Left, Right & Centre

There's a raging debate across the country on welfare versus sops. Where does one draw the line on freebies? The debate comes after Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman asking states doling out freebies to check their fiscal strength and make proper budgetary provisions accordingly. But several opposition leaders have hit back, backing the freebies policy, claiming that it is for the welfare of the people. Bengal Chief Minister's Special Advisor Dr Amit Mitra joins us with the math on whether freebies make sense or not.

An NDTV exclusive on how China is now encircling India. Not just along the Himalayas but across the Indian Ocean as well. We bring you satellite images, just a few days old, of the Chinese base at Djibouti in the Horn of Africa with a Chinese warship deployed. This as the Chinese spy ship docked in Hambantota in Sri Lanka is spotted being refueled in a country which hardly has enough fuel for its citizens.

There is outrage across India at the release of 11 men who were convicted and jailed for the gang rape of Bilkis Bano in one of the most horrific attacks of the Gujarat riots of 2002. Today, several leaders across political parties are asking the centre to be accountable. It's one thing to talk about Nari Shakti, another thing to do or say nothing at the release of these men. On Left, Right and Centre, we ask should the Centre overturn Gujarat's order?

The 11 men who gang-raped Bilkis Bano and killed her family during the Gujarat riots have been released from jail. The men, who had been given a life sentence, were garlanded and fed sweets upon their exit from prison. The release came despite an order from the Centre that a remission of a sentence should not be granted to those who have been convicted of rape - but the Gujarat government, which cleared the order, went ahead and did it anyway. Tonight on Left, Right & Centre: Bilkis Bano's lawyer weighs in on the impact of her rapists' release on the victim of the crime.

Also on the show, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's daughter Professor Anita Pfaff makes an appeal on India's 75 year to bring back her father's ashes which have been stored in the Renkoji Temple in Japan for all these decades. 

August 15 is a proud day for us, to remember our freedom struggle and those who fought for it, as we celebrate 75 years of our Independence. But, as always, it's a good opportunity to do a fact-check of several key schemes announced by the PM over the last few years on I-Day and whether the government has delivered on the promises made? Or is Independence Day only about making promises?

Is the new rule of airlines sharing passenger data with customs a violation of privacy? PNR locator, reservation date, travel date, frequent flyer details, issue of free tickets, upgrades, contact info, billing info, credit card number, travel agency - there's a new mandate and all this data is being given when you depart India or arrive in the country. The justification for all this - the broad sweep of 'national security'. Is this an invasion of our privacy?

Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, ace stock market investor, died of a sudden cardiac arrest today, at a Mumbai Hospital. Jhunjhunwala who was 62, was often referred to as India's Warren Buffet. On Left, Right and Centre we talk with Ajay Bagga the Chairman of Elyments Platforms about the life of this maverick of Dalal Street.

 

Thirty-year-old Indian Madeep Kaur died by suicide in New York after recording a heart wrenching video. In the clip, she describes the agony she suffered for years. Torture and beatings at the hands of her husband. While the Indian consulate in New York is in touch with the authorities over the matter, the family says it is dissatisfied as they wanted Mandeep's body be handed over to the family which hasn't happened and they now claim she was cremated by her assaulter and tormentor - her husband. The two little daughters of Mandeep are still with the husband, the same man who drove his wife to take her life because they couldn't have a son. Why does this cycle of domestic violence and fraudulent marriages with NRI brides continue. What is wrong with the system that is unable to protect its girls? Maha Siddiqui debates on Left, Right & Centre.

Days before India's 75th Independence Day, there was a major terrorist attack on an army camp near Rajouri, Jammu and Kashmir. This is the first such attack in 4 years, and the second major encounter that the Army found itself in just the last 24 hours. In the attack on Rajouri army base, three soldiers were killed on the spot and fourth succumbed to injuries later, and both terrorists were eliminated. Meanwhile, China placed a hold in the United Nations to get a terrorist, Rauf Azar, from being sanctioned - exposing their double speak on terrorism.