WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.520 --> 00:00:03.960 In this episode, we talk about Mumbai, where the arrival 2 00:00:03.960 --> 00:00:06.639 of a bureaucrat has led to a crackdown on the 3 00:00:06.639 --> 00:00:10.599 food industry of the state, including well known establishments like 4 00:00:10.759 --> 00:00:15.000 Chirustam and Parsidiary Farm among others. We also talk about 5 00:00:15.039 --> 00:00:18.320 nearly forty people losing their lives due to reign related 6 00:00:18.359 --> 00:00:22.440 incidents in Gutrath, which is facing floods due to excessive rainfall. 7 00:00:23.120 --> 00:00:25.600 But first we talk about what finally led to the 8 00:00:25.640 --> 00:00:33.679 Hminra Pradhan's resignation and what that means for the ruling government. Hi, 9 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:36.479 I am Aherikan Nanda and you are listening to three 10 00:00:36.520 --> 00:00:44.000 things in an Express News show. Bringing more than a 11 00:00:44.039 --> 00:00:47.600 month of student protests across several cities in the country 12 00:00:47.640 --> 00:00:52.560 to an end, Union Education ministered Hermindra Pradhan resigned on Saturday. 13 00:00:53.079 --> 00:00:57.159 The government accepted the protesters' key demands, including Pradhan's resignation 14 00:00:57.600 --> 00:01:00.840 and assurance that no legal action would be taken against 15 00:01:00.840 --> 00:01:04.200 those who took part in the protests and compensation for 16 00:01:04.239 --> 00:01:08.000 the families of neat aspirants who died by suicide after 17 00:01:08.040 --> 00:01:11.400 the paper league in May. In an open letter posted 18 00:01:11.400 --> 00:01:14.319 on x, Pradhan said he had decided to step down 19 00:01:14.519 --> 00:01:17.560 in the interest of national unity and to ensure that 20 00:01:17.640 --> 00:01:21.400 students would not face legal hurdles and could instead focus 21 00:01:21.439 --> 00:01:25.159 on their education and careers. Post the announcement on X 22 00:01:25.239 --> 00:01:28.879 the Corporad Chunka party, which had mobilized the protests, celebrated 23 00:01:28.920 --> 00:01:29.359 the win. 24 00:01:31.719 --> 00:01:49.640 Very d tell you we are good. Yea hell is 25 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:57.400 karma Stepokar. 26 00:02:08.120 --> 00:02:12.039 Now, yesterday the government replaced Pradhan with Halad Joshi, who 27 00:02:12.080 --> 00:02:15.639 is also the Union Food and Consumer Affairs Minister. So 28 00:02:15.680 --> 00:02:19.360 to understand how events unfolded over the past month and 29 00:02:19.400 --> 00:02:22.599 what ultimately led to Pradhan's resignation, we speak to the 30 00:02:22.639 --> 00:02:27.400 Indian Expresses Jatin Anand, who has been reporting on the story. Jatin, 31 00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:31.680 what does Tarminro Pradhan's resignation mean in the current context, 32 00:02:32.159 --> 00:02:36.280 especially with protests across the country having demanded exactly that. 33 00:02:37.080 --> 00:02:40.919 It is certainly a big development to say the least. 34 00:02:41.159 --> 00:02:44.080 This is not only a very rare occasion where the 35 00:02:44.159 --> 00:02:47.960 PGP led India government has sort of retracted, sort of 36 00:02:48.039 --> 00:02:50.520 gone a couple of steps back to be able to 37 00:02:50.840 --> 00:02:55.240 move slightly forward in terms of the legislative business that 38 00:02:55.439 --> 00:02:58.960 it has on its agenda for the ongoing monsoon session, 39 00:02:59.240 --> 00:03:01.439 but in the largest scheme of things in terms of 40 00:03:01.560 --> 00:03:06.360 its administrative and governmental experience since it has come to power. 41 00:03:06.639 --> 00:03:10.759 This is just the second instance of a senior minister, 42 00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:13.639 with the first being mister M. J. Albert who had 43 00:03:13.680 --> 00:03:18.000 stepped down after met allegations had surfaced against him. So 44 00:03:18.039 --> 00:03:22.680 mister Dhmindra Padhan is the second senior cabinet minister from 45 00:03:22.759 --> 00:03:25.800 the JP led India government to put in his papers. 