Podcast
Hafta 208: Priyanka’s entry, Caravan defamation case, Mahagathbandhan & more
In this Hafta, Hartosh Singh Bal, Caravan‘s political editor, joins Newslaundry managing editor Raman Kirpal, editor Manisha Pande, opinion writer Anand Vardhan and host Abhinandan Sekhri. The group discusses Priyanka Gandhi’s official entry into politics, the Mahagathbandhan, Ajit Doval’s son’s defamation plea against the Caravan, EVM hacking and more.
The Caravan’s defamation case becomes a springboard for a discussion on corruption. Abhinandan asks Anand, “Do you really think it is possible…for any prime minister to claim na khaunga na khaane dunga?” Anand replies, “Cronyism and corruption are related to it, they are a part of the body politic of elite accommodation, particularly visible in third-world political societies. I think all parties have this patronage system.” Hartosh adds: “People with an average income, below a crore, are not represented in our Parliament, simply because that is what has happened to our politics. It is today a plutocracy, or a democracy of the rich, in terms of who’s appointed to power and it is getting propagated by our easy acceptance of that cronyism.”
The panel also discusses the Mahagathbandhan and Mamta Banerjee as a prime ministerial candidate. Manisha asks, “Is she really positioning herself as a prime ministerial candidate?” Raman says, “The post-election scenario is supposed to decide who is going to be the prime minister…Anybody can [be PM], even Mayawati stands a chance.”
The impregnability of electronic voting machines is also discussed. Abhinandan recalls the paper ballot set up. “The security was so lax, if you had a camera you could basically go anywhere…you could take the camera straight into the ballot box, the office.” Anand describes Syed Shuja’s claims as “dangerous” because “these kinds of conspiracy theories stick to people’s psyche…to stage such a press conference in London is saying India is a banana republic…it does a great deal of disservice to the history of Indian elections.”
Listen up! There’s more.
References:
A review of #NLHafta by Vijay and Akshat
Recommendations:
Manisha
Hartosh
Caravan Subscription for upcoming cover stories
Raman
Anand
Abhinandan
Produced by Kartik Nijhawan, edited by Samarendra K Dash and recorded by Anil Kumar.
You can also listen to all our podcasts on the Newslaundry App and get updates about all our podcasts via Twitter and Facebook.
Android: http://bit.ly/2jTtG3x
Also Read
-
India’s lost decade: How LGBTQIA+ rights fared under BJP, and what manifestos promise
-
Another Election Show: Meet journalist Shambhu Kumar in fray from Bihar’s Vaishali
-
‘Pralhad Joshi using Neha’s murder for poll gain’: Lingayat seer Dingaleshwar Swami
-
Corruption woes and CPIM-Congress alliance: The TMC’s hard road in Murshidabad
-
Know Your Turncoats, Part 10: Kin of MP who died by suicide, Sanskrit activist