Podcast

Hafta 256: Jharkhand election, Modi’s Speech, citizenship law stir, Delhi winter, and more

In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, and Mehraj D Lone of Newslaundry are joined by Aditya Menon from The Quint.

They begin with a discussion on BJP’s offensive tweet about the Tamil icon EV Ramasamy Periyar. Pointing out the reason for BJP’s dislike for Periyar, Aditya notes, “It’s the Periyar legacy that is preventing the BJP from growing in Tamil Nadu, so they do want to attack the icon somehow.” Mehraj joins in and says it is more to do with ideology than political point-scoring.

Talking about Narendra Modi’s mega rally kicking off the Delhi election campaign, Abhinandan expresses disgust at the messaging that asked people to come and thank Modi. About the falsehoods in the prime minister’s speech for which he was widely criticised, Anand argues that it had to be full of bombast given the prime minister was in a mood for a tactical retreat.

On the Jharkhand election, Manisha says she was impressed by Hemant Soren and how he campaigned and took on the incumbent chief minister, Raghubar Das. Aditya sheds light on the tactics used by Soren’s campaign team which portrayed him as being humble as opposed to Das.

On the subject of Soren winning the election by running a campaign focused on local issues, Mehraj says, “That I think is the only turf that you can fight the BJP on right now, hyperlocal issues.”

Talking about the protests against the citizenship law, Manisha notes that they have largely been peaceful. But this has been completely whitewashed by the media. She adds that this has been used to justify the police’s brutal response. Anand jumps in to speak on behalf of the police, “The police does not share all information with the media also.”

The panel also discuss the Delhi cold, Centrism, and more.

Tune in!

Hafta Letters: On the citizenship law and the role of journalists 

References

Will Take Revenge’: Yogi Adityanath On Protesters Vandalising Public Properties

First notices go out in UP to 28 residents: Pay Rs 14 lakh for damage to property

‘They are lying about it’: Arundhati Roy responds to media outrage over her NPR comments

Jamal Khashoggi: Saudis sentence five to death for journalist’s murder

Tamil Nadu: BJP’s tweet on Periyar stirs controversy, opposition demands apology

BJP posts offensive tweet on Periyar on his death anniversary, gets slammed for it

PM Modi’s l Speech At Mega Rally In Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan

Rahul Gandhi says PM Narendra Modi lying about detention centres, tweets video from Assam

Time to punish tukde-tukde gang for anti-CAA violence in Delhi: Amit Shah

Rahul master of lies; detention camps in Assam set up during Cong rule: BJP

In India, History Literally Rots Away

JMM and its bearded patriarch: Shibu Soren

Hemant Soren meets father, touches feet of Shibu Soren

Mamata Banerjee leads mega protest rally; vows not to allow NRC, CAA in Bengal

Nikhil Wagle’s tweet

Garry Kasparov tweet

How Parents and Doctors Can Support Transgender Children

It’s okay to let your transgender kid transition — even if they might change their mind in the future

Army chief Bipin Rawat’s comments on CAA, NRC protests triggers row; Opposition attacks him

Citizenship Act protests: 16 people killed in Uttar Pradesh, 131 arrested in just one district

First notices go out in UP to 28 residents: Pay Rs 14 lakh for damage to property

Death toll in Meerut violence rises to 5

Bijnor Ground Report: Muslim families flee as UP Police vandalise homes, harass women after clashes over CAA

In Bijnor, UP police add bogus communal angle to citizenship law protests

India police destroyed CCTV cameras at protest

CCTV Videos Counter UP Police Stand On Aligarh University Crackdown

UP minister refuses to meet Muslim victims’ families

How young lawyers are working ‘like a tsunami’ to help detained CAA protesters

Recommendations

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Aditya

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Manisha

You can’t cancel Modi, RSS: Why US-style identity politics won’t help Indian liberals’ fight

Existing govt infrastructure is not conducive to launch NRC. It will lead to chaos, confusion

HaftaLetters: ‘I believe that journalism’s core is based in Leftist and liberal discourse’

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The legacy of Kristallnacht

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Is the FDA Too Conservative or Too Aggressive?

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Produced by Ivneet Kaur, recorded by Manoj Kumar, edited by Samarendra K Dash.

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