46 00:03:26.039 --> 00:03:28.960 And on the other hand, if we talk about the 47 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:33.240 government's functioning or the government's perception or the government's experience 48 00:03:33.400 --> 00:03:36.759 in power, the jpled India government's experience, this is the 49 00:03:36.800 --> 00:03:40.199 third time that they're climbing down from a nationwide from 50 00:03:40.240 --> 00:03:44.759 a national issue, with the first being the CAAA NRC 51 00:03:45.400 --> 00:03:49.560 protests which had spread across the country starting from Asam 52 00:03:49.639 --> 00:03:53.039 and with Asam being a major flashpoint. Following that, it 53 00:03:53.159 --> 00:03:57.039 was the three Farm laws which had the farmer community 54 00:03:57.080 --> 00:04:00.240 across states almost across the country up in arms, with 55 00:04:00.280 --> 00:04:02.919 the second such instance of such an issue which forced 56 00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:05.560 the j P led India government to climb down. So 57 00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:08.639 this is the third time that the JP led NDA 58 00:04:08.800 --> 00:04:11.639 government has taken two steps back to be able to 59 00:04:11.680 --> 00:04:14.800 move one step forward in terms of its larger. 60 00:04:14.560 --> 00:04:18.759 Agenda and what does his resignation mean for the government 61 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:19.680 and the BJP. 62 00:04:20.399 --> 00:04:23.879 Well, we must see this and this must be answered 63 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:26.839 from the point of view of the fact that the 64 00:04:26.959 --> 00:04:30.480 monsoon session of the Parliament is currently underway. This is 65 00:04:30.639 --> 00:04:34.839 a government which was looking to after it tried to 66 00:04:34.839 --> 00:04:37.800 bring in the Delimitation Package as it is called, which 67 00:04:37.839 --> 00:04:41.639 had a Constitution amendment and also a proposed law for 68 00:04:41.720 --> 00:04:44.839 delimitation of Lok Saba seats across the country and also 69 00:04:45.240 --> 00:04:48.360 tied along with that was the Women's Reservation build So 70 00:04:48.439 --> 00:04:52.120 for a government which had these important bills on its 71 00:04:52.120 --> 00:04:54.439 agenda and was looking to stitch together a two third 72 00:04:54.439 --> 00:04:57.360 majority which is required for it to be able to 73 00:04:57.600 --> 00:05:00.600 pass these laws, for that government, from that point of view, 74 00:05:00.600 --> 00:05:03.600 it is a very significant development it has instead of 75 00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:07.959 being able to move forward and get more numbers on 76 00:05:08.040 --> 00:05:11.800 its side, in this context, this is certainly a defeat. 77 00:05:12.519 --> 00:05:16.439 And Jatin, how have students and protesters reacted to his 78 00:05:16.480 --> 00:05:20.480 resignation and what kind of reactions have we seen from 79 00:05:20.639 --> 00:05:21.480 CGP leaders. 80 00:05:22.079 --> 00:05:25.720 So for these protesters from across age groups, from across 81 00:05:25.879 --> 00:05:30.240 academic courses, espousing different causes for them. It has been jubilation. 82 00:05:30.480 --> 00:05:33.079 It has triggered jubilation all around, so much so that 83 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:37.519 as soon as mister Dermindrupdan's sudden announcement of his stepping 84 00:05:37.560 --> 00:05:40.759 down from the education portfolio emerged yesterday, they were all 85 00:05:40.759 --> 00:05:42.759 at stat tic. I mean, all it takes is just 86 00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:46.439 going through one's social media timeline and there is jubilation 87 00:05:46.519 --> 00:05:49.920 all around as far as the current circumstances are concerned. 88 00:05:49.959 --> 00:05:52.199 So from that perspective, it is a victory that the 89 00:05:52.199 --> 00:05:55.199 students have rightly claimed for themselves, all the protesters have 90 00:05:55.279 --> 00:05:58.759 rightly claimed for themselves yesterday, and more or less the 91 00:05:58.839 --> 00:06:02.920 celebrations still continue, but they seem to be rather localized 92 00:06:03.040 --> 00:06:06.040 since the large focal point that Juandra Manther was is 93 00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:08.319 no longer there. It's been dismantled since last night. 94 00:06:08.839 --> 00:06:11.160 And you write that at the beginning of the week 95 00:06:11.399 --> 00:06:15.920 there were no indications that remainder Prashand would resign. In fact, 96 00:06:15.920 --> 00:06:20.079 the government didn't seem to be considering it. So what changed, 97 00:06:20.519 --> 00:06:24.920 what led to this decision, and what ultimately prompted his resignation. 