Reporters Without Orders

This week, host Tanishka Sodhi is joined by Newslaundry’s Manisha Pande and Shivnarayan Rajpurohit. Manisha reported on press freedom in Kashmir from ground zero. She speaks about her interviews and conversations with journalists in the valley, who described an intensifying clampdown on media, a sense of suffocation, and censorship, particularly after the abrogation of Article 370. Shivnarayan reported on an Adani-operated coal mine in Chhattisgarh that received environmental clearance despite a National Green Tribunal order. He delved into how these clearances were granted and the loopholes used to violate orders passed by the NGT. Tune in. Timecodes 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:26 - Media in Kashmir 00:27:16 - Violation of NGT orders 00:39:52 - Recommendations Recommendations Shivnarayan The Great Nicobar Betrayal Manisha The Case Against Travel The Rohingya Suffer Real Horrors. So Why Are Some of Their Stories Untrue? Loving Lies Tanishka Indian village midwives make a shocking confession - BBC World Service Documentaries Produced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, recorded by Anil Kumar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, host Pratyush Deep is joined by Newslaundry’s Basant Kumar and Anmol Pritam. Basant and Anmol are currently on ground zero to report from poll-bound Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir, respectively. In Haryana, Basant has so far examined the progress of the Smart City Mission, issues of one of the most backward districts, and Olympian Vinesh Phogat’s political contest in Julana. Meanwhile, Anmol has reported on the divide over issues such as Article 370 in Jammu’s Doda. Tune in. Timecodes 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:00:51 - Haryana election 00:13:53 - J&K election 00:29:52 - Recommendations Recommendations Anmol SYMPATHY -RARE BIRD 1969 Basant Faridabad Smart City का सूरत-ए-हाल: करोड़ों खर्च का दावा पर जमीनी हकीकत खस्ताहाल | Ground Report Pratyush But I Am One of You: Northeast India and the Struggle to Belong Produced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, recorded by Anil Kumar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, host Sumedha Mittal is joined by independent journalist Sunil Kashyap. Sunil reported on the purported rift between Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the BJP workers. He delves into the changes in party dynamics after its lukewarm performance in the state in the Lok Sabha polls. He adds that despite the turmoil within the BJP and the tussle between Adityanath and the party’s top leadership, there is no anti-incumbency in the state. Tune in. Timecodes 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:19 - Yogi vs BJP 00:45:45 - Recommendations Recommendations Sunil Chitralekha Sumedha Clerical Error Adityanath’s loosening grip on Uttar Pradesh Produced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, recorded by Anil Kumar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A reporters’ podcast about what made news and what shouldn’t have. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, host Shivnarayan Rajpurohit is joined by Newslaundry’s Sumedha Mittal, The News Minute’s Sukanya Shaji, and independent journalist Nidhi Suresh. Nidhi and Sukanya reported on Kerala’s #MeToo storm and the exploitation of female actors in the Kerala film industry. They also reported on the recently published Hema Committee report, which revealed that the industry’s top male actors, directors, and producers were involved or complacent in the matter. They discuss the report’s findings and fallout. Sumedha reported on the death of a 23-year-old Faizan after alleged police brutality during Delhi riots in February 2020. A viral video of him lying semi-conscious on the road, battered, taunted, and forced to sing the national anthem by cops was widely circulated then. She found out that despite clear duty charts, no police official was held responsible for what the high court termed a hate crime. The probe was eventually transferred to the CBI after the court issued a stinging indictment of the “tardy” police investigation. Tune in. Timecodes 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:02:42 - AMMA and the Malayalam industry 00:08:37 - Hema Committee Report 00:46:15 - Faizan and Delhi cops 00:01:04:45 - Recommendations Recommendations Sukanya Lekhayude Maranam Oru Flashback Nidhi Public Secrets of Law: Rape Trials in India Sumedha She Said Shivnarayan ‘Take Hema Committee report seriously’: Parvathy to Kerala govt | Dhanya Rajendran | Interview Produced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, recorded by Anil Kumar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, host Tanishka Sodhi is joined by independent journalist Pranab Mondal and the Quint’s Aliza Noor. Pranab talks about his report on the horrific rape and murder of a 31-year-old junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata and the events that unfolded following the incident. He discusses how it is a culmination of mismanagement and malpractice while shedding light on the “lobby system” in hospital administration. Aliza reported on a different aspect of the Kolkata case – about searches for the victim’s “video” trending on Google and porn sites. She says that the data shows a phenomenal surge in searches for such videos. Tune in. Timecodes 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:03:13 - Kolkata horror 00:20:32 - Victim’s video search 00:38:04 - Recommendations Recommendations