Editorial with Sujit Nair | ‘No Fund For Subsidies, Govt Has To Provide For Ladki Bahin’: Gadkari

[00:00:00] [SPEAKER_02]: Namaskar, Welcome to another episode of Editorial. Mr. Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister, calls the government of Ishkania.

[00:00:11] [SPEAKER_02]: Ishkania means Poisonous Maiden. He says that there is no money for subsidies because all the money that the government has is going in for this Ladki Bahin Yojana.

[00:00:23] [SPEAKER_02]: Let's discuss what he meant by that. Let's get right into the show.

[00:00:31] [SPEAKER_02]: Okay, first starters. Nithin Gadkari called the government of Ishkania a poisonous maiden.

[00:00:40] [SPEAKER_02]: Now let me tell you, my editorial is not going to be quite sensational because I will tell you it is not that Gadkari meant it for Bharatiya Janatha Party government or Gadkari meant it against Mr. Narendra Modi or anybody.

[00:00:59] [SPEAKER_02]: That is not what Gadkari meant. Well, the headline looks that way but that is not what he meant. What Gadkari was talking about is actually the reality.

[00:01:11] [SPEAKER_02]: He was just giving a reality check. What he said and which is very interesting and which is what I want to deliberate for the next 13 to 14 minutes with you is what he said is he was talking to a group of investors

[00:01:26] [SPEAKER_02]: where he said that there is absolutely no certainty whether investors will receive their subsidy payment on time. As it is, the government has to provide huge funds for the Ladki Bahin Yojana.

[00:01:42] [SPEAKER_02]: This is what he meant. He was saying that listen Baba, don't always depend on government investments. Don't always depend on subsidies.

[00:01:54] [SPEAKER_02]: You put your entrepreneurs, no? When he this was he was speaking in Nagpur by the way his own home city. He said you know you are an investor, you are an entrepreneur. Put money, no? Put money, grow, make money.

[00:02:08] [SPEAKER_02]: Don't depend on government. This is what he was saying. And when he said Vishkanya, he didn't really mean Bharatiya Janta Party or Congress or he meant that courting with the government will never be beneficial.

[00:02:23] [SPEAKER_02]: This is what long and short of what he said. This is what long and short of what he said. So you are not blaming anybody or any particular government.

[00:02:31] [SPEAKER_02]: He was generally talking about the situation in hand and normally Mr. Nitin Gadkari is known for such statements, such realistic statements and I think I welcome such honest statements from politicians

[00:02:47] [SPEAKER_02]: because one doesn't get to hear these kind of statements in the current political scenario amongst all the Jumlas and all such honest statements get lost.

[00:02:58] [SPEAKER_02]: So this is what he said. Now let me tell you why I wanted to talk about this particular topic. I wanted to talk about this particular topic is this particular topic still concerns you.

[00:03:13] [SPEAKER_02]: It concerns your children, it concerns your future, it concerns our life, it concerns our country. The fact remains that what he said is realistic.

[00:03:26] [SPEAKER_02]: Let me give you some figures as we always do. You see, June when the budget was presented, the deficit for Maharashtra, the Maharashtra deficit since he was talking about largely by end, I will also stick to Maharashtra.

[00:03:40] [SPEAKER_02]: But this is not a Maharashtra story. You can juxtapose this to the rest of India too.

[00:03:45] [SPEAKER_02]: In Maharashtra alone, the deficit stood at 1.10 lakh crores, 1.10 lakh crores when June. Come September this year, the deficit increased to 2.04 lakh crores, 2.04 lakh crores, 1.1 lakh crores say 2.04 lakh crores.

[00:04:17] [SPEAKER_02]: Now what do you do? First of all, let us understand deficit a lot of you all know but for people who do not, I like to put my points in a simple format.

[00:04:27] [SPEAKER_02]: For people who may not know, see deficit means the money that I have to spend, that the money that I have to invest versus the money I have, that is deficit.

[00:04:40] [SPEAKER_02]: So, if I have 100 rupees but my estimated spend is 120 rupees then my deficit is 20 rupees. So this is deficit.

