Funding the ‘circus’ in Davos as the net tightens on press freedom in Kashmir | Hafta 573

#worldeconomicforum #republicday

This week on Hafta, Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande and Jayashree Arunachalam are joined by journalist and entrepreneur Govindraj Ethiraj.

The discussion starts with the recently concluded World Economic Forum held in Davos. Abhinandan sharply questions the performative nature of Indian participation at the forum, criticising chief ministers for announcing Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Indian companies on foreign soil. “We are funding the circus,” Jayashree remarks bluntly, calling Davos a “clown show” driven by optics rather than outcomes.

Govindraj also agrees that announcing MoUs, especially with Indian firms, is a misallocation of time and attention, given how the WEF offers leaders “an opportunity to gauge the temperature of what is happening in the world order right now”.

The discussion also touches on the much-touted India-EU free trade agreement, which European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen described as the “mother of all deals”. Govindraj, however, tempers expectations, warning that free trade agreements are often narrow and slow-moving. “The first bottle of cheaper Scotch won’t arrive tomorrow – it could take five years,” he quips.

He further adds, “The red lines for India are clearly dairy and agricultural products… You can’t do something which immediately jeopardises your farming lobby. ​So, if you take away agriculture and cheese, what’s left now?”

From Davos, the conversation shifts to press freedom in Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking on the recent summonses issued to national media reporters by the J&K Police, Manisha remarks, “Over the last one year, at least 25 journalists have been summoned... anything at all can land you in a police station being questioned,” all in the name of ‘public disorder’ or ‘public safety’.

Drawing a contrast between reporters in New Delhi and Kashmir, Abhinandan says, “It’s very difficult for someone in J&K to tough it out because there is no insulation. Delhi provides great insulation; that’s why those headquartered in Delhi have to step up and protect their reporters who are not in Delhi.

This and a lot more. Tune in!

0:00 - Introductions and announcements
04:40 - Headlines
17:15 - WEF Davos / India- Eu trade deals
55:59 - Govind’ recommendations
01:08:51 - Kashmir reporter’s summoning
01:17:35 - Letters
01:28:07 - Recommendations

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