Thane Bakrid Showdown: Goat Slaughter Plan In Housing Society Sparks Communal Clash | India First

Hinzugefügt: 2026-05-26

[00:00:00]Good evening. You're watching India First. I'm God of Sav. Can animals be slaughtered inside a housing society in a residential complex in the name of religion? The question is not as ridiculous as it may sound to you. This is the unfortunate reality of our times.

[00:00:20]I want to show you images of a housing society in Maharashtra in Tan. There was massive tension in T when just ahead of Bakrid some people brought 25 to 30 goats according to reports inside a housing society and they erected a shed and plan to slaughter these 25 to 30 goats inside this residential housing society as part of their religious celebrations. The Hindus in the society they objected and they objected on multiple grounds hygiene violation of court orders but the protest resulted in a knifing incident where three people were injured and this led to a spike in protest. The Vishwa Hindu parisha the leaders of the Bhartya Jantaa party both in Mumbai and in Tane. They went outside this housing society and some of the protesters even carried a pig. The police intervened. They first took away the pig and later with municipal officers in tow they took away those 25 to 30 goats too. Sadly this is not the first time that in the name of religious freedom some people brought animals for sacrifice either wanting to carry out that sacrifice on Eid inside their homes or in public places in the housing society.

[00:01:38]They wanted to do it either on a rooftop or in the lawns or in one part of the parking lot. There are very clear court orders on this subject, including insisting that slaughter should only be carried out at designated slaughter houses or certain areas that may be earmarked with prior clearance of the municipal authorities. The big question is why should some believe it's okay to slaughter animals in housing societies in the name of freedom of religion?

[00:02:09]Why should political organizations and bodies bring a pig as a mark of protest instead of bridging the divide? Are we actually looking to widen the fissures in our society? Because remember a spark neglected can burn the house. Especially when you have very hostile elements not just across our borders and across seven seas who want to weaken our country but even in our midst who may be funded by these foreign agencies. We'll talk about that in greater detail. Also coming up on India first at 8:30 p.m. tonight the center has constituted a high level committee on demographic changes under the ministry of home affairs. Now this panel is to undertake scientific study to find out the nature causes and consequences of unnatural demographic changes in different parts of our country and this panel will then recommend policy changes, administrative changes, legal measures that need to be undertaken to counter the threat to our country. The panel will be chaired by former Supreme Court judge justice Prakash Prabhakar now. it uh it will also have the census commissioner former Uttar Pradesh chief secretary Dash Shankar Mishra former Bureau of Police Research and Development Chief Balaji Shivastav and a very wellrespected economist Dr. Shavikar Ravi among others. The members also include the joint secretary foreigners one of FRO or the Ministry of Home Affairs. He'll be the member secretary or the official will be the member secretary of this.

[00:03:41]We'll get you the latest on this big report. We'll also get to the latest on a massive spike in tensions between US and Iran. The United States has bombed certain Iranian boats that the USA was trying to lay sea mines. They've also bombed at a missile launch site at Bandarabas. Bundarabas remember is one of the most crucial Iranian ports. The ceasefire is holding but just about. So action-packed 60 minutes, lots coming up. But first, let's begin with this ground report from Tane filed by India Today's Vidya and DE Singh.

[00:04:18]>> Big bal over Bakrit goats inside a housing society in Mumbai's Mira road.

[00:04:23]What began as sacrifice preparations soon snowballed into a full-blown Hindu Muslim flashoint.

[00:04:31]Around 25 goats were brought into the society premises and kept inside a temporary shed ahead of Bakrid. But Hindu residents strongly objected.

[00:04:41]Very soon the society turned into a battleground.

[00:04:45]Under mounting pressure, the municipal corporation stepped in and demolished the temporary code shed. But the biggest political and communal flash point came later as Hindu groups intensified protest outside the society. Some Hindu activists were also allegedly injured after an unidentified man attacked them with a knife amid the chaos.

[00:05:30]and then came the twist that pushed the row over the edge. A pig was brought in near the society premises as a counterprotest to the sacrificial goats.

[00:05:41]Hindu groups raised slogans outside the complex. The pig versus goat showdown instantly escalated tempers and triggered massive outrage. Cops were later seen taking the pig away. Heavy police deployment followed. Meanwhile, the goats were shifted to the designated place for sacrifice.

[00:06:12]NSDated or police municipality or uh DCP administration estates ultimate the other.

