on coalition partners dependent on coalition partners stay in power. that leave a highly contentious hindu nationalist policy agenda? condemned by opponents as divisive and dangerous. my guest is bjp spokesman syed zafar islam, a political rarity, a muslim within the ranks of the bjp. as is electoral setback trimmed morally�*s sales? —— modi's sails? syed zafar islam, in delhi, welcome to hardtalk. thank you

very much- _ welcome to hardtalk. thank you very much- you _ welcome to hardtalk. thank you very much. you have _ welcome to hardtalk. thank you very much. you have had - welcome to hardtalk. thank you very much. you have had a - very much. you have had a few weeks to _ very much. you have had a few weeks to reflect _ very much. you have had a few weeks to reflect now, - very much. you have had a few weeks to reflect now, so - very much. you have had a few weeks to reflect now, so why l very much. you have had a fewl weeks to reflect now, so why do you think your party, the bjp, did perform so badly, unexpectedly badly in the recent parliamentary election? i think those words are lies. they would make this comment purely on the basis of the c3 one because we are the largest political party in terms of the number of seats, and also in terms of the percentage of votes, we are still exactly where we were in 2019 so it is unfair to where we were in 2019 so it is unfairto make where we were in 2019 so it is unfair to make this statement that we have badly lost the election. we are the largest party in the country with 246... i party in the country with 246. .. ., ., party in the country with 246... c, c, party in the country with 246... 2, 2, 246... i am not saying you lost the election — 246... i am not saying you lost the election but _ 246... i am not saying you lost the election but i _ 246... i am not saying you lost the election but i am _ 246... i am not saying you lost the election but i am judging i the election but i am judging your performance on the basis that we are invited to judge it on. he said he hopes to win 400 seats. he won 240 and the bjp

clearly lost its governing majority, and you now rely on the support, the uncertain support of two partners to prop up support of two partners to prop up the government. 140. support of two partners to prop up the government.— up the government. no, it is perfectly _ up the government. no, it is perfectly fine. _ up the government. no, it is perfectly fine. the _ up the government. no, it is perfectly fine. the coalition l perfectly fine. the coalition government is something not new to india and a testimony to the approach the government has, this coalition partner, it only benefits everyone. away from that, the question you posed earlier, i said we are the single largest party with hundred and 47. what does it signify? that we have not lost an election or we are not done badly in the election, especially when in terms of expectation, we perhaps have better outcome, expectation of better outcome, expectation of better outcome, expectation of better outcome, but we are very happy with outcome, whatever we have, 246, and this suggests the independent india, when a sitting prime minister has been

mandated by the people of this great country for the third time to serve them, and on this particular occasion, the honourable prime minister modi has been given is mandated by the people of this great country to serve them for five years. country to serve them for five ears. ., . y country to serve them for five ears. ., ., , ., , , years. you are trying to spin me a sort — years. you are trying to spin me a sort of— years. you are trying to spin me a sort of positive - years. you are trying to spin me a sort of positive take i years. you are trying to spin | me a sort of positive take on this election. let's look at one specific place, one specific symbol, that is a constituency, the home to this grand temple which mr modi says symbolises his achievements and of course symbolises perhaps the triumph of hindu for ideology inside your country. he campaigned on what is achieved by building the temple, which of course it should be set is built on the site of an historic now destroyed mosque, and he actually lost that constituency in the election. what does that tell us about nonvoters turning

away from that sort of hindu ideological politics? [30 away from that sort of hindu ideological politics?- ideological politics? do you think that _ ideological politics? do you think that building - ideological politics? do you think that building temple l ideological politics? do you i think that building temple was a political agenda? was it done for the purpose of winning wars or election? it is absolutely not. ~ , ~ a' or election? it is absolutely not. , ~ ,. not. why did mr modi make such a oint not. why did mr modi make such a point throughout _ not. why did mr modi make such a point throughout the _ not. why did mr modi make such a point throughout the campaign | a point throughout the campaign of saying,, look at my achievement. why did the chief minister of uttar pradesh so that the choice was between" devotees of ram," which is indicative of the religious element, and anti— ram forces? those are his words. element, and anti- ram forces? those are his words.— those are his words. well, you cannot pinpoint _ those are his words. well, you cannot pinpoint one _ those are his words. well, you cannot pinpoint one specific. cannot pinpoint one specific statement of any particular leader because it is election mode and people do savings if they feel at that point in time what needs to be spoken. but does far as building a temple is concerned, it was never a

