Former Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, highlighted the personal and cultural connection Vice President JD Vance shares with India through his wife, Usha Vance, calling her influence significant in shaping his worldview. Sandhu said such ties help strengthen the India-US relationship beyond formal diplomacy.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Trump's vice-president on a high-stakes Bharat visit
00:06Vans and family visit the iconic Akshar Dham
00:12Trade tariffs and a Taj Mahal tour on the agenda
00:18Crucial Modi Vans bilateral set to define ties
00:25India-U.S. relations in global spotlight
00:30What is at stake for Washington and New Delhi
00:35Trump's vice-president in India
00:39That is our top focus on Five Live
00:48So Trump, Tariff and Taj Mahal, vice-president J.D. Vans is already here
00:53And look at that grand reception at the Palam technical area in Delhi
00:58So just as he came out of the aircraft
01:01There was this Tri-Services Guard of Honor
01:03There was a union minister, Ashwini Vaishnav
01:07Minister for Railways Information and Broadcasting
01:10Waiting for him
01:11A small cultural display
01:13And then they headed straight to the Swami Narayan Akshar Dham temple
01:17And now we'll be, in about an hour and a half from now
01:20We'll be going to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi for that dinner
01:24At the Seven Lok Kalyan mark
01:26We get you all details of the significance of the official leg of the visit
01:30Then of course he flies off to Jaipur
01:32And then subsequently Agra
01:34That's the personal leg of the visit
01:36But what does this indicate about India-U.S. relations
01:39The timing
01:40And of course
01:42The Prime Minister's visit to Saudi Arabia tomorrow
01:45I'm Gaurab Savan
01:46Let's get started with the headlines at five
01:49Wife of former Karnataka DGP confesses to killing him
01:58She stabbed the former DGP twice
02:01While having lunch
02:03The murder weapon has been recovered
02:05An Indian Air Force officer
02:13A wing commander
02:14And his squad leader
02:15Wife
02:16Attacked in Bengaluru
02:18Wing commander targeted
02:19Abused
02:19Assaulted
02:20Attacked with sharp weapons
02:22The attacker
02:24Has been arrested by the police
02:26Rahul Gandhi is in the United States
02:33And says
02:34The election commissioner of India has compromised
02:35There's something very wrong with the system
02:38BJP calls him a traitor
02:39For defaming India on foreign soil
02:42China warns against trade deals with the U.S. at China's expense
02:52Pledges, countermeasures
02:54China says
02:55Trump trade tactics will backfire
02:58Pope Francis passes away at 88 after prolonged illness
03:08The head of the Worldwide Catholic Church
03:12No more
03:13Nine days national mourning
03:16So in just about an hour and a half from now
03:31U.S. Vice President
03:32J.D. Vance is to meet Prime Minister
03:34Narendra Modi
03:35Tariff talks on the cards
03:38India-U.S. trade deal
03:40Regional security
03:41Global scenario
03:42All of that
03:44We are told
03:45Well likely to be on the agenda
03:47This is the first in-person
03:49Trade talks here
03:50Prime Minister Narendra Modi
03:52Will then post a dinner
03:54For J.D. Vance
03:56And the U.S. Second Lady
03:57Usha Chittikuri Vance
03:58After talks with the U.S. Vice President
04:01This is J.D. Vance's first visit to India
04:04Comes weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed
04:08And then forced sweeping tariff regime
04:10Against 60 countries across the world
04:13Including India
04:14New Delhi and Washington of course
04:16Are holding negotiations to seal
04:18A PTA or the phase
04:20The first phase of the bilateral trade agreement
04:23That's expected to address a variety of issues
04:27Including tariff and market access
04:29Images that you see on your television screen
04:32One of Prime Minister Narendra Modi
04:35On a visit
04:37The second image that you see
04:40Okay
04:40That's an image of the Prime Minister
04:42At the International Media Centre
04:44The second image that you see
04:45Is of the Vance's
04:47At the Swami Narayan Akshardham Temple
04:51So they landed in Delhi
04:52And headed straight to the Swami Narayan Akshardham Temple
04:56I want to bring in my colleague Shivani Sharma
04:58For more
04:59She's standing by
05:00Outside the Prime Minister's residence
05:02At 7 Lokalian Mark
05:03So Shivani
05:05Quite a packed day
05:06For J.D. Vance
05:08There's the cultural aspect of the visit
05:10And then there is the official leg
05:12Of the visit
05:13And his interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi
05:15What's the agenda
05:17Barav, indeed this is a combination of a cultural
05:25And an official visit
05:26By the United States Vice President J.D. Vance
05:29Along with his family
05:30Three young kids
05:31And this happens to be his first visit to India
05:34After taking over as the U.S. Vice President
05:36While we can say that Prime Minister Narendra Modi
05:39Will be meeting him for the second time
05:40Because, you know, Prime Minister Narendra Modi
05:42Was in USA to congratulate President Donald Trump
05:46And that time also he had met the U.S. Vice President then
05:50So in a way this will be their second formal meeting
05:53After he took over as the Vice President
05:55But indeed this is a very crucial, significant meeting
05:57In terms of the Tariff Pact
05:59The trade agreement that India is working on
06:03Since past few weeks
06:04As we see the tariff war
06:06With a number of countries
06:09But India is working silently
06:10And negotiating with the United States of America
