ITV

Category: TV Channels

  • Times Network acquires Digit.in

    Times Network acquires Digit.in

    Mumbai: Times Network has acquired Digit.in from 9.9 Group. The acquisition encompasses Digit’s print as well as digital business. This strategic move signifies Times Network’s commitment to bolstering its digital publishing portfolio and expanding its footprint in the technology and gaming sectors.

    This acquisition is part of Times Network’s continued investment in its digital publishing business, which already reaches over 110 million monthly active users and garners more than 1 billion monthly video views. With a monthly reach exceeding 4 billion across its digital news brands, Times Network stands as the fastest-growing multimedia news network in the country, providing credible, accurate, and decisive news and analysis across English and Hindi general and business news categories.

    Established in 2001 with the launch of Digit magazine, Digit has dedicated over two decades to helping people choose, buy, and use technology to enhance their lives. Over the years, Digit has successfully expanded its presence online through Digit.in and has become one of the leading publishers in the technology space. Also renowned for its vibrant communities, including Digit Squad, a network of tech influencers, and the SKOAR College Gaming Club (SCGC), a premier college gaming community. Collectively, Digit and Digit Squad boast a total reach of 180 million, underscoring their significant influence in the tech world.

    Times Group CEO (New Media and Investments) N Subramanium expressed his enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating, “At Times, we are committed to creating high-value digital communities that leverage audiences and commerce to deliver unparalleled value. We believe Digit fits very well in our overall strategy of building a portfolio of digital products catering to diverse audiences. It will help bring in new audiences to the network. We are confident that, under the aegis of Times Group, Digit’s existing legacy and leadership will grow manifold.”

    9.9 Group, founder & director Vikas Gupta echoed this sentiment, saying, “Digit has been India’s Technology Navigator for the past 24 years, and we are thrilled to announce that it has found a new home with one of the largest publishers in the country, the Times Network. This marks an exciting new chapter for Digit, and we are confident that it will propel Digit to even greater heights. Digit’s offerings will tap into the Times Network’s extensive network, expertise, and legacy, ultimately benefiting our readers and the tech community at large. For over two decades, Digit’s mission has been to empower India with timely and trusted information on tech, as well as expert advice to navigate the rapidly evolving tech landscape. We are delighted that Digit will continue to thrive and grow, remaining a trusted tech navigator for India.”

  • News18 Hindi dominates election coverage, secures top spot

    News18 Hindi dominates election coverage, secures top spot

    Mumbai: As per the latest ComScore data, News18 Hindi has secured its position as the number one digital news platform for the Hindi language in April 2024, beating other Hindi platforms.

    At a whopping 57.7 million Unique Visitors (UVs), News18 Hindi grabbed the top spot.

    An ad campaign has been launched across print and digital media to highlight the platform’s power-packed performance.  As part of this campaign, a front-page advertisement was issued in The Economic Times on May 27, underscoring News18 Hindi’s leadership.

    News18 Hindi’s remarkable accomplishment can be attributed to its comprehensive coverage during the election season. The platform reached audiences nationwide with its in-depth coverage of important election-related topics from various viewpoints.

    Commenting on the remarkable performance, News18 Network CEO – Indian Languages  Mitul Sangani said, “We owe our position as the leading Hindi news platform to our dedicated viewers, who made us their first choice during this crucial election season. Our viewers’ trust drives us to persistently enhance our coverage and deliver news that not only informs but also empowers. News18 Hindi’s extensive coverage of Lok Sabha elections with a commitment to accurate information, in-depth analysis and product enhancement strengthened our performance. We are confident that the numbers will continue to grow as we enter the counting phase of elections.

    News18 Network is an undisputed leader in terms of viewership both on TV and digital platforms. With the undivided attention of viewers in every segment, the group has emerged as the go-to source for news. ComScore Mobile Metrix, custom list on Hindi News Publishers. Apr 2024.

