🎭 Political Theatre | Steeper tariffs, ‘stolen votes’: Modi govt feels the heat

Greetings readers,

Welcome to another edition of DH's Political Theatre where we bring you the latest developments from the political landscape of India and the world.

This week, India-US ties hit a new low with President Donald Trump doubling the trouble for his ‘friend’ Modi by imposing additional 25 per cent tariffs on Indian imports, taking the total to 50 per cent.

Troubles continued for the ruling BJP back home as well as the Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi alleged massive “vote chori” of one lakh votes in the Mahadevapura Assembly segment of Karnataka during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

The realm of politics also lost two of its leaders, former Jharkhand chief minister Shibu Soren, popularly known as "Dishom Guru", and former Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Satyapal Malik.

Please remain seated as we help unpack the political developments of the week for you.

Trump doubles down on India

India’s strategic move to increase purchases of discounted Russian oil after the Ukraine invasion is now costing it, with US President Donald Trump imposing what he calls “secondary” tariffs to “punish” New Delhi.

Trump issued an executive order on Wednesday imposing an additional 25 per cent tariff on goods from India, for New Delhi's 'sin' of directly or indirectly importing Russian oil.

The additional tariffs mean India will face the highest levy along with Brazil, putting it at a significant disadvantage against regional competitors such as Vietnam and Bangladesh.

The move—which experts see as a manifestation of Trump’s obsession with playing peacemaker and eventually compelling Putin to end the war in Ukraine—has upset extant geopolitical equations.

China, however, has surprisingly backed India, with its ambassador Xu Feihong slamming the US as a “bully” which, when given an inch, will take a mile.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also dialled PM Modi as two nations—divided by boundaries, culture, and language among other things—found unity in beating the tariff blues. While Lula did not hesitate to say that he saw no room for direct talks now with Trump that would likely result in his own "humiliation”, PM Modi, perhaps haunted by his fast-evaporating MAGA-MIGA dreams, only chose to drop a veiled riposte.

“For us, the interest of our farmers is our top priority. India will never compromise on the interests of its farmers, dairy farmers, fishermen, and livestock keepers," Modi said.

Grand old party’s ‘grand theft’ claim

Bengaluru dogs might be having chicken and rice meals, but do they have a residence certificate like the “Dog Babu” of Bihar?

While the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar is already facing questions over its integrity, with “Dogesh Babu”, “Sonalika Tractor” and even “Donald Trump” (not the one claiming ceasefire credit) applying for residential certificates, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has added to its woes, dropping some serious charges on the poll body.

Gandhi has accused the EC of “colluding” with the BJP and committing a “crime” against the Constitution. He raised questions on the electoral outcome of Bangalore Central Lok Sabha seat, claiming that there was “chori” (stealing) of one lakh votes in Mahadevapura Assembly segment during the 2024 elections. Rahul also termed the SIR exercise as “institutionalised chori.” He also took out a Vote Adhikaar Rally in Bengaluru to cement his point.

Soon after the LoP held a press conference to list out the allegations, Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer V Anbukumar asked Gandhi to sign a declaration or oath, which includes an undertaking that he will be punished if his “vote theft” claim is found to be false.

The BJP, meanwhile, has rubbished the claims and called Rahul’s allegations “irresponsible.”

Hunt for next V-P begins

The Election Commission on Thursday issued a notification for the September 9 Vice Presidential poll, kickstarting the exercise to elect Jagdeep Dhankhar's successor.

The ruling BJP-led NDA has begun internal consultations for fielding candidates for the V-P election.

The NDA has authorised PM Narendra Modi and BJP president J P Nadda to pick the ruling bloc's V-P candidate. Top I.N.D.I.A. leaders too on Thursday night decided to field an “eminent” candidate in a bid “not to give a walkover” to the BJP-led NDA at a time the Constitution is “under assault."

The last date for the withdrawal of nominations is August 25.

Lost in translation

“...nationalism is a cruel epidemic of evil that is sweeping over the human world of the present age, eating into its moral vitality.”

Little did Bengali polymath Rabindranath Tagore know that raging nationalism would one day lead to his beloved language being labelled as foreign.

A purported letter from the Delhi Police requesting for an official translator/interpreter proficient in "Bangladeshi national language" to translate the "texts written in Bangladeshi to Hindi and English", kicked up a political storm.

West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee lashed out at the Delhi Police alleging that it was "insulting, anti-national and unconstitutional" to call Bangla, Bangladeshi language.

"See now how Delhi Police under the direct control of the Ministry of Home, Government of India, is describing Bengali as "Bangladeshi" language!" Banerjee posted on her Facebook account, sharing a copy of the letter.

Propaganda on podium

The Kerala Story winning two National Awards created so much buzz in both the entertainment and political circles that it almost overshadowed Shah Rukh Khan finally winning the prestigious award, 33 years into his career.

While whether the King of Bollywood actually deserved it for Jawan or not could’ve made for great cinema think pieces, what followed the National Awards announcement was the right wing lobby hailing the awards and left wing parties slamming the jury.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said that awarding national film honours to The Kerala Story can only be seen as an endorsement of attempts to misuse movies to spread communal hatred and urged the cultural and film community to oppose such moves unitedly.

With The Kashmir Files winning big at the National Awards in 2023 and now The Kerala Story, the makers of The Sabarmati Report and even Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi (no points for guessing who the story is based on) are eagerly counting the days until the next awards.

A man-made famine in Gaza

Heart wrenching stories are emerging from Gaza where Israel has clamped down on humanitarian aid. A global hunger monitor has said a famine scenario is unfolding in the densely populated city, where nearly all the territory's more than 2 million people have been displaced, often repeatedly.

As the city grapples with thirst and hunger, Israel's security cabinet approved a plan on Friday to take full control of Gaza City, a move expanding military operations in the shattered Palestinian territory despite growing criticism at home and abroad over the almost two-year-old war.

Far-right allies in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition have been pushing for a total takeover of Gaza as part of his vow to eradicate Hamas militants, though the military has warned this could endanger the lives of remaining hostages held by the group.

Netanyahu, meanwhile, also said that Israel doesn’t “want to keep Gaza.” "We want to have a security perimeter. We don't want to govern it. We don't want to be there as a governing body," he said.

That's about all the political drama that unfolded this week. DH's Political Theatre will come back again next week with more political developments from around the world.

Exit Stage Left,

DH Newsletters Team