April 29, 2023

Good morning. Every Saturday, we publish the results of polls from feature stories that were published the past week. We also give a brief overview of the topics that were discussed.

🗳️ POLL RESULTS – Week 122

🗓️ THE WEEK THAT WAS

Should the Hindu community be given ‘minority status’ in Jammu and Kashmir?

Daily | 24 April 2023

The issue was brought to the apex court’s attention last year, but the debate is quite old: can the Hindu majority community be deemed a religious minority in any part of the country? Read more on this here.

Is the push for more hydropower projects in Arunachal Pradesh justified?

Daily | 25 April 2023

Arunachal Pradesh is the state in the spotlight here. It’s expected to sign several agreements to set up 13 gigawatts (GW) of new hydropower projects. Like the northeast region, Arunachal has enormous hydropower potential waiting to be tapped. But is this coming at the cost of the environment? We discuss it here.

Basic Structure Doctrine: Does it further constitutionalism or squander it piecemeal?

Daily | 26 April 2023

Fifty years ago, it was decided that the Parliament had the authority to amend the Constitution but not its “basic structure.” Popular opinion remains split, to this day, over whether BSD is a necessary feature of constitutionalism or a flaw. While Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud calls it the North Star of democracy, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar argues the contrary. We unpack this here.

Do Satyapal Malik’s remarks about the BJP government carry any weight?

Daily | 27 April 2023

Former Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) Governor Satyapal Malik’s recent interview with Karan Thapar made headlines. From the Pulwama attack to the Modi government turning a blind eye to corruption, Malik didn’t hold back on his insider knowledge. As the opposition and BJP critics have pounced on Malik’s revelations, do his words hold any water? Find the debate here.

Is Applied Behaviour Analysis for people with autism cruel?

Daily | 28 April 2023

Particularly famous in North America, ABA is often endorsed as the gold standard for children with ASD. But opinions are deeply polarised on this. Autism activists, especially those with ASD, condemn its use. What is ABA, and why is it so controversial? Find more here.