political agenda. is concerned, it was never a politicalagenda. it is concerned, it was never a political agenda. it is the aspiration of the people of this great country who are 80% population is hindu, they needed a temple. that is something that symbolises that and it hasn't been done with the support of the muslim community. everybody was in favour of the temple, everybody, including the muslim community, wholeheartedly supported it. community, wholeheartedly suoported it— supported it. that is very interesting. _ supported it. that is very interesting. let - supported it. that is very interesting. let me - supported it. that is very interesting. let me stop| supported it. that is very . interesting. let me stop you there. you havejust raised interesting. let me stop you there. you have just raised a very important point. you claimed mr modi hasn't had the support of muslims in india. i just wonder whether you, is a very prominent muslim inside the bjp, and goodness knows there aren't many of them, whether you were worried when, on the campaign trail, mr modi said that the congress party, the main opposition party, if they won power, final wealth to muslims, those he said to have

more children, the infiltrators was the word he used. how did you respond to that? this has been taken — you respond to that? this has been taken out _ you respond to that? this has been taken out of _ you respond to that? this has been taken out of context. i you respond to that? this has. been taken out of context. you must understand when he was saying that, primarily he was referring to... and is not the first time, even we muslims speak about it, people who come from a different part of the country, for instance, many from bangladesh, they come to india, and who has the right on those resources? it is the nationals of this country, the citizens of this great country who has the first right or the only right of the resources of the country. you cannot entertain and you should not entertain. we are absolutely clear in our mind that no party coming from outside of our country should have any access to our resources.— to our resources. with the greatest _ to our resources. with the greatest of _ to our resources. with the greatest of respect, i to our resources. with the greatest of respect, that l to our resources. with the| greatest of respect, that is not what mr modi was saying. no, this is what we have always spoken, it is what we will always speak. because we have

always speak. because we have always differentiated between infiltrators and local citizens. it infiltrators and local citizens.— infiltrators and local citizens. ., , ~ 1 infiltrators and local citizens. 1 ., citizens. it asked the bjp to remove a — citizens. it asked the bjp to remove a video _ citizens. it asked the bjp to remove a video saying i citizens. it asked the bjp to remove a video saying that| citizens. it asked the bjp to l remove a video saying that it violated the law. your opponents said that you were routinely demonising muslims, but even one of your own party colleagues who happens to be muslim, awesome daily, when he actually spoke out against the motor campaign, he didn't like the discriminatory language as he saw it, that mr modi was using when he express that opinion, he was expelled from the party. let opinion, he was expelled from the party-— the party. let me, for the benefit of _ the party. let me, for the benefit of the _ the party. let me, for the benefit of the global- the party. let me, for the i benefit of the global audience, let me tell you, if you talk about discrimination, i think first you should not give a lecture, no—one should give a lecture, no—one should give a lecture on discrimination because i see across the globe, particularly talking about the western world, how they are discriminating their own citizens. at least here i can say in india there is no such discrimination. let me also

explained to you the scheme run by the government of india. we do not see that, we only see the list of the beneficiary the needs to be benefited off for this scheme. the government just happily gives those welfare scheme and to the benefit, the beneficiary as per the list which has been prepared by the government and the government missionary and without exception that whether you come from a particular community or whether you come from a particular area. every citizen is at heart and equal and that is the way the welfare scheme is submitted, and the igis beneficiary you must know, and i think the global audience must know, the biggest beneficiary of the welfare scheme is the muslim community. we have... let me stop you if i may. if i may, this is supposed to be question and answers, so let me ask you some questions. you were candid in an interview when his evidence that as a muslim in india when you told your own family that you were