Aliza Bhima Koregaon: Challenging Caste Angry Young Men Tanishka Let Me Explain: What is Hema Committee report on Malayalam cinema all about? Produced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, recorded by Anil Kumar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, host Anmol Pritam is joined by Newslaundry’s Basant Kumar and Ishita Pradeep. Basant reported on a “herbal firm” which allegedly frauds youngsters in lure of a “luxurious life”. He talks about his investigation into the company’s modus operandi of network marketing and pressuring its staff for adding new members in the chain, failing which they were physically assaulted and abused. Ishita talks about her report on the Indian media’s coverage of the Bangladesh crisis and attacks on Bangladeshi Hindu minority. She delves into the situation in the country at present and how some media outlets emphasised on the communal angle and ignored the administrative failure. Tune in. Timecodes 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:03:37 - Doctor’s ‘rape’ 00:14:32 - Fraud firm 00:28:51 - Bangladesh violence 00:44:47 - Recommendations Recommendations Ishita Why Loiter? Kavita Krishnan,Secretary of the All India Progressive Women's Association (AIPWA) Basant No Nation for Women Hindenburg जिन्न की चपेट में SEBI प्रमुख माधवी बुच और Vinesh Phogat को सलामी | NL Tippani 200 Anmol Activist whose RTI flagged ‘Smriti Irani-linked Goa cafe’ alleges home ministry ‘witch-hunt’ New complaint alleges Taloja prison underbelly: ‘Mutton meals for Rs 8,000 per kg, 40% cuts, zero record’ Produced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, recorded by Anil Kumar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, host Dhanya Rajendran is joined by independent journalist Nidhi Suresh and The News Minute’s senior sub-editor Lakshmi Priya. Nidhi reported on the kidnapping and sexual assault of a Malayalam film actor by six men, allegedly orchestrated by another actor. The panel discussed how these events unfolded and their impact on both the regional film industry and society. They also delved into how women actors confronted misogyny and patriarchy within Malayalam cinema. Tune in. Timecodes 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:02:29 - Unmasked Malayalam cinema 00:51:19 - Recommendations Recommendations Lakshmi It's Vinesh Phogat's world. We are lucky to be part of it How Vinesh Phogat won the Olympic medal: Fought with heart, thought with head Nidhi An Unbelievable story of Rape Hollywood Ending: Harvey Weinstein and the Culture of Silence Vinesh Phogat breaks silence: Everyone outside is treating me like I am a dead thing… One medal (lost) and everything is finished Dhanya The Many Lives of Syeda X : The Story of an Unknown Indian Produced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, recorded by Anil Kumar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, host Pratyush Deep is joined by Newslaundry’s Avdhesh Kumar and Anmol Pritam. Anmol has been on the ground to cover the conditions in which three UPSC students died in a flooded basement library of the Rau’s IAS coaching centre in Delhi’s Karol Bagh. He gave a detailed account of how the tragedy unfolded, the subsequent blame game, and why Delhi’s coaching hub is more of a “business model than an education model”. Avdhesh reported on the multiple incidents of violence involving kanwariyas. He delved into how the authorities purportedly turn a blind eye towards such incidents and give the religious groups a “free hand” as they resort to violence, leading to “a total collapse of law and order”. Tune in. Timecodes 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:47 - Death of UPSC aspirants 00:28:43 - Kanwariya violence 00:46:06 - Recommendations Recommendations Anmol Har zulm tera yaad hai Avdhesh Maharaja Pratyush Dead ‘Maoist’ talking: The aftermath of a security operation in Chhattisgarh Produced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, recorded by Anil Kumar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, host Sumedha Mittal is joined by the Wire’s Sukanya Shantha. Sukanya talks about her report on India’s prisons where prisoners were allotted work on the basis of their caste. She says that the Chief Justice of India eventually expressed concerns over the “most disturbing” practice and said he would direct the government to take action. She also delved into other such colonial rules that are still in practice. Tune in. Timecodes 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:36 - Casteism in prisons 00:35:05 - Recommendations Recommendations Sukanya BEYOND PRISONS Sumedha Barred: A Prisons Project Produced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, recorded by Anil Kumar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, host Basant Kumar is joined by Newslaundry’s Sumedha Mittal and Shivnarayan Rajpurohit. Sumedha spoke about her report on how candidates from outside Gujarat picked centres in the state as part of an alleged NEET scam racket. She explained how NTA’s management failed as students from Odisha, Bihar, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh travelled to Gujarat and “wrote” the exam in Gujarati. Shivnarayan reported that 14 companies that significantly bankrolled political parties in the past decade were given several government projects, some despite being banned or blacklisted earlier. He delved into how raids, extortion and murky ecosystems lead to the quid pro quo. Tune in. Timecodes 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:05:32 - NEET paper leak 