Ladies and gentlemen To the rising Bharat summit from the news 18 network This is a showcase of India's boundless potential as well as a celebration of its significant achievements This is one of the most anticipated summits in the world of leadership governance policymaking finance technology news and current affairs We are delighted to have you all here The theme for this year is leading for global good Now over the next two days prominent leaders and change makers will be brainstorming the present and crystal-gazing into the future The process of consultation lies at the very core of democracy wider discussions assist in expanding the area of what is possible Debates in such Forer are a manifestation of this democratic practice In a nation's history ten years can be a small stretch in the continuum of time yet some periods do stand out In 2013 the Indian economy was clubbed among the fragile five By 2023 India had become the world's fifth largest economy Galloping past the United Kingdom its former colonial ruler The symbolism is inescapable a decade ago India's vibrant local markets were filled with people who are buying and selling goods with well-worn banknotes Today, they are just as likely to use smartphones UPI is now the default payment option for most Indians from small ticket purchases at roadside shops to settling utility bills to paying at restaurants to even IPO stock purchases and mutual fund payments This change has had no parallel in history anywhere in the world in 2023 Bharat entered the elite space club as the Chandrayaan 3 landed on the moon south port Making India the very first country to do so 10 years ago a usual bill Mirrored the untidy patchwork of India's indirect tax structure Today the goods and services tax the GST has dramatically altered this by consolidating a web of levies into a single tax India's infrastructure creation has become visible symbols of Transformation whether it is ports airports highways They've all turned India's image of a country with creaky roads into highway hotspots This is acting as a powerful multiplier for the broader economy It's connecting the hinterland with the metropolises. It's radically cutting down logistics costs and increasing India's competitiveness Now while there is plenty for India to be absolutely delighted about there are still areas that we need to be alert and Alive to we should be acutely aware of the need to keep striving to keep improving Keep pushing every boundary that holds us back and to be alive to the challenges that could potentially derail Bharat's rights So ladies and gentlemen over the next 30 sessions spread across the next two days You will get a chance first hand to cure from some of the finest political leaders Sportspersons industry captains entrepreneurs intellectuals and artists the people whose Intellect and energy and dynamism is powering Bharat's rise and Later tomorrow we will welcome in our midst the captain of this ship The man who is steering India in this remarkable period in our history Prime Minister Narendra Modi May I now invite my colleague Avantika Singh to take us through this morning's power pack sessions I hope you have a good time and enjoy your time here at the rising Bharat summit. Thank you Zaka and a warm welcome ladies and gentlemen to the rising Bharat summit now What is common among semiconductors chip manufacturing trains railway stations artificial intelligence safety data and technology The next session is with a leader who is in charge of putting India on the fast track of speed Safety and technology quite literally. So he's soft-spoken Affable low key and he's a quintessential doer He is an IAS officer an engineer and he is a career technocrat and has been the forefront of complex Infrastructure project. He truly believes that Indian railways is going to play an important role in India's growth story If you have been to a railway station lately You would have seen the transformation and if you've traveled on a train lately You would have also experienced this massive change Please put your hands together as I welcome our first guest for the morning Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, who is with the railways and communications and electronics and information technology For what promises to be a very exciting session and may I please call on the stage Vina Vyaka who will be moderating the session Titles the Transformers taking India to a new station Let's have a huge round of applause ladies and gentlemen. It's morning today. Thank you So if you want to keep him on this station then all the work is done and this is the work that is going to take rising India to that zenith Minister, I welcome you very much.  You have a lot of weight on your shoulders As the Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi is working day and night for the country He is working for his every moment and every moment for the country So we should get a lot of work done, we should get a lot of work done Mr. Ashwini, when we talk about 2047, we talk about that India that has grown So Ima, keep your hand on your heart and tell me how a rail minister gets his railway network at that time How can the people of India see the train at that time? Look, today in the period of 10 years of Mr. Modi, there has been a very strong legacy Today, the 10-year legacy of Mr. Modi and the 25-year plan This is the first message of the Indian People's Party In this 10-year legacy, in the railways, almost 100% electrified 40,000 km of electrification took place, 20,000 in 60 years and 40,000 in 10 years Approximately 30,000 km of new railway tracks, that is, the railway network of Germany was connected to the railway network of India Last year, 5,000 km were connected and this year too, I was seeing in the report 5,226 km were connected to the railway network That is, every year, about 1 Switzerland is connected to the railway network of India Totally new generation trains came, new trains came Today, in the new trains, our middle classes and aspirational youth are getting an experience that is best of the best in the railway system The new trains are very successful for regional transit Now, new trains are coming to sleeper, new trains are coming to metro So, what you have seen, in these 10 years, to make a growing India the foundational elements, which have to be made, have to be made, have to be made In the next 5 years, we will strengthen this neve Minister, I am stopping you for a second You are saying that this neve has been kept in 2014 What was happening before this? Before this, if I talk about the railway then the railway was considered to be equal to a cow There was a condition in which the railway ministers would only focus on the stoppage or extension of a new train The capacity of the trains was not to worry about it In this way, the railway administration was running the government of the railway ministry in which the railway was not focused The passenger was not focused, it was only their political focus Mr. Modi depoliticized the railway The railway was in a technical way in an operational efficiency way in the way of absorbing new technology Mr. Modi took that into his primary focus The railway budget was merged in the general budget where only Rs. 15,000 crores were received from the general budget Today, Rs. 25,000 crores is the budget support of the railway The funding has increased, the work has increased There have been many reforms There have been many major structural reforms due to which the railway has come into such conditions that now it has become a good foundation in the next 10 years In the next 5 years, the foundation will become stronger The new technologies that have been brought in will strengthen them more and after that, in the next 20 years the railway will see a new form Changes are being seen on the railway station Everyone here will believe this But when they go to the railway station it is true that 41 people have come to India Namo and Amrit have come to India Even today, the passengers are worried about the crowd The reservation in the trains is worried about it How much time can you tell the minister that there will be a time when in a year, the cost of Rs. 700 crores is the cost of travelling That is up to Rs. 1,013,000 By 2030, 1,000 crores of passengers will travel in the railway They are making capacity according to that There is a fundamental difference between trains and highways In trains, you cannot drive a car without a post The road, the condition, the condition the car runs once That is why it is very important that in the railway network to increase the capacity all the technologies like sending new post getting automatic signal the complete railway control system which is called centralised train control CTC to go to that technology the acceleration of your trains when they stop after the break to reduce it the 20-25 KV is a massive technical work In the whole technical work the work that is going on we are very comfortably I can say with good confidence level that by 2030 1,000 crores of passengers will have the capacity to carry every year Today, we carry around 700 crores of passengers in a year If you look at the entire network of the railway look at the transportation economics In transportation around 700 crores go from the railway around 250 crores go from the highway and around 35 crores go from the aeroplane This is the network in which this 700 crores will be around 1,000 crores In these years what has happened that all these trains whether they are in New India whether they are in Vandebharat Is this just a will or were there other things which in addition brought this work to you on a fast track There are three things One is to bring a very strong focus, technology to bring a very strong focus to depoliticize the railway The focus of the railway is on the operational efficiency In the railway the work has changed Second, the funding has increased Third, the PM said very quickly that no matter how hard it is to take decisions take decisions For example there has been a new improvement in maintenance The day you have to do maintenance Suppose there is a factory but you have to do daily maintenance The day you have to do maintenance all the contractors, machines spare, material, labour all came So from morning till evening from 4-5 am you would get permission You would never get permission You would go back to 60-70 years Now in today's railway every developer will make a detailed plan for the next 26 weeks Next 26 weeks Meaning like in Japan there is maintenance or developed countries They do it every Friday The same advanced planning They are doing their own railway So these are all tough decisions In this you have to change the whole organization along with the habit You have to come to practice in a new way So this is not easy There is a lot of hard work and continuous communication with the top to the bottom most layer If you go to a supervisor and talk to him Pathway inspector section supervisor They are so happy that they get the time for maintenance Before this you were saying that politics would not work Now you are just working and they are happy Go and meet I am at a low level with the officials in the group C Karmchari I interact a lot with them I take a lot of feedback I am so happy that the way railway should go is a technical organization By the way, Mr. Modi took the railway to the technical stage in the last 10 years Mr. Ashwani, I would like to talk in detail There are few accidents but you have seen how many days you have been there People have seen tears in your eyes You have seen politics on the ground With the coverage Vipaksh attacked a lot You said that technology is such a system that India will not have any harm But when it happened he hurt everyone The coverage is a technology class Automatic train protection ATP technology In the world in the big railway systems in the 1980s started in the 1990s and in the 2000s almost all the big railways in the world were fully ATP What were the governments doing then? Were they not responsible for the ATP or were they not responsible for the investment for the new technology they didn't do anything In 2016 for the first time the ATP technology was accepted by Mr. Modi In 2016 think about it from 1980 to 2014 in that period the entire country should be covered by Mr. Modi In 2016 until 2019 he got all the certifications due to COVID-19 but despite that he worked very fast Now the coverage is not like a device that is installed on a train the coverage is a system you have to install optical fiber cables along with the railway track or GO or BSNL network you have to install a telecom tower on the telecom tower there are telecom devices then there is a device on the train with the signaling system you have to integrate there is a data center on every station there is a complete data center and then from the data center there is a centralized train control it is a very complex technology means in the world 20 to 25 years small networks 8,000, 10,000, 20,000 km 50,000 75,000, 75,000 km is the network but so fast new manufacturers are joining new designers many innovations are being made to design the station to automate that design means there is a commitment which Mr. Modi has made to save the railway in the country he has invested 1,87,000 crores if you compare it it is more than 2.5 times in the last 4 to 14 years the amount of investment is more than 2.5 times and its result is also visible very unfortunate that even more efforts will increase to 100% there is a commitment regarding the bullet train Mr. Ashwini Vaishnav when there is so much dirt which you are trying to fill many people say does the bullet train need this country what will you say to them don't consider bullet train as a means of transportation the path that runs on all the cities of that path I will give a very good example of Japan the first bullet train in 1969 when it started Tokyo Nagoya Kobe Kyoto all these economies become one economy and you cover the distance of 500 km in 2 to 3 hours if you are working in Kyoto you worked in Osaka and in the evening you came back to your children the same development there is a serious regional multiplier when you will see Mumbai Thane Surat Anand and Ahmedabad all these economies will become a single economic zone you will have breakfast in the morning you will reach Mumbai in an hour you did your work you will train in the evening and eat with your children when will all these dreams come true in 2026 today look I forget to count daily last 10-12 days I had reviewed 284 km already tracks over head electrical system the manufacturing of the train all these things are going fast I will not name the position of any country it takes 20-20 years to do a project within 8-10 years this project will be completed in the section of Surat from Surat to Bilimura you will see the train and it is world class time is moving ahead so I am taking my train to the station before that the rail ministers would you like to give them a number please it is not our job I have to work hard I am coming to Digital India it is the dream project and the most important is semiconductors we are talking about in fact we started from Basur I will spend time now you are saying that India will get the first semiconductor these are two questions I will go to the sun shape why not till now what have you done in December 2024 the first made in India chip will come in the market do not go too far note down December 2024 will be the first chip look, it has been tried since 1962 but it is not your fundamental conviction Modi ji has such a strong conviction that when we have to make Vixit India what will it look like in its foundation it is very important in electronics manufacturing in the sense that you watch TV at home or watch power electronics telecom or watch electronics in defense or watch electronics in car