going into politics with the bjp and that you regarded mr modi in your own words as a magic politician, your own family you said was appalled with you and regarded you as a traitor. atas1 are right now, today, is yourfamily traitor. atas1 are right now, today, is your family can really at ease with your decision?— really at ease with your decision? ., ., ., decision? you are referring to my article _ decision? you are referring to my article which _ decision? you are referring to my article which i _ decision? you are referring to my article which i had - decision? you are referring to my article which i had written | my article which i had written in a newspaper, and... alli said, when i decided tojoin because the environment which has been created by the opposition party, particular the congress, they always mislead the muslim community. the muslim community has always been misled by the political parties who use them, they do not do anything for them but only want them to vote for them. and that is what they have done and this is what the muslim community had. it i have done and this is what the muslim community had. if i am a

interruoted _ muslim community had. if i am a interruoted 's _ muslim community had. if i am a interrupted 's what _ muslim community had. if i am a interrupted 's what muslims i muslim community had. if i am a interrupted 's what muslims see | interrupted �*s what muslims see is a reality that, for example, in the cabinet appointments made since the election, the bjp does not have one muslim minister. there is not one nationally elected bjp muslim politician. you used to in the be upper house of the indian parliament, your selection only lasted for a couple of years. you are now back to being party spokesman. are you not in any way ashamed that your own party, your own party simply does not invite muslims into senior positions?— senior positions? who said that? in — senior positions? who said that? in fact, _ senior positions? who said that? in fact, it _ senior positions? who said that? in fact, it was i senior positions? who said that? in fact, it was not i senior positions? who said i that? in fact, it was not only me, there were many other colleagues of mine who come from the muslim community and they were either cabinet minister or the minister of state or the member of parliament.— state or the member of parliament. ., ., , ., parliament. no, forgive me, you name me — parliament. no, forgive me, you name me one — parliament. no, forgive me, you name me one muslim _ parliament. no, forgive me, you name me one muslim cabinet i name me one muslim cabinet minister representing the bjp today. name me anybody. there isn't one. ., , .,

isn't one. today is not there. it doesn't — isn't one. today is not there. it doesn't mean _ isn't one. today is not there. it doesn't mean they - isn't one. today is not there. it doesn't mean they were i isn't one. today is not there. i it doesn't mean they were never there and they will never be there. i admit today there is no representation of the muslim community in the cabinet, but was not there the past? yes, of course in the last government, prior to that government... that is a very point i am trying to get to. it seems things comment under this is crematory policy, things are getting worse. crematory policy, things are getting worse-— getting worse. there is no discrimination. _ getting worse. there is no discrimination. let's i getting worse. there is no discrimination. let's talk i discrimination. let's talk specifically _ discrimination. let's talk specifically about - discrimination. let's talk specifically about the i specifically about the citizenship amendment act which has been described by amnesty international is a bigoted law, the us government and the un have both expressed deep concern about it being discriminatory in nature. i put it to you, you have a choice now, you are back in government albeit with coalition partners. will you continue to implement this "discriminatory law"? amnesty international is a fraud organisation. their only purpose to somehow create friction between the

communities of societies. their objective, whatever objective is, only to create some problem and undress in the country. they are a fraud organisation, they have a different agenda. the agenda is run by the western world. but let me tell you, have you gone through... i am asking you? is there anything, against muslim community? even one? think what you can, tell me. the citizenship _ you can, tell me. the i citizenship amendment act you can, tell me. the - citizenship amendment act is that it links citizenship with religion. it basically tells people from afghanistan, bangladesh and pakistan that they will get a pathway to citizenship only if they are not muslim.— citizenship only if they are not muslim. ., , , ., not muslim. that is why i am sa in: not muslim. that is why i am saying that — not muslim. that is why i am saying that amnesty, - not muslim. that is why i am saying that amnesty, like i saying that amnesty, like amnesty international, you have also understood the subject and you being critical about it. i