  • Nithin and Gaurav crowned winners of COLORS ‘Dance Deewane’ Family’

    Nithin and Gaurav crowned winners of COLORS ‘Dance Deewane’ Family’

    Mumbai: Dance ka yeh anokha parivaar aapse vida le raha hain… Just as a family dances through life’s celebrations and challenging times, COLORS’ ‘Dance Deewane’ became the loving dancing parivaar. The judges – Madhuri Dixit Nene and Suniel Shetty mentored the talent across four generations and watched them trail inspiring dance journeys with their discerning eyes. Hosted by comedy queen Bharti Singh, the dance extravaganza became the abode where contestants bonded over their deewangi for dance and welcomed star guests like families visiting for a joyous occasion. Much like a family album, each episode captured precious moments – from the triumphs that warranted enthusiastic applause to the stumbles that elicited reassuring pats on the back. Bringing down the curtain on a blockbuster season of performances, the dance fiesta showed the audience a starry night of nonstop entertainment one last time and crowned Nithin and Gaurav as its winners, awarding them a grand prize of Rs 20 lakhs.

    When dance dynamos Nithin and Gaurav were paired up on ‘Dance Deewane’, little did they know their on-stage chemistry were tagged as the dancing heroes of north and south. These two hailed from different corners of the country – Nithin the Bangalore boy and Gaurav representing Dil waalo ki Delhi. From day one, their shared passion for killer moves helped them vibe like a house on fire and they became the most loved second-generation dancers. From pulling off energetic hip-hop hoofers or nailing those edge-of-the-seat dance stunts, Nithin and Gaurav consistently brought their A-game to point. Impressed with their dance moves, the superstar judge – Madhuri Dixit Nene, awarded the duo the shagun of Rs 101 on multiple occasions for slaying every act. Enthralled by their dance prowess, Bollywood’s beloved action star Tiger Shroff was a fervent supporter, rooting for them to take home the trophy.

    Talking about clinching the coveted trophy Nithin said, “Winning this dance battle that had the most skilled dancers across four generations is a dream come true. I thank our competitors for cheering us on and celebrating this victory like it’s their own. This capture the true essence of a family is.” Gaurav added, “I bow to my parents and gurus, who trained me and recognised my potential. My heartfelt gratitude to Madhuri Dixit Nene ma’am and Suniel Shetty sir for elevating my dance skills with their guidance. It was an honour to have danced for the extended family that watched me from their living room every week.”

    Sending her best wishes to the winners, Madhuri Dixit Nene said, “Congratulations to Nithin and Gaurav for winning the trophy and the hearts of viewers! So many of their performances were masterpieces and I’m sure their artistry will continue to stun the world. Their journey celebrated the art form that is so close to my heart. It has been a pleasure watching them grow as performers. As they lift the trophy of this season, I’m confident that they will inspire generations with their moves.” Suniel Shetty adds, “What a truly grand finale it has been! Congratulations to Nithin and Gaurav for showing us their deewangi for dance and owning the stage with incredible performances right until their victory. I’m proud of their journey and I thank them for sharing their gift with the world through this show.”

    Hailed as Parivaar Ki Grand Finale Party, the last episode kicked off with the dance queen Madhuri Dixit Nene set the stage ablaze by grooving to ‘Khoya Hain’. Emotions soared as Suniel Shetty’s poignant rendition of ‘Sandese Aate Hain’ from ‘Border’ moved everyone to tears, adding a heartfelt touch to the spectacle. Adding to the excitement, Bollywood’s reigning heartthrob Kartik Aaryan rode in on the finale hype wave to promote his upcoming film ‘Chandu Champion’. Bringing full-on entertainment, the trio of Krushna, Kashmera, and Sudesh from COLORS’ new dinnertainment ‘Laughter Chefs Unlimited Entertainment’ got the parivaar in splits with their antics. Their comedic brilliance and infectious energy brought an unforgettable wave of laughter, ensuring a night filled with joy and laughter. Right before the winners were announced, the Kartik Aaryan fever took over the grand floor with all the contestants dancing to the champion’s hit songs such as ‘Dil Chori Saada Ho Gaya’, ‘Coca Cola Tu’, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyya’ and ‘Bom Diggy Diggy’.

