The Big Fight

Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram today said the BJP government cannot just blame "external factors" for price rise, and that India's growth forecast "will be slashed further" if no steps are taken. "The only one who seems to be happy about the economy is the government. I call it whistling in the dark" he jibed, adding, "Everybody else has predicted serious headwinds."

Elections to the post of the Congress President have dominated the headlines all of this week. Internal party election have been as exciting as a general election. It has seen everything from revolt, retraction, apology, anger, suspense, twist, last minute additions and pull-outs. But at the end, it is a contest between Shashi Tharoor and Mallikarjun Kharge. But even here, there is an interesting story. Mr Kharge's last minute candidature is being seen as an official entry. Images from the party HQ of his nomination also make it seem that he has the blessings of the high command. If we see  images of Mr Tharoor's nomination, bit of an 'Ekla Chalo' moment for him. He was full of ideas in his press conference. But it was clear where the support lies. So, then what does one make of these elections? Fixed match? Contest? Foregone conclusion?

Senior Leader of the Congress and Rajya Sabha MP Abhishek Singhvi speaks exclusively to Sanket Upadhyay on The Big Fight about Mallikarjun Kharge announcing his nomination on the last day and clears the air on whether he is backed by Gandhis or not.

Supreme Court pulled up TV news channels for propagating hate just to gain TRP.  The court said that it is the anchor's duty to intervene at the right time. NDTV's motto has always been 'no hate for profit'. On The Big Fight, India's longest-running debate Show, we discuss with journalists, politicians and lawyers about whether court guidelines are the only solution to stop the nuisance happening on TV channels.

"The Modi government has maintained a clean image. They (opposition) tried a lot to malign the BJP. They tried to do that with the Rafale issue, but Narendra Modi has a clean image. His image is that of a person that works 24x7. Rahul Gandhi goes abroad 5 days every month," Sushil Modi, senior BJP leader, said.  

The battle for 2024 is now on. All camps have sprung into action. The BJP has set a target of mission 350 seats. On the other hand, Nitish Kumar says the BJP will only manage 50. Let's discuss what is in store for both sides.

Two years to go for the general elections, the opposition's strategy remains unclear. Nitish Kumar has put up posters in Patna. AAP is expanding its footprint in Himachal and Gujarat. KCR has started the efforts of getting all opposition leaders together. A consensus remains elusive.

"We saw how the Prime Minister, I think for the first time in his political life shed tears in Parliament for Ghulam Nabi Azad. So we know there is a soft corner there. We know there is some kind of jugalbandi happening there...We've known Ghulam Nabi Azad and his proximity to PM Modi. Everybody is free to have these kind of relationships. Fair enough. But if they start talking in the same language then obviously there is something happening," said Congress's Pawan Khera on Ghulam Nabi Azad's suggestion of a "Congress Jodo Yatra" before the party undertakes Bharat Jodo Yatra.

National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah today said Ghulam Nabi Azad's letter resigning from the Congress reflects his pain and anguish. He said the need is of a "strong opposition and the Congress can give that."

Veteran Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad resigned from the party on Friday. Azad wrote a 5-page letter blasting Rahul Gandhi for "childish behaviour", "glaring immaturity" and for letting a "coterie of inexperienced sycophants" run the party. We discuss with our panelists what awaits Congress in the aftermath of recent exits.

Bilkis Bano has said that she was bereft of words when her rapists were set free by the Gujarat government. On August 15, 11 convicts were released free from a Godhra jail after the government granted them release under its remission policy. In this discussion, we look at the horror that follows Bilkis Bano after her rapists were released. We also discuss with experts the legal options that Bilkis has.

India celebrates 75 years of Independence this year. Has nationalism's definition changed over the years? There are some who suggest India is championing democracy on the global stage and muffling it at home. Others say India is the mother of democracy. On The Big Fight, we discuss whether waving the national flag and chest-thumping are the only way to display patriotism.

The past few weeks have seen the powers of the Enforcement Directorate or ED, a political battle around it, a Supreme Court judgment on it and subsequent ED overdrive. The opposition alleges that this is ED's political action against opponents. While all of this was happening, the Congress decided to shift gears on Friday. The party planned a mega black Friday protest where senior leaders wearing black clothes, led by the Gandhis, were seen battling it out on the streets. By the evening, the BJP added a spin to the saga, with Amit Shah saying this is Congress' appeasement tactics. That they chose to wear black clothes on a day when 2 years ago, the foundation stone was laid for the Ram Temple. One thing is very clear that the political battle for 2024 has begun. But on The Big Fight, we ask a broader and a fundamental question - is the opposition fighting an existential battle?

