South Central

Join veteran journalists Prem Panicker, a seasoned reporter with 30 years of experience, and Sushant Singh, a former military officer turned editor, as they dive deep into the modern India-Pakistan tensions. They discuss the impact of the media's sensationalism, questioning its role during military escalations. Prem addresses the challenges of accuracy amidst misinformation, while Sushant critiques how narratives shape public perception. Their insights call for a more responsible media approach that prioritizes truth in conflict reporting.

Join journalist Smita Sharma, an expert on foreign policy, and Nitin Pai, co-founder of the Takshashila Institution, as they dissect India's Operation Sindoor and its regional implications. They discuss the strategic significance of targeted strikes against terrorist camps, the complexities of Pakistan's retaliatory strategies, and the troubling rise of militarism in Pakistan. Smita highlights the media's role in shaping narratives amidst conflict, while Nitin warns of escalating tensions as both nations navigate this charged landscape.

Nirupama Subramaniam, a seasoned journalist with four decades in the field, joins the discussion to analyze the aftermath of the tragic Pahalgam attack and the potential responses from India. Delving into the complexities of geopolitical tensions, she highlights the implications of the Indus Waters Treaty and the growing communal violence in India. The conversation also tackles recent shifts in the World Press Freedom Index, raising questions about the realities of media independence amid political pressures and the role of independent journalism in a democratic landscape.

Join lawyer Suhrith Parthasarathy, comedian Nithin Kamath, and journalist Anisha Sheth as they tackle Bengaluru's pressing migrants vs. locals issue. Nithin observes how social media inflates regional tensions, with sentiments swirling around every local incident. Suhrith discusses the judiciary's vital role in balancing political power. The trio delves into the economic struggles tied to regional identity, revealing how these historical conflicts shape today's civic landscape. It's a lively exploration of culture, politics, and the fabric of Bengaluru.

In Episode 23 of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran and Pooja Prasanna discuss Union Minister Piyush Goyal’s dig at Indian startups and the Supreme Court verdict on Tamil Nadu Governor that revived the debate on federalism. Joining them are chairman of Aarin Capital Mohandas Pai, political and policy consultant Tara Krishnaswamy, and TNM’s senior news editor Shabbir Ahmed. On the startup debate, Pai says, “Delivery-based startups should not be demeaned, they are also a part of the innovation cycle. India has spent just USD 160 billion on startups since 2014. Compare that to China’s USD 845 billion. The problem isn’t delivery apps, it’s the lack of domestic capital and investment in research and development.”Tara adds, “Amazon started as a delivery platform. To build a deep-tech ecosystem, we need to invest in education, research, and infrastructure. India doesn't lack talent, it lacks systems that support it.”Pooja points out how only 8% of Indian startups make it beyond 10 years. “We talk about being a 1.4 billion market—but only a small fraction can actually afford these services,” she says.As the conversation shifts to the State-Governor tussle, Shabbir says, “The recent Supreme Court verdict is a win for the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and other opposition-ruled states. Governor RN Ravi sitting on bills was a clear abuse of power.”Tara highlights, ““Only 25% of governors have completed their terms. Most are either political appointees or retired judges. This is not sustainable.”Dhanya points out, “In Kerala, the last governor sat on a bill for 23 months. The Constitution makers did not probably think that we are going to have governors who will sit on bills for months and not act on them.”On whether the post of Governor serves a purpose, the panel agrees that reforms are overdue. Tara proposes, “Let’s have governors elected through an electoral college, like the President. Another option would be to abolish the post entirely.”All this and more—tune in.Once a month, we will invite one TNM subscriber to the show. Write to us on what you would like to speak about to southcentral@thenewsminute.com Send your thoughts, suggestions and criticism as well.Audio Timecodes 00:00:00 - Intro00:01:24 - Announcements00:02:19 - Headlines 00:20:24 -Startups00:49:41- Governors 01:21:58 - RecommendationsCheck out the recommendations and references from this episode.Become a subscriber- Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click hereProduced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Suhasini Haidar, Diplomatic Affairs Editor at The Hindu and host of the popular YouTube show 'Worldview,' tackles the alarming trend of US deportations targeting Indian students, stressing the erosion of due process. Zafarullah Khan, Senior Counsel from Chennai, provides insight into the controversial Waqf Amendment Act, highlighting its failure to address administrative shortcomings and questioning the government's true intentions towards the Muslim community. The discussion paints a grim picture of both legal and cultural challenges in contemporary India.