in everything it looks like a semiconductor anything that is on or off it looks like a semiconductor whether it is light whether it is a missile whether it is a train whether it is an aeroplane whether it is a fridge everything that is on or off it looks like a semiconductor chip I am saying this with a lot of responsibility Modi ji has shown and I can give you personal examples for semiconductor discussion when for half an hour or 45 minutes Prime Minister I am saying this in front of the public should not be said but PM sir gave time for 45 minutes he gave time for 3 hours one line by line PM sir would discuss in detail whatever concerns are related to the work of the government many of them are related every department would personally sit together and PM sir said we have to be successful in semiconductor country has to be successful in semiconductor such a commitment is impossible for any other Prime Minister you are saying that commitment from the government from the Prime Minister but Vipaksh especially P. Chidamram sir he is saying this is jobless growth he is saying that the work of the government is less than 50% and since last 9 years you people are doing growth no one can give job let me give a challenge to P. Chidamram sir you can reach P. Chidamram sir through my medium EPFO Employee Provident Fund Organization this is an organization in which a person goes to work there is a registration there is a deduction and there is a deduction from the organization absolutely there is such a data which gets the acceptance from anywhere according to EPFO the new people who are connected to the job those who leave the job plus those who come back to the job they must have left once the net number that total job opportunity was made it was simple that total job opportunity was 6 lakh per month a few years ago today on average it is 12 lakh per month 12 lakh per month means a year 12 into 12 144 a year of job opportunities is being created can you ask Mr. Chidamram whether this is a lie or is it true this is the data many economists many good news paper I also want to ask this challenge Mr. Chidamram sir will accept your challenge there is one more option you say we have become manufacturing hub but you don't do any manufacturing you just assemble you are giving it its name look the people you are talking about let's say why should I give any name until you accept look in any country any industry when it starts take car industry since 1980 when the car industry started first came the CKD of the car which is completely knocked down unit after that came SKD after that few components were made many components were manufactured tier 1, tier 2, tier 3 then export started this is a cycle there is a life cycle of every industry if this life cycle is the government of congress in 1980 and 1970 where would the situation be congress first wasted 4 decades of India 4 decades lost decades of India because there were policies of congress in which manufacturing was completely knocked down made the law in which no one could manufacture there was such a situation before 1990 that if you want to change the design of your car then you have to come to the government's office there was such a mockery so you are saying baby steps today we are in such a situation in which manufacturing is needed the foundation is laid down in the next 5 years I will give you examples it is necessary to take numbers because we should talk with data we should not only talk with data mobile manufacturing practically it was a negligible number 10 years ago 55 billion dollars electronics manufacturing practically it was a negligible number how much is it today? it is 105 billion dollars and it is growing in double digit defense manufacturing nothing was there telecom manufacturing we could not even imagine that a veteran of some industry in the telecom industry could not even imagine that telecom manufacturing would be in India today it is exporting 1 billion US, Europe it is exporting everywhere what are the people of congress who have been able to answer their mistakes today and we are working hard the public is watching when we are working hard we have only few minutes left and I want these two very important questions that you are answering one fact checking unit means if the government starts checking then how will it go your work is something that is published on CNN TV 18 if you want to know who you will ask will you ask CNN TV 18 will you ask who will ask will you ask any news about any scheme then who will ask if you have work with the ministry you will ask you will ask with the ministry if you ask if it is related to the power ministry you will ask with the ministry it is so basic common sense you will ask the government you will ask with a private organization you will ask with a private organization if you don't like the question it is not a question it is a fact if the government doesn't like the fact then you can verify the verification it is said that how many vaccines are there who will ask from the government from the health ministry so you are saying that this is your decision absolutely correct and democratic and constitutional decision thank you very much thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you so much ladies and gentlemen let's have a huge round of applause once again for the minister Mr. Ashwin who was sharing his vision and thoughts on India's ambitious rail overhaul plan now it's interesting that we have been talking about transformations and what better way to take the day forward than conversation about one of the most visible transformations that are sweeping India ladies and gentlemen Jaipur is now within a near short distance from Delhi literally you can drive into the pink city from Delhi in less than 3 hours Mumbai and Delhi are considerably close to each other as well and in about a year's time you should be able to drive between the national capital and the financial capital in 12 hours would you believe that soon you will be able to drive from Delhi to Bherabun in 2.5 hours Delhi to Amritsar in 4 hours Delhi to Srinagar in 8 hours this ladies and gentlemen was unthinkable until not too long ago development indeed delivers good economics can be good politics too or can they well let's hear it from the person who has been making all this happen for India ladies and gentlemen it's my privilege to welcome Sri Nitin Gadkari union minister of road transport and highways government of India to talk about the road to 370 well it is the election year and he is in conversation with news 18's Amish Devgan huge round of applause ladies and gentlemen welcome sir thank you and now the beginning of that session which we had been waiting for for a long time Nitin Gadkari is with me he is the central minister he is the former president of the Indian Party Nitin Ji is your guest please welcome Nitin Gadkari Nitin Ji used to be known as Atal Bihari but the party is wrong and after Atal Ji if it is said for anyone then it is said for Nitin Gadkari that the person is right but the party is wrong why is that this is absolutely wrong the party is also right and the person is also right I started my life as a member of the union and as a member of the college and whatever I am whatever I am whatever is good in me these are both the reasons for the union everything is good so I am very much proud of my convictions and if I am good then my party is good and if I am good then my ideology is good that is what I can say to you but don't you think that you came from the wrong in politics you say that I will not write a poster then how will you win the elections Gadkari ji if you come to my constitution then I have said that I don't believe in casteism and Sam Pradayik our Prime Minister has said everyone's support, everyone's development everyone's effort in my constitution I consider my family and my family and for 10 years I have done some work and my work has also been done and that is why I have said that there is no need to make a poster or banner there is no need to spread it if I am connected with people then I don't need to give them any kind of service in return I will meet people I will go to people's houses I will give them blessings and I will campaign house to house and I will campaign to man and I believe that I will win the elections I believe that this time we have to do 3 Hettric one is the Hettric of the Modi Government if a Narendra Modi comes in this term then it will be a big thing some foreign congressman will come for the third time and for the second time and for the third time you will win again from Nagpur for the third time and for the third time you will win the Lok Sabha the first thing is that Modi is going to be the Prime Minister the second thing is that we are going to go to 400 and I am also going to win this is also certain but what is there in Nitin Gadkari that the leaders of Vipaksh get confused I used to read in the newspaper that Sonia Gandhi praised you what is it? I am also surprised when in my department there were 75 organizations of different parties everyone gave me thanks everyone gave me a blessing I was also surprised the simple thing is that according to the law according to the law it should be of everyone and if something is wrong then it should never happen so if I make a road then in one constitution if I study then because of that there is a solution that is probably the reason one thing that you have not changed which I interviewed you for the first time in 2011 which comes to my mind in Mumbai at your house and you were a member of the party then also you were a member and now you are very much a member you never get so much of a member you get so much of a member no no I when I ask a question the answer is correct and I think the truth I tell I don't think there is any problem but Vipaksh keeps on removing something no no one and social media bloggers also keep on writing no sir some people they write on their website on their own media and then others write but in the end what someone has said should go into detail should see and then should give an opinion on it one question that I want to ask you that you are a member so you are also a member in front of the Prime Minister in front of the Prime Minister in front of the Prime Minister when there is a discussion then the number of members listens to the Prime Minister there is a foundation of the party and everyone has their own thoughts and the final decision or the Prime Minister or the leader the decision is made now I have a very headline story a statement of Uddhav Thakre I am a Marathi person and I will listen to you and I will take a reaction from you what Uddhav Thakre said about you come let's listen to Uddhav Uddhav Thakre's statement Uttar Marej he was challenging me and I asked how can we do a good job I am going to tell you show the power of the Maharashtra show the power of the Maharashtra we have not given up on the Maharashtra now Nitin Ji is saying that here you are we will give you a ticket we have never given up on the Maharashtra now the first thing is that The country board meeting was held in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh's officials decided to discuss the truth. Now, when I was fighting with Maharashtra, the officials of Maharashtra came to the country and did not even discuss it. So, in the first list, my name was not mentioned in the first group. Now, in the second list, my name was mentioned. I work for the Indian People's Party. If I fight, I will fight with the Indian People's Party. There was no question of going to any party. And this kind of offer is very good because I am connected with my party, I am connected with my thoughts. I will be in this party and I will work in this party. Yes, but the last few days, you said that the government of any party is one thing that doesn't get respect for what they do. Why did you say that? I didn't say that. This is wrong. Yes. I said that this happens in the system. I had said about the people who work in the government in particular. Before that, my suggestion was that they don't get respect if they do a good job. And the bad job that they do is punished because the system is so complicated that a good person doesn't get an award immediately. And the things that they do, as soon as they get the inquiry, they leave for so many years. That they don't get punishment. This was their case. This was not related to politics. This is not related to you, but it is related to your gun. Without a reference, they spread such things. These days, the blame of social media is also on the media. Now, there is a lot going on in social media. It doesn't happen like that. The wrong click on social media, you immediately take it and take it forward. This is the problem. Yes. My next question is, in 2022, you said that politics is considered to be illegal. You never said that. This is your statement again. Sir, it is absolutely wrong. I said that we need to redefine the definition of politics. Only power politics is not political because of power. Yes. Because of the social, political, and development, this is also politics. Mahatma Gandhi Ji said that when the country was under attack for independence, it was also under attack for the sake of the kingdom. So, we should do 80% of the social and 20% of the power. And you will also see the day after tomorrow. I have given 87 chair parties to Divyango. I have operated around 50,000 hearts. I saw your Twitter this morning. You tweeted a video on it.  You have treated her. In her constituency. Really, I mean, she says that all this is a very serious matter. But if we talk about politics, Mr. Nitin, then there are political leaders in Delhi. And if there are political leaders in Delhi, then something is going on. So, is it a matter of alliance? Look, that morning, Mr. Raj Thakre had called. He had come for another job. His passport job was done. So, I came to thank him. Where is his passport? India's passport? No, his passport. What will be his conversation? I don't know if it will happen today. But you want Raj Thakre to come? But he will do a party for it. What is your mind? No, I don't have any personal mind. The party's prime minister, the party's secretary, and the parliamentary board, the prime minister, will do whatever they want. You are answering a lot of questions about the seat-battwara in Maharashtra. There is a lot of information about the sources.  