WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.440 --> 00:00:04.080 Early childhood development plays the foundation for a child's future, 2 00:00:04.440 --> 00:00:07.120 with the first five years playing a crucial role in 3 00:00:07.160 --> 00:00:11.000 shaping their lives and overall well being. Ensuring that children 4 00:00:11.080 --> 00:00:15.199 receive proper care not only improves individual outcomes, but also 5 00:00:15.240 --> 00:00:20.039 contributes to healthier, more productive societies. However, achieving these outcomes 6 00:00:20.120 --> 00:00:24.120 requires consistent and adequate financing. Today, we are excited to 7 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:27.719 bring to you our fifth episode in collaboration with Mobile Crushes, 8 00:00:28.000 --> 00:00:31.960 where we talk about prioritizing financing for early childhood development 9 00:00:32.280 --> 00:00:35.679 with Sheikufei Zoji, who is the Global technical lead at 10 00:00:35.719 --> 00:00:37.880 Early Childhood Development Action Network. 11 00:00:38.200 --> 00:00:40.880 The episode will air today at eight am. Do not 12 00:00:41.039 --> 00:00:41.880 forget to tune in. 13 00:00:42.280 --> 00:00:44.640 You can find the links to our previous episodes with 14 00:00:44.719 --> 00:00:46.479 Mobile Crushes in the description. 15 00:00:47.000 --> 00:00:48.359 Now on with the show. 16 00:00:52.200 --> 00:00:54.920 Hi, I am Nahari Kananda and you are listening to 17 00:00:55.000 --> 00:01:03.079 three things in an Express News show. In this episode, 18 00:01:03.119 --> 00:01:07.280 we talk about allegations of misappropriation of the nations at 19 00:01:07.280 --> 00:01:10.560 the Western Navi Temple after nearly twenty tons of the 20 00:01:10.599 --> 00:01:14.959 shrine's silver offerings were tested. We also discuss what senior 21 00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:18.560 government officials have to say regarding the demands for Educational 22 00:01:18.560 --> 00:01:22.879 Minister TARMINDR. Pradhan's resignation post the neat paper leak. But 23 00:01:23.120 --> 00:01:25.799 we begin today by talking about a law which would 24 00:01:25.879 --> 00:01:29.040 change the legal status of One Day Matram. In the 25 00:01:29.120 --> 00:01:33.200 upcoming monsoon session of the parliament, Union Home Minister Amitshah 26 00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:36.280 is set to introduce an amendment to the Prevention of 27 00:01:36.359 --> 00:01:40.840 Insults to National Honor Act nineteen seventy one. Now, at present, 28 00:01:41.079 --> 00:01:44.239 the law makes it a criminal offense to intentionally prevent 29 00:01:44.359 --> 00:01:48.000 the singing of the national anthem Juhan Gunman or disturb 30 00:01:48.040 --> 00:01:51.959 an assembly engaged in singing it. The proposed amendment would 31 00:01:52.000 --> 00:01:54.680 bring the national song One Day Matrm within the same 32 00:01:54.760 --> 00:01:58.239 legal protection. Now, before we go ahead, it's important for 33 00:01:58.319 --> 00:02:01.560 us to understand how this song written by Bunkim Chundra 34 00:02:01.599 --> 00:02:04.799 Strategy came to be and how it rose to prominence. 35 00:02:05.159 --> 00:02:08.840 Here's the Indian expresses Vekaspartak, who spoke to us previously 36 00:02:08.960 --> 00:02:09.759 on the podcast. 37 00:02:11.159 --> 00:02:14.280 Yeah, so basically it happened that in eighteen seventy five, 38 00:02:14.479 --> 00:02:18.439 One Day Mathram was first composed independently and separately, and 39 00:02:18.680 --> 00:02:22.439 it was basically a description of what Bunkim saw as 40 00:02:22.520 --> 00:02:25.360 quote and quote the Motherland. Now, apart from the first 41 00:02:25.360 --> 00:02:28.680 two stanzas, which are you know, descriptions of the beauty 42 00:02:28.680 --> 00:02:31.719 of the country. There were other stanzas as well that 43 00:02:31.759 --> 00:02:35.199 came up, and those stanzas were a bit more of 44 00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:39.960 having some religious undertones because they described the motherland as 45 00:02:40.560 --> 00:02:45.280 variously as you know, Durga, Saraswati Lakshmi. So that was 46 00:02:45.319 --> 00:02:48.319 the full one day Mathram that came up in Annan 47 00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:51.919 the Mutt. Now in nineteen thirties, the Indian National Congress 48 00:02:51.960 --> 00:02:55.039 was trying very hard to get Muslims on board in 49 00:02:55.080 --> 00:02:58.000 the freedom struggle and to ensure that Muslims did not 50 00:02:58.360 --> 00:03:01.240 join the Muslim League. And in nineteen thirty seven the 51 00:03:01.319 --> 00:03:04.120 Congress Working Committee actually went through the whole thing and 52 00:03:04.199 --> 00:03:06.919 they decided that the first two stanzas of one d 53 00:03:07.039 --> 00:03:10.199 Maram have been an inspiration for millions of people in 54 00:03:10.199 --> 00:03:13.520 India who have been freedom fighters or who have taken 55 00:03:13.560 --> 00:03:15.639 part in the freedom struggle, who have gone to jail, 56 00:03:15.879 --> 00:03:18.639 who have been beaten up, who have sometimes been executed. 