Beyond Pretensions: Narendra Modi and Ajay Piramal

The piece offers a trenchant critique of the symbiotic relationship between Narendra Modi’s BJP-led government and Ajay Piramal, framing it as emblematic of how politico-economic power is consolidated in contemporary India by means of moral-symbolic pretension and regulatory capture. The authors open with two speeches by Modi — one on the Congress manifesto, the other on the Ambani-Adani “scandal” — which they characterise as emblematic of his “habitual … web of pseudology” and the anxieties facing his regime. They then turn to Piramal, noting his declared allegiance to Gaudiya Vaishnava spirituality (via his association with ISKCON) and yet contrasting that with the multiple controversies surrounding him: alleged environmental violations (e.g., Digwal), insider trading reliefs, his acquisition of Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Limited (DHFL) via the insolvency regime, substantial electoral-bond donations to the BJP, and his positioning as a “friendly oligarch”. The article thus argues that Piramal’s spiritual-philanthropic branding and Modi’s populist entrepreneurial discourse function together to legitimise a regime of “more equal than others” capitalism in which dissent is sidelined, regulatory checks are bypassed, and unscrutinised mass suffering persists (illustrated through farmers, Manipuri communities and FD-holders). The tone is sharply condemnatory: Piramal is depicted as a “pretentious monster” unwilling to “look in the mirror”; Modi and the BJP are argued to be on the cusp of losing power as their contradictions mount. In sum, the article frames this duo as a case-study in how political-economic power cloaks itself in spirituality, populism and development slogans to evade accountability and maintain elite rule.

Ajay Piramal in the Ring of Fire of Controversies

This article presents a critical survey of the many controversies encircling Ajay Piramal, framing him as a polarising business-magnate whose corporate manoeuvres are frequently contested and legally fraught. Against a backdrop of alleged insider-trading, environmental violations (notably in Digwal, Telangana), the contentious acquisition of Dewan Housing Finance Corporation Limited (DHFL) via the insolvency process, large electoral-bond donations to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the use of defamation and contempt litigation against critics, the piece argues that Piramal’s business success is anchored in regulatory capture, political patronage, and legal privilege. It argues that, by deploying legal tactics such as “blanket stay orders,” leveraging judicial delays and restructuring strategies (mergers/demergers) and aligning with ruling party dynamics, Piramal navigates a “ring of fire” of regulatory, social‐ and investor-based controversies while avoiding significant accountability. The article highlights how the financial losses of depositors and NCD investors in the DHFL resolution process, the alleged environmental harms, and the suppression of dissent through legal intimidation (SLAPP-type suits) are symptomatic of a broader state–capital nexus in which ordinary stakeholders—and democratic accountability—are systematically disadvantaged. It emphasises that although many of these controversies remain sub-judice, the weight of circumstantial evidence suggests a pattern of elite protection, structural impunity and capture of institutional mechanisms.

In Defence of the Ladakh Movement: A Faint Voice of Solidarity During the Ominous Hour of Climate Emergency

The article defends the Ladakh movement as a crucial voice against environmental degradation and climate change, particularly in the face of the Himalayan region’s vulnerabilities. It highlights the importance of indigenous and local perspectives in climate activism, emphasizing Ladakh’s ecological sensitivity and the dangers posed by unchecked development. The piece also calls for solidarity with grassroots movements that prioritize sustainable and culturally sensitive practices, urging broader attention to the climate emergency’s impact on marginalized communities.