Journalist, tech enthusiast, investor. Presenter of The India Story. Founded @editorji (acquired by RPSG in 2020). TV news anchor in an earlier avatar!
Nov 19 • 13 tweets • 3 min read
The smoke storm will pass, winter will end. And we will forget about the air pollution crisis till the next November.
Can we try something different this year?
Here is my attempt to put together a draft Clean Air Plan. Please share, amend and refine this thread.
And let's keep up the pressure all year round till something like this is implemented. (1/13)
1. A complete ban on stubble burning
*Separate fund for Happy Seeders and other alternatives to burning.
*Incentives to shift to other crops like oilseeds.
*Tougher enforcement across ALL states (2/13)
Nov 12 • 5 tweets • 2 min read
If @marcorubio becomes the US Secretary of State, and Mike Waltz the National Security Advisor, it is very good news for India! Here's why 🧵
Rubio is the man who introduced the US-India Defense Cooperation Act in July 2024, which aims to boost ties with India.
Among other things, the Act aims to provide India with assistance and cooperation in defence, space, tech etc. It grants exemption for India under CAATSA for using Russian equipment. And it restricts US assistance to Pakistan.
The Act is right now in a Senate Committee for review. (1/5)
But other than the India-US Cooperation Act, @marcorubio is a known China hawk (and also a hawk on Iran, Venezuela etc).
His appointment would be a clear signal that Trump intends to play hardball with China. Rubio has long advocated building up ties with India as a counterbalance to China.
That puts India-US relations into a strong strategic space (2/5)
Jun 5 • 7 tweets • 2 min read
Some key takeaways from the verdict. 🧵
1. The 400 paar slogan could have been a self goal - both because it set expectations too high, and because it enabled the opposition to raise the "Constitution in Danger" issue. This had a major impact on Dalit voters, especially in UP.
The Opposition leapt on this issue and leveraged it all through the polls.
2. Unemployment is probably the biggest problem in India, and must be the number one priority for the next government. Even BJP voters kept mentioning unemployment - except that they felt Modi was the best person to fix it.
Schemes like "free grain" alone don't compensate for unemployment - young people say they want work, not charity.
May 1, 2021 • 7 tweets • 2 min read
Here's what many experts feel should be done immediately:
This is like a war - India needs firm, decisive leadership.
Having first centralised power on Covid, the centre now seems to have handed responsibility to the states. That makes sense at one level... (1/n)
...no one really wants to take responsibility for a disaster of this magnitude.
But with 3500 deaths a day, India can't afford to have states squabbling between themselves and with the centre over resources like oxygen. This can't be left to the SC to handle either. (2/n)
Apr 29, 2021 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
With so much death and misery around us, I'm really struggling to get myself to care about the West Bengal elections... or the #ExitPolls
Now that today's #AskTheDoctor is over, #NewsGuru on what the various TV channels are saying about the exit polls will stream at 9 pm.
Mar 20, 2020 • 5 tweets • 1 min read
The Task Force needs to urgently announce steps to stabilize sentiments and protect both individuals and the economy. Here are some ideas - please add to them and share! 1) Immediate protection to daily wagers and other vulnerable sections. No one should go hungry. (1/n)
2)Low oil prices are a bonanza for India and the government. Use this to announce a major stimulus package. Allow the fiscal deficit to slip if needed
3) Lift market sentiments by abolishing capital gains for now.
4) Relax deadlines for tax filings and other compliance (2/n)