98 00:06:25.879 --> 00:06:30.040 So a brief chronology of these four days is important 99 00:06:30.079 --> 00:06:33.079 to underline. So Monday you have these clashes which erupted 100 00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:37.000 between security personnel and students. Tuesday, as his customary, Prime 101 00:06:37.000 --> 00:06:40.920 ministerner In Remodi chaired a meeting of the NDA Parliamentary Party, 102 00:06:41.000 --> 00:06:43.560 which had representatives not just on the PJP but also 103 00:06:43.879 --> 00:06:47.879 from significant NDA allies like the TDP, the GDU and 104 00:06:47.920 --> 00:06:50.680 so on and so forth assembling in the Parliament. So, 105 00:06:50.759 --> 00:06:53.879 following this NDA parliamentary meeting, which happened in the parliament, 106 00:06:54.120 --> 00:06:58.680 Parliamentary Affairs Minister current Dju came out in briefed reporters 107 00:06:58.759 --> 00:07:02.560 about the fact that mister Moody had spoken about the issue. 108 00:07:02.600 --> 00:07:06.160 He had spoken about the classes between or rather alluded 109 00:07:06.279 --> 00:07:10.160 to the classes between students slash protesters and security personnel. 110 00:07:10.360 --> 00:07:13.600 According to mister Rigiju, in the meeting, mister Moody had 111 00:07:14.040 --> 00:07:17.399 underlined the fact that whenever an instance of a paper 112 00:07:17.480 --> 00:07:19.920 leak an exam paper league had come to light, the 113 00:07:20.040 --> 00:07:24.360 NBA government had moved swiftly to take action and also 114 00:07:24.360 --> 00:07:27.720 to underline that sure, there, okay, yes, it is unfortunate 115 00:07:27.800 --> 00:07:30.480 that there was a paper leak in the need UGC exam. 116 00:07:30.519 --> 00:07:34.759 But despite that, and following that, the government not only 117 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:38.160 ensured that the paper was canceled, but also ensured that 118 00:07:38.360 --> 00:07:42.360 the re examination could happen and lacks of students who 119 00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:45.439 had lost out on a possible opportunity to be able 120 00:07:45.480 --> 00:07:48.000 to qualify, how they were given a second chance at 121 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:50.879 this despite the paper leak. So on Wednesday we had 122 00:07:50.879 --> 00:07:54.720 the NDA take a step forward and put its weight 123 00:07:54.800 --> 00:07:57.759 behind a discussion of the need issue, and not just 124 00:07:57.879 --> 00:08:01.920 the need issue, but to discuss all instances of paper 125 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:04.600 leaks which have taken place across states in the country. 126 00:08:04.800 --> 00:08:08.839 On Thursday, the next day, the tone of the government 127 00:08:08.959 --> 00:08:12.199 more or less changed. It became less combative and he 128 00:08:12.279 --> 00:08:15.680 saw Prime Minister Narramudi try to take the issue ahead 129 00:08:15.720 --> 00:08:19.680 on himself by announcing on his X account that efforts 130 00:08:19.720 --> 00:08:22.879 were underway to ensure that fast track courts were established 131 00:08:22.959 --> 00:08:25.759 across the country to tackle such issues in the future. 132 00:08:25.879 --> 00:08:28.839 This was followed by a public appeal by Prime Minister 133 00:08:28.920 --> 00:08:32.080 Modi on his X account late on Thursday night, where 134 00:08:32.120 --> 00:08:35.840 he sought to seemingly address students himself. He began his 135 00:08:35.879 --> 00:08:39.559 address by calling his viewers friends, which, according to Party 136 00:08:39.600 --> 00:08:42.159 in Ciders, was a clear indication that he was directly 137 00:08:42.360 --> 00:08:45.200 attempting to address the student community of the country. 138 00:08:46.360 --> 00:09:08.759 Friends, the paper league, he are Italy paper lead such 139 00:09:10.799 --> 00:09:15.720 aid ahead. 140 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:23.840 And then on that very evening, within a few minutes, 141 00:09:23.960 --> 00:09:28.200 we had another big development take place, which was Sonmanchuk 142 00:09:28.600 --> 00:09:31.799 ending is fast at the hands of union ministers JP 143 00:09:31.919 --> 00:09:35.559 Nada and doctor Singh. And then on Friday Prime mister 144 00:09:35.679 --> 00:09:39.759 Movie posted the same video message on Instagram and he 145 00:09:39.840 --> 00:09:42.879 actually thanked his audience and you know the people per 146 00:09:42.919 --> 00:09:47.360 se for giving quote unquote constructive suggestions on his previous post. 147 00:09:48.519 --> 00:10:00.759 Thank your friends, called the rath video posta update this 148 00:10:05.320 --> 00:10:19.080 thanks to everybody Ya papara amaranata or a sakaratas, thank you, 149 00:10:19.399 --> 00:10:20.519 thank you dothor. 