Left, Right & Centre

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar has described Article 142, which grants plenary powers to the Supreme Court, as a "nuclear missile against democratic forces available to the judiciary 24x7". "There is a directive to the president by a recent judgment. Where are we heading? What is happening in the country? We have to be extremely sensitive. It is not a question of someone filing a review or not. We never bargained for democracy for this day. President being called upon to decide in a time-bound manner, and if not, becomes law," he said, days after the top court sought to fix a timeline for the president to grant assent to the bills reserved for her consideration by the governor.  

In today's Left, Right and Centre, we dived into US President Donald Trump's ever-shifting tariffs and their grip on global trade. From 25 per cent duties on Canada and Mexico to 145 per cent on China, the markets are reeling, and consumers are facing rising costs. But can the world expect relief?

Global markets are in freefall amid Trump's tariff chaos, with the Dow plunging 1,600 points and the FTSE 100 down 7%-its worst week since 2020. Rumour mills were abuzz with unconfirmed reports suggesting Trump is now considering a 90-day tariff pause for all countries except China, only to be shut down by the White House.... Analysts warn the uncertainty will still hurt economies worldwide. As the S&P 500 and Nasdaq tumble, the world braces for more fallout from this trade war.  Economists warn of a looming recession, with JPMorgan pegging the odds at 60%. Trump remains defiant, calling the tariffs a negotiation tool, but the world braces for a potential trade war.

The Election fever is heating up in Tamil Nadu, and the battle lines are drawn. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a blistering attack on Chhief Minister MK Stalin during his mega Tamil outreach in Rameswaram on Ram Navami, inaugurating the new Pamban Bridge. But MK Stalin skipped the event, firing back with a demand for assurances on delimitation. The PM took a stern rebuttal stance, dodging DMK's allegations on funds and Katchatheevu, instead taking a potshot at Stalin: 'Why doesn't Tamil Nadu teach medical courses in Tamil?'

The Supreme Court has halted tree felling near Hyderabad University, slamming the Telangana government's deforestation push for IT development as "alarming." The order, sparking relief among students and environmentalists, has ignited a political firestorm. The ruling Congress faces accusations of ecological neglect from the BRS and BJP, who claim it's a win for public sentiment and a blow to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's economic agenda. With protests escalating and the court demanding answers by April 16, Telangana's political landscape braces for turbulence.  

Hours after her government faced a big setback in the teachers' recruitment case, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she does not accept the Supreme Court judgment personally, but her government will implement it and repeat the selection process. She also questioned if Opposition BJP and CPM wanted Bengal's education system to collapse.

President Trump has announced a 26% tariff on Indian imports, effective April 9, 2025, targeting India's $87 billion export market. Aimed at balancing trade, this could slash India's earnings by billions, though for now, New Delhi has struck a conciliatory note, looking to work out the differences. The commerce ministry has issued a statement saying they are examining the opportunities and challenges as well as the implications of the tariffs.  

Allegations of corruption are plaguing Chinese infrastructure projects worldwide, including a collapsed 33-storey building in Bangkok linked to a Chinese firm. Thai police have detained four Chinese nationals attempting to remove files from the site, raising cover-up fears. From bribery in Africa to faulty dams in South America, critics highlight a pattern of substandard work and opacity in Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative. The Bangkok disaster, which killed 18, has intensified scrutiny of possible shoddy materials and oversight failures. Investigations are underway as global concerns grow. Watch the full show on NDTV

A cinematic storm is brewing as the makers of "Empuraan" cave to pressure, announcing voluntary cuts to the film amidst a maelstrom of criticism. The movie's depiction of sensitive historical events has ignited a fierce debate, with the BJP and RSS launching a scathing attack on the film's alleged anti-Hindu narrative. Meanwhile, the Kerala CM and Congress have rallied to its defense. Actor Mohanlal has attempted to douse the flames with a public apology, acknowledging the responsibility of artists to avoid inciting hatred. But the criticism continues to pour in, with former Infosys CFO Mohandas Pai branding the film 'propaganda'. At the eye of the storm is a contentious reference to the Godhra riots, sparking a national conversation on creative freedom, historical accuracy, and the boundaries of artistic expression. But the big question is, is it political pressure or proxy censorship?

