Episodes
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First, we talk to Indian Express’ Damini Nath about the implementation of One Nation, One Election. She talks about the recommendations of the Ramnath Kovind committee and when and how will simultaneous polls be held in India now that the Union Cabinet has approved the committee’s recommendations.
Next, Indian Express’ Nikhil Ghanekar informs us about a gas and oil exploration project that received it's first stage clearance for an exploration drilling in Assam's eco-sensitive zone. (8:33)
And in the end, we talk about India’s response to a media report on the diversion of defense exports to Ukraine. (17:33)
Hosted, written and produced by Niharika Nanda
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar -
As part of our ongoing collaboration with the Central Square Foundation - we're excited to bring to you the second part of this series where we will speak to experts in the field of EdTech to understand, how access to educational technology can transform overall learning in the classroom and at-home. In order to ensure learning outcomes for all children are met CSF has been working towards system-led reforms to ensure quality access to school education to children across India.
The episode will be out this Saturday, the 21st September. The conversation will be available on our website indianexpress.com and everywhere you get your podcasts. Make sure you listen. To listen to the first episode, check out the link provided in the description.
Now, on with the show.
This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
Today is the 19th of September and here are the headlines.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing an election rally in Srinagar reiterated his government’s promise to restore Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, assuring the people that the BJP would fulfil this commitment. He emphasized BJP’s commitment to making Jammu and Kashmir free from terror. “The bumper voting in the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections has rejected the parties that sympathise with stone pelting and terrorism.” He assured the crowd of his government’s focus on generating local employment, stating, “It’s my pledge that the new generation will not suffer under the rule of three families.”
As junior doctors’ protests continue, decorators on Wednesday night were seen removing tents, bamboo sticks, and pedestal fans from the protest site in front of Swasthya Bhavan. Protestors now claim that “external pressure” is causing decorators, who had installed fans for them, to now take them down. “It could be an effort to demoralise us,” said a junior doctor, “but we would like to clearly say that for a protest, we don’t need all this. We can protest from anywhere and in any possible way.” Junior doctors announced their decision to continue their protest and cease work after a six-hour meeting with government officials Wednesday night.
Days after the family of a 26-year-old employee alleged that “work pressure” at her firm led to her death, Union Minister of State Shobha Karandlaje Thursday said that the Labour Ministry has taken up the complaint and is investigating the claims. Anna Sebastian Perayil was a CA who worked with S R Batliboi, a member firm of Ernst and Young (EY) Global, at Pune’s Yerawada. She died on July 20 while undergoing treatment at a city hospital, where she was admitted after she felt uneasy and complained of exhaustion.
Choreographer Shaik Jani Basha, popularly known as Jani Master in the Telugu film industry, was arrested from Goa days after he was accused of sexual assault by a junior choreographer who worked with him, officers said Thursday. An FIR was registered against him under rape charges on September 16 in Hyderabad. A day later, sections of the POCSO Act were added to the case on the basis of claims that the complainant was a minor when he allegedly sexually assaulted her for the first time.
Continuing with the restrictions on international work permits, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday announced a new set of restrictions for international students. He wrote on X and I quote, “We’re granting 35% fewer international student permits this year. And next year, that number’s going down by another 10%. Immigration is an advantage for our economy — but when bad actors abuse the system and take advantage of students, we crack down. We’re reducing the number of low-wage, temporary foreign workers and shortening the duration of their work terms. We adjusted the program after the pandemic, but the labour market has changed. We need businesses to invest in Canadian workers.
This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express.
Link to episode 1 of our five part series with CSF:
https://indianexpress.com/audio/3-things/the-rss-bjp-rift-rise-in-indian-asylum-seekers-and-a-bid-to-muzzle-press/9550762/ -
Missing episodes?
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First, Indian Express' Apurva Vishwanath explains why Umar Khalid remains in jail four years after his arrest under the stringent UAPA.
Next, following the recent wolf attacks in UP’s Bahraich district, Indian Express' Jay Mazoomdar discusses the history of such attacks in India and what experts recommend to manage these conflicts (16:56).
And finally, we provide an update on the J&K assembly elections that began yesterday, with Indian Express' Naveed Iqbal sharing the significance of these polls (27:52).
Hosted, written and produced by Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar
Further listening - A special segment with the Central Square Foundation -
This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
Today is the 18th of September and here are the headlines.
