3 Things

Even though Mahatma Gandhi is one of the most well known figures in Indian history, for many, especially the young, he has become a bit of a two dimensional figure. Someone who helped us get independence from the British, but also someone whose face is on the currency notes, and who has a lot of streets named after him.

Though it is only when we read his letters to friends, family and opponents, or their accounts of encounters with him, we get a much more three dimensional picture of the Mahatma. Recently, his grandson, Gopalkrishna Gandhi, the former governor of West Bengal, has compiled and edited, A Frank Friendship, that brings out these details. The book is about the Mahatma's long history with Bengal, a state that brought him great joy, but also tested his life's philosophy. On the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, he joins Sandip Roy to talk about the book, and how the state shaped the father of the nation.  
 
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 1st of October and here are the headlines.

The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls will wrap up today as voting is underway for the final 40 seats in the third and largest phase of the elections. A voter turnout of 44.08 per cent was recorded as of 1 pm. In contrast to the first two phases, the bulk of the seats in the third one totalling to 24 seats are in the Jammu division, while 16 are in Kashmir. According to the Election Commission, the second phase of the J&K polls on 25th of September recorded a voter turnout of 57.31 per cent and 61.38 per cent in the first phase. Results will be announced on 8th of October. 

Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi at a curtain raiser event today said that there had been “positive signalling” at the diplomatic level from both India and China regarding the ongoing military standoff between the two countries along the Line of Actual Control  in eastern Ladakh, and that military commanders from both sides would now sit together to see how this can be translated on the ground. General Dwivedi said that while the positive signalling came from the diplomatic sides, “when it comes to execution on the ground, it is dependent on the military commanders on both sides to take those decisions.”

The Supreme Court today stated that the guidelines it will lay down for demolitions of unauthorised constructions will be applicable pan-India and for all religions. The bench said it will make it clear that merely because a person is an accused or even a convict, it can’t be a ground for demolition of property. The court further added that it was not encouraging encroachments and cluttering of footpaths. The Supreme Court was hearing a batch of petitions which have alleged that properties, including of those accused of crime, were being demolished.

A school bus in Thailand with about 44 students and teachers on board caught fire on the outskirts of Bangkok. News agency AP quoting government officials said, as many as 25 are feared dead in the accident.  Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit said about 16 students and three teachers were sent to a hospital for treatment and further added that the cause of the incident was being investigated. 

Amid rising tensions across West Asia, the Israeli military today sounded air raid sirens in central Israel, including Tel Aviv, following its “limited” and “targeted” ground raids against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in southern Lebanon. Earlier in the day, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) began the targeted ground raids based on precise intelligence against the group and the Israeli forces said that these targets are located in villages close to the border, and “pose an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel.”

This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express.

First, The Indian Express’ Deeptiman Tiwary discusses the rising demand to end government control over Hindu temples, exploring its origins, extent, and the reasons why the courts have been reluctant to address the issue.

Next, The Indian Express’ Aditi Raja reports on the murder of a seven-year-old girl in Gujarat's Dahod district, an incident that has shaken the local community and caused them to lose trust in the word “teacher” (12:20).

And finally, we take a quick look at the first case registered based on the Justice Hema Committee report, which was released last month and outlined the problems faced by women in the industry (23:05).

Further listening: What the Justice Hema Committee report exposes about Malayalam film industry

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 30th of September and here are the headlines.

The Supreme Court stated today the lab reports prima facie indicate that the samples of ghee tested belonged to the cooking medium which was not used in the preparation of the laddus at the Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh. Additionally, while hearing a clutch of petitions, the Bench also sought to know why Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu went public with the matter without waiting for the report of the investigation ordered by his government. The court asked the Centre to respond if the Special Investigation Team set up by the Andhra Pradesh Government should continue to probe the allegations. Fixing the matter for hearing again on October 3, the court asked the state to lay its hands off till then.

The first case was registered today on the basis of the Justice Hema Committee report, which was released last month and detailed problems faced by women in the Malayalam film industry. After the Kerala High Court directed authorities to “go through the entire Hema Committee report and take action if any offences are made out in it”, police registered a case against a noted makeup artist, whose alleged sexual misconduct was mentioned in the testimonies given to the committee by women working in the Malayalam film industry. Earlier this month, the High Court had come down heavily on the state government’s four-year-long inaction on the Hema Committee report.

The ED is likely to register a case of money laundering against Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and his wife, among others, in connection with the MUDA case. Sources said an Enforcement Case Information Report may be registered by the end of the day or by tomorrow, based on an FIR registered by the Karnataka Lokayukta. A senior ED official said quote, “We are in possession of the details of the FIR and relevant case details. The offences fall under the schedule of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). A case will be registered soon after completing necessary formalities.” 

While 29,466 of the 73,138 Indians who travelled to Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam on visitor visas from January 2022 to May 2024 are yet to return, more than half, over 17,000, of these are in the 20 to 39 years age group. These new details have emerged in data compiled by the Bureau of Immigration, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, amid reports of some Indians being trapped in “cyber slavery” in some Southeast Asian countries. Over 21,000 are males; belonging to three states — Punjab, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu  and Thailand accounts for over 69 per cent of the total at 20,450.