would request you, first go through it, understand the context and the perspective of why it has been introduced in the country and it is for who's benefit? is it being targeted at particular communities? no—one is targeted. indian citizens have nothing to do with it, with you come from a muslim community or, for that matter, any other community. this caa does not apply to citizens of this country. only those who... _ citizens of this country. only those who... the _ citizens of this country. only those who... the us - citizens of this country. only those who... the us government and the un disagree profoundly with you. but let'sjust and the un disagree profoundly with you. but let's just talk about a different set of choices. you have to make now that you are backing in coalition. the latest report from human rights watch 2024 talks about indian police complicity in discriminatory acts of violence, which target minorities, the bjp says assist with policies that discriminate and stigmatise minorities, communal violence continues in

many parts of the country, most recently of course we thought terrible violence in many poor. my terrible violence in many poor. my question to you is another chuwar back in government but you have heard the message of the indian people, you have received your electoral setback, is the bjp going to change course? c, first of all, there is no setback. whichever way you want to rationalise it you look at the mandate.— to rationalise it you look at the mandate. ~ . ,. , , the mandate. we have discussed whether this _ the mandate. we have discussed whether this is _ the mandate. we have discussed whether this is a _ the mandate. we have discussed whether this is a setback - the mandate. we have discussed whether this is a setback or i whether this is a setback or not but my question is are you going to change course? are you going to change course? are you going to change course? are you going to tell the police to actually enforce the laws? ida. actually enforce the laws? no, let me tell— actually enforce the laws? no, let me tell you _ actually enforce the laws? no, let me tell you - _ actually enforce the laws? no, let me tell you - there - actually enforce the laws? no, let me tell you - there is i actually enforce the laws? no, let me tell you - there is a i let me tell you — there is a continued policy. there will be no change. as far as the discrimination part is concerned, there is no discrimination in the country.

it is all in the western world being misrepresented. it is a fabricated story being run by western media. i fabricated story being run by western media.— western media. i am 'ust interested, i western media. i am 'ust interested, mr i western media. i am 'ust interested, mr ms i western media. i amjust interested, mr ms lamb, i western media. i amjust i interested, mr ms lamb, if you actually believe what you are telling me right now. let actually believe what you are telling me right now.- telling me right now. let me ose telling me right now. let me pose you _ telling me right now. let me pose you a — telling me right now. let me pose you a question - i telling me right now. let me pose you a question - if- telling me right now. let me pose you a question - if you | pose you a question — if you are talking about human rights violations, what happened in manchester yesterday? was it not a human rights violation? i would love to speak to you about manchester but we are here to talk about india stop why india?— here to talk about india stop why india? because you are a spokesperson _ why india? because you are a spokesperson for _ why india? because you are a spokesperson for the - why india? because you are a spokesperson for the bjp. i why india? because you are a| spokesperson for the bjp. we are a spokesperson for the bjp. - are a multicultural society. we coexist peacefully. india is a peaceful country. there is no death discrimination of any sort. it is only in the foreign media, western world, this kind of a statement is being made only to demonise india which is

factually incorrect. let me give you a example — even on bbc, grant dyke or somebody, your director, what did he say? he said once — i am sure he will be able to recollect — that bbc is a landscape of whites. we need to add more colours. what does that mean? you discriminate. let me give you one specific example. in the home minister report of the united kingdom, they did not consider that, yes, our society or the government has institutionalised discrimination and a violation of human rights. who are you trying to lecture? we, as a country, believe in diversity. i do want to examine what has happened in india today and what is going to happen for the next five years. we what is going to happen for the next five years.— what is going to happen for the next five years. we do not want to net a next five years. we do not want to get a lecture _ next five years. we do not want to get a lecture from _ next five years. we do not want to get a lecture from anyone i to get a lecture from anyone because we know that we... i

would like to ask you some questions if you would let me get one in. let's talk about the wider trend towards repression and authoritarianism in india. freedom house 2024 report talks about the harassment of journalists, report talks about the harassment ofjournalists, ngos and government critics including opposition politicians. i just wonder including opposition politicians. ijust wonder — again, now that there is a new electoral landscape and a new parliamentary landscape where you are in coalition, is there going to be less harassment of opposition politicians and media groups inside india over the next few years? i media groups inside india over the next few years?— the next few years? i think there are _ the next few years? i think there are a _ the next few years? i think there are a few— the next few years? i think there are a few things i the next few years? i think. there are a few things which everyone needs to understand. you run a story because you have a agenda to demonise india. i understand that. you run a story with a very specific agenda. there are many tv channels in india. there is