[00:06:48]Who can buy The BJP is now hailing the police and civic action, calling it a victory against appeasement politics.

[00:07:38]Congress in the And this was not just about goats or a temporary shed. It became a full-scale Hindu Muslim confrontation.

[00:08:04]The goats may have been shifted, the pig removed, but the communal bitterness remains and Mirror Road stands as yet another reminder of how quickly identity politics can turn neighbors into rivals.

[00:08:21]Bureau report India today.

[00:08:27]Why should some think that it's okay to slaughter animals in a housing society?

[00:08:31]Why should some think that in their right to practice their religion, they have the right to violate rules not just of the society but law orders that have come from courts of law. And then does it smack of hypocrisy when people complain that they are being otherred that they're not being given houses on rent and then blatantly flout some may flout these norms in the name of their religion?

[00:09:01]That's the many questions. And then why should protesters then bring a pig to a protest? Because two wrongs clearly don't make a right. Sadly, this is not the first time something like this is happening in our midst. But is it now time to draw a Lakshman raka? Remember there are enemies within. There are enemies across the border. And then there are foreign powers that are out to fund unrest and fuel unrest in our country. A spark neglected burns the house. Why can't that simple message go out? Follow the law of the land in letter and in spirit. What is permitted should be permitted for all but what is not permitted is not permitted for anyone. Joining me on India first is Hendra Jooshi. Heendra Jooshi is a resident of this housing society in Mira. Zenat Shakatali is the founder director uh of an organization that talks about harmony, harmony amongst religions. Advocate Shahadab Chawan is a leader of the AIM. Tushar Gupta is a political analyst. But I first want to cut across to India Today's Dh Singh who's been tracking the story very closely. DH a lot of effort has been made to resolve this issue amicably but despite this report of reported stabbing of three Hindus by this unidentified asalant Dvesh. Is there clarity? Has the attacker been arrested? DH has this matter been resolved?

[00:10:35]Okay, give me a moment as I try and reestablish this link with my colleague Dh Singhrai society.

[00:11:12]Applic.

[00:11:22]problem.

[00:11:39]Request Hindu or Muslim society.

[00:12:30]A lot of effort was made to resolve this matter amicably despite this reported stabbing of three Hindus by this unidentified asalent. Has this attacker been identified? Has the attacker been arrested and has the matter been amicably resolved? Now >> regarding the attacker, we are trying to get more details from the police. But police are as of now they've not provided any details regarding the attacker whether who he was, whether he has been detailed or not. But here the issue that was there at the housing society it has been resolved amitably and the owner the owners could brought these woods. There were around 32 groups that had been brought in the fighting.

[00:13:13]They along with the other members of society when the police mediated and brought them together like made them speak to each other. It was amicably resolved after the roughness that happened after the atmosphere that was there throughout the day at Mira till last evening. uh this issue were resolved when the civic body gave them a dedicated location a dedicated place to feed these boats and also for the chakra that has been provided by the civic body and after that three trucks were brought in three these roads were loaded and being sent and taken by the civic civic authorities with a police accord from the uh pulam housing society.

[00:14:03]>> So stay stay with me for a moment.

[00:14:05]Advocate Shadab Chawan, is it okay for people to decide that they will carry out slaughter inside a housing society?

[00:14:12]Why not follow the rules and the slaughter should be carried out only at a designated slaughter house or any place that it may be earmarked by municipal authorities.

[00:14:27]It's very unfortunate that there is some severe fringe elements they try to scare Muslims on the occasion of Ladha. It's not a issue of Mira road or somewhere from Ratlam to Mumbai, Uttar Pradesh to other some part of the country. We are seeing that this kind of issues happened but it's very unfortunate if I have article 25 protection of my uh religion fundamental rights. It's my fundamental right.

[00:14:55]>> So it's a fundamental right to slaughter a goat in a housing society.

[00:14:59]>> No, let me complete. Idulada is on 28th of May. But people are saying that we are we saw goat and our feelings for heart. It's very unfortunate and they are breaking pig in uh to counter that.

[00:15:15]I didn't have any issue with pig. You can eat pig or whatever you want poke or whatever you want. I didn't have any issue. It's very unfortunate they are doing.

[00:15:23]>> So you'll be okay if a pig is slaughtered in front of you. You'll be okay with a pig being slaughtered there.

[00:15:28]>> No, I'm not saying so. I'm not saying so.

