Left, Right & Centre

Today, nearly four days after violence ripped through northeast Delhi, after 27 people have been killed, close to 200 wounded, the police arrived in force. Taking out marches through the riot-hit areas. It has for now, appeared to bring a semblance of peace. Today, in a hard hitting order, the Delhi High Court came down on the hate speeches of BJP leaders including Kapil Mishra, MP Parvesh Verma, Union Minister Anurag Thakur and the BJP's newly elected MLA Abhay Verma. Tonight, on LRC, we ask why was there no action taken against hate speech by the Delhi Police? Does the Delhi Police really lack professionalism, as pointed out by the court?

13 have died in clashes that have taken a communal turn in Delhi and the government has ruled out calling the army so far.

On Day One of US President Donald Trump's India visit, the optics were all in place. More than one lakh people were at the Motera stadium in Gujarat to welcome Mr Trump and the President went on to make a speech in which he was effusive in his praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and for India. Announcing that defence deals worth $3 billion would be signed tomorrow, the US president talked about the threat of radical Islamic terrorism faced by both nations but he praised Pakistan for taking action against terror groups, saying the US had very good relations with Pakistan. He went on to gently nudge India to start talks with Islamabad. Mr Trump talked about India's religious diversity and how India's unity has been an inspiration to the world. And continuing his charm offensive, he also talked about Bollwyood films and Sachin Tendulkar.

US President Donald Trump, while boarding his special Air Force One plane to leave for India on Sunday, said he looks forward to being with millions and millions of people in India. Donald Trump will land in Ahmedabad around noon on Monday. While massive last minute preparations are underway, here's a discussion on the likely priorities of Mr Trump's India visit.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia will not be a part of an event next week when US First Lady Melania Trump is likely to watch a "happiness class" at a Delhi government school, Aam Aadmi Party sources said. Party sources alleged that Mr Kejriwal's and Mr Sisodia's names were dropped from the event by the central government. No chief minister is part of the Donald Trump's visit, sources in the government said.

A video of two SC/ST youth being beaten and brutalised in Rajasthan has sent a wave of shock through the country. The two men were accused of stealing and one of them was then stripped and a screwdriver inserted into his private parts. All of this was brazenly filmed by another onlooker. Casteist slurs were used against them while all this was happening. The incident happened on February 16 but the FIR was filed three days later after the video viral on social media. Tonight on Left, Right and Centre, we ask, why was the FIR filed so late, why was there a delay? It's 2020, and why are there still atrocities against SC/ST?

Days before he arrives in India for a 2-day, visit US President Donald Trump has ruled out a much-awaited trade deal with India. Speaking to reporters in Washington, Mr Trump said the US is "not treated very well by India" he "likes PM Modi a lot". "We can have a trade deal with India but we are saving the big deal for later," he said. He was also very excited about his Ahmedabad programme and the prospect of millions of people welcoming him. Tonight on LRC we ask, is President Trump's visit Substance or Spectacle?

What does it take to prove you are a citizen of India? We all take our citizenship for granted after all, most of us have bank accounts, a passport, an Aadhaar card and a PAN card. We assume this establishes that we are indeed bonafide Indian citizens. According to the Gauhati High Court, however, that's not so. The court has said a PAN card and bank documents do not prove citizenship and even land revenue paying receipts do not prove the citizenship of a person. A division bench made these observations while dismissing a writ petition filed by Jabeda Begum against an order passed by a Foreigner Tribunal which declared that she was a foreigner. The same bench in another case had held that an election photo identity card was not proof of citizenship either. The centre says there is no plan to implement NRC nationwide - as of now but when it does happen - what are the documents you will need?

The Supreme Court today appointed two senior lawyers to talk to the protesters at Shaheen Bagh in Delhi who have been on a sit-in for over two months against the CAA and NRC. Senior advocates Sanjay Hegde and Sadhana Ramachandran will meet the protesters and try to persuade them to continue their agitation in another location so that commuters are not hassled due to road diversions and blockades. Former chief information commissioner Wajahat Habibullah will help them in the task. The court said, Right to protest is a fundamental right but also said there must be lines and boundaries.

Two months after violence rocked the Jamia campus, a group of students and alumni shared a video of the police attacking the students sitting and reading in the university library. Hours later, a second video shared by the Delhi Police appears to show how alleged rioters had come in moments before to hide in the library. While the two videos paint a very different picture, tonight we debate on what really is the truth to the violence that erupted at Jamia and just how and when will the various stakeholders be held accountable?