a diversity in culture. there is a diversity in language. there are many tv channels, manyjournals. they all right manyjournals. they all right many things about our government, sometimes positive, sometimes negative. do we take action on those who are writing negative things about our government? no. flit negative things about our government? no. of course you do. no, pm — government? no. of course you do. no, pm modi... _ government? no. of course you do. no, pm modi... you - government? no. of course you do. no, pm modi... you have i government? no. of course you do. no, pm modi... you have a| do. no, pm modi... you have a record of— do. no, pm modi... you have a record of locking _ do. no, pm modi... you have a record of locking up _ record of locking up journalists. an international journalists. an international journalist representation group says that your record is worse than neighbouring pakistan's. absolutely not. there is no rule of law in pakistan. you are talking about india. india has been, and even today, is a very diverse country where people have a different language, where people have different cultures, but they all respect each other. we coexist despite being

multicultural. we coexist peacefully. it is only the foreign media who misrepresent us as if there is discrimination or friction between societies. as far as the journalists are concerned, i think you must understand... your record on freedom of expression stands for itself. the people can judge for themselves. if i may — this interview has to be conducted with questions as well as answers. if i may, iwant with questions as well as answers. if i may, i want to move onto the economy. mr modi boasts about unprecedented growth in the indian economy and it is obvious there has been real beneficiaries. you have 200 billion is now. we have 200 billion is now. we have a driving stock market. you have a corporate sector which has enjoyed significant tax breaks. we see all of that, but we also see that endemic poverty has not been tackled by your government successfully. we see that inequality has risen to levels beyond the united states, brazil, south

africa, countries which are known for their inequality. india now outstrips them. i guess the indian voters again decided that they were not happy with this so—called economic miracle of mr modi. i think you are badly mistaken. every citizen understands that the fragile economy in 2014 which we inherited, or the macroeconomic parameters were looking terrible. the bank was in a terrible state. every where you see it, it was in terrible shape and from there, at that point in time, we were at that point in time, we were at the 11th frank — our ranking was 11th globally in terms of the large economies. today, we are in the fifth position. all the macros are looking very,

very good with the economy. i am not denying. there is no death nine, but let me tell you — growth in india has led to prosperity but i am interested to know if you are satisfied where the top 1% of the population have ownership of 40% of national wealth? see. 4096 of national wealth? see, the policy _ 4096 of national wealth? see, the policy of _ 4096 of national wealth? see, the policy of the _ 4096 of national wealth? see, the policy of the prime i the policy of the prime minister, pm modi, has actually helped 250 million people to come out of the poverty line. they are part of the middle class now. so, a lot of effort in the last ten years because the population in india during the population in india during the congress regime, they have been used by as the congress regime, they have been used by— been used by as a political tool by the _ been used by as a political

tool by the world - been used by as a political tool by the world bank- been used by as a political| tool by the world bank and reverently worried about their people — reverently worried about their --eole. ., ., reverently worried about their --eole. ., , ., people. today, we see how the benefits are _ people. today, we see how the benefits are reaching _ people. today, we see how the benefits are reaching to - people. today, we see how the benefits are reaching to them. | benefits are reaching to them. 500 million people have been given a free healthcare system. they can go to specialist and all of the expenses will be borne by the government of india. because we, as a responsible government, we provide free ration to the people. provide free ration to the eo - le. . , provide free ration to the eo . le, ., , , , people. india is still building a hue people. india is still building a huge number— people. india is still building a huge number of _ people. india is still building a huge number of coal- people. india is still building i a huge number of coal generated power stations. as i understand it, going forward for the next decade, three quarters of india's power is still going to come from coal. you are failing to meet the international community's expectations about india doing its bit to control global warming. india doing its bit to control globalwarming. does india doing its bit to control global warming. does india care or not? it global warming. does india care or not? , ., , ., . or not? it is only india which cares, or not? it is only india which cares. and _ or not? it is only india which cares, and we _ or not? it is only india which cares, and we are _ or not? it is only india which cares, and we are following | or not? it is only india which i cares, and we are following all the guidelines of ensuring that