Nothing is going on. I think the battwara is done. Are you happy with the life? Yes, sir. What is done until the candidates are done? Yes. There is only one seat. There are 10 candidates. There is a lot of discussion going on. There is a lot of debate going on. It is obvious. And I think it will be almost finalized. And we will fight together. And we will win the Maharashtra very well. That is my belief. India has been in trouble for many years. But this time, a new one has been made. India Alliance. But before it was formed, there was a fight. How do you see the India Alliance? Because there is a big challenge in Maharashtra. I see my party and my alliance. I have a philosophy that I tell people. Two races are yours and the other is yours. Two ways to grow a race. One is to grow yours or to ask others. So I believe in this. Grow yours. And for the last 10 years, in the leadership of Modi, our government has done something. People who love it. When I was coming on my Twitter, this is the expression of the door. So so many people are happy that I got the recognition of so many people. So in the last 10 years, what we have done, in the government, in the leadership of Modi, we will be successful. We have to tell people about our positivity and our work. We don't need to go into other negative things. Another question is to give 10% protection to the Maratha community separately. There is politics but there is also a social demand. How do you see that this issue will be a big political challenge in Maharashtra for the Indian party? The Prime Minister has already been talking to him about this. Now this issue is not there. You are saying that this is not there. But there is a challenge. There are many questions about it. Rahul Ji has said that this is the biggest challenge of BJP. I think that there is still a discussion in the Supreme Court. When this matter is subjudiced in the Supreme Court, then there will be no tip on it. There will be a contempt of court. Don't do it. I wouldn't do it either. It won't be appropriate to talk too much about it. No, no. There is also an agreement that most of the BJP members have got an infrastructure company for a long time. Now this is an agreement. Look, I can tell you one thing. I have awarded the work of Rs. 50 lakh crore in the last 10 years. Water resources, shipping, road sector, roadway, cable car, tunnel, express highway. We have not done any work without E-Tender. And I am warning you in front of you, that even one person will be like this. You will be told in the ears that we will have to pay for any work. So you tell me, I am ready to accept the punishment. We have done the work with a completely transparent, corruption-free, time-bound and quality commitment. And we have done the wrong work in some way. There is a lot of discussion in Delhi and Mumbai about this. BJP is rich, but the politician is poor. Congress is rich, but the politician is poor. What is your tip on this? I think that, look, who is rich in his life? This is a question related to him. But I often say that a person who is honest in his life and who is responsible for his business, his entrepreneurship, his company, his technology, this is his strength. And if such an entrepreneur grows in the country, then the country will be developed. And I think that tomorrow, we will invest in these entrepreneurs in foreign countries. So we have to create such a meaningful thing that is going to make employment possible. And if we want to make employment possible, then capital investment will be required, entrepreneurship will be required, technology will be required. And if we work in different fields based on this, then he is not just a wealth creator, he is an employment creator. His caste, religion, language, and party, what should we take from this? But you were talking about caste and religion, so many questions are being answered regarding the CA. Why did the CA choose Anne earlier? Her notification could have been brought later or it could have been brought three years ago. Look, there are a lot of things in the constitution. Yes. It is absolutely clear that the Hindu religion, Boddha religion, Sikh religion, or Jain religion, if they go abroad, then if they are removed from there, then there is no right to go there. And that is why in a self-evident way, our constitution tells them that they can only be given law in India. So naturally, there are a lot of things in the constitution. What is the basis for that? Yes. One question is related to your ministry. You have made a word record in terms of the constitution. Not one, not two, but seven word records. Is there any work that you could not do in the past 10 years? And now when the BJP will come in the 70s, then they will want to do it. What is the work? Look, right now, in the road construction, we are building a 36 green express highway. Yes. And around 284 kilometers, we are building a tunnel of 2 lakh crores. And from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, we are building an express highway. It will be completed by December. Now we have started public transport and electricity. 260. Yes. We are building a cable car, a fanicular railway. Now, Prime Minister's thought is that when we will complete 100 years, then what will be our vision at that time? So, public transport and electricity. Water transport. Yes. Like when I was a Shipping Minister in Mumbai, there was a new airport in Mumbai. So, I have made a report from BPD that you will go to the airport in 17 minutes from any direction of Mumbai. And there is a new JTV on the new airport. Yes. Like, there is a taxi, there is an air taxi, and there is a water taxi. Yes. And you will take this water taxi from Vasai Virar, from Nariman Point, and you will reach the new airport in just 17 minutes. You have a Venice city in Italy. Yes. When you get down in the hotel and in the water, you have to keep your luggage and get down directly to the airport. So, this is the same idea. So, public transport, the NPBSC plan, I had used it to get down on the water. Yes. So, there will be a big revolution in the transport system. And especially, based on the indigenous fuel, there is a big bus like public transport. So, I was studying in Bangalore that there is a double-decker bus that runs in the air in Bangalore. We were studying that project. It runs on the top, because no road can be bigger. So, naturally, the cost of metro is 300 crores per kilometer. And the technology I am talking about is 20 to 25 crores. So, by using the new technology, from Dhola Kua to Manishar, we also studied the Pond system in the middle. So, this new technology in the transport sector is the technology of the future. And about that, we also had some updates. We are making 670 roads and amenities. Yes. But if you ask me, What is one thing you would like to do? I could do the best thing in all of this. Yes. So, in 2014, when I became a minister, one crore people used to work to attract people. One was a cycle rickshaw. The other was to wash the people's work in Bihar, in Bangalore, in North East. I brought the Mechanist D1 e-rickshaw. And today, I am happy that one crore people who were suffering, got rid of them. And now, e-carts and e-rickshaws are running. And they got rid of human suffering in one way. I have made a lot of express highway, tunnel, road, bridges. But this work is the best for me. It is near your heart, but one round is near our hearts. And this is a photo round. And there will be some pictures in it. And you are getting its reaction. And I don't even know which photos they have put. First, let's see which one is coming. This is the first photo. This is Mamta Ji's photo. They are hurt on the side. What do you want to say? It has become an accident, so it must have been a bandage. Yes. Let's see which one is coming next. What will be of these two? One is... I don't know the future. You don't know the future. They say that you are doing everything. You are making the government do ED. Look, ED is doing its work. And they are doing their work. We often believe that our future is in the hands of God. Your future... No, your future is in the hands of God. But what is their future? I don't know. You don't know. I am not in the future. What will happen to me? Let's see which one is coming next. This is in Mumbai. They all came together in your house. What is their future? Look, their future is not good. It is not good? They will be completely destroyed in this election. And we will get four hundred places. And many of them will be destroyed. Yes. Now the next picture is not of politicians. Now that movie... Because you come to Maharashtra, Maya Nagri, Mumbai, there are some movie painters. Let's see which one is your favorite. Next, please. Do you like Ranveer Kapoor? Do you like Singh? Or do you like Vikrat Messi? No, I am the hero of my generation. You don't have to talk about the choice. The three are good. One is perfect. Which movie did you watch in the last three? I watched Ranveer's movie. Which one? The one... Animal. Not the name, but the one on our screen. Okay, okay, okay. Ranveer's... Bajirao Mastani. You also gave a political answer. Let's see the next one. Who is your favorite? These are the heroines. Which movie did you watch? Tapsee Pannu, Alia Bhatt, Keara Advani. No, I didn't watch any of these three movies. You didn't watch? The three top heroines of the country. Let me tell you something. The heroines of the generation are different. In our generation, Abhidha Bachchan was our favorite hero. Who did you follow in college? When you were in college, who would you follow? Abhidha Bachchan. Abhidha Bachchan. I told him once. I saw Ranveer three times. Anand three, four times. So, Bell Bottom, parents, long callers, everything. I used to like the picture of fighting. So, you are going into politics, that is, you are going into the struggle of elections. This is the biggest priority of the great democracy of India. It is very good news, Mr. Nitin. And News 18 will also cover it with Vibhaki. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Amish. Thank you, Minister. That's Minister Nitin Gadkari who has been leading the Modi government's infrastructure push and spelling out his roadmap for political success. Thank you once again. Ladies and gentlemen, for our next session, January 22nd, 2024 is now going to be etched in the annals of history. The Pran Pratishta ceremony of the Ram Mandir at Ayodhya was just not any religious ceremony. It was so much more than that. It made the world wait to take note. A momentous step in Bharat's civilizational journey, a landmark process of Bharat's decolonization. Our next session is a conversation with the Prime Minister of India. He is the Prime Minister of India. He is the Prime Minister of India. He is the Prime Minister of India. Our next session is a conversation with two very special people. Now, here's an anecdote that a family will repeat for generations to come. Chandrakant B. Sompara, the principal architect of the Ayodhya Ram Temple, was the first approach to design and build the temple in the year 1989. Decades later, his two sons, Nikhil and Ashish Sompara, have assisted him in the creation of the Ram Mandir. While the Ram Mandir has several firsts, it being a symbolic of unwavering faith and devotion, the ornaments of Ram Lalla is what actually stands out for its sheer brilliance and grandness and the exquisite attention to detail. Yatendra Mishra, the man who prepared the jewellery of Lord Ram, carried out extensive research. In fact, ladies and gentlemen, he studied the texts such as the Abhyatma Ramayana, Valmiki Ramayana, Ram Charitra Manis and the Alvanendra Stotram for the preparation of Ram Lalla's exquisite jewels. 132 artists, would you believe that, worked on it. Every ornament was detailed and prepared with such precious jewels and with such precision. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Ashish Sompara, Ram Temple architect and Yatendra Mishra, historian and Ram Lalla idol jewellery designer in conversation with News 18's Anand Narasimhan for an amazing, interesting session titled, Spirituality and Temples of Boom. Let's have a huge round of applause for our guests. Welcome. Thank you, Anand. Vicky, we have the architect and some of the key designers. People who have worked tirelessly. Can we please be a little generous in our welcome on the Rising Bharat Summit. Thank you. Thank you very much for making the time, Ashish Ji and Yatendra Ji. Thank you. Ashish Ji's father, his brother, they're all instrumental in reviving a Shaili, which is one of the three remaining Shailis of construction of temples. Ashish Ji starts from there and then Yatendra Ji will come to the effort that's gone behind Ram Lalla. You have a connection with Ayodhya, so we'll talk about that too. But how important is this Shaili, the Nagara Shaili? Sumna Temple, Akshar Dham temples and now Temple of Ram Lalla. Shailis are basically divided from the south to north. It's divided the Indian continent, the whole Indian, the original Indian continent. It's been divided in the north, middle and the southern. And each and every Shaili is being like, the basics are the same but according to the climatology, according to geographical condition, according to the material what you are getting, from that part it has been developed in certain ways. But the Nagara Shaili, which is like the northern side from the whole, if you can say the Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and all that, that is covered by the Nagara Shaili. And Vasera is on the audition style and the Davidian style is in the south, basically. The concepts are different, the material is different. But I can say one thing, Nagara Shaili has been developed in a certain way that it has been architecturally well developed. The whole Shaili is well developed. Because in this, particularly for every god, because it is also our north-west Jainism, but in that Nagara Shaili, every god has a different style, a different individualistic approach, a particular architecture. So Nagara Shaili is a well developed Shaili in the northern part. So obviously, and Ram Mandir is also in the northern part of India, that Shaili's style was created at the same time when it was designed in the year 1999, that Nagara Shaili has to be built. But in the 80s, when Chandrakant ji had imagined it, was this Shaili being developed? What has this boom of construction of temples done? The story behind it, because the temple is visible to everyone, tell us the story behind it today. As you can say, it was not developed, because my great grandfather, the one who built the Shaili was also from Nagara Shaili. Even in Nagara Shaili, there is a Shaili from Santar Prasad and Nirandar Prasad. So they also built the Shaili temple at that time. So it was not developed, but there were very few practices at that time. There were very few families, or you can say that some people were trusted, but definitely after Ram Mandir, there was a lot of work. How many workers have worked on it? If I talk about workers in Ram Mandir, then at least 5000-6000 workers have worked on it. 6000 workers, 6000 artisans. That is, 6000 families' lives have been running through this temple. Definitely. It has become a big thing for Jeevi Kajaland, that the temple construction is getting so much, that earlier the construction of the temple was less, so the boys of his family who do this work, because this was a generation after generation work, so it was getting very less, but after that it has become so popular that a lot of people are coming into it now and for the work of it, I mean, people are growing up to see the work of it. So do you think that the committee is also being completed? Yes, it is being completed. So there are more people turning to this as a profession. So if you have 108 pillars there, there are 108 pillars at every level of Ram Mandir, then how much time does it take to make one pillar? Look, there are basically two parts to it. One part is the carving part, which we call normal carving, and the other part is the sculpting part. So the sculpting part is done after the installation, because it becomes very fragile, so it cannot be handled during transportation or installation. So once it is done after the installation, it is done on site. So there are two parts, as I said, so the carving happens, but the iconography happens later. So if we look at the entire carving work, it takes almost 8 to 10 days to complete the work. It becomes 8 to 10 days? Only carving. I am not talking about sculpting. You are not talking about sculpting. Yes, because sculpting happens after the installation, so that is a completely different work. Mr. Yatinder, there is one thing. Ram Mandir is also there. The case has been won, the temple has been built.  Many people will say that. What is the importance of this? I am not here to answer people's question. People say that Ram Mandir does not make any difference. It is a cultural aspect of India. The iconography that Mr. Ashish is talking about is a very difficult and difficult work. Because when an iconography is defined, we all see it together. So if an idol or a story is chosen in it, each mandap has a different system. The color mandap, the color mandap, the shape mandap goes forward and the shape mandap goes forward. What is the concept of Ram Mandir as shown there? It is not just Ram. Ram Mandir is also in the Garbhgri. But the concept of Garbhgri, the four sides of it that are made, is from the ancient philosophy which is the creation of the ten directions. Where is it inspired from?  