00:15:50 - Electoral bonds 00:37:38 - Recommendations Recommendations Sumedha The caste alliances that won Uttar Pradesh Shivnarayan ‘Gujarati answers, non-Gujarati candidates’: The NEET cheat sheet at 2 centres Seats quota, banquet halls, buses and answers: How to leak a paper in Bihar Basant Varchasva Produced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, recorded by Naresh Kumar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, host Tanishka Sodhi is joined by Newslaundry’s Basant Kumar and Avdhesh Kumar. Basant reported on the modus operandi of gangs involved in the alleged NEET paper leak. He explains how an interstate nexus of government employees, coaching institutes, and other powerful forces orchestrate paper leaks. Avdhesh spoke to the kin and survivors of the Hathras stampede that claimed at least 121 lives. He shares how they perceive self-styled godman Surajpal, alias Narayan Sakar Hari, alias Bhole Baba and why there is little accountability. Tune in. Timecodes 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:58 - Paper leak 00:21:08 - Hathras stampede 00:42:46 - Recommendations Recommendations Basant Maharaj Mirzapur Avdhesh Russia offers compensation and citizenship to kin of Indians killed in Ukraine war Tanishka ‘Why leave the house? Sit at home and do path puja’ — misogyny rears its head after Hathras tragedy Produced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, and recorded by Anil Kumar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, host Shivnarayan Rajpurohit is joined by Newslaundry’s Tanishka Sodhi and the Hindu’s Ashna Butani. Tanishka talks about her deep-dive on Shubhash Chandra, Zee Media founder and former Rajya Sabha MP, and the shift in his stance on the central government. She explains why his recent remarks on the dip in India’s rank on the World Press Freedom Index and the SEBI’s investigation into his alleged financial improprieties hint at souring terms between Chandra and the Modi government. Ashna delves into her recent report on the gender gap in owning digital devices, especially mobile phones. She says that this digital gap faced by many young women in rural India, due to conservative mindsets and stereotypes, impacts their day-to-day lives. Tune in. Timecodes 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:02:57 - Subhash Chandra 00:13:15 - Digital Gap 00:31:50 - Recommendations Recommendations Ashna God of Small Things Tanishka Sona darling Shivnarayan Subhash Chandra’s winds of change A phone of her own: Digital gap’s fallout on young women in rural India Produced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, recorded by Anil Kumar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, host Sumedha Mittal is joined by independent journalists Sunil Kashyap and Jatinder Kaur Tur. Sunil spoke about his report on the Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha result and how the BJP workers’ overconfidence and ignorance led to the party’s seat loss. He said Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party’s “PDA card” – reaching out to the “pichre” or backward, Dalits, and “alpashankhak” or minorities was a hit for the INDIA bloc in UP. Jatinder threw light on the jailed leader Amirtpal Singh’s poll campaign from behind the bars and his subsequent win from Khadoor Sahib in Punjab. She gave insights on who managed the poll campaign on the ground, what was the poll plank, and how they convinced people to vote for him. Tune in. In times of misinformation, you need news you can trust. We’ve got you covered. Subscribe to Newslaundry and power our work. Timecodes 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:02:28 - Key factor behind UP Lok Sabha result 00:32:46 - Backstory of Amritpal Singh’s election campaign 01:05:25 - Recommendation Recommendations Jatinder Kaur Tur Caravan June edition How to do the work Sunil Kashyap Rajnigandha Sumedha Mittal Lapata Ladies Produced by Ashish Anand, edited by Umrav Singh, recorded by Anil Kumar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, host Tanishka Sodhi is joined by Newslaundry’s Avdhesh Kumar and independent journalists Alishan Jafri and Nidhi Suresh. The discussion begins as Alishan talks about his report on the sense of betrayal and anger felt by NEET aspirants after 67 students scored the top rank, in a “doubtful and faulty” result. The possibility of meritorious students making it to prestigious institutes stands diminished. The conversation moves on to the horrific rape of a minor who was sexually abused for two years, first when she was just 12 years old. The child born out of the crime reunited with his mother years later, and pushed her to file an FIR, lifting the veil of secrecy surrounding such incidents. The accused were convicted and sentenced to 10 years in jail last month. Nidhi speaks about her experience covering the case. Avdhesh chips in, talking about his report on how the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party turned around its poll fortunes in the electorally crucial state of Uttar Pradesh. It was a “PDA” formula that helped the party succeed. Tune in. Timecodes 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:02:11 - NEET Issue 00:19:30 - Battle for Justice 00:31:02 - PDA over NDA 00:46:49 - Recommendations Recommendations Nidhi What binds Prajwal Revanna, Brij Bhushan Singh, Kuldeep Sengar – a system that treats women as dispensable Public Secrets of Law: Rape Trials in India Avdhesh Muslims in India: भारत में मुस्लिम मां-बाप और उनके बच्चे अब कैसा महसूस कर रहे हैं (BBC Hindi) How India's