"#India has never seen a crackdown on media freedom like the one Modi and Shah have engineered. Unlike the suspension of press freedoms during Indira Gandhi’s state of emergency in 1975-77, this crackdown has been achieved through quiet coercion and precise threats." #journalism

"Modi generally shuns press conferences & gives interviews only under strict conditions, with his office typically demanding questions in advance & allowing quotations only from a written script afterwards." John Reed's Big Read on #India's election on.ft.com/4bN31fl

"Press freedom in #India has been in retreat for a while, and under Mr #Modi the decline has accelerated." economist.com/asia/2024/05/2…

Former J&K PDP chief minister Mehbooba Mufti accuses police of persecuting polling agents in #Kashmir's #LokSabha elections in letter to Election Commission of India , The Wire reports.

"As votes from #India’s six-week long general election were counted on Tuesday, it was quickly clear that Narendra #Modi was on course for his third term as prime minister. That is where his satisfaction will end." on.ft.com/3VtzcLm

Want to know what just happened in #India? Read this piece by Soutik Biswas India election 2024: Why Modi failed to win outright majority - BBC News

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As ever, well worth reading ⁦Raghuram Rajan. Here he offers a manifesto for economic growth in a more democratic #India Reform may be the winner in the Indian election via Financial Times on.ft.com/3VgdWrh

The stellar panel for #KingsElectionNight more than makes up for my poor behind-the-pillar positioning photography. Straight on to policy: Lawrence Freedman suggests the previous defence review was a perfectly good one & Paul Johnson reckons Nov fiscal event with 1yr SR settlement.

In October 2023, the government announced significant changes to the HS2 programme Our latest National Audit Office report examines whether DfT and HS2 Ltd are effectively managing their response to the changes in the HS2 programme to protect and maximise vfm 🧵 1/9 nao.org.uk/reports/hs2-up…

We completed work on 13 value for money reports during the pre-election period. We are now publishing these reports at the earliest opportunity in the new Parliamentary session. The full list of reports we've published 👇 1/4 nao.org.uk

PFI is one of many issues identified in head of National Audit Office’s oped in The i Paper. Bottom line being it’s in everyone’s interest to make public money work harder, per our latest report: nao.org.uk/insights/makin…

“However daunting the investment challenges are, it’s always possible to get more out of what you’re currently spending.” NAO head Gareth Davies talks to Will Dunn in The New Statesman on how to make public money work harder 👇 newstatesman.com/the-weekend-in…

This is a great interview with Comptroller & Auditor General Gareth Davies, which can help all new MPs better understand how National Audit Office helps Parliament scrutinise government spending.

Kashmir goes to vote today in its first assembly elections for a decade - and the first since its statehood was revoked. The BJP are calling it a "success of democracy". Unfortunately, no foreign journalists were allowed to go theguardian.com/world/2024/sep…

Interesting piece. Wasn’t aware of the extradition treaty between #Bangladesh & #India.

This move by the Indian government creates space for Omar Abdullah - previously JKNC Chief Minister in Jammu & Kashmir - to form the first government in the disputed region since the abrogation of Article 370 on 5 August 2019.

Great to see a mention for National Audit Office latest lessons learned report in David’s column. You read the full thing here: x.com/naoorguk/statu…

Read my City A.M. column on why the UK must prioritise growth in the industrial strategy to strengthen our global position by boosting investment and leading in sustainable finance. Growth is key to securing our prosperity at home and our voice abroad. bit.ly/4f02sA5

There are just a couple of days left to be in with a chance of winning all three of my books. See details below 👇