57 00:03:18.919 --> 00:03:22.319 So they said that these two stanzas must be given 58 00:03:22.439 --> 00:03:25.719 due respect and should be used. And they said the 59 00:03:25.800 --> 00:03:30.319 remaining stanzas, which are being seen as some kind of 60 00:03:30.400 --> 00:03:34.240 having religious illusions, they can be avoided for national purposes. 61 00:03:34.639 --> 00:03:38.360 And later when the question came as to what should 62 00:03:38.360 --> 00:03:41.199 be the national anthem of India, so around independence, it 63 00:03:41.280 --> 00:03:46.039 was decided that Jenagan One will become the national anthem, 64 00:03:46.199 --> 00:03:48.919 and the Nehru wrote a note to the Cabinet saying 65 00:03:48.960 --> 00:03:53.159 that it was more amenable to orchestral rendering because the 66 00:03:53.240 --> 00:03:55.919 national anthem has to be sung across the world and 67 00:03:56.560 --> 00:03:59.599 Jenagan Ones was easier put to tune than One Day 68 00:03:59.639 --> 00:04:02.400 Mapra though one Day Matraam had also been put to tune, 69 00:04:02.800 --> 00:04:06.159 but it was felt that Jendaman is more suited and 70 00:04:06.240 --> 00:04:08.120 it was said that the first two stanzas of the 71 00:04:08.120 --> 00:04:10.879 One Day Mathram will remain as the national song and 72 00:04:11.000 --> 00:04:13.560 will continue to get the respect that it had during 73 00:04:13.599 --> 00:04:14.360 the freedom struggle. 74 00:04:14.639 --> 00:04:16.360 So that is how the position emerged. 75 00:04:16.519 --> 00:04:21.000 So after that, gradually, as you see over the decades, 76 00:04:21.240 --> 00:04:24.600 the One Day Mathram became more associated with the VJP, 77 00:04:24.720 --> 00:04:28.519 the RS is the AVVP and almost every RSS function 78 00:04:28.920 --> 00:04:32.399 or even JP function or with the Archiparissus function also 79 00:04:32.600 --> 00:04:36.000 has you know, a recital of one Day Mathram on campuses. 80 00:04:36.040 --> 00:04:39.600 The AVP in its pamphlets and leaflets actually says one 81 00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:42.959 day Athram is a form of salutation, so gradually it 82 00:04:43.040 --> 00:04:47.439 became more associated with the Hindutu than with the Indian 83 00:04:47.519 --> 00:04:49.920 National Congress, though the Congress continued to say that we 84 00:04:49.959 --> 00:04:51.319 respect the first two stanzas. 85 00:04:52.240 --> 00:04:54.920 Now the bill comes months after the Home Minister issued 86 00:04:54.959 --> 00:04:57.759 guidelines on the singing and playing of the national song, 87 00:04:58.120 --> 00:05:01.519 including when it may be sung and how audiences should respond. 88 00:05:01.959 --> 00:05:05.120 So to understand what exactly does this amendment propose and 89 00:05:05.199 --> 00:05:08.360 what constitutional questions could arise if the bill is passed 90 00:05:08.639 --> 00:05:12.399 Michae colleague Cheshama speaks to the Indian expresses beneath balla. 91 00:05:13.680 --> 00:05:16.160 We need for those who may not know already. Could 92 00:05:16.160 --> 00:05:19.279 you start by reminding us of the legal distinction between 93 00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:21.959 Janaguannamana and one day Matram. 94 00:05:21.839 --> 00:05:25.000 And also explain what this new bill proposes. 95 00:05:25.720 --> 00:05:30.160 So there is a distinction in a legal framework between 96 00:05:30.199 --> 00:05:33.480 the national anthem and the national song. In our Constitution 97 00:05:33.920 --> 00:05:38.639 Article fifty one A, which lists out the fundamental duties 98 00:05:38.639 --> 00:05:41.519 for a citizen, it makes it a fundamental duty to 99 00:05:41.759 --> 00:05:45.399 respect the national anthem. On the other hand, the national 100 00:05:45.480 --> 00:05:49.160 song is not mentioned anywhere in the Constitution at all. 101 00:05:49.399 --> 00:05:52.720 Even if we look at government protocol For example, there 102 00:05:52.759 --> 00:05:56.360 are guidelines that the government has come out with regarding 103 00:05:56.680 --> 00:05:59.040 the playing of the national anthem and the playing of 104 00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:02.600 the national so both these can be played when the 105 00:06:02.639 --> 00:06:04.600 President or the governor. 