Union Minister for Road, Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari Monday lashed out at NHAI officials at the virtual inauguration of new NHAI building which took 9 years to complete. Gadkari used really tough and colourful language. In episode 606 of ThePrint's #CutTheClutter, Shekhar Gupta explains how this is a short, sharp, masterful treatise of our lousy governance.
In May 2014, the total market capitalisation of PSUs was Rs 19.1 lakh crore, but by 28 October 2020, they had lost Rs 6.9 lakh crore. Since all companies on BSE together nearly doubled their value, the relative loss should be Rs 21 lakh cr. The 7 largest PSU Crown Jewels are valued below their book value. In episode 605 of ThePrint's #CutTheClutter, Shekhar Gupta explains why the Modi government’s reform test is nigh.
A fascinating conflict is brewing between Turkey and France. Despite Turkey's broken economy, Recep Tayyip Erdogan is also making a risky bid for pan-Islamic leadership with just one vocal ally, Imran Khan. In episode 604 of #CutTheClutter, Shekhar Gupta explains this unlikely conflict within NATO.
In an exclusive interview to ThePrint editor-in-chief Shekhar Gupta, Mike Pompeo explained why he prefers to refer to Xi Jinping not as president if Chjna but as general secretary of 'Communist Party of China.’ He talks about India-US strategic ties, the Quad, the plight of & more. Insights in episode 603 of ThePrint's #CutTheClutter, and details on strategic agreements signed between India and US.
Lalu Prasad Yadav belongs to that rare breed of politicians who have refused to have any truck with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ecosystem, even for his own survival, something Tejashwi must live up to. Watch News Editor Ruhi Tewari in her column #PoliTricks.
The very public visit by the head of India's external intelligence agency RAW Samant Goel to Nepal last week is not just a message to Nepal's Prime Minister K P Oli that India will seriously take the expansion of Chinese influence in South Asia, but also an assertion by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval that he is in charge of India's neighbourhood rather than the Ministry of External Affairs. Watch ThePrint's National & Strategic Affairs editor Jyoti Malhotra in her video column #GlobalPrint.
Questions are being raised on the effectiveness of various Covid treatments, including plasma therapy and anti-viral drugs such as Remdesivir. The Health Ministry's data that says 47 per cent of those who died due to Covid are below 60, has also made people wonder if the virus is attacking the young population more. In episode 602 of ThePrint's #CutTheClutter, Shekhar Gupta discusses these popular myths and some numbers.
Six parties formed the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) to work for the restoration of Jammu & Kashmir’s special status. Its newly appointed president Farooq Abdullah says the PAGD is not anti-national, but anti-BJP. It has fired up the BJP’s poll campaign in Bihar. Read the rest of this entry »
In his annual Dussehra speech in Nagpur, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat spoke about the India-China stand-off, future of Indian agriculture, economy and much more. However, he came across as uncharacteristically defensive too. In episode 601 of Cut The Clutter, Shekhar Gupta lifts the layers from this significant speech. He also gives his view on Mumbai Police's action on Arnab Goswami’s Republic TV.
The coming week begins with the arrival of US Secretaries of State and Defense, Mike Pompeo and Mark Esper, in New Delhi. Now, these 2+2 talks have been an ongoing process for some time. Whatever the struggles and niggles on trade, India-US strategic ties have grown phenomenally. ThePrint's Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta explains why two of the most important members of the US Administration fly all the way to India, just a week before the US elections, in times of the pandemic and where does China fit in the scenario.
