NEWS BRIEFINGS May 2024

A recent study, titled “Income and Wealth Inequality in India, 1922-2023: The Rise of the Billionaire Raj,” has brought to light the alarming levels of inequality in the country. The authors of the report – economists from New York University, Paris School of Economics and Harvard Kennedy School – have now written a follow-up note in a journal, to propose remedies: a wealth tax and redistribution policies to mitigate inequality and promote equitable growth.

As many as 80 million registered workers have been delisted from the central government’s Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) over the past two years, according to a report by two civil society groups.

Nearly 74% of Indians could not afford a healthy diet in 2021, according to the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023 report. In late 2021 and early 2022, 80% of respondents in a survey conducted by the Right to Food Campaign reported facing food insecurity, with almost half having run out of food the previous month. So, why do the majority of Indians not have sufficient, safe, and nutritious food? In an interview with IndiaSpend, economist Reetika Khera explained some possible reasons.

In Karnataka, a free bus ride program for women is not only improving access to healthcare and enabling stronger family connections but also overcoming longstanding hurdles that have restricted women’s freedom to travel, according to a new study.

After attempting to deepen the divide between sections of the Hindu and Muslim communities, as well as between North and South Indians, the BJP is now seeking to create a rift between Sikhs and Muslims through a social media ad. The ad does not mention the party’s accomplishments but instead aims to instil fear about the opposition Congress party with the claim that it is anti-Sikh.

A recent report revealed that at least 278,796 people lost their homes due to government-ordered evictions in Delhi in 2023, as noted by Article 14. The widespread nature of the evictions demonstrates a critical failure of governing political parties and judicial systems to uphold the right to housing for Delhi’s most vulnerable populations.

The Supreme Court, on May 24, refused to direct the Election Commission of India (ECI) to publish Form 17C data – polling station-wise voter turnout – on its website within 48 hours of the conclusion of polling for each phase of the Lok Sabha elections. The ECI’s refusal is raising significant concerns among citizens and stakeholders in the electoral process. To understand why this issue is critical, it’s essential to grasp the role of Form 17C and the implications of not making this data publicly available.

More than 120 civil society organisations convened in Bengaluru city to develop an action plan to safeguard India’s democracy, expressing deep concerns about the Election Commission’s (EC) perceived failures and potential vote manipulation on counting day. The gathering, held under the banner of “Wake up Karnataka,” included activists, former bureaucrats and experts who highlighted the EC's shortcomings and proposed measures for accountability.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) into India has seen a significant decline, dropping to $26.6 billion in the fiscal year 2023-24, according to data released by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). This marks a 37% decrease from the previous fiscal year and represents the lowest level of FDI since 2006-07, according to an analysis by ThePrint.

A media report points to the use of taxpayer money by the Central Bureau of Communication (CBC) to fund advertisements that closely mirror the campaign slogans of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This expenditure of nearly 387 million rupees by the CBC, a non-partisan government body, blurs the lines between state and party, thereby undermining the principles of democratic fairness and institutional integrity.

Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, has approved AI-manipulated political adverts spreading disinformation and inciting religious violence during India’s election, according to a report that was exclusively shared with the U.K.’s The Guardian newspaper. The report reveals that Meta allowed inflammatory ads targeting India’s Muslim minority, containing hate speech, disinformation and calls for violence.

Conflict-induced displacement surged across South Asia, a region encompassing eight countries, in 2023, uprooting a staggering 69,000 people in 2023. Of these, the violence in India’s northeastern state of Manipur alone forced 67,000 individuals to flee their homes, according to a report by the Geneva-based Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC). This marks the highest number of displacements in India due to conflict since 2018.

Nepal has banned the import and sale of several popular Indian spice brands, citing health concerns over contamination with ethylene oxide (EtO), a chemical linked to cancer. This action follows similar bans imposed by Singapore and Hong Kong, according to Business Today.

The Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission of India (ECI) to explain the delay in releasing authenticated voter turnout data for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, raising concerns about transparency. The court’s intervention follows a petition detailing discrepancies and significant spikes in voter turnout percentages, which have fuelled public suspicion about the authenticity of the polling data and potential tampering of electronic voting machines (EVMs).

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is under fire for breaking election laws by using religious appeals to win votes. Leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, are accused of invoking the Ram Mandir and Hindu symbols in their campaign, violating the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and the model code of conduct (MCC), according to Alt News.

