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Hafta 480: Indian think tanks, Congress’s inevitability, ‘Ram’ in election campaigns
The podcast where we discuss the news of the week.
This week, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, and Jayashree Arunachalam are joined by policy researcher Yamini Aiyar and senior journalist Rasheed Kidwai.
On the challenges facing think tanks in India, Yamini says working in policy has “moved from jholawala inputs to suit-boot inputs” over the years, referring to the increased corporatisation.
The panel then discusses the Congress manifesto, and the party’s relevance in the upcoming elections. Abhinandan asks, “Is the Congress inevitable?” Rasheed says the grand old party is “not a dead body. It is very much alive and kicking.”
The conversation then moves on to the controversy around Ramayana fame actor Arun Govil campaigning in Meerut with a photograph of the deity Ram. On the use of religion for votes, Rasheed says it’s “not an issue” for voters in India.
This and a whole lot more. Tune in!
Hafta letters: Modi vs Rahul, biases, mainstream media
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Song: Saathi Haath Badhana
Timecodes
00:07:09 - Policy research in India
00: 17:41 - Headlines
00:27:09 - Think tanks in India
00:38:13 - Is the Congress inevitable?
00:59:50 - Use of religion in election campaign
01:22:31 - Letters
01:55:19 - Recommendations
References
On evidence, policy-making, and critiquing it in a polarised polity
Techno-welfare – delivered by Modi: How cash transfers are manufacturing political power in India
The House of Scindias: A Saga of Power, Politics and Intrigue
Neta Abhineta: Bollywood Star Power in Indian Politics
BJP Kuki MLA Paolienlal Haokip on crime against women in Manipur, governments' action | NL Interview
Sitaram Yechury on caste, China and ‘anti-Dalit’ communists | What’s Your Ism
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Check out our previous Hafta recommendations.
Produced and recorded by Priyali Dhingra, edited by Samarendra K Dash and Umrav Singh.
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