New Delhi: Most prime time debates Thursday focused on the encounter between Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists and the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir, where four terrorists were gunned down in Nagrota. The terrorists were reportedly carrying weapons in a truck.
CNN News 18 wondered if Pakistan was trying to disrupt J&K’s upcoming polls and Republic TV’s panelists tried to uncover the hidden plot behind the attacks. Meanwhile, on ABP News, Rubika Liyaquat declared that Pakistan was a “gold medallist in terrorism”.
However, first up is NDTV 24×7, which focused on the drastic deterioration of the Covid-19 situation in Delhi.
“After a long period in which the death rate was low, we are now hitting 100 deaths a day. There are few cities in the world that have this sort of death rate,” anchor Vishnu Som pointed out.
Talking about the newly-imposed Rs 2,000 fine on those who do not wear a mask, Dr S.K. Sarin, director of the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, said, “Well, fines are actually a deterrent but you should consider if the cause is bigger or the money is bigger. We have to value life over money. If you are safe, the other person is safe.”
Aam Aadmi Party’s Jasmine Shah also chimed in saying that a lockdown will not be the next step.
“I don’t think we will get to that stage. After a lot of deliberation, the Delhi government has increased the fine and imposed the restrictions on weddings. The other proposal on our radar will be to shut down local hotspots,” she said.
On CNN-News 18, anchor Zakka Jacob, who immediately drew a direct link between the JeM infiltrators and Pakistan, wondered if there was any intent to target the upcoming District Development Council election in J&K.
“There are two-fold reasons for this Pak-sponsored terrorism,” said BJP’s Sambit Patra.
“We are fast moving towards harsh winter and it has been a ‘terror tradition’ to see to this that terrorists infiltrate India before the harsh realities of winters set in. And of course, after the abrogation of Article 370, the sort of developmental democracy that Jammu and Kashmir is seeing, it cannot be taken down well by Pakistan,” he noted.
Academician and political analyst Qamar Cheema, however, fired back saying, “You should stop this blame game. You need to sort out your own problems. You have occupied a territory and people are fighting against you.”
On Republic TV, Smita Prakash, Editor ANI, saw an underlying conspiracy in the infiltration: “It’s quite clear that there is a deliberate attempt to target the civilians in Kashmir. Pakistan is attempting to do something on a big scale. There is a plot to derail the DDC Polls in Jammu and Kashmir.”
BJP’s Sudhanshu Trivedi was at his reassuring best. “We are committed for international peace, but if someone attacks us it will be tit for tat”.
On Aaj Tak, Rohit Sardana interviewed former army chief and Union Minister General (retd.) V.K. Singh on the incident in J&K.
Singh congratulated the security forces for killing the terrorists who had entered the Indian territory.
“Whenever there are elections in Jammu and Kashmir, terrorists across the border try to interfere and ruin the peaceful process. This incident should be seen in that light,” said Singh.
Singh also targeted the Gupkar alliance and said that it includes people who are pro-terrorists and full of selfish motives. The People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration is an alliance of seven political parties in J&K that is seeking the restoration of Article 370, which gave the erstwhile state special status.
“The Gupkar declaration should not be taken seriously, it includes people who have nothing better to do.” he added.
ABP News’ Rubika Liyaquat also narrated the “inside story” of Pakistan’s “terror truck”, while calling Pakistan a “gold medalist in terrorism”.
Liyaquat claimed that the terrorists who were killed in the encounter were planning to carry out a ‘Pulwama-like’ terrorist attack.
