Newslaundry Podcasts

A newslaundry podcast which gives you a quick summary of the important news of the day. Click here to support Newslaundry: http://bit.ly/paytokeepnewsfree See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Weekly wrap of events of the week peppered with context, commentary and opinion by a superstar panel. Click here to support Newslaundry: http://bit.ly/paytokeepnewsfree See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A weekly wrap up of consumable and non-consumable entertainment curated, especially for the internet age. Hosted by Abhinandan Sekhri and Rajyasree Sen. Click here to support Newslaundry: http://bit.ly/paytokeepnewsfree See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A catalogue of all Newslaundry podcasts and shows that hadn't found a home of their own yet. NL vs NL, NL Interviews, NL Reports, and much more. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Young Reporters talk about major stories of the week and what it took to cover them. Click here to support Newslaundry: http://bit.ly/paytokeepnewsfree See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

हफ्ते भर के समाचार का समावेश| संचालन: अतुल चौरसिया https://www.newslaundry.com/hindi Click here to support Newslaundry: http://bit.ly/paytokeepnewsfree See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A deep-dive podcast from Newslaundry. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

NL Hafta newslaundry@gmail.com Newslaundry.com no http://i1.sndcdn.com/avatars-000678330215-2eee5z-original.jpg NL Hafta https://www.newslaundry.com/subscription tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/764791051 Hafta 264: Amulya Leona, Trump’s visit, AAP’s Hanuman politics, and more Tue, 19 May 2020 13:03:00 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-264 01:56:42 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Mehraj D Lone, and Anand Vardhan of Newslaundry are joined by Shelly Walia, senior editor at the Quint. Rather surprisingly, this episode kicks off with a healthy debate on whether litti chokha belongs to Uttar Pradesh or Bihar. The panellists then engage in an extended discussion on their favourite regional delicacies. Mehraj finally ends the discussion with a tongue-in-cheek remark: “Vegetarian and delicacy don’t go together in the same sentence.” Shelly then turns to the subject of Amulya Leona, a young woman from Karnataka, being slapped with a sedition case for saying “Pakistan Zindabad” at an AIMIM rally in Hyderabad. Mehraj explains how this issue pertains to which side of the free speech debate one stands on. Shelly argues that the BJP latches onto such statements to divert attention from real problems. “Just think of the things that you got to hear before the Delhi election when it was constantly, like, India, Pakistan, Muslim, Hindu, current puhuch jayega and goli maaro. The kind of shit that is being said by our ministers...and here is a 20-year-old ‘woke’ woman who says something like that and we call her idiotic. I don’t think that’s a fair thing because I just feel things are going off track.” Abhinandan disagrees, arguing that every protest can’t be about everything. “If every protest becomes bhadaas nikalna, then the repercussions will also be bhadaas nikalne wala,” he says. While Mehraj bats for absolute freedom to say whatever one wants, Abhinandan puts the AIMIM at fault for not vetting what was to be spoken from their stage. “I think it is a dumb thing to give platform to someone like that to make a fool of themselves. Of course, the person has the right to make a fool of themselves, but is that good for the movement I am fighting for?” On Donald Trump’s visit and the possibility that there won’t be a trade agreement, Anand opines that the fact the US president is visiting India alone is a symbolic step towards de-hyphenating India-Pakistan. “We are in a phase where the big power and the emerging power equations would be more guarded by complex interdependence rather than clear takeaways from each other.” Bringing in a less discussed nuance, Abhinandan argues that Trump’s visit will refuel the BJP’s discourse which has been dulled by its electoral loss in Delhi. The panellists also talk about AAP legislator Saurabh Bharadwaj organising monthly Hanuman Chalisa prayers in his constituency, and his demand for erecting a Hanuman statue at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya; the Supreme Court’s order granting women permanent commission in the Army; the importance of formal education; the New York Times publishing an article by Taliban leader Sirajuddin Haqqani; and much more. Tune in! In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, M… In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Mehraj D Lone, and Anand Vardhan of Newslaundry are joined by Shelly Walia, senior editor at the Quint. Rather surprisingly, this episode kicks off with a healthy debate on whether litti chokha belongs to Uttar Pradesh or Bihar. The panellists then engage in an extended discussion on their favourite regional delicacies. Mehraj finally ends the discussion with a tongue-in-cheek remark: “Vegetarian and delicacy don’t go together in the same sentence.” Shelly then turns to the subject of Amulya Leona, a young woman from Karnataka, being slapped with a sedition case for saying “Pakistan Zindabad” at an AIMIM rally in Hyderabad. Mehraj explains how this issue pertains to which side of the free speech debate one stands on. Shelly argues that the BJP latches onto such statements to divert attention from real problems. “Just think of the things that you got to hear before the Delhi election when it was constantly, like, India, Pakistan, Muslim, Hindu, current puhuch jayega and goli maaro. The kind of shit that is being said by our ministers...and here is a 20-year-old ‘woke’ woman who says something like that and we call her idiotic. I don’t think that’s a fair thing because I just feel things are going off track.” Abhinandan disagrees, arguing that every protest can’t be about everything. “If every protest becomes bhadaas nikalna, then the repercussions will also be bhadaas nikalne wala,” he says. While Mehraj bats for absolute freedom to say whatever one wants, Abhinandan puts the AIMIM at fault for not vetting what was to be spoken from their stage. “I think it is a dumb thing to give platform to someone like that to make a fool of themselves. Of course, the person has the right to make a fool of themselves, but is that good for the movement I am fighting for?” On Donald Trump’s visit and the possibility that there won’t be a trade agreement, Anand opines that the fact the US president is visiting India alone is a symbolic step towards de-hyphenating India-Pakistan. “We are in a phase where the big power and the emerging power equations would be more guarded by complex interdependence rather than clear takeaways from each other.” Bringing in a less discussed nuance, Abhinandan argues that Trump’s visit will refuel the BJP’s discourse which has been dulled by its electoral loss in Delhi. The panellists also talk about AAP legislator Saurabh Bharadwaj organising monthly Hanuman Chalisa prayers in his constituency, and his demand for erecting a Hanuman statue at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya; the Supreme Court’s order granting women permanent commission in the Army; the importance of formal education; the New York Times publishing an article by Taliban leader Sirajuddin Haqqani; and much more. Tune in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/768006961 Hafta 265: Delhi violence, Trump’s visit, Weinstein’s conviction, and more Tue, 19 May 2020 13:02:56 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/hafta-265-full 01:41:09 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Mehraj D Lone, and Raman Kirpal of Newslaundry are joined by Neha Dixit, journalist and professor at Ashoka University. The podcast starts with a discussion on media reports on the Delhi riots. Neha says, “Lots of people are claiming that their relatives are missing. Dead bodies have been dumped at the hospital with no identification made since the investigation officers are too busy to get the post-mortem started. So the death toll will still go up.” Talking about the overnight transfer of Justice S Muralidhar, Abhinandan says, “It is rather alarming the brazenness with which the state is carrying out whatever their project is.“ Manisha reasons why the violence is centred in North East Delhi, saying, ”This is where Amit shah gave his ‘Shaheen bagh ko jhatka lagega’ speech, along with a large number of unemployed youth from both sides present there.” Regarding the Delhi police’s inaction during the riots, Abhinandan says this “disrespect” now for the police will outlast Modi and Shah. “The police have shot themselves in the foot.” Mehraj talks about the judiciary’s role in the violence. “If you go back and see books and reports on instances of communal violence since 1947...if you take the names of the places away, you can’t tell one from the other,” he says. “Everywhere, the police has sided with the rioters and the judiciary has been stacked against the victims. The only difference this time is that everything is being recorded on camera.” Raman believes the riots were orchestrated. ”The circumstantial evidence, so far, are strongly indicating that the people who orchestrated all this came from the border areas,” he tells the panel. The panel also discusses the media coverage of Trump’s visit, the Delhi government’s inaction during the violence, #MeToo in India, and more. Tune in! In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, M… In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Mehraj D Lone, and Raman Kirpal of Newslaundry are joined by Neha Dixit, journalist and professor at Ashoka University. The podcast starts with a discussion on media reports on the Delhi riots. Neha says, “Lots of people are claiming that their relatives are missing. Dead bodies have been dumped at the hospital with no identification made since the investigation officers are too busy to get the post-mortem started. So the death toll will still go up.” Talking about the overnight transfer of Justice S Muralidhar, Abhinandan says, “It is rather alarming the brazenness with which the state is carrying out whatever their project is.“ Manisha reasons why the violence is centred in North East Delhi, saying, ”This is where Amit shah gave his ‘Shaheen bagh ko jhatka lagega’ speech, along with a large number of unemployed youth from both sides present there.” Regarding the Delhi police’s inaction during the riots, Abhinandan says this “disrespect” now for the police will outlast Modi and Shah. “The police have shot themselves in the foot.” Mehraj talks about the judiciary’s role in the violence. “If you go back and see books and reports on instances of communal violence since 1947...if you take the names of the places away, you can’t tell one from the other,” he says. “Everywhere, the police has sided with the rioters and the judiciary has been stacked against the victims. The only difference this time is that everything is being recorded on camera.” Raman believes the riots were orchestrated. ”The circumstantial evidence, so far, are strongly indicating that the people who orchestrated all this came from the border areas,” he tells the panel. The panel also discusses the media coverage of Trump’s visit, the Delhi government’s inaction during the violence, #MeToo in India, and more. Tune in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/757183321 Hafta 262: PSA slapped on Kashmiri leaders, Delhi election, and more Sat, 14 Mar 2020 15:42:48 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-epiosde-262 01:58:34 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Mehraj D Lone, and Anand Vardhan of Newslaundry are joined by journalist Faye D’souza They discuss the issue of Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah being slapped with the Public Safety Act. Mehraj gives the historical context of the draconian law and what its application entails. Faye says laws like the PSA are emergency laws and "we are obviously no longer in an emergency". “If you join all of these dots, the suggestion that because people are making statements in your opposition you’re going to keep them in detention is actually very worrying for a democracy,” she adds. Abhinandan expresses his concern over Prime Minister Narendra Modi using a quote from a satirical website to denounce Abdullah. "When the PM says something that's a headline on a satire website, it shows the level of politics we have gone into now,” he remarks. Faye points out that the government has not provided any evidence that the Kashmiri leaders intended to incite violence. Even if they wanted to mobilise people to protest in case they were released, it would be their democratic right. Abhinandan then discusses comedian Kunal Kamra’s ambush of Republic TV boss Arnab Goswami with Prateek Goyal, Newslaundry's correspondent based in Pune. Prateek argues that by tweeting a mildly abusive rant against Goswami, Kamra did what he accuses Goswami of. Abhinandan, on the other hand, sticks to his argument that people in positions of power need to be held accountable for their conduct. Anand adds to the discussion saying one should stick to more formal language in such instances, especially in public. “The language of his heckling, in my view, was in poor taste," he says, referring to Kamra. Faye chimes in, “Apart from the legal aspect, there’s the ethical grey that our country seems to have discarded.” Manisha says people need to file civil defamation suits against mediapersons who daily demonise them. “If you are going to keep saying something that puts lives in jeopardy, it’s no joke anymore,” she says. “And you can't keep appealing to their good sense.” Moving on to the next big news, Manisha expresses sadness that the Delhi election discourse does not include pollution as a major issue. On the TV coverage of the election, she says, “I don't think anywhere in the world it is possible for people – and blame for this is on the media – to be so careless about something so important.” The panellists also discuss Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's singing of Hanuman Chalisa. Faye articulates her displeasure at the fact that it was a journalist who asked Kejriwal to recite the prayer. “The credibility of that news network and the journalist went completely down the drain,” she says. In the context of the Aam Aadmi Party's campaign rhetoric, Mehraj argues, "If you’re competing for the hardcore Hindu vote with the BJP, you are not going to get that. Because the BJP has a monopoly on that.” Reflecting the panel's collective displeasure at the Delhi election discourse, Anand opines, “Speaking from a distance of approximately a thousand kilometres in Bihar, I think the election’s coverage has been quite disproportionate to its importance in national politics.” The panellists also talk about how religion has long played a role in India’s electoral politics, the Shiv Sena's shifting ideological positions, and much more. Tune in! In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, M… In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Mehraj D Lone, and Anand Vardhan of Newslaundry are joined by journalist Faye D’souza They discuss the issue of Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah being slapped with the Public Safety Act. Mehraj gives the historical context of the draconian law and what its application entails. Faye says laws like the PSA are emergency laws and "we are obviously no longer in an emergency". “If you join all of these dots, the suggestion that because people are making statements in your opposition you’re going to keep them in detention is actually very worrying for a democracy,” she adds. Abhinandan expresses his concern over Prime Minister Narendra Modi using a quote from a satirical website to denounce Abdullah. "When the PM says something that's a headline on a satire website, it shows the level of politics we have gone into now,” he remarks. Faye points out that the government has not provided any evidence that the Kashmiri leaders intended to incite violence. Even if they wanted to mobilise people to protest in case they were released, it would be their democratic right. Abhinandan then discusses comedian Kunal Kamra’s ambush of Republic TV boss Arnab Goswami with Prateek Goyal, Newslaundry's correspondent based in Pune. Prateek argues that by tweeting a mildly abusive rant against Goswami, Kamra did what he accuses Goswami of. Abhinandan, on the other hand, sticks to his argument that people in positions of power need to be held accountable for their conduct. Anand adds to the discussion saying one should stick to more formal language in such instances, especially in public. “The language of his heckling, in my view, was in poor taste," he says, referring to Kamra. Faye chimes in, “Apart from the legal aspect, there’s the ethical grey that our country seems to have discarded.” Manisha says people need to file civil defamation suits against mediapersons who daily demonise them. “If you are going to keep saying something that puts lives in jeopardy, it’s no joke anymore,” she says. “And you can't keep appealing to their good sense.” Moving on to the next big news, Manisha expresses sadness that the Delhi election discourse does not include pollution as a major issue. On the TV coverage of the election, she says, “I don't think anywhere in the world it is possible for people – and blame for this is on the media – to be so careless about something so important.” The panellists also discuss Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's singing of Hanuman Chalisa. Faye articulates her displeasure at the fact that it was a journalist who asked Kejriwal to recite the prayer. “The credibility of that news network and the journalist went completely down the drain,” she says. In the context of the Aam Aadmi Party's campaign rhetoric, Mehraj argues, "If you’re competing for the hardcore Hindu vote with the BJP, you are not going to get that. Because the BJP has a monopoly on that.” Reflecting the panel's collective displeasure at the Delhi election discourse, Anand opines, “Speaking from a distance of approximately a thousand kilometres in Bihar, I think the election’s coverage has been quite disproportionate to its importance in national politics.” The panellists also talk about how religion has long played a role in India’s electoral politics, the Shiv Sena's shifting ideological positions, and much more. Tune in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/727743361 Hafta 254: Citizenship law, Delhi fire, death penalty, and more Sat, 29 Feb 2020 09:53:01 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-254 01:35:48 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan and Mehraj D Lone of Newslaundry are joined by author and journalist Samrat X. They begin with a discussion on the Citizenship Amendment Bill that has garnered massive attention in the media. Abhinandan questions whether the BJP had anticipated the reaction to the passage of the law. Mehraj responds, “Maybe they even figured this in their calculations and are fine with it. I mean like in Kashmir, they are fine with what happens in Kashmir as long as they get the votes elsewhere." Manisha points to the misconception that persecuted minorities in Afghanistan and Bangladesh can find refugee in India after this law comes into force. Manisha also says she was extremely disappointed that the opposition did not corner Amit Shah in the Parliament over the Citizenship Bill. Talking of the Anaj Mandi fire and its media coverage, Anand says, “I think it has to do with the media’s imagination of the public. In that imagination, the only profitable binary is State versus something or government versus something." He says though there was an air of horror around the incident, because the owner was an ordinary citizen and the people killed were also ordinary citizens, they didn't matter to the media. Samrat adds, “We have an imagination of the poor, where poor lead a miserable life and often die miserable deaths." The panel also discuss the public demand for death penalty to rapists, the British election, and much more. Tune in! In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, M… In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan and Mehraj D Lone of Newslaundry are joined by author and journalist Samrat X. They begin with a discussion on the Citizenship Amendment Bill that has garnered massive attention in the media. Abhinandan questions whether the BJP had anticipated the reaction to the passage of the law. Mehraj responds, “Maybe they even figured this in their calculations and are fine with it. I mean like in Kashmir, they are fine with what happens in Kashmir as long as they get the votes elsewhere." Manisha points to the misconception that persecuted minorities in Afghanistan and Bangladesh can find refugee in India after this law comes into force. Manisha also says she was extremely disappointed that the opposition did not corner Amit Shah in the Parliament over the Citizenship Bill. Talking of the Anaj Mandi fire and its media coverage, Anand says, “I think it has to do with the media’s imagination of the public. In that imagination, the only profitable binary is State versus something or government versus something." He says though there was an air of horror around the incident, because the owner was an ordinary citizen and the people killed were also ordinary citizens, they didn't matter to the media. Samrat adds, “We have an imagination of the poor, where poor lead a miserable life and often die miserable deaths." The panel also discuss the public demand for death penalty to rapists, the British election, and much more. Tune in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/731939323 Hafta 255: Citizenship law, Data Protection Bill, and more Sat, 29 Feb 2020 09:52:48 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-255 01:56:50 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Raman Kirpal, Meghnad S and Mehraj D Lone of Newslaundry are joined by Betwa Sharma, Politics Editor at HuffPost India. They begin with a discussion on the nationwide protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act. Talking about the timing of the protests, Betwa says, “If you had actually built that momentum, maybe the bill wasn’t gonna get passed in the first place.'' Meghnad echoes her view. On the violent police crackdown in Jamia Millia Islamia University and elsewhere, Mehraj points out, “Police are doing this because they know they are not going to be held accountable. In fact, some of them might get rewards and promotions.” He also wonders why anybody in a democracy should need the police’s permission to stage a protest. Raman, discussing the media’s reporting of popular movements, points out, “As reporters, we need to go back to the field and do a deep dive and that's what we have been doing.” As he narrates how Newslaundry reporter Veena Nair ended up on a bus filled with protesters detained by the police, Betwa expresses her dilemma about the extent to which a journalist should be involved in a story. Meghnad says, referring to Veena, “I think her first person account of how she did this is also important where she is the story but she is also doing the story.” Speaking about the Data Protection Bill, Abhinandan says, “Complete privacy I don’t think is possible in today's age.” The question, however, is to what extent personal data of citizens should be available to governments or corporations. The panel also discuss a Pakistani court’s sentencing of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf to death for treason. Tune in! In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, R… In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Raman Kirpal, Meghnad S and Mehraj D Lone of Newslaundry are joined by Betwa Sharma, Politics Editor at HuffPost India. They begin with a discussion on the nationwide protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act. Talking about the timing of the protests, Betwa says, “If you had actually built that momentum, maybe the bill wasn’t gonna get passed in the first place.'' Meghnad echoes her view. On the violent police crackdown in Jamia Millia Islamia University and elsewhere, Mehraj points out, “Police are doing this because they know they are not going to be held accountable. In fact, some of them might get rewards and promotions.” He also wonders why anybody in a democracy should need the police’s permission to stage a protest. Raman, discussing the media’s reporting of popular movements, points out, “As reporters, we need to go back to the field and do a deep dive and that's what we have been doing.” As he narrates how Newslaundry reporter Veena Nair ended up on a bus filled with protesters detained by the police, Betwa expresses her dilemma about the extent to which a journalist should be involved in a story. Meghnad says, referring to Veena, “I think her first person account of how she did this is also important where she is the story but she is also doing the story.” Speaking about the Data Protection Bill, Abhinandan says, “Complete privacy I don’t think is possible in today's age.” The question, however, is to what extent personal data of citizens should be available to governments or corporations. The panel also discuss a Pakistani court’s sentencing of former military ruler Pervez Musharraf to death for treason. Tune in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/738266140 Hafta 257: Modi’s speech, Faiz Ahmad Faiz, Iranian general’s assassination, and more Sat, 29 Feb 2020 09:51:31 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-257 01:13:59 Newslaundry.com no This episode of NL Hafta is hosted by Manisha Pande, who is joined by Mehraj D Lone, Raman Kirpal and Meghnad S of Newslaundry. Manisha starts by asking her colleagues about their highs and lows of the year gone by and their hopes for 2020. They all identify the protests against the new citizenship law as a high and mostly the police’s brutality against the protesters and the government’s indifference as a low. Manisha sums up her highlight of the year thus, “Ordinary people doing ordinary acts of resistance.” She cites as an example the many lawyers who gave legal support for the detained protesters. Talking about Narendra Modi’s speech where he urged Indians protesting against the citizenship law to protest against Pakistan instead, Meghnad exclaims, “We are heading towards a genocide because the signs are all there. We have seen in history how it works.” On Modi and his claims, Raman says, “In recent times, I have not seen any other leader speaking lies through his teeth.” Delving into why the government is not taking a more sensible approach, Manisha argues, “We aren’t doing anything to push Pakistan to be more responsible towards its minorities because that would mean we have to be more responsible towards our minorities.” In a brief discussion on Jaggi Vasudev’s remarks on the citizenship law, Mehraj feels the reason his remarks were amplified by Modi and Amit Shah was because he is a prominent Hindu religious leaders who can speak fluently in English and, thus, can connect with the elite. On Faiz Ahmad Faiz’s poem Hum Dekhengae being denounced as “anti-Hindu”, Mehraj says this happens when we “decontextualise stuff”. Faiz, he points out, is talking of a communist revolution. He adds, “In our daily lives, in the art we create, the words we speak, we use idioms, metaphors that come from the culture we live in.” The panel also discuss the assassination of the Iranian military general Qassem Suleimani by the US, and how it could make the Middle East even more volatile. Tune in! This episode of NL Hafta is hosted by Manisha Pan… This episode of NL Hafta is hosted by Manisha Pande, who is joined by Mehraj D Lone, Raman Kirpal and Meghnad S of Newslaundry. Manisha starts by asking her colleagues about their highs and lows of the year gone by and their hopes for 2020. They all identify the protests against the new citizenship law as a high and mostly the police’s brutality against the protesters and the government’s indifference as a low. Manisha sums up her highlight of the year thus, “Ordinary people doing ordinary acts of resistance.” She cites as an example the many lawyers who gave legal support for the detained protesters. Talking about Narendra Modi’s speech where he urged Indians protesting against the citizenship law to protest against Pakistan instead, Meghnad exclaims, “We are heading towards a genocide because the signs are all there. We have seen in history how it works.” On Modi and his claims, Raman says, “In recent times, I have not seen any other leader speaking lies through his teeth.” Delving into why the government is not taking a more sensible approach, Manisha argues, “We aren’t doing anything to push Pakistan to be more responsible towards its minorities because that would mean we have to be more responsible towards our minorities.” In a brief discussion on Jaggi Vasudev’s remarks on the citizenship law, Mehraj feels the reason his remarks were amplified by Modi and Amit Shah was because he is a prominent Hindu religious leaders who can speak fluently in English and, thus, can connect with the elite. On Faiz Ahmad Faiz’s poem Hum Dekhengae being denounced as “anti-Hindu”, Mehraj says this happens when we “decontextualise stuff”. Faiz, he points out, is talking of a communist revolution. He adds, “In our daily lives, in the art we create, the words we speak, we use idioms, metaphors that come from the culture we live in.” The panel also discuss the assassination of the Iranian military general Qassem Suleimani by the US, and how it could make the Middle East even more volatile. Tune in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/768008587 Chhota Hafta Episode -265 Sat, 29 Feb 2020 09:41:31 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-265 00:34:33 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Mehraj D Lone, and Raman Kirpal of Newslaundry are joined by Neha Dixit, journalist and professor at Ashoka University. The podcast starts with a discussion on media reports on the Delhi riots. Neha believes the death toll will go up, saying, “Dead bodies have been dumped at the hospital with no identification made since the investigation officers are too busy to get the post-mortem started.” Mehraj explains how the police and judiciary responded to instances of communal violence since 1947. The panel also discusses the media coverage of Donald Trump’s visit to India, Harvey Weinstein’s conviction, #MeToo in India, and more. To listen to the full episode, subscribe to Newslaundry. In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, M… In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Mehraj D Lone, and Raman Kirpal of Newslaundry are joined by Neha Dixit, journalist and professor at Ashoka University. The podcast starts with a discussion on media reports on the Delhi riots. Neha believes the death toll will go up, saying, “Dead bodies have been dumped at the hospital with no identification made since the investigation officers are too busy to get the post-mortem started.” Mehraj explains how the police and judiciary responded to instances of communal violence since 1947. The panel also discusses the media coverage of Donald Trump’s visit to India, Harvey Weinstein’s conviction, #MeToo in India, and more. To listen to the full episode, subscribe to Newslaundry. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/753272497 Hafta 261: Budget and Economic Survey, Kunal Kamra, Jamia shooter, and more Sat, 29 Feb 2020 09:40:45 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-ep-261 01:26:03 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of NL Hafta, Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal, Mehraj D Lone and Madhu Trehan are joined by Vivek Kaul, an author who’s been writing a series on the Union Budget for Newslaundry. Vivek starts the conversation with the 2020 Budget and the Economic Survey. “What used to be a remarkably esoteric document suddenly became very readable,” he says. Vivek says the invariable economic slowdown India is witnessing is a result of a lack of investments. He speculates that the reason for this might be the fact that it’s incredibly hard to carry out any economic activity in India right now, and blames this on operational issues. Mehraj brings up the huge tax cut the government gave mega corporations a few months ago, and wonders why this hasn’t resulted in a jump in investments. Vivek responds, “When a corporate invests, they hope to see a return on their investment, but there has been a consumption dip.” Madhu chimes in, “I’m wondering about the inconvenience that so many traders complain about when they talk about the problems that GST and such have caused them. But they then turn around and express their vehement support for Modi.” Manisha asks: “How much are people driven by the economy, actually, as opposed to ideas?” Madhu calls this a “psychological disconnect between your vote and your daily troubles”. Moving on to the big news of the week, Manisha talks about how Kunal Kamra gave Arnab Goswami “the Republic TV treatment” on an IndiGo flight. Manisha likes the term Abhinandan used in his piece on the incident — “ambush monologue” — and asks Madhu, “How many times have you been accosted by viewers?” “Thousands!” Madhu responds, talking about being waylaid in planes, washrooms, and even restaurants and parties. “Especially after the contempt of court thing,” she adds, “but I don’t object to it.” Madhu then explains how journalists write in a public space and that the public have a right to argue with reporters, and it is a journalist’s responsibility to deal with it. In the context of the ethics of Kunal’s actions, Mehraj queries whether Arnab can even be called a journalist. “Technically Radio Rwanda was considered journalism as well,” he points out. “And because there is no culture of accountability in this country, we just let this happen.” The panel also discusses the shooting at Jamia Nagar, Sharjeel Imam’s sedition case, Prashant Kishore’s ousting from the JDU, and much more. Tune in! In this episode of NL Hafta, Manisha Pande, Raman… In this episode of NL Hafta, Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal, Mehraj D Lone and Madhu Trehan are joined by Vivek Kaul, an author who’s been writing a series on the Union Budget for Newslaundry. Vivek starts the conversation with the 2020 Budget and the Economic Survey. “What used to be a remarkably esoteric document suddenly became very readable,” he says. Vivek says the invariable economic slowdown India is witnessing is a result of a lack of investments. He speculates that the reason for this might be the fact that it’s incredibly hard to carry out any economic activity in India right now, and blames this on operational issues. Mehraj brings up the huge tax cut the government gave mega corporations a few months ago, and wonders why this hasn’t resulted in a jump in investments. Vivek responds, “When a corporate invests, they hope to see a return on their investment, but there has been a consumption dip.” Madhu chimes in, “I’m wondering about the inconvenience that so many traders complain about when they talk about the problems that GST and such have caused them. But they then turn around and express their vehement support for Modi.” Manisha asks: “How much are people driven by the economy, actually, as opposed to ideas?” Madhu calls this a “psychological disconnect between your vote and your daily troubles”. Moving on to the big news of the week, Manisha talks about how Kunal Kamra gave Arnab Goswami “the Republic TV treatment” on an IndiGo flight. Manisha likes the term Abhinandan used in his piece on the incident — “ambush monologue” — and asks Madhu, “How many times have you been accosted by viewers?” “Thousands!” Madhu responds, talking about being waylaid in planes, washrooms, and even restaurants and parties. “Especially after the contempt of court thing,” she adds, “but I don’t object to it.” Madhu then explains how journalists write in a public space and that the public have a right to argue with reporters, and it is a journalist’s responsibility to deal with it. In the context of the ethics of Kunal’s actions, Mehraj queries whether Arnab can even be called a journalist. “Technically Radio Rwanda was considered journalism as well,” he points out. “And because there is no culture of accountability in this country, we just let this happen.” The panel also discusses the shooting at Jamia Nagar, Sharjeel Imam’s sedition case, Prashant Kishore’s ousting from the JDU, and much more. Tune in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/764791936 Chhota Hafta Episode-264 Sat, 22 Feb 2020 13:54:35 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-264 00:38:50 Newslaundry.com no Hafta has gone behind the paywall. But since we love our listeners, here’s a sneak peek into this week’s episode. Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, and Mehraj D Lone of Newslaundry are joined by Shelly Walia, senior editor at the Quint, to discuss Donald Trump’s impending visit to India, AAP’s embrace of religiosity after winning the Delhi election, the arrest of a young woman in Karnataka for chanting “Pakistan Zindabad”. They also discuss the Supreme Court’s ruling allowing women permanent commission in the Army, the different aspects of free speech, the importance of formal education, and even litti chokha. To listen to the full episode, subscribe to Newslaundry :https://www.newslaundry.com/ Hafta has gone behind the paywall. But since we l… Hafta has gone behind the paywall. But since we love our listeners, here’s a sneak peek into this week’s episode. Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, and Mehraj D Lone of Newslaundry are joined by Shelly Walia, senior editor at the Quint, to discuss Donald Trump’s impending visit to India, AAP’s embrace of religiosity after winning the Delhi election, the arrest of a young woman in Karnataka for chanting “Pakistan Zindabad”. They also discuss the Supreme Court’s ruling allowing women permanent commission in the Army, the different aspects of free speech, the importance of formal education, and even litti chokha. To listen to the full episode, subscribe to Newslaundry :https://www.newslaundry.com/ tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/749249419 Hafta 260: Delhi election, Jeff Bezos hack, Coronavirus in China, and more Sat, 22 Feb 2020 13:48:31 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/hafta-260 02:00:48 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, and Mehraj D Lone of Newslaundry are joined by Advaita Kala, novelist and commentator. They talk about the impending Delhi election and the nomination process. In a strange turn of events, Chief Minister Arvind Kerjriwal’s nomination almost didn’t happen because of a backlog of almost a hundred people filing their papers before him. “I mean it was clearly a tactic to delay or harass him or try to ensure he doesn’t contest,” Abhinandan argues. On Kejriwal’s Times Now “town hall”, held earlier this week, Abhinandan wonders if it could be called that. “Did the audience get to ask questions?” he asks. “Someone should tell them that if you do it in a hall doesn’t make it a town hall.” Mehraj points out that criticising raving TV anchors such as RSS (Rahul Shivshankar), Navika Kumar and Arnab Goswami is easy. “These channels, these media organisations are owned by some very wealthy, very rich, very influential people. Why is nobody holding them accountable for this?” Abhinandan notes the BJP’s no-holds-barred campaign strategy in Delhi, citing the hoardings put up by the party across the city. “They are showing things like triple talaq, CAA, surgical strikes,” he says, wondering how smart it’s strategically, “So, desh badlaa ab Delhi badlenge. But none of these things actually address development issues for Delhi!” Anand is convinced that this is because the BJP recognises AAP’s hold on Delhi. “National elections are a combination of addressing tangible and intangible issues but municipal elections focus on the tangible,” he says, noting the BJP doesn’t have much grounds to campaign on development issues in Delhi. Admiring AAP’s smart election tactics, Advaita notes, “We haven’t seen a level of vitriol and nastiness. And that’s because Kejriwal has stuck to, you know, the work that he has done. And on the ground, I do see appreciation for the work that he has done.” In a sidebar on reports of Amazon head Jeff Bezos’s phone being hacked by the Saudi crown prince Mohammad bin Salman, Manisha muses about the likely motivations for the hack. “It’s because of the Washington Post. MBS was upset with the Post’s reporting, so he leaked Bezos’s affair to the National Enquirer…Turns out he had been sending him WhatsApp viruses.” Mehraj notes the irony of Amazon’s boss being hacked while “running one of the world’s largest surveillance companies”. The panel also discuss the coronavirus in China and the legitimacy of what the Hindu nationalist blog OpIndia publishes as “reporting”, and offer some meta news analysis. Tune in! In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, M… In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, and Mehraj D Lone of Newslaundry are joined by Advaita Kala, novelist and commentator. They talk about the impending Delhi election and the nomination process. In a strange turn of events, Chief Minister Arvind Kerjriwal’s nomination almost didn’t happen because of a backlog of almost a hundred people filing their papers before him. “I mean it was clearly a tactic to delay or harass him or try to ensure he doesn’t contest,” Abhinandan argues. On Kejriwal’s Times Now “town hall”, held earlier this week, Abhinandan wonders if it could be called that. “Did the audience get to ask questions?” he asks. “Someone should tell them that if you do it in a hall doesn’t make it a town hall.” Mehraj points out that criticising raving TV anchors such as RSS (Rahul Shivshankar), Navika Kumar and Arnab Goswami is easy. “These channels, these media organisations are owned by some very wealthy, very rich, very influential people. Why is nobody holding them accountable for this?” Abhinandan notes the BJP’s no-holds-barred campaign strategy in Delhi, citing the hoardings put up by the party across the city. “They are showing things like triple talaq, CAA, surgical strikes,” he says, wondering how smart it’s strategically, “So, desh badlaa ab Delhi badlenge. But none of these things actually address development issues for Delhi!” Anand is convinced that this is because the BJP recognises AAP’s hold on Delhi. “National elections are a combination of addressing tangible and intangible issues but municipal elections focus on the tangible,” he says, noting the BJP doesn’t have much grounds to campaign on development issues in Delhi. Admiring AAP’s smart election tactics, Advaita notes, “We haven’t seen a level of vitriol and nastiness. And that’s because Kejriwal has stuck to, you know, the work that he has done. And on the ground, I do see appreciation for the work that he has done.” In a sidebar on reports of Amazon head Jeff Bezos’s phone being hacked by the Saudi crown prince Mohammad bin Salman, Manisha muses about the likely motivations for the hack. “It’s because of the Washington Post. MBS was upset with the Post’s reporting, so he leaked Bezos’s affair to the National Enquirer…Turns out he had been sending him WhatsApp viruses.” Mehraj notes the irony of Amazon’s boss being hacked while “running one of the world’s largest surveillance companies”. The panel also discuss the coronavirus in China and the legitimacy of what the Hindu nationalist blog OpIndia publishes as “reporting”, and offer some meta news analysis. Tune in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/762067384 Hafta 263: Delhi election results, Shikara, reservation in promotions, and more Mon, 17 Feb 2020 12:43:45 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-263 02:23:00 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande and Mehraj D Lone of Newslaundry are joined by Kaveree Bamzai, author and former editor of India Today, and Sanjay Rajoura, stand-up comedian and a member of Aisi Taisi Democracy. This episode was recorded live at Bedlam, Hauz Khas Village, Delhi. Mehraj kicked off the discussion explaining the recent Supreme Court judgement on the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act, and what it means for Dalits and Adivasis subjected to hate crimes. Speaking about the Delhi election, Kavaree says, “We were too excited by the fact that Delhi did not vote for the BJP, but what is worrying is how migrant-dominated northeast Delhi overwhelmingly voted for them.” She adds that the normalisation by the media of binaries such as “tukde tukde gang versus the rest of us” worries her. Abhinandan asks Sanjay why he feels his political commentary and that of fellow comedians isn’t making much difference when it comes to changing the minds of voters. “I don't have any such notion that what I am saying on stage will make any difference or have any kind of impact, neither do I have any intention of doing so,” Sanjay replies. “My aim is to make sure that the question stays alive.” Talking about contemporary trends in world politics and how they reflect in the Indian context, Mehraj argues that technocratic centrism is always just one crisis away from enabling an authoritarian takeover as has happened in the UK, US and Brazil, and that Aam Aadmi Party is destined for a similar fate if they do start providing an ideological alternative. On the controversy over the film Shikara, Manisha says, “I find the expectations from creative people to live up to political expectations to be tedious. The issue was actually that of marketing as they tried to sell the movie as ‘the untold story of kashmiri pandits’.” The panellists then fielded questions from members of the live audience, all of whom were Newslaundry subscribers since it was a subscriber-only event. Tune in! In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, M… In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande and Mehraj D Lone of Newslaundry are joined by Kaveree Bamzai, author and former editor of India Today, and Sanjay Rajoura, stand-up comedian and a member of Aisi Taisi Democracy. This episode was recorded live at Bedlam, Hauz Khas Village, Delhi. Mehraj kicked off the discussion explaining the recent Supreme Court judgement on the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act, and what it means for Dalits and Adivasis subjected to hate crimes. Speaking about the Delhi election, Kavaree says, “We were too excited by the fact that Delhi did not vote for the BJP, but what is worrying is how migrant-dominated northeast Delhi overwhelmingly voted for them.” She adds that the normalisation by the media of binaries such as “tukde tukde gang versus the rest of us” worries her. Abhinandan asks Sanjay why he feels his political commentary and that of fellow comedians isn’t making much difference when it comes to changing the minds of voters. “I don't have any such notion that what I am saying on stage will make any difference or have any kind of impact, neither do I have any intention of doing so,” Sanjay replies. “My aim is to make sure that the question stays alive.” Talking about contemporary trends in world politics and how they reflect in the Indian context, Mehraj argues that technocratic centrism is always just one crisis away from enabling an authoritarian takeover as has happened in the UK, US and Brazil, and that Aam Aadmi Party is destined for a similar fate if they do start providing an ideological alternative. On the controversy over the film Shikara, Manisha says, “I find the expectations from creative people to live up to political expectations to be tedious. The issue was actually that of marketing as they tried to sell the movie as ‘the untold story of kashmiri pandits’.” The panellists then fielded questions from members of the live audience, all of whom were Newslaundry subscribers since it was a subscriber-only event. Tune in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/757186216 Chhota Hafta Episode-262 Sat, 08 Feb 2020 14:16:37 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-262 00:39:46 Newslaundry.com no Hafta has gone behind the paywall. But since we love our listeners, here’s a sneak peek into this week’s episode. Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, and Mehraj D Lone of Newslaundry are joined by journalist Faye D’souza to discuss how the Delhi election campaign has been marked by communal rhetoric and how Arvind Kejriwal attempted to play the Hindu card. They also talk about the situation in Kashmir, where former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti have been held under the draconian Public Safety Act; the ongoing debate about Kunal Kamra’s ambush of Arnab Goswami; and the role of religion in Indian politics. To listen to the full episode: https://www.newslaundry.com/subscription Hafta has gone behind the paywall. But since we l… Hafta has gone behind the paywall. But since we love our listeners, here’s a sneak peek into this week’s episode. Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, and Mehraj D Lone of Newslaundry are joined by journalist Faye D’souza to discuss how the Delhi election campaign has been marked by communal rhetoric and how Arvind Kejriwal attempted to play the Hindu card. They also talk about the situation in Kashmir, where former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti have been held under the draconian Public Safety Act; the ongoing debate about Kunal Kamra’s ambush of Arnab Goswami; and the role of religion in Indian politics. To listen to the full episode: https://www.newslaundry.com/subscription tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/753261388 Chhota Hafta Episode-261 Sat, 01 Feb 2020 13:26:13 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-ep-261 00:31:36 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of NL Hafta, Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal, Mehraj D Lone and Madhu Trehan are joined by Vivek Kaul, an author who’s been writing a series on the Union Budget for Newslaundry. Vivek starts the conversation with the 2020 Budget and the Economic Survey. “What used to be a remarkably esoteric document suddenly became very readable,” he says. Vivek says the invariable economic slowdown India is witnessing is a result of a lack of investments. Manisha talks about how Kunal Kamra gave Arnab Goswami “the Republic TV treatment” on an IndiGo flight.The panel also discusses the shooting at Jamia Nagar, Sharjeel Imam’s sedition case, Prashant Kishore’s ousting from the JDU, and much more. To listen to the full episode, subscribe to Newslaundry: https://www.newslaundry.com/subscription In this episode of NL Hafta, Manisha Pande, Raman… In this episode of NL Hafta, Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal, Mehraj D Lone and Madhu Trehan are joined by Vivek Kaul, an author who’s been writing a series on the Union Budget for Newslaundry. Vivek starts the conversation with the 2020 Budget and the Economic Survey. “What used to be a remarkably esoteric document suddenly became very readable,” he says. Vivek says the invariable economic slowdown India is witnessing is a result of a lack of investments. Manisha talks about how Kunal Kamra gave Arnab Goswami “the Republic TV treatment” on an IndiGo flight.The panel also discusses the shooting at Jamia Nagar, Sharjeel Imam’s sedition case, Prashant Kishore’s ousting from the JDU, and much more. To listen to the full episode, subscribe to Newslaundry: https://www.newslaundry.com/subscription tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/749243434 Chhota Hafta Episode-260 Sat, 25 Jan 2020 12:59:22 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-260 00:39:26 Newslaundry.com no Hafta has gone behind the paywall. But since we love our listeners, here’s a sneak peek into this week’s episode. Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, and Mehraj D Lone of Newslaundry are joined by Advaita Kala, novelist and commentator, to talk about the impending Delhi election and how AAP has been mainstreamed into India’s political system. They also discuss the Coronavirus outbreak in China; how the Saudi crown prince hacked the phone of Amazon boss Jeff Bezos and the irony of it all; the “reporting” of OpIndia, and much other. Listen to the full episode on Newslaundry: https://www.newslaundry.com/subscription Produced by Ivneet Kaur, recorded by Anil Kumar, edited by Satish Kumar and Harshula Sharma. You can also listen to all our podcasts on the Newslaundry app and get updates about them via Twitter and Facebook. Hafta has gone behind the paywall. But since we l… Hafta has gone behind the paywall. But since we love our listeners, here’s a sneak peek into this week’s episode. Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, and Mehraj D Lone of Newslaundry are joined by Advaita Kala, novelist and commentator, to talk about the impending Delhi election and how AAP has been mainstreamed into India’s political system. They also discuss the Coronavirus outbreak in China; how the Saudi crown prince hacked the phone of Amazon boss Jeff Bezos and the irony of it all; the “reporting” of OpIndia, and much other. Listen to the full episode on Newslaundry: https://www.newslaundry.com/subscription Produced by Ivneet Kaur, recorded by Anil Kumar, edited by Satish Kumar and Harshula Sharma. You can also listen to all our podcasts on the Newslaundry app and get updates about them via Twitter and Facebook. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/745428430 Hafta 259: Davinder Singh, JNU sting, Delhi election, and more Sat, 18 Jan 2020 12:05:46 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-epiosde-259 01:29:54 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal, and Mehraj D Lone of Newslaundry are joined by Anuradha Bhasin of Kashmir Times. Abhinandan begins the discussion by asking Anuradha about the significance of the arrest of Davinder Singh, a deputy superintendent of police in Kashmir, along with two militants he was ferrying in his private car. She responds that Singh has a shady record. “Obviously these people are not operating on their own,” she adds, “That there’s somebody patronising them, to which level and how deep does this go, these are very vital questions.” Abhinandan agrees, “It is not unheard of for governments to use militants or other people, or even the armed forces.” On whether Singh’s is a case of a cop gone rogue, Raman argues, “If nothing comes out, let’s say in the next two months, three months, then obviously the government has something to hide.” Mehraj doesn’t buy the argument of the cop gone rogue. It’s preposterous, he says. Pointing out that there’s evidence of Singh enjoying patronage, he adds, “A person who is admitting in an interview, on record to a journalist, that he tortured people is sent as a peacekeeper.” Talking about the Indian media’s silence on the matter, Manisha remarks, “I thought it was very fascinating that there was complete silence from this ecosystem for about 24 hours till Sambit Patra gave his press conference blaming the Congress.” Abhinandan believes that it wasn’t a case of the media ignoring the story, it was them being told not to talk about it. Discussing India Today’s JNU sting, Abhinandan expresses his discomfort with the news channel’s “monkey balancing” act on the matter. “Dude, one party was trying to break people’s heads with hammers and hiding their faces doing it, the other party was pulling cables and not hiding their faces doing it.” Mehraj adds that the leftist students were disrupting services which is a legitimate form of protest. Anuradha agrees, saying the whole balancing act was disproportionate. On the ethics of sting, Raman says, “I always say that a sting can be part of an investigation, but it can’t be an investigation in itself.” Manisha’s concern is with the idea of stinging the lowest common denominator. “I would be happy if you sting the VC, sting the Delhi police guy who was incharge, sting the top ABVP guys.” Mehraj echoes her view, noting the Indian media usually go after small fry. The panel also discuss the hanging of Nirbhaya’s rapists becoming a campaign issue in Delhi, Bipin Rawat’s remarks about deradicalisation centres, and much more. Tune in! In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, M… In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal, and Mehraj D Lone of Newslaundry are joined by Anuradha Bhasin of Kashmir Times. Abhinandan begins the discussion by asking Anuradha about the significance of the arrest of Davinder Singh, a deputy superintendent of police in Kashmir, along with two militants he was ferrying in his private car. She responds that Singh has a shady record. “Obviously these people are not operating on their own,” she adds, “That there’s somebody patronising them, to which level and how deep does this go, these are very vital questions.” Abhinandan agrees, “It is not unheard of for governments to use militants or other people, or even the armed forces.” On whether Singh’s is a case of a cop gone rogue, Raman argues, “If nothing comes out, let’s say in the next two months, three months, then obviously the government has something to hide.” Mehraj doesn’t buy the argument of the cop gone rogue. It’s preposterous, he says. Pointing out that there’s evidence of Singh enjoying patronage, he adds, “A person who is admitting in an interview, on record to a journalist, that he tortured people is sent as a peacekeeper.” Talking about the Indian media’s silence on the matter, Manisha remarks, “I thought it was very fascinating that there was complete silence from this ecosystem for about 24 hours till Sambit Patra gave his press conference blaming the Congress.” Abhinandan believes that it wasn’t a case of the media ignoring the story, it was them being told not to talk about it. Discussing India Today’s JNU sting, Abhinandan expresses his discomfort with the news channel’s “monkey balancing” act on the matter. “Dude, one party was trying to break people’s heads with hammers and hiding their faces doing it, the other party was pulling cables and not hiding their faces doing it.” Mehraj adds that the leftist students were disrupting services which is a legitimate form of protest. Anuradha agrees, saying the whole balancing act was disproportionate. On the ethics of sting, Raman says, “I always say that a sting can be part of an investigation, but it can’t be an investigation in itself.” Manisha’s concern is with the idea of stinging the lowest common denominator. “I would be happy if you sting the VC, sting the Delhi police guy who was incharge, sting the top ABVP guys.” Mehraj echoes her view, noting the Indian media usually go after small fry. The panel also discuss the hanging of Nirbhaya’s rapists becoming a campaign issue in Delhi, Bipin Rawat’s remarks about deradicalisation centres, and much more. Tune in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/741830398 Hafta 258: JNU Violence, Kanhaiya’s speech, Delhi elections, and more Sat, 11 Jan 2020 15:51:14 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/hafta-258-jnu-violence-kanhaiyas-speech-delhi-elections-and-more 01:56:21 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, and Mehraj D Lone of Newslaundry are joined by Rohan Venkataramakrishnan from Scroll. The episode also features three Newslaundry subscribers, Dhiraj Krishna Kumar, S.Harikrishnan and Jefferson Simon. Abhinandan begins the podcast by asking subscribers why they chose to subscribe to Newslaundry. The trio also shares feedback about areas where Newslaundry can improve. Moving to the violence in Jawaharlal Nehru University, Rohan gives a blow by blow account of how he was roughed up by middle-aged, saffron-clad men while he was reporting, while personnel from the Delhi police looked on. Expressing his sympathy towards students who had nothing to do with the incident, Anand notes, “Loss of one year is costly for them. Perhaps more costly than a fee hike”. Manisha, on the other hand, thinks Anand’s view is a misreading of what actually happened. She emphasizes how the on-campus scuffle changed when men from outside entered the university, pointing to a criminal conspiracy. Dhiraj seconds Manisha and believes that it was unacceptable. Speaking on the role of the police in JNU violence, Abhinandan says,“ The police’s culpability and involvement in this is so clear.” Meanwhile, Mehraj backs the protest carried by the students and adds, “As long as there is no violence, it is a pretty legitimate form of protest”. Rohan agrees and adds,” Sure, we can discuss JNU separately. But what was happening outside that gate was a law and order situation. That mob, if they wanted to do something else, they had the impunity to.” The panel also talks about Kanhaiya Kumar’s oratory skills, Deepika Padukone’s JNU visit, and Delhi elections among other things. Tune in! In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, M… In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, and Mehraj D Lone of Newslaundry are joined by Rohan Venkataramakrishnan from Scroll. The episode also features three Newslaundry subscribers, Dhiraj Krishna Kumar, S.Harikrishnan and Jefferson Simon. Abhinandan begins the podcast by asking subscribers why they chose to subscribe to Newslaundry. The trio also shares feedback about areas where Newslaundry can improve. Moving to the violence in Jawaharlal Nehru University, Rohan gives a blow by blow account of how he was roughed up by middle-aged, saffron-clad men while he was reporting, while personnel from the Delhi police looked on. Expressing his sympathy towards students who had nothing to do with the incident, Anand notes, “Loss of one year is costly for them. Perhaps more costly than a fee hike”. Manisha, on the other hand, thinks Anand’s view is a misreading of what actually happened. She emphasizes how the on-campus scuffle changed when men from outside entered the university, pointing to a criminal conspiracy. Dhiraj seconds Manisha and believes that it was unacceptable. Speaking on the role of the police in JNU violence, Abhinandan says,“ The police’s culpability and involvement in this is so clear.” Meanwhile, Mehraj backs the protest carried by the students and adds, “As long as there is no violence, it is a pretty legitimate form of protest”. Rohan agrees and adds,” Sure, we can discuss JNU separately. But what was happening outside that gate was a law and order situation. That mob, if they wanted to do something else, they had the impunity to.” The panel also talks about Kanhaiya Kumar’s oratory skills, Deepika Padukone’s JNU visit, and Delhi elections among other things. Tune in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/724047166 Hafta 253: Hyderabad killings, Citizenship Bill, Donald Trump’s impeachment, and more Fri, 10 Jan 2020 12:13:23 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-253 01:37:24 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal and Mehraj D Lone of Newslaundry are joined by Joanna Slater, the India Bureau Chief of The Washington Post. They begin with a discussion on the gangrape and murder of a veterinarian in Hyderabad, and the subsequent killing of the four accused by the police. Delving on the psyche of the rapists, Abhinandan says, “I could not believe they actually plotted this all evening. I mean with the intention that they just wanna have sex and they would rape a woman and kill her.” On the police’s shooting of the four accused men, Mehraj talks about the culture of impunity that exists in this country and the lack of accountability. Raman adds that the mindset for lynching the rapists was already out there. Pointing finger at the media discourse surrounding this case, Manish remarks, “One thing that’s really disturbing in cases like these is how the media frenzy just takes over any sane discourse.” By way of example, she mentions TV anchors who ran hashtags calling for the death of the alleged rapists. On the Citizenship Amendment Bill, Mehraj explains how the BJP is selling it as a measure that would help the millions of Hindus left out of the National Register of Citizens in Assam but how it might actually only add to their misery. Speaking about US President Donald Trump’s impeachment process, Joanna says, “From the kind of polling that I have seen from afar it seems the percentage of people who say that he should be impeached and removed has gone up over the course of this process. So it is changing some people’s mind on that.” On senior Congress leader P Chidambaran being released on bail in the INOX Media case, Raman argues, “This has come across as political vendetta. There is not really any case against him in the INOX Media case – and that comes out really clearly.” The panel also discusses the Unnao rape case, the falling GDP in September, the Delhi University teachers’ protest against the anticipated sacking of adhoc teachers, and much more. In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, M… In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal and Mehraj D Lone of Newslaundry are joined by Joanna Slater, the India Bureau Chief of The Washington Post. They begin with a discussion on the gangrape and murder of a veterinarian in Hyderabad, and the subsequent killing of the four accused by the police. Delving on the psyche of the rapists, Abhinandan says, “I could not believe they actually plotted this all evening. I mean with the intention that they just wanna have sex and they would rape a woman and kill her.” On the police’s shooting of the four accused men, Mehraj talks about the culture of impunity that exists in this country and the lack of accountability. Raman adds that the mindset for lynching the rapists was already out there. Pointing finger at the media discourse surrounding this case, Manish remarks, “One thing that’s really disturbing in cases like these is how the media frenzy just takes over any sane discourse.” By way of example, she mentions TV anchors who ran hashtags calling for the death of the alleged rapists. On the Citizenship Amendment Bill, Mehraj explains how the BJP is selling it as a measure that would help the millions of Hindus left out of the National Register of Citizens in Assam but how it might actually only add to their misery. Speaking about US President Donald Trump’s impeachment process, Joanna says, “From the kind of polling that I have seen from afar it seems the percentage of people who say that he should be impeached and removed has gone up over the course of this process. So it is changing some people’s mind on that.” On senior Congress leader P Chidambaran being released on bail in the INOX Media case, Raman argues, “This has come across as political vendetta. There is not really any case against him in the INOX Media case – and that comes out really clearly.” The panel also discusses the Unnao rape case, the falling GDP in September, the Delhi University teachers’ protest against the anticipated sacking of adhoc teachers, and much more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/738260953 Chhota Hafta Episode-257 Sat, 04 Jan 2020 13:54:51 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-257 00:31:01 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. This episode of NL Hafta is hosted by Manisha Pande, who is joined by Mehraj D Lone, Raman Kirpal and Meghnad S of Newslaundry.. They discuss the highs and lows of the year gone by and their hopes for 2020. Coming to the big news of the week, the panel discusses Narendra Modi’s latest speech where he urged anti-CAA protestors to protest against Pakistan instead. The panel also talk about the killing of the Iranian military general Qassem Suleimani by the US, the denouncement of Faiz’s poem Hum Dekhenge as anti-Hindu, among other things. Listen to the full episode: https://www.newslaundry.com/2020/01/04/hafta-257-modis-speech-faiz-ahmad-faiz-iranian-generals-assassination-and-more Produced by Ivneet Kaur, recorded by Anil Kumar, edited by Samarendra K Dash. You can also listen to all our podcasts on the Newslaundry App and get updates about all our podcasts via Twitter and Facebook. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. This episode of NL Hafta is hosted by Manisha Pande, who is joined by Mehraj D Lone, Raman Kirpal and Meghnad S of Newslaundry.. They discuss the highs and lows of the year gone by and their hopes for 2020. Coming to the big news of the week, the panel discusses Narendra Modi’s latest speech where he urged anti-CAA protestors to protest against Pakistan instead. The panel also talk about the killing of the Iranian military general Qassem Suleimani by the US, the denouncement of Faiz’s poem Hum Dekhenge as anti-Hindu, among other things. Listen to the full episode: https://www.newslaundry.com/2020/01/04/hafta-257-modis-speech-faiz-ahmad-faiz-iranian-generals-assassination-and-more Produced by Ivneet Kaur, recorded by Anil Kumar, edited by Samarendra K Dash. You can also listen to all our podcasts on the Newslaundry App and get updates about all our podcasts via Twitter and Facebook. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/734918119 Hafta 256: Jharkhand elections, Modi’s Speech, citizenship law stir, Delhi winter, and more Sat, 28 Dec 2019 14:04:43 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-256 01:50:49 Newslaundry.com no 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 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! In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, M… 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 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! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/720715984 Hafta 252: Maharashtra, Pragya Singh Thakur, Trans Bill 2019, and more Sat, 21 Dec 2019 16:58:21 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-252 01:47:28 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekhri, Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande and Meghnad S are joined by Sudhir Suryawanshi, the man behind Katta News, the only media outlet that managed to sift through the chaos during the Maharashtra political crisis. The panel discusses the Maharashtra political drama, Pragya Thakur’s recent remark on Nathuram Godse in Lok Sabha, the controversial Transgender Persons Bill, among other things. Uddhav Thackrey was sworn in as chief minister of Maharashtra after a failed attempt by Ajit Pawar to split Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party. Katta News, managed by Suryawanshi had announced Ajit’s coup two days in advance. Suryawanshi gives us insights on Maharashtra political drama and how Maha Vikas Aghadi (Congress, Shiv Sena and NCP alliance) came to power. On the Godse row, Manisha says, “There is genuinely an active push now to turn the narrative on Godse as a patriot and you can see this in the way his supporters have reacted on Twitter to Pragya’s remark .” Meghnad retorts saying, “This is not just about twitter trolls but the way news channels are calling them on panels and normalising whatever they are saying, that is problematic. So, now twitter trolls are not just on twitter anymore.” On the government’s plan to move a Registration of Press and Periodicals Bill, Abhinandan says, “I think this is a way to kind of try and get control on digital publications which they have the least control over. They can control satellite channels and newspapers much better than digital. I think it’s going to backfire.” Speaking on the Transgender Persons Bill, Meghnad says, “The whole law-making process is so male-dominated. Like when men make laws about women they’re insensitive, when they make laws about LGBT+ community they are inhuman.” They also discuss the removal of SPG cover for Gandhi family and much more. In this episode of Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekhri,… In this episode of Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekhri, Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande and Meghnad S are joined by Sudhir Suryawanshi, the man behind Katta News, the only media outlet that managed to sift through the chaos during the Maharashtra political crisis. The panel discusses the Maharashtra political drama, Pragya Thakur’s recent remark on Nathuram Godse in Lok Sabha, the controversial Transgender Persons Bill, among other things. Uddhav Thackrey was sworn in as chief minister of Maharashtra after a failed attempt by Ajit Pawar to split Sharad Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party. Katta News, managed by Suryawanshi had announced Ajit’s coup two days in advance. Suryawanshi gives us insights on Maharashtra political drama and how Maha Vikas Aghadi (Congress, Shiv Sena and NCP alliance) came to power. On the Godse row, Manisha says, “There is genuinely an active push now to turn the narrative on Godse as a patriot and you can see this in the way his supporters have reacted on Twitter to Pragya’s remark .” Meghnad retorts saying, “This is not just about twitter trolls but the way news channels are calling them on panels and normalising whatever they are saying, that is problematic. So, now twitter trolls are not just on twitter anymore.” On the government’s plan to move a Registration of Press and Periodicals Bill, Abhinandan says, “I think this is a way to kind of try and get control on digital publications which they have the least control over. They can control satellite channels and newspapers much better than digital. I think it’s going to backfire.” Speaking on the Transgender Persons Bill, Meghnad says, “The whole law-making process is so male-dominated. Like when men make laws about women they’re insensitive, when they make laws about LGBT+ community they are inhuman.” They also discuss the removal of SPG cover for Gandhi family and much more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/731926366 Chhota Hafta Episode-255 Sat, 21 Dec 2019 16:57:56 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-255 00:32:39 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Raman Kirpal, Meghnad S and Mehraj D Lone of Newslaundry are joined by Betwa Sharma, Politics Editor at HuffPost India. They discuss the big news of the week, from the nationwide protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act and police violence to objectivity in journalism to the death penalty for Pakistan’s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf. Listen to the full episode:https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/12/21/hafta-255-citizenship-law-data-protection-bill-and-more You can also listen to all our podcasts on the Newslaundry App and get updates about all our podcasts via Twitter and Facebook. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Raman Kirpal, Meghnad S and Mehraj D Lone of Newslaundry are joined by Betwa Sharma, Politics Editor at HuffPost India. They discuss the big news of the week, from the nationwide protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act and police violence to objectivity in journalism to the death penalty for Pakistan’s former military ruler Pervez Musharraf. Listen to the full episode:https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/12/21/hafta-255-citizenship-law-data-protection-bill-and-more You can also listen to all our podcasts on the Newslaundry App and get updates about all our podcasts via Twitter and Facebook. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/727737475 Chhota Hafta Episode-254 Sat, 14 Dec 2019 15:01:07 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-254 00:33:19 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan and Mehraj D Lone of Newslaundry are joined by author and journalist Samrat X. The panel discusses the big news of the week, from the contentious Citizenship Act and Delhi fire to death penalty for rapists, among other things. Listen to the complete episode here.https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/12/14/hafta-254-citizenship-law-delhi-fire-death-penalty-and-more Produced by Ivneet Kaur and Kartik Nijhawan, recorded by Anil Kumar and edited by Satish Kumar. You can also listen to all our podcasts on the Newslaundry App and get updates about all our podcasts via Twitter and Facebook. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan and Mehraj D Lone of Newslaundry are joined by author and journalist Samrat X. The panel discusses the big news of the week, from the contentious Citizenship Act and Delhi fire to death penalty for rapists, among other things. Listen to the complete episode here.https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/12/14/hafta-254-citizenship-law-delhi-fire-death-penalty-and-more Produced by Ivneet Kaur and Kartik Nijhawan, recorded by Anil Kumar and edited by Satish Kumar. You can also listen to all our podcasts on the Newslaundry App and get updates about all our podcasts via Twitter and Facebook. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/717291298 Hafta 251: Electoral Bonds, JNU, Pragya Thakur, and more Sat, 14 Dec 2019 13:12:36 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-251 01:16:19 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Meghnad S are joined by freelance journalists, Nitin Sethi and Vrinda Gopinath. The panel discusses the big news of the week -- electoral bonds, Pragya Thakur’s nomination on parliamentary defence panel, massive protests by JNU students, among other things. Speaking on the issue of electoral bonds, Nitin Sethi says, “If you pay for journalism, journalism will respond to your requirements and desires and expectations. Similarly, for politics. This is why electoral bonds is such a big issue. Because if you want politics to be responsible to citizens then you can’t have corporates paying for politics. You need to have transparency. You need to have answerability to citizens.” Abhinandan says, “This pretty much implicates the government for lying to the Parliament, ministries and the Election Commission.” On Pragya Thakur’s nomination to the Parliamentary Defence Committee, the panel wonders which committee the Bhopal MP should have been ideally given. Meghnad argues that the decision should not whip up outrage as he reasons, “This was a natural course of action that was supposed to happen.” They also discuss the recent JNU protests. Manisha argues, “I think this just needs to be drummed into everyone, of all the tax that is collected only three per cent is personal income tax. 70-80% taxes are indirect taxes which everyone, even the poor pay for it. So, you are not running the country.” While Vrinda says, “I think it’s very obvious that it’s JNU that they are after. There are hundreds of other universities but they want to finish JNU because they think it is the fountainhead of all your radical, rebellious, leftist thought.” The episode also features a discussion on the announcement of nation-wide NRC by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha, water impurity issue in Delhi, and more. NL Sena - TSRTC-KCR Stand-Off: https://www.newslaundry.com/sena In this episode of Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekhri,… In this episode of Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Meghnad S are joined by freelance journalists, Nitin Sethi and Vrinda Gopinath. The panel discusses the big news of the week -- electoral bonds, Pragya Thakur’s nomination on parliamentary defence panel, massive protests by JNU students, among other things. Speaking on the issue of electoral bonds, Nitin Sethi says, “If you pay for journalism, journalism will respond to your requirements and desires and expectations. Similarly, for politics. This is why electoral bonds is such a big issue. Because if you want politics to be responsible to citizens then you can’t have corporates paying for politics. You need to have transparency. You need to have answerability to citizens.” Abhinandan says, “This pretty much implicates the government for lying to the Parliament, ministries and the Election Commission.” On Pragya Thakur’s nomination to the Parliamentary Defence Committee, the panel wonders which committee the Bhopal MP should have been ideally given. Meghnad argues that the decision should not whip up outrage as he reasons, “This was a natural course of action that was supposed to happen.” They also discuss the recent JNU protests. Manisha argues, “I think this just needs to be drummed into everyone, of all the tax that is collected only three per cent is personal income tax. 70-80% taxes are indirect taxes which everyone, even the poor pay for it. So, you are not running the country.” While Vrinda says, “I think it’s very obvious that it’s JNU that they are after. There are hundreds of other universities but they want to finish JNU because they think it is the fountainhead of all your radical, rebellious, leftist thought.” The episode also features a discussion on the announcement of nation-wide NRC by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha, water impurity issue in Delhi, and more. NL Sena - TSRTC-KCR Stand-Off: https://www.newslaundry.com/sena tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/724047247 Chhota Hafta — Episode 253 Sat, 07 Dec 2019 15:25:42 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-253 00:28:29 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. This week’s episode features host Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal and Mehraj D Lone who are joined by Joanna Slater, the India Bureau Chief of The Washington Post. The panel discusses the big news of the week, from the gangrape and murder of a veterinarian in Hyderabad, and the subsequent killing of the four accused by the police to Donald Trump’s impeachment process, among other things. Listen to the complete episode, here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/12/07/hafta-253-hyderabad-killings-citizenship-bill-donald-trumps-impeachment-and-more\ NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. This week’s episode features host Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal and Mehraj D Lone who are joined by Joanna Slater, the India Bureau Chief of The Washington Post. The panel discusses the big news of the week, from the gangrape and murder of a veterinarian in Hyderabad, and the subsequent killing of the four accused by the police to Donald Trump’s impeachment process, among other things. Listen to the complete episode, here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/12/07/hafta-253-hyderabad-killings-citizenship-bill-donald-trumps-impeachment-and-more\ tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/713704912 Hafta 250: Ayodhya, Sabarimala, JNU protests, and more Sat, 07 Dec 2019 13:20:41 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-250 01:45:37 Newslaundry.com no In this episode, the usual Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Mehraj D Lone, Anand Vardhan and Madhu Trehan is joined by Alok Prasanna Kumar, a senior resident fellow at Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy. The podcast begins with the panellists airing their views on the Ayodhya verdict and the Sabarimala issue. While discussing the Supreme Court’s verdict on Ayodhya, Alok says, “The burden of proof falls on both people and both sides have to prove this claim. What the Supreme court has said is quite puzzling.” He points out that the Muslims had been offering namaaz on that particular piece of land since 1857 and that one could not deny their claim to the particular part of that property. Speaking on the Sabarimala issue, he suggests, “You cannot, by law, impose a certain kind of religious prohibition that goes against the constitutional principles.” Speaking about an email by a subscriber about political advertising on Twitter, Mehraj comments, “One person shouldn't have the power to decide what goes and doesn’t go on social media platforms”. He thinks it is ‘undemocratic’. The panel then moves on to discuss the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance in Maharashtra and the political logistics of the coalition. The discussion was sparked by an opinion piece that suggested the trio has fallen into a trap laid down by Amit Shah. The panel disagrees. The panel also discusses the air pollution in Delhi and JNU protests among other things. Listen in! There’s more. In this episode, the usual Hafta gang of Abhinand… In this episode, the usual Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Mehraj D Lone, Anand Vardhan and Madhu Trehan is joined by Alok Prasanna Kumar, a senior resident fellow at Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy. The podcast begins with the panellists airing their views on the Ayodhya verdict and the Sabarimala issue. While discussing the Supreme Court’s verdict on Ayodhya, Alok says, “The burden of proof falls on both people and both sides have to prove this claim. What the Supreme court has said is quite puzzling.” He points out that the Muslims had been offering namaaz on that particular piece of land since 1857 and that one could not deny their claim to the particular part of that property. Speaking on the Sabarimala issue, he suggests, “You cannot, by law, impose a certain kind of religious prohibition that goes against the constitutional principles.” Speaking about an email by a subscriber about political advertising on Twitter, Mehraj comments, “One person shouldn't have the power to decide what goes and doesn’t go on social media platforms”. He thinks it is ‘undemocratic’. The panel then moves on to discuss the Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress alliance in Maharashtra and the political logistics of the coalition. The discussion was sparked by an opinion piece that suggested the trio has fallen into a trap laid down by Amit Shah. The panel disagrees. The panel also discusses the air pollution in Delhi and JNU protests among other things. Listen in! There’s more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/720706405 Chhota Hafta — Episode 252 Sat, 30 Nov 2019 13:31:42 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-252 00:33:19 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. This week’s episode features host Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, and Meghnad S who are joined by Sudhir Suryawanshi, the man behind Katta News -- the news outlet that predicted the Ajit Pawar-Fandavis coup two days before it occured. The panel discusses the big news of the week, from the Maharashtra political drama and Pragya Thakur’s recent remark on Nathuram Godse to the controversial Transgender Persons Bill, among other things. The panel also discusses the Draft Registration of Press and Periodicals Bill 2019. Listen to the complete episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/11/30/hafta-252-maharashtra-pragya-singh-thakur-trans-bill-2019-and-more NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. This week’s episode features host Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, and Meghnad S who are joined by Sudhir Suryawanshi, the man behind Katta News -- the news outlet that predicted the Ajit Pawar-Fandavis coup two days before it occured. The panel discusses the big news of the week, from the Maharashtra political drama and Pragya Thakur’s recent remark on Nathuram Godse to the controversial Transgender Persons Bill, among other things. The panel also discusses the Draft Registration of Press and Periodicals Bill 2019. Listen to the complete episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/11/30/hafta-252-maharashtra-pragya-singh-thakur-trans-bill-2019-and-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/717289300 Chhota Hafta — Episode 251 Sat, 23 Nov 2019 13:25:16 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-251 00:29:49 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. This week’s episode features host Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, and Meghnad S who are joined by freelance journalists, Nitin Sethi and Vrinda Gopinath. The panel discusses the big news of the week -- electoral bonds, Pragya Thakur’s nomination on parliamentary defence panel, massive protests by JNU students, among other things. Nitin talks at length the issue of electoral bonds and his investigative series on the same. The panel also talks about the announcement of a nation-wide NRC by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha, water impurity issue in Delhi, and more. Listen to the complete episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/subscription-data/2019/11/23/hafta-251-electoral-bonds-jnu-pragya-thakur-and-more NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. This week’s episode features host Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, and Meghnad S who are joined by freelance journalists, Nitin Sethi and Vrinda Gopinath. The panel discusses the big news of the week -- electoral bonds, Pragya Thakur’s nomination on parliamentary defence panel, massive protests by JNU students, among other things. Nitin talks at length the issue of electoral bonds and his investigative series on the same. The panel also talks about the announcement of a nation-wide NRC by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha, water impurity issue in Delhi, and more. Listen to the complete episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/subscription-data/2019/11/23/hafta-251-electoral-bonds-jnu-pragya-thakur-and-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/713697631 Chhota Hafta - Episode 250 Sat, 16 Nov 2019 13:55:06 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-250 00:31:37 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Mehraj D Lone, Anand Vardhan, Madhu Trehan from the Newslaundry team are joined by guest Alok Prasanna Kumar, to discuss the brewing topics from this week. Speaking about the Ayodhya verdict,Mehraj asks,”Should the Supreme Court of the Republic of India be adjudicating disputes that are from before the formation of the Republic?” The panellists also talk about the Sabarimala issue, government formation in Maharashtra, JNU protests, Aatish Taseer and more. Listen to the complete episode, here: https://www.newslaundry.com/subscription-data/2019/11/16/hafta-250-ayodhya-sabarimala-jnu-protests-and-more NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Mehraj D Lone, Anand Vardhan, Madhu Trehan from the Newslaundry team are joined by guest Alok Prasanna Kumar, to discuss the brewing topics from this week. Speaking about the Ayodhya verdict,Mehraj asks,”Should the Supreme Court of the Republic of India be adjudicating disputes that are from before the formation of the Republic?” The panellists also talk about the Sabarimala issue, government formation in Maharashtra, JNU protests, Aatish Taseer and more. Listen to the complete episode, here: https://www.newslaundry.com/subscription-data/2019/11/16/hafta-250-ayodhya-sabarimala-jnu-protests-and-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/710184769 Hafta 249: Climate emergency, Delhi police vs lawyers, RCEP trade deal, and more Sat, 09 Nov 2019 11:22:56 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-249 01:56:53 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Newslaundry’s Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande and Mehraj D Lone as well as two guests, Shreeshan Venkatesh, editorial head at CarbonCopy, and Vivek, a Newslaundry subscriber who is a journalist based in Chennai. The discussion kicks off on the recent study by Climate Central, a news organisation in the United States, which estimates that coastal cities such as Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai will be underwater by 2050. “It is not a new projection, rather it is a new estimate of the impacts of earlier projections,” notes Shreeshan. He points out that this scenario is with “moderate cuts” to emissions, when the real picture is much worse. Speaking about the ongoing clash between police and lawyers in Delhi, Madhu says, “Why do the lawyers believe they need special treatment? The way they have taken the law into their hands, beaten up cops, they really seem to think they are above the law.” Manisha adds, “Police brutality is a fact. But I don’t know if those cops who are protesting have indulged in it, so I would be sympathetic to them. I won’t judge them by the actions of their entire tribe.” Speaking about India’s decision to pull out of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, Vivek says, “I think there is a sense of uncompetitive behaviour in the Indian industry because we are protecting them from the competition.” Mehraj points to the ideological aspect of such trade deals. “If you go back in history, there have been similar agreements like NAFTA that have been disastrous. Such deals are the reason for Latin America’s backlash against neoliberalism that has destroyed their economies.” The panel also discuss the revocation of the writer Aatish Taseer’s Overseas Citizenship of India card, North India’s air pollution, and more. Tune in! In this episode of Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekhri … In this episode of Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Newslaundry’s Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande and Mehraj D Lone as well as two guests, Shreeshan Venkatesh, editorial head at CarbonCopy, and Vivek, a Newslaundry subscriber who is a journalist based in Chennai. The discussion kicks off on the recent study by Climate Central, a news organisation in the United States, which estimates that coastal cities such as Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai will be underwater by 2050. “It is not a new projection, rather it is a new estimate of the impacts of earlier projections,” notes Shreeshan. He points out that this scenario is with “moderate cuts” to emissions, when the real picture is much worse. Speaking about the ongoing clash between police and lawyers in Delhi, Madhu says, “Why do the lawyers believe they need special treatment? The way they have taken the law into their hands, beaten up cops, they really seem to think they are above the law.” Manisha adds, “Police brutality is a fact. But I don’t know if those cops who are protesting have indulged in it, so I would be sympathetic to them. I won’t judge them by the actions of their entire tribe.” Speaking about India’s decision to pull out of Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, Vivek says, “I think there is a sense of uncompetitive behaviour in the Indian industry because we are protecting them from the competition.” Mehraj points to the ideological aspect of such trade deals. “If you go back in history, there have been similar agreements like NAFTA that have been disastrous. Such deals are the reason for Latin America’s backlash against neoliberalism that has destroyed their economies.” The panel also discuss the revocation of the writer Aatish Taseer’s Overseas Citizenship of India card, North India’s air pollution, and more. Tune in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/706787785 Hafta 248: EU delegation's Kashmir visit, Delhi pollution, WhatsApp snooping, and more Sat, 02 Nov 2019 10:35:44 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-248 01:45:22 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande and Mehraj D Lone of Newslaundry are joined by Suhasini Haidar, national and diplomatic affairs editor of The Hindu. The panel discusses a range of issues that made news this week. They start with the controversial visit of a delegation of the European Members of Parliament to Kashmir earlier this week. “I think it was a case of misplaced priorities as far as the government is concerned,” Suhasini says. She questions why the government used an obscure think tank rather than one of its own agencies to invite the delegation. Could it be that Prime Minister Narendra Modi doesn’t care about what the international press says about him? Suhasini disagrees, “I don’t think that is true. I definitely think they were tracking very closely what happened in the international media, particularly before Modi went to the US because they were worried about the kind of coverage that was coming out.” They move on to discuss the WhatsApp snooping row. Mehraj is of the view that Ravi Shankar Prasad, who said the government has sought a response from WhatsApp, is “passing the buck” when the messaging platform itself is a victim in this instance. Suhasini says, “I think WhatsApp has been passing the buck as well. Why do they have a software that is so easy to hack?” Speaking about the deteriorating air quality in Delhi and its coverage in the media, Manisha says, “When journalists are only going to talk about this as an issue around Diwali, then you are just minimising the scope of the problem.” Suhasini and Mehraj point towards the systemic causes of the problem that are rarely talked about. In this episode of Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Madh… In this episode of Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande and Mehraj D Lone of Newslaundry are joined by Suhasini Haidar, national and diplomatic affairs editor of The Hindu. The panel discusses a range of issues that made news this week. They start with the controversial visit of a delegation of the European Members of Parliament to Kashmir earlier this week. “I think it was a case of misplaced priorities as far as the government is concerned,” Suhasini says. She questions why the government used an obscure think tank rather than one of its own agencies to invite the delegation. Could it be that Prime Minister Narendra Modi doesn’t care about what the international press says about him? Suhasini disagrees, “I don’t think that is true. I definitely think they were tracking very closely what happened in the international media, particularly before Modi went to the US because they were worried about the kind of coverage that was coming out.” They move on to discuss the WhatsApp snooping row. Mehraj is of the view that Ravi Shankar Prasad, who said the government has sought a response from WhatsApp, is “passing the buck” when the messaging platform itself is a victim in this instance. Suhasini says, “I think WhatsApp has been passing the buck as well. Why do they have a software that is so easy to hack?” Speaking about the deteriorating air quality in Delhi and its coverage in the media, Manisha says, “When journalists are only going to talk about this as an issue around Diwali, then you are just minimising the scope of the problem.” Suhasini and Mehraj point towards the systemic causes of the problem that are rarely talked about. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/701974351 Hafta 247: Maharashtra and Haryana Elections, National Crime Records data and more Thu, 31 Oct 2019 07:09:40 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-247 01:19:21 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of Newslaundry Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Madhu Trehan and Mehraj Lone are joined by Diksha Madhok, Editor and Director of Quartz India. They discuss the recently concluded assembly elections in Maharashtra and Haryana, the release of National Crime Records Bureau data, the epidemic of protests all across the globe, and other issues. On the missing details of lynching, religious killings in the latest NCRB data, Abhinandan says, “I am not entirely of the view that these have been left out because of malicious intent. I do genuinely believe it’s too subjective.” However, Manisha argues, “I think for the police collating lynching data should be easy.” Apart from the assembly election results, the panel also discusses the local Block Development Council elections in J&K. Mehraj says, “The way they have been represented in the media is misleading because these are indirect elections as people don’t vote, only panchs and sarpanchs vote in them.” They also discuss the exit polls in the run-up to the assembly elections. Madhu argues that the way channels were carrying how their exit poll got the results right, it is “non-journalistic”. “Nobody cares whether you got it right or wrong”, she adds. Speaking on the epidemic of protests that have broken out in Hong Kong, Lebanon, Chile, etc., Madhu says, “No matter what hardships people are going through in India, our people have a spirit that is generally a fighting, joyous spirit.” Abhinandan’s remark, “We, Indians are aggressive” sparks a debate on the panel with Mehraj responding, “Isn’t that a bit of generalization? If you see there are small stories, small acts of kindness everywhere.” On the other hand, Diksha reasons that we are overworked and stressed that probably manifests itself in some of the ways as aggressiveness. Tune in, There’s more. In this episode of Newslaundry Hafta, host Abhina… In this episode of Newslaundry Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Madhu Trehan and Mehraj Lone are joined by Diksha Madhok, Editor and Director of Quartz India. They discuss the recently concluded assembly elections in Maharashtra and Haryana, the release of National Crime Records Bureau data, the epidemic of protests all across the globe, and other issues. On the missing details of lynching, religious killings in the latest NCRB data, Abhinandan says, “I am not entirely of the view that these have been left out because of malicious intent. I do genuinely believe it’s too subjective.” However, Manisha argues, “I think for the police collating lynching data should be easy.” Apart from the assembly election results, the panel also discusses the local Block Development Council elections in J&K. Mehraj says, “The way they have been represented in the media is misleading because these are indirect elections as people don’t vote, only panchs and sarpanchs vote in them.” They also discuss the exit polls in the run-up to the assembly elections. Madhu argues that the way channels were carrying how their exit poll got the results right, it is “non-journalistic”. “Nobody cares whether you got it right or wrong”, she adds. Speaking on the epidemic of protests that have broken out in Hong Kong, Lebanon, Chile, etc., Madhu says, “No matter what hardships people are going through in India, our people have a spirit that is generally a fighting, joyous spirit.” Abhinandan’s remark, “We, Indians are aggressive” sparks a debate on the panel with Mehraj responding, “Isn’t that a bit of generalization? If you see there are small stories, small acts of kindness everywhere.” On the other hand, Diksha reasons that we are overworked and stressed that probably manifests itself in some of the ways as aggressiveness. Tune in, There’s more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/698686075 Hafta 246: Land Acquisition Act, Ayodhya and more Thu, 31 Oct 2019 07:09:19 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-246 01:23:08 Newslaundry.com no This week’s Hafta features host Manisha Pande, Madhu Trehan, Mehraj Lone and Raman Kirpal. Kumar Sambhav Shrivastava, Contributing Editor with Business Standard joins in as a special guest. Manisha kicks off the discussion by asking Sambhav why we don’t hear as many land conflict cases now. Sambhav reasons that we only hear of the long-pending cases because the economy, construction sector, infrastructure have slowed down in recent years. “A lot of big projects are not coming up because of the shape of the economy that we are in right now and have been in the past few years”, he adds. They move on to discuss the manner in which the top courts are responding to cases in recent times. Madhu says, “I think one should address that the country is facing huge cynicism of every institution whether it’s CBI, RBI, educational institutions or the Supreme Court.” Speaking on media’s coverage of the Ayodhya dispute’s final hearing, Manisha talks about how media houses painted the common practice of shredding papers in the court as blasphemy against the Hindu religion. Raman was quick to point out how the CJI himself said that the evidence provided (map) was not relevant to the bench so he himself asked Rajeev Dhavan to tear it up if he wanted to. The panel also discussed the outright violation of News Broadcast Standards Authority’ s guidelines by TV channels on the very day it was published. They also discuss the “vendetta politics” that has been doing the rounds in the current political scenario as opposition leaders are being questioned for their involvement in multi-crore scams, and much more. This week’s Hafta features host Manisha Pande, Ma… This week’s Hafta features host Manisha Pande, Madhu Trehan, Mehraj Lone and Raman Kirpal. Kumar Sambhav Shrivastava, Contributing Editor with Business Standard joins in as a special guest. Manisha kicks off the discussion by asking Sambhav why we don’t hear as many land conflict cases now. Sambhav reasons that we only hear of the long-pending cases because the economy, construction sector, infrastructure have slowed down in recent years. “A lot of big projects are not coming up because of the shape of the economy that we are in right now and have been in the past few years”, he adds. They move on to discuss the manner in which the top courts are responding to cases in recent times. Madhu says, “I think one should address that the country is facing huge cynicism of every institution whether it’s CBI, RBI, educational institutions or the Supreme Court.” Speaking on media’s coverage of the Ayodhya dispute’s final hearing, Manisha talks about how media houses painted the common practice of shredding papers in the court as blasphemy against the Hindu religion. Raman was quick to point out how the CJI himself said that the evidence provided (map) was not relevant to the bench so he himself asked Rajeev Dhavan to tear it up if he wanted to. The panel also discussed the outright violation of News Broadcast Standards Authority’ s guidelines by TV channels on the very day it was published. They also discuss the “vendetta politics” that has been doing the rounds in the current political scenario as opposition leaders are being questioned for their involvement in multi-crore scams, and much more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/694636969 Hafta 245: Mohan Bhagwat on lynching, Modi-Xi meet, the state of journalism, and more Thu, 31 Oct 2019 07:09:05 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-245 01:38:27 Newslaundry.com no Hafta is back! The gang reunites with host Abhinandan Sekhri along with Manisha Pande, Madhu Trehan and Anand Vardhan. Joining us this week is the newest addition to the Newslaundry team, Mehraj Lone. This week’s podcast begins with the panel discussing Mohan Bhagwat’s recent speech at a Vijayadashami function. They scrutinise his comments on lynching being a "Western construct" while trying to come up with a Hindi word for "lynching". Mehraj questions the accuracy of Bhagwat's claims that lynching is a subject in all other religious texts except Hinduism. The conversation shifts to the big news of the week: the murder of an RSS worker and his family in West Bengal, the serial murders by a Kerala woman, and the Modi-Xi meet in Tamil Nadu. Madhu has a lot to say about the state of present-day journalism. She says, "Journalism is going behind the incident and finding out what really happened." Abhinandan argues that journalism can be "positive or negative". But, he adds, it has to be unexpected. The panel discusses the paradigm shift in journalism and the significance of present-day reporting. Listen up! Hafta is back! The gang reunites with host Abhina… Hafta is back! The gang reunites with host Abhinandan Sekhri along with Manisha Pande, Madhu Trehan and Anand Vardhan. Joining us this week is the newest addition to the Newslaundry team, Mehraj Lone. This week’s podcast begins with the panel discussing Mohan Bhagwat’s recent speech at a Vijayadashami function. They scrutinise his comments on lynching being a "Western construct" while trying to come up with a Hindi word for "lynching". Mehraj questions the accuracy of Bhagwat's claims that lynching is a subject in all other religious texts except Hinduism. The conversation shifts to the big news of the week: the murder of an RSS worker and his family in West Bengal, the serial murders by a Kerala woman, and the Modi-Xi meet in Tamil Nadu. Madhu has a lot to say about the state of present-day journalism. She says, "Journalism is going behind the incident and finding out what really happened." Abhinandan argues that journalism can be "positive or negative". But, he adds, it has to be unexpected. The panel discusses the paradigm shift in journalism and the significance of present-day reporting. Listen up! