In this episode of The Editorial, Mr. Sujit Nair discusses multiple topics. In the first part, Mr. Nair addresses a recent report revealing how the freezing of MGNREGA funds for West Bengal has impacted the public in the state. In the second part, he examines a statement made by Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath in August 2024, where he said, 'Batenge Toh Katenge.' Mr. Nair also references PM Modi’s speech in Gujarat on National Unity Day.
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[00:00:00] Namaskar! Wish you all a very very healthy peaceful and prosperous Diwali. I have two topics for you today. My topic one is it deals with Mandrega as always. Whether I have viewers or not I am going to continue talking about Mandrega.
[00:00:25] So let's talk about Mandrega and the topic number two is about Unity Day, Unity Divas. Let's talk about unity. Let's get right to the show.
[00:00:40] Like I say, I speak and I will continue to speak on Mandrega whether I get viewers or I don't get viewers. The reason I speak about Mandrega like I always say is because Mandrega involves the last common denominator of my country.
[00:00:57] Mandrega involves the rural poor and I think, I think we need to talk about them. I think we as a country should be concerned about them. So therefore I will continue to talk. Like I said, if I have viewers or not, it wouldn't matter.
[00:01:13] Today I have come in front of you with some figures. And I want you to view those figures and then decide whether the government policies are right or otherwise.
[00:01:25] You see, Mandrega, the changes in the number of persons working under Mandrega between financial year 21 and financial year 22 and financial year 22 are as follows.
[00:01:40] 21-22 minus 12.1% people. That means the number of people came down. The number of Mandrega workers came down by minus 12.1. It was improved in Uttar Pradesh.
[00:01:56] And in the year 22-23, the number of people went up to minus 2.9, which means more people were given jobs under Mandrega.
[00:02:08] Bihar was a different story. 6.7% people were given. More people were given Mandrega jobs in 21-22. And when it came to 22-23, that 6.1% plus became 6.8% minus. 6.8% were lesser.
[00:02:30] No, but when it comes to West Bengal, this is what is scaring me is 21-22, 81.8% people were without Mandrega wages, without Mandrega jobs.
[00:02:47] And 22-23, 99.5% people were without Mandrega wages, Mandrega jobs.
[00:02:55] What are you doing to that state? Are we torturing that state? Because the central government has a problem with the state government.
[00:03:04] The central government feels that the state government is not handling Mandrega wages properly, not distributing Mandrega wages properly, to stop Mandrega wages.
[00:03:15] So finally what? If the central government and the state government doesn't agree, people will die. Is that how you are going to look at it?
[00:03:24] That's our state. Those are our people. It is our responsibility to ensure we feed our people.
[00:03:33] The political difference between Mr. Narendra Modi and Ms. Mamata Banerji could be there, could exist, could be whatever.
[00:03:40] But does that mean that you are going to stop wages of common people? Rural poor?
[00:03:48] You see, my question here is very simple. My question here is you use ED, IT at a drop of a hat.
[00:03:57] You use all those when it comes to election and to win votes.
[00:04:01] But you are saying you cannot manage if there is mismanagement in Mandrega wages?
[00:04:06] What kind of central government are you?
[00:04:09] Why are the central forces with you?
[00:04:11] Only for political mendata.
[00:04:13] If you know that Ms. Mamata Banerji is not utilizing the funds properly, take action against her.
[00:04:19] Take corrective action.
[00:04:21] You are torturing people of West Bengal.
[00:04:26] 99.5% people are without Mandrega wages and Mandrega job.
[00:04:31] It is their right.
[00:04:32] It is Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
[00:04:38] The guarantee is from the central government, from the government of India, that the guarantee we give our people.
[00:04:45] You've taken away their rights.
[00:04:48] It is violation of the right to work for those people in West Bengal.
[00:04:53] The central government has to be responsible.
[00:04:57] Has to be held responsible.
[00:04:58] Let me give you some more figures.
[00:05:00] You see, in 2021, this is West Bengal alone.
[00:05:03] In 2021, wages spending was just 27%, which is 3,72,226 crores.
[00:05:11] That was the wages spending, 27%.
[00:05:13] In 2022, the wages spending was 100%.
[00:05:17] 100% the wages spending.
[00:05:20] And in 2023, the wages spending was 98%.
[00:05:26] 98% and the bill raised was just 1047,000 crores.
[00:05:31] And that was spending.
[00:05:33] Out of which 1026 is still pending.
[00:05:36] Which means you are starving that state.
[00:05:39] You are starving that state of their money.
[00:05:44] You are starving the rural poor of their money.
[00:05:48] Imagine if you don't get your salaries for a year, what happens to you?
