Hafta letters: Rahul Gandhi, Chandrachud interview, media’s role

Raman

Dear Hafta Team, while discussing the issue of ‘vote chori’,  Manisha asked whether certain manipulations can be linked to a ‘rigged democracy’.  Based on reports from The Scroll, Newslaundry, The News Minute, The Reporter’s Collective, statements of the ECI in the Supreme Court, and Rahul Gandhi’s own press briefings, it is clear to me that changes to the voter list are designed to strike at the heart of democracy – this is not just an opinion from a politician. Tampering with the electoral rolls, regardless of the scale or who benefits, is illegal. I think we need to talk about this in greater detail. Keep up the good work. 

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Vaibhav

Dear Hafta team,

I think you were a little unfair to Rahul Gandhi and the Congress in this episode, for two reasons. Firstly, to me it sounded like discussing the grammar of the warning when your building is burning down. Secondly, what they are doing is not their job at all. The opposition’s job is to contribute to policy-making and hold the government accountable. You know this better than most that due to the current state of Lashkar-e-Noida, the amplification that investigative stories used to get earlier is not happening now. On the contrary, godi media works tirelessly to downplay and obfuscate all investigative reporting that is happening today. The Congress is, in fact, helping you in bringing such foundational issues to the forefront. Thanks for the great work that you do. Keep it up!

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Soumya

Hi NL team! Thanks for taking care of my request. Absolutely loved the way Sreenivasan Jain interviewed Justice Chandrachud. He was really amazing. Please share my feedback with him. Only through such interviews, one really gets to know the thought process of such eminent personalities. Now, after giving you such wonderful feedback, I hope you will fulfill one more request of mine. Please ask Sreenivasan to interview our current CEC.😋

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Cian D’ Lima

Hi Abhinandan,

I have been noticing how difficult it is to reach out to Amazon Support for issues related to the delivery of my packages. 

Just today, I missed a call from the Amazon delivery partner, and he was kind enough to mark my order as “rejected by customer” without setting foot in my apartment building. This is yet another incident in the year. Earlier, I ordered a wheelchair for my disabled sister’s medical appointment.

It was difficult to find the customer care and inform them about the incident. Our bank and other utilities have a customer care number online. But for Amazon, I am unable to reach out to customer care. I do not see the option available even on the app to reach out. 

I was hoping this topic would be something other subscribers would face and have something your teams can look at.

Thanks,

Cian

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Bibhudutta Pani

Hi all,

Manu Joseph’s interview by Abhinandan was engaging and insightful. I want to pick the panels’ brains about a question that went unexplored. Joseph argues that “Modi is a creation of the liberal media,” as scrutiny over events like Godhra bolstered his political persona. 

1. Should the media, then, avoid questioning power if it risks strengthening certain individuals? 

2. Or would that be unethical, since the press’s duty is to hold power accountable, regardless of unintended political outcomes that may go on to harm citizens’ rights?

Regards,

Bibhu

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Amrinder Singh Hundal

Though Manu Joseph gives you vibes of obnoxiousness, as mentioned by a subscriber in the NL hafta of mid-September, he is solid socio-politically. After reading the first few pages of ‘WTPDKU’ and listening to this episode the same day, I can easily assume why our subscriber friend judged him so. Manu doesn’t put the marginalised on a high pedestal. He doesn’t write to gather sympathy of the well-to-do like us, by extolling the marginalised . He just puts forth psychological deviances of the marginalised, thus humanising them. He humanises the marginalised by portraying them as similar to us, though they are our counter-beings living in a counter-universe on the next street. He writes that they are human beings with sentience. 

Echo-chambers should be avoided to widen intellectual horizons. The subscriber is ‘otherising’ Manu, the same thing he blames him for.

Amrinder Singh Hundal(हुंदल)

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Letter 2

Hola NL wale mitron,

Shardul, Manisha, and Dhanya were discussing the no fu**s given by the elite. In India, wealth or status often does not translate into civic responsibility. Many well-to-do Indians neglect scooping their dog’s poop, as the panel was discussing, reflecting a deeper cultural inertia and numbness toward shared spaces. In contrast, when I was in New Zealand, I observed a white girl on a long hike to Kitekite Falls, meticulously bagging her dog’s waste, even when it was off the path. This difference highlights how social conditioning, environmental consciousness have shaped the West, while Indian elites remain disengaged from collective responsibility. The irony is that they are commonly seen bitching about the scruffy surroundings of the poor or even lecturing them audaciously. Request the panel to name their favourite newspaper as far as reporting and opinion pieces are concerned.

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Ashwin B 

Hi,

Following on the issue which I raised in May 2025 (email correlation below), I am unable to watch video interviews on the iOS App (V1.0.7). I am now having the same issue with NL hafta. The app doesn’t recall the timestamp I paused it on. Moreover, when I move to a different application for a minute or so and then return to NL, it again refreshes, and the app goes into a buffering limbo. 

Until the app podcast player is fully functional, please include YT or Spotify links to watch/listen at our own pace. 

I have been listening to Hafta and other videos for more than 6-7 years. However, my NL consumption is now limited to just articles via social media because of all these issues. 

Thanks,

Ashwin

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Kuldeep Kaur

Hi NL team,

Really loved the Chandrachud interview with Sreenivas. Couldn't help but wonder why Chandrachud kept calling him Vasu. It did serve as a reminder of the fact that both of them come from the same social milieu, the creme de la creme of Indian society, which begs the question: Is the judiciary really representative of India?

Secondly, the Bollywood and regional actors kowtowing to Modi is disgusting, but I can't find the exact words to describe why it feels wrong, even though I know it is. Maybe the panel can help? Also, is it fair to judge these people as spineless? I usually keep a fair amount of distance from any pro-Modi ‘celebrity’ as a matter of principle. Any thoughts? 

Also, a Ravish collab is long overdue

Keep up the great work!

Nav

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