Landslides and floods triggered by torrential rains have left at least 170 people dead and 42 missing in Nepal. According to the authorities, rescue operations are underway as the number of casualties is expected to be higher than the officially announced number. On Sunday, police recovered 13 bodies trapped in a Kathmandu-bound bus that was swept away by the Jhyapke river in Dhadong district , around 40 km away from the capital. Energy Minister Deepak Khadka said, the preliminary damage to property and standing crops due to the floods was estimated at over 1.5 crore.

This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express.

First, we talk to Indian Express’ Kiran Parashar about a brutal murder case that has been reported in Bangaluru, where a woman's body was dismembered and stored in a fridge. He shares details of the case and police investigation.

Next, Indian Express’ Sukrita Baruah informs us about the Assam government's plans of implementing the recommendations of the Justice Biplab Serma committee report which came out in February 2020. (10:54)

And in the end, we talk about the extension of maternity and paternity leaves to individuals or couples who became parents via surrogacy.(24:39)

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 27th of September and here are this week’s headlines.

India and China are learnt to have made “significant progress” in narrowing their gap on pending issues along the Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh. The Indian Express has learnt, this includes exploring the contors of a possible solution that factors in their respective pre-April 2020 positions while agreeing to address existing issues in Arunachal Pradesh. Sources said this might imply that Indian troops, whose access to certain patrolling points along the LAC were blocked either by Chinese troops or due to the implementation of the buffer zones created in the backdrop of disengagement at specific friction points, might be close to accessing them again.

The Indian Express obtained exclusive details about Mumbai’s Ring Road masterplan, developed by MMRDA, which outlines an extensive network of road connectivity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. This ambitious plan stretches from the Vadodara border in Gujarat to Alibaug in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, encompassing Navi Mumbai and Thane. The intricate network includes roads, flyovers, reclaimed coastal routes, bridges, and underwater tunnels, all designed to alleviate the city’s notorious traffic bottlenecks by 2029. Once completed, this infrastructure project is expected to significantly transform the island city and its surrounding areas. It is expected to not only reduce congestion but also enhance public transport accessibility, making travel more convenient for residents and commuters alike.

The CBI is probing the sale and disposal of biomedical waste as part of its alleged corruption case at Kolkata’s R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, the epicentre of a political firestorm after last month’s rape and murder of a medical intern there. An investigation by The Indian Express has revealed, a little-known company, SNG Envirosolutions, could hold one key to this. The company grew to handle up to 70% of waste from government hospitals across the state, including at RG Kar, without owning a single waste treatment plant, in violation of its contract’s terms.

Meanwhile, the Film Federation of India, the apex body responsible for selecting India’s official entry for the Best Foreign Film Category at the 97th Academy Awards, announced Laapataa Ladies as India’s official entry to the Academy Awards at an event in Chennai on Monday. Directed by Kiran Rao and produced by Aamir Khan, Laapataa Ladies chronicles the story of two young newlywed brides, who get exchanged during a train ride to their husband’s homes. Twelve Hindi films, 6 Tamil and 4 Malayalam films were among the 29 films whying for the honour of being India’s official entry for 97th Oscar ceremony.

On the global front, Israel on Thursday rejected calls for a three-week ceasefire from across the global community, defying its biggest ally, the United States. In US to address the UN General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters that the military will keep hitting Hezbollah with “full force” and stated, quote, “We will not stop until we achieve all our goals, first and foremost returning the residents of the north safely to their homes.”  Israel has continued its airstrikes in Lebanon, amid fears of an all-out regional war breaking out. 

This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express.

First, The Indian Express’ Legal Editor, Apurva Vishwanath, discusses the controversy surrounding Karnataka High Court Justice V. Srishananda’s reference to a Muslim-majority area in Bengaluru as 'Pakistan' and the lack of guidance and protocols on how judges in constitutional courts should conduct themselves.

Next, The Indian Express’ Rural Affairs Editor, Harish Damodaran, sheds light on the Tirumala laddu controversy and explains why ghee is so susceptible to adulteration (13:50).

Finally, The Indian Express’ Kanchan Vasudev explains why the Supreme Court quashed the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government’s notification seeking to expand the scope of the NRI quota in the state (20:36).

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 26th of September and here are the headlines.


India and China are learnt to have made “significant progress” in narrowing their gap on pending issues along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. This includes exploring the contours of a possible solution that factors in their respective pre-April 2020 positions while agreeing to address existing issues in Arunachal Pradesh, The Indian Express has learnt. Sources said this might imply that Indian troops, whose access to certain patrolling points along the LAC were blocked either by Chinese troops or due to the implementation of the buffer zones created in the backdrop of disengagement at specific friction points, might be close to accessing them again.