Trinamool MP Derek O'Brien says "It is clearly in the rules, it is the government's responsibility but we have a government which doesn't want Parliament to run, and they are the cause for all these disruptions. You mentioned the names of Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley and Vajpayee, great parliamentarians whose ideology I did not share but there was so much to learn from them. What have we come to today? The only beneficiaries of Parliament not running is the BJP."

It is turning out to be quite a monsoon wash out in the Parliament. The week gone by saw 27 MPs suspended for creating a ruckus in Parliament. Even as this suspension saga continues, with MPs spending the night at the Mahatma Gandhi statue inside the Parliament, the government too started disrupting the house. An erring Adhir Ranjan and his utterances for the President drew the ire of BJP MPs. The Congress MP called the new President 'Rashtrapatni'. He then later issued an apology, but along the sidelines, a Smriti Irani-Sonia Gandhi spat began. Each party is giving out their own version of what happened.

The cross-voting in the presidential elections may not have dramatically affected the elections, but it has definitely sent a message to the opposition.  An analysis of state-wise data shows that cross-voting happened in favour of Droupadi Murmu. So, the big question is: where does this leave the idea of opposition unity?

The rupee is sliding, now it has touched 80 against a dollar. There are political arguments and then there are economic arguments, and we discuss all of them on the Big Fight. We will also ask the four big questions that arise as a consequence of this rupee slide.

Debating, giving opinions on religion is becoming increasingly difficult day by day.  You could be interpreted in a way that could land you in a lot of trouble, or worse, in jail. In recent days, the aforementioned issue has come to the fore with people reacting violently in real life as well as on social media. This debate sheds light on the issue.

The Udaipur hate terror act has left a nation in shock. A family bereaved. Absolutely no one in their right mind can justify this act of terror. It is now also coming to light that the perpetrators were extremely radicalized terrorists. Who chose an ISIS like killing method, even bought a bike with the numbers 2611. As those investigations are still on, a Supreme Court hearing on Friday was on in which Nupur Sharma petitioned the court to transfer all hate FIRs against her to Delhi. The Big Fight today is asking, who started this fire? And who will put it out?

As the Maharashtra crisis is unfolding every day, a quick perspective from our panel on the new twists and turns being witnessed each moment.

There have been massive protests over the Agnipath recruitment scheme. Dozens of trains, BJP offices, MLAs' homes have been attacked. It appears that what began as a recruitment program in the armed forces, has now turned out into massive law and order concern. Government introduced some changes last night; the one-time upper age relaxation from 21 to 23 years. The government says that this scheme is beneficial for agniveers. On Big Fight we explore the workings of Agnipath scheme in India.

Last week, the utterances of BJP leaders Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal created an international uproar. The BJP took action against the, but since then another polarised debate on hate has begun. Today's show is a little different though. All this started because hate has become normalised on TV news. We call this the hate for profit media fix match. The impact to the society is devastating. So, while we take action against motormouths, how about reigning in hate for profit media? in the name of free speech, should hate debates and hate news be normalised? a casual abuse here or there, a casual slap here or there, a casual insult, why? Nip it in the bud. End the fix match in the hate for profit media.

Protests broke out after Friday prayers in several cities over former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma's remarks on the Prophet. But while protesters dispersed in most places, in others like Ranchi and Prayagraj there was violence and clashes were reported. Can violence over someone's verbal remarks ever be justified?

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has repeated his position on Kashi and Mathura, saying the RSS will not be a part of any such movement as its main job is character building. However, this time, he went a step further, saying why look for a 'shivling' in every mosque? Apart from a message to the RSS cadre and people in general, this could be a strong message to BJP leaders as well, as both Yogi Adityanath and Keshav Maurya have been at the forefront in terms of commenting on Kashi and Mathura. While the central leadership is trudging more cautiously, is this some sort of a strategy we do not know about? Or will the BJP actually follow the words of Mr Bhagwat?