06:12That's what we've heard from President Trump also
06:15That India has been rewarded
06:16Like many other countries
06:17For an exemption for next 90 days
06:20From the high tariffs
06:22And very soon
06:23We can say that this trade agreement
06:27Will be finalized
06:28But yes, apart from the trade tariff
06:31There are many other issues
06:32The strengthening of defense tries with America
06:36The diplomatic ties
06:38And the way the family
06:40The once's family
06:41Is travelling to India
06:43They've picked
06:43Very beautiful, magnificent, significant places
06:47Where they'll be visiting
06:48After the Swami Narayan Temple
06:50They will be today meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi
06:53Then they'll be heading to Jaipur
06:54They will be witnessing the majestic palaces of Jaipur
06:58They will be addressing
06:59The gathering out there
07:01And then Agra, Taj Mahal
07:03Will be their next stop
07:05Stay with me, Shivani
07:06Of course, you know
07:07For the benefit of our viewers
07:08The Prime Minister
07:09Not only met J.D. Vance
07:12In the United States of America
07:13Remember, India was quick off the block
07:15Just after Trump's swearing in
07:17Prime Minister Narendra Modi
07:18Visited the United States of America
07:20And it's very important to remain engaged
07:22With the new administration
07:23In 2017
07:25When Donald Trump came in the first time
07:28The thinking in the Indian establishment
07:30Is do not waste time
07:32It's usually six months to a year
07:34When you start engaging with the new administration
07:37And they start understanding you
07:39You start understanding them
07:40So India is very quick off the block
07:42Remain engaged with the Democrats
07:43And with the Republicans
07:45When the new administration comes in
07:47Remain engaged quickly
07:48So that there's no loss of time
07:50So the Prime Minister
07:51Met Donald Trump
07:52He met J.D. Vance
07:53He also met J.D. Vance in Paris
07:56When the Prime Minister was there
07:58For the AI summit
07:59That India co-hosted
08:01And again
08:01J.D. Vance was there
08:03With his family
08:04There was a very
08:05You know
08:06There were several toys
08:08That the Prime Minister
08:08Gifted to those young children
08:10Toys that are made in India
08:11Again
08:12While it's symbolic
08:14There's also a signal
08:15That's being sent out there
08:17J.D. Vance
08:19As Vice President of India
08:20This is his first visit
08:22The Vance family
08:23Visited the Swami Narayan
08:24Akshar Dham Temple
08:25They saw
08:27Images
08:28And we'll get you those images
08:30Yeah
08:30That's that image
08:31On your television screen
08:32That iconic image
08:33The children dressed in
08:35Kurta Pajama
08:36Ethnic Indian way
08:38Vance and family
08:39Were welcomed with garlands
08:40At the Swami Narayan
08:41Akshar Dham Temple
08:42J.D. Vance
08:43Also when he landed
08:44In Delhi
08:45There was a Tri-Services
08:47Guard of Honor
08:48At the Palam Technical
08:49Area
08:50Of the Delhi Airport
08:52The Vice President
08:52Is on a four day
08:53Visit to India
08:54There's a bilateral
08:55Talk with the Prime Minister
08:56Discussion with the Prime Minister
08:57In just about
08:58An hour and a half
08:59From now
09:00And then
09:01The US Vice President
09:03Will fly off to Jaipur
09:04They're staying at the
09:05Rambak Palace Hotel
09:07That used to be the
09:09Official house
09:10Of the King
09:11Of Jaipur
09:13That's a hotel
09:15Now
09:15He will address
09:17The Rajasthan
09:18International Centre
09:19Then they fly off
09:20To Agra
09:21And then on the
09:2224th
09:22They fly back
09:23To the United States
09:24Of America
09:26And then
09:56I have Ambassador Ashok Sajjanhar joining me on this broadcast.
10:02Ambassador Sajjanhar keeps a hawk eye on developments,
10:05especially when it comes to India, America, India, Europe.
10:08Ambassador Sajjanhar, J.D. Vance visit, how would you look at it?
10:12One, the timing of the visit, two, the official and the personal leg of the visit, sir.
10:22Ambassador, I think you're on mute. Can I request you to unmute yourself?
10:26Yes, yes, I'm unmuted now. My apologies. My apologies, Gaurav.
10:31So what I was saying is that it's a very important visit by Vice President J.D. Vance, I think,
10:37for maybe two major reasons. One is that he is not like a normal Vice President.
10:47You know, he has the ear of President Trump. He has the confidence of President Trump.
10:52We have seen this over the last, you know, hundred odd days because he has been sent out to important missions in different parts of the world.
11:03So President Trump listens to him.
11:05So, in fact, you know, the conversations and the deliberations that Vice President Vance is going to have in India
11:13and also the impressions that he is able to garner during his visit and what he takes back to the United States,
11:22that is going to be significant.
11:24The second point, Gaurav, that you made is in terms of the timing of the visit.
11:28And I think that is very important. You alluded to it yourself.
11:32You know, Prime Minister Modi, let's say, in 2017, his first visit to the U.S. was in June of 2017.
11:40When President Joe Biden came to power, his first visit was in September of 2021.
11:47This time it was within four weeks.
11:50So what India is doing is acting proactively and also preemptively so that we are able to take a head start.
12:01We sort of, you know, hit the ground running.
12:03And that is exactly what has happened.
12:06We agreed between the two leaders that we will have a bilateral trade agreement.
12:12Mind you, this is not a free trade agreement.
