Hello there, you with NDTV on Ma hasta top storey. At this hour, author Salman Rushdie was attacked by a man at an event in New York. He received several stab injuries, after which he was airlifted Are The attacker, meanwhile, was restrained immediately and was in the custody of the New York police. Salman Rushdie's A Condition and the Momenta no further details. Apart from water, the New York governor, catty local, had to say, saying he is alive and being given the treatment that he requires. Let's listen into what she said. First, it is heartbreaking to learn that within the last hour a prominent individual salmon Rushdie was attacked on a stage in western New York just before he is about to give a speech. He is alive. He is a trains point airlifted to safety. But here is an individual who has spent decades speaking truth to power. Someone has been out there unafraid despite the threats that have found him his entire adult life, it seems, and it happened at a site that is places definitive. Me very train ful, rural community known issue Thakur to Taco Institution, where the most preeminent speakers and leaders and politicians and justices and everyone come together to have the free expression of thought. So this is a place ideal ideally suited for him to be over the speaking. That's what he was attempting to do just in the last hour before he was attacked. Several reactions already coming in with the writers fraternity are being shocked at this attack on Salman Rushdie. Let's listen in what the authors say who are controversial because of their writings. Do they feel the need sometimes to get some sort of official protection for themselves? Or are they is so free spirited that they find it very are restricting ever saying Most writers leave it to the organizer's of the festival's to be able to ensure that they are able to speak freely ing in whichever platforms have been invited to hearing. It is the responsibility of the that forms to ensure not just the safety of its speakers, but, of course, the safety of every person who attends that particular festival over event. Yes, in the past we've had threat issues as well, but thankfully, with the help of other state police, the local police central agencies, at least in India, we have been very effectively been able to ensure the safety of all our guests and our speakers. And it's the same across the world, whether it's been in Boulder, on New York, for Houston or Rome or London or Belfast wherever but growing. And there is this growing sentiment, as you can see where nobody thinks twice about using violence. And this is not necessarily restrictive to only artists or writers of speakers, really across the length and breath of every country. And that, really is is a worrying concern. There is frequent attacks in America's. We know there has been so many. It has been over 300 I ting mass shootings or listed as mass shootings in this year itself. There's been so many attacks on women in many parts of world, there's wars that a broken out. So we are in a very difficult space. And while where all democracies or most of most places are, democracies are most places, the work in our democracies, it's still a very challenging environment, and it continues to be so. Salman Rushdie has been out in about. He is to be seen in public spaces on the streets, walking around. Dr Tharoor was talking about it a short while back. The attacker could have attacked him at just about any place if he chose a venue where there was a large audience, walked up on the stage and then stabbed him. Does it appear to be that the attacker was then trying to make a statement? Know Camille again? We're speculating. It's I have to, you know, happy into a lot of caveats. But on the face of it, based on the information that we have, it could just be that there's somebody who wanted to target Mr Roshni because of his views. And because this is an event the event would be advertised and so on. Right now, if it is just walking around New York, you have to know much more. You'd have to know where he lave once that they preferred what time he goes out. This is much that much harder. Whereas if you see a poster any Salman Rushdie is going to be here, it gives any perpetrator, any attacker, more time to plan, you know. And Mr Tharoor and others who pointed this out are absolutely right that over the years, Mr Rushdie has we built a normal life? He has not been in hiding. He has given numerous lectures. He has been out and about, and that shadow of the death sentence had had hung over his head for many years. Seems to have had have passed. Unfortunately, Now process a first thing that's going to be on everyone's mind again. Writer. Let's talk about the writers fraternity now that are in shock at this attacker on Salman Rushdie. Let's listen into some reactions. I think that Amanda be, is they? But the mon could attack him that I'm worried. I am worried that what would happen to us, who are not getting the Western highest security. And there are many people who are critical of Islam. You know, many political of Islam. They are from Muslim countries. There are they. They're from many different countries and in the subcontinent. Also, there are many people who who were ex Muslims for critical of Islam's. They are not getting security, and they they're in danger. We are in danger. The e event, people who are protected and people who are not protected. We all are in danger. I think it's it's another hard to see this happening clo right? And And what is worse is that, of course, Salmon would have been assuming after, you know, it's been a good 30 odd years since the 33 years, the original fatwa that at least there would be no particular complication anymore that people have have have a justice. He was, he was actually wondering around quite normally, without security and soul have said, must have come as a terrible shock of when I think everyone