PM Narendra Modi's Kuwait and UAE visit highlight how his outreach to the Muslim countries are of geopolitical strategic importance. Modi is often viewed as a Hindu nationalist, with his supporters espousing extremist views against Muslims, particularly in India. However, when Modi engages with Muslim leaders in the Middle East, his supporters praise the warmth and friendship, showing a stark contrast between their rhetoric and actions. This suggests a strategic political approach, where Modi's image is not as negatively impacted by his outreach to Muslim-majority countries as one might expect. Watch author & columnist Vir Sanghvi, explain in this edition of ThePrint SharpEdge, the reasons behind this.

Substantial grants for panchayati raj institutions unused in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, a report by Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayat Raj has revealed.----more----https://theprint.in/india/governance/parliamentary-panel-flags-lapses-in-managing-central-grants-for-village-development-unused-diverted/2417738/

 What is behind row over new NHRC chief?

Banned in India till recently, Salman Rushdie's Satanic Verses has hit the bookshelves in Khan Market. In Episode 1579 of CutTheClutter, ThePrint Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta looks back at his involvement in publishing Madhu Jain's review of the book, leading to protests by Syed Shahabuddin, ban on the book and shows of revenge movie International Gorillay in Pakistan.----more----Read Antara Baruah's article here: https://theprint.in/feature/around-town/the-satanic-verses-is-the-hot-new-item-at-bahrisons-bookstore-khan-market-consensus-breaks/2417703/----more----Read Madhu Jain's Open Magazine article here: https://openthemagazine.com/art-culture/remembering-the-deadly-review/----more----Read Shekhar Gupta's piece on Salman Rushdie's movie here: https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/films/story/19900615-internat[…]re-film-on-islam-revenge-on-salman-rushdie-812670-1990-06-14----more----Read Madhu Jain's book review of Satanic Verses here: https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/books/story/19880915-book-review-salman-rushdie-the-satanic-verses-797671-1988-09-14

What is behind the row over reservation policy in Kashmir?

The controversy over the new GST formula for popcorn based on flavours highlights the growing complexity of India's tax system and that the country is moving further away from minimum governance. In Ep 1578 of #CutTheClutter, Editor-in-chief Shekhar Gupta discusses why simplifying GST is crucial to reforms in India's tax system.