elections are dividing the nation | Witness Documentary Tanishka Exit polls, foreign investors, and stock market mayhem: What really happened? Produced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, recorded by Anil Kumar Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, host Basant Kumar is joined by Newslaundry’s Shivnarayan Rajpurohit and Prateek Goyal to dissect the fallout of exit polls on the stock market. As the Lok Sabha results starkly contrasted the exit polls – most of which were bullish on the Narendra Modi-led BJP – the stock markets hit an all-time high and then crashed, between June 1 and June 4. The panel throws light on the influence of exit polls, stock manipulation malpractices, and the media’s role as pollsters. The reporters also delve into the mandate in Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh, and the possible reasons that went against the BJP and the factors that worked in favour of the Congress. Tune in. Timecodes 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:01:24 - Exit Polls 00:13:39 - Election Results 00:51:28 - Recommendations Recommendations Shivnarayan Laapataa Ladies Prateek Panchayat Basant 8 A.M. Metro Produced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, recorded by Anil Kumar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, host Shivnarayan Rajpurohit is joined by Newslaundry’s Basant Kumar, Pratyush Deep, and Sumedha Mittal to discuss the coverage of the Lok Sabha elections and provide insights into the pulse of the people. The conversation delves into the potential election outcomes across India, hot seats, political parties’ strategies, and campaign. They also discuss the grassroots mobilisation by political parties. Tune in. Timecodes 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:03:12 - Haryana-Punjab elections 00:13:35 - Assam-Bengal elections 00:34:29 - Delhi-NCR elections 00:42:38 - Recommendations Recommendations Sumedha deKoder Rajdeep Sardesai Girish Kuber writes: Why Maharashtra worries the BJP Pratyush Porsche case: No, the minor did not release a ‘rap video’. The media got it wrong Produced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, recorded by Anil Kumar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, host Anmol Pritam is joined by Newslaundry’s Avdhesh Kumar and Sumedha Mittal. Sumedha profiled Bansuri Swaraj, daughter of Sushma Swaraj and the BJP’s candidate from New Delhi constituency. She explains why the BJP chose not to field Meenakshi Lekhi, a two-time winner from the constituency, and how Bansuri has been trying to make herself relatable to voters despite a ‘nepotism’ narrative. Avdhesh reported on the violence during polling in Uttar Pradesh’s Sambhal, where voters from Muslim-majority villages alleged they were beaten up by the state police. He says the voters, despite having voter IDs, say they were “deliberately” prevented from casting their votes. Tune in. Timecodes 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:00:35 - Violence and elections 00:11:00 - Bansuri Swaraj 00:29:20 - Sambhal incident 00:42:10 - Recommendations Recommendations Sumedha The Election Tricycle Identity politics, polarisation, and development aspirations mark the electoral battle for Bihar’s Mithilanchal Avdhesh Uttarakhand: Over 1,000 forest fires in 4 months, crisis looms amid poor preparedness Anmol Ruled or Misruled Produced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, recorded by Anil Kumar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, host Basant Kumar is joined by Newslaundry reporters Tanishka Sodhi and Anmol Pritam, who have been reporting on the ongoing Lok Sabha elections from ground zero. Anmol talks about his experience of reporting from Bihar on the tussle between the BJP-led NDA and the INDIA alliance and the “Nitish Kumar factor”, which seems to be dying down. He also shed light on the state of affairs in the hinterlands and the shifting political dynamics in the backward state. Tanishka reported on the Baramati constituency in Maharashtra, where the two factions of the NCP battled for the Pawar legacy. She says the rift in the Pawar family is leading the voters into confusion, while NCP supremo Sharad Pawar’s daughter Supriya Sule told her it’s “not a family issue”. Tune in. Timecodes 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:20:38 - Bihar politics 00:20:43 - Pawar vs Pawar 00:39:26 - Recommendations Recommendations Tanishka Bigotry 101 | BJP’s Crazy Experience at a Samdish Rally in Delhi Anmol Laapataa Ladies Basant Laapataa Ladies Produced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, recorded by Anil Kumar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, host Sumedha Mittal is joined by independent journalist Angad Singh. Formerly with Vice News, Angad was “blacklisted” by the Indian government over a documentary called India Burning, which he worked on as a production assistant. He talks about dealing with court cases after being accused by the central government of portraying India in a “negative” light. He says his OCI card was taken anyway and talks about the sorrow of not being able to return to India anymore. Tune in. Timecodes 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:03:01 - Angad’s story 00:30:29 - Recommendations Recommendations Angad Captivating the Simple-Hearted: A Struggle for Human Dignity in the Indian Subcontinent Sumedha Time Is Running Out for Rahul Gandhi’s Vision for India Produced and edited by Saif Ali Ekram, recorded by Anil Kumar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.