So the part of mythology in the iconography of India, whether it is in the past, or in the past, Ram Charitmanas and Valmiki Ramayana, it is present. It is also the incarnation of Vishnu, which is the foundation of Vishnu's greatness. It is the concept of the ten directions. What are the demands that are going on in the Vaishnava tradition, in the Vaishnava sect? All these things are being shown. When it comes to the parkour, we are showing it like a Indian tour guide, from the temple, to the temple, all the major things are being shown in India. We talk about torch bearers, and stories, and if it can be said, then go to the youth and see that we also had the news of Yagyaval and Gargi. We used to go to Ashtavakar and talk about some knowledge. So this is a mix blend of spirituality and the vision of religion. So in the form of India, and in the form of India, I feel that the temple is showing it very well. And when I talked about the ten directions, then you go and see the pride of Swami Trivandrum. So there is also the concept of the ten directions. So the entire family did this very well. The best architecture of the Nagar Shaili in the tradition of the thousand-year tradition, which also had a spiritual aspect, we brought it to Ram Mandir. Ashish Ji, Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Akshar Dham in Akshar Purushottam, Swaminarayan Mandir in Abu Dhabi, is built in Robbinsville, is being built in Vishwabhar. If you will do all the work, then who will do the rest? No, no. Just like we have not done Robbinsville, and what we recently did, we have not done that too, let me tell you. Akshar Dham, which belongs to Gandhinagar, is our work. And by the way, I can say that our family is blessed that with the help of Somnath and Gujarat, the three great temples of Mahogya, Pawagad, Bhusharaj Ji, Amba Ji, all the work is done by our family. It is a blessing from God that we are doing it. So you have come into competition in this too? Competition? There is nothing like competition in this. Somnath is a community. In this community, the majority of people were still connected to this work. First of all, all of them were connected to this work. But as a matter of fact, a question came in between that the work of the temples has reduced a lot. How did people feel that doing this work, like carving stones, people starting to understand it, then the people of their family started going into other businesses, they started doing it. But our family was connected to this work. So you never felt like this? I don't want to do this. This is over, this time is over. No, I never felt like this. Because in our family, as they say, when a child is born, we keep seeing this. We keep talking to our father, we keep saying the same things at home. We keep reading books. So since childhood, it was like this. So you see it as a profession, you see it as a spiritual contribution. This is what I am contributing towards India's spirituality. How do you see it? It is a spiritual contribution. And we have a profession too. We can't even make up for it. Because we can't even say that our profession is not there because of the life we live in. But definitely, there is an attachment. When you say that when a child grows up, what happens in front of him is published in his library. So this is the thing that is published in our library. So when your father made it, the architectural drawing, Mr. Chandrakant made it, that time was different. When the construction happened, that time was different. So did you think that if I am going to be involved in the construction of the temple, I would want to make it like this? You thought that your imagination was different. What is it that you did differently? Or you did, which you felt that if there was a temple at that time, it would be like this? No, at that time, what Mr. Vidha had designed, it was perfect for that time. Because it was designed 30 years ago. So according to that time, what he had designed, was first Garbhagra, Godabandab, Nrithimandab and a Singh Dwar. The journey of 30 years of Ram Mandir was complete. From the media, from all the people, who were connected to it, gradually, when the construction came, then the football we were thinking was much bigger. So definitely, the soul is the same. You can say, clothes are made new, that's it. Yes, clothes are made new. How do you wear jewellery? Or do you wear clothes? How did you decide that, Mr. Inderjee? Because Ram Ji's appearance is mostly in Vanwas. He's in matted locks and, you know, barely wearing anything. Before his Rajya Bishik, when he was in Balpan, how did you decide how Ram Lala should be dressed? It's a very good thing. You asked, the character of Ram Ji and the form of him, he is the Vanwas Ram only. Because of that, he is everyone's servant. But don't forget that Ram Lala is in his temple, his father is in his mother's house. He is five years old. The five year old child, who came to his father's place, and the prince, will stay with Rajyopchar. Any elder man, who was a member of the Akhand Aryawarth, Raja Dashrat, when the concept of Ram Lala was given to me, that you have to develop a foundation for all the jewellery. It was challenging, but it was involved in all the dresses. And Shri Govind Dev Giri Ji Maharaj, we used to take instructions from him. And Jampat Rai Ji, used to give full support to him, that first of all, don't look at his example. How can we form Ram Lala? For the form of Ram Lala, the most prominent texts, first of all, Adhyat Pramayan, whose base, Tulsidas Ji, also talks about himself. So, Adhyat Pramayan, Ramcharitmanas Valmi's Ramayana was like a male, like Adhar. But in many texts, in many mantras, in many South Indian texts, Ram Lala is also a member of the Shringar. Yamuna Charya Ji, a great saint of South India, he wrote an album, that was written by Laxmi Narayan Ji, Tirupati Bala Ji, and in all the places, according to their Shringar, it is told there. All the instructions were like this. So, we had to take some from there, some from Kavita Bali, from Tulsidas Ji. Everyone has heard, Thumak, Chalat Ram, Chandrabajat, Pajaniya.  And there are some particular things, which should be worn by Lord Ram, on his heart, Shri Vatsachand is made, he wears a costume. Now, what is a costume? A costume is a divine costume, but what is a costume made of? There was nothing like that. So, there were many mantras on it, then it happened that it is the Sun, the sun is red in colour, that is, we should use Ruby, so Ruby and Diamond in a big costume, in cutting, should be made into a big costume. So, in this way, it became his costume, it became the costume of Mokut. It is worn by Vajanti Mal, Vajanti Mal is Vijay Kamal. And, in the temples, you see, there is a big necklace of colourful flowers. So, it happened that it should be worn in a golden costume. So, as much as Vaisnaw Pratik, Lord Ram's Shank, Chakrabad, Gadda, all these things will be worn. Then, five types of flowers will be made in it. The five flowers say that they like God. So, in that, there was Lotus, there was Kamal, there was Kund, they also wear Kund's garlands. Parijat, Tulsi, so Tulsi, Tulsi Patra was put in it. So, in this way, we did small detailing of their costume, of Lord Ram. And, all the ornaments that were worn, were made to be relevant to the ancient texts. For example, there is a necklace of four or five boys, five or seven boys today. In those days, they were called Padik. So, Padik was taken out by Lord Ram. Similarly, Bajuband was called Bhojanga. So, we also kept its terminology that someone should do its detailing, someone should study it. And, this was a big challenge. There are many temples of Vishnu, many temples of Krishna, but, the temple of Lord Ram, was the first time, there was such an example, that, it was like a prince wearing a five-year-old hat. Yeah. My next question was the same. There are many temples of Lord Krishna. Now, like Govardhan, Shrinath Ji, Guruvayur, the South, Udipi. So, there are many places of Lord Krishna, but, the temples of Lord Ram, of Lord Ram, are not that much. The concept of Lord Ram's temple is very interesting. It is very unique, if any of you have gone there. Lord Ram is there, but, he is in many forms. If you go to Kanak Dhon, there, he is worshiped in the form of a son. There, he is Pahun. So, there, his appearance is of Sun-Allah. If you go there, in Ratansigha San, there, Raja Dhiraj Ram is there. If you go to Rangavahal, there, there is Rangadheer. So, in every form, he is in the form of Vanvasi Ram. Yes. But, Balakram, and Balakram, who doesn't know that he is going to get married, or he is going to get Vanvasi. He is in his parents' house, and, he is getting married, he is getting educated. So, in this form, you should see the temple of Lord Ram. So, there is one more question, which is asked in all forms, that the idol of Lord Ram, like Arun Yogira Ji, is in the black stone, and his colour is in the evening. Even though, he is always in the evening, but, Lord Ram is always in the evening, in the morning, and in the afternoon. His idols. So, there is a political dynamic of this, that, look, there is a Rujhan towards Dakshan Bharat, so, even from there, people are attracted to it, so, the idol is in the evening. I don't think so, because, in many places, the foundation of the idol, when, in those times, the idols were made, and especially in the old times, when the king was the one, or when, the king was the one, then, the one who would have liked it, the sculptors of that time, who would have stayed, they made it like that, and what form was liked. Shri Shri knows, we were all in it, when, three people made the idols, and one of the three people, so, one idol, the idol of the Pandey, was being made on white stone. It was made. Yes, it was made on white stone. So, the trust decided, that, which idol would be, and I think, that, this is my little, spiritual, answer, it has no political, connotation, to take. Lord Ram has decided, which idol to come, in the temple. That, that, and the feeling is like that, because, any idol, which was being made, Manish Ji, Manish Tripathi Ji, when, the idol of God, you see, with what feeling, Lord Ram, you see, in your devotion, Krish Ram, or Shiva, with what feeling, you get its manifestation, reflecting on it. So, I don't think, that, as far as I understand, as much as I am assisting, in the work of the temple, Nipendra Mishra Ji, any address, I don't think, that, any political, which is being made, or, from somewhere, someone must have said, that, that should be done, because, I myself, had organized the Mangal Dhwani, on 22nd, and after that, Lord Ram, had served, for 45 days, all the idols of the country, went out. So, I was given, free of charge, that, you do it, and I, no one, did any, did any, did any, did any, what does this temple mean, for all of us? Look, in this, basically, the construction technology, is our, the old technology, which is, to connect the stone, with the stone, So, in this, the iron, is not used? No, no, no. It is said, there is a lot of concrete, the iron, everything is put in. No, no, no. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, it is called the stone, and the stone opens up,아서,ired, just, just, just, the Tha then came, the plei, condition, treatment, so down, it, then, you know, the ancient temple, So, you are people who believe that Sanatan will exist for 2,500 years because there are a lot of people who believe that Sanatan will exist for 2,500 years because there are a lot of people who believe that Sanatan will exist for 2,500 years because there are a lot of people who believe that Sanatan will exist for 2,500 years because there are a lot of people who believe that Sanatan will exist for 2,500 years because there are a lot of people who believe that Sanatan will exist for 2,500 years because there are a lot of people for sharing such fascinating insights into the construction of the Ram Temple and the Sringar, the Sajavat of our Ram Lalla. Well, ladies and gentlemen, now let's get down to discussing something that concerns each one of us, all of us present here today. We can ignore it only at our own peril. It's about us, it's about our children, our families, it's about life and our planet. The changes that are sweeping the world could come at a cost. And this has also pitched sustainability and climate change to the mainstream of global policy making and business decision making. In fact, smart living ladies and gentlemen is about adapting the fruits of technology through models that are scalable, profitable, and importantly, ecologically and socially far more sustainable. Let's talk about these very pressing matters in a session titled Earth's Dividend Between Profit and Protection. Please join me as I call on stage Dr. Amina Grieb-Fakim, who's the former president of Mauritius and an award-winning scientist, Mr. Eric Solheim, former executive director United Nations Environment Programme or UNEP and the former environment minister Norway and they will be in conversation with News 18's Palki Sharma. Palki, thank you. Good afternoon, Namaskar. I would say this is the most difficult conversation of this summit because climate change does not have fun political one-liners. Climate change is not dramatic or urgent. Some 50 to 70 countries are going to polls this year. I'm not sure climate change is an election issue in even five of them. It's a footnote in most policy documents. It's everyone's problem yet no one wants to solve it. Summers are getting hotter, winters are getting colder, free weather is becoming more common, billions are being lost in economies, the world over, climate refugees pose the next big challenge and some countries face extinction. So what you want to ask today is what will it take for us and our world to take climate change seriously? With me are two very well qualified and eminent personalities to talk about this. Amina Gharipakim, former President Mauritius, also a biodiversity scientist. And Eric Solheim, former Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program with an extensive career focusing on climate change. Welcome to Rising Bharat and to India. Amina Gharipakim, the world is talking a lot more about climate change but is this talk translating into policy and action? Are we doing better at mitigating the climate crisis than we were say ten years ago? Good morning and again Palki, thank you. Thank you. It's a great pleasure always to be back in India. We are here in India and we are heading precisely towards COP 29 which will be held in Baku this year. You've mentioned something very important, the climate crisis. I think we all acknowledge that climate change is a threat to the world, to our survival on this planet. And are we taking it seriously? You know, if we are to look at the crisis, the COVID crisis, I think it gives us an idea it's a harbinger of what's to come in the future. And what we find of course is that the concept rather than narrative is still shaped in the us and them, us, me, you, 85% of the global population living in global south and of course the 15% of the global north. We still haven't realized that we have one planet, there's no planet being. If we go back to the COPs, which have been of course the key institution looking at the climate crisis, we find that we still do not find, do not seem to be able to get the consensus around this issue. The successful COP may have been the COP 21 in Paris when the NDCs were approved and countries realized that we have a common, but we need a differentiated approach. And this differentiated approach comes down to money, comes down to finance. And we still, as we