New Delhi: With just days to go for assembly elections in five states — Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Telangana — reports on the upcoming polls dominated the front page of Urdu newspapers this week.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal being summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning in the liquor policy scam and Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra’s appearance before the Ethics Committee also jostled for space on page one, while the Israel-Hamas conflict continued to find space on most front pages.
Urdu newspaper Roznama Sahara, while giving its opinion on electoral bonds, said that citizens have the right to know how much money a party has. Siasat also expressed its views on the state of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Telangana, implying it is not doing great in the state.
Here’s a look at everything that made it to the front pages and editorials of the Urdu press this week.
Also read: ‘INDIA bloc not as strong as it should be to take on BJP’ — Urdu press warns Oppn against fissures
Assembly elections
On 3 November, Roznama Sahara wrote in its editorial that the government can give many arguments, talk and dream about electoral bonds, but the truth is that electoral bonds are a form of open bribery as opposed to transparent and democratic funding. Renowned lawyer Prashant Bhushan has rightly said that these bonds are just bribes to influence government decisions, it wrote.
The same day, Siasat wrote in its editorial that the BJP’s dream of gaining power in Telangana lay shattered. The lack of enthusiasm among the state unit was anyway creating problems for the party, which it said, was exacerbated by many leaders leaving the BJP for the Congress.
On 31 October, in its editorial, Siasat wrote about Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav’s statement about remaining in the INDIA alliance. The newspaper pointed out that ever since the bloc was formed, rumours have been rife. Earlier, it was being said that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mamata Banerjee are angry. Then, it was claimed that Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar is also not happy. Following that, there were whispers of the SP being discontent, said the article.
“An attempt was made to weaken the bloc and instill hatred among the constituent parties. However, in the current scenario, it is becoming clear that the parties involved in the INDIA alliance…have decided to act with utmost restraint,” it said.
On 30 October, Inquilab said in its editorial that the bustle of assembly elections is increasing in five states. This also includes the arrival of ED in Rajasthan. It said that the ED, which was never as dynamic as it has been in the past nine years, makes news if it conducts a raid, but people do not pay attention to it and hence it will have no bearing on the political scene.
Two days prior, Inquilab, in its page one lead, had written about the Election Commission (EC) banning the central government’s proposed campaign to promote Bharat Sankalp Yatra to publicise government schemes citing the Model Code of Conduct already in force in the five election-bound states. In this yatra, the government was planning to promote its schemes related to jobs and the army. The Congress, too, had written to the prime minister, demanding an immediate ban on it.
Kejriwal & Moitra
On 3 November, both Roznama Sahara and Inquilab carried the report of TMC MP Mahua Moitra appearing before the Ethics Committee of Parliament in the alleged cash-for-query scam on their front pages.
On 2 November, Siasat wrote its editorial about the ED summoning Kejriwal on 2 November in the alleged liquor scam.
Without getting in too deep on the legal aspects of this case, the newspaper wrote that if the political implications of this summons were to be explored, it would be undeniable that the BJP’s entire effort is to implicate the AAP. The newspaper further wrote that it is targeting the Delhi Government and the AAP because everything is under Kejriwal’s control. Although Kejriwal does not have any portfolio, no work in any ministry is possible without his approval. That is why it has become easy to corner him, it wrote.
The same day, Roznama Sahara wrote an editorial on the alert messages sent to iPhone users, including many opposition leaders, and said that they could be a target of state-sponsored attack. It said it was a serious matter if an authentic and reliable phone company such as Apple expresses its inability to protect users from state-sponsored attacks.
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Kerala blast
On 30 October, Siasat made the explosions at a convention center with a Christian congregation in Kalamassery in Ernakulam, Kerala, its front page news. The newspaper wrote that according to eyewitnesses, Jehovah’s Witnesses were praying at the convention centre at the time of the explosion. Two people died in these blasts while more than 40 people are said to be injured.
In an editorial on the incident the same day, Siasat wrote that a Union minister had made a statement that the state government was responsible for the blast as it had supported demonstrations in support of Hamas. This is a negative mindset because the blast was orchestrated neither by a Muslim nor by someone of any other religion. The gathering was that of Christians and the person who took responsibility for the attack and handed himself over to the law is also a Christian.
In such a situation, it said, efforts have been started to corner Hamas and, indirectly, Muslims, which is condemnable, it said. Also, the time at which this effort is being made is condemnable.
Employment & Inflation
On 2 November, Siasat reported on its front page the huge increase in the price of commercial gas cylinders. While there is no change in the prices of domestic gas cylinders, that of 19 kg commercial cylinders has been increased and will impact food and beverage businesses as well as hotel business, it wrote.
Inquilab wrote its 31 October editorial on Infosys founder and former CEO Narayana Murthy’s call for the youth to work 70-hour weeks. It said those with jobs work 40 to 45 hours per week i.e., 8 to 9 hours per day. If Narayana Murthy’s advice is followed, the unemployment rate in the country will either increase or remain the same, but it will not decrease in any way unless the government ensures some new and unconventional measures, it said.
Israel-Hamas conflict
On 3 November, the Israeli army announced the killing of 15 of its soldiers during ground operations inside the Gaza Strip. Some of them were killed when their Tiger-armoured vehicles were hit by a Kornet missile.
That day, Roznama Sahara carried on its front page the news of Yemen’s Houthi rebels declaring war against Israel and expressing its determination to extend full support to the Palestinian people.
On 2 November, the newspaper also reported Israel attacking the Jabaliya refugee camp, the largest in northern Gaza, again.
The same day, Siasat reported on the front page that some activists and Muslim leaders associated with the Democratic Party have said that if US President Biden does not take steps for a ceasefire in Gaza, they will ask millions of Muslim voters of the country to vote against Biden or provide funding.
On 1 November, Siasat reported on its front page that attacks and bombardments continued in various areas of the Gaza Strip, especially in the north, along with violent clashes between Israeli forces and the Hamas fighters. The newspaper reported that Hamas fighters apparently emerged from a tunnel and ambushed 35 Israeli soldiers in Beit Hanoun.
(Edited by Smriti Sinha)
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