Front Page
Tensions between the US and Iran have been on the rise since the killing of General Qassem Soleimani. In retaliation, Iran launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles at US troops stationed in Iraq. The ongoing conflict between the two countries has resulted in the unusual appearance of international news as the lead in mainstream papers Thursday.
The Ukrainian International Airlines plane crash, which killed all passengers on board, also made it to Page 1. Meanwhile, after days of being the lead news, reports on the JNU violence finally took a backseat, but continues to be n the front pages.
US and Iran: The Times of India reports the latest developments between the two countries in “Trump, Tehran stand down after Iran missiles hit US’s Iraq bases” and quotes Iran saying that it had “concluded proportionate measures” against the US. The Hindu, too, notes the latest updates with a predictably bland headline, “Trump backs away from further conflict after Iran hits U.S. troops”.
The Indian Express features a photograph of the celebrations held in Tehran after the strike and focuses on Trump’s decision not to undertake retaliatory attacks, “After Tehran missile strike, US & Iran take a step back, Trump says all safe”. HT focuses on yesterday’s news in their headline, “Iran hits United States bases in Iraq”. The report is accompanied with a picture of a video grab showing Iranian rockets being launched to strike US targets in Iraq.
Ukrainian plane crash: In its second lead, Hindu reports that the “victims are mostly Iranians, Canadians”. It adds that “Ukrainian President Volodymyr warned against ‘speculating’ on the cause of the disaster”.
TOI on the other hand, notes: “Ukrainian plane crash in Iran kills 176; attack not ruled out”. It adds that the plane crash happened “amid a violent conflict between the United States and Iran”. HT carries only a photograph of the crash with the caption “176 killed in Iran plane crash”. Oddly, Express does not report the story on its front page.
JNU violence: In the lead story on the flap, TOI reports optimistically that “Delhi Police may soon make a breakthrough in the JNU violence case as the crime branch” has received information about “three suspects, including a woman, who had covered their faces and were seen wielding sticks on students”.
In “Unit probing JNU yet to crack DU, Najeeb cases”, HT writes that the Special Investigation team, which has been assigned the JNU violence case, is the same one which “failed to make any headway” in the 2016 disappearance of JNU student Najeeb Ahmad and the violent clashes outside Ramjas College in 2017.
Hindu highlights the solidarity expressed across universities, adding that the “police have not yet identified the masked perpetrators or made any arrests related to the attack”. Express writes that last month the HRD Ministry gave the JNU VC, an ultimatum to “either accept a compromise formula to end standoff with agitating students or resign”.
An accompanying report notes how JNU VC asked the police to “be stationed at the gates”, instead of bringing the attack under control.
Illegal immigration: An exclusive report in HT based on the 2018 National Crimes Records Bureau data notes a “Fall in cases registered over illegal immigration”. Accompanied with a bar graph, the report adds, “this does not reflect on whether or not illegal immigration into India — a controversial subject right now — has increased or decreased.”
Opinion
Hindustan Times: In “Is death penalty truly a deterrent”, HT argues that the decision to hang the four convicts in the 16 December gangrape-murder case will do “little to curb sexual violence”. It explains that the law against sexual violence was strengthened after the 16 December case but “there has been an increase in rape and molestation cases, with a low conviction rate to boot”. HT writes that “the only way out is to strengthen the criminal justice system”. Many cases fall apart due to delay in filing FIRs and collecting evidence. This emboldens rapists and explains the “high figure of repeat offenders”. HT also calls for “the need to fast-track rape cases, especially when the victim is a minor”.
The Hindu: In “From the brink of war”, Hindu blames US President Donald Trump for US-Iran tensions, saying “his decision to kill Soleimani, a top Iranian military leader… was practically an act of war, forcing the Islamic regime to respond”. It notes, however, that Iran’s response to launch ballistic missiles at US troops in two military bases was a “calculated, limited strike”. It adds that “a direct shooting match between the US and Iran would have been disastrous for the whole of West Asia”. According to Hindu, “The international community should now push for a diplomatic settlement of the crisis and find ways to revive the nuclear deal which could bring long-term peace to the Gulf”.
Prime Time
The JNU saga continues to dominate prime time news, with the focus shifting from violence on students to actor Deepika Padukone’s politics and impending film release after she visited JNU Tuesday. On “Deepika, dissent and drama”, Times Now reported the JNU Vice Chancellor’s “first reaction” to Padukone’s visit, where he said that JNU was a “great institution”, which must not be politicised.
CNN IBN, on the other hand, reported that MHRD “pulled up JNU VC”, asking him to be more communicative with students and faculty members.
Republic TV: On ‘The Debate’, anchor Arnab Goswami introduced his debate topic — “Proven : DEEPIKA JNU TRIP A PR STRATEGY”, which sounded more like a conclusion. Issuing a challenge to “#Bollywoodpseudos” to come on his show, he said people of India should see if celebrities “know anything about the issues” they claim to “weep” about.
“Whenever truth stares at them, pseudo liberals go into a cubbyhole”, he added.
Goswami alleged that Padukone’s visit was orchestrated by a PR company called Spice PR and said, “Spicy PR, trying to do some spicy PR” right before the release of her film Chhapak.
Activist and AAP leader Anjali Damania said that it did matter if it was a PR stunt because Padukone had a democratic right to go support whoever she wished to. “When her husband Ranveer Singh posed with Modi, no one made a hue and cry about that”, she pointed out.
Goswami scoffed at this, and said “Oh so you identify a woman by her husband’s position?”
Interrupting Damania, BJP spokesperson Shubhra Anand asked Padukone’s what her politics really was, considering she posed with Aishe Ghosh who was “single-handedly responsible” for the violence.
Times Now: On The ‘Newshour’, anchor Navika Kumar asked actor Payal Rohatgi about her stand on claims that the BJP was threatening Padukone after her visit. Without skipping a beat, Rohatgi took a jibe at the Opposition, “Congress also threatens people, Congress also puts people behind bars if they dare to speak about Motilal Nehru”.
She added that Padukone, who was the daughter of shuttler Prakash Padukone, is entitled to her choice to visit the Leftists, but must maintain balance as a public figure and visit the ABVP too.
NDTV India: Anchor Ravish Kumar focused on the protests against the violence at JNU in St Stephen’s College, Delhi University and Arts Faculty Wednesday.
Kumar explained that the last time St Stephen’s saw such a huge show of support was in 1990 during the Mandal issue. He also noted that the “protest at St Stephen’s college was spearheaded by women.”
A third year student Maitreyi said, “This was a consolidated protest against steps taken by this fascist government, be it Citizenship Amendment Act, the scrapping of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir or introduction of the trans Bill.”
Kumar noted that not a single arrest had been made since Sunday and highlighted the inaction of the Delhi Police. He said, “Bahane banane ki bhi hadd hoti hai.” (There’s a limit to the number of excuses you can make)
Aaj Tak: On ‘Khabardar’, Shweta Singh discussed the missile attack by Iran on US troops.
Singh explained, “Iran chose to strike the two US military bases at the same time”.
She added, “The actions by both US and Iran has left many countries and heads’ of states with sleepless nights… this is because if a war breaks out between the two countries, it would not be restricted to only them.”