The Union Cabinet has cleared the proposal to hold simultaneous elections in India, as recommended by a high-level committee headed by ex President Ram Nath Kovind. Addressing media persons, Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said simultaneous polls would be held in two phases. In the first phase, Lok Sabha elections and Assembly elections will be conducted simultaneously, while the second phase will cover local body elections, within 100 days of general elections. The Kovind committee had recommended that the government take a “one-time transitory measure”, which would require the Union government to identify an “appointed date” immediately after a Lok Sabha election. All state assemblies that go to poll after the said date would have their terms expire with the Parliament.
India has sent a formal notice to Pakistan seeking a review of the Indus Water Treaty, according to sources. India and Pakistan signed the IWT on September 19, 1960, after nine years of negotiations, with the World Bank being a signatory to the pact. It set out a mechanism for cooperation and information exchange between the two sides on the use of the waters of several cross-border rivers. Sources said the notice was issued to Pakistan on August 30 and the notification highlights fundamental and unforeseen changes in circumstances that require a reassessment of obligations under various articles of the treaty.
Junior doctors in Kolkata today sought another meeting with the state government over their unfulfilled demands, including suspensions, security in hospitals, and the resignation of the state Health Secretary. After their last meeting on Tuesday, they sent a fresh letter to Chief Secretary Manoj Pant to request another. In a press conference last night, the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front also announced that they will continue their cease work until “all demands are met”.
Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh announced today that the party's national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, who resigned as the Delhi chief minister, will “live among the common people” after vacating the official residence at Civil Lines in 15 days. Addressing a press conference, Singh said Kejriwal would also give up all other facilities such as security, car, driver, and staff. He, however, did not share where Kejriwal and his family would move after vacating the Civil Lines residence. As the head of a national political party, Kejriwal can avail of an accommodation provided by the government.
A day after multiple pagers exploded across Lebanon and Syria, killing at least 12 people, officials stated that Israel had tampered with pagers imported to Lebanon. The company behind the pagers has said that while its brand was on the devices, they were manufactured by a Budapest-based company. According to a report in the New York Times, around 1 to 2 ounces of explosive material was implanted next to the battery in each pager. Officials said that a switch was also embedded that could be triggered remotely to detonate the explosives.
This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express. -
First, Indian Express' Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy talks to us about the India and China border situation. He shares what foreign minister S. Jaishankar has to say about the disengagement of troops on the border and what happened when Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
Next, Indian Express’ Bijin Jose informs us about OpenAI's new AI model called OpenAI o1. He shares what makes the model so special and how it will impact jobs and research. (10:35)
And in the end, we talk about Former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal resigning from the post and appointing AAP's minister Atishi for the same. (17:25)
Hosted, written and produced by Niharika Nanda
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar -
This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
Today is the 17th of September and here are the headlines.
Delhi minister and senior AAP leader Atishi is set to take over the reins of Delhi from Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. The announcement was made by the party on Tuesday following deliberations with MLAs and the decision-making body of AAP. Atishi, who currently holds the portfolio of education, finance, law, tourism and several other departments, will be the third woman to hold the post after Sushma Swaraj and Sheila Dikshit.
In the first sign of a breakthrough, more than a month after protests began on August 9 over the rape-and-murder of a junior doctor at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, the West Bengal government on Tuesday named Manoj Kumar Verma as the new Kolkata Police Commissioner. Verma replaces Vineet Kumar Goyal, who has been transferred and posted as ADG and IGP, Special Task Force, West Bengal. The development comes a day after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced the removal of senior police and health officials, including Kolkata Police Commissioner Goyal.
The Supreme Court today turned down the West Bengal government’s request to stop live streaming of the court proceedings in the case of the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. While presiding over a three-judge bench Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud told Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, who is representing the Bengal Government and made the request, “We will not stop this”. Sibal told the bench, also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, “I have great concern at what’s happening. Your Lordships took suo motu cognisance of the matter to find out what is happening on the ground. Now what happens is if you livestream matters like this…which have emotive implications, huge emotive implications. We are not for the accused, we don’t stand for the accused, we are only called upon to tell you what the state has done”.