[00:04:52] [SPEAKER_02]: So we coming back has a deficit currently of 2.04 lakh crores as far as Maharashtra is concerned.

[00:05:02] [SPEAKER_02]: Now, how do you feel this deficit? How do you feel this deficit? Is it that Maharashtra will now go and do some business or go and go some trade and make solid profits and then say okay I will fill my deficits. No that doesn't happen.

[00:05:17] [SPEAKER_02]: So you try to raise funds. You try to borrow funds.

[00:05:22] [SPEAKER_02]: Now, a state has a limit of borrowing funds. State has a limit of borrowing funds. It is not that the state can go and borrow any amount of funds and then say okay I will pay in the centre, I will pay in the Indian government.

[00:05:34] [SPEAKER_02]: The state is given a limit to borrow funds and that limit is 3% of the debt percentage is 3% of its GDP.

[00:05:44] [SPEAKER_02]: So Maharashtra can borrow up to 3% of its GDP and that figure is 42,67,771 crores.

[00:05:54] [SPEAKER_02]: 42,67,43 lakhs for easy calculation. 43 lakhs you can borrow and you have a deficit of 2.04 lakh crores.

[00:06:06] [SPEAKER_02]: Now, tell me what happens?

[00:06:08] [SPEAKER_02]: Now let us understand what happens if there is so much deficit.

[00:06:15] [SPEAKER_02]: If there is so much deficit, if the deficit is so huge, you know what happens?

[00:06:22] [SPEAKER_02]: They compromise. The government compromises.

[00:06:26] [SPEAKER_02]: Like I told you my expense is 120, my income is 100 rupees, 20 rupees I have to compromise.

[00:06:33] [SPEAKER_02]: No, what will you do? I do not have that 20 rupees to spend. So what I do? I compromise and how you compromise?

[00:06:39] [SPEAKER_02]: The compromise could be your health. The compromise could be your child's education.

[00:06:47] [SPEAKER_02]: The compromise could be your roads, the compromise could be the power that comes into your house. Those could be the compromise.

[00:06:54] [SPEAKER_02]: The compromise would be spending on irrigation. The compromise would be spending on farmers.

[00:06:59] [SPEAKER_02]: The compromise could be welfare. These are the compromises. The compromise could be a fair price shop.

[00:07:08] [SPEAKER_02]: The Russian shop. Compromises could be multiple. That is how the compromises happen.

[00:07:17] [SPEAKER_02]: And why are we talking about this now? We are talking about this now is because according to some figures,

[00:07:26] [SPEAKER_02]: the amount that is going to be spent on larky by any eugenics is 46,000 crores.

[00:07:34] [SPEAKER_02]: 46,000 crores. Mind you your deficit is already 2.04 lakh crores.

[00:07:40] [SPEAKER_02]: You can only take 44 lakh crores out of the 2.04 crores of deficit.

[00:07:47] [SPEAKER_02]: So you are spending this 46,000 crores only to ensure that you get votes.

[00:07:54] [SPEAKER_02]: Only to please people, only to please the voters and get votes.

[00:08:01] [SPEAKER_02]: In fact a figure says that the total spent of Maharashtra on these various freebies go up to 96,000 crores.

[00:08:10] [SPEAKER_02]: The unprecedented demand were tabled for an estimated expenditure of 96,000 crores in various SOPs including larky by any eugenics,

[00:08:20] [SPEAKER_02]: Annapurna scheme and offering stipends up to 10,000 rupees to over 10 lakh youth among others.

[00:08:27] [SPEAKER_02]: So therefore Maharashtra government who is already in a deficit of 2.04 lakh crores is going to offer 96,000 crores for freebies

[00:08:39] [SPEAKER_02]: and that is the core of the problem.

[00:08:41] [SPEAKER_02]: In some form I think that is the core of the problem that even Mr. Gadkari is trying to address.

[00:08:51] [SPEAKER_02]: We are giving this money, our fellow Indians, our women voters may get 1500 rupees.

[00:09:06] [SPEAKER_02]: But you know what they lose? You know what they lose? They lose their health.

[00:09:13] [SPEAKER_02]: They could lose their education, they could lose their infrastructure.