106 00:06:04.279 --> 00:06:05.759 Arrives at state functions. 107 00:06:05.959 --> 00:06:10.199 But the national anthem is deeply integrated into military protocol 108 00:06:10.279 --> 00:06:15.279 things like regimental presentations, parades and Navy color hoistings. The 109 00:06:15.519 --> 00:06:18.519 National song, on the other hand, is mostly kept to 110 00:06:19.079 --> 00:06:24.000 what are defined as civil investitures. And of course still 111 00:06:24.040 --> 00:06:29.199 now the national anthem had protection under the Prevention of 112 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:31.040 Insults to National Honor Act. 113 00:06:31.519 --> 00:06:33.519 You asked what the act does right. 114 00:06:33.560 --> 00:06:39.759 Basically, the Act says that intentionally preventing the singing of 115 00:06:39.959 --> 00:06:44.759 the national anthem is a criminal offense, and what this 116 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:47.759 new bill is now doing is it is bringing the 117 00:06:47.800 --> 00:06:50.560 same protection to the national song as well. So just 118 00:06:50.600 --> 00:06:54.759 like Jananamann, now intentionally preventing the singing of one day 119 00:06:54.800 --> 00:06:58.560 Mathram or causing a disturbance while it's being sung would 120 00:06:58.639 --> 00:07:01.600 become a criminal offenseable by up to three years in 121 00:07:01.639 --> 00:07:05.959 prison or a fine or both. So what this does 122 00:07:06.040 --> 00:07:10.639 is essentially, in a way, brings the national song to 123 00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:15.920 almost an equivalent legal status with the National anthem. At 124 00:07:16.040 --> 00:07:21.319 least when it comes to its protection through criminal penalty. 125 00:07:21.560 --> 00:07:24.759 Underneath, Why now and also why is this being seen 126 00:07:24.800 --> 00:07:27.319 as such a significant legal change? 127 00:07:28.439 --> 00:07:29.319 Why now? 128 00:07:29.480 --> 00:07:32.759 I think it's hard to say, right because earlier they 129 00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:38.279 hear the government conducted a discussion in Parliament on Vanday 130 00:07:38.319 --> 00:07:42.600 Mathram and even this bill Statement of Objects and Reasons, 131 00:07:42.600 --> 00:07:46.439 it points out that in the Constituent Assembly the President, 132 00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:50.279 Doctor rajen the Prasad had declared that Vanda Mathriam should 133 00:07:50.279 --> 00:07:52.120 have equal status with Jenaganama. 134 00:07:52.240 --> 00:07:53.399 Now, whether he. 135 00:07:53.439 --> 00:07:56.920 Had actually done that and what the full context of 136 00:07:56.959 --> 00:07:57.680 that was that. 137 00:07:57.720 --> 00:07:59.720 Is like a whole different discussion. 138 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:03.639 But it seems to me that the objective behind this 139 00:08:03.759 --> 00:08:08.560 is purely political. There is no overarching legal need for 140 00:08:08.680 --> 00:08:13.040 doing this. Why this is significant is because, as I said, 141 00:08:13.240 --> 00:08:17.040 it brings the National Song to the same legal footing 142 00:08:17.279 --> 00:08:20.639 as the National Anthem when it comes to legal protection, 143 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:24.319 even though the National Song does not have a constitutional 144 00:08:24.639 --> 00:08:28.879 status like the National Anthem does. Right, And this can 145 00:08:29.199 --> 00:08:33.919 I suppose, trigger not just debates in the public discourse, 146 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:39.480 but also perhaps like legal debates over whether it is 147 00:08:39.600 --> 00:08:43.440 legitimate to bring this kind of statutory protection to the 148 00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:47.159 National song and make it equal to the National Anthem 149 00:08:47.240 --> 00:08:50.360 when both of them are clearly not on the same 150 00:08:50.440 --> 00:08:54.039 constitutional footing. And once a bill is passed, if there 151 00:08:54.039 --> 00:08:59.919 are prosecutions that happen over alleged insults to the national song, 152 00:09:00.320 --> 00:09:05.639 then we might see litigation over the constitutionality of this amendment. 153 00:09:05.320 --> 00:09:06.960 In courts right. 154 00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:09.240 And given that it is seen as a criminal offense, 155 00:09:09.440 --> 00:09:12.879 if this bill becomes law, what kinds of conduct would 156 00:09:13.000 --> 00:09:17.320 actually become punishable? Does it criminalize refusing to sing or 157 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:19.840 only actively disrupting the singing? 