150 00:10:22.120 --> 00:10:27.600 So this sort of underlying the fact that all responses, 151 00:10:27.799 --> 00:10:32.919 all public sentiment around what was happening at Janramantar. So 152 00:10:33.039 --> 00:10:36.039 all of this was being monitored and it appears and 153 00:10:36.080 --> 00:10:38.879 we are told reliably that it was only after the 154 00:10:38.919 --> 00:10:41.759 government realized that there is no comeback from this, that 155 00:10:41.879 --> 00:10:46.919 there is no other alternative left then honoring the primary demand, 156 00:10:47.039 --> 00:10:52.039 which was mister's resignation. So the government realized that the 157 00:10:52.080 --> 00:10:56.360 only alternative left for them is to just get that done. 158 00:10:56.519 --> 00:11:00.200 Right and Jatin now Joshi has taken over as the 159 00:11:00.279 --> 00:11:04.320 Union Education minister tell us about him and what kind 160 00:11:04.360 --> 00:11:06.159 of a political career has he seen. 161 00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:11.759 Yes, so, mister Joshi is somebody who is considered very 162 00:11:11.759 --> 00:11:14.879 close to the powers that be, to the national leadership 163 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:18.000 of the DJP. He is somebody who has risen through 164 00:11:18.039 --> 00:11:21.519 the ranks since he's been associated, for example, with the 165 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:25.279 SUNG since his early days. He comes from Karnataka, which 166 00:11:25.600 --> 00:11:30.799 the BJP RSIST combined considers a very significant nodal point 167 00:11:30.960 --> 00:11:33.919 as far as its influence across Southern India is concerned. 168 00:11:34.200 --> 00:11:37.360 Mister Joshi is as per what I've been told and 169 00:11:37.399 --> 00:11:39.799 as per my discussions with some people in the party 170 00:11:39.879 --> 00:11:43.360 since last evening, he is considered to be somebody who 171 00:11:43.399 --> 00:11:49.039 brings a strategic edge to not just his governmental duties 172 00:11:49.080 --> 00:11:53.200 but also to organizational matters. He has served as, for example, 173 00:11:53.440 --> 00:11:56.399 the chief of the BJP's local unit in Karnataka for 174 00:11:56.399 --> 00:11:59.320 a long time. He has served as Parliamentary Affairs Minister 175 00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:02.879 in the previous India government. And currently he's also somebody 176 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:07.039 who is leading this very significant central government scheme which 177 00:12:07.080 --> 00:12:10.240 is the PM Suregger Muftbisli Yozana, which basically as solar 178 00:12:10.240 --> 00:12:13.159 power at its core. So he's a senior hand who 179 00:12:13.240 --> 00:12:16.120 has not only cut his teeth in the organization but 180 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:19.840 also in the government. So looking at his appointment in 181 00:12:19.879 --> 00:12:23.480 this context, given the current circumstances, the Ndia government does 182 00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:26.960 have a very significant legislative agenda which on its roster. 183 00:12:27.240 --> 00:12:30.919 So it remains to be seen how effective mister Joshi 184 00:12:30.960 --> 00:12:34.000 will be in Parliament because he's no longer Parliamentary Affairs 185 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:37.720 Minister like he was earlier, but as the new Education Minister. 186 00:12:37.960 --> 00:12:38.960 Right and Sutton. 187 00:12:39.039 --> 00:12:41.840 We also understand that the government is going to introduce 188 00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:45.519 a more stringent law against paper leagues. What what can 189 00:12:45.559 --> 00:12:46.320 we expect from that? 190 00:12:47.320 --> 00:12:52.000 Well, this is a law which has been crafted after 191 00:12:52.240 --> 00:12:56.399 an entire at least an entire day's work, with the 192 00:12:56.519 --> 00:13:01.120 Prime Minister's office said to have been monitoring everything related 193 00:13:01.159 --> 00:13:04.919 to it between Wedness Day and Thursday night, when Prime 194 00:13:04.919 --> 00:13:08.879 Minister Mudi himself in a video message announced that the 195 00:13:08.960 --> 00:13:12.039 draft was ready and the draft to be tabled in 196 00:13:12.120 --> 00:13:15.039 the Union Cabinet, which eventually happened on Friday and the 197 00:13:15.120 --> 00:13:18.759 draft received the nod of the Union Cabinet and is 198 00:13:18.799 --> 00:13:21.600 now in bill form and is listed for tabling in 199 00:13:21.639 --> 00:13:26.399 the log Saha by Union Minister Jitenrissingh on Monday. So 200 00:13:26.519 --> 00:13:29.960 this law, which is called the Public Examination's Prevention of 201 00:13:30.120 --> 00:13:33.279 Unfair Means Amendment at twenty twenty six, it has already 202 00:13:33.320 --> 00:13:35.840 been circulated among members of Parliament on Saturday. So this 203 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:39.440 law seeks to increase the punishment for those involved in 204 00:13:39.600 --> 