[00:05:53] Now imagine what happens to a rural poor.
[00:05:58] Now imagine what happens to a rural poor.
[00:06:03] Now, see all of this happens if there is no money with the government.
[00:06:08] Or the government is doing it because of some real problem.
[00:06:12] One can understand.
[00:06:13] You see, the same government for votes.
[00:06:16] The same government for votes is spending close to 96,000 crores.
[00:06:21] This is a report from India today.
[00:06:23] 96,000 crores.
[00:06:24] 2.2% of the GDP in Maharashtra as feebies.
[00:06:28] 96,000 crores as freebies.
[00:06:31] Here, 100% wages not paid.
[00:06:34] 53,700 crores.
[00:06:36] 1.9% spent in Karnataka.
[00:06:38] 35,200 crores.
[00:06:41] 2.2% spent in Telangana.
[00:06:43] 30,700 crores.
[00:06:45] 1.8% spent in Rajasthan.
[00:06:48] So on and so forth.
[00:06:49] This is how they are spending for freebies.
[00:06:53] There is money for that.
[00:06:54] Why is it for freebies?
[00:06:56] Because that will translate into votes?
[00:06:58] No.
[00:06:58] It has to translate into votes.
[00:07:02] So where you have to get votes, you spend money.
[00:07:06] And when you have panga with the chief minister,
[00:07:10] you deprive that state.
[00:07:11] You starve that state of money.
[00:07:15] You think about it.
[00:07:16] How fair is this?
[00:07:18] How fair is this?
[00:07:19] And how should,
[00:07:21] how can we as a democracy allow this to happen?
[00:07:24] Okay.
[00:07:25] Now let me get into my topic number two.
[00:07:31] You see,
[00:07:32] there's this famous line that has come up
[00:07:35] in the recent election.
[00:07:36] That is,
[00:07:37] which means,
[00:07:39] if you are divided,
[00:07:40] we will lose.
[00:07:41] This is the clarion call.
[00:07:43] This is made by actually
[00:07:43] chief minister of Uttar Pradesh,
[00:07:46] Yogi Adityanath.
[00:07:47] A lot of people say,
[00:07:48] it is about unity.
[00:07:49] We should all come together.
[00:07:50] It is all about unity.
[00:07:51] And some people say,
[00:07:52] no,
[00:07:52] it is telling the Hindus
[00:07:54] that come together,
[00:07:55] Baba,
[00:07:55] especially Maharashtra and Jharkhand election.
[00:07:57] Come together,
[00:07:58] vote together.
[00:07:58] If you don't vote together,
[00:08:00] you will,
[00:08:00] you will,
[00:08:00] you will get divided
[00:08:01] and you will lose out.
[00:08:05] Now,
[00:08:06] it is so unfortunate.
[00:08:09] It is so unfortunate
[00:08:10] how the definition of unity has changed.
[00:08:16] Earlier on,
[00:08:17] we would celebrate
[00:08:17] our diversity
[00:08:20] as our unity.
[00:08:23] That is what we would celebrate.
[00:08:24] We would say that India,
[00:08:25] our unity lies in our diversity.
[00:08:27] That is what we would celebrate.
[00:08:29] Our secularism was our unity.
[00:08:31] We would go out
[00:08:32] and we would shout
[00:08:33] and say,
[00:08:34] we are a secular country.
[00:08:35] Pakistan is an Islamic country.
[00:08:38] We are not Islamic,
[00:08:39] we are a secular country.
[00:08:40] Our country belongs to everybody.
[00:08:42] That was the unity.
[00:08:43] And we would all say that.
[00:08:46] How the definition of unity
[00:08:48] all of a sudden has changed.
[00:08:52] Now,
[00:08:52] they say that,
[00:08:53] katoge to bato kya,
[00:08:54] wo batoge to katoge.
[00:08:56] Batoge means what?
[00:08:58] Batoge means what?
[00:09:02] Batoge as a religion?
[00:09:04] As Hindus?
[00:09:05] Batoge as caste?
[00:09:07] Okay.
[00:09:08] Another point I wanted to make
[00:09:09] before I end my editorial is,
[00:09:12] you see,
[00:09:12] just imagine,
[00:09:13] just imagine,
[00:09:16] you want to throw a party.
[00:09:18] You want to throw a party
[00:09:20] to your neighbors.
[00:09:22] Your neighbors are Punjabis,
[00:09:23] your neighbors are Gujaratis,
[00:09:24] your neighbors are
[00:09:25] South Indians,
[00:09:27] North Indians,
[00:09:28] vegetarians,
[00:09:29] non-vegetarian.
[00:09:31] You say that,
[00:09:32] no.
[00:09:33] We will practice unity.
