© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Good morning,
The Sunday match between India and Pakistan would barely make it to the history pages of the rivalry. The climax of the game was a foregone conclusion after India’s spinners restricted Pakistan to a tally of 127. Nevertheless, a tense energy surrounded the one-sided game in Dubai. This was the first ever cricket match being played between the two neighbours after the April 22 Pahalgam attack. Critics back home have slammed the government’s decision to play the Asia Cup match, calling it an insult to the Pahalgam victims. But the players on the field did not seem very enthusiastic either. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav refused the customary handshake before and after the match, and later, he would dedicate the win to the Indian Armed Forces. As my colleague Sriram Veera writes, the match would be remembered for what did not happen, rather than what did unfold.
On that note, let’s get to the rest of today’s edition. 👇
On the day American right-wing activist Charlie Kirk was shot dead, another brutal murder unfolded miles away. On the morning of September 10, an Indian-origin man, Chandra Nagamallaiah, was chased, attacked with a machete and beheaded at a motel in Dallas, Texas. The killing sent shockwaves across the diaspora and the community back home.
The victim: The 50-year-old had been managing operations at the Dallas motel for the past two to three years. Although his family originally hailed from Andhra Pradesh, he was brought up in Bengaluru, Karnataka, where he also opened a small hotel. Nagamallaiah moved to the US in 2018, according to a neighbour.
The murder: Nagamallaiah was killed at his workplace in front of his wife and teenage son by a staffer after a dispute over a broken washing machine. Per reports, the argument between Nagamallaiah and his employee, Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, escalated, and the latter allegedly stabbed his employer multiple times. A graphic CCTV footage also shows Martinez kicking the decapitated head of Nagamallaiah into the parking lot and placing it on a dumpster.
The accused: The US authorities have identified Martinez as an illegal alien with a history of violent crimes. A Cuban national, Martinez, was reportedly on the “final order of removal” from the US. However, he was released from ICE custody under the previous Joe Biden administration, after his home country refused to accept him back, according to a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) statement.
Zoom out: The murder triggered strong reactions from Indians, with many questioning the lack of significant media coverage in the US over the incident. Meanwhile, this morning, US President Donald Trump condemned the attack in a Truth Social post, while sharpening his attack on illegal immigration. “Rest assured, the time for being soft on these Illegal Immigrant Criminals is OVER under my watch,” he said. The DHS has said the case supports the Trump administration’s long-standing stance to deport “criminal illegal aliens to third countries.”
Rashtriya Lok Morcha chief Upendra Kushwaha has formed many an alliance in his political career. Once Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s blue-eyed boy, Kushwaha, quit the JD(U) to launch his own party in 2023. In 2024, he was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha as an NDA candidate. He remains an asset for any party as a representative from his community. With the high-stakes Bihar Assembly elections around the corner, the BJP hopes Kushwaha will return to its fold. He joined us for the latest Idea Exchange session to discuss the ongoing electoral roll revision in the state, Rahul Gandhi’s yatra, and the need for a caste census.
Squeeze in: As ministries get ready to leave the North Block amid a revamp of the Central Vista, the Budget press, a secure facility where the annual Union Budget is printed, is set for a makeover. The Finance Ministry is moving to the new Common Central Secretariat (CCS)-1 building, where space constraints necessitate an upgrade to modern and lighter printing machinery.
SOP: The Bureau of Police Research and Development would soon take on a comprehensive study of all post-Independence protests to analyse their “financial aspects”, final outcomes, and “behind-the-scene players”. The exercise was suggested by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who has asked the BPR&D to prepare a standing operating procedure to prevent “mass agitations by vested interests” in the future.
‘Dilli duur nahi’: The brand new Sairang-Anand Vihar Rajdhani Inaugural Special train drew huge crowds as it stood in Mizoram’s capital, Aizwal, awaiting its first journey through the meandering mountain route. The Rajdhani fulfils a decades-old promise to bring Aizwal on the Railways’ grid. Dheeraj Mishra speaks to some of the first passengers about what this means for accessibility in the region.
Checks and balances: In an April ruling, the Supreme Court set timelines for Governors and the President to act after Bills reach their office, inviting a reference from President Droupadi Murmu. A presidential reference is essentially a way for the President to seek the Court’s opinion on any matter of law or fact. The Court may choose not to give its opinion. The current case has invoked debate over federalism and the power of judicial review. We explain its implications.
Money matters: Infosys Ltd plans to buy back up to 10 crore shares, with a cumulative value of Rs 18,000 crore, from its shareholders. This would be the largest-ever repurchase of securities in the IT major’s history. It comes amid falling share prices and declining cash reserves of IT companies. Here’s what it means for shareholders.
Abdicate the tariff throne: In his weekly column, Professor Ashok Gulati, along with researcher Tanay Suntwal, reflects on why it may serve India well to lower its tariffs, irrespective of Trump’s charges. “If India truly wants to claim its place as a global superpower, it must shed the tariff maharaja image. Imports do not hurt growth.” Read on.
As I was writing this newsletter, the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards were unfolding. For those who did not catch it live, here are some of the major highlights. The popular British psychological drama series, Adolescence, walked away with six trophies, including the “Outstanding Supporting Actor”, making the 15-year-old anti-protagonist, Owen Copper, the youngest-ever to win an Emmy in that category. American medico-drama, The Pitt, bagged the Outstanding Drama Series award, while The Studio’s Seth Rogan clinched four awards.
That’s all for today, folks! Until tomorrow,
Sonal Gupta
