This week on NLhafta we discuss the Gurdaspur attack and the media coverage given to it in India and Pakistan. Did the media jump to the ‘Khalistan’ explanation a little too soon?

We move on to discuss APJ Abdul Kalama’s death and the culture of obituary writing in the Indian media. Last we discuss Yakub Memon’s hanging and the border idea of the death penalty. Would doing away with the death sentence affect the crime rate in India? A few of us don’t agree with each other’s views on capital punishment but that’s ok, a healthy debate gives space to new ideas.

For Reference:

1. NPR podcast: 3 Things To Know About NPR’s Policy Regarding Offensive Language

2. Firstpost piece on Gurdaspur attack: Gurdaspur terror attack: Why the strike in Punjab is worrying for India

3. DailyO article: Kalam was no great man: Don’t let news of death confuse you

4. Arunabh’s piece on the Pakistan media’s coverage of Gurdaspur terror attack: Pakistani media’s response to the Gurdaspur attack: sceptical, caustic and hilarious in equal measure

5. Supreme Court: A 24-week pregnant teen can abort if doctors permit

6. Praful Bidwai’s piece published in 2002: ‘Missile Man’ as India’s President

7. Khushwant Singh’s obituary for R. K. Narayan: Blue Hawaii Yoghurt

8. B Raman’s article on Rediff: Why Yakub Memon must not be hanged

9. Sheela Bhatt’s piece on Rediff.

10. Abhinandan’s blog: Is Justice Revenge?

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