The Latest Breaking News from Newslaundry

Too big, too costly, too far: Delhi’s new protest sites put to the test

For decades, Delhi’s Jantar Mantar has served as a pivotal hub for protests in the national capital. But following Delhi Police’s decision to ‘denotify’ Jantar Mantar as a protest site, it is no longer permitted to host such demonstrations there. Instead, the police have designated Ramlila Maidan, Burari Ground, and…

Newslaundry · Oct 22

Surety hurdles, questions over video, then release: The SEM proceedings for CJP leaders

After hours of proceedings, repeated scrutiny of sureties and a police request for further custody, Cockroach Janata Party members Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka stepped out of Tihar jail on Wednesday night, after a release order by the Special Executive Magistrate (SEM) court at Mandir Marg police station.

Newslaundry · Oct 22

‘People scared of economics’: Sarthak Pradhan on your money, GST and Fiscal Fables

Why does it cost the government Rs 3 to raise Rs 1 in tax? Why does India spend only about 3 percent of its money at the local level, when China spends around 50 percent? And should governments be in the business of making soap and selling alcohol?

Newslaundry · Oct 21

Ali Khan Mahmudabad on ‘Ganga-Jamuni fantasy’, dying languages and democracy online

In this Newslaundry interview, Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad, head of Political Science at Ashoka University and author of Poetry of Belonging, examines how culture, poetry and shared histories have shaped Indian Muslims’ relationship with the country, and what threatens that sense of belonging today.

Newslaundry · Oct 19

South Central 97: Why were journalists being detained and beaten by Delhi Police?

Were the police only trying to stop the protests, or also to stop journalists from creating a public record of what happened on the streets?

Newslaundry · Oct 19

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke released on bail; told to sign a one-year peace bond

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, who was placed under preventive arrest by the Delhi Police on October 16, was released on bail today following an order by a special executive magistrate in Delhi, according to LiveLaw.

Newslaundry · Oct 17

‘Can’t differentiate between reel makers and independent journalists’, says Modi govt

Responding to a petition filed in the Supreme Court challenging the detention of journalists during recent protests demanding the resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar, the Centre told the Supreme Court on October 15 that it’s getting difficult to distinguish between a “reel maker” and an “independent journalist”, according to the…

Newslaundry · Oct 15

A journalist recalls Delhi detention: A reluctant baton, a press ID ignored, and stranger’s help

It was around 11.15 am on Saturday. My colleague Ashwine Kumar Singh and I were outside the Park Hotel, having just finished recording a video on the Jantar Mantar protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, when his phone rang. It was Anmol Pritam, another colleague, his voice frantic. He…

Newslaundry · Oct 15

Catch me if you can: Inside flash demonstrations by student groups against Gyanesh Kumar

At the Delhi protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, the police seemed to have a clear plan: get to the protesters before they could raise their slogans. But the protesters had a plan of their own: make sure the police had to keep running.

Newslaundry · Oct 14

Who are the lumpen elements given a free run against protesters in CP?

On the evening of October 11, a white Maruti Suzuki Fronx, registration UP14-HA-4945, sat near Gate 7 of the metro station in Connaught Place for nearly two hours. Four men were inside. Newslaundry reporters could see lathis in the vehicle.

Newslaundry · Oct 14