The Big Story

By The QuintSociety & Culture News

The Big Story episodes

April 06, 2022 Will the Atrocities in Bucha Be a Turning Point in the Russia-Ukraine War?
In a scathing speech at the United Nations on 5 April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of a litany of horrors and atrocities and challenged the UN to act immediately or dissolve itself altogether.

This outrage comes in the aftermath of the alleged massacre in towns in and around Kyiv, where the bodies of 410 civilians were discovered. Russian and Ukrainian forces have been trading fire since 27 February in this region, which stopped only in early April.

The grimmest discoveries were made in the suburb of Bucha, where more than 300 bodies were found – some with their hands bound, flesh burned, and shot in the back of the head.

These indiscriminate killings and atrocities have, of course, touched the global nerve and led to US President Biden calling for a war crimes trial. It also triggered the strongest reaction yet from India, which condemned the killings and called for an independent investigation into the "deeply disturbing" matter.

The summary killings of civilians add to the growing body of evidence of numerous violations by Russian forces of the laws of war, which begs the question: what will it take to bring the Bucha victims to justice?

In today's episode, we unpack what exactly had happened in Bucha, and India's strong reaction.

We speak to Nandan Unnikrishnan, a Distinguished Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, Saptarshi Basak from The Quint's International News Desk, and Vakasha Sachdev, The Quint's Legal Editor.

Host and Producer: Himmat Shaligram
Editor: Saundarya Talwar

Music: Big Bang Fuzz

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29 min
April 05, 2022 What Does the Merger of HDFC, HDFC Bank Mean for the Financial Sector?
In a big announcement on Monday, 4 April, the board of HDFC Limited and HDFC Bank announced the biggest merger in Indian corporate history, with a combined balance sheet of a whopping Rs 17.87 trillion.

The merger, which is expected to conclude over the next 18 months, has been speculated for more than a decade and it was a question of when and not why.

And rightly so. This is the merger of two industry behemoths: HDFC Limited – India’s largest housing finance company with assets under management worth Rs 5.26 trillion – and HDFC Bank, one of India’s largest private sector banks with a market cap Rs 8.35 trillion. This merger will make the new entity the world’s fifth most valued bank.

HDFC Chairman Deepak Parekh said that the merger will not only strengthen the entity against its competitors but also make its offerings more competitive.

But the big question emerging from this announcement is its timing. Why now? What made 2022 an ideal time for this merger? And how will it impact the highly competitive financial services market?

We answer these questions in today’s episode with Ira Dugal, the Executive Editor of Bloomberg Quint.

Host and Producer: Himmat Shaligram
Editor: Shorbori Purkayastha

Music: Big Bang Fuzz

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13 min
April 04, 2022 Unpacking the 'Hindu Mahapanchayat' Event and Attacks on Journalists
Less than three months after getting arrested for making Islamophobic remarks and instigating violence at the Haridwar 'Dharma Sansad' in December 2021, controversial Hindu leader Yati Narsinghanand is at it again.

On 3 April, an event called the 'Hindu Mahapanchayat' was organised at North Delhi's Burari Grounds. Here, Narsinghanand, who was released on bail on 15 February, delivered a speech to Hindus, asking them to pick up arms and claiming that the Hindu community faced a threat of conversion and violence if a "Muslim is made Prime Minister."

The organisers of the event, Preet Singh and Pinky Chaudhary, were previously arrested for giving hate speeches at a similar event at Delhi's Jantar Mantar in August 2021. They too, like Narsinghanand, are out on bail.

It is important to note that the organisers were denied permission to hold the event by the Delhi Police. Speaking to The Quint, the organisers had said, "Even if the police deny permission for the event, the event will take place."

In two separate incidents, five journalists were assaulted by right-wing mobs at the event. Meghnad Bose, The Quint's Principal Correspondent, was one of the reporters who was manhandled. We will be speaking to him in this episode.

We will also be speaking to Meer Faisal, who works at The Hindustan Gazette, and Arbab Ali, a freelance journalist. Both of them were assaulted and manhandled by the mob for their reportage.

In today's episode, we bring you the ground reality of the Hindu Mahapanchayat through the journalists who encountered it first-hand.

The Quint has reached out to the DCP of the Delhi police for their response to the allegations of complicity raised by the journalists who were present at the event. This story will be updated with the police’s version of the events as and when we receive a response.

Host and Producer: Himmat Shaligram
Editor: Shorbori Purkayastha

Music: Big Bang Fuzz

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25 min
April 01, 2022 Understanding Significance of AFSPA Being Lifted & Assam-Meghalaya Peace Pact
In a significant move, the Centre on 31 March reduced the footprint of the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from several parts of Assam, Nagaland, and Manipur.

This decision is significant as the calls for repealing the Act have been growing louder over the past decade. The Act, which has been termed draconian and unconstitutional by many, gives sweeping powers to the armed forces beyond the authority of the police in 'disturbed areas' to maintain public order. And the northeast has been living under the shadow of this law for 60 long years.