[00:09:17] [SPEAKER_02]: I will give you some examples. Let me get you some examples.

[00:09:24] [SPEAKER_02]: You know when this was asked to Mr. Ajit Pawar, Mr. Ajit Pawar said there is no shortage of funds for development and all that.

[00:09:31] [SPEAKER_02]: He said, Baba, all this is not right. We have enough funds to develop but let me give you some data as always.

[00:09:38] [SPEAKER_02]: Ullash Nagar central hospital has been facing severe shortage of medicines for the past 4 months due to unpaid debt of 40 lakhs.

[00:09:48] [SPEAKER_02]: I am giving a case in point. Ullash Nagar, a suburb near Mumbai.

[00:09:54] [SPEAKER_02]: That hospital, there is no medicine because they have not paid 40 lakh rupees. Why?

[00:10:00] [SPEAKER_02]: There are no 40 lakh rupees.

[00:10:02] [SPEAKER_02]: There are deficit finance. We will have to compromise from where we have to compromise.

[00:10:06] [SPEAKER_02]: The compromise was done there. Somewhere you have to compromise.

[00:10:12] [SPEAKER_02]: I will give you more examples. Do you remember 2611 happened in our city in Mumbai?

[00:10:18] [SPEAKER_02]: 2611, those terrorists from Pakistan came through sea route.

[00:10:23] [SPEAKER_02]: Those days I remember Mr. D. Sivanandan who was the then commissioner of police and Mr. R R Patil who was then the home minister and all of them, they decided coastal security should be made more robust.

[00:10:38] [SPEAKER_02]: Not only depend on the navy and the coast guard but the Mumbai police should also have a robust coastal security infrastructure.

[00:10:47] [SPEAKER_02]: This was what was decided. And you know what is the state today?

[00:10:50] [SPEAKER_02]: The state today is the coastal security of Mumbai and Maharashtra is facing severe challenges as most patrolling boats remain non-operational.

[00:10:59] [SPEAKER_02]: Maintenance work has come to a halt since March this year because two operators responsible for servicing boats have refused to continue for non-payment for 2.5 years.

[00:11:10] [SPEAKER_02]: Sources indicate that around 10 crore payments are pending.

[00:11:16] [SPEAKER_02]: This is what your security is.

[00:11:19] [SPEAKER_02]: Last time the terrorist came from here.

[00:11:24] [SPEAKER_02]: Mumbai was shot on. Security forces, policemen lost their lives. Common people lost their lives.

[00:11:34] [SPEAKER_02]: Hundreds and hundreds of people lost their lives because the terrorists came from here and 10 crores which is supposed to be paid so that that area now is sealed and there is a robust security.

[00:11:46] [SPEAKER_02]: That is not a money.

[00:11:50] [SPEAKER_02]: And that government is telling you, I am going to give you 1500 rupees every month.

[00:11:54] [SPEAKER_02]: We are very happy saying that we are getting 1500 rupees.

[00:11:59] [SPEAKER_02]: Look at the cost in which you are getting that 1500 rupees.

[00:12:03] [SPEAKER_02]: Look at the cost you are paying for that 1500 rupees.

[00:12:07] [SPEAKER_02]: The cost you are paying possibly would be with your life and that's the problem.

[00:12:14] [SPEAKER_02]: So, few more things.

[00:12:19] [SPEAKER_02]: This is not just a saying.

[00:12:22] [SPEAKER_02]: Even the Supreme Court has warned Maharashtra that we will stop Larkybind for land issues.

[00:12:53] [SPEAKER_02]: The Supreme Court bench of B.R. Gawai and K.B. Vishwanath said that you pay them that money.

[00:13:01] [SPEAKER_02]: You pay them the money otherwise it will not allow you to do.

[00:13:05] [SPEAKER_02]: There has to be compromise is the point that I am trying to make and that compromise would be something that will harm us more.

[00:13:12] [SPEAKER_02]: Then these freebies, this compromise will harm us more.

[00:13:18] [SPEAKER_02]: And when I say this, please understand I am taking Maharashtra as a case in point.

[00:13:24] [SPEAKER_02]: I am taking Maharashtra because Larkybind is going to be launched, has been launched and you know it's a major election pitch.