  • Colors Kannada launches ‘NINAGAAGI’

    Colors Kannada launches ‘NINAGAAGI’

    Mumbai: Staying true to its commitment to provide non-stop entertainment, Colors Kannada is excited to present another star-studded family drama, “NINAGAAGI.” The new show is set to air from May 27 at 8:00 PM, Monday through Friday, promising an emotional journey of two contrasting individuals.

    In association with special partners, Sparsh Masala, Ullas Agarbathi and Bhima Jewellers, Colors Kannada brings to life the captivating story of Rachana and Jeeva. Rachana, portrayed by Divya Uruduga of Bigg Boss Kannada fame, is a Kannada film superstar with over 100 films to her credit. Trapped in a golden cage by her controlling mother, she has been pushed into making more films for financial gain. In contrast, Jeeva, played by television superstar Ritvik Mathad, is a single parent striving to provide a loving and secure life for his 6-year-old daughter, often telling her that her mom is a star in the sky.

    The story takes a heartwarming turn when Jeeva’s daughter innocently accepts Rachana as her mother, setting the stage for a unique journey of love and connection between two people from vastly different worlds.

    Colors Kannada business head Prashanth Nayak shared his excitement on the new show, “We have always been presenting storylines of core family values before our audiences that involves family bonding. Ninagagi is a fresh experiment with its unique storyline of parental love that will involve many dramas and twists that enable the togetherness of two different people from the different worlds. Featuring superstars such as Ritvvik Mathad and Divya Uruduga in lead roles have justified our presentation of the story too. We are very confident that our audiences will receive Ninagaagi with massive response.”

    Speaking on the association, Ullas Agarbati managing director Someshekar Patil said, “This partnership not only expands our horizons but also enriches the viewing experience for our audience. By incorporating the calming essence of our incense sticks into the show, we aim to deepen the emotional connection between viewers and the engaging story of Rachana and Jeeva. Together with COLORS Kannada, we look forward to bringing a sense of tradition and tranquility into every household.”

    Sparsh Masala managing director Deeksha S Kumar said, “Sparsh Masala is proud to partner with the highly anticipated family drama ‘NinnaGaagi.’ This collaboration with COLORS Kannada offers us a unique opportunity to reach a wider audience and enhance their viewing experience. As the heartfelt story of Rachana and Jeeva unfolds, our spices will bring an added touch of authenticity to the culinary journeys of our viewers.”

    Bhima Jewellers managing director Vishnusharan K Bhat said, “This collaboration perfectly aligns with our shared values, as both Bhima Jewellers and COLORS Kannada are deeply committed to honoring our roots and traditions. As the heartfelt story of Rachana and Jeeva unfolds, Bhima Jewellers is proud to bring a touch of our rich heritage to the homes of ‘NinnaGaagi’ viewers. Together with COLORS Kannada, we celebrate the artistry and beauty that define our brand.”

    “NINAGAAGI” is produced by Sri Jai Matha Combines, known for acclaimed shows like Nammane Yuvarani, Kannadathi, Bhagyalakshmi, and Lakshmi Baramma. The show features a stellar cast, including promising talents like Priyanka Kamath, Kishan Belagali, Vijay Koundinya, Siri Sinchana, and Punith Hegde. Directed by Sampruthvi, the visionary behind the successful show Nammane Yuvarani, “NINAGAAGI” is poised to captivate audiences.

    To bring this engaging fiction closer to the audience, Colors Kannada will launch a comprehensive 360-degree marketing campaign, including Print, TV Ads, and pop-up ads on Wynk and Jio Saavn music apps. “NINAGAAGI” will also feature unique and extensive on-ground activities, such as public caricatures in shopping malls, forehead stickers to connect with home engineers, and social media contests with specially designed and crafted jewelry boxes as prizes. Additionally, the campaign will include bus branding and hoardings to ensure the show is ubiquitous.

    jiocinema 

    Ninagaagi

  • TAM Sports: IPL 17 TV ad volumes grew 19 per cent per channel compared to IPL 16

    TAM Sports: IPL 17 TV ad volumes grew 19 per cent per channel compared to IPL 16

    Mumbai: TAM Sports has released an IPL report based on the first 71 matches of IPL 17 and for all the channels on which matches are telecasted.

