3 Things

Topics include simultaneous polls in India, challenges, and recommendations; Indian films capitalizing on political narratives; exit of BJP leaders in West Bengal

The podcast discusses the political changes in Haryana with the removal of the Chief Minister. It also covers the crash of an indigenous Light Combat Aircraft in Rajasthan and updates on the Citizenship Amendment Act. Additionally, it mentions the diplomatic tensions with China objecting to Prime Minister Modi's visit to Arunachal Pradesh.

First, we talk to Indian Express' Ritika Chopra about Election Commissioner Arun Goel's resignation.Second, Indian Express’ Kiran Parashar joins us to talk about the Bengaluru water crisis. (8:12)Lastly, we talk about the acquittal of Delhi University professor G N Saibaba. (18:59)Hosted by Niharika NandaWritten and Produced by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika NandaEdited and Mixed by Suresh Pawar

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Niharika Nanda.It’s the 11th of March and here are today's headlines.The Supreme Court, in a hearing on Monday, directed the State Bank of India to furnish the details of individuals and companies who bought its electoral bonds to fund political parties by Tuesday. The court gave the order after rejecting a plea by the government-run bank seeking more time to do so. The SBI had earlier requested time till the 30th of  June to disclose details of electoral bonds encashed by political parties.In further news from the Supreme Court, it rejected a plea by the Maharashtra government seeking a stay on the March 5 Bombay High Court order acquitting former Delhi University professor G.N. Sai Baba and others in a UAPA case over alleged Maoist links. The court noted that the acquittal of Saibaba and others was prima facie well reasoned,  as reported by the news agency PTI.The much-anticipated Mumbai Coastal Road Project  was partially inaugurated today by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar. With a cost of nearly 14 thousand crore, the 10.58 km long high-speed corridor will link Marine Drive with the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, representing the BMC’s most expensive undertaking to date. The BMC states that the coastal road will result in a 34 percent reduction in carbon footprint.At the 96th Academy Awards ceremony held today in in Los Angeles, Christopher Nolan’s epic biographical thriller Oppenheimer swept seven awards, including Best Picture, while also earning Nolan and actors Cillian (KILL-IAN) Murphy and Robert Downey Jr awards for Best Director, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, respectively. In the Best Actress category, Emma Stone won the Academy Award for her performance as Bella Baxter in Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things.The Enforcement Directorate has arrested Subhash Yadav, a man allegedly associated with the Rashtriya Janata Dal, in Patna as part of a money laundering probe related to alleged illegal sand mining in Bihar. On Sunday, the ED had also carried out search operations at six locations linked to Yadav and his close associates.This was the Catch-Up on the 3 Things by The Indian Express.

First, Indian Express’ Sujit Bisoyi discusses the reasons why, after parting ways 15 years ago, the BJP and BJD are coming together to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections.Next, Indian Express’ Harish Damodaran talks about the challenges India will face in meeting the rising demand for milk and ensuring that prices do not continue to rise (11:02).And in the end, Indian Express’ Kiran Parashar tells us about  the nomination of author, philanthropist, and former chairperson of Infosys Foundation Sudha Murthy to the Rajya Sabha (21:16).Hosted, written and produced by Shashank BhargavaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Niharika NandaIt’s the 8th of March and here are the top stories of the week.The Supreme Court on Monday overruled its 1998 majority ruling in the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha bribery case in which the apex court had said that members of Parliament and state legislatures were immune from prosecution for accepting bribes for voting or speaking in a certain manner in the House. The court said, quote, “corruption and bribery by members of the legislature erode probity in public life”. Unquote.Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has written to the Enforcement Directorate, saying that he was ready to answer the probe agency’s questions. The ED had summoned the AAP leader for the eighth time this week in connection with the Delhi excise policy case. Seeking a date after the 12th of March, Kejriwal said that he was ready to give answers but through video conferencing. Following this, a Delhi court on Thursday summoned Kejriwal to appear before it on the 16th of March after the agency filed a complaint saying he had skipped multiple summons.Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met a group of women from Sandeshkhali in West Bengal, where allegations of sexual abuse against TMC leaders have been leveled. During this recent visit to the state, he said that the 'storm' induced by the recent violence in Sandeshkhali will reach every part of the state. The Prime Minister had traveled to Kolkata to inaugurate a section of the city’s Metro’s East-West corridor — which is India's first-ever metro route passing underwater.The Indian Embassy in Israel has issued an advisory for Indian nationals working in Israel, particularly in border areas, to relocate to safe areas within the country. The Embassy stated that they are in touch with Israeli authorities to ensure the safety of all Indian nationals. Additionally, the Indian Embassy shared a helpline number and email address for clarification. This advisory was issued shortly after an anti-tank missile, allegedly fired from Lebanon, struck the Margaliot region of Israel, resulting in the death of one Indian national and injuries to two others. All three victims are from Kerala.Days after the Ministry of External Affairs said that India is trying its best for an “early discharge” of around 20 Indians working as support staff to the Russian army, a group of seven men have released a new video claiming that Russia is forcing them to fight in the Ukraine war against their will. In the now-viral video, the seven men can be seen inside a room, wearing army uniforms. The video, recorded in a room with a closed window, shows six of them standing in a corner as another talks about their situation.This was the Catch-Up on the 3 Things by The Indian Express.