who values freedom of expression and also values are the safety and sanctity of individuals. This is a terrible piece of news, and I've already appalled that there are still people who believe that the answer to works is night. The answer, the words and other words, frankly, And if people don't like for yesterday, they can write an attacking with words that they are entitled to do. This is really terrible. I have very little information. I literally heard, like two seconds ago. I were part of a group of writers and we were in touch with his wife and allies. Er and I don't even know if Sheena Security knows that any more information. Raina so it's really, really very, very start very early. Anything? Actually, Absolutely. And a shocking that it can happen at a public event. Yeah. I mean, I'm I'm actually just completely and in a state of total shock. And I mean war one just yeah, just so upset that even to hear this news now, an AP photographer, Joshua Goodman, was at the venue where this attack took place on Salman Rushdie, and he centre this report across so that the ship Taco Institution It's a place of study and reflection and religious inquisitiveness than it now a crime scene here at the Empty Theatre, there were about 2500 people waiting to hear some and rush to speak. He had just walked onto the stage, was still being introduced less than a minute before the event. The gay after the event began and a man rushed from this audience up onto the stage. It started punching or stabbing. It wasn't quite clear, but there was clearly some sort of blood red liquid going in many directions, a collective sigh of shock from the audience, many of whom are here to contemplate the problems of the world, not just see them up close and eventually the the leader was evacuated. It's now a crime scene. The man was detained. We're not really sure the status of Salman Rushdie. There has been a fatwa, an order for him to be killed on his life for many, many decades. Now we're waiting to hear from authorities what his status is and what prompted this brazen, senseless and very scary attack. As we begin the countdown to India 75th Independence Day, various monuments have been beautifully lit up in the colours of the national flag. Akshay DeAndre has more details before we talk about the flag politics, Let's just take a look at the Rashtrawadi Bhavan and how beautiful it looks On various occasions, Rashtrawadi Bhavan is let in different colours. And yes, we are completing 75 years of independence. So it is a special occasion for all of us. Flag politics has started with the Bharatiya Janata Party holding its own campaigns, the Aam Aadmi party coming up with its own version of campaign, the Congress Party holding for the atras holding Teranga rallies as well. So all of the political party while they are celebrating Teranga while they're celebrating tricolour. They are also taking jibes at each other. So that is where the politics has come and and a lot of people are questioning that politics as well. They are saying that when when tricolour should be uniting everybody, everybody have been Indian, it shouldn't be. It shouldn't become a political tool for the political parties. For example, when we talk about Telangana, Telangana plans government plans to distribute Taronga to each and every household of the Bharatiya Janata Party. The central government, in fact, is planning to hoist at least 20 crore Tonga's across the country, That is, that is one of the one of the cool that the government of India has. When we talk about Aam Aadmi party, there are about 500 Jagan take flags that have been installed in the national capital. Congress is holding its own own Padilla atras soon rallies. There are different ministries holding different events. India posted delivering Teranga for free monuments. Heritage monuments are there. If you go till 15th of August, there is no charge at all. No fees at all for entry to these are certain good things happening. But then there is some politics happening as well where the political parties, for example, Bharatiya Janata Party has taken jibe at the congress. The congress is taking jibe at BJP, terming the RSS and questioning that why the leader RSS our top leaders have been changed their display picture as asked by the prime Mr Narendra Modi. So this kind of politics is happening. Are bitches to leave Really unfortunate as far as the 75th 75 year of Indian Independence are concerned, but it is happening nonetheless. And and people are really hoping that the political parties should avoid that. A political row by the BJP chief of Uttarakhand ahead of the launch CMEs harder Mahendra but first demanded pictures of those houses which don't have the tricolour. Then, after an outcry, he attempted a clarification. The opposition has attacked BJP for double speak, pointing out how the it's ideological peering group did not voice the tricolour for decades, and social media post still don't have it. Unlike BJP leaders, I may not like to remind that the same party with its parent organisation are assesses, still not displayed the picture they have been doing many a time. Maybe, maybe after a few years that the alleged. Never it has. It has been done now, Like every Independence day, many people are getting the tricolour for their homes, offices, vehicles and so on. However, this year there appears to be a competitive political campaign by various ruling and opposition parties. BJP is gearing up for it's hard, hard Teranga campaign, aiming at least 20 crore flags in houses across the country from August 13, 2 hours 15 to celebrate India 75th Independence Day in Delhi. The Op government has installed 500 gigantic try colours across the city to mark the 75th year of independence, and the chief minister has asked people from across the country to sing the national anthem holding flags on Sunday evening. Telangana TRS government has a fortnight of