The three Maha Vikas Aghadi allies will hold seat-sharing talks from September 18 to 20 for the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections, according to Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut. Talking to reporters he said deliberations will be held on the seats to be contested, and the formula once decided during this meeting will be final. This comes after ruling Mahayti alliance declared yesterday that they shall contest elections on almost 80 percent of the total 288 assembly seats in the state. Meanwhile, the procession of the famous Lalbaugcha Raja idol, which attracts maximum number of devotees, celebrities and prominent personalities during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival is near to immersion or Visarjan on the final day of Ganesh festivities today.
In global news today, Israel announced that halting Hezbollah's attacks in northern Israel has become a formal war objective. This new focus aims to facilitate the safe return of displaced residents and is part of a broader consideration of a more extensive military operation that could escalate into a full-scale regional conflict. The decision follows a series of high-level meetings within Israel’s security Cabinet, which convened late into the night to reassess the nation’s strategic goals.
This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express. -
First, Indian Express’ Mallica Joshi discusses why Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has chosen to resign at this moment and how this decision impacts the BJP’s narrative against him.
Next, Indian Express’ Anonna Dutt explains the significance of the Union Cabinet’s decision to expand the government’s flagship health insurance scheme to include everyone over the age of 70, regardless of income level (11:36).
Finally, in light of the government renaming Port Blair to Sri Vijaya Puram, Indian Express’ Vikas Pathak talks about the broader political implications of renaming states and cities (21:08).
Hosted, written and produced by Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar -
his is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Ichha Sharma.
Today is the 16th of September and here are the headlines.
Highly placed sources told The Indian Express that Congress managed to get chairs for three committees in the Lok Sabha and one in the Rajya Sabha as negotiations for the Parliamentary Standing Committees between the government and the Opposition came to end. In the Lok Sabha, the Congress will get chairs for the External Affairs Standing Committee, Standing Committee on Agriculture and the Standing Committee on Rural Development. While, in the Rajya Sabha, the Opposition party will get the Standing Committee for Education.
Meanwhile, days after walking out of Tihar jail following a nearly six-month stint in custody in connection with the excise policy case, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced he would step down from the post in two days. Calling for early polls, Kejriwal also said someone from the AAP will take his place until polls are held. While AAP sources say ministers Atishi, Gopal Rai and Kailash Gahlot are being named as potential successors, Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia among other AAP leaders of its Political Affairs Committee will meet this evening to finalise the name of the interim CM.
Rallies and demonstrations demanding justice over the rape-murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital swept through the city on Sunday. The state government once again called junior doctors for a meeting at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s Kalighat residence. Chief Secretary Manoj Panth sent an email to junior doctors to join the meeting scheduled at 5 pm today and it was communicated that quote, “this is the fifth and final time we are reaching out”, and “there will be no live streaming or videography of the meeting… Instead, the minutes of the meeting will be recorded and signed by both parties”, unquote.
Speaking to The Indian Express in an exclusive interview, newly appointed Israeli ambassador Reuven Azar said it’s for India to decide the extent to which it wants to be involved in resolving the Gaza war. This is the first time that Israel has sought New Delhi’s assistance in the construction sector, and the decision comes in the wake of the ban on Palestinian workers following the Hamas attack last October.
On the global front, two months after former president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was shot at in a rally, the FBI foiled what appeared to be a second assassination attempt on Sunday while Trump was golfing on his course in West Palm Beach, Florida. According to the Secret Service, agents spotted a person with a firearm near the golf club and immediately opened fire. CNN, Fox News and The New York Times have identified the suspect as Ryan Wesley Row-th of Hawaii, citing unnamed law enforcement officials.
This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express -
First, Indian Express' Atri Mitra talks to us about the Kolkata R G Kar Medical College rape and murder case. He talks about the communication that happened between CM Mamata Banerjee and the junior doctors and also shares why the CM talked about resigning.
Next, Indian Express’ Saurabh Parashar informs us about protests that have been happening in Sanjauli, Shimla. He shares the actual incident that led to the protests and why people want a certain mosque in the area demolished.
And in the end, we talk about Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his announcement to resign from his post.
Hosted, written and produced by Niharika Nanda
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar -
This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Ichha Sharma.
Today is the 13th of September and here are the headlines.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her willingness to resign for the sake of the people, saying she too wanted justice for the young doctor raped and murdered at RG Kar hospital. During a press briefing, she apologised to the people of West Bengal for the ongoing impasse with junior doctors, and said that 27 lives had been lost and seven lakh patients were suffering due to their strike. Banerjee reiterated her commitment to dialogue, asserting that while she desires justice, she will not take punitive action against the agitating doctors. Mamata further appealed to the doctors to return to work and said, quote, “I will not take action against them…they are young and we will pardon them…I wanted a meeting with an open mind.”.