speak now, so many years after Paris, we still haven't come to the consensus of capitalizing the 100 billion dollars for helping adaptation. I'm not talking about mitigation, but I'm talking about adaptation. We have seen subsequently incremental narratives of the Bridgetown initiative. We talk about the loss and damage funds, but still they remain empty boxes. It becomes us versus them because someone has to fund climate action, Eric Solheim. And from where I'm seeing it, it's not a problem of money because there are governments that have poured billions of dollars into wars and the wars that suit them. So the money goes to Ukraine, but not necessarily to, say, the Sudan. So there is money. Is this a problem of lack of funds or lack of political will? The money is not a problem. That's what people speak about in international conferences, but it's not really the problem. And the reason for that is very simple. The price of solar energy has fallen by 90% in one decade. The price of wind energy has fallen by 85% in one decade. So if today, if you make the shift from solar, sorry, from coal or from fossil fuels into renewables, not only it's good for the health, everyone knows. Not only it's good for the earth, everyone knows. It's also very good for the economy. It's cheaper, and that's why the calculus of the past was a thing of the past. In the 20th century, if you wanted to grow the economy, there was no other way than coal. That's why Europe did it, America did it, China did it, and India started doing it. But today, you can grow the economy by renewables. And frankly, this is why Prime Minister Modi is now leading India in the right direction. Because, mind you, he gets the big picture right. Prime Minister Modi understands that climate change and environment action is not a burden for India. It's an enormous opportunity, it's an opportunity for more jobs, getting people out of poverty, but get doing it in a green way. And if I may add, maybe the best slogan I ever heard in India about this was OLA, the Uber of India, as you all know. They have a wonderful factor in Tamil Nadu. Long Tamil ladies making electrical scooters, and the slogan is really captivating. It says, Tesla for the West, Ola for the Rest. Because meaning, that barrel can get any number of jobs from moving into the green economy. You make interesting points, and you were telling me earlier that you believe that Indian culture is the best suited for climate action. Do you want to tell our audience about that? The Indian culture, you said, is better suited. Look, the old Brits had a, to put it mildly, very unfavorable view of the Hindu Dharma, or the traditional Indian culture. They saw it as a second-rate religion, with any number of millions of gods didn't take it seriously at all. Then switched to 2024. And Hindu Dharma looks like the most modern of all religions. Why? Because, look, in Christianity, while there is a strong drive to protect nature in Christianity, still the perspective is always that the human being is superior. Human being is superior to nature. While in Hindu Dharma, man is part of nature. Man is in nature. And that now looks such a modern perspective. And the old Indians, they venerated nature. They did it even to the extent of making God half animal, half human. I mean, Ganesh, half elephant, half human. Hanuman, half monkey, half human. And can there be a stronger signal of the unity of man, humans, and nature? Than making God half nature, half human. So what the Brits spoke so negatively about 100 years ago, is now looking as the most modern of all global thought systems. That's a very interesting perspective. Amina Hurid-Fakim, your thoughts on what India is doing. And countries like India, even China, have developmental requirements. Same with Mauritius, as the president I'm sure you've seen this firsthand. The challenges that climate change poses to you and your people. So you have to find a way to balance the two. How do you think these countries are doing? First of all, I just pick up to what Eric has just said. The approach that the global south and India, Asia, of course, and China. I think the approach is that we are very much part of the ecosystem and that we need to start respecting nature. And the solutions will be, of course, in nature. But you've mentioned something about the challenges of climate and how India and in most Asian countries, even China, are tackling. I think the plan is there. There is a game plan to address this. I think many of the rising emerging economies, of course, India is one of them, and they have the plan. But I have a but. We are all integrated in the global economy. And this, of course, is the lifeblood of any country. It is to see to it that trade increases so that jobs can be created. And my concern is that because of the competition, because of the moving geotechonic plates around the world, especially now that India and China are rising, is that there could be a break to this rise. And the break will come because when we start tying down trade to the climate, it's a good point, but there is a downside to it. It can become a break. I mean, I also have to bring in Africa, because this is where I hail from, is that there will be a tendency to link up trade to cleaner technologies. And those countries that haven't played catch-up, they will find big problems in terms of precisely benchmarking themselves to that level to see to it that trade happens. And that's what I fear will be the tendency moving forward. And I think this is where I think India, I'm sure, is already mindful of the way that she's going to progress in the future, because India is set to become a course. Now we are fifth, we're going to be, of course, higher in the ranking of emerging economies. So this is something that has to be borne in mind. You mentioned the debate on who is going to take responsibility, and that also brings us to the point of historical responsibility. And there are countries that have contributed more to emissions. Do you think that's a valid point that the global south makes? And do you feel let down by rich countries that do not put their money where their mouth is? Absolutely. I mean, if you look at the caution of Africa, it has been less than 3% in terms of global emission. The global north has been 25% as we speak. There has been many initiatives to capitalise the fund. And here I make a pledge for more funds for adaptation. And where we are falling short is that the needs of the global south, excluding China, is $1 trillion per year. And I don't see any country or any institution that is able to actually match and bring forward this amount of fund. So this will be the race. And again, the $100 billion which has come on board since Paris hasn't been capitalised. We still have a gap. And if you look at $100 billion in the world, the global economy of $100 trillion is not a lot. But I don't see the will or the appetite to take this risk to help poorer countries adapt. And this is where we are failing, because the future of the world will depend on the growth in the global south. And of course, the prosperity in global south matters. If you take one item like immigration, we find that how much this is impacting, of course, the global north and, of course, the global south economies. Is it domestic politics, Eric Suleim, that impacts this? Because we've seen climate deniers take high offices. We've seen the former US president who's in the race again. We've seen others. We've seen that when governments change, and now we're looking at many elections across the world, some regimes come with more intense and focused climate policies, and others do not. And we know that climate action requires consistency. So do you think domestic politics plays a role? And how can we change that? Look, first of all, because no one should blame India or the global south for climate change. The emissions of the United States of America, up to this point, are 25 times Indian emissions per capita. So stop blaming the global south. By the way, American emissions are also eight times Chinese emissions per capita. So get that out of the picture. The one thing the environment movement gets wrong, in my view, is it sometimes framing the message as a message for the young and trendy. But the message cannot be just for the young and trendy in Mumbai or Bengaluru. It must also be for the farmer in Uttar Pradesh or for the coal worker in Krakham or for the housewife in Telangana. And it must be for the people. And the message is sometimes also so incredibly boring it doesn't really work. So we need a better messaging to the people. And we need to do it much more about the love for nature, make it a lot more fun, a lot more exciting. And maybe the most important of all, get out the message that the green transformation is a help to the people, not a cost. It's an enormous achievement. I let me just give you a few examples from India itself. In Gujarat desert, the Adani group is now building the biggest individual solar and wind plant in the world. It's as much energy as all the hydropower consumption of my nation, Norway. And we are fully fueled by hydropower at a very, very high level of consumption. That one plant is as much as we consume overall in Norway. Then in Unkar Esvar in Madhya Pradesh, at the Narmada River, L&T and Hartex Solar and other companies are building the biggest floating solar in the world. Amazing. It's as much as four times the most controversial hydropower plant again in my nation, Norway. So it's big. And then Prime Minister Modi came back from Ayodhya from the Ram Mandir. His first step was to say, look, Ram was about energy. Can I serve the people of India better than launching an initiative for one crore, 10 million roofs of solar? The initiative is already out there. Go into the internet and Google it and look into whether you can apply for it. So and of course, all these are beneficial to the people, creating jobs, creating prosperity and making sure that India do not need to pay for oil from Norway or from Russia or from Saudi Arabia that can use the money for the people back home. But we need to change the conversation from a very boring, very sentinel, a few young people in the city conversation to this amazing conversation of how all people also farmers and workers, everyone will benefit from the green transformation. So change the conversation. That's an interesting point again. I mean, Aguri Pakim, we cannot talk about climate change and not mention big oil. And it's interesting that the last COP summit was hosted by one of the biggest oil producers in the world. There is again a debate on whether we should co-op them and can petrodollars meaningfully fund green transition? Is that the only way forward now? Well, Kee, there is a lot of conversation about oil. And I think last COP Dubai, they had big problem actually getting the wordings right in terms of phasing out oil. And unfortunately, if we co-op them down to brass tack, it would be difficult to phase out oil immediately. But I think what we can get from the oil industry is precisely their CSR in terms of capitalizing the global funds to be able to help countries adapt. And I think this is where we make a pledge because we are in election year in the United States, in India, in many of the major countries, we are going to go for election. So capitalizing the grid of the green fund will not be a priority for many countries. We are of course running out of time, but we make a pledge to the big corporations. And this is where the SDGs make a difference is that we are the MDGs because this is where we call for the contribution of the private sector. So if the private sector can help come on board and help capitalize the fund and help us reach this $1 trillion so that this global south can help adapt because again, I would say, the global north depend on the global south because we provide the branch on which we are all sitting for our own survival. So it's in our interest to find the funds to help adapt because mitigation is already happening. Also, COP summits tend to have a very big participation. 70,000 in the Dubai summit, which I understand that they want to bring more voices on board but it makes consensus that much more difficult. You mentioned the private sector. There's increasingly a pitch with sustainable products that are being pushed out in the market. Do you think that it's just window dressing as of now? Do you think that there is a serious commitment where the private sector is concerned that they want to make a difference and become part of climate change, climate action? So far, they have remained pledges and the pledges have been translated into solid dollars. But I think when you look at a country like India, for example, which has a very big agriculture base, while we actually lambast agriculture as being in the middle, I think India can play a key role in transforming the ag sector into a net absorber. And with these tools that India can bring in terms of technology and India has got very strong institutions in terms of addressing this, I think it can be a great boon in terms of addressing the climate crisis and becoming a net absorber and also create jobs. And here, I have a special plea to make because agriculture also means women and we need to empower women to bring them on board to become these game changers in terms of addressing the climate crisis. Eric Solheim, I have some data. Gen Z, 81% of them, according to a survey, the young generation, said that they were very concerned about climate change and they've talked about climate anxiety. Another set talks about the multiplication of climate-related litigation. People are taking their governments to court. What is your message to the youth? Do you think that making climate action legally binding and forcing policymakers to look at this is the only way forward now? I mean, all in favor of that, I mean, cannot be agreed more than to any global agreement which will enforce regulations on climate. However, there is no need to wait for that because acting on climate in India or any other place is creating more jobs, saving money on the budget and creating a much healthier and better society. So there's no need to wait for someone else. But if I may, since we've come maybe to the close of the conversation, also make a couple of challenges to India and what are the main issues India need to work on to do even better. I think one is still red tape. It takes too long to get permissions for renewable energies. That's, by the way, not just an Indian problem. It's the massive problem in the United States in Europe everywhere. One of the biggest win-makers in Europe told me, look, it takes a lot longer to get the permission to construct offshore wind than it actually takes to make, put up the windmills. And I think one reason why I state that Gujarat seems to be from, in the lead in India, maybe that they got the relationship to business right at an early stage. It's a more efficient system and more business friendly system. Tamil Nadu is also in the lead, maybe for some other similar reasons. So cutting red tape is essential. And the other which may not be so popular to talk about in India is the relationship to China. China is 60% of everything green in the entire world. Don't look to the west. They're far behind India. The only nation in the world which may be ahead of India is China. China's 60% of wind, solar, hydropower, electric cars, electric batteries, high speed, jail, whatever you look for, China's dominating. I think I'm going to interrupt there. Just one second on that. So the relationship between China and India's key because tapping into this technology for India while at the same time on shoring the jobs here. I mean, people in Bharat need jobs. So that is a first right issue for the development of renewables. India-China is a whole different conversation. Time is up, but I want one last word from you.  