthy.
39:35It depends, one who prepares that.
39:37We can't tell all street food and small cantonians are unhealthy.
39:41It may be fresh.
39:42They may get in the morning, cook it in the afternoon, finish in the evening.
39:45They may use good oil.
39:47Who knows?
39:47At least we can see them cooking in front of our eyes.
39:50We can see them cleaning our plate in front of our eyes.
39:53We don't…
39:54What we know inside is what's happening.
39:56So, we can't tell small canteen and roadside shops are not hygienic.
40:01They may be good for health.
40:03And you can't tell because just the five-star hotel and the ambience is good.
40:07To look it is good.
40:08Everything is good, tasty also.
40:11So, ultimately we should say everything is… everyone from small petty shop to big hotel people should have self-discipline,
40:20should see as a concern that they have to give healthy food, they have to use healthy oil, they have
40:25to use correct milk.
40:27That is a duty.
40:29Can I…
40:29Can I ask you…
40:30We can give…
40:30Red and it's an…
40:32Can I ask you Mr. Kadar, have you taken a queue from Maharashtra?
40:35Yeah.
40:35Because in Mumbai we have seen this happening a couple of weeks ago where even clubs have been closed down,
40:41their licenses are being suspended.
40:42Is that what you are also going to do, taking a queue from Maharashtra if a particular restaurant or a
40:48particular shop does not conform to the standards, whether it's then a foreign multinational or a local shop, you will
40:55suspend their licenses?
41:00See, this is not new to me.
41:02I was a health minister in 2013, 13 years back.
41:06At that time I was the one who banned Gurka, I was the one who banned Hookka and we are
41:10the… got rules against the online… this one… e-cigarettes.
41:15All the… and that time only on health concern we have taken drastic steps and that time I had the
41:20Kodpa Act also, controlling tobacco and all these things were done from past.
41:24Now I got…
41:27I mean that was Karnataka's health minister who I spoke to earlier.
41:31Let's raise the big question, are the food rates timely and justified?
41:35Public health above all else?
41:36Is the sudden crackdown being seen, rightly seen as an abuse of power or the right step to take?
41:42How safe, ready is the food we eat?
41:44Joining me now is Ashok Khemka, former bureaucrat Dhariana government.
41:48Revan Himat Singhka is food farmer and digital creator.
41:52Good to have both of you on the show.
41:54So first I want to come to you Mr. Khemka just to understand.
41:57Do you believe that these FDA officials both in Mumbai and in Bengaluru who are going after these restaurants and
42:03street shops and five-star hotels and multinational outlets, are they justified?
42:09Do you believe this is an abuse of power or do you believe this is absolutely the right thing to
42:13do?
42:13The FDA must crack down.
42:18Rajdeep, this is by and large the action which should have been taken since the Act, the Food Safety and
42:24Standards Act of 2006 was brought into enforcement.
42:29It is heartening to see that you can, this is in the public domain since this regulatory action is being
42:36taken.
42:36But the right course of action, what should be the right course of action?
42:41You know, there are certain questions always in any kind of action, but you see whether the heart is in
42:48the right place.
42:48So the heart in both Karnataka and Maharashtra is in the right place regarding these stern actions taken.
42:54But there has been some slips here and there, and this has been correctly observed by the Bombay High Court
43:01in the famous case of Parkin by Radisson in Navy Mumbai case.
43:05So the High Court has pointed out a certain, you know, corrective measures like there must be a notice before
43:14a license is suspended or before it is cancelled.
43:18Only in case of serious risk to public health can immediate action be taken.
43:25So that is one caution the High Court has said.
43:28And the action must be proportional.
43:31It must not be too much disproportional.
43:33In the case of Parkin, the High Court observed that there was a 95 percent compliance and two insects were
43:40found, one in the dishwasher and one in the sweets preparation area.
43:44And suspending the license on the basis of this, you know, in inverted quotes, minor infraction was kind of a
43:53disproportionate action.
43:54And third, it said that the action must be even-handed.
43:58That is, you must take action against the government eateries as well as the private commercial establishments.
44:03I would like to add one thing which has been missed out in this action, that educational institutions and hospitals,
44:11they must be covered.
44:13The canteens must be covered because there are unhygienic conditions there and the students and the hospital attendants, they partake
44:21of that food.
44:21So these two institutions which have a large clientele and which affect the masses, they should as well be covered
44:27because we have lost track of the hospitals and the educational institutions where these eateries are there.
44:34Right.
44:34I want to, I want to bring in, I want to bring in, I want to bring in Revan Himmat
44:38Singh on this point because Revan, you know, in a country as diverse and large as ours, we know that
44:44street food is loved by all.
44:46Now, until now, we've never had these kind of food raids taking place. Now, suddenly everyone has a fear factor.
44:53Do you believe that Indian restaurants and indeed street food stalls or even foreign outlets, some of them have not
45:01focused enough on hygiene?
45:04Is this a wake-up call?
45:07100% it is a wake-up call. And just because the raids are happening now does not mean that
45:12the problem is happening now. The problem has existed even 10 years ago, 20 years ago. It's just that the
45:16raids did not happen back then.
45:18So, it is extremely sad and tragic that in a land, it is extremely sad and tragic that in a
45:24country of farmers, we cannot trust the food we eat. And this is right from the poor to the rich,
45:30no one can trust the food we eat. And right from five-star hotels to street food vendors, everyone is
45:36at fault because you see unhygienic food in every strata of the society.
45:43But you track this entire sector closely. Do you believe that no one pays attention to hygiene? Or is there
45:52a marked difference between, let's say, the top quality restaurants and what a street corner owner, I mean, who has
45:58very limited facilities can do? Can we put them all in the same bucket?
