Monday, 10 February
Amar Ujala talks about Sri Lankan Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa’s five-day trip to India. His first visit to the country after taking charge as the Prime Minister is to strengthen security and trade. Rajapaksa wants to finalise the implementation of the $450 million line of credit pledged by Prime Minister Modi to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa during his visit to New Delhi in November last year. The daily writes that there are still a lot of issues that need ironing for India and Sri Lanka to strengthen their ties.
Tuesday, 11 February
Dainik Bhaskar comments on the Supreme Court decision on SC/ST Reservation.The decision by a two-member bench last week sent ripples and saw heated reaction across the political class. The apex court had said that states are not bound to provide reservations in appointments.
It also went on to say that it is up to the will of the government to grant reservation or promotion to a particular class (in this case, Scheduled Castes and Tribes), if they do not have proper representation in government jobs. In states with a significant Dalit population like Punjab (32 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (21 per cent) and West Bengal (23.53 per cent), governments will go ahead and provide reservation for the Dalits to garner votes, iy writes. The question is not whether it is appropriate to give reservation even after 70 years or not, the question is whether such a serious issue can be left to the political class, asks the daily.
Also read: It’s actually Modi govt’s fault that only 1.5 crore Indians pay income tax
Wednesday, 12 February
Dainik Bhaskar considers AAP’s victory in the Delhi Assembly election. It has a new message not only for political parties but also for the people of the country. This party is the product of the Anna Hazare movement against corruption and after coming to power in 2015, the AAP government allocated a third its first budget, approximately Rs 30,000 crore, to education and health. In the 2019 budget, this government started spending Rs 50 daily on the health of every family in Delhi. The masterstroke of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was free and cheap electricity. For people, whose average income is less than Rs 18,000 — good education, free medical care, free electricity and water was an unimaginable relief. The biggest thing was that the Delhi government increased its revenue despite providing free facilities. Will the central and other state governments learn?
Thursday, 13 February
Dainik Jagran says US President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to India comes at a time when the possibility of his becoming president again is high despite the impeachment process. However, it notes that it will be an onerous task to send out a positive message as the international media has been highly critical of the Indian government after the scrapping of Article 370 and the internet ban in Jammu and Kashmir, the Citizenship Amendment Act etc.
Friday, 14 February
Dainik Bhaskar talks about India’s tax system. The Prime Minister has appealed to the public, especially the affluent class, to pay their taxes honestly. In the last five years, more than 1.5 crore cars have been sold in the country. Over three crore Indians went abroad for work or travel.
Out of those who are left in our country, only one-and-a-half crore people in our country pay their income tax. According to the latest report, the country’s economic situation is getting worse. Inflation and the decline in industrial production that is unemployment is getting deeper. For decades it has been a matter of displeasure of the general public that a doctor practicing private practice earns ten thousand to two lakh rupees or more in a day, but hardly pays property tax. Therefore, a more efficient system of tax collection is required.
Dainik Jagran comments on the conviction of 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed by a Pakistani court ahead of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meet. The FATF is going to decide whether Pakistan should be blacklisted and if it had taken appropraite action against homegrown terrorism.
The daily, however, notes that Pakistan does not really intend to take any action against Saeed and this is just an eyewash in light of the FATF. Similarly, in the case of a terrorist attack on thePathankot airbase, Pakistan does not appear to be doing anything.
Amar Ujala writes that the Supreme Court ordered political parties to publish the entire criminal history of their candidates for Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. This judgment is applicable to all parties — at the national and state level. Candidates must have the qualification to win election and this will not happen without improving the political system.
Also read: Amit Shah’s performance as minister will now determine the success of Modi-Shah power pair
Awesome gaurav …….