Climate is happening. Climate change is happening. And I think all the indicators are pointing to this. But what I would like to see is more power, more technology, more finance to help us all together, right there because time is running against us. And let's empower the youth because I think they have it's their planet at the end of the day. So we need to empower them. We need our women to ask us to actually bring on board the changes that we'd like to see. Thank you. Right. As they say, we are the first generation to feel the impact of climate change. And we may be the last generation that can do something about it. Thank you very much for your thoughts and for being here today. Thank you so much, Dr. Tappin, Mr. Solheim. Thank you for your time. That was indeed a very insightful and informative session on climate change, which is the greatest threat that the world is facing and its devastating consequences, if not addressed at the earliest. Palki, thank you so much as well. And ladies and gentlemen, we are going to get ready now for our next session. It's going to be with a person who's among the most talked about political figures in East India these days. His career, ladies and gentlemen, took a definitive turn when on November 27, he decided to quit the Indian administrative service, or IAS, and he formally joined the party in power in the state. And during the past decade, he has played a key role in implementing several Marquis projects, including the Sri Mandir Parikrama project, the renovation and restoration of ancient and some revered temples throughout the state, and the Motharkar, which interestingly is an initiative to establish the dignity of the common citizen in government offices. Well, he now holds a cabinet rank position as the chairman of 5T, a charter of governance, emphasizing transparency, technology, teamwork, and time leading and transformation. Some say that he is the chief minister in waiting. Well, he just could well be that. Let's hear it from the man himself. Please join me as I welcome Mr. V.K. Pandian, who is the chairman of 5T, Udisha, for a session title, P2P, Udisha's new mantra in conversation with News 18's Zaka Jacob. Welcome. Let's have a huge round of applause, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, there are bureaucrats and there are politicians and there are politicians. We are extremely privileged and honored to be having Mr. V.K. Pandian. He was just telling us in the green room that this is his first live interview on any news platform. So can we have a round of applause? Thank you. Thank you. Sir, it's very difficult to get a chance to interview you because you've always been sort of behind the scenes and operating, of course, for the chief minister. What made you decide to take that plunge? You are now right front and center in public life. You've decided to enter politics full-fledged. What made you make that switch? I am with the chief minister of Udisha for the last 12 years in his office. And before that, I used to be the collector of his district called Ganja. I was inspired by him. The first reason I would say is that I was totally inspired by his commitment to the cause of people, commitment to public service. But one year back, if somebody has asked my friends that whether Mr. Pandian will join politics, everyone would have laughed. I would have also laughed about that. After COVID, the grievance of chief minister's office was closed as a precautionary measure. So after that, chief minister wanted that we should go to the villages. We should go to the people and do grievance. So one year back, we started that exercise of touching all the assembly constituencies and blocks for grievance, redressal of people. So when I went there, I realized that there is a strong connect with people. And I'm not being treated like a bureaucrat there. It was a little more than a bureaucrat. I was embalmed in some places. So I came and told honorable CM. And he also saw the videos of people, how they respond to me, how they connect with me, the emotions overflowing. And then the inner calling came that, OK, maybe I should not be covered by that screen of bureaucracy. I should come out and help my guru, the honorable chief minister of Odisha, as a nice disciple. So tell us a little bit more about your guru, your father figure. I mean, he will, by the middle of this year, become the longest ever serving chief minister in the history of India. He's already gone past Jyotipasu. I think he'll go past Pawan Chamling by the middle of this year. It has never happened in the history of India. And you have seen firsthand why it has happened or what makes him tick. So tell us, what is the success of his longevity? I don't know throughout the world you have any parallel of a democratically elected leader continuing in a space as popular as the chief minister of Odisha and winning election after election with a higher margin instead of anti-incumbency, having pro-incumbency. And he's now going to touch two and a half decades. He started in a decade when newspapers were ruling the roost, then came internet, then social media. So all these eras of public scrutiny he has stood. And his popularity ratings are the highest in the country for any chief minister. So I would say that one of the main reasons for his success is that he doesn't see politics as politics. He sees it as public service. And people also don't see him as a political leader. They see him as somebody who is there to serve them. I think that is the connect he has with people and which has made him very popular. What is the connect that you have? Of course, you've worked under him as a bureaucrat, you were his private secretary, you were district collector in his own district before that. But more than that, at a personal level, clearly something has inspired you to make that political plunge. It's a blessing to work with a great soul like him. I consciously use the word soul. It's more of values. It's not about a great leader doing great work. Many people will do great work. There may be great administrators. There may be great planners. This chief minister, Mr. Navin Patnaik, has a great soul. I consider it as a blessing to be with him for more than a decade. And I thought as a disciple, I should try and do something for him at this point of time to help him reach out to the people. That's my only objective right now. So for such a popular chief minister, many would ask, why is he then allying with the BJP? I don't think in Indian politics, you have seen an alliance between a ruling party and the main opposition party. So something must have happened. Okay. Why somebody joins an alliance? Somebody joins an alliance because they want to win elections. Somebody joins an alliance because they want to have an impact in the electoral map. Here is a chief minister who is so popular in the state and he gets three fourth majority every time, Mr. Navin Patnaik. The recently concluded panchayat elections, he won symbol election. It's based on party symbol. He won 90% of the seats. And the second party was 5% seats, BJP. So Mr. Navin Patnaik doesn't need an alliance to come back to serve the people. He doesn't need an alliance. You're saying BJP need an alliance? I would say the same thing about Mr. Narendra Modi, the honorable prime minister of India, whatever surveys you are showing, whatever others are showing, that he is going to become the prime minister of the country. Mr. Navin Patnaik is going to the chief minister of the state, undoubtedly. And Mr. Narendra Modi is going to be the prime minister. How I put it is, it is beyond, there are some things beyond politics. It is a mark of great statesmanship. That's how I put it. That two great leaders wanting to come together for a greater cause. It has significance as two great people coming together as a mark of statesmanship. It has nothing to do with politics. That's how I see it. That's how I put it. And even the chief minister thinks that way. So you said it has no electoral value either for BJP or for BJP. Earlier in the first part of the answer, you said, why do parties align with each other? They want to win elections. They want to change the electoral map. So is it that BJP needs BJD more or BJD needs BJP more? BJP doesn't need, BJD doesn't need BJP to form government in the state. And BJP may not need BJD to form government in the center. That's why I made it very clear that it is to do with two individuals who share a great friendship amongst each other and they see some things are beyond politics and that is where you see a rare mark of statesmanship. I consciously use the word statesmanship. It is nothing to do with politics. It is beyond politics. So where is the status of that alliance right now? Because PM came, I think earlier this month, he praised Navin Patanayak as a low Priya Neta. But we haven't heard anything ever since. I think if anything happens, we'll all get to know. No, that's why I'm asking you. We're better to ask than you. We'll all get to know if something happens. But I told the logic behind this, whatever talk has happened also, I told the logic behind it. It has nothing of electoral significance either to Odisha or to the country. It is more to do with statesmanship. Okay. Talking about statesmanship, clearly Navin Babu is a statesman in his own right. Like I said, he has already gone past Jyothi Basu's record and if he wins this election, which like you said is almost a certainty, he will become the longest serving Chief Minister in the history of India. We have called this session P2P. So depending on which way you want to see it. Poverty to prosperity, Odisha transforms. That's the way you would like to see it. We would like to see it as from Patanayak to Pandian. No, no, no. So please tell us, are you Mr. Navin Patanayak's political successor? I don't think I should answer this. The people of Odisha will answer it. And I succeed his values. I succeed his hard work. I get inspired by his sincerity, commitment and keeping politics away from public service and doing service to the people. That's how these are values I have imbibed from the Chief Minister. Politics can come later on whenever whatever people think it's fine. The reason people are asking this is because the BJD, like some other parties we've seen that in the history of Indian politics where succession has always become a bit of a dicey situation. We've seen that with ADMK, we've seen that with Shiv Sena. So in the BJD there is no obvious political successor. Are you the obvious political successor? Let me put it this way. The Chief Minister is so popular and he is so meticulous in doing everything. He has transformed the state of Odisha from where it was and what it is now. And BJD is the vehicle which he created to transform the state. Such a futuristic thinking Chief Minister who holds people of Odisha in his heart will definitely have planned out something for the BJD which will be rocking as always he does. But he's not shared that with you. I think he tells always that people of Odisha will decide who will succeed him. We all follow that. In fact, when somebody asks Biju Babu when he was alive, who is going to succeed you, he also told the same thing that people of Odisha will decide. Finally, democracy one bows to the peoples. So, talking about your political debut, just as you decided that you're going to get into politics, you also said that you're not going to be fighting the elections. You're not going to get into electoral politics. Why? I was very clear when I took this decision I'm going to help the Chief Minister come back with three-fourth majority to serve the people again. That's my one and only objective right now. I see only that in my eyes. In politics, obviously, you'll be the subject of scrutiny by a lot of people, your political opponents, by the people of the state. When they attack you with the outsider tag, how do you respond to that? I know that last three-four years I have been the central point of attack of everyone in Odisha politics. Most of the opposition parties attack me. So, that's part of the game. And whether I succeed or not, it's up to the people of Odisha to decide. But when they say that you're originally not from there, you're from Tamil Nadu, they have to come and see some of the meetings which I have with the people and the emotions which they pour out when they see, when they interact or when they talk to me, I think that will clarify how they hold me, whether they hold me as one of theirs or whether they hold me as an outsider. It's the people of Odisha who finally decide. I mean, you're also a fluent Odia speaker by virtue of your bureaucratic career, of course, you're married to an Odia native. But beyond that, for people to accept somebody who is from a different state, I mean, the only comparable example I can think of and probably you'll relate to this is MGR, coming from one state and contesting in another state, even Jalalitha to an extent. What is it about our people in India in different states that they wholeheartedly give love to even someone who may not be originally from their place but are considered one of their own? People are very smart and intelligent. If Naveen Patnaik has succeeded so many years in Odisha, it's because people see his clear heart. He has heart in the right place. And they know that this guy wants to change Odisha, transform Odisha. And he is spending every minute of his time for Odisha and its people and its growth. So when people are so intelligent and smart, they will judge what is what and who is who. And that's how I think the connect which I have with people is the same. The connect that you have with the people is the same because people believe that you are wanting to do this as a service and not, but that's what all politicians say. Time will tell that. Whether I have meant what I say or whether I have some other hidden agenda, time will say. But I leave it to the people to judge whether I stand by the service mind which I got from the chief minister. So you did say that Odisha has transformed, no doubt in the last 20, 25 years, it has transformed as a state. And I want to deal with both ends of it. At the welfare end, at the lower end, obviously there are various programs that Naveen Babu has launched from Kaliya to the BSKY program, the Mission Shakti. Now, over the last year or so, there has been this whole thing in politics, this whole narrative and counter narrative that many of these things are freebies or ravebies. How would you respond to that? There are some things which one should call it as responsibilities of a welfare state. Health, education, taking care of food security of the vulnerable people. All these one should, even United States does, take care of health, take care of education. You have public schools, you have public hospitals. What the chief minister has done is, why there should be a quality difference between a public school and a private school. He invested in public schools, transformed the public schools, like private schools are better than private schools. I'll be happy to share that we have about 8,600 high schools in the state. We have transformed all the 8,620 high schools in the state. We don't have blackboards in these schools. We have smart boards like these digital boards in these schools and we have science labs, class science labs, modern laboratories, libraries, e-libraries at high school level. So he wanted to empower the people of Odisha to make them dream big for their children because 70% to 80% of the children will always be dependent on public schools. So he transformed the public schools and made it as good or better than private schools. He also transformed the hospitals, public hospitals, government hospitals, as good as or better than private hospitals. So this is where he spends money. So health, education, food security, these are things which any government should do for its population and people are happy about it and if you want to take the state to the next level, 70% of the population who are dependent on public institutions should have the best access to public institutions. When you do that, you actually empower the people and make them dream big. That's when a state will go forward. I also want to ask you about the Shreemandir Parikrama project which is the temple heritage corridor project, restoration of the Puri Jagannath temple, as well as other temples you were telling us a short while back. There are 10,000 temples that have been revived and restored in the state. How would you respond to the charge that why should a secular state be in the business of restoring or reviving temples? I think it's part of our culture.  