In this episode of NL Hafta, Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Anand Vardhan, and Mehraj D Lone of Newslaundry are joined by Aditya Menon from The Quint.
They begin with a discussion on BJP’s offensive tweet about the Tamil icon EV Ramasamy Periyar. Pointing out the reason for BJP’s dislike for Periyar, Aditya notes, “It’s the Periyar legacy that is preventing the BJP from growing in Tamil Nadu, so they do want to attack the icon somehow.” Mehraj joins in and says it is more to do with ideology than political point-scoring.
Talking about Narendra Modi’s mega rally kicking off the Delhi election campaign, Abhinandan expresses disgust at the messaging that asked people to come and thank Modi. About the falsehoods in the prime minister’s speech for which he was widely criticised, Anand argues that it had to be full of bombast given the prime minister was in a mood for a tactical retreat.
On the Jharkhand election, Manisha says she was impressed by Hemant Soren and how he campaigned and took on the incumbent chief minister, Raghubar Das. Aditya sheds light on the tactics used by Soren’s campaign team which portrayed him as being humble as opposed to Das.
On the subject of Soren winning the election by running a campaign focused on local issues, Mehraj says, “That I think is the only turf that you can fight the BJP on right now, hyperlocal issues.”
Talking about the protests against the citizenship law, Manisha notes that they have largely been peaceful. But this has been completely whitewashed by the media. She adds that this has been used to justify the police’s brutal response. Anand jumps in to speak on behalf of the police, “The police does not share all information with the media also.”
The panel also discuss the Delhi cold, Centrism, and more.
Tune in!
Hafta Letters: On the citizenship law and the role of journalists
References
‘Will Take Revenge’: Yogi Adityanath On Protesters Vandalising Public Properties
First notices go out in UP to 28 residents: Pay Rs 14 lakh for damage to property
‘They are lying about it’: Arundhati Roy responds to media outrage over her NPR comments
Jamal Khashoggi: Saudis sentence five to death for journalist’s murder
Tamil Nadu: BJP’s tweet on Periyar stirs controversy, opposition demands apology
BJP posts offensive tweet on Periyar on his death anniversary, gets slammed for it
PM Modi’s l Speech At Mega Rally In Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan
Rahul Gandhi says PM Narendra Modi lying about detention centres, tweets video from Assam
Time to punish tukde-tukde gang for anti-CAA violence in Delhi: Amit Shah
Rahul master of lies; detention camps in Assam set up during Cong rule: BJP
In India, History Literally Rots Away
JMM and its bearded patriarch: Shibu Soren
Hemant Soren meets father, touches feet of Shibu Soren
Mamata Banerjee leads mega protest rally; vows not to allow NRC, CAA in Bengal
How Parents and Doctors Can Support Transgender Children
Army chief Bipin Rawat’s comments on CAA, NRC protests triggers row; Opposition attacks him
Citizenship Act protests: 16 people killed in Uttar Pradesh, 131 arrested in just one district
First notices go out in UP to 28 residents: Pay Rs 14 lakh for damage to property
Death toll in Meerut violence rises to 5
In Bijnor, UP police add bogus communal angle to citizenship law protests
India police destroyed CCTV cameras at protest
CCTV Videos Counter UP Police Stand On Aligarh University Crackdown
UP minister refuses to meet Muslim victims’ families
How young lawyers are working ‘like a tsunami’ to help detained CAA protesters
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Produced by Ivneet Kaur, recorded by Manoj Kumar, edited by Samarendra K Dash.
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