[00:09:36] We will practice unity,
[00:09:37] so we will only,
[00:09:39] I am a South Indian,
[00:09:40] so I will only serve
[00:09:42] idli and dosa
[00:09:44] in my entire party.
[00:09:46] Nothing else.
[00:09:47] Unity.
[00:09:49] I will invite everybody,
[00:09:51] but I will serve unity.
[00:09:53] Dosa and idli.
[00:09:57] Or,
[00:09:58] would you,
[00:10:00] rather,
[00:10:01] have a little of everything?
[00:10:03] A little bit of Punjab,
[00:10:05] a little bit of South India,
[00:10:06] a little bit of North India,
[00:10:08] a little bit of West India,
[00:10:09] and that is your platter,
[00:10:10] and that is what you serve your guest.
[00:10:12] Which one would be better?
[00:10:15] Which one sounds more united,
[00:10:18] according to you?
[00:10:21] A platter,
[00:10:22] representing every state,
[00:10:23] or the platter that you want?
[00:10:26] Your platter,
[00:10:27] whatever you decide.
[00:10:28] What is unity,
[00:10:29] according to you?
[00:10:30] I am asking this question,
[00:10:32] because,
[00:10:33] you see,
[00:10:34] today when the Prime Minister spoke,
[00:10:35] about unity,
[00:10:36] he spoke about one nation,
[00:10:38] one election,
[00:10:38] helps whom,
[00:10:39] helps the Bharatiya Janata Party.
[00:10:41] He spoke about uniform civil code,
[00:10:43] helps whom,
[00:10:43] that is the Bharatiya Janata Party's agenda.
[00:10:46] He spoke about,
[00:10:48] everything that he spoke about,
[00:10:50] was,
[00:10:52] is this unity?
[00:10:55] Having one day,
[00:10:56] one vote,
[00:10:57] one election,
[00:10:57] one vote,
[00:10:58] how does it help a common man?
[00:11:00] Where does it bring unity?
[00:11:01] That is because,
[00:11:02] I vote on the same day,
[00:11:03] so I am united.
[00:11:05] If I vote in a separate day,
[00:11:06] I am not.
[00:11:10] In some elections,
[00:11:11] people had to vote for,
[00:11:13] eight,
[00:11:13] eight,
[00:11:13] nine phases.
[00:11:16] You cannot get one day,
[00:11:17] one vote.
[00:11:18] You cannot manage it.
[00:11:22] What according to you is unity?
[00:11:25] So,
[00:11:26] the people who,
[00:11:27] seem to be propagating unity,
[00:11:29] are they the actual people,
[00:11:30] who are today,
[00:11:31] causing a divide?
[00:11:33] That,
[00:11:34] is a question,
[00:11:35] that I would leave,
[00:11:36] for you to answer.
[00:11:40] I wish,
[00:11:42] every Indian,
[00:11:43] has a prosperous Diwali.
[00:11:45] I genuinely wish,
[00:11:46] every Indian has a prosperous Diwali.
[00:11:48] And the reason,
[00:11:48] I talk about Manrega,
[00:11:50] is because,
[00:11:52] I wish,
[00:11:53] even the rural,
[00:11:54] poor,
[00:11:55] has least,
[00:11:55] has enough,
[00:11:57] to eat,
[00:11:59] for this Diwali.
[00:12:01] The reason,
[00:12:02] I talk about Manrega,
[00:12:03] is because,
[00:12:04] we need to be concerned.
[00:12:07] The reason,
[00:12:08] I talk about Manrega,
[00:12:09] is because,
[00:12:10] the urban,
[00:12:11] middle class,
[00:12:13] rich,
[00:12:13] of India,
[00:12:14] should be concerned,
[00:12:15] about the fact,
[00:12:16] that the rural poor,
[00:12:17] hasn't been paid,
[00:12:19] for a year.
[00:12:20] We should be concerned.
[00:12:23] Because,
[00:12:23] end of the day,
[00:12:25] nationalism,
[00:12:27] patriotism,
[00:12:28] is about,
[00:12:29] ensuring,
[00:12:30] that our people,
[00:12:31] are safe.
[00:12:32] Our people,
[00:12:33] get,
[00:12:34] two square meals.
[00:12:36] Because,
[00:12:36] end of the day,
[00:12:37] if we can't,
[00:12:38] take care of our people,
[00:12:40] where,
[00:12:41] are we going to,
[00:12:41] take care of our country?
[00:12:44] Till I see you next time.
[00:12:46] That's tomorrow,
[00:12:47] sorry,
[00:12:48] day after tomorrow,
[00:12:49] at 10.
[00:12:50] Namaskar.
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