It reflects your history. You draw strength from your, you draw strength from your faith you have on these temples. You get peace there. So it is but natural for a government to honor the faith of people. In a democracy, people's faith is reflected in vote. When you are voted to serve them, it's important that you honor their faith. If Muslims have faith in mosque, restore their mosque, restore their burial grounds. If Christians have faith in churches, restore their churches which are broken during cyclone. Orisa is prone for cyclone. If Hindus have faith in temples, restore their temples. If Sikhs have faith in Gurudwara, do that. And we have a huge tribal population who have faith in their tribal gods. The chief minister has restored almost every symbol of religious institution of the tribals as well. So it is honoring the faith of people.  It's a spiritual governance. It's not secular governance. You have to run the extra mile to take care that people's faith is honored. You don't think this will be a point of difference between you and the BJP because you split the alliance in 2009 after the Kandamal riots? That is a communal issue. There is a difference between being communal and spiritual. Here the chief minister has protected, preserved, conserved religious institutions of all religions. That's what I meant by spiritual governance. You honor this faith of people. I also want to talk about, and of course a lot of our viewers are well acquainted with this. Odisha has of course become a big hub, a big center for sports and sports promotion, particularly hockey. You've got world-class stadiums now in Rao Kehla, in Bhuvaneswar. The Hockey World Cup, you hosted the Hockey World Cup. What explains Odisha and particularly your chief minister's love for sports? I believe you are also a sports candidate. Yeah, I'm also from sports hostel. I was trained to be a professional athlete. I left, maybe I was a middle distance runner and left halfway through because my father asked me whether you want to continue as a sports person and end up in railway stations as TTE after playing nationals or you want to go a little further. That was the ecosystem which sports has. Unfortunately, we have improved a bit on it, but still a long way to go for India to make our sports merchants into professional sports. And regarding your question about hockey and Odisha, half of the Indian team at one point of time or 30% of the Indian team had players from Odisha. People of Odisha are in love with hockey, many parts of the country. But in Odisha, hockey is celebrated. You will get, even for local matches, you will get such huge crowds for hockey. Our chief minister is also a hockey... used to be a hockey player, used to be a goalkeeper. And his father had told a very interesting anecdote. Linking hockey and the Indian national movement. Linking hockey and the Indian freedom movement. The Indian freedom movement, right. So when India was not conceived as a country, we were fighting for our independence. The only place where India was representing is India was in Olympics, even before independence, British India, whatever you call it. So the goal models used to come from hockey. When India was an idea, we were fighting for independent India. At that point of time, India was honored at a world stage because of hockey. So that is something which Biju Patnaik, who used to be a freedom fighter, led Biju Babu, he had told his son, Navin Patnaik, that we all got inspired, that India, at least somewhere it is making a wave, at least through hockey, it made an impact for itself. That we are getting gold in Olympics. So that is something which gave that emotional connect to our Chief Minister. And people of Odisha are deeply in love with hockey. So he thought that we should take up hockey seriously. And we are the only state perhaps in the world who is supporting a national team. A provincial government supporting, sponsoring a national team. Generally a national team is sponsored by corporates. The Chief Minister wanted that we let send a message, this game has contributed for, at least indirectly during the Indian national movement, to make Indians feel proud about something when they were fighting the British. So perhaps that is the reason why he took it up as an emotional thing. And it gelled well with Odisha. All right. So in fact, Odisha sponsors both the men's and women's hockey team. So can we have a round of applause? Senior and junior. Senior and junior. So that is an incredible thing. It's generally corporates who sponsor teams, but here you have a state government sponsoring. So finally, Mr. Pandit. And after 38 years, 40 years, India won a medal in last Olympics in Beijing. Correct. After Odisha sponsored. Of course, the credit goes to our players, the support team and everyone. But Odisha had a small role in that. Odisha had a small role in India getting a medal after three decades. So finally, is Mr. Pandian the middle distance runner ready for the long distance marathon of politics? I take one day at a time. I don't see anything long term. In human life, you should take one day at a time. Not then you are stressful. This is something which I learned from our chief minister. Very spiritual. Take next minute. Live with, live in the moment, present moment. So for this day and for the last 25 minutes, Mr. Pandian, thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, give me a round of applause. Thank you so much for the very important advice. Live each day. And that was Odisha's influential bureaucrat now serving the people of the state with utmost dedication and selflessness and sharing his vision for the state's development. Well, ladies and gentlemen, since the morning, we have had some fascinating discussions over some thought provoking issues and some burning topics. You can dig deeper over lunch, which will now be served at the Sharjah Hall. So take a break, enjoy yourself, enjoy this conscious meal and we will have you back soon after lunch. Thank you so much. Well, let's hear it from the person who has been making all this happen for India. Ladies and gentlemen, it's my privilege to welcome Sri Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Government of India to talk about the Road to 370. Well, it is the election year and he is in conversation with News 18's Amish Devgan. A huge round of applause, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome, sir. Thank you. And now, the beginning of that session, which we had been waiting for quite a while, Nitin Gadkari is with me. He is the Union Minister of Road Transport. He is the former President of the Indian Party. Nitin, this is your guest. So, with a big round of applause, let's welcome Nitin Gadkari. Nitin, it was said about Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He is a good person, but the party is wrong. And after Atal, if it is said for anyone, then it is said for Nitin Gadkari that he is a good person, but the party is wrong. Why is that? This is absolutely wrong. The party is also right, and the person is also right. I have started my life as a member of the union, as a member of the union, as a member of the union, and whatever I am today, whatever is good for me, these are both the reasons for the union. Everything is good for me. So, I am very much proud of my convictions. And if I am good, then my party is good. And if I am good, then my ideology is good. I can say the same thing to you. But don't you think that you came from politics by mistake? You say, I will not apply a poster, I will not spend tea and water, so how will you win the election, Gadkari? If you come to my constituency, then I said that I do not agree with Jatiyevad and Samprad. Our Prime Minister has said, along with everyone, everyone's development, everyone's efforts. So, I consider my family and family members of my constituency as my responsibility. And for 10 years, whatever work I did, my name has also been met by people and my work has also been met. And that is why I said that there is no need to apply a poster, a banner or anything else. Secondly, if I am connected with people, then I do not need to serve them in any way in exchange for a coat. I will meet people, I will go to people's houses, I will take out a gift from them, I will take the blessings of the brave people. And I will campaign house to house and man to man. And I am sure that I will win the election and I will win the election. This time, we have to do three head tricks. One is the head trick of the Modi government. If a Narendra Modi comes in this term, then it will be a big deal. A non-congress government will come for the third time, for the first time, for the second time, for the first time. And for the third time, you will win Nagpur again. You will win for the third time. So, how difficult it takes. The third term of Modi, and the third time of yours, you will win the Lok Sabha. This is the third term of Modi, this is the final. The second term is that we are going to win the 400 power. This is the final. And I am also going to win the election. This is also the final. But what is there in the Nethinkadkari that the leaders of the party become the leaders? I was read in the newspaper that Sonia Gandhi praised you. What is it? This is a surprise to me because in the parliament, when 75 members of the party spoke in the different parties, everyone thanked me, everyone said that I was surprised. So, one thing is that according to the law, according to the rules, it should be done by everyone. And if it is wrong, it should never be done by ourselves. So, if I make a road, then I should be in one constitution and leave it for others. So, whatever people bring to me with a problem, I tried to do everyone's work. So, because of that, the first time I interviewed you, in 2011, which I remember, in Mumbai, in your house, and you were a member of the party, then you were a member of the party and now you are a member of the party. You don't have to be this much a member of the party. No, no. You can do the analysis, how am I? The question I ask is the correct answer. I don't think there is any problem in this. But there is something that keeps coming out. No, no. Social media bloggers also keep writing something. No, sir. Some people write something on their own media by putting it in their mouth. And then others pick it up and write it. So, what someone has said should be done in detail. And then you should give an opinion on it. I would like to know if you are a member of the party then you are also a member of the Prime Minister and you are also a member of the Prime Minister. No, definitely. When there is a discussion, the Prime Minister listens to what we say and keeps silent. I am also a member of the party. Even I had everybody talking to me at that time. So, we are a member of the party. Yes. And everyone has their own thoughts and views on it. The party keeps coming forward Now, I have a very headline story for you. A statement of Uddhav Thakre. I have a statement in Marathi. I will listen to it and I will take its reaction from you. Uddhav Thakre said something about you. Let's hear it once. Uddhav. Uddhav Thakre's statement. And the Prime Minister of Uttar Pradesh said that the discussion will be decided. Now, when I was fighting with Maharashtra the Prime Minister of Maharashtra came and did not even talk to him. So, in the first list it was not possible for me to listen to my name. Now, in the second list the name came. I work for the Indian People's Party. I will fight. I will fight with the Indian People's Party. There was no question of going to any other party. And this kind of offer because I am connected to my party. I am connected with the Prime Minister. I will be in the same party and I will work in the same party. But the last few days you said that the government of any party does not get respect for what they do. I did not say that. This is wrong. I said that this happens in the system which I have said about the people working in the government before that it was my suggestion that if they do a good job they do not get respect. And the bad work that they do is punished because the system is so complicated that good people do not immediately get awards. And whatever they do as soon as they get the inquiry they go away for so many years that they do not get punishment. This was his incident. This was not related to politics. This is not related to politics. These days social media is used on all the media. There is a lot going on in social media. This is not the case. The wrong press on social media immediately takes it and takes it forward. This is the problem. My next question in 2022 you said that politics is a big issue. I did not say that. This is wrong. I said we need to redefine the definition of politics. Only power politics is not politics. Because of the society and because of the development this is politics. And when Mahatma Gandhi did the campaign for independence that was also because of the politics. We did 80% of the social politics. You can watch the video on my channel. I have operated on 50,000 hearts. I saw your Twitter in the morning. You tweeted a video on it.  You have treated her in your constituency. This is a big issue.  Is there an alliance? Look I got a call from politics in the morning. I came to work with him. His passport was done. So I came to thank him. His passport? No, his passport. What else I don't know if it will happen today. I don't know about it. But do you want to come to politics? It will be a party. What do you want? I don't want to be a person. I want to be the president of the party. The parliamentary board and the Prime Minister will do it for me. You are answering a lot of questions about seat-betware in Maharashtra. Is everything going well? Yes, everything is going well. There is a lot of debate. Are you happy? Yes, I am happy. There is one seat and I have 10 expectations. There is a lot of discussion. There is a lot of discussion. It is obvious. I think the elections will be finalized. We will fight together. We will win the Maharashtra. We are very close to India. We have made a new alliance in India for many years. But before that how do you see India alliance? Because there is a big challenge in Maharashtra. I see my party and my alliance. I have a philosophy which I often tell people that two races are yours and the other is yours. Two races are yours. One is yours or the other is yours. I believe in this and for 10 years our government has done something which people love. When I was coming on my Twitter I was so happy that so many people participated in it. In the 10 years we have worked in the government and we will be successful. We have to show our positivity and our work to people. We don't need to go into other negative things. One more question is to give 10% protection to the Maratha community. There is politics but there is also a social demand. How do you see that this is a big political challenge in Maharashtra for the Bharti Janta party and your alliance? Yes. Now this is not a topic. You are saying this is not a topic. But the election bond is a topic and a lot of questions are being answered. Rahul Ji has said that this is the biggest election vote of BJP. I think that there is still a discussion in the Supreme Court. When this matter is related to the Supreme Court then there is no tip on it. There will be a contempt of court. Don't do it. I don't do it. No, no. There is also an agreement that most of the BJP members have got some infrastructure companies. Now this is an agreement. I can tell you one thing. In the past 10 years we have awarded millions of rupees. Water resources in shipping in the road sector in the road in cable car, tunnel, express highway. We have not done this tender.  