12:14It's a bilateral trade agreement.
12:16It's a limited trade agreement.
12:17And the first tranche of that BTA will be decided in September or October,
12:24this fall when we have the visit of President Trump to India.
12:28How does one ensure a win-win?
12:31Because, you know, many say that in his first Trump tenure,
12:36perhaps President Trump would have been a little gentler in his approach.
12:40In his second term, he's, you know, one, painted the entire world in one brush with one brush.
12:47But, of course, the percentage of tariffs has been very different.
12:50Suspended for 90 days.
12:51But will there be, does he also want to remain engaged with India as extensively as India wants to remain engaged with the United States?
12:59Will there be concessions that India seeks in terms of we want to protect our agriculture,
13:03we want to protect our dairy, at the same time we want a bilateral trade agreement?
13:07How does this work out, those nuts and bolts?
13:08Will they understand what are, you know, absolute red lines for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government?
13:13Yeah, absolutely. I don't have the slightest doubt because, you know, that will be taking place at the technical level.
13:20And that is what I was about to say.
13:22We had the visit of our Commerce Industry Minister Piyush Goyal to the United States.
13:29Right now, we have the visit of our Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman.
13:33She's in Washington, D.C.
13:35We have our Commerce Secretary also who is in Washington, D.C.
13:39So I think they are going to discuss all these, you know, nitty-gritty and the nuts and bolts issues.
13:46And I think there are certain red lines while India will be willing to accommodate, you know,
13:52because our stance is of accommodation, not of confrontation.
13:57And I think while we will be willing to accommodate what the United States wants to an extent by increasing our imports of LNG,
14:08of oil, of defense equipment that we need, of certain, you know, we, even on the 1st of February,
14:15when we had our budget, we brought down the tariffs on Harley Davidson, brought down on Tesla EVs,
14:23brought down on, you know, what is known as the Google tax, even as far as the tariff on the bourbon whiskey is concerned.
14:33It was brought down on the same day that Prime Minister Modi met President Trump, that is, 13th February.
14:40So I think India has shown its willingness that we are willing to accommodate your concerns.
14:46As far as the trade surplus is concerned, we will walk a few steps in bringing that down.
14:54But as far as our red lines are concerned on some of the agricultural areas and some of the MSMEs,
15:02there I don't think there is going to be a go.
15:05The last point, Gaurav, that I'll make here is that India also wants to use this challenge
15:12as an opportunity to bring down our tariffs so that we can integrate better with the global economic world
15:22and become part of the global value chains and the global supply chains.
15:26That's a very significant point you make, you know, and this has been Prime Minister Narendra Modi's key buzzword since 2014.
15:33Looking for an opportunity in adversity.
15:38And I want to bring in India today's Foreign Affairs editor, Geeta Mohan, joining us for more on this.
15:42Geeta, whether it's the External Affairs Ministry, the Finance Ministry, the Commerce Ministry,
15:48India is working as a team to ensure it's a win-win for both.
15:52But what are some of those red lines or niggles that the two sides are trying their best to ensure
15:59they're able to tide over and by fall?
16:03Well, Gaurav, to begin with, India and the United States of America,
16:08particularly the Indian administration, had started engaging Trump administration
16:12as soon as they had won the elections.
16:15You saw Dr. Jaishankar go meet with the senior staff, senior officers,
16:23who had not even taken oath by then, oath of office,
16:28and then saw him at the oath taking as well.
16:32Okay. So the engagement had begun.
16:34There is a unique relationship that India and the U.S. in terms of the leaderships,
16:41the leadership chairs, which is between Prime Minister Modi and President Donald Trump.
16:46But make no mistake, there has been, India was caught, you know, quite by surprise,
16:54as was the world when it came to unilateral announcements and decisions by the Trump administration.
17:01These tariffs are unilateral decisions.
17:04So what India is looking at is ensuring, like Sir was just saying that, you know,
17:11agriculture is where we require a carve out.
17:14We are looking at concluding a BTA as soon as possible, as soon as the fall of this year,
17:21which is a very tall ask because both countries have been trying to get a trade agreement between the two
17:28and haven't really been able to.
17:31And it's been administrations after administration, including the first term of Donald Trump.
17:37So there are areas, agriculture particularly so, but then this is also not as concrete that India requires tariff reforms.
17:47And maybe the country will start looking at how to reform its tariff structure.
17:55Geeta, many thanks for joining me, Ambassador Sajjan Har.
17:57Many thanks for joining me on this discussion.
18:00Now, I want to cut across to India's former ambassador to the United States of America, Ambassador Taranjeet Singh Sandhu.
18:08Sir, as always, welcome on India Today.
18:11How do you view Vice President J.D. Vance's visit to India, the Tri-Services Gaurav owner,
18:19you know, Ashwini Vaishnav, Union Minister, Union Cabinet Minister there to receive him?
18:24And of course, his meeting with Prime Minister later this evening, sir.
18:31Hi, Gaurav. It's again nice to be with you.
18:34Look, J.D. Vance is a rising star as far as the Republican Party is concerned.
18:44And I'm sure you are well aware that he's still relatively young and is the Vice President.
18:51So this is a significant visit.
18:54I think the fact that he's coming right in the beginning of the tenure is important.
18:59And he'll have a significant meeting with Prime Minister.
19:04And the family is also going to go to some of the other interesting places in India.
19:10So the significance of J.D. Vance is to be remembered that he got elected as a senator in 22.
