New Delhi: Is the Narendra Modi government thinking of “renaming” India Bharat? The debate which erupted over the use of the title “President of Bharat” instead of “President of India” in an invitation sent out by Rashtrapati Bhavan last week for a banquet to be hosted by President Droupadi Murmu Saturday for G20 dignitaries, remained the highlight of coverage by the Urdu press this week.
Editorials in major Urdu newspapers like Siasat and Roznama Rashtriya Sahara gave significant space to the controversy.
In its editorial on 6 September, Siasat ascribed the row to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance getting “flustered” over the Opposition naming its alliance for the 2024 elections, INDIA. The BJP, it said, was having trouble criticising and targeting the alliance because of its name.
“The Opposition has chosen this name very carefully,” the editorial said, adding that the BJP’s “dilemma is now being expressed through such decisions and actions”.
Other topics covered this week included Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader Udhayanidhi Stalin’s comments on ‘Sanatana Dharma’, the G20 summit in Delhi this weekend and the Indian Space Research Organisation’s (ISRO) Sun and Moon missions — Aditya-L1 and Chandrayaan-3.
Here’s a round-up of all the news that made frontpage headlines and editorials in the Urdu press this week.
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India vs Bharat
The ‘India versus Bharat’ debate stems from a dinner invitation to G20 leaders from President Droupadi Murmu. The invitation identified Murmu as “President of Bharat” instead of the “President of India”, sparking the row.
Opposition parties claimed the use of Bharat in the invitation reflected the Modi government’s fear of the INDIA alliance.
In its editorial on 6 September, Roznama Rashtriya Sahara, one of three major Urdu publications, claimed that the Modi government’s disenchantment with the name ‘India’ began as soon as the opposition alliance named itself INDIA.
Ever since it was formed, leaders of Modi’s National Democratic Alliance have been attacking it, and it has been their endeavour that the opposition alliance should not be related to India in any way, the editorial said.
Therefore, “the BJP and its allies even saw a foreign shadow on the alliance”, it added.
“But this wish of the ruling party was not fulfilled,” the editorial said, adding that after the alliance’s meeting in Mumbai on 31 August and 1 September, “its political and electoral prospects seem to be on the rise”.
These factors were enough to drive BJP against the name, India, the editorial said.
On 8 September, an editorial in Siasat said many government institutions had India in their names. For international bodies such as the United Nations to recognise it, India will have to do more than just change its name on an invitation, it said, adding that this process will take time and Prime Minister Modi wants to start it.
The row over ‘Sanatan Dharma’
Comments by DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin on Sanatana Dharma also ignited a row this week.
On 2 September, Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin — son of chief minister M.K. Stalin — likened ‘Sanatana Dharma’ to coronavirus, malaria, and fever caused by dengue virus and mosquitoes, saying it was “against social justice and equality” and should hence be “eradicated”.
According to the Encyclopaedia Britannica, the term Sanatana Dharma denotes the ‘eternal’ or absolute set of duties or religiously ordained practices incumbent upon all Hindus, regardless of class, caste, or sect.
BJP leader and Union home minister Amit Shah have accused Udhayanidhi of “insulting” Hindu beliefs, but the DMK leader has refused to apologise.
On 6 September, front pages of Urdu newspapers reported that 262 eminent citizens — including former judges and civil servants — had written to Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud and urged him to take cognizance of the remarks.
‘One Nation, One Election’ and ‘Bharat Jodo’ anniversary
Urdu newspapers also reported the row over the Modi government’s idea of simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections.
Last week, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury declined to be part of a high-level panel set up by the government under former President Ram Nath Kovind to discuss the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal and make recommendations on it.
Significantly, the Modi government has called a special session of Parliament from 18 to 22 September, sparking Opposition allegations that it was trying to push this agenda.
In its editorial on 5 September, Inquilab said that according to experts, as many as five constitutional amendments would be needed to make simultaneous elections possible. It said that although it could not say for sure if the special assembly had been called for this, several issues — including the latest ‘revelations’ of alleged stock manipulation in the Adani Group — needed immediate attention.
In view of this, the editorial added, the government shouldn’t take steps that are not urgently needed or have no significant benefits.
Sahara, on the other hand, wrote in support of simultaneous polls. In its editorial on 4 September, Sahara wrote there’s no doubt that simultaneous elections could be good for the country and would significantly cut down election expenses.
It, however, wondered how this could be implemented. “Will assemblies and the Lok Sabha be dissolved to hold elections,” it asked.
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G20 and ISRO
News of the G20 summit also took up significant space, with newspapers discussing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “agenda” for the event — including in talks with US President Joe Biden.
The reports said the central government would host 20 heads of state and their spouses to a special dinner, which will see a modern take on ancient Indian cuisine.
Newspapers also reported that Modi had flown to Jakarta, Indonesia, ahead of the G20 Summit, to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, summit there on 8 September.
Meanwhile, ISRO’s Moon Mission Chandrayaan-3 and first solar mission, Aditya-L1, also got space on front pages and editorials.
On 3 September, Sahara said in an editorial that it was “admirable” that ISRO could manage both its solar and lunar missions at a lower cost. While Chandrayaan-3 reportedly cost ISRO Rs 615 crore, Aditya L1’s cost was estimated to be Rs 400 crore. In comparison, Russia’s Luna-25, which crashed near the Moon’s south pole days before Chandrayaan-3 landed, reportedly cost roughly Rs 1,600 crore.
(Edited by Uttara Ramaswamy)
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