This week on Hafta, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Jayashree Arunachalam and Anand Vardhan are joined by Kallol Bhattacherjee, Senior Assistant Editor at The Hindu.

The discussion opens with the Dehradun lynching, sparking a broader conversation on racism, social tensions, and the role of law enforcement in India. Abhinandan underscores that “leadership plays a crucial role”, noting how the rhetoric of public figures shapes societal behaviour.

Manisha argues that the core danger is a culture of aimless, drunken male violence that can attach any available prejudice to its victim. “They would’ve done this to anyone there… it could’ve been a woman, it could’ve been a couple, it could’ve been a Muslim,” she notes, stressing that slurs get activated at the second stage of a fight, once “deep-rooted prejudice” is looking for a target.

Kallol points out, “These attacks are facilitated by this overall sense of impunity,” suggesting that a lack of accountability exacerbates such incidents. 

The discussion then turns to Bangladesh, which paints a picture of a country grappling with internal strife and external perception. Kallol provides an in-depth analysis of Bangladesh’s political framework, pointing out the underlying instability and its implications for foreign relations. 

He emphasises, "There is a very big factor of impunity," highlighting how a lack of support for the bureaucracy has destabilised governance, leading to a fragile state of law and order.

India's response, as Kallol analyses, shows a shift in diplomatic language, emphasising a preference for relations with the people of Bangladesh rather than specific governments. This reflects India's cautious approach toward a neighbour amid political unpredictability. 

The panel also touches upon the New Year’s Eve strike call by gig workers on Swiggy, Zomato and other quick‑commerce platforms.

This and a lot more. Tune in!

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