[00:15:32]>> If Hindus are not okay with a goat being slaughtered if Hindus are not okay with a goat being slaughtered, why cannot Muslims follow the law of this land is what I want to understand from you.

[00:15:41]You're an advocate. You're an officer of the law. As an advocate slaughter >> article 25 gives you the authority to carry out a slaughter anywhere you may wish. Tomorrow you will say freedom of religion. I will do it at India gate. I will do it at Rashati Bhan.

[00:15:58]>> Let me complete. I'm not saying so we we can slaughter in public places or such kind of thing. Definitely we will slaughter on a particular place. It doesn't mean that >> who will decide that particular place Gupta who will decide that particular place? Will authorities decide particular place or will Muslim community decide particular place?

[00:16:20]Gor, I don't understand where the issue of fundamental rights comes in.

[00:16:29]>> There is no question of fundamental rights. The Bombay High Court in its 2019 order made it very clear that slaughter cannot be carried out in residential spaces. There needs to be a designated space for it. A law clearly addresses this issue. It cannot happen in any residential society. In any residential space, there has to be a designated spot and that designated spot has to be a certain distance away from the residential societies. That's the legal question. Question number two of civic sense, there are children in these societies. There are elderly. There are people who may be sick. There are people who might be using the public facilities. Why would you want to convert that entire area into a slaughter ground? I do not understand.

[00:17:09]And this is also a point about civic sense that the community needs to understand. Point number three, G. Last week we were debating that how singing wand matram comes in between one's religion and one's you know patriotism and therefore wand matram should be excluded as people from one community were saying today I want to ask this question isn't slaughtering in the middle of a residential residence not coming in between the religion of all the other people why didn't we do why do we take these double standards >> let me let me take this to advocate shadab Johan because as an officer of the court sir one would expect you know howsoever high you may be the law is above you. Does the law and article 25 that you speak of give you the religious freedom to carry out a slaughter anywhere including inside a housing society?

[00:18:01]No, I'm not saying to uh anywhere we are saying that urbani means sacrifice of good or valid animals which are not bound by any particular religious uh issues that will be sacrificed in a particular place with a covered boundary area not in a open public place but how will you decide that what I have to do or what I not to do if there is any minister Nishan saying that you willelebr celebrate the digitally what the nonsense is that I'm not asking from anybody to celebrate their religion on my faith according to me I'm saying that you your religion is up to you and if I am celebrating my uh festival then who are you to ask questions if if I do anything which is unconstitutional then you can uh go to court whatever you want but who the hell are you to target my community entire country on the occasion I'm saying so >> okay let me let me get Zenat Shakatali let me bring her into this debate Tushar I'll come to come come to you Tushar Gupta to respond to this but Zenat Shakatali you've heard both sides and as someone who practices the religion and who lives in the same you know society not in Tane but in in Maharashtra how do you read this controversy how do you see this controversy. Uh do you agree with ad advocate Shadab that it is his freedom of religion and how the hell in his words can anybody tell him where to slaughter where not to slaughter?

[00:19:41]>> Thank you uh G for inviting me to this show. The first thing I would like to say I would like to talk about this religion which says it which talks about huk Allah and hukanas. Hukah means that your obligations towards God and huk anas means your obligations towards human beings. And it is constantly said in the traditions of prophet Muhammad that if you show kindness to my people that I will show kindness to you if you are gracious to my people. It also says that a Muslim is not a Muslim if somebody else does not feel safe with him. Now the question here arises is that we we are bound to follow government orders because there are orders which tell us that you can sacrifice at a particular place and your nobody's stopping you from the sacrifice because this is sacrifice of hazat Ibrahim. So you sacrifice but there is a particular place allotted. So you can go there and you can slaughter. As far as housing societies are concerned, yes, the hook can says that you have to respect the other people of that society.

[00:20:56]I may be a Muslim and I may want to slaughter but I cannot do anything that comes into my mind. I have to think of other people. That is what my religion is teaching me besides what the law is saying.

[00:21:07]>> Clearly, what your religion is teaching you ma'am is very different from what Shadab advocate Shadab Jawan seems to have learned. I I I want I want to complete this that you know if we do not follow and we do not act according to our own religious traditions of understanding other people respecting their rights. There are many people who are vegetarians. There are many people who do not like you know seeing blood.