19:20And actually, if you go into his background, the way he has come up, the tough life he has led,
19:27and finally, he ended up in Yale, where he met his wife, Usha.
19:33So it's a very significant story there.
19:38It indeed is. It indeed is.
19:41And her contribution in his life, he's recounted that the direction he got,
19:47the fact that he was a part of the U.S. Marine Corps, he's done tours of duty.
19:51Obviously, of course, you know, war military journalists had in combat.
19:57I want to understand from you your understanding of J.D. Vance, Usha Chilikuri Vance,
20:03your interactions and how this is the relationship.
20:07This is actually India also investing in future leadership of the United States of America, Ambassador.
20:13Absolutely. And I recall J.D. Vance from Ohio, where as a young senator, he had come in.
20:23And the very fact that now he's the vice president speaks for itself.
20:28Now, the influence of Usha Vance is very significant.
20:32In fact, go to Netflix and watch the movie based on his bestseller.
20:39That very clearly indicates how impactful Usha Vance has been in his life.
20:47He has, in fact, acknowledged it so many occasions.
20:51And so it's a combination.
20:54And I am sure all the decisions that are taken.
20:57And as far as Vance is concerned, I think, look, democratic politics, you can never predict.
21:05But as far as the Republican Party establishment is concerned, keep in mind, he's the vice president.
21:12And we see him active as far as all the interactions are concerned.
21:17And he has an opinion which he shares quite openly.
21:20What are his impressions of India that you can share with us?
21:27I mean, of course, he's married to somebody from India.
21:29And we've seen him, you know, celebrate festivals of our country, the entire family gathering together on Deepavali.
21:38But does that have an impact when there is a relationship between two countries, when, you know, President Trump's administration tries for America first, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tries for India first.
21:51And you have taken that relationship forward as India's ambassador to the United States of America.
21:56Do these personal relationships help tide over niggles and problems that may arise?
22:01Of course, they do.
22:04And you know that he met right at the start of his tenure.
22:09He met Prime Minister in Paris.
22:12And you already see him here.
22:14And as far as Indian-Americans are concerned, he has a very good relationship.
22:20You know, in Ohio, the Indian-Americans are quite a dominant presence.
22:25In fact, I know from the personal, this thing about my father and mother, both studied in Ohio State University, where Vice President Vance has also gone.
22:36So Indian-Americans already have a good relationship with him.
22:40And then you have mentioned about Pusha, and you have seen him very respectful for Indian customs.
22:46And even if you read his book, I think he is quite open.
22:51So therefore, even here, you are showing the pictures.
22:56When, what was the first place he visited?
22:59I think the point definitely has gone home.
23:04And, but what is important?
23:06The important part here is that, look, the Prime Minister is very, very smart at the diplomacy part.
23:15And here is an important input giver in the United States political administration.
23:23And you have him here, and people here, you know, Indians anyway, are always very welcoming.
23:30Look at the visit of 2020 Feb, when President Trump came here and to Ahmedabad.
23:40I can tell you that any Republican senator and congressman I spoke at that time, just before the COVID hit, President Trump had already spoken about it.
23:53Also, this time when Prime Minister Modi was there, that's one of the things he remembered, 140,000 people coming and welcoming him.
24:01Oh, absolutely, sir.
24:04In fact, I'd covered both Namaste Trump at Ahmedabad and Howdy Modi at Houston, Texas at the NRG Stadium.
24:12The energy there had to be seen.
24:14And I'm sure political leaders keep that in mind.
24:16But when it comes to the comprehensive strategic partnership between America and India, both the countries need each other.
24:24But is this BTA, one, it's an opportunity, but two, true, two, can it also lead to problems?
24:31Is it leading to problems?
24:32Or will the two sides be willing to accommodate each other?
24:35So, see, kind of any relationship has complications.
24:43You know, even our relationships at home have complications.
24:46They have to be tackled.
24:48So, during Trump, one, there were issues, but they were tackled.
24:54During Trump, two, there are lots of issues.
24:58We are not talking just about United States and India.
25:01There is a worldwide issue of trade that is coming up.
25:04But if you look at the light within that, I think the Indian aspect, essentially the balance, will be much more easier achieved than many other complications.
25:16But you touched a very important point.
25:19That is the strategic relationship.
25:21Look, I think even a child can see that as the time is progressing, you are seeing some of the powers that are not that friendly to the United States are already testing it.
25:35So, as we move ahead, be a bit patient.
25:39I think this strategic relationship is only bound to go deeper and it will flower more.
25:45I will only point to the Indo-Pacific strategy, which came out towards the end of Trump 1.
25:53If you look at it, you can see the important role which India was to play in his thinking.
26:00And I am sure in these coming days, that will play a significant aspect in settlement of what you are looking at, some of the problems.
26:10Sir, that's a very significant point.
26:13If I were to read between the lines, it's a very, very major point that you're making here.
26:18This year, India is also hosting the Quad Summit, which we were to hold last year in the United States of America,
26:25who wanted President Biden to host it as his farewell, you know, Quad.
26:30But this year, when Quad Summit happens in India, President Trump will be here.
26:34How would you view the Indo-Pacific strategy moving forward tonight at the dinner table?
26:40Or before that, will Quad be a very important aspect of discussion?
26:46Absolutely.
26:47Quad will be.
26:48And if you remember, during Trump's first presidency, Quad was given a huge lift.
