Anirudh Bhattacharyya with a Canadian perspective on the Indian Farm Protests

Anirudh Bhattacharyya with a Canadian perspective on the Indian Farm Protests

A few weeks ago, I interviewed Dr. Anmol Kapoor on the Indian Farm Protests. It has been a developing and ongoing issue within India that is beginning to make international headlines and spill into Indian expat communities around the world. It is a nuanced issue that involves farm policy reform and has some cultural and ethnic complications which have made this a very heated and divisive issue for many people in the Indian community and a concerning and confusing one for those of us outside of it. There are some distinct perspectives on these protests. Dr. Kapoor offered one, and now Anirudh Bhattacharyya is offering another. Anirudh Bhattacharyya is an author and columnist based in Troonto who writes for the Hindustan Times among other publications. He recently wrote a piece in published by the MacDonald Laurier Institute on Canada/India relations that touches on the protest issues and how these things may impact Canada. Bhattacharyya offers a position more supportive of farm policy reforms. https://www.macdonaldlaurier.ca/canad... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbmdfTlJUQVo0MEdRV0dQdGNBM0RlZUVYY1dFZ3xBQ3Jtc0tuVGNkYjNlLUdpcDJHQWJOSk4ydnRuUkhfTEJ4MjN1SWdHblp3Rk81bnhiUnpBOWJHNkNKbHJ0WnduNDNuU2lGMllybzQ1Z3hHUU42ZnZsWWduekZ3Zmk1ZEdnRzZkTkJCbGZPOTZvQUt2RFVnNkVhYw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.macdonaldlaurier.ca%2Fcanada-india-relations-inside-policy%2F]​ As for myself, it is one of those rare issues where I am trying not to take a side. I don't understand enough about the basis of it and just want to learn as much as possible. The Indian community is a strong and growing segment of Canadian society with a huge population in the country. It is unfortunate and concerning when divisions from the homeland spill over into Canada and we should always be concerned when they do so.

Angelo Isidorou pushes back against the cancel mob.

Angelo Isidorou is a young podcaster/journalist in Vancouver who while ironically running an ongoing chow about cancel culture, is now a victim of that very cancel culture himself.  A fringe-left publication online used a picture of Angelo from years ago in a pose using the OK sign and created a campaign to label Isodorou as a white supremacist. It was a ridiculous reach but the damage was done and even the Mayor of Vancouver jumped on the bandwagon of trying to label Isidorou.  The parallels with Caylan Ford are striking as she was targeted unfairly by a fringe left publication as well and Calgary's mayor jumped into the fray.  Ford is suing those who defamed her and so is Isodorou.  They won't let these online bullies smear them and potentially ruin their future career paths.  Angelo explains in detail what led to this mess and what he is doing about it.  Let's all hope that Angelo and Caylan are both successful in their actions. If the unprincipled publications that slandered Ford and Isidorou lose these suits, it will set a precedent that will help prevent this kind of odious character assassination in the future.  Consider helping Angelo out with his legal funds at the link below. It's going to be a long battle and it is for all of us in the end.https://www.gofundme.com/f/tuj3g-support-angelo-in-his-defamation-case [https://www.gofundme.com/f/tuj3g-support-angelo-in-his-defamation-case]

On Edmonton's anti-lockdown rally being ruined by tiki-torch carrying fools.

Last weekend in Edmonton, a number of anti-lockdown organizers decided for some inexplicable reason that marching with a number of people including their leader, holding tiki torches would be a good idea. The rally was of course reported as being a white nationalist event, the messaging about lockdowns was utterly lost and these rallies have lost a pile of credibility. The likelihood of anti-lockdown rallies gaining support and participation from average folks dropped dramatically last weekend and there is no good excuse for it. I am tired of arguing with people on Twitter over why this was an idiotic and damaging move so have put it into a video to cover ground rather than trying to respond to the apologists on Twitter trying to make excuses for this.

Dr. Anmol Kapoor on the Indian farmers’ protest

While the world has been occupied with the COVID-19 pandemic and other affairs such as the American election, an event has been developing under the radar in India for months. The Indian government has been becoming increasingly authoritarian and they rammed some bills through their parliament with little debate which will very directly impact the farming community in India. This has sparked protests which have led to over 100,000 protesters being on the border of Delhi while the government has been becoming increasingly violent in efforts to quell this uprising. It could end very tragically if this continues. It is a complicated issue with roots going back to government agricultural policies from the 1960s. I spoke with Dr. Anmol Kapoor to get a better understanding of what is happening over there and what may be done about it. Dr. Kappor is a Calgary cardiologist who has been outspoken on social media in trying to bring attention to this issue. Calgary has a large Indian population and many people are concerned for the well being of family members back in India as these protests escalate. Dr. Kapoor offers some much-needed insight into what led to this standoff and what it may take to bring it to a peaceful end.

Barside political talk and rambling with Brian Hutchinson

Among the many many things which have been lost in the COVID-19 pandemic, we have lost the banter and chatter from the true political experts of the world who tended to congregate at the local pub.  In less restrictive days, we would drink and solve the world's problems at the barside.  Hutch used to be a regular patron at the pub I used to own. We would have extended chats as I tended bar and politics was of course a top issue.  I don't miss much about bar ownership but I do miss some of the interactions with my neighbors.  It was great to sit down with Hutch to rant on about the world at his basement bar for a podcast episode.  We may not have solved the world's problems but we made a good go of it and it felt nice to have a touch of normalcy like we used to have if only for an hour.