This week, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Raman Kirpal and Jayashree Arunachalam are joined by author Chetan Bhagat, academic Sarthak Bagchi, and journalist Dhiren A Sadokpam to discuss the Maharashtra government formation, the increased violence in Manipur, and the ‘foreign hand’ allegations against OCCRP.
On BJP’s campaign in Maharashtra, Chetan says, “A little bit of humility has come to the BJP. The whole talk of building a larger than life image – the party feels that the voters don’t need it right now.” Sarthak explains how the BJP may absorb Shiv Sainiks in the state, saying the party “wants to establish hegemonic dominance”.
Moving on to the BJP’s ‘US propaganda’ allegations and primetime outrage against OCCRP, Abhinandan says, “I just find it fascinating that Indian media that is surviving on sarkari patronage is outraging about another media surviving on sarkari patronage.”
Dhiren then explains the spike in violence in Manipur and what it’s like to live in a state of war. “We need to understand the intersection between insurgency, ethnic violence, poppy cultivation, and national security,” he says.
This and a lot more. Tune in!
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Song: Aye Jaan Idhar Dekh
Audio timecodes
00:00:00 - Introductions
00:04:36 - Announcements
00:15:00 - Headlines
00:19:00 - OCCRP controversy
00:32:41 - Maharashtra government formation
01:20:00 - New wave of violence in Manipur?
00:49:38 - Maharashtra election results
01:57:30 - Letters
02:06:30 - Recommendations
Recommendations
Chetan
Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing
Dhiren
Some Roots Grow Upwards
Sarthak
Good Night and Good Luck
Mandela
Raman
The hidden links between a giant of investigative journalism and the US government
Inside UP clean chit to STF encounter death No. 25: An autopsy ‘cover-up’, other loopholes
Of 41 companies that donated to BJP, 18 bought electoral bonds worth Rs 2,010 crore
Jayashree
Abhinandan
OCCRP
How George Soros forced the UK to devalue the pound
South Korean president faces impeachment vote
Check out previous Hafta recommendations, references, songs and letters
Produced & recorded by Priyali Dhingra, edited by Hassan Bilal.
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