[00:21:32]There are children. There are old people. There's a you know the goats make there's a lot of noise and there's a lot of you know there has to be a civic sense that one must have also so you know I do not agree with anyone who ever so it may be that you can have the the right under article 25 to do as you choose you >> advocate a shadab chant article 25 does not give you the right to slaughter an animal wherever you may choose saying it's freedom of your religion. You cannot do it in a housing society. There are court orders to that effect. Sir, I want to know that chanting of Anuman Chalisa is the solution for that. What these different fringe elements are doing there?

[00:22:20]They take their law your hands who allow them because they are protected by government.

[00:22:32]I'm sorry. The law does not work like that. Do you agree? Do you agree? No.

[00:22:37]No. This is you know life is not movie.

[00:22:40]Life is not a movie sir. You have to live in society. You have to live to you have to live by the rules of the society. You can't say and two wrongs don't make a right sir.

[00:22:53]But >> same thing you will say about other religious festivals. Same thing you will say about the other religious festivals.

[00:23:02]>> Are the other religious festivals the same as slaughtering animals on the middle of the road?

[00:23:06]>> Is that what you're saying? It doesn't matter. Slaughtering of a particular animal. I'm saying that slaughtering of any animal. Slaughtering of any animal.

[00:23:13]What religion? What religion do you have a problem with? Tell me what religion do you have a problem with? Where >> you So now you're comparing slaughter with gpati. No, no, no. I'm not comparing >> comparing religious festival not slaughter. I'm not saying to >> I'm not supporting that.

[00:23:33]>> Oh my god. Is that what your comparison level is?

[00:23:38]>> No, no, no, no.

[00:23:40]>> You're comparing gapati with slaughter of an animal.

[00:23:44]>> No, no, no. Never. I never compare. I'm saying that >> because I don't think you should. I don't think that's proper >> in different religions.

[00:23:53]No, no, no. I'm not comparing >> Tushar Tushar Gupta Tushar Gupta. No, I'm not saying no no sir, you have to be very careful. I'm sorry. You know, you cannot compare Gpati visjan or gapati puja you know with with the slaughter of an animal in a housing society or on the road.

[00:24:11]>> I'm not I'm not the equalence is a problem. The false equalence he's trying to draw is a problem. If you have a problem with the Anuman Chalisa, if you have a problem with the setting up of the Christmas tree, go to the courts. You cannot draw a false equivalence between setting up a tree, bursting crackers, gpati puja, da puja, and slaughtering of an innocent animal. Please be very clear on that.

[00:24:35]And even if you think, since you quoted Hanuman Chalisa, if you think Hanuman Chalisa is a problem, go to the Bombay High Court, get an order, get an order that the Hanuman Chalisa shall be only sung in designated spots, that it will not be sung in residential societies. Do not take the law into your own hands, sir. The law is very clear. You cannot have a slaughter house being converted inside a residential society. It needs to be licensed. A slaughter house.

[00:25:15]Two wrongs don't make a right.

[00:25:17]We are actually sitting in a very precarious situation.

[00:25:30]Hey Indra Jooshi G.

[00:25:34]Namaste.

[00:25:37]Hello tik tin shakatari to respond to that because zenat shakatari the question that is being raised is if Hindus can celebrate holy on the streets Diwali on the streets why can't Muslims slaughter animal on the streets if hanuan chalisa can be read on the streets why can't eid slaughter take place as part of freedom of religion that's the point that advocate Johan makes >> I think there is absolutely no comparison a celebration you know there's a Christmas celebration there is a celebration, there is a you know Hanuman Chalishwa celebration, there is a Gpati celebration. These celebrations take place and even when there are you know people come on the on the streets there's a permission taken there's a permission given by the authorities that this this you know you can celebrate and you can uh you know take it but a slaughter is completely different. Here you have blood flowing, there is hygiene involved, there's a civic sense involved, there are other people's sentiments involved, there are many factors that one has to consider. And actually this entire argument does not fall in line with what my prophet may peace be upon him has taught us. He has said that you know you care for other people. If people who care for my creation, I will care for them. You respect the ways of others. You know when you say hookas which means respect for life and respect the ways of other people. So when you are hurting somebody's sentiments why are you doing it that way? You have a place. It's not that anybody's forbidding you for for your sacrifice giving you a specific place. You go to that place and you distribute the meat as you want and you know to the poor.

[00:27:23]>> That is the idea. But this is not Gupta wants to come in.

[00:27:28]>> I disturbed people's lives.

[00:27:30]>> You know, what's the glaring hypocrisy?