158 00:09:20.519 --> 00:09:23.279 It doesn't say anything about refusing to sing, and it 159 00:09:23.360 --> 00:09:28.320 targets only intentionally preventing the singing or causing disturbance to 160 00:09:29.120 --> 00:09:32.720 the singing of the song. So this is the language 161 00:09:32.759 --> 00:09:36.919 of the legal provision which is being added. And this 162 00:09:37.080 --> 00:09:39.559 is also the language of the legal provision which already 163 00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:43.679 protects the national anthem. To understand what it means in practice, 164 00:09:43.679 --> 00:09:49.080 if we look at previously decided cases involving the national anthem. So, 165 00:09:49.159 --> 00:09:52.080 for example, in twenty fourteen, the Kerala High Court had 166 00:09:52.279 --> 00:09:54.639 looked at a case where a person was accused of 167 00:09:54.840 --> 00:09:57.960 making a hue and cry while the national anthem was 168 00:09:58.120 --> 00:10:01.200 being played, and the judge in that case ruled that 169 00:10:01.440 --> 00:10:06.519 making loud or contemptuous noises to obstruct the singing of 170 00:10:06.559 --> 00:10:11.200 the National anthem is covered within the nineteen seventy one Act. 171 00:10:11.480 --> 00:10:15.279 So we're not talking about refusing to sing. We're talking 172 00:10:15.320 --> 00:10:21.320 about active intentional disruption. In fact, the Supreme Court had 173 00:10:21.519 --> 00:10:24.960 held in a landmark judgment in nineteen eighty six bijoim 174 00:10:24.960 --> 00:10:29.080 Manual versus Union of India, that refusing to sing the 175 00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:33.440 national anthem is not an offense under the nineteen seventy 176 00:10:33.480 --> 00:10:36.080 one Act. What had happened in that case was that 177 00:10:36.240 --> 00:10:41.080 three children from the Jehovah's Witnesses sect of the Christian faiths. 178 00:10:41.080 --> 00:10:44.879 They were expelled from their school in Kerala because they 179 00:10:45.279 --> 00:10:49.120 would stand in silence while the National anthem played at 180 00:10:49.120 --> 00:10:52.360 the school but refused to sing because their religious faith 181 00:10:52.519 --> 00:10:56.240 only permits singing praises to their God. And when the 182 00:10:56.279 --> 00:10:58.960 case reached the Supreme Court, the Court ruled in their favor, 183 00:10:59.039 --> 00:11:02.679 stating that their expulsion from school was a violation of 184 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:05.919 their fundamental right to free speech and religious freedom. And 185 00:11:05.960 --> 00:11:09.200 the Court made a very important distinction that there is 186 00:11:09.240 --> 00:11:12.720 no legal provision forcing anyone to actually sing the national 187 00:11:12.720 --> 00:11:17.440 anthem and showing proper respect like standing up and staying 188 00:11:17.519 --> 00:11:21.960 silent while the anthem is being played is enough, great. 189 00:11:21.679 --> 00:11:24.360 And we understand that. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court 190 00:11:24.519 --> 00:11:28.320 dismissed a challenge to the Center's advisory on Monde Matram, 191 00:11:28.440 --> 00:11:32.919 noting that it carried no penal consequences. So does this 192 00:11:33.039 --> 00:11:36.039 bill potentially alter the constitutional balance? 193 00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:40.960 That is a big question for sure, because, as I said, 194 00:11:41.080 --> 00:11:44.679 the objective behind this bill seems to me to be political, 195 00:11:44.759 --> 00:11:49.639 and it will lead to debates and discussions on nationalism 196 00:11:49.679 --> 00:11:53.399 and how patriotism is expressed in public spaces right now. 197 00:11:53.559 --> 00:11:56.320 The case that you referred to earlier this year, in 198 00:11:56.440 --> 00:12:01.720 that the petitioner had argued that compelling people to sing 199 00:12:01.759 --> 00:12:05.320 a song regardless of their faith could feel like forced 200 00:12:05.639 --> 00:12:10.000 demonstration of loyalty, and the Court had dismissed that petition 201 00:12:10.080 --> 00:12:13.879 by saying that the government advisory does not carry any 202 00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:18.320 penal consequences. Therefore, there is no coercion to anyone and 203 00:12:18.519 --> 00:12:21.120 no forcible singing being. 204 00:12:20.919 --> 00:12:22.519 Mandated by the guidelines. 