Front Page
News on Pulwama is on the back burner Thursday, displaced by the Saudi Crown Prince’s visit.
The Times of India puts a positive spin to the visit, writing in its headline, “Saudi crown prince vows ‘all cooperation’ against terror, $100bn investment in India.”
Hindustan Times points out a major political deficit: “Saudi condemns terror but silent on Pak’s role” while The Indian Express stands on neutral ground with, “India, Saudi underline UN terrorist sanctions.”
The Hindu, first makes it the third lead and then doesn’t mention Saudi in its headline at all: “India pitches for global action against terrorism.”
The accompanying photographs – ranging from a serious sit down meeting (HT) to PM Narendra Modi cuddling up to the Saudi Prince (TOI) – tell a story of their own. TOI captions the photograph — “The crown prince referred to PM Modi as his ‘elder brother.'”
TOI writes that Mohammed bin Salman “joined” PM Modi “in condemning the Pulwama attack in the “strongest terms”.
HT is less impressed with the statement, saying in its opening paragraph that Saudi Arabia “refrained from naming Pakistan for backing anti-India terror in a joint statement, which spoke in generic terms”.
The Express points out that the statement comes “at a time when India is stepping up efforts to brand the Jaish-e-Mohammed terror group’s chief a global terrorist,” which did not happen in this meeting.
“What’s unusual is that the joint statement refers to the need of India and Pak talks – with a rider that conditions should be conducive,” it writes in its ‘Explained’ box, calling out Riyadh for its “balancing act.”
Hindi dailies
Both Dainik Jagran and Amar Ujala have identical headlines saying- ‘Aatank ke khilaf bharat ko mila saudi arab ka saath’ and ‘Aatank ke khilaf saudi arab bhi saath’. However, Jagran adds that the Saudi side did not make any direct comment on Pakistan’s involvement in Pulwama.
Dainik Bhaskar has an interesting second lead that claims 1,000 jawans and 100 cars have been removed from the security of 18 separatists and 155 leaders.
Jagran in its editorial says the truce of `no politics’ on Pulwama has ended. It questions Congress for raising the issue of PM Modi going to the airport to receive the Saudi crown prince. It mentions Indian oil interests in Saudi Arabia and 27 lakh Indians residing there as reasons for good relations with Saudi Arabia. Congress should know the difference between diplomacy and politics, it writes.
Pakistani inmate killed
Both TOI and Express put news of a Pakistani inmate’s murder in a Jaipur jail on the front page. He died, writes TOI, “in a clash among inmates ostensibly over loud music on TV.” The Express adds that “Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) said he was beaten to death by a group of inmates in retaliation to the Pulwama incident.”
Anil Ambani
Meanwhile, “Anil Ambani will go to Jail Unless RCom Pays Up” (The Economic Times) and “SC heat on Anil Ambani” (Business Standard) are the leads for business newspapers this morning. ET‘s photo of Ambani with his face in his hands, says it all.
“Anil Ambani, RCom guilty of contempt of court, rules SC” makes the Hindu’s lead. The reports relates to the company paying Swedish telecommunications equipment firm Ericsson the Rs 453 crore it owes, otherwise Ambani along with chairpeople Satish Seth and Chhaya Virani “would each have to serve a sentence of three months’ imprisonment.”
TOI emphasizes on its front page flap that the order marks “the first-ever instance of holding a big industrialist liable for imprisonment for failing to clear dues.”
Opinion
TOI applauds “Indian-Saudi Tango” in its lead editorial, HT feels Imran Khan’s “response is inadequate” and the Express calls Meghalaya governor’s comments against Kashmiris a “Disgrace.”
The strongest commentary of the day is by historian Ramachandra Guha in “Shaming ourselves” (Express).
Guha begins with the “chilling reports … on the harassment of Kashmiri students” by right wing activists in Dehradun. He is baffled by this because “Kashmiris who come outside their home state…” to study are “India’s best hope to stemming…Islamic fundamentalism in the Valley.”
He shifts focus onto the political class singling out BJP president Amit Shah “who chooses to go down the path of communal bigotry” by saying he will not “allow Assam to become another Kashmir” – i.e, he won’t allow Muslims to settle there.
Guha also calls out the PM and Congress president: Modi for his silence on Meghalaya governor’s “despicable” tweets, which have not been “retracted” and Rahul Gandhi for saying nothing on the “demonisation of the ordinary Kashmiri.”
This is not only “morally wrong but politically suicidal” – none of the above will “make our jawans any safer” but it will “please and comfort our enemies.”
If such statements go “uncontested,” “Who does it help but the jihadis?” asks Guha.
Prime Time
The visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia was the main topic during prime time debates.
On CNN News18, Bhupendra Chaubey wanted to know identify the gains India made from the Saudi prince’s meeting with Modi.
Strategic affairs analyst Rashme Lall wasn’t sure. She said no one should “believe” Saudi Arabia: “We know Saudi Arabia supports Pakistan” and we cannot “trust” Pakistan. Saudi Arabia “was not going to turn its back on Pakistan” despite the optics with PM Modi.
“So what are we getting?” Chaubey asked Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Sambit Patra. Unusually, Patra answered the question. He said India’s relationship with Saudi Arabia had been “de-hyphenated” from Pakistan.
On India Today, Rajdeep Sardesai posed a similar question to diplomat Ashok Sajjanhar: did PM Modi do the “right thing” in his “hugoplomacy” or did he go “overboard?”
Sajjanhar felt he was right. He pointed out that only three countries could bring pressure to bear on Pakistan: UAE, China and Saudi Arabia. He reminded Sardesai that the Crown Prince would be in power for a long time so there was no need to slight him.
Prof Mohammed Ayoob disagreed. He felt Saudi Arabia’s response to Pulwama “fell short.” The “Modi-MBS embrace” as it is being called, was “self-delusional” – likewise to think India has made a “dent” in the Saudi-Pakistan relationship.
On Harvest TV, Barkha Dutt shifted back to Kashmir and to the recent comments by the governor of Meghalaya Tathagata Roy asking the public to shun Kashmiris and Kashmiri goods.
Congress spokesperson Adil Boparai was careful to tread the line between political correctness and political expediency: he criticised the governor’s remarks (“condemn” is the word he used), said everything was now seen in terms of “extremes” – reactions like Tathagata Roy’s showed “…the middle path is lost.” Then he added that at times like these, we should “stay united.”
Raghav Awasthi, lawyer and right wing activist reminded Boparia and Dutt that Kashmiris “cheer” Pakistan on social media.
Dutt objected to this: “You are choosing to focus on Kashmiris with links to Pakistan.”
“We have to be able to talk to each other,” she added and addressed Tathagata Roy directly, “you are pitting Indian against Indian…”