[00:27:32]>> Just a few days ago, just a few weeks ago in Delhi's Utam Nagar, a young man was killed because his 11year-old sister was playing with a water balloon around Holi and that water balloon hit a Muslim woman who was walking by. An entire mob slaughtered that 26 year old boy named Tarun. Now my problem is when such cases happen where advocates like Shad Johan say oh we need to practice communal harmony that someone else has the fundamental right of playing holy why is the question of law then not coming up why where is this hypocrisy why is it so selective why the festivals being discussed are so selective my simple request to him is the law doesn't forbid you from celebrating your festival the country doesn't say that you cannot slaughter the animal you want to slaughter but it has to be done in a systematic manner at a designated spot through a licensed slaughterhouse. What is so difficult about that? And he said a covered space. Covered space makes it too simple. The law doesn't say covered space. The law says a designated space licensed. These are very important words. So just do not say oh because we have covered it, it becomes suddenly justified or acceptable. That is not how Shadab Chahan wants to respond. Advocate Shadab Chahan, you want to respond because the law is very clear and we are listing out what the court said in 2019, what the court said in 2023. It's very clear slaughter has to be carried out in a either a slaughter house or a place that is designated by the authorities.

[00:28:58]You understand that? I'm sure >> definitely we also request from municipal corporation to make arrangements for the sacrifices.

[00:29:07]We are also requesting to the municipal corporation and we are saying that if any individual is organizing a sacrifice of animal where not in a public place in a covered area then our Hindu brothers should consider that if there is anything any waste any waste of this particular animal goes out then we will definitely oppose that we didn't want to anyone's sentiment but it doesn't mean that only I have to sacrifice it's a cooperation We are living in a country where we have to cooperate with each other.

[00:29:41]>> So that spirit of cooperation must show it cannot be a show of strength. It should not be a show of strength.

[00:29:49]>> Might is right. It cannot be might is right. Law has to designate. You can't just decide I have enclosed this place.

[00:29:57]This is where the slaughter will be carried out. You have to cooperate with me.

[00:30:00]>> No no no.

[00:30:01]>> That it has to be a designated place designated by authorities. I think you have to know.

[00:30:07]>> I think you have to know about them.

[00:30:10]>> I have to know about >> No, go on Shadab Chan. Go on sir.

[00:30:18]Okay, you wanted to come in. Go on, sir.

[00:30:20]>> No, no. He said that there are no designated spots or the arrangements have not been made every year.

[00:30:25]>> True. There are three designated. I have the I have the reaction of the police. I have the reaction of the police. I want to I want to play that out and I want our producers to bring out that reaction of the Mumbai police where they're very categorically saying >> yes >> that there is a place three spots have been designated slaughter will be carried out only in those places it's been earmarked advocate shut up Johan and I want you to listen into the police but while we are you know getting that reaction ready >> it's not enough >> then you asked for four you asked for five you ask quotes of law for six.

[00:31:02]It cannot be might is right. It's not enough. So I will do it where I want to do it.

[00:31:44]already Hanumanjali objection.

[00:32:35]Shad Johan, nobody has a problem with you celebrating your festival, sir.

[00:32:40]Celebrating the festival of Eid.

[00:32:42]Perfect. But slaughter in a public place if it's not cleared by authorities is illegal. As an officer of the law, you should understand that. But you seem to be trying to justify it, sir.

[00:32:59]No, no, no. I'm not justifying slaughtering of any animal on a public place. I'm not saying so. I'm just saying that if any uh sacrifice in a particular place with a covered area with a covered region within a covered region then there should be no problem about that. If anyone may be okay with you, it may not be okay with some others. Uh can you ask same question from Nidish Rani who is running a restaurant where mutton karma is available. Can you ask the same question?

[00:33:38]>> Is he slaughtering it in front of people?

[00:33:41]You you don't seem to understand my point.

[00:33:44]>> Is he is he slaughtering an animal in the middle of his restaurant? I'm not justifying whatever is happening there.

[00:33:49]All I'm asking you is >> illegal slaughter cannot happen sir in a housing society.

[00:33:55]Illegal slaughter cannot happen because it's not cleared by authorities. What is illegal? What is illegal? I want to know that what is illegal?

[00:34:03]>> I will get Zenat Shakatali to tell you what is illegal. I mean as an officer of the law if you cannot understand that a place that is not designated by as a slaughter area or a slaughter house by authorities by municipal authorities.

[00:34:16]There are court orders to that effect.

