In a wide -ranging conversation with Mitali Mukherjee, N. Ram, director of The Hindu Publishing Group and former editor-in-chief of The Hindu Group of Publications said the Modi government has had no coherent policy for many months now regarding COVID-19.He said it was incomprehensible to have allowed large religious gatherings when COVID numbers were spiking across the country. Even if it was difficult for the government to ensure 100% compliance, they could have done much better in preventing the spread of the pandemic.On the recent and ongoing state elections, Ram said he was very confident the DMK alliance was set for a ‘big win’ in Tamil Nadu. While Kerala looked like a tight contest, it was possible the LDF that did a good job through the Nipah virus, floods and COVID outbreak may be rewarded a second term.Ram also spoke extensively on the recent findings of an investigative report on Rafale by French online news platform Mediapart. N. Ram’s investigative reports on the Rafale deal for The Hindu revealed that a big increase in the price of the Rafale transaction could be attributed to the deal having bypassed mandated procedures.Ram said the recent details unearthed by Mediapart had serious ramifications for future defence procurement deals that the Indian government may enter; every major supplier could now push for the government to drop the ‘no-corruption’ clause.However he pointed out that it was likely the Enforcement Directorate would pause or block the investigation. The onus on following the money trails was now on journalists as there was not enough pressure on either government (France or India) to investigate.