26:57And President Trump and his team at National Security Council at that time were very significantly invested.
27:05And here I may point out, incidentally, at the end of his presidency, President Trump gave the highest award to all the four Quad leaders.
27:17And I had received it on behalf of Prime Minister Modi then.
27:20So, Quad is a significant aspect.
27:23And when President Trump comes here, I'm sure you will see.
27:28And you can certainly be confident that the present establishment here will make it a memorable visit for President Trump.
27:41Perhaps, Savinder, his last visit to India was extremely significant in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.
27:47And he's talked about it.
27:48And you also had a role to play in it in ensuring that he does come to India at a time when he seemed a little skeptical initially.
27:56And I'd love you to share that story.
27:57But I also want you to weigh in on the tariffs America has imposed on, one, China, 245% in instances,
28:07and on countries that are seen as very close to China, or China may use their ports to export to the United States of America.
28:14So, there's a method in the madness in what Donald Trump appears to be doing, Ambassador.
28:21Well, I don't want to be giving commentary on what's happening.
28:26You know that politics is complicated and international politics is certainly complicated.
28:32This is not the last word.
28:34And that's why I said just be patient and see how the negotiations proceed worldwide.
28:41I'm confident that India-US relationship is bound to deepen.
28:48And certainly, some of the other aspects will play an important role.
28:53And here is an opportunity.
28:54You know, there is no doubt that any country can't go it all alone.
29:02So, there are significant aspects.
29:06And we have the international production system today in which you require reliable supply chains.
29:14And I do know that the United States certainly regards India as a reliable partner.
29:20China has been, you know, issuing, if I may, threats as some countries view it,
29:28or warnings as some others may perceive it to be,
29:31that in case they want to do deals which adversely impact China's interests,
29:37there will be either consequences or countermeasures.
29:41How would you view that, sir?
29:42So, I think many of the countries around know the past conduct.
29:51And so, it's no secret.
29:54But again, we have China as our neighbor.
29:59And I'm sure the current government is well aware of tackling China because it has.
30:07But that also points to, look, we never invited China to come to our border.
30:13They came on their own.
30:14And do keep that in mind.
30:15And therefore, I think it's very significant that the countries which have a similar attitude
30:22need to cooperate.
30:24And that is the significance also, especially the strategic significance of United States-India partnership.
30:32And that's the question I wanted to come to, Ambassador.
30:36The strategic bilateral cooperation.
30:39India is also looking at, you know, when you talk about trust in terms of high-end critical technology coming to India,
30:47co-production, co-development.
30:49Are we moving beyond words when you were our ambassador to the United States?
30:53There was a lot of push to ensure ISAT, you know, results in technologies being manufactured in India,
31:02resulting in greater manufacture in India.
31:05Do you see that progressing the way it was envisaged?
31:11Look, there's a new understanding which had come out.
31:17They are calling it trust.
31:18But essentially, the technology partnership is going to be important because India has the technology expertise.
31:30U.S. has that.
31:31And do keep in mind that India has a very young population.
31:35In an aging world, we have 50% of our population is 26 years and below.
31:41Now, it's true that things are moving towards AI.
31:47But keep in mind that AI also requires trained manpower.
31:53And where are you going to get that?
31:55You do need to feed in.
31:58That's only when AI will start giving you results.
32:03So India is going to be a significant player.
32:06And I'm sure this partnership, what is being called now as trust, is going to deepen more.
32:15Ambassador Taranjeet Sandhu for joining me here on this India Today special broadcast.
32:20Many thanks in about an hour from now.
32:23The U.S. Vice President will be at the 7 Lok Kalyan mark for his interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
32:29And then that official dinner.
32:31So in a week of high-level diplomacy, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance is in India.
32:37There's growing strategic partnership between the two countries.
32:40The ties are being deepened.
32:42Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman is in the United States of America.
32:47Reciprocal tariffs.
32:48Now, the threat, of course, is just 90 days away.
32:51But by fall, we are told a bilateral trade agreement, at least phase one of the BTA, will be in position.
32:58And both the countries are pushing forward for that breakthrough.
33:02There's an ambitious $500 billion target by 2030.
33:07Is that achievable?
33:09Siddharth Zarabi and the Business Today team get us this report.
33:13The arrival of J.D. Vance in India on Monday morning kicks off a week of unprecedented pace in India-U.S. trade talks.
33:28The U.S. Vice President, a first-time visitor to the country, of his wife's origin,
33:33has an itinerary packed with official meetings and personal time in Delhi, Agra and Jaipur.
33:43As the clock ticks on the 90-day extension in Trump's reciprocal tariffs,
33:49Vance will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the two expected to review progress made on the bilateral agenda
33:56outlined in February when Prime Minister Modi met President Donald Trump in Washington.
34:02Meanwhile, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman is on a five-day trip to the U.S.
34:12Though the minister is in the U.S. for the spring meetings of the IMF, the World Bank and other multilateral engagements,
34:20bilateral talks with the U.S. for a trade deal tops her agenda.
34:24We are one of the countries which actively engage with the new administration in the United States of America
34:35to see how best we can get a bilateral trade agreement done.
34:41Equally, the priority that we gave to engage with the government here
34:51is more than obviously seen with Prime Minister himself visiting the United States in February.
34:58You've had the Commerce and Trade Minister come.
35:04I've come here because I also have the IMF and World Bank meeting, but I will be...