    On television, advertising for IPL 17 observed growth of 19 per cent in ad volumes/per channel compared to IPL 16.

    Compared to IPL 16, the count of categories and advertisers in IPL 17 were increased by 40 per cent and 28 per cent respectively.

    In IPL 17, the top five categories collectively added 44 per cent share of ad volumes, in which Pan Masala dominated the list. Ecom-gaming and pan masala were the only common categories between IPL 17 & IPL 16. Parle Products was the top advertiser in IPL 17 with 11 per cent share of ad volumes. Also, Sporta Technologies, K P Pan Foods and Vishnu Packaging were the common advertisers between IPL 17 and IPL 16. The top five advertisers of IPL 17 together added 34 per cent share of ad volumes. Parle Products was the leading advertiser in 48 matches of IPL 17.

    Compared to IPL 16, there were 34 new categories and 117 new brands present in IPL 17. Among the top five new categories, two of them were from the F&B sector and two belonged to the BFSI sector. Parle Food Products dominated the top five new brands list, followed by Fogg in 71 matches of IPL 17.

    During IPL 17, Dabur Real Range was the top brand on Hindi plus English language channels. Additionally, Mobil Super/Mobil Super Moto dominated the top brands list on regional language channels. Among the 110 brands that advertised on both Hindi plus English and regional language channels, Parle Food Products secured first position.

  • Sun TV Network reports strong growth in Q4 and FY 2024 earnings

    Sun TV Network reports strong growth in Q4 and FY 2024 earnings

    Mumbai: Sun TV Network Ltd, one of the largest television broadcasters in India, operates satellite television channels across seven languages of Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Bangla, Marathi and Hindi, airs FM radio stations across India and owns the SunRisers Hyderabad Cricket Franchise of the Indian Premier League, SunRisers Eastern Cape of Cricket South Africa’s T20 League and the digital OTT platform Sun NXT.

    For the quarter ended 31 March 2024, the total income was up 18.22 per cent at Rs.1,057.24 crs for the quarter ended 31 March 2024 as against Rs 894.33 crs for the corresponding quarter ended 31st March 2023 and the revenues were up 13.96 per cent at Rs. 927.12 crores as against Rs. 813.53 crores for the quarter ended 31st March 2023. The Profit Before Tax went up by 8.66 per cent at Rs.534.31 crs for the current quarter as against Rs.491.72 crs during the previous quarter ended 31st March 2023 and the Profit after Taxes for the quarter ended 31st March 2024 was up by 9.01 per cent to Rs.398.77 crores as against Rs 365.82 crores for the corresponding quarter ended 31st March 2023. The Earnings Per Share for the current quarter was higher by 9.01 per cent to Rs.10.11 as against Rs.9.28 for the corresponding quarter ended 31st March 2023.

    For the quarter ended 31 March 2024, the standalone revenues for the year was higher by 13.30 per cent at Rs.4,148.36 crores as against Rs.3,661.37 crores for the corresponding year ended 31st March, 2023. The Domestic Subscription revenues for the year was at Rs.1,710.44 crores, as against Rs.1,619.71 crores for the previous year ended 31st March, 2023. EBITDA for the year ended 31st March 2024 was up 10.05 per cent at Rs.2,585.30 crores as against Rs.2,349.29 crores for the previous year ended 31st March 2023. The Profit after taxes rose by 11.98 per cent to Rs.1,875.15 crores for the year ended 31st March, 2024 as against Rs. 1,674.53 crores for the previous year ended 31st March, 2023. During the year, the Board of Directors declared four interim dividends cumulating to 335 per cent, i.e. Rs.16.75 per share.

    For the quarter ended 31 March 2024, the Consolidated Revenues was up 13.52 per cent at Rs.4,282.10 crores as against Rs. 3,772.05 crores for the corresponding year ended 31st March 2023. EBITDA for the year ended 31st March 2024 was higher by 10.24 per cent at Rs. 2,638.10 crores as against Rs.2,392.99 crores for the previous year ended 31st March 2023. The Profit after taxes (after accounting of share from joint venture) also remained higher by 12.82 per cent at Rs.1,925.80 crores for the year ended 31st March,2024 as against Rs. 1,706.92 crores for the previous year ended 31 March, 2023.

