Front Page
Busted! The mainstream English media was fascinated this morning by the National Investigation Agency intercept of an alleged ISI linked terror group, but it did find space for the Centre’s new e-commerce norms, and the arrest of a famous golfer for poaching.
The new panel on the RBI’s reserves led by Bimal Jalan and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav’s end of the year warning to the Congress on a grand alliance suffering a grand fall also appeared on several front pages.
However, important consumer news on the TRAI’s rules for broadcasters and viewers concerning channel and carrier choices kicking in before the year is out, is left for the inside pages.
The NIA’s latest success was the story of today: The terrorist module “was purportedly planning attacks on senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leaders, and in crowded markets, perhaps even as early as by the New Year,” wrote Hindustan Times, a trifle alarmed.
The Times of India said a “highly radicalised and motivated” fundamentalist module with a handler based in Syria or Afghanistan was planning to carry out spectacular terror attacks by “a major Islamic State-inspired” module based in “Delhi and UP”, for which 10 people were arrested. “…woman among six detained” added The Indian Express’s headline.
In a detailed report it describes the terror plot rather like an action film with unlikely characters, “Allegedly, led by an Islamic preacher, the group… has members from various backgrounds — from a civil engineering student to a welder, an undergraduate student to an autorickshaw driver.”
“It was a self-funded module, with the members raising money by selling the gold they had stolen from their houses,” writes The Hindu, taking a leaf out of the Express.
TOI’s intelligence sources said the “mastermind” of the group, Mufti Mohammed Suhail, was a teacher at a madrasa in Delhi’s Jaffrabad district. “He had roped in the others and motivated them to raise funds and procure bomb-making items and weapons,” said the report.
“This is among the biggest arrests the NIA has made at one time in connection with its probe into activities associated with the Islamic State in the country,” writes Express.
The government’s new e-commerce norms means that “e-commerce companies running marketplace platforms, like Amazon and Flipkart, cannot sell products on their platform through companies where they hold an equity stake,” explains the Express. These platforms will no longer be allowed to sell products from companies in which they have a stake, nor will they be allowed to pitch exclusive deals to customers.
In its lead report, The Economic Times quotes an executive who says, “‘It looks like someone has studied the business models of Amazon and Flipkart, and introduced clauses to systematically kill the two companies.’” However, the top dogs in the online retailing business have reacted positively. Snapdeal’s Kunal Bahl says that “‘these changes will help create a level playing field for all sellers’”.
The Express finds space for the trapped miners in a Meghalaya mine, with the grim headline: “NDRF indicates Meghalaya miners maybe dead, rescue pumps of little use”. “A foul odour from the mines is not a good sign,” NDRF’s Santosh Singh told the newspaper.
In an editorial, The Hindu calls it a “shocking reminder that a fast-growing economy such as India continues to allow Dickensian mining practices…Meghalaya has no excuse for not closing down such dangerous mines. What it can and should do now, jointly with the Assam government where needed, is to offer adequate compensation and jobs for the next of kin of the workers without delay.”
Alliance bother
The national parties may feel the Delhi chill more than usual this winter as they are getting cold vibes from their allies. The Shiv Sena has indicated to the BJP “that it expects at least half the Lok Sabha and assembly seats in the state if the partnership between the two is to continue,” reports HT.
“If the BJP remains confident of PM Modi’s vote-catching abilities, it could negotiate hard with allies and even risk fighting more seats on its own (and Modi’s) strength,” advises the Express writes in its editorial.
But if it’s feeling anything less than certain, it should negotiate “a truce ahead of the elections” with parties like the Shiv Sena and Apna Dal in UP. “The path the BJP chooses will set the tone for the face-off in 2019.”
“Cong could be kept out of the alliance in UP, hints Akhilesh,” writes HT on page 1. Yadav spoke of meeting Telangana chief minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao who is on a nationwide tour for a possible Third Front.
Golfer in a hole
The arrest of international golfer Jyoti Randhawa for allegedly poaching in the Dudhwa tiger reserve is on all the front pages with a photograph of the sportsperson looking very sorry for himself. He has been charged with “hunting wild animals, unlawful entry in the forest and for being armed with weapons and being in possession of wildlife articles,” TOI reports.
Prime Time
With important developments on many news fronts, TV prime debates Wednesday chose different issues for their discussions. These ranged from the mining disaster in Meghalaya and the Triple Talaq Bill which is to be introduced in Parliament Thursday, to restrictions by Noida authorities on offering namaz in public.
India Today anchor Rajdeep Sardesai used strong language in an interview with Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma on the coal miners still trapped inside a deep mine since 13 December.
“The Indian media focused more on the kids in Thailand who were trapped in cave while it took 13 days for media to wake up on the case of 15 miners trapped in Meghalaya. Why is the local government not highlighting the problem?”
Sangma defended his government: “Yes, it is true that enough media attention was not being paid but the local government is working proactively to help the trapped miners.”
Sardesai then switched to why rescue operations had been suspended. Was it due to the unavailability of high-powered pumps to remove water from the pit? Had the state abandoned the operations?
“Absolutely not,” replied Sangma. “Even as we speak, I am sure the operations are going on. It is a difficult operation but we are sure that we will rescue the trapped miners.”
On Republic TV’s discussion regarding the Triple Talaq Bill, BJP spokesperson Shazia Ilmi termed Thursday as “momentous day… Let’s think of women who are asking for dignity, equality.”
CPI(M) leader Dr. Fuad Halim was unhappy with the BJP taking credit for acting on triple talaq. He said that government had no role in making it illegal as it was the Supreme Court that had ruled on the issue
Aaj Tak anchor Nishant Chaturvedi led the discussion on why Muslims offering namaz in parks was a problem for the Noida administration in BJP-ruled UP.
BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra claimed that this was in line with the law: “All religions should follow the rules of the Constitution regardless of one’s religion. Muslims should conduct namaz in public according to the law.”
All India Muslim Personal Law Board member Mehmood Pracha suggested the action was unilateral as no complaint had been lodged against the Muslim population offering namaz in public: “Sambit Patra is lying. No complaint was lodged against the Muslim population conducting namaz at the park.”
Tweets of the day
The Church grows with the blood of the martyrs, men and women who give their lives for Jesus. Today there are many, even if they do not make the headlines.
— Pope Francis (@Pontifex) December 26, 2018
Wonderfully played by Mayank Agarwal. Has shown no nerves and the mountain of runs he has scored seems to have stood him in good stead. Has batted so far like he belongs
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 26, 2018