35:10I'm scheduled to meet the Treasury Secretary, my counterpart here.
35:18So the keenness with which we are engaging with the U.S. administration,
35:22even as I talk, I think the Vice President of the United States of America is in India.
35:28He will be engaging with the Prime Minister hopefully this evening or tomorrow.
35:35There have been several top-level India-U.S. engagements in the past three months,
35:41beginning with the Prime Minister's visit to the U.S. in second week of February.
35:45This was followed by the Commerce Minister visiting U.S.
35:50and then a reciprocal visit by the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, on 16th of March.
35:59A U.S. trade delegation led by Assistant USTR, Brendan Lynch, was in India for five days in March.
36:07The latest are the visits of Finance Minister Sita Ramon to the U.S. and Vice President J.D. Vance to India.
36:13According to reports, India's chief negotiator for the deal, Rajesh Agarwal,
36:19will make a three-day trip to the United States starting Wednesday.
36:25Meanwhile, there are reports that India and the U.S. have finalized the terms of reference for the trade deal.
36:32This covers 19 chapters including tariffs, goods, non-tariff barriers, customs facilitation,
36:40rules of origin and regulatory issues.
36:43The team led by Rajesh Agarwal will iron out differences on certain issues
36:49before formally launching negotiations for the proposed Indo-U.S. trade pact.
36:55The long and short of engaging with the U.S. is not just for tariff-related,
37:01this reciprocal tariff-related matter, but in the interest of keeping an agreement in mind
37:08and in the interest of our largest trading partner with whom we need to have an agreement,
37:14we are working in order that by fall this year we should at least have the first phase of the agreement signed.
37:21The U.S. remained India's largest trading partner for the fourth straight year,
37:28according to trade figures released on 15th April.
37:32The two countries have agreed on trade hitting $500 billion in the next five years.
37:39The enhanced dialogue between India and U.S. also comes at a time
37:43when trade and diplomatic tensions between China and the U.S. have ratcheted to an all-time high.
37:50Not only do the bilateral talks focus on manufacturing opportunities in India,
37:55but also the status of India as an important strategic ally
37:59in combating the rising influence of China in the Indo-Pacific region.
38:13And Beijing is warning of retaliatory actions.
38:21If any country does a deal with the United States of America
38:25that's detrimental to Chinese interests,
38:29China has warned U.S. bargaining with a tiger for its skin.
38:34China says we urge countries to resist U.S. trade coercion.
38:41China says U.S. unilaterally bullying and this violates the economic platform that's in place.
38:50China says it's a violation of WTO guidelines and directives.
38:55So the Ministry of Commerce in China has called for countries to resist U.S. trade coercion
39:02after a report said that Washington, D.C. had asked them to curb economic ties with China
39:07in exchange for tariff relief.
39:10China has warned it will firmly oppose and retaliate against any attempts by other countries
39:16to trade away Chinese interests following reports that the U.S. is putting pressure
39:21on trading partners to limit trade with Beijing in exchange for tariff exemptions.
39:27It's clearly an indication that Europe holds a major part of the key here.
39:35America is trying to get the European countries back in their fold,
39:40ensuring they don't kowtow to Beijing.
39:43In a statement published on Monday, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce said
39:48Washington, D.C. was using reciprocity as a pretext to impose unilateral economic pressure,
39:55calling it unilateral bullying that violates international norms and economic hegemony
40:02under the cloak of fairness.
40:05China says, and I quote,
40:07That's a statement that's come out from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.
40:21The Commerce Ministry of China has warned any deals made by foreign governments
40:26at the expense of Chinese interests would not be tolerated.
40:30And this, in a way, is a very clear indication that Donald Trump perhaps has achieved a part
40:37of what he sought to achieve.
40:40In this world, right now, as analysts argue, this is a war where U.S. is trying to protect its turf,
40:48China is trying to protect its turf, or perhaps when the two giants fight,
40:52it's the grass that's getting trampled.
40:54India clearly, as one of the analysts was telling me,
40:57does not want to be the grass in this situation, neither would other countries.
41:02And we'll be tracking that story very, very closely.
41:05How will Europe react is a story to watch out for.
41:09We get you this disturbing story from Bengaluru in Karnataka,
41:12where an Indian Air Force wing commander and his wife, a coordinator in the Indian Air Force,
41:17working with the Defense Research and Development Organization,
41:20the officer was attacked on their way to the airport.
41:24This happened early this morning, around 6.30 this morning.
41:28Now, the officer put out a video of the assault and his condition after the attack.
41:34Bleeding profusely from the face, from the head, he'd been attacked with a sharp object.
41:38Was it a case of road rage?
41:40Was it something more than that?
41:42He says, while on their way to the airport, a two-wheeler overtook them
41:46and then stopped in the middle of the road, one man got off.
41:49He was still wearing a helmet and he attacked the officer with a sharp object,
41:55perhaps the key or a keychain.
41:57The officer was bleeding from his head, from his face.
42:01And then, when the officer came out of his automobile, from his jeep,
42:05and tried to push that man away,
42:07the man picked up a rock, according to the officer,
42:10and repeatedly hit him on his head with that rock.
42:14When the officer sought help, the locals actually,
42:20the elderly told this attacker to move away,
42:23but the others attacked or helped the attacker target the officer.
42:29He had a DRDO sticker on his vehicle,
42:31this Indian Air Force officer, a wing commander in the Indian Air Force.
