Reporters Without Orders Ep 86: PMC Bank crisis, Maharashtra and Haryana Assembly elections, and more

In this episode of Reporters Without Orders, host Snigdha Sharma and Newslaundry correspondents Meghnad S and Basant Kumar decode the PMC Bank crisis, the “real issues” in the upcoming Maharashtra and Haryana Assembly elections, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s plogging on the Mamallapuram beach on October 12. 

They start off by discussing the news that rightfully made the news. Meghnad explains how cooperative banks function: “Cooperative banks, in general, are a scam.” Basant notes the sacking of 25,000 Home Guards in Uttar Pradesh, arguing that it should not have happened. “Instead of giving jobs, they’re snatching them away,” Basant complains of the government.

What didn’t make news this week but should have? A party for journalists at I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar’s Delhi home which was paid for by the taxpayer, says Meghnad. 

Basant points to the “invisibility of real issues” in the Maharashtra and Haryana polls, adding, “Nationalism, Ayodhya and Article 370 are the only three issues being raised.” Snigdha shares the news of tea garden workers in Darjeeling going on strike after they were refused their bonuses.

This week’s selection of bizarre news includes the same “exclusive interview” of Home Minister Amit Shah on different TV news channels and a funeral prank in Ireland.

References

Dear taxpayer, you’re throwing a chaat party for journalists at Prakash Javadekar’s place tonight

Jan Soochna Portal Rajasthan

नीतीश राज में तिल-तिल कर मरती आरटीआई

Maharashtra Election Watch: What ails the Congress in Pune?

Recommendations

Meghnad

Succession

The Good Place

Basant

No Nation for Women: Reportage on Rape from India, the World’s Largest Democracy

Snigdha

Empire of Tea: The Asian Leaf that Conquered the World

Produced by Parikshit Sanyal, recorded by Anil Kumar and edited by Umrav Singh.

You can also listen to all our podcasts on the Newslaundry App and get updates about all our podcasts via Twitter and Facebook.