HW News Editorial with Sujit Nair Bingepods

In this edition of "Editorial," Mr. Sujit Nair discusses the ongoing trend of leaders from opposition parties being summoned and investigated by enforcement agencies. He points out instances in states governed by opposition parties like Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Delhi, West Bengal, and Kerala. Mr. Nair specifically highlights the recent arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and expresses concerns about the state of Indian democracy. Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with a money laundering probe related to alleged corruption in the development and implementation of Delhi government's excise policy for the fiscal year 2021-22, which was later revoked.

In this editorial segment, Mr. Sujit Nair discusses a pressing issue facing India: unemployment, along with a statement made by the Chief Economic Advisor. On March 27, Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran emphasized that government intervention couldn't solve all social and economic challenges, stating that diagnosing problems like unemployment is easier than finding solutions. At the unveiling of the "India Employment Report 2024: Youth Employment, Education and Skills," co-authored by the International Labour Organisation and The Institute for Human Development (IHD), Nageswaran questioned the government's role in tackling unemployment beyond increasing its own workforce. He highlighted the importance of the private sector in job creation and outlined government initiatives like skill development and the National Education Policy of 2020, emphasizing the need to shield them from political influence. Nageswaran also mentioned corporate tax breaks and subsidies aimed at promoting employment over capital accumulation. Drawing parallels with a satirical film from the 1970s, he questioned whether governments globally were inadvertently discouraging work through welfare policies meant to alleviate the consequences of unemployment, potentially disrupting the labor market. He highlighted the unintended consequences of public policy interventions and questioned whether individuals, particularly the youth, were sufficiently motivated to work and equip themselves with the necessary skills.

In this episode of 'Editorial', Mr. Sujit Nair discusses Rekha Patra, who was hailed as "Shakti Swaroopa" by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Mr. Nair highlights the disparity in treatment between the victims of the Sandeshkhali incident, where women were reportedly sexually harassed by TMC workers, and the women who suffered similar atrocities in Manipur. He points out the political hypocrisy, noting that politicians tend to remain silent when crimes occur in their home state but shift focus to incidents in states governed by opposition parties.

In this episode of 'Editorial,' Mr. Sujit Nair delves into the topic of companies purchasing electoral bonds after the scrutiny from enforcement agencies. Out of the 26 companies under investigation, 16 made political donations through bonds only after being targeted by these agencies, while another six increased their donations following agency crackdowns. A review by The Indian Express uncovered that the BJP received 37.34% of the bonds purchased by these companies, followed by other ruling parties like TMC (18.29%), DMK (11.35%), BJD (4.48%), and BRS (8.59%). The Congress, governing in three states, received 11.97%. Between April 2019 and February 2024, these companies bought Rs 700.65 crore in bonds before facing agency actions and Rs 4,479.6 crore after. Ten companies donated over Rs 100 crore each. For instance, Future Gaming, headed by ""lottery king"" Santiago Martin, abstained from purchasing electoral bonds until a year after facing an ED probe on alleged money laundering charges. Subsequently, the Coimbatore-based company donated bonds worth Rs 503 crore to the DMK and Rs 542 crore to the ruling TMC in West Bengal, while allocating Rs 100 crore to the BJP.

In an episode of "Editorial," Mr. Sujit Nair discusses the alarming state of Indian politics, where dissenting voices are being silenced through imprisonment. Mr. Nair cites examples such as the arrest of Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal just before the Lok Sabha elections and the arrest of K. Kavitha, daughter of former Telangana CM K. Chandrashekhar Rao. He also mentions the recent raid by the CBI on the residence of outspoken former Lok Sabha MP from West Bengal, Mahua Moitra. Mr. Nair concludes by posing the question: Have we lost our India?

In this edition of "Editorial," Mr. Sujit Nair examines how the BJP has emerged as the primary beneficiary of political funding, including electoral bonds & electoral trusts. Out of the total of Rs 16,492 crore obtained through bonds, the BJP received Rs 8,252 crore, surpassing the funding received by over 20 other parties combined. Additionally, parties have garnered funds from electoral trusts, which have significant corporate donors. Combining funds from electoral bonds, trusts, and other donations declared in audit reports over a six-year period from 2018 to 2023, the BJP's total funding reached Rs 12,930 crore, solidifying its lead over other political parties.