00:13:42.200 you know, quote unquote unfair means, including the leagues of 205 00:13:42.279 --> 00:13:46.480 question papers of public examinations, to increase their imprisonment from 206 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:48.799 three to five years to a quantum of five to 207 00:13:48.840 --> 00:13:51.879 ten years number one, and also increasing the find which 208 00:13:51.919 --> 00:13:54.600 was previously to piece ten LAK to repeace, fifty LAC 209 00:13:54.799 --> 00:13:58.200 to ten crow rupeace. So the teeth that the government 210 00:13:58.600 --> 00:14:01.559 intends to give the particular law, I mean, they don't 211 00:14:01.559 --> 00:14:04.879 get sharper than this. So this proposed law will cover 212 00:14:05.000 --> 00:14:08.159 all examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission, which 213 00:14:08.159 --> 00:14:11.879 is the UPC which administers the examinations which give us 214 00:14:11.960 --> 00:14:15.360 the countries ifs and IAS and IPS officers. It will 215 00:14:15.399 --> 00:14:18.799 also include the Staff Selection Commission which also at the 216 00:14:18.799 --> 00:14:21.399 central level and as well as the state and also 217 00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:24.919 the Railway Recruitment Board and similar examinations which are held 218 00:14:24.960 --> 00:14:25.799 across the country. 219 00:14:30.360 --> 00:14:34.240 And next we turned to Mumbai, where bureaucrats arrival has 220 00:14:34.279 --> 00:14:37.720 put the city's food industry on edge. In the last 221 00:14:37.799 --> 00:14:41.960 two months, Maharashtra's Food and Drug Administration has carried out 222 00:14:42.159 --> 00:14:46.600 multiple inspections across the state, seized food stock worth nearly 223 00:14:46.679 --> 00:14:51.879 fifty row rupees, invoked stringent MACOCA law against organized GOODCA 224 00:14:52.000 --> 00:14:55.720 networks and suspended the licenses of dozens of restaurants. 225 00:14:57.120 --> 00:15:02.919 So the crackdown began with the new FDA Commissioner Tukaramunde 226 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:06.039 who took chart on May twenty fifth, and since then 227 00:15:06.360 --> 00:15:08.720 crackdown have been very, very extensive. 228 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:13.440 That's the Indian expresses Nina Kandelwald, who reported on the 229 00:15:13.440 --> 00:15:14.600 story for the newspaper. 230 00:15:16.120 --> 00:15:19.039 If I have to give you numbers, there were over 231 00:15:19.120 --> 00:15:24.399 one thousand inspection slash raids between May twenty fifth and 232 00:15:24.559 --> 00:15:27.879 July fourteenth. This is from the cumulative data that every 233 00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:33.159 shared with all the journalists and the raids are across 234 00:15:33.480 --> 00:15:35.320 various sectors. 235 00:15:35.600 --> 00:15:39.279 And these are not just small or unknown establishments. Some 236 00:15:39.360 --> 00:15:44.320 of Mumbai's oldest and best known food institutions, including Kousam 237 00:15:44.759 --> 00:15:49.159 Nour Mohammadi, Chalimar and Parsi Dairy Farm have faced action 238 00:15:49.799 --> 00:15:53.080 and at the center of this crackdown is Tukaram Mundi, 239 00:15:53.480 --> 00:15:56.720 who has long been seen as an officer who enforces 240 00:15:56.799 --> 00:16:01.000 ruled strictly and resists political pressure. So to understand what 241 00:16:01.080 --> 00:16:05.879 explains Tukara Mundai's latest crackdown and why are Mumbai's restaurants anxious, 242 00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:09.240 my colleague Chashama spoke to Hina for this segment. 243 00:16:10.559 --> 00:16:13.120 Hinaw for our listeners who may be hearing his name 244 00:16:13.159 --> 00:16:16.360 for the very first time, could you begin by introducing 245 00:16:16.360 --> 00:16:19.600 Tukaram Mundei his background as a public servant. 246 00:16:20.279 --> 00:16:22.720 Right, So, Tukara Munday is the two thousand and five 247 00:16:22.799 --> 00:16:28.960 Batch I officer and he is amongst Mahrastra's most discussed 248 00:16:28.960 --> 00:16:32.799 civil servants. He hears from Bead region. He was born 249 00:16:32.840 --> 00:16:36.639 in a family of farmers and he describes his father 250 00:16:36.679 --> 00:16:39.240 as an honest and hard working man and he credits 251 00:16:39.360 --> 00:16:42.320 him for instilling in him the values you know with 252 00:16:42.399 --> 00:16:45.519 which he run today. He is somebody who takes pride 253 00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:49.360 in being an honest IS officer and over the years, 254 00:16:49.440 --> 00:16:53.279 like is somebody who has had I think around twenty 255 00:16:53.320 --> 00:16:57.440 five transfers in a career of two decades, you know, 256 00:16:57.480 --> 00:17:02.600 making him one of Maharashtra's most frequently trying is officers. 