Nikhil Narendran, a lawyer at Tri Legal, shares legal insights on the Hyderabad University land controversy. Nandini Chandrashekar, an editor at The News Minute and an HCU alumna, critiques the government's motives for auctioning green land. Meanwhile, environmental journalist Bahar Dutt highlights the student movement advocating for biodiversity preservation amidst state violence. The discussion reveals the tensions between urban development and ecological heritage, underscoring urgent calls for accountability and awareness.

In Episode 20 of South Central, hosts Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, and Leena Reghunath discuss the absurdity of targeting Kunal Kamra, why the contempt of court law needs to go, and what the Kiran Bedi tapes reveal, alongside Alok Prasanna Kumar, Co-Founder and Lead, Vidhi Karnataka, and independent journalist Nikita Saxena.All this and more—tune in!Write to us on what you would like to speak about to southcentral@thenewsminute.comTell us what you think about our podcast and give us your feedback by filling this form.Audio Timecodes 00:00:00 - Intro00:39:00 - Kiran Bedi Tapes 00:02:11 - Headlines 00:13:05 - Kunal Kamra Row 00:33:38 - Judicial Accountability 00:54:25 - Kiran Bedi Tapes01:12:57 - Recommendations Check out the recommendations and references from this episode.Become a subscriber- Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click hereProduced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are the arrests of journalists in Telangana a sign that the Revanth Reddy government is misusing power? Dhanya Rajendran, Pooja Prasanna, Leena Reghunath, and Sudipto Mondal speak with Amar Devulapalli, Editor of Mana Telangana, about what these arrests signal for press freedom in the state.They also speak with independent public health researcher Malu Mohan about why ASHA workers—hailed as heroes during the pandemic—are still denied basic labour rights. From lack of pay to being treated as volunteers despite full-time work, the discussion exposes the deep structural neglect of women in India's public health system.All this and more—tune in!Write to us on what you would like to speak about to southcentral@thenewsminute.comAudio Timecodes00:00:00 - Intro00:34:00 - Support TNM 00:02:34 - Headlines 00:06:28 - Telangana Arrests Journalists 00:37:08 - Plight of ASHA workers 01:07:15 - Letters 01:12:57 - Recommendations Check out the recommendations and references from this episode.Become a subscriber- Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click hereProduced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The 18th episode of South Central, a weekly podcast hosted by TNM’s editor-in-chief Dhanya Rajendran and editorial head for reporting Pooja Prasanna, discussed concerns of  electoral roll manipulation and Bengaluru’s governance challenges. Joining them were senior editor Nandini Chandrashekar, Nitin Sethi, the founding editor of Reporters' Collective, and activist Tara Krishnaswamy.Nitin Sethi highlighted serious concerns regarding electoral rolls. He said, "Voter list manipulation has been part of the game for a fairly long while. If you look at election records, you’ll ghost voters up to two, three lakhs in a population of twenty lakhs. Now, technology allows rigorous manipulation at a greater scale. If any party, with a considerably large number of workers try to do this, they can affect it at scale. At this moment, we do not have adequate safeguards to ensure the credibility of the electoral process."Nandini Chandrashekar raised concerns about voter disenfranchisement, pointing out systemic issues within the electoral process. She highlighted, "Faulty voter rolls and procedural errors deny citizens their right to vote effectively. These errors severely hinder democratic participation."Tara Krishnaswamy focused on Bengaluru's governance issues, particularly criticising the Greater Bengaluru Governance Bill. She argued, "This Bill centralises administrative control instead of empowering local bodies, undermining local governance and accountability. It moves us further away from decentralisation."The episode delves into both the electoral concerns of the country in general, and Bengaluru’s governance conundrum. All this and more—tune in!Write to us on what you would like to speak about to southcentral@thenewsminute.comAudio Timecodes 00:00:00 - Intro 00:03:17 - Reporter's Collective 00:01:40- Announcements 00:10:20 - Headlines 00:13:09 - Flaws in Electoral Process00:44:59 - Greater Bengaluru Bill 01:07:15- Recommendations Check out the recommendations and references from this episode.Become a subscriber- Click here.Contribute to our reporting fund. Click here. To not miss any updates, join TNM's WhatsApp Channel! Click hereProduced by Bhuvan Malik, edited by Jaseem Ali Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.