© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Good morning,
Thala is back—and he’s bringing the fire. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the undisputed king of Indian Premier League (IPL) captains, returns to the helm of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) as they face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) today. With Ruturaj Gaikwad nursing an unfortunate elbow injury and the team reeling from two straight losses, it’s up to the 43-year-old legend to spark a CSK revival. Critics have been whispering about retirement, but for millions, Dhoni is CSK. And starting tonight, the OG Captain Cool fights for points and his legacy.
On that note, let’s get to today’s edition.
The Maharashtra government has undertaken an ambitious project to transform Asia’s biggest slum into a modern urban hub. It aims to clear nearly half of the 600-acre sprawl of slums and factories that make up Dharavi. To do so, the government has roped the Adani Group to rehabilitate residents in and around Dharavi. Together, they set up a special purpose vehicle, Navbharat Mega Developers Private Limited (NMDPL), to carry out the task.
But behind the promises of transformation, a troubling story is unfolding. An investigation by The Indian Express reveals that between 50,000 and 1 lakh Dharavi residents could be shifted to an active garbage dump—a clear violation of environmental laws.
Who signed off on this? What’s at stake for the people of Dharavi? Our reporter Pratip Acharya went digging into records and confronted the decision-makers. Read on.
Nearly 16 years after he was arrested, Tahawwur Rana, a key plotter of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, was extradited to India from the US. He was flown into Delhi yesterday and arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). While this marks the end of a long legal battle, the story is far from over.
What next? The United States has already prosecuted Rana for aiding the Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist group, but Indian authorities are expected to seek India-specific details related to the 2008 attack. Rana has been sent to NIA custody for 18 days and will now face a legal trial in Delhi. The Indian Express spoke to the victims and families of those who perished in the attacks. Their voices are clear and unyielding: justice must be quick, thorough, and unforgiving.
Also, read my colleague Deeptiman Tiwary’s explainer on Rana’s extradition process and why it took so long.
Compliance: As it negotiates trade deals with key Western partners such as the US, UK, and European Union, India is willing to relent on quality control orders (QCOs). QCOs require foreign exporters and domestic producers to meet specific quality norms, which has long been a concern among traders.
Disturbing: The rising cases of “digital arrest” scams have taken two more victims. Facing harassment from cyber criminals, an elderly couple purportedly died by suicide in Karnataka’s Belagavi. The suicide note left behind by the couple lays bare the cruelty of the crime.
Black gold: Is coal a “critical mineral”? US President Donald Trump has asked his lackeys to determine as such. In a sharp break from a decade of US policy to cut down coal power generation, Trump has scrapped restrictions on coal mining and coal-firing plants. What’s got Trump embracing the coal industry? The answer may lie in his manufacturing and artificial intelligence ambitions.
Start-up seeds: Comparing the Indian start-up ecosystem with China, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal recently criticised the former for being less focused on advanced technologies. In this week’s Dis/Agree column, we deliberate on the way forward.
👉 Skyroot Aerospace CEO Pawan Kumar Chandana foresees a deep tech revolution. “Investments in deep tech R&D have pushed innovation. India must build on this momentum,” he writes.
👉 Defence and cyber security analyst Subimal Bhattacharjee argues that India needs a more enabling environment for innovation.
The Punjab government is on an ambitious mission to “change the future of Punjab’s children”. It has launched a staggering 25,000 projects to overhaul 12,000 government schools at Rs 2,000 crore. Amid the repairs, another detail is being carefully laid: plaques. A separate Rs 12 crore has been earmarked just for commemorative plaques, ensuring that no revamped classroom or refurbished toilet goes without a permanent reminder of who made it happen. Each plaque credits the Chief Minister, the Education Minister, and the local MLA.
Before you go, don’t forget to tune in to the latest episode of the ‘3 Things’ podcast. Today’s lineup: Supreme Court’s ruling on Governors, treating heart attacks, and Indians on the Pegasus target list.
That’s all for today, folks! Happy weekend-ing!
Sonal Gupta