On May 15, the Supreme Court of India declared the arrest and subsequent remand of NewsClick founder and Editor-in-Chief Prabir Purkayastha by the Delhi police as illegal, ordering his immediate release unless further conditions are met by the trial court. The Court criticised the handling of the remand process for Purkayastha, who has been in custody since October 3, 2023, under charges stemming from the controversial Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The grievances of the farmers, expressed through their “Dilli Chalo (Let’s go to Delhi)” movement and ongoing protests, reflect deep-rooted issues in the agricultural sector that have significant implications for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the ongoing elections. Though out of sight for many news readers, these protests are a manifestation of widespread discontent among the rural electorate, which forms a substantial portion of the voter base in northern states such as Punjab and Haryana.

The Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), a United Nations-affiliated entity based in Geneva, has for the second consecutive year postponed the accreditation of India’s National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), signalling concerns over its independence. This decision jeopardises India’s voting rights at the Human Rights Council and some UNGA bodies.

The Election Commission (EC) has been reluctant to hold press conferences following the completion of voting in three phases across the nation, point out various journalist bodies, saying the absence of such conferences deprives the citizens of India, one of the largest democracies globally, of essential information regarding voting day proceedings.

In the ongoing election, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has escalated its use of anti-Muslim rhetoric, allegedly violating the Election Commission of India’s Model Code of Conduct, especially after the initial phase on April 19. This tactic aims to shift voters’ focus from the government’s performance to their religious identities when casting their ballots. Clearly, the BJP recognises that securing a victory is challenging. However, this tactic not only evidently undermines democracy but also reflects these politicians’ profound disregard for our dignity, intelligence and agency.

The European Union has issued a warning about the safety of over 400 Indian food products following an extensive review from 2019 to 2024, according to media reports. These Indian products, earmarked for export, have been found to contain dangerous levels of contaminants, including carcinogens and toxins that pose serious health risks.

Peace worker Harsh Mander, a former civil servant, finds himself embroiled in legal conflicts after the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) levelled accusations against him in a report, which were subsequently refuted by other statutory bodies and the Delhi government's Department of Women and Child Development, according to Article 14.

Global perceptions of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are starkly different from the triumphant narrative promoted by Indian officials and media, according to a new comprehensive study. Synthesising recent research and polling from international organisations like Pew, Carnegie, GlobeScan and YouGov, the study unveils a critical view of India’s democratic and human rights record, which is influencing its international reputation negatively.

The Central government has told the Supreme Court it will promptly withdraw a letter from the Ministry of Ayush that directed state and union territory licensing authorities not to take any action against advertisements for Ayurvedic and Ayush products under Rule 170 of the Drugs and Cosmetic Rules, 1945, which prohibits advertisements of Ayurvedic, Siddha or Unani drugs without licensing approval.

Historian Ramachandra Guha has criticised the Indian government’s approach to science, claiming significant ideological interference in scientific institutions. In an op-ed published by The Telegraph, Guha asserts that the current political leadership shows a distinct disinterest in genuine scientific progress, favouring technological developments only when they serve political ends.

The United States disclosed to Britain during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in millions of deaths and widespread suffering due to lockdown measures worldwide, evidence indicating a “high likelihood” of the virus originating from a laboratory in China, The Telegraph (U.K.) reported on May 5.

The Washington Post has identified an officer from India’s external intelligence agency RAW (Research and Analysis Wing), Vikram Yadav, as a key figure in the alleged plot to assassinate Sikh separatist leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on U.S. soil. The revelation comes amid heightened demands from Washington for accountability and clarity from the Indian government regarding the investigation.

Several accusations of sexual abuse have been levelled against Prajwal Revanna, a prominent member of the Janata Dal (Secular) and grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, in Karnataka. Reports from various sources describe a troubling pattern of alleged rape, voyeurism and privacy breaches, suggesting systemic patriarchal misconduct within political circles.

On this World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2024, Newsreel Asia celebrates its third anniversary. Established by a group of journalists determined to enhance editorial content through new technologies, Newsreel Asia has grown into a platform that puts the well-being of ordinary citizens at the forefront of public discourse.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has shown significant financial expenditures on infrastructure and election campaigns over recent years. A report by The Wire delves into the BJP’s expenditures, highlighting the scale and implications of its financial operations.