205 00:12:22.600 --> 00:12:25.399 Now with this law, if it comes in, even though 206 00:12:25.480 --> 00:12:29.480 targets disturbance rather than disturbance of singing of the national 207 00:12:29.519 --> 00:12:33.279 anthem and does not exactly compel singing of the national 208 00:12:33.320 --> 00:12:37.000 song or punished silence. I'm sure like there will surely 209 00:12:37.159 --> 00:12:40.519 be some test cases where the threat of a three 210 00:12:40.600 --> 00:12:44.919 year jail term under this law could be misused by 211 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:50.000 bad actors by crowds to target either minorities or dissenters 212 00:12:50.080 --> 00:12:53.960 who simply choose to stay silent when the national song 213 00:12:54.080 --> 00:12:57.360 is being played. So when something like that happens, then 214 00:12:57.519 --> 00:13:03.240 definitely this might lead to difficult legal questions which will 215 00:13:03.279 --> 00:13:06.480 have to be eventually decided upon by quotes. 216 00:13:11.279 --> 00:13:14.519 And next we turn to allegations of the misappropriation of 217 00:13:14.600 --> 00:13:18.120 funds at the vsh No Navi Temple. After a similar 218 00:13:18.120 --> 00:13:22.120 controversy over donations at the Ram Temple in Aodha, questions 219 00:13:22.200 --> 00:13:25.480 are now being raised about silver offerings made by devotees 220 00:13:25.759 --> 00:13:28.559 at the vashn Dav Shrine in Katra. A quote in 221 00:13:28.679 --> 00:13:32.159 Jamu is currently hearing a plea alleging the adulteration and 222 00:13:32.320 --> 00:13:36.759 possible misappropriation of silver worth nearly five hundred and fifty 223 00:13:36.840 --> 00:13:37.600 kole rupees. 224 00:13:38.039 --> 00:13:40.519 The controversy surfaced after tests. 225 00:13:40.159 --> 00:13:43.639 Reportedly found that only around five to six percent of 226 00:13:43.759 --> 00:13:48.000 nearly twenty tons of the shrine's silver offerings was actually silver. 227 00:13:48.480 --> 00:13:51.559 To understand what led to these allegations, how they came 228 00:13:51.600 --> 00:13:54.639 to light, and what exactly the quote is examining. We 229 00:13:54.679 --> 00:13:57.480 speak to the Indian expresses around Sharma who reported on 230 00:13:57.480 --> 00:14:00.960 the story. Aaron, can you begin by talking about the 231 00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:04.679 pattern in which donations are made at the vash Lav Temple. 232 00:14:05.559 --> 00:14:09.440 Yeah, you see that nearly one crewde people visit the 233 00:14:09.480 --> 00:14:12.080 holy shrine every year from all over the country and 234 00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:17.120 even a broad as well. And their donating cash through 235 00:14:17.200 --> 00:14:22.720 checks through demand draft are even in kind like gold, silver, 236 00:14:23.320 --> 00:14:29.000 and sometimes they donate even cattering hosekeeping items and even 237 00:14:29.080 --> 00:14:34.919 sponsor lungers something like that. And these donations they are 238 00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:40.120 collected at designated centers at the shrine en route to 239 00:14:40.600 --> 00:14:44.240 Katra and matavashn the v shrine the route on which 240 00:14:44.320 --> 00:14:48.600 these pilgrims track like ban Ganga in katraal so there 241 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:54.240 are designated counts where they make donations against proper receipts. 242 00:14:54.399 --> 00:14:58.519 And apart from that, shrine boat has double locked donation 243 00:14:58.679 --> 00:15:03.000 boxes kept at variou places where people donate directly. Also 244 00:15:03.159 --> 00:15:05.960 they put in cash, they put in gold, civil items 245 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:10.440 as well in those donation boxes. And those donation boxes 246 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:15.039 they are opened by dedicated committees comprising officials of the 247 00:15:15.080 --> 00:15:19.799 Shrine Board and security personnel headed by officers of the 248 00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:21.879 rank of sub regional magistrates. 249 00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:25.879 And how did concerns about misappropriation arise? 250 00:15:26.399 --> 00:15:27.480 Tell us what happened? 251 00:15:27.480 --> 00:15:31.840 Exactly what happened is simply shrine board. 