This week Newslaundry panel’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Raman Kirpal, Jayashree Arunachalam and Anand Vardhan are joined by Asmita Nandy, a journalist with The Quint.

The conversation starts with the ongoing farmers protest. The panel discusses how similar laws have impacted Bihar’s farmers. Anand believes that “farmers in Bihar have not shown disagreement to this bill.” Asmita talks about how discontent against the Ambanis and Adanis has always existed. The panel also discusses the various criticisms that surround the new farm laws. Jayashree believes that the actual problem is “breaking down an existing structure without knowing how to replace it.”

The discussion then moves on to the Central Vista Project, the recently held foundation laying ceremony, and the Prime Minister’s speech that followed the event. Abhinandan believes that the PM, in his speech, “sold the construction of the new Parliament building so well, that the Supreme Court will not be able to give a verdict against the construction.” Raman agrees and adds, “Everything seems to be dictated by only one person.” Jayashree also brings up the timing of the ‘bhumi pujan’ saying it was very deliberately made to coincide with the farmers’ protest.

The conversation moves on to NDTV’s report on how the Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech proposals for "emergency vaccine use" were not cleared over "inadequate safety and efficacy data". The fact-checking wing of the government's Press Information Bureau claimed NDTV's report was "fake"even though the same news was reported by other media houses. Jayashree brings up the “too much democracy” fiasco and the panel discusses if this shows that the government is restricting media houses.

The panel also discusses social media, Love Jihad and a lot more.

Tune in!

Song: Don Mclean - Vincent

Hafta letters: Farmer protests and the subscriber-funded news model

Timecodes

2:37 - Headlines

6:08 - Farmer's Protest

21:59 - Arvind Kejriwal on House Arrest

30:48 - Love Jihad

35:15 - Central Vista Project

50:44 - Jallikattu Goes For Oscar

52:35 - DGCI Asks Serum And Bharat Biotech For More Data And NDTV Fake News

1:09:50 - Love Jihad

1:13:21 - Subscriber Mails

1:26:55 - Recommendations

References

Is Jallikattu the right choice for the Oscars?

GoM lays out plan for govt’s media outreach

Recommendations

Asmita

ANI, Srivastava Group named in massive EU disinformation campaign to promote Modi government’s interests

The Image Makers - How ANI reports the government’s version of truth

Raman

Reform, as per Mr Kant

Room 2806: The Accusation

Shekhar Gupta’s Forked Tongue

Jayashree

In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette

Anand

Punjab & Bihar: tale of 2 states — one slowing, one rising — and case for farm reforms

How Bihar recorded growth but Punjab lagged behind and why farm reforms are important

Manglesh Dabral

Abhinandan

Farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal on ‘unconstitutional’ farm laws, and an appeal to the media

Farm Bill Explained 2020

NL Recess With Gulzar

Produced and recorded by Aditya Varier and Lipi Vats, edited by Harshula Kumar.

Transcription by Riya Agarwal.

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