In his first Independence Day speech since being re-elected, PM Modi highlighted his first 10 weeks in office and announced a defence overhaul and water connectivity initiative.

Fact Check News : India will soon have a Chief of Defence Staff, announced Prime minister Narendra Modi while addressing the country on its 73rd Independence Day from the Red Fort. PM Modi made this and several other announcements in his sixth consecutive Independence Day speech and the first after being ruled back to power in May this year.

Recent Achievements

• Modi also reiterated that the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A of Indian Constitution; makes India into a country of ‘One Nation, One Constitution.’
• As part of the government’s achievements within 10 weeks of coming to power, Modi also said that they brought in a law to get rid of the practice of triple talaq. Making comparison with evil practices of Sati and Dowry, the prime minister said that this was a step that should have been taken long ago.
• Modi said that that the Goods and Service Tax (GST) and the abrogation the abrogation of article 370 has brought to the country together, and encouraged civil discussion for India moving towards ‘One Nation One Election’.

Read More → Narendra Modi Independence Day Speech 2019

Independence Day passed off peacefully but restrictions on free movement and communication have left the citizens unhappy.

Fact Check News : The city of Srinagar started preparing for Independence Day from August 14 – queuing up at the District Commissioner’s office to get a vehicle pass and a movement pass, stocking up on vegetables and fruits and locking themselves in.

The paramilitary and Jammu and Kashmir police set up several checkpoints in the city – Jahangir Chowk, Old Secretariat, Lal Chowk, Dal Gate, Khainyar, Karan Nagar, Zero Bridge, Sonwar, Clock Tower – all were manned by the forces.

From detailed checking of vehicles, frisking civilians and not allowing even ambulances to pass, the city saw more than usual curfew like conditions.

“Tomorrow there will be more than usual restrictions. It is Independence Day but we are not allowed to roam around freely,” said a resident of Downtown area in the city. This resident was buying fruits, eggs and vegetables from a single shop open near the Nowhatta police station on Wednesday. 

About 300 people queued up on Thursday to make STD and ISD calls to their family outside J&K…(Read Full Story)

In this episode, we shall speak to a well known comedian and a graphic novelist to ponder over the importance of satire, and how it can be spread without misinforming the audience.

Viral News India : Satire can empower, and it can misinform. In this week’s episode, we ponder over the thin line between satire and misinformation with cartoonist George Mathen and comedian Kunal Kamra.

Here is an excerpt from the episode:

There’s a common conception that young people, starting from the millenials, have increasingly detached themselves from mainstream news, on the account of it being boring, too serious, too dark, too repetitive.

And then you have a new format that become popular in the late 20th century – Satire. Comedy Central’s Daily Show, HBO’s Last Week Tonight and Netflix’s Patriot Act are some of the most popular satirical news shows right now.

And all of these shows are highly informational, educational and they show content with high news value. And what sets these shows apart is its use of comedy – which is opposed to the very serious voice taken by mainstream news anchors.

Some of the latest research in communication science have revealed that satire can be a very powerful tool to get people hooked on news and into politics.

But there is a catch. Satire has now been classified as a form of misinformation.

Listen to the Podcast here → How to Identify Satire From Misinformation?

With a communications blackout still in place, residents of Srinagar find themselves cut off from their loved ones. A ground report from Srinagar.

Viral News India : A long queue snakes through most police stations in Kashmir. From young boys, women with children in tow to families, all wait in line to get a chance to make one call.

Alif Umair has been waiting for six hours at a police station in Downtown area. “I am calling an IT firm in Bangalore to let them know that I have accepted the job offer, which I hope I still have. They sent me the letter the eve of the lockdown but with the communication lines down, I couldn’t convey my acceptance.”

Umair says his parents insisted he leave and go to Bangalore and tell them personally. “I don’t want to leave till the situation settles down or at least the phone lines are working again. I am the only child and with no means to speak to them. I will be worried.”

With the communication black-out entering Day 12 on August 16, Kashmiris are losing hope. While the curfew remains in place, many shops raise their shutters post 7.30 pm when the forces withdraw.

“I waited four hours to make a call to my daughter in Delhi the other day. And was allowed to speak to her for only a minute. The policeman kept staring at me till I cut the call,” explains Saira Mir. Mir is 60-years-old and her daughter works at a beauty parlour in Delhi.. (Read Full Story)