  • Sony Entertainment Television presents ‘Pukaar – Dil Se Dil Tak’ Drama

    Sony Entertainment Television presents ‘Pukaar – Dil Se Dil Tak’ Drama

    Mumbai: Adding the vibrant flavour of Rajasthan as a new hue of entertainment to its fiction slate, Sony Entertainment Television presents viewers Pukaar – Dil Se Dil Tak. This compelling drama echoes a family’s heartfelt ‘pukaar’ to find each other and reunite despite the circumstances. Showcasing a diverse representation of women with compelling characters and an edge-of-the-seat plot, Pukaar – Dil Se Dil Tak is co-powered by Fortune Premium Kachi Ghani Pure Mustard Oil, and will premiere on 27 May 2024, airing every Monday to Friday at 8:30 PM.

    Set against the backdrop of the Pink City, Jaipur, this narrative weaves the tale of love, loss and redemption, and traces the journey of a desolate mother, Saraswati (Sukhada Khandkekar), and her steadfast hope of reconciling with her lost daughters – Vedika, (Sayli Salunkhe), and Koel (Anushka Merchande). Tragically separated by a wicked scheme, the paths of Saraswati, Vedika, and Koel will unknowingly converge once again under unexpected circumstances and together, they must confront Rajeshwari Maheshwari (Sumukhi Pendse), the antagonist of the show who tore their family apart.

    Produced by Studio LSD, “Pukaar – Dil Se Dil Tak” puts the spotlight on the poignant bond shared between a mother and her daughters, and the power dynamics of a large business family driven by a headstrong matriarch. Delving into the complexities of familial relationships and the enduring power of love to overcome any obstacle, Saraswati and her daughters must stand united against all odds, proving that nothing can break the ties that bind a family together.

    “Pukaar – Dil Se Dil Tak” premieres on May 27th, 2024, and will air every Monday to Friday at 8:30 PM on Sony Entertainment Television

    Comments:

    Sony Entertainment Television, Sony SAB, Sony PAL, and Sony MAX Movie Cluster business head Neeraj Vyas Pukaar – Dil Se Dil Tak is an entertaining drama that underscores Sony Entertainment Television’s content strategy to engage with women. Introducing a compelling and emotional story set in the milieu of Rajasthan, the show explores themes of love, family, and revenge. With an exceptional team of writers, directors, production experts, and a stellar cast, we’re committed to delivering narratives that deeply resonate with our audience.

    Studio LSD producer  Prateek Sharma

    Pukaar Dil Se Dil Tak brings to life the poignant story of a mother yearning to unite with her daughters. This narrative captures the depths of hope, love, and resilience – emotions that everyone can connect with. It also brings alive the dynamics of various relationships that will capture viewers’ attention in this intriguing family drama. 

  • NDTV Battleground Finale with Dr. S. Jaishankar highlights foreign policy

    NDTV Battleground Finale with Dr. S. Jaishankar highlights foreign policy

    Mumbai: The 2024 Lok Sabha elections are nearing the slogovers, with only two rounds of voting left, on 25 May and 1 June.

    To gauge the public mood and understand the electoral atmosphere, NDTV brought a special “Battleground” series that saw editor-in-chief Sanjay Pugalia travel to various states and decode the electoral issues on the ground, and political and caste equations.

    On Battleground’s finale tonight, foreign minister Dr S Jaishankar gave his prediction on the BJP’s 2024 performance. Pro-incumbency in several states and growing support in areas that are not the BJP’s traditional strongholds would ensure that the party beats its 2019 score, Dr Jaishankar said in a special conversation with Sanjay Pugalia.

    Asked what number he would choose if he has to place a bet on the BJP’s tally in these polls, Dr Jaishankar said he would leave the numbers to experts. “But I can tell you one thing, I had several public interactions in this election. I think the support base in very solid. People have a way of showing pro-incumbency. So I felt there is a pro-incumbency in several states,” he said.