46:07Hello? Can you put them in the same bucket?
46:10Okay. So, yes. So, there are obviously differences. Some people are doing more than others. Like some restaurants are giving
46:17better quality food and there are more actions being taken. But by and large, if you just step into the,
46:25like whether it's a dark store or a quick commerce or whether it's a street food which is right in
46:30front of us or whether it's hotels, by and large, it's not really being that clean.
46:35And of course, we can't say all of them are unsafe. But we need much stricter raids going on because
46:41for every one raid, there are so many more restaurants which get fearful.
46:46So, they will take actions. For every one raid and every one restaurant which is getting caught, many more will
46:51get, you know, cautious of what the actions which are taking place.
46:56Okay. I'm going to leave it there. We'll try and broaden this debate one of these days by having a
47:02special show on it. But for now, Ashok, Kim and Revan, thank you very much for joining us.
47:05I think it's a good step. At the end of the day, anything that can improve the quality of food
47:11hygiene is an important step.
47:14Rather than see it as an abuse of power, see it as a fierce implementation of law so long as
47:19the law is evenly implemented across the board and doesn't result in any targeting of a particular establishment.
47:30Let's turn to our Get Real India story. The Kaur Yatra may be over, but Haridwar is now confronting its
47:37aftermath.
47:38Shocking visuals have emerged from the cleanup. Bottles found inside changing rooms, some allegedly filled with urine and left behind.
47:46Alongside that, the sheer volume of waste has put the city's sanitary machinery under massive pressure.
47:53Get Real India.
48:234.8 crore devotees.
48:25A sacred journey, a city overwhelmed.
48:31The Kaur Yatra has ended in Haridwar, but leaves a trail of waste.
48:43Almost 7,000 metric tons of garbage were collected during the Kaur Mera.
48:49And 2,000 tons came in just the final two days.
48:55The civic body deployed 1,000 extra, swachita dhuts and more than 80 vehicles.
49:00Yet, the garbage kept piling up.
49:06A pilgrimage built around the Ganga.
49:09Faith and Lord Shiva, but devotion cannot mean disrespecting the sacred city.
49:20A force that was brand new for a whole area.
49:21For 30 days, if we saw the Kauris on the 30th like this, we saw that Kauras可以 use 7,000
49:25metric tons of Kauras.
49:27And if a regular Kauras has been detected with having 4,000 colors of Kauras, that are 4,000 metric
49:32tons of Kauras.
49:49And then came these disturbing visuals from Harki Paudi.
49:55Bottles found inside changing rooms, some allegedly filled with urine and abandoned.
50:01The visuals have gone viral.
50:07To be clear, the allegation is against some individuals, not the millions of pilgrims.
50:17But if even a fraction of these allegations are true, this is not just about garbage.
50:22It is about civic sense.
50:24It is about basic human decency.
50:35The question is bigger than the garbage left behind.
50:38Devotion is not just about carrying the Ganga home.
50:41It is about leaving Haridwar with the respect it deserves.
50:47With Mudhut Agarwal, Bureau Report, India Today.
50:58I hope someone is waking up when we put out these stories.
51:01That's our only intention here.
51:03The kind of stories that are not done on prime time in news need to be done
51:08because they are wake-up calls to ensure some kind of accountability.
51:12Now, let's turn to another such story because potholes are usually a civic headache.
51:17But in Pune's Chakan industrial area, where many of Maharashtra's leading industrial units are there,
51:24the area could be turning into an economic threat.
51:27Because around 20 industries there, near Pune, are considering relocation,
51:33citing broken roads, crippling traffic, poor waste management, and yes, the potholes.
51:40Take a look.
51:50This is not just a pothole problem.
51:53This is an industrial crisis.
52:21The result, 20 industries are now mulling relocation.
52:29This is an industrial crisis in 20-70 years.
52:31This is a former
52:32This is an industrial crisis Reserve ulits.
53:16But behind these numbers are
53:18thousands of workers, thousands of families whose livelihoods depend on these factories staying here.
53:28For workers, the crisis is already real. Commute times have tripled.
53:34Traffic has become a daily odin and what should be a journey to work has become a daily battle.
53:56But the government is downplaying the issue, rejecting the claim of a mass exodus.
54:02There are non- almidens of the pandemic.
54:05We are including a daily balance and a daily balance.
54:11In the industry, there is no need for government.
54:15The industry is a father.
54:18It is still a father to give the hospital.
54:21It is a father.
54:25But whether it is an exodus or not, the warning signs are staring Maharashtra in the face.
54:34When industries are forced to consider leaving because of potholes, traffic and missing basic infrastructure,
54:41the question is simple. How long before bad roads drive away good jobs?
54:47Bureau Report, India Today.
54:56Unacceptable really, the way potholes seem to be exponentially growing.
55:02Nothing stops them.
55:03Okay, let me turn to a story of a powerful sign of change in Bastar.
55:08That's a good news story.
55:09Because at National Handloom Day in Raipur, rehabilitated Naksal women from Bastar and Sukma walked the ramp in traditionally Chattisgadi
55:18handlooms.
55:18Turning a recent past of violence into a future built on skill, culture and dignity.
55:25The launch of the Koshal Fab for Chattisgad's Kosa Silk added to the message,
55:30Bastar's new identity is being woven through skill, self-reliance and tradition.
55:34You won't see these images a few years ago.
55:38This must be seen as potentially a positive sign.
55:43Well, on that positive note, let's say goodnight, goodbye.
55:51Jai Hind Shubratri, Namaskar.
55:54That was the news without the noise.
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