252 00:15:31.919 --> 00:15:36.440 They sent approximately twenty tons of silver which had accommodated 253 00:15:36.679 --> 00:15:39.519 with them over a period of time, maybe six months 254 00:15:39.600 --> 00:15:42.039 or a year. They sent it to a government mint, 255 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:44.679 I believe in Hyderabad. But it was sent to a 256 00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:48.879 government mint for melting and extraction of pure silver. Out 257 00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:52.960 of those items, and what was surprising that only five 258 00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:56.240 to six percent of the consignment was found to contain 259 00:15:56.399 --> 00:15:59.799 genuine silver. Out of twenty tons, only five to six 260 00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:05.039 turned out to be genuine silver and restless metal comprising 261 00:16:05.360 --> 00:16:07.000 cardium and iron, etc. 262 00:16:07.440 --> 00:16:08.320 They were cheaper. 263 00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:12.279 Items, basicly and I don't have the temple authorities and 264 00:16:12.320 --> 00:16:14.759 the Shrine Board said anything regarding this. 265 00:16:15.840 --> 00:16:18.440 So far as the Shrine Board is concerned, they are 266 00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:21.679 yet to issue a formal statement or official statement. 267 00:16:21.440 --> 00:16:24.720 But many officials they suggest that. 268 00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:29.759 Devotees might have unknowingly purchased and donated fake silver, this 269 00:16:30.039 --> 00:16:33.600 impure silver from local vendors. They might have purchased and 270 00:16:33.799 --> 00:16:37.679 their suspicion is not also revote bases because most of 271 00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:41.279 the items in silver donated by them are in the 272 00:16:41.320 --> 00:16:45.440 form of shutters that umbrella type. Usually Devote is offered 273 00:16:45.440 --> 00:16:49.600 to gods and goddesses in the temples, and these shutters, 274 00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:52.720 which are available in the market all over the country, 275 00:16:52.799 --> 00:16:55.759 don't contain more than five percent or six percent silver, 276 00:16:56.039 --> 00:17:00.200 because shopkeepers may be charging the pilgrims for silver, but 277 00:17:00.279 --> 00:17:02.879 these are not one hundred percent or ninety percent silver. 278 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:06.400 But then is there any record which can be used 279 00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:09.200 to check whether the silver donated was real or not? 280 00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:12.119 How are these offerings tracked at the shrine? 281 00:17:12.680 --> 00:17:17.640 Basically shrine board officials they have a system to collect donations, 282 00:17:17.680 --> 00:17:20.759 as I have already told you that they collected donations 283 00:17:20.759 --> 00:17:23.559 against proper seats or even if it is put in 284 00:17:23.599 --> 00:17:27.400 the donation box, the donation box is doubly sealed. They 285 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:30.960 are twenty four by seven under CCTV surveillance and. 286 00:17:30.920 --> 00:17:33.240 When they are opened, they're opened. 287 00:17:32.799 --> 00:17:37.519 By teams comprising of shrine board officials, security personnel and 288 00:17:37.720 --> 00:17:41.640 even high ranking official like Astian from the state government. 289 00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:44.279 What they do after a particular. 290 00:17:43.839 --> 00:17:46.920 Time maybe three months, four months, or six months. They 291 00:17:47.160 --> 00:17:50.720 gather all these offerings which have accummulated over a period 292 00:17:50.720 --> 00:17:55.559 of time. Way then make the required all these euxercises 293 00:17:55.640 --> 00:17:59.440 done in presence of the team and under the surveillance 294 00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:04.279 of CCITY cameras. Then these badges are sent to Government 295 00:18:04.400 --> 00:18:09.480 Mint basically for melting so that pure silver or gold. 296 00:18:09.279 --> 00:18:10.680 Is extracted out of them. 297 00:18:10.880 --> 00:18:15.119 Even Shineboat doesn't hire their own transport for sending these 298 00:18:15.160 --> 00:18:18.079 items from Katra to the Government Mint. They are sent 299 00:18:18.359 --> 00:18:22.960 in transport which are working for the Government Mint. Because 300 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:27.079 the Government Mint must be transporting things to different parts 301 00:18:27.119 --> 00:18:31.079 of the country through Shrineboat sends all these donations in 302 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:34.799 transport which is arranged by the Government WINT, and even 303 00:18:34.839 --> 00:18:39.359 the security