While the move has been hailed by the CMs of the northeastern states as "historic," activists and experts still question the existence of the colonial Act and its use.

But there is another big news emerging out of the northeast – the new pact that has been signed by the chief ministers of Assam and Meghalaya to resolve a part of their five-decade-old boundary dispute.

The dispute has resulted in several flare-ups between the two states. However, Opposition leaders are calling this a "piecemeal resolution" and that the agreement is almost like "an imposition."

In today’s episode, we discuss both these relevant news events from the northeast.

First, we speak about the significance of the removal of the AFSPA with Manipuri activist Irom Sharmila, who had ended her 16-year fast against the AFSPA in 2016, Chitra Ahanthem, a freelance journalist based out of New Delhi, and Rajeev Bhattacharya, a senior journalist in Guwahati.

And then, to understand the political significance of the Assam-Meghalaya peace pact, we speak to Patricia Mukhim, editor of the Shillong Times.

Host and Producer: Himmat Shaligram
Editor: Shorbori Purkayastha

Irom Sharmila Interview: Biswa Kalyan Purkayastha

Music: Big Bang Fuzz

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20 min
March 31, 2022 Unpacking the Recent Developments in the Russia-Ukraine Conflict
It's Day 36 of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and a lot has happened in just the past week.

This includes Russia and Ukraine coming to the negotiating table in Istanbul, Russia announcing for the first time that it would reduce military presence in Kyiv and surrounding regions, and Ukraine pitching the idea of declaring itself a neutral nation to end the war.

While the peace talks have offered a glimmer of hope, there have been no breakthroughs yet. The two nations at war, however, have decided to resume peace talks on 1 April.

Over the past month, we have also seen how the severe sanctions slapped on Russia have affected not only its economy but also that of the world. The price of crude oil and natural gas has been spiking almost every day, and the impact of it is felt in India as well. In the past 10 days, the price of petrol and diesel has increased 9 times in India.

While India has supported calls for a ceasefire and a diplomatic solution, it has so far abstained from every vote for draft resolutions condemning Russia. This fence-sitting has also led to a growing unease on the diplomatic front for India, with Germany, Australia, and the US critiquing India for its stance.

What may have made matters worse is Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's visit to New Delhi on 31 March. The agenda of his 2-day visit is not public, but it does put India in a tricky situation, especially with the fellow QUAD countries.

In today’s episode, we go over the recent developments in the ongoing war and what they signify. Joining me today to unpack this is our regular guest and friend of the show Professor Harsh Pant, the Director of Strategic Studies at the Observer Research Foundation.

Host and Producer: Himmat Shaligram
Editor: Saundarya Talwar

Music: Big Bang Fuzz

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20 min
March 30, 2022 Decoding The New Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill & Concerns it Raises
In 1920, when the British were still in power, they introduced a law named the “Identification of Prisoners Act.” This allowed the police to take and store footprints and fingerprints of conflicts.

Now, 102 years later, this bill has not only been revived in a new avatar but its powers and scope has been expanded to questionable extent.

On 28 March, the Centre introduced the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022 which proposes to allow the police and prison authorities to collect, store and analyse physical and biological samples, including retina and iris scans. But this is not only limited to convicts but also to those that police consider suspects of a crime.

More so, the law allows for the personal and biological data once collected to be stored for the extent of 75 years.

The bill met with fierce criticism from the Opposition, including Congress and TMC, calling it “draconian” and a "direct violation of the Fundamental Right of an individual".

And in the absence of a data protection framework in India, the proposed bill also raises questions on how it will impact fundamental rights like privacy and self-incrimination.

But, what does the law exactly propose? Why are members of the Opposition against it? And how will it affect the ordinary citizen?

In today’s episode, we break down this new bill with the help of Apar Gupta, the executive director at the Internet Freedom Foundation.

Host and Producer: Himmat Shaligram
Editor: Vakasha Sachdev

Music: Big Bang Fuzz

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17 min
March 29, 2022 With a No-Confidence Vote in Sight, Are Pakistan PM Imran Khan's Days Numbered?
Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan is facing the biggest threat to his political career – a unified Opposition coalition and a vote of no confidence in the National Assembly on 31 March.

The political temperature in the country has been on the rise since 8 March, when Opposition parties submitted the no-confidence motion against Khan, alleging that he was responsible for the country's economic crisis and spiralling inflation.

While the Opposition is confident that it can garner the support of 172 members in the House of 342 to oust Khan, the other side claims that it enjoys the required support to foil any attempts of such a vote.

And in a massive show of strength ahead of the crucial motion against his government, Khan, on 27 March, had held a mammoth rally in Islamabad, which was purportedly attended by tens of thousands of people. In a marathon speech, which lasted more than 90 minutes, he claimed that "foreign powers were involved in a conspiracy" to topple his government. He further alleged that he had a "letter" to prove the same.