activities from ninth 22nd August, including a door to door distribution of the flag aiming to cover most of the 1.2 crore households. And in Karnataka, the opposition Congress is holding a Freedom march 15th August to pay tribute to our freedom Vitals. Meanwhile, for the common citizens, any politics over the tricolour is avoidable for staying. The tricolour is a matter of flight for all offers and parties were doing camp in around it. But I feel that the flag should be dragged into politics. We are celebrating the 75th Independence there and and by hosting the national class, and it is a matter of our lives, any politics should be. For decades on Independence Day, Indians have put a tricolour in their homes, offices, vehicles and so on without much political interference. And that is likely to continue on the 75th anniversary as well, regardless of the competitive Teranga politics being seen in the run up to this momentous event, your report NDTV. Meanwhile, a picture of um are con has emerged with the tri colour fluttering at his residence balcony. That picture, emerging even as a mark on, is a battling a bad opening for his movie Butter, celebrating India's 75th Independence Day. There, let's move on now. A Jaish e Mohammed, a terrorist who was allegedly tasked with killing Nupur Sharma, has been arrested by the Uttar Pradesh police. Nupur Sharma's are suspended as as the spokesperson of the BJP after a comments about Prophet Mohammad that triggered a huge protest in the country and a series of official complaints by Gulf countries now are the terrorists was identified as Hamad Nadeem. According to the cops, A resident of a Kunda Kala village of ups, a Saharan poor today arrested the terrorists. His name is Nadine, from Ganga area of sarin. Poor invest up and according to eight years he was planning to kill Lupo Sharman. He has got instructions from Pakistan. He was linked to to terrorist outfits in Contra in Pakistan. When it Jaish e Mohammed and other a nation is TTP and he was in direct contact with them, he was in contact with them through in fact, when eight years is now. As of now, when we are talking, eight years is questioning him. But in according to other officials, initial probe found that he had the whole matter material hold module to build an ID. So he had that whole medal and he was going through it. In fact, he was about to go to Pakistan. Also through Nepal. They have discovered that he was tracking the parents of new push A um as well. So this is an initial information we have got from eight years are they are questioning and the eight years will come up with more information tomorrow. In fact, it is very important. Also so near two days back 88 had arrested an ice pick rooty in Assam, Gar and who was planning to kill, and a Syria a senior leader of RSS. This a second terrorist They have arrested as if now he, Nadine has been questioned and tomorrow is going to do a press conference and that was conference they brief more about. But there are voice note where he got instructions from Pakistan to plan and killed Nupur Sharma as soon as possible. Let's talk about inflation now. It is at a four month low below 7%. The inflation was down on the grounds of lower oil prices now, but it still remains above the comfort level of the RBI, which is above 6% at the comfortable level for them is between 2 to 6%. Inflation rate has cooled to a five month low apart into a four month low in the month of July. Know what's the new rate inflation rate has fallen down to 6.7% in July from 7.1% in June. In fact, the rate has fallen for the third straight month. It went down in June and May as well. Now this rate is the lowest that we've seen since March 2022 but there are serious concerned. Still, inflation still remains above RBI 6% rush hold for the seventh straight month. Secondly, inflation has been above 6% this year, primarily because of global supply disruptions due to the war before this, if we get you an example, last year in July, the inflation rate was 5% close to that figure. So compared to that figure, that figure just a year ago before the war inflation is still really high. Third, inflation for fuel and light is rising. It went up from 10.4% in June 2 11.8% in July, though inflation for food and beverages has in fact gone down gone down now. Another concerning point is that rural inflation is above urban inflation for the second straight month, meaning that, like many other factors even in inflation, rural India is being impacted more with the higher rise in prices that they're witnessing. Rural inflation is at 6.8% higher than urban inflation at 6.5%. Now what could take inflation down even further are lowering crude oil prices. Crude oil prices are down by over 9% in just the last month, and that could help bring down inflation even further. Even globally wising inflation coming down in major economies such as the United States. But it's also rising in some countries. Let's talk about the climate emergency now, as drought has been declared in parts of London, the trout's across Europe are also being reported. This the first time in 500 years that this sort of a situation has arisen in Europe. London is set to witness and even hotter weekend as after discussions on the prolonged dry weather. An official drought in London has been declared and temperatures are set to rise over 36 degrees Celsius. Past of sudden central and eastern England have now officially moved into the drought status as your of faces, its worst drought in 500 years. Italy is one of the worst affected. Declaring a state of emergency for area surrounding the river for which accounts for more than a third of the country's agricultural production, France Spain and Portugal have also been severely affected that we're taking a very quick break. But before that countdown to India's 70 75th Independence Day, monuments across the country illuminated in the tricolour.
