This week on NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal, Mehraj D Lone, and Anand Vardhan of Newslaundry are joined by Abhishek Angad, principal correspondent of the Indian Express in Jharkhand.

They talk about the political upheaval caused in Jharkhand by the BJP’s attempt to pull down Hemant Soren’s government. Abhishek explains the political situation leading to the confidence vote, which Soren won, and how the chief minister may still face disqualification over a mining lease he gave out in his own name while he was the state’s mining minister. “Soren has given multiple reasons to justify his act and with the ST vote share there is a very less chance that he can be disqualified at any point,” Abhishek adds.

They also discuss the Income Tax “surveys” targeting the think tank Centre for Policy Research, the NGO Oxfam India and the charitable trust Independent And Public Spirited Media Foundation, and what could be the reason for such action. “This may not be coming from the top,” Anand argues.

Another subject of discussion is the singling out of bowler Arshdeep Singh for communally charged abuse on social media after the Indian cricket team went out to Pakistan in Asia Cup 2022.

Tune in.

Hafta letters: Reporting on climate change, caste in Islam, pronunciations