Left, Right & Centre

Unprecedented protests have broken out across China as people's patience with the country's unending Covid curbs wears thin. Protests have now spread to many cities in China against draconian restrictions as part of China's zero-Covid policy even as the country saw record number of infections. 

There have been at least 13 deaths of children due to measles in Mumbai and the alarm bells are ringing. In a letter to all the states and Union Territories, the Health Ministry said the measles case surge is of particular concern. Increasing measles cases in several states have raised concern whether it could spread to more areas.

Two years ago, Shraddha Walker had written a letter to the Mumbai Police saying her boyfriend Aaftab Poonawala would kill her and chop her body. Shraddha Walkar was allegedly murdered by her boyfriend earlier this year. He also allegedly cut up her body. On Left Right and Centre we not only take on the question of why was Shraddha Walkar's SOS was ignored, but also the need to put light on an issue like domestic violence. 

With just days left for the Gujarat polls and the MCD polls in Delhi, the political pitch of the BJP and the AAP are at its peak. With the big PM Modi and Arvind Kejriwal faceoff heating up, the question is can AAP make a dent in Fort Modi? Or is AAP punching above its weight? We take on these questions on Left, Right & Centre.

Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari's remarks about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj - an iconic figure for the people of state - have triggered a political storm. The Governor, at an event in Aurangabad on Saturday, had called the legendary warrior king an "icon of olden times". Referring to BR Ambedkar and Union minister Nitin Gadkari, Governor Koshyari said, youngsters don't have to look beyond them when asked about their icon.  His statement evoked strong reactions from the Congress, Sharad Pawar-led NCP and Uddhav Thackeray's faction of Shiv Sena, demanding his resignation for insulting the state icon and drawing parallel between him and others. Its also triggered a war of words between the BJP and the Congress.

The battle for Gujarat has hit a crescendo. The state is prepared for three top leaders to up their party's campaigns on Monday. From PM Modi to Rahul Gandhi and Arvind Kejriwal, the bigwigs will fight it out in the three-cornered contest. But the BJP has already unleashed a blitzkrieg - PM Modi in his home state from Surat to Saurashtra. On Sunday, he trained his guns at the Congress accussing the Congress of being anti-BJP. Can the AAP or the Congress take on the Modi magic on his hometurf?

The BJP attacked Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party over a video of Delhi minister Satyendar Jain, who was arrested in May in an alleged money laundering case, getting a massage in Delhi's Tihar Jail. Several party leaders shared the video clip on social media, reiterating BJP's charge that Mr Jain enjoys special treatment in jail. Now, questions have been raised over how the video was leaked. The AAP said it was part of Mr Jain's therapy. A city court has also issued a notice to the Enforcement Directorate over the leak of the video. (Video source: twitter.com/bjp4delhi)

As more details emerge in the Shraddha Walkar murder case, the toxic online commentary on the case seems to be on everything but the murder itself - with remarks centering around blaming the woman, blaming 'love jihad', blaming her independence. On Left, Right & Centre, we ask - why is the focus so skewed?

In a landmark judgement in the Supreme court, 32 women who were fighting for the right to serve the Indian Air Force for more than their short service tenure of five years have now been granted full pension - equivalent to officers who went on to serve for a period of 20 years. On Left Right and Centre, we speak to the Squadron leaders and their advocate who have been leading this fight. 

 

More chilling details have emerged of the horrific murder of 26-year-old Shraddha by her partner Aftab in Delhi. Police say they have recovered 10 of the 35 body parts that Aftab scattered at different locations. Now, it has emerged that Aftab dated and brought other women to his house after killing and chopping Sharaddha to pieces. Also, an exclusive with Rajat Shukla, a close friend of Shraddha, who details how she was stuck in a toxic relationship and wanted to walk out but couldn't.