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The Wire Wrap | Delhi Stampede, Vikatan Cartoon, New CEC Appointed

The Wire’s Jahnavi Sen is joined by Jomy Thomas, bureau chief at Malayala Manorama, and Seema Chishti, editor of The Wire, to talk about the official response and attempts to obfuscate the casualties.

On Saturday night, there was a stampede at the New Delhi Railway Station as massive crowds gathered on the platforms to board trains going towards Prayagaraj, where the Maha Kumbh Mela is ongoing. At least 18 people were killed in the chaos. This tragic event took place two weeks after there was a stampede at the Kumbh itself, where at least 30 people died.

The Wire’s Jahnavi Sen is joined by Jomy Thomas, bureau chief at Malayala Manorama, and Seema Chishti, editor of The Wire, to talk about the official response and attempts to obfuscate the casualties. They also discuss the Vikatan website becoming inaccessible after Bharatiya Janata Party members criticised a cartoon depicting Modi, the way Indians are being deported from the US, the Ranveer Allahbadia controversy and the appointment of Gyanesh Kumar as the chief election commissioner despite Rahul Gandhi’s dissent note on the process.

Watch | Trump’s Determined to Shake Up the World and Is Doing It Vigorously: Ex-Ambassador to USA

Navtej Sarna says that for the remaining three years and eleven months of the Trump presidency, we have to keep ‘our seat belts on.’

India’s former ambassador to USA, who served in Washington for two years during the first Trump presidency, says he “absolutely” believes that Trump is determined to shake up the world and is doing it vigorously.

Navtej Sarna says: “We have to come to terms with the fact the old days are over” and it’s now “every country for itself”, adding there are now “no rules to the game”. Sarna says that for the remaining three years and eleven months of the Trump presidency – which marks its first month in office tomorrow February 20, 2025 – we have to keep “our seat belts on…we’ll have to ride it out as best we can.”

SC Issues Contempt Notice to UP Govt Over Madni Masjid Demolition

The bench comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and AG Masih also restrained the Kushinagar district administration from carrying out any further demolition till the next hearing.

The Supreme Court issued a contempt notice to the district magistrate Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh for allegedly demolishing part of a mosque in violation of the apex court’s November 2024 judgment that barred demolitions across the country without prior notice.

The bench comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and A.G. Masih also restrained the Kushinagar district administration from carrying out any further demolition till the next hearing date on March 18.

Central Hall | Why Is EC Allowing Modi Govt to Throttle its Autonomy?

Does the evolving political landscape have an impact on the EC?

In this episode of Central Hall, host Kapil Sibal discusses the challenges and responsibilities of the Election Commission with Sanjay Singh, S. Y. Quraishi, and Deepender Singh Hooda. From electoral reforms to the evolving political landscape, this conversation dives deep into the state of democracy in India.

Ground Report: Chaos at LNJP Hospital After New Delhi Railway Station Stampede

Several families were struggling to find their loved ones at the hospital.

At least 18 people died and more than a dozen were injured in a stampede at the New Delhi railway station on Saturday night (February 15). The injured were rushed to Lok Nayak Hospital. However, several families were struggling to find their loved ones. Watch the full report to know more.

A Palestinian and Israeli View of Gaza, the Ceasefire and Trump’s Statements

Gideon Levy of Haaretz newspaper and Dalal Iriqat, Professor, Arab American University of Palestine, speak to Karan Thapar for The Wire.

Gideon Levy of Haaretz newspaper and Dalal Iriqat, Professor, Arab American University of Palestine speak to Karan Thapar for The Wire.

Award-winning columnist of Haaretz, Levy, said “there is nothing more important than to stop the war” and yet President Trump seems to be pushing Israel to renew the war. He said this way of handling the crisis is “explosive and dangerous”.

Levy believes that although the ceasefire will continue this Saturday and Hamas will release three Israeli hostages, he is extremely doubtful that there will be a phase 2.

Iriqat also believes that the Israel-Hamas ceasefire – which she calls a deal, not a proper ceasefire – will continue beyond Saturday. However, she said that the real danger lies at the end of phase one. Will there be a phase 2? Will there be a complete cessation of the war? Watch to know more.

Can Modi’s Washington Visit Lay the Foundations for Close Relations With the US During Trump 2.0?

Or might tricky issues like tariffs and illegal immigration wither the bloom?

Prime Minister Modi has arrived in Washington DC for a 2-day visit at the invitation of President Trump. This makes him one of just a few international leaders to meet Trump so soon after his inauguration. But what can this visit achieve? Is a second flowering of the Trump-Modi camaraderie likely? Or might tricky issues like tariffs and illegal immigration wither the bloom? And how much does everything depend upon the whims and caprices of a powerful and unchecked Donald Trump?

Those are the key issues Karan Thapar discusses with Senior Advisor on the South Asia Programme of the United States Institute of Peace, Daniel Markey.

Jamia Students’ Sit-In Protest | Repression, Show Cause Notices and Student Demands

The protest is about the crackdown on campus dissent, including restrictions on posters, graffiti and peaceful assemblies.

Students at Jamia Millia Islamia have launched a sit-in protest against administrative repression, demanding the withdrawal of show cause notices and disciplinary actions against student activists. The protest is about the crackdown on campus dissent, including restrictions on posters, graffiti and peaceful assemblies. Students spoke out against the university’s actions, as they demanded the revocation of memorandums curbing student rights and and end to the broader suppression of student expression.

Cops at Ranveer Allahabadia’s House: Why a Crass Joke Became a National Issue

Is such a massive backlash justified over a careless comment, while real social injustices often go unnoticed?

A case has been filed against @beerbiceps aka Ranveer Allahabadia in Maharashtra and Assam. Once considered close to the government, Ranveer now appears to be facing its ire. The controversy stems from an objectionable remark he made on a reality show, India’s Got Latent, which has sparked outrage on social media. This raises the question – is such a massive backlash justified over a careless comment, while real social injustices often go unnoticed?

The Wire Talks | ‘Jaishankar’s Statement on US Deportations Disappointing’: Vivek Katju

Katju said that the restraint on them was not necessary and generally “military aircraft were not used, they are very uncomfortable.”

There are established procedures to identify and return undocumented migrants from one country to another. It has to be done keeping in mind their dignity, said Vivek Katju, a former Indian diplomat, in this podcast interview with The Wire’s Founding Editor Sidharth Bhatia.

He emphasised twice that he was “disappointed in Jaishankar’s statement” in parliament explaining the manner in which the migrants were sent was according to American procedures. India too has a standard operating procedure (SOP) in taking back its nationals once they are identified. Jaishankar talked about the American SOPs, “why did he not talk about Indian ones?”

Katju said the restraint on them was not necessary and generally “military aircraft were not used, they are very uncomfortable.”