Reporters Without Orders Ep 325: NEET, 3 decades of secrecy, and SP’s poll strategy

This week, host Tanishka Sodhi is joined by Newslaundry’s Avdhesh Kumar and independent journalists Alishan Jafri and Nidhi Suresh.

The discussion begins as Alishan talks about his report on the sense of betrayal and anger felt by NEET aspirants after 67 students scored the top rank, in a “doubtful and faulty” result. The possibility of meritorious students making it to prestigious institutes stands diminished.

The conversation moves on to the horrific rape of a minor who was sexually abused for two years, first when she was just 12 years old. The child born out of the crime reunited with his mother years later, and pushed her to file an FIR, lifting the veil of secrecy surrounding such incidents. The accused were convicted and sentenced to 10 years in jail last month. Nidhi speaks about her experience covering the case.

Avdhesh chips in, talking about his report on how the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party turned around its poll fortunes in the electorally crucial state of Uttar Pradesh. It was a “PDA” formula that helped the party succeed. 

Tune in.

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Timecodes

00:00:00 - Introduction

00:02:11 - NEET Issue

00:19:30 - Battle for Justice

00:31:02 - PDA over NDA

00:46:49 - Recommendations

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Produced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, recorded by Anil Kumar.