Saam Daam Dand Bhed | Episode 06 | Indian Express Hindi

Host: Saurabh Dwivedi

Guests: Ritika Chopra, S. Y. Quraishi, Deeptiman Tiwari, Santosh Singh, Pooja Sasikumar Pillai, Sukrita Baruah,

For months, two members of India's Election Commission have been putting their dissent on paper. An Indian Express investigation shows that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi recorded at least 14 formal objections over 10 months. They said decisions on voter registration, deletion and restoration of names, SIR appeals and oversight of voter-data systems were taken without their knowledge or against their written advice. The full Commission met on 9 September, its first full meeting in four months.

In this episode, Saurabh Dwivedi speaks to the reporter behind the investigation and a former Chief Election Commissioner. They discuss how the story was reported, how the three-member Commission is meant to work, why the commissioners learnt of some decisions from the media, the constitutional questions around the SIR, and the questions CEC Gyanesh Kumar still has to answer.

The second big story of the week: Jamui and Kalkaji. In Bihar's Jamui, a group of men stopped two Class 10 students returning from coaching, beat them, sexually harassed the girl and circulated the videos online. In Delhi's Kalkaji, three men posing as policemen separated a 17-year-old girl from her friend and allegedly gang-raped her; nearby Lady Shri Ram College briefly moved classes online. The panel discusses moral policing as a cover for sexual violence, why offenders film their crimes, why girls find it hard to speak about abuse at home, how such violence affects the victim, the family and society, and what NCRB data can and cannot tell us.

This week on Saam Daam Dand Bhed, Saurabh Dwivedi and the panel break down the biggest political and policy developments from 10–17 September.

First, the Uniform Civil Code push gathers pace, not through Parliament, but state by state. With Amit Shah setting a 2029 deadline for all 21 NDA-ruled states, what could UCC mean for marriage, divorce, inheritance and live-in relationships?

Then, the panel discusses the end of free UPI for larger merchant payments. With MDR now applicable on UPI payments above ₹2,000, who will really bear the cost: the shopkeeper, the customer, or the payment apps?

Plus, the week’s political Jaayza from across India.

Saam Daam Dand Bhed streams every Saturday, 9 AM on Indian Express Hindi. Follow for more.

In this bonus episode of Saam Daam Dand Bhed we look at the political developments inside the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the larger story of caste politics in India.Why did Mayawati remove Akash Anand and Ashok Siddhartha from the BSP? What led to the internal differences, and what does this episode reveal about the political dynamics within Mayawati’s party and her family? We speak to our reporter Lalmani Verma and delve deep into the politics of UP.

In the second section of the episode, we speak with journalist and author Manoj Mitta and step back from the immediate political story to understand the history of caste politics in India. We trace how caste has shaped political mobilisation, with references to historical texts, political movements and the formation of parties that emerged around caste and social justice.

From the evolution of Dalit politics to the rise of parties representing different caste groups, we explore how these political formations changed India’s electoral landscape and continue to influence contemporary politics.

In this episode we decode the political strategies, caste equations and historical stories shaping Indian politics.

We begin with the growing political importance of Gen-Z and women voters. Why are sections of these crucial voter groups becoming increasingly vocal, and why is this shift a concern for the BJP? We look at how the BJP and Congress are trying to connect with younger voters, women and Dalit communities, and how Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi are shaping their strategies for the politics of the future. We also examine how both parties are using social media, trends and digital optics to stay relevant and win over voters.

The episode then turns to the complex politics of caste, reservation and Dalit identity. With the BJP facing difficult questions around reservation and its traditional vote base, how is the party attempting to strike a balance? Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi and the Congress are taking a more aggressive approach to Dalit identity politics, including their support for initiatives such as 'Chhatron Ki Goonj' and their response to the 'Shuddhikaran' row. But can Congress translate this political messaging into a strong grassroots organisation capable of challenging the BJP?

Finally, we revisit the extraordinary life and career of Ram Jethmalani, one of India's most prominent, fearless and controversial lawyers and politicians. From beginning his legal career at just 18 to defending some of the country's most high-profile figures, Jethmalani's career spanned some of the biggest political and legal battles in modern India. We look at the stories behind his political career, including his role in the Bofors controversy, his confrontation with Rajiv Gandhi, and his decision to contest the Lucknow election against his longtime friend Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

India’s 7.8% GDP growth has sparked a debate over the credibility of the numbers, methodology and the bigger picture of the Indian economy. At the same time, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s recent remarks on Muslims and Hindu-Muslim unity have raised questions about the Sangh’s changing political strategy. What is the real story behind India’s GDP growth? What does the RSS want to achieve with its outreach to Muslims?

Listen to the full episode of Saam Daam Dand Bhed with Saurabh Dwivedi.For video podcast, visit our YouTube Channel.

In this episode of Saam Daam Dand Bhed, we decode Rahul Gandhi's aggressive new political approach and the shifting power dynamics between the RSS and BJP.Rahul Gandhi is directly targeting Gen Z voters, particularly young women, utilizing bold rhetoric like "Smash the Patriarchy." Driven by a visible Left influence, his relentless campaigns around caste and OBC reservations, alongside protests for pellet gun victims and demonstrations outside the PM's residence are drawing massive attention. However, two critical questions emerge: Does the Congress possess the organizational framework at the grassroots level to convert this momentum into actual votes? And is his aggressive OBC posturing alienating crucial INDIA bloc allies like the Samajwadi Party (SP) and RJD?We also analyze the internal equations of the ruling dispensation. Is Amit Shah's influence waning as the RSS tightens its grip on the BJP's future? We look at how the RSS is taking matters into its own hands, attempting to establish a fresh dialogue with Gen Z, and reportedly backing Champat Rai in the ongoing Nripendra Misra vs. Champat Rai conflict. The panel further breaks down the complex mathematics of reservation sub-classification and the strategic countermeasures being prepared by the BJP-RSS.Host: Saurabh Dwivedi (Editor, Indian Express Hindi)Guest Panel: Senior political journalists Neerja Chowdhury, Shyamlal Yadav, and Vikas Pathak.

Indian Express Hindi's new weekly political show "Saam Daam Dand Bhed" breaks down the week's biggest political stories. Episode 1 features in-depth analysis of UGC equity regulations, caste census controversy, Vande Mataram row, and BJP's organizational reshuffle. Hosted by Saurabh Dwivedi with guests Vikas Pathak, Diptiman Tiwari, and Liz Matthew. Every Saturday at 9 AM. Subscribe for India's smartest weekly political breakdown covering government policy, electoral politics, and the stories behind the headlines. Watch for political commentary, book recommendations, and tributes to important political figures.

For video podcast, visit our YouTube channel.