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/701972767 Chhota Hafta — Episode 247 Sat, 26 Oct 2019 12:03:50 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-247 00:30:47 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode of Newslaundry Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Madhu Trehan and Mehraj Lone are joined by Diksha Madhok, Editor and Director of Quartz India. They discuss the recently concluded assembly elections in Maharashtra and Haryana, the release of National Crime Records Bureau data, the epidemic of protests all across the globe, and other issues. Listen to the complete episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/10/26/hafta-247-maharashtra-and-haryana-elections-national-crime-records-data-and-more NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode of Newslaundry Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Madhu Trehan and Mehraj Lone are joined by Diksha Madhok, Editor and Director of Quartz India. They discuss the recently concluded assembly elections in Maharashtra and Haryana, the release of National Crime Records Bureau data, the epidemic of protests all across the globe, and other issues. Listen to the complete episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/10/26/hafta-247-maharashtra-and-haryana-elections-national-crime-records-data-and-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/688064617 Hafta 243: #ClimateStrike, #HowdyModi and more Sat, 26 Oct 2019 11:55:35 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-243 01:47:27 Newslaundry.com no Newslaundry Hafta is back with Abhinandan, Raman, Manisha are joined by Joyjeet Das who is a Consulting Editor a Down to Earth magazine. The podcast kicks off with the panel discussing the climate crisis and the Global Climate Strike that was held around the world this week. Talking about Greta Thunberg’s commitment towards the cause, Joyjeet says, “What if she was not there and this was just another United Nations communication”. He questions, “How much shit would people have given?” He says her contribution has been a major source for drawing public attention towards the cause. The panel also talks about the tragic death of two Dalit children who were beaten up for open defecation. In Abhinandan’s words, “It is one of the most ghastly stories I have read in a very long time.” Apart from all this, Howdy Modi continues to be in the limelight as the panel discusses media coverage of the event all over the world. For more, listen to the whole episode. Newslaundry Hafta is back with Abhinandan, Raman,… Newslaundry Hafta is back with Abhinandan, Raman, Manisha are joined by Joyjeet Das who is a Consulting Editor a Down to Earth magazine. The podcast kicks off with the panel discussing the climate crisis and the Global Climate Strike that was held around the world this week. Talking about Greta Thunberg’s commitment towards the cause, Joyjeet says, “What if she was not there and this was just another United Nations communication”. He questions, “How much shit would people have given?” He says her contribution has been a major source for drawing public attention towards the cause. The panel also talks about the tragic death of two Dalit children who were beaten up for open defecation. In Abhinandan’s words, “It is one of the most ghastly stories I have read in a very long time.” Apart from all this, Howdy Modi continues to be in the limelight as the panel discusses media coverage of the event all over the world. For more, listen to the whole episode. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/684603028 Hafta 242: #Kashmir, #eCigarettesBan, #HappyBirthdayModi and more Sat, 19 Oct 2019 14:23:58 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-242 01:16:57 Newslaundry.com no Journalist Maya Mirchandani, senior fellow at ORF and an assistant professor at Ashoka University joins Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal and Meghnad in this week’s episode of Newslaundry Hafta. Maya, who recently visited Kashmir, begins by shedding light on the ostensible state of normalcy in the Valley. She has much to say about the hopelessness and dejection Kashmiris are experiencing right now. The mainstream media’s unchecked and relentless narrative of the so-called normalcy in Kashmir seems to have birthed a crisis of real reportage from the Valley. Maya narrates how Kashmiris who feel let down by mainstream media are in a state of ‘civil-disobedience’ where they’re even avoiding talking to the media. The discussion moves to the government’s recent ban on e-cigarettes and how it is being executed. The panel simply does not buy the reasons provided by the government for the same, and everyone tries to read between the lines. They move on to discuss Modi’s birthday and the unprecedented importance it was given by some TV news channels. Apart from talking about present trends in broadcast media and its future prospects, the panel also discusses the violence at Jadavpur University and the death of protest culture. Journalist Maya Mirchandani, senior fellow at ORF… Journalist Maya Mirchandani, senior fellow at ORF and an assistant professor at Ashoka University joins Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal and Meghnad in this week’s episode of Newslaundry Hafta. Maya, who recently visited Kashmir, begins by shedding light on the ostensible state of normalcy in the Valley. She has much to say about the hopelessness and dejection Kashmiris are experiencing right now. The mainstream media’s unchecked and relentless narrative of the so-called normalcy in Kashmir seems to have birthed a crisis of real reportage from the Valley. Maya narrates how Kashmiris who feel let down by mainstream media are in a state of ‘civil-disobedience’ where they’re even avoiding talking to the media. The discussion moves to the government’s recent ban on e-cigarettes and how it is being executed. The panel simply does not buy the reasons provided by the government for the same, and everyone tries to read between the lines. They move on to discuss Modi’s birthday and the unprecedented importance it was given by some TV news channels. Apart from talking about present trends in broadcast media and its future prospects, the panel also discusses the violence at Jadavpur University and the death of protest culture. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/698686831 Chhota Hafta — Episode 246 Sat, 19 Oct 2019 14:23:43 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-246 00:29:44 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. This week’s Hafta features host Manisha Pande, Madhu Trehan, Mehraj Lone and Raman Kirpal. Kumar Sambhav Shrivastava, Contributing Editor with Business Standard joins in as a special guest. Manisha kicks off the discussion by asking Sambhav why we don’t hear as many land conflict cases now. Sambhav responds saying, “A lot of big projects are not coming up because of the shape of the economy that we are in right now and have been in the past few years.”. The panel also discusses the Ayodhya dispute’s final hearing, Manisha talks about how media houses painted the common practice of shredding papers in the court as blasphemy against the Hindu religion. The panel also talked about the outright violation of News Broadcast Standards Authority’ s guidelines by TV channels on the very day it was published. Apart from this, they also discussed the decline of institutions such as the CBI, RBI and Supreme Court, and much more. For more, listen up to the complete episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/10/19/hafta-246-land-acquisition-act-ayodhya-and-more NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. This week’s Hafta features host Manisha Pande, Madhu Trehan, Mehraj Lone and Raman Kirpal. Kumar Sambhav Shrivastava, Contributing Editor with Business Standard joins in as a special guest. Manisha kicks off the discussion by asking Sambhav why we don’t hear as many land conflict cases now. Sambhav responds saying, “A lot of big projects are not coming up because of the shape of the economy that we are in right now and have been in the past few years.”. The panel also discusses the Ayodhya dispute’s final hearing, Manisha talks about how media houses painted the common practice of shredding papers in the court as blasphemy against the Hindu religion. The panel also talked about the outright violation of News Broadcast Standards Authority’ s guidelines by TV channels on the very day it was published. Apart from this, they also discussed the decline of institutions such as the CBI, RBI and Supreme Court, and much more. For more, listen up to the complete episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/10/19/hafta-246-land-acquisition-act-ayodhya-and-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/680969033 Hafta 241: #MediaLayoffs, #PiyushGoyal, #TrafficFines and more Sat, 12 Oct 2019 11:10:06 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-241 01:24:51 Newslaundry.com no Besides Manisha Pande and host Abhinandan Sekhri, this episode of Hafta includes Jaskirat Singh Bawa, Senior Editor at The Quint and Vivek Kaul, author and a columnist for Newslaundry. The episode begins with Manisha briefing the panel with the week’s headlines, including Faye D’Souza stepping down as Mirror Now’s executive editor, recent arrests of journalists, and Tabrez Ansari’s case, amongst others. Abhinandan talks about Modi’s speech on the prevention of livestock diseases in Mathura and the follow up it received on primetime debates. “ I am dumbstruck at how far we have come,” says Abhinandan wondering if the speech was a ‘dog whistle’ by Modi. Vivek Kaul is of the view that these are regular deviations. He says, “They have all these distractions planted regularly at different points of time to deviate attention from what should essentially be the issue we should be talking about.” Manisha too thinks these prime-time debates are completely ‘made-up’. The discussion moves to Piyush Goyal’s statements on Maths, Einstein, and Gravity. Manisha says these incidents “demonstrate how these guys are so not used to being questioned.” The panel also talks about the series of arrests of journalists. On being asked if he worries about the safety of his journalists now, Jaskirat says, “Not just now; some sort of a layer or feeling of insecurity has been there.” The podcast includes conversations on a series of other issues including the rise in traffic fines, news coverage of Chandrayaan 2, Pallav Baghla and Ram Jethmalani’s death. For more, listen up to the whole podcast! Besides Manisha Pande and host Abhinandan Sekhri,… Besides Manisha Pande and host Abhinandan Sekhri, this episode of Hafta includes Jaskirat Singh Bawa, Senior Editor at The Quint and Vivek Kaul, author and a columnist for Newslaundry. The episode begins with Manisha briefing the panel with the week’s headlines, including Faye D’Souza stepping down as Mirror Now’s executive editor, recent arrests of journalists, and Tabrez Ansari’s case, amongst others. Abhinandan talks about Modi’s speech on the prevention of livestock diseases in Mathura and the follow up it received on primetime debates. “ I am dumbstruck at how far we have come,” says Abhinandan wondering if the speech was a ‘dog whistle’ by Modi. Vivek Kaul is of the view that these are regular deviations. He says, “They have all these distractions planted regularly at different points of time to deviate attention from what should essentially be the issue we should be talking about.” Manisha too thinks these prime-time debates are completely ‘made-up’. The discussion moves to Piyush Goyal’s statements on Maths, Einstein, and Gravity. Manisha says these incidents “demonstrate how these guys are so not used to being questioned.” The panel also talks about the series of arrests of journalists. On being asked if he worries about the safety of his journalists now, Jaskirat says, “Not just now; some sort of a layer or feeling of insecurity has been there.” The podcast includes conversations on a series of other issues including the rise in traffic fines, news coverage of Chandrayaan 2, Pallav Baghla and Ram Jethmalani’s death. For more, listen up to the whole podcast! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/694637878 Chhota Hafta — Episode 245 Sat, 12 Oct 2019 11:09:51 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-245 00:32:48 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta returns with host Abhinandan Sekhri along with Manisha Pande, Madhu Trehan and Anand Vardhan. Joining us this week is the newest addition to the Newslaundry team, Mehraj Lone. This week’s podcast begins with the panel discussing Mohan Bhagwat’s recent speech at a Vijayadashami function. They scrutinise his comments on lynching being a "Western construct" while trying to come up with a Hindi word for "lynching". The conversation then shifts to the big news of the week: the murder of an RSS worker and his family in West Bengal, the serial murders by a Kerala woman, and the Modi-Xi meet in Tamil Nadu. The panel also has a lot to say about the state of present-day journalism. Vote in the Asia Podcast Awards here: https://asiapodcastawards.com/ Listen to the full episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/10/12/hafta-245-mohan-bhagwat-on-lynching-modi-xi-meet-the-state-of-journalism-and-more NL Hafta returns with host Abhinandan Sekhri alon… NL Hafta returns with host Abhinandan Sekhri along with Manisha Pande, Madhu Trehan and Anand Vardhan. Joining us this week is the newest addition to the Newslaundry team, Mehraj Lone. This week’s podcast begins with the panel discussing Mohan Bhagwat’s recent speech at a Vijayadashami function. They scrutinise his comments on lynching being a "Western construct" while trying to come up with a Hindi word for "lynching". The conversation then shifts to the big news of the week: the murder of an RSS worker and his family in West Bengal, the serial murders by a Kerala woman, and the Modi-Xi meet in Tamil Nadu. The panel also has a lot to say about the state of present-day journalism. Vote in the Asia Podcast Awards here: https://asiapodcastawards.com/ Listen to the full episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/10/12/hafta-245-mohan-bhagwat-on-lynching-modi-xi-meet-the-state-of-journalism-and-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/691368724 Hafta 244: NRC, #GandhiJayanti, International Podcast Week, and more Sat, 05 Oct 2019 12:52:42 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-244 01:30:38 Newslaundry.com no Newslaundry Hafta is back with Abhinandan, Raman and Manisha, and this week they are joined by Arunabh Saikia, who reports from the Northeast for the news website Scroll, and Amit Varma, editor of Pragati and host of the podcast The Seen and the Unseen. They discuss Assam’s National Register of Citizens and its likely consequences. Referring to the government’s proposal to extend the NRC to the whole of India, Abhinandan says, “There’ll be these camps around the country like some dystopian Mad Max film with little townships of people who are not Indian citizens, who do not have the rights but they cannot get out of there.” Since India marked Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary this week, the panellists duly talk Gandhi as a person, politician, and public figure. Raman remarks that Gandhi has received “strategic attention” from the Narendra Modi government. “They are trying to appropriate Gandhi for their theme of nationalism because Gandhi is the one common binding factor of this country,” he explains. They also discuss climate change and why it is not receiving adequate coverage in the Indian media, the FIR filed against a group of eminent persons for writing a letter to the prime minister over mob lynchings that have been taking place in India, and exchange views on how Modi and Donald Trump are representing their respective countries. This week was also celebrated as the International Podcast Week. In the spirit of celebration, we are not putting this episode of Hafta behind the paywall. It is free. Tune in! Newslaundry Hafta is back with Abhinandan, Raman … Newslaundry Hafta is back with Abhinandan, Raman and Manisha, and this week they are joined by Arunabh Saikia, who reports from the Northeast for the news website Scroll, and Amit Varma, editor of Pragati and host of the podcast The Seen and the Unseen. They discuss Assam’s National Register of Citizens and its likely consequences. Referring to the government’s proposal to extend the NRC to the whole of India, Abhinandan says, “There’ll be these camps around the country like some dystopian Mad Max film with little townships of people who are not Indian citizens, who do not have the rights but they cannot get out of there.” Since India marked Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary this week, the panellists duly talk Gandhi as a person, politician, and public figure. Raman remarks that Gandhi has received “strategic attention” from the Narendra Modi government. “They are trying to appropriate Gandhi for their theme of nationalism because Gandhi is the one common binding factor of this country,” he explains. They also discuss climate change and why it is not receiving adequate coverage in the Indian media, the FIR filed against a group of eminent persons for writing a letter to the prime minister over mob lynchings that have been taking place in India, and exchange views on how Modi and Donald Trump are representing their respective countries. This week was also celebrated as the International Podcast Week. In the spirit of celebration, we are not putting this episode of Hafta behind the paywall. It is free. Tune in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/688050385 Chhota Hafta — Episode 243 Sat, 28 Sep 2019 14:30:27 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-243 00:36:45 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode, Abhinandan, Raman, Manisha are joined by Joyjeet Das who is a Consulting Editor at Down to Earth magazine. The podcast begins with a discussion on the climate crisis and eventually comes to Swedish climate activist, Greta Thunberg. Joyjeet thinks her contribution has been a major contribution towards drawing public attention towards the cause. The panel also talks about the tragic incident where two Dalit children were beaten to death for open defecation. Apart from this, the panel also discusses media’s continued coverage of Howdy Modi. For more, listen up to the complete episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/09/28/hafta-243-climatestrike-howdymodi-and-more NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode, Abhinandan, Raman, Manisha are joined by Joyjeet Das who is a Consulting Editor at Down to Earth magazine. The podcast begins with a discussion on the climate crisis and eventually comes to Swedish climate activist, Greta Thunberg. Joyjeet thinks her contribution has been a major contribution towards drawing public attention towards the cause. The panel also talks about the tragic incident where two Dalit children were beaten to death for open defecation. Apart from this, the panel also discusses media’s continued coverage of Howdy Modi. For more, listen up to the complete episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/09/28/hafta-243-climatestrike-howdymodi-and-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/677615181 Hafta 240: #NRC, #Kashmir, #Chidambaram and more Sat, 28 Sep 2019 14:29:42 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-240 01:33:37 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of Newslaundry Hafta, The Caravan’s Staff Writer Praveen Donthi and Independent Journalist Makepeace Sitlhou join host, Abhinandan Sekhri, Newslaundry’s Managing Editor, Raman Kirpal and Correspondent, Gaurav Sarkar. Abhinandan begins the podcast with the National Register of Citizens (NRC). He asks if NRC is “some sort of a political masterstroke”. Makepeace, who covers stories from Northeast India and has been covering NRC, draws out the details of the situation. She says the enactment of NRC and the issues of foreigners has been a “long-burning issue.” Praveen talks about the obsession with the number 50 lakh concerning the register. The panel moves on to talk about recent developments in Kashmir. They discuss the Kashmir Press Club’s denouncement of the curb on journalists in the valley, the communication clampdown and a piece by Indian Express that questioned the methods of proceedings concerning the revocation of Article 370. Abhinandan talks about the international coverage of the issue and moves on to question Praveen on how the Kashmiris are taking the decision. He asks, “Are there people in Kashmir who are okay with this?” Praveen examines the points of views of separatists and mainstream politicians. He says “The mainstream politicians have never had a history of agitating against Indian state.” Raman points to the radicalization of the Kashmiri youth saying, “There were internal reports claiming that seventy percent of Kashmiri youth has been radicalized in the past four-five years.” Later, Gaurav Sarkar, who has been covering the Chidambaram case joins the conversation. Abhinandan asks him to spill the beans on the informal happenings in the court that did not make into the report. Gaurav narrates a funny incident from the proceedings. He also talks about the specificities of the cases on Chidambaram and his arrest. Abhinandan also talked about Ravish Kumar’s acceptance speech for the Ramon Magsaysay Award, the rise of fake news and the choice and plight of young journalists. For this and more, listen in! In this episode of Newslaundry Hafta, The Caravan… In this episode of Newslaundry Hafta, The Caravan’s Staff Writer Praveen Donthi and Independent Journalist Makepeace Sitlhou join host, Abhinandan Sekhri, Newslaundry’s Managing Editor, Raman Kirpal and Correspondent, Gaurav Sarkar. Abhinandan begins the podcast with the National Register of Citizens (NRC). He asks if NRC is “some sort of a political masterstroke”. Makepeace, who covers stories from Northeast India and has been covering NRC, draws out the details of the situation. She says the enactment of NRC and the issues of foreigners has been a “long-burning issue.” Praveen talks about the obsession with the number 50 lakh concerning the register. The panel moves on to talk about recent developments in Kashmir. They discuss the Kashmir Press Club’s denouncement of the curb on journalists in the valley, the communication clampdown and a piece by Indian Express that questioned the methods of proceedings concerning the revocation of Article 370. Abhinandan talks about the international coverage of the issue and moves on to question Praveen on how the Kashmiris are taking the decision. He asks, “Are there people in Kashmir who are okay with this?” Praveen examines the points of views of separatists and mainstream politicians. He says “The mainstream politicians have never had a history of agitating against Indian state.” Raman points to the radicalization of the Kashmiri youth saying, “There were internal reports claiming that seventy percent of Kashmiri youth has been radicalized in the past four-five years.” Later, Gaurav Sarkar, who has been covering the Chidambaram case joins the conversation. Abhinandan asks him to spill the beans on the informal happenings in the court that did not make into the report. Gaurav narrates a funny incident from the proceedings. He also talks about the specificities of the cases on Chidambaram and his arrest. Abhinandan also talked about Ravish Kumar’s acceptance speech for the Ramon Magsaysay Award, the rise of fake news and the choice and plight of young journalists. For this and more, listen in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/673656209 Hafta 239: #RBIReserves, #Kashmir, #ArunJaitley and more Sat, 21 Sep 2019 12:16:21 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-239 01:47:48 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Newslaundry’s Editor-in-Chief Madhu Trehan, Nwslaundry’s Managing Editor Raman Kirpal, Author & Journalist Puja Mehra, and France 24 Correspondent Surabhi Tandon. The podcast kicks off with Puja Mehra, author of The Lost Decade, explaining the relevance of surplus funds with the Reserve Bank of India and how the way these funds will be used by the government could decide the country's economic future. When Madhu wonders if people who didn't care much about business earlier will reform now, Puja says, "I think they'll come up with new ways to do exactly what they did earlier." She adds, "The key policy challenge right now is that policies are not thought through. Decisions are taken but not followed up with what needs to be done to make implementation painless." The panel also notes the kind of changes in statistical calculations the administration is trying to make and how it'll all lead to a crisis. Talking about the humanitarian crisis' cases in Kashmir, Surabhi says, "It's also a lack of respect for ordinary life and for human beings. I think the Indian state and the machinery repetitively demonstrates a complete disregard for the dignity of ordinary human beings" before the panel wonders why both the Supreme Court and the Press Council seem to be in support of the government. Abhinandan then questions the need of journalists gloating over their closeness with Arun Jaitley. Madhu feels that maintaining a certain kind of distance is important in personal/professional relationships before most of the panel goes on to share anecdotes involving politicians' attempts to get close to journalists. Everyone in the panel then expresses opinions about Modi's demeanor whenever he goes abroad. Raman says, "Over the years, I think he has really groomed himself up very well to the camera. Every time he speaks out a word, I feel like doing a fact-check" to which Abhinandan adds, "The contrast in his body language when he's dealing with his own people and when he's dealing with people who aren't his people is so off-putting." The panel also discussed the significance of renaming Feroze Shah Kotla stadium and the United States backing out from the Indo-Pak dispute amongst other things. For this and more, listen up! In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is… In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Newslaundry’s Editor-in-Chief Madhu Trehan, Nwslaundry’s Managing Editor Raman Kirpal, Author & Journalist Puja Mehra, and France 24 Correspondent Surabhi Tandon. The podcast kicks off with Puja Mehra, author of The Lost Decade, explaining the relevance of surplus funds with the Reserve Bank of India and how the way these funds will be used by the government could decide the country's economic future. When Madhu wonders if people who didn't care much about business earlier will reform now, Puja says, "I think they'll come up with new ways to do exactly what they did earlier." She adds, "The key policy challenge right now is that policies are not thought through. Decisions are taken but not followed up with what needs to be done to make implementation painless." The panel also notes the kind of changes in statistical calculations the administration is trying to make and how it'll all lead to a crisis. Talking about the humanitarian crisis' cases in Kashmir, Surabhi says, "It's also a lack of respect for ordinary life and for human beings. I think the Indian state and the machinery repetitively demonstrates a complete disregard for the dignity of ordinary human beings" before the panel wonders why both the Supreme Court and the Press Council seem to be in support of the government. Abhinandan then questions the need of journalists gloating over their closeness with Arun Jaitley. Madhu feels that maintaining a certain kind of distance is important in personal/professional relationships before most of the panel goes on to share anecdotes involving politicians' attempts to get close to journalists. Everyone in the panel then expresses opinions about Modi's demeanor whenever he goes abroad. Raman says, "Over the years, I think he has really groomed himself up very well to the camera. Every time he speaks out a word, I feel like doing a fact-check" to which Abhinandan adds, "The contrast in his body language when he's dealing with his own people and when he's dealing with people who aren't his people is so off-putting." The panel also discussed the significance of renaming Feroze Shah Kotla stadium and the United States backing out from the Indo-Pak dispute amongst other things. For this and more, listen up! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/684604435 Chhota Hafta — Episode 242 Sat, 21 Sep 2019 12:14:58 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-242 00:25:52 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. Journalist Maya Mirchandani, senior fellow at ORF and an assistant professor at Ashoka University joined Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal and Meghnad in this week’s episode of Newslaundry Hafta. Maya, who recently visited Kashmir talks about the ostensible state of normalcy in the Valley. She describes how mainstream media’s unchecked discourse of the so-called normalcy in Kashmir has caused a crisis of real reportage from the Valley. The panel discusses the government’s recent ban on e-cigarettes and how it is being executed. They also talk about Modi’s birthday and the unprecedented importance it was given by some TV news channels. For more, listen up to the complete episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/09/21/hafta-242-kashmir-ecigarettesban-happybirthdaymodi-and-more NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. Journalist Maya Mirchandani, senior fellow at ORF and an assistant professor at Ashoka University joined Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal and Meghnad in this week’s episode of Newslaundry Hafta. Maya, who recently visited Kashmir talks about the ostensible state of normalcy in the Valley. She describes how mainstream media’s unchecked discourse of the so-called normalcy in Kashmir has caused a crisis of real reportage from the Valley. The panel discusses the government’s recent ban on e-cigarettes and how it is being executed. They also talk about Modi’s birthday and the unprecedented importance it was given by some TV news channels. For more, listen up to the complete episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/09/21/hafta-242-kashmir-ecigarettesban-happybirthdaymodi-and-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/680966489 Chhota Hafta - Episode 241 Sat, 14 Sep 2019 12:05:59 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-241 00:30:13 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. Apart from Manisha Pande and host Abhinandan Sekhri, this episode of NL Hafta features Jaskirat Singh Bawa, Senior Editor at The Quint and Vivek Kaul, author and a columnist for Newslaundry. The podcast begins with the stories that made it to the week's headlines, including Faye D’Souza stepping down as Mirror Now’s executive editor, recent arrests of journalists, and Tabrez Ansari’s case, amongst others. Abhinandan talks about Modi’s speech on the prevention of livestock diseases in Mathura and the follow up it received on primetime debates. Vivek Kaul thinks these are regular deviations from important issues while Manisha is of the view that these prime-time debates are completely ‘made-up’. The podcast includes conversations on a series of other issues including the rise in traffic fines, news coverage of Chandrayaan 2, Pallav Baghla and Ram Jethmalani’s death. For more, listen up to the complete episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/09/14/hafta-241-medialayoffs-piyushgoyal-trafficfines-and-more NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. Apart from Manisha Pande and host Abhinandan Sekhri, this episode of NL Hafta features Jaskirat Singh Bawa, Senior Editor at The Quint and Vivek Kaul, author and a columnist for Newslaundry. The podcast begins with the stories that made it to the week's headlines, including Faye D’Souza stepping down as Mirror Now’s executive editor, recent arrests of journalists, and Tabrez Ansari’s case, amongst others. Abhinandan talks about Modi’s speech on the prevention of livestock diseases in Mathura and the follow up it received on primetime debates. Vivek Kaul thinks these are regular deviations from important issues while Manisha is of the view that these prime-time debates are completely ‘made-up’. The podcast includes conversations on a series of other issues including the rise in traffic fines, news coverage of Chandrayaan 2, Pallav Baghla and Ram Jethmalani’s death. For more, listen up to the complete episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/09/14/hafta-241-medialayoffs-piyushgoyal-trafficfines-and-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/670376738 Hafta 238: Article 370, #ChidambaramArrest, Ravidas Temple and more Sat, 14 Sep 2019 11:44:50 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-238 01:43:05 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, the political editor of The Caravan magazine Hartosh Singh Bal, and a Newslaundry subscriber of Kashmiri origin. The podcast kicks off with the Newslaundry subscriber expressing her sentiments on the abrogation of Article 370 and the heavy deployment of troops in the region. She says, "For us, it is a progression of the loss in the faith in the Indian Constitution." The panel talks about why Ladakh and Jammu will soon ask the government to ban people from other states from buying land in the region, and the chances of a plebiscite. Hartosh notes the impact of the Modi-Shah-Doval trinity on the minds of the Indian people. The panel goes on to discuss how members of the Congress who didn’t even want to share space with P Chidambaram earlier are now supporting him inside and outside court. Raman wonders if political influence caused the CBI to dramatise the arrest and questions the credibility of Indrani Mukerjea's statement. Abhinandan tries to understand the reason behind primetime reporters spitting venom against the former finance minister. The deficient media coverage this week on recent protests over the Ravidas Temple demolition urges the panel to thrash out why this wasn’t given space on primetime news. The panel also discusses this movement’s rise in Punjab. Hartosh says, “The thing angering them the most was that green zone exceptions have been made for hundreds of thousands of reasons and it couldn’t be made for this?” The group also discusses fake news and why people don’t mind spreading it, before moving on to remember legendary music composer Mohammed Zahur Khayyam Hashmi. For this and more, listen up! In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is… In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, the political editor of The Caravan magazine Hartosh Singh Bal, and a Newslaundry subscriber of Kashmiri origin. The podcast kicks off with the Newslaundry subscriber expressing her sentiments on the abrogation of Article 370 and the heavy deployment of troops in the region. She says, "For us, it is a progression of the loss in the faith in the Indian Constitution." The panel talks about why Ladakh and Jammu will soon ask the government to ban people from other states from buying land in the region, and the chances of a plebiscite. Hartosh notes the impact of the Modi-Shah-Doval trinity on the minds of the Indian people. The panel goes on to discuss how members of the Congress who didn’t even want to share space with P Chidambaram earlier are now supporting him inside and outside court. Raman wonders if political influence caused the CBI to dramatise the arrest and questions the credibility of Indrani Mukerjea's statement. Abhinandan tries to understand the reason behind primetime reporters spitting venom against the former finance minister. The deficient media coverage this week on recent protests over the Ravidas Temple demolition urges the panel to thrash out why this wasn’t given space on primetime news. The panel also discusses this movement’s rise in Punjab. Hartosh says, “The thing angering them the most was that green zone exceptions have been made for hundreds of thousands of reasons and it couldn’t be made for this?” The group also discusses fake news and why people don’t mind spreading it, before moving on to remember legendary music composer Mohammed Zahur Khayyam Hashmi. For this and more, listen up! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/677611452 Chhota Hafta — Episode 240 Sat, 07 Sep 2019 13:24:23 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-240 00:26:39 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode of Newslaundry Hafta, The Caravan’s Staff Writer Praveen Donthi and Independent Journalist Makepeace Sitlhou join host, Abhinandan Sekhri, Newslaundry’s Managing Editor, Raman Kirpal and Correspondent, Gaurav Sarkar. The podcast begins a discussion on the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Abhinandan wonders if NRC is “some sort of a political masterstroke”. Makepeace, who covers stories from Northeast India and has been covering NRC, draws out the details of the situation. The panel moves on to talk about recent developments in Kashmir, including reports of human rights violations, with inputs from The Caravan’s Praveen Dhonty. Later, Gaurav Sarkar, who has been covering the Chidambaram case, joins the conversation. Abhinandan asks him to spill the beans on the informal happenings in the court that did not make into his report. Abhinandan also talked about Ravish Kumar’s acceptance speech for the Ramon Magsaysay Award, the rise of fake news and the choice and plight of young journalists. Listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/09/07/hafta-240-nrc-kashmir-chidambaram-and-more NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode of Newslaundry Hafta, The Caravan’s Staff Writer Praveen Donthi and Independent Journalist Makepeace Sitlhou join host, Abhinandan Sekhri, Newslaundry’s Managing Editor, Raman Kirpal and Correspondent, Gaurav Sarkar. The podcast begins a discussion on the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Abhinandan wonders if NRC is “some sort of a political masterstroke”. Makepeace, who covers stories from Northeast India and has been covering NRC, draws out the details of the situation. The panel moves on to talk about recent developments in Kashmir, including reports of human rights violations, with inputs from The Caravan’s Praveen Dhonty. Later, Gaurav Sarkar, who has been covering the Chidambaram case, joins the conversation. Abhinandan asks him to spill the beans on the informal happenings in the court that did not make into his report. Abhinandan also talked about Ravish Kumar’s acceptance speech for the Ramon Magsaysay Award, the rise of fake news and the choice and plight of young journalists. Listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/09/07/hafta-240-nrc-kashmir-chidambaram-and-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/667086410 Hafta 237: Article 370 and Kashmir, #Kerala Floods, Sonia Gandhi and more Sat, 07 Sep 2019 12:56:14 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-237 01:29:37 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Anand Vardhan, Washington Post's India correspondent Niha Masih, and Sneha Koshy, the head of NDTV's Kerala bureau. The podcast starts with the panel’s take on BBC’s report on Kashmir, which was rumoured to be untrue. Niha was in Kashmir for five days and she talks about the communication shutdown there, also describing how restrictions on movement for the media was different on each day. Abhinandan asks: “Why does a Washington Post correspondent get a curfew pass [while] a HT bureau chief who has been working for three decades in Kashmir is denied one?” Niha responds, “It was not my pass, but I was travelling with someone who had a curfew pass. But a lot of people said that the local Kashmiri journalists found it harder to get curfew passes, but the ones from Delhi found it easier.” Abhinandan expresses how he felt about the sound of bullet firings in the BBC video. Anand points out: “It could be a deliberate message to suppress information and then release it later.” He urges the audience and the panel to read his piece on Kashmir to have a clearer view of the limitations of constitutional patriotism and why the claims of the nation-state are still thriving. Moving to the Pehlu Khan case verdict, Anand feels the problem in India is “more of mob justice than about mob lynching”. About the recurring floods in Kerala and most of South India, Sneha explains how environmental exploitation and urbanisation has taken a toll on Kerala. Paddy plantation in Kerala has seen a downward graph, and the sustenance of the growth of paddy has also become an issue. She describes how mono-cropping is becoming a huge challenge. The panel then discusses Sonia Gandhi stepping up as the interim president of the Indian National Congress. Anand says charisma or tradition is the appeal of leadership. Abhinandan feels there is no representation in the Congress and jokes that the party should get Kanhaiya Kumar as president, saying: “In today’s’ day and age, a good speaker is what you need.” For more, tune in! In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is… In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Anand Vardhan, Washington Post's India correspondent Niha Masih, and Sneha Koshy, the head of NDTV's Kerala bureau. The podcast starts with the panel’s take on BBC’s report on Kashmir, which was rumoured to be untrue. Niha was in Kashmir for five days and she talks about the communication shutdown there, also describing how restrictions on movement for the media was different on each day. Abhinandan asks: “Why does a Washington Post correspondent get a curfew pass [while] a HT bureau chief who has been working for three decades in Kashmir is denied one?” Niha responds, “It was not my pass, but I was travelling with someone who had a curfew pass. But a lot of people said that the local Kashmiri journalists found it harder to get curfew passes, but the ones from Delhi found it easier.” Abhinandan expresses how he felt about the sound of bullet firings in the BBC video. Anand points out: “It could be a deliberate message to suppress information and then release it later.” He urges the audience and the panel to read his piece on Kashmir to have a clearer view of the limitations of constitutional patriotism and why the claims of the nation-state are still thriving. Moving to the Pehlu Khan case verdict, Anand feels the problem in India is “more of mob justice than about mob lynching”. About the recurring floods in Kerala and most of South India, Sneha explains how environmental exploitation and urbanisation has taken a toll on Kerala. Paddy plantation in Kerala has seen a downward graph, and the sustenance of the growth of paddy has also become an issue. She describes how mono-cropping is becoming a huge challenge. The panel then discusses Sonia Gandhi stepping up as the interim president of the Indian National Congress. Anand says charisma or tradition is the appeal of leadership. Abhinandan feels there is no representation in the Congress and jokes that the party should get Kanhaiya Kumar as president, saying: “In today’s’ day and age, a good speaker is what you need.” For more, tune in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/673672238 Chhota Hafta — Episode 239 Sat, 31 Aug 2019 14:13:14 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-239 00:29:35 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, author & journalist Puja Mehra, and France 24 correspondent Surabhi Tandon. The podcast kicks off with Puja Mehra, author of The Lost Decade, explaining the relevance of surplus funds with the Reserve Bank of India and how the way these funds will be used by the government could decide the country's economic future. Talking about cases of human rights violations in Kashmir, Surabhi says, "It's also a lack of respect for ordinary life and for human beings. I think the Indian state and the machinery repetitively demonstrates a complete disregard for the dignity of ordinary human beings." The panel also discussed the significance of renaming Feroze Shah Kotla stadium and the United States backing out from the Indo-Pak dispute amongst other things. Listen to the full Hafta NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, author & journalist Puja Mehra, and France 24 correspondent Surabhi Tandon. The podcast kicks off with Puja Mehra, author of The Lost Decade, explaining the relevance of surplus funds with the Reserve Bank of India and how the way these funds will be used by the government could decide the country's economic future. Talking about cases of human rights violations in Kashmir, Surabhi says, "It's also a lack of respect for ordinary life and for human beings. I think the Indian state and the machinery repetitively demonstrates a complete disregard for the dignity of ordinary human beings." The panel also discussed the significance of renaming Feroze Shah Kotla stadium and the United States backing out from the Indo-Pak dispute amongst other things. Listen to the full Hafta tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/663905327 Hafta 236: #Article370, Sushma Swaraj & more Sat, 31 Aug 2019 14:05:42 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-236 01:39:27 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal, Anand Vardhan, and R Jagannathan, Swarajya's Editorial Director. The discussion kicks off with the panel talking about the abrogation of Article 370, and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Abhinandan said, “I thought it would be impossible in my lifetime." R Jagannathan also weighs in about the government’s actions. The panel also discussed the triumphalism portrayed by a majority of the Indian public. Manisha said that rhetorics like “teaching them a lesson” are demeaning. Focusing on the current state of communications in the former state, the panel examines the role of the media in providing information to the rest of the country. The panel discussed claims such the move being for improvement of employment opportunities and literacy rates in the state. The panel also talks about the inability of individuals in Jammu and Kashmir to communicate. Jagannathan states, “The first job of any state is to ensure law and order.” The panel also speaks about Sushma Swaraj's demise, her legacy and achievements are also discussed. Anand speaks on the glorification of famous individuals after their demise. Abhinandan recalls his personal interaction with her when he was in his twenties. There’s this and so much more, tune in! In this week’s Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined… In this week’s Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal, Anand Vardhan, and R Jagannathan, Swarajya's Editorial Director. The discussion kicks off with the panel talking about the abrogation of Article 370, and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Abhinandan said, “I thought it would be impossible in my lifetime." R Jagannathan also weighs in about the government’s actions. The panel also discussed the triumphalism portrayed by a majority of the Indian public. Manisha said that rhetorics like “teaching them a lesson” are demeaning. Focusing on the current state of communications in the former state, the panel examines the role of the media in providing information to the rest of the country. The panel discussed claims such the move being for improvement of employment opportunities and literacy rates in the state. The panel also talks about the inability of individuals in Jammu and Kashmir to communicate. Jagannathan states, “The first job of any state is to ensure law and order.” The panel also speaks about Sushma Swaraj's demise, her legacy and achievements are also discussed. Anand speaks on the glorification of famous individuals after their demise. Abhinandan recalls his personal interaction with her when he was in his twenties. There’s this and so much more, tune in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/657184325 Hafta 234: RTI Amendment, Trump on Kashmir, Letter Wars and more Sat, 24 Aug 2019 13:42:43 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-0234 01:40:10 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Manisha Pande, Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, and author and columnist Sushant Sareen. The podcast kicks off with a discussion on the life and times of Sheila Dikshit. Sushant says, “There was decency about her, the way she managed to get things done. She was a performer.” The panel talks about her achievements as Delhi's chief minister and the political maneuvering that made her successful. Speaking about her death, the panel notes Rahul Gandhi’s absence and what that means. Up next is the RTI amendment and its impact. According to Abhinandan, “The RTI was the only good thing to come out of policy and Parliament that actually impacted citizens.” They discuss the probable reasons behind the government pushing this amendment and the lacklustre coverage in the media. Raman says, “The government was foolish in bringing in the amendment because the RTI is more or less dead.” The podcast moves on to Donald Trump’s offer to mediate on Kashmir and the furore that followed. Sushant thinks India’s response should have been a lot firmer. They discuss the reasons behind Trump’s statements and the US president's capabilities when it comes to such a situation. In Madhu’s opinion, the Indian government's response was appropriate and avoided a direct confrontation between Trump and Modi. Finally, the panel talks about the open letter issued by celebrities and its counter-letter. They analyse the underlying issue of the weaponisation of the phrase “Jai Shri Ram”. Abhinandan says: “We as a nation are so disempowered that when people do something vile, they feel empowered.” The panellists also talk about Arnab Goswami’s response to the letter which leads to a heated discussion on Arnab’s way of covering issues. For this and more, tune in! In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is… In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Manisha Pande, Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, and author and columnist Sushant Sareen. The podcast kicks off with a discussion on the life and times of Sheila Dikshit. Sushant says, “There was decency about her, the way she managed to get things done. She was a performer.” The panel talks about her achievements as Delhi's chief minister and the political maneuvering that made her successful. Speaking about her death, the panel notes Rahul Gandhi’s absence and what that means. Up next is the RTI amendment and its impact. According to Abhinandan, “The RTI was the only good thing to come out of policy and Parliament that actually impacted citizens.” They discuss the probable reasons behind the government pushing this amendment and the lacklustre coverage in the media. Raman says, “The government was foolish in bringing in the amendment because the RTI is more or less dead.” The podcast moves on to Donald Trump’s offer to mediate on Kashmir and the furore that followed. Sushant thinks India’s response should have been a lot firmer. They discuss the reasons behind Trump’s statements and the US president's capabilities when it comes to such a situation. In Madhu’s opinion, the Indian government's response was appropriate and avoided a direct confrontation between Trump and Modi. Finally, the panel talks about the open letter issued by celebrities and its counter-letter. They analyse the underlying issue of the weaponisation of the phrase “Jai Shri Ram”. Abhinandan says: “We as a nation are so disempowered that when people do something vile, they feel empowered.” The panellists also talk about Arnab Goswami’s response to the letter which leads to a heated discussion on Arnab’s way of covering issues. For this and more, tune in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/670372121 Chhota Hafta — Episode 238 Sat, 24 Aug 2019 13:24:21 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-238 00:30:40 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, the political editor of The Caravan magazine Hartosh Singh Bal, and a Newslaundry subscriber of Kashmiri origin. The podcast kicks off with the Newslaundry subscriber expressing her sentiments on the abrogation of Article 370 and the heavy deployment of troops in the region. She says, "For us, it is a progression of the loss in the faith in the Indian Constitution." The panel goes on to discuss how members of the Congress who didn’t even want to share space with P Chidambaram earlier are now supporting him inside and outside court. They also talk about the lack of media space given to the protests over the Ravidas Temple demolition. Listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/08/24/hafta-238-article-370-chidambaramarrest-ravidas-temple-and-more NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, the political editor of The Caravan magazine Hartosh Singh Bal, and a Newslaundry subscriber of Kashmiri origin. The podcast kicks off with the Newslaundry subscriber expressing her sentiments on the abrogation of Article 370 and the heavy deployment of troops in the region. She says, "For us, it is a progression of the loss in the faith in the Indian Constitution." The panel goes on to discuss how members of the Congress who didn’t even want to share space with P Chidambaram earlier are now supporting him inside and outside court. They also talk about the lack of media space given to the protests over the Ravidas Temple demolition. Listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/08/24/hafta-238-article-370-chidambaramarrest-ravidas-temple-and-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/653859755 Hafta 233: Richa Bharti, Tiranga TV, Chandrayaan-2 & more Sat, 17 Aug 2019 10:51:43 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-234 01:36:39 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, and author and blogger Arnab Ray. The podcast kicks off with a discussion on Richa Bharti who was arrested for putting up an objectionable post. The judge asked her to distribute copies of the Quran as punishment. The panel then moves to discuss the controversy surrounding Tiranga TV, which Abhinandan refers to as “fracas”. They talk about Barkha Dutt’s tirade against Kapil Sibal and the larger protest against the channel by fired employees. Arnab noted, “They bet on the Congress winning in the election and they were obviously wrong.” The panel then moved to a larger discussion about the content industry. Abhinandan said, “Anything related to content will go through a huge churn in the next few years.” Moving on to the Chandrayaan-2 mission, Abhinandan questioned the very purpose of going to the moon when so many have already gone. He said, “I think it's a vanity project just to make us feel good.” The panel discussed space programmes in other countries and how India, in general, manages to pull off feats cheaper than in other countries. The panel also talked about the floods in Assam which have submerged large parts of the state. They discuss the problems the floods have caused, its impact on the NRC process and more. They also discussed the latest twist in the Kangana Ranaut-media saga. The panel uses this as a lens to talk about the media and journalists’ behaviour in general. For this and more, tune in! NL Sena Project https://www.newslaundry.com/sena Register for TMR: http://themediarumble.com/ In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is… In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, and author and blogger Arnab Ray. The podcast kicks off with a discussion on Richa Bharti who was arrested for putting up an objectionable post. The judge asked her to distribute copies of the Quran as punishment. The panel then moves to discuss the controversy surrounding Tiranga TV, which Abhinandan refers to as “fracas”. They talk about Barkha Dutt’s tirade against Kapil Sibal and the larger protest against the channel by fired employees. Arnab noted, “They bet on the Congress winning in the election and they were obviously wrong.” The panel then moved to a larger discussion about the content industry. Abhinandan said, “Anything related to content will go through a huge churn in the next few years.” Moving on to the Chandrayaan-2 mission, Abhinandan questioned the very purpose of going to the moon when so many have already gone. He said, “I think it's a vanity project just to make us feel good.” The panel discussed space programmes in other countries and how India, in general, manages to pull off feats cheaper than in other countries. The panel also talked about the floods in Assam which have submerged large parts of the state. They discuss the problems the floods have caused, its impact on the NRC process and more. They also discussed the latest twist in the Kangana Ranaut-media saga. The panel uses this as a lens to talk about the media and journalists’ behaviour in general. For this and more, tune in! NL Sena Project https://www.newslaundry.com/sena Register for TMR: http://themediarumble.com/ tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/667089830 Chhota Hafta — Episode 237 Sat, 17 Aug 2019 10:51:28 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-237 00:31:49 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Anand Vardhan, Washington Post's India correspondent Niha Masih, and Sneha Koshy, the head of NDTV's Kerala bureau. The podcast starts with the panel’s take on BBC’s report on Kashmir, which was rumoured to be untrue. Niha was in Kashmir for five days and she talks about the communication shutdown there, also describing how restrictions on movement for the media was different on each day. Moving to the Pehlu Khan case verdict, Anand feels the problem in India is “more of mob justice than about mob lynching”. About the recurring floods in Kerala and most of South India, Sneha explains how environmental exploitation and urbanisation has taken a toll on Kerala. Listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/08/17/hafta-237-article-370-and-kashmir-kerala-floods-sonia-gandhi-and-more In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is… In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Anand Vardhan, Washington Post's India correspondent Niha Masih, and Sneha Koshy, the head of NDTV's Kerala bureau. The podcast starts with the panel’s take on BBC’s report on Kashmir, which was rumoured to be untrue. Niha was in Kashmir for five days and she talks about the communication shutdown there, also describing how restrictions on movement for the media was different on each day. Moving to the Pehlu Khan case verdict, Anand feels the problem in India is “more of mob justice than about mob lynching”. About the recurring floods in Kerala and most of South India, Sneha explains how environmental exploitation and urbanisation has taken a toll on Kerala. Listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/08/17/hafta-237-article-370-and-kashmir-kerala-floods-sonia-gandhi-and-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/663898244 Chhota Hafta — Episode 236 Sat, 10 Aug 2019 15:18:25 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-236 00:26:57 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal, Anand Vardhan, and R Jagannathan, Swarajya's Editorial Director. The discussion kicks off with the panel talking about the abrogation of Article 370, and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Abhinandan said, “I thought it would be impossible in my lifetime." R Jagannathan also weighs in about the government’s actions. The panel also discussed the triumphalism portrayed by a majority of the Indian public. Manisha said that rhetorics like “teaching them a lesson” are demeaning. Listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/subscription-data/2019/08/10/hafta-236-article370-sushma-swaraj-more NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal, Anand Vardhan, and R Jagannathan, Swarajya's Editorial Director. The discussion kicks off with the panel talking about the abrogation of Article 370, and the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories: Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Abhinandan said, “I thought it would be impossible in my lifetime." R Jagannathan also weighs in about the government’s actions. The panel also discussed the triumphalism portrayed by a majority of the Indian public. Manisha said that rhetorics like “teaching them a lesson” are demeaning. Listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/subscription-data/2019/08/10/hafta-236-article370-sushma-swaraj-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/650545055 Hafta 232: India's loss at #WorldCup2019, Congress crisis, Delhi CCTVs and more Sat, 10 Aug 2019 15:14:47 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-233 01:39:34 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan, Raman Kirpal and journalist and author Vivek Kaul. The podcast kicks off with a discussion on the 2019 Cricket World Cup and Team India’s loss in the semi-finals. According to Anand, “it was a bubble waiting to burst”. The panel talks about their personal reactions and the country’s response to the loss. Abhinandan says: “I felt really bad because I really like Dhoni.” Discussing the crisis in the Congress in both Goa and Karnataka, Abhinandan comments, “It’s collapsing everywhere, kuch toh sharam karlo.” Raman notes that there's a "churning" going on within the party. They talk about the lack of leadership in the Congress and its consequences, as well as the history and legacy of the anti-defection law. Moving to the 2019 Union Budget, Vivek feels it was "much ado about nothing". He notes the Budget's lack of numbers and any detail on revenue and expenditure as well as other problems. The discussion shifts to the nature of business and the black economy in India. Next up is the installation of CCTV cameras in Delhi schools and the concerns raised by the public regarding privacy and surveillance. Anand says he “does not believe in privacy as an absolute right” while Madhu feels this move is absolutely all right. The panel also discusses the flying banner over the India-New Zealand match in England and the privatisation of railways in India. For this and much more, tune in! In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is… In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan, Raman Kirpal and journalist and author Vivek Kaul. The podcast kicks off with a discussion on the 2019 Cricket World Cup and Team India’s loss in the semi-finals. According to Anand, “it was a bubble waiting to burst”. The panel talks about their personal reactions and the country’s response to the loss. Abhinandan says: “I felt really bad because I really like Dhoni.” Discussing the crisis in the Congress in both Goa and Karnataka, Abhinandan comments, “It’s collapsing everywhere, kuch toh sharam karlo.” Raman notes that there's a "churning" going on within the party. They talk about the lack of leadership in the Congress and its consequences, as well as the history and legacy of the anti-defection law. Moving to the 2019 Union Budget, Vivek feels it was "much ado about nothing". He notes the Budget's lack of numbers and any detail on revenue and expenditure as well as other problems. The discussion shifts to the nature of business and the black economy in India. Next up is the installation of CCTV cameras in Delhi schools and the concerns raised by the public regarding privacy and surveillance. Anand says he “does not believe in privacy as an absolute right” while Madhu feels this move is absolutely all right. The panel also discusses the flying banner over the India-New Zealand match in England and the privatisation of railways in India. For this and much more, tune in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/660521075 Hafta 235: Conversations from The Media Rumble Sat, 03 Aug 2019 14:23:01 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-235 00:31:02 Newslaundry.com no This very special episode of NL Hafta is recorded on location at The Media Rumble at India Habitat Centre, Delhi. Host Abhinandan Sekhri discusses views and news with actress Swara Bhaskar; software engineer-turned-journalist Kavya Sukumar; VP of engineering at Quintype, Rashmi Mittal; writer and editor Supriya Nair; Swarajya's editorial director R Jagannathan; and journalist David Usborne. This episode isn't behind the paywall, so what are you waiting for? Tune in! This very special episode of NL Hafta is recorded… This very special episode of NL Hafta is recorded on location at The Media Rumble at India Habitat Centre, Delhi. Host Abhinandan Sekhri discusses views and news with actress Swara Bhaskar; software engineer-turned-journalist Kavya Sukumar; VP of engineering at Quintype, Rashmi Mittal; writer and editor Supriya Nair; Swarajya's editorial director R Jagannathan; and journalist David Usborne. This episode isn't behind the paywall, so what are you waiting for? Tune in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/657183827 Chhota Hafta — Episode 234 Sat, 27 Jul 2019 13:24:10 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-235 00:35:29 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Manisha Pande, Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, and author and columnist Sushant Sareen. The podcast kicks off with a discussion on the life and times of Sheila Dikshit. Up next is the RTI amendment and its impact. According to Abhinandan, “The RTI was the only good thing to come out of policy and Parliament that actually impacted citizens.” Moving on to Donald Trump’s offer to mediate on Kashmir and the furore that followed, Sushant thinks India’s response should have been a lot firmer. Listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/07/27/hafta-234-rti-amendment-trump-on-kashmir-letter-wars-and-more NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Manisha Pande, Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, and author and columnist Sushant Sareen. The podcast kicks off with a discussion on the life and times of Sheila Dikshit. Up next is the RTI amendment and its impact. According to Abhinandan, “The RTI was the only good thing to come out of policy and Parliament that actually impacted citizens.” Moving on to Donald Trump’s offer to mediate on Kashmir and the furore that followed, Sushant thinks India’s response should have been a lot firmer. Listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/07/27/hafta-234-rti-amendment-trump-on-kashmir-letter-wars-and-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/647031909 Hafta 231: #Budget2019, #RahulGandhi's resignation, Chandni Chowk violence & more Sat, 27 Jul 2019 13:23:36 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-232 01:27:36 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s episode, Meghnad wears the host’s hat. He is joined by Manisha Pande, Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan and Raman Kirpal. The discussion kicks off with the panel talking about the 2019 Budget. They speak about the good, the bad and the ugly. Manisha finds the five per cent duty on imported books weird and briefly discusses Air India's privatisation as well. The panel then moves on to discuss Rahul Gandhi’s resignation from his post as the Congress Party president. They also talk about who could be the next party chief. Madhu talks about Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s tweet on his resignation and Meghnad says, “Congress basically now is just hollow, it has no ideology per se." The panel also talks about the Zaira Wasim controversy. The actress quit Bollywood citing her work's interference with her religion. To the question of why she took this step, Anand says, “Maybe, she didn’t have the gift of articulation to put her position and she rationalised it in a wrong way.” The panel talks about the vandalisation of a temple in Chandni Chowk and the misreporting that followed. Listen up, there’s more. In this week’s episode, Meghnad wears the host’s … In this week’s episode, Meghnad wears the host’s hat. He is joined by Manisha Pande, Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan and Raman Kirpal. The discussion kicks off with the panel talking about the 2019 Budget. They speak about the good, the bad and the ugly. Manisha finds the five per cent duty on imported books weird and briefly discusses Air India's privatisation as well. The panel then moves on to discuss Rahul Gandhi’s resignation from his post as the Congress Party president. They also talk about who could be the next party chief. Madhu talks about Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s tweet on his resignation and Meghnad says, “Congress basically now is just hollow, it has no ideology per se." The panel also talks about the Zaira Wasim controversy. The actress quit Bollywood citing her work's interference with her religion. To the question of why she took this step, Anand says, “Maybe, she didn’t have the gift of articulation to put her position and she rationalised it in a wrong way.” The panel talks about the vandalisation of a temple in Chandni Chowk and the misreporting that followed. Listen up, there’s more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/643453533 Hafta 230: #ChennaiWaterCrisis, Jharkhand lynching, Akash Vijayvargiya and more Sat, 20 Jul 2019 13:20:27 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-230 01:58:44 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s episode, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan, Manisha Pande, and journalist and author Salil Tripathi. The discussion kicks off with speeches and controversies in Parliament this week. This includes the super-viral speech by MP Mahua Moitra as well as the chants of “Vande Mataram” during various swearing-ins. The panel then talks about the recent case of lynching of a Muslim man in Jharkhand who was beaten up and forced to chant “Jai Shri Ram”. Abhinandan found the coverage of this case to be “deeply problematic” and noted that “what-aboutery has become almost a legitimate argument” on primetime shows. Anand talks about the culture of mob justice in India and how it’s fueling communal lynchings. Moving to the water crisis in Chennai, the panel discusses its effects as well as the solutions that could help alleviate this problem. Anand discusses the urban/rural divide on this issue while Salil talks about steps taken in other countries that have had an actual effect on the water crisis. The podcast wraps up with Abhinandan bringing up the controversy around BJP MP Kailash Vijayvargiya and his son BJP MLA Akash Vijayvargiya who was filmed beating up a government official with a cricket bat. The panel observes the lacklustre questioning by the media and the relative impunity with which politicians in India operate with. For this and more, tune in! In this week’s episode, Abhinandan Sekhri is join… In this week’s episode, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan, Manisha Pande, and journalist and author Salil Tripathi. The discussion kicks off with speeches and controversies in Parliament this week. This includes the super-viral speech by MP Mahua Moitra as well as the chants of “Vande Mataram” during various swearing-ins. The panel then talks about the recent case of lynching of a Muslim man in Jharkhand who was beaten up and forced to chant “Jai Shri Ram”. Abhinandan found the coverage of this case to be “deeply problematic” and noted that “what-aboutery has become almost a legitimate argument” on primetime shows. Anand talks about the culture of mob justice in India and how it’s fueling communal lynchings. Moving to the water crisis in Chennai, the panel discusses its effects as well as the solutions that could help alleviate this problem. Anand discusses the urban/rural divide on this issue while Salil talks about steps taken in other countries that have had an actual effect on the water crisis. The podcast wraps up with Abhinandan bringing up the controversy around BJP MP Kailash Vijayvargiya and his son BJP MLA Akash Vijayvargiya who was filmed beating up a government official with a cricket bat. The panel observes the lacklustre questioning by the media and the relative impunity with which politicians in India operate with. For this and more, tune in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/653852930 Chhota Hafta — Episode 233 Sat, 20 Jul 2019 13:18:35 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-234 00:33:55 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, and author and blogger Arnab Ray. The podcast kicks off with a discussion on Richa Bharti who was arrested for putting up an objectionable post. The judge asked her to distribute copies of the Quran as punishment. The panel also discusses the controversy surrounding Tiranga TV, India's Chandrayaan-2 mission, floods in Assam and Bihar and more. Listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/07/20/hafta-233-richa-bharti-tiranga-tv-chandrayaan-2-more NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, and author and blogger Arnab Ray. The podcast kicks off with a discussion on Richa Bharti who was arrested for putting up an objectionable post. The judge asked her to distribute copies of the Quran as punishment. The panel also discusses the controversy surrounding Tiranga TV, India's Chandrayaan-2 mission, floods in Assam and Bihar and more. Listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/07/20/hafta-233-richa-bharti-tiranga-tv-chandrayaan-2-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/640533462 Hafta 229: #Muzaffarpur, Sanjiv Bhatt, Doctors' strike & more Sat, 13 Jul 2019 12:53:11 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-229 01:52:08 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of NL Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kripal, Anand Vardhan and Nistula Hebbar, The Hindu's Political Editor. The panel talks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's “One Nation, One Election” proposition, encephalitis-related deaths in Muzaffarpur, Anjana Om Kashyap’s controversial reporting from Bihar's Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital and more. Nistula shares anecdotes from a recent parliamentary session. Doctors' strike, and Sanjiv Bhatt's life imprisonment are also discussed. On the issue of “One Nation, One Election”, Nistula said, “You can’t have a situation where the political class basically looks at the elections as a blanket validation for all policies." Talking about the encephalitis outbreak in Bihar, Madhu says, “It’s the systematic historical neglect of the medical area” which has led us to this situation. While talking about Anjana Om Kashyap’s controversial reporting, Anand said, “The demonstration of orchestrated anger is a spectacle something that suits television news, this kind of drama sells." Moving on the panel discusses a June 16 incident where two civilians were thrashed by cops. “Anywhere in the world, you cannot take out a weapon against a cop, yet the amount of sympathy that he (Sarabjeet, the victim) has got is enough for the Home Ministry to ask for a report and no one has the guts to back-up the cop,” Abhinandan said. For this and more, tune in! In this episode of NL Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekh… In this episode of NL Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kripal, Anand Vardhan and Nistula Hebbar, The Hindu's Political Editor. The panel talks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's “One Nation, One Election” proposition, encephalitis-related deaths in Muzaffarpur, Anjana Om Kashyap’s controversial reporting from Bihar's Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital and more. Nistula shares anecdotes from a recent parliamentary session. Doctors' strike, and Sanjiv Bhatt's life imprisonment are also discussed. On the issue of “One Nation, One Election”, Nistula said, “You can’t have a situation where the political class basically looks at the elections as a blanket validation for all policies." Talking about the encephalitis outbreak in Bihar, Madhu says, “It’s the systematic historical neglect of the medical area” which has led us to this situation. While talking about Anjana Om Kashyap’s controversial reporting, Anand said, “The demonstration of orchestrated anger is a spectacle something that suits television news, this kind of drama sells." Moving on the panel discusses a June 16 incident where two civilians were thrashed by cops. “Anywhere in the world, you cannot take out a weapon against a cop, yet the amount of sympathy that he (Sarabjeet, the victim) has got is enough for the Home Ministry to ask for a report and no one has the guts to back-up the cop,” Abhinandan said. For this and more, tune in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/650543552 Chhota Hafta — Episode 232 Sat, 13 Jul 2019 12:52:26 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-233 00:31:55 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan, Raman Kirpal and journalist and author Vivek Kaul. The podcast kicks off with a discussion on the 2019 Cricket World Cup and Team India’s loss in the semi-finals. According to Anand, “it was a bubble waiting to burst”. Discussing the crisis in the Congress in both Goa and Karnataka, Abhinandan comments, “It’s collapsing everywhere, kuch toh sharam karlo.” Vivek says the 2019 Budget was "much ado about nothing". He notes the Budget's lack of numbers and any detail on revenue and expenditure as well as other problems. Listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/subscription-data/2019/07/13/hafta-232-indias-loss-at-worldcup2019-congress-crisis-delhi-cctvs-and-more NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan, Raman Kirpal and journalist and author Vivek Kaul. The podcast kicks off with a discussion on the 2019 Cricket World Cup and Team India’s loss in the semi-finals. According to Anand, “it was a bubble waiting to burst”. Discussing the crisis in the Congress in both Goa and Karnataka, Abhinandan comments, “It’s collapsing everywhere, kuch toh sharam karlo.” Vivek says the 2019 Budget was "much ado about nothing". He notes the Budget's lack of numbers and any detail on revenue and expenditure as well as other problems. Listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/subscription-data/2019/07/13/hafta-232-indias-loss-at-worldcup2019-congress-crisis-delhi-cctvs-and-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/647029503 Chhota Hafta — Episode 231 Sat, 06 Jul 2019 14:16:18 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-232 00:31:04 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s episode, Meghnad wears the host’s hat. He is joined by Manisha Pande, Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan and Raman Kirpal. The discussion kicks off with the panel talking about the 2019 Budget. They speak about the good, the bad and the ugly. The panel also discusses Rahul Gandhi’s resignation, the Zaira Wasim controversy and more. You can listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/subscription-data/2019/07/06/hafta-231-budget2019-rahulgandhis-resignation-chandni-chowk-violence-more NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s episode, Meghnad wears the host’s hat. He is joined by Manisha Pande, Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan and Raman Kirpal. The discussion kicks off with the panel talking about the 2019 Budget. They speak about the good, the bad and the ugly. The panel also discusses Rahul Gandhi’s resignation, the Zaira Wasim controversy and more. You can listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/subscription-data/2019/07/06/hafta-231-budget2019-rahulgandhis-resignation-chandni-chowk-violence-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/633141693 Hafta 227: Reporting on environment, AAP's free ride for women plan and more Fri, 28 Jun 2019 18:10:01 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-227 01:16:21 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s episode, Manisha Pande wears the host’s hat and is joined by Newslaundry’s Raman Kirpal and guests Nitin Sethi and Hridayesh Joshi to discuss climate change and environment reporting in India, among other topics. The discussion kicks off with Nitin discussing his latest story in Business Standard on how Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali has crept into the Aravalli hills. Patanjali bought spans across 400 acres which amount to “one-third of a village”. Nitin says the land is forested land which cannot be used for commercial purposes, and expresses his reservations about the fact that the land has been “privatised and cordoned off” which is unlawful as the land is supposed to remain in the “commons of the panchayat”. Hridayesh weighs in about the mining activity that has been taking place despite the Supreme Court ruling. He appreciates Nitin’s article for adding a deeper perspective to the discourse. The panel moves on to the forest fires in Uttarakhand. Manisha asks Hridayesh whether the situation has become worse considering it is common practice to burn the ground to grow grass. Hridayesh agrees that the “people (there) have lived with fire” but this occurrence has become severe to the extent that people are forced to migrate from their villages. He adds, “More than 1,200 villages have become ghost towns.” Nitin talks about the need to draw fire lines to prevent the fires from spreading—a job of immense commitment on the part of the government and forest officials. Manisha asks the panel how they would rate the attention to environmental issues in newsrooms and the associated hindrances. Nitin thinks that the media is doing a “spectacular job” of reporting with “very limited resources and individuals who are motivated across newsrooms”. He also commends the vernacular press, and believes the coverage of environmental journalism has expanded since 2007, when people would think of environmental journalism as akin to writing about tigers. Hridayesh talks about how locals and committed on-ground reporters who take journalists to ground zero and give them all the information are not mentioned in the national media. Following a feedback letter, the panel discusses how sources of news work. While Manisha is against any legislation to reveal sources, she also acknowledges the distrust among general readership. The panel agrees that the instincts of a journalist need to develop over time to be able to validate a source’s credibility. Discussing Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s announcement to make bus and metro rides free for women in Delhi, Raman thinks it’s a “good idea” and “definitely political”, though it does not solve the issue of security. Nitin thinks that leaders “should get a political advantage” if they make a good decision. He also thinks that the rich need to be taxed to be able to bear the financial burden of this policy, especially when “11 per cent of Delhi’s geography is covered in cars”—a dimension that the government is avoiding. He points out the lack of data to enable an analysis of the feasibility of this policy, calling it a “half-a-cookie job”. The panel also discusses the debate around the Draft National Education Policy and Hindi imposition. Listen up! There’s more. In this week’s episode, Manisha Pande wears the h… In this week’s episode, Manisha Pande wears the host’s hat and is joined by Newslaundry’s Raman Kirpal and guests Nitin Sethi and Hridayesh Joshi to discuss climate change and environment reporting in India, among other topics. The discussion kicks off with Nitin discussing his latest story in Business Standard on how Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali has crept into the Aravalli hills. Patanjali bought spans across 400 acres which amount to “one-third of a village”. Nitin says the land is forested land which cannot be used for commercial purposes, and expresses his reservations about the fact that the land has been “privatised and cordoned off” which is unlawful as the land is supposed to remain in the “commons of the panchayat”. Hridayesh weighs in about the mining activity that has been taking place despite the Supreme Court ruling. He appreciates Nitin’s article for adding a deeper perspective to the discourse. The panel moves on to the forest fires in Uttarakhand. Manisha asks Hridayesh whether the situation has become worse considering it is common practice to burn the ground to grow grass. Hridayesh agrees that the “people (there) have lived with fire” but this occurrence has become severe to the extent that people are forced to migrate from their villages. He adds, “More than 1,200 villages have become ghost towns.” Nitin talks about the need to draw fire lines to prevent the fires from spreading—a job of immense commitment on the part of the government and forest officials. Manisha asks the panel how they would rate the attention to environmental issues in newsrooms and the associated hindrances. Nitin thinks that the media is doing a “spectacular job” of reporting with “very limited resources and individuals who are motivated across newsrooms”. He also commends the vernacular press, and believes the coverage of environmental journalism has expanded since 2007, when people would think of environmental journalism as akin to writing about tigers. Hridayesh talks about how locals and committed on-ground reporters who take journalists to ground zero and give them all the information are not mentioned in the national media. Following a feedback letter, the panel discusses how sources of news work. While Manisha is against any legislation to reveal sources, she also acknowledges the distrust among general readership. The panel agrees that the instincts of a journalist need to develop over time to be able to validate a source’s credibility. Discussing Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s announcement to make bus and metro rides free for women in Delhi, Raman thinks it’s a “good idea” and “definitely political”, though it does not solve the issue of security. Nitin thinks that leaders “should get a political advantage” if they make a good decision. He also thinks that the rich need to be taxed to be able to bear the financial burden of this policy, especially when “11 per cent of Delhi’s geography is covered in cars”—a dimension that the government is avoiding. He points out the lack of data to enable an analysis of the feasibility of this policy, calling it a “half-a-cookie job”. The panel also discusses the debate around the Draft National Education Policy and Hindi imposition. Listen up! There’s more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/643455936 Chhota Hafta — Episode 230 Fri, 28 Jun 2019 18:08:29 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-230 00:27:56 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s episode, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan, Manisha Pande, and journalist and author Salil Tripathi. The discussion kicks off with speeches and controversies in Parliament this week. This includes the super-viral speech by MP Mahua Moitra as well as the chants of “Vande Mataram” during various swearing-ins. The panel then talks about the recent case of lynching of a Muslim man in Jharkhand who was beaten up and forced to chant “Jai Shri Ram”. Abhinandan found the coverage of this case to be “deeply problematic” and noted that “what-aboutery has become almost a legitimate argument” on primetime shows. Anand talks about the culture of mob justice in India and how it’s fueling communal lynchings. Moving to the water crisis in Chennai, the panel discusses its effects as well as the solutions that could help alleviate this problem. Anand discusses the urban/rural divide on this issue while Salil talks about steps taken in other countries that have had an actual effect on the water crisis. The podcast wraps up with Abhinandan bringing up the controversy around BJP MP Kailash Vijayvargiya and his son BJP MLA Akash Vijayvargiya who was filmed beating up a government official with a cricket bat. The panel observes the lacklustre questioning by the media and the relative impunity with which politicians in India operate with.. For this and more, tune in! In this week’s episode, Abhinandan Sekhri is join… In this week’s episode, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan, Manisha Pande, and journalist and author Salil Tripathi. The discussion kicks off with speeches and controversies in Parliament this week. This includes the super-viral speech by MP Mahua Moitra as well as the chants of “Vande Mataram” during various swearing-ins. The panel then talks about the recent case of lynching of a Muslim man in Jharkhand who was beaten up and forced to chant “Jai Shri Ram”. Abhinandan found the coverage of this case to be “deeply problematic” and noted that “what-aboutery has become almost a legitimate argument” on primetime shows. Anand talks about the culture of mob justice in India and how it’s fueling communal lynchings. Moving to the water crisis in Chennai, the panel discusses its effects as well as the solutions that could help alleviate this problem. Anand discusses the urban/rural divide on this issue while Salil talks about steps taken in other countries that have had an actual effect on the water crisis. The podcast wraps up with Abhinandan bringing up the controversy around BJP MP Kailash Vijayvargiya and his son BJP MLA Akash Vijayvargiya who was filmed beating up a government official with a cricket bat. The panel observes the lacklustre questioning by the media and the relative impunity with which politicians in India operate with.. For this and more, tune in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/629982852 Hafta 226: Analysing the Modi wave, media and the voters, and more Sat, 22 Jun 2019 15:33:29 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-226 01:54:10 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s episode, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by the regular gang of Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan, and special guest Saurabh Dwivedi, journalist and founder of news website The Lallantop. The discussion kicks off with Abhinandan asking Saurabh whether there was a Modi wave before the elections. Saurabh recounts realities he noticed on the ground in states like Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, saying people have glorified Modi to a point where they don't know their own candidates. He says they've spun stories around Modi similar to those about Indira Gandhi. On the other hand, voters laughed when asked about Rahul Gandhi. Anand talks about the possibility of underestimation bias and its associated risks. Manisha critiques the media for not having focused adequately on the schemes rolled out by the government and the responses to them. Saurabh quickly pins it down to the “gyaan ka bojh” of the journalists that keeps them from preparing before going to report on the field. The panel tries to analyse whether the media influences voters and the narrative. Madhu refers to Tavleen Singh’s article and Swati Parashar’s article in Indian Express, both of which talk about the need for the upper classes to accept that this is the new India and the realities associated with it. She stresses the need to “decolonise the mind” and not try to manufacture a mandate that pleases Western ideals of liberalism. Abhinandan points out the fallacy in taking one argument and positioning it to be “the definitive argument” while ignoring the existence of the spectrum. Manisha thinks the media has mass reach which is why politicians want it under their control. Anand believes that the news is an “accelerator” of pre-established views. Listen up, there’s more! In this week’s episode, Abhinandan Sekhri is join… In this week’s episode, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by the regular gang of Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan, and special guest Saurabh Dwivedi, journalist and founder of news website The Lallantop. The discussion kicks off with Abhinandan asking Saurabh whether there was a Modi wave before the elections. Saurabh recounts realities he noticed on the ground in states like Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, saying people have glorified Modi to a point where they don't know their own candidates. He says they've spun stories around Modi similar to those about Indira Gandhi. On the other hand, voters laughed when asked about Rahul Gandhi. Anand talks about the possibility of underestimation bias and its associated risks. Manisha critiques the media for not having focused adequately on the schemes rolled out by the government and the responses to them. Saurabh quickly pins it down to the “gyaan ka bojh” of the journalists that keeps them from preparing before going to report on the field. The panel tries to analyse whether the media influences voters and the narrative. Madhu refers to Tavleen Singh’s article and Swati Parashar’s article in Indian Express, both of which talk about the need for the upper classes to accept that this is the new India and the realities associated with it. She stresses the need to “decolonise the mind” and not try to manufacture a mandate that pleases Western ideals of liberalism. Abhinandan points out the fallacy in taking one argument and positioning it to be “the definitive argument” while ignoring the existence of the spectrum. Manisha thinks the media has mass reach which is why politicians want it under their control. Anand believes that the news is an “accelerator” of pre-established views. Listen up, there’s more! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/640529220 Chhota Hafta — Episode 229 Sat, 22 Jun 2019 15:31:31 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-229 00:29:32 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode of NL Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kripal, Anand Vardhan and Nistula Hebbar, The Hindu's Political Editor. The panel talks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's “One nation One Election” proposition, encephalitis-related deaths in Muzaffarpur, Anjana Om Kashyap’s controversial reporting from Bihar's Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital and more. Nistula shares anecdotes from a recent parliamentary session. Doctor’s strike, and Sanjiv Bhatt's life imprisonment is also discussed. Listen to the full Hafta NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode of NL Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kripal, Anand Vardhan and Nistula Hebbar, The Hindu's Political Editor. The panel talks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's “One nation One Election” proposition, encephalitis-related deaths in Muzaffarpur, Anjana Om Kashyap’s controversial reporting from Bihar's Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital and more. Nistula shares anecdotes from a recent parliamentary session. Doctor’s strike, and Sanjiv Bhatt's life imprisonment is also discussed. Listen to the full Hafta tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/626380818 Hafta 225: Lok Sabha Election Results 2019, affirmative action, and more Sun, 16 Jun 2019 10:38:10 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-225 01:34:24 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan and Christina Thomas Dhanaraj, co-founder of the Dalit History Month collective. The podcast begins with Manisha describing the election week that went by and the BJP’s enormous victory. After a recap of the election results announced on May 23, Abhinandan and Manisha highlight some of the keynotes, including Rahul Gandhi’s loss in Amethi, and Atishi and the Aam Aadmi Party’s loss in Delhi. Moving to Narendra Modi's speech after his victory, Abhinandan says, "The one thing that I thought was a bit cringe-inducing was his mocking the term ‘secularism’. Even if he is saying he is only mocking those people who use it as a badge ... clearly, he was mocking the term.” A letter from a subscriber sparks a discussion on the idea of affirmative action and its application over generations. Christina says: “No one seems to get the basic point that none of the problems gets solved in one generation. And two, there is something called ‘inter-generational deficit’. We are talking about 2,000-year-old oppression.” She asks the panel, “How can one generation completely remove all of that deficit?” The discussion continues with Madhu and Anand chipping in with their opinions. Going back to the elections, Abhinandan asks what the big takeaways were. Manisha says, "Of course, exit polls were super interesting this time. When the Axis poll came up with the 360 figure ... they got a lot of flak on Twitter. It turned out they were correct.” Among other things, Christina weighs in on the political scenario in Tamil Nadu while Anand talks about the results in Bihar. This and a lot more, so listen up! In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is… In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan and Christina Thomas Dhanaraj, co-founder of the Dalit History Month collective. The podcast begins with Manisha describing the election week that went by and the BJP’s enormous victory. After a recap of the election results announced on May 23, Abhinandan and Manisha highlight some of the keynotes, including Rahul Gandhi’s loss in Amethi, and Atishi and the Aam Aadmi Party’s loss in Delhi. Moving to Narendra Modi's speech after his victory, Abhinandan says, "The one thing that I thought was a bit cringe-inducing was his mocking the term ‘secularism’. Even if he is saying he is only mocking those people who use it as a badge ... clearly, he was mocking the term.” A letter from a subscriber sparks a discussion on the idea of affirmative action and its application over generations. Christina says: “No one seems to get the basic point that none of the problems gets solved in one generation. And two, there is something called ‘inter-generational deficit’. We are talking about 2,000-year-old oppression.” She asks the panel, “How can one generation completely remove all of that deficit?” The discussion continues with Madhu and Anand chipping in with their opinions. Going back to the elections, Abhinandan asks what the big takeaways were. Manisha says, "Of course, exit polls were super interesting this time. When the Axis poll came up with the 360 figure ... they got a lot of flak on Twitter. It turned out they were correct.” Among other things, Christina weighs in on the political scenario in Tamil Nadu while Anand talks about the results in Bihar. This and a lot more, so listen up! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/637048182 Chhota Hafta — Episode 228 Sun, 16 Jun 2019 10:34:00 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-228 00:28:36 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande and journalist Supriya Nair. The podcast opens with the panel discussing the ongoing doctors’ strike all over the country following the attack on doctors by a deceased patient’s relatives in West Bengal. Abhinandan asks Supriya for her views on the share of women's sports stories in newspapers since she's a sports columnist with Mumbai Mirror. Supriya says even though there are prominent female sports journalists, the coverage of women’s sports in general is quite low. The panel also discusses the attacks on journalists across India, from the attack on Amit Sharma in UP, to the arrest of Prashant Kanojia, to the attack on a group of journalists in Karnataka. Listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/06/15/hafta-228-reportage-on-female-athletes-doctorsstrike-aligarh-murder-case-and-more NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande and journalist Supriya Nair. The podcast opens with the panel discussing the ongoing doctors’ strike all over the country following the attack on doctors by a deceased patient’s relatives in West Bengal. Abhinandan asks Supriya for her views on the share of women's sports stories in newspapers since she's a sports columnist with Mumbai Mirror. Supriya says even though there are prominent female sports journalists, the coverage of women’s sports in general is quite low. The panel also discusses the attacks on journalists across India, from the attack on Amit Sharma in UP, to the arrest of Prashant Kanojia, to the attack on a group of journalists in Karnataka. Listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/06/15/hafta-228-reportage-on-female-athletes-doctorsstrike-aligarh-murder-case-and-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/637052088 Hafta 228: Sports journalism, #DoctorsStrike, Aligarh murder case and more Sat, 15 Jun 2019 15:25:21 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-228 01:42:20 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande and journalist Supriya Nair. The podcast opens with the panel discussing the ongoing doctors’ strike all over the country following the attack on doctors by a deceased patient’s relatives in West Bengal. Abhinandan references a study, which will be unveiled at August's The Media Rumble, on the share of women's sports stories in newspapers. He asks Supriya for her views since she's a sports columnist with Mumbai Mirror. Supriya says even though there are prominent female sports journalists, the coverage of women’s sports in general is quite low. However, things are improving, she says, especially after recent victories of women athletes like PV Sindhu. The panel moves to the attacks on journalists across India, from the attack on Amit Sharma in UP, to the arrest of Prashant Kanojia, to the attack on a group of journalists in Karnataka. They discuss partisanship in journalism and how loyalties now determine facts. Madhu says that “journalism has been reduced to a fish market”. Newslaundry’s Ayush Tiwari also pays this week's Hafta a visit to talk about his ground report on the Aligarh murder case. He recalls how the village of Tappal has become a hot spot of communal violence and how the police did a commendable job of calming them down. The podcast wraps up with a discussion between Abhinandan and Supriya on the difference between a game and a sport, and whether cricket is a sport or not. Abhinandan says, “There needs to be a certain sense of athleticism in order for a game to be a sport, carrom could be a sport.” Supriya retorts: "So your argument is that cricket is not a sport just because a few athletes are fat?” For this and more, tune in! In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is… In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande and journalist Supriya Nair. The podcast opens with the panel discussing the ongoing doctors’ strike all over the country following the attack on doctors by a deceased patient’s relatives in West Bengal. Abhinandan references a study, which will be unveiled at August's The Media Rumble, on the share of women's sports stories in newspapers. He asks Supriya for her views since she's a sports columnist with Mumbai Mirror. Supriya says even though there are prominent female sports journalists, the coverage of women’s sports in general is quite low. However, things are improving, she says, especially after recent victories of women athletes like PV Sindhu. The panel moves to the attacks on journalists across India, from the attack on Amit Sharma in UP, to the arrest of Prashant Kanojia, to the attack on a group of journalists in Karnataka. They discuss partisanship in journalism and how loyalties now determine facts. Madhu says that “journalism has been reduced to a fish market”. Newslaundry’s Ayush Tiwari also pays this week's Hafta a visit to talk about his ground report on the Aligarh murder case. He recalls how the village of Tappal has become a hot spot of communal violence and how the police did a commendable job of calming them down. The podcast wraps up with a discussion between Abhinandan and Supriya on the difference between a game and a sport, and whether cricket is a sport or not. Abhinandan says, “There needs to be a certain sense of athleticism in order for a game to be a sport, carrom could be a sport.” Supriya retorts: "So your argument is that cricket is not a sport just because a few athletes are fat?” For this and more, tune in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/622081419 NL Hafta 224: Priyanka Sharma, the Khan Market Gang, Mani Shankar Aiyar and more Mon, 10 Jun 2019 05:41:02 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-224 01:43:25 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande, and investigative journalist Josy Joseph. The podcast kicks off with Joseph talking about the ₹1,000-crore civil defamation suit that Naresh Goyal of Jet Airways filed against him after the release of his book, A Feast of Vultures: The Hidden Business of Democracy in India. The book, he says, is a product of 15 years of investigation into government records available in the public domain. In response to Abhinandan’s question about what he thought of the coverage of the Jet Airways crisis, he says, “I think the Jet Airways collapse and Naresh Goyal to me in many ways capture the crisis of Indian democracy...the crisis that we see when you have the Prime Minister of the country on a daily basis assaulting the basic constitutional commitment to scientific temperament.” He also believes that our country is not an imperfect democracy, rather a "democracy in crisis". The panel also discusses Narendra Modi’s interview with The Indian Express. Manisha says, “[It is] one of his best interviews that I have read...you really get a sense of this guy and he has so much disdain for the media, every answer is a potshot at the media...in that one interview you really get an insight into how much he hates the media.” Madhu also speaks of Modi's "shenpa" and why he needs to get over it”. The panel also talks about the centrality of Mani Shankar Aiyar in the political discourse despite his negligible impact on Indian politics. They also deconstruct the implications of Priyanka Sharma’s arrest on free speech. Joseph says the lack of codification of law has to be tackled urgently to prevent a breakdown of institutions. Manisha says, “At least [journalists] should have a standard understanding of what constitutes free speech and we should push back every time a case like this comes." They also talk about a potential rethinking of the BJP’s extremist politics in light of their response to Pragya Singh Thakur’s recent comment on Nathuram Godse. For this and more, tune in! In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is… In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande, and investigative journalist Josy Joseph. The podcast kicks off with Joseph talking about the ₹1,000-crore civil defamation suit that Naresh Goyal of Jet Airways filed against him after the release of his book, A Feast of Vultures: The Hidden Business of Democracy in India. The book, he says, is a product of 15 years of investigation into government records available in the public domain. In response to Abhinandan’s question about what he thought of the coverage of the Jet Airways crisis, he says, “I think the Jet Airways collapse and Naresh Goyal to me in many ways capture the crisis of Indian democracy...the crisis that we see when you have the Prime Minister of the country on a daily basis assaulting the basic constitutional commitment to scientific temperament.” He also believes that our country is not an imperfect democracy, rather a "democracy in crisis". The panel also discusses Narendra Modi’s interview with The Indian Express. Manisha says, “[It is] one of his best interviews that I have read...you really get a sense of this guy and he has so much disdain for the media, every answer is a potshot at the media...in that one interview you really get an insight into how much he hates the media.” Madhu also speaks of Modi's "shenpa" and why he needs to get over it”. The panel also talks about the centrality of Mani Shankar Aiyar in the political discourse despite his negligible impact on Indian politics. They also deconstruct the implications of Priyanka Sharma’s arrest on free speech. Joseph says the lack of codification of law has to be tackled urgently to prevent a breakdown of institutions. Manisha says, “At least [journalists] should have a standard understanding of what constitutes free speech and we should push back every time a case like this comes." They also talk about a potential rethinking of the BJP’s extremist politics in light of their response to Pragya Singh Thakur’s recent comment on Nathuram Godse. For this and more, tune in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/633142743 Chhota Hafta — Episode 227 Fri, 07 Jun 2019 13:54:57 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-227 00:25:22 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s episode, Manisha Pande wears the host’s hat and is joined by Newslaundry’s Raman Kirpal and guests Nitin Sethi and Hridayesh Joshi to discuss climate change and environment reporting in India, among other topics. The discussion kicks off with Nitin discussing his latest story in Business Standard on how Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali has crept into the Aravalli hills. The area bought spans across 400 acres which amount to “one-third of a village”. Nitin says the land is forested land which cannot be used for commercial purposes. In the context of environmental journalism, Hridayesh talks about how locals and committed on-ground reporters who take journalists to ground zero and give them all the information are not mentioned in the national media. Discussing Arvind Kejriwal’s announcement to make bus and metro rides free for women in Delhi, Raman thinks it’s a “good idea” and “definitely political”, though it does not solve the issue of security. Listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/06/07/hafta-227-environmental-journalism-patanjali-in-the-aravallis-uttarakhand-forest-fires-and-more In this week’s episode, Manisha Pande wears the h… In this week’s episode, Manisha Pande wears the host’s hat and is joined by Newslaundry’s Raman Kirpal and guests Nitin Sethi and Hridayesh Joshi to discuss climate change and environment reporting in India, among other topics. The discussion kicks off with Nitin discussing his latest story in Business Standard on how Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali has crept into the Aravalli hills. The area bought spans across 400 acres which amount to “one-third of a village”. Nitin says the land is forested land which cannot be used for commercial purposes. In the context of environmental journalism, Hridayesh talks about how locals and committed on-ground reporters who take journalists to ground zero and give them all the information are not mentioned in the national media. Discussing Arvind Kejriwal’s announcement to make bus and metro rides free for women in Delhi, Raman thinks it’s a “good idea” and “definitely political”, though it does not solve the issue of security. Listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/06/07/hafta-227-environmental-journalism-patanjali-in-the-aravallis-uttarakhand-forest-fires-and-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/629972820 Chhota Hafta — Episode 226 Sat, 01 Jun 2019 13:17:47 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-226 00:27:55 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s episode, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by the regular gang of Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan, and special guest Saurabh Dwivedi, journalist and founder of news website The Lallantop. The discussion kicks off with Abhinandan asking Saurabh whether there was a Modi wave before the election. Saurabh recounts realities he noticed on the ground in states like Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, saying people have glorified Modi to a point where they don't know their own candidates. Manisha critiques the media for not having focused adequately on the schemes rolled out by the government and the responses to them. The panel also tries to analyse whether the media influences voters and the narrative. Listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/06/01/hafta-226-analysing-the-modi-wave-media-and-the-voters-and-more In this week’s episode, Abhinandan Sekhri is join… In this week’s episode, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by the regular gang of Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan, and special guest Saurabh Dwivedi, journalist and founder of news website The Lallantop. The discussion kicks off with Abhinandan asking Saurabh whether there was a Modi wave before the election. Saurabh recounts realities he noticed on the ground in states like Uttar Pradesh and Odisha, saying people have glorified Modi to a point where they don't know their own candidates. Manisha critiques the media for not having focused adequately on the schemes rolled out by the government and the responses to them. The panel also tries to analyse whether the media influences voters and the narrative. Listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/06/01/hafta-226-analysing-the-modi-wave-media-and-the-voters-and-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/626387298 Chhota Hafta — Episode 225 Sat, 25 May 2019 13:28:27 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-225 00:26:52 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan and Christina Thomas Dhanaraj, co-founder of the Dalit History Month collective. The podcast begins with Manisha describing the election week that went by and the BJP’s enormous victory. After a recap of the election results announced on May 23, Abhinandan and Manisha highlight some of the keynotes, including Rahul Gandhi’s loss in Amethi, and Atishi and the Aam Aadmi Party’s loss in Delhi. A letter from a subscriber then sparks a discussion on the idea of affirmative action and its application over generations. Christina says: “No one seems to get the basic point that none of the problems gets solved in one generation. And two, there is something called ‘inter-generational deficit’. We are talking about 2,000-year-old oppression.” Listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/05/25/hafta-225-lok-sabha-election-results-2019-affirmative-action-and-more NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan and Christina Thomas Dhanaraj, co-founder of the Dalit History Month collective. The podcast begins with Manisha describing the election week that went by and the BJP’s enormous victory. After a recap of the election results announced on May 23, Abhinandan and Manisha highlight some of the keynotes, including Rahul Gandhi’s loss in Amethi, and Atishi and the Aam Aadmi Party’s loss in Delhi. A letter from a subscriber then sparks a discussion on the idea of affirmative action and its application over generations. Christina says: “No one seems to get the basic point that none of the problems gets solved in one generation. And two, there is something called ‘inter-generational deficit’. We are talking about 2,000-year-old oppression.” Listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/05/25/hafta-225-lok-sabha-election-results-2019-affirmative-action-and-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/622083201 Chhota Hafta — Episode 224 Fri, 17 May 2019 14:26:52 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-224 00:30:58 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande, and investigative journalist Josy Joseph. The podcast kicks off with Joseph talking about the ₹1,000-crore civil defamation suit that Naresh Goyal of Jet Airways filed against him after the release of his book, A Feast of Vultures: The Hidden Business of Democracy in India. The book, he says, is a product of 15 years of investigation into government records available in the public domain. In response to Abhinandan’s question about what he thought of the coverage of the Jet Airways crisis, he says, “I think the Jet Airways collapse and Naresh Goyal to me in many ways capture the crisis of Indian democracy...the crisis that we see when you have the Prime Minister of the country on a daily basis assaulting the basic constitutional commitment to scientific temperament.” He also believes that our country is not an imperfect democracy, rather a "democracy in crisis". The panel also discusses Narendra Modi’s interview with The Indian Express. Manisha says, “[It is] one of his best interviews that I have read...you really get a sense of this guy and he has so much disdain for the media, every answer is a potshot at the media...in that one interview you really get an insight into how much he hates the media.” Madhu also speaks of Modi's "shenpa" and why he needs to get over it”. You can listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/05/17/nl-hafta-224-priyanka-sharma-the-khan-market-gang-mani-shankar-aiyar-and-more NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande, and investigative journalist Josy Joseph. The podcast kicks off with Joseph talking about the ₹1,000-crore civil defamation suit that Naresh Goyal of Jet Airways filed against him after the release of his book, A Feast of Vultures: The Hidden Business of Democracy in India. The book, he says, is a product of 15 years of investigation into government records available in the public domain. In response to Abhinandan’s question about what he thought of the coverage of the Jet Airways crisis, he says, “I think the Jet Airways collapse and Naresh Goyal to me in many ways capture the crisis of Indian democracy...the crisis that we see when you have the Prime Minister of the country on a daily basis assaulting the basic constitutional commitment to scientific temperament.” He also believes that our country is not an imperfect democracy, rather a "democracy in crisis". The panel also discusses Narendra Modi’s interview with The Indian Express. Manisha says, “[It is] one of his best interviews that I have read...you really get a sense of this guy and he has so much disdain for the media, every answer is a potshot at the media...in that one interview you really get an insight into how much he hates the media.” Madhu also speaks of Modi's "shenpa" and why he needs to get over it”. You can listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/05/17/nl-hafta-224-priyanka-sharma-the-khan-market-gang-mani-shankar-aiyar-and-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/618995175 Hafta 223: Indian newsrooms, PM Modi's 'interview spree' and more Sat, 11 May 2019 13:16:02 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-223 01:26:37 Newslaundry.com no n this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande, and journalist and author Sandeep Bhushan. The podcast starts off with a peek into the complex and ever-changing realm of Indian journalism through the lens of Sandeep’s book, The Indian Newsroom: Studios, Stars and The Unmaking of Reporters. Abhinandan agrees partly with its central analysis regarding the undercurrents of the profession and says, “This entire liberal cabal is a reality in media, I don’t think there’s any doubt about it and the metrics of what was an achiever or what was a good reporter were ... someone who can sit with me over dinner and discuss wine rather than be able to crack a story, so social comfort took primacy over any kind of achievement”. The panel discusses issues of diversity in the newsrooms. Though it's come a long way today, everyone agrees that you can't ignore the fact that English news channels are still dominantly comprised of the upper class when compared to Hindi channels. Sandeep says the reality of journalism is that it's based on “brand as power and the power of access, both rolled into one”. He highlights the uncomfortably intimate influence growing between reporters and management. “Technically there’s no problem with it [the hands-on involvement of the management], but in a media organisation, I believe it has to be run differently. It cannot be run in the way other organisations are run wherein there’s Reliance, where Mr Ambani feels that his children should take over. It cannot run like that.” Madhu adds, “Their culture is well-entrenched enough for journalists who work there to know that it will be market-driven and it's not going to be journalism.” The panel moves on to PM Narendra Modi's "interview spree". Will it impact Modi's image if he takes people into his confidence during interviews regarding his failings on issues such as unemployment? “I think we are talking of an ideal situation and politics is not an ideal place … this is how political discourse should happen but it doesn’t,” says Raman. He believes that the strategy of providing the people with a false consciousness of nationalism as a distraction plays in Modi’s favour. Sandeep says this strategy of willful ignorance is beneficial to him since it helps him steer clear of the vulnerabilities associated with providing explanations for failed policies. The discussion steers towards the various events surrounding the Supreme Court. Referring to the handling of the sexual harassment allegations against CJI Ranjan Gogoi, Manisha says, “How the Supreme Court has acted is really ridiculous. What is an in-house committee? You [are supposed to] set up a Visakha committee, it's sexual harassment at the workplace.” Discussing fake news tweeted by politicians' Twitter handles, Abhinandan points out that one “cannot tackle fake news … when the political establishment’s main tool for information is fake news because they will not make laws to take that on”. The panel also discusses the nurturing of "stars" as brand-building exercises in journalism, survival tactics employed by anti-Modi supporters in the face of a hostile fan base, and much more. Tune in! n this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is … n this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande, and journalist and author Sandeep Bhushan. The podcast starts off with a peek into the complex and ever-changing realm of Indian journalism through the lens of Sandeep’s book, The Indian Newsroom: Studios, Stars and The Unmaking of Reporters. Abhinandan agrees partly with its central analysis regarding the undercurrents of the profession and says, “This entire liberal cabal is a reality in media, I don’t think there’s any doubt about it and the metrics of what was an achiever or what was a good reporter were ... someone who can sit with me over dinner and discuss wine rather than be able to crack a story, so social comfort took primacy over any kind of achievement”. The panel discusses issues of diversity in the newsrooms. Though it's come a long way today, everyone agrees that you can't ignore the fact that English news channels are still dominantly comprised of the upper class when compared to Hindi channels. Sandeep says the reality of journalism is that it's based on “brand as power and the power of access, both rolled into one”. He highlights the uncomfortably intimate influence growing between reporters and management. “Technically there’s no problem with it [the hands-on involvement of the management], but in a media organisation, I believe it has to be run differently. It cannot be run in the way other organisations are run wherein there’s Reliance, where Mr Ambani feels that his children should take over. It cannot run like that.” Madhu adds, “Their culture is well-entrenched enough for journalists who work there to know that it will be market-driven and it's not going to be journalism.” The panel moves on to PM Narendra Modi's "interview spree". Will it impact Modi's image if he takes people into his confidence during interviews regarding his failings on issues such as unemployment? “I think we are talking of an ideal situation and politics is not an ideal place … this is how political discourse should happen but it doesn’t,” says Raman. He believes that the strategy of providing the people with a false consciousness of nationalism as a distraction plays in Modi’s favour. Sandeep says this strategy of willful ignorance is beneficial to him since it helps him steer clear of the vulnerabilities associated with providing explanations for failed policies. The discussion steers towards the various events surrounding the Supreme Court. Referring to the handling of the sexual harassment allegations against CJI Ranjan Gogoi, Manisha says, “How the Supreme Court has acted is really ridiculous. What is an in-house committee? You [are supposed to] set up a Visakha committee, it's sexual harassment at the workplace.” Discussing fake news tweeted by politicians' Twitter handles, Abhinandan points out that one “cannot tackle fake news … when the political establishment’s main tool for information is fake news because they will not make laws to take that on”. The panel also discusses the nurturing of "stars" as brand-building exercises in journalism, survival tactics employed by anti-Modi supporters in the face of a hostile fan base, and much more. Tune in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/615609405 Hafta 222: India Positive, Hindutva politics & much more Sat, 04 May 2019 15:03:00 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/hafta-222-positive-india-hindutva-politics-much-more 01:49:57 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s episode, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal, Anand Vardhan, and author Chetan Bhagat. The podcast kicks off with a deep dive into Bhagat’s book, India Positive: New Essays and Selected Column. The author explains that the title of his book is inspired by the idea of positivity. He believes that although there are several issues affecting the country, sitting for hours on Twitter and complaining about them will not make them go away. He says, “At the end of the day there are certain structural problems with India which are not necessarily Congress- or BJP-driven and we need to fix them and that’s positive to me.” When Abinandan questions Bhagat about putting a disproportionate amount of onus on the ordinary Indian to be self-employed in his book, he responds by saying, “I am not shifting the onus away from policymakers…[I’m] trying to protect the guy [ordinary Indian] …because you can’t keep fighting. Activism isn’t a very profitable trade for an individual.” He continues to say that the world is changing fast and the skill sets required are also going to change dramatically, merely defending a leader of a particular party on Twitter won’t conjure up an offer letter. The panel also talks about the dangers of the ‘messiah complex’. The panel also discusses the BJP's rise to power. Abhinandan says, “Bigotry was an acceptable price to pay for economic prosperity. For me, it's not but for a lot of people, it was.” Anand says, “When India became independent there was a subterranean domain of communalism which was not getting a politically-organised outlet. The historical processes are such that…any identity kind of politics finds an outlet…there is a kind of inevitability and it’s a kind of political catharsis for a lot of suppressed religious problems in the country.” The panel also talks about the Indian media's role in South Asia. Manisha talks about it in terms of the content produced and observes that the fundamental issues that plague journalism in India are “mediocrity of thought and group think”. She adds that there is a “complete disregard for readers and news consumers”. Raman talks about the increased dependence of media on government advertisements and says, “When they [media] are heavily dependent on the government the news automatically gets softer on them and this has happened at a very rapid pace of late.” For this and more, tune in! In this week’s episode, Abhinandan Sekhri is join… In this week’s episode, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal, Anand Vardhan, and author Chetan Bhagat. The podcast kicks off with a deep dive into Bhagat’s book, India Positive: New Essays and Selected Column. The author explains that the title of his book is inspired by the idea of positivity. He believes that although there are several issues affecting the country, sitting for hours on Twitter and complaining about them will not make them go away. He says, “At the end of the day there are certain structural problems with India which are not necessarily Congress- or BJP-driven and we need to fix them and that’s positive to me.” When Abinandan questions Bhagat about putting a disproportionate amount of onus on the ordinary Indian to be self-employed in his book, he responds by saying, “I am not shifting the onus away from policymakers…[I’m] trying to protect the guy [ordinary Indian] …because you can’t keep fighting. Activism isn’t a very profitable trade for an individual.” He continues to say that the world is changing fast and the skill sets required are also going to change dramatically, merely defending a leader of a particular party on Twitter won’t conjure up an offer letter. The panel also talks about the dangers of the ‘messiah complex’. The panel also discusses the BJP's rise to power. Abhinandan says, “Bigotry was an acceptable price to pay for economic prosperity. For me, it's not but for a lot of people, it was.” Anand says, “When India became independent there was a subterranean domain of communalism which was not getting a politically-organised outlet. The historical processes are such that…any identity kind of politics finds an outlet…there is a kind of inevitability and it’s a kind of political catharsis for a lot of suppressed religious problems in the country.” The panel also talks about the Indian media's role in South Asia. Manisha talks about it in terms of the content produced and observes that the fundamental issues that plague journalism in India are “mediocrity of thought and group think”. She adds that there is a “complete disregard for readers and news consumers”. Raman talks about the increased dependence of media on government advertisements and says, “When they [media] are heavily dependent on the government the news automatically gets softer on them and this has happened at a very rapid pace of late.” For this and more, tune in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/611720154 Hafta 221: India's Growth Story, Sadhvi Pragya, Chief Justice of India & more Fri, 26 Apr 2019 13:41:10 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-221 02:00:10 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, Anand Vardhan, and journalist and author Puja Mehra. The podcast kicks off with a deconstruction of Mehra’s book, The Lost Decade (2008-18): How India's Growth Story Devolved into Growth Without a Story. Abhinandan asks Puja why she believed that the decade was indeed lost. In response, she says both Prime Ministers (Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi) were equally responsible for ineffectively dealing with the crisis. She also states that temporary emergency measures were relied upon to compensate for a mammoth crisis that demanded a permanent solution. She adds, “When an economy grows at that rate [8.8 per cent GDP growth] and is hit by a crisis, a shock, to bring it back to that level you need to take some steps. That follow-through was not undertaken.” When Abhinandan asks her if she believed that the Modi government’s economic agenda was cemented in a cultural singularity, she says that the government’s attitude is more symptomatic of a policy inattention than anything else. She describes her book as a documentation of governance in the last ten years that analyses the policies adopted while also discussing the policies that should have been. Talking about its essence, she says, “The whole argument of my book is that our politicians just don’t listen to expert advice and they assume that an economy as large as India, as complex as India, can be driven by policies that are crafted keeping political objectives in mind with complete disregard for underlying economics.” The discussion then moves to sexual harassment allegations levied against Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi. Madhu makes a compelling case of the escalating hubris of the Supreme Court. She says, “The Indian judiciary, for decades, has avoided any accountability. Every time they are asked for accountability, they behave like [they] are above the law. Well [they’re] not. It’s a democracy.” Puja says she prefers a system governed by rules rather her perception of the credibility of individuals in it so that one’s faith in the system remains uninfluenced by fallible individuals. Sadhvi Pragya’s media portrayal was next on the panel's list. Anand says, “In this age when you have preconceived ideas about political inclinations of a journalist, it becomes very easy to pigeonhole them and say that this will be this kind of interview…in that case it is important that [the journalist] asks controversial questions…but it is not a debate to be settled in an interview.” The panel also discusses the granularity of demonetisation, the significance of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra not contesting from Varanasi and a lot more. Tune in! In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is… In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, Anand Vardhan, and journalist and author Puja Mehra. The podcast kicks off with a deconstruction of Mehra’s book, The Lost Decade (2008-18): How India's Growth Story Devolved into Growth Without a Story. Abhinandan asks Puja why she believed that the decade was indeed lost. In response, she says both Prime Ministers (Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi) were equally responsible for ineffectively dealing with the crisis. She also states that temporary emergency measures were relied upon to compensate for a mammoth crisis that demanded a permanent solution. She adds, “When an economy grows at that rate [8.8 per cent GDP growth] and is hit by a crisis, a shock, to bring it back to that level you need to take some steps. That follow-through was not undertaken.” When Abhinandan asks her if she believed that the Modi government’s economic agenda was cemented in a cultural singularity, she says that the government’s attitude is more symptomatic of a policy inattention than anything else. She describes her book as a documentation of governance in the last ten years that analyses the policies adopted while also discussing the policies that should have been. Talking about its essence, she says, “The whole argument of my book is that our politicians just don’t listen to expert advice and they assume that an economy as large as India, as complex as India, can be driven by policies that are crafted keeping political objectives in mind with complete disregard for underlying economics.” The discussion then moves to sexual harassment allegations levied against Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi. Madhu makes a compelling case of the escalating hubris of the Supreme Court. She says, “The Indian judiciary, for decades, has avoided any accountability. Every time they are asked for accountability, they behave like [they] are above the law. Well [they’re] not. It’s a democracy.” Puja says she prefers a system governed by rules rather her perception of the credibility of individuals in it so that one’s faith in the system remains uninfluenced by fallible individuals. Sadhvi Pragya’s media portrayal was next on the panel's list. Anand says, “In this age when you have preconceived ideas about political inclinations of a journalist, it becomes very easy to pigeonhole them and say that this will be this kind of interview…in that case it is important that [the journalist] asks controversial questions…but it is not a debate to be settled in an interview.” The panel also discusses the granularity of demonetisation, the significance of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra not contesting from Varanasi and a lot more. Tune in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/608410938 Hafta 220: Jallianwala Bagh, Julian Assange, Sadhvi Pragya and more Fri, 19 Apr 2019 16:22:50 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-220 01:49:32 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan, Manisha Pande, and author Kishwar Desai. The podcast starts off with a discussion on Desai’s latest book, Jallianwala Bagh, 1919: The Real Story, and why she believed that this was a book that needed to be written. She says that writing the book became “a journey of discovery” for her as she uncovered unknown facts of the incident like the “sadistic tortures that were inflicted on the people of Amritsar”, especially in its build-up and aftermath. The panel also discusses the importance of an apology, as opposed to regret, from Britain now. Anand observes that although “national psyches have this need for reconciliation with historical memory”, after the decades that have passed, “even if it [an apology] comes, it would not serve that instrumental purpose.” Abhinandan shifts the conversation towards the arrest of Julian Assange and the panel debates if his work qualifies as ethical journalistic enterprise or if it is an instance of the phenomenon of ‘information banditry’, as Anand puts it. Madhu says, “What they did was they just hacked everything and dumped it all…the way it was done was not journalism.” The panel agrees that editorial discretion is crucial when dealing with data as raw as this and that it should have been processed in a more refined manner to serve public interest. The panel picked up the recent appointment of Sadhvi Pragya by the BJP to contest the seat in Bhopal. While the panel was initially unsurprised by this decision, given the Hindutva roots of the party, Abinandan points out how indefensible this decision was. He says, “He [Kamal Nath] was in politics, he’s accused of that [1984 anti-Sikh riots] and in continuation, he got a ticket again. Sadhvi Pragya has got a ticket because of her accusation…there’s a big difference.” Anand says that Pragya embodies the victimhood narrative that is “deeply entrenched in the psyche [of the voters] that they [the BJP] want to appeal to”. The discussion steers towards: what makes a great leader and why. The panel also talks about Mukesh Ambani’s endorsement of Milind Deora, a Congress candidate. For this and more, listen up. In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is… In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan, Manisha Pande, and author Kishwar Desai. The podcast starts off with a discussion on Desai’s latest book, Jallianwala Bagh, 1919: The Real Story, and why she believed that this was a book that needed to be written. She says that writing the book became “a journey of discovery” for her as she uncovered unknown facts of the incident like the “sadistic tortures that were inflicted on the people of Amritsar”, especially in its build-up and aftermath. The panel also discusses the importance of an apology, as opposed to regret, from Britain now. Anand observes that although “national psyches have this need for reconciliation with historical memory”, after the decades that have passed, “even if it [an apology] comes, it would not serve that instrumental purpose.” Abhinandan shifts the conversation towards the arrest of Julian Assange and the panel debates if his work qualifies as ethical journalistic enterprise or if it is an instance of the phenomenon of ‘information banditry’, as Anand puts it. Madhu says, “What they did was they just hacked everything and dumped it all…the way it was done was not journalism.” The panel agrees that editorial discretion is crucial when dealing with data as raw as this and that it should have been processed in a more refined manner to serve public interest. The panel picked up the recent appointment of Sadhvi Pragya by the BJP to contest the seat in Bhopal. While the panel was initially unsurprised by this decision, given the Hindutva roots of the party, Abinandan points out how indefensible this decision was. He says, “He [Kamal Nath] was in politics, he’s accused of that [1984 anti-Sikh riots] and in continuation, he got a ticket again. Sadhvi Pragya has got a ticket because of her accusation…there’s a big difference.” Anand says that Pragya embodies the victimhood narrative that is “deeply entrenched in the psyche [of the voters] that they [the BJP] want to appeal to”. The discussion steers towards: what makes a great leader and why. The panel also talks about Mukesh Ambani’s endorsement of Milind Deora, a Congress candidate. For this and more, listen up. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/604955361 Hafta 219: Model Code of Conduct, Dalit politics, AgustaWestland and more Fri, 12 Apr 2019 14:55:42 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-219 01:45:35 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande and journalist Sudipto Mondal. The podcast kicks off with Sudipto talking about the book he’s working on which is centred around the 25-year history of the Ambedkar Students' Association. Although the book was originally intended to be about Rohith Vemula, the Dalit PhD student and ASA member who committed suicide in 2015, Sudipto says: "There were four other students who were suspended with him, do they not deserve to be written about? Just because they didn’t kill themselves? That for me became a big question … that made me expand my quest.” Sudipto also talks about the politics of violence used by the ASA, adding that it's "not pro-violent that it attracted the greyhounds and the anti-Naxal police”. He points out that the frames used to categorise Dalits as "thugs" is what constituted the foundation of their fight. He says it's in the granularity of the politics of representation that we can find the essence of the fight between the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and Vemula. Abhinandan steers the discussion towards the elections and the panel reminisces on how it has changed over the years. They debate the idea of voter suppression as a genuine concern or general paranoia. Madhu observes, “This election is going to stand out for messing up of the honesty of the elections. Because everywhere you go, it is far more sophisticated than booth capturing.” The conversation moves to the Model Code of Conduct which, as Raman says, "does not even exist anymore”. They discuss how the EC isn't doing itself any favours with its soft attitude, especially in terms of its (non)response to things like NaMo TV. Sudipto compares it to a “nagging South Delhi parent” in the way it's executing its duties. Shifting to AgustaWestland, the panel talks about the recent attack on the credibility of journalists such as Shekhar Gupta. They delve into the ED chargesheet's accusations that journalists such as Gupta were bought off, and describe it as an "outright criminal act" that immediately disregards years of great journalistic practice. The conversation also covers what's right and what's wrong with Dalit politics, the problems with the phrase "Main Bhi Chowkidar" and its casteist connotations, the importance of media literacy—and a whole lot more. Listen up! In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is… In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande and journalist Sudipto Mondal. The podcast kicks off with Sudipto talking about the book he’s working on which is centred around the 25-year history of the Ambedkar Students' Association. Although the book was originally intended to be about Rohith Vemula, the Dalit PhD student and ASA member who committed suicide in 2015, Sudipto says: "There were four other students who were suspended with him, do they not deserve to be written about? Just because they didn’t kill themselves? That for me became a big question … that made me expand my quest.” Sudipto also talks about the politics of violence used by the ASA, adding that it's "not pro-violent that it attracted the greyhounds and the anti-Naxal police”. He points out that the frames used to categorise Dalits as "thugs" is what constituted the foundation of their fight. He says it's in the granularity of the politics of representation that we can find the essence of the fight between the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and Vemula. Abhinandan steers the discussion towards the elections and the panel reminisces on how it has changed over the years. They debate the idea of voter suppression as a genuine concern or general paranoia. Madhu observes, “This election is going to stand out for messing up of the honesty of the elections. Because everywhere you go, it is far more sophisticated than booth capturing.” The conversation moves to the Model Code of Conduct which, as Raman says, "does not even exist anymore”. They discuss how the EC isn't doing itself any favours with its soft attitude, especially in terms of its (non)response to things like NaMo TV. Sudipto compares it to a “nagging South Delhi parent” in the way it's executing its duties. Shifting to AgustaWestland, the panel talks about the recent attack on the credibility of journalists such as Shekhar Gupta. They delve into the ED chargesheet's accusations that journalists such as Gupta were bought off, and describe it as an "outright criminal act" that immediately disregards years of great journalistic practice. The conversation also covers what's right and what's wrong with Dalit politics, the problems with the phrase "Main Bhi Chowkidar" and its casteist connotations, the importance of media literacy—and a whole lot more. Listen up! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/601358718 Hafta 218: Coalitions & Campaigns, AFSPA, NaMo TV and more Mon, 08 Apr 2019 07:57:52 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-218 01:19:49 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s podcast, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Anand Vardhan and Manisha Pande. Also joining them is political journalist and author of Politics of Jugaad: The Coalition Handbook, Saba Naqvi. The discussion kicks off with Saba’s new book. Saba also briefly describes the farmers' coalitions and the constant splitting of party members from the Congress that kept it at an unstable position in UP. “Most of us who follow politics seem to believe the change happened with Mandal and Mandir…[however] The history of this [coalitions]… goes back to the late sixties,” she says. Abhinandan asks Anand whether coalitions can form a “stable government”. He also asks him about Bihar politics. “Coalitions depend on the reciprocity of interest,” responds Anand, and further mentions that politicians must embody reciprocal interests in case situations for a coalition arise. He also mentions that the only benefit with “stable governments” is that the policies for different stakeholders are kept constant and that these stakeholders know what to expect from the Budget. Anand also talks about the “dramatic stage in Lalu’s family”—sibling rivalry between brothers Tej Pratap Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav. Saba seeks Anand’s opinion on Kanhaiya Kumar contesting from Begusarai. He thinks Kanhaiya Kumar has a chance and remarks: “Anyone who comes from Bihar in his twenties is a careerist.” He also mentions the demographic factors, political history of Begusarai and determinants of other contestants like Giriraj Singh and Tanveer Hasan. Further, Abhinandan asks Saba about the election campaign in UP. She responds: “there is no one campaign …the demographics are changing seat by seat." She lists a few unexpected elements that have happened like the SP and BSP coalition, Priyanka Gandhi’s arrival, Muzaffarnagar’s muslim vote turn-out and the likes. The panel discusses the spread of propaganda through popular culture like Eros Now’s series Modi: Journey of a Common Man and Omung Kumar’s movie, PM Narendra Modi. Manisha says: “EC’s model code of conduct applies to the Government that it cannot use Doordarshan to propagate Narendra Modi’s speeches,” as that uses taxpayer’s money. However in the case of such movies, “…These are private citizens who can launch a movie whenever they want to.” “The role of propaganda or any form of political communication can be of a force multiplier…it cannot win you elections,” remarks Anand. He believes that the consumptions of news and the influence it exerts on the voting decisions of people is not directly correlated. Saba, however, disagrees. “There is too much data to the contrary to show that television slants and propaganda influence voters,” says Abhinandan. With reference to Congress’ manifesto on AFSPA, Manisha tells us that it reads: “they will remove immunity for enforced disappearance, sexual violence and torture,” and the panel believes it to be “absolutely reasonable”. Anand mentions that the manifestos are majorly for electoral significance and academic value, however, with the proliferation of media there has been many discussions on the issues that gives various undertones to it. Other topics broadly discussed in this podcast include NaMo TV, Vivek Oberoi’s appearance in news interviews, a few election speeches made by different politicians, references made to various historical events in the politics of UP and Bihar, Mayawati’s affidavit and many passing anecdotes given by our NL gang. Listen up! In this week’s podcast, Abhinandan Sekhri is join… In this week’s podcast, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Anand Vardhan and Manisha Pande. Also joining them is political journalist and author of Politics of Jugaad: The Coalition Handbook, Saba Naqvi. The discussion kicks off with Saba’s new book. Saba also briefly describes the farmers' coalitions and the constant splitting of party members from the Congress that kept it at an unstable position in UP. “Most of us who follow politics seem to believe the change happened with Mandal and Mandir…[however] The history of this [coalitions]… goes back to the late sixties,” she says. Abhinandan asks Anand whether coalitions can form a “stable government”. He also asks him about Bihar politics. “Coalitions depend on the reciprocity of interest,” responds Anand, and further mentions that politicians must embody reciprocal interests in case situations for a coalition arise. He also mentions that the only benefit with “stable governments” is that the policies for different stakeholders are kept constant and that these stakeholders know what to expect from the Budget. Anand also talks about the “dramatic stage in Lalu’s family”—sibling rivalry between brothers Tej Pratap Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav. Saba seeks Anand’s opinion on Kanhaiya Kumar contesting from Begusarai. He thinks Kanhaiya Kumar has a chance and remarks: “Anyone who comes from Bihar in his twenties is a careerist.” He also mentions the demographic factors, political history of Begusarai and determinants of other contestants like Giriraj Singh and Tanveer Hasan. Further, Abhinandan asks Saba about the election campaign in UP. She responds: “there is no one campaign …the demographics are changing seat by seat." She lists a few unexpected elements that have happened like the SP and BSP coalition, Priyanka Gandhi’s arrival, Muzaffarnagar’s muslim vote turn-out and the likes. The panel discusses the spread of propaganda through popular culture like Eros Now’s series Modi: Journey of a Common Man and Omung Kumar’s movie, PM Narendra Modi. Manisha says: “EC’s model code of conduct applies to the Government that it cannot use Doordarshan to propagate Narendra Modi’s speeches,” as that uses taxpayer’s money. However in the case of such movies, “…These are private citizens who can launch a movie whenever they want to.” “The role of propaganda or any form of political communication can be of a force multiplier…it cannot win you elections,” remarks Anand. He believes that the consumptions of news and the influence it exerts on the voting decisions of people is not directly correlated. Saba, however, disagrees. “There is too much data to the contrary to show that television slants and propaganda influence voters,” says Abhinandan. With reference to Congress’ manifesto on AFSPA, Manisha tells us that it reads: “they will remove immunity for enforced disappearance, sexual violence and torture,” and the panel believes it to be “absolutely reasonable”. Anand mentions that the manifestos are majorly for electoral significance and academic value, however, with the proliferation of media there has been many discussions on the issues that gives various undertones to it. Other topics broadly discussed in this podcast include NaMo TV, Vivek Oberoi’s appearance in news interviews, a few election speeches made by different politicians, references made to various historical events in the politics of UP and Bihar, Mayawati’s affidavit and many passing anecdotes given by our NL gang. Listen up! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/598293315 Hafta 217: Modi's interview with Arnab, Mission Shakti, NYAY and more Mon, 08 Apr 2019 07:57:43 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-217 01:31:30 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande, and lawyer Gautam Bhatia. The podcast kicks off with Gautam talking about his latest book, The Transformative Constitution: A Radical Biography in Nine Acts. It draws on pre-Independence legal and political history and is an analysis of the oppressive forces apart from the State. In his book, he argues that the Constitution was intended to transform not only the political identity of Indians but also the social relationships on which legal and political structures rest. Abhinandan proceeds with a comparative interpretation of the attitude of Americans and Indians toward their respective constitutions. Gautam responds: “They [Americans] actually treat is like a religious text which is way more than India … The Constitution [in India] comes with an in-built flexibility, adaptability to change … Ours is pretty supple, flexible and keeps changing.” Raman and Madhu question the status of secularism and socialism, respectively, in the Constitution. Gautam says: “The Constitution supports the socialist government, it doesn’t mandate one.” Manisha and Abhinandan move on to Arnab Goswami’s interview with PM Narendra Modi. In the context of professional dignity, Raman describes the 1996 Indian Express reportage on "political pimps", while Manisha talks about the importance of objectivity in journalism. The discussion moves on to ad revenue after Abhinandan reads a mail from a subscriber. “The more broad-based your revenue streams, the less compromised you are. And, nothing can be as broad-based as subscriber model” says Abhinandan. Madhu remarks, “People should be better informed and aware that all the advertising they see from governments and departments is our [taxpayers'] money”. The panel compares content and perspectives in newsrooms in the United States and India. Discussing Mission Shakti, Madhu describes what she calls the “remarkable discomfiture” with which Modi made his announcement. “When you rehearse something too many times it becomes trite,” she adds. The panel then moves on to the group of filmmakers appealing against voting for the BJP. Abhinandan asks if film actors and artists should take positions in political narratives. Madhu says: "You want to be normal and give your political opinion on any issue but are you willing to pay the price of having your life being turned upside down?” Gautam says, “You could make statements without being partisans about it.” The discussion shifts to the credibility of news sources in reference to recent reports by Reuters and Caravan. Abhinandan says: "Whether a story is complete or not is always a judgement call, there is no one determinant that will seal the deal … in different stories there will be different determinants that will legitimise the story.” The panel also discusses Vijay Mallya recent statements after the Jet Airways bailout, cessation dialogues in Kashmir and Sikkim, Rahul Gandhi's announcement of the NYAY scheme—and a whole lot more! Listen up. In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is… In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande, and lawyer Gautam Bhatia. The podcast kicks off with Gautam talking about his latest book, The Transformative Constitution: A Radical Biography in Nine Acts. It draws on pre-Independence legal and political history and is an analysis of the oppressive forces apart from the State. In his book, he argues that the Constitution was intended to transform not only the political identity of Indians but also the social relationships on which legal and political structures rest. Abhinandan proceeds with a comparative interpretation of the attitude of Americans and Indians toward their respective constitutions. Gautam responds: “They [Americans] actually treat is like a religious text which is way more than India … The Constitution [in India] comes with an in-built flexibility, adaptability to change … Ours is pretty supple, flexible and keeps changing.” Raman and Madhu question the status of secularism and socialism, respectively, in the Constitution. Gautam says: “The Constitution supports the socialist government, it doesn’t mandate one.” Manisha and Abhinandan move on to Arnab Goswami’s interview with PM Narendra Modi. In the context of professional dignity, Raman describes the 1996 Indian Express reportage on "political pimps", while Manisha talks about the importance of objectivity in journalism. The discussion moves on to ad revenue after Abhinandan reads a mail from a subscriber. “The more broad-based your revenue streams, the less compromised you are. And, nothing can be as broad-based as subscriber model” says Abhinandan. Madhu remarks, “People should be better informed and aware that all the advertising they see from governments and departments is our [taxpayers'] money”. The panel compares content and perspectives in newsrooms in the United States and India. Discussing Mission Shakti, Madhu describes what she calls the “remarkable discomfiture” with which Modi made his announcement. “When you rehearse something too many times it becomes trite,” she adds. The panel then moves on to the group of filmmakers appealing against voting for the BJP. Abhinandan asks if film actors and artists should take positions in political narratives. Madhu says: "You want to be normal and give your political opinion on any issue but are you willing to pay the price of having your life being turned upside down?” Gautam says, “You could make statements without being partisans about it.” The discussion shifts to the credibility of news sources in reference to recent reports by Reuters and Caravan. Abhinandan says: "Whether a story is complete or not is always a judgement call, there is no one determinant that will seal the deal … in different stories there will be different determinants that will legitimise the story.” The panel also discusses Vijay Mallya recent statements after the Jet Airways bailout, cessation dialogues in Kashmir and Sikkim, Rahul Gandhi's announcement of the NYAY scheme—and a whole lot more! Listen up. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/590513901 Hafta 215: Pollachi case, Lok Sabha elections, Assam newspapers protest, Nirav Modi and more Mon, 08 Apr 2019 07:57:09 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-215 01:36:31 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s podcast, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Raman Kirpal, Anand Vardhan and Manisha Pande. Joining them over the phone is The News Minute's deputy news editor, Ragamalika Karthikeyan, to talk about the Pollachi case. The podcast begins with Ragamalika detailing the Pollachi sexual abuse and extortion case. The four men accused “seem to be doing it as a racket”, she says. She also mentions the controversy with the AIADMK since an FIR is registered against AIADMK functionary A Nagaraj over the assault of a victim’s brother. Manisha says she agrees with the Madras High Court's observations on Delhi media's lack of priority in covering the case, but Abhinandan says he's conflicted. He says: “This is a problem not just related to Chennai or Kerala … It is more true of the Northeast … If judges start commenting on everything then it just dilutes the impact when they something that is truly about justice rather than a social observation.” Ragamalika indicates the importance of giving incidents national coverage in order to formulate appropriate and more nuanced laws on sexual violence. Abhinandan talks about how newspapers in Assam went on a three-day boycott of all state government news, ads and photographs in protest against its alleged apathy. Anand mentions how India still imports newsprint which makes it quite expensive. Though local papers buy cheaper versions, it's not a sustainable model. “State governments control a lot of things through government ads,” he says. The discussion moves on to journalist Sunetra Choudhury’s exclusive on the UK’s efforts to extradite Nirav Modi and India’s absence of a response. While Anand examines the validity of Sunetra’s report, Abhinandan emphasises the need for extensive reports on Nirav Modi across media as it affects informed citizenry. The panel discusses the Meghalaya High Court’s sentence—which was stayed by the Supreme Court today—to Shillong Times editor Patricia Mukhim and publisher Shoba Chaudhuri. Manisha says, “We still have the thing called scandalising the court which exists in India, which you can be hauled up for just shocking the court.” Abhinandan goes on to discuss Chandrashekhar Azad who has announced he will contest against PM Modi from Varanasi. Anand says that there are no foregrounds to assume either’s victory. On the Election Commission’s announcement to monitor political content across social media, the panel jokes about the primitive understanding of technology by most EC officials. This and a whole lot more, so listen up! In this week’s podcast, Abhinandan Sekhri is join… In this week’s podcast, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Raman Kirpal, Anand Vardhan and Manisha Pande. Joining them over the phone is The News Minute's deputy news editor, Ragamalika Karthikeyan, to talk about the Pollachi case. The podcast begins with Ragamalika detailing the Pollachi sexual abuse and extortion case. The four men accused “seem to be doing it as a racket”, she says. She also mentions the controversy with the AIADMK since an FIR is registered against AIADMK functionary A Nagaraj over the assault of a victim’s brother. Manisha says she agrees with the Madras High Court's observations on Delhi media's lack of priority in covering the case, but Abhinandan says he's conflicted. He says: “This is a problem not just related to Chennai or Kerala … It is more true of the Northeast … If judges start commenting on everything then it just dilutes the impact when they something that is truly about justice rather than a social observation.” Ragamalika indicates the importance of giving incidents national coverage in order to formulate appropriate and more nuanced laws on sexual violence. Abhinandan talks about how newspapers in Assam went on a three-day boycott of all state government news, ads and photographs in protest against its alleged apathy. Anand mentions how India still imports newsprint which makes it quite expensive. Though local papers buy cheaper versions, it's not a sustainable model. “State governments control a lot of things through government ads,” he says. The discussion moves on to journalist Sunetra Choudhury’s exclusive on the UK’s efforts to extradite Nirav Modi and India’s absence of a response. While Anand examines the validity of Sunetra’s report, Abhinandan emphasises the need for extensive reports on Nirav Modi across media as it affects informed citizenry. The panel discusses the Meghalaya High Court’s sentence—which was stayed by the Supreme Court today—to Shillong Times editor Patricia Mukhim and publisher Shoba Chaudhuri. Manisha says, “We still have the thing called scandalising the court which exists in India, which you can be hauled up for just shocking the court.” Abhinandan goes on to discuss Chandrashekhar Azad who has announced he will contest against PM Modi from Varanasi. Anand says that there are no foregrounds to assume either’s victory. On the Election Commission’s announcement to monitor political content across social media, the panel jokes about the primitive understanding of technology by most EC officials. This and a whole lot more, so listen up! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/586894998 Hafta 214: Official Secrets Act, media and the national security beat, Balakote and more Fri, 05 Apr 2019 14:09:42 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/hafta-214-official-secrets-act-media-and-the-national-security-beat-balakote-and-more 01:37:14 Newslaundry.com no In the latest episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by the usual gang of Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande and Madhu Trehan, and special guest Praveen Donthi, staff writer at The Caravan. The discussion takes off with Praveen discussing his cover story on the rise of ANI news agency during the NDA government's tenure. He emphasises how ANI is considered over any other publication and that it reports the government's version of the truth. He adds: “It (ANI) has a monopoly … the story is: the government allowed it to be a monopoly, discouraging other people.” The discussion moves to Attorney General KK Venugopal's remarks in the Supreme Court, where he accused The Hindu of putting "stolen" documents from the Defence Ministry in the public domain which he said violated the Official Secrets Act. Madhu says, “The Official Secrets Act was written in 1923, the date itself should explain it.” The panel unanimously stands for the freedom to question the government. The panel also discusses the aftermath of the Balakote airstrikes, especially the varying numbers cited as "casualties" by media houses with no official confirmation. Praveen talks about how compromised India's national security beat is, citing his 2013 story on the same issue, and the damage these "source-based" reports do. The panel brings up the story on the "lynched" Pakistani Air Force pilot, which later turned out to be fake. Abhinandan asks, "How can the Opposition be accused of setting narrative … does anyone buy that this narrative is set by the Opposition and those who question Modi?" Manisha responds: “Forget the BJP and Congress, the international media … they are testing India’s claims of major damage, destruction of a terror camp … so all the sceptics are responding to what the government has said from day one." This and much more, so listen up! In the latest episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sek… In the latest episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by the usual gang of Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande and Madhu Trehan, and special guest Praveen Donthi, staff writer at The Caravan. The discussion takes off with Praveen discussing his cover story on the rise of ANI news agency during the NDA government's tenure. He emphasises how ANI is considered over any other publication and that it reports the government's version of the truth. He adds: “It (ANI) has a monopoly … the story is: the government allowed it to be a monopoly, discouraging other people.” The discussion moves to Attorney General KK Venugopal's remarks in the Supreme Court, where he accused The Hindu of putting "stolen" documents from the Defence Ministry in the public domain which he said violated the Official Secrets Act. Madhu says, “The Official Secrets Act was written in 1923, the date itself should explain it.” The panel unanimously stands for the freedom to question the government. The panel also discusses the aftermath of the Balakote airstrikes, especially the varying numbers cited as "casualties" by media houses with no official confirmation. Praveen talks about how compromised India's national security beat is, citing his 2013 story on the same issue, and the damage these "source-based" reports do. The panel brings up the story on the "lynched" Pakistani Air Force pilot, which later turned out to be fake. Abhinandan asks, "How can the Opposition be accused of setting narrative … does anyone buy that this narrative is set by the Opposition and those who question Modi?" Manisha responds: “Forget the BJP and Congress, the international media … they are testing India’s claims of major damage, destruction of a terror camp … so all the sceptics are responding to what the government has said from day one." This and much more, so listen up! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/601359732 Chhota Hafta — Episode 218 Fri, 05 Apr 2019 14:07:25 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-218 00:27:20 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s episode, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Anand Vardhan and Manisha Pande. Also joining them is political journalist and author of Politics of Jugaad: The Coalition Handbook, Saba Naqvi. The discussion kicks off with Saba’s new book. Saba also briefly describes the farmers' coalitions and the constant splitting of party members from the Congress that kept it at an unstable position in UP. “Most of us who follow politics seem to believe the change happened with Mandal and Mandir…[however] The history of this [coalitions]… goes back to the late sixties,” she says. Other topics broadly discussed in this podcast include Bihar politics, NaMo TV, Vivek Oberoi’s appearance in news interviews, a few election speeches made by different politicians, references made to various historical events in the politics of UP and Bihar, Mayawati’s affidavit and so much more. Listen up! Listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/04/05/hafta-218-coalitions-campaigns-afspa-namo-tv-uttar-pradesh-bihar NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s episode, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Anand Vardhan and Manisha Pande. Also joining them is political journalist and author of Politics of Jugaad: The Coalition Handbook, Saba Naqvi. The discussion kicks off with Saba’s new book. Saba also briefly describes the farmers' coalitions and the constant splitting of party members from the Congress that kept it at an unstable position in UP. “Most of us who follow politics seem to believe the change happened with Mandal and Mandir…[however] The history of this [coalitions]… goes back to the late sixties,” she says. Other topics broadly discussed in this podcast include Bihar politics, NaMo TV, Vivek Oberoi’s appearance in news interviews, a few election speeches made by different politicians, references made to various historical events in the politics of UP and Bihar, Mayawati’s affidavit and so much more. Listen up! Listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/04/05/hafta-218-coalitions-campaigns-afspa-namo-tv-uttar-pradesh-bihar tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/598293369 Chhota Hafta — Episode 217 Sat, 30 Mar 2019 14:10:52 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-217 00:26:12 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande, and lawyer Gautam Bhatia. The podcast kicks off with Gautam talking about his latest book, The Transformative Constitution: A Radical Biography in Nine Acts. The discussion moves to Arnab Goswami's interview with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Discussing Mission Shakti, Madhu describes what she calls the “remarkable discomfiture” with which Modi made his announcement. The conversation also covers Rahul Gandhi's announcement of the NYAY scheme, Vijay Mallya recent statements after the Jet Airways bailout, cessation dialogues in Kashmir and Sikkim, and a whole lot more. In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is… In this week’s episode, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande, and lawyer Gautam Bhatia. The podcast kicks off with Gautam talking about his latest book, The Transformative Constitution: A Radical Biography in Nine Acts. The discussion moves to Arnab Goswami's interview with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Discussing Mission Shakti, Madhu describes what she calls the “remarkable discomfiture” with which Modi made his announcement. The conversation also covers Rahul Gandhi's announcement of the NYAY scheme, Vijay Mallya recent statements after the Jet Airways bailout, cessation dialogues in Kashmir and Sikkim, and a whole lot more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/583294509 Hafta 213: #Pulwama attacks, Indo-Pak conflict, Arunachal Pradesh protests and more Sat, 30 Mar 2019 14:09:20 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-213 01:39:02 Newslaundry.com no In the latest episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by the usual gang of Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande and Madhu Trehan, as well as Nitin A Gokhle, a national security analyst, and Samrat, a journalist and author. The conversation kicks off with Indo-Pak tension, with Abhinandan asking Nitin about the details of the air strikes on JeM camps and the non-credible information that flowed with it. Nitin rules out the possibility of ascertaining the "number of terrorists killed in the strike". However, he says: “To me, the significance of the strike was not in numbers, it was about crossing the red line … and planning.” Madhu explains the reportage of the air strike, saying, “When we get statements from the government during the conflict, I think it has to be just context with government sources.” She says it prevents journalists from jumping the gun and puts the onus on government. The panel is unanimously annoyed about the unconfirmed and propagandist reportage by sections of Indian media. Manisha feels it warrants criticism from the international community. When asked about dos and don’ts for defence correspondents, Nitin says, “Don’t be in a hurry to give out everything you get … It’s more important what you don’t write than what you write.” The conversation moves to a discussion on the protests in Arunachal Pradesh over the Permanent Residence Certificates. Abhinandan says: “I don’t get that feeling when I went to Arunachal … it doesn’t seem like a kind of place which I would imagine would burn deputy CM’s house down.” He asks Samrat why it reached such a level. Samrat says, “Politics of indigeneity is very much there, inter-tribal rivalry … tribal divide … these are actually big things.” He adds that tourists don't face things like this. The discussion covers Caravan’s article where reporter Ajaz Ashraf tabulated soldiers killed in Pulwama on a caste basis. Raman says, “The sample that they have taken is very, very small … I think caste still dominates the class.” Manisha says, “I think the article borrows its narrative from … American media after the Iraq war. I have a central problem with one saying that the war in India is driven by Hindu nationalism—because Kashmir and Chhattisgarh where most of the CRPF is deployed have existed before Hindu nationalism rose.” Listen up! There’s more. In the latest episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sek… In the latest episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by the usual gang of Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande and Madhu Trehan, as well as Nitin A Gokhle, a national security analyst, and Samrat, a journalist and author. The conversation kicks off with Indo-Pak tension, with Abhinandan asking Nitin about the details of the air strikes on JeM camps and the non-credible information that flowed with it. Nitin rules out the possibility of ascertaining the "number of terrorists killed in the strike". However, he says: “To me, the significance of the strike was not in numbers, it was about crossing the red line … and planning.” Madhu explains the reportage of the air strike, saying, “When we get statements from the government during the conflict, I think it has to be just context with government sources.” She says it prevents journalists from jumping the gun and puts the onus on government. The panel is unanimously annoyed about the unconfirmed and propagandist reportage by sections of Indian media. Manisha feels it warrants criticism from the international community. When asked about dos and don’ts for defence correspondents, Nitin says, “Don’t be in a hurry to give out everything you get … It’s more important what you don’t write than what you write.” The conversation moves to a discussion on the protests in Arunachal Pradesh over the Permanent Residence Certificates. Abhinandan says: “I don’t get that feeling when I went to Arunachal … it doesn’t seem like a kind of place which I would imagine would burn deputy CM’s house down.” He asks Samrat why it reached such a level. Samrat says, “Politics of indigeneity is very much there, inter-tribal rivalry … tribal divide … these are actually big things.” He adds that tourists don't face things like this. The discussion covers Caravan’s article where reporter Ajaz Ashraf tabulated soldiers killed in Pulwama on a caste basis. Raman says, “The sample that they have taken is very, very small … I think caste still dominates the class.” Manisha says, “I think the article borrows its narrative from … American media after the Iraq war. I have a central problem with one saying that the war in India is driven by Hindu nationalism—because Kashmir and Chhattisgarh where most of the CRPF is deployed have existed before Hindu nationalism rose.” Listen up! There’s more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/594575010 Hafta 216: Christchurch shooting, Samjhauta blast verdict & more Sat, 23 Mar 2019 11:59:54 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-216 01:32:43 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Raman Kirpal and Anand Vardhan are joined by journalist Maya Mirchandani. The discussion kicks off with Amit Shah getting Lok Sabha elections ticket from LK Advani’s constituency, Gandhinagar. The panel also discusses Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s role in the current political scenario. Maya says, “Priyanka Gandhi is great optics for Congress.” The panellists agree that she is creating enough ripples as a new leader and is making BJP nervous. However, Raman differs, “Congress seeking an alliance is openly declaring that they have reduced to a regional party.” Moving forward Abhinandan and Maya appreciate the Election Commission's idea of increasing the transparency by asking for details of commutation of politicians via personal choppers and chartered flights. Talking about elections and parties, the panel also talks about Shah Faesal’s new political party, J&K Peoples' Movement. While Abhinandan is skeptical about the party's success, Maya also agrees that the party has no clear agenda. Raman adds, “As the polling percentage is low in J&K, so at this point, it might be a gamechanger.” The panel also talks about the ardent and strong leadership of New Zealand’s PM Jacinda Ardern, who imposed an immediate ban on all military-style semi-automatic weapons, assault rifles and stood in complete solidarity with the community. Raman says, “Its an example of how to handle a crisis." The panelists agree in unison that if she wouldn’t have called the incident a terror attack, nobody would have stood up. The panel also discusses Shashi Tharoor's defamation case against the derogatory remarks of Ravi Shankar Prasad in the Samjhauta Express verdict. For this and more, tune in! In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, R… In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Raman Kirpal and Anand Vardhan are joined by journalist Maya Mirchandani. The discussion kicks off with Amit Shah getting Lok Sabha elections ticket from LK Advani’s constituency, Gandhinagar. The panel also discusses Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s role in the current political scenario. Maya says, “Priyanka Gandhi is great optics for Congress.” The panellists agree that she is creating enough ripples as a new leader and is making BJP nervous. However, Raman differs, “Congress seeking an alliance is openly declaring that they have reduced to a regional party.” Moving forward Abhinandan and Maya appreciate the Election Commission's idea of increasing the transparency by asking for details of commutation of politicians via personal choppers and chartered flights. Talking about elections and parties, the panel also talks about Shah Faesal’s new political party, J&K Peoples' Movement. While Abhinandan is skeptical about the party's success, Maya also agrees that the party has no clear agenda. Raman adds, “As the polling percentage is low in J&K, so at this point, it might be a gamechanger.” The panel also talks about the ardent and strong leadership of New Zealand’s PM Jacinda Ardern, who imposed an immediate ban on all military-style semi-automatic weapons, assault rifles and stood in complete solidarity with the community. Raman says, “Its an example of how to handle a crisis." The panelists agree in unison that if she wouldn’t have called the incident a terror attack, nobody would have stood up. The panel also discusses Shashi Tharoor's defamation case against the derogatory remarks of Ravi Shankar Prasad in the Samjhauta Express verdict. For this and more, tune in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/579508377 Hafta 212: #PulwamaAttack, Saudi Prince's visit and online harassment of Barkha Dutt Fri, 15 Mar 2019 15:48:22 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-212 01:25:35 Newslaundry.com no In the latest episode of NL Hafta, the usual gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal and Anand Vardhan are joined by journalist Kaveree Bamzai to discuss Pulwama attack, harassment of Kashmiri student in Dehradun, MBS’ visit to India and more. The conversation kicks off with Kaveree talking about surviving as an independent, freelance journalist in the industry. She also talks about the casual sexism and misogyny in newsrooms. Then, the panel moves on to discuss the attack on CRPF convoy in Pulwama where 44 soldiers lost their lives. Manisha, while talking about the news coverage of the Pulwama attack, says, “Newspapers did a far better job of telling us what happened, the mastermind, raising questions on how 300kgs of explosive just goes through undetected.” Kaveree jumps in and feels the basic questions were ignored, she says, “It was a marketing opportunity which both PM Modi and TV channels saw.” She also mentions how Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Yasin Malik were forgotten, in the recent order of security withdrawal of separatists. Following the discussion on Pulwama attack and the back and forth between India and Pakistan, the panel also discusses how some journalists in India had to go through harassment. Journalists like Ravish Kumar and Barkha Dutt were harassed with lewd messages and photos. Defending Barkha’s move to put out all the messages and photos on Twitter, Kaveree said, “She has every right to tell people that this is the kind of abuse I am getting and if they don’t understand, to give them visual proof, it’s called shock therapy and it usually works.” The panel also discussed CobraPost’s Operation Karaoke, Supreme Court’s order asking Anil Ambani to pay dues in the Ericson case, Saudi crown prince Mohammad bin Salman’s visit to India and more. Listen up! In the latest episode of NL Hafta, the usual gang… In the latest episode of NL Hafta, the usual gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal and Anand Vardhan are joined by journalist Kaveree Bamzai to discuss Pulwama attack, harassment of Kashmiri student in Dehradun, MBS’ visit to India and more. The conversation kicks off with Kaveree talking about surviving as an independent, freelance journalist in the industry. She also talks about the casual sexism and misogyny in newsrooms. Then, the panel moves on to discuss the attack on CRPF convoy in Pulwama where 44 soldiers lost their lives. Manisha, while talking about the news coverage of the Pulwama attack, says, “Newspapers did a far better job of telling us what happened, the mastermind, raising questions on how 300kgs of explosive just goes through undetected.” Kaveree jumps in and feels the basic questions were ignored, she says, “It was a marketing opportunity which both PM Modi and TV channels saw.” She also mentions how Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Yasin Malik were forgotten, in the recent order of security withdrawal of separatists. Following the discussion on Pulwama attack and the back and forth between India and Pakistan, the panel also discusses how some journalists in India had to go through harassment. Journalists like Ravish Kumar and Barkha Dutt were harassed with lewd messages and photos. Defending Barkha’s move to put out all the messages and photos on Twitter, Kaveree said, “She has every right to tell people that this is the kind of abuse I am getting and if they don’t understand, to give them visual proof, it’s called shock therapy and it usually works.” The panel also discussed CobraPost’s Operation Karaoke, Supreme Court’s order asking Anil Ambani to pay dues in the Ericson case, Saudi crown prince Mohammad bin Salman’s visit to India and more. Listen up! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/590519787 Chhota Hafta - Episode 215 Fri, 15 Mar 2019 15:47:48 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-215 00:27:07 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s podcast, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Raman Kirpal, Anand Vardhan and Manisha Pande. Joining them over the phone is The News Minute's deputy news editor, Ragamalika Karthikeyan, to talk about the Pollachi case. The podcast begins with Ragamalika detailing the Pollachi sexual abuse and extortion case. The four men accused “seem to be doing it as a racket”, she says. Manisha says she agrees with the Madras High Court's observations on Delhi media's lack of priority in covering the case, but Abhinandan says he's conflicted. The conversation shifts to how newspapers in Assam went on a three-day boycott of all state government news, ads and photographs in protest against its alleged apathy. The panel also talks about Nirav Modi, the Shillong Times case, and Chandrashekhar Azad who has announced he will contest against PM Modi from Varanasi. Listen to the full episode here. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s podcast, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Raman Kirpal, Anand Vardhan and Manisha Pande. Joining them over the phone is The News Minute's deputy news editor, Ragamalika Karthikeyan, to talk about the Pollachi case. The podcast begins with Ragamalika detailing the Pollachi sexual abuse and extortion case. The four men accused “seem to be doing it as a racket”, she says. Manisha says she agrees with the Madras High Court's observations on Delhi media's lack of priority in covering the case, but Abhinandan says he's conflicted. The conversation shifts to how newspapers in Assam went on a three-day boycott of all state government news, ads and photographs in protest against its alleged apathy. The panel also talks about Nirav Modi, the Shillong Times case, and Chandrashekhar Azad who has announced he will contest against PM Modi from Varanasi. Listen to the full episode here. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/575784264 Hafta 211: Delhi Govt vs LG, Nageswara Rao, Republic TV vs AMU, and more Fri, 08 Mar 2019 15:15:26 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-211 01:37:55 Newslaundry.com no In the latest episode of NL Hafta, the usual gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal, and Anand Vardhan are joined by Setu Niket, a Delhi-based lawyer and Newslaundry subscriber. The discussion kicks off with Setu talking about the latest updates on the Supreme Court’s split verdict in the Delhi government vs LG power tussle case. The apex court referred the decision on public service to the larger bench. But who is this verdict in favour of? Abhinandan says: “If your own guy who’s supposed to report to you in your office, which happened a year ago, would not listen to Arvind Kejriwal ... He wouldn’t come in the room when you called him—what can be the reason for giving that to the Centre?” The panel moves on to discuss the contempt charges against the CBI's former interim director Nageswara Rao. Raman says the main reason for contempt charges was transferring the officer probing the Muzaffarpur shelter home horror. He adds, “Right from the day one, he has been breaking all the rules.” The panel also talks about the CAG report on the Rafale deal, with Abhinandan reading out some of the details. The discussion goes on to Patiala House’s direction to the Delhi Police to file an FIR against Arnab Goswami on Shashi Tharoor’s complaint. The panel discusses how this will set a bad precedent. They also talk about Priyanka Gandhi's Lucknow rally, the Republic TV vs AMU fiasco, and a whole lot more. Listen up! In the latest episode of NL Hafta, the usual gang… In the latest episode of NL Hafta, the usual gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal, and Anand Vardhan are joined by Setu Niket, a Delhi-based lawyer and Newslaundry subscriber. The discussion kicks off with Setu talking about the latest updates on the Supreme Court’s split verdict in the Delhi government vs LG power tussle case. The apex court referred the decision on public service to the larger bench. But who is this verdict in favour of? Abhinandan says: “If your own guy who’s supposed to report to you in your office, which happened a year ago, would not listen to Arvind Kejriwal ... He wouldn’t come in the room when you called him—what can be the reason for giving that to the Centre?” The panel moves on to discuss the contempt charges against the CBI's former interim director Nageswara Rao. Raman says the main reason for contempt charges was transferring the officer probing the Muzaffarpur shelter home horror. He adds, “Right from the day one, he has been breaking all the rules.” The panel also talks about the CAG report on the Rafale deal, with Abhinandan reading out some of the details. The discussion goes on to Patiala House’s direction to the Delhi Police to file an FIR against Arnab Goswami on Shashi Tharoor’s complaint. The panel discusses how this will set a bad precedent. They also talk about Priyanka Gandhi's Lucknow rally, the Republic TV vs AMU fiasco, and a whole lot more. Listen up! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/586898310 Chhota Hafta Episode-214 Fri, 08 Mar 2019 15:12:48 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-214 00:26:12 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In the latest episode, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by the usual gang of Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande and Madhu Trehan, and special guest Praveen Donthi, staff writer at The Caravan. The discussion takes off with Praveen discussing his cover story on the rise of ANI news agency during the NDA government's tenure. The panel then talks about Attorney General KK Venugopal's remarks in the Supreme Court, where he accused The Hindu of putting "stolen" documents from the Defence Ministry in the public domain which he said violated the Official Secrets Act. They also discuss the aftermath of the Balakote airstrikes, especially the varying numbers cited as "casualties" by media houses with no official confirmation, and the issues with some "source-based reports". Listen to the full episode NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In the latest episode, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by the usual gang of Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande and Madhu Trehan, and special guest Praveen Donthi, staff writer at The Caravan. The discussion takes off with Praveen discussing his cover story on the rise of ANI news agency during the NDA government's tenure. The panel then talks about Attorney General KK Venugopal's remarks in the Supreme Court, where he accused The Hindu of putting "stolen" documents from the Defence Ministry in the public domain which he said violated the Official Secrets Act. They also discuss the aftermath of the Balakote airstrikes, especially the varying numbers cited as "casualties" by media houses with no official confirmation, and the issues with some "source-based reports". Listen to the full episode tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/572103240 Hafta 210: #MamataVsCBI, Twitter’s alleged bias, Robert Vadra and more Fri, 01 Mar 2019 13:51:26 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-210 01:26:18 Newslaundry.com no In the latest episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by the usual gang of Anand Vardhan, Manisha Pande and Madhu Trehan, as well as Niha Masih, India correspondent for Washington Post. The conversation covers #MamataVsCBI in West Bengal, Robert Vadra being questioned by the ED, the Supreme Court’s contempt notice to Prashant Bhushan, the Right-wing's protest against Twitter, and a lot more. Niha kicks things off by talking about the face-off between Mamata Banerjee and the Centre. Mentioning the media's shortcomings in reporting on the issue, she says, "Something that I found wanting, which I actually found from an alternative legal media website called The Leaflet, was exactly the legality of what the CBI was trying to do and what the state government was alleging, because it is very easy to give into the political back and forth ... but what were the legalities of what the CBI did?” The conversation moves to the list of questions Justice Markandey Katju directed to Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi. Abhinandan attempts to explain why this story was not picked up by the Indian media: “Most media really likes this Chief Justice because this was the man who stood up to Modi. But I think it is more than that ... They will go after Modi, they will go after Rahul, they will go after Ambani. No one will go after the Chief Justice.” He asks the panel what they think—does the media love Gogoi or are they too scared? Anand says: "I think it has a two-day-story shelf life, nothing more. I think that point is more valid: that it didn’t have substantial meat to it.” The discussion shifts to the Supreme Court's contempt notice to Prashant Bhushan. Madhu says, “Filing contempt against Prashant Bhushan—he takes it as a compliment, he gets more press, he is very happy with it.” But Manisha says it's scary since the contempt notice is over tweets. "I don't think it sets a good precedent. Whatever he may have said.” Madhu still feels contempt cases are relatively benign: "They don’t do much ... that law has to be questioned, it has to be redefined to fit contemporary India where everyone is accountable, including the judge.” This and much more, so listen up! In the latest episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sek… In the latest episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by the usual gang of Anand Vardhan, Manisha Pande and Madhu Trehan, as well as Niha Masih, India correspondent for Washington Post. The conversation covers #MamataVsCBI in West Bengal, Robert Vadra being questioned by the ED, the Supreme Court’s contempt notice to Prashant Bhushan, the Right-wing's protest against Twitter, and a lot more. Niha kicks things off by talking about the face-off between Mamata Banerjee and the Centre. Mentioning the media's shortcomings in reporting on the issue, she says, "Something that I found wanting, which I actually found from an alternative legal media website called The Leaflet, was exactly the legality of what the CBI was trying to do and what the state government was alleging, because it is very easy to give into the political back and forth ... but what were the legalities of what the CBI did?” The conversation moves to the list of questions Justice Markandey Katju directed to Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi. Abhinandan attempts to explain why this story was not picked up by the Indian media: “Most media really likes this Chief Justice because this was the man who stood up to Modi. But I think it is more than that ... They will go after Modi, they will go after Rahul, they will go after Ambani. No one will go after the Chief Justice.” He asks the panel what they think—does the media love Gogoi or are they too scared? Anand says: "I think it has a two-day-story shelf life, nothing more. I think that point is more valid: that it didn’t have substantial meat to it.” The discussion shifts to the Supreme Court's contempt notice to Prashant Bhushan. Madhu says, “Filing contempt against Prashant Bhushan—he takes it as a compliment, he gets more press, he is very happy with it.” But Manisha says it's scary since the contempt notice is over tweets. "I don't think it sets a good precedent. Whatever he may have said.” Madhu still feels contempt cases are relatively benign: "They don’t do much ... that law has to be questioned, it has to be redefined to fit contemporary India where everyone is accountable, including the judge.” This and much more, so listen up! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/583296432 Chhota Hafta - Episode 213 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 13:51:03 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-213 00:30:44 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In the latest episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by the usual gang of Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande and Madhu Trehan, as well as Nitin A Gokhle, a national security analyst, and Samrat, a journalist and author. The conversation kicks off with Indo-Pak tension, with Abhinandan asking Nitin about the details of the air strikes on JeM camps and the non-credible information that flowed with it. The conversation moves to a discussion on the protests in Arunachal Pradesh over the Permanent Residence Certificates, and also covers Caravan’s article where reporter Ajaz Ashraf tabulated soldiers killed in Pulwama on a caste basis. Listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/03/01/hafta-213-pulwama-attacks-indo-pak-conflict-arunachal-pradesh-protests-and-more NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In the latest episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by the usual gang of Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande and Madhu Trehan, as well as Nitin A Gokhle, a national security analyst, and Samrat, a journalist and author. The conversation kicks off with Indo-Pak tension, with Abhinandan asking Nitin about the details of the air strikes on JeM camps and the non-credible information that flowed with it. The conversation moves to a discussion on the protests in Arunachal Pradesh over the Permanent Residence Certificates, and also covers Caravan’s article where reporter Ajaz Ashraf tabulated soldiers killed in Pulwama on a caste basis. Listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/03/01/hafta-213-pulwama-attacks-indo-pak-conflict-arunachal-pradesh-protests-and-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/568428726 Hafta 209: #13PointRoster, Harvest TV, DHFL and more Fri, 22 Feb 2019 14:34:48 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-209 01:30:30 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of NL Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by the in-house panel of Manisha Pande, Madhu Trehan and Raman Kirpal, and Scroll staff writer Shoaib Daniyal. The conversation covers Harvest TV, the new 13-point roster for reservation of teaching posts, the National Sample Survey Office jobs report, George Fernandes’s legacy, the latest Cobrapost investigation, and more. Shoaib explains the 13 point roster order given by the Supreme Court. He says reservation on the recruitment of faculty will now be calculated by the department, not by the university as a whole. He says: “Because reservation numbers are 15 per cent, 7.5 per cent—it actually ends reservation in many ways if your department is very small.” Abhinandan adds: “Seven per cent of seven teachers is 0 ... So you round off most of the reservations to 0 while you have kept reservations as a statement of mathematical possibility.” Manisha says there will be protests over this but she doubts how much coverage it will get. Raman draws the discussion to the latest Cobrapost story on the DHFL financial scam. He says: “I don’t see any scam in it! This is just a narrative that the money moved from this place to another. There could be a story ... But what I am saying is that the half baked story with which you broke down 8 per cent of their share market—who gained from it? That itself is a story.” Abhinandan disagrees that it's "half-baked", saying, "There is a law. If you have common directors, one company cannot lend money to the other.” Raman asserts: “In that case, it is a violation, not a scam” —which is what Cobrapost called it. Madhu steps in to discuss Harvest TV. She says, “I did like Barkha’s interview with Jaya. That she really excels at because she has the capacity to do the background research, everything is always at her fingertips. She never interviews with a list of questions, like most of us do.” She adds, "Unfortunately, I think the roach they have taken to launch this channel is problematic”, alluding to Harvest TV running the channel on a religious broadcasting license. The panel goes on to discuss the Padma Shri and other national excellence awards, Rahul Gandhi’s minimum income promise, and a lot more. Listen up! In this episode of NL Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekh… In this episode of NL Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by the in-house panel of Manisha Pande, Madhu Trehan and Raman Kirpal, and Scroll staff writer Shoaib Daniyal. The conversation covers Harvest TV, the new 13-point roster for reservation of teaching posts, the National Sample Survey Office jobs report, George Fernandes’s legacy, the latest Cobrapost investigation, and more. Shoaib explains the 13 point roster order given by the Supreme Court. He says reservation on the recruitment of faculty will now be calculated by the department, not by the university as a whole. He says: “Because reservation numbers are 15 per cent, 7.5 per cent—it actually ends reservation in many ways if your department is very small.” Abhinandan adds: “Seven per cent of seven teachers is 0 ... So you round off most of the reservations to 0 while you have kept reservations as a statement of mathematical possibility.” Manisha says there will be protests over this but she doubts how much coverage it will get. Raman draws the discussion to the latest Cobrapost story on the DHFL financial scam. He says: “I don’t see any scam in it! This is just a narrative that the money moved from this place to another. There could be a story ... But what I am saying is that the half baked story with which you broke down 8 per cent of their share market—who gained from it? That itself is a story.” Abhinandan disagrees that it's "half-baked", saying, "There is a law. If you have common directors, one company cannot lend money to the other.” Raman asserts: “In that case, it is a violation, not a scam” —which is what Cobrapost called it. Madhu steps in to discuss Harvest TV. She says, “I did like Barkha’s interview with Jaya. That she really excels at because she has the capacity to do the background research, everything is always at her fingertips. She never interviews with a list of questions, like most of us do.” She adds, "Unfortunately, I think the roach they have taken to launch this channel is problematic”, alluding to Harvest TV running the channel on a religious broadcasting license. The panel goes on to discuss the Padma Shri and other national excellence awards, Rahul Gandhi’s minimum income promise, and a lot more. Listen up! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/579511299 Chota Hafta — Episode 212 Fri, 22 Feb 2019 14:34:17 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-212-final 00:24:45 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. On this episode of NL Hafta, our host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, Raman Kirpal and Kaveree Bamzai to discuss the news of the week. Listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/02/22/hafta-212-pulwamaattack-saudi-princes-visit-and-online-harassment-of-barkha-dutt NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. On this episode of NL Hafta, our host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, Raman Kirpal and Kaveree Bamzai to discuss the news of the week. Listen to the full Hafta here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/02/22/hafta-212-pulwamaattack-saudi-princes-visit-and-online-harassment-of-barkha-dutt tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/575768883 Chhota Hafta - Episode 211 Fri, 15 Feb 2019 14:11:22 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-211 00:27:10 Newslaundry.com no In the latest episode of NL Hafta, the usual gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal, and Anand Vardhan are joined by Setu Niket, a Delhi-based lawyer and Newslaundry subscriber. The discussion kicks off with Setu talking about the latest updates on the Supreme Court’s split verdict in the Delhi government vs LG power tussle case. The panel then moves on to discuss the contempt charges against the CBI's former interim director Nageswara Rao. Raman says the main reason for contempt charges was transferring the officer probing the Muzaffarpur shelter home horror. The discussion also covers Priyanka Gandhi's Lucknow rally, the Republic TV vs AMU fiasco, and a whole lot more! Listen to the full episode here. In the latest episode of NL Hafta, the usual gang… In the latest episode of NL Hafta, the usual gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal, and Anand Vardhan are joined by Setu Niket, a Delhi-based lawyer and Newslaundry subscriber. The discussion kicks off with Setu talking about the latest updates on the Supreme Court’s split verdict in the Delhi government vs LG power tussle case. The panel then moves on to discuss the contempt charges against the CBI's former interim director Nageswara Rao. Raman says the main reason for contempt charges was transferring the officer probing the Muzaffarpur shelter home horror. The discussion also covers Priyanka Gandhi's Lucknow rally, the Republic TV vs AMU fiasco, and a whole lot more! Listen to the full episode here. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/564387573 Hafta 208: Priyanka’s entry, Caravan defamation case, Mahagathbandhan & more Fri, 15 Feb 2019 14:01:33 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-208 01:23:18 Newslaundry.com no In this Hafta, Hartosh Singh Bal, Caravan's political editor magazine, joins Newslaundry managing editor Raman Kirpal, editor Manisha Pande, opinion writer Anand Vardhan and host Abhinandan Sekhri. The group discusses Priyanka Gandhi’s official entry into politics, the Mahagathbandhan, Ajit Doval’s son's defamation plea against the Caravan, EVM hacking and more. The Caravan’s defamation case becomes a springboard for a discussion on corruption. Abhinandan asks Anand, “Do you really think it is possible...for any prime minister to claim na khaunga na khaane dunga?” Anand replies, “Cronyism and corruption are related to it, they are a part of the body politic of elite accommodation, particularly visible in third-world political societies. I think all parties have this patronage system.” Hartosh adds: “People with an average income, below a crore, are not represented in our Parliament, simply because that is what has happened to our politics. It is today a plutocracy, or a democracy of the rich, in terms of who’s appointed to power and it is getting propagated by our easy acceptance of that cronyism.” The panel also discusses the Mahagathbandhan and Mamta Banerjee as a prime ministerial candidate. Manisha asks, “Is she really positioning herself as a prime ministerial candidate?” Raman says, “The post-election scenario is supposed to decide who is going to be the prime minister...Anybody can [be PM], even Mayawati stands a chance.” The impregnability of electronic voting machines is also discussed. Abhinandan recalls the paper ballot set up. “The security was so lax, if you had a camera you could basically go anywhere...you could take the camera straight into the ballot box, the office.” Anand describes Syed Shuja’s claims as “dangerous” because “these kinds of conspiracy theories stick to people's psyche...to stage such a press conference in London is saying India is a banana republic...it does a great deal of disservice to the history of Indian elections.” Listen up! There's more. In this Hafta, Hartosh Singh Bal, Caravan's polit… In this Hafta, Hartosh Singh Bal, Caravan's political editor magazine, joins Newslaundry managing editor Raman Kirpal, editor Manisha Pande, opinion writer Anand Vardhan and host Abhinandan Sekhri. The group discusses Priyanka Gandhi’s official entry into politics, the Mahagathbandhan, Ajit Doval’s son's defamation plea against the Caravan, EVM hacking and more. The Caravan’s defamation case becomes a springboard for a discussion on corruption. Abhinandan asks Anand, “Do you really think it is possible...for any prime minister to claim na khaunga na khaane dunga?” Anand replies, “Cronyism and corruption are related to it, they are a part of the body politic of elite accommodation, particularly visible in third-world political societies. I think all parties have this patronage system.” Hartosh adds: “People with an average income, below a crore, are not represented in our Parliament, simply because that is what has happened to our politics. It is today a plutocracy, or a democracy of the rich, in terms of who’s appointed to power and it is getting propagated by our easy acceptance of that cronyism.” The panel also discusses the Mahagathbandhan and Mamta Banerjee as a prime ministerial candidate. Manisha asks, “Is she really positioning herself as a prime ministerial candidate?” Raman says, “The post-election scenario is supposed to decide who is going to be the prime minister...Anybody can [be PM], even Mayawati stands a chance.” The impregnability of electronic voting machines is also discussed. Abhinandan recalls the paper ballot set up. “The security was so lax, if you had a camera you could basically go anywhere...you could take the camera straight into the ballot box, the office.” Anand describes Syed Shuja’s claims as “dangerous” because “these kinds of conspiracy theories stick to people's psyche...to stage such a press conference in London is saying India is a banana republic...it does a great deal of disservice to the history of Indian elections.” Listen up! There's more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/560868147 Hafta 207: Modi’s Philip Kotler Award, the JNU sedition case and more Fri, 08 Feb 2019 14:14:49 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-207 01:29:17 Newslaundry.com no In the latest episode of NL Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by the usual gang of Raman Kripal, Anand Vardhan and Manisha Pande and special guest Amit Varma—writer, columnist, and host of the podcast The Seen and the Unseen. The conversation ranges from the unending CBI saga to the JNU sedition chargesheet to Modi winning the first ever Philip Kotler Award, and more. The rumours of Arun Jaitley’s cancer treatment sparks a discussion on the ethics of reporting a public figure’s illnesses. Amit says, “Private lives are private lives, we should not get too much into them … it is when the taxpayers’ money is involved that I am concerned and want to hold those speakers accountable.” He says it’s the media’s duty to look into how long Jaitley will be absent and unable to perform his duties. Discussing PM Narendra Modi winning the Philip Kotler Award, Anand says no one really knows if it’s an authentic award or not. Kotler, a known marketing figure, cleared the air a bit. Anand says, “That has been the saving grace for the prime minister—that he stepped in and authenticated that—but still the paraphernalia that was involved in awarding the prime minister is dubious.” On the chargesheet released accusing Kanhaiya Kumar and co. of sedition, Manisha recalls the coverage of the incident by the media, which started when ABVP called Zee News which then ran the story. Abhinandan adds, “They actually used the chargesheet to pat themselves on the back saying ‘we were right all along’. It’s like a loop.” The conversation shifts to the sexual assault allegations against director Rajkumar Hirani and the #MeToo movement in general. Raman says, “I think Hirani’s story is not taking the #MeToo discussion any further, it was just another case. It was reported rightly. I do not see any problems with the media coverage.” This and much more, so tune in! In the latest episode of NL Hafta, host Abhinanda… In the latest episode of NL Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by the usual gang of Raman Kripal, Anand Vardhan and Manisha Pande and special guest Amit Varma—writer, columnist, and host of the podcast The Seen and the Unseen. The conversation ranges from the unending CBI saga to the JNU sedition chargesheet to Modi winning the first ever Philip Kotler Award, and more. The rumours of Arun Jaitley’s cancer treatment sparks a discussion on the ethics of reporting a public figure’s illnesses. Amit says, “Private lives are private lives, we should not get too much into them … it is when the taxpayers’ money is involved that I am concerned and want to hold those speakers accountable.” He says it’s the media’s duty to look into how long Jaitley will be absent and unable to perform his duties. Discussing PM Narendra Modi winning the Philip Kotler Award, Anand says no one really knows if it’s an authentic award or not. Kotler, a known marketing figure, cleared the air a bit. Anand says, “That has been the saving grace for the prime minister—that he stepped in and authenticated that—but still the paraphernalia that was involved in awarding the prime minister is dubious.” On the chargesheet released accusing Kanhaiya Kumar and co. of sedition, Manisha recalls the coverage of the incident by the media, which started when ABVP called Zee News which then ran the story. Abhinandan adds, “They actually used the chargesheet to pat themselves on the back saying ‘we were right all along’. It’s like a loop.” The conversation shifts to the sexual assault allegations against director Rajkumar Hirani and the #MeToo movement in general. Raman says, “I think Hirani’s story is not taking the #MeToo discussion any further, it was just another case. It was reported rightly. I do not see any problems with the media coverage.” This and much more, so tune in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/572095839 Chhota Hafta — Episode 210 Fri, 08 Feb 2019 14:07:46 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-210 00:24:20 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In the latest episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by the usual gang of Anand Vardhan, Manisha Pande and Madhu Trehan, as well as Niha Masih, India correspondent for Washington Post. The conversation covers #MamataVsCBI in West Bengal, Robert Vadra being questioned by the ED, the Supreme Court’s contempt notice to Prashant Bhushan, the Right-wing's protest against Twitter, and a lot more. Niha kicks things off by talking about the face-off between Mamata Banerjee and the Centre. The conversation then moves to the list of questions Justice Markandey Katju directed to Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, and Abhinandan attempts to explain why the media didn't pick up the story. Listen to the full episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/02/08/hafta-210-mamatavscbi-twitters-alleged-bias-robert-vadra-and-more NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In the latest episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by the usual gang of Anand Vardhan, Manisha Pande and Madhu Trehan, as well as Niha Masih, India correspondent for Washington Post. The conversation covers #MamataVsCBI in West Bengal, Robert Vadra being questioned by the ED, the Supreme Court’s contempt notice to Prashant Bhushan, the Right-wing's protest against Twitter, and a lot more. Niha kicks things off by talking about the face-off between Mamata Banerjee and the Centre. The conversation then moves to the list of questions Justice Markandey Katju directed to Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, and Abhinandan attempts to explain why the media didn't pick up the story. Listen to the full episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/02/08/hafta-210-mamatavscbi-twitters-alleged-bias-robert-vadra-and-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/568433562 Chhota Hafta - Episode 209 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 14:10:29 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-209 00:25:10 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode of NL Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by the in-house panel of Manisha Pande, Madhu Trehan and Raman Kirpal, and Scroll staff writer Shoaib Daniyal. The conversation covers Harvest TV, the new 13-point roster for reservation of teaching posts, the National Sample Survey Office jobs report, George Fernandes’s legacy, the latest Cobrapost investigation, and more. Shoaib explains the 13-point roster order given by the Supreme Court. He says reservation on the recruitment of faculty will now be calculated by the department, not by the university as a whole. Raman draws the discussion to the latest Cobrapost story on the DHFL financial scam. He says: “I don’t see any scam in it! This is just a narrative that the money moved from this place to another. There could be a story..." Listen to the full episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/02/01/hafta-209-13pointroster-harvest-tv-dhfl-and-more NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode of NL Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by the in-house panel of Manisha Pande, Madhu Trehan and Raman Kirpal, and Scroll staff writer Shoaib Daniyal. The conversation covers Harvest TV, the new 13-point roster for reservation of teaching posts, the National Sample Survey Office jobs report, George Fernandes’s legacy, the latest Cobrapost investigation, and more. Shoaib explains the 13-point roster order given by the Supreme Court. He says reservation on the recruitment of faculty will now be calculated by the department, not by the university as a whole. Raman draws the discussion to the latest Cobrapost story on the DHFL financial scam. He says: “I don’t see any scam in it! This is just a narrative that the money moved from this place to another. There could be a story..." Listen to the full episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/02/01/hafta-209-13pointroster-harvest-tv-dhfl-and-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/557399997 Hafta 206: Citizenship Bill, Reservation Bill, Alok Verma and more Fri, 01 Feb 2019 13:54:14 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-206 01:28:03 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of NL Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Hafta regulars Anand Vardhan and Manisha Pande, and special guests Arunabh Saikia, staff writer at Scroll, and economics journalist Vivek Kaul. The discussion revolves around the Citizenship Bill, the 10 per cent Reservation Bill, Alok Verma's reinstation, the All-India Marathi Literary Meet, and more. The discussion starts with Arunabh talking about the Citizenship Bill and its impact on Assamese politics. “Is it even possible that no Indian is left out?” Abhinandan asks. The bill allows people of all religions except Islam to enter India from Bangladesh. The panel calls it explicitly anti-Muslim, even more so than Trump’s so-called “Muslim ban”. Moving on to the Reservation Bill, Vivek says, “Reservation is useful when the government is creating jobs.” He says he's been dissatisfied with the government’s job creation over the past three years. “A cut-off has to be useful,” he points out about the new quota, saying the cut-off includes so many people that it's useless. The panel then has a comprehensive discussion on the desirability of government jobs in relation to reservation. Anand starts the discussion on #CBIvsCBI with a prediction that the conversation on CBI will disappear after the Supreme Court verdict, just as it disappeared in the case of the Rafale deal. Manisha is sceptical of the impact of the controversy. The panel debates whether or not the #CBIvsCBI case interests the wider general public. Manisha talks about the laws surrounding private radio news broadcasting and the pro-government bulletins (or lack thereof) on AIR. Vivek questions the law that private radio cannot broadcast news when private TV can. The panel then talks about HS Phoolka's resignation from the Aam Aadmi Party. Anand scrutinises Phoolka’s argument that an anti-corruption movement should not have become a party at all. On the trend of capable leaders leaving the AAP, Abhinandan remarks, “You cannot be a single point person and survive in politics.” This and more on NL Hafta, so tune in! In this episode of NL Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekh… In this episode of NL Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Hafta regulars Anand Vardhan and Manisha Pande, and special guests Arunabh Saikia, staff writer at Scroll, and economics journalist Vivek Kaul. The discussion revolves around the Citizenship Bill, the 10 per cent Reservation Bill, Alok Verma's reinstation, the All-India Marathi Literary Meet, and more. The discussion starts with Arunabh talking about the Citizenship Bill and its impact on Assamese politics. “Is it even possible that no Indian is left out?” Abhinandan asks. The bill allows people of all religions except Islam to enter India from Bangladesh. The panel calls it explicitly anti-Muslim, even more so than Trump’s so-called “Muslim ban”. Moving on to the Reservation Bill, Vivek says, “Reservation is useful when the government is creating jobs.” He says he's been dissatisfied with the government’s job creation over the past three years. “A cut-off has to be useful,” he points out about the new quota, saying the cut-off includes so many people that it's useless. The panel then has a comprehensive discussion on the desirability of government jobs in relation to reservation. Anand starts the discussion on #CBIvsCBI with a prediction that the conversation on CBI will disappear after the Supreme Court verdict, just as it disappeared in the case of the Rafale deal. Manisha is sceptical of the impact of the controversy. The panel debates whether or not the #CBIvsCBI case interests the wider general public. Manisha talks about the laws surrounding private radio news broadcasting and the pro-government bulletins (or lack thereof) on AIR. Vivek questions the law that private radio cannot broadcast news when private TV can. The panel then talks about HS Phoolka's resignation from the Aam Aadmi Party. Anand scrutinises Phoolka’s argument that an anti-corruption movement should not have become a party at all. On the trend of capable leaders leaving the AAP, Abhinandan remarks, “You cannot be a single point person and survive in politics.” This and more on NL Hafta, so tune in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/564381285 Chhota Hafta — Episode 208 Fri, 25 Jan 2019 14:31:51 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-208 00:23:43 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this Hafta, Hartosh Singh Bal, Caravan's political editor magazine, joins Newslaundry managing editor Raman Kirpal, editor Manisha Pande, opinion writer Anand Vardhan and host Abhinandan Sekhri. The group discusses Priyanka Gandhi’s official entry into politics, the Mahagathbandhan, Ajit Doval’s son's defamation plea against the Caravan, EVM hacking and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this Hafta, Hartosh Singh Bal, Caravan's political editor magazine, joins Newslaundry managing editor Raman Kirpal, editor Manisha Pande, opinion writer Anand Vardhan and host Abhinandan Sekhri. The group discusses Priyanka Gandhi’s official entry into politics, the Mahagathbandhan, Ajit Doval’s son's defamation plea against the Caravan, EVM hacking and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/551018526 Hafta 204: the 'interception' order, Meghalaya miners, Nitin Gadkari and more Fri, 25 Jan 2019 14:30:10 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-204 01:28:47 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s episode, South Asia editor of Asia Times, Saikat Datta, joins the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan to discuss the home ministry authorising 10 central agencies to intercept information on computers, the misinformation surrounding it. The discussion kicks off with Saikat explaining the home ministry order and his experience of examining the surveillance structure and the safeguards that are there. Is it possible to run an operation at such a huge level? Saikat talks about his experience with dealing with the Radia tapes and the cumbersome process of going through 200 phone calls. The discussion then moves to the miners trapped inside a coal mine in Meghalaya and why it took so long for this to make it to the national news, the rescue operation and the politics around it. Saikat compares the situation of Meghalaya with the movie Kaala Patthar. The panel then moves on to discuss Mamta Banerjee not allowing BJP to carry out Rath Yatras in West Bengal. The gang also indulges in lighthearted speculation about what could be the reason behind Nitin Gadkari’s statements like “leadership should own up to failures”. Is Gadkari testing the waters for the PM post? Listen up! There’s a lot more. In this week’s episode, South Asia editor of Asia… In this week’s episode, South Asia editor of Asia Times, Saikat Datta, joins the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan to discuss the home ministry authorising 10 central agencies to intercept information on computers, the misinformation surrounding it. The discussion kicks off with Saikat explaining the home ministry order and his experience of examining the surveillance structure and the safeguards that are there. Is it possible to run an operation at such a huge level? Saikat talks about his experience with dealing with the Radia tapes and the cumbersome process of going through 200 phone calls. The discussion then moves to the miners trapped inside a coal mine in Meghalaya and why it took so long for this to make it to the national news, the rescue operation and the politics around it. Saikat compares the situation of Meghalaya with the movie Kaala Patthar. The panel then moves on to discuss Mamta Banerjee not allowing BJP to carry out Rath Yatras in West Bengal. The gang also indulges in lighthearted speculation about what could be the reason behind Nitin Gadkari’s statements like “leadership should own up to failures”. Is Gadkari testing the waters for the PM post? Listen up! There’s a lot more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/548193756 Hafta 203: Sajjan Kumar, 1984 anti-Sikh riots, farm loan waivers, Rafael deal and more Fri, 18 Jan 2019 12:15:07 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-203 01:20:50 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s podcast, our regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekri, Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande and Raman Kirpal are joined by Newslaundry subscriber Anushka Shah who is a researcher with MIT Media Lab. The podcast kicks off with a discussion on the anti-Sikh riots of 1984 after Indira Gandhi’s assassination. The team talks about how even today, media coverage of communal riots has been limited to political whataboutery where journalists only cover how a political party accuses the other. Anushka points out that in the last two years, the 1984 riots has been covered twice as much as 2002 Gujarat riots. They talk about the Delhi High Court’s judgement convicting Congress politician Sajjan Kumar for his role in the riots. Madhu says journalists should focus on writing descriptive accounts of court proceedings instead of limiting reports to the final court judgement. Moving on, Abhinandan mentions how political parties offer farm loan waivers to please their voters. Manisha says loan waivers are only a short-term solution and we need to look at the root causes of farmer distress. Anushka says 25 per cent of all news stories on agriculture are about loan waivers while stories on unemployment and agricultural unproductivity are less than 0.2 per cent. The panellists then discuss the court ruling on the Rafael deal. In the judgement, the court said it has no objection to any part of the deal. Madhu says one needs to recognise that courts are not investigating agencies. Raman replies, “Reliance has never been into aviation (sector) and they get such a huge project of around ₹30,000 crores. I personally feel this was a good enough reason for a probe.” The podcast also touches upon Rajiv Gandhi’s role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Abhinandan says that as a representative of the state apparatus, Rajiv Gandhi deserved to be tried for culpable homicide. Madhu says that one should note that Rajiv Gandhi was living an apolitical life, and was not ready to be in a position of power. She adds, “I don’t think Rajiv Gandhi ordered the killings of Sardars, it was the people who wanted to please the Gandhi family.” Towards the end, Abhinandan refers to Republic TV's Republic Summit that was held on December 18 and 19. He says that with guests like PM Narendra Modi, BJP President Amit Shah and businessman Mukesh Ambani, the summit seemed more like Annual General Meeting for the BJP. Listen up! There’s more. In this week’s podcast, our regular Hafta gang of… In this week’s podcast, our regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekri, Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande and Raman Kirpal are joined by Newslaundry subscriber Anushka Shah who is a researcher with MIT Media Lab. The podcast kicks off with a discussion on the anti-Sikh riots of 1984 after Indira Gandhi’s assassination. The team talks about how even today, media coverage of communal riots has been limited to political whataboutery where journalists only cover how a political party accuses the other. Anushka points out that in the last two years, the 1984 riots has been covered twice as much as 2002 Gujarat riots. They talk about the Delhi High Court’s judgement convicting Congress politician Sajjan Kumar for his role in the riots. Madhu says journalists should focus on writing descriptive accounts of court proceedings instead of limiting reports to the final court judgement. Moving on, Abhinandan mentions how political parties offer farm loan waivers to please their voters. Manisha says loan waivers are only a short-term solution and we need to look at the root causes of farmer distress. Anushka says 25 per cent of all news stories on agriculture are about loan waivers while stories on unemployment and agricultural unproductivity are less than 0.2 per cent. The panellists then discuss the court ruling on the Rafael deal. In the judgement, the court said it has no objection to any part of the deal. Madhu says one needs to recognise that courts are not investigating agencies. Raman replies, “Reliance has never been into aviation (sector) and they get such a huge project of around ₹30,000 crores. I personally feel this was a good enough reason for a probe.” The podcast also touches upon Rajiv Gandhi’s role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Abhinandan says that as a representative of the state apparatus, Rajiv Gandhi deserved to be tried for culpable homicide. Madhu says that one should note that Rajiv Gandhi was living an apolitical life, and was not ready to be in a position of power. She adds, “I don’t think Rajiv Gandhi ordered the killings of Sardars, it was the people who wanted to please the Gandhi family.” Towards the end, Abhinandan refers to Republic TV's Republic Summit that was held on December 18 and 19. He says that with guests like PM Narendra Modi, BJP President Amit Shah and businessman Mukesh Ambani, the summit seemed more like Annual General Meeting for the BJP. Listen up! There’s more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/560861232 Chhota Hafta — Episode 207 Fri, 18 Jan 2019 12:12:13 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-207 00:21:13 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. Host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by the usual gang of Raman Kripal, Anand Vardhan and Manisha Pande, and special guest Amit Varma, writer and columnist, and host of the podcast The Seen and the Unseen. The conversation ranges from the unending CBI saga to the JNU sedition chargesheet to Modi winning the first ever Philip Kotler Award, and more. The rumours of Arun Jaitley’s cancer treatment sparked a discussion on the ethics of reporting a public figure’s illnesses. Amit says, “Private lives are private lives, we should not get too much into them … it is when the taxpayers’ money is involved that I am concerned and want to hold those speakers accountable.” Anand then talks about PM Narendra Modi winning the Philip Kotler Awards, saying no one really knows if it’s an authentic award or not. Manisha recalls the media coverage of the JNU sedition case in the context of the chargesheet being filed this week. The panel also discusses the allegations of sexual assault against director Rajkumar Hirani and the #MeToo movement in general. Listen to the full episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/01/18/hafta-207-modis-philip-kotler-award-the-jnu-sedition-case-and-more NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. Host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by the usual gang of Raman Kripal, Anand Vardhan and Manisha Pande, and special guest Amit Varma, writer and columnist, and host of the podcast The Seen and the Unseen. The conversation ranges from the unending CBI saga to the JNU sedition chargesheet to Modi winning the first ever Philip Kotler Award, and more. The rumours of Arun Jaitley’s cancer treatment sparked a discussion on the ethics of reporting a public figure’s illnesses. Amit says, “Private lives are private lives, we should not get too much into them … it is when the taxpayers’ money is involved that I am concerned and want to hold those speakers accountable.” Anand then talks about PM Narendra Modi winning the Philip Kotler Awards, saying no one really knows if it’s an authentic award or not. Manisha recalls the media coverage of the JNU sedition case in the context of the chargesheet being filed this week. The panel also discusses the allegations of sexual assault against director Rajkumar Hirani and the #MeToo movement in general. Listen to the full episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/01/18/hafta-207-modis-philip-kotler-award-the-jnu-sedition-case-and-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/557354415 Chhota Hafta — Episode 206 Fri, 11 Jan 2019 14:41:03 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-206 00:25:10 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode of NL Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Hafta regulars Anand Vardhan and Manisha Pande, and special guests Arunabh Saikia, staff writer at Scroll, and economics journalist Vivek Kaul. The discussion revolves around the Citizenship Bill, the Reservation Bill, Alok Verma's reinstation and more. Arunabh talks about the Citizenship Bill and its impact on Assamese politics. “Is it even possible that no Indian is left out?” Abhinandan asks. Moving on to the Reservation Bill, Vivek says, “Reservation is useful when the government is creating jobs.” Manisha talks about the laws surrounding private radio news broadcasting and the pro-government bulletins (or lack thereof) on AIR. The panel debates whether the general public is interested in the #CBIvsCBI case, and HS Phoolka's resignation from the Aam Aadmi Party. Listen to the full episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/01/11/chhota-hafta-episode-206 NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode of NL Hafta, host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Hafta regulars Anand Vardhan and Manisha Pande, and special guests Arunabh Saikia, staff writer at Scroll, and economics journalist Vivek Kaul. The discussion revolves around the Citizenship Bill, the Reservation Bill, Alok Verma's reinstation and more. Arunabh talks about the Citizenship Bill and its impact on Assamese politics. “Is it even possible that no Indian is left out?” Abhinandan asks. Moving on to the Reservation Bill, Vivek says, “Reservation is useful when the government is creating jobs.” Manisha talks about the laws surrounding private radio news broadcasting and the pro-government bulletins (or lack thereof) on AIR. The panel debates whether the general public is interested in the #CBIvsCBI case, and HS Phoolka's resignation from the Aam Aadmi Party. Listen to the full episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2019/01/11/chhota-hafta-episode-206 tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/544861326 Hafta 202: #AssemblyResults2018, new RBI chief, the Ambani wedding and more Fri, 04 Jan 2019 14:06:49 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-202 01:15:09 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of NL Hafta 202, the regular Hafta gang of Manisha Pande, Abhinandan Sekhri, and Anand Vardhan is joined by Saurabh Dwivedi, founder-editor of Lallantop. Saurabh, who travelled for a month in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in the run-up to the elections, has some great insights to share. The team discusses the reasons for Congress’ victory in the Hindi heartland and whether it will have any bearing on the 2019 general election. Saurabh explains how PM Modi failed as a communicator in Chhattisgarh and why his speeches didn’t click with the masses. Anand tells us why political analysis as we see in news media is overrated. Abhinandan says the Assembly results were not Rahul Gandhi’s Pappu-pass-ho-gaya moment, but more a failure of the BJP government. The Hafta gang also discusses the resignation of RBI chief Urjit Patel and his successor Shaktikanta Das. Abhinandan says: "...the way everyone is dismissing him on his degree, I disagree with that...I will not diss him on that." Finally, the team discusses the Ambani wedding and what it means to be as rich as Mukesh Ambani. Listen up! In this episode of NL Hafta 202, the regular Haft… In this episode of NL Hafta 202, the regular Hafta gang of Manisha Pande, Abhinandan Sekhri, and Anand Vardhan is joined by Saurabh Dwivedi, founder-editor of Lallantop. Saurabh, who travelled for a month in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in the run-up to the elections, has some great insights to share. The team discusses the reasons for Congress’ victory in the Hindi heartland and whether it will have any bearing on the 2019 general election. Saurabh explains how PM Modi failed as a communicator in Chhattisgarh and why his speeches didn’t click with the masses. Anand tells us why political analysis as we see in news media is overrated. Abhinandan says the Assembly results were not Rahul Gandhi’s Pappu-pass-ho-gaya moment, but more a failure of the BJP government. The Hafta gang also discusses the resignation of RBI chief Urjit Patel and his successor Shaktikanta Das. Abhinandan says: "...the way everyone is dismissing him on his degree, I disagree with that...I will not diss him on that." Finally, the team discusses the Ambani wedding and what it means to be as rich as Mukesh Ambani. Listen up! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/553974324 Hafta 205: PM Modi's interview to ANI, Sabarimala row, Rafale deal and more Fri, 04 Jan 2019 14:05:24 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-205 01:32:48 Newslaundry.com no Welcome to the first episode of NL Hafta in 2019! Host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by the regular gang of Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal and Anand Vardhan, and special guest Dushyant Arora, lawyer and chief editor of News Central 24x7. The conversation starts with Abhinandan asking the panellists their views on ANI editor Smita Prakash’s interview with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The interview's earned a fair share of commentary and dissent, primarily against the journalist for being too soft on the PM. Anand takes the lead on the issue, saying he does not find it objectionable if a member of the media is respectful to a man in Modi's position. “That is the dignity the office carries, not the individual,” he says. But is it really respect or is it diffidence? Dushyant says, “The dignity of the office … is enhanced with greater questioning.” The panel then discusses the 28 counts of criminal defamation filed by Anil Ambani against various news organisations. Dushyant weighs in with a legal perspective, describing how the provisions of the NSA stack the odds against the accused, and how defamation has historically been used as a tool to "intimidate and silence" journalists. The conversation shifts to the 620-kilometre human wall formed by women in Kerela. Abhinandan notes that the effort was backed by the state to support the feminist struggle regarding entry of women of menstrual age into Sabarimala temple. Manisha candidly says the act, while commendable, didn’t really move her. She says this is not where “the heart of the feminist battle lies”. Dushyant adds that the act of conducting a shudhikaran after two women managed to enter the temple is unconstitutional. Moving on to the BJP-Congress faceoff about making a rendition of Vande Mataram, Abhinandan says, “For any society to progress, there has to be an active opposition of defiance for such things.” The panel unanimously spoke against this, as well as the mandate that requires movie theatres to play the national anthem and viewers to stand in a perfunctory display of patriotism. Another issue that sparked impassioned discussion from the panel was the leaked Rafale audio clip. They raised questions and expressed curiosity about the identity of the elusive “Mr X”—the journalist heard in conversation with Goa minister Vishwajit Rane. Abhinandan points out this oversight in the reportage of the issue on primetime news channels. Tune in to NL Hafta to find out more! Welcome to the first episode of NL Hafta in 2019… Welcome to the first episode of NL Hafta in 2019! Host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by the regular gang of Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal and Anand Vardhan, and special guest Dushyant Arora, lawyer and chief editor of News Central 24x7. The conversation starts with Abhinandan asking the panellists their views on ANI editor Smita Prakash’s interview with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The interview's earned a fair share of commentary and dissent, primarily against the journalist for being too soft on the PM. Anand takes the lead on the issue, saying he does not find it objectionable if a member of the media is respectful to a man in Modi's position. “That is the dignity the office carries, not the individual,” he says. But is it really respect or is it diffidence? Dushyant says, “The dignity of the office … is enhanced with greater questioning.” The panel then discusses the 28 counts of criminal defamation filed by Anil Ambani against various news organisations. Dushyant weighs in with a legal perspective, describing how the provisions of the NSA stack the odds against the accused, and how defamation has historically been used as a tool to "intimidate and silence" journalists. The conversation shifts to the 620-kilometre human wall formed by women in Kerela. Abhinandan notes that the effort was backed by the state to support the feminist struggle regarding entry of women of menstrual age into Sabarimala temple. Manisha candidly says the act, while commendable, didn’t really move her. She says this is not where “the heart of the feminist battle lies”. Dushyant adds that the act of conducting a shudhikaran after two women managed to enter the temple is unconstitutional. Moving on to the BJP-Congress faceoff about making a rendition of Vande Mataram, Abhinandan says, “For any society to progress, there has to be an active opposition of defiance for such things.” The panel unanimously spoke against this, as well as the mandate that requires movie theatres to play the national anthem and viewers to stand in a perfunctory display of patriotism. Another issue that sparked impassioned discussion from the panel was the leaked Rafale audio clip. They raised questions and expressed curiosity about the identity of the elusive “Mr X”—the journalist heard in conversation with Goa minister Vishwajit Rane. Abhinandan points out this oversight in the reportage of the issue on primetime news channels. Tune in to NL Hafta to find out more! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/550997958 Chhota Hafta—Episode 204 Fri, 28 Dec 2018 16:16:07 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-204 00:21:13 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s episode, South Asia editor of Asia Times, Saikat Datta joins the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan to discuss the home ministry authorising 10 central agencies to intercept information on computers, the misinformation surrounding it. The discussion kicks off with Saikat explaining the home ministry order and his experience of examining the surveillance structure and the safeguards that are there. Is it possible to run an operation at such a huge level? The discussion then moves to the miners trapped inside a coalmine in Meghalaya and why it took so long for this to make it to the national news, the rescue operation and the politics around it. Saikat compares the situation of Meghalaya with the movie Kaala Patthar. The panel then moves on to discuss Mamta Banerjee not allowing BJP to carry out Rath Yatras in West Bengal. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s episode, South Asia editor of Asia Times, Saikat Datta joins the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan to discuss the home ministry authorising 10 central agencies to intercept information on computers, the misinformation surrounding it. The discussion kicks off with Saikat explaining the home ministry order and his experience of examining the surveillance structure and the safeguards that are there. Is it possible to run an operation at such a huge level? The discussion then moves to the miners trapped inside a coalmine in Meghalaya and why it took so long for this to make it to the national news, the rescue operation and the politics around it. Saikat compares the situation of Meghalaya with the movie Kaala Patthar. The panel then moves on to discuss Mamta Banerjee not allowing BJP to carry out Rath Yatras in West Bengal. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/541139664 Hafta 201: State elections, Shaurya Diwas, the Bulandshahr violence and more Fri, 28 Dec 2018 16:12:43 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-201 01:19:27 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Meghnad, Raman Kirpal, and Manisha Pande. The panel also features Newslaundry reporters Amit Bhardwaj and Prateek Goyal who are covering the elections from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh respectively. Amit gives us insight into the election rallies in Rajasthan that are being dominated by PM Narendra Modi and Yogi Adityanath instead of Vasundhara Raje. He says yes when Abhinandan asks whether a reporter gets new insight when on the ground. He adds that people would assume that the fight in the state is between the BJP and the Congress but in as many as 20 seats, the BSP dominates the other two parties. Prateek shares his experience from Madhya Pradesh. He says the people in the state would vote for the BJP despite their dissatisfaction with the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government. Moving on, the panel discusses the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition, which Right-wing groups popularly call "Shaurya Diwas". Abhinandan says that unlike countries like Germany, people fail to acknowledge the immorality of the violence that followed the events of December 6, 26 years ago. He adds that as a society, we are a couple of decades behind. Raman talks about his reporting experience during the demolition. He says, “They pulled down this decades-old structure despite Advani making a feeble attempt there, leading, trying to stop them from bringing down the structure. Whereas other leaders were happy about it. And it was an illegal act. And some people got injured and this led to riots. So how can you celebrate it?” The panel also discusses the violence in Bulandshahr where a policeman was allegedly killed by cow vigilantes. They discussed how the media covered the event, especially TV channels during primetime. Pointing out the absurdity in the investigation, Meghnad says, “The weird part of all of this is going into the specifics of which meat was it, was it on the transformer or whether it was in the fridge. But in this whole scenario, a very vital element of this is lost: that a person lost their life for a stupid reason.” Manisha remarks that all this is because of bad investigation and bad reporting. Listen up! There's more. In this week’s NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri is joi… In this week’s NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Meghnad, Raman Kirpal, and Manisha Pande. The panel also features Newslaundry reporters Amit Bhardwaj and Prateek Goyal who are covering the elections from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh respectively. Amit gives us insight into the election rallies in Rajasthan that are being dominated by PM Narendra Modi and Yogi Adityanath instead of Vasundhara Raje. He says yes when Abhinandan asks whether a reporter gets new insight when on the ground. He adds that people would assume that the fight in the state is between the BJP and the Congress but in as many as 20 seats, the BSP dominates the other two parties. Prateek shares his experience from Madhya Pradesh. He says the people in the state would vote for the BJP despite their dissatisfaction with the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government. Moving on, the panel discusses the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition, which Right-wing groups popularly call "Shaurya Diwas". Abhinandan says that unlike countries like Germany, people fail to acknowledge the immorality of the violence that followed the events of December 6, 26 years ago. He adds that as a society, we are a couple of decades behind. Raman talks about his reporting experience during the demolition. He says, “They pulled down this decades-old structure despite Advani making a feeble attempt there, leading, trying to stop them from bringing down the structure. Whereas other leaders were happy about it. And it was an illegal act. And some people got injured and this led to riots. So how can you celebrate it?” The panel also discusses the violence in Bulandshahr where a policeman was allegedly killed by cow vigilantes. They discussed how the media covered the event, especially TV channels during primetime. Pointing out the absurdity in the investigation, Meghnad says, “The weird part of all of this is going into the specifics of which meat was it, was it on the transformer or whether it was in the fridge. But in this whole scenario, a very vital element of this is lost: that a person lost their life for a stupid reason.” Manisha remarks that all this is because of bad investigation and bad reporting. Listen up! There's more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/548191005 Chhota Hafta—Episode 203 Fri, 21 Dec 2018 12:40:59 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-203 00:23:11 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s podcast, our regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande and Raman Kirpal are joined by Newslaundry subscriber Anushka Shah who is a researcher with MIT Media Lab. The podcast kicks off with a discussion on the anti-Sikh riots of 1984 after Indira Gandhi’s assassination. The team talks about how even today, media coverage of communal riots has been limited to political whataboutery where journalists only cover how a political party accuses the other. They talk about the Delhi High Court’s judgement convicting Congress politician Sajjan Kumar for his role in the riots. Talking about political parties offering farm loan waivers to please voters, Manisha says loan waivers are only a short-term solution and we need to look at the root causes of farmer distress. The panel also discusses the recent court ruling on the Rafale deal and Rajiv Gandhi's role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Listen to the full episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2018/12/21/hafta-203-sajjan-kumar-1984-anti-sikh-riots-farm-loan-waivers-rafael-deal-and-more NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s podcast, our regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande and Raman Kirpal are joined by Newslaundry subscriber Anushka Shah who is a researcher with MIT Media Lab. The podcast kicks off with a discussion on the anti-Sikh riots of 1984 after Indira Gandhi’s assassination. The team talks about how even today, media coverage of communal riots has been limited to political whataboutery where journalists only cover how a political party accuses the other. They talk about the Delhi High Court’s judgement convicting Congress politician Sajjan Kumar for his role in the riots. Talking about political parties offering farm loan waivers to please voters, Manisha says loan waivers are only a short-term solution and we need to look at the root causes of farmer distress. The panel also discusses the recent court ruling on the Rafale deal and Rajiv Gandhi's role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. Listen to the full episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2018/12/21/hafta-203-sajjan-kumar-1984-anti-sikh-riots-farm-loan-waivers-rafael-deal-and-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/537916053 Hafta 200: Kisan Rally, Gotra Politics, Kartarpur Corridor and more Fri, 21 Dec 2018 12:39:14 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-200 02:04:40 Newslaundry.com no Celebrating the 200th episode of Hafta, we recorded the episode live in the presence of our subscribers, at Anti Social in Delhi's Hauz Khas. For this special episode, journalist and writer Manu Joseph joins our regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande, and Anand Vardhan. Kicking off the event, Abhinandan talks about the history of NL Hafta and how it has evolved over time. The podcast then moves on to discuss all the news that happened this week, from the Kisan rally in Delhi to the debate over Rahul Gandhi’s gotra, and much more. The Hafta gang begins by discussing which news model is better, one that is advertisement-driven or one that is driven purely by subscribers. The panel deliberates on the pros and cons of both these models. Talking about the problems faced by the advertising model, Manu says: “Advertising is not a flawed model, the human being in itself is a flawed model.” Madhu goes on to say that the subscription model is a huge challenge primarily because the audience only wants to consume information that they agree with. Moving on, the panel discusses the recent debate around Rahul Gandhi's gotra and how relevant is it in today’s politics. Manu talks about the strong bond between one’s caste and one’s identity. Quoting P. Sainath, he says: “If you don’t know your caste you are probably upper caste.” Manu and the Hafta gang also talk about novels being made into TV series and movies, and to what extent does this transition do justice to its original form. To this, Anand Vardhan points out that novels are unique in their ability to depict the thoughts of its characters, and this is where the visual medium fails. Manu, on the other hand, feels that novels fail on their part to show life realistically. While taking questions from our subscribers, the panel answers some interesting ones on the economics of the Right-wing governments, weak and strong leaders and much more. On the question of citizen journalism, Manisha says that user-generated content is not favourable since news requires “a certain professional experience”. Towards the end, the panel talks about the recent development in Indo-Pak relations after the recent inaugural for construction of Kartarpur corridor and the outpour of different political reactions. Manu, Abhinandan and Madhu share their conflicting experiences in Pakistan. The panel also shares their opinion on resolving Indo-Pak conflict. Tune in to listen to all this and more. Celebrating the 200th episode of Hafta, we record… Celebrating the 200th episode of Hafta, we recorded the episode live in the presence of our subscribers, at Anti Social in Delhi's Hauz Khas. For this special episode, journalist and writer Manu Joseph joins our regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande, and Anand Vardhan. Kicking off the event, Abhinandan talks about the history of NL Hafta and how it has evolved over time. The podcast then moves on to discuss all the news that happened this week, from the Kisan rally in Delhi to the debate over Rahul Gandhi’s gotra, and much more. The Hafta gang begins by discussing which news model is better, one that is advertisement-driven or one that is driven purely by subscribers. The panel deliberates on the pros and cons of both these models. Talking about the problems faced by the advertising model, Manu says: “Advertising is not a flawed model, the human being in itself is a flawed model.” Madhu goes on to say that the subscription model is a huge challenge primarily because the audience only wants to consume information that they agree with. Moving on, the panel discusses the recent debate around Rahul Gandhi's gotra and how relevant is it in today’s politics. Manu talks about the strong bond between one’s caste and one’s identity. Quoting P. Sainath, he says: “If you don’t know your caste you are probably upper caste.” Manu and the Hafta gang also talk about novels being made into TV series and movies, and to what extent does this transition do justice to its original form. To this, Anand Vardhan points out that novels are unique in their ability to depict the thoughts of its characters, and this is where the visual medium fails. Manu, on the other hand, feels that novels fail on their part to show life realistically. While taking questions from our subscribers, the panel answers some interesting ones on the economics of the Right-wing governments, weak and strong leaders and much more. On the question of citizen journalism, Manisha says that user-generated content is not favourable since news requires “a certain professional experience”. Towards the end, the panel talks about the recent development in Indo-Pak relations after the recent inaugural for construction of Kartarpur corridor and the outpour of different political reactions. Manu, Abhinandan and Madhu share their conflicting experiences in Pakistan. The panel also shares their opinion on resolving Indo-Pak conflict. Tune in to listen to all this and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/534403929 Hafta 199: CBI leak, #SmashBrahminicalPatriarchy, John Allen Chau & more Fri, 14 Dec 2018 13:58:24 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-199 01:26:29 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of Hafta, we have Shipra Garg, our subscriber from the United States, and Meghnad joining our in-house panel of Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, and Raman Kirpal to discuss news that made headlines this week. Abhinandan begins the podcast by discussing the recent CBI 'leak'. The panel discusses the role of media in covering a crisis that involves the country’s central investigation agency. They also touch upon CJI Ranjan Gogoi’s statement: “You don’t deserve a hearing.” The panel then talks about the outrage against Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, after a picture of him holding a poster reading ‘Smash Brahminical Patriarchy’ was circulated. Manisha discusses television debates and hashtags like #BoycottTwitter that followed. Shipra adds how this news has also erupted in the US where channels are reporting that “Hindus in India are angry with Jack Dorsey”. Moving on, the panel talks about the death of American citizen John Allen Chau, who was killed by Sentinelese tribe in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Meghnad says “[It’s the] arrogance of the civilised man that is at play [when they say] that our way of living is the best and others who are not doing it like that are somehow doing it wrong.” Abhinandan disagrees, he argues that since some customs of these aboriginal tribes are primitive it’s desirable that they should be integrated into modern society. Hear the panel discuss the dissolution of Jammu & Kashmir Assembly where decisions were made on Twitter rather than Assembly floor. Raman sums up the situation saying, “It is only in this government that the fax machine stops working, or the ink is changed or the EVM machines don’t function properly.” Listen to all this and more! In this episode of Hafta, we have Shipra Garg, ou… In this episode of Hafta, we have Shipra Garg, our subscriber from the United States, and Meghnad joining our in-house panel of Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, and Raman Kirpal to discuss news that made headlines this week. Abhinandan begins the podcast by discussing the recent CBI 'leak'. The panel discusses the role of media in covering a crisis that involves the country’s central investigation agency. They also touch upon CJI Ranjan Gogoi’s statement: “You don’t deserve a hearing.” The panel then talks about the outrage against Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, after a picture of him holding a poster reading ‘Smash Brahminical Patriarchy’ was circulated. Manisha discusses television debates and hashtags like #BoycottTwitter that followed. Shipra adds how this news has also erupted in the US where channels are reporting that “Hindus in India are angry with Jack Dorsey”. Moving on, the panel talks about the death of American citizen John Allen Chau, who was killed by Sentinelese tribe in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Meghnad says “[It’s the] arrogance of the civilised man that is at play [when they say] that our way of living is the best and others who are not doing it like that are somehow doing it wrong.” Abhinandan disagrees, he argues that since some customs of these aboriginal tribes are primitive it’s desirable that they should be integrated into modern society. Hear the panel discuss the dissolution of Jammu & Kashmir Assembly where decisions were made on Twitter rather than Assembly floor. Raman sums up the situation saying, “It is only in this government that the fax machine stops working, or the ink is changed or the EVM machines don’t function properly.” Listen to all this and more! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/544864977 Chota Hafta — Episode 202 Fri, 14 Dec 2018 13:55:47 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-202 00:25:29 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode of NL Hafta 202, the regular Hafta gang of Manisha Pande, Abhinandan Sekhri, and Anand Vardhan is joined by Saurabh Dwivedi, founder-editor of Lallantop. Saurabh, who travelled for a month in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in the run-up to the elections, has some great insights to share. The team discusses the reasons for Congress’ victory in the Hindi heartland and whether it will have any bearing on the 2019 general election. Saurabh explains how PM Modi failed as a communicator in Chhattisgarh and why his speeches didn’t click with the masses. Anand tells us why political analysis as we see in news media is overrated. Abhinandan says the Assembly results were not Rahul Gandhi’s Pappu-pass-ho-gaya moment, but more a failure of the BJP government. The Hafta gang also discusses the resignation of RBI chief Urjit Patel and his successor Shaktikanta Das. Abhinandan says: "...the way everyone is dismissing him on his degree, I disagree with that...I will not diss him on that." Finally, the team discusses the Ambani wedding. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode of NL Hafta 202, the regular Hafta gang of Manisha Pande, Abhinandan Sekhri, and Anand Vardhan is joined by Saurabh Dwivedi, founder-editor of Lallantop. Saurabh, who travelled for a month in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan in the run-up to the elections, has some great insights to share. The team discusses the reasons for Congress’ victory in the Hindi heartland and whether it will have any bearing on the 2019 general election. Saurabh explains how PM Modi failed as a communicator in Chhattisgarh and why his speeches didn’t click with the masses. Anand tells us why political analysis as we see in news media is overrated. Abhinandan says the Assembly results were not Rahul Gandhi’s Pappu-pass-ho-gaya moment, but more a failure of the BJP government. The Hafta gang also discusses the resignation of RBI chief Urjit Patel and his successor Shaktikanta Das. Abhinandan says: "...the way everyone is dismissing him on his degree, I disagree with that...I will not diss him on that." Finally, the team discusses the Ambani wedding. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/541147074 Chhota Hafta — Episode 201 Fri, 07 Dec 2018 14:46:54 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-201 00:25:57 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. This week, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Meghnad, Raman Kirpal, and Manisha Pande. The panel also features Newslaundry reporters Amit Bhardwaj and Prateek Goyal who are covering the elections from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh respectively. Amit gives us insight into the election rallies in Rajasthan that are being dominated by PM Narendra Modi and Yogi Adityanath instead of Vasundhara Raje. Prateek shares his experience from Madhya Pradesh, saying people in the state would vote for the BJP despite their dissatisfaction with the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government. The panel discusses the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition and the recent violence in Bulandshahr which led to a policeman being killed. They also looked at how the media, especially television channels, covered the incident. Listen to the full episode here. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. This week, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Meghnad, Raman Kirpal, and Manisha Pande. The panel also features Newslaundry reporters Amit Bhardwaj and Prateek Goyal who are covering the elections from Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh respectively. Amit gives us insight into the election rallies in Rajasthan that are being dominated by PM Narendra Modi and Yogi Adityanath instead of Vasundhara Raje. Prateek shares his experience from Madhya Pradesh, saying people in the state would vote for the BJP despite their dissatisfaction with the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led government. The panel discusses the anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition and the recent violence in Bulandshahr which led to a policeman being killed. They also looked at how the media, especially television channels, covered the incident. Listen to the full episode here. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/530820267 Hafta 198: #MeTooIndia, CNN vs The White House and more Fri, 07 Dec 2018 14:39:00 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-198 01:01:32 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s episode, Supreme Court lawyer Mihira Sood joins our in-house panel of Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, and Manisha Pande. The gang goes on to discuss topics like sexual harassment laws in India, the cancellation of singer TM Krishna’s concert in Delhi, and CNN’s lawsuit against the Trump administration. Giving us an overview of the shortcomings of sexual harassment laws in India, Mihira, who is currently researching the feminist movement, gives us some insight. The panel goes on to dig into the ever-increasing trend of “performative feminism” wherein media houses carry stories without any proper journalistic inquiry. Raman calls such stories “the easiest stories to report”. Talking more about the propagandist tendencies of media, Madhu mentions why the current government deserves to get the “Best Media Management” award. The panel further talks about the NDA-friendly media as well as the UPA-friendly media. Moving on, this week’s Hafta crew discusses the recent cancellation of Carnatic singer TM Krishna’s concert in the capital which was being organised by AAI and SPIC MACAY. They also talk about the controversy unfolding in the United States wherein CNN filed a suit against the Trump administration when the organisation’s journalist Jim Acosta was discredited from accessing the White House. Tune into all this and much more! In this week’s episode, Supreme Court lawyer Mihi… In this week’s episode, Supreme Court lawyer Mihira Sood joins our in-house panel of Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, and Manisha Pande. The gang goes on to discuss topics like sexual harassment laws in India, the cancellation of singer TM Krishna’s concert in Delhi, and CNN’s lawsuit against the Trump administration. Giving us an overview of the shortcomings of sexual harassment laws in India, Mihira, who is currently researching the feminist movement, gives us some insight. The panel goes on to dig into the ever-increasing trend of “performative feminism” wherein media houses carry stories without any proper journalistic inquiry. Raman calls such stories “the easiest stories to report”. Talking more about the propagandist tendencies of media, Madhu mentions why the current government deserves to get the “Best Media Management” award. The panel further talks about the NDA-friendly media as well as the UPA-friendly media. Moving on, this week’s Hafta crew discusses the recent cancellation of Carnatic singer TM Krishna’s concert in the capital which was being organised by AAI and SPIC MACAY. They also talk about the controversy unfolding in the United States wherein CNN filed a suit against the Trump administration when the organisation’s journalist Jim Acosta was discredited from accessing the White House. Tune into all this and much more! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/527180013 Hafta 197: Air pollution, Trump’s press conference, the killing of Avni, and more Mon, 03 Dec 2018 05:44:10 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-197 01:21:42 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta is back with a bang with our in-house panel comprising Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan and Madhu Trehan. The panel discusses a variety of topics ranging from air pollution and firecrackers in Delhi to Sabarimala protests in Kerala, Trump’s press conference in the White House to Arnab Goswami being appointed a member of the Nehru Memorial Museum & Library in Lutyens’ Delhi. The discussion starts off with Madhu weighing in on the Supreme Court verdict allowing entry to Sabarimala for women of all ages. She questions the ruling BJP for not supporting the verdict of the Supreme Court. The Hafta gang then discusses the various angles of the firecracker ban in India in relation to the air pollution which has been hitting the saturation point, and how the people of Delhi flouted the Supreme Court order on the eve of Diwali, helping Delhi’s AQI levels go through the roof. The discussion then moves on to US President Donald Trump’s chaotic post-midterms press conference which took up plenty of space on social media, and how in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hasn’t done even a single press conference since he took office. The conversation then proceeds to the installation of the Museum on Prime Ministers of India, and the gang discusses the validity of such an institution in India. They talk about the killing of Avni, the "man-eater" tigress from Yavatmal district in Maharashtra. The panel brings in contrasting views about the concept of "human versus animal" in connection with the issue. The discussion also steers its way to the recent developments in the Ram Temple issue in Ayodhya. This and more in the latest episode of NL Hafta! NL Hafta is back with a bang with our in-house pa… NL Hafta is back with a bang with our in-house panel comprising Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan and Madhu Trehan. The panel discusses a variety of topics ranging from air pollution and firecrackers in Delhi to Sabarimala protests in Kerala, Trump’s press conference in the White House to Arnab Goswami being appointed a member of the Nehru Memorial Museum & Library in Lutyens’ Delhi. The discussion starts off with Madhu weighing in on the Supreme Court verdict allowing entry to Sabarimala for women of all ages. She questions the ruling BJP for not supporting the verdict of the Supreme Court. The Hafta gang then discusses the various angles of the firecracker ban in India in relation to the air pollution which has been hitting the saturation point, and how the people of Delhi flouted the Supreme Court order on the eve of Diwali, helping Delhi’s AQI levels go through the roof. The discussion then moves on to US President Donald Trump’s chaotic post-midterms press conference which took up plenty of space on social media, and how in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hasn’t done even a single press conference since he took office. The conversation then proceeds to the installation of the Museum on Prime Ministers of India, and the gang discusses the validity of such an institution in India. They talk about the killing of Avni, the "man-eater" tigress from Yavatmal district in Maharashtra. The panel brings in contrasting views about the concept of "human versus animal" in connection with the issue. The discussion also steers its way to the recent developments in the Ram Temple issue in Ayodhya. This and more in the latest episode of NL Hafta! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/537920775 Chhota Hafta — Episode 200 Sat, 01 Dec 2018 10:22:12 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-200 00:33:24 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but since we love our listeners, here's a little sneak peek into the latest episode. This week, we commemorated the 200th episode of Hafta, which we recorded live in the presence of our subscribers at Anti Social in Delhi's Hauz Khas. On this special occasion, the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan was joined by journalist and writer Manu Joseph. Abhinandan kicked off the event by talking about the history of NL Hafta and how it has evolved over time. The panel then moves on to discuss all the things that made news this week, from the Kisan Rally in Delhi to the debate over Rahul Gandhi's gotra. Listen to the full episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2018/12/01/nl-hafta-kisan-rally-gotra-politics-kartarpur-corridor NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but since w… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but since we love our listeners, here's a little sneak peek into the latest episode. This week, we commemorated the 200th episode of Hafta, which we recorded live in the presence of our subscribers at Anti Social in Delhi's Hauz Khas. On this special occasion, the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan was joined by journalist and writer Manu Joseph. Abhinandan kicked off the event by talking about the history of NL Hafta and how it has evolved over time. The panel then moves on to discuss all the things that made news this week, from the Kisan Rally in Delhi to the debate over Rahul Gandhi's gotra. Listen to the full episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2018/12/01/nl-hafta-kisan-rally-gotra-politics-kartarpur-corridor tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/534406803 Chhota Hafta — Episode 199 Fri, 23 Nov 2018 17:06:30 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chota-hafta-episode-199 00:20:46 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode of Hafta, we have Shipra Garg, our subscriber from the United States, and Meghnad joining our in-house panel of Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, and Raman Kirpal to discuss news that made headlines this week. Abhinandan begins the podcast by discussing the recent CBI 'leak'. The panel discusses the role of media in covering a crisis that involves the country’s central investigation agency. They also touch upon CJI Ranjan Gogoi’s statement: “You don’t deserve a hearing.” The panel then talks about the outrage against Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and the death of American citizen John Allen Chau. Listen to the full episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2018/11/23/hafta-199-cbi-leak-smash-brahminical-patriarchy-john-allen-chau NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode of Hafta, we have Shipra Garg, our subscriber from the United States, and Meghnad joining our in-house panel of Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, and Raman Kirpal to discuss news that made headlines this week. Abhinandan begins the podcast by discussing the recent CBI 'leak'. The panel discusses the role of media in covering a crisis that involves the country’s central investigation agency. They also touch upon CJI Ranjan Gogoi’s statement: “You don’t deserve a hearing.” The panel then talks about the outrage against Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and the death of American citizen John Allen Chau. Listen to the full episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2018/11/23/hafta-199-cbi-leak-smash-brahminical-patriarchy-john-allen-chau tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/530807616 Chhota Hafta - Episode 198 Fri, 16 Nov 2018 13:49:57 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-198 00:18:31 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s Hafta episode, Supreme Court lawyer Mihira Sood joins our in-house panel of Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, and Manisha Pande. The gang goes on to discuss topics like sexual harassment laws in India, cancellation of singer T.M. Krishna’s concert in Delhi, and the controversy unfolding in the United States wherein CNN filed a suit against the Trump administration when the organisation’s Journalist Jim Acosta was discredited from accessing The White House. Listen to the full episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2018/11/16/metooindia-cnn-white-house-trump-tm-krishna NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this week’s Hafta episode, Supreme Court lawyer Mihira Sood joins our in-house panel of Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, and Manisha Pande. The gang goes on to discuss topics like sexual harassment laws in India, cancellation of singer T.M. Krishna’s concert in Delhi, and the controversy unfolding in the United States wherein CNN filed a suit against the Trump administration when the organisation’s Journalist Jim Acosta was discredited from accessing The White House. Listen to the full episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2018/11/16/metooindia-cnn-white-house-trump-tm-krishna tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/527176104 Chhota Hafta - Episode 197 Fri, 09 Nov 2018 15:16:53 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-197 00:24:21 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. This week features our in-house panel comprising Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan and Madhu Trehan. A lot happened in the past week: from air pollution and firecrackers in Delhi to Sabarimala protests in Kerala, Trump’s press conference in the White House to Arnab Goswami being appointed a member of the Nehru Memorial Museum in Lutyens’ Delhi. The panel also discusses the killing of Avni the tigress (which has left her two cubs orphaned), the Ram Mandir issue and a lot more. Listen to the full episode here: NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. This week features our in-house panel comprising Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan and Madhu Trehan. A lot happened in the past week: from air pollution and firecrackers in Delhi to Sabarimala protests in Kerala, Trump’s press conference in the White House to Arnab Goswami being appointed a member of the Nehru Memorial Museum in Lutyens’ Delhi. The panel also discusses the killing of Avni the tigress (which has left her two cubs orphaned), the Ram Mandir issue and a lot more. Listen to the full episode here: tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/523743060 Hafta 196: Dantewada attack, air pollution, the Statue of Unity and more Fri, 02 Nov 2018 14:54:52 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-196 01:35:10 Newslaundry.com no In this week's NL Hafta, we're joined by former NDTV editor Hridayesh Joshi along with the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan and Madhu Trehan. This week we discuss air pollution, the death of Doordarshan News cameraperson Achyuta Nanda Sahu who was killed in a Naxal attack, the new Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel statue, and a little more on publishing houses. An expert on subjects like climate change, Naxalism and politics, Hridayesh Joshi gives us interesting insight in this episode. Starting with air pollution, Joshi talks about various development schemes of the government like the Char Dham Yatra project, which led to the indiscriminate cutting of trees in Uttarakhand. Various nuances of climate change are touched upon. Joshi also tells us how the death of the Doordarshan News journalist was avoidable and how reporting from a Naxal zone has to be done while following certain cardinal rules. Hear Madhu Trehan speak on a not very decent tweet by Divya Spandana. She also tells us why "Sharam sabki utari hui hai' when it comes to politics and politicians. The panel also talks about Twitter obsessions and its hazardous effects. Will the coming elections be the dirtiest and the cheapest one we've seen yet? Have we normalised Gaali-Galoch in politics? This and more in the latest episode of NL Hafta! In this week's NL Hafta, we're joined by former N… In this week's NL Hafta, we're joined by former NDTV editor Hridayesh Joshi along with the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan and Madhu Trehan. This week we discuss air pollution, the death of Doordarshan News cameraperson Achyuta Nanda Sahu who was killed in a Naxal attack, the new Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel statue, and a little more on publishing houses. An expert on subjects like climate change, Naxalism and politics, Hridayesh Joshi gives us interesting insight in this episode. Starting with air pollution, Joshi talks about various development schemes of the government like the Char Dham Yatra project, which led to the indiscriminate cutting of trees in Uttarakhand. Various nuances of climate change are touched upon. Joshi also tells us how the death of the Doordarshan News journalist was avoidable and how reporting from a Naxal zone has to be done while following certain cardinal rules. Hear Madhu Trehan speak on a not very decent tweet by Divya Spandana. She also tells us why "Sharam sabki utari hui hai' when it comes to politics and politicians. The panel also talks about Twitter obsessions and its hazardous effects. Will the coming elections be the dirtiest and the cheapest one we've seen yet? Have we normalised Gaali-Galoch in politics? This and more in the latest episode of NL Hafta! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/520185045 Hafta 195: CBI vs CBI, Anil Ambani, Smriti Irani and more Fri, 26 Oct 2018 12:48:37 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-195 01:46:03 Newslaundry.com no It's been an exciting week in news, and we have an exciting panel in this episode of NL Hafta! We're joined by NDTV’s political editor and anchor of Reality Check, Sunetra Choudhary, with the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande and also Madhu Trehan, our editor-in-chief. The episode kicks off with the CBI versus CBI drama. Sunetra has been covering the CBI for a long time and gives us some insight into this case. We find out why this case is important and how it’s got all the ingredients that make up a good news story. Sunetra also tells us about talented BJP spokespersons who make appearances on NDTV. The panel then moves on to discuss Smriti Irani’s bizarre comment based on a piece of fake news. Madhu tells us how the Sabarimala issue has gotten out of hand and why no political party wants to irk the Ayyappa devotees in exchange for votes. This Hafta episode also continues the discussion on #MeToo and talks about Tavleen Singh and Seema Mustafa’s take on the issue. Is there no space for nuance in this movement? From Kashoggi’s gruesome murder to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s fake outrage and the West’s reaction to the case—Abhinandan shares his thoughts. In the context of Anil Ambani suing NDTV for ₹10,000 crore, Madhu is reminded of a Netflix documentary, Nobody Speak. The team also discusses Abhijit Iyer-Mitra’s recent arrest for his comments, and the irony of the entire episode. Finally, the Hafta gang discusses the dilemma of separating art from artist considering the recent developments in the wake of the #MeToo movement. Should we stop watching Woody Allen movies after he has been called out? Tune in to find out! It's been an exciting week in news, and we have a… It's been an exciting week in news, and we have an exciting panel in this episode of NL Hafta! We're joined by NDTV’s political editor and anchor of Reality Check, Sunetra Choudhary, with the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande and also Madhu Trehan, our editor-in-chief. The episode kicks off with the CBI versus CBI drama. Sunetra has been covering the CBI for a long time and gives us some insight into this case. We find out why this case is important and how it’s got all the ingredients that make up a good news story. Sunetra also tells us about talented BJP spokespersons who make appearances on NDTV. The panel then moves on to discuss Smriti Irani’s bizarre comment based on a piece of fake news. Madhu tells us how the Sabarimala issue has gotten out of hand and why no political party wants to irk the Ayyappa devotees in exchange for votes. This Hafta episode also continues the discussion on #MeToo and talks about Tavleen Singh and Seema Mustafa’s take on the issue. Is there no space for nuance in this movement? From Kashoggi’s gruesome murder to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s fake outrage and the West’s reaction to the case—Abhinandan shares his thoughts. In the context of Anil Ambani suing NDTV for ₹10,000 crore, Madhu is reminded of a Netflix documentary, Nobody Speak. The team also discusses Abhijit Iyer-Mitra’s recent arrest for his comments, and the irony of the entire episode. Finally, the Hafta gang discusses the dilemma of separating art from artist considering the recent developments in the wake of the #MeToo movement. Should we stop watching Woody Allen movies after he has been called out? Tune in to find out! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/516576288 Hafta 194: #MeToo, Sabarimala, Prayagraj and more Fri, 19 Oct 2018 11:05:02 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-epiosde-194 01:22:02 Newslaundry.com no On this week’s episode, along with the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan and Raman Kirpal, we’re joined by Sayani Dasgupta from New York who has been a Newslaundry subscriber for the past two years. The panel kicks off by discussing MJ Akbar’s resignation and his defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani. Sayani tells us how #MeToo has not reached industries which are not media-driven. Anand and Manisha believe there could be a backlash to this movement once the euphoria settles down. But on the positive side, it’s started a conversation and has brought men to behave. On Sabarimala, Raman tells us how the state government of Kerala has failed to maintain the law and order situation and has instead allowed a clear violation of the Supreme Court order. The panel also discusses female reporters being attacked and how it might affect the future of female reporters being sent to conflict zones. Moving on, the Hafta gang discusses whether it’s really a big deal to rename Allahabad to Prayagraj. Anand tells us the history of renaming cities and how it’s a part of appeasement politics. The team also talks about the recent drama at Hyatt Regency in Delhi. Raman and Anand tell us more on the normalised VIP culture and muscle show in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Listen up! There’s more. On this week’s episode, along with the regular Ha… On this week’s episode, along with the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan and Raman Kirpal, we’re joined by Sayani Dasgupta from New York who has been a Newslaundry subscriber for the past two years. The panel kicks off by discussing MJ Akbar’s resignation and his defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani. Sayani tells us how #MeToo has not reached industries which are not media-driven. Anand and Manisha believe there could be a backlash to this movement once the euphoria settles down. But on the positive side, it’s started a conversation and has brought men to behave. On Sabarimala, Raman tells us how the state government of Kerala has failed to maintain the law and order situation and has instead allowed a clear violation of the Supreme Court order. The panel also discusses female reporters being attacked and how it might affect the future of female reporters being sent to conflict zones. Moving on, the Hafta gang discusses whether it’s really a big deal to rename Allahabad to Prayagraj. Anand tells us the history of renaming cities and how it’s a part of appeasement politics. The team also talks about the recent drama at Hyatt Regency in Delhi. Raman and Anand tell us more on the normalised VIP culture and muscle show in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Listen up! There’s more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/503080746 Hafta 190: Mohan Bhagwat's speech, Bishop Franco Mulakkal and more Thu, 18 Oct 2018 13:00:30 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-190 01:21:48 Newslaundry.com no This week we are joined by stand-up artist Sanjay Rajoura, along with the usual Hafta gang comprising Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan. The discussion kicks off with a brief conversation on the resignation of the editor of New York Review of Books, over a Jian Ghomeshi article. The discussion then moves on to rape accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal's offer to step down as Bishop, followed by the fiasco between Star (Broadcaster) complaining to BCCI about Virat Kohli's absence from the Asia Cup. Also, the inevitable question that arises: should India play Pakistan? The panel also discusses Mohan Bhagwat's comments about Hindutva, Venkaiah Naidu's remarks calling the English language a disease and more. For more listen in. This week we are joined by stand-up artist Sanjay… This week we are joined by stand-up artist Sanjay Rajoura, along with the usual Hafta gang comprising Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan. The discussion kicks off with a brief conversation on the resignation of the editor of New York Review of Books, over a Jian Ghomeshi article. The discussion then moves on to rape accused Bishop Franco Mulakkal's offer to step down as Bishop, followed by the fiasco between Star (Broadcaster) complaining to BCCI about Virat Kohli's absence from the Asia Cup. Also, the inevitable question that arises: should India play Pakistan? The panel also discusses Mohan Bhagwat's comments about Hindutva, Venkaiah Naidu's remarks calling the English language a disease and more. For more listen in. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/509931654 Hafta 192: #VivekTiwariMurderCase, PTI Sacking, farmer’s protest and more Thu, 18 Oct 2018 13:00:02 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-192 01:16:10 Newslaundry.com no This week of NL Hafta features our special guest Chetan Bhagat, a well-known writer, author, columnist and a motivational speaker, along with host Abhinandan Sekhri and in-house panellists Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan, to discuss the news of the week. The conversation starts with the murder case of an Apple Executive. Abhinandan discusses the possibility of this murder getting nationwide attention because it was an Apple Executive, as compared to Neha Dixit’s argument about the encounter killing experienced by poor people—which are either underreported or not debated at all. Abhinandan asks: “Is that problematic or is it an obvious outcome of a market-driver news culture?” Chetan Bhagat expressed: “It is also the age of virality on the internet.” Madhu Trehan shares her experience about the murder that happened near her house and how nothing was done about it. Manisha talks about The Indian Express articles which shed light on 21 encounters in Uttar Pradesh and the 21 copycat FIRs related to it. The discussion then moves towards the sacking of employees at the Press Trust of India where 297 out of 570 employees were fired. Manisha tells us that they fired people from three departments, namely, Transmissions, IT department, and Attendees and Messenger, as a lot of these jobs were cited as being redundant due to development of technology. Madhu adds: “If PTI is showing losses and they have to cut the excess expenditure which can be controlled, if they don’t do it, then the people who fired the others, their jobs would also go.” The conversation shifts to Ranjan Gogoi being appointed as the new Chief Justice of India. Madhu and Abhinandan discuss how all the Chief Justices and judges—no matter how noble they are—go through at least one scandal in their lifetimes. They also discuss the negative aspects of the Indian Judiciary system and the ways and means to change them. The panel converses about the farmer’s protest that happened in Delhi on Gandhi Jayanti. They discuss the reportage around the protest that took place, its importance, and the media coverage throughout all the previous protests that have taken place. Tune in to NL Hafta to find out more. This week of NL Hafta features our special guest … This week of NL Hafta features our special guest Chetan Bhagat, a well-known writer, author, columnist and a motivational speaker, along with host Abhinandan Sekhri and in-house panellists Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan, to discuss the news of the week. The conversation starts with the murder case of an Apple Executive. Abhinandan discusses the possibility of this murder getting nationwide attention because it was an Apple Executive, as compared to Neha Dixit’s argument about the encounter killing experienced by poor people—which are either underreported or not debated at all. Abhinandan asks: “Is that problematic or is it an obvious outcome of a market-driver news culture?” Chetan Bhagat expressed: “It is also the age of virality on the internet.” Madhu Trehan shares her experience about the murder that happened near her house and how nothing was done about it. Manisha talks about The Indian Express articles which shed light on 21 encounters in Uttar Pradesh and the 21 copycat FIRs related to it. The discussion then moves towards the sacking of employees at the Press Trust of India where 297 out of 570 employees were fired. Manisha tells us that they fired people from three departments, namely, Transmissions, IT department, and Attendees and Messenger, as a lot of these jobs were cited as being redundant due to development of technology. Madhu adds: “If PTI is showing losses and they have to cut the excess expenditure which can be controlled, if they don’t do it, then the people who fired the others, their jobs would also go.” The conversation shifts to Ranjan Gogoi being appointed as the new Chief Justice of India. Madhu and Abhinandan discuss how all the Chief Justices and judges—no matter how noble they are—go through at least one scandal in their lifetimes. They also discuss the negative aspects of the Indian Judiciary system and the ways and means to change them. The panel converses about the farmer’s protest that happened in Delhi on Gandhi Jayanti. They discuss the reportage around the protest that took place, its importance, and the media coverage throughout all the previous protests that have taken place. Tune in to NL Hafta to find out more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/513241161 Hafta 193: #MeToo in India, Gujarat exodus and more Thu, 18 Oct 2018 12:59:52 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-193 01:07:43 Newslaundry.com no The Hafta gang is back with the news of the week. On this episode of NL Hafta, our host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande, and Raman Kirpal to discuss the news of the week.    Abhinandan starts the conversation by telling us about a journalist and critique of the Saudi royal family Jamal Khashoggi who was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2. Now, Turkish officials claim that he was dismembered by a team of Saudi agents who were working under royal orders. Abhinandan says: “I am just blown away by the fact that stuff like this can happen in 2018.” The panel discusses this controversy further as well as the US pressure involved in the case. Madhu says: “America’s view on human rights is extremely convenient, they have supported dictatorship and brought it down themselves.” The discussion then moves towards the IT searches/surveys conducted at the house of media baron Raghav Bahl and The Quint’s office. Abhinandan says: “It is because of vocal utterances about the Prime Minister, trashing his demonetisation, and trashing his GST implementation.” The panel then discusses the politics behind the searches that were carried out on Thursday. Abhinandan goes on to shed light on the Gujarat rape backlash, a case wherein migrants—driven by fear of mobs who were seemingly angry over the rape of a fourteen-month-year-old infant by a migrant—were fleeing the state. He further asks the panel: “What can the media do about it, because if you report on it, you are in trouble, and if you don’t, you are still in trouble?” The panel talks about the ways and means by which the media reports on sensitive issues and how such things should be reported. The #MeToo movement in India has spurred many women to come out and share their experiences of sexual harassment. Alleged victims have used Twitter as a medium, to name and shame several public figures, accuse them of sexual assault, molestation, and harassment. This has kicked off a debate on whether airing such grievances online is considered a better alternative than following the due process—which includes approaching courts and internal committees. The panel talks about the pros and cons of the #MeToo movement and also the effect it has on society. “In all movements, collateral damage happens, so be it,” says Raman. Madhu says: “I laud this generation and I think they are lucky to come into this space where they won’t have to go through what we went through.” Cherry Agarwal, who is invited to join the panel, begs to differ with this statement and poses a counter-argument. The panel goes on to discuss the various reasons why people don’t come out and share their experiences. Cherry adds: “The power imbalance in regional spaces like Orrisa and Rajasthan are more severe as there is not much diversity in the newsrooms.” Raman Kirpal adds a different angle to the conversation by sharing a friend’s story. Listen to all this and much more! The Hafta gang is back with the news of the week.… The Hafta gang is back with the news of the week. On this episode of NL Hafta, our host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande, and Raman Kirpal to discuss the news of the week.    Abhinandan starts the conversation by telling us about a journalist and critique of the Saudi royal family Jamal Khashoggi who was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2. Now, Turkish officials claim that he was dismembered by a team of Saudi agents who were working under royal orders. Abhinandan says: “I am just blown away by the fact that stuff like this can happen in 2018.” The panel discusses this controversy further as well as the US pressure involved in the case. Madhu says: “America’s view on human rights is extremely convenient, they have supported dictatorship and brought it down themselves.” The discussion then moves towards the IT searches/surveys conducted at the house of media baron Raghav Bahl and The Quint’s office. Abhinandan says: “It is because of vocal utterances about the Prime Minister, trashing his demonetisation, and trashing his GST implementation.” The panel then discusses the politics behind the searches that were carried out on Thursday. Abhinandan goes on to shed light on the Gujarat rape backlash, a case wherein migrants—driven by fear of mobs who were seemingly angry over the rape of a fourteen-month-year-old infant by a migrant—were fleeing the state. He further asks the panel: “What can the media do about it, because if you report on it, you are in trouble, and if you don’t, you are still in trouble?” The panel talks about the ways and means by which the media reports on sensitive issues and how such things should be reported. The #MeToo movement in India has spurred many women to come out and share their experiences of sexual harassment. Alleged victims have used Twitter as a medium, to name and shame several public figures, accuse them of sexual assault, molestation, and harassment. This has kicked off a debate on whether airing such grievances online is considered a better alternative than following the due process—which includes approaching courts and internal committees. The panel talks about the pros and cons of the #MeToo movement and also the effect it has on society. “In all movements, collateral damage happens, so be it,” says Raman. Madhu says: “I laud this generation and I think they are lucky to come into this space where they won’t have to go through what we went through.” Cherry Agarwal, who is invited to join the panel, begs to differ with this statement and poses a counter-argument. The panel goes on to discuss the various reasons why people don’t come out and share their experiences. Cherry adds: “The power imbalance in regional spaces like Orrisa and Rajasthan are more severe as there is not much diversity in the newsrooms.” Raman Kirpal adds a different angle to the conversation by sharing a friend’s story. Listen to all this and much more! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/513231108 Chota Hafta — Episode 193 Fri, 12 Oct 2018 14:40:00 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chota-hafta-episode-193 00:20:53 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. On this episode of NL Hafta, our host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande, and Raman Kirpal to discuss the news of the week. The panel starts by discussing the case of a journalist and critique of the Saudi royal family Jamal Khashoggi, who Turkish officials now claim was dismembered by a team of Saudi agents who were working under royal orders. They then discuss the IT searches/surveys conducted at the house of media baron Raghav Bahl and The Quint’s office, as well as the Gujarat rape backlash, a case wherein migrants—driven by fear of mobs who were seemingly angry over the rape of a fourteen-month-year-old infant by a migrant—were fleeing the state. Coming to the #MeToo movement, the panel talks about the pros and cons of the movement and also the effect it has on society. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. On this episode of NL Hafta, our host Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande, and Raman Kirpal to discuss the news of the week. The panel starts by discussing the case of a journalist and critique of the Saudi royal family Jamal Khashoggi, who Turkish officials now claim was dismembered by a team of Saudi agents who were working under royal orders. They then discuss the IT searches/surveys conducted at the house of media baron Raghav Bahl and The Quint’s office, as well as the Gujarat rape backlash, a case wherein migrants—driven by fear of mobs who were seemingly angry over the rape of a fourteen-month-year-old infant by a migrant—were fleeing the state. Coming to the #MeToo movement, the panel talks about the pros and cons of the movement and also the effect it has on society. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/499865022 Hafta 189: Vijay Mallya, Serena Williams, Kerala nun’s rape case & more Fri, 12 Oct 2018 14:32:42 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-epiosde-189 01:16:49 Newslaundry.com no On this week’s episode, we have Aarti Tikoo Singh, senior assistant editor at The Times of India, joining Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan and Manisha Pande. Abhinandan kicks off the podcast with a discussion about Kashmiri Pandits, and their association with Kashmir. The conversation then moves to Vijay Mallya, and his recent claims of an alleged meeting with the Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley. The panel talks about the credibility of his claims, and implications of such a meeting. Manisha then brings up The Indian Express’ interview with Maoist leader Pahad Singh, and Madhu asks what a journalist must keep in mind while interviewing someone in police custody. She shares her experience of interviewing Yakub Memon, and how she went about getting the interview with him. The panel also discusses the Kerala nun’s rape case, and why the bishop accused of committing the crime hasn’t been arrested yet. In addition, the team talks about faith, discusses how statements can be considered sacrilegious, and why Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh wants to pass a ‘blasphemy law’ that would convict people who make fun of religion or religious sentiments. The controversial US Open women’s final was also debated. The panel discussed whether Serena Williams stole Naomi Osaka’s moment by alleging sexism and unfair treatment by the umpire. The panel also talks about the controversial cartoon by Mark Knight. Weighing in, Aarti says that the artist is entitled to his own views and his depiction of Serena isn’t racist. On this week’s episode, we have Aarti Tikoo Singh… On this week’s episode, we have Aarti Tikoo Singh, senior assistant editor at The Times of India, joining Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan and Manisha Pande. Abhinandan kicks off the podcast with a discussion about Kashmiri Pandits, and their association with Kashmir. The conversation then moves to Vijay Mallya, and his recent claims of an alleged meeting with the Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley. The panel talks about the credibility of his claims, and implications of such a meeting. Manisha then brings up The Indian Express’ interview with Maoist leader Pahad Singh, and Madhu asks what a journalist must keep in mind while interviewing someone in police custody. She shares her experience of interviewing Yakub Memon, and how she went about getting the interview with him. The panel also discusses the Kerala nun’s rape case, and why the bishop accused of committing the crime hasn’t been arrested yet. In addition, the team talks about faith, discusses how statements can be considered sacrilegious, and why Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh wants to pass a ‘blasphemy law’ that would convict people who make fun of religion or religious sentiments. The controversial US Open women’s final was also debated. The panel discussed whether Serena Williams stole Naomi Osaka’s moment by alleging sexism and unfair treatment by the umpire. The panel also talks about the controversial cartoon by Mark Knight. Weighing in, Aarti says that the artist is entitled to his own views and his depiction of Serena isn’t racist. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/509916144 Chhota Hafta – Episode 192 Fri, 05 Oct 2018 15:36:11 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chota-hafta-episode-192 00:19:58 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. This week of NL Hafta features  Chetan Bhagat, a writer, author, columnist and a motivational speaker, along with host Abhinandan Sekhri and in-house panellists Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan, who discuss everything from the murder of an Apple Executive, to the firing of 297 PTI employees and the farmer's protest that took place at the Delhi-UP border on Gandhi Jayanti. Listen to the full episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2018/10/05/hafta-192-vivektiwarimurdercase-pti-sacking-farmers-protest-and-more NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. This week of NL Hafta features  Chetan Bhagat, a writer, author, columnist and a motivational speaker, along with host Abhinandan Sekhri and in-house panellists Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan, who discuss everything from the murder of an Apple Executive, to the firing of 297 PTI employees and the farmer's protest that took place at the Delhi-UP border on Gandhi Jayanti. Listen to the full episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2018/10/05/hafta-192-vivektiwarimurdercase-pti-sacking-farmers-protest-and-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/496585527 Hafta 188: #Section377, Rafale deal, Lois Sofia’s arrest and more Fri, 05 Oct 2018 15:20:12 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-188 01:22:41 Newslaundry.com no In this issue of NL Hafta, Hartosh Singh Bal, political editor of The Caravan, joins the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan, Manisha Pande and Raman Kirpal. They discuss The Caravan’s cover story on Anil Ambani and the Rafale deal. Manisha tells us about the reading down of Section 377, and how it is major a civil rights victory in India. The unanimous decision by the Supreme Court was met with much elation, we hear more about the sequence of events that led to this historic win. Abhinandan then brings up the report on Kanhaiya Kumar contesting in Begusarai on a CPI seat. Anand Vardhan talks about Begusarai, a region prominently known for Left politics. The conversation then moves on to Myanmar where two Reuters journalists were arrested under the Official Secrets Act after their report on the killing of 10 Rohingya men and boys. Madhu Trehan compares Aung San Suu Kyi and Nelson Mandela, and talks about Kyi’s perception as a humanitarian, during the current civil crisis in Myanmar. The team also discusses NBSA asking Arnab Goswami and Republic TV to apologise and the arrest of Lois Sofia for shouting slogans on board a plane. Listen up. In this issue of NL Hafta, Hartosh Singh Bal, pol… In this issue of NL Hafta, Hartosh Singh Bal, political editor of The Caravan, joins the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan, Manisha Pande and Raman Kirpal. They discuss The Caravan’s cover story on Anil Ambani and the Rafale deal. Manisha tells us about the reading down of Section 377, and how it is major a civil rights victory in India. The unanimous decision by the Supreme Court was met with much elation, we hear more about the sequence of events that led to this historic win. Abhinandan then brings up the report on Kanhaiya Kumar contesting in Begusarai on a CPI seat. Anand Vardhan talks about Begusarai, a region prominently known for Left politics. The conversation then moves on to Myanmar where two Reuters journalists were arrested under the Official Secrets Act after their report on the killing of 10 Rohingya men and boys. Madhu Trehan compares Aung San Suu Kyi and Nelson Mandela, and talks about Kyi’s perception as a humanitarian, during the current civil crisis in Myanmar. The team also discusses NBSA asking Arnab Goswami and Republic TV to apologise and the arrest of Lois Sofia for shouting slogans on board a plane. Listen up. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/506364288 NL Hafta 191: #AadhaarVerdict, #RafaleDeal and More Fri, 28 Sep 2018 12:13:31 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/hafta-191 01:22:09 Newslaundry.com no It’s been a crazy week with the Supreme Court giving us one verdict after the other to discuss and dissect. In this episode, we have our in-house columnist and Constitution expert Meghnad and freelance journalist Rishi Majumder join the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan and Manisha Pande. Abhinandan and Meghnad are distraught since they finally have to get their Aadhaar cards made. The SC has upheld its constitutional validity and mandated it for filing income tax returns. The team discusses the verdict and its high and low points. The conversation then moves towards the Rafale deal. Madhu suggests an all-new pronunciation and Abhinandan wonders if we’re living in an age where we are desensitised to scams. Amit Shah’s ‘termite’ speech also gets discussed and Rishi, who’s from Assam, tells us about the narrative of ‘the other’ in the state. Listen up. PS: Subscribers, don’t forget to register for our NL Hindi event on October 2 and catch us for the NL Chatbox this Saturday at 10 am, IST. It’s been a crazy week with the Supreme Court giv… It’s been a crazy week with the Supreme Court giving us one verdict after the other to discuss and dissect. In this episode, we have our in-house columnist and Constitution expert Meghnad and freelance journalist Rishi Majumder join the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan and Manisha Pande. Abhinandan and Meghnad are distraught since they finally have to get their Aadhaar cards made. The SC has upheld its constitutional validity and mandated it for filing income tax returns. The team discusses the verdict and its high and low points. The conversation then moves towards the Rafale deal. Madhu suggests an all-new pronunciation and Abhinandan wonders if we’re living in an age where we are desensitised to scams. Amit Shah’s ‘termite’ speech also gets discussed and Rishi, who’s from Assam, tells us about the narrative of ‘the other’ in the state. Listen up. PS: Subscribers, don’t forget to register for our NL Hindi event on October 2 and catch us for the NL Chatbox this Saturday at 10 am, IST. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/493308024 Hafta 187: #BhimaKoregaonRaids, RaGa's 1984 gaffe & more Fri, 21 Sep 2018 14:49:18 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-187 01:04:49 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of Hafta, Manoj Mitta, journalist and author, joins the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal and Manisha Pande to discuss the recent arrests of human rights activists across the country by Maharashtra police and Rahul Gandhi's attempt to absolve Congress from the anti-Sikh riots that took place in 1984 after Indira Gandhi's assassination. The panel also discusses Aam Aadmi Party leader Atishi Marlena’s decision to drop her last name. This and a lot more on this episode of Hafta. Listen up! In this episode of Hafta, Manoj Mitta, journalist… In this episode of Hafta, Manoj Mitta, journalist and author, joins the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal and Manisha Pande to discuss the recent arrests of human rights activists across the country by Maharashtra police and Rahul Gandhi's attempt to absolve Congress from the anti-Sikh riots that took place in 1984 after Indira Gandhi's assassination. The panel also discusses Aam Aadmi Party leader Atishi Marlena’s decision to drop her last name. This and a lot more on this episode of Hafta. Listen up! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/503064783 Chhota Hafta – Episode 190 Fri, 21 Sep 2018 14:35:56 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-190 00:19:26 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode, stand-up artist Sanjay Rajoura joins the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan. They discuss the resignation of New York Review of Books editor, over a Jian Ghomeshi article, the fiasco over Virat Kohli's absence from the Asia Cup, Mohan Bhagwat's comments on Hindutva and more. Listen up! NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode, stand-up artist Sanjay Rajoura joins the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan. They discuss the resignation of New York Review of Books editor, over a Jian Ghomeshi article, the fiasco over Virat Kohli's absence from the Asia Cup, Mohan Bhagwat's comments on Hindutva and more. Listen up! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/490002645 Hafta 186: #KeralaFloods, Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s demise, Navjot Singh Sidhu’s hug & more Fri, 14 Sep 2018 17:08:05 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-186 01:36:36 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of Hafta, Ullekh NP, executive editor of Open Magazine and Dhanya Rajendran, editor-in-chief of The News Minute, join the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan to discuss the aftermath of Kerala floods. Rajendran, who was reporting from the ground, sheds light on how severe the conditions were, how the rescue operations were done and how Kerala is battling since the water has receded. Ullekh, on the other hand, talks about the floods that devastated Kerala earlier. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee passed away last week, and Abhinandan asks the panel if obituaries should necessarily be tributes. Ullekh, having written a book on Vajpayee, shares some anecdotes from his life, his politics and the many ups and downs of his political career. Then there was Navjot Singh Sidhu’s Pakistan visit and the much controversial hug with Pakistani Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Did it deserve the prime time coverage? The panel discusses this and the lousy opinion pieces that surfaced. Captain Amarinder Singh and the Punjab Cabinet decided to bring amendments to Indian Penal Code (IPC) to make all acts of Sacrilege of religious texts punishable with life imprisonment. The panel discusses the implications of this move and a lot more on this episode of Hafta. Listen Up! In this episode of Hafta, Ullekh NP, executive ed… In this episode of Hafta, Ullekh NP, executive editor of Open Magazine and Dhanya Rajendran, editor-in-chief of The News Minute, join the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan to discuss the aftermath of Kerala floods. Rajendran, who was reporting from the ground, sheds light on how severe the conditions were, how the rescue operations were done and how Kerala is battling since the water has receded. Ullekh, on the other hand, talks about the floods that devastated Kerala earlier. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee passed away last week, and Abhinandan asks the panel if obituaries should necessarily be tributes. Ullekh, having written a book on Vajpayee, shares some anecdotes from his life, his politics and the many ups and downs of his political career. Then there was Navjot Singh Sidhu’s Pakistan visit and the much controversial hug with Pakistani Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. Did it deserve the prime time coverage? The panel discusses this and the lousy opinion pieces that surfaced. Captain Amarinder Singh and the Punjab Cabinet decided to bring amendments to Indian Penal Code (IPC) to make all acts of Sacrilege of religious texts punishable with life imprisonment. The panel discusses the implications of this move and a lot more on this episode of Hafta. Listen Up! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/499867572 Chhota Hafta – Episode 189 Fri, 14 Sep 2018 16:14:39 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-epiosde-189 00:21:21 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode, Aarti Tikoo Singh, senior assistant editor of The Times of India, joins the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan and Manisha Pande. They discuss Vijay Mallya and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s alleged meeting, Kerala nun’s rape case, Serena Williams’ standoff with the umpire and more. Listen up! Listen to the full episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2018/09/14/hafta-189-vijay-mallya-serena-williams-kerala-nuns-rape-case-more NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode, Aarti Tikoo Singh, senior assistant editor of The Times of India, joins the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan and Manisha Pande. They discuss Vijay Mallya and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s alleged meeting, Kerala nun’s rape case, Serena Williams’ standoff with the umpire and more. Listen up! Listen to the full episode here: https://www.newslaundry.com/2018/09/14/hafta-189-vijay-mallya-serena-williams-kerala-nuns-rape-case-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/496581822 Chhota Hafta – Episode 188 Fri, 07 Sep 2018 15:16:16 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-188 00:27:06 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode, Hartosh Singh Bal, political editor of The Caravan, joins the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan, Manisha Pande and Raman Kirpal. They discuss The Caravan’s cover story on Anil Ambani, Rafale deal, Lois Sofia’s arrest and more. Listen up! NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode, Hartosh Singh Bal, political editor of The Caravan, joins the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan, Manisha Pande and Raman Kirpal. They discuss The Caravan’s cover story on Anil Ambani, Rafale deal, Lois Sofia’s arrest and more. Listen up! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/486756399 Hafta 185: PM's Independence Day speech, attack on Umar Khalid, #KeralaFloods and more. Fri, 07 Sep 2018 15:08:21 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-185 01:27:29 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of Hafta Jairaj Singh, founding editor of DailyO, joins the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan and Manisha Pande to discuss the PM's Independence Day speech; what he mentioned, what he missed and what he should have spoken about. V S Naipaul passed away last week and the Internet was flooded with tributes to the writer. Abhinandan asks the panel if he was really a great writer? Abhinandan disagrees. Then the panel moves on to discuss attack on JNU student Umar Khalid outside Constitution Club of India, Narendra Modi's speech claiming a man made tea using gas from gutter sludge and devastating floods in Kerala. Listen up! There's more. In this episode of Hafta Jairaj Singh, founding e… In this episode of Hafta Jairaj Singh, founding editor of DailyO, joins the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan and Manisha Pande to discuss the PM's Independence Day speech; what he mentioned, what he missed and what he should have spoken about. V S Naipaul passed away last week and the Internet was flooded with tributes to the writer. Abhinandan asks the panel if he was really a great writer? Abhinandan disagrees. Then the panel moves on to discuss attack on JNU student Umar Khalid outside Constitution Club of India, Narendra Modi's speech claiming a man made tea using gas from gutter sludge and devastating floods in Kerala. Listen up! There's more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/493310976 Chhota Hafta – Episode 187 Fri, 31 Aug 2018 15:13:00 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-187 00:24:52 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode, Manoj Mitta, journalist and author, join the regular Hafta gang comprising Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal and Manisha Pande to discuss recent arrests of human rights activists across the country and Rahul Gandhi's attempt to absolve Congress from the anti-Sikh riots of 1984. Listen up. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode, Manoj Mitta, journalist and author, join the regular Hafta gang comprising Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal and Manisha Pande to discuss recent arrests of human rights activists across the country and Rahul Gandhi's attempt to absolve Congress from the anti-Sikh riots of 1984. Listen up. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/483673155 Hafta 184: ABP firings, Article 35A, Karunanidhi's passing away & more Fri, 31 Aug 2018 14:50:47 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-184 01:27:57 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of Hafta Ramanathan Subramanian form The News Minute joins the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan and Manisha Pande to discuss Karunanidhi's passing away and the row over his burial at Marina beach. The panel also discuss Article 35A, what it means and what will be the implications if it's struck down. Then the panel focuses on 2 stings done by NDTV and India Today. The conversation also pans around recent firings at ABP News. Was the channel under pressure to let the top editors go? For this and more, Listen up! In this episode of Hafta Ramanathan Subramanian f… In this episode of Hafta Ramanathan Subramanian form The News Minute joins the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan and Manisha Pande to discuss Karunanidhi's passing away and the row over his burial at Marina beach. The panel also discuss Article 35A, what it means and what will be the implications if it's struck down. Then the panel focuses on 2 stings done by NDTV and India Today. The conversation also pans around recent firings at ABP News. Was the channel under pressure to let the top editors go? For this and more, Listen up! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/481097952 Hafta 183: NRC in Assam and a special edition from The Media Rumble Fri, 24 Aug 2018 13:57:47 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-183 00:47:55 Newslaundry.com no On this episode of Hafta, Abhinandan and Manisha are joined by journalist Samrat X and Newslaundry’s very own Art Director, Anish Daolagupu. The four discuss the NRC in Assam, with Samrat and Anish talking about their lived experiences. In addition to this, a part of the Hafta was also recorded at The Media Rumble, where Abhinandan caught up with some of the finest journalists we have in the country. He spoke to Malini Subramaniam, who used to report for The Scroll and Ashutosh Chaturvedi, the editor of Prabhat Khabar, and NDTV India's Ravish Kumar about the challenges that journalism and news faces today. For the entire conversation, listen up. On this episode of Hafta, Abhinandan and Manisha … On this episode of Hafta, Abhinandan and Manisha are joined by journalist Samrat X and Newslaundry’s very own Art Director, Anish Daolagupu. The four discuss the NRC in Assam, with Samrat and Anish talking about their lived experiences. In addition to this, a part of the Hafta was also recorded at The Media Rumble, where Abhinandan caught up with some of the finest journalists we have in the country. He spoke to Malini Subramaniam, who used to report for The Scroll and Ashutosh Chaturvedi, the editor of Prabhat Khabar, and NDTV India's Ravish Kumar about the challenges that journalism and news faces today. For the entire conversation, listen up. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/490002171 Chhota Hafta – Episode 186 Fri, 24 Aug 2018 13:54:54 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-186 00:24:01 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode of Hafta Ullekh NP, Executive editor of OPEN magazine and Dhanya Rajendran, Editor in chief of The News Minute, join the regular gang comprising Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan to discuss Kerala floods, Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s demise, the controversy over Navjot Singh Sidhu’s Pakistan visit and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode of Hafta Ullekh NP, Executive editor of OPEN magazine and Dhanya Rajendran, Editor in chief of The News Minute, join the regular gang comprising Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan to discuss Kerala floods, Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s demise, the controversy over Navjot Singh Sidhu’s Pakistan visit and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/486756405 Chhota Hafta – Episode 185 Fri, 17 Aug 2018 14:29:38 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-185 00:26:06 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode of Hafta Jairaj Singh, founding editor of DailyO, joins the regular gang comprising Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan and Manisha Pande to discuss PM's Independence Day speech, attack on Umar Khalid, Kerala floods, V S Naipaul and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode of Hafta Jairaj Singh, founding editor of DailyO, joins the regular gang comprising Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan and Manisha Pande to discuss PM's Independence Day speech, attack on Umar Khalid, Kerala floods, V S Naipaul and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/477836979 Hafta 182: Pakistan elections, Alwar lynching, Maratha reservation, the hug and the wink and more Fri, 17 Aug 2018 13:03:37 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-182 01:41:52 Newslaundry.com no This week’s NL Hafta features an in-house panel with Anand Vardhan, Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, and Manisha Pande. We discuss the No Confidence Motion, the Alwar lynching, the Maratha reservation protests, and the recently concluded Pakistan elections. The panel opens with a discussion on the Pakistan elections. Anand offers his views, “What would also be a bit difficult for him, is that he is not controlling Punjab... I think Imran is a creature of ambition, he will not go away without taking his trophy. He took it at the cost of being controlled by the Army.” Madhu adds, “The saddest part about Pakistan is that nobody has been able to dislodge the army, whether it’s a dictator or behind-the-scenes.” Anand then speaks on how cow protection became a political process. "I think it is the result of a very fragile social contract between a community which considers cow as a food and a community which considers it as a bovine resource and a religious deity also. “I think lynching is mainstream, and it has nothing to do with the numbers. It has to do with its approval on primetime by party spokespersons”, comments Abhinandan. “There’s only a specific kind of crime that gets state sanction that has people like Yogi Adityanath say that cows are important, but humans are also important. N number of statements have come out saying that this will keep happening until you don’t protect cows,” says Manisha. The panel then discusses the motivations behind the No Confidence Motion that was raised in Parliament last week. “It’s such an obviously defeatable motion, that one has to think of conspiracies…did the BJP tell them to do it to reinforce their hold over Parliament and the country?” wonders Madhu. On why the motion was admitted, Anand remarks, “The ruling dispensation wanted the motion to be defeated, and the general perception is that it provided a kind of political messaging platform in the penultimate year of the general elections, from which the BJP could orchestrate or generalize the oratory skills of the PM." The panel then discusses the rift between the Shiv Sena and the BJP, Karan Thapar, Rahul Gandhi’s Q/A session with 100 women journalists, and the Maratha reservation protests. For more, listen in! This week’s NL Hafta features an in-house panel w… This week’s NL Hafta features an in-house panel with Anand Vardhan, Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, and Manisha Pande. We discuss the No Confidence Motion, the Alwar lynching, the Maratha reservation protests, and the recently concluded Pakistan elections. The panel opens with a discussion on the Pakistan elections. Anand offers his views, “What would also be a bit difficult for him, is that he is not controlling Punjab... I think Imran is a creature of ambition, he will not go away without taking his trophy. He took it at the cost of being controlled by the Army.” Madhu adds, “The saddest part about Pakistan is that nobody has been able to dislodge the army, whether it’s a dictator or behind-the-scenes.” Anand then speaks on how cow protection became a political process. "I think it is the result of a very fragile social contract between a community which considers cow as a food and a community which considers it as a bovine resource and a religious deity also. “I think lynching is mainstream, and it has nothing to do with the numbers. It has to do with its approval on primetime by party spokespersons”, comments Abhinandan. “There’s only a specific kind of crime that gets state sanction that has people like Yogi Adityanath say that cows are important, but humans are also important. N number of statements have come out saying that this will keep happening until you don’t protect cows,” says Manisha. The panel then discusses the motivations behind the No Confidence Motion that was raised in Parliament last week. “It’s such an obviously defeatable motion, that one has to think of conspiracies…did the BJP tell them to do it to reinforce their hold over Parliament and the country?” wonders Madhu. On why the motion was admitted, Anand remarks, “The ruling dispensation wanted the motion to be defeated, and the general perception is that it provided a kind of political messaging platform in the penultimate year of the general elections, from which the BJP could orchestrate or generalize the oratory skills of the PM." The panel then discusses the rift between the Shiv Sena and the BJP, Karan Thapar, Rahul Gandhi’s Q/A session with 100 women journalists, and the Maratha reservation protests. For more, listen in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/483682518 Chhota Hafta – Episode 184 Thu, 16 Aug 2018 08:28:29 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chota-hafta-episode-184 00:24:44 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode of Hafta Ramanathan Subramanian form The News Minute joins the regular gang comprising Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan and Manisha Pande to discuss Karunanidhi's passing away and the row over his burial at Marina beach, ABP firings, Article 35A and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode. In this episode of Hafta Ramanathan Subramanian form The News Minute joins the regular gang comprising Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan and Manisha Pande to discuss Karunanidhi's passing away and the row over his burial at Marina beach, ABP firings, Article 35A and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/474235638 Hafta 181: #NoConfidenceMotion, Supreme Court on 'mobocracy', Hindu Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif and more Fri, 10 Aug 2018 14:15:25 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-181 01:28:18 Newslaundry.com no Cherry Agarwal makes her debut as Hafta's host. This week she is joined by independent journalist Neha Dixit, Newslaundry's Raman Kirpal and Anand Vardhan. The discussion kicks off with the Supreme Court order to enact a new law against mob lynching. Subsequently, Opposition's no-confidence motion against the Modi government, Nawaz Sharif’s arrest, Shashi Tharoor’s 'Hindu Pakistan' comment, among other issues, are discussed. The panel first discusses observations made by the Supreme Court, where the top court stated that “mobocracy cannot be allowed” and recommended that the government enact a new law against lynching. “We have several laws but despite that crime continues to happen so I don’t think it’s one-way traffic, it has to be intersectional at various level and that is the only way it could be fixed,” Neha says. Meghnad puts emphasis on the silence that the government has maintained.    The panel then discusses Shashi Tharoor’s comment about the creation of a 'Hindu Pakistan'. Meghnad thinks it is a very clever political move. Raman adds, “They would say that we want a Hindu Rashtra but not Pakistan.” Anand thinks otherwise; refers to it as Shashi Tharoor's tendency to exaggerate.   The discussion then moves on to the no-confidence motion moved against the government. Raman thinks the acceptance of no-confidence motion by the Speaker is "a very wise thing”. Anand adds that the motion would become a platform for political messaging. Raman calls it “a game of orators". Cherry shifts the attention of the panel to the Women's Reservation Bill. Neha recalls her early days of journalism, the discussion she had with a leading politician and some bizarre comments that he made.  The panel also talks about #TalkToAMuslim, a hashtag that was trending on Twitter. Neha says, “When it comes to the minorities of the country it’s not just social marginalisation, it’s economical marginalisation also.” The panel also discusses Nawaz Sharif's arrest. Anand says, “Corruption is not a liability in Pakistan, so the basic assumption of Pakistan political identity is that all are corrupt.” Raman calls it a fight between morality and corruption. Anand sums up Pakistan in 3As, “Pakistan runs on Allah, America and Army.”  This and more, listen up. Cherry Agarwal makes her debut as Hafta's host. T… Cherry Agarwal makes her debut as Hafta's host. This week she is joined by independent journalist Neha Dixit, Newslaundry's Raman Kirpal and Anand Vardhan. The discussion kicks off with the Supreme Court order to enact a new law against mob lynching. Subsequently, Opposition's no-confidence motion against the Modi government, Nawaz Sharif’s arrest, Shashi Tharoor’s 'Hindu Pakistan' comment, among other issues, are discussed. The panel first discusses observations made by the Supreme Court, where the top court stated that “mobocracy cannot be allowed” and recommended that the government enact a new law against lynching. “We have several laws but despite that crime continues to happen so I don’t think it’s one-way traffic, it has to be intersectional at various level and that is the only way it could be fixed,” Neha says. Meghnad puts emphasis on the silence that the government has maintained.    The panel then discusses Shashi Tharoor’s comment about the creation of a 'Hindu Pakistan'. Meghnad thinks it is a very clever political move. Raman adds, “They would say that we want a Hindu Rashtra but not Pakistan.” Anand thinks otherwise; refers to it as Shashi Tharoor's tendency to exaggerate.   The discussion then moves on to the no-confidence motion moved against the government. Raman thinks the acceptance of no-confidence motion by the Speaker is "a very wise thing”. Anand adds that the motion would become a platform for political messaging. Raman calls it “a game of orators". Cherry shifts the attention of the panel to the Women's Reservation Bill. Neha recalls her early days of journalism, the discussion she had with a leading politician and some bizarre comments that he made.  The panel also talks about #TalkToAMuslim, a hashtag that was trending on Twitter. Neha says, “When it comes to the minorities of the country it’s not just social marginalisation, it’s economical marginalisation also.” The panel also discusses Nawaz Sharif's arrest. Anand says, “Corruption is not a liability in Pakistan, so the basic assumption of Pakistan political identity is that all are corrupt.” Raman calls it a fight between morality and corruption. Anand sums up Pakistan in 3As, “Pakistan runs on Allah, America and Army.”  This and more, listen up. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/482678172 Hafta Extra: Abhinandan Sekhri in conversation Christopher Lydon Wed, 08 Aug 2018 08:26:56 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/hafta-extra-abhinandan-sekhri-in-conversation-christopher-lydon 00:55:17 Newslaundry.com no The long-time host of Radio Open Source, Christopher Lydon, joins Abhinandan Sekhri on this special edition of NL Hafta. Lydon talks about how the idea of putting the radio on the Internet came about when he created Radio on the Internet in 2003. He also talks about his stint at The New York Times and starting a national show based in Boston, The Connection. Abhinandan asks Lydon about his views on religion and the art of interviewing. Lydon shares his experience of growing up in an Irish Catholic family. The conversation pans around a host of other topics: the Iraq war, Media versus Trump in the US and why Lydon doesn't interview people he dislikes. This and a lot more. Listen up. The long-time host of Radio Open Source, Christop… The long-time host of Radio Open Source, Christopher Lydon, joins Abhinandan Sekhri on this special edition of NL Hafta. Lydon talks about how the idea of putting the radio on the Internet came about when he created Radio on the Internet in 2003. He also talks about his stint at The New York Times and starting a national show based in Boston, The Connection. Abhinandan asks Lydon about his views on religion and the art of interviewing. Lydon shares his experience of growing up in an Irish Catholic family. The conversation pans around a host of other topics: the Iraq war, Media versus Trump in the US and why Lydon doesn't interview people he dislikes. This and a lot more. Listen up. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/471160998 Hafta 180: Section 377, Jayant Sinha, Adultery Law, Taj Mahal, Sacred Games and more Mon, 06 Aug 2018 07:50:59 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-180 01:33:21 Newslaundry.com no This episode of NL Hafta features Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan and Raman Kirpal, who are joined by Jaskirat Singh Bawa of The Quint as they discuss everything from judges’ vacation terms, to Jayant Sinha’s garlanding of convicted lynchers who were out on bail, and more. The panel first debates whether a 2-month break for judges is an indulgence. “The judiciary is stuck in a colonial condition. The vacation is from the colonial times, where the government moved to Shimla….It’s a matter of what you adjust to," says Madhu. “Having reported from the SC for 5-6 years, it is definitely an indulgence for the duration of time. Sure, a vacation could be well-deserved for the judges who are actually working 9 to 9…I can say for sure that none of the stakeholders who are actually involved…will support reductions in their vacation time, adds Jaskirat. The panel then discusses the ongoing Section 377 hearing at the Supreme Court. Speaking about the Centre’s reluctance to take a stand on the issue, Madhu says, “I would think that their inkling is to always veer towards the conservative, because their assumption is that their vote bank is more conservative.” Jaskirat expresses his views of Justices Singhvi and Mukhopadhyay, who reversed the Section 377 ruling in 2013: “They refused to recognise that criminalising this act is leading to misuse of it by the executive.” “Even if they agree to decriminalise 377, it is going to open a Pandora’s Box after that, because right now, they think we’re only dealing with decriminalising Section 377 and not talking in terms of gay marriage and other stuff," adds Raman. The panel then discusses the Supreme Court’s upholding of the death penalty for the perpetrators involved in the Nirbhaya rape case of 2012. In terms of the media coverage it got, Abhinandan points out, “It was a recurring theme across channels, if death comes after six years, is it still justice?” This is followed by a discussion on the Yakub Memon trial, death row, and the panel’s views on the death penalty. Next, the discussion moves to BJP politician Jayant Sinha’s garlanding of six persons who had been bailed from prison after being convicted of lynching in Jharkhand. The panel also offers their thoughts on why he would do such a thing. Jaskirat says, “At the end of the day, closer to the elections, they have to be active or closer to their vote base.” Madhu agrees, adding, “All the decisions are being taken with 2019 in mind.” Raman, feels the same, “The idea is to polarise and that is why it is happening.” On the other hand, Abhinandan feels it is a case of a son rebelling against his father. Abhinandan then suggests some explainers on the issue of ‘eminent status’ being granted to the proposed Jio Institute. For more on this, the SC-Centre tussle on the Taj Mahal, the misogynistic adultery law, and Netflix’s Sacred Games, listen in! This episode of NL Hafta features Newslaundry’s A… This episode of NL Hafta features Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan and Raman Kirpal, who are joined by Jaskirat Singh Bawa of The Quint as they discuss everything from judges’ vacation terms, to Jayant Sinha’s garlanding of convicted lynchers who were out on bail, and more. The panel first debates whether a 2-month break for judges is an indulgence. “The judiciary is stuck in a colonial condition. The vacation is from the colonial times, where the government moved to Shimla….It’s a matter of what you adjust to," says Madhu. “Having reported from the SC for 5-6 years, it is definitely an indulgence for the duration of time. Sure, a vacation could be well-deserved for the judges who are actually working 9 to 9…I can say for sure that none of the stakeholders who are actually involved…will support reductions in their vacation time, adds Jaskirat. The panel then discusses the ongoing Section 377 hearing at the Supreme Court. Speaking about the Centre’s reluctance to take a stand on the issue, Madhu says, “I would think that their inkling is to always veer towards the conservative, because their assumption is that their vote bank is more conservative.” Jaskirat expresses his views of Justices Singhvi and Mukhopadhyay, who reversed the Section 377 ruling in 2013: “They refused to recognise that criminalising this act is leading to misuse of it by the executive.” “Even if they agree to decriminalise 377, it is going to open a Pandora’s Box after that, because right now, they think we’re only dealing with decriminalising Section 377 and not talking in terms of gay marriage and other stuff," adds Raman. The panel then discusses the Supreme Court’s upholding of the death penalty for the perpetrators involved in the Nirbhaya rape case of 2012. In terms of the media coverage it got, Abhinandan points out, “It was a recurring theme across channels, if death comes after six years, is it still justice?” This is followed by a discussion on the Yakub Memon trial, death row, and the panel’s views on the death penalty. Next, the discussion moves to BJP politician Jayant Sinha’s garlanding of six persons who had been bailed from prison after being convicted of lynching in Jharkhand. The panel also offers their thoughts on why he would do such a thing. Jaskirat says, “At the end of the day, closer to the elections, they have to be active or closer to their vote base.” Madhu agrees, adding, “All the decisions are being taken with 2019 in mind.” Raman, feels the same, “The idea is to polarise and that is why it is happening.” On the other hand, Abhinandan feels it is a case of a son rebelling against his father. Abhinandan then suggests some explainers on the issue of ‘eminent status’ being granted to the proposed Jio Institute. For more on this, the SC-Centre tussle on the Taj Mahal, the misogynistic adultery law, and Netflix’s Sacred Games, listen in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/481098915 Chhota Hafta Episode 183 Sun, 05 Aug 2018 11:32:01 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-183 00:20:05 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where the panel discusses the NRC in Assam. In addition to this, a part of the Hafta was also recorded at The Media Rumble, where Abhinandan caught up with some of the finest journalists we have in the country and spoke to them about the challenges that journalism and news face today. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where the panel discusses the NRC in Assam. In addition to this, a part of the Hafta was also recorded at The Media Rumble, where Abhinandan caught up with some of the finest journalists we have in the country and spoke to them about the challenges that journalism and news face today. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/468061680 Hafta 179: Supreme Court on Kejriwal-LG standoff, NRC in Assam, WhatsApp and more Sat, 28 Jul 2018 13:43:33 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-179 01:33:42 Newslaundry.com no This week on NL Hafta, with special guest Amitoj Singh, we discuss the Supreme Court’s judgment on the power tussle between the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi and Arvind Kejriwal, as well as its interpretations. We also discuss reports of the President being mistreated at Jagannath Temple, WhatsApp rumour-triggered mob lynchings, and finally, the National Register of Citizens, which is creating quite a ruckus in Assam. Meghnad breaks down the SC judgment: “What this judgment has solved is, essentially, that they have to communicate their decisions to the LG, but don’t have to wait for his approval. If the LG feels that they have taken a decision that is unconstitutional, that is when he has to step in, so he can’t just sit on files.” Amitoj offers his thoughts on the judgment. “The language of this 535-page order is so complicated, it is making lives suffer…from all the interpretations of all my colleagues…there is not a single word of reprimand for the 3.5 years of the loss of [governance and] for the people of Delhi, that was stalled by the LG. This one keyword, is the real issue out here—‘interpretation’.” The panel then points out some humorous sections from the judgment. The panel also talks about why it took four days for the President’s office to clarify that the President wasn’t, in fact, mistreated at the Puri temple, even when it dominated national headlines. Madhu joins the panel to weigh in on the Kejriwal issue. “He really doesn’t know that to get work done you actually have to get along with people.” Amitoj says, “Whenever you are kind and whenever you are diplomatic, things slow down, and that’s not his style.” Madhu insists that she is “not asking him to be diplomatic, but strategic”. Meghnad agrees, adding, “Sure, there might be some level of vindictiveness from the Central government as well, but at the end of the day, you have to figure out how to get work done, that’s what governance is all about.” Abhinandan takes a firmer stance on AAP, stating, “Unless they can shake the system to the core, they should disband. I don’t want a male Sheila Dixit.” Madhu feels that unless “you shake up the system to make the bureaucrats more responsive...it is not beneficial to anybody".  Amitoj makes a case for Kejriwal, “He is not doing things which he wants to do perhaps which other states can.” Abhinandan feels that the Washington model is “too radical for the way the system is right now”. The panel subsequently speaks about WhatsApp rumour-triggered mob lynchings that are taking place across the country. Meghnad provides context on one such viral forward. “One video being circulated was done by a charity fighting to save abducted children in Pakistan. Their end message—which is ‘Save Children in Karachi from Getting Kidnapped’ has been cut off—and only one portion, a mock-thing about 2 adults lifting children, is getting circulated everywhere, along with photos of random people and...number plates.” Madhu offers her thoughts. “To me, WhatsApp by itself has become a lynch mob. People are mindlessly forwarding things…in the 40s and 50s, moral character was held up as something to aspire to….ab toh puri sharam utar gayi hai." She feels that the crux of the problem lies in the fact that “it’s so acceptable to do these things”. The solution she proposes? “Rather than asking WhatsApp to control it…I think the government would be fully authorised and supported to do propaganda on Doordarshan. Instead of putting out stories on the achievements of the government….this is their opportunity to even create a serial based on the damage WhatsApp can do.” For more, listen in! This week on NL Hafta, with special guest Amitoj … This week on NL Hafta, with special guest Amitoj Singh, we discuss the Supreme Court’s judgment on the power tussle between the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi and Arvind Kejriwal, as well as its interpretations. We also discuss reports of the President being mistreated at Jagannath Temple, WhatsApp rumour-triggered mob lynchings, and finally, the National Register of Citizens, which is creating quite a ruckus in Assam. Meghnad breaks down the SC judgment: “What this judgment has solved is, essentially, that they have to communicate their decisions to the LG, but don’t have to wait for his approval. If the LG feels that they have taken a decision that is unconstitutional, that is when he has to step in, so he can’t just sit on files.” Amitoj offers his thoughts on the judgment. “The language of this 535-page order is so complicated, it is making lives suffer…from all the interpretations of all my colleagues…there is not a single word of reprimand for the 3.5 years of the loss of [governance and] for the people of Delhi, that was stalled by the LG. This one keyword, is the real issue out here—‘interpretation’.” The panel then points out some humorous sections from the judgment. The panel also talks about why it took four days for the President’s office to clarify that the President wasn’t, in fact, mistreated at the Puri temple, even when it dominated national headlines. Madhu joins the panel to weigh in on the Kejriwal issue. “He really doesn’t know that to get work done you actually have to get along with people.” Amitoj says, “Whenever you are kind and whenever you are diplomatic, things slow down, and that’s not his style.” Madhu insists that she is “not asking him to be diplomatic, but strategic”. Meghnad agrees, adding, “Sure, there might be some level of vindictiveness from the Central government as well, but at the end of the day, you have to figure out how to get work done, that’s what governance is all about.” Abhinandan takes a firmer stance on AAP, stating, “Unless they can shake the system to the core, they should disband. I don’t want a male Sheila Dixit.” Madhu feels that unless “you shake up the system to make the bureaucrats more responsive...it is not beneficial to anybody".  Amitoj makes a case for Kejriwal, “He is not doing things which he wants to do perhaps which other states can.” Abhinandan feels that the Washington model is “too radical for the way the system is right now”. The panel subsequently speaks about WhatsApp rumour-triggered mob lynchings that are taking place across the country. Meghnad provides context on one such viral forward. “One video being circulated was done by a charity fighting to save abducted children in Pakistan. Their end message—which is ‘Save Children in Karachi from Getting Kidnapped’ has been cut off—and only one portion, a mock-thing about 2 adults lifting children, is getting circulated everywhere, along with photos of random people and...number plates.” Madhu offers her thoughts. “To me, WhatsApp by itself has become a lynch mob. People are mindlessly forwarding things…in the 40s and 50s, moral character was held up as something to aspire to….ab toh puri sharam utar gayi hai." She feels that the crux of the problem lies in the fact that “it’s so acceptable to do these things”. The solution she proposes? “Rather than asking WhatsApp to control it…I think the government would be fully authorised and supported to do propaganda on Doordarshan. Instead of putting out stories on the achievements of the government….this is their opportunity to even create a serial based on the damage WhatsApp can do.” For more, listen in! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/477837672 Chhota Hafta – Episode 182 Sat, 28 Jul 2018 11:59:30 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-182 00:25:04 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where the panel discusses everything from elections in Pakistan to recent lynching in Alwar, No Confidence Motion, Rahul Gandhi’s hug and wink and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where the panel discusses everything from elections in Pakistan to recent lynching in Alwar, No Confidence Motion, Rahul Gandhi’s hug and wink and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/465040491 Hafta 178: Saifuddin Soz, #Emergency, Vijay Mallya's letter to the Prime Minister and more Fri, 20 Jul 2018 14:50:02 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-178 01:49:20 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s NL Hafta, the panel consists of Abhinandan, Manisha and Anand. Revati Laul, a renowned independent journalist and filmmaker joined as a guest. The discussion kicks off with Saifuddin Soz, a senior Congress party leader in Kashmir, who recently launched his book titled, Kashmir: Glimpses of History and the Story of Struggle. Saifuddin Soz had also made a statement earlier which said that Kashmiris want Azadi. Commenting on Saifuddin Soz, Anand says, “As a political leader of a nation state, he should be more careful of what he’s saying.” Manisha says, “I think he’s making those comments more as an author.” She adds, “I think he has to keep in mind that he’s a politician but then he’s also speaking from the point of view of his book.” The discussion moves on to the ‘much-advertised’ 43rd anniversary of the Emergency imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Manisha thinks that it is a ‘hyperbole’. She says, "But, of course, 2019 (elections)...I guess that’s the one thing that they (BJP) can whip them (Congress) with.” Commenting on a notion that has surfaced, Anand observes, “I think the fiction of undeclared Emergency is rooted in a sense of deprivation among journalists who don’t have anti-establishment tales to tell in their 60s. And those who are already in their 60s, already know that they’re lying.” He adds, “Advertisements by their very nature are exaggerations.” Revati compares the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi to the current situation of Indian politics. Abhinandan says, “Human nature is displaying certain levels of servility that were displayed during the Emergency...And I think that is unique whenever you get a strong leader.” The panel discusses the letter written by Vijay Mallya to Prime Minister Narendra Modi which explained how he’s being made a ‘scapegoat’ despite his willingness to settle his dues. Abhinandan says, “I definitely think that he thought he could get away with it and now that he has not, he’s saying I can do all this...You could’ve done it earlier also.” Anand says, “Ignominy has also been earned by the flamboyant lifestyle he had.” Abhinandan asks the panel about the Chief Economic Adviser's role in policy making, in the context of Arvind Subramanian who recently quit from the position. Anand says, “Having a macro picture of how the economy is moving, what adjustment it needs... So it’s a kind of an advisory role...Most of the political heads don’t have that expertise to go into those details, so they help in that.” The panel discusses an Amit Shah-related news story that was pulled down by several media houses. The RTI reply stated, the primary basis of the story, that a huge amount of money was deposited in a bank headed by Amit Shah, post-demonetisation. Abhinandan believes that this circles back to the debate around the ‘Emergency’. Manisha speaks about the coverage of a crime incident in which an Army officer had killed the wife of another officer. She says, “Both ABP and Aaj Tak...ran this headline Do major ek mehbooba... They turned it into these rangeela-type websites.” In this week’s NL Hafta, the panel consists of Ab… In this week’s NL Hafta, the panel consists of Abhinandan, Manisha and Anand. Revati Laul, a renowned independent journalist and filmmaker joined as a guest. The discussion kicks off with Saifuddin Soz, a senior Congress party leader in Kashmir, who recently launched his book titled, Kashmir: Glimpses of History and the Story of Struggle. Saifuddin Soz had also made a statement earlier which said that Kashmiris want Azadi. Commenting on Saifuddin Soz, Anand says, “As a political leader of a nation state, he should be more careful of what he’s saying.” Manisha says, “I think he’s making those comments more as an author.” She adds, “I think he has to keep in mind that he’s a politician but then he’s also speaking from the point of view of his book.” The discussion moves on to the ‘much-advertised’ 43rd anniversary of the Emergency imposed by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Manisha thinks that it is a ‘hyperbole’. She says, "But, of course, 2019 (elections)...I guess that’s the one thing that they (BJP) can whip them (Congress) with.” Commenting on a notion that has surfaced, Anand observes, “I think the fiction of undeclared Emergency is rooted in a sense of deprivation among journalists who don’t have anti-establishment tales to tell in their 60s. And those who are already in their 60s, already know that they’re lying.” He adds, “Advertisements by their very nature are exaggerations.” Revati compares the Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi to the current situation of Indian politics. Abhinandan says, “Human nature is displaying certain levels of servility that were displayed during the Emergency...And I think that is unique whenever you get a strong leader.” The panel discusses the letter written by Vijay Mallya to Prime Minister Narendra Modi which explained how he’s being made a ‘scapegoat’ despite his willingness to settle his dues. Abhinandan says, “I definitely think that he thought he could get away with it and now that he has not, he’s saying I can do all this...You could’ve done it earlier also.” Anand says, “Ignominy has also been earned by the flamboyant lifestyle he had.” Abhinandan asks the panel about the Chief Economic Adviser's role in policy making, in the context of Arvind Subramanian who recently quit from the position. Anand says, “Having a macro picture of how the economy is moving, what adjustment it needs... So it’s a kind of an advisory role...Most of the political heads don’t have that expertise to go into those details, so they help in that.” The panel discusses an Amit Shah-related news story that was pulled down by several media houses. The RTI reply stated, the primary basis of the story, that a huge amount of money was deposited in a bank headed by Amit Shah, post-demonetisation. Abhinandan believes that this circles back to the debate around the ‘Emergency’. Manisha speaks about the coverage of a crime incident in which an Army officer had killed the wife of another officer. She says, “Both ABP and Aaj Tak...ran this headline Do major ek mehbooba... They turned it into these rangeela-type websites.” tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/474250170 Chhota Hafta – Episode 181 Fri, 20 Jul 2018 14:48:57 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chota-hafta-episode-181 00:22:36 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where the panel discusses everything from the Supreme Court's order to enact a new law against mob lynching, Nawaz Sharif’s arrest, Shashi Tharoor’s 'Hindu Pakistan' comment, no-confidence motion and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where the panel discusses everything from the Supreme Court's order to enact a new law against mob lynching, Nawaz Sharif’s arrest, Shashi Tharoor’s 'Hindu Pakistan' comment, no-confidence motion and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/471161769 Chhota Hafta – Episode 180 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 14:22:04 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-ep-180 00:26:15 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where the panel discusses everything from judges’ vacation terms, Section 377, Jayant Sinha’s garlanding of convicted lynchers who were out on bail, to the SC-Centre Taj Mahal tussle, the misogynistic adultery law, Netflix’s Sacred Games and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where the panel discusses everything from judges’ vacation terms, Section 377, Jayant Sinha’s garlanding of convicted lynchers who were out on bail, to the SC-Centre Taj Mahal tussle, the misogynistic adultery law, Netflix’s Sacred Games and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/461829156 Hafta 177: BJP-PDP breakup, Shujaat Bukhari's murder, Airtel row and more Fri, 13 Jul 2018 14:06:35 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-177 01:34:40 Newslaundry.com no In this week’s Hafta, Rituparna Chatterjee, Consulting Editor, Reader's Digest and India Today magazine, joins Abhinandan Sekhri who was missing from last week's podcast. Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal and Anand Vardhan are also on the panel. The fallout between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the People’s Democratic Party, in addition to Arvind Kejriwal’s nine-day-long protest, is discussed in depth by the panel. The Airtel controversy over a customer refusing services from a Muslim customer care executive is also debated upon. The killing of Rising Kashmir editor-in-chief Shujaat Bukhari has left our panel in complete dismay. The suicide of Rohit Vemula is revisited as well. Abhinandan begins the discussion with the murder of Shujaat Bukhari and asks, “Why is this getting so much traction and not other murders?” Raman talks about the incident taking place in a conflicted area like Kashmir. He says, "He is confounded about “what really triggered his killing?” Rituparna quotes Shujaat from his interview in 2006, “You don't know anymore who your enemies are” and talks about the reality of this statement in today’s times. Manisha talks about the tendency of being “labelled as an India sympathiser” if one is a moderate or reports against the militants in Jammu and Kashmir. Rituparna moves on to discuss the BJP pulling out of an “unlikely alliance” with People's Democratic Party. Anand refers to this move as a “standard tool for coming out of any confusion when you are in a coalition”. Abhinandan questions the timing of this decision. Raman states, “Almost the entire youth of Kashmir have been radicalised,” adding, “withdrawing from the PDP has more to do with politics." The “tussle” between the Delhi state government and the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi has received varied responses from the panel. Abhinandan asks, “What do you make of what happened and where we are?” Anand observes, “I think the AAP was in it for retrieving political capital of a contrarian party...the moral capital which had suffered substantial erosion with its apologies, with giving tickets to people who in public perception were not deserving of Rajya Sabha seats...” He adds, “The AAP also went on an obfuscation because the blocking of ministerial work is an afterthought. It still didn’t address the original allegation of (alleged) violence against the topmost bureaucrat of Delhi.” Rituparna says that the Congress has yet again ‘missed the bus’.  She points out that the coalition drive of the Congress cannot work in Delhi with the AAP because it’s a ‘natural rival’. Raman says, “I found IAS officers -- former and the serving -- all of them were trying to explain that we’re not on a strike.” Abhinandan comments, “AAP’s whole template is to make an event a talking point and then that goes viral...” He adds, “They (AAP) have been unable to create[turn] any event [into a talking point] since they’ve formed the government.” The panel discusses a recent Twitter row that involved Airtel and a customer. The customer denied the services of a particular customer support executive since the Airtel personnel interacting with her was a Muslim. Rituparna says, “Brands need to immediately hire people to handle a crisis of this sort...because the crisis of this sort is only going to increase.” The panel also discusses Rohit Vemula’s mother's case who was allegedly offered money to speak against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and more. In this week’s Hafta, Rituparna Chatterjee, Consu… In this week’s Hafta, Rituparna Chatterjee, Consulting Editor, Reader's Digest and India Today magazine, joins Abhinandan Sekhri who was missing from last week's podcast. Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal and Anand Vardhan are also on the panel. The fallout between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the People’s Democratic Party, in addition to Arvind Kejriwal’s nine-day-long protest, is discussed in depth by the panel. The Airtel controversy over a customer refusing services from a Muslim customer care executive is also debated upon. The killing of Rising Kashmir editor-in-chief Shujaat Bukhari has left our panel in complete dismay. The suicide of Rohit Vemula is revisited as well. Abhinandan begins the discussion with the murder of Shujaat Bukhari and asks, “Why is this getting so much traction and not other murders?” Raman talks about the incident taking place in a conflicted area like Kashmir. He says, "He is confounded about “what really triggered his killing?” Rituparna quotes Shujaat from his interview in 2006, “You don't know anymore who your enemies are” and talks about the reality of this statement in today’s times. Manisha talks about the tendency of being “labelled as an India sympathiser” if one is a moderate or reports against the militants in Jammu and Kashmir. Rituparna moves on to discuss the BJP pulling out of an “unlikely alliance” with People's Democratic Party. Anand refers to this move as a “standard tool for coming out of any confusion when you are in a coalition”. Abhinandan questions the timing of this decision. Raman states, “Almost the entire youth of Kashmir have been radicalised,” adding, “withdrawing from the PDP has more to do with politics." The “tussle” between the Delhi state government and the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi has received varied responses from the panel. Abhinandan asks, “What do you make of what happened and where we are?” Anand observes, “I think the AAP was in it for retrieving political capital of a contrarian party...the moral capital which had suffered substantial erosion with its apologies, with giving tickets to people who in public perception were not deserving of Rajya Sabha seats...” He adds, “The AAP also went on an obfuscation because the blocking of ministerial work is an afterthought. It still didn’t address the original allegation of (alleged) violence against the topmost bureaucrat of Delhi.” Rituparna says that the Congress has yet again ‘missed the bus’.  She points out that the coalition drive of the Congress cannot work in Delhi with the AAP because it’s a ‘natural rival’. Raman says, “I found IAS officers -- former and the serving -- all of them were trying to explain that we’re not on a strike.” Abhinandan comments, “AAP’s whole template is to make an event a talking point and then that goes viral...” He adds, “They (AAP) have been unable to create[turn] any event [into a talking point] since they’ve formed the government.” The panel discusses a recent Twitter row that involved Airtel and a customer. The customer denied the services of a particular customer support executive since the Airtel personnel interacting with her was a Muslim. Rituparna says, “Brands need to immediately hire people to handle a crisis of this sort...because the crisis of this sort is only going to increase.” The panel also discusses Rohit Vemula’s mother's case who was allegedly offered money to speak against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/468034611 Chhota Hafta – Episode 179 Fri, 06 Jul 2018 14:02:25 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-179 00:24:58 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where we discuss Supreme Court's verdict on the Kejriwal-LG standoff, NRC in Assam, WhatsApp rumours-triggered mob lynchings and more. You can listen to the full Hafta here (https://bit.ly/2ua2gdj) NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where we discuss Supreme Court's verdict on the Kejriwal-LG standoff, NRC in Assam, WhatsApp rumours-triggered mob lynchings and more. You can listen to the full Hafta here (https://bit.ly/2ua2gdj) tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/458666577 Hafta 176: #UrbanNaxal, plot to kill the PM, Assam lynching and Atul Kochhar’s tweets Fri, 06 Jul 2018 13:57:04 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-176 01:07:00 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of NL Hafta, our in-house team of Manisha Pande and Raman Kirpal is joined by two guest panelists -- Saikat Dutta, Asiatimes South Asia Editor and Saif Ullah Khan, Deputy Editor of DailyO. The discussion kicks off with the ‘plot to assassinate the PM’. Manisha asks Saikat, “Are there really ‘urban Naxals’ out there? What is the sense in this term?” Elaborating on the term, Saikat says, “If you look at Maoist literature...they have a lot of literature on urban warfare but they look at it from a military terminology, where they look at how to conduct urban operations, both, which will include psychological operations, information operations as well as military operations but they look at it from a very military perspective and that kind of literature is available.”   He further says, “Even the Naxals themselves or the Maoists have never talked about anything called ‘urban Maoist’ as a separate phenomenon because for them, class warfare is across -- whether rural or urban.” He adds, “This is a deliberate political term which some people of the Right have brought to discredit just about anybody who challenges their narrative.” Saif speaks of two writers, Arun Ferriera and Vernon Gonsalves, being arrested in 2007 on similar grounds. "Again, some letters were leaked and Arun was supposed to be, according to Maharashtra Police, one of the Communications experts. So he was arrested. And the trial went on for four years. And these leaked letters never even made it to the trial. So it was just about painting a certain narrative of a certain individual. Vernon was arrested in August 2007. And again, the trial went on for seven years. And he was supposed to be one of the people handling the finances of the Maoists.” He further adds, “Interestingly, there was a Narco analysis that was done on Arun Ferreira in which according to the leaks he had said it was the Shiv Sena and ABVP that had paid them...At that time it was the Congress and 2009 General Elections. Right now, you’re looking at 2019.” Raman says, “I think it was completely a plant! And 2019 elections, this was more for persecuting people rather than prosecuting.” Saikat says, “Here you have a plot allegedly to kill the Prime Minister, forget about the NIA, even the Central Bureau of Investigation has not been brought in.”  He adds, “Nobody’s talking about bringing in the Intelligence Bureau, nobody’s talking about bringing in the NIA or the CBI. That itself is a great indicator of what this plot is all about.” Manisha puts across a question to panelists on whether the ‘plot to kill Modi’ news makes up for a propaganda problem or a genuine lacuna in beat reporting. The discussion then proceeds to AAP’s protest against LG Anil Baijal. Saif assesses the situation from a political prism of how AAP perceives 2019 elections and its role in it. He says, “AAP is trying to use this ploy to gain some headline, to gain some sympathy in the run-up. It is very much a political thing they’re doing keeping 2019 in mind.” Saikat says, “Their first instinct is to become a victim and play that victim card and seek sympathy.” Expressing serious concern he says, “If the bureaucracy can cook a snook at an elected government with such an overwhelming majority, I think that’s dangerous for democracy. And it shows that the central government can go to any lengths to undermine the opposition.” Raman says that the BJP feared Kejriwal the most when he came in. “So they started building up a narrative around him that this man is chaotic,” he said. Listen up! In this episode of NL Hafta, our in-house team of… In this episode of NL Hafta, our in-house team of Manisha Pande and Raman Kirpal is joined by two guest panelists -- Saikat Dutta, Asiatimes South Asia Editor and Saif Ullah Khan, Deputy Editor of DailyO. The discussion kicks off with the ‘plot to assassinate the PM’. Manisha asks Saikat, “Are there really ‘urban Naxals’ out there? What is the sense in this term?” Elaborating on the term, Saikat says, “If you look at Maoist literature...they have a lot of literature on urban warfare but they look at it from a military terminology, where they look at how to conduct urban operations, both, which will include psychological operations, information operations as well as military operations but they look at it from a very military perspective and that kind of literature is available.”   He further says, “Even the Naxals themselves or the Maoists have never talked about anything called ‘urban Maoist’ as a separate phenomenon because for them, class warfare is across -- whether rural or urban.” He adds, “This is a deliberate political term which some people of the Right have brought to discredit just about anybody who challenges their narrative.” Saif speaks of two writers, Arun Ferriera and Vernon Gonsalves, being arrested in 2007 on similar grounds. "Again, some letters were leaked and Arun was supposed to be, according to Maharashtra Police, one of the Communications experts. So he was arrested. And the trial went on for four years. And these leaked letters never even made it to the trial. So it was just about painting a certain narrative of a certain individual. Vernon was arrested in August 2007. And again, the trial went on for seven years. And he was supposed to be one of the people handling the finances of the Maoists.” He further adds, “Interestingly, there was a Narco analysis that was done on Arun Ferreira in which according to the leaks he had said it was the Shiv Sena and ABVP that had paid them...At that time it was the Congress and 2009 General Elections. Right now, you’re looking at 2019.” Raman says, “I think it was completely a plant! And 2019 elections, this was more for persecuting people rather than prosecuting.” Saikat says, “Here you have a plot allegedly to kill the Prime Minister, forget about the NIA, even the Central Bureau of Investigation has not been brought in.”  He adds, “Nobody’s talking about bringing in the Intelligence Bureau, nobody’s talking about bringing in the NIA or the CBI. That itself is a great indicator of what this plot is all about.” Manisha puts across a question to panelists on whether the ‘plot to kill Modi’ news makes up for a propaganda problem or a genuine lacuna in beat reporting. The discussion then proceeds to AAP’s protest against LG Anil Baijal. Saif assesses the situation from a political prism of how AAP perceives 2019 elections and its role in it. He says, “AAP is trying to use this ploy to gain some headline, to gain some sympathy in the run-up. It is very much a political thing they’re doing keeping 2019 in mind.” Saikat says, “Their first instinct is to become a victim and play that victim card and seek sympathy.” Expressing serious concern he says, “If the bureaucracy can cook a snook at an elected government with such an overwhelming majority, I think that’s dangerous for democracy. And it shows that the central government can go to any lengths to undermine the opposition.” Raman says that the BJP feared Kejriwal the most when he came in. “So they started building up a narrative around him that this man is chaotic,” he said. Listen up! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/455485191 Hafta 175: Kashmir unrest, Bhima Koregaon arrests, Shimla water crisis, Al Jazeera sting Fri, 29 Jun 2018 15:08:35 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-175 01:38:09 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of Hafta, the big question that the panel discusses is whether sting journalism is real journalism. BJP by poll losses and the violence that erupted in Shillong is also discussed. Al Jazeera's sting operation on match-fixing in cricket is another issue that engages the panel in a heated debate. The panel also discusses arrests made in connection with Bhima Koregaon violence and the water crisis in Shimla. The panel consists of Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan and our guest, NDTV's Sunetra Choudhury. BJP’s evident loss in the by poll is critically considered by the panel, when Abhinandan asks, “Is it something that needs the kind of coverage that it did? Is it any indication of who the people will vote for?” Madhu feels the 2019 elections are going to be the “dirtiest elections”. She suggests not to make much of these by polls and adds, “In politics, things can change on a dime." Sunetra Choudhury talks about the excitement built around the by poll results. She says, “We are looking at each and every by poll with bated breaths saying, ‘okay whats going to happen here’…interesting to see how people are getting involved’." Manisha agrees with Madhu and adds, “I wouldn’t read too much into by polls." Abhinandan moves onto the sting operation carried out by Al Jazeera to expose match-fixing in cricket. He says, “I lost interest in it." He wonders, “What was so great about this sting operation?” Anand, despite being a cricket fanatic agrees that the sting was “low on substance” and says it didn’t come up with a conclusive outcome. He, however, also feels that the sting had “good production values”. Madhu talks a little about the Cobrapost and Al Jazeera sting in relativity. She feels that the Cobrapost sting is “not journalistically correct”. Sunetra talks about the two Bengali newspapers that refused to engage with Acharya Atal (Cobrapost's undercover reporter) and how those organisations are a “benchmark” for journalism. The panel shifts their attention to the communal clashes between the Khasi tribe and the Punjabi settlers in Shillong. Known to many as the ‘musical town’, Sunetra shared her anecdotes from Shillong and tension that has spurred over the years. She adds, “I spent every summer there, for 21 years of my life, …curfews were very very common because of this kind of tension between various communities.” Manisha informs the panel of Shillong's long-standing history of tension. She says, “The first major riot was in 1979 by Khasi mobs directed at minorities." Abhinandan feels, “Northeast is a little more complicated because in any case they feel let down by the rest of India." Anand restrains his views and says, “Any tribe (from Shillong) can...say you don’t know much about our tribe.” The Ugly Indian Tourist, an article published by Open magazine is next on the panel's agenda. The article is discussed because Abhinandan feels it has created a lot of flutter. "I think it is an interesting article because I see both sides." The controversy is about the article having racist content. Moving on, the panel discussed the unrest in Kashmir. Manisha said that many [news organisation] have used the headline “mows down”, which she felt was problematic. She thought that in this case, the CRPF personnel in the vehicle had to just “negotiate its way through this violent". She says, "And you must also remember...some men were saying they were upset they could not pull him [the driver] out of the jeep," adding, "you must remember it was exactly a year ago that a policemen Ayub Pandith was lynched to death in the same area and his eyes were gouged out. It was a brutal gruesome lynching. I mean it is this kind of pressure that officers are operating under. Mob fury is very scary even if you have a gun. You have like 50 people approaching…I think it is really this situation where the driver was trying to negotiate through.” In this episode of Hafta, the big question that t… In this episode of Hafta, the big question that the panel discusses is whether sting journalism is real journalism. BJP by poll losses and the violence that erupted in Shillong is also discussed. Al Jazeera's sting operation on match-fixing in cricket is another issue that engages the panel in a heated debate. The panel also discusses arrests made in connection with Bhima Koregaon violence and the water crisis in Shimla. The panel consists of Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan and our guest, NDTV's Sunetra Choudhury. BJP’s evident loss in the by poll is critically considered by the panel, when Abhinandan asks, “Is it something that needs the kind of coverage that it did? Is it any indication of who the people will vote for?” Madhu feels the 2019 elections are going to be the “dirtiest elections”. She suggests not to make much of these by polls and adds, “In politics, things can change on a dime." Sunetra Choudhury talks about the excitement built around the by poll results. She says, “We are looking at each and every by poll with bated breaths saying, ‘okay whats going to happen here’…interesting to see how people are getting involved’." Manisha agrees with Madhu and adds, “I wouldn’t read too much into by polls." Abhinandan moves onto the sting operation carried out by Al Jazeera to expose match-fixing in cricket. He says, “I lost interest in it." He wonders, “What was so great about this sting operation?” Anand, despite being a cricket fanatic agrees that the sting was “low on substance” and says it didn’t come up with a conclusive outcome. He, however, also feels that the sting had “good production values”. Madhu talks a little about the Cobrapost and Al Jazeera sting in relativity. She feels that the Cobrapost sting is “not journalistically correct”. Sunetra talks about the two Bengali newspapers that refused to engage with Acharya Atal (Cobrapost's undercover reporter) and how those organisations are a “benchmark” for journalism. The panel shifts their attention to the communal clashes between the Khasi tribe and the Punjabi settlers in Shillong. Known to many as the ‘musical town’, Sunetra shared her anecdotes from Shillong and tension that has spurred over the years. She adds, “I spent every summer there, for 21 years of my life, …curfews were very very common because of this kind of tension between various communities.” Manisha informs the panel of Shillong's long-standing history of tension. She says, “The first major riot was in 1979 by Khasi mobs directed at minorities." Abhinandan feels, “Northeast is a little more complicated because in any case they feel let down by the rest of India." Anand restrains his views and says, “Any tribe (from Shillong) can...say you don’t know much about our tribe.” The Ugly Indian Tourist, an article published by Open magazine is next on the panel's agenda. The article is discussed because Abhinandan feels it has created a lot of flutter. "I think it is an interesting article because I see both sides." The controversy is about the article having racist content. Moving on, the panel discussed the unrest in Kashmir. Manisha said that many [news organisation] have used the headline “mows down”, which she felt was problematic. She thought that in this case, the CRPF personnel in the vehicle had to just “negotiate its way through this violent". She says, "And you must also remember...some men were saying they were upset they could not pull him [the driver] out of the jeep," adding, "you must remember it was exactly a year ago that a policemen Ayub Pandith was lynched to death in the same area and his eyes were gouged out. It was a brutal gruesome lynching. I mean it is this kind of pressure that officers are operating under. Mob fury is very scary even if you have a gun. You have like 50 people approaching…I think it is really this situation where the driver was trying to negotiate through.” tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/464985258 Chhota Hafta – Episode 178 Fri, 29 Jun 2018 15:07:02 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chota-hafta-episode-178 00:22:36 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where we discuss Saifuddin Soz's remarks, #Emergency, Vijay Mallya's letter to the Prime Minister and more. You can listen to the full Hafta here (https://www.newslaundry.com/2018/06/29/hafta-178-saifuddin-soz-emergency-vijay-mallyas-letter-to-the-prime-minister-and-more). NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where we discuss Saifuddin Soz's remarks, #Emergency, Vijay Mallya's letter to the Prime Minister and more. You can listen to the full Hafta here (https://www.newslaundry.com/2018/06/29/hafta-178-saifuddin-soz-emergency-vijay-mallyas-letter-to-the-prime-minister-and-more). tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/452185308 Hafta 174: Major Gogoi, #TejpalTapes, Cobrapost​​ and Assam's Citizenship Bill Fri, 22 Jun 2018 13:01:04 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-174 01:23:57 Newslaundry.com no This Hafta episode unpacks major developments and incidents that have rocked the media over the past week. While Major Gogoi topped the panel's agenda, Tejpal tapes aired by Times Now also caught their attention. Cobrapost's Operation: 136 is also discussed because it seems to have “made headlines only on social media”. Pranab Mukherjee’s tentative visit to RSS headquarters as well as backlash in Assam against the Citizenship Bill feature in this Hafta. Taking up the issue of Major Gogoi, Abhinandan asks the panel, “What do you make of it?”. Our expert on Northeast issues, Samrat, says, “In places like Kashmir, you have to be sure what exactly is going on." He also adds, “If one of the persons involved was a minor then it is a problem…[otherwise it is the] business of those two individuals and nobody else." Madhu shares her concerns over honey trapping of our Army men in all these high-security areas. She adds, “I really don’t get excited about stories like this…identity of the girl for me is important." The Tarun Tejpal tapes from 2013 surfaced in the media two days after Cobrapost's sting. The tapes were released by Times Now. Madhu feels, “Showing it [the tapes] like this, by slanting the [perception of the] viewers…this is the worst thing to do." Manisha adds, “It is not fair to the girl also." Samrat states “these sort of stories are always reported so sensationally”. Abhinandan comments, “Times Now has found a new low.” The groundbreaking discoveries revealed by the Cobrapost sting Operation: 136 has the entire panel pondering about what is yet to come. Manisha gives a clear context of the sting. She states, “Basically he [Pushp Sharma, Cobrapost's reporter] had 3-point agenda. The first phase was obviously soft-Hindutva, the second was to attack Opposition leaders and the third was to polarise and communalise." Speaking of the sting, Abhinandan talks about Paytm’s involvement in the entire debacle and how “that’s huge”. Shekhar Gupta’s recent article on sting operations being different than journalism ensues a debate amongst the panel. Abhinandan asks, “I want to know why because I think stings are journalism." Madhu clarifies, “Sting journalism is fine with the caveat that it's a story that you wouldn't be able to prove otherwise”. Samrat concurs with Madhu and adds, “A widely-known truth that, unfortunately, can only be brought to the attention of a larger audience by these means, so in that case, I think its alright." Abhinandan and Samrat talk about the controversial Citizenship Bill in Assam. Samrat says, "The Citizenship Bill, basically, tries to ease the process by which members of religious communities other than Muslims from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh can obtain Indian citizenship." He adds, "It exempts people of Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Christian groups from these communities from being cheated as illegal immigrants. The reason you're getting a pushback from the other end of the country (Assam) is because alleged illegal migration from Bangladesh has been part of the politics of Assam since before partition." Samrat proceeds to speak comprehensively on the issue from historical context. Samrat says, "The biggest issue that exists between the Bengali and Assamese communities in Assam is about the alleged imposition of the Bengali language on Assam as the official language by the British administration around 1837." He adds, "The Assam agitation was basically about chasing out the Bengalis. Now what has happened, with the BJP making in-roads there, is that they are trying to re-configure the politics from linguistic basis to religious basis." This Hafta episode unpacks major developments and… This Hafta episode unpacks major developments and incidents that have rocked the media over the past week. While Major Gogoi topped the panel's agenda, Tejpal tapes aired by Times Now also caught their attention. Cobrapost's Operation: 136 is also discussed because it seems to have “made headlines only on social media”. Pranab Mukherjee’s tentative visit to RSS headquarters as well as backlash in Assam against the Citizenship Bill feature in this Hafta. Taking up the issue of Major Gogoi, Abhinandan asks the panel, “What do you make of it?”. Our expert on Northeast issues, Samrat, says, “In places like Kashmir, you have to be sure what exactly is going on." He also adds, “If one of the persons involved was a minor then it is a problem…[otherwise it is the] business of those two individuals and nobody else." Madhu shares her concerns over honey trapping of our Army men in all these high-security areas. She adds, “I really don’t get excited about stories like this…identity of the girl for me is important." The Tarun Tejpal tapes from 2013 surfaced in the media two days after Cobrapost's sting. The tapes were released by Times Now. Madhu feels, “Showing it [the tapes] like this, by slanting the [perception of the] viewers…this is the worst thing to do." Manisha adds, “It is not fair to the girl also." Samrat states “these sort of stories are always reported so sensationally”. Abhinandan comments, “Times Now has found a new low.” The groundbreaking discoveries revealed by the Cobrapost sting Operation: 136 has the entire panel pondering about what is yet to come. Manisha gives a clear context of the sting. She states, “Basically he [Pushp Sharma, Cobrapost's reporter] had 3-point agenda. The first phase was obviously soft-Hindutva, the second was to attack Opposition leaders and the third was to polarise and communalise." Speaking of the sting, Abhinandan talks about Paytm’s involvement in the entire debacle and how “that’s huge”. Shekhar Gupta’s recent article on sting operations being different than journalism ensues a debate amongst the panel. Abhinandan asks, “I want to know why because I think stings are journalism." Madhu clarifies, “Sting journalism is fine with the caveat that it's a story that you wouldn't be able to prove otherwise”. Samrat concurs with Madhu and adds, “A widely-known truth that, unfortunately, can only be brought to the attention of a larger audience by these means, so in that case, I think its alright." Abhinandan and Samrat talk about the controversial Citizenship Bill in Assam. Samrat says, "The Citizenship Bill, basically, tries to ease the process by which members of religious communities other than Muslims from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh can obtain Indian citizenship." He adds, "It exempts people of Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Parsi, Christian groups from these communities from being cheated as illegal immigrants. The reason you're getting a pushback from the other end of the country (Assam) is because alleged illegal migration from Bangladesh has been part of the politics of Assam since before partition." Samrat proceeds to speak comprehensively on the issue from historical context. Samrat says, "The biggest issue that exists between the Bengali and Assamese communities in Assam is about the alleged imposition of the Bengali language on Assam as the official language by the British administration around 1837." He adds, "The Assam agitation was basically about chasing out the Bengalis. Now what has happened, with the BJP making in-roads there, is that they are trying to re-configure the politics from linguistic basis to religious basis." tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/461830878 Chhota Hafta – Episode 177 Fri, 22 Jun 2018 12:59:00 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-177 00:26:15 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where we discuss the BJP-PDP breakup, Shujaat Bukhari's murder, the Airtel row and more. You can listen to the full Hafta here (https://bit.ly/2tlmrFf). NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where we discuss the BJP-PDP breakup, Shujaat Bukhari's murder, the Airtel row and more. You can listen to the full Hafta here (https://bit.ly/2tlmrFf). tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/458649990 Chhota Hafta – Episode 176 Fri, 15 Jun 2018 13:10:35 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chota-hafta-episode-176 00:18:17 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where Manisha is back as host. And we have two guests on the panel to discuss #UrbanNaxal, plot to kill the PM, Assam lynching and Atul Kochhar’s tweets. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where Manisha is back as host. And we have two guests on the panel to discuss #UrbanNaxal, plot to kill the PM, Assam lynching and Atul Kochhar’s tweets. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/455486964 Chhota Hafta – Episode 175 Fri, 08 Jun 2018 14:47:13 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-175 00:22:51 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where Abhinandan is joined by Manisha, Madhu and NDTV's Sunetra Choudhury. The panel discusses Kashmir unrest, Bhima Koregaon arrests, Shimla water crisis, Cobrapost and Al Jazeera stings and so much more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where Abhinandan is joined by Manisha, Madhu and NDTV's Sunetra Choudhury. The panel discusses Kashmir unrest, Bhima Koregaon arrests, Shimla water crisis, Cobrapost and Al Jazeera stings and so much more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/452157387 Chhota Hafta – Episode 174 Fri, 01 Jun 2018 13:53:04 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-174 00:19:17 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where Abhinandan is joined by Manisha, Madhu and journalist Samrat. The panel discusses Major Gogoi, Times Now's coverage of the Tejpal Tapes, media's coverage (or not) of Cobrapost's exposé, Assam's Citizenship Bill and so much more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where Abhinandan is joined by Manisha, Madhu and journalist Samrat. The panel discusses Major Gogoi, Times Now's coverage of the Tejpal Tapes, media's coverage (or not) of Cobrapost's exposé, Assam's Citizenship Bill and so much more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/449046321 Hafta 173: Alliances in Karnataka, Cauvery, #MeToo and fuel price hike Mon, 28 May 2018 06:45:39 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-173 01:43:26 Newslaundry.com no Hafta 173: Alliances in Karnataka, Cauvery, #MeToo and fuel price hike by Newslaundry.com Hafta 173: Alliances in Karnataka, Cauvery, #MeTo… Hafta 173: Alliances in Karnataka, Cauvery, #MeToo and fuel price hike by Newslaundry.com tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/448971426 Chhota Hafta – Episode 173 Fri, 25 May 2018 15:55:29 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-173 00:21:28 Newslaundry.com no Chhota Hafta – Episode 173 by Newslaundry.com Chhota Hafta – Episode 173 by Newslaundry.com Chhota Hafta – Episode 173 by Newslaundry.com tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/445772979 Hafta 172: Karnataka drama, West Bengal polls, Smriti Irani, Sambit Patra and more Sat, 19 May 2018 11:58:38 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-172 01:20:53 Newslaundry.com no On this week’s NL Hafta, Abhinandan is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal and guest Ajoy Ashirwad, Deputy Editor at The Wire. Journalist TS Sudhir from India Today joins the panel on the phone to discuss the Karnataka results. The talk kicks off with the elections, with Sudhir sharing the possible political manoeuvrings that can be adopted by the BJP to prove its majority in the Assembly. Enumerating on the vulnerable spots in the JD(S) and Congress, he says: “Caste and Cash, these are the two things that are being used to kind of ensure a majority for the BJP government.” Abhinandan brings in the Karnataka governor’s decision to call the BJP first to form the government. Madhu weighs in with a pertinent reference to 1996. The Suresh Mehta-led government in Gujarat, under which the present Karnataka governor held a cabinet portfolio, was dismissed by then Prime Minister Deve Gowda. She remarks, “So, this was his Karmic chance.” Ajoy says: “The governor was facing a kind of complicated situation where he had to choose between constitutional responsibility and party loyalty, and we know what he chose now.” On the matter of “horse-trading” of MLAs, Abhinandan comments: “One thing it definitely shows is that our democracy is very immature.” He adds: “For one, something like this happens… and no reporter is out there who will question the MLAs who flipped! Why did you flip? What were the specifics?” Abhinanadan wonders about the possibility of turncoats being re-elected. Sudhir says it depends on the constituency, for instance in places like Ballari ‘muscle power’ can be used to ensure no formidable candidate stands against them. The panel also discusses the ‘supremacy’ of certain individuals and groups that still persists, despite the system discouraging discrimination. Talking about whataboutery, which has become the trend nowadays, Abhinandan weighs in by saying: “This whataboutery has just become the default setting of not just politicians but every journalist in the country.” Madhu adds: “They don’t have any credibility at all. I think we’ve come full circle on that.” Raman points out that “we've hit the bottom already. If you check the TRPs… people have stopped watching TV”. Adding to this, Madhu talks about the ban on Republic TV in a chain of hotels because of the thought process of the owner. Talking about Smriti Irani and the recent cabinet reshuffle, Abhinandan asks: “Why do you think she was asked to go?” Madhu responds: “I will really miss her. She’s very articulate, she’s very well dressed… I don’t think any of the things she’s done, they weren’t done by herself alone. They were done with the PMO’s knowledge and approval. The government has its eye on the 2019 elections.” Raman agrees, saying “she used to pick up fights and creates controversy… the government doesn’t want it, very simple.” Ajoy adds that “all the controversies she created actually worked out to the advantage of the BJP." Abhinandan updates the panel by reading a report on News18. "Security to be withdrawn from the resort where all MLAs are staying - they’re being moved to Punjab or Kerala." To this, Madhu asks, “Why has he chosen Punjab and Kerala?” Abhinandan points out that there is a non-BJP government there. He jokingly asks Ajoy: “Would you say Odisha’s biggest contribution to the country has been Sambit Patra?” Ajoy in his reply highlights the stereotypes and adds: “Why would I say that… He represents the Odiya face in Delhi. Not the food or dance forms and diverse cultures.” The panel talks about Patra’s crassness that is conspicuous in his verbal and online communication. Abhinandan feels that “he is just a very vile man” while Madhu says “he is very entertaining”. On this week’s NL Hafta, Abhinandan is joined by … On this week’s NL Hafta, Abhinandan is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal and guest Ajoy Ashirwad, Deputy Editor at The Wire. Journalist TS Sudhir from India Today joins the panel on the phone to discuss the Karnataka results. The talk kicks off with the elections, with Sudhir sharing the possible political manoeuvrings that can be adopted by the BJP to prove its majority in the Assembly. Enumerating on the vulnerable spots in the JD(S) and Congress, he says: “Caste and Cash, these are the two things that are being used to kind of ensure a majority for the BJP government.” Abhinandan brings in the Karnataka governor’s decision to call the BJP first to form the government. Madhu weighs in with a pertinent reference to 1996. The Suresh Mehta-led government in Gujarat, under which the present Karnataka governor held a cabinet portfolio, was dismissed by then Prime Minister Deve Gowda. She remarks, “So, this was his Karmic chance.” Ajoy says: “The governor was facing a kind of complicated situation where he had to choose between constitutional responsibility and party loyalty, and we know what he chose now.” On the matter of “horse-trading” of MLAs, Abhinandan comments: “One thing it definitely shows is that our democracy is very immature.” He adds: “For one, something like this happens… and no reporter is out there who will question the MLAs who flipped! Why did you flip? What were the specifics?” Abhinanadan wonders about the possibility of turncoats being re-elected. Sudhir says it depends on the constituency, for instance in places like Ballari ‘muscle power’ can be used to ensure no formidable candidate stands against them. The panel also discusses the ‘supremacy’ of certain individuals and groups that still persists, despite the system discouraging discrimination. Talking about whataboutery, which has become the trend nowadays, Abhinandan weighs in by saying: “This whataboutery has just become the default setting of not just politicians but every journalist in the country.” Madhu adds: “They don’t have any credibility at all. I think we’ve come full circle on that.” Raman points out that “we've hit the bottom already. If you check the TRPs… people have stopped watching TV”. Adding to this, Madhu talks about the ban on Republic TV in a chain of hotels because of the thought process of the owner. Talking about Smriti Irani and the recent cabinet reshuffle, Abhinandan asks: “Why do you think she was asked to go?” Madhu responds: “I will really miss her. She’s very articulate, she’s very well dressed… I don’t think any of the things she’s done, they weren’t done by herself alone. They were done with the PMO’s knowledge and approval. The government has its eye on the 2019 elections.” Raman agrees, saying “she used to pick up fights and creates controversy… the government doesn’t want it, very simple.” Ajoy adds that “all the controversies she created actually worked out to the advantage of the BJP." Abhinandan updates the panel by reading a report on News18. "Security to be withdrawn from the resort where all MLAs are staying - they’re being moved to Punjab or Kerala." To this, Madhu asks, “Why has he chosen Punjab and Kerala?” Abhinandan points out that there is a non-BJP government there. He jokingly asks Ajoy: “Would you say Odisha’s biggest contribution to the country has been Sambit Patra?” Ajoy in his reply highlights the stereotypes and adds: “Why would I say that… He represents the Odiya face in Delhi. Not the food or dance forms and diverse cultures.” The panel talks about Patra’s crassness that is conspicuous in his verbal and online communication. Abhinandan feels that “he is just a very vile man” while Madhu says “he is very entertaining”. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/445767021 Chhota Hafta – Episode 172 Fri, 18 May 2018 16:25:21 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-172 00:23:59 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where Abhinandan is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, guest Ajoy Ashirwad, Deputy Editor at The Wire, and journalist TS Sudhir on the phone to discuss the Karnataka drama, West Bengal polls, Smriti Irani, Sambit Patra and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where Abhinandan is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, guest Ajoy Ashirwad, Deputy Editor at The Wire, and journalist TS Sudhir on the phone to discuss the Karnataka drama, West Bengal polls, Smriti Irani, Sambit Patra and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/442546524 Hafta 171: Karnataka, ‘Angry Hanuman’, Gurgaon row, Cauvery and more Fri, 11 May 2018 14:07:59 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-171 01:19:36 Newslaundry.com no On this week’s NL Hafta, Abhinandan is joined by Anand Vardhan and Raman Kirpal, with Manisha joining in on the phone from Bangalore. The discussion is kicked off with the Karnataka elections, with Manisha weighing in on the scenario at the local level, saying that the Mandya district held strong support for Kumaraswamy. Talking about the massive coverage of the elections, Anand attributes it to the proliferation of media, and the resulting “over-coverage” of certain issues, adding that it leads to exchange and oversupply of narratives. Raman asserts that he is sure the 2019 elections will see Rajasthan or UP being the deciding factor. The panel has a good laugh as Manisha reveals that BJP leaders like Sambit Patra are doing road shows in order to garner support. She brings the topic to a close, saying that multiple narratives exist in Karnataka with regard to the elections and it is difficult to single out just one. Abhinandan then brings up the recent case in Gurgaon, when there were protests against people offering namaz on the streets. Abhinandan finds it unnecessary and Anand agrees, adding: “The state government had no business making a statement on this issue.” While acknowledging the availability of separate spaces for offering namaz at hospitals and airports, Raman says there have been “no formal complaints in the past”. Manisha concludes the topic by adding: “It’s got nothing to do with obstruction. This crackdown is about religion and showing Muslims their place.” Anand brings up a “news which didn’t gather much attention” in the media, in which a Dalit funeral procession was stopped from going through a Muslim area in Tamil Nadu. Raman feels there is no connection between this and the namaz incident in Gurgaon. Abhinandan brushes off the topic by adding: “A Khattar equivalent is not there.” The “Angry Hanuman” sticker at the back of the cabs caught the panel’s attention. Abhinandan feels it is “used as a symbol of identity”. Anand seems in disagreement over the conspiracy theory behind “Angry Hanuman” and says “you need to have a preconceived notion to see it like that”. Manisha, who is in the ‘Land of Angry Hanuman’, talks about Ram Sena in Karnataka using the photo “as a propaganda”. Abhinandan says the ‘angry’ face is not of relevance to him, but the way it is being used is a matter of debate. The “sheer contempt on the Centre’s delay” over transferring the water of the Cauvery in Karnataka takes the next spot on the agenda. Manisha and Abhinandan feel it is an issue that is rather less discussed in the Karnataka election campaign. On the Iran nuclear deal, Anand feels “Mr Trump has unexpectedly delivered not badly on foreign policy” while walking out of the deal. Raman applauds Iran for the way the Iranian President “handled it really well”. Abhinandan adds: “Trump likes to cock a snook or show a middle finger to what you’d call the presidential way (of) decision-making… he thrives on that”. On this week’s NL Hafta, Abhinandan is joined by … On this week’s NL Hafta, Abhinandan is joined by Anand Vardhan and Raman Kirpal, with Manisha joining in on the phone from Bangalore. The discussion is kicked off with the Karnataka elections, with Manisha weighing in on the scenario at the local level, saying that the Mandya district held strong support for Kumaraswamy. Talking about the massive coverage of the elections, Anand attributes it to the proliferation of media, and the resulting “over-coverage” of certain issues, adding that it leads to exchange and oversupply of narratives. Raman asserts that he is sure the 2019 elections will see Rajasthan or UP being the deciding factor. The panel has a good laugh as Manisha reveals that BJP leaders like Sambit Patra are doing road shows in order to garner support. She brings the topic to a close, saying that multiple narratives exist in Karnataka with regard to the elections and it is difficult to single out just one. Abhinandan then brings up the recent case in Gurgaon, when there were protests against people offering namaz on the streets. Abhinandan finds it unnecessary and Anand agrees, adding: “The state government had no business making a statement on this issue.” While acknowledging the availability of separate spaces for offering namaz at hospitals and airports, Raman says there have been “no formal complaints in the past”. Manisha concludes the topic by adding: “It’s got nothing to do with obstruction. This crackdown is about religion and showing Muslims their place.” Anand brings up a “news which didn’t gather much attention” in the media, in which a Dalit funeral procession was stopped from going through a Muslim area in Tamil Nadu. Raman feels there is no connection between this and the namaz incident in Gurgaon. Abhinandan brushes off the topic by adding: “A Khattar equivalent is not there.” The “Angry Hanuman” sticker at the back of the cabs caught the panel’s attention. Abhinandan feels it is “used as a symbol of identity”. Anand seems in disagreement over the conspiracy theory behind “Angry Hanuman” and says “you need to have a preconceived notion to see it like that”. Manisha, who is in the ‘Land of Angry Hanuman’, talks about Ram Sena in Karnataka using the photo “as a propaganda”. Abhinandan says the ‘angry’ face is not of relevance to him, but the way it is being used is a matter of debate. The “sheer contempt on the Centre’s delay” over transferring the water of the Cauvery in Karnataka takes the next spot on the agenda. Manisha and Abhinandan feel it is an issue that is rather less discussed in the Karnataka election campaign. On the Iran nuclear deal, Anand feels “Mr Trump has unexpectedly delivered not badly on foreign policy” while walking out of the deal. Raman applauds Iran for the way the Iranian President “handled it really well”. Abhinandan adds: “Trump likes to cock a snook or show a middle finger to what you’d call the presidential way (of) decision-making… he thrives on that”. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/429112578 Hafta 167: Kathua, Unnao and the politics around the two rape cases Fri, 04 May 2018 16:33:08 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-epiosde-167 01:33:33 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of NL Hafta, our in-house team of Madhu Trehan, Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Vardhan, Raman Kirpal and Manisha Pande is joined by NDTV news editor Madhusudan Srinivas. The team discusses the grisly case of rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua in Jammu and another case of rape in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao in which a Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Legislative Assembly is accused. Manisha, while pointing at the chilling details of the charge sheet in the Kathua case, says the case was reported by local media since January but took time to reach Delhi TV news studios. Raman Kirpal says, “The national media picked it up really late. If you see the local newspapers in Jammu, they were talking about it. they had been reporting since January. But not the national media.” Attempting to explain why that happened, Abhinandan says, “I think the national media actually took notice of it when a bunch of lawyers chanting Jai Sri Ram prevented a charge-sheet from being filed. That, I think, was the trigger.” Anand speaks on the scary statistics on child rape in India. Being the son of a police officer, he says, he has read up many police diaries that detail the horrific nature of crime in India. “All these cases have horrific details. It is just that we only know few.” Moving on, the team speaks on Mark Zuckerberg’s apology and how unaware the senators questioning him seemed to be. Madhu details how closely the media reported the scene -- focusing on the cushion Zuckerberg sat on, the clothes he wore, the way he drank water, when he smiled and when he smirked. Moving on, our panel talks of violence against journalists in West Bengal while covering Panchayat elections. Journalists from the Times of India and The Indian Express were assaulted, and one was even forcibly undressed. Prompted by a subscriber’s letter, the panel then ventures into a discussion on ‘generalisations’ and wonders if there’s any truth to them. Abhinandan says, "Every sort of humour device rests heavily on generalisations." Anand says that the important thing about generalisations is that they are always done by others. Abhinandan takes the discussion forward by talking about the Cauvery protest in Tamil Nadu. Anand says there is guilt at play on part of the media: “The whole year you don't report about farmers issues. IPL comes and then you juxtapose corporate jazz, owning IPL times.” Madhusudhan points out, "Even Rajnikanth didn't say I am at the gate, stop the damn thing. He just said it would be a nice idea to stop the IPL.” Talking about the fast held by the Congress, Madhu considers it as psychological manipulation. "Psychological trip of you not eating, really people should not care. It might be good at the British times but now its misuse has become ridiculous,” she says. All this and more in this episode of NL Hafta. Listen up. In this episode of NL Hafta, our in-house team of… In this episode of NL Hafta, our in-house team of Madhu Trehan, Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Vardhan, Raman Kirpal and Manisha Pande is joined by NDTV news editor Madhusudan Srinivas. The team discusses the grisly case of rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua in Jammu and another case of rape in Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao in which a Bharatiya Janata Party Member of Legislative Assembly is accused. Manisha, while pointing at the chilling details of the charge sheet in the Kathua case, says the case was reported by local media since January but took time to reach Delhi TV news studios. Raman Kirpal says, “The national media picked it up really late. If you see the local newspapers in Jammu, they were talking about it. they had been reporting since January. But not the national media.” Attempting to explain why that happened, Abhinandan says, “I think the national media actually took notice of it when a bunch of lawyers chanting Jai Sri Ram prevented a charge-sheet from being filed. That, I think, was the trigger.” Anand speaks on the scary statistics on child rape in India. Being the son of a police officer, he says, he has read up many police diaries that detail the horrific nature of crime in India. “All these cases have horrific details. It is just that we only know few.” Moving on, the team speaks on Mark Zuckerberg’s apology and how unaware the senators questioning him seemed to be. Madhu details how closely the media reported the scene -- focusing on the cushion Zuckerberg sat on, the clothes he wore, the way he drank water, when he smiled and when he smirked. Moving on, our panel talks of violence against journalists in West Bengal while covering Panchayat elections. Journalists from the Times of India and The Indian Express were assaulted, and one was even forcibly undressed. Prompted by a subscriber’s letter, the panel then ventures into a discussion on ‘generalisations’ and wonders if there’s any truth to them. Abhinandan says, "Every sort of humour device rests heavily on generalisations." Anand says that the important thing about generalisations is that they are always done by others. Abhinandan takes the discussion forward by talking about the Cauvery protest in Tamil Nadu. Anand says there is guilt at play on part of the media: “The whole year you don't report about farmers issues. IPL comes and then you juxtapose corporate jazz, owning IPL times.” Madhusudhan points out, "Even Rajnikanth didn't say I am at the gate, stop the damn thing. He just said it would be a nice idea to stop the IPL.” Talking about the fast held by the Congress, Madhu considers it as psychological manipulation. "Psychological trip of you not eating, really people should not care. It might be good at the British times but now its misuse has become ridiculous,” she says. All this and more in this episode of NL Hafta. Listen up. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/439286028 Hafta 170: Karnataka polls, Indian judiciary, AMU-Jinnah row, Red Fort and more Fri, 04 May 2018 13:41:51 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-170 01:31:25 Newslaundry.com no On this week’s NL Hafta, a day that also happened to be World Press Freedom Day, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, and Diksha Madhok, journalist and Digital Director of The Print. The panel was also joined by Newslaundry reporter Amit Bhardwaj who was on call from Mangalore to speak about the Karnataka elections. The panel gets together to discuss issues in the current Indian political system, like the upcoming polls, the state of the Indian judiciary, and more. Abhinandan begins with the subject of the young girl being disrobed on the street by eight youth in Bihar. On this, Madhu points out the dearth of detail in these reports because of lack of on-ground reporters. On the Karnataka elections, the panel discusses it’s coverage in the media, and the narrative adopted by the reports. Diksha opines that the narrative is being controlled. She says that ever since PM Narendra Modi has gone to Karnataka, “he has been trying to turn it from a (CM) Siddaramaiah versus Yeddyurappa battle to a Modi versus Rahul Gandhi battle”. She says “they are clearly trying to deflect attention from the Reddy brothers’ scam”. Amit weighs in, saying the narrative depends largely on which region of Karnataka is being spoken of - “no party whether BJP or Congress has been able to create a pan-Karnataka issue.” However, Madhu expresses doubts on Diksha’s opinion, saying “Modi has been able to avoid corruption, so why would they pick up the Reddy brothers?” As for Raman, he says “in Karnataka, there is an urban-rural divide… Reddys getting ready to fight is not going to affect BJP’s chances.” The panel also discusses exactly how independent or compromised the Supreme Court really is, with reference to Arun Shourie’s latest book Anita Gets Bail. Madhu praises the book: “Everything there is based on facts, on documents - none of it is conjecture.” Moving on to the scenario in AMU and the row over Jinnah’s picture, Abhinandan asks the panel to deliberate over whether or not it is at all an issue. “It is an international issue,” says Madhu, comparing the situation with the taking down of the Confederate statues in America and the statue of Queen Victoria which used to stand by India Gate. She calls it a “satirical art form” that could be laughed at. However, the issue cannot be classified as black or white, according to Abhinandan, and Diksha also points out that with instances like these, it becomes difficult to draw the line at what is acceptable and what isn't. On the Red Fort being “adopted” by the Dalmia Group and outsourcing maintenance of monuments to private parties, Diksha says, “India’s monuments are in a terrible shape right now… It won’t be a bad idea to try some private donors… not the first time this is happening in the world”. Madhu confirms the unfortunate condition of monuments and museums in the capital. Keeping in mind the other end of the spectrum of private firms’ goals - profit generation - Madhu says, “I don’t think national heritage places should be money-making enterprises… very few countries have what we have”. Raman talks about the DND flyover and how it became a money-minting project. Concurring with Madhu’s opinion, he asserts, “Final print is not yet clear; I am a little apprehensive”. Abhinandan acknowledges the “private sector by itself is not evil” but brings the conversation to a pondering note: “Why would someone want to do that (work towards benefit) from the goodness of their heart”? The panel then analyses the statements of Tripura CM Bilab Deb. Diksha refers to him as “a gift to the headliners”. Raman says: “We should certainly tell him he’s a foolish man and whatever he is speaking is garbage… he has to be fixed up.” Madhu confirms that Deb’s suggestions to people to rear livestock and set up paan-shops serves the government’s ulterior motive of promoting entrepreneurship. On this week’s NL Hafta, a day that also happened… On this week’s NL Hafta, a day that also happened to be World Press Freedom Day, Abhinandan Sekhri is joined by Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, and Diksha Madhok, journalist and Digital Director of The Print. The panel was also joined by Newslaundry reporter Amit Bhardwaj who was on call from Mangalore to speak about the Karnataka elections. The panel gets together to discuss issues in the current Indian political system, like the upcoming polls, the state of the Indian judiciary, and more. Abhinandan begins with the subject of the young girl being disrobed on the street by eight youth in Bihar. On this, Madhu points out the dearth of detail in these reports because of lack of on-ground reporters. On the Karnataka elections, the panel discusses it’s coverage in the media, and the narrative adopted by the reports. Diksha opines that the narrative is being controlled. She says that ever since PM Narendra Modi has gone to Karnataka, “he has been trying to turn it from a (CM) Siddaramaiah versus Yeddyurappa battle to a Modi versus Rahul Gandhi battle”. She says “they are clearly trying to deflect attention from the Reddy brothers’ scam”. Amit weighs in, saying the narrative depends largely on which region of Karnataka is being spoken of - “no party whether BJP or Congress has been able to create a pan-Karnataka issue.” However, Madhu expresses doubts on Diksha’s opinion, saying “Modi has been able to avoid corruption, so why would they pick up the Reddy brothers?” As for Raman, he says “in Karnataka, there is an urban-rural divide… Reddys getting ready to fight is not going to affect BJP’s chances.” The panel also discusses exactly how independent or compromised the Supreme Court really is, with reference to Arun Shourie’s latest book Anita Gets Bail. Madhu praises the book: “Everything there is based on facts, on documents - none of it is conjecture.” Moving on to the scenario in AMU and the row over Jinnah’s picture, Abhinandan asks the panel to deliberate over whether or not it is at all an issue. “It is an international issue,” says Madhu, comparing the situation with the taking down of the Confederate statues in America and the statue of Queen Victoria which used to stand by India Gate. She calls it a “satirical art form” that could be laughed at. However, the issue cannot be classified as black or white, according to Abhinandan, and Diksha also points out that with instances like these, it becomes difficult to draw the line at what is acceptable and what isn't. On the Red Fort being “adopted” by the Dalmia Group and outsourcing maintenance of monuments to private parties, Diksha says, “India’s monuments are in a terrible shape right now… It won’t be a bad idea to try some private donors… not the first time this is happening in the world”. Madhu confirms the unfortunate condition of monuments and museums in the capital. Keeping in mind the other end of the spectrum of private firms’ goals - profit generation - Madhu says, “I don’t think national heritage places should be money-making enterprises… very few countries have what we have”. Raman talks about the DND flyover and how it became a money-minting project. Concurring with Madhu’s opinion, he asserts, “Final print is not yet clear; I am a little apprehensive”. Abhinandan acknowledges the “private sector by itself is not evil” but brings the conversation to a pondering note: “Why would someone want to do that (work towards benefit) from the goodness of their heart”? The panel then analyses the statements of Tripura CM Bilab Deb. Diksha refers to him as “a gift to the headliners”. Raman says: “We should certainly tell him he’s a foolish man and whatever he is speaking is garbage… he has to be fixed up.” Madhu confirms that Deb’s suggestions to people to rear livestock and set up paan-shops serves the government’s ulterior motive of promoting entrepreneurship. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/435939033 Hafta 169: Asaram’s conviction, Saroj Khan’s statement, Karnataka polls and more Wed, 02 May 2018 13:22:47 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-169 01:33:15 Newslaundry.com no In this NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan come together to discuss Asaram’s conviction, Saroj Khan’s statement, Karnataka elections, formation of Bahujan Azad Party, Yashwant Sinha quitting BJP, and more. On the apparent absence of violence after Asaram’s conviction, Madhu said: “I don’t think everything is peaceful. I read the judge had to go into hiring police. I read there’s been a reaction from the followers”. While opining on capital punishment, Madhu also recommended a piece written in Hindustan Times by Ishita Manek on why she doesn’t support the death penalty. Her own experience of being sexually exploited in her childhood made her believe that instead of seeking revenge, she wanted an atmosphere that can help children report the crime and the criminal. Giving his views on the verdict, Anand said, “I am not a supporter of capital punishment in any condition. So this is no exception. But there is a culture of knee-jerk political response to things and this is part of it. It may actually be counter to deterrence. If the punishment for raping and killing is the same, there is an incentive to kill. There is an element of seizing the narrative.” Moreover, Manisha pointed out that since almost 90 per cent of child molesters are people the victims know, the death penalty will naturally make families reluctant to report against the victims. For Raman, “If u really want to deter such offenders, you need to have fast-track courts where nobody will be able to tamper with the evidence.” In other words, as Anand put it, “The certainty of punishment is a better deterrent than the rigor of it.” Moving on to Saroj Khan’s statement on the casting couch in the film industry, Abhinandan and Manisha disagreed on the implications of it. While for Abhinandan, two separate sentences were being joined and misconstrued, Manisha found no justification for such a remark in any circumstance. Madhu added, “I don’t think she should have defended any industry. The action is wrong no matter what.” What was worse, as Manisha said, is that no Bollywood celebrity spoke against it. Further, on the strategic importance of the Karnataka Assembly elections, Anand said, “It would be important only if a spillover effect is factored in: will it set a narrative for the general elections?” For Raman, “The election here is relevant because Karnataka is the only state except Punjab where the Congress rules. It is also a major election in a run-up to 2019.” Abhinandan asks the panel to deliberate on whether the UP-based social media adviser from VHP who turned down the Ola cab because his driver was a Muslim, deserved coverage or not. Raman and Madhu feel such news shouldn’t be covered. She said: “I don't think it deserves coverage because it legitimises it. It’s about one loony person tweeting. There are enough aunties and uncles doing crazy things.” While Manisha thinks it should have been covered, “I would report it like a fun anchor story. I wouldn't block it completely.” Anand calls it a “drawing room communal joke getting its way into social media.” Moving on, the panel discusses the 50 IITians who left their jobs to form a party called Bahujan Azad Party, that aims to uplift the Dalits. In the case of the impeachment issue, Abhinandan feels it got balanced coverage. Abhinandan asks the panel to elaborate on the rationale behind Yashwant Sinha quitting the BJP. To which, Madhu answered: “This is no country for old people. In politics, one has to at some point face reality that if you have become irrelevant or people see you as irrelevant, you don't wait till you are dropped, humiliated and pushed out. You walk away with your head held high.” All this and more on this week’s podcast! In this NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan… In this NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan come together to discuss Asaram’s conviction, Saroj Khan’s statement, Karnataka elections, formation of Bahujan Azad Party, Yashwant Sinha quitting BJP, and more. On the apparent absence of violence after Asaram’s conviction, Madhu said: “I don’t think everything is peaceful. I read the judge had to go into hiring police. I read there’s been a reaction from the followers”. While opining on capital punishment, Madhu also recommended a piece written in Hindustan Times by Ishita Manek on why she doesn’t support the death penalty. Her own experience of being sexually exploited in her childhood made her believe that instead of seeking revenge, she wanted an atmosphere that can help children report the crime and the criminal. Giving his views on the verdict, Anand said, “I am not a supporter of capital punishment in any condition. So this is no exception. But there is a culture of knee-jerk political response to things and this is part of it. It may actually be counter to deterrence. If the punishment for raping and killing is the same, there is an incentive to kill. There is an element of seizing the narrative.” Moreover, Manisha pointed out that since almost 90 per cent of child molesters are people the victims know, the death penalty will naturally make families reluctant to report against the victims. For Raman, “If u really want to deter such offenders, you need to have fast-track courts where nobody will be able to tamper with the evidence.” In other words, as Anand put it, “The certainty of punishment is a better deterrent than the rigor of it.” Moving on to Saroj Khan’s statement on the casting couch in the film industry, Abhinandan and Manisha disagreed on the implications of it. While for Abhinandan, two separate sentences were being joined and misconstrued, Manisha found no justification for such a remark in any circumstance. Madhu added, “I don’t think she should have defended any industry. The action is wrong no matter what.” What was worse, as Manisha said, is that no Bollywood celebrity spoke against it. Further, on the strategic importance of the Karnataka Assembly elections, Anand said, “It would be important only if a spillover effect is factored in: will it set a narrative for the general elections?” For Raman, “The election here is relevant because Karnataka is the only state except Punjab where the Congress rules. It is also a major election in a run-up to 2019.” Abhinandan asks the panel to deliberate on whether the UP-based social media adviser from VHP who turned down the Ola cab because his driver was a Muslim, deserved coverage or not. Raman and Madhu feel such news shouldn’t be covered. She said: “I don't think it deserves coverage because it legitimises it. It’s about one loony person tweeting. There are enough aunties and uncles doing crazy things.” While Manisha thinks it should have been covered, “I would report it like a fun anchor story. I wouldn't block it completely.” Anand calls it a “drawing room communal joke getting its way into social media.” Moving on, the panel discusses the 50 IITians who left their jobs to form a party called Bahujan Azad Party, that aims to uplift the Dalits. In the case of the impeachment issue, Abhinandan feels it got balanced coverage. Abhinandan asks the panel to elaborate on the rationale behind Yashwant Sinha quitting the BJP. To which, Madhu answered: “This is no country for old people. In politics, one has to at some point face reality that if you have become irrelevant or people see you as irrelevant, you don't wait till you are dropped, humiliated and pushed out. You walk away with your head held high.” All this and more on this week’s podcast! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/435907215 Chhota Hafta – Episode 169 Fri, 27 Apr 2018 13:33:23 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-169 00:21:24 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan come together to discuss Asaram’s conviction, Saroj Khan’s statement, Karnataka elections, formation of Bahujan Azad Party, Yashwant Sinha quitting BJP, and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan come together to discuss Asaram’s conviction, Saroj Khan’s statement, Karnataka elections, formation of Bahujan Azad Party, Yashwant Sinha quitting BJP, and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/425671572 Hafta 166: Fake News, Salman Khan, ICICI-Videocon, Minister Babas & more Thu, 26 Apr 2018 09:53:33 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-166 01:17:30 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of NL Hafta, the panel sits down to discuss all that dominated the news this week -- the Bharat Bandh protests, fake news guidelines issued by the I&B Ministry, Salman Khan’s conviction and more. This week's guest, Joyjeet Das, journalist with Catch News, spoke on the Videocon-ICICI Bank loan row. "If any of this is true, there will be a huge blow to trust, including investors' trust, which would not work out well in the Indian equities market," he said. Manisha adds that this story broke in 2016 when Intralive journalist Rashmi Singh reported on it. Speaking on whether this indeed qualifies as a scam, Raman says, "On the face of it, ICICI has not denied any allegations. They are simply saying that it doesn't amount to a conflict of interest." While discussing the issue of nationwide Dalit protests, Raman and Joydeep debate if the protests were hijacked by politicians or were a result of "impromptu anger." Abhinandan points out how, "Even though Bapu and Ambedkar were brilliant leaders...technology has allowed today's leaders a better understanding of what India is." Shivraj Singh Chouhan's move to make five religious leaders Ministers of State has our panel wondering what could have prompted the bizarre decision. "It must be a move to patronise these leaders' large following," Raman states. Abhinandan recalls his experience in West Bengal while discussing the recent events of communal violence there. "There was never a threat of violence, even if you abused each other," he says. Joyjeet, however, states, "this idea of violence is not new in Bengal...political violence has been around for long." "Munni ka toh pata nahi, par bhai toh badnaam ho gaya," Abhinandan jokes on the issue of Salman Khan's judgment. The panelists discuss the court's decision to acquit the others and jail Salman. Discussions of the hike in fuel prices have the team recall PMO's initial speeches where he promised to lower down fuel prices. The team also listens in to emails from our subscribers. Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end to our very dear Prime Minister. In this episode of NL Hafta, the panel sits down … In this episode of NL Hafta, the panel sits down to discuss all that dominated the news this week -- the Bharat Bandh protests, fake news guidelines issued by the I&B Ministry, Salman Khan’s conviction and more. This week's guest, Joyjeet Das, journalist with Catch News, spoke on the Videocon-ICICI Bank loan row. "If any of this is true, there will be a huge blow to trust, including investors' trust, which would not work out well in the Indian equities market," he said. Manisha adds that this story broke in 2016 when Intralive journalist Rashmi Singh reported on it. Speaking on whether this indeed qualifies as a scam, Raman says, "On the face of it, ICICI has not denied any allegations. They are simply saying that it doesn't amount to a conflict of interest." While discussing the issue of nationwide Dalit protests, Raman and Joydeep debate if the protests were hijacked by politicians or were a result of "impromptu anger." Abhinandan points out how, "Even though Bapu and Ambedkar were brilliant leaders...technology has allowed today's leaders a better understanding of what India is." Shivraj Singh Chouhan's move to make five religious leaders Ministers of State has our panel wondering what could have prompted the bizarre decision. "It must be a move to patronise these leaders' large following," Raman states. Abhinandan recalls his experience in West Bengal while discussing the recent events of communal violence there. "There was never a threat of violence, even if you abused each other," he says. Joyjeet, however, states, "this idea of violence is not new in Bengal...political violence has been around for long." "Munni ka toh pata nahi, par bhai toh badnaam ho gaya," Abhinandan jokes on the issue of Salman Khan's judgment. The panelists discuss the court's decision to acquit the others and jail Salman. Discussions of the hike in fuel prices have the team recall PMO's initial speeches where he promised to lower down fuel prices. The team also listens in to emails from our subscribers. Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end to our very dear Prime Minister. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/432535143 Hafta 168: #JudgeLoya verdict, Sunday Guardian’s ‘fake news’ and Atishi Marlena’s sacking Sat, 21 Apr 2018 08:29:21 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-168 01:24:05 Newslaundry.com no This week’s NL Hafta brings together our in-house team of Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande and Raman Kirpal along with Rohan Venkataramakrishnan, Associate Editor, Scroll. The panel discussed a range of issues -- the Supreme Court calling the public interest litigation for an independent investigation to Justice Loya’s death ‘frivolous’, the continuing outrage over the Kathua case, the Mecca Masjid blast verdict and a lot more. This week’s NL Hafta brings together our in-house… This week’s NL Hafta brings together our in-house team of Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande and Raman Kirpal along with Rohan Venkataramakrishnan, Associate Editor, Scroll. The panel discussed a range of issues -- the Supreme Court calling the public interest litigation for an independent investigation to Justice Loya’s death ‘frivolous’, the continuing outrage over the Kathua case, the Mecca Masjid blast verdict and a lot more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/432478584 Chhota Hafta – Episode 168 Fri, 20 Apr 2018 14:04:17 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chota-hafta-episode-168 00:20:52 Newslaundry.com no A snippet of NL Hafta for non-subscribers. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where our in-house team of Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande and Raman Kirpal is joined by Rohan Venkataramakrishnan, Associate Editor, Scroll. The panel discussed a range of issues -- the Supreme Court calling the public interest litigation for an independent investigation to Justice Loya’s death ‘frivolous’, the continuing outrage over the Kathua case, the Mecca Masjid blast verdict and a lot more. A snippet of NL Hafta for non-subscribers. NL Ha… A snippet of NL Hafta for non-subscribers. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where our in-house team of Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande and Raman Kirpal is joined by Rohan Venkataramakrishnan, Associate Editor, Scroll. The panel discussed a range of issues -- the Supreme Court calling the public interest litigation for an independent investigation to Justice Loya’s death ‘frivolous’, the continuing outrage over the Kathua case, the Mecca Masjid blast verdict and a lot more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/418189732 Hafta 164: TDP Pulls Out, Cambridge Analytica, Arvind Kejriwal, Congress plenary and more Fri, 13 Apr 2018 14:34:19 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-164 01:18:22 Newslaundry.com no Journalist Shivam Vij joins us this week to weigh in on weekly affairs along with the Hafta team. Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan, along with Vij, discuss TDP quitting the NDA. Abhinandan talks about the interesting history of Chandrababu Naidu's political life. Moving on, they talk about the 84th Congress plenary. What went wrong with the speeches of Rahul Gandhi and Navjot Singh Sidhu? Madhu Trehan tells us why Sidhu is not out of his mind. Apart from this, they talk about how the Cambridge Analytica controversy has rocked Indian politics. At last, they discuss Arvind Kejriwal apologising to Bikram Majithia, Nitin Gadkari and Kapil Sibal. Also, emails from our subscribers. Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end too. Journalist Shivam Vij joins us this week to weigh… Journalist Shivam Vij joins us this week to weigh in on weekly affairs along with the Hafta team. Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan, along with Vij, discuss TDP quitting the NDA. Abhinandan talks about the interesting history of Chandrababu Naidu's political life. Moving on, they talk about the 84th Congress plenary. What went wrong with the speeches of Rahul Gandhi and Navjot Singh Sidhu? Madhu Trehan tells us why Sidhu is not out of his mind. Apart from this, they talk about how the Cambridge Analytica controversy has rocked Indian politics. At last, they discuss Arvind Kejriwal apologising to Bikram Majithia, Nitin Gadkari and Kapil Sibal. Also, emails from our subscribers. Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/429109482 Chhota Hafta - Episode 167 Fri, 13 Apr 2018 14:25:15 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-167 00:21:02 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss Kathua, Unnao and the politics around the two rape cases. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss Kathua, Unnao and the politics around the two rape cases. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/414566022 Hafta 163: Maharashtra farmers' march, SP-BSP win, Naresh Agrawal and more Sat, 07 Apr 2018 05:39:34 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-163 01:26:17 Newslaundry.com no Parth MN from People’s Archive of Rural India (PARI) joins the regular Hafta panel to share his ground experiences during the Maharashtra farmers' protest. Has the state government’s assurance satisfied them? How did Mumbai treat the farmers when they carried on the protest in the city? Parth tells us why it was a well organised march. Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal, Anand Vardhan and Madhu Trehan also talk about Naresh Agrawal's comment on Jaya Bachchan, which he made after he was denied a Rajya Sabha ticket to make place for her. Anand dissects the comment and tries to explain why he said that. They also discuss Finance Bill 2018, which was passed in Parliament without discussion. Anand brings up a funny comment by Akhilesh Yadav which was not talked about much in the news. Also, emails from our subscribers. Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end too. Parth MN from People’s Archive of Rural India (PA… Parth MN from People’s Archive of Rural India (PARI) joins the regular Hafta panel to share his ground experiences during the Maharashtra farmers' protest. Has the state government’s assurance satisfied them? How did Mumbai treat the farmers when they carried on the protest in the city? Parth tells us why it was a well organised march. Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal, Anand Vardhan and Madhu Trehan also talk about Naresh Agrawal's comment on Jaya Bachchan, which he made after he was denied a Rajya Sabha ticket to make place for her. Anand dissects the comment and tries to explain why he said that. They also discuss Finance Bill 2018, which was passed in Parliament without discussion. Anand brings up a funny comment by Akhilesh Yadav which was not talked about much in the news. Also, emails from our subscribers. Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/425672721 Chhota Hafta - Episode 166 Fri, 06 Apr 2018 13:32:51 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-166 00:23:58 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss fake news, Salman Khan's conviction, ICICI-Videocon, Minister babas & more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss fake news, Salman Khan's conviction, ICICI-Videocon, Minister babas & more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/422263275 Hafta 165: Karnataka elections, Cobrapost, Ram Navami violence, Anna Hazare & more Sat, 31 Mar 2018 09:29:30 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-165 01:34:47 Newslaundry.com no Journalist Prabhu Mallikarjun joins the Hafta panel this week to talk about Karnataka elections and the Lingayat controversy. Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal and Meghnad also discuss Cobrapost's exposé. Raman tells us why he hates sting operations, while Madhu tells us why, in some cases, a sting operation is the only way forward. We also have Abhinandan telling the panel his 'sting' experience. The gang also talks about Cambridge Analytica and the data breach issue. There is also some discussion about how targetted advertisements on the internet can impact our lives. At last, they talk about Anna Hazare's protest and why it wasn't a big deal this time. Also, emails from our subscribers. Listen up, there is a song dedication too! Journalist Prabhu Mallikarjun joins the Hafta pan… Journalist Prabhu Mallikarjun joins the Hafta panel this week to talk about Karnataka elections and the Lingayat controversy. Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande, Raman Kirpal and Meghnad also discuss Cobrapost's exposé. Raman tells us why he hates sting operations, while Madhu tells us why, in some cases, a sting operation is the only way forward. We also have Abhinandan telling the panel his 'sting' experience. The gang also talks about Cambridge Analytica and the data breach issue. There is also some discussion about how targetted advertisements on the internet can impact our lives. At last, they talk about Anna Hazare's protest and why it wasn't a big deal this time. Also, emails from our subscribers. Listen up, there is a song dedication too! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/410976633 Hafta 162: TDP-BJP, vandalism, banking fraud, Northeast elections and more Fri, 30 Mar 2018 12:40:50 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-162 01:10:04 Newslaundry.com no Journalist TS Sudhir joins the Hafta panel to discuss the TDP-BJP controversy and the vandalism war in various states of the country. He also tells us about the history of the leaders whose idols were recently vandalised. Freelance journalist Garima Chitkara talks about banking fraud in India. She focuses on the technicalities and the existing faults in the system. Journalist Samrat, who reports from the Northeast, explains about the saffron wave in the recent elections that gave BJP a huge victory in Tripura. At last, the team discusses the Hadiya case. Also, emails from our subscribers. Listen up, there’s a song dedication in the end too. Journalist TS Sudhir joins the Hafta panel to dis… Journalist TS Sudhir joins the Hafta panel to discuss the TDP-BJP controversy and the vandalism war in various states of the country. He also tells us about the history of the leaders whose idols were recently vandalised. Freelance journalist Garima Chitkara talks about banking fraud in India. She focuses on the technicalities and the existing faults in the system. Journalist Samrat, who reports from the Northeast, explains about the saffron wave in the recent elections that gave BJP a huge victory in Tripura. At last, the team discusses the Hadiya case. Also, emails from our subscribers. Listen up, there’s a song dedication in the end too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/422264829 Chhota Hafta - Episode 165 Fri, 30 Mar 2018 11:11:05 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chota-hafta-episode-165 00:22:06 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss Karnataka elections, Cobrapost, Ram Navami violence, Anna Hazare & more. Listen up! NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss Karnataka elections, Cobrapost, Ram Navami violence, Anna Hazare & more. Listen up! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/418186956 Chhota Hafta - Episode 164 Fri, 23 Mar 2018 14:53:28 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-164 00:20:30 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where we discuss #TDPPullsOut, Cambridge Analytica, Arvind Kejriwal, Congress plenary and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where we discuss #TDPPullsOut, Cambridge Analytica, Arvind Kejriwal, Congress plenary and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/403982967 Hafta 160: Kamal Haasan, #AAPSlapgate, encounters in Uttar Pradesh, Nirav Modi, Rotomac scam & more Fri, 16 Mar 2018 13:17:26 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-160 01:31:48 Newslaundry.com no Journalist TR Vivek joins the Hafta team to discuss his award-winning piece on Cauvery and Kamal Haasan's newly-formed party, 'Makkal Needhi Maiam'. Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan and Raman Kirpal also talk about #AAPSlapgate and the ongoing controversy. Abhinandan asks what was the reason to call a meeting at midnight? Was the issue really worth it? They also discuss Nirav Modi, the #PNBScam as well as the Rotomac fraud case. Manisha is very sceptical about Justin Trudeau and his visit to India. Anand Vardhan gets involved in an exciting debate with the rest of the panellists as they discuss Uttar Pradesh's 'encounter policy'. There is also a bunch of e-mails from our subscribers. Listen up, there is a song dedication too! Journalist TR Vivek joins the Hafta team to discu… Journalist TR Vivek joins the Hafta team to discuss his award-winning piece on Cauvery and Kamal Haasan's newly-formed party, 'Makkal Needhi Maiam'. Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan and Raman Kirpal also talk about #AAPSlapgate and the ongoing controversy. Abhinandan asks what was the reason to call a meeting at midnight? Was the issue really worth it? They also discuss Nirav Modi, the #PNBScam as well as the Rotomac fraud case. Manisha is very sceptical about Justin Trudeau and his visit to India. Anand Vardhan gets involved in an exciting debate with the rest of the panellists as they discuss Uttar Pradesh's 'encounter policy'. There is also a bunch of e-mails from our subscribers. Listen up, there is a song dedication too! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/414562803 Chhota Hafta - Episode 163 Fri, 16 Mar 2018 12:27:45 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-163 00:20:29 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where we discuss Maharashtra farmers' march, SP-BSP win, Naresh Agrawal and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where we discuss Maharashtra farmers' march, SP-BSP win, Naresh Agrawal and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/400452078 Hafta 159: Indian Army, RSS, Nirav Modi, civil services and more Fri, 09 Mar 2018 13:59:50 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-159 01:51:30 Newslaundry.com no Journalist Aarti Tikoo joins the Hafta team to discuss relations between India and Pakistan. Manisha Pande, Anand Ranganathan, Anand Vardhan and Atul Chaurasia along with Aarti also talk about RSS’ ideology. Atul narrates a controversial story about the RSS, while Aarti asks Anand Ranganathan an interesting question comparing the outfit with the Jamaat-e-Islami. They also talk about Nirav Modi, the PNB fraud case, the sacking of an India Today journalist and how a parody tweet made it to Aaj Tak. A deep discussion ensues on how media organisations are okay with the labels they have got (be it Right-wing or Left-wing). Anand Vardhan explains his latest article on civil services aspirants and why his own students might not like the piece. Also, many emails from our subscribers. Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end too. Journalist Aarti Tikoo joins the Hafta team to di… Journalist Aarti Tikoo joins the Hafta team to discuss relations between India and Pakistan. Manisha Pande, Anand Ranganathan, Anand Vardhan and Atul Chaurasia along with Aarti also talk about RSS’ ideology. Atul narrates a controversial story about the RSS, while Aarti asks Anand Ranganathan an interesting question comparing the outfit with the Jamaat-e-Islami. They also talk about Nirav Modi, the PNB fraud case, the sacking of an India Today journalist and how a parody tweet made it to Aaj Tak. A deep discussion ensues on how media organisations are okay with the labels they have got (be it Right-wing or Left-wing). Anand Vardhan explains his latest article on civil services aspirants and why his own students might not like the piece. Also, many emails from our subscribers. Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/410924331 Chhota Hafta - Episode 162 Fri, 09 Mar 2018 13:14:11 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-chhota-hafta-episode-162 00:22:23 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode, where we discuss the TDP-BJP, vandalism, banking fraud, Northeast elections and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode, where we discuss the TDP-BJP, vandalism, banking fraud, Northeast elections and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/396781344 Hafta 158: Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Ankit Saxena, Vinay Katiyar & more. Sun, 04 Mar 2018 06:16:54 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-158 01:39:00 Newslaundry.com no Prime Minister Narendra Modi's jibe against Rajya Sabha MP Renuka Chowdhury may have sparked a mini-Mahabharat of sorts. This got the Hafta panel talking about the remark -- Should such remarks be taken lightly? Manisha Pande, Anand Ranganathan, Meghnad, Anand Vardhan and Raman Kirpal also discuss Amit Shah's debut speech in Parliament, where he defended the Modi's pakoda remark. They also talk about the murder of Ankit Saxena, a boy who loved a Muslim girl and was killed by the girl's kin. In addition, they also talk about Member of Parliament Vinay Katiyar and his recent statements that made the news. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's jibe against Rajya… Prime Minister Narendra Modi's jibe against Rajya Sabha MP Renuka Chowdhury may have sparked a mini-Mahabharat of sorts. This got the Hafta panel talking about the remark -- Should such remarks be taken lightly? Manisha Pande, Anand Ranganathan, Meghnad, Anand Vardhan and Raman Kirpal also discuss Amit Shah's debut speech in Parliament, where he defended the Modi's pakoda remark. They also talk about the murder of Ankit Saxena, a boy who loved a Muslim girl and was killed by the girl's kin. In addition, they also talk about Member of Parliament Vinay Katiyar and his recent statements that made the news. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/406973538 Hafta 161: Karnataka elections, SSC scam, Sridevi, Karti Chidambaram and more Thu, 01 Mar 2018 14:17:39 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-161 01:38:01 Newslaundry.com no This week, it is a Holi special Hafta. Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan and Raman Kirpal start the discussion by talking about Holi and why it is the best festival for kids and why adults should not yell at them for one day at least. They talk about the Karnataka elections and why coining new terms is common among politicians these days. Then they talk about Sridevi's demise and how the media stooped to new lows covering it. Anand Vardhan speaks about the SSC exams. Raman Kirpal speaks about the Army Chief, General Bipin Rawat. Abhinandan and Madhu also talk about why Karti Chidambaram’s case is a Catch-22 for Narendra Modi. Also, a lot of emails from our subscribers. Listen up, there is a Holi song dedication in the end too. This week, it is a Holi special Hafta. Abhinandan… This week, it is a Holi special Hafta. Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan and Raman Kirpal start the discussion by talking about Holi and why it is the best festival for kids and why adults should not yell at them for one day at least. They talk about the Karnataka elections and why coining new terms is common among politicians these days. Then they talk about Sridevi's demise and how the media stooped to new lows covering it. Anand Vardhan speaks about the SSC exams. Raman Kirpal speaks about the Army Chief, General Bipin Rawat. Abhinandan and Madhu also talk about why Karti Chidambaram’s case is a Catch-22 for Narendra Modi. Also, a lot of emails from our subscribers. Listen up, there is a Holi song dedication in the end too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/393362325 Hafta 157: Budget 2018, Kasganj, eight-month-old’s rape, Swara Bhasker and more Mon, 26 Feb 2018 06:49:30 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-157 01:58:20 Newslaundry.com no Public policy enthusiast Meghnad is back to discuss Budget 2018 with the Hafta team. Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, Raman Kirpal along with Meghnad also talk about violence in Kasganj and how the media covered it. How many were ground reports and how many were opinion pieces? Abhinandan asks the panel about Rashtra Manch, launched by Yashwant Sinha, and Shatrughan Sinha joining the Manch. Is this a move to pressure the BJP from within? They discuss Swara Bhasker's piece on Padmaavat. Manisha tells why she could not read the piece after two-three paragraphs. Then they talk about the concept of One Nation One Election and the consequences of it. Vardhan thinks of it as “not a bad idea”. Raman raises questions about the concept. Abhinandan talks about a recent case of FIR against Army personnel and finds it unfortunate. Lastly, they discuss a tragedy which shook Delhi when an eight-month-old baby was raped. Also, a lot of emails from our beloved subscribers. Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end too. Public policy enthusiast Meghnad is back to discu… Public policy enthusiast Meghnad is back to discuss Budget 2018 with the Hafta team. Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, Raman Kirpal along with Meghnad also talk about violence in Kasganj and how the media covered it. How many were ground reports and how many were opinion pieces? Abhinandan asks the panel about Rashtra Manch, launched by Yashwant Sinha, and Shatrughan Sinha joining the Manch. Is this a move to pressure the BJP from within? They discuss Swara Bhasker's piece on Padmaavat. Manisha tells why she could not read the piece after two-three paragraphs. Then they talk about the concept of One Nation One Election and the consequences of it. Vardhan thinks of it as “not a bad idea”. Raman raises questions about the concept. Abhinandan talks about a recent case of FIR against Army personnel and finds it unfortunate. Lastly, they discuss a tragedy which shook Delhi when an eight-month-old baby was raped. Also, a lot of emails from our beloved subscribers. Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/403933992 Chhota Hafta - Episode 160 Fri, 23 Feb 2018 12:11:19 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-chhota-hafta-episode-160 00:23:22 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss Kamal Haasan, AAP SlapGate, UP Encounters, Nirav Modi & more. You can listen to the full Hafta here. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss Kamal Haasan, AAP SlapGate, UP Encounters, Nirav Modi & more. You can listen to the full Hafta here. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/400452207 Chhota Hafta - Episode 159 Fri, 16 Feb 2018 09:58:25 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-chhota-hafta-episode-159 00:23:35 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where we discuss the Indian Army, RSS, Nirav Modi, India Today's Angshukanta Chakraborty and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where we discuss the Indian Army, RSS, Nirav Modi, India Today's Angshukanta Chakraborty and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/382496432 Hafta 154: The Quint, Jadhav, Yuva Hunkar, Shekhar Gupta and more Mon, 12 Feb 2018 11:55:13 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-154 01:38:55 Newslaundry.com no Rachna Khaira from The Tribune joins the regular Hafta gang to discuss her Aadhaar data breach story and the FIR the UIDAI filed against her. Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Manisha Pande and Raman Kirpal discuss the Yuva Hunkar Rally that took place in Delhi. Why did it make the prime-time shows in TV debates? The Hafta gang also dissects the latest article by Shekhar Gupta on Aadhaar. Madhu talks about Michael Wolff's controversial new book Fire and Fury, an account of the first nine months of the Trump presidency. They talk about The Quint's story on Kulbhushan Jadhav as well. Was it anti-national? Abhinandan asks the panel interesting questions regarding this issue. They also discuss the national anthem as the Supreme Court has ruled it is not mandatory to play it in cinema halls. Also, a lot of mails from our beloved subscribers. Listen up, there is a song dedication at the end too. Rachna Khaira from The Tribune joins the regular … Rachna Khaira from The Tribune joins the regular Hafta gang to discuss her Aadhaar data breach story and the FIR the UIDAI filed against her. Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Manisha Pande and Raman Kirpal discuss the Yuva Hunkar Rally that took place in Delhi. Why did it make the prime-time shows in TV debates? The Hafta gang also dissects the latest article by Shekhar Gupta on Aadhaar. Madhu talks about Michael Wolff's controversial new book Fire and Fury, an account of the first nine months of the Trump presidency. They talk about The Quint's story on Kulbhushan Jadhav as well. Was it anti-national? Abhinandan asks the panel interesting questions regarding this issue. They also discuss the national anthem as the Supreme Court has ruled it is not mandatory to play it in cinema halls. Also, a lot of mails from our beloved subscribers. Listen up, there is a song dedication at the end too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/379123715 Hafta 153: Rajinikanth, AAP, Electoral Bonds, Bhima Koregaon and more Mon, 12 Feb 2018 11:55:06 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-153 01:52:24 Newslaundry.com no Journalist TS Sudhir joins us for the discussion on Rajinikanth joining politics and he narrates the interesting history between AIADMK and Thalaivar. Public policy professional Meghnad joins us to express his views on Electoral Bonds for political donation. He also talks about the latest story on Aadhaar data exploitation for Rs 500. Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, Raman Kirpal and Meghnad also discuss Sushil Gupta and ND Gupta chosen by the Aam Aadmi Party as its nominees for the January 16 Rajya Sabha polls. Manisha thinks Kumar Vishwas should have been given an opportunity, considering his work for the party. They also talk about the Bhima Koregaon violence, Kamala Mills fire and triple talaq case updates. Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end too. Journalist TS Sudhir joins us for the discussion … Journalist TS Sudhir joins us for the discussion on Rajinikanth joining politics and he narrates the interesting history between AIADMK and Thalaivar. Public policy professional Meghnad joins us to express his views on Electoral Bonds for political donation. He also talks about the latest story on Aadhaar data exploitation for Rs 500. Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, Raman Kirpal and Meghnad also discuss Sushil Gupta and ND Gupta chosen by the Aam Aadmi Party as its nominees for the January 16 Rajya Sabha polls. Manisha thinks Kumar Vishwas should have been given an opportunity, considering his work for the party. They also talk about the Bhima Koregaon violence, Kamala Mills fire and triple talaq case updates. Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/385886108 Hafta 155: Mevani-RepublicTV standoff, Judiciary, Aadhaar, CCTV in schools & more. Fri, 09 Feb 2018 15:52:17 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-155 01:42:27 Newslaundry.com no The Caravan's Hartosh Singh Bal joins the regular Hafta gang to discuss the tussle in the judiciary in the wake of the press conference held by four of the seniormost judges of the Supreme Court. Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, Raman Kirpal and Bal also talk about Judge Loya's son's press conference. Abhinandan weighs in on the Jignesh Mevani-RepublicTV standoff and the idea of a free press. This Hafta, the panellists also talk about Babe's article on Golden Globe winner Aziz Ansari as well as the Aadhaar hearing in the Supreme Court. Lastly, they discuss Delhi government's announcement to install CCTV cameras in schools. Will this decision be appreciated by parents? Listen up to find out. The Caravan's Hartosh Singh Bal joins the regular… The Caravan's Hartosh Singh Bal joins the regular Hafta gang to discuss the tussle in the judiciary in the wake of the press conference held by four of the seniormost judges of the Supreme Court. Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, Raman Kirpal and Bal also talk about Judge Loya's son's press conference. Abhinandan weighs in on the Jignesh Mevani-RepublicTV standoff and the idea of a free press. This Hafta, the panellists also talk about Babe's article on Golden Globe winner Aziz Ansari as well as the Aadhaar hearing in the Supreme Court. Lastly, they discuss Delhi government's announcement to install CCTV cameras in schools. Will this decision be appreciated by parents? Listen up to find out. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/396788016 Chhota Hafta Episode 158 Fri, 09 Feb 2018 11:48:54 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chota-hafta-episode-158 00:20:37 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Ankit Saxena, Vinay Katiyar & more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, Ankit Saxena, Vinay Katiyar & more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/348842294 Hafta 143: #MeToo, HT Hate Tracker, Barkha Dutt and NDTV controversy and more Tue, 06 Feb 2018 12:43:26 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-143 02:03:40 Newslaundry.com no The #MeToo campaign has strengthened women all around the world as they are coming up with their personal sufferings in social media and opening up about the molestation they have suffered in the past. The Hafta gang discusses the topic in depth about whether times have changed or if the situation was the same in the past too. Open magazine Executive Editor Ullekh NP, who is from Kerala, joins us in the discussion where he gives his inputs on the 'Left Vs Right' Battle in Kerala. Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, Madhu Trehan and Ullekh NP also discuss recapitalisation of banks, the Hate Tracker series pulled down by the Hindustan Times, the controversy between Barkha Dutt and NDTV and more. Listen up, there are two song dedications in the end too. The #MeToo campaign has strengthened women all ar… The #MeToo campaign has strengthened women all around the world as they are coming up with their personal sufferings in social media and opening up about the molestation they have suffered in the past. The Hafta gang discusses the topic in depth about whether times have changed or if the situation was the same in the past too. Open magazine Executive Editor Ullekh NP, who is from Kerala, joins us in the discussion where he gives his inputs on the 'Left Vs Right' Battle in Kerala. Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, Madhu Trehan and Ullekh NP also discuss recapitalisation of banks, the Hate Tracker series pulled down by the Hindustan Times, the controversy between Barkha Dutt and NDTV and more. Listen up, there are two song dedications in the end too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/393362898 Chhota Hafta Episode 157 Fri, 02 Feb 2018 12:29:28 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-157 00:21:26 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where we discuss Budget 2018, Kasganj, the rape of an eight-month-old baby in Delhi, Swara Bhasker, FIR against Army and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where we discuss Budget 2018, Kasganj, the rape of an eight-month-old baby in Delhi, Swara Bhasker, FIR against Army and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/388863249 Hafta 156: Narendra Modi in Davos, AAP MLAs, Padmaavat, Satyapal Singh on Darwin and more Fri, 26 Jan 2018 08:15:06 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-156 01:16:57 Newslaundry.com no Former journalist with more than 30 years of experience, Nitin Gokhale joins us for the podcast to discuss weekly affairs. He sheds light on the conflict between India and China. Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, Anand Ranganathan and Raman Kirpal along with Nitin also talk about Narendra Modi in Davos and his two interviews with news channels Zee News and Times Now. They discuss the 'office of profit' controversy in which 20 AAP MLAs were disqualified by the President. Raman and Nitin get nostalgic sharing their encounters with the late Vinod Mehta. Manisha brings up Satyapal Singh, who recently made a statement on Darwin’s theory of evolution. Lastly, they talk about the ongoing Karni Sena violence in the country over the film Padmaavat. Anand Vardhan believes that violence like this will continue in India for many more years to come. Also, a lot of emails from our beloved subscribers. Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end too. Former journalist with more than 30 years of expe… Former journalist with more than 30 years of experience, Nitin Gokhale joins us for the podcast to discuss weekly affairs. He sheds light on the conflict between India and China. Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, Anand Ranganathan and Raman Kirpal along with Nitin also talk about Narendra Modi in Davos and his two interviews with news channels Zee News and Times Now. They discuss the 'office of profit' controversy in which 20 AAP MLAs were disqualified by the President. Raman and Nitin get nostalgic sharing their encounters with the late Vinod Mehta. Manisha brings up Satyapal Singh, who recently made a statement on Darwin’s theory of evolution. Lastly, they talk about the ongoing Karni Sena violence in the country over the film Padmaavat. Anand Vardhan believes that violence like this will continue in India for many more years to come. Also, a lot of emails from our beloved subscribers. Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/376081745 Hafta 152: Kulbhushan Jadhav, Anant Hegde, Malegaon blast, RK Nagar bypoll and more Fri, 19 Jan 2018 15:07:43 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-152 01:43:41 Newslaundry.com no Union minister Anantkumar Hegde apologised in Parliament amid protests over his comment that his party, the BJP, will "soon change the Constitution". Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, Atul Chaurasia and Raman Kirpal dissect his comment and also address the ongoing tension between Islamabad and New Delhi over the meeting of Kulbhushan Jadhav with his family. Abhinandan tries to find some similarities between the Pakistani and Indian media, while Raman sheds some light on the 2G scam and shares his experience when he went to cover the fodder scam case of Lalu Prasad Yadav. They also talk about the Adarsh scam and Maharashtra's former CM Ashok Chavan. Lastly, they talk about south Indian politics and how Jayalalitha’s video triggered a controversy just before the RK Nagar bypoll. Listen up, there are two song dedications in the end too - one for our dear subscriber “Womaniya” and the other is a tribute to Mirza Ghalib. Union minister Anantkumar Hegde apologised in Par… Union minister Anantkumar Hegde apologised in Parliament amid protests over his comment that his party, the BJP, will "soon change the Constitution". Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, Atul Chaurasia and Raman Kirpal dissect his comment and also address the ongoing tension between Islamabad and New Delhi over the meeting of Kulbhushan Jadhav with his family. Abhinandan tries to find some similarities between the Pakistani and Indian media, while Raman sheds some light on the 2G scam and shares his experience when he went to cover the fodder scam case of Lalu Prasad Yadav. They also talk about the Adarsh scam and Maharashtra's former CM Ashok Chavan. Lastly, they talk about south Indian politics and how Jayalalitha’s video triggered a controversy just before the RK Nagar bypoll. Listen up, there are two song dedications in the end too - one for our dear subscriber “Womaniya” and the other is a tribute to Mirza Ghalib. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/372997508 Hafta 151: Gujarat election results, NDTV layoffs, #2GVerdict, Modi vs Manmohan and more Fri, 19 Jan 2018 15:07:32 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-151 01:54:36 Newslaundry.com no Newslaundry reporter Amit Bhardwaj is back from covering the Gujarat elections. He shares his experience covering the results and how the BJP delayed celebrations as the contest turned out to be tougher than previous elections. Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Ranganathan and Newslaundry executive editor Vikram Kilpady discuss the #2GVerdict and how it has changed the body language of people like A. Raja and Kapil Sibal. The panel also talks about how the verdict may impact the politics in the future. Abhinandan Sekhri speaks on NDTV layoffs and slams people who evince happiness when people who they dislike, lose their jobs. He links it to the psychology that when hate takes over a person's mind, he/she becomes heartless. Anand Ranganathan has an interesting counter to that perspective. Manisha jumps in the discussion targeting the meaninglessness of Left media on this issue. At last, Amit talks about PM Modi's Vikas slogan during the Gujarat election and an interesting conversation he had with a senior journalist when he went to the ground. Listen up, there is a song dedication for acquitted A. Raja in the end too. Newslaundry reporter Amit Bhardwaj is back from c… Newslaundry reporter Amit Bhardwaj is back from covering the Gujarat elections. He shares his experience covering the results and how the BJP delayed celebrations as the contest turned out to be tougher than previous elections. Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Ranganathan and Newslaundry executive editor Vikram Kilpady discuss the #2GVerdict and how it has changed the body language of people like A. Raja and Kapil Sibal. The panel also talks about how the verdict may impact the politics in the future. Abhinandan Sekhri speaks on NDTV layoffs and slams people who evince happiness when people who they dislike, lose their jobs. He links it to the psychology that when hate takes over a person's mind, he/she becomes heartless. Anand Ranganathan has an interesting counter to that perspective. Manisha jumps in the discussion targeting the meaninglessness of Left media on this issue. At last, Amit talks about PM Modi's Vikas slogan during the Gujarat election and an interesting conversation he had with a senior journalist when he went to the ground. Listen up, there is a song dedication for acquitted A. Raja in the end too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/385886906 Chhota Hafta Episode 155 Fri, 19 Jan 2018 13:15:15 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-chhota-hafta-episode-155 00:21:41 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little snippet of the complete episode where we discuss the standoff between Jignesh Mevani and RepublicTV,  the on-going tussle within the judiciary, Justice Loya's son's presser, Aadhaar hearing in the Supreme Court, Delhi government's plan to install CCTV cameras in schools & more. Listen up! NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little snippet of the complete episode where we discuss the standoff between Jignesh Mevani and RepublicTV,  the on-going tussle within the judiciary, Justice Loya's son's presser, Aadhaar hearing in the Supreme Court, Delhi government's plan to install CCTV cameras in schools & more. Listen up! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/382461857 Chhota Hafta Episode 154 Fri, 12 Jan 2018 13:33:58 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-154 00:25:02 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where we discuss The Quint and Kulbhushan Jadhav, Yuva Hunkar, Shekhar Gupta, the book Fire and Fury, and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where we discuss The Quint and Kulbhushan Jadhav, Yuva Hunkar, Shekhar Gupta, the book Fire and Fury, and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/363454307 Hafta 148: Hadiya Case, RaGa's religion, Ivanka Trump, Sohrabuddin case, BSF jawan and more Fri, 05 Jan 2018 14:44:53 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-148 01:38:23 Newslaundry.com no Hadiya spoke in the Supreme Court and the proceedings went on for one-and-a-half hours. But did anyone listen to her? Sushant Sinha from India News and independent journalist Neha Dixit join the Hafta panel to discuss the news of the week. Neha Dixit speaks about her abnormal experience when she married out of caste. Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande and our guests discuss the religion of Rahul Gandhi and how Indian media has covered it ahead of the Gujarat election. Is it really important to discuss it in prime time debates? The panel discusses Ivanka Trump and her achievements. The panel thinks Ivanka has achieved many things only because of her surname; Sushant Sinha disagrees. Apart from this, they speak of the controversy surrounding the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case and the killing of a BSF jawan by his colleague in North Kashmir. Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end too. Hadiya spoke in the Supreme Court and the proceed… Hadiya spoke in the Supreme Court and the proceedings went on for one-and-a-half hours. But did anyone listen to her? Sushant Sinha from India News and independent journalist Neha Dixit join the Hafta panel to discuss the news of the week. Neha Dixit speaks about her abnormal experience when she married out of caste. Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande and our guests discuss the religion of Rahul Gandhi and how Indian media has covered it ahead of the Gujarat election. Is it really important to discuss it in prime time debates? The panel discusses Ivanka Trump and her achievements. The panel thinks Ivanka has achieved many things only because of her surname; Sushant Sinha disagrees. Apart from this, they speak of the controversy surrounding the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case and the killing of a BSF jawan by his colleague in North Kashmir. Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/379118210 NL Chhota Hafta Episode 153 Fri, 05 Jan 2018 14:38:42 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-chhota-hafta-episode-153 00:22:45 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode in which we discuss Rajinikanth, AAP, Electoral Bonds, Triple Talaq, Bhima Koregaon, Aadhaar data exploitation, Kamala Mills Fire and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode in which we discuss Rajinikanth, AAP, Electoral Bonds, Triple Talaq, Bhima Koregaon, Aadhaar data exploitation, Kamala Mills Fire and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/376089683 Chhota Hafta Episode 152 Fri, 29 Dec 2017 12:28:24 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-152 00:21:19 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode, where we discuss Kulbhushan Jadhav, Anant Hegde, Malegaon blast, RK Nagar bypoll and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode, where we discuss Kulbhushan Jadhav, Anant Hegde, Malegaon blast, RK Nagar bypoll and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/366701531 Hafta 149: Babri demolition, Rajasthan hacking, Libyan slave trade, Shashi Kapoor and more Fri, 29 Dec 2017 12:19:20 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-149 02:00:42 Newslaundry.com no Social media saw heavy circulation of a video which showed a man killing and burning alive a Muslim man in Rajasthan, allegedly over an affair. Should such videos be shown on news channels? What’s point of playing it on a loop? Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Vardhan, Anand Ranganathan, Raman Kirpal and Meghnad S discuss this issue and have mixed opinions on it. They also talk about the 25 years of the Babri Masjid demolition and was it worthy of large coverage now? Raman Kirpal talks of his coverage of the Babri Masjid demolition. Abhinandan raises an interesting question regarding slave trade in Libya. They also discuss Trump recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Did he think it through? Meghnad explains the big bad and sad loan story of banks in India. At last, they pay tribute to the actor who passed away on December 4, 2017. Listen up, there is a song dedication to Shashi Kapoor. Social media saw heavy circulation of a video whi… Social media saw heavy circulation of a video which showed a man killing and burning alive a Muslim man in Rajasthan, allegedly over an affair. Should such videos be shown on news channels? What’s point of playing it on a loop? Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Vardhan, Anand Ranganathan, Raman Kirpal and Meghnad S discuss this issue and have mixed opinions on it. They also talk about the 25 years of the Babri Masjid demolition and was it worthy of large coverage now? Raman Kirpal talks of his coverage of the Babri Masjid demolition. Abhinandan raises an interesting question regarding slave trade in Libya. They also discuss Trump recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Did he think it through? Meghnad explains the big bad and sad loan story of banks in India. At last, they pay tribute to the actor who passed away on December 4, 2017. Listen up, there is a song dedication to Shashi Kapoor. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/360282833 Hafta 147: Gujarat elections, Rahul Gandhi, Padmavati, Republic TV and more Mon, 25 Dec 2017 05:31:56 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-147 01:54:36 Newslaundry.com no Independent journalist Urmilesh discusses The Caravan story on the death of CBI judge Brijgopal Harkishan Loya, who was hearing the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. He explains why the Mainstream Media is now 'North Indian Mainstream Media.' Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Atul Chaurasia, Anand Vardhan and Manisha Pande discuss Rahul Gandhi and how he is different from Narendra Modi. Is he finally ready for the post of Congress president? They also talk about Gujarat elections and Hardik Patel supporting the Congress. Can the Patidar factor make an impact? Abhinandan along with panel analyses the ongoing 'Church vs Nationalism' debate and how it is a symbol of stooping to the lowest level of debate. Lastly, they discuss Padmavati issue and why it has become a long-standing issue. Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end too. Independent journalist Urmilesh discusses The Car… Independent journalist Urmilesh discusses The Caravan story on the death of CBI judge Brijgopal Harkishan Loya, who was hearing the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. He explains why the Mainstream Media is now 'North Indian Mainstream Media.' Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Atul Chaurasia, Anand Vardhan and Manisha Pande discuss Rahul Gandhi and how he is different from Narendra Modi. Is he finally ready for the post of Congress president? They also talk about Gujarat elections and Hardik Patel supporting the Congress. Can the Patidar factor make an impact? Abhinandan along with panel analyses the ongoing 'Church vs Nationalism' debate and how it is a symbol of stooping to the lowest level of debate. Lastly, they discuss Padmavati issue and why it has become a long-standing issue. Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/373016195 Chhota Hafta Episode 151 Fri, 22 Dec 2017 12:52:59 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-151 00:21:21 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss Gujarat election results, NDTV layoffs, #2GVerdict, Modi vs Manmohan and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss Gujarat election results, NDTV layoffs, #2GVerdict, Modi vs Manmohan and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/369891500 Hafta 150: Gujarat politics, liquor ban, TV news, condom ad ban, Ram Setu and more Fri, 15 Dec 2017 12:03:05 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-150 01:46:17 Newslaundry.com no PM Narendra Modi hit backs at Mani Shankar Aiyar’s ‘Neech’ remark by stating that Mani Shankar Aiyar portrays the Congress’ ‘Mughlai mindset.’ Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande and Atul Chaurasia try to analyse what is election campaigning and what is not? Abhinandan does an analysis of how Indian political leaders behave differently when they are with US leaders and when they are in India. Madhu Trehan discusses Nitish Kumar’s opinion of nation-wide alcohol ban and what it can lead to? Manisha points out that the condom ad by Sunny Leone was the idea behind the condom ad ban between 6 am to 10 pm. Atul feels it was actually a solution to a nationwide problem as the condom was a dogma in previous times which got removed due to such advertisements. Anand Ranganathan talks about Ram Setu bridge and how it has been reported as man-made by a US science channel. The panel discusses TV news in India and how the opinion polls, exit polls, and polls of polls are a useless discussion including their favourite channels, Republic and Times Now. Listen up, there is a song dedicated in the end to all our wonderful subscribers. For reference link: https://www.newslaundry.com/2017/12/15/hafta-150-gujarat-politics-liquor-ban-tv-news-condom-ad-ban-ram-setu-and-more PM Narendra Modi hit backs at Mani Shankar Aiyar’… PM Narendra Modi hit backs at Mani Shankar Aiyar’s ‘Neech’ remark by stating that Mani Shankar Aiyar portrays the Congress’ ‘Mughlai mindset.’ Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande and Atul Chaurasia try to analyse what is election campaigning and what is not? Abhinandan does an analysis of how Indian political leaders behave differently when they are with US leaders and when they are in India. Madhu Trehan discusses Nitish Kumar’s opinion of nation-wide alcohol ban and what it can lead to? Manisha points out that the condom ad by Sunny Leone was the idea behind the condom ad ban between 6 am to 10 pm. Atul feels it was actually a solution to a nationwide problem as the condom was a dogma in previous times which got removed due to such advertisements. Anand Ranganathan talks about Ram Setu bridge and how it has been reported as man-made by a US science channel. The panel discusses TV news in India and how the opinion polls, exit polls, and polls of polls are a useless discussion including their favourite channels, Republic and Times Now. Listen up, there is a song dedicated in the end to all our wonderful subscribers. For reference link: https://www.newslaundry.com/2017/12/15/hafta-150-gujarat-politics-liquor-ban-tv-news-condom-ad-ban-ram-setu-and-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/353762414 Hafta 145: #DelhiSmogged, Ryan Murder, #ParadisePapers and more Mon, 11 Dec 2017 12:11:37 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-145 01:51:47 Newslaundry.com no Dense smog engulfed the capital of India leading to accidents and posing a health hazard for children and the elderly. Environmental journalist Nitin Sethi joins us to discuss the pollution emergency. Is there a long term solution to this? Madhu Trehan, Abhinandan Sekhri, Raman Kirpal, Anand Ranganathan and Manisha Pande talk of the pollution levels in the city. Can the odd-even rule help in any form? Anand Ranganathan says it’s been a failure. They also talk about the new angle that has come up in the Ryan International School Gurugram murder case where the CBI has claimed that a Class 11 student killed Pradhuman Thakur. Apart from this, they discuss #ParadisePapers, Rahul Gandhi's Oped against Modi government, Kamal Haasan’s imminent entry into politics and more. Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end too. Dense smog engulfed the capital of India leading … Dense smog engulfed the capital of India leading to accidents and posing a health hazard for children and the elderly. Environmental journalist Nitin Sethi joins us to discuss the pollution emergency. Is there a long term solution to this? Madhu Trehan, Abhinandan Sekhri, Raman Kirpal, Anand Ranganathan and Manisha Pande talk of the pollution levels in the city. Can the odd-even rule help in any form? Anand Ranganathan says it’s been a failure. They also talk about the new angle that has come up in the Ryan International School Gurugram murder case where the CBI has claimed that a Class 11 student killed Pradhuman Thakur. Apart from this, they discuss #ParadisePapers, Rahul Gandhi's Oped against Modi government, Kamal Haasan’s imminent entry into politics and more. Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/357075506 Hafta 146: Padmavati, Hardik Patel CD, ASEAN, CJI & more. Mon, 11 Dec 2017 12:10:59 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-146 01:50:23 Newslaundry.com no Bollywood movie Padmavati continues to be in the news over the Karni Sena's threat to maim its heroine. Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Anand Vardhan and Manisha Pande discuss the Padmavati controversy. Madhu has some advice for Deepika Padukone. They also talk about Hardik Patel and the CD which has recently surfaced claiming that Hardik had sex with an unidentified woman.  Apart from this, they discuss the tussle in the judiciary where the Supreme Court said the CJI will decide who hears a case even if allegations are against him. Lastly, they discuss ASEAN summit where world leaders met in Manila including Narendra Modi. Bollywood movie Padmavati continues to be in the … Bollywood movie Padmavati continues to be in the news over the Karni Sena's threat to maim its heroine. Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Anand Vardhan and Manisha Pande discuss the Padmavati controversy. Madhu has some advice for Deepika Padukone. They also talk about Hardik Patel and the CD which has recently surfaced claiming that Hardik had sex with an unidentified woman.  Apart from this, they discuss the tussle in the judiciary where the Supreme Court said the CJI will decide who hears a case even if allegations are against him. Lastly, they discuss ASEAN summit where world leaders met in Manila including Narendra Modi. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/366693440 Chhota Hafta Episode 149 Fri, 08 Dec 2017 14:53:58 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-149 00:22:54 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss Babri demolition, Rajasthan hacking, Libyan slave trade, Trump on Jerusalem, Shashi Kapoor and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss Babri demolition, Rajasthan hacking, Libyan slave trade, Trump on Jerusalem, Shashi Kapoor and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/363457418 Chhota Hafta Episode-148 Fri, 01 Dec 2017 14:37:11 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-chhota-hafta-episode-148 00:21:21 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss the Hadiya case and RaGa's religion. Madhu Trehan does a 'Then vs. Now' analysis of TV journalism as it gets more and more corporatised. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall but we love … NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss the Hadiya case and RaGa's religion. Madhu Trehan does a 'Then vs. Now' analysis of TV journalism as it gets more and more corporatised. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/350547886 Hafta 144: Vande Mataram lessons, Raya Sarkar's list, Gujarat election ads and more Fri, 24 Nov 2017 16:08:25 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-144 01:35:34 Newslaundry.com no Navin Kumar Singh massacred Vande Mataram when he was asked to sing the national song on a TV debate. Since then it has caught the attention of several primetime debates. TS Sudhir joins the Hafta gang to discuss this issue and the sudden spurt in activity of Rahul Gandhi in social media and politics. Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan and Atul Chaurasia speak about the importance of Sanskrit in school. Would it have been better if students were taught other local and regional languages instead of Sanskrit? They talk about a recent advertisement put out by BJP IT cell where they have targeted media and not any political party. Madhu finds it a brilliant advertisement in terms of propaganda. Also, a list was put out by law student Raya Sarkar, who asked other academicians to name their offenders. Abhinandan Sekhri feels this might end up doing nothing. Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end too. Navin Kumar Singh massacred Vande Mataram when he… Navin Kumar Singh massacred Vande Mataram when he was asked to sing the national song on a TV debate. Since then it has caught the attention of several primetime debates. TS Sudhir joins the Hafta gang to discuss this issue and the sudden spurt in activity of Rahul Gandhi in social media and politics. Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan and Atul Chaurasia speak about the importance of Sanskrit in school. Would it have been better if students were taught other local and regional languages instead of Sanskrit? They talk about a recent advertisement put out by BJP IT cell where they have targeted media and not any political party. Madhu finds it a brilliant advertisement in terms of propaganda. Also, a list was put out by law student Raya Sarkar, who asked other academicians to name their offenders. Abhinandan Sekhri feels this might end up doing nothing. Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/360281510 Chhota Hafta Episode 147 Fri, 24 Nov 2017 16:05:20 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-147 00:22:47 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss Gujarat elections, Rahul Gandhi's ascension to Congress president, Padmavati, Republic TV and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss Gujarat elections, Rahul Gandhi's ascension to Congress president, Padmavati, Republic TV and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/357072803 Chhota Hafta Episode 146 Fri, 17 Nov 2017 15:40:18 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-146 00:21:27 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss Padmavati controversy and more. Abhinandan reads two mails, especially for mufatkhors. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss Padmavati controversy and more. Abhinandan reads two mails, especially for mufatkhors. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/346725713 Hafta 141: Cracker ban, Jay Amit Shah, Godhra riots and more Fri, 10 Nov 2017 14:48:53 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-141 01:48:23 Newslaundry.com no Journalist Harshvardhan Tripathi, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan and Anand Vardhan discuss The Wire story on Jay Amit Shah and the flaws in it. Was it a dead story? They talk about the feasibility of the cracker ban in Delhi-NCR. They discuss Kangana's and Hrithik Roshan's interviews on the controversy involving them. At last, they talk about the Godhra riots case where the death sentence to the convicts was commuted to life imprisonment.  Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end too. Journalist Harshvardhan Tripathi, Abhinandan Sekh… Journalist Harshvardhan Tripathi, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan and Anand Vardhan discuss The Wire story on Jay Amit Shah and the flaws in it. Was it a dead story? They talk about the feasibility of the cracker ban in Delhi-NCR. They discuss Kangana's and Hrithik Roshan's interviews on the controversy involving them. At last, they talk about the Godhra riots case where the death sentence to the convicts was commuted to life imprisonment.  Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/353760086 Chhota Hafta: Episode 145 Fri, 10 Nov 2017 14:44:10 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-145 00:21:16 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss #DelhiSmogged, Ryan Murder, #ParadisePapers, Kamal Haasan's imminent entry into politics & more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss #DelhiSmogged, Ryan Murder, #ParadisePapers, Kamal Haasan's imminent entry into politics & more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/350547610 NL Chhota Hafta Episode-144 Fri, 03 Nov 2017 13:31:14 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-chhota-hafta-episode-144 00:20:49 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss Vande Mataram lessons, Raya Sarkar's list, Gujarat election advertisement and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss Vande Mataram lessons, Raya Sarkar's list, Gujarat election advertisement and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/345635648 Hafta 140: Mumbai Stampede, Left vs RSS battle, Subhash Chandra, Modi on economy & more Fri, 03 Nov 2017 13:25:15 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-140 01:37:59 Newslaundry.com no Taking the critiques of the Indian economy to task, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently said that the country’s economy was on track. In this episode of Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Madhu Trehan, Atul Chaurasia and Raman Kirpal discuss Modi's address and ascertain whether there was something new to it or not. They also talk about the stampede at Mumbai’s Elphinstone station and fake news that published soon after the incident. They discuss Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath’s and BJP chief Amit Shah's visit to Kerala. The Hafta gang also discusses the truth behind the whole "Left Vs RSS" battle as well as Newslaundry's exclusive report on the intelligence documents that were leaked from Subhash Chandra's office. Also, listen up for the song dedication right at the end! Taking the critiques of the Indian economy to tas… Taking the critiques of the Indian economy to task, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently said that the country’s economy was on track. In this episode of Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Madhu Trehan, Atul Chaurasia and Raman Kirpal discuss Modi's address and ascertain whether there was something new to it or not. They also talk about the stampede at Mumbai’s Elphinstone station and fake news that published soon after the incident. They discuss Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath’s and BJP chief Amit Shah's visit to Kerala. The Hafta gang also discusses the truth behind the whole "Left Vs RSS" battle as well as Newslaundry's exclusive report on the intelligence documents that were leaked from Subhash Chandra's office. Also, listen up for the song dedication right at the end! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/348842759 Chhota Hafta - Episode 143 Thu, 02 Nov 2017 13:54:54 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-chhota-hafta-episode-143 00:22:35 Newslaundry.com no We discuss #MeToo, HT Hate Tracker, 'Left Vs Right' Battle in Kerala and more. We discuss #MeToo, HT Hate Tracker, 'Left Vs Righ… We discuss #MeToo, HT Hate Tracker, 'Left Vs Right' Battle in Kerala and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/344563470 Hafta 139: BHU, #TakeAKnee, Yashwant Sinha, Mahmood Farooqui and more Wed, 18 Oct 2017 11:51:22 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/hafta-episode-139 01:51:57 Newslaundry.com no Siddhant Mohan, journalist and photographer from Varanasi, joins us to discuss the BHU students' protest in Varanasi. Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Ranganathan, Anand Vardhan, Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande and Siddhant talk about the protests in BHU. Who were the students responsible for all the chaos? Was there violence? The Hafta Gang discusses Yashwant Sinha's criticism of the economy. Yogi Adityanath will be celebrating Diwali in Ayodhya this year. Is there a political motive behind this? Why are NFL players protesting and when did they start kneeling down? Also, the Delhi High Court acquitted Peepli Live co-director Mahmood Farooqui of rape charges case for allegedly raping a US researcher. Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end too. Siddhant Mohan, journalist and photographer from … Siddhant Mohan, journalist and photographer from Varanasi, joins us to discuss the BHU students' protest in Varanasi. Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Ranganathan, Anand Vardhan, Raman Kirpal, Manisha Pande and Siddhant talk about the protests in BHU. Who were the students responsible for all the chaos? Was there violence? The Hafta Gang discusses Yashwant Sinha's criticism of the economy. Yogi Adityanath will be celebrating Diwali in Ayodhya this year. Is there a political motive behind this? Why are NFL players protesting and when did they start kneeling down? Also, the Delhi High Court acquitted Peepli Live co-director Mahmood Farooqui of rape charges case for allegedly raping a US researcher. Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/343533424 Hafta Episode 138: Tripura journalist murder, Rajdeep-Arnab banter, Rohingyas and more Wed, 18 Oct 2017 11:51:10 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/hafta-episode-138 01:50:48 Newslaundry.com no Saurabh Dwivedi, the founder of Lallantop, joins the regular Hafta gang as we discuss Tripura journalist Shantanu Bhowmik's murder. Bhowmik was murdered while covering an agitation near Agartala in Tripura on September 20. Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Atul Chaurasia, Anand Ranganathan and Saurabh Dwivedi discuss "Rajdeep Vs. Arnab" as now Anupam Kher jumps into defend Arnab Goswami on this issue. Saurabh raises an important issue in Madhya Pradesh where a family was fined Rs 75,000 for open defecation. Sekhri analyses Trump's speech at the UN General Assembly and finds it scary. At last, they talk about Rohingya crisis and how the media coverage by the mainstream media has been disgusting. Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end too. Saurabh Dwivedi, the founder of Lallantop, joins … Saurabh Dwivedi, the founder of Lallantop, joins the regular Hafta gang as we discuss Tripura journalist Shantanu Bhowmik's murder. Bhowmik was murdered while covering an agitation near Agartala in Tripura on September 20. Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Atul Chaurasia, Anand Ranganathan and Saurabh Dwivedi discuss "Rajdeep Vs. Arnab" as now Anupam Kher jumps into defend Arnab Goswami on this issue. Saurabh raises an important issue in Madhya Pradesh where a family was fined Rs 75,000 for open defecation. Sekhri analyses Trump's speech at the UN General Assembly and finds it scary. At last, they talk about Rohingya crisis and how the media coverage by the mainstream media has been disgusting. Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/347426438 Hafta 142: Rahul Gandhi, the Aarushi verdict, Sangeet Som’s Taj Mahal remark and more Wed, 18 Oct 2017 11:17:27 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-142 01:23:06 Newslaundry.com no BJP MP Sangeet Som has stoked a new controversy by saying the Taj Mahal was built by a traitor and was a blot on Indian culture. Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Anand Vardhan, Atul Chaurasia and Raman Kirpal discuss what was wrong with the statement and Vardhan tells us why such loose cannons are inevitable. They talk about the Aarushi verdict and how the media acted as a super investigating agency. How the media's role was different in the Aarushi-Hemraj murder case than the Jessica Lall murder case. The ascension of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi as party chief is imminent, according to Sonia Gandhi. Is Rahul ready to handle the responsibility? Our Hafta gang examines the issue. Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end too. BJP MP Sangeet Som has stoked a new controversy b… BJP MP Sangeet Som has stoked a new controversy by saying the Taj Mahal was built by a traitor and was a blot on Indian culture. Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Anand Vardhan, Atul Chaurasia and Raman Kirpal discuss what was wrong with the statement and Vardhan tells us why such loose cannons are inevitable. They talk about the Aarushi verdict and how the media acted as a super investigating agency. How the media's role was different in the Aarushi-Hemraj murder case than the Jessica Lall murder case. The ascension of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi as party chief is imminent, according to Sonia Gandhi. Is Rahul ready to handle the responsibility? Our Hafta gang examines the issue. Listen up, there is a song dedication in the end too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/346726186 Chhota Hafta - Episode 141 Fri, 13 Oct 2017 15:50:08 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-142 00:20:30 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where Hafta gang discusses Cracker Ban, Jay Amit Shah, Godhra Riots and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where Hafta gang discusses Cracker Ban, Jay Amit Shah, Godhra Riots and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/342488551 NL Hafta Episode 137: Rahul Gandhi, Bullet trains, Ryan murder, Bobby Ghosh and more Fri, 06 Oct 2017 15:15:40 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-137 01:47:33 Newslaundry.com no Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan, Manisha and Anand Ranganathan analyse Rahul Gandhi's speech at Berkeley and whether BJP needed to respond to that or not. Are Bullet trains in India, a vanity project? Hafta team does the cost benefit analysis. They talk about seven-year-old Pradhuman Thakur's murder, the case and the media coverage of it. What went wrong? They discuss the Rohingya crisis will this impose a security threat to our nation. At last, they talk about Bobby Ghosh's resignation from the Hindustan Times. Listen up, there are two song dedications in the end too. Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan, M… Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan, Manisha and Anand Ranganathan analyse Rahul Gandhi's speech at Berkeley and whether BJP needed to respond to that or not. Are Bullet trains in India, a vanity project? Hafta team does the cost benefit analysis. They talk about seven-year-old Pradhuman Thakur's murder, the case and the media coverage of it. What went wrong? They discuss the Rohingya crisis will this impose a security threat to our nation. At last, they talk about Bobby Ghosh's resignation from the Hindustan Times. Listen up, there are two song dedications in the end too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/345630621 Chhota Hafta - Episode 140 Fri, 06 Oct 2017 14:35:49 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-141 00:21:26 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where the Hafta gang discusses a range of issues including the stampede at Mumbai’s Elphinstone station, Left vs RSS battle in Kerala and Modi's speech about the Indian economy.Want more? Here's the full Hafta. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek into the complete episode where the Hafta gang discusses a range of issues including the stampede at Mumbai’s Elphinstone station, Left vs RSS battle in Kerala and Modi's speech about the Indian economy.Want more? Here's the full Hafta. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/344563888 Chhota Hafta Episode- 139 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 14:31:09 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-140 00:20:25 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where the Hafta gang discusses BHU, #TakeAKnee, Yashwant Sinha, Mahmood Farooqui case, Yogi Adityanath's Diwali and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where the Hafta gang discusses BHU, #TakeAKnee, Yashwant Sinha, Mahmood Farooqui case, Yogi Adityanath's Diwali and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/343531002 Chhota Hafta Episode 138 Fri, 22 Sep 2017 15:53:41 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-139 00:20:38 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where Hafta gang discusses Tripura journalist murder, Rajdeep Arnab banter, Trump's speech, Rohingya and more with this week's guest @saurabhtop NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where Hafta gang discusses Tripura journalist murder, Rajdeep Arnab banter, Trump's speech, Rohingya and more with this week's guest @saurabhtop tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/342490990 Chhota Hafta Episode-137 Fri, 15 Sep 2017 15:13:15 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-138 00:19:44 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where Hafta gang discusses Rahul Gandhi, Bullet trains, Ryan International murder case & more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where Hafta gang discusses Rahul Gandhi, Bullet trains, Ryan International murder case & more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/341450175 Hafta 136: Gauri Lankesh, Raghuram Rajan, Rohingya, #BlockNarendraModi and more Sun, 10 Sep 2017 10:08:34 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/hafta-episode-136 01:57:02 Newslaundry.com no Kanchan Gupta, Commissioning Editor of ABP News, joins us on this week's Hafta. Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal and Anand Ranganathan discuss journalist Gauri Lankesh's murder case and the media coverage it got. Anand Ranganathan talks about his analysis on the Twitter activity of journalists on murders and deaths of fellow journalists. They speak about the latest interview of former RBI chief Raghuram Rajan and his view on demonetisation. They talk about the Rohingya crisis and whether their deportation would violate the law. At last, they talk about Narendra Modi following Twitter handles that posted abusive content on journalist Gauri Lankesh. Is Narendra Modi handling his twitter account himself? Listen up, there's a song dedication in the end too. Kanchan Gupta, Commissioning Editor of ABP News, … Kanchan Gupta, Commissioning Editor of ABP News, joins us on this week's Hafta. Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Raman Kirpal and Anand Ranganathan discuss journalist Gauri Lankesh's murder case and the media coverage it got. Anand Ranganathan talks about his analysis on the Twitter activity of journalists on murders and deaths of fellow journalists. They speak about the latest interview of former RBI chief Raghuram Rajan and his view on demonetisation. They talk about the Rohingya crisis and whether their deportation would violate the law. At last, they talk about Narendra Modi following Twitter handles that posted abusive content on journalist Gauri Lankesh. Is Narendra Modi handling his twitter account himself? Listen up, there's a song dedication in the end too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/340450921 NL Hafta Episode-135: Baba Ram Rahim, Floods in India, Demonetisation & more Sun, 10 Sep 2017 10:08:27 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-135 01:50:54 Newslaundry.com no Manisha Pande is back on Hafta after covering the violence that followed the conviction of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Ranganathan, Anand Vardhan, Raman Kirpal and Manisha Pande discuss the outbreak of violence after the conviction. They speak about the media coverage of the Mumbai floods and why it is different from floods in other parts of the country. They discuss the CBI probe against Robert Vadra, the son-in law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi. At last, they talk about Anna Hazare's warning to Narendra Modi regarding Lokpal Bill and the merits of the decision to deport Rohingya refugees. Listen up, there's a song dedication in the end too. Manisha Pande is back on Hafta after covering the… Manisha Pande is back on Hafta after covering the violence that followed the conviction of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Ranganathan, Anand Vardhan, Raman Kirpal and Manisha Pande discuss the outbreak of violence after the conviction. They speak about the media coverage of the Mumbai floods and why it is different from floods in other parts of the country. They discuss the CBI probe against Robert Vadra, the son-in law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi. At last, they talk about Anna Hazare's warning to Narendra Modi regarding Lokpal Bill and the merits of the decision to deport Rohingya refugees. Listen up, there's a song dedication in the end too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/339446157 NL Hafta Episode 134: Utkal Express tragedy, Right to Privacy, Triple Talaq, Ram Rahim and more Sun, 10 Sep 2017 10:08:20 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-134 01:51:08 Newslaundry.com no We have Meghnad S, a public policy analyst, who discusses the privacy judgment, triple talaq verdict and the derailment of trains in India. He joins the regular gang of Hafta members: Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Ranganathan, Anand Vardhan and Raman Kirpal. They speak about the media coverage of the triple talaq verdict. Raman feels that the talaq verdict was politicised. Apart from this, they talk about Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insan and Malegaon blasts accused Lt. Col. Shrikant Purohit. They speak about the twitter effectivity of various politicians including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Listen up, there's a song dedication in the end too. We have Meghnad S, a public policy analyst, who d… We have Meghnad S, a public policy analyst, who discusses the privacy judgment, triple talaq verdict and the derailment of trains in India. He joins the regular gang of Hafta members: Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Ranganathan, Anand Vardhan and Raman Kirpal. They speak about the media coverage of the triple talaq verdict. Raman feels that the talaq verdict was politicised. Apart from this, they talk about Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insan and Malegaon blasts accused Lt. Col. Shrikant Purohit. They speak about the twitter effectivity of various politicians including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Listen up, there's a song dedication in the end too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/338427440 NL Hafta Episode- 133: Gorakhpur tragedy, Charlottesville violence, Modi, Rohith Vemula & more Sun, 10 Sep 2017 10:08:10 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-133 01:25:26 Newslaundry.com no In Gorakhpur, BRD Medical College knew it was running out of oxygen but did nothing about it. Journalist Manoj Singh, who covered the Gorakhpur tragedy for us joins the Hafta gang on this week's episode. Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Atul Chaurasia and Manisha Pande discuss Modi's Independence Day speech. Also, hundreds of white men marched in a white nationalist rally through the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. They were holding torches and chanting racist slogans. The Hafta gang also talks about the latest probe panel report on Rohith Vemula's suicide. Listen up, there's a song dedication in the end too. In Gorakhpur, BRD Medical College knew it was run… In Gorakhpur, BRD Medical College knew it was running out of oxygen but did nothing about it. Journalist Manoj Singh, who covered the Gorakhpur tragedy for us joins the Hafta gang on this week's episode. Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Atul Chaurasia and Manisha Pande discuss Modi's Independence Day speech. Also, hundreds of white men marched in a white nationalist rally through the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. They were holding torches and chanting racist slogans. The Hafta gang also talks about the latest probe panel report on Rohith Vemula's suicide. Listen up, there's a song dedication in the end too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/341448835 Chhota Hafta Episode - 136 Fri, 08 Sep 2017 15:28:15 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-137 00:19:59 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where Kanchan Gupta, Commissioning Editor of ABP News,  joins us as we discuss Gauri Lankesh's murder, Raghuram Rajan on demonetisation, Rohingya minority, #BlockNarendraModi and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where Kanchan Gupta, Commissioning Editor of ABP News,  joins us as we discuss Gauri Lankesh's murder, Raghuram Rajan on demonetisation, Rohingya minority, #BlockNarendraModi and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/340455470 Chhota Hafta Episode-135 Fri, 01 Sep 2017 14:57:28 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-136 00:20:04 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss #Deraviolence, Mumbai floods, FIRs against Robert Vadra, Demonetisation, the Post-Doklam Standoff, Anna Hazare, the Rohingya refugee crisis and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss #Deraviolence, Mumbai floods, FIRs against Robert Vadra, Demonetisation, the Post-Doklam Standoff, Anna Hazare, the Rohingya refugee crisis and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/339446592 Chhota Hafta - Episode 134 Fri, 25 Aug 2017 17:27:56 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-135 00:17:00 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss the #RightToPrivacy, #TripleTalaq, Dera Sacha Sauda's chief Gurmeet Baba Ram Rahim, train derailments and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here's a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss the #RightToPrivacy, #TripleTalaq, Dera Sacha Sauda's chief Gurmeet Baba Ram Rahim, train derailments and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/335228258 Hafta 130: Nitish Kumar, Tejaswi Yadav, Aadhaar card privacy, Urdu in NCERT & more. Fri, 18 Aug 2017 18:51:33 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-130 01:22:37 Newslaundry.com no Raman Kirpal, Newslaundry's new Managing Editor joins the regular gang of Hafta as we discuss Bihar's political crisis. Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Vardhan, Manisha Pande, Atul Chaurasia along with Raman Kirpal also discuss the Aadhaar card privacy issue; sanitising Urdu words from NCERT textbooks; Dinanath Batra And, finally, Amit Shah. Listen up, there's a song dedication in the end too. Raman Kirpal, Newslaundry's new Managing Editor j… Raman Kirpal, Newslaundry's new Managing Editor joins the regular gang of Hafta as we discuss Bihar's political crisis. Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Vardhan, Manisha Pande, Atul Chaurasia along with Raman Kirpal also discuss the Aadhaar card privacy issue; sanitising Urdu words from NCERT textbooks; Dinanath Batra And, finally, Amit Shah. Listen up, there's a song dedication in the end too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/336230513 Hafta 131: Amit Shah's assets story, IT raids, Republic TV, Times Now & more. Fri, 18 Aug 2017 18:04:22 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-131 02:00:04 Newslaundry.com no Raman Kirpal, Newslaundry's new Managing Editor, joins the regular Hafta gang as we discuss TOI Amit Shah's assets story. Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Ranganathan, Manisha Pande, Atul Chaurasia and Raman Kirpal discuss the I-T raids on Karnataka minister DK Shivakumar; Republic TV; NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya’s exit; And, can the minorities be led by the privileged? Listen up, there's a song dedication in the end too. Raman Kirpal, Newslaundry's new Managing Editor, … Raman Kirpal, Newslaundry's new Managing Editor, joins the regular Hafta gang as we discuss TOI Amit Shah's assets story. Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Ranganathan, Manisha Pande, Atul Chaurasia and Raman Kirpal discuss the I-T raids on Karnataka minister DK Shivakumar; Republic TV; NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya’s exit; And, can the minorities be led by the privileged? Listen up, there's a song dedication in the end too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/338427936 Chhota Hafta Episode- 133 Fri, 18 Aug 2017 15:21:50 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-134 00:15:42 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss the Gorakhpur tragedy, Charlottesville rally, Modi's Independence Day speech, the latest probe panel report on Rohith Vemula's suicide & more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss the Gorakhpur tragedy, Charlottesville rally, Modi's Independence Day speech, the latest probe panel report on Rohith Vemula's suicide & more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/333307438 Hafta 128: Amarnath Yatra attack, Bihar Mahagathbandhan, Assam floods, FIR​ ​against AIB and more Fri, 11 Aug 2017 16:47:28 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-128 01:49:23 Newslaundry.com no One of this week’s most significant stories was the attack on Amarnath pilgrims. A yatri bus and a police party were attacked in Anantnag along the Jammu-Srinagar Highway. Seven Amarnath pilgrims were killed while twelve including three policemen were injured after militants attacked on Monday. The Hafta team discusses the Indian media coverage on it. Hartosh Singh Bal, political editor of The Caravan, joins the regular Hafta gang, that is, Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan and Manisha Pande to discuss this and the FIR against AIB's Tanmay Bhat. We also discuss the Bihar Grand Alliance's wobbly status and what it may lead to. Hartosh constantly disagrees with Abhinandan on various topics as they take the debate forward. One of this week’s most significant stories was t… One of this week’s most significant stories was the attack on Amarnath pilgrims. A yatri bus and a police party were attacked in Anantnag along the Jammu-Srinagar Highway. Seven Amarnath pilgrims were killed while twelve including three policemen were injured after militants attacked on Monday. The Hafta team discusses the Indian media coverage on it. Hartosh Singh Bal, political editor of The Caravan, joins the regular Hafta gang, that is, Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan and Manisha Pande to discuss this and the FIR against AIB's Tanmay Bhat. We also discuss the Bihar Grand Alliance's wobbly status and what it may lead to. Hartosh constantly disagrees with Abhinandan on various topics as they take the debate forward. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/337441801 Hafta 132: 75 years of Quit India movement, Vikas Barala, Maratha Kranti Morcha & more Fri, 11 Aug 2017 16:41:29 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-132 01:43:48 Newslaundry.com no Mumbai witnessed a massive march on Wednesday as the Maratha community organised a silent protest rally with lakhs of protesters joining it demanding reservation and justice for a raped and murdered minor. Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Ranganathan, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan and Raman Kirpal discuss the Rajya Sabha elections in Gujarat, Ahmed Patel, Amit Shah; the 75th anniversary of the Quit India movement. Abhinandan tries to find out if the RSS played a role in Quit India Movement or not? They also discuss the Chandigarh stalking case of Haryana BJP chief's son Vikas Barala. Listen up, there's a song dedication in the end too. Mumbai witnessed a massive march on Wednesday as … Mumbai witnessed a massive march on Wednesday as the Maratha community organised a silent protest rally with lakhs of protesters joining it demanding reservation and justice for a raped and murdered minor. Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Ranganathan, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan and Raman Kirpal discuss the Rajya Sabha elections in Gujarat, Ahmed Patel, Amit Shah; the 75th anniversary of the Quit India movement. Abhinandan tries to find out if the RSS played a role in Quit India Movement or not? They also discuss the Chandigarh stalking case of Haryana BJP chief's son Vikas Barala. Listen up, there's a song dedication in the end too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/337442487 Chhota Hafta – Episode 132 Fri, 11 Aug 2017 16:40:33 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-133 00:17:43 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss Mumbai's Maratha Kranti Morcha rally, Rajya Sabha elections in Gujarat, Ahmed Patel, Quit India movement, Chandigarh stalking case of Haryana BJP chief's son Vikas Barala & more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss Mumbai's Maratha Kranti Morcha rally, Rajya Sabha elections in Gujarat, Ahmed Patel, Quit India movement, Chandigarh stalking case of Haryana BJP chief's son Vikas Barala & more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/336233256 Chhota Hafta Episode -131 Fri, 04 Aug 2017 14:04:45 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-132 00:15:36 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss TOI's Amit Shah assets story, I-T raids on Karnataka minister DK Shivakumar, Republic TV, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya's exit & more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss TOI's Amit Shah assets story, I-T raids on Karnataka minister DK Shivakumar, Republic TV, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya's exit & more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/335231604 Chhota Hafta – Episode 130 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 14:31:54 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-131 00:18:05 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss the Bihar political crisis, Nitish Kumar, Tejashwi Yadav, Aadhaar card privacy, erasing Urdu in NCERT & more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss the Bihar political crisis, Nitish Kumar, Tejashwi Yadav, Aadhaar card privacy, erasing Urdu in NCERT & more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/330930290 Hafta 126: Spirited debate on 'Lynchistan', #NotInMyName, Air India and presidential candidates Mon, 24 Jul 2017 07:22:20 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-126 01:58:32 Newslaundry.com no Central government has decided to sell debt-ridden Air India. Will the government have to 'pay' to sell Air India? Govindraj Ethiraj, journalist and founder of IndiaSpend.com, joins the regular gang of Hafta as we discuss Air India's fate. Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan and Manisha Pande, along with our guest, also discuss the presidential picks by both the governing coalition and the opposition; the Modi and Trump meet: how fruitful was it for India? And, finally, has India become 'Lynchistan' or was it like always this? Is data being used to justify the lynchings under the current regime? Listen up, there's a song dedication in the end too. Central government has decided to sell debt-ridde… Central government has decided to sell debt-ridden Air India. Will the government have to 'pay' to sell Air India? Govindraj Ethiraj, journalist and founder of IndiaSpend.com, joins the regular gang of Hafta as we discuss Air India's fate. Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan and Manisha Pande, along with our guest, also discuss the presidential picks by both the governing coalition and the opposition; the Modi and Trump meet: how fruitful was it for India? And, finally, has India become 'Lynchistan' or was it like always this? Is data being used to justify the lynchings under the current regime? Listen up, there's a song dedication in the end too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/334281299 Hafta 129: Media Rumble Special Hafta Sat, 22 Jul 2017 08:58:10 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-129 00:33:42 Newslaundry.com no At the first-ever Media Rumble to discuss news and to enable unheard voices to exchange ideas and collaborate, Newslaundry' Abhinandan Sekhri caught up with journalists and online mavens: Swarajya editorial director R. Jagannathan, Juggernaut co-founder and online marketing expert Durga Raghunath, The Newsminute editor Dhanya Rajendran, HuffPo India editor-in-chief Sruthijith K K, Quartz India editor Diksha Madhok, author Prayaag Akbar, CNN News 18 executive editor Anubha Bhonsle and journalist-writer Rahul Pandita on the free Hafta. They spoke on several topics, including the difference between content and news, the biggest crisis and opportunity in news media today, Kashmir conflict and Irom Sharmila. At the first-ever Media Rumble to discuss news an… At the first-ever Media Rumble to discuss news and to enable unheard voices to exchange ideas and collaborate, Newslaundry' Abhinandan Sekhri caught up with journalists and online mavens: Swarajya editorial director R. Jagannathan, Juggernaut co-founder and online marketing expert Durga Raghunath, The Newsminute editor Dhanya Rajendran, HuffPo India editor-in-chief Sruthijith K K, Quartz India editor Diksha Madhok, author Prayaag Akbar, CNN News 18 executive editor Anubha Bhonsle and journalist-writer Rahul Pandita on the free Hafta. They spoke on several topics, including the difference between content and news, the biggest crisis and opportunity in news media today, Kashmir conflict and Irom Sharmila. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/333304858 Chhota Hafta – Episode 128 Sat, 15 Jul 2017 14:40:25 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-128 00:17:41 Newslaundry.com no One of this week’s most significant stories was the attack on Amarnath pilgrims. A yatri bus and a police party were attacked in Anantnag along the Jammu-Srinagar Highway. Seven Amarnath pilgrims were killed while twelve including three policemen were injured after militants attacked on Monday. The Hafta team discusses the Indian media coverage on it. Hartosh Singh Bal, political editor of The Caravan, joins the regular Hafta gang, that is, Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan and Manisha Pande to discuss this and the FIR against AIB's Tanmay Bhat. One of this week’s most significant stories was t… One of this week’s most significant stories was the attack on Amarnath pilgrims. A yatri bus and a police party were attacked in Anantnag along the Jammu-Srinagar Highway. Seven Amarnath pilgrims were killed while twelve including three policemen were injured after militants attacked on Monday. The Hafta team discusses the Indian media coverage on it. Hartosh Singh Bal, political editor of The Caravan, joins the regular Hafta gang, that is, Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan and Manisha Pande to discuss this and the FIR against AIB's Tanmay Bhat. