NL Hafta

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.comProduced by Kartik Nijhawan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.comProduced by Kartik Nijhawan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Development writer and international-negotiations watcher Biraj Swain talks to Leena Meghaney of Medicines Sans Frontiers', Pradeep S Mehta of Consumer Unity Trust Society, political commentator and trade analyst Devinder Sharma and Professor Sachin Chaturvedi of Research and Information Systems for Developing countries of Ministry of External Affairs, government of India, about the upcoming 10th Ministerial of World Trade Orgnisation (WTO) at Nairobi, Kenya. They discuss the agenda on the table, do a status check on the Doha round of trade talks, the Bali Ministerial and India's pitch and participation, especially the stake for Indian and developing countries' farmers. They also discuss the secrecy around trade negotiations and the need for parliamentary oversight and sunshine, and conclude with some crystal-ball gazing on the expectations from Nairobi. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Development writer and international negotiations watcher Biraj Swain discusses with D Raghunandan from Centre for Science, Technology and Development, Vijeta Rattani, Senior Researcher at Centre for Science and Environment, Ben Phillips of ActionAid International and Nitin Sethi of Business Standard the Bonn Climate Talks, the upcoming climate summit, COP 21 at Paris, the developed countries’ role thus far, climate justice and inequality, India's pitch and participation, and if Indian NGOs were aping European national positions? They also discuss if there is a disconnect between India's global role vis-a-vis intra-country role. And they analyse the newly-released report, Capitan America, US's Climate Goals: A reckoning and do some crystal ball gazing of the COP 21 outcomes.Produced by Kartik Nijhawan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Saurav Datta, senior special correspondent at The Quint, and freelance columnist Rajyasree Sen join us for this episode of NL Hafta. The team discusses Times Now’s National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) debate and whether the NJAC is a bad idea as compared to the collegium system. We, then, go on to discuss “Award Wapsi” and Chetan Bhagat’s recent comment on Twitter pertaining to historians. We also talks about interesting reads that came out in the news media over the last week. The team wraps up with a special dedication to ladies celebrating Karva Chauth.Please visit Newslaundry website for the reference links.Produced by Kartik Nijhawan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Development writer and international negotiations watcher Biraj Swain discusses with Prof Sanjay Reddy of New School of Social Research, New York, Prof John Clammer of UN University, Tokyo, Dipa Sinha of Right to Food Campaign, Nilachala Acharya of Centre of Budget and Governance Accountability and Prof Praveen Jha of Jawaharlal Nehru University, the definition, reasons and nature of renewed energy around universal social protection globally. They take stock of social protection programmes in India, budgetary allocations and weigh in if it is a political or financial question. They also discuss the moral and economic arguments for social protection, and India's track record. And they wrap up with the question if universal social protection will ever be a reality for all the 7 billion of the world and how.They also listen in to the 80s hit reggae band UB40 which has a social protection connection!Please visit Newslaundry website for reference links.Produced by Kartik Nijhawan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.