On the 5th of August 2019, a strong argument was made by the Centre that this is the beginning of a 'Naya Kashmir'. However, now, with a spate of targeted killings in the valley, Kashmiri pandits are up in arms -- they want to leave Kashmir, they're disillusioned. Non-Kashmiri Hindus and local Muslims are being targeted and killed, and now, questions are being raised on the very Kashmir policy which the Centre was so excited about. Has the Centre fumbled in its Kashmir policy?

"It is difficult to stop targeted attacks, but there are ways to manage it. This is a people-less fight, between the forces and terrorists. If you involve people, it can make it easier," says Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference Chairman Sajjad Lone.

"We've done a course-correction, we have no qualms in admitting it. There was initial prima facie evidence that people were taking drugs on the cruise, and 14 out of the 20 were found in possession of drugs. However, eventually, the truth did come out", says NCB Chief SN Pradhan on the Aryan Khan case.  

Senior Supreme Court Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who was Aryan Khan's counsel in the drugs-on-cruise case, said it was a "case of no evidence". "Tall claims were made about international drug cartels because the boy belongs to a celebrity family. This was a case of no evidence," he told NDTV.

"There was no evidence against Aryan Khan - so we're not surprised but we're certainly relieved," says Raian Karanjawala, who was Aryan Khan's counsel, after he was cleared of all charges. "Shah Rukh and Aryan were trying to lighten the mood, but both the women (Gauri and Suhana) were distraught," he recalls.

Eight months ago, when the sensational arrest of Aryan Khan, son of Shahrukh Khan, was made in Mumbai, claims of solid proof were made by the Narcotics Control Bureau. The agency said that even though there were no drugs in his possession, Khan could be a part of an international drug cartel or a syndicate. Eight months later, the very same agency now says - there's no case against him. So, what happened in 8 months? Was Aryan Khan targeted because he is SRK's son?

In November 2019, when the Supreme Court decided in favour of a temple in Ayodhya, the RSS chief and the PM hinted at moving forward - not celebrating this as a victory. They said that this was a moment of taking everyone together. That time, one really thought that such a controversial issue is now behind us, and that religious polarisation at least around the masjid mandir lines will be over. However, since early this year, this discourse has started again -- especially with the Gyanvapi mosque survey going ahead now, complete with its twists and turns. So, on this episode of the Big Fight, though the legal process is still at a basic stage, the question arises - is this the 2024 script that is being written now?

Food and retail inflation are at an all-time high -- with inflation breaking its own record, it's at the highest since 2014. However, the place of this important issue in the political discourse in the country appears to be buried under the mandir-masjid debate. Is inflation a topic that government doesn't want to discuss - for obvious reasons?

The World Health Organization estimated that the deaths related to Covid in India were around 47 Lakhs. Now, this is almost 10 times more than what the government has claimed. It's important to note that what the WHO is saying is not an absolute or actual number but a projection on the basis of statistical modelling. The WHO's projections, extrapolated on the basis of data study in 17 states matches the projections of the Lancet, the Economist and many other organisations. The Indian government refuted this report, saying that the modelling is inaccurate. Some sections in the government, not officially, also highlight what they call a deep-seated bias of the WHO against India - that the WHO found the cryptic data collection and reporting of Covid from China satisfactory, but they found fault in India's reports. So, which is more accurate - the Indian government's data or the WHO's projection? Or, is the truth somewhere in the middle?

"The last 10 months have been frightening for minorities. If the Prime Minister gave a signal to his partymen and others involved in violence, it would make a significant difference," says Najeeb Jung, former Delhi Lieutenant Governor who was one of the bureaucrats who wrote to the Prime Minister, flagging a "frenzy of hate" in recent times.

Over 100 former bureaucrats have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagging what they say is a "frenzy of hate" and "an escalation of hate violence across BJP-ruled states". Recently, the Supreme Court cracked down on hate speech, after which the Uttarakhand government refused permission for a religious event in Roorkee. But, with incidents of communal violence and hate being witnessed every few days, should the Prime Minister speak up?  

Across the country, incidents of communal hatred have been increasing over the last few days. From violence erupting during religious processions to hate speeches, there's been a spate of communal incidents. Who's fanning this fire - and how do we stop this?

A number of incidents have happened over this last week that force us to think about a pattern - in Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh, despite the administration denying permission, ABVP workers put up loudspeakers to play out 'Hanuman Chalisa' as a counter to the 'Azaan' from mosques. Then, the 'bulldozer justice' in Madhya Pradesh, where there are allegations that the bulldozer is only being used against members of a community. In West Bengal, the Chief Minister has been accused of shielding Trinamool members - when a minor was gang-raped and she succumbed to injuries. This forces one question - do political sides define justice?

