Deepa Balakrishnan
8.2K posts
Deepa Balakrishnan
@deepab18
Journalist. Story-teller. Mom. Rights-ist. Reading, chai, travel make my day. Tweets are personal.
Bangalore, India Присоединился Haziran 2012
557 Подписки10.2K Подписчики
Deepa Balakrishnan ретвитнул
Netanyahu posted a proof-of-life video. People said it was AI because he had 6 fingers. He posted another one ordering coffee and showing 5 fingers. People said that was AI too because the coffee didn't spill.
We've crossed a line we can't uncross. The same AI tools that can generate a convincing fake of anyone on Earth have made it impossible to prove anything is real.
The technology that was supposed to give us more information has made all information less trustworthy.
This isn't about Netanyahu. Every world leader, every CEO, every public figure now lives in a world where "that's AI" is an unfalsifiable response to any evidence.
Proof of life now requires multiple videos, press witnesses, and cafe Instagram posts. People still don't believe it.
We built tools so powerful that seeing is no longer believing. Nobody has figured out what replaces it.
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Deepa Balakrishnan ретвитнул
The issue is not whether India should be “for” or “against” Israel, the United States, Iran, or the Gulf states in some emotional or ideological sense. The issue is whether any of these relationships, as they are currently conducted, advance India’s long-term interests without narrowing India’s strategic autonomy.
India’s strength has always lain in balance — in keeping multiple relationships alive at once, in speaking across divides, and in refusing to let any one partnership become a trap. That is not weakness. It is the essence of serious statecraft for a country of India’s scale, geography, and civilizational depth.
What has changed in recent years is the tone of the domestic discourse. There is a marked tendency to see Israel less as a partner than an object of admiration, even envy — a symbol of unapologetic force, swift retaliation, and the fantasy of unencumbered power. Much of the media has climbed aboard this train, cheering Israel less as a state with which India has specific interests than as a projection of their own ideological desires.
That is where the danger lies.
Admiration for Israeli military prowess is not strategy. It is emotional substitution. India is not Israel. Our geography is different, our scale is different, our society is different, and our vulnerabilities are different. We cannot afford to inherit another country’s siege mentality as if it were our own doctrine.
The real test for India is not whether it can applaud force. It is whether it can preserve room for manoeuvre, protect its energy and maritime interests, maintain credibility across West Asia, and keep its own voice.
A country like India should not suffer from “Israel envy”. It should have the confidence to be itself. I am sure it can.
Stanly Johny@johnstanly
Why are some Indian journalists tweeting like IDF handles? There's a cooking gas shortage in India. People are panic-buying fuel. In my city, long queues at petrol pumps have already started clogging roads. All because of this extremely reckless, disastrous war launched by netanyanu and his friend trump. They brought the war to India's neighbourhood. The consequences are affecting millions of Indians. If the war persists, it will hit the economy hard. And Delhi has to coordinate with both Arab capitals and Tehran to navigate this crisis. I mean, everyone may have an opinion, including journalists. But don't take it straight out of the IDF lingo.
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Deepa Balakrishnan ретвитнул
Diplomatic statements are often most revealing in what they omit, and the Iranian readout is a textbook example of that.
Look closely at the structure of the statement.
The Iranian foreign minister uses very strong language about the United States and Israel — “crimes,” “aggression,” “violation of the UN Charter,” and a call for governments to condemn them.
But when it comes to India and EAM Jaishankar, the tone shifts completely. There is no criticism, no complaint, no hint of disappointment about India’s silence or cautious posture.
The restraint is deliberate.
Iran clearly understands that India is in a delicate position:
•close strategic relations with the United States
•strong defence ties with Israel
•deep economic and historical connections with Iran
•vital energy and diaspora interests across the Gulf.
From Tehran’s perspective, antagonizing India publicly would achieve nothing. Instead, Iran is doing something much subtler: keeping India inside the tent.
By emphasizing continued consultations and bilateral relations, Iran is signalling that it still sees India as a country worth engaging, perhaps even as a potential diplomatic bridge to other actors.
In diplomacy, this is sometimes called “leaving the door open.”
There is another layer too. Iran has always valued India as one of the few major countries that maintained relations with it even during periods of heavy Western sanctions. Projects like the Chabahar port and broader civilizational links still matter in Tehran’s strategic imagination.
So rather than chastising India for not condemning the United States or Israel, Iran has chosen to acknowledge the conversation and move on.
In other words, Tehran is saying:
“We know you cannot say what we want you to say — but we are not going to push you into a corner.”
That kind of restraint is rarely accidental in diplomatic language. It suggests that Iran still sees India as a country whose strategic ambiguity is useful rather than hostile.
And in a war where narratives matter almost as much as missiles, keeping a large regional power like India connected to Tehran may itself be considered a small diplomatic victory.
Foreign Ministry, Islamic Republic of Iran@IRIMFA_EN
Iranian, Indian Foreign Ministers Discuss Regional Developments in Phone Call Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of India, held a phone conversation with Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, during which they discussed regional developments. In this telephone conversation, Iran's Foreign Minister detailed the crimes committed by the United States and the Israeli regime against the Iranian nation over the past 11 days, including the missile attack on a girls' elementary school in Minab on the first day of the war and subsequent widespread attacks on civilian sites and public service centers. He emphasized Iran's determination to comprehensively defend the integrity of Iran. The Foreign Minister described the aggressive act by the US and the Israeli regime as a violation of the fundamental principles and rules of the United Nations Charter and international law, noting that all governments have a responsibility to condemn this military aggression and blatant law-breaking. The foreign ministers of Iran and India also discussed the consequences of the US and Israeli regime's military aggression on the security of shipping and vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. Referring to Iran's principled approach to safeguarding shipping security in the Persian Gulf, Iran's Foreign Minister reminded that the insecure situation and problems arising for shipping in the Persian Gulf are a result of the aggressive and destabilizing actions of the United States, and the international community must hold the US accountable for this situation. The Indian Foreign Minister, while emphasizing the importance of continuing and enhancing bilateral relations between Tehran and New Delhi, stressed the necessity of ongoing consultations to help restore stability to the region.