A catastrophic 7.7-magnitude earthquake has unleashed devastation across Myanmar and Thailand, leaving a trail of destruction and despair in its wake. In Bangkok, Thailand's bustling capital, a skyscraper under construction collapsed, killing at least three people and sparking a desperate search for survivors. The city's streets are filled with the sounds of sirens, the smell of smoke, and the cries of those searching for loved ones. As rescue teams battle to reach those trapped, the full extent of the disaster is slowly emerging. Buildings have been reduced to rubble, homes have been destroyed, and entire communities have been left shattered. NDTV is at ground zero bringing the latest updates from the region.

President Donald Trump warming up to the April 2 Tariff deadline announcing fresh tariffs as high as 25% on imported automobiles leading to global outrage. From Canada to Germany to Japan, even China nations are up in arms. Watch left Right and Centre

The language showdown between Chief Minister Stalin and BJP in Tamil Nadu morphing into a clash of egos. Annamalai's tirade against Stalin came in response to Stalin's assertion of being Tamil Nadu's fair and firm voice on the Two Language Policy. Watch left Right and Centre

The controversy over the cash haul at the Delhi HC judge Yashwant Varma continues to raise heat... A day after the SC appointed probe panel of 3 judges visited justice Varma's home, a team of Delhi police landed at the judge's Delhi home and sealed the room where the cash was found. The cash stash has raised serious questions on judges accountability and the systemic response to such a situation. Will the issue eventually lead to a renewed showdown between the judiciary and the executive over an NJAC for judges appointment. Watch the full show Left, Right & Centre only on NDTV.

Its a silly season in Maharashtra. Standup Comedian Kunal Kamra is receiving death threats over a joke. Kamra claims he has received 500 calls with the callers threatening him, he will appear before the Mumbai police soon after a week. The ruling Shivsena continues to justify vandalism calling it reaction to an action. Lets be clear that vandalism is absolutely an unacceptable response to a joke which many see as not funny but no matter how defamatory or slanderous it maybe...violence has to be condemned. First up the story and then we ask, why are the politicians so thin skinned? Watch the full show on NDTV.

Jokes and satire are meant to evoke laughter but in India they trigger outrage, police cases, hounding of comedians and artistes. The latest in the club is Kunal Kamra, whose satire on Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has run roughshod of the establishment. This is no laughing matter, as Mr Shinde's supporters ransacked the studio where Mr Kamra performed. Former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray defended Mr Kamra against the BJP and Sena attacks, who on their part reminded Mr Thackeray of his action on actor Kangana Ranaut when BMC bulldozers under his watch demolished parts of Ms Ranaut's home. The BJP called him a hypocrite on free speech. Doesn't it all sound like a big political circus? Why can't India take a joke? When and how did we lose our funny bone? Is the joke on us? That's our big debate on Left, Right and Centre, only on NDTV.

Judge Cash Case | The Supreme Court has released a bombshell report—complete with videos and photos—showing sacks of charred currency notes allegedly recovered from the residence of Delhi High Court Judge Yashwant Varma during a fire-fighting operation. Justice Varma has denied claims of a massive cash stash hidden at his home. But the questions are mounting, and Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna has now tasked a three-member panel of high court judges to get to the bottom of it. Whatever it is, it demands complete & full attention of the top echelon of the concerned institutions and it is certainly a time to not brush these issues of corruption under the carpet

Sunita Williams Landing | months on the International Space Station, are finally heading back to Earth aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. They have undocked from the ISS and are on their way. They began their journey at 10:35 am on Tuesday and are expected to land around 3:35 am on Wednesday after a 17-hour trip. Follow Sunita Williams Homecoming Live Updates Here During their time aboard the orbiting laboratory, Sunita Williams, Butch Wilmore, and Nick Hague conducted over 900 hours of study in addition to more than 150 unique scientific experiments and technological demonstrations

All eyes are on space as NASA astronaut Sunita Williams prepares to return to Earth after an extended mission aboard the International Space Station. With her scheduled splashdown just days away, we dived into what’s ahead for the veteran astronaut and how her journey could shape the future of space exploration in today's Left, Right & Centre.

Kannada Actor, Ranya Rao has alleged that she was physically tortured in jail. She has also said that she was denied food and was slapped while in the custody of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). Rao was arrested on March 3, 2025, at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru for allegedly smuggling 14.8 kg of gold worth ₹12.56 crore from Dubai. Rao has also claimed that she was arrested from the aircraft, not the airport, and was subjected to mental harassment during her interrogation. The DRI has dismissed the allegations of physical torture, stating that all procedures were recorded on CCTV. Her allegations raise a very interesting question: is her stature causing officials to try to make an example of her? Or is it helping her case remain in the national spotlight?