This week on Hafta, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande and Jayashree Arunachalam are joined by journalist and entrepreneur Govindraj Ethiraj. 

The discussion starts with the recently concluded World Economic Forum held in Davos. Abhinandan sharply questions the performative nature of Indian participation at the forum, criticising chief ministers for announcing Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Indian companies on foreign soil. “We are funding the circus,” Jayashree remarks bluntly, calling Davos a “clown show” driven by optics rather than outcomes.

Govindraj also agrees that announcing MoUs, especially with Indian firms, is a misallocation of time and attention, given how the WEF offers leaders “an opportunity to gauge the temperature of what is happening in the world order right now”.  

The discussion also touches on the much-touted India-EU free trade agreement, which European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen described as the “mother of all deals”. Govindraj, however, tempers expectations, warning that free trade agreements are often narrow and slow-moving. “The first bottle of cheaper Scotch won’t arrive tomorrow – it could take five years,” he quips.

He further adds, “The red lines for India are clearly dairy and agricultural products… You can’t do something which immediately jeopardises your farming lobby. ​So, if you take away agriculture and cheese, what’s left now?”

From Davos, the conversation shifts to press freedom in Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking on the recent summonses issued to national media reporters by the J&K Police, Manisha remarks, “Over the last one year, at least 25 journalists have been summoned... anything at all can land you in a police station being questioned,” all in the name of ‘public disorder’ or ‘public safety’.

Drawing a contrast between reporters in New Delhi and Kashmir, Abhinandan says, “It’s very difficult for someone in J&K to tough it out because there is no insulation. Delhi provides great insulation; that’s why those headquartered in Delhi have to step up and protect their reporters who are not in Delhi.

This and a lot more. Tune in!

Hafta Letters: Abhinandan ‘should stop generalising’ and Jayashree’s ‘tedious tirade’

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Song:  Luka Chuppi

Timecodes

00:00:00 - Introductions and announcements

00:04:40  - Headlines 

00:17:15 - WEF Davos / India- Eu trade deals 

00: 55:59 - Govind’ recommendations

01:08:51 - Kashmir reporter’s summoning 

01:17:35 - Letters

01:28:07 -  Recommendations

References

Republic Day offer

Kashmir Ki Kahani

Naxalbari Comic

Recommendations

Abhinandan 

Power ballot: Japanese PM’s electoral gamble

Equality is not the enemy of growth – oligarchy is

Manisha 

Jerusalem

Burma Chronicles 

Jayashree 

A Global Explosion of Absurdly Spicy Foods

Sneha: 40 Years of Suicide Prevention in India, From Helpline to Policy Reform

Govindraj Ethiraj 

The Core Report

Check out previous Hafta recommendations, references, songs and letters.

Produced by Amit Pandey, with assistant production by Ashish. Sound by Anil Kumar.