global warming, the initiatives taken by various countries in the forum. taken by various countries in the forum-— taken by various countries in i the forum._ it the forum. no, you are not. it is india which _ the forum. no, you are not. it is india which is _ the forum. no, you are not. it is india which is migrating i is india which is migrating from coal to otherfuel is india which is migrating from coal to other fuel like some other means where you don't have to use the coal as a fuel. so, it is india which is actively pursuing that to ensure that whatever the carbon emission and the other requirement which is there, it is been strictly followed. unfortunately we are out of time, but i thank you very much indeed forjoining me on hardtalk. indeed for 'oining me on hardtalk._ indeed for 'oining me on hardtalk. ., ~ y .

hello there. sunday was a very warm day. we had the sunshine far and wide, and we've got a few more days of dry weather and sunshine to come, but the heat is going to continue to build across england and wales. and, really, across the whole of western europe, temperatures are rising, the heat is pushing up from spain into france and for the olympics. that's the temperature anomaly chart. you can see for eastern europe, things may be a little cooler than normal. here at home, though, the heat is building underneath that area of high pressure. there is a weak weather front approaching from the northwest, and that's bringing more cloud into scotland and northern ireland on monday. the odd light shower, perhaps, but most of any rain really is in the far northwest of scotland. the cloud will break in other parts of scotland, but the best of the sunshine will be for england and wales. just a bit of patchy fair—weather cumulus. the winds will be light in england and wales. there will be some cooling sea breezes. there is a stronger breeze, though, blowing for scotland and northern ireland,

where temperatures aren't changing much. it's still going to be warm for eastern scotland, but the heat is really concentrated on england and wales. inland temperatures in the southeast, 28 or 29 degrees. that weather front continues to weaken as it moves down into the high pressure overnight and into tuesday. just that sliver of cloud there. more sunshine to come for scotland and northern ireland on tuesday, the odd light shower in the far northwest. sunny skies on the whole for england and wales, a little bit hazy at times. and those temperatures continuing to rise, particularly towards the southeast of england, could make 31 or even 32 degrees here. quite different temperatures for scotland and northern ireland, and you can see the temperature difference overnight tuesday night into wednesday morning — an uncomfortable night for sleeping in the southeast, particularly in london. there's more sunshine and generally dry weather to come on wednesday. signs of one or two showers breaking out, particularly towards the southwest of england. this could be the first signs of some change. but ahead of that, it's still going to be a hot day through the midlands and the southeast. temperatures, 29, 30 degrees quite possible once again.

things are changing, though, wednesday and through the rest of the week in particular, it's not going to be quite as warm. there's the chance of more cloud and some rain, which could be heavy and thundery. on wednesday night and through thursday, that moves its way northwards. and then after we start the week with high pressure, we're going to end the week with low pressure in the west.

live from london, this is bbc news. the venezuelan opposition alleges widespread fraud in the counting of votes from sunday's presidential elections. israel's security cabinet authorises the prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, to determine the response to a deadly rocket strike in the israeli—occupied golan heights. the uk's chancellor, rachel reeves, is set to scrap some major infrastructure projects to plug a £20 billion black hole in the public finances. this is the live pictures

from paris where 0lympic organisers announced they've cancelled triathlon training in the river seine for the second day in a row over pollution concerns. hello. i'm sally bundock. good to have you with us. we start in venezuela. the venezuelan opposition has alleged widespread fraud in the counting of votes from sunday's presidential election. a spokeswoman said that the electoral authorities had stopped publishing the results of individual ballot boxes. nicolas maduro's psuv party is seeking a third term in office. the main challenger is edmundo gonzalez, a former diplomat by opposition leader maria corina machado. she has asked voters to maintain a vigil at polling stations across the country to ensure there's no fraud. turnout is reported to be much higher

than in previous elections.