john dark searches for the truth again. this time at the exile to turkish journalist meets svetlana and seattle sky exiled leader of the opposition and bella . ruth, huge, of course, untied, untied, physically untied. morally. is it too much on my shoulders? but i have to hold this weight because i'm responsible for the future fall country for the people on behind. the boss gardens of truth starts february 18th on d. w. you're watching d. w 's, asia, india marxist national holiday republic day. you take a closer look at it's standing in the world and how the region is responding to a rising india. what will it mean and is it a welcome move across the indian pacific? but as india marx, this milestone,

it is also be accused of attacking press freedom as the government bands, a documentary, focusing on the prime minister's role during anti muslim riots in 2002 class. another film is also causing a stir in india. fans of chevrolet con, are out in force as the megastar and makes his 1st movie in 4 years. but why is it angry? certain groups of people? ah, i melissa chan, thanks for joining us. it's republic day in india, celebrating the establishment of the country's constitution, and there is much fanfare with performances and a display of the country's military. it's a day of pride and in the era of prime minister and to render mowdy all the more

important, given his political parties, brand of hindu nationalism. it's been an important year for india, especially on the world stage with western democracies watching how india chooses to engage with russia and watching how it approaches china. there is no question. the country is a key power that can change the geopolitical dynamic in the asia region. we have menache, joe, she distinguished fellow at the observer re rich foundation with us. thank you so much for joining the program. there was a recent pull from the u. s. agency morning, consult that sick people in india in china as the country's greatest military threat and not pakistan. now it's just one poll, but it does, in that case quite the shift it can, you talk about that you know,

i would suggest that that is more so all these strategic community, really people who write and comment on strategic affairs. but i think there is still a deep distrust of boston amongst the average indian. so i won't say that we need a little bit more bullying if i reported that re or to get an accurate view of the indian public co possession. now, why do you think the national security community and india feels that way about china though? well, one reason is a box on it. so is in deep trouble. it has a huge economic problems. their political crises are all sorts of problems there. on the other hand, we have had a difficult couple of years with china. we had a fairly good relationship, but it all came apart in 2020. and right now, there is

a pretty substantial build up going on on both sides of the line of actual control . now between india and china that box the border between india and china. and so therefore, there is a perception in india that china is a big trick now. and as part of this, india has also really and did some of its army, which was used to face focused on, has now, is no pissing a china. now can you explain how the modi administration sees in gears role in the endo pacific, in our role in the low pacific is somewhat cautious. you know, unlike many other country levels, trio, japan, we're not part of a u. s. alarm system. but also, india has a dual nature in the continental country,

as well as an oceanic country. dr. know from the point of view of security, it is the continental thought, which, what is india, but not so much fuel share. now it is a country, though that is growing in confidence, becoming more important for the region, though in many ways the country has been rather touchy though when it comes to receiving criticism. most recently, a b b c documentary on prime minister modi has been met with a fierce reaction. there have been attempts to band screenings of the film, which looks at moody's role during anti muslim riots in 2002, you can see some of the pictures of demonstrations people protesting against bands of the film. the film alleges that moody, who at the time was the premier at the state of good to rod, turned a blind eye to violence that left at least a 1000 dead. he, of course, dismisses it as propaganda. but i want to share what one student had to say about

the ban on the film. and everybody knew with this happen again. you know what i'm doing now? i believe that this happening now i'll talk about the regional impact of this. but 1st of all, what do you think about the governments move to band is still well, you know, mr. moody is very sensitive personally to criticism. and this government is otherwise, india has been fairly open to criticism and in the past, but more mr. moody occupies a kind of a kind of like figure and he feels that anything like this as derogatory to him is his image is affected by a supposed

to put all vents extremely serious and tragic. and how many people have an age direct links between mr. moody and those events. yeah, this is worth bringing up right now is simply because we're having a conversation about india as a growing regional power. and you know, how critical it is in the world, whether it's with russia's invasion of ukraine and people turning to india to see how the country will position itself. but of course also, india has a very interesting relationship with japan. it's also involved in the quad, which is part of australia, united states, japan. so it's, it's plano, a very important role in all these dynamics. and so in this incident, i guess, i mean india is a democracy yet at times it's certainly not acting that way. well