THE CBI is probing the sale and disposal of biomedical waste as part of its alleged corruption case at Kolkata’s R G Kar Medical College Hospital, the epicentre of a political firestorm after last month’s rape and murder of a medical intern there. A little-known company, SNG Envirosolutions, could hold one key to this in the manner it grew to handle up to 70% of waste from government hospitals across the state, including at RG Kar, without owning a single waste treatment plant, in violation of its contract’s terms, an investigation by The Indian Express has revealed.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has been granted bail, hours after a magistrate’s court in Mumbai convicted him in a defamation case filed by Medha Somaiya, the wife of former BJP MP Kirit Somaiya. Raut’s sentence was also suspended for 30 days, granting him time to file an appeal. Lawyer Vivekanand Gupta, representing Medha Somaiya, said Raut was found guilty under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) by the magistrate court in Mazgaon. The court has sentenced Raut to 15 days imprisonment and a fine of Rs 25,000, Gupta said.

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) today informed the Bombay High Court that its revising committee suggested some cuts for the Kangana Ranaut film Emergency before its release. The CBFC was responding to a plea by co-producer Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited, which alleged that the CBFC was “illegally” and “arbitrarily” withholding certification for the film. It is directed and co-produced by BJP MP Ranaut, who also plays the role of former prime minister Indira Gandhi.
After the lawyer representing Zee Entertainment sought time to take instructions to decide whether the cuts should be made, a bench of Justices B P Colabawalla and Firdosh P Pooniwalla posted further hearing for Monday, September 30.

Unknown miscreants have vandalised the BAPS Hindu temple in California’s Sacramento, desecrating it with a hate message, the BAPS Public Affairs said. BAPS Public Affairs said in a post on X, “Less than 10 days after the desecration of the @BAPS Mandir in New York, our Mandir in the Sacramento, CA area was desecrated last night with anti-Hindu hate. We stand united against hate with prayers for peace." Wednesday night’s incident comes after the desecration of the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Melville, New York, on September 17.

This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express.

First, we talk to Indian Express’ Divya Goyal about the protests that have been going on at the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law. She shares that the students want the Vice Chancellor to resign and also the reasons behind it.

Next, Indian Express’ Anonna Dutt informs us about a massive surge in dengue cases world wide. She talks about the increase, why it's happening and how one can prevent it. (9:12)

And in the end, we talk about Kangana Ranaut and her comments on the farm laws. (18:27)

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 am Flora Swain.
Today is the 25th of September and here are the headlines.


With the second phase of polling for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly kicking off today, a group of diplomats from 16 foreign missions arrived in Srinagar to “observe” the voting. Former CM and senior National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, however, termed them as “guided tourists”. “If diplomats can be brought here, why are foreign journalists not being permitted to come here and cover elections… Diplomats are being brought here as guided tourists,” he said. Second phase of voting is underway across 26 constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, including 15 constituencies in the Kashmir division and 11 in Jammu.

The Supreme Court said today calling any part of India “Pakistan” is contrary to the country’s territorial integrity as it heard a matter over the remarks made by a Karnataka High Court judge earlier this month. Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud said this while hearing the matter in which it had taken suo motu cognisance of video clips of the comments made by the Karnataka High Court judge. The bench perused the report which said the judge tendered a public apology on September 21. THe court said and I quote, “Bearing in mind the apology which has been tendered by the judge of the high court, in the course of the open court proceedings on September 21, 2024, we consider it in the interest of justice and the dignity of the institution to not pursue these proceedings further."

Kerala Police today arrested Malayalam actor Edavela Babu on rape charges. The actor will be released on bail soon since he had secured anticipatory bail from a district court in Ernakulam earlier this month. The rape allegations against Babu came earlier this year against the backdrop of the release of the Hema Committee report on the working conditions of women in the Malayalam movie industry. Until he resigned in June, Babu had served as the general secretary of Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) for several years.


Hours after she asserted that her statement on the repealed farm laws were her personal views, Himachal Pradesh MP and BJP leader Kangana Ranaut today withdrew her statement, adding that she stands with the party. Ranaut had stirred yet another row with her remarks urging farmers to ask the Prime Minister to reinstate the three repealed farm laws of 2020. In a video posted on X, she said and I quote, “Many people are upset and disappointed by my remarks. When the three farmers laws were proposed, a lot of us supported it. But with a lot of sensitivity and sympathy, our PM repealed these laws. It’s the responsibility of all the party workers to treat his words with dignity. I also have to keep in mind that I am no longer just an actor but also a BJP member. My opinions can’t be personal, they have to reflect the party’s stand."

Hezbollah hurled dozens of projectiles into Israel early Wednesday, including a missile aimed at Tel Aviv that was the militant group's deepest strike yet and marked a further escalation after Israeli strikes on Lebanon killed hundreds of people.The Israeli military said it intercepted the surface-to-surface missile, which set off air-raid sirens in Tel Aviv and across central Israel. There were no reports of casualties or damage.

This was the CatchUp on 3 Things by The Indian Express.