Hafta letters: Modi’s Rajya Sabha speech, Tipu’s rockets, Manisha’s sound effects

One of the biggest misdeeds of this government is encouraging or not acting on the lynchings that are happening more frequently. Everything else seems bearable, but this one is just hitting it hard, the number of families losing their loved ones for no reason. It's becoming impossible to follow the news any longer! How can we save innocent people from these thugs?

Anonymous

***

Dear Newslaundry and NL Hafta,

I am writing in reference to the last Hafta 419. In my view, Mr Modi's speech in the Rajya Sabha was not an expression of "arrogance" as was expressed on your show. I believe it was meant to be a threat to anyone who dares to question and/or oppose him. I feel that you cannot take Mr Modi's speech in Parliament in solo without pairing it with the actions that his government has taken. His government's tax department raided BBC offices, he and his government have held absolute silence on Adani, and the Lok Sabha speaker expunged parts of his opposition's speech which questioned him about Adani. The words reveal Mr Modi to be someone who knows that he will not face any consequences for any of his actions because he has consolidated all political power to himself. 

Meanwhile, you folks are doing an astounding job of reporting accurate (and real) news – keep it up!! 

Rakesh

***

Hi, like your podcasts. But can you guys speak one at a time? I understand your excitement, but please let the guest finish their sentences. If not, it would sound like "mann ki baat". I felt this strongly when Irfan Habib was speaking. 

Roopesh

***

Big thanks to Manisha for recommending the Empire podcast. Loving every minute of it! But as a result, it's been hard to be friends with the English in my social circle. Although they say "never say never", I never want to set foot in the UK. I feel that immigrants from the subcontinent in the west have pent up resentment for all westerners. On the other hand, immigrants from the UK go about their business as if nothing ever transpired. Some even glorify the empire, swoon over the monarchy, and argue that the empire provided India the means to develop and civilise. Thanks and cheers ;) 

Rohan

***

Tipu's battlefield innovations, especially rockets, were the subject of discussion in last Hafta. The American national anthem has a direct connection with this.

The anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner, celebrates the fact that the American flag stood intact over Fort McHenry after 25 hours of shelling with rockets by the British navy during the war of 1812. These rockets – the Congreve rockets – were created by a British inventor Will Congreve directly based on (or copied from) Tipu's rockets used in the Anglo-Mysore wars (the British stole them after Tipu's defear in the fourth war).

And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.

R

***

Hi Manisha,

I was a bit surprised that you did not see the connection between IT raids on Newslaundry and socialist policy framework.

You are right that socialist policies are about "welfare", which essentially means that government and bureaucrats have the right to limit the freedom of any private business or individual who is not working in public welfare as per them.

Like taking tax money and giving it to bureaucrats to disburse as they see fit, or stopping Rapido/Uber bike riders from offering cheap rides, or stopping education institutes from running profitably.

Just like health and education are considered public good by socialists and state can regulate them as they see fit, same way "news and information" can be considered a public good. If private organisations like Newslaundry are not running it in public good as defined by "elected representatives of society", their designated bureaucrat can use their power to investigate and enforce "good of public" by raids. Isn't the logic simple?

Uddalak

***

Hello Newslaundry,

My question is for Abhinandan.

I have seen you posting multiple times the link to Vivek Agnihotri's infamous facts-are-not-facts interview. Yes, he did come across as a not-so-smart person in the interview. But why discredit the movie Kashmir Files completely based on that interview? Yes, it is not a completely accurate movie and there is a lot of politics attached to it. But there is a lot of truth shown in the movie and it is a well made film craftwise. But aren't movies like Jai Bhim propaganda too? Where every lower caste person is shown innocent in that film. There are many cases of people getting arrested on false SC/ST Atrocities Act and I personally know a few as well. No movie is made on that subject. While movies like Jai Bhim are appreciated by the liberal class, films like Kashmir Files are discredited completely. There is hardly any nuanced discussion on this subject. 

Anil

***

Hi, loved the Hafta on the two pharma companies' spurious medicines. Loved listening to Mr Prashant Reddy. He made it so simple for non-pharma persons as well. Huge respect!!

Also, I love Manisha's phooo sound effects during Haftas. I think I have fallen in love with her!! #GirlCrush

Regards and huge cheers!

Sudipta