Sitaram Yechury, the affable, soft-spoken and popular Communist leader passed away on Thursday after brief hospitalisation.The CPIM general secretary emerged as a bright young spark in the party’s firmament in the 1970s, to the last nearly a decade that he headed the frontline Left party. A firebrand student leader who fought against the Emergency in the 1970s, he joined the CPIM when he was a university student, and was just 32 when he was made a Central Committee member – one of the youngest to be accepted at the CPIM high table.
A showpiece bilateral jobs scheme, under which Indians would be taken to Israel to work in the construction sector, after over 1 lakh Palestinian workers were banned in the wake of the Hamas attack of 7th of October last year, is threatening to unravel. An Indian Express investigation has revealed that the key reason is a glaring skill mismatch after an assessment process that over-promised and under-delivered when it came to workers’ abilities. Israel has since taken the unprecedented step of allowing these workers to be re-deployed in unskilled or industrial jobs in non-construction sectors to avoid “damage” to “important relations” between both countries.
Meanwhile, in his first visit abroad as the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi attacked the Narendra Modi led government, accusing it of trying to undermine the Constitution and standing in the way of holding a nationwide caste census, themes that defined the Opposition’s campaign in the parliamentary elections. On the three-day visit to the US, Gandhi, accused the BJP government of stifling free speech; indulging in crony capitalism; attacking federalism; capturing Indian institutions, including the media; depriving the Opposition of a level playing field; and spreading communalism in an attempt to destroy India’s pluralism.
On the global front, what started off with a handshake turned into a fierce battle as Donald Trump and Kamala Harris faced each other on Tuesday night during the Presidential debate for the first, and possibly, the last time ahead of the November polls. Inflation, abortion, immigration and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza were some of the issues that took centrestage in the debate moderated by ABC News anchors David Me-oh and Linsey Davis.The early pleasantries set the tone for the 90-minute exchange, with Harris baiting Trump with jabs over the economy during his presidency, while the latter retorted with jibes similar to his debate with Joe Biden.
This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express -
First, Executive Editor (News and Investigations) at The Indian Express Ritu Sarin talks about her latest investigation that looks into how the showpiece bilateral jobs scheme, under which Indians would be taken to Israel to work in the construction sector, is threatening to unravel.
Next, Indian Express' Sadaf Modak tells us how a goat tied outside a mutton shop sparked a legal dispute over alleged religious offense and animal cruelty, and how a man's statement has now given this case a strange twist (10:58).
And in the end, Indian Express’ Amitabh Sinha tells us about the first ‘legally binding’ international treaty on artificial intelligence (15:14).
Hosted, written and produced by Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar -
This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Ichha Sharma.
Today is the 12th of September and here are the headlines.
The Union Cabinet is expanding the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana to provide health coverage to people aged 70 years and above, regardless of their income level. Currently, the scheme is income-based and provides 5 lakh rupees shared annual coverage to all members of eligible families irrespective of their age. According to a government statement, an additional 6 crore people in this age group, from 4.5 crore families, are expected to benefit. The eligible beneficiaries will be issued a new card under PM-Jan Arogya Yojana.
Two young Army officers were assaulted and one of their two women friends was allegedly gangraped by a group of six men who attacked them in the early hours of Wednesday near Jam Gate along the Mahow-Mand lesh war Road in Madhya Pradesh. Police said two of the six assailants had been arrested and a search is underway for the others. DIG Nimish Agrawal said the two officers from the Mhow cantonment town had gone out on a night trip and were sitting in a car with their friends when six men showed up, surrounded and assaulted them.
The Supreme Court will deliver its verdict on pleas filed by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal seeking bail on Friday. The plea also challenges the Delhi High Court order upholding Kejriwal’s arrest by the CBI in a corruption case in relation to the alleged excise policy scam. Opposing the plea, the CBI had told the Supreme Court that witnesses from Goa, including those who contested the Assembly elections on an Aam Aadmi Party ticket, would turn hostile if Kejriwal walked out of jail. Kejriwal has filed two separate petitions challenging the denial of bail and against his arrest by the CBI in the case.