42:35And the attacker kept speaking in Kannada,
42:39saying something to the effect that you people from DRDO,
42:42and then switched language.
42:44And then the officer says, I couldn't understand anything else.
42:47His wife, squad leader Madhumita, she was also in the car.
42:51The dash cam of the vehicle, it captured this attack.
42:55Now, wing commander Bose shared this video on his social media platform,
43:00detailing the attack.
43:01When the biker began tailing them,
43:04then started verbally abusing them in Kannada,
43:07India today has accessed the image of the attacker,
43:10who is alleged to have assaulted the Indian Air Force officer,
43:13who was on his way to the airport.
43:15His father was to be hospitalized,
43:18and that is why he'd taken leave and was going to Bengal.
43:22Listen in to the officer, I'll get you more on that story.
43:25People came surprisingly,
43:27and started abusing us,
43:29that we are doing wrong things.
43:31That person, he took a stone out,
43:34started trying to hit my car.
43:37I was trying to stop,
43:38he hit me on my head again.
43:39Here you can see the blood,
43:40and see my condition.
43:42The reality of main heartland Kannada car.
43:46I couldn't believe it.
43:48God help us.
43:49God gave me the power not to retaliate.
43:52Tomorrow, if law and order doesn't help me,
43:57I will retaliate.
43:59And then,
44:00these people will have it.
44:03Please help me.
44:04The shocking thing is that the local people,
44:09the Kannada people there,
44:10everybody was watching.
44:12There were aged people,
44:13who were only telling the person,
44:14who had done the crime,
44:17that he was wrong,
44:18get away from here.
44:19But the other locals,
44:20they were supporting him,
44:21they were holding my hand.
44:22That guy even bit me in my finger.
44:24I have,
44:25he bit me in my finger.
44:27It's atrocious.
44:29If I had the capacity,
44:30I could have done anything to him.
44:31I was larger in size,
44:33larger in power.
44:34But he came,
44:35shocking because he came prepared.
44:38He had a,
44:39he's in his hand,
44:41wearing a helmet.
44:43And he wanted to
44:44aggravate the situation.
44:45And I go,
44:46God knows what would have happened
44:47if my wife was there alone.
44:48And I'm very worried now,
44:50that my wife and my kid
44:51are there alone.
44:52And this happened in the heart
44:53of the city,
44:53in DRDO.
45:00And news just coming in,
45:01the Bengaluru police
45:02have arrested the biker
45:04who assaulted
45:05the Indian Air Force couple.
45:07Both officers in the Indian Air Force,
45:09the police arrested the attacker.
45:11After a complaint
45:13was lodged with them,
45:15the officer
45:15had also given the number
45:17of the,
45:18of the,
45:19of the motorcycle
45:20to the police.
45:21And all of this
45:22was captured
45:23on the dash cam
45:24of his vehicle.
45:26I want to quickly
45:27cut across to India today's
45:28Sagairaj,
45:29who joins us
45:30for more on the story.
45:32Sagairaj,
45:33do we have details
45:33about who
45:34the attacker is
45:36and why
45:37he attacked
45:38that Indian Air Force officer
45:39and his wife?
45:41After getting to learn
45:42through police process,
45:43it was a case of
45:44road rage
45:45which went wrong
45:46with both of them.
45:47both accused
45:48as well as
45:49the victim wing commander
45:50in this particular case.
45:52And the accused
45:53have abused
45:54wing commander
45:55and is by stating
45:55that they are not giving space
45:57and they have a DRU sticker
45:58on the car
45:59which has escalated
46:00and it was,
46:02according to the victim,
46:04he has assaulted
46:04the wing commander
46:06and he has
46:07uploaded the video
46:09on social media
46:09and subsequently,
46:11his wife
46:11have approached
46:12the Biafinali police station
46:13here in Bengaluru
46:13and registered a complaint
46:15and FIR
46:15at Biafinali police station.
46:17Police were quick enough
46:18to act
46:18because the police
46:19had the vehicle number
46:20and they praised him
46:21and arrested him
46:22immediately.
46:23As we speak now,
46:24he's an atrocity
46:25and the police
46:25are interrogating
46:26further on the team.
46:28Keep writing that story,
46:29Sagairaj,
46:30for the moment.
46:31Many thanks for joining me.
46:32I now want to shift focus
46:36to the other big story
46:37we're tracking here
46:38on Five Live
46:39and leader of opposition
46:41in Lok Sabha,
46:41senior Congress leader
46:42Rahul Gandhi
46:43is in the eye
46:44of a storm
46:45over a statement
46:46that he made
46:47in Boston
46:48in the United States
46:49of America.
46:50Rahul Gandhi's
46:51latest remarks overseas
46:52have reignited
46:54a fierce battle
46:55with the BJP
46:57and this time
46:58it's on the issue
46:59of alleged voter fraud
47:01in Maharashtra elections.
47:04While Rahul Gandhi
47:04accused the election
47:06commission of India
47:07of being compromised
47:08and not impartial,
47:10the BJP
47:11has targeted him
47:13saying he goes
47:14abroad each time
47:16and speaks ill
47:17of the country
47:18and our democracy.
47:20We get you more
47:21in this report.
47:30Thousands of miles
47:31away from home
47:32Rahul Gandhi
47:33has sparked
47:34a political firestorm
47:35on elections.