[00:13:33] [SPEAKER_02]: But it is not just Maharashtra. They are doing it in Delhi.

[00:13:36] [SPEAKER_02]: Every government is doing it including Congress government.

[00:13:40] [SPEAKER_02]: Every government seems to be doing this.

[00:13:43] [SPEAKER_02]: What I would like to tell my viewers that it is dangerous for us.

[00:13:48] [SPEAKER_02]: Like we say that communalism is dangerous for our country.

[00:13:52] [SPEAKER_02]: I say freebieism is also dangerous for our country, for our development.

[00:13:58] [SPEAKER_02]: And that's the reason why I wanted to talk to you about this topic till I see you next time.

[00:14:05] [SPEAKER_02]: That is tomorrow at 10. Namaskar.

[00:14:09] [SPEAKER_02]: Like I said yesterday, I repeat myself we want 6 lakh rupees to cover Maharashtra.

[00:14:17] [SPEAKER_02]: We want 6 lakh rupees to cover Maharashtra election.

[00:14:20] [SPEAKER_02]: And like I told you before, we really want to go to the nook and corner of Maharashtra and get that election report for you.

[00:14:27] [SPEAKER_02]: Because Maharashtra is going to make a major difference to India's future.

[00:14:32] [SPEAKER_02]: Maharashtra election is going to make a major difference to India's future. Mark my word.

[00:14:38] [SPEAKER_02]: So we require your help.

[00:14:41] [SPEAKER_02]: So please contribute.

[00:14:43] [SPEAKER_02]: Contribute to us through raise up pay and or there is a system that we have.

[00:14:49] [SPEAKER_02]: Website and all of that that our promo will tell you.

[00:14:52] [SPEAKER_02]: But please do contribute.

[00:14:53] [SPEAKER_02]: Give us that 6 lakhs that we need.

[00:14:56] [SPEAKER_02]: Let us go out there and get back to you with what to do this.

[00:15:00] [SPEAKER_03]: 2019. The year that changed Maharashtra politics forever.

[00:15:30] [SPEAKER_01]: I am the Chief Minister of the United Nations.

[00:15:33] [SPEAKER_03]: I am the Prime Minister of the United Nations.

[00:15:36] [SPEAKER_03]: I am the witness of the victory.

[00:15:39] [SPEAKER_03]: I am the President of the United Nations.

[00:15:42] [SPEAKER_03]: I am the President of the United Nations.

[00:15:44] [SPEAKER_03]: Now as Maharashtra gets set for the 2024 assembly elections,

[00:15:49] [SPEAKER_02]: we believe that we have the infrastructure, we have the know-how,

[00:15:53] [SPEAKER_02]: we have the experience of covering Maharashtra.

[00:15:55] [SPEAKER_02]: We want to cover the Maharashtra elections.

[00:15:57] [SPEAKER_03]: What are the issues on the minds of the voter?

[00:16:00] [SPEAKER_03]: Can sitting Chief Minister Ekna Chinde defend his turf with the BJP and Ajit Pawar by his side?

[00:16:06] [SPEAKER_03]: Or will the legacies of Thakre and Pawar prevail?

[00:16:10] [SPEAKER_03]: What role will Manoj Jalanke Patil, the face leading the Maratha agitation play?

[00:16:16] [SPEAKER_02]: Now for us to cover the Maharashtra elections we need some funds.

[00:16:18] [SPEAKER_02]: We need money.

[00:16:20] [SPEAKER_02]: We need around 5-6 lakh rupees.

[00:16:22] [SPEAKER_02]: I would urge our patrons.

[00:16:25] [SPEAKER_02]: I would urge our viewers, viewers who appreciate our work, viewers who think we are worth.

[00:16:34] [SPEAKER_02]: I would urge you to contribute to this venture.

[00:16:40] [SPEAKER_02]: Give us that 6 lakhs so that our journalists can go to the look and corner of Maharashtra.

[00:16:46] [SPEAKER_02]: Find out exactly what the problem of Maharashtra is.

[00:16:55] [SPEAKER_03]: We wish to contribute and support independent journalism.