New Delhi: With the controversy over the Congress presidential elections now over, the Bharat Jodo Yatra remained the centerpiece of Urdu coverage throughout the week, although editorials did call for transparency in the elections to the Congress top post.
The state of India’s economy also remained on the front pages, as did a flogging incident at Kheda allegedly involving Gujarat police that has drawn widespread outrage.
Among other things that made the front pages this week were the comments on the economy by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale.
ThePrint brings you a weekly roundup from the Urdu press.
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Bharat Jodo Yatra and Congress elections
With Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Shashi Tharoor emerging as the contenders for the Congress presidential elections, the Bharat Jodo Yatra returned to the front pages, as editorials gushed about a “new” Congress.
On 1 October, Inquilab reported on its front page that the yatra had entered its Karnataka leg. Along with the report, the newspaper also carried a photo of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi waving at people.
In its editorial the same day, the newspaper wrote that the Congress high command’s “sagacity” in dealing with the unpleasantness associated with the Rajasthan political crisis had brought the matter to an amicable close. With Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who was not keen on the race to start with, now no longer in the race, the yatra has once again become the focus, especially after its “success” in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, the editorial said.
In its editorial on the Congress presidential election on 2 October, Siasat wrote that for the party, the optics of electing its new president was important. With its presidential polls back on track and Rahul Gandhi on the road connecting with people, it’s vital to install a new president in a transparent manner so that there are no questions raised over his style of functioning in the future.
In another editorial on 4 October, Inquilab wrote that given that Kharge’s victory is almost a foregone conclusion, he should concentrate on making his tenure a fruitful one. His term comes at a time when the party — which has lost two general elections and several assembly elections — is in tatters, it said. The party workers were a dejected lot before the yatra, the editorial said, adding that the new Congress president will have some work cut out for him.
On its front page on 7 October, Siasat carried a photo of Rahul tying the shoelaces of his mother Sonia Gandhi. The accompanying story said that it was the first time that the senior Gandhi had joined the Bharat Jodo Yatra and that it had caused “happiness and enthusiasm”. Sonia had joined the yatra at Mandya.
Both Inquilab and Roznama Rashtriya Sahara carried stories about the yatra. Inquilab’s lead story had a photo of the mother-son duo walking hand-in-land surrounded by a sea of people. The headline said the Congress would “face challenges to unite India”, quoting from Rahul’s “emotional” tweet. The newspaper also reported that Sonia’s participation had given a boost to the Congress’ enthusiasm and that a new LED screen was installed in front of the Congress headquarters in Delhi.
Amit Shah in J&K
In its story on 6 October, Sahara, Siasat, and Inquilab reported Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir on their front page.
The papers reported Shah as having reviewed security in the union territory. They also quoted Shah as having said he would rather talk to the youth than speak to Pakistan about the Kashmir issue.
Sahara headline said the Modi government will make J&K the most peaceful place in the country.
Inquilab reported that in Baramulla, Shah paused his speech after hearing the azaan playing.
On 6 October, Sahara’s front page carried news of two gunfights between security forces and terrorists in J&K’s Shopian district. Three militants were killed in the encounter.
Economy
On 1 October, Sahara reported news of the increased repo rate that was going to be applicable from the day. The increased repo rate would make bank loans costlier, it said, adding that the hike will benefit those keeping their money in fixed deposits
On 2 October, Sahara and Siasat reported on their front pages that the prices of commercial cylinders had come down.
In its page one story on 3 October, Sahara reported that the RSS general secretary had raised concerns about poverty, unemployment, and growing inequality in the country. In his speech, Dattatreya had said the growing economic inequality in the country was a major issue and also stressed the need to promote entrepreneurship and self-employment.
In its editorial on 6 October, Siasat wrote that given that the observation on unemployment, poverty, and growing economic inequality came from the Sangh Parivar and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, the government must take note of it. The editorial said the public needs answers and that the government must face the truth and acknowledge the problem to help resolve it.
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Kheda flogging
On 6 October, Inquilab reported on its front page that some Muslims were arrested in Undhela, a village in Gujarat’s Kheda district, for allegedly pelting stones at a garba event. Following this, the report said, some plain-clothes policemen tied them to a pole and flogged them in public.
The newspaper reported that there were reports of violence and physical assaults in several places after Muslim youth were denied entry at garba events in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. It also said some videos of people being assaulted for trying to enter garba venues were also viral.
Uniform Civil Code
On 2 October, Inquilab reported on its front page that the Supreme Court had refused to entertain a petition over the Uniform Civil Code. The paper reported that the petitioner had urged the court to reconsider a Law Commission recommendation that had termed the Uniform Civil Code non-essential in the context of India’s social realities.
The same day the paper also reported that a bench led by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud had managed to hear 75 cases in a little less than 11 hours.
(Edited by Uttara Ramaswamy)
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