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/329636168 Hafta 125: NDA's presidential candidate, arrest over Pak’s victory celebrations & more Sat, 15 Jul 2017 14:15:35 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-125 01:09:02 Newslaundry.com no The National Democratic Alliance announced former Bihar governor Ram Nath Kovind as its presidential candidate in the run-up to presidential elections next month, leaving the till-then united opposition in disarray. Journalist and author Urmilesh joins Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan, Manisha Pande and Atul Chaurasia to discuss how media was left wondering on Modi-Shah’s choice for the next president of the country. We also discuss, 15 people arrested for sedition in Madhya Pradesh for celebrating Pakistan’s Champions Trophy victory, BJP spokesperson’s complaint against journalist Rana Ayyub for criticising its presidential pick and protests in Darjeeling and a lot more. Listen up! There’s a song dedication too. The National Democratic Alliance announced former… The National Democratic Alliance announced former Bihar governor Ram Nath Kovind as its presidential candidate in the run-up to presidential elections next month, leaving the till-then united opposition in disarray. Journalist and author Urmilesh joins Madhu Trehan, Anand Vardhan, Manisha Pande and Atul Chaurasia to discuss how media was left wondering on Modi-Shah’s choice for the next president of the country. We also discuss, 15 people arrested for sedition in Madhya Pradesh for celebrating Pakistan’s Champions Trophy victory, BJP spokesperson’s complaint against journalist Rana Ayyub for criticising its presidential pick and protests in Darjeeling and a lot more. Listen up! There’s a song dedication too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/328368045 Hafta 124: Loan waivers: a solution or just a bandaid for the agrarian crisis? Fri, 07 Jul 2017 15:15:08 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-124 01:42:49 Newslaundry.com no Amit Shah, Bharatiya Janata Party's president, called Gandhi a 'chatur baniya' and that kicked up quite a storm in the media. Did Shah's remark get unnecessary media attention or was it important to discuss the implications of it considering the position he holds? T R Vivek, journalist and author, joins the Hafta gang to discuss this, along with Ramachandra Guha's column in The Indian Express stating that Gandhi had transcended caste and a rebuttal to his piece by Newslaundry columnist Tejas Harad. Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Ranganathan, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan, along with our guest, Vivek, discuss the Cauvery issue, farmers protests in Madhya Pradesh and loan waivers announced by the state governments. Are loan waivers a feasible solution? The team also discusses Information & Broadcasting ministry's decision to deny certificate to three films for screening at Kerala festival and more. And there are two song dedications too. Amit Shah, Bharatiya Janata Party's president, ca… Amit Shah, Bharatiya Janata Party's president, called Gandhi a 'chatur baniya' and that kicked up quite a storm in the media. Did Shah's remark get unnecessary media attention or was it important to discuss the implications of it considering the position he holds? T R Vivek, journalist and author, joins the Hafta gang to discuss this, along with Ramachandra Guha's column in The Indian Express stating that Gandhi had transcended caste and a rebuttal to his piece by Newslaundry columnist Tejas Harad. Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Ranganathan, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan, along with our guest, Vivek, discuss the Cauvery issue, farmers protests in Madhya Pradesh and loan waivers announced by the state governments. Are loan waivers a feasible solution? The team also discusses Information & Broadcasting ministry's decision to deny certificate to three films for screening at Kerala festival and more. And there are two song dedications too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/332100892 Chhota Hafta Episode-127 Fri, 07 Jul 2017 15:12:08 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-127 00:19:15 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak of the complete episode where we discuss GST roll out; is it really a 'One Nation One Tax', Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Israel visit, Sikkim standoff and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak of the complete episode where we discuss GST roll out; is it really a 'One Nation One Tax', Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Israel visit, Sikkim standoff and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/332100661 Hafta 127: GST, Modi's Israel visit, Sikkim standoff & more Fri, 07 Jul 2017 15:09:39 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-127 02:05:31 Newslaundry.com no The central government rolled out GST last week pitching it as One Nation One Tax. Abhinandan Sekhri, Atul Chaurasia, Manisha Pande, Anand Ranganathan and Anand Vardhan discuss pros and cons of GST; is it really a 'One Nation One Tax', Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Israel visit; what took so long for an Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel? Also, Sikkim standoff, Donald Trump vs CNN, communal riots in West Bengal after a Facebook post and a lot more. Listen up, there are song dedications in the end too. The central government rolled out GST last week p… The central government rolled out GST last week pitching it as One Nation One Tax. Abhinandan Sekhri, Atul Chaurasia, Manisha Pande, Anand Ranganathan and Anand Vardhan discuss pros and cons of GST; is it really a 'One Nation One Tax', Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Israel visit; what took so long for an Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel? Also, Sikkim standoff, Donald Trump vs CNN, communal riots in West Bengal after a Facebook post and a lot more. Listen up, there are song dedications in the end too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/327282411 Hafta 123: NDTV raids, farmers’ protest and more Fri, 30 Jun 2017 16:46:45 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-123 01:33:11 Newslaundry.com no The week started with the news of Central Bureau of Investigation raiding the residence of NDTV Co-Founder Prannoy Roy. Questions were raised on the motivation of the raids -- is the government trying to muzzle dissenters? Siddharth Varadarajan, founding editor of The Wire, joins us as we analyse the CBI's case against NDTV. We also discuss Arnab Goswami's strange obsession with The Wire. Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Ranganathan, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan also discuss farmers’ protest in Madhya Pradesh, Trump pulling out of the Paris agreement and more. And there's a song dedicated to Rahul Gandhi! The week started with the news of Central Bureau … The week started with the news of Central Bureau of Investigation raiding the residence of NDTV Co-Founder Prannoy Roy. Questions were raised on the motivation of the raids -- is the government trying to muzzle dissenters? Siddharth Varadarajan, founding editor of The Wire, joins us as we analyse the CBI's case against NDTV. We also discuss Arnab Goswami's strange obsession with The Wire. Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Ranganathan, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan also discuss farmers’ protest in Madhya Pradesh, Trump pulling out of the Paris agreement and more. And there's a song dedicated to Rahul Gandhi! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/330929511 Chhota Hafta – Episode 126 Fri, 30 Jun 2017 15:58:27 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-126 00:21:03 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss the government's decision to sell Air India, presidential picks of both the governing coalition and the opposition, has India become 'Lynchistan' or was it like this forever? and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss the government's decision to sell Air India, presidential picks of both the governing coalition and the opposition, has India become 'Lynchistan' or was it like this forever? and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/325703017 Hafta 122: Does India fudge its GDP numbers? Fri, 23 Jun 2017 12:05:18 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-122 01:31:16 Newslaundry.com no India's fourth-quarter GDP growth fell to 6.1 per cent, lower than China's. What are the methods used to gauge GDP numbers? Are there any flaws in the whole process? Journalist & economist Mihir Sharma joins Abhinandan Sekhri, Atul Chaurasia, Anand Ranganathan and Manisha Pande as we delve into India's GDP growth. We also discuss, the fiasco in Aligarh Muslim University -- the story that non-Muslim students are supposedly forced to starve. Plus, can KPS Gill be given all the credit for crushing the militancy in Punjab? The team also talks about outgoing Rajasthan High Court judge's idea of the cow as a national animal and asexual peacocks, beef-fests in Kerala and how PSUs have always been cash machines for the government. Listen Up, there's a song dedication too. India's fourth-quarter GDP growth fell to 6.1 per… India's fourth-quarter GDP growth fell to 6.1 per cent, lower than China's. What are the methods used to gauge GDP numbers? Are there any flaws in the whole process? Journalist & economist Mihir Sharma joins Abhinandan Sekhri, Atul Chaurasia, Anand Ranganathan and Manisha Pande as we delve into India's GDP growth. We also discuss, the fiasco in Aligarh Muslim University -- the story that non-Muslim students are supposedly forced to starve. Plus, can KPS Gill be given all the credit for crushing the militancy in Punjab? The team also talks about outgoing Rajasthan High Court judge's idea of the cow as a national animal and asexual peacocks, beef-fests in Kerala and how PSUs have always been cash machines for the government. Listen Up, there's a song dedication too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/329636200 Chhota Hafta Episode-125 Fri, 23 Jun 2017 11:58:26 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-125 00:15:26 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss National Democratic Alliance’s presidential pick Ram Nath Kovind, 15 people arrested for sedition in Madhya Pradesh for celebrating Pakistan’s Champions Trophy victory and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peek of the complete episode where we discuss National Democratic Alliance’s presidential pick Ram Nath Kovind, 15 people arrested for sedition in Madhya Pradesh for celebrating Pakistan’s Champions Trophy victory and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/328371408 Chhota Hafta – Episode 124 Fri, 16 Jun 2017 15:15:41 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-124 00:18:47 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak of the complete episode where we discuss Amit Shah's chatur Baniya remark, farmers protests, loan waivers announced by the state governments and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak of the complete episode where we discuss Amit Shah's chatur Baniya remark, farmers protests, loan waivers announced by the state governments and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/324616621 Hafta 121: The Fake News Menace Fri, 16 Jun 2017 15:15:04 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-121 01:58:27 Newslaundry.com no Early this week, we republished an article from Fair Observer that was based on a false report, attributing fake quotes to Arundhati Roy. In this episode of NL Hafta, the Newslaundry team of Abhinandan Sekhri, Atul Chaurasia, Anand Vardhan and Manisha Pande take stock of our current editorial filters and discuss the challenges fake news presents. The team is joined by freelance journalist Rishi Majumder to discuss this and a lot more, like the Dalit unity rally in New Delhi -- did it get enough coverage in Big Media? We also discuss the Army awarding Major Nitin Leetul Gogoi for counter insurgency operations. What message does the move send out to the Valley? More importantly, has the Modi government politicised the Army? We move on to discuss the caste violence in Saharanpur, GST tax, and the Twitter furore over Paresh Rawal, Sonu Nigam and Abhijeet Bhattacharya. Listen up. Early this week, we republished an article from F… Early this week, we republished an article from Fair Observer that was based on a false report, attributing fake quotes to Arundhati Roy. In this episode of NL Hafta, the Newslaundry team of Abhinandan Sekhri, Atul Chaurasia, Anand Vardhan and Manisha Pande take stock of our current editorial filters and discuss the challenges fake news presents. The team is joined by freelance journalist Rishi Majumder to discuss this and a lot more, like the Dalit unity rally in New Delhi -- did it get enough coverage in Big Media? We also discuss the Army awarding Major Nitin Leetul Gogoi for counter insurgency operations. What message does the move send out to the Valley? More importantly, has the Modi government politicised the Army? We move on to discuss the caste violence in Saharanpur, GST tax, and the Twitter furore over Paresh Rawal, Sonu Nigam and Abhijeet Bhattacharya. Listen up. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/323394958 Hafta 120: Has Arnab Goswami cracked the news-entertainment genre? Mon, 12 Jun 2017 10:12:07 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-120 01:59:12 Newslaundry.com no English news channels are at war with Republic TV. News Broadcasting Association (NBA) files a complaint against Arnab Goswami's new channel and accuses Republic of carrying multiple frequencies across genres. But is this the first time that any channel has resorted to such tricks to gain TRPs? Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Manisha Pande and Atul Chaurasia discuss how Arnab has mastered the art of catching eyeballs and gaining TRPs. Also, we look at Times Now's criminal complaint against Goswami for theft, International Court of Justice's order staying Kulbhshan Jhadav’s execution; the repercussions it will have, CBI raids at P Chidambaram and his son Karti's residences, President Pranab Mukherjee's remarks declaring Indira Gandhi the most acceptable Prime Minister and a lot more. Listen Up, there's a song dedication too. English news channels are at war with Republic TV… English news channels are at war with Republic TV. News Broadcasting Association (NBA) files a complaint against Arnab Goswami's new channel and accuses Republic of carrying multiple frequencies across genres. But is this the first time that any channel has resorted to such tricks to gain TRPs? Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Manisha Pande and Atul Chaurasia discuss how Arnab has mastered the art of catching eyeballs and gaining TRPs. Also, we look at Times Now's criminal complaint against Goswami for theft, International Court of Justice's order staying Kulbhshan Jhadav’s execution; the repercussions it will have, CBI raids at P Chidambaram and his son Karti's residences, President Pranab Mukherjee's remarks declaring Indira Gandhi the most acceptable Prime Minister and a lot more. Listen Up, there's a song dedication too. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/327284233 Chhota Hafta Episode-123 Fri, 09 Jun 2017 16:39:19 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-123 00:15:14 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak of the complete episode where we discuss CBI raids at Prannoy Roy's residence, farmers’ protest in Madhya Pradesh and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak of the complete episode where we discuss CBI raids at Prannoy Roy's residence, farmers’ protest in Madhya Pradesh and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/322303815 Hafta 119: Republic Tv, the AAP fiasco, Rigged EVMs and more Fri, 02 Jun 2017 16:56:02 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-119 02:00:31 Newslaundry.com no Last week Arnab Goswami launched his channel Republic TV and we can't stop watching him as he announces scoop after scoop. Samrat, author and columnist joins the hafta gang this week to talk about Arnab Goswami and his style of journalism. Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan also discuss the blasphemy case against Stephen Fry, Kapil Mishra's corruption allegations against Arvind Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party's EVM hacking demonstration on the floor of the Delhi assembly and Madhu Kishwar's appointment to the Academic Council in Jawaharlal Nehru University. Listen Up, there's a lot more. Last week Arnab Goswami launched his channel Repu… Last week Arnab Goswami launched his channel Republic TV and we can't stop watching him as he announces scoop after scoop. Samrat, author and columnist joins the hafta gang this week to talk about Arnab Goswami and his style of journalism. Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan also discuss the blasphemy case against Stephen Fry, Kapil Mishra's corruption allegations against Arvind Kejriwal, the Aam Aadmi Party's EVM hacking demonstration on the floor of the Delhi assembly and Madhu Kishwar's appointment to the Academic Council in Jawaharlal Nehru University. Listen Up, there's a lot more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/325706810 Chhota Hafta Episode-122 Fri, 02 Jun 2017 16:28:28 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-122 00:17:38 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak of the complete episode where we discuss India's economic growth, the fiasco in Aligarh Muslim University; the legacy of KPS Gill and a lot more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak of the complete episode where we discuss India's economic growth, the fiasco in Aligarh Muslim University; the legacy of KPS Gill and a lot more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/324620233 Chhota Hafta – Episode 121 Fri, 26 May 2017 16:14:33 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-121 00:26:47 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak of the complete episode where we discuss the menace of fake news and how Newslaundry fell for it, a series of clashes between Thakurs and Dalits in Saharanpur, Arun Jaitley's defamation case against Arvind Kejriwal and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak of the complete episode where we discuss the menace of fake news and how Newslaundry fell for it, a series of clashes between Thakurs and Dalits in Saharanpur, Arun Jaitley's defamation case against Arvind Kejriwal and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/319902149 Hafta 117: Sukma attack, gau rakhsha and the liberal vs conservative debate Fri, 19 May 2017 16:49:15 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-117 02:10:08 Newslaundry.com no This week on Hafta, we have Deepanjana Pal joining us on special demand along with Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan and Manisha Pande. The Hafta gang discusses the Sukma attack where 25 CRPF personnel were killed by Maoists. The team reviews the media coverage this received and the lack of reportage from Sukma. We also talk about cow vigilantism in Delhi, Mission Bengal launched by Amit Shah and the Delhi civic polls. India slips three places on the World Press Freedom Index and that gets the team talking about censorship in the media. Listen up! As a bonus, we have two song dedications this time. This week on Hafta, we have Deepanjana Pal joinin… This week on Hafta, we have Deepanjana Pal joining us on special demand along with Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan and Manisha Pande. The Hafta gang discusses the Sukma attack where 25 CRPF personnel were killed by Maoists. The team reviews the media coverage this received and the lack of reportage from Sukma. We also talk about cow vigilantism in Delhi, Mission Bengal launched by Amit Shah and the Delhi civic polls. India slips three places on the World Press Freedom Index and that gets the team talking about censorship in the media. Listen up! As a bonus, we have two song dedications this time. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/323391369 Chhota Hafta – Episode 120 Fri, 19 May 2017 14:55:57 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-120 00:18:15 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak of the complete episode where we discuss Times Now's criminal complaint against Arnab Goswami for theft, International Court of Justice's order staying Kulbhshan Jadhav's Execution and the repercussions it will have, CBI raids at P Chidambaram and his son Karti's residences and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak of the complete episode where we discuss Times Now's criminal complaint against Arnab Goswami for theft, International Court of Justice's order staying Kulbhshan Jadhav's Execution and the repercussions it will have, CBI raids at P Chidambaram and his son Karti's residences and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/318806005 Hafta 116: Babri Masjid demolition, Kashmir and Ambedkar Fri, 19 May 2017 13:02:22 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-116 02:08:43 Newslaundry.com no One of this week’s most significant stories was pertaining to the Babri Masjid demolition case. LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti will now be tried for criminal conspiracy and the Hafta team discusses what bearings this would have on the BJP and 2019 General Elections. Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, editor of Economic and Political Weekly, joins the regular Hafta gang, that is, Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan to discuss this and the ongoing debate on the use of human shields in conflict areas. We also discuss Vijay Mallya's arrest and bail and former High Court judge AP Shah's speech criticising the imposition of nationalism. Sekhri and Ranganathan get into a debate on text, context and Ambedkar. All this and a lot more on this week’s Hafta. One of this week’s most significant stories was p… One of this week’s most significant stories was pertaining to the Babri Masjid demolition case. LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti will now be tried for criminal conspiracy and the Hafta team discusses what bearings this would have on the BJP and 2019 General Elections. Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, editor of Economic and Political Weekly, joins the regular Hafta gang, that is, Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan to discuss this and the ongoing debate on the use of human shields in conflict areas. We also discuss Vijay Mallya's arrest and bail and former High Court judge AP Shah's speech criticising the imposition of nationalism. Sekhri and Ranganathan get into a debate on text, context and Ambedkar. All this and a lot more on this week’s Hafta. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/322299474 Chhota Hafta Episode-119 Fri, 12 May 2017 18:34:25 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-119 00:17:11 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak of the complete episode where Samrat joins us to discuss to discuss Republic TV's launch, the blasphemy case against Stephen Fry, Kapil Mishra's corruption allegations against Arvind Kejriwal and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak of the complete episode where Samrat joins us to discuss to discuss Republic TV's launch, the blasphemy case against Stephen Fry, Kapil Mishra's corruption allegations against Arvind Kejriwal and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/317658219 Hafta 115: Kulbhushan Jadhav, Suresh Chavhanke’s arrest and by-polls in Kashmir Fri, 05 May 2017 15:26:15 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-115 01:55:07 Newslaundry.com no The French newspaper Libération published on its front page the image of Syrian children who were victims of a chemical attack. Strategic affairs analyst, Sushant Sareen and the Hafta-gang wonders if they'd ever run such images about tragedies that take place on their own soil. Besides that, Sareen, joins Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan to talk about Kulbhushan Jadhav and his death sentence and what this means for Indo-Pak relations. We also talk about Sudarshan TV Editor-in-Chief Suresh Chavhanke’s arrest for fanning communal violence, the Election Commission’s open challenge to hack the EVMs, and the now-infamous video of CRPF jawans being attacked in Kashmir. All this and more in this episode of Hafta. The French newspaper Libération published on its … The French newspaper Libération published on its front page the image of Syrian children who were victims of a chemical attack. Strategic affairs analyst, Sushant Sareen and the Hafta-gang wonders if they'd ever run such images about tragedies that take place on their own soil. Besides that, Sareen, joins Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan to talk about Kulbhushan Jadhav and his death sentence and what this means for Indo-Pak relations. We also talk about Sudarshan TV Editor-in-Chief Suresh Chavhanke’s arrest for fanning communal violence, the Election Commission’s open challenge to hack the EVMs, and the now-infamous video of CRPF jawans being attacked in Kashmir. All this and more in this episode of Hafta. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/321110686 Hafta 118: World Press Freedom Day, AAP fiasco, Justice CS Karnan & more Fri, 05 May 2017 15:03:39 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-118 02:09:10 Newslaundry.com no It was World Press Freedom Day on May 3 and we kick off this week's Hafta with a discussion on the current state of media in India, especially the television news media -- did Arnab Goswami kill TV journalism? Atul Chaurasia, executive editor at Newslaundry, joins the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan and Manisha Pande to discuss the Aam Aadmi Party fiasco and the murder of a Muslim man in Bulandshehar by alleged Hindu Yuva Vahini members. The team also discusses Justice CS Karnan's non-bailable warrants against seven Supreme court judges and Hasan Minhaj's performance at White House Correspondents' Association dinner. Oh, and we have three song dedications this week! Listen up! It was World Press Freedom Day on May 3 and we ki… It was World Press Freedom Day on May 3 and we kick off this week's Hafta with a discussion on the current state of media in India, especially the television news media -- did Arnab Goswami kill TV journalism? Atul Chaurasia, executive editor at Newslaundry, joins the regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan and Manisha Pande to discuss the Aam Aadmi Party fiasco and the murder of a Muslim man in Bulandshehar by alleged Hindu Yuva Vahini members. The team also discusses Justice CS Karnan's non-bailable warrants against seven Supreme court judges and Hasan Minhaj's performance at White House Correspondents' Association dinner. Oh, and we have three song dedications this week! Listen up! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/316699273 Hafta 114: Beef politics, Jaithmalani vs Jaitley and more Fri, 28 Apr 2017 16:01:12 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-114 02:03:56 Newslaundry.com no In Rajasthan's Alwar, a diary farmer, Pehlu Khan was killed by a cow vigilante group affiliated to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal, on the suspicion that he was smuggling cows. Yet ministers like Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi are refuting the existence of such groups or incidents-why is that? Ullekh NP, Executive Editor, of Open, joins the Hafta gang Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan and Anand Vardhan to discuss beef politics and how he managed to write about the personal life of Atal Bihari Vajpayee in his latest book The Untold Vajpayee. We also discuss the working conditions of doctors in India, and if they should be striking at all. And finally, the Uttar Pradesh government's decision to waive off farmer loans worth Rs 36,359-crore. How good or bad is this decision? Is Urijit Patel right in criticizing the idea? This and much more discussed and dissected on this episode of Hafta. Listen Up! In Rajasthan's Alwar, a diary farmer, Pehlu Khan … In Rajasthan's Alwar, a diary farmer, Pehlu Khan was killed by a cow vigilante group affiliated to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal, on the suspicion that he was smuggling cows. Yet ministers like Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi are refuting the existence of such groups or incidents-why is that? Ullekh NP, Executive Editor, of Open, joins the Hafta gang Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan and Anand Vardhan to discuss beef politics and how he managed to write about the personal life of Atal Bihari Vajpayee in his latest book The Untold Vajpayee. We also discuss the working conditions of doctors in India, and if they should be striking at all. And finally, the Uttar Pradesh government's decision to waive off farmer loans worth Rs 36,359-crore. How good or bad is this decision? Is Urijit Patel right in criticizing the idea? This and much more discussed and dissected on this episode of Hafta. Listen Up! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/319901096 Chhota Hafta – Episode 117 Fri, 28 Apr 2017 15:33:46 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-117 00:18:53 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak of the complete episode where Deepanjana Pal joins us to discuss Amit Shah's Mission Bengal, Sukma attack and its media coverage and more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak of the complete episode where Deepanjana Pal joins us to discuss Amit Shah's Mission Bengal, Sukma attack and its media coverage and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/315360378 Hafta 113: Should journos be booked under Official Secrets act? Sat, 22 Apr 2017 06:41:20 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-113 01:40:00 Newslaundry.com no Poonam Agarwal, a journalist with The Quint, was recently booked under the Official Secrets Act after an army jawan allegedly committed suicide because of her ‘exposé’ of the sahayak system in the army. While The Quint should have been better and swifter to respond, why isn't the rest of the media outraging over this? Raghu Karnad, contributing editor of The Wire, joins us this week to talk about the serious consequences of the Official Secrets Act and what this means for journalists. Joining him is the regular Hafta gang, Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Deepanjana Pal and Manisha Pande. We also discuss why crucial things such as the Finance Bill, 2017 and money bill are barely getting any coverage on prime time? They also take on the Anti-Romeo Squads in Uttar Pradesh, the crackdown on slaughterhouses and much more. Listen Up! Poonam Agarwal, a journalist with The Quint, was … Poonam Agarwal, a journalist with The Quint, was recently booked under the Official Secrets Act after an army jawan allegedly committed suicide because of her ‘exposé’ of the sahayak system in the army. While The Quint should have been better and swifter to respond, why isn't the rest of the media outraging over this? Raghu Karnad, contributing editor of The Wire, joins us this week to talk about the serious consequences of the Official Secrets Act and what this means for journalists. Joining him is the regular Hafta gang, Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Deepanjana Pal and Manisha Pande. We also discuss why crucial things such as the Finance Bill, 2017 and money bill are barely getting any coverage on prime time? They also take on the Anti-Romeo Squads in Uttar Pradesh, the crackdown on slaughterhouses and much more. Listen Up! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/318808833 Chhota Hafta – Episode 116 Fri, 21 Apr 2017 16:07:55 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-116 00:17:32 Newslaundry.com no One of this week’s most significant stories was pertaining to the Babri Masjid demolition case. LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti will now be tried for criminal conspiracy and the Hafta team discusses what bearings this would have on the BJP and 2019 General Elections. Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, editor of Economic and Political Weekly, joins the regular Hafta gang, that is, Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan to discuss this and the ongoing debate on the use of human shields in conflict areas. One of this week’s most significant stories was p… One of this week’s most significant stories was pertaining to the Babri Masjid demolition case. LK Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti will now be tried for criminal conspiracy and the Hafta team discusses what bearings this would have on the BJP and 2019 General Elections. Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, editor of Economic and Political Weekly, joins the regular Hafta gang, that is, Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan to discuss this and the ongoing debate on the use of human shields in conflict areas. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/317819842 Chotta Hafta Episode-115 Sat, 15 Apr 2017 16:08:53 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chotta-hafta-episode-116 00:16:25 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak of the complete episode where strategic affairs analyst Sushant Sareen joins us to discuss French newspaper Libération's editorial judgement in publishing a picture of Syrian children who were victims of a chemical attack, Sudarshan TV Editor-in-Chief Suresh Chavhanke’s arrest for fanning communal violence, the Election Commission’s open challenge to hack the EVMs and Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak of the complete episode where strategic affairs analyst Sushant Sareen joins us to discuss French newspaper Libération's editorial judgement in publishing a picture of Syrian children who were victims of a chemical attack, Sudarshan TV Editor-in-Chief Suresh Chavhanke’s arrest for fanning communal violence, the Election Commission’s open challenge to hack the EVMs and Kulbhushan Jadhav's death sentence. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/314244969 Hafta 112: Kya Ab Ram Mandir Banega? Fri, 14 Apr 2017 17:16:48 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-112 01:24:33 Newslaundry.com no Finance Minister Arun Jaitley snuck in 27 amendments in the 31-page long Finance Bill. Some of these remove the cap on political contributions from corporations, also doing away with the requirement to disclose the name of the party to which contributions are made. It also empowers IT officials to raid people without disclosing the reason and makes Aadhaar mandatory for filing income tax returns. We have Meghnad S, a public policy analyst, who discusses the bill at length. Plus, we have the regular Hafta gang, Abhinandan Sekhri, Deepanjana Pal, Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan. We also talk about Yogi Adityanath, UP's anti-Romeo squads, and the shuttering of illegal slaughterhouses. And finally, the question that's been plaguing us all, will BJP finally build the Ram Mandir? For references visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2017/03/24/hafta-112-kya-ab-ram-mandir-banega Finance Minister Arun Jaitley snuck in 27 amendme… Finance Minister Arun Jaitley snuck in 27 amendments in the 31-page long Finance Bill. Some of these remove the cap on political contributions from corporations, also doing away with the requirement to disclose the name of the party to which contributions are made. It also empowers IT officials to raid people without disclosing the reason and makes Aadhaar mandatory for filing income tax returns. We have Meghnad S, a public policy analyst, who discusses the bill at length. Plus, we have the regular Hafta gang, Abhinandan Sekhri, Deepanjana Pal, Madhu Trehan, Manisha Pande and Anand Vardhan. We also talk about Yogi Adityanath, UP's anti-Romeo squads, and the shuttering of illegal slaughterhouses. And finally, the question that's been plaguing us all, will BJP finally build the Ram Mandir? For references visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2017/03/24/hafta-112-kya-ab-ram-mandir-banega tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/312950904 Hafta 111: Why Did The Media Miss BJP’s Popularity In UP? Sun, 09 Apr 2017 14:18:09 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-111 01:30:27 Newslaundry.com no Bharatiya Janata Party made a clean sweep in the recent UP assembly elections, but practically no one in the media called it. What gives? Mayawati alleged the EVMs had been tampered and this allegation was echoed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal later when he spoke to the press about Aam Aadmi Party's dismal performance in the Punjab elections. J Gopalakrishnan, Special Correspondent with The Pioneer and the man who broke 2G scam, joins us on Hafta this week to discuss the news of the week. We also have regulars Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Ranganathan, Deepanjana Pal and new edition to the NL Team, Anand Vardhan. We also discuss the sexual harassment allegations against The Viral Fever's founder Arunabh Kumar, Modi’s recent speech at BJP headquarters, the appointment of Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga as BJP’s Delhi spokesperson, the vandalism on Sanjay Bhansali's Padmavati's sets, and a whole lot more. Listen up! For references visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2017/03/17/hafta-111-hafta-111-why-did-the-media-miss-bjps-popularity-in-up Bharatiya Janata Party made a clean sweep in the … Bharatiya Janata Party made a clean sweep in the recent UP assembly elections, but practically no one in the media called it. What gives? Mayawati alleged the EVMs had been tampered and this allegation was echoed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal later when he spoke to the press about Aam Aadmi Party's dismal performance in the Punjab elections. J Gopalakrishnan, Special Correspondent with The Pioneer and the man who broke 2G scam, joins us on Hafta this week to discuss the news of the week. We also have regulars Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Ranganathan, Deepanjana Pal and new edition to the NL Team, Anand Vardhan. We also discuss the sexual harassment allegations against The Viral Fever's founder Arunabh Kumar, Modi’s recent speech at BJP headquarters, the appointment of Tajinder Pal Singh Bagga as BJP’s Delhi spokesperson, the vandalism on Sanjay Bhansali's Padmavati's sets, and a whole lot more. Listen up! For references visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2017/03/17/hafta-111-hafta-111-why-did-the-media-miss-bjps-popularity-in-up tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/316699491 Chhota Hafta Episode-114 Sat, 08 Apr 2017 11:38:14 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-114 00:17:29 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak to the complete episode where we discuss beef politics, public health care in India, Jethmalani vs Arun Jaitley & lots more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak to the complete episode where we discuss beef politics, public health care in India, Jethmalani vs Arun Jaitley & lots more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/315361507 Chhota Hafta - Episode 113 Fri, 31 Mar 2017 09:00:00 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-113 00:14:59 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak of the episode where we discuss the case of The Quint journalist Poonam Agarwal being booked under the Official Secrets Act, UP's Anti-Romeo Squads, the finance bill & lots more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak of the episode where we discuss the case of The Quint journalist Poonam Agarwal being booked under the Official Secrets Act, UP's Anti-Romeo Squads, the finance bill & lots more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/314248405 Chhota Hafta – Episode 112 Fri, 24 Mar 2017 14:09:46 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-112 00:16:03 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak to the complete episode where we discuss the 17 amendments to the finance bill, Yogi Adityanath’s elevation to the post of Uttar Pradesh chief minister & lots more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak to the complete episode where we discuss the 17 amendments to the finance bill, Yogi Adityanath’s elevation to the post of Uttar Pradesh chief minister & lots more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/312949000 Chhota Hafta: Episode 111 Fri, 17 Mar 2017 16:45:59 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-111 00:18:12 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak into the episode in which we discussed the recent assembly election results, Bharatiya Janata Party’s clean sweep in Uttar Pradesh elections, sexual harrassment allegations against The Viral Fever’s Arunabh Kumar and more of the week's news. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak into the episode in which we discussed the recent assembly election results, Bharatiya Janata Party’s clean sweep in Uttar Pradesh elections, sexual harrassment allegations against The Viral Fever’s Arunabh Kumar and more of the week's news. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/311680488 Hafta 110: UP elections, The Wire vs Rajeev Chandrashekhar & more Fri, 10 Mar 2017 14:48:11 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-110 02:08:36 Newslaundry.com no Voting in all the five states have concluded, and as we wait for the results to be announced, news channels are busy predicting the results. Some news channels are relying on pollsters and some are asking parrots and tarot card readers. But can anyone actually predict the results? Saurabh Dwivedi, editor, TheLallantop.com, joins us on Hafta this week. Dwivedi has just returned to Delhi after travelling in Uttar Pradesh and covering as many constituencies as Akhilesh Yadav did. Dwivedi reflects on the ground realities of poll bound states, often ignored by prime time reports. The regular Hafta gang – Abhinandan Sekhri, Deepanjan Pal, Anand Ranganathan & Manisha Pande also discuss Swami Aseemanand’s acquittal in the Ajmer Dargah blast case, Rajeev Chandrashkhar’s temporary injunction notice against stories published in TheWire.in. Everyone weighs in on The Quint’s silence on gunner Roy Mathew’s death and a lot more. Listen up! For references visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2017/03/10/hafta-110-up-elections-the-wire-vs-rajeev-chandrashekhar-more Voting in all the five states have concluded, and… Voting in all the five states have concluded, and as we wait for the results to be announced, news channels are busy predicting the results. Some news channels are relying on pollsters and some are asking parrots and tarot card readers. But can anyone actually predict the results? Saurabh Dwivedi, editor, TheLallantop.com, joins us on Hafta this week. Dwivedi has just returned to Delhi after travelling in Uttar Pradesh and covering as many constituencies as Akhilesh Yadav did. Dwivedi reflects on the ground realities of poll bound states, often ignored by prime time reports. The regular Hafta gang – Abhinandan Sekhri, Deepanjan Pal, Anand Ranganathan & Manisha Pande also discuss Swami Aseemanand’s acquittal in the Ajmer Dargah blast case, Rajeev Chandrashkhar’s temporary injunction notice against stories published in TheWire.in. Everyone weighs in on The Quint’s silence on gunner Roy Mathew’s death and a lot more. Listen up! For references visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2017/03/10/hafta-110-up-elections-the-wire-vs-rajeev-chandrashekhar-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/307061051 Hafta 106: Panneerselvam vs Sasikala, The Telegraph lay-offs and more Sat, 04 Mar 2017 13:40:40 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-epiosde-106 01:43:27 Newslaundry.com no A lot has been happening in Chennai. Current Chief Minister Panneerselvam has revolted against J Jayalalithaa loyalist Sasikala and has refused to vacate the chief minister's post for her. The regular Hafta gang, that is, Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Deepanjana Pal and Manisha Pande are joined by Dhanya Rajendra, editor-in-chief of The News Minute, who sheds light on the political drama unfolding in Tamil Nadu. We also discuss the contempt notice sent to the Calcutta High Court judge by the Supreme Court for accusing colleagues of corruption. And, is field reporting a thing of the past? We discuss lay-offs in the media, in light of the spate of the most recent ones at The Telegraph All this and a lot more discussed and dissected on this episode. Listen up! For reference visit: A lot has been happening in Chennai. Current Chie… A lot has been happening in Chennai. Current Chief Minister Panneerselvam has revolted against J Jayalalithaa loyalist Sasikala and has refused to vacate the chief minister's post for her. The regular Hafta gang, that is, Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Deepanjana Pal and Manisha Pande are joined by Dhanya Rajendra, editor-in-chief of The News Minute, who sheds light on the political drama unfolding in Tamil Nadu. We also discuss the contempt notice sent to the Calcutta High Court judge by the Supreme Court for accusing colleagues of corruption. And, is field reporting a thing of the past? We discuss lay-offs in the media, in light of the spate of the most recent ones at The Telegraph All this and a lot more discussed and dissected on this episode. Listen up! For reference visit: tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/308200388 Hafta 107: UP Elections, Women In Politics, Whataboutery And More Sat, 04 Mar 2017 13:40:22 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-107 02:02:53 Newslaundry.com no Uttar Pradesh is going through legislative elections, but the media has been busy with the political fiasco that's been unfolding in Tamil Nadu. The action in UP elections hasn't enjoyed as much spotlight on prime time news as a result. Independent journalist Neha Dixit joins us this week on Hafta to talk about the profile of Mayawati she wrote for The Caravan magazine and what is happening on the ground along in Bundelkhand. Our regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Deepanjana Pal and Manisha Pande are all present. We also discuss Indian Space Research Organisation's launch of 104 satellites in a single mission and Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking a dig at the media, asking scientists to be ready with proof. Sagarika Ghose's attempt at humour has everyone rolling their eyes and our panel has some strong words for the Guntur collector who said Rohith Vemula's mother must prove she belongs to a Scheduled Caste. All this and a lot more, discussed and dissected on this episode. Listen up! Uttar Pradesh is going through legislative electi… Uttar Pradesh is going through legislative elections, but the media has been busy with the political fiasco that's been unfolding in Tamil Nadu. The action in UP elections hasn't enjoyed as much spotlight on prime time news as a result. Independent journalist Neha Dixit joins us this week on Hafta to talk about the profile of Mayawati she wrote for The Caravan magazine and what is happening on the ground along in Bundelkhand. Our regular Hafta gang of Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Deepanjana Pal and Manisha Pande are all present. We also discuss Indian Space Research Organisation's launch of 104 satellites in a single mission and Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking a dig at the media, asking scientists to be ready with proof. Sagarika Ghose's attempt at humour has everyone rolling their eyes and our panel has some strong words for the Guntur collector who said Rohith Vemula's mother must prove she belongs to a Scheduled Caste. All this and a lot more, discussed and dissected on this episode. Listen up! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/310502387 Hafta 109: Gurmehar Kaur, Teleguerrillas, the new Juvenile Justice Act, Down syndrome and more Fri, 03 Mar 2017 15:01:48 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/hafta-109 02:04:46 Newslaundry.com no The Halfta gang discuss how the debates surrounding Gurmehar Kaur's appeal for peace amidst the chaos of the Ramjas College protests is indicative of all that is wrong with mainstream television journalism in India. Our panelists Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Manisha Pande, Deepanjana Pal are on fire. Joining them is Sandeep Bamzai, Editor-in-Chief of the Financial Chronicle. Bamzai think that Ramjas College's literary society was "baiting" the rest of the students by inviting PhD student Umar Khalid, who was charged with sedition last year. There are clashes of opinion as we discuss the new juvenile law and Casey Affleck receiving an Oscar. Sekhri and Ranganathan butt heads, Bamzai explains why the growth in our Gross Domestic Product could be for real and find out what our panel thinks of the Supreme Court's decision to reject a woman's request to abort her 26-week-old foetus. Also Bamzai coins a new term, Teleguerrillas. Tune in to find out who this is. All this and more on this week's Hafta. Listen up! For references visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2017/03/03/hafta-109-gurmehar-kaur-teleguerrillas-casey-affleck-the-new-juvenile-justice-act-down-syndrome-and-more The Halfta gang discuss how the debates surroundi… The Halfta gang discuss how the debates surrounding Gurmehar Kaur's appeal for peace amidst the chaos of the Ramjas College protests is indicative of all that is wrong with mainstream television journalism in India. Our panelists Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Manisha Pande, Deepanjana Pal are on fire. Joining them is Sandeep Bamzai, Editor-in-Chief of the Financial Chronicle. Bamzai think that Ramjas College's literary society was "baiting" the rest of the students by inviting PhD student Umar Khalid, who was charged with sedition last year. There are clashes of opinion as we discuss the new juvenile law and Casey Affleck receiving an Oscar. Sekhri and Ranganathan butt heads, Bamzai explains why the growth in our Gross Domestic Product could be for real and find out what our panel thinks of the Supreme Court's decision to reject a woman's request to abort her 26-week-old foetus. Also Bamzai coins a new term, Teleguerrillas. Tune in to find out who this is. All this and more on this week's Hafta. Listen up! For references visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2017/03/03/hafta-109-gurmehar-kaur-teleguerrillas-casey-affleck-the-new-juvenile-justice-act-down-syndrome-and-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/305934028 Hafta 105: #Budget2017, The US’s immigration ban, attack on Sanjay Leela Bhansali & more Fri, 24 Feb 2017 13:54:03 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-epiosde-105 01:41:57 Newslaundry.com no The Union Budget was announced this week and we discuss some key highlights of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s speech. The regular Hafta gang, that is Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Deepanjana Pal and Manisha Pande, are joined by journalist Vivek Kaul who tells us if this Budget is different from the previous ones. The team also discusses US President Donald Trump’s immigration ban, the Rs 2,000 cap on cash donations to political parties, the Samajwadi Party and the Congress alliance and the attack on Sanjay Leela Bhansali. A little into the podcast, Ranga Uncle and Sekhri digress and disagree on the idea of “whataboutery”: is it intellectually lazy or stimulating to indulge in it? All this and a lot more discussed and dissected on this episode. Listen up! The Union Budget was announced this week and we d… The Union Budget was announced this week and we discuss some key highlights of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s speech. The regular Hafta gang, that is Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Deepanjana Pal and Manisha Pande, are joined by journalist Vivek Kaul who tells us if this Budget is different from the previous ones. The team also discusses US President Donald Trump’s immigration ban, the Rs 2,000 cap on cash donations to political parties, the Samajwadi Party and the Congress alliance and the attack on Sanjay Leela Bhansali. A little into the podcast, Ranga Uncle and Sekhri digress and disagree on the idea of “whataboutery”: is it intellectually lazy or stimulating to indulge in it? All this and a lot more discussed and dissected on this episode. Listen up! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/309324029 Chhota Hafta – Episode 108 Fri, 24 Feb 2017 13:41:58 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-108 00:16:38 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peek into what was discussed on this episode. We talk about ABVP’s clash with AISA students at Ramjas College, PM Narendra Modi’s kabristan vs shamshan remark and Shobha De’s attempt to troll the Mumbai police. All this and a lot more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peek into what was discussed on this episode. We talk about ABVP’s clash with AISA students at Ramjas College, PM Narendra Modi’s kabristan vs shamshan remark and Shobha De’s attempt to troll the Mumbai police. All this and a lot more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/309322993 Hafta 108: ABVB vs AISA, Modi’s Kabristan vs Shamshan remark and more Fri, 24 Feb 2017 13:29:01 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-108 01:40:31 Newslaundry.com no Students of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and All India Students Association (AISA) clashed during protests after the cancellation of Umar Khalid’s talk at Ramjas College. A Delhi University professor was roughed up, students were assaulted and a few journalists were attacked too. We have Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan and Manisha Pande to discuss this, Amit Shah’s Kasab jibe and PM Narendra Modi’s kabristan versus shamshan remark -- was it communal or not? Anand Ranganathan does some number crunching based on Modi’s speech. We also discuss Subramanian Swamy’s money laundering allegations on Karti Chidambaram and Shobha De’s attempt to troll the Mumbai police and a lot more. Listen up! Students of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parisha… Students of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and All India Students Association (AISA) clashed during protests after the cancellation of Umar Khalid’s talk at Ramjas College. A Delhi University professor was roughed up, students were assaulted and a few journalists were attacked too. We have Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan and Manisha Pande to discuss this, Amit Shah’s Kasab jibe and PM Narendra Modi’s kabristan versus shamshan remark -- was it communal or not? Anand Ranganathan does some number crunching based on Modi’s speech. We also discuss Subramanian Swamy’s money laundering allegations on Karti Chidambaram and Shobha De’s attempt to troll the Mumbai police and a lot more. Listen up! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/304795362 Hafta 104: Punjab Elections, Bela Bhatia, SRK vs Meryl Streep & More Fri, 17 Feb 2017 13:43:54 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-104 02:03:09 Newslaundry.com no Five states are gearing up for legislative assembly elections next month, including Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, Manipur and Goa. Hartosh Singh Bal, political editor of The Caravan, joins us on this episode to talk about the ground situation in Punjab, while. Kishalay Bhattacharjee, consulting editor of Newslaundry, tells us about Manipur elections. Along with Bal and Bhattacharjee, we have Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan and Manisha Pande on the panel this week to discuss attack on Bela Bhatia’s house in Chhattisgarh, Samajwadi Party and Congress alliance in UP and Shah Rukh Khan’s piece in The Indian Express. All this and a lot more discussed and dissected on this episode. Listen up! Five states are gearing up for legislative assemb… Five states are gearing up for legislative assembly elections next month, including Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, Manipur and Goa. Hartosh Singh Bal, political editor of The Caravan, joins us on this episode to talk about the ground situation in Punjab, while. Kishalay Bhattacharjee, consulting editor of Newslaundry, tells us about Manipur elections. Along with Bal and Bhattacharjee, we have Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan and Manisha Pande on the panel this week to discuss attack on Bela Bhatia’s house in Chhattisgarh, Samajwadi Party and Congress alliance in UP and Shah Rukh Khan’s piece in The Indian Express. All this and a lot more discussed and dissected on this episode. Listen up! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/308201380 Chhota Hafta – Episode 107 Fri, 17 Feb 2017 13:36:55 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-107 00:17:00 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peek into what was discussed on this episode. Neha Dixit joined us and we talked about Uttar Pradesh elections, Narendra Modi taking digs at media, Sagarika Ghose's attempt at humour, and lots more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peek into what was discussed on this episode. Neha Dixit joined us and we talked about Uttar Pradesh elections, Narendra Modi taking digs at media, Sagarika Ghose's attempt at humour, and lots more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/307057676 Chhota Hafta - Episode 106 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 15:50:16 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-106 00:17:00 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s little sneak peak of the episode where we discuss the political drama unfolding in Tamil Nadu, The Telegraph lay-offs and lots more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s little sneak peak of the episode where we discuss the political drama unfolding in Tamil Nadu, The Telegraph lay-offs and lots more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/305935616 Chhota Hafta - Episode 105 Fri, 03 Feb 2017 16:54:07 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chotta-hafta-episode-105 00:15:31 Newslaundry.com no NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak to the complete episode where we discuss Union Budget, the US’s immigration ban, attack on Sanjay Leela Bhansali and lots more. NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love… NL Hafta has gone behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak to the complete episode where we discuss Union Budget, the US’s immigration ban, attack on Sanjay Leela Bhansali and lots more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/304794970 Chhota Hafta - Episode 104 Fri, 27 Jan 2017 14:42:46 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/chhota-hafta-episode-104 00:15:58 Newslaundry.com no From this episode, NL Hafta goes behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak to the complete episode where we discuss upcoming assembly elections, SRK’s edit piece in Indian Express and lots more. From this episode, NL Hafta goes behind the paywa… From this episode, NL Hafta goes behind the paywall, but we love our listeners. So, here’s a little sneak peak to the complete episode where we discuss upcoming assembly elections, SRK’s edit piece in Indian Express and lots more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/303649815 Hafta 103: Should there be a ban on Jallikattu? Fri, 20 Jan 2017 14:14:52 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-103 01:53:22 Newslaundry.com no Since the Supreme Court's ban on Jallikattu, the people of Tamil Nadu have taken to the streets (read beach) to protest against it. On this episode, we have Ramanathan S of The News Minute to joins us and shed some light on the sport and provide context for the protests. On the panel we have Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Ranganathan, Deepanjana Pal & Manisha Pande who discuss the arrest of Rohith Vemula’s family members and several journalists inside the University of Hyderabad. The NL Hafta crew also discuss the Sahayak system in the Army and if it should be abolished. Akhilesh Yadav gets the Samajwadi Party symbol, Navjot Singh Sidhu joins the Congress, ND Tewari joins the BJP along with his son. And ofcourse, everyone weighs in on the Paytm founder’s moves. Listen up! Fro references visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2017/01/20/hafta-103-should-there-be-a-ban-on-jallikattu Since the Supreme Court's ban on Jallikattu, the … Since the Supreme Court's ban on Jallikattu, the people of Tamil Nadu have taken to the streets (read beach) to protest against it. On this episode, we have Ramanathan S of The News Minute to joins us and shed some light on the sport and provide context for the protests. On the panel we have Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Ranganathan, Deepanjana Pal & Manisha Pande who discuss the arrest of Rohith Vemula’s family members and several journalists inside the University of Hyderabad. The NL Hafta crew also discuss the Sahayak system in the Army and if it should be abolished. Akhilesh Yadav gets the Samajwadi Party symbol, Navjot Singh Sidhu joins the Congress, ND Tewari joins the BJP along with his son. And ofcourse, everyone weighs in on the Paytm founder’s moves. Listen up! Fro references visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2017/01/20/hafta-103-should-there-be-a-ban-on-jallikattu tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/302503780 Hafta 102: Sahara Diaries, Indian-Flag Doormats, Jallikattu And More Fri, 13 Jan 2017 15:16:21 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-102 01:39:10 Newslaundry.com no The Supreme Court dismissed a plea seeking a probe into the Sahara and Birla diary entries, and Madhu Trehan has the mother of all conspiracy theories about them. Why didn't the apex court find these diaries worth investigating? Speaking of investigations, Tej Bahadur Yadav, a Border Security Force’s (BSF) jawan put up a video showing how badly jawans are treated, and it's led to an enquiry into the matter. Similar videos have been popping up all week and we discuss why some news channels picked up Yadav's story while others didn't. Anand Ranganathan has some strong thoughts on Sushma Swaraj’s threat to Amazon as well as the demand that the ban on Jallikattu be lifted. Donald Trump’s first press conference took place this week, which made Deepanjana Pal wonder about where the American media is headed and Abhinandan Sekhri has a song that Rahul Gandhi can dedicate to Mulayam Singh Yadav. We also have some important announcements about the paywall, so listen closely and enjoy! For reference visit https://www.newslaundry.com/2017/01/13/hafta-102-sahara-diaries-indian-flag-doormats-jallikattu-and-more The Supreme Court dismissed a plea seeking a prob… The Supreme Court dismissed a plea seeking a probe into the Sahara and Birla diary entries, and Madhu Trehan has the mother of all conspiracy theories about them. Why didn't the apex court find these diaries worth investigating? Speaking of investigations, Tej Bahadur Yadav, a Border Security Force’s (BSF) jawan put up a video showing how badly jawans are treated, and it's led to an enquiry into the matter. Similar videos have been popping up all week and we discuss why some news channels picked up Yadav's story while others didn't. Anand Ranganathan has some strong thoughts on Sushma Swaraj’s threat to Amazon as well as the demand that the ban on Jallikattu be lifted. Donald Trump’s first press conference took place this week, which made Deepanjana Pal wonder about where the American media is headed and Abhinandan Sekhri has a song that Rahul Gandhi can dedicate to Mulayam Singh Yadav. We also have some important announcements about the paywall, so listen closely and enjoy! For reference visit https://www.newslaundry.com/2017/01/13/hafta-102-sahara-diaries-indian-flag-doormats-jallikattu-and-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/301205678 Hafta 101: Samajwadi Party Feud, Bengaluru Molestation, BCCI vs Supreme Court Fri, 06 Jan 2017 14:09:50 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-101 01:50:52 Newslaundry.com no Columnist and author Arnab Ray, better known as Greatbong, joins us for this episode of Hafta. Samajwadi Party made headlines thanks to Mulayam and Akhilesh keeping feuds in the family. Is all this staged and if it is, who benefits from it? There are many differing points of view on the case of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vs Supreme Court. Ray has some insights to offer, along with a fascinating study of how cricket has mirrored Indian society over the years. We also discuss the terrible case of mass molestation in Bengaluru on December 31 and whether any point is served by lambasting misogynists like Abu Azmi. The Opposition doesn't want the budget announced before elections in five states, but is that reasonable? We discuss all this and a little bit about demonetisation with Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Deepanjana Pal, Anand Ranganathan and Manisha Pande on the panel. There are also some important announcements, letters from our listeners and a song dedicated to those who support us. Listen up! For References visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2017/01/06/hafta-101-samajwadi-party-feud-bengaluru-molestation-bcci-vs-supreme-court Columnist and author Arnab Ray, better known as G… Columnist and author Arnab Ray, better known as Greatbong, joins us for this episode of Hafta. Samajwadi Party made headlines thanks to Mulayam and Akhilesh keeping feuds in the family. Is all this staged and if it is, who benefits from it? There are many differing points of view on the case of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) vs Supreme Court. Ray has some insights to offer, along with a fascinating study of how cricket has mirrored Indian society over the years. We also discuss the terrible case of mass molestation in Bengaluru on December 31 and whether any point is served by lambasting misogynists like Abu Azmi. The Opposition doesn't want the budget announced before elections in five states, but is that reasonable? We discuss all this and a little bit about demonetisation with Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Deepanjana Pal, Anand Ranganathan and Manisha Pande on the panel. There are also some important announcements, letters from our listeners and a song dedicated to those who support us. Listen up! For References visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2017/01/06/hafta-101-samajwadi-party-feud-bengaluru-molestation-bcci-vs-supreme-court tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/300179697 #NLHafta100: ​ Sabki Dhulai By NL Subscribers ​ ​​ Fri, 30 Dec 2016 13:36:24 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-100 01:50:55 Newslaundry.com no So it’s ​the ​centenary episode of NL Hafta​ and i​t had to be special right? ​Well, it was all that and more. Six of our subscribers from different parts of the world​ joined our regular panel​.​ Listen to how they took the floor and took our panel to​ the​ cleaners,​ elegantly. Our usual suspects Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Deepanjana Pal ​and​ Manisha Pande​ were all ears​. ​Also, we ​discussed Swati Chaturvedi’s new book I Am a Troll, ​an ​investigation into ​Bharatiya Janata Party's ​social media cell, ​and ​​the horrifying statements of the democratically elected Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s way. ​In media news, there's a FIR against Zee News ​for reporting on the Dhulagarh riots, ​and​ we discuss whether the media can stand shoulder to shoulder for freedom of speech.​ ​Find out​ who wrote #NLHafta100’s most retweeted tweet​ and of course, there’s ​a ​song​ at the end. ​Enjoy!​ For references visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2016/12/30/nlhafta100-sabki-dhulai-by-nl-subscribers So it’s ​the ​centenary episode of NL Hafta​ and … So it’s ​the ​centenary episode of NL Hafta​ and i​t had to be special right? ​Well, it was all that and more. Six of our subscribers from different parts of the world​ joined our regular panel​.​ Listen to how they took the floor and took our panel to​ the​ cleaners,​ elegantly. Our usual suspects Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Deepanjana Pal ​and​ Manisha Pande​ were all ears​. ​Also, we ​discussed Swati Chaturvedi’s new book I Am a Troll, ​an ​investigation into ​Bharatiya Janata Party's ​social media cell, ​and ​​the horrifying statements of the democratically elected Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s way. ​In media news, there's a FIR against Zee News ​for reporting on the Dhulagarh riots, ​and​ we discuss whether the media can stand shoulder to shoulder for freedom of speech.​ ​Find out​ who wrote #NLHafta100’s most retweeted tweet​ and of course, there’s ​a ​song​ at the end. ​Enjoy!​ For references visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2016/12/30/nlhafta100-sabki-dhulai-by-nl-subscribers tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/299311014 Hafta 99: Modi, Madonna, Manipur and More Fri, 23 Dec 2016 17:01:51 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-99 01:56:02 Newslaundry.com no Josy Joseph, National Security Editor of The Hindu, joins us on this episode of NL Hafta to talk about the state of the nation, his book A feast of Vultures and the defamation suit that Jet Airways has filed against Joseph. He's got some great advice for journalists as well as sharp insights into how successive governments in India have mishandled insurgencies. We've also got consulting editors Anand Ranganathan and Kishalay Bhattacharjee on the panel, along with Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Deepanjana Pal and Manisha Pande. From Narendra Modi's words being lazily reported, Madonna's speech about being a woman in the American music industry, to the fuss about Taimur, violence in Bengal and a discussion on the controversies surrounding the new Chief of Army Staff, listen to the news of the week being discussed and dissected. Plus, Anand tells you a little bit about the legendary mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan; the panel gives you reading and listening recommendations; and of course, there's a song. Listen up! Josy Joseph, National Security Editor of The Hind… Josy Joseph, National Security Editor of The Hindu, joins us on this episode of NL Hafta to talk about the state of the nation, his book A feast of Vultures and the defamation suit that Jet Airways has filed against Joseph. He's got some great advice for journalists as well as sharp insights into how successive governments in India have mishandled insurgencies. We've also got consulting editors Anand Ranganathan and Kishalay Bhattacharjee on the panel, along with Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Deepanjana Pal and Manisha Pande. From Narendra Modi's words being lazily reported, Madonna's speech about being a woman in the American music industry, to the fuss about Taimur, violence in Bengal and a discussion on the controversies surrounding the new Chief of Army Staff, listen to the news of the week being discussed and dissected. Plus, Anand tells you a little bit about the legendary mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan; the panel gives you reading and listening recommendations; and of course, there's a song. Listen up! tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/298201897 Hafta 98: Ravish Kumar Ko Gussa Kyun Nahin Aata Hai? Fri, 16 Dec 2016 14:55:09 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-98 01:47:33 Newslaundry.com no Why have journalists become punching bags for politicians? And why are some scribes choosing to remain silent on this? Ravish Kumar of NDTV India joins us on Hafta this week. Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan and Manisha Pande and our guest talk about Rahul Gandhi’s claim of evidence against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “personal corruption”. Should news media take him seriously? The panel discusses the idea of moral equivalence in journalism: Are there always two sides to a story? There are also discussions on the arrests that have followed the Supreme Court’s National Anthem order, Aleppo, cyclone Vardah and Jet Airways’ defamation suits against investigative journalist Josy Joseph. In the end, there’s a very special song dedication for some very special people. For reference, please visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2016/12/16/hafta-98-ravish-kumar-ko-gussa-kyun-nahin-aata-hai Why have journalists become punching bags for pol… Why have journalists become punching bags for politicians? And why are some scribes choosing to remain silent on this? Ravish Kumar of NDTV India joins us on Hafta this week. Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan and Manisha Pande and our guest talk about Rahul Gandhi’s claim of evidence against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “personal corruption”. Should news media take him seriously? The panel discusses the idea of moral equivalence in journalism: Are there always two sides to a story? There are also discussions on the arrests that have followed the Supreme Court’s National Anthem order, Aleppo, cyclone Vardah and Jet Airways’ defamation suits against investigative journalist Josy Joseph. In the end, there’s a very special song dedication for some very special people. For reference, please visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2016/12/16/hafta-98-ravish-kumar-ko-gussa-kyun-nahin-aata-hai tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/296989902 Hafta 97: Farewell Amma, 30 Days of Demonetisation And More Fri, 09 Dec 2016 15:03:21 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-97 01:46:14 Newslaundry.com no On this week's Hafta, our columnist TS Sudhir joins the regular panel of Madhu Trehan, Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Ranganathan and Deepanjana Pal. Sudhir has been providing some of the best updates and reports on how Jayalalithaa's final days unfolded and he gives us all the news from the Southern front. Did Jayalalithaa really pass away at 5pm, as some news channels reported? Why were all the MLAs called in and made to sign a blank sheet of paper? Was O Panneerselvam sworn in as the new CM in a rush? There's also discussion on the RBI leaving a few journalists out of its press conference and demonetisation. Find out what our panellists think about Trump winning the TIME's Person Of The Year and there's a musical bonus in this episode since Sekhri taps into his ghazal-loving side to bring a song that's perfect for this season of demonetisation. Listen, learn and enjoy! As always, we've also got reader's comments. If you'd like to get your words in, write to us at contact@newslaundry.com For references visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2016/12/09/hafta-97-farewell-amma-30-days-of-demonetisation-and-more On this week's Hafta, our columnist TS Sudhir joi… On this week's Hafta, our columnist TS Sudhir joins the regular panel of Madhu Trehan, Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Ranganathan and Deepanjana Pal. Sudhir has been providing some of the best updates and reports on how Jayalalithaa's final days unfolded and he gives us all the news from the Southern front. Did Jayalalithaa really pass away at 5pm, as some news channels reported? Why were all the MLAs called in and made to sign a blank sheet of paper? Was O Panneerselvam sworn in as the new CM in a rush? There's also discussion on the RBI leaving a few journalists out of its press conference and demonetisation. Find out what our panellists think about Trump winning the TIME's Person Of The Year and there's a musical bonus in this episode since Sekhri taps into his ghazal-loving side to bring a song that's perfect for this season of demonetisation. Listen, learn and enjoy! As always, we've also got reader's comments. If you'd like to get your words in, write to us at contact@newslaundry.com For references visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2016/12/09/hafta-97-farewell-amma-30-days-of-demonetisation-and-more tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/295864044 Hafta 96: #NabhaJailbreak, Congress's twitter handle hacked and Fidel Castro Fri, 02 Dec 2016 14:27:51 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-96 01:37:47 Newslaundry.com no The year is winding down, but the pace of news isn't slowing down any. Join Abhinandan Sekhri, Madu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Manisha Pande and Deepanjana Pal as they discuss this week's headline makers. Six prisoners broke out of Nabha Central Jail, a maximum security facility that magnanimously allows its prisoners to update their Facebook status (it's hard out there for convicts). While the runaways managed to pull off a plot that belongs in Bollywood movie, there was a tragedy when a young woman was killed accidentally. What's going on with Punjab Police? Despite Sekhri insisting that this Hafta, the panel wouldn't discuss demonetisation, we can't help but wind back to the topic that's been making headlines for 24 days (and counting). How is the government going to tell which is inherited gold and what has been stashed away to turn black money, white (or golden)? There's black comedy with Congress's social media accounts being hacked and everyone has a lot to say about Mukesh Ambani taking over the news channels to announce Jio's success. What does this say about the state of Indian media? Also, find out the act of rebellion that Sekhri and Ranganathan have planned now that the Supreme Court has ordered that all cinemas in the country must play the national anthem before screening a film. Finally, Sekhri and Ranganathan go head to head as they discuss the legacy of Fidel Castro. This week, instead of a song, we've got some poetry for you. Don't forget to send us your comments and ideas for #Hafta100 at contact@newslaundry.com. For reference visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2016/12/02/hafta-96-nabhajailbreak-congresss-twitter-handle-hacked-and-fidel-castro The year is winding down, but the pace of news is… The year is winding down, but the pace of news isn't slowing down any. Join Abhinandan Sekhri, Madu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Manisha Pande and Deepanjana Pal as they discuss this week's headline makers. Six prisoners broke out of Nabha Central Jail, a maximum security facility that magnanimously allows its prisoners to update their Facebook status (it's hard out there for convicts). While the runaways managed to pull off a plot that belongs in Bollywood movie, there was a tragedy when a young woman was killed accidentally. What's going on with Punjab Police? Despite Sekhri insisting that this Hafta, the panel wouldn't discuss demonetisation, we can't help but wind back to the topic that's been making headlines for 24 days (and counting). How is the government going to tell which is inherited gold and what has been stashed away to turn black money, white (or golden)? There's black comedy with Congress's social media accounts being hacked and everyone has a lot to say about Mukesh Ambani taking over the news channels to announce Jio's success. What does this say about the state of Indian media? Also, find out the act of rebellion that Sekhri and Ranganathan have planned now that the Supreme Court has ordered that all cinemas in the country must play the national anthem before screening a film. Finally, Sekhri and Ranganathan go head to head as they discuss the legacy of Fidel Castro. This week, instead of a song, we've got some poetry for you. Don't forget to send us your comments and ideas for #Hafta100 at contact@newslaundry.com. For reference visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2016/12/02/hafta-96-nabhajailbreak-congresss-twitter-handle-hacked-and-fidel-castro tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/294707575 Hafta 95: Kanpur Train Tragedy, #SoniaSpeaksUp And Money Talk Fri, 25 Nov 2016 12:22:54 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-ep-95 01:57:31 Newslaundry.com no The Indore Patna Express train tragedy is one of the worst rail accidents India has suffered, with 146 lives lost and many injured. Should there have been more news on this rather than demonetisation? Should the Indian Railways not face more heat from the media? Kanchan Gupta, Commissioning Editor & Commentator, ABP News, joins us for this episode of Hafta, with Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Deepanjana Pal, Anand Ranganathan and Manisha Pande. Gupta and Sekhri disagree on the Right’s view of Trump. We also discuss demonetisation and why Gupta believes economists should not be allowed into corridors of power. Trehan offers her take on Rajdeep Sardesai’s exclusive ‘interview’ with Congress' Sonia Gandhi. Should a journalist agree for an interview with restrictive pre-conditions? Also in this Hafta: nostalgia from Trehan and Gupta, jokes from Sekhri, and disagreements between Gupta and Ranganathan. Finally, this time, the panel has article and book recommendations. And of course, a very special song, inspired by Dr. Subhash Chandra's love for "Rabinder Sangeet". For reference visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2016/11/25/hafta-95-kanpur-train-tragedy-soniaspeaksup-and-money-talk The Indore Patna Express train tragedy is one of … The Indore Patna Express train tragedy is one of the worst rail accidents India has suffered, with 146 lives lost and many injured. Should there have been more news on this rather than demonetisation? Should the Indian Railways not face more heat from the media? Kanchan Gupta, Commissioning Editor & Commentator, ABP News, joins us for this episode of Hafta, with Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Deepanjana Pal, Anand Ranganathan and Manisha Pande. Gupta and Sekhri disagree on the Right’s view of Trump. We also discuss demonetisation and why Gupta believes economists should not be allowed into corridors of power. Trehan offers her take on Rajdeep Sardesai’s exclusive ‘interview’ with Congress' Sonia Gandhi. Should a journalist agree for an interview with restrictive pre-conditions? Also in this Hafta: nostalgia from Trehan and Gupta, jokes from Sekhri, and disagreements between Gupta and Ranganathan. Finally, this time, the panel has article and book recommendations. And of course, a very special song, inspired by Dr. Subhash Chandra's love for "Rabinder Sangeet". For reference visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2016/11/25/hafta-95-kanpur-train-tragedy-soniaspeaksup-and-money-talk tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/293653935 Hafta 94: Demonetisation, Modi's Mother in Queue, Mallya's Loan & the Reddy Wedding Fri, 18 Nov 2016 16:19:51 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-95 01:12:32 Newslaundry.com no This week we are joined by journalist Vivek Kaul who is also the author of the three-part series Easy Money. We discuss demonetisation, and Sekhri seems convinced that Modi's mother standing in a queue of a bank, was a photo-op. We also talk about Vijay Mallya's loan being written off; Mamta and Kejriwal's rally against demonetisation and the big fat wedding of Janardhan Reddy's daughter. And look out for an interesting song dedication to Modi in the end. For reference visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2016/11/18/hafta-94-demonetisation-modis-mother-in-queue-mallyas-loan-the-reddy-wedding This week we are joined by journalist Vivek Kaul … This week we are joined by journalist Vivek Kaul who is also the author of the three-part series Easy Money. We discuss demonetisation, and Sekhri seems convinced that Modi's mother standing in a queue of a bank, was a photo-op. We also talk about Vijay Mallya's loan being written off; Mamta and Kejriwal's rally against demonetisation and the big fat wedding of Janardhan Reddy's daughter. And look out for an interesting song dedication to Modi in the end. For reference visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2016/11/18/hafta-94-demonetisation-modis-mother-in-queue-mallyas-loan-the-reddy-wedding tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/292737250 Hafta 93: Get Demonetisation Hacks from Chetan Bhagat Sun, 13 Nov 2016 03:29:51 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-93 02:03:57 Newslaundry.com no It's a very special episode of the Hafta because for the first time, we turned on both microphones and camera this week when novelist Chetan Bhagat joined us in the Newslaundry office. (If you missed yesterday's Facebook Live with Hafta, you can watch it here: https://www.facebook.com/newslaundry/videos/1152934954796459/) Lest you think video killed the podcast star, never fear, there's a lot more than 37 minutes to this week's edition of Hafta. Listen up as Bhagat joins Madhu Trehan, Abhinandan Sekhri, Deepanjana Pal, Manisha Pande, Anand Ranganathan, as they tackle an eventful week. And given Bhagat began his life as a banker -- with Goldman Sachs, no less -- the much-loved novelist was actually the perfect person to discuss demonetisation with. He's even got some hacks for those of you wondering what to do with your old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes. (Spare a thought for poor Ranga Uncle, who did the rounds of seven banks and was left with one Rs 100.) And for entertainment in these otherwise grim times, Manohar Parrikar has suffered another attack of foot-in-mouth disease. Also, there's the NDTV India and, of course, the man of the moment: America's President elect, Donald J Trump. Listen up for jokes, insight and of course, the song at the end. For references visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2016/11/13/hafta-93-get-demonetisation-hacks-from-chetan-bhagat It's a very special episode of the Hafta because … It's a very special episode of the Hafta because for the first time, we turned on both microphones and camera this week when novelist Chetan Bhagat joined us in the Newslaundry office. (If you missed yesterday's Facebook Live with Hafta, you can watch it here: https://www.facebook.com/newslaundry/videos/1152934954796459/) Lest you think video killed the podcast star, never fear, there's a lot more than 37 minutes to this week's edition of Hafta. Listen up as Bhagat joins Madhu Trehan, Abhinandan Sekhri, Deepanjana Pal, Manisha Pande, Anand Ranganathan, as they tackle an eventful week. And given Bhagat began his life as a banker -- with Goldman Sachs, no less -- the much-loved novelist was actually the perfect person to discuss demonetisation with. He's even got some hacks for those of you wondering what to do with your old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes. (Spare a thought for poor Ranga Uncle, who did the rounds of seven banks and was left with one Rs 100.) And for entertainment in these otherwise grim times, Manohar Parrikar has suffered another attack of foot-in-mouth disease. Also, there's the NDTV India and, of course, the man of the moment: America's President elect, Donald J Trump. Listen up for jokes, insight and of course, the song at the end. For references visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2016/11/13/hafta-93-get-demonetisation-hacks-from-chetan-bhagat tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/291478482 Hafta 92: RNG Awards, Arnab Goswami's Resignation and Delhi's Air Pollution Fri, 04 Nov 2016 14:17:34 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-92 01:12:45 Newslaundry.com no We open this episode of Hafta with a celebratory shout out to Manisha Pande and Sandeep Pai's 5-part investigative report that won the Ramnath Goenka Award! This week Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Manisha Pande are joined by Sandeep Pai, as they discuss the speeches of Narendra Modi and Indian Express Editor Raj Kamal Jha at the RNG Awards, the #SIMIencounters of Bhopal, Arnab Goswami's resignation as the Editor-in-Chief of Times Now and the curse on us all... the post-Diwali Delhi pollution! There's also a song dedication for Manisha and Sandeep at the end. For reference visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2016/11/04/hafta-92-rng-awards-arnab-goswamis-resignation-and-delhis-air-pollution We open this episode of Hafta with a celebratory … We open this episode of Hafta with a celebratory shout out to Manisha Pande and Sandeep Pai's 5-part investigative report that won the Ramnath Goenka Award! This week Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Manisha Pande are joined by Sandeep Pai, as they discuss the speeches of Narendra Modi and Indian Express Editor Raj Kamal Jha at the RNG Awards, the #SIMIencounters of Bhopal, Arnab Goswami's resignation as the Editor-in-Chief of Times Now and the curse on us all... the post-Diwali Delhi pollution! There's also a song dedication for Manisha and Sandeep at the end. For reference visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2016/11/04/hafta-92-rng-awards-arnab-goswamis-resignation-and-delhis-air-pollution tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/290392500 Hafta 91: From Mistry vs Tata to ADHM vs MNS Fri, 28 Oct 2016 14:29:08 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-91 01:27:28 Newslaundry.com no The battle between Cyrus Mistry and Ratan Tata is getting uglier, with both sides airing laundry lists of accusations. Now that we've got Mistry's letter to Tata's trustees floating all over media, it's worth asking why no business journ alists scooped Mistry's removal? To shed more light on the news of the week, R Jagannathan, Editorial Director of Swarajya. Our regular panel is back in attendance: Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Deepanjana Pal, Manisha Pande and Anand Ranganathan. We discuss intolerance and what politicians like Yogi Adityanath and Sakshi Maharaj contribute to public discourse? Also, Samajwadi Party’s internal feud gets our panel talking, especially Amar Singh’s role. Find out what they think of the Rs 5 crore- deal brokered by Maharashtra's Chief M inister Devendra Fadnavis between Karan Johar and Raj Thackeray. And we discuss why Mumbaikars are more keen to adjust while Delhites are all about fisticuffs? All this and a lot more on this episode of NL Hafta. For references visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2016/10/28/hafta-91-from-mistry-vs-tata-to-adhm-vs-mns The battle between Cyrus Mistry and Ratan Tata is… The battle between Cyrus Mistry and Ratan Tata is getting uglier, with both sides airing laundry lists of accusations. Now that we've got Mistry's letter to Tata's trustees floating all over media, it's worth asking why no business journ alists scooped Mistry's removal? To shed more light on the news of the week, R Jagannathan, Editorial Director of Swarajya. Our regular panel is back in attendance: Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Deepanjana Pal, Manisha Pande and Anand Ranganathan. We discuss intolerance and what politicians like Yogi Adityanath and Sakshi Maharaj contribute to public discourse? Also, Samajwadi Party’s internal feud gets our panel talking, especially Amar Singh’s role. Find out what they think of the Rs 5 crore- deal brokered by Maharashtra's Chief M inister Devendra Fadnavis between Karan Johar and Raj Thackeray. And we discuss why Mumbaikars are more keen to adjust while Delhites are all about fisticuffs? All this and a lot more on this episode of NL Hafta. For references visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2016/10/28/hafta-91-from-mistry-vs-tata-to-adhm-vs-mns tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/289304784 Hafta 90: Karan Johar’s apology, TRP wars & the state of India's health sector Fri, 21 Oct 2016 12:59:06 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-90 01:10:27 Newslaundry.com no Times Now editor in chief, Arnab Goswami gets ‘Y’ category security, news channels at loggerheads for television ratings, Arnab declares his show to be the greatest and to shed some more light on it, joining us is Sandeep Bhushan, TV journalist and a regular media critic. Madhu Trehan, Kishalay Bhattacharjee, Anand Ranganathan and Vivek Gopal along with our guest, discuss & dissect Karan Johar’s apology, the fire in a private hospital in Bhubaneswar, the sorry state of the health sector in India and if it should be privatised? Shouldn’t the buck stop with the government? All this and a lot more on this episode of NL Hafta. We also have a song dedicated to Donald Trump from his Hindu supporters. For references visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2016/10/21/hafta-90-karan-johars-apology-trp-wars-the-state-of-indias-health-sector Times Now editor in chief, Arnab Goswami gets ‘Y’… Times Now editor in chief, Arnab Goswami gets ‘Y’ category security, news channels at loggerheads for television ratings, Arnab declares his show to be the greatest and to shed some more light on it, joining us is Sandeep Bhushan, TV journalist and a regular media critic. Madhu Trehan, Kishalay Bhattacharjee, Anand Ranganathan and Vivek Gopal along with our guest, discuss & dissect Karan Johar’s apology, the fire in a private hospital in Bhubaneswar, the sorry state of the health sector in India and if it should be privatised? Shouldn’t the buck stop with the government? All this and a lot more on this episode of NL Hafta. We also have a song dedicated to Donald Trump from his Hindu supporters. For references visit: https://www.newslaundry.com/2016/10/21/hafta-90-karan-johars-apology-trp-wars-the-state-of-indias-health-sector tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/287644139 Hafta 89: What makes you an anti-national? Fri, 14 Oct 2016 14:23:34 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-89 01:22:03 Newslaundry.com no What makes you an anti-national? Eating beef? Asking the government for details on the surgical strike? Or running an interview with the opposition leader? Recently, NDTV chose to ride the nationalistic wave, along with other channels, and dropped Barkha Dutt’s interview with former home & finance minister P Chidambaram declaring: ‘India above politics’. Hartosh Singh Bal, political editor of The Caravan, joins this episode of Hafta and tells us why news organisations taking such a stance is dangerous for journalism. Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan and Manisha Pande along with our guest discuss why media is not wrong in asking for details of the surgical strike. They also discuss if debates on triple talaq should be separated from the one on Uniform Civil Code. All this & a lot more on this episode of NL Hafta. For Reference, please visit: http://www.newslaundry.com/2016/10/14/hafta-89-what-makes-you-an-anti-national/ What makes you an anti-national? Eating beef? Ask… What makes you an anti-national? Eating beef? Asking the government for details on the surgical strike? Or running an interview with the opposition leader? Recently, NDTV chose to ride the nationalistic wave, along with other channels, and dropped Barkha Dutt’s interview with former home & finance minister P Chidambaram declaring: ‘India above politics’. Hartosh Singh Bal, political editor of The Caravan, joins this episode of Hafta and tells us why news organisations taking such a stance is dangerous for journalism. Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan and Manisha Pande along with our guest discuss why media is not wrong in asking for details of the surgical strike. They also discuss if debates on triple talaq should be separated from the one on Uniform Civil Code. All this & a lot more on this episode of NL Hafta. For Reference, please visit: http://www.newslaundry.com/2016/10/14/hafta-89-what-makes-you-an-anti-national/ tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/286558333 Hafta 88: Should the government release the video footage of #SurgicalStrike? Fri, 07 Oct 2016 13:54:55 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-88 01:19:41 Newslaundry.com no Should the Indian government release the video footage of the surgical strikes? Should journalists or politicians ask proof of the Indian Armed Forces’ actions? Deepanjana Pal, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan and Manisha Pande discuss the sustained media coverage of the surgical strikes as it continues to dominate news – there’s the Indian Express scoop and CNN News18’s ‘Global Exclusive’. The team also discusses Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra’s bizarre face-off with Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. Down south, rumors around Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s health dominated news. How does she manage to invoke such devotion from her supporters? The team also pours over the recent developments in the Rohith Vemula case and dissects some of the most talked-about news stories of the week. Listen-up. Should the Indian government release the video fo… Should the Indian government release the video footage of the surgical strikes? Should journalists or politicians ask proof of the Indian Armed Forces’ actions? Deepanjana Pal, Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan and Manisha Pande discuss the sustained media coverage of the surgical strikes as it continues to dominate news – there’s the Indian Express scoop and CNN News18’s ‘Global Exclusive’. The team also discusses Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra’s bizarre face-off with Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti. Down south, rumors around Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s health dominated news. How does she manage to invoke such devotion from her supporters? The team also pours over the recent developments in the Rohith Vemula case and dissects some of the most talked-about news stories of the week. Listen-up. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/285408905 Hafta 87: #SurgicalStrike, Fawad Khan and the Dark side of Comedy Fri, 30 Sep 2016 14:37:34 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-87 01:47:34 Newslaundry.com no The big news this week is that for the first time that we can remember, the Indian Army admitted to having conducted a "surgical strike" along the Line of Control. Is this the mooh tod jawab that the country was waiting for after terrorist attacks like the ones we suffered in Poonch and Uri? Lieutenant General HS Panag, a Newslaundry columnist, gives us his expert point of view. While the Army has been measured in its approach, the same can't be said of the media. Rajdeep Sardesai made an appearance on a Pakistani channel and we discuss his comments. BK Bansal and his son's tragic suicide notes mention Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah as well as senior Central Bureau of Investigation officers. While the media reported on the discovery of the notes, no one mentioned Shah's name. Was that just fear of Shah made plain? Also, it turns out there are Fawad Khan fans in Newslaundry (much to Madhu Trehan's surprise). Was actress Tannishtha Chatterjee expecting too much when she said she thought Colors's "roast" would be clever? Trehan, Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Ranganathan, Manisha Pande and Deepanjana Pal dissect some of the most talked-about news stories of the week. Plus, there are some must-read letters with great suggestions and a song for our fauji brothers. For references visit: http://www.newslaundry.com/2016/09/30/hafta-87-surgicalstrike-fawad-khan-and-the-dark-side-of-comedy/ The big news this week is that for the first time… The big news this week is that for the first time that we can remember, the Indian Army admitted to having conducted a "surgical strike" along the Line of Control. Is this the mooh tod jawab that the country was waiting for after terrorist attacks like the ones we suffered in Poonch and Uri? Lieutenant General HS Panag, a Newslaundry columnist, gives us his expert point of view. While the Army has been measured in its approach, the same can't be said of the media. Rajdeep Sardesai made an appearance on a Pakistani channel and we discuss his comments. BK Bansal and his son's tragic suicide notes mention Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah as well as senior Central Bureau of Investigation officers. While the media reported on the discovery of the notes, no one mentioned Shah's name. Was that just fear of Shah made plain? Also, it turns out there are Fawad Khan fans in Newslaundry (much to Madhu Trehan's surprise). Was actress Tannishtha Chatterjee expecting too much when she said she thought Colors's "roast" would be clever? Trehan, Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Ranganathan, Manisha Pande and Deepanjana Pal dissect some of the most talked-about news stories of the week. Plus, there are some must-read letters with great suggestions and a song for our fauji brothers. For references visit: http://www.newslaundry.com/2016/09/30/hafta-87-surgicalstrike-fawad-khan-and-the-dark-side-of-comedy/ tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/284413098 Hafta 86: Is War, with Pakistan, even an option? Sat, 24 Sep 2016 13:24:35 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/hafta-86 01:48:09 Newslaundry.com no The recent attack in Uri on a military camp left 17 soldiers dead, many injured. Considering the general emotion floating on social media how prepared are we for war? Is going to war with Pakistan even an option? Can we really abrogate the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan? The answer to all these questions is no, says Kishalay Bhattacharjee, consulting editor of Newslaundry. Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Ranganathan, Madhu Trehan & Deepanjana Pal discuss and dissect the coverage of Pakistan Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif’s speech in the United Nations (UN), Indian envoy to UN Eenam Gambhir’s reply to him and does the western media really care what India & Pakistan say or do? A new chapter added to Bharatiya Janata Party vs Aam Aadmi Party war with Somnath Bharti’s arrest, Race Course Road renamed Lok Kalyan Marg, National Human Rights Commission’s report on Kairana exodus and a lot more. For reference links, visit: http://www.newslaundry.com/2016/09/24/hafta-86-is-war-with-pakistan-even-an-option/ The recent attack in Uri on a military camp left … The recent attack in Uri on a military camp left 17 soldiers dead, many injured. Considering the general emotion floating on social media how prepared are we for war? Is going to war with Pakistan even an option? Can we really abrogate the Indus Water Treaty with Pakistan? The answer to all these questions is no, says Kishalay Bhattacharjee, consulting editor of Newslaundry. Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Ranganathan, Madhu Trehan & Deepanjana Pal discuss and dissect the coverage of Pakistan Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif’s speech in the United Nations (UN), Indian envoy to UN Eenam Gambhir’s reply to him and does the western media really care what India & Pakistan say or do? A new chapter added to Bharatiya Janata Party vs Aam Aadmi Party war with Somnath Bharti’s arrest, Race Course Road renamed Lok Kalyan Marg, National Human Rights Commission’s report on Kairana exodus and a lot more. For reference links, visit: http://www.newslaundry.com/2016/09/24/hafta-86-is-war-with-pakistan-even-an-option/ tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/283181265 Hafta-85: Should it be #IndiaFirst or #JournalismFirst Fri, 16 Sep 2016 15:20:34 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-85 01:34:22 Newslaundry.com no Supreme Court's notice to Karnataka regarding the Cauvery keeps both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu on the edge, but was the media coverage a little too hyperbolic? Also, is 'Why no pellet guns?' a justified question? RSS generated heat with Kerala over festival myths​​ and caused a debate over what precisely is the nature of Onam. ​Indian Express did ​superb ​​investigative reporting (once again) on Jan Dhan ​One​-Rupee Trick. Indian media showered all their attention on A​am ​A​admi ​P​arty​, Pakistan and Balochistan. ​​Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal​ got into a Twitter brawl with Shekhar Gupta and Rahul Kanwal (​​does ​AAP need a better PR team​? Yes​). Pictures of Dhaka's streets filled with blood​-​red water raises the age old question of sacrificing rituals once again. Join Anand Ranganathan, Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan and Deepanjana Pal, along with our guest this week Dhanya Rajendran, Editor-in-chief of The News Minute, to discuss all this and much more on this week's Hafta. For references visit: http://www.newslaundry.com/2016/09/16/hafta-85-should-it-be-indiafirst-or-journalismfirst/ Supreme Court's notice to Karnataka regarding the… Supreme Court's notice to Karnataka regarding the Cauvery keeps both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu on the edge, but was the media coverage a little too hyperbolic? Also, is 'Why no pellet guns?' a justified question? RSS generated heat with Kerala over festival myths​​ and caused a debate over what precisely is the nature of Onam. ​Indian Express did ​superb ​​investigative reporting (once again) on Jan Dhan ​One​-Rupee Trick. Indian media showered all their attention on A​am ​A​admi ​P​arty​, Pakistan and Balochistan. ​​Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal​ got into a Twitter brawl with Shekhar Gupta and Rahul Kanwal (​​does ​AAP need a better PR team​? Yes​). Pictures of Dhaka's streets filled with blood​-​red water raises the age old question of sacrificing rituals once again. Join Anand Ranganathan, Abhinandan Sekhri, Madhu Trehan and Deepanjana Pal, along with our guest this week Dhanya Rajendran, Editor-in-chief of The News Minute, to discuss all this and much more on this week's Hafta. For references visit: http://www.newslaundry.com/2016/09/16/hafta-85-should-it-be-indiafirst-or-journalismfirst/ tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/282123332 Hafta 84: Mother Teresa: Saint or Sinner? Fri, 09 Sep 2016 15:21:20 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-84 01:40:18 Newslaundry.com no We move our focus to the South of the Vindhyas this week as columnist T S Sudhir, Hyderabad-based journalist & author, joins us on this episode of NL Hafta. Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are at it again — the Cauvery dispute has escalated again, Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu accepted a special package instead of a special status from the Centre, while in Kerala, the Rashtra Swayamsevak Sangha (RSS) and Communists are at loggerheads. We also discuss mixed reactions to Mother Teresa’s canonisation in India, ABP News plunging to new depths with #MinisterSexScandal (while targeting Newslaundry), separatists refusing to meet all party delegation and Navjot Singh Sidhu’s new front in Punjab — it’s a packed episode this week. Listen up as Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Ranganathan & Deepanjana Pal discuss and dissect the week’s news. And we have a song dedicated to Rahul baba this time. Enjoy! For references visit: http://www.newslaundry.com/2016/09/09/hafta-84-mother-teresa-saint-or-sinner/ We move our focus to the South of the Vindhyas th… We move our focus to the South of the Vindhyas this week as columnist T S Sudhir, Hyderabad-based journalist & author, joins us on this episode of NL Hafta. Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are at it again — the Cauvery dispute has escalated again, Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu accepted a special package instead of a special status from the Centre, while in Kerala, the Rashtra Swayamsevak Sangha (RSS) and Communists are at loggerheads. We also discuss mixed reactions to Mother Teresa’s canonisation in India, ABP News plunging to new depths with #MinisterSexScandal (while targeting Newslaundry), separatists refusing to meet all party delegation and Navjot Singh Sidhu’s new front in Punjab — it’s a packed episode this week. Listen up as Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Ranganathan & Deepanjana Pal discuss and dissect the week’s news. And we have a song dedicated to Rahul baba this time. Enjoy! For references visit: http://www.newslaundry.com/2016/09/09/hafta-84-mother-teresa-saint-or-sinner/ tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/281176875 Hafta 83: Should media have bothered about AAP’s #MantriSexScandal? Sat, 03 Sep 2016 08:09:22 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-83 01:44:09 Newslaundry.com no Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal fired​ MLA Sandeep Kumar ​when an ‘objectionable cd’​ showing Kumar having sex surfaced​, but should ​Kumar have been fired? ​And why is the media ​getting its knickers in a twist? ​There was a ​naked Jain monk ​in the Haryana assembly​ preaching misogyny​, Rahul Gandhi ​came out as less of a wuss in ​his case​ against the RSS​. Mihira Sood, a Supreme Court lawyer joins this episode of NL Hafta to discuss backlash against​ the conviction of​ Mahmood Farooqui​. And bringing joy to homes in North India,​ PM Narendra Modi pos​ed​ for Reliance Jio ads​. Listen up as Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Ranganathan, Madhu Trehan, Deepanjana Pal ​and​ Manish​a​ Pande​, along with our special guest discuss this week's top news​. This time, ​instead of a song, ​we have a poem dedication, read by Amitabh Bachchan​.​ Enjoy!​ For reference links, visit: http://www.newslaundry.com/2016/09/03/hafta-83-should-media-have-bothered-about-aaps-mantrisexscandal/ Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal fired​ MLA S… Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal fired​ MLA Sandeep Kumar ​when an ‘objectionable cd’​ showing Kumar having sex surfaced​, but should ​Kumar have been fired? ​And why is the media ​getting its knickers in a twist? ​There was a ​naked Jain monk ​in the Haryana assembly​ preaching misogyny​, Rahul Gandhi ​came out as less of a wuss in ​his case​ against the RSS​. Mihira Sood, a Supreme Court lawyer joins this episode of NL Hafta to discuss backlash against​ the conviction of​ Mahmood Farooqui​. And bringing joy to homes in North India,​ PM Narendra Modi pos​ed​ for Reliance Jio ads​. Listen up as Abhinandan Sekhri, Anand Ranganathan, Madhu Trehan, Deepanjana Pal ​and​ Manish​a​ Pande​, along with our special guest discuss this week's top news​. This time, ​instead of a song, ​we have a poem dedication, read by Amitabh Bachchan​.​ Enjoy!​ For reference links, visit: http://www.newslaundry.com/2016/09/03/hafta-83-should-media-have-bothered-about-aaps-mantrisexscandal/ tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/280004693 Hafta 82: ​Is Maneka Gandhi's take on paternity leave on the money? Fri, 26 Aug 2016 16:40:53 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-82 01:24:42 Newslaundry.com no Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi​'s opinion that paternity leave will just be a 'holiday' ​for men​ brought out unexpected sides to all our panellists, particularly Anand Ranganathan​. ​We discuss ​OP Jaisha​'s Rio experience and how Big Media made primetime pantomime out of it. ​Over in France​, the police's crackdown on burkinis​ ​has everyone up in arms​. ​Madhu Trehan raises the most important question surrounding the​ Scorpene submarine leaks​.​​Did the recent JNU rape case ​get less media attention​ because the accused belongs to the Left?.And oh, we had an interesting five-page letter by a listener (but don't worry, we didn't read the entire letter out).​ All this and more, with Abhinandan Sekhri, Deepanjana Pal, Manisha Pande and the rest of our panel. Listen up! ​ For reference links visit: http://www.newslaundry.com/2016/08/26/hafta-82-%E2%80%8Bis-maneka-gandhis-take-on-paternity-leave-on-the-money/ Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandh… Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi​'s opinion that paternity leave will just be a 'holiday' ​for men​ brought out unexpected sides to all our panellists, particularly Anand Ranganathan​. ​We discuss ​OP Jaisha​'s Rio experience and how Big Media made primetime pantomime out of it. ​Over in France​, the police's crackdown on burkinis​ ​has everyone up in arms​. ​Madhu Trehan raises the most important question surrounding the​ Scorpene submarine leaks​.​​Did the recent JNU rape case ​get less media attention​ because the accused belongs to the Left?.And oh, we had an interesting five-page letter by a listener (but don't worry, we didn't read the entire letter out).​ All this and more, with Abhinandan Sekhri, Deepanjana Pal, Manisha Pande and the rest of our panel. Listen up! ​ For reference links visit: http://www.newslaundry.com/2016/08/26/hafta-82-%E2%80%8Bis-maneka-gandhis-take-on-paternity-leave-on-the-money/ tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/278965845 Hafta 81: Is the Amnesty issue seditious? Fri, 19 Aug 2016 15:19:17 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-81 01:19:56 Newslaundry.com no ​The ​PMO delet​ed ​tweets​, which was new, and the PM ​brought up Balochistan in his Independence Day Speech​, which was not new. The Amnesty issue escalated ​as did Arnab's temper on ​Newshour. Meanwhile, ​athletes like Sakshi Malik shone despite the gloom and doom that is sports infrastructure in India. Consulting editor, Anand Ranganathan ​unleashed his philosophical​ side​ about death. ​Madhu Trehan, ​Abhinandan Sekhri Deepanjana Pal & Manisha Pande​ stayed down-to-earth while discussing​ discuss Olympics, Patanjali, ​and ​American athletes getting mugged​.​ ​Bonus: one of the coolest fan mails Hafta has received. Don't miss the song dedicated to ​listener ​Vikas Thakur. For reference links please visit: http://www.newslaundry.com/2016/08/19/hafta-81-is-the-amnesty-issue-seditious/ ​The ​PMO delet​ed ​tweets​, which was new, and t… ​The ​PMO delet​ed ​tweets​, which was new, and the PM ​brought up Balochistan in his Independence Day Speech​, which was not new. The Amnesty issue escalated ​as did Arnab's temper on ​Newshour. Meanwhile, ​athletes like Sakshi Malik shone despite the gloom and doom that is sports infrastructure in India. Consulting editor, Anand Ranganathan ​unleashed his philosophical​ side​ about death. ​Madhu Trehan, ​Abhinandan Sekhri Deepanjana Pal & Manisha Pande​ stayed down-to-earth while discussing​ discuss Olympics, Patanjali, ​and ​American athletes getting mugged​.​ ​Bonus: one of the coolest fan mails Hafta has received. Don't miss the song dedicated to ​listener ​Vikas Thakur. For reference links please visit: http://www.newslaundry.com/2016/08/19/hafta-81-is-the-amnesty-issue-seditious/ tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/277958311 Hafta 80: Modi vs the Gau Rakshaks Fri, 12 Aug 2016 14:07:16 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-80 01:15:54 Newslaundry.com no Is it now Modiji vs the gau rakshaks? Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke his silence and came down heavily against the increasing violent attacks by gau rakshaks . But did he answer the question raised in the last episode of NL Hafta — should the fringe be taken seriously? Why are the TV news channels not paying any heed to #ChaloUna, the Dalit march that's taking place right now in solidarity with those who were attacked by gau rakshaks a few weeks ago? Consulting editor, Anand Ranganathan goes to the roots of cow protection vigilantism. Abhinandan Sekhri along with Madhu Trehan, Deepanjana Pal & Manisha Pande discuss The Indian Express report on Ranbaxy judgment by Singapore tribunal, as well as prohibition law in Bihar. And the most important question this week: why did Irom Sharmila’s own people refused to accept after she broke her 16-year long fast? Plus, don't miss the song dedicated to Modiji from gau rakshaks. For reference links, Please visit: http://www.newslaundry.com/2016/08/12/hafta-80-modi-vs-the-gau-rakshaks/ Is it now Modiji vs the gau rakshaks? Prime Minis… Is it now Modiji vs the gau rakshaks? Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke his silence and came down heavily against the increasing violent attacks by gau rakshaks . But did he answer the question raised in the last episode of NL Hafta — should the fringe be taken seriously? Why are the TV news channels not paying any heed to #ChaloUna, the Dalit march that's taking place right now in solidarity with those who were attacked by gau rakshaks a few weeks ago? Consulting editor, Anand Ranganathan goes to the roots of cow protection vigilantism. Abhinandan Sekhri along with Madhu Trehan, Deepanjana Pal & Manisha Pande discuss The Indian Express report on Ranbaxy judgment by Singapore tribunal, as well as prohibition law in Bihar. And the most important question this week: why did Irom Sharmila’s own people refused to accept after she broke her 16-year long fast? Plus, don't miss the song dedicated to Modiji from gau rakshaks. For reference links, Please visit: http://www.newslaundry.com/2016/08/12/hafta-80-modi-vs-the-gau-rakshaks/ tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/277087530 Hafta 79: Should the fringe be taken seriously? Sat, 06 Aug 2016 14:21:51 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-79 01:29:39 Newslaundry.com no Our two consulting editors, Anand Ranganathan and Kishalay Bhattacharjee, join the Hafta panel this week. In Delhi, the big question is, where does the AAP-led government stand after Delhi High Court rooted for Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung over Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal? Madhu Trehan has some provocative ideas about rape, when she points to sexual frustration as its source. Should the fringe be taken seriously? What happened in Kokrajhar, Assam, where the security forces opened fire in the middle of a market area in broad daylight? Hear Anand's take on Outlook's cover story on 'Operation Beti Uthao'. There's all this and more as Madhu, Anand, Kishalay along with Manisha Pande, Deepanjana Pal & Abhinandan Sekhri discuss this week's hot topics. Bonus: A song dedicated to Kejriwal, on behalf of Jung. For reference links, Please visit: http://www.newslaundry.com/2016/08/06/hafta-79-should-the-fringe-be-taken-seriously/ Our two consulting editors, Anand Ranganathan and… Our two consulting editors, Anand Ranganathan and Kishalay Bhattacharjee, join the Hafta panel this week. In Delhi, the big question is, where does the AAP-led government stand after Delhi High Court rooted for Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung over Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal? Madhu Trehan has some provocative ideas about rape, when she points to sexual frustration as its source. Should the fringe be taken seriously? What happened in Kokrajhar, Assam, where the security forces opened fire in the middle of a market area in broad daylight? Hear Anand's take on Outlook's cover story on 'Operation Beti Uthao'. There's all this and more as Madhu, Anand, Kishalay along with Manisha Pande, Deepanjana Pal & Abhinandan Sekhri discuss this week's hot topics. Bonus: A song dedicated to Kejriwal, on behalf of Jung. For reference links, Please visit: http://www.newslaundry.com/2016/08/06/hafta-79-should-the-fringe-be-taken-seriously/ tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/275951653 Hafta 78 Extra: Is America the greatest country? Fri, 29 Jul 2016 18:46:50 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-78-extra 00:40:14 Newslaundry.com no In this special segment, Kishalay Bhattacharjee, journalist, author & consulting editor with Newslaundry, joins Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Deepanjana Pal & Abhinandan Sekhri to discuss Michelle Obama, Donald Trump & Hillary Clinton’s speeches at the Democratic National Convention. We take a shot at guessing who the next President of the United States of America may be and explore that one important question: Is America really the greatest country in the world? For reference links go to http://www.newslaundry.com/2016/07/29/hafta-78-extra-is-america-the-greatest-country/ In this special segment, Kishalay Bhattacharjee, … In this special segment, Kishalay Bhattacharjee, journalist, author & consulting editor with Newslaundry, joins Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Deepanjana Pal & Abhinandan Sekhri to discuss Michelle Obama, Donald Trump & Hillary Clinton’s speeches at the Democratic National Convention. We take a shot at guessing who the next President of the United States of America may be and explore that one important question: Is America really the greatest country in the world? For reference links go to http://www.newslaundry.com/2016/07/29/hafta-78-extra-is-america-the-greatest-country/ tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/275919958 Hafta 78: Is it Barkha vs Arnab or the media vs Arnab? Fri, 29 Jul 2016 14:52:22 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-epiode-78 01:23:53 Newslaundry.com no After the apex court allowed a rape survivor to terminate her pregnancy post the mandated 20 weeks, we asked our panel: Shouldn’t abortion be a woman’s prerogative? Is it Barkha vs Arnab or the media vs Arnab? What led Irom Sharmila to break her 16-year-long fast? Why Prime Ministers, from Nehru to Modi, have continued with Armed Forces (Special Powers) Acts (AFSPA)? Why are AAP and BJP always at loggerheads? Kishalay Bhattacharjee, journalist, author & consulting editor with Newslaundry, joins Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Deepanjana Pal & Abhinandan Sekhri to discuss all this & a lot more. We also have an extra on the American elections, in which our panel talks about the Republican and Democratic Conventions, and which is the greatest country on the earth. For reference links visit http://www.newslaundry.com/2016/07/29/hafta-78-is-it-barkha-vs-arnab-or-the-media-vs-arnab/ After the apex court allowed a rape survivor to t… After the apex court allowed a rape survivor to terminate her pregnancy post the mandated 20 weeks, we asked our panel: Shouldn’t abortion be a woman’s prerogative? Is it Barkha vs Arnab or the media vs Arnab? What led Irom Sharmila to break her 16-year-long fast? Why Prime Ministers, from Nehru to Modi, have continued with Armed Forces (Special Powers) Acts (AFSPA)? Why are AAP and BJP always at loggerheads? Kishalay Bhattacharjee, journalist, author & consulting editor with Newslaundry, joins Madhu Trehan, Anand Ranganathan, Deepanjana Pal & Abhinandan Sekhri to discuss all this & a lot more. We also have an extra on the American elections, in which our panel talks about the Republican and Democratic Conventions, and which is the greatest country on the earth. For reference links visit http://www.newslaundry.com/2016/07/29/hafta-78-is-it-barkha-vs-arnab-or-the-media-vs-arnab/ tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/274852137 Hafta 77: #DalitUprising in Una and simmering #Kashmir Fri, 22 Jul 2016 13:28:26 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-77 01:05:09 Newslaundry.com no Should the media be blamed for Kashmir unrest? How should journalists report conflict? Who ordered the gag on media in Kashmir? Why have so few women politicians come out in support of Mayawati? Are Indians blind to Dalit oppression? Is Twitter a good place for sensible debates? We discuss all this and a lot more on this episode of Hafta. And, of course, we have a song, this time dedicated to Arvind Kejriwal. For reference links visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan Should the media be blamed for Kashmir unrest? Ho… Should the media be blamed for Kashmir unrest? How should journalists report conflict? Who ordered the gag on media in Kashmir? Why have so few women politicians come out in support of Mayawati? Are Indians blind to Dalit oppression? Is Twitter a good place for sensible debates? We discuss all this and a lot more on this episode of Hafta. And, of course, we have a song, this time dedicated to Arvind Kejriwal. For reference links visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/273812436 Hafta 76: Militancy vs Terrorism Fri, 15 Jul 2016 15:31:33 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-76 01:22:50 Newslaundry.com no Why is Kashmir simmering? Was Burhan Wani a terrorist or a militant? How was militancy in Punjab different from what is happening in Kashmir? Was Rajdeep Sardesai caught on the wrong foot (again) with Sania Mirza? Who exactly is a thulla? Was Arunachal Pradesh another loss for the BJP after Uttrakhand? Will there be a case against Zakir Naik? Will Priyanka Gandhi be able to revive Congress, if given a chance? We discuss all this and a lot more on this episode of Hafta. And, of course, we have a song, this time dedicated to Modi Ji from the media. (Hint: it’s pretty meta.) Visit www.newslaundry.com for reference links. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan Why is Kashmir simmering? Was Burhan Wani a terro… Why is Kashmir simmering? Was Burhan Wani a terrorist or a militant? How was militancy in Punjab different from what is happening in Kashmir? Was Rajdeep Sardesai caught on the wrong foot (again) with Sania Mirza? Who exactly is a thulla? Was Arunachal Pradesh another loss for the BJP after Uttrakhand? Will there be a case against Zakir Naik? Will Priyanka Gandhi be able to revive Congress, if given a chance? We discuss all this and a lot more on this episode of Hafta. And, of course, we have a song, this time dedicated to Modi Ji from the media. (Hint: it’s pretty meta.) Visit www.newslaundry.com for reference links. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/272727760 Hafta 75: Why big media loves to hate Smriti Irani Fri, 08 Jul 2016 14:38:02 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-75 01:24:26 Newslaundry.com no Cabinet reshuffles, who was promoted and who was demoted? Why big media loves to hate Smriti Irani? Has The Telegraph crossed the line with their ‘Spinderella’ headline? Does the government have any business in running the media? Urmilesh, former executive editor of Rajya Sabha TV, joins us for this episode of NL Hafta. The team also discusses Ravish’s open letter to M J Akbar and terror attacks in Bangladesh. Is Zakir Naik being made a scapegoat? All this and a lot more on this episode of Hafta. We also have a song dedicated to our listeners overseas! Visit www.newslaundry.com for reference links. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan Cabinet reshuffles, who was promoted and who was … Cabinet reshuffles, who was promoted and who was demoted? Why big media loves to hate Smriti Irani? Has The Telegraph crossed the line with their ‘Spinderella’ headline? Does the government have any business in running the media? Urmilesh, former executive editor of Rajya Sabha TV, joins us for this episode of NL Hafta. The team also discusses Ravish’s open letter to M J Akbar and terror attacks in Bangladesh. Is Zakir Naik being made a scapegoat? All this and a lot more on this episode of Hafta. We also have a song dedicated to our listeners overseas! Visit www.newslaundry.com for reference links. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/271704551 Hafta 74: Communism vs. Capitalism vs. Socialism Fri, 01 Jul 2016 13:32:03 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-74 01:29:54 Newslaundry.com no Communism, capitalism or socialism – what has worked? Or is it time we look beyond isms? Is Arnab Goswami above & beyond journalism? Why would China let India into NSG? M K Venu, founding editor, TheWire.in, joins us for this episode of NL Hafta to discuss these issues. The team also discusses big media houses’ decision to block content for ad block users. Did Essar tapes get due coverage in the media and have we forgotten the Radia tapes? Listen to find out. We also have a song dedicated to our subscribers this time. For reference links, visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan Communism, capitalism or socialism – what has wor… Communism, capitalism or socialism – what has worked? Or is it time we look beyond isms? Is Arnab Goswami above & beyond journalism? Why would China let India into NSG? M K Venu, founding editor, TheWire.in, joins us for this episode of NL Hafta to discuss these issues. The team also discusses big media houses’ decision to block content for ad block users. Did Essar tapes get due coverage in the media and have we forgotten the Radia tapes? Listen to find out. We also have a song dedicated to our subscribers this time. For reference links, visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/270636963 Hafta 73: From #Rexit to #Brexit: What will hurt more? Fri, 24 Jun 2016 13:29:31 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-73 01:38:35 Newslaundry.com no What will be more damaging? Rexit or Brexit? Why is BJP not able to control Swamy? Is it ok for politicians to block certain media houses? What forced Aveek Sarkar to resign? Ashok Malik, an accomplished columnist, joins us for this episode of Hafta to discuss these issues. The team also discusses the recently-announced FDI in defence. Did FDI in defence get less coverage than Rexit? We also discuss why no channel other than India Today is talking about Essar tapes. And finally, pros and cons of access journalism. We have a song too, this time, dedicated to Bill Maher. For reference links please visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan What will be more damaging? Rexit or Brexit? Why … What will be more damaging? Rexit or Brexit? Why is BJP not able to control Swamy? Is it ok for politicians to block certain media houses? What forced Aveek Sarkar to resign? Ashok Malik, an accomplished columnist, joins us for this episode of Hafta to discuss these issues. The team also discusses the recently-announced FDI in defence. Did FDI in defence get less coverage than Rexit? We also discuss why no channel other than India Today is talking about Essar tapes. And finally, pros and cons of access journalism. We have a song too, this time, dedicated to Bill Maher. For reference links please visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/269585450 Hafta 72: Who’s a liberal? Fri, 17 Jun 2016 13:06:36 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-72 01:20:29 Newslaundry.com no Who is a liberal? Was Gandhi a liberal? What is happening in Kairana? Is it mass exodus or mass hysteria? Rohan Venkataramakrishnan, News Editor, Scroll, joins us for this episode of NL Hafta as we discuss the news of the week. The team also talks about Kejriwal’s latest attack on PM Modi, The Indian Express’ accidental scoop and Orlando shooting. Bonus: a bad-jokes competition between Ranga Uncle and Abhinandan, three letters from our listeners and a song for our dear subscribers. For reference links please visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan Who is a liberal? Was Gandhi a liberal? What is h… Who is a liberal? Was Gandhi a liberal? What is happening in Kairana? Is it mass exodus or mass hysteria? Rohan Venkataramakrishnan, News Editor, Scroll, joins us for this episode of NL Hafta as we discuss the news of the week. The team also talks about Kejriwal’s latest attack on PM Modi, The Indian Express’ accidental scoop and Orlando shooting. Bonus: a bad-jokes competition between Ranga Uncle and Abhinandan, three letters from our listeners and a song for our dear subscribers. For reference links please visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/268451596 Hafta 71: Is AAP a serious option in Punjab? Fri, 10 Jun 2016 13:10:38 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-71 01:14:12 Newslaundry.com no Tune into this week's NL Hafta to listen to the "khula sandh" of Indian journalism, Hartosh Singh Bal. He trashes everyone (reasonably) from AAP to BJP and little congresses of political parties in between. Mathura-returned Ishan Kukreti offers his laterally-heard scoops from the land of saints and thugs, and the panel also finds the time to dissect the anatomy of foolishness that is the CBFC in the Udta Punjab case. Oh and also,you guys sent us stings! Thank you for that and everyone can hear them now. Sit back and listen up to all this and more, only on this week's hafta. Bhurrraaa! For reference links please visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan Tune into this week's NL Hafta to listen to the "… Tune into this week's NL Hafta to listen to the "khula sandh" of Indian journalism, Hartosh Singh Bal. He trashes everyone (reasonably) from AAP to BJP and little congresses of political parties in between. Mathura-returned Ishan Kukreti offers his laterally-heard scoops from the land of saints and thugs, and the panel also finds the time to dissect the anatomy of foolishness that is the CBFC in the Udta Punjab case. Oh and also,you guys sent us stings! Thank you for that and everyone can hear them now. Sit back and listen up to all this and more, only on this week's hafta. Bhurrraaa! For reference links please visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/267274801 Hafta 70: Do we have the freedom to practise freedom of expression? Fri, 03 Jun 2016 14:53:59 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-70 01:25:13 Newslaundry.com no Tanmay Bhat's Snapchat video on Lata Mangeshkar and Sachin Tendulkar opened up the doors to the topic that we love to debate, but fall short on following it to a T. Do we have the freedom to exercise freedom of speech or is that too much for India to handle? As the news broke earlier this week of Robert Vadra buying property in London through a proxy, three news organisations claimed that they were the ones to 'break' the news. Who can really lay claim to the story and does it really matter? Speaking of the media, Arnab Goswami made a "disclosure" and we'd claim #NLimpact for, but Goswami's emotional speech about the political affiliations of a few of his family members wasn't complete. Plus, we discuss how Barkha Dutt kept her cool while debating the issue of triple talaaq in The Buck Stops Here and an article from Fountain Ink about corruption by the Aam Aadmi Party. Listen up and enjoy! For reference links please visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Manira Chaudhary Tanmay Bhat's Snapchat video on Lata Mangeshkar a… Tanmay Bhat's Snapchat video on Lata Mangeshkar and Sachin Tendulkar opened up the doors to the topic that we love to debate, but fall short on following it to a T. Do we have the freedom to exercise freedom of speech or is that too much for India to handle? As the news broke earlier this week of Robert Vadra buying property in London through a proxy, three news organisations claimed that they were the ones to 'break' the news. Who can really lay claim to the story and does it really matter? Speaking of the media, Arnab Goswami made a "disclosure" and we'd claim #NLimpact for, but Goswami's emotional speech about the political affiliations of a few of his family members wasn't complete. Plus, we discuss how Barkha Dutt kept her cool while debating the issue of triple talaaq in The Buck Stops Here and an article from Fountain Ink about corruption by the Aam Aadmi Party. Listen up and enjoy! For reference links please visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Manira Chaudhary tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/266321696 Hafta 69: Should sports bodies come under RTI? Sat, 28 May 2016 12:54:10 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-69 01:23:00 Newslaundry.com no Desh Gaurav Sekhri, sports attorney, columnist for Economic Times, Business Standard and author of Not Out – The incredible story of the Indian Premier League joins us for this episode of Hafta to discuss whether sports bodies should come under RTI. Has IPL helped cricket grow in India? On Hafta we discuss the CBFC refusal to certify Udta Punjab, Tripura rewriting Indian History in its school textbooks and putting Marx in. We also discuss Arnab identifying Indian Mujahideen journos, the Twitter spat between Smriti Irani and Priyanka Chaturvedi, and a lot more. Bonus: three letters from listeners and a song too. For reference links please visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan Desh Gaurav Sekhri, sports attorney, columnist fo… Desh Gaurav Sekhri, sports attorney, columnist for Economic Times, Business Standard and author of Not Out – The incredible story of the Indian Premier League joins us for this episode of Hafta to discuss whether sports bodies should come under RTI. Has IPL helped cricket grow in India? On Hafta we discuss the CBFC refusal to certify Udta Punjab, Tripura rewriting Indian History in its school textbooks and putting Marx in. We also discuss Arnab identifying Indian Mujahideen journos, the Twitter spat between Smriti Irani and Priyanka Chaturvedi, and a lot more. Bonus: three letters from listeners and a song too. For reference links please visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/265052518 Hafta 68: H​ow to​ be a ‘fully mentally Indian’ Fri, 20 May 2016 13:11:26 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-68 01:13:15 Newslaundry.com no Do​ attack​s​ on journalists reflect​ a​ growing intolerance? Should Muslims ​and Hindus be allowed to reform their respective religions​ or do they lack perspective? ​We refuse to discuss ​two years of Modi government on Hafta​. Find out why.​​ Also, is Vedanta sponsoring ​Jaipur Literature Festival in London a problem? ​And what's with this obsession with renaming roads? We discuss it all and a lot more on this episode of NL Hafta. ​Bonus: ​we ​shed ​some light on Subramaniam Swamy’s list of reasons to fire Raghuram Rajan​ and figure out whether Madhu is ‘fully mentally Indian’. ​Double bonus: as always, we​ have a song. For reference links please visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan Do​ attack​s​ on journalists reflect​ a​ growing … Do​ attack​s​ on journalists reflect​ a​ growing intolerance? Should Muslims ​and Hindus be allowed to reform their respective religions​ or do they lack perspective? ​We refuse to discuss ​two years of Modi government on Hafta​. Find out why.​​ Also, is Vedanta sponsoring ​Jaipur Literature Festival in London a problem? ​And what's with this obsession with renaming roads? We discuss it all and a lot more on this episode of NL Hafta. ​Bonus: ​we ​shed ​some light on Subramaniam Swamy’s list of reasons to fire Raghuram Rajan​ and figure out whether Madhu is ‘fully mentally Indian’. ​Double bonus: as always, we​ have a song. For reference links please visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/263913632 Hafta 67: From Demonic Possessions to Modi in Kerala Fri, 13 May 2016 12:00:33 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-67 01:13:02 Newslaundry.com no Since the first episode of Chase – Newslaundry’s documentary series in association with ScoopWhoop – has come out, Manisha Pande talks to us about her experience of exploring demonic possessions in India. Trump’s Indian fans hold a hawan ceremony for him. Trupti Desai enters Haji Ali, but doesn’t reach the sanctum sanctorum. Why is The Indian Express not talking about how photojournalist Ravi Kanojia died? Should news organizations have better measure to avoid these accidents? And Adi Godrej has spoken out against government policies. Here’s why this is a big deal. We also ponder on the question of prohibitions and if they’re MK Gandhi’s fault. Should prohibitions be removed from Constitution? Why has the national media ignored the dynasty politics inside DMK? Who got it wrong in Kerala: Modi or Media or both? We discuss all this and a lot more. Bonus: we’re reading out mail from Hafta listeners, so leave us a comment and yours might be the one we read out in the next Hafta. Also, don’t miss the song we’vededicated to Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar. For reference links please visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan Since the first episode of Chase – Newslaundry’s … Since the first episode of Chase – Newslaundry’s documentary series in association with ScoopWhoop – has come out, Manisha Pande talks to us about her experience of exploring demonic possessions in India. Trump’s Indian fans hold a hawan ceremony for him. Trupti Desai enters Haji Ali, but doesn’t reach the sanctum sanctorum. Why is The Indian Express not talking about how photojournalist Ravi Kanojia died? Should news organizations have better measure to avoid these accidents? And Adi Godrej has spoken out against government policies. Here’s why this is a big deal. We also ponder on the question of prohibitions and if they’re MK Gandhi’s fault. Should prohibitions be removed from Constitution? Why has the national media ignored the dynasty politics inside DMK? Who got it wrong in Kerala: Modi or Media or both? We discuss all this and a lot more. Bonus: we’re reading out mail from Hafta listeners, so leave us a comment and yours might be the one we read out in the next Hafta. Also, don’t miss the song we’vededicated to Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar. For reference links please visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/262909642 Hafta 66: From Karl Marx to Kangana Sat, 07 May 2016 10:52:42 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nlhafta-episode-66 01:12:43 Newslaundry.com no AgustaWestland’s VVIP choppers are flying inside parliament or perhaps they're crashing? Is Kangana Ranaut a feminist icon? How seriously should you take trolls and is Rajdeep Sardesai giving them too much importance? What is Nitish Kumar cooking, since cooking has been banned during the day in parts of Bihar? Why was the Chief Justice of Uttarakhand transferred and should the Kerala rape victim's name and photo be revealed? We discuss all this and a lot more on this episode of NL Hafta. We also dedicate a song to Karl Marx on his birth anniversary. For reference links please visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan AgustaWestland’s VVIP choppers are flying inside … AgustaWestland’s VVIP choppers are flying inside parliament or perhaps they're crashing? Is Kangana Ranaut a feminist icon? How seriously should you take trolls and is Rajdeep Sardesai giving them too much importance? What is Nitish Kumar cooking, since cooking has been banned during the day in parts of Bihar? Why was the Chief Justice of Uttarakhand transferred and should the Kerala rape victim's name and photo be revealed? We discuss all this and a lot more on this episode of NL Hafta. We also dedicate a song to Karl Marx on his birth anniversary. For reference links please visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/261514399 NL Hafta- Episode 65 Sat, 30 Apr 2016 12:37:12 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nlhafta65 00:50:56 Newslaundry.com no This week on NL Hafta, Garima Chitkara, a freelance journalist covering Asian financial markets, banking and regulation, joins us to discuss top ten names on the RBI defaulters list accessed by newslaundry. Garima and our very own Manisha Pande share their experience of working on this list. Why LIC’s name on the list of lenders is a big deal? Is ‘JNU a den of organised sex racket’? We ask Anand Ranganathan. Is Krishna Godavari basin scam really a scam, as claimed by Jairam Ramesh, or just a failed project? For political parties kya scam hi scam ko kat-ta hai? Listen up and Enjoy. For reference links visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan This week on NL Hafta, Garima Chitkara, a freelan… This week on NL Hafta, Garima Chitkara, a freelance journalist covering Asian financial markets, banking and regulation, joins us to discuss top ten names on the RBI defaulters list accessed by newslaundry. Garima and our very own Manisha Pande share their experience of working on this list. Why LIC’s name on the list of lenders is a big deal? Is ‘JNU a den of organised sex racket’? We ask Anand Ranganathan. Is Krishna Godavari basin scam really a scam, as claimed by Jairam Ramesh, or just a failed project? For political parties kya scam hi scam ko kat-ta hai? Listen up and Enjoy. For reference links visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/260385944 NL Hafta - Episode 64 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 18:51:20 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-64 01:11:36 Newslaundry.com no This week on NL Hafta, Vivekananda Nemana tells us about his two-year-​long investigation into how malaria cases are diagnosed as "cold and flu" in India. We talk about the second round of odd-even traffic rationing in Delhi. Is it a failure? What's going on with surge pricing? Meanwhile, Giriraj Singh does it again, this time to keep Hindu daughters safe. And we've got some questions for you too, dear subscribers, about comments and what Newslaundry’s policy should be. Listen up and enjoy. For reference links visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan This week on NL Hafta, Vivekananda Nemana tells u… This week on NL Hafta, Vivekananda Nemana tells us about his two-year-​long investigation into how malaria cases are diagnosed as "cold and flu" in India. We talk about the second round of odd-even traffic rationing in Delhi. Is it a failure? What's going on with surge pricing? Meanwhile, Giriraj Singh does it again, this time to keep Hindu daughters safe. And we've got some questions for you too, dear subscribers, about comments and what Newslaundry’s policy should be. Listen up and enjoy. For reference links visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/259185144 NL Hafta - Episode 63 Fri, 15 Apr 2016 09:20:43 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nlhafta-63 01:11:36 Newslaundry.com no Did NDTV get it all wrong while covering the Assam elections? And what about The Times of India's example of hard-hitting journalism while covering the British royals' visit? Is there gossip in Tavleen Singh's new book? Aside from searing issues like these, we also discussed the tragic Kollam temple fire, remembered Dr BR Ambedkar on his 125th birth anniversary and the persistent horrors of caste. Listen up to NL Hafta, episode 63. For reference links visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan Did NDTV get it all wrong while covering the Assa… Did NDTV get it all wrong while covering the Assam elections? And what about The Times of India's example of hard-hitting journalism while covering the British royals' visit? Is there gossip in Tavleen Singh's new book? Aside from searing issues like these, we also discussed the tragic Kollam temple fire, remembered Dr BR Ambedkar on his 125th birth anniversary and the persistent horrors of caste. Listen up to NL Hafta, episode 63. For reference links visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/257969062 NL Hafta - Episode 62 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 14:47:48 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nlhafta62 00:59:05 Newslaundry.com no On this week's NL Hafta, we welcome our new Editor, Collaborations and Partnerships, Karuna John and discuss the latest happenings in the world. Things got heated as we sink our teeth into the Bigoted Vs Secular debate inspired by Charlie Hebdo's editorial, the importance of caste identity and more food for thought. For reference links visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan On this week's NL Hafta, we welcome our new Edito… On this week's NL Hafta, we welcome our new Editor, Collaborations and Partnerships, Karuna John and discuss the latest happenings in the world. Things got heated as we sink our teeth into the Bigoted Vs Secular debate inspired by Charlie Hebdo's editorial, the importance of caste identity and more food for thought. For reference links visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/256762093 NL Hafta - Episode 61 Fri, 01 Apr 2016 16:53:59 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nlhafta61 01:07:09 Newslaundry.com no Siddharth Bhatia, founder editor of The Wire, joins this week's Hafta to talk about the crisis in Uttarakhand, what became of The Sun's selfie contest and much more. From Sanjay Dutt's appeal to reform jail manuals, Shoaib Akhtar and Virendra Sehwag sniping while doing commentary, and the dangerous but ignored shortage of water in India, there's much food for thought. Plus, a sneak peek into a possible NL Presidential candidate list (Hint: His name has a big B in it.) For reference links visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan Siddharth Bhatia, founder editor of The Wire, joi… Siddharth Bhatia, founder editor of The Wire, joins this week's Hafta to talk about the crisis in Uttarakhand, what became of The Sun's selfie contest and much more. From Sanjay Dutt's appeal to reform jail manuals, Shoaib Akhtar and Virendra Sehwag sniping while doing commentary, and the dangerous but ignored shortage of water in India, there's much food for thought. Plus, a sneak peek into a possible NL Presidential candidate list (Hint: His name has a big B in it.) For reference links visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/255192973 NL Hafta - Episode 60 Sat, 26 Mar 2016 10:52:44 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-60 01:16:53 Newslaundry.com no This week on NL Hafta, journalist and author Rahul Pandita talks about the condition of scribes in Bastar and the recent arrest of a reporter, Prabhat Singh. We talk about state intimidation in Chhattisgarh and what it means to be a stringer there. Pandita also talks about why being called a Kashmiri Pandit has more resonance for him than being called a Kashmiri Hindu. Moving on, we discuss the image of the Jet Airways flight attendant that has become the symbol of the Brussels blasts. Was it ethical for the media to publish the picture? We also look into what turned Microsoft's AI bot, Tay, into a racist, holocaust denier. And, finally, we suggest some good reads we came across over the week. For reference links visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan This week on NL Hafta, journalist and author Rahu… This week on NL Hafta, journalist and author Rahul Pandita talks about the condition of scribes in Bastar and the recent arrest of a reporter, Prabhat Singh. We talk about state intimidation in Chhattisgarh and what it means to be a stringer there. Pandita also talks about why being called a Kashmiri Pandit has more resonance for him than being called a Kashmiri Hindu. Moving on, we discuss the image of the Jet Airways flight attendant that has become the symbol of the Brussels blasts. Was it ethical for the media to publish the picture? We also look into what turned Microsoft's AI bot, Tay, into a racist, holocaust denier. And, finally, we suggest some good reads we came across over the week. For reference links visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/253128595 NL Hafta - Episode 59 Sat, 19 Mar 2016 11:11:42 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-59 01:08:37 Newslaundry.com no Are there times in a marriage when 'no' doesn't really mean 'no'? Is the controversy over Bharat Mata exposing India's ugly side? And what is going on with this Kangana Ranaut-Hrithik Roshan scandal? This week film critic and author ​Mayank Shekhar joins us as we weigh in on the topics that made news. From Shaktimaan and animal cruelty to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Delhi's posh set cheering for Amit Shah, we ask questions and get some answers on this edition of Hafta. For reference links visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan Are there times in a marriage when 'no' doesn't r… Are there times in a marriage when 'no' doesn't really mean 'no'? Is the controversy over Bharat Mata exposing India's ugly side? And what is going on with this Kangana Ranaut-Hrithik Roshan scandal? This week film critic and author ​Mayank Shekhar joins us as we weigh in on the topics that made news. From Shaktimaan and animal cruelty to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Delhi's posh set cheering for Amit Shah, we ask questions and get some answers on this edition of Hafta. For reference links visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/251313088 NL Hafta - Episode 58 Fri, 11 Mar 2016 13:44:42 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nlhaftaep58 01:21:23 Newslaundry.com no This week, Hindol Sengupta, editor at large of Fortune India, joins us on Hafta ​to talk about​ Kanhaiya, Karan Johar,​ crony capitalism, crony socialism and much more. Tune in to get a new perspective on communism, and we wonder if Vijay Mallya is just another brick in the wall of unpaid bank loans. We've also got our eye on Raj Thackeray's call to burn autos and the top generator of news stories this week, Sri Sri Ravishankar. For reference links visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan This week, Hindol Sengupta, editor at large of Fo… This week, Hindol Sengupta, editor at large of Fortune India, joins us on Hafta ​to talk about​ Kanhaiya, Karan Johar,​ crony capitalism, crony socialism and much more. Tune in to get a new perspective on communism, and we wonder if Vijay Mallya is just another brick in the wall of unpaid bank loans. We've also got our eye on Raj Thackeray's call to burn autos and the top generator of news stories this week, Sri Sri Ravishankar. For reference links visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/250156635 NL Hafta - Episode 57 Fri, 04 Mar 2016 13:39:30 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nlhaftaepisode-57 01:13:00 Newslaundry.com no What's going on with the EPF? Vivek Kaul (author, journalist and economic commentator) joins us this week and demystifies the budget. No mysteries as far as JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar’s bail order is concerned. Everyone on the team has an opinion. What is a mystery, however, is the Ishrat Jahan case and none of the revelations are making anything clearer. And it's the battle of the speeches: Rahul Gandhi versus Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Guess whose speech Madhu Trehan liked more? Actually, don't guess. Listen to this week's Hafta and find out. Bonus: join in as we do a sing-along to welcome our new managing editor Deepanjana Pal to the Newslaundry fold. What's going on with the EPF? Vivek Kaul (author,… What's going on with the EPF? Vivek Kaul (author, journalist and economic commentator) joins us this week and demystifies the budget. No mysteries as far as JNU student leader Kanhaiya Kumar’s bail order is concerned. Everyone on the team has an opinion. What is a mystery, however, is the Ishrat Jahan case and none of the revelations are making anything clearer. And it's the battle of the speeches: Rahul Gandhi versus Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Guess whose speech Madhu Trehan liked more? Actually, don't guess. Listen to this week's Hafta and find out. Bonus: join in as we do a sing-along to welcome our new managing editor Deepanjana Pal to the Newslaundry fold. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/248985909 NL Hafta - Episode 56 Fri, 26 Feb 2016 11:19:13 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-ep-56 01:33:42 Newslaundry.com no Mukul Kesavan, professor of Social History at Jamia Millia Islamia University and columnist, joins us for this week’s episode of NL Hafta. The team discusses Smriti Irani’s speech in Parliament, the continuing media coverage of the JNU row and the India Today sting on the group of lawyers who beat up Kanhaiya Kumar in police custody. The team then discusses The Telegraph’s “Aunty National” headline – was it sexist? Things get heated as ideological differences are brought up and the government’s handling of the JNU incident is critiqued. Mukul Kesavan, professor of Social History at Jam… Mukul Kesavan, professor of Social History at Jamia Millia Islamia University and columnist, joins us for this week’s episode of NL Hafta. The team discusses Smriti Irani’s speech in Parliament, the continuing media coverage of the JNU row and the India Today sting on the group of lawyers who beat up Kanhaiya Kumar in police custody. The team then discusses The Telegraph’s “Aunty National” headline – was it sexist? Things get heated as ideological differences are brought up and the government’s handling of the JNU incident is critiqued. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/247729648 NL Hafta - Episode 55 Thu, 18 Feb 2016 19:47:05 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-55 00:50:10 Newslaundry.com no This week on NL Hafta, the team discusses Aam Aadmi Party’s recent ad campaign. Should governments be spending money on ads? We also talk about the JNU row and the media coverage on it. Then we talk about nationalism and Anand Ranganathan makes the distinction between a patriot and a nationalist. For reference links visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan This week on NL Hafta, the team discusses Aam Aad… This week on NL Hafta, the team discusses Aam Aadmi Party’s recent ad campaign. Should governments be spending money on ads? We also talk about the JNU row and the media coverage on it. Then we talk about nationalism and Anand Ranganathan makes the distinction between a patriot and a nationalist. For reference links visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/246748320 NL Hafta - Episode 54 Fri, 12 Feb 2016 21:01:57 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nlhaftaep54 01:09:11 Newslaundry.com no This week on NL Hafta, the NL team with Naresh Fernandes and Malini Subramaniam from Scroll discuss the recent attack on Malini’s house in Bastar. The question of suppressing dissent comes up once again as we see a journalist being attacked for doing her job and students at JNU being charged with sedition. David Headley’s deposition, Pachauri being re-instated in TERI and then going on leave, scientific breakthrough in theories about gravitational waves and Lance Naik Hanamanthappa’s ordeal, the news has given us a lot to talk about. For reference links visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan This week on NL Hafta, the NL team with Naresh Fe… This week on NL Hafta, the NL team with Naresh Fernandes and Malini Subramaniam from Scroll discuss the recent attack on Malini’s house in Bastar. The question of suppressing dissent comes up once again as we see a journalist being attacked for doing her job and students at JNU being charged with sedition. David Headley’s deposition, Pachauri being re-instated in TERI and then going on leave, scientific breakthrough in theories about gravitational waves and Lance Naik Hanamanthappa’s ordeal, the news has given us a lot to talk about. For reference links visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/245568714 NL Hafta - Episode 53 Fri, 05 Feb 2016 14:02:09 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/hafta-53-final-limiter 01:02:44 Newslaundry.com no This week on NL Hafta, Vikas Kamal, a photojournalist with Catch News, joins us. Vikas was attacked by the Delhi police when he was covering students protesting Rohith Vemula’s death outside the RSS headquarters. We discuss the incident and police brutality in general. We also talk about the importance of a photojournalist in today’s age of the ‘smartphone’. Anand Ranganathan is back! He gives us a scientist’s lowdown on the zika virus and we discuss the kind of coverage the outbreak has been getting in Indian and international media. We also discuss the Tanzanian student being harassed in Bangalore and question India’s attitudes. The team talks about Anupam Kher’s visa denial and the fact that some celebrities are wearing their politics on their sleeve. In closing, we dedicate a song to the Delhi Police. For reference links visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Mahima Singh This week on NL Hafta, Vikas Kamal, a photojourna… This week on NL Hafta, Vikas Kamal, a photojournalist with Catch News, joins us. Vikas was attacked by the Delhi police when he was covering students protesting Rohith Vemula’s death outside the RSS headquarters. We discuss the incident and police brutality in general. We also talk about the importance of a photojournalist in today’s age of the ‘smartphone’. Anand Ranganathan is back! He gives us a scientist’s lowdown on the zika virus and we discuss the kind of coverage the outbreak has been getting in Indian and international media. We also discuss the Tanzanian student being harassed in Bangalore and question India’s attitudes. The team talks about Anupam Kher’s visa denial and the fact that some celebrities are wearing their politics on their sleeve. In closing, we dedicate a song to the Delhi Police. For reference links visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Mahima Singh tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/244365099 NL Hafta - Episode 52 Fri, 29 Jan 2016 08:18:14 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-52 00:43:20 Newslaundry.com no This week on NL Hafta, Kishalay Bhattacharjee, journalist and author, joins as we discuss the imposition of President’s rule in Arunachal Pradesh. This has been a week where a lot happened in the North East; a cop confessed to taking part in an alleged fake encounter at the behest of the Chief Minister in Manipur six years back. Big media,though, didn’t think it was worth too much space. Also: is there a way to make the R-Day celebrations more fun? And finally, the most insightful report on the Rohith Vemula suicide yet by Sudipto Mondal. For reference links visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan This week on NL Hafta, Kishalay Bhattacharjee, jo… This week on NL Hafta, Kishalay Bhattacharjee, journalist and author, joins as we discuss the imposition of President’s rule in Arunachal Pradesh. This has been a week where a lot happened in the North East; a cop confessed to taking part in an alleged fake encounter at the behest of the Chief Minister in Manipur six years back. Big media,though, didn’t think it was worth too much space. Also: is there a way to make the R-Day celebrations more fun? And finally, the most insightful report on the Rohith Vemula suicide yet by Sudipto Mondal. For reference links visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/243183648 NL Hafta - Episode 51 Fri, 22 Jan 2016 06:26:32 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/hafta51 01:09:37 Newslaundry.com no This week on NL Hafta, Manu Joseph, former editor of Open magazine, joins us we discuss Bhupendra Chaubey’s interview of Sunny Leone. This hasn’t been a good week for journalists: former NDTV and Tehelka scribe Revati Laul was attacked in Ahmedabad; Siddharth Varadarajan was held hostage by ABVP members at Allahabad University. Varadarajan also joins us on the phone to discuss what happened. And finally: Rohith Vemula’s suicide, the media coverage and more. For reference links visit http://www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan This week on NL Hafta, Manu Joseph, former editor… This week on NL Hafta, Manu Joseph, former editor of Open magazine, joins us we discuss Bhupendra Chaubey’s interview of Sunny Leone. This hasn’t been a good week for journalists: former NDTV and Tehelka scribe Revati Laul was attacked in Ahmedabad; Siddharth Varadarajan was held hostage by ABVP members at Allahabad University. Varadarajan also joins us on the phone to discuss what happened. And finally: Rohith Vemula’s suicide, the media coverage and more. For reference links visit http://www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/242147946 NL Hafta - Episode 50 Fri, 15 Jan 2016 21:50:59 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/haftaepisode50 00:55:16 Newslaundry.com no Newslaundry subscribers Garima Chitkara and Amol Sharma join us for the 50th Episode of NL Hafta. In this episode, we discuss Kiku Sharda’s arrest and the Supreme Court’s stay on Jallikattu. We talk about contradictory media reports on Masood Azhar’s arrest in Pakistan and the Sabrimala temple case. Also, our guests share with us why they think independent media matters. We wind up with everyone’s picks of the week. For reference links visit http://www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan Newslaundry subscribers Garima Chitkara and Amol … Newslaundry subscribers Garima Chitkara and Amol Sharma join us for the 50th Episode of NL Hafta. In this episode, we discuss Kiku Sharda’s arrest and the Supreme Court’s stay on Jallikattu. We talk about contradictory media reports on Masood Azhar’s arrest in Pakistan and the Sabrimala temple case. Also, our guests share with us why they think independent media matters. We wind up with everyone’s picks of the week. For reference links visit http://www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/241022034 NL Hafta - Episode 49 Fri, 08 Jan 2016 21:05:58 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-ep-49 00:58:08 Newslaundry.com no Ajai Shukla, Consulting Editor (Strategic Affairs), Business Standard, joins us for this week’s Hafta, as we discuss the Pathankot attacks. Were the counter-operations successful? Or should we have done much better? And, did the media go overboard yet again? Also, what will it take for the media to report on the Northeast? Was the violence in Malda under-reported? Then we discuss whether Arvind Kejriwal has any business meddling in the functioning of private schools. Finally: the odd-even and how Delhi has reacted and coped. And, of course, there’s the song of the week. For reference links visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan Ajai Shukla, Consulting Editor (Strategic Affairs… Ajai Shukla, Consulting Editor (Strategic Affairs), Business Standard, joins us for this week’s Hafta, as we discuss the Pathankot attacks. Were the counter-operations successful? Or should we have done much better? And, did the media go overboard yet again? Also, what will it take for the media to report on the Northeast? Was the violence in Malda under-reported? Then we discuss whether Arvind Kejriwal has any business meddling in the functioning of private schools. Finally: the odd-even and how Delhi has reacted and coped. And, of course, there’s the song of the week. For reference links visit www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/239948906 NL Hafta - Episode 48 Fri, 01 Jan 2016 14:21:04 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-48 00:44:16 Newslaundry.com no It’s the first Hafta of the new year and we discuss what we hope to see in 2016. ​We share our take on the Free Basics debate and Facebook’s PR push for the initiative. ​Isn’t the Internet supposed to be free for all?​ ​The Delhi government's odd-even plan​ is in effect from today (January 1) and we discuss ​if the initiative ​is ​sustainable in the long run. Rajasthan has set a minimum educational qualification for contesting Panchayati Raj elections. We discuss what this means for democracy in India. We also have a special song for everyone welcoming 2016.​ Please visit Newslaundry website for the reference links. www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan It’s the first Hafta of the new year and we discu… It’s the first Hafta of the new year and we discuss what we hope to see in 2016. ​We share our take on the Free Basics debate and Facebook’s PR push for the initiative. ​Isn’t the Internet supposed to be free for all?​ ​The Delhi government's odd-even plan​ is in effect from today (January 1) and we discuss ​if the initiative ​is ​sustainable in the long run. Rajasthan has set a minimum educational qualification for contesting Panchayati Raj elections. We discuss what this means for democracy in India. We also have a special song for everyone welcoming 2016.​ Please visit Newslaundry website for the reference links. www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/238988006 NLHafta - Episode 47 Thu, 24 Dec 2015 20:31:00 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nlhaftaepisode47 01:02:42 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of NL Hafta, Ramanathan S, partner and journalist at The News Minute, joins us as we discuss the Chennai flood coverage and the relief and rescue work done by the News Minute team. Then, the team moves on to discuss the new Juvenile Justice Bill. We also discuss Facebook’s campaign to push Free Basics in India, Kirti Azad’s suspension from the Bharatiya Janata Party, Bajirao Mastani and more. It’s Christmas, so we have a special song for our listeners. Please visit Newslaundry website for the reference links. www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan In this episode of NL Hafta, Ramanathan S, partne… In this episode of NL Hafta, Ramanathan S, partner and journalist at The News Minute, joins us as we discuss the Chennai flood coverage and the relief and rescue work done by the News Minute team. Then, the team moves on to discuss the new Juvenile Justice Bill. We also discuss Facebook’s campaign to push Free Basics in India, Kirti Azad’s suspension from the Bharatiya Janata Party, Bajirao Mastani and more. It’s Christmas, so we have a special song for our listeners. Please visit Newslaundry website for the reference links. www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/238208822 NL Hafta - Episode 46 Sat, 19 Dec 2015 03:15:40 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-46 00:47:56 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of NL Hafta, we discuss the Central Bureau of Investigation raid on the Delhi secretariat and Aam Aadmi Party’s allegations against Arun Jaitley. We then move on to discuss the attention Barkha Dutt’s book has been getting on Amazon. The team debates whether the word “presstitute” is offensive or not, and we also discuss the larger issue of taking offence. Was the cartoon in the Australian newspaper racist? We give our take on what constitutes stereotyping and racism. Madhu Trehan also shares with us her experience of being on the cover of India Today. In the end we dedicate a song to a bunch of people who have been making and breaking the news lately. Please visit Newslaundry website for the reference links. www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan In this episode of NL Hafta, we discuss the Centr… In this episode of NL Hafta, we discuss the Central Bureau of Investigation raid on the Delhi secretariat and Aam Aadmi Party’s allegations against Arun Jaitley. We then move on to discuss the attention Barkha Dutt’s book has been getting on Amazon. The team debates whether the word “presstitute” is offensive or not, and we also discuss the larger issue of taking offence. Was the cartoon in the Australian newspaper racist? We give our take on what constitutes stereotyping and racism. Madhu Trehan also shares with us her experience of being on the cover of India Today. In the end we dedicate a song to a bunch of people who have been making and breaking the news lately. Please visit Newslaundry website for the reference links. www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/237059430 NL Hafta – Episode 45 Fri, 11 Dec 2015 08:48:18 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/hafta-45 00:59:44 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of NL Hafta, Kanwar Sandhu, founder of Free Media Initiative, joins us as we discuss his cover story in Outlook magazine, “Confessions Of A Killer Cop”. Sandhu in his story gets Gurmeet Singh Pinky, a former “encounter specialist” of Punjab Police, to reveal in detail how hundreds were eliminated in staged killings as a preventive measure to tackle Sikh militancy after 1984. The team also discusses the uproar in Parliament over the National Herald case and whether the blanket coverage it received in the media was owing to a change in the government. We also discuss Delhi government’s recently-announced “odd-even formula” to tackle pollution in the capital and whether women should be exempt from it. Then we move on to discuss BJP MP Chandan Mitra’s remarks on Twitterati and NDTV’s report from drought-hit Bundelkhand. Finally, we discuss the Salman Khan verdict and dedicate a song to him. Please visit Newslaundry website for the reference links. http://www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan In this episode of NL Hafta, Kanwar Sandhu, found… In this episode of NL Hafta, Kanwar Sandhu, founder of Free Media Initiative, joins us as we discuss his cover story in Outlook magazine, “Confessions Of A Killer Cop”. Sandhu in his story gets Gurmeet Singh Pinky, a former “encounter specialist” of Punjab Police, to reveal in detail how hundreds were eliminated in staged killings as a preventive measure to tackle Sikh militancy after 1984. The team also discusses the uproar in Parliament over the National Herald case and whether the blanket coverage it received in the media was owing to a change in the government. We also discuss Delhi government’s recently-announced “odd-even formula” to tackle pollution in the capital and whether women should be exempt from it. Then we move on to discuss BJP MP Chandan Mitra’s remarks on Twitterati and NDTV’s report from drought-hit Bundelkhand. Finally, we discuss the Salman Khan verdict and dedicate a song to him. Please visit Newslaundry website for the reference links. http://www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/236066929 NL Hafta – Episode 44 Fri, 04 Dec 2015 16:14:08 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-44 01:12:24 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of NL Hafta, Hartosh Singh Bal, Political Editor of The Caravan, joins us to discuss the magazine’s cover story on NDTV. We also talk about the Bhopal gas tragedy and the lives of the victims 31 years on. The team, then, moves on to discuss Chennai floods and how the national media covered it and the Delhi government’s recently passed Lokpal Bill. The incident of a family being forced out of a theatre in Mumbai for not standing up during the national anthem generates an interesting discussion on patriotism and what it means to different people. Finally, the team discusses journalists rushing to take selfies with the PM at BJP’s Diwali Milan. Please visit Newslaundry website for the reference links. http://www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan In this episode of NL Hafta, Hartosh Singh Bal, P… In this episode of NL Hafta, Hartosh Singh Bal, Political Editor of The Caravan, joins us to discuss the magazine’s cover story on NDTV. We also talk about the Bhopal gas tragedy and the lives of the victims 31 years on. The team, then, moves on to discuss Chennai floods and how the national media covered it and the Delhi government’s recently passed Lokpal Bill. The incident of a family being forced out of a theatre in Mumbai for not standing up during the national anthem generates an interesting discussion on patriotism and what it means to different people. Finally, the team discusses journalists rushing to take selfies with the PM at BJP’s Diwali Milan. Please visit Newslaundry website for the reference links. http://www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/234931956 NL Hafta – Episode 43 Fri, 27 Nov 2015 09:40:24 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-43 00:56:32 Newslaundry.com no R Jagannathan, former Editor-in-Chief at Firstpost, joins us this week as we discuss Aamir Khan’s statements at the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards and the media coverage they received. We also talk about people boycotting Snapdeal to protest against Khan’s views. We, then, discuss Smriti Irani’s latest interview to Barkha Dutt. Jagannathan also opens up about his tenure at Firstpost and tells us why his piece criticising Arun Jaitely was pulled down from the website. The team also discusses reporting on ISIS and why news organisations around the world are calling it “Daesh”. And, finally, a special song dedicated to Peter Mukerjea and Pahlaj Nihalani. R Jagannathan, former Editor-in-Chief at Firstpo… R Jagannathan, former Editor-in-Chief at Firstpost, joins us this week as we discuss Aamir Khan’s statements at the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards and the media coverage they received. We also talk about people boycotting Snapdeal to protest against Khan’s views. We, then, discuss Smriti Irani’s latest interview to Barkha Dutt. Jagannathan also opens up about his tenure at Firstpost and tells us why his piece criticising Arun Jaitely was pulled down from the website. The team also discusses reporting on ISIS and why news organisations around the world are calling it “Daesh”. And, finally, a special song dedicated to Peter Mukerjea and Pahlaj Nihalani. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/233813203 NL Hafta - Episode 42 Thu, 19 Nov 2015 19:27:30 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-42 01:07:25 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of NL Hafta, Prasanna Viswanathan, CEO, Sawrajya magazine joins us as we discuss the legacy of the magazine, Swatantra Party and C Rajagopalachari. Then the team moves on to discuss the Paris attack and how the Indian media covered it. Also, did Pahlaj Nihalani end up embarrassing Narendra Modi with his tribute song? Also: Mani Shankar Aiyar’s “solution” to resume bilateral talks between India and Pakistan. Finally, we discuss Subramanian Swamy’s allegations about Rahul Gandhi’s nationality. We end by dedicating a song from Modi to Amit Shah. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan In this episode of NL Hafta, Prasanna Viswanathan… In this episode of NL Hafta, Prasanna Viswanathan, CEO, Sawrajya magazine joins us as we discuss the legacy of the magazine, Swatantra Party and C Rajagopalachari. Then the team moves on to discuss the Paris attack and how the Indian media covered it. Also, did Pahlaj Nihalani end up embarrassing Narendra Modi with his tribute song? Also: Mani Shankar Aiyar’s “solution” to resume bilateral talks between India and Pakistan. Finally, we discuss Subramanian Swamy’s allegations about Rahul Gandhi’s nationality. We end by dedicating a song from Modi to Amit Shah. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/232769436 NL Hafta – Episode 41 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 18:21:25 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nlhaftaepisode41 00:59:46 Newslaundry.com no In this episode of NL Hafta, we talk about Bihar election results and how most TV news channels got it wrong. Then we move on to talk about sections of the Sikh community boycotting Diwali to protest against the desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib and the scant media coverage this received. The team also discusses the Australian government’s decision to scrap religion classes in schools. We conclude the podcast with a discussion on Bharatiya Janata Party leader LK Advani’s letter addressed to the party’s current leadership after the Bihar poll debacle. We also dedicate a special song to the party patriarch and BJP’s old guard. Please visit Newslaundry website for the reference links. http://www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan In this episode of NL Hafta, we talk about Bihar … In this episode of NL Hafta, we talk about Bihar election results and how most TV news channels got it wrong. Then we move on to talk about sections of the Sikh community boycotting Diwali to protest against the desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib and the scant media coverage this received. The team also discusses the Australian government’s decision to scrap religion classes in schools. We conclude the podcast with a discussion on Bharatiya Janata Party leader LK Advani’s letter addressed to the party’s current leadership after the Bihar poll debacle. We also dedicate a special song to the party patriarch and BJP’s old guard. Please visit Newslaundry website for the reference links. http://www.newslaundry.com Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/231877024 NL Hafta - Episode 40 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 19:30:10 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nlhaftaepisode40 01:02:59 Newslaundry.com no Shivam Vij joins us on the phone from Bihar as we discuss election coverage. Vij sheds light on the current mahaul in Patna and how it may affect the results. The team discusses the various connotations of ‘tolerance’ and why it’s so important. We then discuss why the media treats Amit Shah with kid gloves. It’s No Shave November and we discuss how this beard fascination has manifested in the media. We then go on to discuss what we particularly liked or disliked in the media. Finally, a song dedicated to Movember. Please visit Newslaundry website for the reference links. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan Shivam Vij joins us on the phone from Bihar as we… Shivam Vij joins us on the phone from Bihar as we discuss election coverage. Vij sheds light on the current mahaul in Patna and how it may affect the results. The team discusses the various connotations of ‘tolerance’ and why it’s so important. We then discuss why the media treats Amit Shah with kid gloves. It’s No Shave November and we discuss how this beard fascination has manifested in the media. We then go on to discuss what we particularly liked or disliked in the media. Finally, a song dedicated to Movember. Please visit Newslaundry website for the reference links. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/229702271 NL Hafta – Episode 38 Fri, 23 Oct 2015 10:34:31 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nlhafta38-limiter 01:00:45 Newslaundry.com no Vipin Pubby, former Resident Editor of the Indian Express in Chandigarh, joins us to shed some light on the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib in Punjab that led to violence in the state; why the mainstream media didn't pay much attention to it; and how the Punjab government has handled the situation. We then discuss whether Newslaundry should carry articles under pseudonyms. We then move on to discussing the pros and cons of basing outcomes of complex social and political issues on data alone. FInally other interesting stories that we read/watched/heard in the last one week. Please visit Newslaundry website for the reference links. Vipin Pubby, former Resident Editor of the Indian… Vipin Pubby, former Resident Editor of the Indian Express in Chandigarh, joins us to shed some light on the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib in Punjab that led to violence in the state; why the mainstream media didn't pay much attention to it; and how the Punjab government has handled the situation. We then discuss whether Newslaundry should carry articles under pseudonyms. We then move on to discussing the pros and cons of basing outcomes of complex social and political issues on data alone. FInally other interesting stories that we read/watched/heard in the last one week. Please visit Newslaundry website for the reference links. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/228571247 NL Hafta – Episode 37 Thu, 15 Oct 2015 22:28:07 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nlhaftaepisode37 01:00:51 Newslaundry.com no Akshaya Mukul, journalist with The Times of India and author of the book Gita Press and The Making of Hindu India joins us to talk about his book and how he went about researching for it. Then we talk about writers returning their Sahitya Akademi awards and the politics behind it. Then, has India indeed become more intolerant under the new regime? Finally, the song of the week: this time it’s dedicated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan Akshaya Mukul, journalist with The Times of India… Akshaya Mukul, journalist with The Times of India and author of the book Gita Press and The Making of Hindu India joins us to talk about his book and how he went about researching for it. Then we talk about writers returning their Sahitya Akademi awards and the politics behind it. Then, has India indeed become more intolerant under the new regime? Finally, the song of the week: this time it’s dedicated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/227688596 NL Hafta - Episode 36 Fri, 09 Oct 2015 20:53:59 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-36 01:12:27 Newslaundry.com no Sachin Kalbag, former editor of Mid Day and currently working on launching The Hindus’s Mumbai edition, joins us for this episode of NL Hafta. Kalbag tells us his plans to customise the newspaper to cater to Mubai’s voracious appetite for “entertainment” and yet stay true to The Hindu’s core values of good journalism. We also debate whether Svetlana Alexievich, the first person to be awarded the Nobel for literature, got the award for her body of work or for her politics. Then we discuss why politicians would never say anything that would antagonize their core support base. Also: the never-ending Delhi versus Mumbai debate, spokespersons going against their party positions and more. Links: Rajyasree Sen’s column in The Economic Times: http://blogs.economictimes.indiatimes.com/et-commentary/je-suis-beefeater-why-public-declaration-of-beef-love-is-also-deeply-polarising/ Mayank Jain’s account of being detained by Delhi Police: http://scroll.in/article/759920/law-wont-protect-sinners-like-you-scroll-in-reporter-covering-beef-protest-detained-for-seven-hours Mohan Guruswamy’s piece on Asaduddin Owaisi: http://www.dailyo.in/politics/asaduddin-owaisi-azam-khan-secularism-un-muslims-in-india-aimim-bahadur-yar-jung-clerics-and-maulvis-hyderabad/story/1/6683.html Khurshid Kasuri’s interview with Karan Thapar: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/programme/when-we-tried-to-reduce-violence-india-gave-us-no-credit-khurshid-kasuri/1/490994.html Khurshid Kasuri’s book launch moderated by Nidhi Razdan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm1YYu7YCVg Mid Day being the first Indian publication to publish a gay matrimonial ad: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/11617182/Indias-first-gay-marriage-ad-Mumbai-mother-seeks-vegetarian-groom-for-my-son.html Newslaundry story on Mid Day rejecting a gay matrimonial ad: http://www.newslaundry.com/2015/09/29/mid-day-rejects-a-gay-matrimonial-ad-what-explains-its-u-turn-on-lgbt-rights Produced by Arunabh Saikia Sachin Kalbag, former editor of Mid Day and curre… Sachin Kalbag, former editor of Mid Day and currently working on launching The Hindus’s Mumbai edition, joins us for this episode of NL Hafta. Kalbag tells us his plans to customise the newspaper to cater to Mubai’s voracious appetite for “entertainment” and yet stay true to The Hindu’s core values of good journalism. We also debate whether Svetlana Alexievich, the first person to be awarded the Nobel for literature, got the award for her body of work or for her politics. Then we discuss why politicians would never say anything that would antagonize their core support base. Also: the never-ending Delhi versus Mumbai debate, spokespersons going against their party positions and more. Links: Rajyasree Sen’s column in The Economic Times: http://blogs.economictimes.indiatimes.com/et-commentary/je-suis-beefeater-why-public-declaration-of-beef-love-is-also-deeply-polarising/ Mayank Jain’s account of being detained by Delhi Police: http://scroll.in/article/759920/law-wont-protect-sinners-like-you-scroll-in-reporter-covering-beef-protest-detained-for-seven-hours Mohan Guruswamy’s piece on Asaduddin Owaisi: http://www.dailyo.in/politics/asaduddin-owaisi-azam-khan-secularism-un-muslims-in-india-aimim-bahadur-yar-jung-clerics-and-maulvis-hyderabad/story/1/6683.html Khurshid Kasuri’s interview with Karan Thapar: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/programme/when-we-tried-to-reduce-violence-india-gave-us-no-credit-khurshid-kasuri/1/490994.html Khurshid Kasuri’s book launch moderated by Nidhi Razdan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm1YYu7YCVg Mid Day being the first Indian publication to publish a gay matrimonial ad: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/11617182/Indias-first-gay-marriage-ad-Mumbai-mother-seeks-vegetarian-groom-for-my-son.html Newslaundry story on Mid Day rejecting a gay matrimonial ad: http://www.newslaundry.com/2015/09/29/mid-day-rejects-a-gay-matrimonial-ad-what-explains-its-u-turn-on-lgbt-rights Produced by Arunabh Saikia tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/226499920 NL Hafta – Episode 35 Thu, 01 Oct 2015 22:11:26 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/hafta-35-final 01:05:23 Newslaundry.com no This week on NL Hafta we discuss the Dadri incident in UP where a man was beaten to death following rumours of him consuming beef. We discuss whether such crimes have become more brazen under the current government. Then we talk about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to America, his meeting with CEOs and his Facebook town hall. Then the team moves on to discuss Internet.org. Is it really as bad an idea as it is made out to be? Finally, on the eve of Gandhi Jayanti, we discuss the man and his ideals, and dedicate a special song to him. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan Listen to NL Hafta on iTunes here: itunes.apple.com/in/podcast/newslaundry-podcast/id582585399?mt=2 This week on NL Hafta we discuss the Dadri incide… This week on NL Hafta we discuss the Dadri incident in UP where a man was beaten to death following rumours of him consuming beef. We discuss whether such crimes have become more brazen under the current government. Then we talk about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to America, his meeting with CEOs and his Facebook town hall. Then the team moves on to discuss Internet.org. Is it really as bad an idea as it is made out to be? Finally, on the eve of Gandhi Jayanti, we discuss the man and his ideals, and dedicate a special song to him. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan Listen to NL Hafta on iTunes here: itunes.apple.com/in/podcast/newslaundry-podcast/id582585399?mt=2 tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/225560479 NL Hafta – Episode 34 Fri, 25 Sep 2015 19:00:29 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-34 01:01:53 Newslaundry.com no Anand Walunjkar, co-writer of Clothesline, joins us for this week’s NL Hafta. We start with the many prime-time debates over the week on Santhan Sanstha and the Prime Minister’s grievance against “seculars” that often finds expression on foreign shores. Also, has Arvind Kejriwal been harsh enough on “fugitive” Somnath Bharti? Then, we discuss whether Indian playing “big brother” vis-à-vis Nepal may lead to a diplomatic disaster and if the government backtracking on the Draft Encryption policy by passing on the buck to bureaucrats was a good idea. Finally, will the Netaji mystery be ever cracked? Anand Walunjkar, co-writer of Clothesline, joins … Anand Walunjkar, co-writer of Clothesline, joins us for this week’s NL Hafta. We start with the many prime-time debates over the week on Santhan Sanstha and the Prime Minister’s grievance against “seculars” that often finds expression on foreign shores. Also, has Arvind Kejriwal been harsh enough on “fugitive” Somnath Bharti? Then, we discuss whether Indian playing “big brother” vis-à-vis Nepal may lead to a diplomatic disaster and if the government backtracking on the Draft Encryption policy by passing on the buck to bureaucrats was a good idea. Finally, will the Netaji mystery be ever cracked? tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/224343221 NL Hafta – Episode 33 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 20:44:06 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nlhaftaepisode33 01:00:24 Newslaundry.com no This week on NL Hafta: the fatwa against AR Rahman, and freedom of speech in India. Also, what makes a “good” Muslim? The team also discusses corporate drafting healthcare policies in India (conflict of interest, anyone?). Then we talk about television news obsessing over the government doing away with commemorative Indira and Rajiv Gandhi stamps. There’s more: slap-happy panelists, offensive dogs and parrots that cops want to arrest, raving reviews in Delhi Times, and frisking in airports. Finally, like the rest of the country – sorry, world – we wish our Prime Minister a very happy birthday. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan This week on NL Hafta: the fatwa against AR Rahm… This week on NL Hafta: the fatwa against AR Rahman, and freedom of speech in India. Also, what makes a “good” Muslim? The team also discusses corporate drafting healthcare policies in India (conflict of interest, anyone?). Then we talk about television news obsessing over the government doing away with commemorative Indira and Rajiv Gandhi stamps. There’s more: slap-happy panelists, offensive dogs and parrots that cops want to arrest, raving reviews in Delhi Times, and frisking in airports. Finally, like the rest of the country – sorry, world – we wish our Prime Minister a very happy birthday. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/223382025 NL Hafta – Episode 32 Fri, 11 Sep 2015 15:20:00 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nlhaftaepisode32 00:53:09 Newslaundry.com no This week on NL Hafta, we discuss the meat ban in Maharashtra and the Censor Board denying clearance to some recent movies. Then the team moves on to discuss the case in Gurgaon where two Nepali women were rescued from a Saudi diplomat’s house. We also discuss the Bombay High Court's order on the National Stock Exchange’s defamation suit against Moneylife magazine. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan This week on NL Hafta, we discuss the meat ban in… This week on NL Hafta, we discuss the meat ban in Maharashtra and the Censor Board denying clearance to some recent movies. Then the team moves on to discuss the case in Gurgaon where two Nepali women were rescued from a Saudi diplomat’s house. We also discuss the Bombay High Court's order on the National Stock Exchange’s defamation suit against Moneylife magazine. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/221122680 NL Hafta – Episode 30 Thu, 27 Aug 2015 14:44:52 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/newslaundryhaftaepisode30 00:58:52 Newslaundry.com no This week on NL Hafta, Krishn Kaushik from The Caravan joins us as we discuss Essar’s Rs 250 crore defamation suit against The Caravan magazine and Kaushik. We try understanding why other media houses completely blacked out the story. Then the team moves on to discuss the much-talked about Indrani Mukerjea case. The team also deliberates whether political parties should come under Right to Information Act. The 2011 Census data on religion was released early this week. We discuss how the media reacted to the numbers and why the data matters. Finally, we talk about the newest star activist in town – Hardik Patel. We even dedicate a song to him. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan This week on NL Hafta, Krishn Kaushik from The Ca… This week on NL Hafta, Krishn Kaushik from The Caravan joins us as we discuss Essar’s Rs 250 crore defamation suit against The Caravan magazine and Kaushik. We try understanding why other media houses completely blacked out the story. Then the team moves on to discuss the much-talked about Indrani Mukerjea case. The team also deliberates whether political parties should come under Right to Information Act. The 2011 Census data on religion was released early this week. We discuss how the media reacted to the numbers and why the data matters. Finally, we talk about the newest star activist in town – Hardik Patel. We even dedicate a song to him. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/219083578 NLHafta – Episode 28 Thu, 13 Aug 2015 18:06:05 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nlhafta-episode-28 00:51:58 Newslaundry.com no This week on NL Hafta, we discuss Rahul Gandhi and Sushma Swaraj’s speeches in Parliament. We also question the opposition’s intent behind the parliamentary disruptions. We then move on to the Mumbai hotel raids and the broader problem of moral policing in the country. Has it increased ever since the Modi government came into power? The team also discusses Radhe Ma and the godman/godwoman culture in India. Are the Indian masses really that gullible or is there something bigger at play here? We close with a brief discussion on the Alka lamba incident. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan This week on NL Hafta, we discuss Rahul Gandhi an… This week on NL Hafta, we discuss Rahul Gandhi and Sushma Swaraj’s speeches in Parliament. We also question the opposition’s intent behind the parliamentary disruptions. We then move on to the Mumbai hotel raids and the broader problem of moral policing in the country. Has it increased ever since the Modi government came into power? The team also discusses Radhe Ma and the godman/godwoman culture in India. Are the Indian masses really that gullible or is there something bigger at play here? We close with a brief discussion on the Alka lamba incident. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/218052420 NLHafta - Episode 27 Thu, 06 Aug 2015 15:35:49 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nlhaftaepisode27 00:43:38 Newslaundry.com no This week on NLHafta we discuss the #PornBan (and the subsequent unbanning). Then the team moves on to discuss disruption in Parliament and if it was right for Sumitra Mahajan to suspend 25 Congress members of Parliament? Then we talk about the media’s eagerness to dub the terrorist nabbed in Udhampur as junior Kasab. But was there even a senior Kasab? Also, what made Modi roll back the amendments to the land bill? Finally, we discuss why TV anchors are not bothered about the possible amendment to the Whistle Blowers Protection Act. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan This week on NLHafta we discuss the #PornBan (and… This week on NLHafta we discuss the #PornBan (and the subsequent unbanning). Then the team moves on to discuss disruption in Parliament and if it was right for Sumitra Mahajan to suspend 25 Congress members of Parliament? Then we talk about the media’s eagerness to dub the terrorist nabbed in Udhampur as junior Kasab. But was there even a senior Kasab? Also, what made Modi roll back the amendments to the land bill? Finally, we discuss why TV anchors are not bothered about the possible amendment to the Whistle Blowers Protection Act. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/217181198 NLHafta – Episode 26 Fri, 31 Jul 2015 16:55:12 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/newslaundryhaftaepisode26 01:01:37 Newslaundry.com no This week on NLhafta we discuss the Gurdaspur attack and the media coverage given to it in India and Pakistan. Did the media jump to the ‘Khalistan’ explanation a little too soon? We move on to discuss APJ Abdul Kalama’s death and the culture of obituary writing in the Indian media. Last we discuss Yakub Memon’s hanging and the border idea of the death penalty. Would doing away with the death sentence affect the crime rate in India? A few of us don’t agree with each other’s views on capital punishment but that’s ok, a healthy debate gives space to new ideas. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan This week on NLhafta we discuss the Gurdaspur att… This week on NLhafta we discuss the Gurdaspur attack and the media coverage given to it in India and Pakistan. Did the media jump to the ‘Khalistan’ explanation a little too soon? We move on to discuss APJ Abdul Kalama’s death and the culture of obituary writing in the Indian media. Last we discuss Yakub Memon’s hanging and the border idea of the death penalty. Would doing away with the death sentence affect the crime rate in India? A few of us don’t agree with each other’s views on capital punishment but that’s ok, a healthy debate gives space to new ideas. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/216208872 NLHafta – Episode 25 Fri, 24 Jul 2015 21:36:32 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nlhafta-episode-25 00:59:30 Newslaundry.com no The Newslaundry team – and it's just us this time - celebrates the silver jubilee episode of #NLHafta. We discuss Yakub Memon's execution and Madhu recounts how she managed to get Memon's interview in prison, back in 1994. Then the team moves on to talk about the social media "outrage" on the Tuktuki case. We also discuss Caravan's report on the Essar leaks and defamation suits against the media in the past week. Finally, we discuss Arvind Kejriwal vs. Najeeb Jung and we also dedicate a song to Kejriwal. Listen to NL Hafta on iTunes here : https://itunes.apple.com/in/podcast/newslaundry-podcast/id582585399?mt=2 Produced by Kartik Nijhawan. The Newslaundry team – and it's just us this time… The Newslaundry team – and it's just us this time - celebrates the silver jubilee episode of #NLHafta. We discuss Yakub Memon's execution and Madhu recounts how she managed to get Memon's interview in prison, back in 1994. Then the team moves on to talk about the social media "outrage" on the Tuktuki case. We also discuss Caravan's report on the Essar leaks and defamation suits against the media in the past week. Finally, we discuss Arvind Kejriwal vs. Najeeb Jung and we also dedicate a song to Kejriwal. Listen to NL Hafta on iTunes here : https://itunes.apple.com/in/podcast/newslaundry-podcast/id582585399?mt=2 Produced by Kartik Nijhawan. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/215184171 NLHafta Extra – Episode 24 Fri, 17 Jul 2015 21:09:40 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-extra-episode-24 00:37:23 Newslaundry.com no This is NL Hafta Extra – where the team discusses what we couldn’t in the main episode. Mihir Sharma, opinion editor at Business Standard, and the Newslaundry team discuss Amartya Sen’s response to Tavleen Singh and Pratap Bhanu Mehta’s columns about the Nalanda University saga. Then we weigh in on whether N R Narayana Murthy is justified when he says “there has not been a single invention from India in the last 60 years”. And finally, is it okay to eat dog meat? Produced by Kartik Nijhawan This is NL Hafta Extra – where the team discusses… This is NL Hafta Extra – where the team discusses what we couldn’t in the main episode. Mihir Sharma, opinion editor at Business Standard, and the Newslaundry team discuss Amartya Sen’s response to Tavleen Singh and Pratap Bhanu Mehta’s columns about the Nalanda University saga. Then we weigh in on whether N R Narayana Murthy is justified when he says “there has not been a single invention from India in the last 60 years”. And finally, is it okay to eat dog meat? Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/215171308 NLHafta - Episode 24 Fri, 17 Jul 2015 21:09:17 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nlhafta-episode-24 01:00:48 Newslaundry.com no Mihir Sharma, opinion editor at Business Standard, joins the Newslaundry team as we speak about Grexit and St. Stephen’s never ending controversies. Here, Mihir recounts an encounter with Stephen’s Principal Valson Thampu as a student in the college. We also discuss whether Shivraj Singh Chauhan should resign in light of the new revelations in the Vyapam scam. Then we talk about Chetan Bhagat’s recent piece on the “anatomy” of an Internet troll even as we try to reach a consensus on the definition of a troll. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan. Mihir Sharma, opinion editor at Business Standard… Mihir Sharma, opinion editor at Business Standard, joins the Newslaundry team as we speak about Grexit and St. Stephen’s never ending controversies. Here, Mihir recounts an encounter with Stephen’s Principal Valson Thampu as a student in the college. We also discuss whether Shivraj Singh Chauhan should resign in light of the new revelations in the Vyapam scam. Then we talk about Chetan Bhagat’s recent piece on the “anatomy” of an Internet troll even as we try to reach a consensus on the definition of a troll. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/214014462 NLHafta – Episode 23 Thu, 09 Jul 2015 20:23:42 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/nl-hafta-episode-23 01:01:51 Newslaundry.com no Kushan Mitra, Managing Editor of The Pioneer, joins the Newslaundry team as we speak about the Vyapam scam – and the media coverage surrounding it. We also share some personal stories about risks and threats we have faced during reporting assignments. Then we discuss whether the media, both traditional and social, has been unfair to Hema Malini, or if she indeed deserves the criticism she has been subjected to over the last few days. Finally, we talk about the FTII deadlock, Gajendra Singh, and if the media has been unduly charitable to Amartya Sen. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan Kushan Mitra, Managing Editor of The Pioneer, joi… Kushan Mitra, Managing Editor of The Pioneer, joins the Newslaundry team as we speak about the Vyapam scam – and the media coverage surrounding it. We also share some personal stories about risks and threats we have faced during reporting assignments. Then we discuss whether the media, both traditional and social, has been unfair to Hema Malini, or if she indeed deserves the criticism she has been subjected to over the last few days. Finally, we talk about the FTII deadlock, Gajendra Singh, and if the media has been unduly charitable to Amartya Sen. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/212963976 NLHafta - Episode 22 Thu, 02 Jul 2015 16:22:53 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/newslaundry-hafta-episode-22 01:13:23 Newslaundry.com no The Newslaundry team - and we are in full strength this time – discusses Lalit Modi, his love for emojis, and his never ending revelations. Then, we talk about Outlook’s “eye candy” piece and whether it warranted legal action. We also discuss if the hijab can be a “feminist statement” as some have recently claimed in the much talked about Twitter debate initiated by the feminist handle Genderlog. Finally, the team weighs in on The Hindu’s story about skewed caste representation in Bollywood. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan The Newslaundry team - and we are in full strengt… The Newslaundry team - and we are in full strength this time – discusses Lalit Modi, his love for emojis, and his never ending revelations. Then, we talk about Outlook’s “eye candy” piece and whether it warranted legal action. We also discuss if the hijab can be a “feminist statement” as some have recently claimed in the much talked about Twitter debate initiated by the feminist handle Genderlog. Finally, the team weighs in on The Hindu’s story about skewed caste representation in Bollywood. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/211999994 NLHafta - Episode 21 Thu, 25 Jun 2015 22:30:53 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/newslaundry-hafta-episode-21 01:12:29 Newslaundry.com no Political commentator and journalist Kanchan Gupta joins us this week as we discuss the 40th anniversary of the Emergency and the possibility of it coming around again. The team then discusses if​ the media coverage of Yoga Day​ went overboard. We also discuss​ whether the Charleston shooting ​was an act of terrorism or a hate crime​. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan. Political commentator and journalist Kanchan Gupt… Political commentator and journalist Kanchan Gupta joins us this week as we discuss the 40th anniversary of the Emergency and the possibility of it coming around again. The team then discusses if​ the media coverage of Yoga Day​ went overboard. We also discuss​ whether the Charleston shooting ​was an act of terrorism or a hate crime​. Produced by Kartik Nijhawan. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/210924276 NLHafta - Episode 20 Thu, 18 Jun 2015 17:30:32 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/newslaundry-hafta-20 01:13:55 Newslaundry.com no Journalist Bhupendra Chaubey joins the team and we discuss whether the television media paid enough attention to the death of a journalist in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The team, then, goes on to discuss the Sushma Swaraj–Lalit Modi row and the way the media covered the ongoing controversy. We also discuss Gajendra Chauhan’s appointment as the new FTII chairman and the furore over his “pedigreed” body of work. We then move on to discuss AAP’s new television ad. Finally, Chaubey gives us a “scoop” on the ongoing Lalit Modi controversy. Journalist Bhupendra Chaubey joins the team and w… Journalist Bhupendra Chaubey joins the team and we discuss whether the television media paid enough attention to the death of a journalist in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The team, then, goes on to discuss the Sushma Swaraj–Lalit Modi row and the way the media covered the ongoing controversy. We also discuss Gajendra Chauhan’s appointment as the new FTII chairman and the furore over his “pedigreed” body of work. We then move on to discuss AAP’s new television ad. Finally, Chaubey gives us a “scoop” on the ongoing Lalit Modi controversy. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/209874767 NLHafta - Episode 19 Thu, 11 Jun 2015 17:54:41 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/hafta-19 01:08:16 Newslaundry.com no Hartosh Singh Bal, Political Editor of The Caravan joins us as we discuss The Caravan’s recent story about an email trail involving the Essar group that leads to the President’s office. We also talk about Arvind Kejriwal’s “softball” interview with Barkha Dutt, and how controversies don’t seem to let go of the Aam Aadmi Party. The teams, along with Bal, then proceed to dissect the Indian media’s coverage of the Indian Army’s “covert” attacks in Myanmar. Finally, the team weigh in on whether Messi is indeed the greatest footballer to have set foot on earth. Hartosh Singh Bal, Political Editor of The Carava… Hartosh Singh Bal, Political Editor of The Caravan joins us as we discuss The Caravan’s recent story about an email trail involving the Essar group that leads to the President’s office. We also talk about Arvind Kejriwal’s “softball” interview with Barkha Dutt, and how controversies don’t seem to let go of the Aam Aadmi Party. The teams, along with Bal, then proceed to dissect the Indian media’s coverage of the Indian Army’s “covert” attacks in Myanmar. Finally, the team weigh in on whether Messi is indeed the greatest footballer to have set foot on earth. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/208960297 NLHafta – Episode 18 Fri, 05 Jun 2015 17:26:24 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/hafta-18 01:11:57 Newslaundry.com no The Newslaundry team has a freewheeling discussion on the news of the week. In this episode, we discuss Aaj Tak's Smriti ki Pariksha, the Defence Minister's racist remarks, Maggi controversy, Yoga Day celebrations and more. We also have a special song dedication for Narendra Modi. The Newslaundry team has a freewheeling discussio… The Newslaundry team has a freewheeling discussion on the news of the week. In this episode, we discuss Aaj Tak's Smriti ki Pariksha, the Defence Minister's racist remarks, Maggi controversy, Yoga Day celebrations and more. We also have a special song dedication for Narendra Modi. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/207661104 NLHafta – Episode 17 Thu, 28 May 2015 16:10:17 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/hafta-17 01:13:15 Newslaundry.com no The Newslaundry team has a freewheeling discussion on the news of the week. In this episode, we discuss Modi's one year in office, AAP vs Ministry of Home Affairs and President Pranab Mukherjee calling Bofors a media trial. We also have a special song dedication for Manmohan Singh. The Newslaundry team has a freewheeling discussio… The Newslaundry team has a freewheeling discussion on the news of the week. In this episode, we discuss Modi's one year in office, AAP vs Ministry of Home Affairs and President Pranab Mukherjee calling Bofors a media trial. We also have a special song dedication for Manmohan Singh. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/206723057 NLHafta – Episode 16 Fri, 22 May 2015 16:31:57 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/newslaundry-hafta-episode-16 01:15:54 Newslaundry.com no The Newslaundry team has a freewheeling discussion on the news of the week. In this episode we discuss the Geelani passport row, Modi ‘insulting’ India, the Aruna Shanbaug case and the country’s first gay matrimonial ad. We also have a special song dedication for Delhi chief minister and Lieutenant Governor The Newslaundry team has a freewheeling discussio… The Newslaundry team has a freewheeling discussion on the news of the week. In this episode we discuss the Geelani passport row, Modi ‘insulting’ India, the Aruna Shanbaug case and the country’s first gay matrimonial ad. We also have a special song dedication for Delhi chief minister and Lieutenant Governor tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/205461888 NLHafta – Episode 15 Thu, 14 May 2015 16:22:54 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/newslaundry-hafta-episode15 00:52:54 Newslaundry.com no The Newslaundry team has a freewheeling discussion on the news of the week. In this episode, we discuss the AAP government and Delhi police being at loggerheads, the Supreme Court order on government ads, fresh Essar leaks, amendments to the Child Labour Act and more. The Newslaundry team has a freewheeling discussio… The Newslaundry team has a freewheeling discussion on the news of the week. In this episode, we discuss the AAP government and Delhi police being at loggerheads, the Supreme Court order on government ads, fresh Essar leaks, amendments to the Child Labour Act and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/204364778 NLHafta – Episode 14 Thu, 07 May 2015 15:47:17 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/newslaundry-hafta-episode-15 00:59:25 Newslaundry.com no The Newslaundry team has a freewheeling discussion on the news of the week. In this episode we discuss, media and Bollywood's reaction to the Salman Khan verdict, lifetime achievement award to Prannoy Roy, Caravan's cover story on Arun Jaitley, Modi's interview with Time and more. The Newslaundry team has a freewheeling discussio… The Newslaundry team has a freewheeling discussion on the news of the week. In this episode we discuss, media and Bollywood's reaction to the Salman Khan verdict, lifetime achievement award to Prannoy Roy, Caravan's cover story on Arun Jaitley, Modi's interview with Time and more. tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/203121662 NLHafta – Episode 13 Wed, 29 Apr 2015 15:59:12 +0000 https://soundcloud.com/newslaundrypodcast/hafta-13 00:56:34 Newslaundry.com no The Newslaundry team has a freewheeling discussion on the news of the week. In this episode we discuss, media coverage of Nepal earthquake, Ram Jethmalani's article as an ad in The Indian Express, opinion pieces on NDTV website and more. The Newslaundry team has a freewheeling discussio… The Newslaundry team has a freewheeling discussion on the news of the week. In this episode we discuss, media coverage of Nepal earthquake, Ram Jethmalani's article as an ad in The Indian Express, opinion pieces on NDTV website and more.

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