On a day when the central government has warned 5 states of an uptick in Covid cases, comes a change in India's vaccination policy. Booster or precaution doses are now available to all above 18 years of age - but, the booster for all is a paid service. Not free like Dose 1 and 2. What explains this vaccine inequity? Top focus on The Big Fight.

From students wearing hijabs being harassed to an economic exclusion of non-Hindus from temples - and now to halal meat vendors being attacked, just what is happening in Karnataka? Are vested interests stirring the communal pot ahead of next year's elections? Top focus on The Big Fight.

The BJP has claimed 4 of the five states that recently went to polls, while the AAP managed a spectacular win in Punjab. In the Opposition space, there is a burning desire to occupy and fill some sort of an anti-Modi political vacuum. Consider Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's speech in the Delhi Assembly on Thursday, where he directly attacked the Prime Minister. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, despite the Birbhum horror, has continued her attack against the PM. SP's Akhilesh Yadav has decided to limit himself to UP. Yogi Vs Akhilesh and Mamata or Kejriwal vs Modi - is this the opposition strategy and will it work? 

Tonight's The Big Fight addresses Prime Minister Modi's statement on the 2022 state elections being an indication for the 2024 general elections. With guests from all major political parties in India, The Big Fight aims to uncover the true extent of the threat of extinction for the Congress, and the chances of a united opposition shaping up before the Lok Sabha polls.

Politicians, activists and students debate the kind of impact the BJP's resounding success in UP during the assembly elections will have on the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

Who has the edge in Varanasi, the nerve centre of politics in Uttar Pradesh? We bring to you a special edition of The Big Fight from the heart of Purvanchal, where issues of unemployment, corruption and crime come to the fore before the seventh phase of UP elections on March 7.

Education, Jobs, security, what do the young voters of Lucknow want from their leaders? Special edition of the BIG FIGHT from the heart of capital Lucknow which goes to polls on Feb 23

A special edition of Big Fight from Bareilly, on the highly-charged battle for West UP. Will Yogi Adityanath's latest barb, on UP turning into Kerala, Bengal and Kashmir, succeed in polarising voters? Or is hate politics yielding diminishing returns in 2022?

Rahul Gandhi's stirring speech in Parliament earlier this week , where he spoke about his idea of India, in it, he spoke about India's federal identity, while that's nothing new but by raising the issue of states having primacy with their own independent identities may seem to suggest that Rahul Gandhi was trying to position the Congress party as a natural ally and representative of state parties. Is Rahul Gandhi's vision of India a challenge to the BJP?

The Union Budget is going to be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1. This is the second budget to be presented amid the Covid pandemic. We have seen various steps apart from the budget, announced by the FM, for instance the stimulus package and the PLI scheme. Now, can the distribution of government spend meet the expectations and need of an India dealing with a third Covid wave? This is the first budget post-vaccination - and a healthy budget can capitalize on vaccinated Indians. On the big fight tonight - will Budget 22 be the big booster dose for the Indian economy?

The Amar Jawan Jyoti burning at India Gate was merged with the flame burning at the National War Memorial today. Rahul Gandhi opposed this decision and said that "some people cannot understand patriotism and sacrifice - no problem...we will burn the Amar Jawan Jyoti once again for our soldiers". On Big Fight, we look at the government's stance on these 3 years back vs now and ask what changed?

The virus is still out there, strong and invisible. But there is something even more deadly than the virus and its variants - misinformation. Somehow, internationally, a message seems to have gone out to people that this new variant is mild, and it does not harm as much as the previous variants did. What is being cited are low deaths and low hospitalisations compared to the second wave. This is the worst thing that anyone can do, stating incomplete facts. The truth is as follows - no qualified doctor will ever conclude that the virus and its variant is mild, people who are falling ill are complaining of severe symptoms. Also, we are still completely unaware of the symptoms and impact of these variants on long Covid, what it will do to our body in the long term. So, on the Big Fight tonight, the big fight will be against misinformation, against the virus and its variants, and against this dangerous theory that this variant is mild. The 'mild' misnomer, challenged on the show tonight.

