Hindi
Monday, 5 August
Amar Ujala said it’s a relief that doctors ended their strike against the National Medical Council (NMC) Bill. Often there are protests because people want to maintain a status quo. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has raised concerns over Section 32 of the NMC Bill that provides for licensing of non medical persons or community health providers to practise modern medicine. It has a provision for homeopathic, ayurvedic practitioners to undergo six months training like allopathic doctors. Care has to be taken that the standard of medical education doesn’t fall, advised Ujala.
Tuesday, 6 August
Dainik Jagran welcomed the Modi government’s move in Kashmir –“Modi hai toh mumkin hai’’is the slogan Modi had used to come back to power and the government has shown the willpower needed to revoke Article 370. This article argues that J&K’s special status had allowed separatists, self-serving leaders and Pakistan sympathisers to create an atmosphere in which people started to believe they were separate from the rest of India. The way Pakistan was adding fuel to fire, it became imperative that solid action be taken.
Amar Ujala calls it a bold and historical (“Sahasik aur Aitihasik’’) step. Now, the Right to Education Act among others will be applicable in J&K. Outsiders will be able to buy property there and women who married outside the state can also inherit property. Amit Shah rightly pointed out the thoughts of great socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia who believed that J&K couldn’t become part of India as long as Article 370 was in place.
Dainik Bhaskar hails the government’s move as an “Itihas ki majbooriyo se mukt karne wala kadam.” The newspaper says this is correcting a historical wrong which had become a gangrene and would have spread to the whole body of India. But how will the government deal with the Muslim majority, terrorism-infested South Kashmir? The government has thought about this too and after scrapping Article 35A, it can invite businesses to invest in Kashmir. The government can keep a rider that it will have to give employment to 80 per cent of local population. This will give hope to Kashmiri youth and curb terrorism. Also, BJP will be the main party in the newly formed Assembly of Jammu & Kashmir since the Jammu and Kashmir seats will be divided between National Conference, Peoples Democratic Party and the Congress.
Wednesday, 7 August
Dainik Jagran discusses Congress voices about Article 370 in “Atmaghati Asmanjas “. Congress is suffering from “suicidal indecision”. It has not learnt any lesson and on a matter of national importance the party could not clearly articulate its stand.
Amar Ujala talks of the “Nai Ummed” in Ladakh. It says that Ladakh has for years been under the shadow of J&K and neglected. As a Union Territory, there is hope that Ladakh will bear the fruits of development.
Thursday, 8 August
Dainik Jagran says that Pakistan’s reactions to developments in Kashmir is along expected lines. But India has no reason to worry – India had taken away the most favoured nation status of Pakistan after Pulwama attack and also stopped trade across border because it was becoming a route to smuggle narcotics.
Amar Ujala and Dainik Bhaskar pay tribute to Sushma Swaraj. Amar Ujala says Swaraj was a mild and courteous leader, a master orator and the way she connected with the common people will never be forgotten.
Dainik Bhaskar says Swaraj’s “personalised approach” left an even greater mark on people than her political personality. Her command over English and Hindi, her fiery speeches, her humour while dealing with Twitter requests about dysfunctional refrigerators, her sartorial style and her big red bindi will never be forgotten.
Friday, 9 August
Dainik Jagran says that since J&K and Ladakh are going to make a new beginning as Union Territories after the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A it was imperative that the PM address them directly. Modi did so Thursday and said it was the beginning of a new dream. He also clarified that J&K will remain a UT only for a short while. He also said that he was ready to listen to people who were against the move to revoke Article 370.
Dainik Bhaskar says Article 370 has been removed on paper but it will not be easy to remove it from the hearts of Kashmiris. That will take a long time. The PM had sent the message that India is keen to destroy terrorism. This will hopefully dissuade the youth of Kashmir from stone pelting and taking up guns. And Pakistan will not be able to breed terror.
Tamil
Monday 5, August
Dinamani writes against death penalty in the amendment to the POSCO Act. It says: “Firstly, just the fear of death penalty won’t stop criminals. This could also lead to murder of victims after sexual abuse. Secondly, with a death penalty, will victims come out against their kith and kin who commit crimes? Thirdly, judges often avoid awarding death penalties. The conviction rate in India was 22.2 per cent under POSCO until 2016. With the death penalty, the conviction rates could even come down.
Tuesday, 6 August
Dinamani welcomes the Modi government’s step to revoke Article 370. It says: “Even the drafting committee president and the then law minister Baba Saheb Ambedkar was against including this provision in the Constitution. Sardar Patel had also rejected the demands for Article 370. Only Nehru with the help of Alladi Krishnaswami Iyer pushed very hard to include it in the Constitution”. It goes on to say: “Constitution and laws are made to unite and develop, not for secession. If one understands this, she/he who claims to be patriotic and nationalistic will be able to appreciate Narendra Modi’s decision to end the special status of Kashmir”.
Wednesday, 9 August
Dinamani criticises the passage of bills by the Modi government this session in Parliament “without a proper discussion”. It says: “India stands at the 81st place in the corruption perception index. But we have not passed the Whistle Blowers Protection Bill yet. On the other hand, amendments to the RTI Act has just made it “debilitated”. This irony can only be sorted out through proper debates by the ruling and opposition parties. “Passing bills without discussions and debates in urgency is not right,” it says.