He will also tell you in the ears that we will have to give money for some work. So you tell me, I am ready to accept the punishment. We are fully transparent with the time bound and quality commitment. We have done the best and somehow we did the wrong work. There is a lot of discussion in the past. BJP is rich but the leader is poor. Congress leader is rich but the party is poor. What is your tip on this? I feel that the person in his life is so rich that this is a question related to him. But I often say that a person who is honest in his life has the strength of entrepreneurship, his company, his technology and such an entrepreneur will grow in the country. And I think by tomorrow, he will go abroad and invest. So we have to prepare such a meaningful thing that is going to make employment. And if we want to make employment then capital investment and if we work in a different area based on this then he is not just a wealth creator he is an employment creator. His caste, religion, and party, what would we take from this? But if you are talking about caste and religion then there are a lot of questions related to the CEO. Why did the CEO come first? His notification. It could have been brought later or it could have been brought three years earlier. There are a lot of things It is absolutely clear that the Hindu religion Pardha religion Sikh religion or Jain religion if they go abroad then if they are removed from there then there is no right to go there. There is no country. And that is why the CEO says that he can be legalized in India. So naturally a lot of things are clear in the CEO based on that. One question related to your mantra you have made a word record not one but seven word records. Is there any work that you could not do in the past 10 years and now when it comes to power then you should do it. What is the work? Right now there is a road construction and 36 green express. And 284 km we are building a tunnel of 2 lakh crores and from Kashmir to Kanyakumari we are building an express. It will be completed by December. Now we have started public transport and electricity. We are building a cable car and a railway. Now the Prime Minister thinks that when we complete 100 years what will be the vision. So public transport and electricity water transport like when I was shipping minister in Mumbai I was building a new airport in Mumbai. So I have made a report from BPD that you will go to airport in 17 minutes and you have made a new JTV like taxi, air taxi you have made a water taxi and you will take this water taxi from Vasee Virar from Nariman Point and you will reach airport in 17 minutes. You have a Venice city in Italy where you get down in the hotel and get into the water and get down directly on the airport. So this is the idea so public transport I had tried to get down on the water. So in the transport system there will be a lot of revolution. And especially on the basis of indigenous fuel public transport I was studying in Bangalore that in Bangalore the double-decker bus we were studying that project which went up because no road can be bigger. So naturally the cost of metro is 300 crores per kilometer and the technology I am talking about is 20 to 25 crores. So using this technology from Dhola Kua to Maneshwar we also studied the Pond system in between. So this new technology in the transport sector is the technology of the future and we also had some issues we are making 670 roads and amenities but if you ask me what do you want to do? I could do the best So in 2014 when I became a minister 1 crore people used to work as a person to pull a person. One was a cycle rickshaw and the other was a person to wash in Bihar, in Mangal, in North East. I brought the Mechanist D1 E-Rickshaw and today I am happy that 1 crore people who were suffering they got salvation and now E-Cart and E-Rickshaw are running and they got salvation from human suffering I made many express highway tunnel road bridges but this work is the best for me. It is near your heart but one round is near our heart and this is a photo round and you will get some pictures and you will get a reaction and I don't know which photo they have put Let's see the first photo This is Mamta Ji What do you want to say? Is there an accident? Yes Let's see the next photo What will happen to these two? I don't know the future I don't know any future You don't know the future? They say you are getting everything done The government is getting it done E-Di is doing her work and she is doing her work We often believe that our future is in the hands of God Your future is in the hands of God but what is the future of them? I don't know I am not the future What will happen to me? Let's see the next photo This is in Mumbai We came together in your house What is the future of them? Look, their future is not good No This will be completely destroyed in this election and we will get 400 places and many of them will be destroyed Yes The next photo is not of politicians It is a film because you are from Maharashtra and you are from Maya Nagri and you are from Mumbai Do you like it? Next please Do you like Singh or Vikrat Baisi? I like the hero of my generation The choice you have to make The three of them are good Pick one Who did you watch the last film? I watched Ranveer Which one? The animal Not the name The one on the front Okay Ranveer You have also given a political answer like this Let's see the next one Who is this heroine? Who did you watch the last film? Tapsee Pannu Alia Bhatt Keara Advani No, I have not watched these three films No The three top heroine of the country Let me tell you one thing The heroine of the generation is different Yes In our generation Abhidha Bachchan was our favorite hero Who did you follow in college? When you were in college Who would you follow? Abhidha Bachchan I once told him I watched Ranveer three times Anand three or four times You used to put bell bottom, pants, long collars I used to like the picture of fighting mindkl Okay, you are entering politics in the bunk this is the movement of fighter of the greatest fighter Good luck for him and news going to news with Vibhaki very, very thank you to answer every question please meet Zor Dar섯 Vis che cheer for Mr Nithing Thank you Thank you. Thank you, Amish. Thank you, Minister. Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen. We have an action-backed post-launch day. Our next session is someone who argues that democracy has been undermined by a quiet, devastating power grab conducted by a class of liberal experts. That's right. They have advanced a global rights-based agenda which has tilted the balance away from the lively and vibrant unpredictability of democratic decision-making towards the creeping technocratic authority of liberal consensus. Populism represents, he contends, an imperfect, but reinvigorating political blood that has the potential to sweep away decades of institutional detritus and rejuvenate democracy across the West. He has been a repeated victim of the cancelled culture. Most recently, he has learned that his Philistine column has been cancelled by Quadrant Magazine when he saw the March issue. Amish Devani, the Western investor, and member of the stock exchange, Shweta Janan, managing partner and head of Palette International in India, Harsha Raghavan, managing partner, good fortune and finance, talk about turbo-charge markets, micro-modes and macro-modes. Ladies and gentlemen, we have an action-backed post-launch day. Can we increase the font a bit? Yeah, Mohit. Mohit, see if you can increase the font slightly. Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats. The show will begin shortly. You are requested to keep your mobile phones on silent mode. Our next session is with someone who argues that democracy has been undermined on the back of the post-launch day. Our next session is with someone who argues that democracy has been undermined by a quiet. Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen. We have an action-backed post-launch day. Our next session is with someone who argues that democracy has been undermined by a quiet but devastating power grab conducted by a class of liberal experts. They have advanced a global rights-based agenda which has tilted the balance away from the lively and vibrant unpredictability of democratic decision-making. Towards the creeping technocratic authority of liberal consensus. You can move a little faster. I'm on stage. I'm on stage. He's not there, so now we only call Bruce Passport. Welcome back, ladies and gentlemen. We have an action-backed post-launch day. Our next session is with someone who argues that democracy has been undermined by a quiet but devastating power grab conducted by a class of liberal experts. They have advanced a global rights-based agenda which has tilted the balance away from the lively and vibrant unpredictability of democratic decision-making towards the creeping technocratic authority of liberal consensus. Populism represents, he condends, an imperfect but reinvigorating political flood that has the potential to sweep away decades of institutional detritus and rejuvenate democracy across the West. He has been a repeated victim of what you call the cancel culture. Most recently, he only learned that his Philistine column had been cancelled by the Quadrant Magazine and he saw the March issue, ladies and gentlemen. Please welcome Salvatore Babous, sociologist and associate professor at University of Sydney for a session on half-trudisms, prejudices and misinformation. He will be in conversation with Rahul Shivshankar. No, no, I was gently, deliberately speaking a little low because we haven't started yet. It'll be fine when I start. I think we are good to go. Hi, sir. Everything is perfect. Yeah, thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, please settle down. The show is about to start. You are requested to keep your mobile phones on silent mode. Photographers are requested not to use flash. How did we do this? We went global. Forging partnerships with the biggest names in the media industry like CNN, CNBC and Forbes. Partnerships that are dominating their category are flagship English news channel CNN News 18. Blue past the limits of what's possible, reigning as the number one news channel for over 52 weeks. Our national brand, News 18 India, has more viewers than even popular entertainment channels and is India's number one Hindi news channel. When it comes to numbers and trends, we mean business. So that you stay on top of your business. That's why CNBC TV 18 doesn't just lead in the business news category, it is the category. Commanding 96% of the market share and our Hindi business channel, CNBC Arvaz has been the trusted partner for traders for 19 years running. Delivering swift market analysis that has made it the preferred choice for influential voices in the country. Our channel CNBC Bhajaan dominates the Gujarati business news landscape. We've expanded into the beating heart of Bharat. If you enjoyed your lunch and let me tell you, post-lunch sessions are always difficult. When you've eaten well and to keep the energies up is really difficult. I hope all of you are ready because this is going to be an action-packed afternoon. Let me just get a sense of how the audience is doing. Are you all there with me? If yes, then say a loud yes. Great to hear that. Let's get the session going. It's going to be an excellent afternoon. I can assure you. Our next session is with someone who argues that democracy has been undermined by a quiet but devastating power grab conducted by a glass of liberal experts. They have advanced a global rights-based agenda which has tilted the balance away from the lively and vibrant unpredictability of democratic decision-making towards the creeping technocratic authority of liberal consensus. Populism represents he contends an imperfect but reinvigorating political flood that has the potential to sweep away decades of institutional detritus and rejuvenate democracy across the West. He has been a repeated victim of the cancelled culture. Most recently, he only learned that his Philistine column had been cancelled by Quadrant Magazine when he saw the March issue. Please welcome, ladies and gentlemen, Salvatore Baboons, sociologist and associate professor at University of Sydney for a session on half-trusisms, prejudices and misinformation. He will be in conversation with Rahul Shiv Shankar. Good afternoon, everyone. Let's hope you can stay with us in this conversation. We'll try to keep it interesting and digestible. Not that you need much more. Welcome to the Rising Bharat Summit, Professor Baboons. You're here at the peak of the world, not just India as the world's biggest and most inclusive festival, a festival of democracy. The greatest edification of the power of the vote anywhere in the world. And many people have a perspective on India's democracy under Prime Minister Modi's watch. How would you describe India's democracy today? India has a democracy, a liberal democracy, a robust liberal democracy on the Western model. India's critics love to say that India is not a liberal democracy. Internally, many people in India resent when you say it's on the Western model. But the fact is, India's democratic institutions are modeled after institutions in North America, Western Europe, and Australasia, and India's institutions would not be out of place in any of those regions of the world. India is, in effect, the world's only relatively poor, post-colonial, highly traditional country that nonetheless has cracked the code about how to run a liberal democracy. Very interesting. I want to ask you if you think, and you're obviously someone who hails from the United States, which is often called the mother of democracy, though I disagree with you. I thought India was the mother of democracy. As I said, well, anyhow. But how do you assess India's democracy? Is it free? Is it fair? Is it inclusive? We've just had a massive debate break out over the CAA law. Many people think that it's prejudiced against a particular community, and therefore India's democracy is no longer inclusive, and it certainly not headed that way. How do you respond to that? The Citizenship Amendment Act is good policy, but bad politics. It's not possible in India, because India is an inclusive society and an inclusive democracy. If you look at the places, the countries that British India spawned, look at the Maldives and exclusively Muslim society. Look at Pakistan and exclusively Muslim society. Sri Lanka, an exclusively Buddhist society. Myanmar, an exclusively Buddhist society. Out of all the places governed by the British in South Asia, only India emerged as an inclusive society. And I think that's probably because India is a fundamentally Hindu society. No, I don't say it's a secular society. It's a secular state. But India's Hindu society was able to support a secular state in a way that those Muslim and Buddhist societies were not able. All of those countries started out as secular states. But all of them have become thoroughly exclusive and thoroughly religious in their state institutions. Now the Citizenship Amendment Act is ther