[00:34:18]But you know miss Shakatali you want to respond. You want to respond because he's saying what is illegal.

[00:34:25]No, of course I mean the the argument does not hold good. You are there is nobody telling you I will let that be the last word. I will let that be the last word on this part of the show. This is a story we'll be tracking. We will be tracking very closely because everyone has freedom to celebrate their religion and to observe their religious practices but it cannot be in violation of the law and rules that are laid out. They have to be followed because howsoever high you may be the law remains above you. I want to shift focus to the other big story we're tracking here on India today. The Guspetia Mutt Bengal mission of Chief Minister Shuendu Adikari. Now efforts to have that Guspetia MUT mission is underway. So there are holding centers that are now being established. Illegal immigrants are being identified. Border districts even as we speak are witnessing movement. So even before they're sent back to their country, we are told Bangladeshies are exiting because they know that perhaps this is the end of the road for them in this country. So if you look at the exit checkpoints right now, there's a huge crowd that wants to leave. The message from the Shuendu Adikari government in Bengal, the BJP government in Bengal is loud and it's clear. Detect, delete and deport. Bengal Chief Minister Shuenduari has said one message for the illegal immigrants.

[00:36:33]Run away as quickly as possible. Leave our country. The government is not interested in spending money in providing food to them in jail is what Bengal administration officials tell our reporters. But this isn't just about Bengal. Union Home Minister Amit Sha has announced the formulation the formation of a committee. There's a special panel that's been set up and this panel is to carry out a nationwide assessment of certain demographic changes that are taking place and it's it's the apprehension is that this is linked to illegal immigration in our country and it's leading to unnatural population shifts and this has massive national security ramifications and we've seen this. We may want to you know walk with our eyes wide shut but remember that terror attack that took place at the Sanjuan military station. There were illegal Rohhinga living very close to that place. And why would Rohhingyas be living close to a military station? It defies logic in Jammu and Kashmir. The larger message is becoming increasingly clear. Infiltration will not be tolerated. Border security is being tightened. The home minister is traveling across borders across the country and India is no longer free entry, zero exit for illegal immigrants.

[00:37:46]Our Bengal bureau gets us more in this.

[00:37:52]Detect, delete, deport.

[00:38:01]This is no longer just political rhetoric. The BJP's vision of Aguspedia Mutt West Bengal is now beginning to take shape just days after they stormed to power.

[00:38:13]Holding centers are now being established across the state in line with the cent's guidelines regarding Bangladeshi nationals and Rohhingyas residing illegally in India and Maldda has become the first district where such a holding center has started functioning.

[00:38:33]With the crackdown intensifying, hundreds of alleged illegal immigrants are now rushing towards border checkpoints.

[00:38:43]When the new government came in and the new policy have been adopted, now several hundreds have already gathered.

[00:38:49]Today is the second day at a row when people in large number have came out here and they are waiting to get their turn to go to the other side of the border and BS is apprehending that there could be a much bigger turnout in next day, next few days to come. But overall this was the goal of the newly elected government here in West Bengal to identify and and and deport the illegal immigrants who have come over from Bangladesh. Many of these immigrants had been living illegally in different parts of West Bengal for several years.

[00:39:47]Chief Minister Suendu Adikari has sent out a blunt warning to infiltrators.

[00:40:10]The TMC is questioning the very need for holding centers, asking if infiltration is indeed happening at such a scale, then how are illegal immigrants entering the country in the first place?

[00:40:45]The crackdown is no longer limited to Bengal alone. Union Home Minister Amit Sha is currently on a four-state tour to review border security and infiltration challenges.

[00:40:57]The Home Minister has warned that unnatural demographic changes caused by infiltration pose a very significant challenge to the present and future of any nation. Ahmed Sha has announced that the government has now constituted a committee that will conduct a comprehensive assessment of demographic changes occurring due to illegal immigration and other unnatural causes.

[00:41:20]Analyze patterns of abnormal population shifts at a level of religious and social communities and present a planned and timebound solution for the same.

[00:41:30]From political slogan to administrative action, the crackdown on infiltration has well and truly begun.

[00:41:39]Bureau report India today.

[00:41:46]India Today's Tapas S Gupta Jag joins us for more on the story. I also want to bring in senior journalist Sandep Punitan for more on this. Tapas bring us details. I believe there's a large crowd at exit points at borders. Can you explain that to us?