But under all the claims and counterclaims lies the silence of the powerful and influential powerful Pakistan army. The military, which stood behind Khan in 2018, has so far has conveyed to him that it is "neutral" in the unfolding political slugfest, suggesting that it has withdrawn its support for Khan.

So the big question: are Imran Khan's days as PM numbered? In this episode, we break down the factors that led to the no-confidence motion, explore how it may possibly play out, and how it will impact the frozen India-Pakistan relations.

Joining me today to discuss this is Sameer Patil, Senior Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, a global policy think tank.

Host and Producer: Himmat Shaligram
Editor: Saundarya Talwar

Music: Big Bang Fuzz

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14 min
March 28, 2022 What Does a Unified MCD Mean for Delhi Citizens & Does it Help BJP Politically?
The deference of the Delhi civic polls has left the AAP-led Delhi government at loggerheads with the BJP-led Centre.

At the heart of the delay is The Delhi Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 that seeks to merge the North, East and South Delhi municipal corporations.

The bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai who said it would make the MCD “a single, integrated and well-equipped entity”, however, the Delhi government along with several opposition parties have been vehemently opposed to calling it an unconstitutional move.

What has been particularly irking the Delhi government is that the bill also appears to strip the Delhi government off authority when it comes a lot of big decision-making processes around the unified MCD. The AAP led Delhi government even accused the BJP of “murdering democracy”.

But why does the Centre want to unify Delhi municipality? What is the administrative significance behind it all? And is there any political significance in the move?

Host and Producer: Shorbori Purkayastha
Editor: Shelly Walia
Guests:
Aditya Menon, The Quint’s Political Editor
Milind Mhaske, Director of Praja Foundation

Music: Big Bang Fuzz

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18 min
March 25, 2022 Delhi Riots Case: Same Court That Gave Bail to Ishrat Denies It to Umar – Why?
Delhi’s Karkardooma Court rejected the bail plea of activist and former JNU student Umar Khalid, on 24 March, in connection with the Delhi Riots ‘larger conspiracy’ case. This comes after the court deferred the pronouncement of the order three times consecutively.

Khalid was arrested in 2020 and slapped with the stringent UAPA charges along with 17 others on accusations of “masterminding” the Delhi 2020 riots, which had left 53 people dead and over 700 injured.

But only six have received bail so far. Faizan Khan, Safoora Zargar, Asif Iqbal Tanha, Natasha Narwal, and Devangana Kalita – who were given bail by the Delhi High Court but Ishrat Jahan recently managed to get bail from the same sessions court that denied bail to Umar Khalid.

While Khalid’s lawyer argued that allegations against him have been made out of thin air what reasons did the court give for dismissing his bail? How did Ishrat Jahan get bail but not Umar Khalid?

Host and Producer: Shorbori Purkayastha
Editor: Shelly Walia
Guests: Vakasha, Legal Editor, The Quint

Music: Big Bang Fuzz

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23 min
March 24, 2022 Debts, Covid & Bad Policies: A Breakdown of What Led to Sri Lanka's Economic Crisis
With severe shortage of food, cooking gas, and other essential items, sky-rocketing fuel prices and record-high inflation, Sri Lanka is battling its worst economic crisis in over several decades.

A critical shortfall of foreign currency had led to a massive reduction in imports of essential items.

This nightmarish situation has crippled the lives of common citizens who have been waiting in long queues across the country for groceries and fuel. At least two elderly men reportedly died in different parts of the country waiting for petrol and kerosene oil.

As anger against the government grows, troops have been deployed outside state-run petrol pumps to thwart protests that have been breaking out sporadically.

The economic meltdown has also affected millions of students, with the country cancelling school exams after running out of printing paper. Amid dwindling fuel supplies, there have also been long spells of power outage for several weeks now, with some blackouts lasting for as long as seven hours.

Unable to eke out a living at home, some citizens are even resorting to flee to India. So far, a total of 16 Sri Lankan refugees from Jaffna and Mannar arrived at Tamil Nadu in a boat, on 22 March in hopes of restarting their lives.

But what are the various factors that led to such an unprecedented scale of economic crisis in the first place? How did the country fall into this vortex of debts? What is Sri Lanka doing to stave off this crisis? As India extends $1-billion line of credit as assistance to the cash-strapped nation, will this move help India geopolitically?

Our two guests for this episode are Satpatarshi Basak, Writer, International News Desk at The Quint and Sathiya Moorthy Head of Observer Research Foundation’s Chennai Initiative. Moorthy has also been the editorial advisor at a trilingual TV group in Sri Lanka.

Host and Producer: Shorbori Purkayastha
Editor: Shelly Walia
Guests:
Satpatarshi Basak, Writer, International News Desk at The Quint
N Sathiya Moorthy Head of Observer Research Foundation’s Chennai Initiative. Moorthy has also been the editorial advisor at a trilingual TV group in Sri Lanka.

Music: Big Bang Fuzz

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18 min