Hafta 487: Final phase of polls, mining issues, heatwave in cities

This week, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Raman Kirpal, and Anand Vardhan are joined by The Caravan’s editor-in-chief Hartosh Singh Bal and investigative journalist Aruna Chandrashekhar.

On the final phase of elections, Hartosh says “it’s baffling” that the voting date in Punjab coincides with the 40th anniversary of Operation Blue Star. He says because of the strong anti-BJP sentiment in Punjab, the state remains a political battleground primarily for the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, despite the “quadrangular fight” after the split between the Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP.

The conversation then shifts to the issue of natural resource mining in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Odisha. Aruna describes them as “sacrificed zones”, regardless of the governing party. She says that due to the Congress's “neglect”, the locals had turned to the BJP.

On the rise in temperatures in Delhi and other metropolitan cities, Aruna says the environmental crisis has been triggered by urbanisation, reduced green cover, and increased concrete structures. She delves into the mention of environmental issues in the political parties’ manifestos. The panel also discusses the working conditions for labourers in the heatwave.

This and a whole lot more. Tune in!

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Song: Punjabiyan Di Shaan

Timecodes

00: 00:00 - Introduction

00: 07:47 - Headlines 

00: 19:02 - Elections in Punjab 

00: 25:25 - Voter sentiments in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha 

00: 31:49 - Key party battles in Punjab

00: 43:03 - On climate change and soaring heat waves  

01: 00:20 - Hartosh’s recommendations 

01:04:03 - Aruna’s recommendations 

01:21:34 - Podcast letters 

01:40:49- Panel recommendations 

 Hafta letters, recommendations, songs and references

Check out our previous Hafta recommendations.

Produced and recorded by Aryan Mahtta and Prashant edited by Hassan Bilal. 

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