Hafta 487: Final phase of polls, mining issues, heatwave in cities

This week, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Raman Kirpal, and Anand Vardhan are joined by The Caravan’s editor-in-chief Hartosh Singh Bal and investigative journalist Aruna Chandrashekhar.

On the final phase of elections, Hartosh says “it’s baffling” that the voting date in Punjab coincides with the 40th anniversary of Operation Blue Star. He says because of the strong anti-BJP sentiment in Punjab, the state remains a political battleground primarily for the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, despite the “quadrangular fight” after the split between the Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP.

The conversation then shifts to the issue of natural resource mining in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Odisha. Aruna describes them as “sacrificed zones”, regardless of the governing party. She says that due to the Congress's “neglect”, the locals had turned to the BJP.

On the rise in temperatures in Delhi and other metropolitan cities, Aruna says the environmental crisis has been triggered by urbanisation, reduced green cover, and increased concrete structures. She delves into the mention of environmental issues in the political parties’ manifestos. The panel also discusses the working conditions for labourers in the heatwave.

This and a whole lot more. Tune in!

Hafta letters: Hitler’s 1,000-year Reich, Pune car crash, election coverage

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Song: Punjabiyan Di Shaan

Timecodes

00: 00:00 - Introduction

00: 07:47 - Headlines 

00: 19:02 - Elections in Punjab 

00: 25:25 - Voter sentiments in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha 

00: 31:49 - Key party battles in Punjab

00: 43:03 - On climate change and soaring heat waves  

01: 00:20 - Hartosh’s recommendations 

01:04:03 - Aruna’s recommendations 

01:21:34 - Podcast letters 

01:40:49- Panel recommendations 

References

Know Your Turncoats

Rohtak BJP MP fled his campaign amid grilling by woman farm leader. What were her questions?

Qatar and the fall of Fifa

When a Voter Takes the Election Commission to Task for Denying Her Right to Vote

7 reasons why Punjab is an outlier in north Indian politics

The Solitary Reaper

Recommendations

Aruna

Perfect Days

Seun Kuti - IMF ft. M1 (from Dead Prez)

Hartosh

The UP Police and Sangh’s persecution of Christians

Anand 

वह तोड़ती पत्थर

Raman

When a Voter Takes the Election Commission to Task for Denying Her Right to Vote

Rohtak BJP MP fled his campaign amid grilling by woman farm leader. What were her questions?

Paris, Texas

Punjab, unlike other states, has been known to resist a national electoral wave

Abhinandan 

Why can accused persons in prison contest polls but not vote?

Using anecdotes to predict recessions

Check out our previous Hafta recommendations.

Produced and recorded by Aryan Mahtta and Prashant edited by Hassan Bilal.