[00:42:04]>> Well, yes, Gorab, uh, we had seen similar kind of turnout uh during the just before the implementation of the SIR last year, but this time around after the new government had formed and when it when the the new government have announced for making holding camps. uh the it seems that the people have once again the the people who were residing here illegally especially the illegal Bangladeshies have started pouring into that same very border of Hakimur checkp post and where hundreds of people since yesterday have been holding up and and trying to go to the other side of the uh border. We came across multiple uh case studies where we had seen that either people have come by swimming from one side to the other through Shai River. uh we had come across uh through the case studies where people came here for treatment and uh lived here ever since for seven eight years. they did not go back because the pro the treatment like cancer needs prolonged treatment and they do not have enough money to incur the entry and exit cost uh to India and and we have even come across uh to certain case studies where we had seen that females coming in marrying male member here in uh India delivering two children at government hospitals and went unchecked. When I asked them that how did you get your babies delivered without having proper documentation one one of the lady replied to me stating that only the Aadhaar card of her husband was taken by the hospital authorities and based on that she she had delivered not once but twice and after that she the children were also given the birth certificate and that makes them legitimate citizen of the country. So there was mole within the system within the administration. People have been talking about that they were working here quite nicely. They were earning handsomely during the previous regime. But after the new regime came in the the the rules have become much more stricter and hencefor to avoid any kind of legalities they chose the easier way out. Go surrender before BSF get your credential checked and go back to your own land. So the question remains that yes they are going they're flocking towards the border thousands in numbers but why at the first place there were checks and balances not there be it at the BSF level or especially at the administration level because most of the people that we came across were living in and around the Kolkata area known to be the greater Kolkata and there they have been living working as made unchecked.

[00:44:36]>> Let me bring in Sep Punitan because SEP this is now a wider exercise. This isn't just a Bengal specific exercise especially this panel that's been set up the demographic profile is there a deliberate ploy to change demographic profile in different parts of our country and especially in sensitive areas like Jammu and Kashmir close to military stations uh Punjab other places near military installations seep >> absolutely Gorov and you know there there's a line that says demography is destiny and this is clearly weighing on the minds of the government when they set up this committee because uh as you mentioned there are border districts very sensitive border districts in and around Jammu and Kashmir and of course uh West Bengal where you've seen very large infiltration uh there you know resettlement of Bangladesh is there you know aided and ebed possibly by you know political parties which have completely altered the demography of these border districts very sensitive border district. So it possibly could be a time before, you know, only a matter of time before we will see, you know, similar voices on both sides of the border. And let's not forget, go a partition in India has been uh, you know, less than 80 years. It's just about 80 years. Next year is going to be the 80th anniversary of that first partition of the subcontinent. There was another partition in 1971 as well. So in uh you know in in a place where you've seen two partitions in less than a century you know I issues like demography and uh you know change in the profile of districts uh especially in sensitive border districts is extremely extremely important. Goro >> that's a very pertinent point you make demography is destiny and it's time for India to wake up because destiny may not be kind each time. SEP and Tapas for the moment. Many thanks for joining me.

[00:46:40]Welcome back. India's schooled China and Pakistan on the border dispute. India has reacted to the China Pakistan joint statement in response to media queries regarding unwarranted references to the Indian Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. In the joint statement between China and Pakistan, India's uh the ministry of external affairs spokesperson uh additional secretary Rand Jwal said and I quote India categorically rejects unwarranted references to the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir in the joint statement between China and Pakistan. India's position is consistent and it's well known to concerned parties. The union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladak have been are and will always remain an integral and an inalienable part of India. No other country no other country has locust standai to comment on the same. I want to bring in my colleague pranay paday for more on this.

[00:47:36]Prana Pakistan may be trying on a bent knee to do a sagda to China and try and say that China has a role but very clearly India schooled both China and Pakistan here. This is a clear rebuttal coming from the ministry of external affairs. The government of India clearly rejecting the joint statement of China and Pakistan which was issued uh in the on of that the conclusion of Prime Minister Shabb Sharif's Beijing visit wherein Pakistan foreign office which released the joint statement and I'm yet to see the copy released by the the Chinese foreign ministry but the Pakistan's foreign ministry statement clearly indicates that how China how Pakistan wanted to get China on his side be it the Kashmir issue the China Pakistan economic corridor and that's why The government of India clearly rejected not only the China Pakistan economic corridor Gorov you know it very well that we never accepted the China Pakistan economic corridor but also India clearly said that China and Pakistan cannot have any trans border or trans boundary river development because they do not share any boundary they do not share any any border with between these two country and India has always rejected the illegal accession of the Shakam valley over 5,000 kilometer of Indian territory in 1963 to China and this is a categorical statement coming from the government of India and in fact this is not only to place it on record but also to show to the world that what is going between China and Pakistan and that they are conducting an illegal business in the name of China Pakistan economic corridor keep tracking that story I will come back to you for more prana for the moment many thanks now the situation in West Asia remains very precarious while the ceasefire is holding but just about the United States has bombed two Iranian boats that the US says was trying to lay sea mines.