certainly when it puts of it to bends, i'm thinking of information is blocked. so that's certainly not a democratic approach. and many of us feel that there is that rising autocratic trend in india, and this is often manifested by, by actions like such bands. when we talk about indian national security concerns both continental and also oceanic and it's rising power, of course also means that people look to the country and do you think india is a model of democracy for the region? well being one of the pure democracy in the region, i would say it's a model, but i think there needs to also address it's democratic deficits in

a lot of areas you see just being an electoral democracy is not enough just having elections and to select the government is not enough. democracy means much more than that. it means both the liberties, it means freedom of speech. and it means accepting uncomfortable or you know, program or you know, the videos like the ones the bbc has made. so i think it needs to deeper as democracy much, much more and certainly, you know, we are already a model and, but we'd be a bit more. i think if we did that very last question very quickly. um, what do you think is the most important thing that india can do to, to, to show the region that it is a strong democracy? well, i think certainly it needs to change it the way it deals with

descent within the country. i think there is a tendency to, to have a kind of a we don't take all approach in a number of years or so. i think that is the place where india has a deficit. managed josh, and thank you so much for this conversation. ah, well king con is back. bollywood megastar sharon con returns to the big screen after 4 years with his come back. fill baton. the fans are delighted and one review described it as a quote phenomenally entertaining spy thriller that packs a massive punch. but the big budget action movie has angered hindu. right. wingers . whoa! for the movie fans queuing up outside cinemas, mom by patton takes

a lot of boxes. bollywood legend king come making a powerful comeback. check hot scenes with heart throb. debit card. how do cone check songs? and special effects galore. check. baton marks a return to form for the badger emperor of hollywood. his last mega release 0 in 2018 was a box office flop. the 57 year old star has also struggled with personal problems. charles is the new law and myself and i will be with and he bought does he? i'm totally gone to the same or not because i'm very much excited. i movie wise. i don't know how many games with my family also, i would say, but on is one of the highest grossing foods. it's a important part of this by universe, which consists of di go as well as void. and you can see though, my, him, oh yeah,

it is just do awesome and it is deserving lethal lake people every day for 5 years . and finally i would say it is one. it's what the weight and you know, just go and watch what on is what all i can say. despite the movies, raucous welcoming mom by baton has proven controversial with right wing hindus as it features a song by powder cone wearing a saffron bikini saffron as a color associated with hinduism can. meanwhile, whereas a green shirt, which can be read as a reference to islam, the actors, religion, the song was enough to trigger calls for a boycott by hindu right. wingers pattern hit cinemas, a day ahead of india's republic day celebrations on immediately smashed box office records. it became the 1st bollywood movie to take in over 100 craw rupees over 11000000 euros on its opening day. it's a welcome success for bollywood which has struggled in recent years to produce the kind of major blockbusters that have made it so successful in india. and an

overseas markets. that's it for thursday. be sure to check out or other strays on. d, w dot com for slash asia, or on facebook and twitter. let us know what you think of coverage. my name is melissa chan in berlin. thanks for watching and see you tomorrow with every journey is full of surprises. we've gone all out to give you some time with i'm in your northern most count

please. ah, 3 times long. but it's still very much alive that when you travel you'll go to the central hospital in germany, europe. oh, do you recognize that where exactly. it was fun. i learned a lot. our culture history. all their d. w. travel extremely worth a visit. mm. mm. a facebook parents and they will reinstate the kinds of former us president donald from after 8 to hear back. the move has prompted some to ask whether social media platforms are shifting gear when it comes to balancing a free speech with the public to it. also coming out the india,

pakistan on gold smuggling with another proposal as a cause import duties on the pick list written come on the safe and will take you to the u. s. state of nevada, whether braced and mine, him hasn't connected legal battle between indigenous people and the federal government. this is dw business. i've had ferguson welcome massa, the parent company of facebook and instagram says they will allow former us president donald trump, back on it's platforms following a 2 year ban. the company suspended trumps accounts in the wake of the capital riots in 2021. but now says, quote, the public should be able to hear what the politicians are saying. the move would allow trump to communicate directly with his 34000000 followers and to resume direct fundraising on the site. critics accused the company of pushing profit over people's safety.