Last September, the Lok Sabha cleared the 128th Constitutional Amendment Bill 2023 which aims at bringing 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and all state legislative assemblies. Cleared with near unanimity, the bill also extends the quota to the seats reserved for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.Now, since 1996, nearly every government has attempted to push a women’s reservation bill. However, the current bill stands out because its implementation is linked to the contentious delimitation exercise.In this episode, Indian Express' Apurva Vishwanath and Manoj CG join us to discuss everything you need to know about it — from what it states and how it will be implemented, to why its rollout is going to be significantly delayed, and the previous attempts to pass such bills.Hosted by Niharika NandaWritten and produced by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

The headlines this evening from the Indian Express.

First, Indian Express’ Apurva Vishwanath tells us about the Supreme Court overturning its own 1998 judgment, where a five-judge bench held that legislators were immune from prosecution for taking bribes.Next, Indian Express’ Vikas Pathak shares the biggest highlights from the BJP’s first list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls (09:45).And in the end, Indian Express’ Deeptiman Tiwary updates us on the ongoing protests in Ladakh and the latest meeting between the region's representatives and Home Minister Amit Shah (19:26).Hosted by Shashank BhargavaProduced by Shashank Bhargava and Niharika NandaEdited and mixed by Suresh Pawar

This is the Catch Up on 3 Things for the Indian Express and I'm Flora Swain.It’s the 6th of March and here are today's headlines.The Calcutta HC once again directed the West Bengal government to transfer the probe into the attack on ED officials in Sandeshkhali to CBI by 4.15 pm today. The court ordered the state police to hand over the custody of accused TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh to the central agency.vDespite HC orders, the government had refused to hand over the case and Sheikh to the CBI on Tuesday. The court told the state government to “immediately implement” its Tuesday’s judgement after the ED moved a contempt petition before a division bench.Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today met a group of women from Sandeshkhali, where allegations of sexual abuse against TMC leaders have been levelled. He said the “storm” induced by the recent violence in Sandeshkhali “will reach every part of West Bengal”. He arrived in Kolkata this morning, where he inaugurated the Howrah Maidan- Esplanade section of Kolkata Metro’s East-West corridor — India’s first-ever underwater metro route.The Supreme Court today slammed former Uttarakhand forest minister and divisional forest officer for “causing heavy damage to the environment for some political and commercial gains” over illegal construction and felling of trees at the Jim Corbett National Park. The bench said, quote, "This is a classic case that shows how the politicians and the bureaucrats have thrown the public trust doctrine in the dustbin”. Unquote.The Madras High Court today dismissed petitions challenging the continuation of Tamil Nadu ministers Udhayanidhi Stalin and Sekar Babu as legislators over their remarks on ‘Sanatana Dharma’. The court said that in equating ‘Sanatana Dharma’ to HIV, malaria, and dengue, Stalin acted against the Constitutional principles and spread misinformation. The Supreme Court earlier on Monday slammed Stalin over his controversial remarks that ‘Sanatana Dharma’ ought to be “eradicated” from the country, stating that he had abused his free speech rights.Days after the Ministry of External Affairs said India is trying its best for an “early discharge” of around 20 Indians working as support staff to the Russian army, a group of seven men have released a new video claiming they are being forced by Russia to fight the Ukraine war against their will. In the now-viral video, the seven men can be seen inside a room, wearing army uniforms. The video, recorded in a room with a closed window, shows six of them standing in a corner as another talks about their situation.This was the Catch-Up on the 3 Things by The Indian Express.