A year after multiple IPS officers were sent to Manipur by different states/Union Territories to head their Special Investigation Teams to investigate the violence cases, three states, Punjab, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh have called back their officers and sent their replacements. The Indian Express has learnt that a discussion to send them back to their kaa druh started when some of the IPS officers who came on Supreintendent of Police rank got promoted to deputy inspector general (DIG) in January and requested their police chiefs to call them back.
Amid stalemate between West Bengal government and protesting doctors, state chief secretary sent a fresh letter to the agitators calling for a meeting at 5 pm today. On Wednesday, the government rejected the agitators’ demand to live broadcast talks intended to resolve the month-long “ceasework”. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court’s direction to doctors to resume work remains in place. In addition, sleuths of the Enforcement Directorate today started search operations at the residences and offices of persons “close” to arrested former principal of RG Kar hospital, Sandip Ghosh, in connection with alleged financial irregularities at the medical establishment.
This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express -
First, Indian Express' Diplomatic Affairs Editor Shubhajit Roy talks to us about the India GCC Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue. He shares what India had to say regarding the Israel and Hamas war and what the Joint Action Plan 2024-2028 is about.
Next, Indian Express’ Anonna Dutt informs us about the current Mpox (formerly Monkeypox) outbreak and the extent to which India should be concerned.(8:30)
And in the end, we talk about Pakistan violating the ceasefire agreement on the Line of control and causing a BSF personnel to get injured. (13:09)
Hosted, written and produced by Niharika Nanda
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar -
This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
Today is the 11th of September and here are the headlines.
A 30-member delegation in West Bengal has reached out to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, demanding a meeting to discuss junior doctors’ proposals. In their email, they asserted the need for a larger representation, saying, “We would like to appeal that the delegation team should consist of 30 representatives as there are many stakeholder medical institutions involved.” Previously, the junior doctors rejected the government’s offer for a 10-member delegation, insisting on a group of 25-35. Now, the chief secretary has written to the junior doctors inviting them for a meeting – for the second time since yesterday – at Nabanna, but with a rider: only 12 -15 representatives will be allowed.
Rahul Gandhi’s statements during his visit to the United States has once again stirred trouble back home. Hitting out at the Congress MP over his comments on reservations, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said that “no one can mess with nation’s security”. Shah said, “I want to tell Rahul Gandhi that as long as BJP is there, neither can anyone abolish quota nor can anyone mess with nation’s security. By speaking about abolishing quota, Rahul Gandhi once again brought Congress’ anti-reservation face to the forefront."
Despite the imposition of prohibitory orders barring the gathering of more than five people at Sanjauli in Himachal Pradesh’s Shimla district, thousands thronged the sub-town today demanding the demolition of a mosque.At least two people were injured when police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the protesters. They also used water cannons to prevent the protesters from reaching near the mosque, which was cordoned off. Sources in the district police intelligence wing said that people from other districts of the state had reached Sanjauli to join the protest against the mosque.
What started off with a handshake turned into a fierce battle as Donald Trump and Kamala Harris faced each other Tuesday night during the Presidential debate for the first, and possibly, the last time ahead of the November polls. Inflation, abortion, immigration and the wars in Ukraine and Gaza were some of the issues that took centrestage in the debate moderated by ABC News anchors David Muir and Linsey Davis.The early pleasantries set the tone for the 90-minute exchange, with Harris baiting Trump with jabs over the economy during his presidency, while the latter retorted with jibes similar to his debate with Joe Biden.
Just a few days ahead of Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu’s bilateral visit to India, two Maldivian ministers resigned following their suspension in January after they insulted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dawn reported. A government official told AFP News that both had resigned citing “personal reasons”. President Muizzu had suspended three ministers for criticizing PM Modi’s visit to Lakshadweep to promote local tourism, including calling him a “clown,” “terrorist,” and “puppet of Israel.”
This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express. -
First, Indian Express' Sukrita Baruah discusses the alarm raised by the use of drones to drop crude bombs and improvised rockets in the ongoing ethnic violence in Manipur.
Next, Indian Express' Pavneet Singh Chadha shares details of his investigation, which reveals how at least two state ministers, several politicians across party lines, and multiple real estate companies in Goa are alleged beneficiaries of a controversial change in the state’s land use law (09:25).
And finally, we examine Rahul Gandhi's recent statement during his current trip to the US, which marks his first visit abroad as the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha (21:20).
Hosted, written and produced by Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar -
This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
Today is the 10th of September and here are the headlines.
