Featured Articles

I am Sorry, Ankita - from Colin Gonsalves

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Ankita_Bhandari  

https://cdn.countercurrents.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/A-Fact-Finding-Report-on-the-Murder-of-Ankita-Bhandari.pdf 

(Open Letter of Supreme Court Advocate Colin Gonsalves On Supreme Court's Refusal to Entertain Petition for CBI Enquiry into murder of Ankita, a young girl who was killed while employed in a hotel run by a BJP leader's close relative in Dehradun.)

I’m sorry, Ankita that your case in the Supreme Court seeking a CBI investigation into your murder was disposed of and we have not yet managed to catch the main culprit. I’m sorry Ashutosh, fearless journalist and Petitioner before the Court that you have had to suffer victimisation for investigating this case and had FIRs filed against you and also suffered the victimisation of your wife by way of her transfer. I’m sorry Soni Devi, for the death of your darling daughter by a VIP who asked for “special services” from Ankita, a young girl working in the hotel. Her refusal led to her murder. 

Read more …

90% of population--have no money to spend on non-essential items

100 crore Indians--90% of population--have no money to spend on non-essential items; 10% are consuming class: Report https://www.livemint.com/news/india/100-crore-indians-have-no-money-to-spend-on-non-essential-items-report-11740593010860.html a study by venture capital firm Blume Ventures..describes aspirant consumers as "heavy consumers and reluctant payers". It highlights that industries like OTT/media, gaming, edtech, and lending are particularly relevant to this segment. The introduction of UPI and AutoPay has facilitated small-ticket transactions, encouraging greater participation from this group in the economy... wealth is becoming more concentrated. Companies are increasingly focusing on premiumisation, a strategy that emphasises high-end, expensive products tailored for wealthier consumers. This trend is evident in the booming sales of luxury homes and premium smartphones, even as budget-friendly options struggle...The report concludes that India’s GDP remains heavily dependent on consumer spending. However, unless income distribution improves, businesses may increasingly cater only to high-income groups, further marginalising a significant portion of the population.

full report: https://docsend.com/view/pyxuqunkm9ejw38q#

Reduced to a Non-Functional Entity': Press Council

Reduced to a Non-Functional Entity': Mumbai Press Club on Delay in Constitution of New Council of PCI f
The Wire Staff  https://thewire.in/media/reduced-to-a-non-functional-entity-mumbai-press-club-on-delay-in-constitution-of-new-council-of-pci the Mumbai Press Club (MPC) and the Editors Guild of India (EGI). "are well known and are active in upholding the rights of the Fourth Estate. It is also significant that it was these two organisations that had taken the lead in the previous Press Council on issues such as the wrongful detention of journalists, the suppression of press persons in Jammu and Kashmir and the mass retrenchments of media personnel during the Covid-19 pandemic. Perhaps this was not appreciated in certain quarters,” said the MPC statement.