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Newslaundry
The News Minute

South Central 38: Kerala nuns arrested in Chhattisgarh, TCS layoffs

In this episode of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, and Leena Reghunath are joined by Human Rights Law Network founder and senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, TNM Kerala bureau chief Haritha John, Sriram Rajagopal, and A Welkin. 

With Colin and Haritha, the panel discusses the Bajrang Dal attack and consequent arrest of two nuns in Chhattisgarh. “Right across the country, almost 1,000 cases are recorded every year against Christians,” Colin says. “Our Supreme Court let us down very badly, despite having presented data on several attacks on prayer meetings, pastors, and several others in the community.”

He adds that in most instances, the police book people for activities like praying and speaking to people, alleging that they are forcibly converting people without adequate evidence. 

Pooja says, “From 2014 to 2024, under the Modi regime, there has been a surge in attacks against Christians. A bulk of it comes from UP, MP, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Rajasthan.”

In part two of the discussion, the panel talks to Sriram and Welkin about TCS laying off IT employees, and how AI might be playing a role. Welkin says it’s “absurd” that the company cannot accommodate these employees “across the verticals and projects it deals with”. 

Leena says the pattern of layoffs is very predictable, especially in the IT industry. “When senior employees are rendered jobless, it is difficult for the industry to also absorb them and compensate them adequately. Even laws are not very effective towards their ask for compensation,” she says.

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Audio Timecodes 

00:00:00- Introductions

00:01:54 - Support TNM 

00:02:40 - Headlines 

00:10:28 - Attacks on Christians 

00:50:53 - TCS layoffs 

01:24:21 - Recommendations 

References 

Poonch’s forgotten victims: Apathy after India-Pak ceasefire

Bhupesh Baghel and the subtle art of keeping voters distracted

‘We live in fear’: Chhattisgarh nuns’ arrest sparks alarm in Christian community

Recommendations 

Colin Gonsalves

Incarcerations

Sriram Rajagopal

Thudarum

Kishkindha Kaandam

A Welkin 

Knowledge as Commons

Leena Reghunath 

Watching a Breakdown

Pooja Prasanna 

House (TV series)

Even the Obit Writers Are Jumping Ship at The Washington Post

Dhanya Rajendran

Adani's Millions in Mauritius

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Produced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali , written by Sukanya Shaji. 

Newslaundry is a reader-supported, ad-free, independent news outlet based out of New Delhi. Support their journalism, here.

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