A showpiece bilateral jobs scheme, under which Indians would be taken to Israel to work in the construction sector, after over 100,000 Palestinian workers were banned in the wake of the Hamas attack of October 7 last year, is threatening to unravel. An Indian Express investigation has revealed that the key reason is a glaring skill mismatch after an assessment process that over-promised and under-delivered when it came to workers’ abilities. Israel has since taken the unprecedented step of allowing these workers to be re-deployed in unskilled or industrial jobs in non-construction sectors to avoid “damage” to “important relations” between both countries.
Hundres of junior doctors today marched towards Swasthya Bhawan, the headquarters of the state health department, which is located in Salt Lake. After the Supreme Court’s direction to the agitating doctors to resume their work by 5 pm today, the medics set the same time as the deadline for the West Bengal government to accept their charter of demands. The doctors’ demands include the resignation of Kolkata Police Commissioner, state Health Secretary, Director of Health Education (DHE), and Director of Health Services (DHS).
During his ongoing visit to the US, Rahul Gandhi has kept up his attacks on the Narendra Modi government, accusing it of trying to undermine the Constitution and standing in the way of holding a nationwide caste census, themes that defined the Opposition’s campaign in the parliamentary elections. In his talks at universities abroad in the past few years, Gandhi, has accused the BJP government of stifling free speech; indulging in crony capitalism; attacking federalism; capturing Indian institutions, including the media; depriving the Opposition of a level playing field; and spreading communalism in an attempt to destroy India’s pluralism.
The Supreme Court today stayed the proceedings in the criminal defamation case filed by a BJP leader against Congress MP Shashi Tharoor over certain remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Tharoor had approached the top court challenging the August 29 Delhi High Court order dismissing his plea to quash the proceedings. Appearing for the senior Congress leader, Advocate Mohammed Ali Khan informed the court that he had only quoted from an article published by the Caravan Magazine in 2012 that contained an alleged remark by an unnamed RSS leader comparing Narendra Modi to “a scorpion sitting on a Shivling”. The counsel wondered how the remark became defamatory in 2018 when it was not so in 2012.
Israeli strikes in a supposedly safe zone of southern Gaza before dawn today, killed scores of people, according to Palestinian officials. Israel said it had struck a command centre for Hamas fighters whom it said had infiltrated the designated "humanitarian" area in al-Mawasi, a vast camp on sandy soil where the military has told hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to shelter since ordering them out of their homes. Hamas denied any fighters were present. The Gaza civil emergency service said it believed at least 65 people had been killed or wounded, but could not provide a breakdown of casualties.
This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express. -
First, Indian Express' Abhishek Angad talks to us about the Jharkhand excise constable recruitment physical examination during which 12 people died. Of the 12 aspirants who died, some fainted during the 10km run that was a part of the examination and some lost consciousness post the run. He shares the reason behind the death, the process of the recruitment and how the Jharkhand government has responded to the incident.
Next, Indian Express’ Avaneesh Mishra speaks to us about the signboards that came up in Rudraprayag as a 'warning' to 'non-Hindus' to not enter and work in the villages of the city. He talks about the reasons behind the coming up of such signboards, the police's reaction to them upon identification of the issue and how this impacted life in Rudraprayag. (10:49)
And in the end, we talk about a Congress leader and a former Chhattisgarh minister along with three other men being booked for abetment of suicide of a government school teacher. (18:43)
Hosted, written and produced by Niharika Nanda
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar -
This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.
Today is the 9th of September and here are the headlines.
The Supreme Court today said there was a delay of “at least 14 hours” in the registration of the FIR in connection with the alleged rape and murder of a junior doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Led by the Chief Justice of India, the bench was perusing a status report filed by the CBI, which is probing the case. The CBI informed the court that it had decided to resend samples taken from the crime scene to AIIMS and Central Forensic Sciences Labs. Additionally, it was stated that CBI had been given only four video clips of a total duration of 27 minutes. The bench, which sought a fresh status report from the CBI, also fixed the matter for hearing next on the 18th of September.
During his first international trip as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha to the US, Rahul Gandhi said that following the Lok Sabha election results earlier this year, people’s fear of the BJP had vanished. He added that the people realised they would not tolerate attacks on the Constitution, religions, and states. Gandhi is on a four-day unofficial trip to the US during which he will interact with the members of the Indian diaspora and the youth, with stops in Dallas, Texas, and Washington DC.