The virus is still out there, strong and invisible. But there is something even more deadly than the virus and its variants - misinformation. Somehow, internationally, a message seems to have gone out to people that this new variant is mild, and it does not harm as much as the previous variants did. What is being cited are low deaths and low hospitalisations compared to the second wave. This is the worst thing that anyone can do, stating incomplete facts. The truth is as follows - no qualified doctor will ever conclude that the virus and its variant is mild, people who are falling ill are complaining of severe symptoms. Also, we are still completely unaware of the symptoms and impact of these variants on long Covid, what it will do to our body in the long term. So, on the Big Fight tonight, the big fight will be against misinformation, against the virus and its variants, and against this dangerous theory that this variant is mild. The 'mild' misnomer, challenged on the show tonight.

In a border state, the security of the Prime Minister's convoy was breached. But at a time when this should only be a concern for all, this issue has now been completely politicized by both Congress and the BJP. While the BJP claims that Congress conspired to physically harm the PM, Congress is linking it to Punjabi pride. Are the parallel probes and constant back and forth over this extremely sensitive issue only for elections?

Congress MP Manish Tewari sends a message to both his own party and the BJP over the politics over the PM's security breach incident - "The security of the Prime Minister has to be above parties and politics. Concerning that the issue concerning an alleged security breach has become political", he says.

"Omicron is already replacing delta in a few cities, going by global numbers, next few weeks could see a big surge. Recovery rates are high with Omicron, people should be cautious, but don't panic" says World Health Organisation Chief Scientist Soumya Swaminathan in an exclusive interview to NDTV.

The biggest fight in the upcoming year will be the fight against the Omicron variant. The simplest and best way, for now, to protect yourself, is "Mask up". On this week's episode of the Big Fight, we look for solutions ahead of a third wave.

Amid the Omicron threat, several states have started imposing curbs again. Night curfews are back in at least four states and Maharashtra has imposed restrictions on gatherings at night. While the deja-vu continues, can India win the Big Fight against this new variant - and what can we do to ensure we're better prepared this time around?

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi raising the Hindu vs Hindutva-wadi narrative in a 'Mehangai Hatao' rally in Jaipur provokes an interesting question - is the opposition falling into the BJP's trap? Will raking up such a narrative distract from real poll issues like inflation and unemployment and play to the opposition's disadvantage? The Big Fight debates.

As Omicron cases rise across the globe and in India, do we have a better plan in place? Is the oxygen supply augmented? Have we provisioned for beds? What steps have been taken to ensure better Centre-state and inter-state coordination? We debate.

Amid global Omicron alert, we speak to the doctors on the possibilities and the preparedness. How can India ramp up genome sequencing? Should India go for booster shots? Are medicines in sufficient supply?

Can the Trinamool Congress replace the Indian National Congress on a national level - and how will it actually impact the BJP?

The Congress seems to be facing a threat from within the Opposition again with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's repeated potshots at the party and meeting with other senior regional leaders. Has the animosity between the two parties reached a point of no return? Will Trinamool's move strengthen or weaken the Opposition?

"We need two to three weeks' time to study the new variant. We are in discussions to produce a new variant of the Sputnik vaccine if needed. So far, the vaccine has been fighting the emerging variants pretty well. The duration of the vaccine protection is important which is why we are seeing more cases in Europe," Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of Sputnik maker RDIF, tells NDTV.

A new coronavirus variant - B.1.1.529 - has been flagged by scientists over an alarmingly high number of spike mutations that might make the virus more resistant to vaccines, increase transmissibility and lead to more severe symptoms. On Thursday, the Union Health Ministry called for rigorous screening of passengers from South Africa, Botswana, and Hong Kong, as well as their contacts. We speak to leading medical experts on how dangerous the new variant is and whether it is time for India to roll out booster shots.

In a huge development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that his government will take constitutional measures to repeal the three farm laws at the heart of farmers' protests across the country. NDTV spoke to farm leaders, politicians and many more key personalities on ground on what this means for the farmers of the country and what will farmers do next.

The Rafale controversy erupts once again with more evidence coming to light that Indian agencies ignored allegations that French company Dassault, the maker of the Rafale jets, may have paid crores of rupees to middlemen spanning both the BJP-led NDA 1.0 government and the Congress-led UPA. French portal Mediapart has claimed that millions of euros were paid in secret commissions to secure the deal - and Indian agencies failed to probe these allegations despite having access to incriminating documents. So, has India done enough to ensure a fair investigation into the Rafale deal?

The Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat said that the controversy about the Chinese coming into the Indian territory and building a new village is "not true", and that the villages were well within the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control. However, earlier in an official reaction to the US report, the external affairs ministry said India has neither accepted China's "illegal occupation of its territory nor any unjustified Chinese claims". So, has China now consolidated its hold on Indian territory in Arunachal Pradesh?

The Rafale controversy erupts once again with more evidence coming to light that Indian agencies ignored allegations that French company Dassault, the maker of the Rafale jets, may have paid crores of rupees to middlemen spanning both the BJP-led NDA 1.0 government and the Congress-led UPA. Mediapart journalist Yann Philippin calls the silence of Indian authorities 'surprising'.

A disturbing trend has caught on. Companies that don't follow a certain narrative in their advertisements are being forced to take them down. From the Tanishq ad that showed a pregnant Hindu woman with her Muslim mother-in-law to Dabur featuring a same-sex couple celebrating 'Karva Chauth' to fashion designer Sabyasachi - what is happening to creative freedom in our country? Is the creative freedom of ad makers being stifled by the moral police?

"There have been reforms in the narcotics act already, but another one is needed, that the offence of consumption of drugs should be bailable. Youth should be given an initial opportunity to undergo treatment instead of putting them through the criminal justice system" says Amit Desai, Aryan Khan's counsel who fought a 24-day legal battle to secure bail for him.

"The (anti-drugs) law is clear, but enforcement agencies are misusing it," says Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik on whether the law should be reformed. "80% cases made out by Sameer Wankhede and other NCB officials in Mumbai are fake, we will prove it in court," he adds.

I would. Now, of course, he was not the but would now like to speak to the additional Solicitor general of India and also the member of the Bharatiya Janata Party National Executive Committee of BJP. Mr. Satya Pal, join Mr Jain. My first question to you is in this case, we saw an attempt to first show are in Khan as a consumer that was the basic grounds on which he was arrested. And the later and argument was made that he was in touch with an international drug cartel, a member who may be in touch with an international drug cartel, a charge which has been denied by his lawyers. So do you feel that there is a definite situation where the law is misused by agencies? See, I I am not aware of the effects of the state because I never appeared as a year. But I have run ready judgement of the special where he declined bail to all these people. The findings by a judicial officer he has been don't have the judgement of the court with us at the moment. Today also does not, he says. He says it was a conscious violation of this below. He knew about it. Number two, he says. I have seen the perceptive which have been shown to the honourable judge, and worship chairs nowadays are admissible in the courts. They are taken into consideration. They you made a 67 and all that. I am not going her real Cordy finding that is not there simple up to seeing the chest. The special that says it's the international and is a part of it. It's a conspiracy and the international level. Therefore, I think it will be too premature to say that in this case and C P has been wild weather. Let's away for the judgement of the high Court, Mr Jane, while you say we must await the judgement of the high court, you're saying and highlighting what the session's court said in terms of merits for not granting bail. However, the same merits were not considered by the high court, and they have granted Bill C. C nor saying the marriage is a defensive and i'ma tell you 1000 cases it Bailey's granted. Ultimately, you maybe barely declined. Ultimately heavy thousands of cases we have seen thousands location and I said yesterday also, these circumstances under which these three persons have been arrested and one court says, don't know bail, other courses and finally thousands of people, thousands of people under the I will be very happy as a lawyer if the Delhi High Court and after that Supreme Court comes out with clear cut directions on the issue of Grant of It left an impression not go to the people that the law of this land is different For big people, the law of the land is different. For a former for a common man, the son of a farmer's you will be not surprised, shocked, shocked the extent to which this drug manners is going, taking the lives of the people daily in the local newspaper we're ready for. Somebody died in to people like there because of the excessive use to person there, and they're therefore, I she let there be clear cut guidelines by the high court or the river for bands, for others for release on bail, and not that simply because we're a big man. Your case will be heard within three weeks and got the pigments that well known in James James up the big man's contention is that he is being victimised because he is a big man. I think that's the point that that Bollywood is a soft target and that's why they're being targeted because they are a big man, not because they're not. Now. My final question, Mr Jain, is that there is a view that first time consumers of drugs must be let off with a warning because they're not criminals. You have to look at in whether a person is actually a criminal or is a repeat offender. You think the law can move in this direction? I don't think there can be really hard and fast food on their It all depends from the of it Differs from individual to individual. Aye, three things. Number one attempt should be left. The real culprits don't goes for free. They're finished. Two innocent or not touch. They are not allowed to be arrest people, the the those who have come into it. Maybe first time, Second time, third time, all possible attempt should be made to bring them out of it. And in Punjab, we have seen people who ultimately became victim of the drug were able to come out of it. because of the addiction. But I can't think that they can see a be taken against you. That everybody will say how you prove. Probably prove that everybody will. First traffic violations. I am the first violators. Morrow, murder, accused militia. And the first accused, Moreau, the rapist will drive. I don't think as a metro for principal for medicine has a metro. You can introduce it in the criminal. Sure, I I respect your arguments. Thank you very much, Mr Jain, for joining us.

