Are horses “athletes” or “tools”? The Big question Equestrian sport may be strange but it is important. The matter has been seized by the Delhi High Court. The Rajasthan Equestrian Association asserts that “horses are just horses”. They’re transported like sports equipment, they can be replaced when they get sick, and they’re definitely not winning any medals. The Equestrian Federation of India (EFI) believes otherwise – a living creature should be considered an athlete. If only one could ask the horses their say on the matter.
On that note, let’s move on to today’s edition.
big story
In the post-Sheikh Hasina reality, relations between India and Bangladesh remained strained. Foreign Secretary Vikram Mishri’s visit to Dhaka has exposed the faults between the neighboring countries.
Hot-button issues: While Mishri stressed India’s interest in the welfare of minorities, his Bangladeshi counterpart Mohammad Jashim Uddin warned “other countries” not to comment on Dhaka’s “internal affairs”. Not only that. Border firing, Teesta water sharing and visa issues for Bangladeshi nationals were also on the table.
The way forward? India is ready to participate with Bangladesh. But the message is clear: Dhaka must be responsive to Delhi’s concerns, and not let strained relations influence the partnership.
word war: Also in the picture is West Bengal, which shares its border with Bangladesh. Commenting on some Bangladeshi leaders threatening to “take over” West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, “When you come to take over, don’t think of us sitting and eating lollipops.”
Only on express
A seismic shift has taken place in Syria. Half a century later, Assad no longer rules the country. Rebel fighters led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) struck at the right time—Assad’s allies Russia and Iran are under pressure and many West Asian players are engaged in their own battles. Researcher Bashir Ali Abbas West Asia explains the reordering of the chessboard.
From the front page
Sign of protest: Vice President and Rajya Sabha Speaker Jagdeep Dhankhar is currently not a popular figure among the opposition parties. In the second such attempt, the Bharat Bloc parties have decided to submit a notice to move a no-confidence or impeachment motion against Dhankhar. Barring that the number of opposition is not enough to see it through to the end, the proposal can go ahead. Some technical difficulties.
Gloves are off: And there are masks. It is moving towards the Congress party Inventive ways to protest Against the alleged favoritism of the ruling party towards industrialist Gautam Adani. Two of its MPs wore masks of Modi and Adani on Monday as Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi was ‘interviewed’ about their relationship. The Congress party is not ready to ease up on this issue by wearing stickers, masks and banners.
A must read
Turf War: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will get a new governor after 6 years. As Shaktikanta Das’s second term ends today, Revenue Secretary Sanjay Malhotra will take charge for the next three years. Friction with Uttarakhand (seat of finance ministry). RBI Vs Govt It is not uncommon for Das’s four predecessors to disagree with the Center on rate cuts and hikes.
Public Test: In his weekly column, Yogendra Yadav has reflected on the incidents in Punjab, and whether the Akal Takht was right to punish Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Badal. “…Was it appropriate for the SAD to surrender to the supreme command of the Akal Takht? This is not an internal matter of a party or a community or between a party and some religious leaders. There are at least three red lines that seem to have been crossed here.”
And finally…
“Kisi ke bap ka Hindustan ahti hai(India is nobody’s property)
It is strange to hear a ghazal at a music concert. But not when it comes to singer Diljit Dosanjh. Amid Bajrang Dal protests against his concert in Indore, Dosanjh paid tribute to Urdu poet Rahat Indore, Invoking his famous poem That was once a rallying cry for those protesting against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and a pan-India National Register of Citizens (NRC).
🎧 Before you go, tune in to 3 Things PodcastWhere we discuss India’s TB fight and drug shortages in 300 days of farmers’ protests.
until tomorrow,
Sonal Gupta
Business as usual by EP Unny