Smriti Irani’s Strong Response To Rahul Gandhi And Mamata Banerjee On Election Controversy

Added: 2026-05-07

[00:00:00]Priti Rani you've seen all the developments in the day. Mama Banerjee is refusing to resign saying this election was stolen. That's a claim that has been endorsed by Rahul Gandhi and other leaders of the opposition uh including the Shiva UBT. Your reactions to that the charge that this election was stolen by the BJP in collaboration with the election commission.

[00:00:27]I think mar a constitutional democratic process to insult the intelligence of the to also not accept a very fair popular and abjectly evident public mood has become the of opposition parties.

[00:00:53]There is a constitutionally mandated process with regards to transfer of power post an election verdict is announced. The fact that not only does the opposition show disrespect to the Indian voters's verdict, the Indian voters's bill will also constitutional procedures which ensure that a government elected by the people for the people and representing the mandate of the people.

[00:01:24]But the but the charge which is being made but the charge which is being made Iani is that is that the voter that the victory was not a genuine mandate of the people but engineered through institutional capture. The word uh these are Mtab Banerjee's words the words used by Rahul Gandhi. This is another example of vtory.

[00:01:44]>> How can you capture 140 billion people?

[00:01:48]How can you capture 140 billion people >> where in the context of Bengal Ram Gandhi >> billion people 100 140 cr 40 40 cr population of this country how can it be captured how can 1.4 4 billion people be captured.

[00:02:08]How did then Trinamul or for that matter Congress party or for that matter any other political organization that is a part of the opposition managing to get any seats or any votes.

[00:02:20]They need to look inwards. They need to look at their own incapacities instead of blaming the voter or constitutional and institutional processes.

[00:02:30]>> What >> I think also Mr. Sardisai with all due respect >> with all due respect sir it does not behold senior editors also to give any kind of credence to this kind of political delusion that the opposition has so exhibited.

[00:02:46]>> You know the process was fair.

[00:02:48]>> You were in the studio. You were on the streets. You have seen how the voter has responded. and then to give credence to this political delusion of montapad is genuinely doing disservice to even the ethics of journalism.

[00:03:04]>> You're you're saying that ma'am the fact is we are this is a chief minister who is going to have to in any case step down because the assembly will end on on the seventh question. No, no, one minute ma'am. No, no, no. One minute. One minute. One minute ma'am. A former chief who's going to step down. My limited point to you is you've seen Rahul Gandhi's claims on vote chi. He's been making them for the last 12 months that there is vote chi going on in the country. You've seen the s exercise which is already being argued before the Supreme Court. Just a minute.

[00:03:36]>> Just a minute. The argument they are making is 27 lakh deletions in S >> should have should have been made more transparent. They say the EC is not a neutral umpire.

[00:03:53]Was it neutral in Kerala? Was it neutral in Tamil Nadu?

[00:04:00]How can you cherrypick?

[00:04:03]Secondly, I think that enough data scientists are available to showcase to say that sir is the reason why BJP got a historical mandate is to deny the outrage of the people of Bengal. Is to deny the cut money politics of the Trinamul. Is to deny the sheer violence that the Trinul Gundas thrust upon the voters and the citizens of Bengal. It is to deny the corruption which has been also transmitted through various media houses and channels when cash was found in manyu leaders homes.

[00:04:43]>> You can't deny evidence that is before your eyes.

[00:04:46]>> What do you what do you then believe gives credence this kind of political delusion >> and disregards the mandate of the people of West Bengal?

[00:04:57]>> What can be said? What? What?

[00:04:58]>> You tell me.

[00:04:59]>> What then do you No, no. What then do you believe is what then do you believe?

[00:05:04]>> Are you of the opinion Mr. S? No. No.

[00:05:07]Halo. Allow me.

[00:05:08]>> Yes.

[00:05:08]>> How is the EC fair and transparent in Kerala and in Tamil Nadu but unfair in West Bengal?

[00:05:19]How is the EC fair in Himachal Pradesh?

[00:05:21]How is the EC fair in Jarant?

[00:05:26]How is the EC fair when the opposition wins but unfair when there is an absolute popular choice of BJP led by Narendra Modi by the voters and it is this very delusion that they exhibit they propagate that they continue to lose political steam in the country.

[00:05:45]What do you then believe since you were traveling through Bengal as one of the star campaigners was was responsible for the B BJP's victory and the TMC's loss a party going from 77 to over 200 another coming down to less than 100 from 200 are exhibited haven't journalists and those who are on social media given enough what was transpiring in West Bengal BJP karakartas in hordes came out and said their wives their women in their homes were stripped naked and made to stand and chahas outside just because they were BJP workers. You've had reporter after reporter who's unbiased who's showcased how women have been raped.

[00:06:29]Ratna Dnath is one of the biggest examples. The Sandesh Khali victim is the biggest example. What more does the state need to do to tell you how corrupt and how deboted is the Trinimal Congress? Uh Smitty Rani G though in the last 24 hours since the BJP has won there have been stray instances of violence reported of uh Trinamul Congress workers and offices being targeted. How do you respond particularly as the prime minister has said this is not a moment for badl but is West Bengal going to actually come out of the cycle of violence or is BJP going to do what you accused the Trinamun Congress of?

[00:07:07]>> Mr. Sardis the prime minister said our politics is badlavi politics not badi politics but when was the last time Mr. You held Trinamul Gundas accountable in your show for raping women.

[00:07:23]When was the last time >> we did a show ma'am ma'am after the 2021 elections we did shows on the post violence.

[00:07:31]>> When did you last hold at least I have a prime minister leader who has appealed for peace.

[00:07:38]>> Mhm. You tell me when was the last time you held us responsible in one of your debates. Why is the outrage missing in you Mr. Sardisai?

[00:07:50]>> Ma'am, >> I have looked victims in the eyes. I have looked rap victims in the eye. How is it that YOU NEVER FOUND THEM when when you traveled?

[00:08:01]At least I have a prime minister who's reaching out and appealing for you. Tell me where did you hold Bipa responsible when he threatened the home minister of India? Where is that man today?

[00:08:16]>> So you're saying you're very clear that the BJP will end this political culture of violence. That's an assurance that you believe will be implemented on the ground. Sardai I am saying that Rad Sardai accepts that it is only the BJP that can ensure good governance and law and order enough to ensure no violence takes place. But Rajep sardai never had that expectation of trinamul congress the politicians have to decide to end this cycle of violence as a senior you as a senior journalist need to do a piece admonishing what has transpired today refuses to accept the people's verdict any kindism will result in that >> the people have spoken. Maabadhapadhai may want to exhibitally deluded state but do not continue to insult the voter and the citizen of >> okay I'm going to >> they made a deliberate informed choice [music] [music]