After a legal battle that lasted nearly a month, Aryan Khan and two others managed to secure bail. However, the conversation now is around the anti-drug law - rather, certain provisions of the NDPS Act. Are the provisions in the law the best way to fight the drug menace, or should they be reformed? Top legal experts debate.

Even as the Narcotics Control Bureau's probe into the drugs-on-cruise case has been widened with actor Ananya Panday being questioned for the second day, questions are now being raised over the the anti-drugs agency's own probe.

With crude oil prices on the rise, over half of what people pay for petrol and diesel are taxes. The taxes levied by the Centre on petrol have gone up from 14% to 32% of the retail cost in the last seven years. As fuel prices continue the upward climb, should the Centre intervene to help ease the burden on the common man?

"Government should intervene and bring down taxes on fuel in the wake of rising prices. However, this government relies on a single source of revenue. This is extortion," says former Finance Minister P Chidambaram on the exponential price hike of fuel.

Two drugs cases, but different ways of dealing with them. In Gujarat's Mundra, a massive drugs haul last month was estimated to be worth Rs 21,000 crore. However, in focus is the Aryan Khan case, in which a few grams of drugs were recovered from a cruise ship off the coast of Mumbai. Are narcotics agencies on the right path to end the drugs menace in India? Watch the debate on The Big Fight.

From Punjab to Chhattisgarh to Goa - to the 'rebels' vs 'loyalists' debate - the Congress appears to be repeatedly hit by crisis situations. However, this has not had a visible impact on the top leadership. Is chaos now the only constant in the party - and can the Congress pull itself out of a volatile political situation? Top debate on The Big Fight.

The woes of the Congress have become cartoonists' delight - with several cartoonists across the nation sketching what they make of the situation in innovative and creative ways. NDTV speaks to some such cartoonists who decode their political art.

With the Congress facing trouble in multiple states and their own leaders questioning the leadership, NDTV speaks to Ashwani Kumar, former union minister and a senior party leader, who explains what he thinks of the entire situation.

The Uttar Pradesh assembly election is going to be one of the biggest political battles, as Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will need to deliver results. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati will also be running a fierce campaign, leading to a multi-cornered fight for Uttar Pradesh.

A blockbuster political Saturday in Punjab as Captain Amarinder Singh resigns as Chief Minister, but says he will retire only after he wins a battle and not when he has lost one. What's in store in the Punjab political arena now - and was the Congress's handling of the situation a smart move ahead of polls or a crisis badly managed?

Former Union Minister Babul Supriyo today said he was disillusioned with the BJP, of which he was a member till recently, and quit because he was not okay with being benched. "I did feel disillusioned...the seven years of hard work that I put in...not even my detractors will say that I have not fought in Bengal or I have not done good enough for the party," Mr Supriyo told NDTV.

India achieves a landmark vaccination target of over 2 crore doses in a single day on the Prime Minister's birthday. But is this sustainable and how can India ensure a continuity in this trend?

On the Prime Minister's birthday, India administered a record number of vaccination doses at over 2 crore jabs. The BJP also launched a 'Seva and Samarpan' campaign and celebrated across the country. Can this blunt the criticism that the centre faced over its handling of the Covid situation during the second wave?

Vijay Rupani is the 4th BJP Chief Minister to step down in the last 6 months. This unexpected move has raised a few important questions -- is the BJP going for an overhaul of their state leadership? Also, considering the Gujarat elections are looming, will mid-term course correction help?