257 00:17:02.399 --> 00:17:06.440 Right, and so what has changed inside Maharashtra's FDA since 258 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:10.319 Monday took charge? And also why has this enforcement drive 259 00:17:10.559 --> 00:17:11.839 attracted so much attention? 260 00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:16.160 So he took chart on May twenty fifth, and just 261 00:17:16.160 --> 00:17:18.519 to tell you from a journalistic point of view, it 262 00:17:18.599 --> 00:17:21.559 wasn't like the actions were not taken earlier. Okay, it 263 00:17:21.720 --> 00:17:24.200 was not like inspections were not being done or raids 264 00:17:24.200 --> 00:17:27.400 were not being made. But what has happened is that 265 00:17:27.880 --> 00:17:31.480 they were never of this level. The intensity is much 266 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:35.240 much higher. Like when we talk about eleven hundreds or 267 00:17:35.319 --> 00:17:38.720 so odd rates in like fifty odd days, it comes 268 00:17:38.720 --> 00:17:41.480 to like twenty rates per day, you know, even if 269 00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:45.839 you include weekends, and that's a massive number. Right. What 270 00:17:46.079 --> 00:17:49.880 he's doing is that he's doing a parallel crackdown on 271 00:17:50.200 --> 00:17:53.920 across industries. You know, whether it is somebody giving out 272 00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:58.519 a misleading advertisement selling irvathic medicine for serious ailments, whether 273 00:17:58.559 --> 00:18:01.240 it is illegal stocking of methanol which is used in 274 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:04.079 production of country made liquor which is called they see 275 00:18:04.279 --> 00:18:08.599 you know, daru, whether there's unlicensed drug stocks like allopathic medicine, 276 00:18:08.599 --> 00:18:12.480 antibatic injections or and a big crackdown has happened in 277 00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:18.880 the food sector where restaurants, bakeries, eateries, dairies were involved 278 00:18:18.880 --> 00:18:23.079 in milk production, milk supply, milk transportation. He has paying 279 00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:27.240 special attention on adult treated milk and selling of good 280 00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:30.400 kind pan masala. So what he's doing essentially is that 281 00:18:30.440 --> 00:18:34.920 he's going heavy on milk, good car and food. And 282 00:18:34.960 --> 00:18:38.519 he has also issued compliance orders. Is issued three compliance orders, 283 00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:41.799 one each for food, milk and good car. 284 00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:45.480 Right, and so when it comes to restaurants and dairies, 285 00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:46.839 what are they being asked to do. 286 00:18:47.400 --> 00:18:50.559 When it comes to restaurants, the compliance order clearly puts 287 00:18:50.559 --> 00:18:54.319 in place what FSSI has already put in place that 288 00:18:54.440 --> 00:18:58.240 you have to have a valid license, your place of working, 289 00:18:58.319 --> 00:19:01.559 of kitchen you know where you're cooking should be hygienic. 290 00:19:01.839 --> 00:19:04.640 All the people who are handling food should undergo medical 291 00:19:04.839 --> 00:19:11.680 fitness exam annually. To produce should be fresh. No item 292 00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:14.960 of expiritage should be used in the kitchen or should 293 00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:17.119 be there in the kitchen. When it comes to milk, 294 00:19:17.160 --> 00:19:21.559 he's paying special attention on adulteration, whether it is adding 295 00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:25.279 water or ten other things, which makes it very very 296 00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:28.079 harmful for consumption. The compliance that he has, you know 297 00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:32.319 ordered also again puts in place the roles that each 298 00:19:32.400 --> 00:19:35.079 person in the supply chaint has to follow. The person 299 00:19:35.119 --> 00:19:38.039 who's a milk producer or a dairy farmer has to 300 00:19:38.240 --> 00:19:41.680 follow a high tien practice while milking the cows and 301 00:19:41.720 --> 00:19:44.440 the buffalos. When it goes to the dairy, all the 302 00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:48.319 