Mint Views Daily Dispatch

In a fresh effort to sell Air India, the government has invited bids for a 100% stake in the national carrier. Not only has the complete stake been put on the table, the government has also made other relaxations, such as significantly reducing the debt burden that the buyer will have to take on. The question is, will this be enough to attract buyers to the loss-making airline, and can the deal indeed be completed by March, as the government is targeting?

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The coronavirus has claimed 17 lives and infected hundreds. In China, authorities have put the city of Wuhan, from where the outbreak originated, under lockdown. Several other countries, including India, are screening passengers coming from the city. Thankfully, no case has been detected in India so far, and there is no reason for us to be alarmed. But it would be advisable to stay on alert so that we are well-prepared was the outbreak to grow into a global health emergency.

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Tamil superstar Rajinikanth is in the eye of a storm over his recent comments about Dravidian icon E.V. Ramasamy, fondly called Periyar. The veteran actor had claimed that Periyar at a rally in 1971 had desecrated images of Hindu deities. While his comments have upset Periyar supporters who deny any such thing happened, he has stuck to his claim. By bringing in Hindu deities, he seems to be playing the right-wing religion card. So, is he finally ready to take the political plunge?

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Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat has said that the only way for India to end terrorism is by acting against it in the same way as America did after the 9/11 attacks. The question is does India have the global or military heft needed to carry out such aggressive campaigns. Even if it did, is such a strategy really advisable considering the huge financial costs America had to incur?

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India is reportedly planning to step up the heat on Malaysia by imposing fresh restrictions on the import of microprocessors and telecom equipment, as Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s repeated statements against some of India’s internal policies hurt bilateral ties. India has reportedly also privately signaled to palm oil traders not to import from Malaysia. The question is, should differences on the diplomatic front be allowed to spill over to trade relations? Mint Views Daily dispatch brings you scenes from the Mint edit table where ideas are mooted, discussed and debated before they make it to the coveted editorial page of the paper.

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Microsoft boss Satya Nadella has spoken about India’s controversial citizenship law. The Indian-born executive has expressed dismay at it and mentioned that he would love to see, for example, a Bangladeshi immigrant succeed in the country’s technology industry. He has made a strong case for diversity. The question is whether CEOs should be commenting on political issues. Also, just how valuable diversity is for an economy?

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Walmart has reportedly downsized a sizeable chunk of its staff in India. The world’s largest retailer reportedly also plans to shut its Mumbai fulfillment center and halt new-store expansion in the country. Its piling up losses even after a decade of operations in India perhaps explain its decision. The question is, did it expect too much of the brick-and-mortar physical store business model when consumers are increasingly preferring to shop online? Mint Views Daily dispatch brings you scenes from the Mint edit table where ideas are mooted, discussed and debated before they make it to the coveted editorial page of the paper.

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Two airbases housing US troops in Iraq have been hit by more than a dozen ballistic missiles, according to the Pentagon. The attack, as stated by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, is an act of retribution for the killing of its commander Qassem Soleimani. Meanwhile, a Ukraine International Airlines flight with 176 people on board crashed in Iran soon after takeoff. The cause of the crash isn’t yet known although the circumstances raise suspicions if there is a link with Iran’s retaliatory action. With both the US and Iran taking hard positions, could the world be staring at a full-scale war in West Asia?

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Violence erupted at the JNU campus on Sunday as masked men entered the university campus, attacked teachers and students and vandalised properties. This is condemnable as violence has no place in democratic societies, let alone places of learning. Unfortunately, there seem to be increasing instances of educational institutions coming under attack. We discuss what needs to be done to make our universities safer so that free exchange of ideas and public debates can take place. Mint Views Daily dispatch brings you scenes from the Mint edit table where ideas are mooted, discussed and debated before they make it to the coveted editorial page of the paper.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condemned the violence that took place during the protests against the citizenship law changes. He reminded people that duties and rights go hand-in-hand, while also urging everyone to maintain peace. His message has both—a stern warning to rioters and a general appeal for peace. The question is would they help calm tempers or further polarize the debate? Expressing dissent is a fundamental right, but this must be done peacefully. The police too must not adopt a heavy-handed approach. For peace to be restored, all sides must exercise due restraint. Mint Views Daily dispatch brings you scenes from the Mint edit table where ideas are mooted, discussed and debated before they make it to the coveted editorial page of the paper.

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