which goes with those vehicles is also belongs 304 00:18:39.400 --> 00:18:42.720 to the Government WINT. Shrineboat officials have nothing to do 305 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:46.240 with it. The Mint melts these items and conveys that 306 00:18:46.359 --> 00:18:49.680 this much is purity, This much pure gold or silver 307 00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:54.680 has been extracted the items sent by the Shineboat and arm. 308 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:58.519 What is the allegation exactly who launched the complaint and 309 00:18:58.839 --> 00:18:59.599 what does it say. 310 00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:05.000 Basically, a complaint was launched by a local advocate, Depuk Sherma, 311 00:19:05.240 --> 00:19:08.319 who is practicing in Jammu Shmir and Ladak High Court 312 00:19:08.440 --> 00:19:12.519 at Jamo. He said that the shrine boat had recently 313 00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:17.440 sent a twenty tons of silver for melting and only 314 00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:21.599 five to six percent of those twenty tons came out 315 00:19:21.640 --> 00:19:25.400 to be real silver, rest of US caadium, iron and 316 00:19:25.519 --> 00:19:30.000 other cheap items. He suspects basically that the boat is 317 00:19:30.480 --> 00:19:35.519 have offered pure silver offering or silver and there must 318 00:19:35.559 --> 00:19:39.759 be some kind of misappropriation at certle level within the 319 00:19:39.799 --> 00:19:43.880 shrine boat that the silver worth five hundred roots turned 320 00:19:43.920 --> 00:19:47.079 out to be only twenty thirty routes. He loyed a 321 00:19:47.160 --> 00:19:50.720 complaint with the crime branch. Later he approached a local 322 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:53.519 court in Jemo saying that crime branch did not act 323 00:19:53.559 --> 00:19:54.359 on his complaint. 324 00:19:54.519 --> 00:19:55.599 So you interwing. 325 00:19:55.960 --> 00:20:00.240 So allegation is just to find out that whither is 326 00:20:00.279 --> 00:20:04.960 there any misappropriation because he feels that pilgrims who will 327 00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:08.720 offer gold or silver at the shrine will not offer. 328 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:10.359 Fake silver to their deity. 329 00:20:10.480 --> 00:20:14.039 But Shrineboud says that pilgrim may not be offering a 330 00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:17.720 fake silver to their deity, but they must have unknowingly 331 00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:21.400 purchased fake silver from the market right. 332 00:20:21.319 --> 00:20:24.640 And have similar concerns been raised earlier as well. 333 00:20:25.480 --> 00:20:30.319 Actually, the controversy has occurred this time only, but Shrineboard 334 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:34.799 officials say that earlier in the past also silver which 335 00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:39.039 used to be sent to the government means lesser quantity 336 00:20:39.119 --> 00:20:42.519 of silver used to be extracted out of the items 337 00:20:42.559 --> 00:20:46.359 sent to the mint after melting. However, the quantity of 338 00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:50.119 silver extracted earlier was higher than. 339 00:20:50.000 --> 00:20:52.279 What they have come across this time. 340 00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:55.640 Maybe the reason is that prices of silver two have 341 00:20:55.759 --> 00:21:01.000 shot up, and pilgrims, while purchasing shutters and other silver 342 00:21:01.079 --> 00:21:05.440 items may be asking for things within a particular price 343 00:21:05.559 --> 00:21:10.440 tag and the sellers maybe providing them items with more impurity. 344 00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:13.839 So arul, how do we see this going forward? What 345 00:21:14.039 --> 00:21:15.240 happens now in the case? 346 00:21:16.440 --> 00:21:21.519 Recently after this controversy Rose lieuten Governor Monos Sinaw also 347 00:21:21.599 --> 00:21:24.720 happens to be the ex official chairperson of the Shrine Boat, 348 00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:28.319 he held a meeting of the entire board members and 349 00:21:28.599 --> 00:21:34.119 the Shrine Board senior officials. He reviewed the donation, procurement 350 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:38.039 and management process. At the same time, the local court 351 00:21:38.319 --> 00:21:42.720 where the picture has file Lloyd complaint seeking directions for 352 00:21:42.839 --> 00:21:44.000 registration of a. 353 00:21:44.119 --> 00:21:45.680 Fire by police. 