people have been instructed on maintaining a standard temperature, you know, 303 00:19:48.359 --> 00:19:51.880 whether it's during transportation or a killing center. Is also 304 00:19:51.880 --> 00:19:55.680 put a ban on selling of loose milk, so people 305 00:19:55.880 --> 00:19:59.960 who have tabilas can sell lose milk, but everyone else 306 00:20:00.440 --> 00:20:03.599 has to sell milk in packets. And good Guy, as 307 00:20:03.640 --> 00:20:06.799 we know, is banned in Maharashtra. So he's just going 308 00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:12.039 big against anybody who is selling, procuring, supplying, transporting good 309 00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:13.839 Kan Parmazada and Hannah. 310 00:20:13.960 --> 00:20:18.400 Interestingly, you highlight how almost nobody seems to question his integrity, 311 00:20:18.759 --> 00:20:22.200 but the debate is really about his methods. Talk about 312 00:20:22.240 --> 00:20:25.880 what exactly is the criticism of his style of governance. 313 00:20:26.799 --> 00:20:31.039 So the criticism that is coming from the dairy farmers 314 00:20:31.079 --> 00:20:34.200 and the restaurants, since that's the area that I work 315 00:20:34.319 --> 00:20:38.039 a lot in restaurants, are happy. They're happy that you know, 316 00:20:38.119 --> 00:20:41.119 he's ensuring that everybody meets compliances. There are a lot 317 00:20:41.119 --> 00:20:43.839 of eateries, a lot of dabars, and even you know, 318 00:20:44.119 --> 00:20:48.359 good restaurants where kitchen is usually very dirty, right, and 319 00:20:48.400 --> 00:20:50.759 we just like sometimes, you know, as end consumer, we 320 00:20:50.920 --> 00:20:53.119 just turn a blind eye towards a lot of stuff. 321 00:20:53.440 --> 00:20:57.359 The criticism only is that, you know, and I'm verbet 322 00:20:57.480 --> 00:21:00.119 him quoting them, that the department could not be sleeping 323 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:02.680 for so long and then suddenly wake up and go, 324 00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:06.240 you know, with this intensity, do a crackdown on everybody. 325 00:21:06.319 --> 00:21:08.039 But they're saying is that you know what that you 326 00:21:08.160 --> 00:21:11.559 want the system to be better, and so do restaurantiers. 327 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:15.400 Why don't you know? They just asking for a more time. 328 00:21:15.640 --> 00:21:18.480 And the same is the case with dairy farmers. You know, 329 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:21.599 for them, it's a lot of new rules for them. 330 00:21:21.640 --> 00:21:25.599 It's is something that they've not done ever. And they're saying, 331 00:21:25.640 --> 00:21:29.039 even if you were to pack pack every unit of 332 00:21:29.119 --> 00:21:31.880 milk and then seal it and stamp it and then 333 00:21:31.960 --> 00:21:34.400 sell it, we just need some time at least to 334 00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:38.400 do it because it also involves cost machinery. So they're 335 00:21:38.440 --> 00:21:40.680 just asking for more time. I think that's the common 336 00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:43.319 consensus that I've understood but there's a lot of fear. 337 00:21:43.400 --> 00:21:46.720 Let me tell you the restaurantiers, whether they're dairy farmers 338 00:21:46.880 --> 00:21:51.000 or milk suppliers, everybody is worried. The restauranteers are like, 339 00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:52.960 you know what, we want to be compliant. But this 340 00:21:53.039 --> 00:21:57.599 is also monsoon flies is a real problem. You know, 341 00:21:57.680 --> 00:22:00.160 those who are in older parts of Mumbai. There is 342 00:22:00.200 --> 00:22:04.160 always this problem with rats. So yeah, I mean they 343 00:22:04.160 --> 00:22:07.000 are happy that he is doing it, they're just not 344 00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:10.640 happy with the intensity with which it's being done. 345 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:14.720 And Hannah, as you mentioned that restaurant owners themselves largely 346 00:22:14.759 --> 00:22:17.960 agree that food safety standards need improvement. 347 00:22:18.440 --> 00:22:19.200 So has the. 348 00:22:19.200 --> 00:22:23.319 Crackdown put a spotlight on the broader challenges of regulating 349 00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:25.440 food safety in a city like Mumbai. 