[00:49:25]They've also bombed Bandar Abbas, a missile launch site at Bandar Abbas, which the United States says was posing a threat to US air operations in the area. They've called it a defensive strike. Iran says there will be a response. The ceasefire is holding as of now. But what's happening in Israel right now? India Today's Shivani Sharma is reporting from ground zero. She's reported from the area where an Iranian missile strike had killed people who were trying to rush to an underground center. India also spoke to the international press spokesperson of the Israeli police who detailed how a synagogue was targeted and how a residential area now looks so devastated after those strikes.

[00:50:10]>> I'm right now in Israel's beat Shamash which has an impact site where nine people were killed. They were killed in the Iranian cluster missile attack. Here you can see this is the rubble of those buildings where people lived. There was a synagogue out here. And this is how the Iranian missiles have been hitting Israel. Not only this time the 40-day long war, but last year also uh the 12-day long war where multiple buildings were hit by Iranian ballistic missiles.

[00:50:42]To tell us more about this impact and how Israel is countering these threats, I have with me Lieutenant Dean. He is the spokesperson of the Israeli police.

[00:50:52]Warm welcome on India today. So we see here this rubble. This was uh the Iranian cluster missile. You see >> this was a direct hit from the Iranians terror regime towards our civilian communities. And I want to thank you for coming here to witness it with your own eyes because you got to see that there's no military installation around us.

[00:51:12]You're in the heart of a residential community. And this was the pattern that we saw daily by the terror regime in Iran focused uh not just on killing their own civilians, but targeting ours here in Israel. You can see the rubble here of a synagogue that once stood. You can see the residential houses here that belong to family members. Now unfortunately there were nine fatalities here and um it breaks our heart.

[00:51:38]>> What do you have to say to the people of the Israel and uh what do you think?

[00:51:43]What do you expect out of the situation that is now emerging?

[00:51:48]>> My message to Israelis is the same as it always is. We're united. We're standing together and just as we have been, we've gone through some rough uh times over the last few years with the war of the terror regimes trying to annihilate us.

[00:52:03]They consistently call for our destruction. And we know that you put all the bots on the side, the misinformation, delegitimization campaigns that target Israel and painted out to be uh uh uh bad guy, so to say.

[00:52:17]We know that all is out of nonsense and we know that we're standing together with our friends, our allies, just like our big story coming in from West Asia. Iran says it has hit back at the United States of America. It's targeted multiple US drones. Iranian negotiators, they've traveled to Qatar. They're discussing points of contention in a potential deal to end the war in West Asia. But Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has claimed that they've downed a US MQ9 Reaper drone that entered its airspace. Tensions continue to escalate after the US carried out an a missile strike at a missile launch site in Bandharabas port. The US also claimed it had downed a couple of Iranian small boats that were laying mines. The IRGC has said in a statement that it has the legitimate right to respond to any violation of the ceasefire. This comes after US forces attacked missile launch sites and mine laying vessels in southern Iran describing this operation as selfdefense strikes. Earlier Iranian media had reported multiple explosions in the southern port city of Bandarabas. a high level delegation that includes Iran's chief negotiators Mouhammad Bager Galibbah and also Iran's foreign minister sayabas Saraki they've met mediators in DHA in Qatar now according to reports from there Iran's negotiating team has said $ 24 billion of frozen assets frozen Iranian assets must be released in any potential deal with the United States of America the team has also said half the amount that's about $12 billion must be released when a memorandum of understanding is announced to the world with the remaining amount released within the next 60 days. The United States of course insists this deal is only moving forward once that 400 plus kilograms of enriched uranium is either handed over to the United States of America or destroyed in Iran with international agencies certifying the destruction of that enriched uranium. So that's a story we'll be tracking very very closely. But that is all I have for you on India first this evening. Many thanks for watching.