47:36Speaking at the Brown
47:37University in Boston
47:38on Sunday,
47:39he accused
47:40the election commission
47:41of India
47:41of voter fraud
47:43during the 2024
47:44Maharashtra
47:45Assembly elections.
47:46more people voted
47:48in the Maharashtra
47:49Assembly elections
47:50than there are
47:52adults in Maharashtra.
47:54This is a fact.
47:56They not only
47:57refused to reverse
47:57the videography,
47:59they changed the law
48:00so that now
48:00you're not allowed
48:01to ask for the videography.
48:03It's very clear to us
48:04that the election commission
48:05is compromised.
48:06It's very clear
48:07that there is something
48:08very wrong
48:09with the system.
48:11The BJP hitback
48:12accusing Rahul Gandhi
48:14of defaming the country
48:15on foreign soil
48:16and branding him
48:17a traitor.
48:18They are not going to be
48:48excused
48:48and they're not going
48:49to be saved.
48:50The law is going
48:51to take over
48:52and catch them.
48:55The BJP-led
48:56Mahayuti coalition
48:57won a landslide
48:58in Maharashtra
48:59getting 235
49:01out of 288 seats
49:03in the 2024
49:04Assembly polls
49:05held just months
49:07after a poor showing
49:08in the Lok Sabha elections.
49:10The Congress,
49:11stunned by the scale
49:12of the defeat,
49:13has refused
49:14to accept the results.
49:15Bureau Report,
49:18India Today.
49:23And just days
49:24after his Easter address,
49:26the Vatican announced
49:27that Pope Francis
49:28has passed away.
49:30Pope Francis
49:31was the first Pope
49:32from Latin America,
49:33bringing a unique perspective
49:35to his leadership
49:36of the Global Church
49:38for Catholics.
49:39On Sunday,
49:40he called for freedom
49:41of thought.
49:42He called for tolerance
49:43in his Easter address.
49:45The Vatican has announced
49:46nine days of mourning.
49:48In his Easter message,
49:50Pope Francis called
49:51for an immediate
49:52ceasefire in Gaza.
49:54He urged the Palestinian
49:55group Hamas
49:56to release
49:57all the remaining hostages
49:59and condemned
49:59what he described
50:00as worrisome
50:01was the rise
50:02of anti-Semitism
50:03around the world.
50:05Condoling the death
50:06of Pope Francis,
50:07Prime Minister Narendra Modi
50:08said that the Catholic
50:09priest's affection
50:10for the people of India
50:11will always be cherished.
50:16And India today
50:18brings you this exclusive
50:19report from Vatican City
50:21by Barbara Seles
50:23who spoke to people
50:24following the sad
50:26passing away
50:27of Pope Francis.
50:30Hi, good morning.
50:32This is Barbara Seles
50:33live from Rome.
50:35We are, as you can see,
50:38at the Vatican City.
50:39We are in St. Peter's Square.
50:41This is the center,
50:43the heart of the Vatican.
50:45Today, everybody in Rome
50:47is coming to this square
50:49because the Pope
50:51this morning
50:52at 7.35 a.m.
50:54Rome time
50:54passed away.
50:56It's actually,
50:57it's been a surprise
50:59for everybody.
51:00He had spent
51:02the past two months
51:03at the hospital
51:04but he left
51:05just at the very,
51:07in the very last days
51:08of March
51:09everybody thought
51:10he was recovering
51:11and in fact
51:12yesterday
51:12he was here
51:14for the mass
51:15of Easter Sunday
51:17the most important mass
51:19for Catholics.
51:21He was here
51:21to give everybody
51:22the Urbi
51:23at Orbi
51:24the benediction
51:25that is given
51:26by the Pope
51:27traditionally
51:28every Easter Sunday.
51:31So as you can see
51:32people from all over the world
51:34are coming here today
51:36and it won't be the only day
51:39obviously
51:39because when a Pope dies
51:41it triggers
51:43a long process
51:44to have a new Pope
51:47re-elected.
51:48So in the coming days
51:50you will be seeing
51:53how cardinals
51:54and bishops
51:55from all over the world
51:57will be coming
51:58to Rome
51:59to gather
52:00first for the funerals
52:02which actually
52:03will last
52:04for nine days
52:05and then
52:06for the conclave
52:07which is the process
52:09in which
52:10all the
52:11senior people
52:14in the Catholic Church
52:15gets together
52:17and decides
52:18who is going to be
52:20the next
52:20head of state
52:22of the Vatican
52:22so the next Pope
52:24we will be live
52:27from Rome
52:27in the next
52:28few days as well.
52:30So I was here yesterday
52:31for a Mass
52:32and I was about
52:3310 feet from Pope Francis
52:34about 24 hours ago
52:36so I just felt moved
52:38when I woke up today
52:39and saw the news
52:39to come over here
52:40and just kind of be here
52:41for a little while.
52:42We happened to be
52:43in the center
52:44of the square
52:44and he came by
52:46in the Popemobile
52:46after the Mass
52:47so we were
52:49about 5 to 10 feet
52:50away from him
52:51as he passed by.
52:52He looked wild
52:54or he looked weak?
52:56Hard to say
52:57he was sitting there
52:57and waving
52:58but obviously
52:58he didn't look
52:59as vibrant
53:01and active
53:01as he usually does.
53:22He looked at him
53:36and he looked at him
53:37as he looked up
53:39as I said
53:39as he looked at