Two hours before play, the Manchester Test match was called off due to fear of COVID-19 cases in the Indian camp. With packed schedules and bio-bubbles ranging from 15-45 days for tournaments, is India playing too much cricket in times of a pandemic?

The Supreme Court's observations on fighting hate news in digital media ignites a debate over regulation mechanisms for web portals and television channels. While hearing a case against media reports on the Tablighi Jamaat gathering last year that was blamed for a spike in COVID-19, the Supreme Court said that web portals only listen to powerful voices and write anything without any accountability. The court also said that everything in the country is shown with a communal angle by a section of the media. So, who and what can help regulate fake or hate news?

In an exclusive interview to NDTV, Kaushik Basu, Professor of Economics, Cornell University; former Chief Economist of the World Bank and former CEA, says "the broad idea of putting of putting to good use the government's assets is a very good idea, but the way in which the monetisation plan is being worked out is not the way to go. Leasing out the assets is the worst option; it would have been better to sell them."

In an interview to NDTV, Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, says, "Taxpayer wants the best return on their investment, they would not want assets to be used inefficiently and wasted. When used efficiently, these assets generate growth and employment that benefit the taxpayer. Nothing in the government is ours, everything belongs to the taxpayer and the government works for the people."

Under the National Monetisation Pipeline, the government will monetise assets worth Rs 1.6 lakh crore from the roads sector, Rs 1.5 lakh crore from the railway sector and Rs 79,000 crore from the power sector. On being asked if the National Monetisation Pipeline will be a boon or a curse, Nilesh Shah, Managing Director of Kotak Mahindra Asset Management Co. Ltd, tells NDTV that "it is a boon if we monetise assets to create new assets, it is a curse if we monetise our assets to fund revenue expenditure".

The economy is in a difficult situation and Covid has complicated matters further. The government has decided that a national monetisation pipeline should be a good idea. Congress says the government has put India on sale. We believe an informed discussion is the need of the hour on a crucial discussion like this and not a typical political blame game. That is why we have got the best names and the brightest minds for you on this edition of The Big Fight.

Government sources said that the Taliban entered at least two of India's consulates on Wednesday, searched for documents and took away parked cars. They expressed worry that this meant the group is acting against the assurances its leaders have been giving to the world. Also, Taliban fighters in Afghanistan have shot and killed a relative of a Deutsche Welle journalist while hunting for him, the German public broadcaster said. Is 'moderate' Taliban a myth and can they be trusted?

Women TV presenters in Afghanistan have now claimed they have been barred by the Taliban from presenting news on TV channels. Khadija Amin, an Afghan TV news anchor barred by the Taliban said in an interview to NDTV, "Everything was normal when we went to office on Sunday, suddenly we were asked to leave the office. Taliban is saying that we must stay at home as they have not yet decided whether women should come on TV. I told them if you want people to believe that you respect women, then allow me to present news on TV, If i am heard on national TV, then everyone will trust that Taliban has changed."

Speaking on the Afghanistan issue, former Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha told NDTV, "India must always be on the side of democracy everywhere. We must help the resisting elements in Afghanistan if the need arises because we want a democratic Afghanistan, we do not want a terrorist Afghanistan."

The locking of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's Twitter account has sparked a controversy with the Congress claiming that the social media giant has locked over 5,000 accounts affiliated to their party. This happened after these accounts posted photographs showing Mr Gandhi interacting with the family of a 9-year-old who was allegedly raped and killed. While the Congress alleges bias, Twitter claims that they enforce their rules in an impartial manner. What does the blocking of accounts mean for freedom of speech, and is big tech censoring conversation?

Top sports award renamed after hockey icon as Rajiv Gandhi's name is edged out. Should sporting venues be renamed too? On The Big Fight tonight, can politics be separated from sports?

Is it time for India to look beyond cricket? Each state has been owning up a different sport but should states take the lead? On The Big Fight tonight, is it time for India to look beyond cricket?

Chess legend Viswanathan Anand says, "Need good facilities for sports everywhere and more corporate support". Hailing the Naveen Patnaik government, he says the "Odisha government deserves credit".

Education at all levels has been ravaged by COVID-19. The digital divide in India means that a huge number of children are nowhere close to being able to afford a data connection or a smart phone to get an online education. For the students who are attending online classes, the mental impact is immense. This brings us to the big question on the Big Fight - is it time to reopen schools now, and should vaccines for kids be a prerequisite to reopening schools?