A day after the Ganesh Chaturthi festival began, Surat city witnessed riots in old wall city areas, after four teenagers allegedly pelted stones to damage a Ganesh idol and injured a man. The damage led to people stone pelting and setting parked vehicles on fire near the Saiyedpura police station, where a huge mob gathered. Police resorted to lathi-charging to control the mob near the station. According to police, they apprehended the four accused, including two teenagers, and detained around 27 people who were said to be involved in the stone-pelting.
According to Syria’s state news agency, SANA, the Israeli airstrikes targeted several areas in central Syria, killing at least four people and injuring 13 late Sunday. The strikes caused significant damage and sparked fires along a highway in Hama province, which firefighters were battling to control earlier today morning. SANA reported that Syrian air defenses responded to the strikes, which hit multiple points in the region.
According to a report by Informa Connect Academy that tracks wealth, world’s richest person Elon Musk is on track to become the first trillionaire in the world by 2027. The report also adds that the second entrepreneur to hit trillionaire status would be India’s businessman Gautam Adani. Where Musk has seen his wealth growing at an average annual rate of 110 per cent. Adani Group’s founder and chairman Gautam Adani’s wealth has been growing at an average annual rate of 123 per cent.
This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express -
With just under a month remaining until the Haryana elections, the BJP finds itself in disarray. Several senior leaders have opted out of the race, and over three dozen members have resigned in recent weeks, leaving the party scrambling to regain control. Meanwhile, the opposition Congress has gained significant momentum by inducting two of India's most renowned Olympians, Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia.
In this episode, we examine the crisis within the Haryana BJP, what the induction of Vinesh and Bajrang means for the Congress, and also the challenges the saffron party has been facing with its alliance partners at the Centre.
Guests: Indian Express’ Varinder Bhatia, Asad Rehman, and Liz Mathew
Hosted, produced and written by Shashank Bhargava
Edited and mixed by Suresh Pawar -
This is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Ichha Sharma.
Today is the 6th of September and here are this week’s headlines.
The West Bengal Assembly unanimously passed the newly drafted anti-rape Bill. After it was tabled Tuesday morning, CM Mamata Banerjee spoke in favour of the Bill and hailed it as “a model and historic”. She also said that a special unit of the state police — ‘Aparajita Task Force’– will be set up once the Bill becomes a law. The ‘Aparajita Woman and Child Bill (West Bengal Criminal Laws and Amendment) Bill 2024’ proposes capital punishment to rape convicts if their actions result in victims’ death or send them into a vegetative state. However, BJP leader and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari proposed amendments to the Bill which were not accepted by the House.
In an unprecedented move, the Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Wednesday passed an amended Bill to stop pensions of members disqualified under the anti-defection law. Tightening the noose on defectors, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu introduced the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly (Allowances and Pension of Members) Amendment Bill, 2024, that aims to deter and discourage MLAs from defecting parties by discontinuing their pension.
Kicking off the Congress’s campaign ahead of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi at a rally in Ramban on Wednesday promised to restore statehood for the people of J&K. Calling the Lieutenant-Governor a ‘raja’ (king), Rahul accused the central government of giving the benefits meant for the people of J&K to outsiders. Rahul said, quote, “Aaj Jammu-Kashmir mein raja baitha hua hai. Uska naam L-G hai par hai voh raja which loosely translates to (Today, a king sits in Jammu and Kashmir. His name is L-G, but he is a king,”. He added, “Your wealth is being snatched and given to people from outside. All benefits are being given to outsiders.”
As Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with his counterpart Lawrence Wong, India and Singapore elevated their bilateral ties to a “comprehensive strategic partnership” on Thursday and signed four Memorandums of Understanding, including one on cooperation in the semiconductor industry. The MoUs are Cooperation in the Field of Digital Technologies, India-Singapore Semiconductor Ecosystem Partnership; Cooperation in the Field of Health and Medicine, and Educational Cooperation and Skills Development.
Data accessed by The Indian Express shows, that the number of undocumented Indians crossing over from Canada to the US on foot has reached an all-time high. This spike has placed Canada’s visa screening process under the lens — more so, due to parallel concerns over Canada-bound Indian passengers seeking asylum in the UK while in transit. According to the latest US Customs and Border Protection data, an all-time high of 5,152 undocumented Indians entered the US from Canada on foot this June alone.
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