    “I can say that the trend in our favour is very positive. On the basis of my experience, I feel the numbers will increase, not decrease,” he said. He said the BJP would improve its tally in Bengal, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.

    The foreign minister also brushed aside speculation that regional issues could impact the BJP’s prospects.

    “Local problems will be there but, in the end, when people vote, they will vote on whether they believe in Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Dr Jaishankar said.

    The show also featured team lease services vice chairman Manish Sabharwal and former IMF executive director Surjit Bhalla.

    “I have never seen such a one-sided election,” Surjit Bhalla said, expressing confidence that the ruling party’s tally would be record-breaking. Asked to guess the BJP’s seats, he suggested “350”.

    He said the country had never seen the kind of progress or performance it had seen in the last 10 years. Arguing against the notion that it is a “wave-less election”, Bhalla remarked: “If the BJP wins a vote share of 42-47 per cent, which I have said in my book that it’s possible, then that is a wave.”

    Manish Sabharwal said that the past 70 years had seen the delivery of democracy but not prosperity. “The last 25 years for India are very different from the next 25 years,” he said.

  • Structured succession planning process is on for my successor: NP Singh

    Structured succession planning process is on for my successor: NP Singh

    MUMBAI: With the announcement that NP Singh has decided to hang up his boots at SPNI, an era is coming to an end. One of the few senior executives to have seen it all, from traditional pay TV broadcasting to the streaming revolution followed by its fizzling out, NP (as he is called) is leaving behind extremely large boots to be filled. 

    A hard-nose finance professional and one of the few Sikhs to lead a media company in India, he stepped into the effervescent Kunal Dasgupta’s shoes, from his CFO’s position in the previous decade. He led SPNI well: making it one of the most profitable broadcasters in India – and even Asia – by focusing on the bottom line, taking hard decisions like not overbidding for IPL rights and even dropping a property that Sony had spent more than a decade developing.  

    He was one of the key executives – apart from those in Los Angeles – who worked on the now-aborted merger of SPNI (Culver Max) with Zee Entertainment. 

    Known to be reticent and  almost media shy despite running a M&E major, NP never let the glamour and glitz of the broadcasting business get to him. So it’s no surprise that  the note he sent out to his team, is subtle and subdued in its messaging.  Read on for details of the message: 

    Today, I have a significant update to share. After nearly 44 years in my career, including a rewarding 25-year tenure at SPNI, I have decided to move on from my role as MD and CEO. Having reached many significant milestones with our team, I am now ready to focus on social change and shift from operational roles to advisory ones. 

     

    However, my commitment to SPNI and its success remains strong. During my time here, we have established industry benchmarks, expanded our reach, and achieved many noteworthy accomplishments. I am dedicated to ensuring our legacy of success continues and grows under the new leadership.

     I will continue to lead SPNI until we find the right person to take over. We have begun a structured succession planning process for my successor and hope to have exciting news to share in the near future. Finding the right fit is our top priority.

     I understand there may be speculation during this time, so I urge everyone to rely on our official updates. We are committed to sharing timely and transparent information through our established channels and will communicate any definitive updates directly.

     Thank you for your trust and support. Your commitment and patience are vital as we navigate this transition and continue our path of growth and innovation.

  • “God has ordained that I should continue to work till 2047”, PM Modi tells Rajat Sharma

    “God has ordained that I should continue to work till 2047”, PM Modi tells Rajat Sharma

    Mumbai: Brimming with confidence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “I believe God has ordained that I should work 24×7 till 2047 to achieve the aim of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India).”  

    He was replying to questions from Rajat Sharma at ‘Salaam India’ show, that telecasted on 23rd May at 9 pm on India TV.  

    Modi said: “I feel, God Almighty has sent me for a special purpose. God has sent me to achieve the objective of a Viksit Bharat by 2047. God is showing me the path, God is giving me the energy. I am fully confident I will achieve that target by 2047 and until that target is achieved, God will not call me back  (Jab Tak Poora Nahin Hota, Mujhe Parmatma Waapas Nahin Bulayenge). I do not have any other place in this world now excdept this.”  Modi is presently 74 years old.  

