This week on NL Hafta, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande, and Jayashree Arunachalam are joined by journalist and writer Samrat X.

Samrat begins by explaining the nuances of the recent post-poll violence in West Bengal. “It’s not new to Bengal,” he says. “It goes back to the time of the Congress and CPIM.” He emphasises that the BJP adding communal colour to the violence can lead to “volcanization” in the state.

On the courts stepping in with respect to the poor handling of Covid in the country, Jayashree says, “It baffles me that it’s been four weeks and we still see SOS messages, oxygen shortages, and health aid being stuck at customs.” With respect to the IPL being postponed, Manisha argues that to be “completely ignorant of what’s happening around and just saying we need something for entertainment is ridiculous”.

The conversation then shifts to BJP MP Tejasvi Surya’s communalisation of a purported bed scam in Bengaluru. They also talk about the “long overdue” permanent suspension of Kangana Ranaut’s Twitter handle, and a lot more.

Listen!

Hafta letters: Twitter fights, good governance, vaccine anecdata