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Deepa Balakrishnan ретвитнул
Cash is not a four-letter word
Cash stings when you spend it – and that sting saves you.
Cards and UPI make money feel fake, fuelling impulse buys. Notes and coins keep you grounded, force discipline, and protect your future.
Cash isn’t old-school. It’s your smartest money habit.
My weekly Paisanomics column in the Mumbai Mirror.
mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/opinion/cash-i…
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Deepa Balakrishnan ретвитнул
Happy Birthday Gulzar ❤️
Gulzar turns 91 today. What an iconic personality. Lyricist, author, poet, screen writer, director. His movies and songs have left an indelible impact on me. My top most favourite being Ijaazat. And this song remains my No 1 song of all times .
Contd...
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Deepa Balakrishnan ретвитнул
I see similarity between Trump's air strikes on Iran's three nuclear facilities which by all accounts were empty ........ and India's #OperationSindoor on nine terrorist camps & launch pads in Pakistan when Pakistan had enough warning (from April 22 to May 6 that India was preparing for revenge) to clear them.
Note the following:
1. In both cases, victory was claimed without proof of damage assessment.
2. In both cases, no defined military target or nuclear capabilities were hit.
3. Trump & India announced their limited operation was over unless the other side escalated.
4. In both cases, the attacks were done to ease domestic pressure.
5. Trump & Modi said that further operations were not ruled out. India called it 'pause'
6. In both cases, there was realization that an escalation could gravely harm own national security.
7. In both cases, the opponents were not deterred.
8. In both cases, it was 'wasted overkill' which did not help initiating nation's credibility.
9. In both cases, the world was left wondering: What Next?
So, enjoy the new uses of military power!
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Deepa Balakrishnan ретвитнул
Today, the Delhi HC made it clear that Abhijit Iyer Mitra’s tweets are unacceptable. He has to take it down. His lawyer tendered apology and said will take down in 5 hours. I want to ask journalists who get him on panels, what is your excuse? A few samples
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Deepa Balakrishnan ретвитнул
The transition to the correct infrastructure will take a decade at least. The only thing left to do now is to start doing things right. But if we neglect that thinking that's not a quick solution, we won't get the slow solution either.
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How often netas have refused to react to questions saying something is 'sub-judice'! Now, finally, this..
Bar and Bench@barandbench
#BREAKING: In a significant ruling on free press, Supreme Court holds even sub judice issues can be debated by general public and that it is NOT the duty of the court to "tell the media that delete this and take that down" #SupremeCourtofIndia
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Deepa Balakrishnan ретвитнул
@anubhabhonsle Well said.
Did India blunder in thinking this is finally a clash of narratives? Not lives?
x.com/anubhabhonsle/…
Anubha Bhonsle@anubhabhonsle
Details like an F16 shot down or a Pak pilot captured alive are too vital to be handed out as cryptic forwards to select journalists or via sources. They need a proper briefing or a detail from official channels, like the MoD. Already AI videos, misinformation, over zealous or inexperienced voices are creating much confusion.
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Deepa Balakrishnan ретвитнул
A tribal man from Karnataka spent 18 months in jail for murdering his wife, but she was found alive in 2025.
The police forced a confession, ignored DNA reports, and declared a random skeleton as her body.
@kavashivani reports
thenewsminute.com/karnataka/how-…
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Amazing
Uma Mahadevan Dasgupta@readingkafka
Very excited that Karnataka will soon have 6599 more village libraries. In addition to over 5800 rural libraries that are already functioning. Rural public libraries are community learning spaces for knowledge & interaction. #socialinfrastructure #publiclibrariesforall
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Deepa Balakrishnan ретвитнул
#BREAKING "75 years into our republic, we cannot be seen to be so shaky on our fundamentals that mere recital of a poem or for that matter, any form of art or entertainment, such as, stand-up comedy, can be alleged to lead to animosity or hatred amongst different communities. Subscribing to such a view would stifle all legitimate expressions of view in the public domain which is so fundamental to a free society" - Supreme Court.
SC made these observations while quashing a Gujarat FIR against Congress MP @ShayarImran over a poem shared on social media.
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Deepa Balakrishnan ретвитнул
CBI closes investigation in the death of Actor Sushant Singh Rajput, gives clean chit to @Tweet2Rhea and her family.
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#ProfessionalUpdate
I am pleased to announce my new position as Editor of Special Projects at @TheFederal_News a division of New Generation Media. I would appreciate your support and encouragement, and please feel free to direct message me if you have any leads.
The Federal@TheFederal_News
Mahalingam Ponnusamy is widely recognized for his insightful coverage of crucial topics including crime, social issues, politics, and in-depth investigations. @mahajournalist @medianews4u medianews4u.com/mahalingam-pon…
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Deepa Balakrishnan ретвитнул
Deepa Balakrishnan ретвитнул
Deepa Balakrishnan ретвитнул
Every job no matter how shitty brings some sense of personal achievement - even if it's only in the form of money. Women are brought up to accept the lower rung of power. It comes as a massive shock to men. It's not about cooking it's about worth.
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Deepa Balakrishnan ретвитнул