    Modi said, “400 Paar” is a slogan not coined by BJP, but by the people. “We were already 400 in strength in Parliament during the last five years, given the support that we got from other parties. Any child who gets 95 per cent marks will naturally strive for a higher target.”

    LEVEL-PLAYING FIELD

    Modi hit out at Congress and other opposition parties for complaining that they have not been given a level-playing field in this election. He reminded how the then Chief Election Commissioner (T.N. Seshan) postponed polling across the country in 1991 for 22 days after Congress leader Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in Sriperumbudur on May 21, 1991, when only one round of polling was over. Elections were postponed till mid-June and voting finally took place on June 12 and 15.

    “Was that a level-playing field?”, asked PM Modi. He said, “Normally, when a candidate dies, election in that constituency is countermanded, but in 1991, election across the country was postponed and polling resumed only after tthe funeral of the departed leader was widely publicized”.  

    “The same person (T.N.Seshan), after retirement, fought against our party president ( L K Advani) in Gandhinagar in 1999 on a Congress ticket”, Modi said.  

    Asked why two serving chief ministers (in Delhi and Jharkhand) were jailed when election process was on, Modi replied: “We did not send them to jail. The courts sent the two chief ministers to jail. We do not have the power to send somebody to jail or keep anybody in jail. Courts have the powers. Look at what Supreme Court said in the ex-Jharkhand CM (Hemant Soren)’s case. Look at what Delhi High Court said about ex-minister (Manish Sisodia) in money laundering case.  People have seen huge loads of cash in crores seized by Enforcement Directorate. All of us should honour ED for seizing Rs 2200 crores in cash, which can be filled up in at least 70 tempos, while during 10-years of UPA rule, ED had seized onlty Rs 34 lakh cash which can be stuffed in a school bag.”  

    Modi hit out at the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi liquor case, saying : “They wanted to spoil the lives of children by opening liquor outlets near schools, offered one liquor bottle free for every bottle sold, because they were getting commission on the number of bottles sold…Let me make this very clear. I won the 2014 elections only because I had promised to take action against the corrupt. I was elected only because of that. Big leaders used to get away away scot-free. I do not run this government for getting nice editorials or good TV headlines. My government works to stamp out corruption.”

    PAKISTAN  

    On Pakistan’s allegation about Indian hand behind “targeted assassinations by unknown killers” of terrorists in that country, Modi replied: ” That is not the issue. I know, people of Pakistan are nowadays worried. I also know that I am the root cause of their worries (Main Jaanta Hoon Unki Pareshani Ka Kaaran Main Hoon). But I also know that some people in our own country are also worried.  Woh rote Rahen Samajh Me Aa Sakta Hai, Yahan Waale Kyun rote hain, Main Samajh Nahin Sakta Hoon (I can understand when they weep, but I cannot understand why our people weep).”

    Modi cited example of how “the leader of a respected party, that ruled out country for 60 years, and during whose rule 26/11 Mumbai attacks took place, once alleged that it was not Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab and his men, but our own people who killed our own countrymen. This is really saddening. How can such a leader give statement in favour of Pakistan and Ajmal Kasab? My head hangs in shame whenever I hear such remark. I feel pained.”

    On Mani Shankar Aiyar’s remark that India should accord respect to Pakistan because it has atom bombs, Modi, in a light-hearted manner replied: “Taaqat Main Khud Pakistan Jaake Check Karke Aaya Hoon (I’ve myself gone to Pakistan and checked their power). I landed in Lahore without any security checks, and one of their TV reporters was saying Hai Allah, Modi has landed in Pakistan without any visa. Yes this was in their live debates. Main Kyun Nahin Ja Sakta, Woh Mera Desh Tha Kizi Zamaane Mein (Why can’t I do, Pakistan was part of our country at one time)”

    On one Shiv Sena (UBT) leader predicting that Modi may send trainload of devotees to the new Ram temple in Ayodhya before elections and Pakistan may blow up the train, leading to riots and making Modi’s election easier, Modi replied: “Why can’t journalists go and ask that leader, why he is not taking medicines or get a medical check-up done. Was any train blown up? Did riots take place? He should get his diseased mindset checked.”