354 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:49.599 The court has also summoned the inquiry Officer of the 355 00:21:49.720 --> 00:21:52.759 Crime Branch to appear before it on the next date 356 00:21:52.799 --> 00:21:57.039 of hearing, which is I think the July twenteen nine somewhere, 357 00:21:57.200 --> 00:22:01.759 and court is also looking in and at the same 358 00:22:01.799 --> 00:22:05.039 time Shrine board officials at the higher level they are 359 00:22:05.079 --> 00:22:06.759 also revealed their things. 360 00:22:11.240 --> 00:22:13.680 And in the end we talk about what senior government 361 00:22:13.720 --> 00:22:17.160 officials have to say in response to demands for Education 362 00:22:17.279 --> 00:22:18.160 Minister THERMAINR. 363 00:22:18.200 --> 00:22:19.319 Pradthans resignation. 364 00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:23.319 In conversation with The Indian Express, senior government functionaries said 365 00:22:23.640 --> 00:22:26.920 the Center has no intention of yielding to demands for 366 00:22:27.079 --> 00:22:31.400 Education Minister Thermainri Pradhans resignation, arguing that it has neither 367 00:22:31.440 --> 00:22:36.319 denied the lapses nor attempted to evait responsibility. Resident editor 368 00:22:36.440 --> 00:22:40.559 of The Indian Express's Mumbai newsroom, With Kachopra reported that 369 00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:44.079 senior government officials called the demand for the Education minister's 370 00:22:44.119 --> 00:22:47.519 resignation political. They said that the lapses behind the NEAT 371 00:22:47.640 --> 00:22:51.079 League have been fixed, Admissions under the three largest entrance 372 00:22:51.119 --> 00:22:55.920 exams NEAT, retest, CWET and JE mains are largely on 373 00:22:56.039 --> 00:22:58.960 track and the government is open to a debate. 374 00:22:58.680 --> 00:23:01.160 On the issue in the Parliament. This was the. 375 00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:04.200 Official sense at the senior level of the government on Tuesday, 376 00:23:04.480 --> 00:23:07.160 a day after the Juntra month of protests, which started 377 00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:10.920 with the Neatly controversy and further intensified leading to a 378 00:23:10.960 --> 00:23:13.119 police crackdown in the heart of the capital. 379 00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:14.960 The government's argument is that. 380 00:23:14.880 --> 00:23:18.359 The focus should now be on ensuring a smooth academic session, 381 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:23.200 rather than reopening a controversy that it considers administratively settled. 382 00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:26.599 The center's assessment is that those continuing to lead the 383 00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:30.400 protests are no longer the primary stakeholders affected by. 384 00:23:30.279 --> 00:23:31.440 The examination process. 385 00:23:31.880 --> 00:23:34.640 Officials said that majority of the students have gone back 386 00:23:34.680 --> 00:23:37.680 to campuses and the fact that Delhi University has admitted 387 00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:41.640 around seventy two thousand students is an indicator that academic 388 00:23:41.680 --> 00:23:45.440 activity has resumed. Riteka reported that officials said that in 389 00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:48.240 a democracy, people have the right to protest and they 390 00:23:48.279 --> 00:23:50.799 are not asking people not to do that. But who 391 00:23:50.839 --> 00:23:53.240 is raising the issue, how is it being raised and 392 00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:56.720 who is behind it are different questions. With regards to 393 00:23:56.759 --> 00:23:59.359 the leak, the officials said that the system had been 394 00:23:59.400 --> 00:24:02.759 compromised by the people that they had trusted and post 395 00:24:02.799 --> 00:24:03.119 the leak. 396 00:24:03.200 --> 00:24:04.160 They did not hide it. 397 00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:07.960 Instead, they accepted responsibility and try to fix the situation, 398 00:24:08.599 --> 00:24:11.440 even as it refuses to concede the demand for resignation. 399 00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:14.440 The government says it is not opposed to a dialogue 400 00:24:14.440 --> 00:24:17.400 and discussion in Parliament and it is fully prepared to 401 00:24:17.440 --> 00:24:23.720