350 00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:29.519 Definitely, But it also so for the longest we had, 351 00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:34.000 you know, FD commissioners before him, and the common problem 352 00:22:34.000 --> 00:22:36.359 that everybody put out was that they are not enough 353 00:22:36.359 --> 00:22:40.480 food safety officers to audit these restaurants properly, to inspect 354 00:22:40.519 --> 00:22:44.519 these restaurants properly. We had about two hundred odd new 355 00:22:44.559 --> 00:22:47.279 food safety officers who were in training and were inducted 356 00:22:47.319 --> 00:22:50.119 earlier this year. Even that is very less when it 357 00:22:50.160 --> 00:22:52.559 comes to the number of eateries we have in Mumbai. 358 00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:56.119 At the same time, I think everybody just took it 359 00:22:56.160 --> 00:22:59.640 for granted and kept their kitchens the way they kept 360 00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:02.519 which was not at all hygienic. I personally have visited 361 00:23:02.559 --> 00:23:05.640 so many kittens and I've seen people cleaning it as 362 00:23:05.640 --> 00:23:09.359 I'm entering, and the cleaning is something in the hygiene 363 00:23:09.440 --> 00:23:12.839 is something, especially when you're handling food or daily, is basic. 364 00:23:12.920 --> 00:23:16.039 It's a basic criteria. It is not really rocket science. 365 00:23:16.319 --> 00:23:18.799 So the fact that it continued for so long speaks 366 00:23:18.799 --> 00:23:21.440 so much about the system, whether it is food operators 367 00:23:21.599 --> 00:23:25.440 or about the department, but it also speaks about people 368 00:23:25.599 --> 00:23:28.599 and sometimes as and consumer, we've also made, you know, 369 00:23:28.640 --> 00:23:31.480 we have also accepted that this is how it's done, 370 00:23:31.599 --> 00:23:33.799 especially when you're eating at budgeted eight. 371 00:23:33.640 --> 00:23:37.839 Er right, and you highlight how restaurators have also raised 372 00:23:37.920 --> 00:23:43.200 questions about consistency and manpower and whether compliance can actually 373 00:23:43.279 --> 00:23:45.839 be achieved solely through these crackdowns. 374 00:23:46.640 --> 00:23:49.680 Right, So there's something that somebody in the restaurant business 375 00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:54.119 also pointed out to be that restauranteers need staff, especially 376 00:23:54.200 --> 00:23:58.400 restauranteers who are working on bigger turnover and limited profit. 377 00:23:58.720 --> 00:24:01.599 And there you are budgeted itches and they don't have 378 00:24:01.799 --> 00:24:06.160 Maharashtrian staff. As such, the Maharastrian population that's available to 379 00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:09.480 work is very limited. So a big portion of the 380 00:24:09.559 --> 00:24:13.519 staff members of people who come from behind up and 381 00:24:13.559 --> 00:24:18.200 other regents, and because they've come leaving their hometown and 382 00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:22.480 sometimes a family is wise children and parents back. They 383 00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:25.599 live here in one room apartment, there will be like 384 00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:29.039 ten people living in it. They personally don't follow as 385 00:24:29.160 --> 00:24:32.799 much hygiene as they should because they don't want to 386 00:24:32.920 --> 00:24:35.119 wash their clothes on daily basis or sometimes don't have 387 00:24:35.160 --> 00:24:38.000 bathrooms available to take a shower on a daily basis 388 00:24:38.000 --> 00:24:40.319 when everybody has to rush to work at the same time. 389 00:24:40.559 --> 00:24:44.000 Restaurant as an industry is also very exhaustive industries. It 390 00:24:44.200 --> 00:24:46.839 consumes you. There's a lot of work. It's a labor 391 00:24:46.880 --> 00:24:50.720 intensive industry, so that's also another problem. So restaurant had 392 00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:53.079 told me, ma'am, we try our best, but there's only 393 00:24:53.119 --> 00:24:55.400 so much that you can tell your staff. I am 394 00:24:55.480 --> 00:24:58.039 worried that if I push too much they will leave 395 00:24:58.119 --> 00:25:02.680 my job and put toward out saying that armor difficult boss, 396 00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:05.119 which will make it difficult for me to find new 397 00:25:05.160 --> 00:25:10.559 staff members. So it's multi layers problems and everybody is 398 00:25:10.599 --> 00:25:13.319 in facing some issue or the other. But I think 399 00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:17.160 it's also a matter of habit. You know, basic hygiene, 400 00:25:17.200 --> 00:25:19.839 as I said, is not really rocket science. Everybody has 401 00:25:19.880 --> 00:25:22.400