New Delhi: The politics surrounding the opening of the Ram temple in Ayodhya was front and centre in Urdu newspapers this week, with one editorial saying the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is looking to leverage it in the general election this year.
In this editorial on 1 January, Siasat sought to scrutinise Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ayodhya last week, saying that it indicated the leader’s desire to capitalise on the temple, which has been on the Sangh Parivar’s agenda for decades.
According to it, the BJP, under the influence of Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, wants to acquire power at the Centre at any cost. The timing of the temple inauguration is crucial, the editorial said — it “illustrates that, for the BJP, the temple is more about political gain than Hindu faith or religious sentiments”.
“Through this, the BJP seeks to form the government for the third consecutive time,” it said.
The party, it added, aims to reshape India’s foundational framework. That the BJP’s pursuit of this is unrelenting is “evident from the inauguration’s scheduling” despite the temple construction still being incomplete, the editorial said.
Apart from this, election campaigning by both the ruling and Opposition parties made major news, as did the wrestlers’ protest and last month’s controversial Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) election, and truck drivers’ opposition to the new criminal laws.
Here’s a roundup of all that made the front pages and editorials of Urdu press this week.
Parliamentary election
With just months to go before the general election, the goings-on in both the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the Opposition INDIA bloc kept the editorials abuzz this week.
On 5 January, Roznama Rashtriya Sahara welcomed the Congress’s announcement of the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra — a follow-up to the party’s Bharat Jodo Yatra from September 2022 to January 2023. Like the predecessor, the ‘east-to-west’ Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra will span multiple states.
In its editorial, Sahara said the ruling BJP had neglected the nation’s political and social welfare in the last 10 years, adding that issues such as economic inequality, inflation, unemployment, and the “heavy GST burden on basic needs” cause “immense suffering” to the public.
To overcome these issues, a revolution is needed, the editorial said. Such a revolution should “aim for social, economic, and political justice for all citizens”. It shouldn’t belong to any individual or party but should be “inclusive” and bring together the civic society, intellectuals, and labourers alike, it said.
On 4 January, Siasat’s editorial dwelled on political parties’ strategy for the parliamentary polls. The BJP, it said, has already begun implementing its plans and is rallying to “cross the 400 mark”. It is confident that the public will help it get a third term, the editorial said.
The Opposition’s 28-party INDIA bloc, meanwhile, has no comprehensive strategy or plan for the upcoming elections and has, in fact, already shown signs of disunity in some of its meetings, the editorial added. Moreover, the Congress’s poor show in the assembly elections last November has added to the apprehension of certain parties in that coalition, it said.
On 3 January, the newspaper spoke about the role of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in the election. The activities of the BSP, it said, have been intensifying. While the BJP hopes to capitalise on the Ram temple inauguration, the Samajwadi Party (SP) seeks an alliance with the BSP to maximise its success in Uttar Pradesh — a state that has 80 parliamentary seats.
BSP chief Mayawati has become more active and hopes to ensure that no single party gains a majority in the 2024 parliamentary elections, it said, adding that the leader believes such a situation could benefit her party.
On 2 January, Siasat’s editorial discussed “the political manoeuvrings” of Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar. It said Nitish, who’s known for frequently switching alliance partners, may not do that this time but could “delegate responsibilities” in the current coalition. This could mean handing over the reins of Bihar to Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav while taking on a more prominent role nationally, it added.
According to the editorial, this could happen on 22 January — the day of the Ram temple inauguration.
“This date coincides with the inauguration of the Ram temple in Ayodhya, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attendance,” the editorial said. “If proven true, this date could hold importance for Opposition parties too, providing them a platform for effective campaigning in Bihar.”
Wrestlers’ protest
The Urdu press continued to criticise the central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi for neglecting the demands of wrestlers.
In its editorial on 4 January, Inquilab viewed the protests through the prism of India’s bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympic Games.
“During the inauguration of the 37th National Games in Goa on 23 October 2023, Prime Minister Modi expressed a desire to host the 2036 Olympic Games,” the editorial said. “But will hosting such events truly benefit athletes, provide them a solid foundation, ensure financial support, and foster a culture of encouragement and acceptance in the country?”
It further said: “Merely obtaining the honour of hosting the 2036 Olympic Games shouldn’t be the sole focus. Instead, creating an environment that prioritises the athletes’ issues, complaints, grievances, and financial support should be the primary concern.”
Truck drivers’ protest
Truck drivers across India held protests against the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), a new criminal code that will replace the Indian Penal Code. The bone of contention is the increased penalties for hit-and-run cases.
In its editorial on 5 January, Inquilab called the new law “severe, justifying the legitimate strike by truck drivers”. “Despite the government’s assurances, truck drivers and their unions are aware that although its implementation is delayed, the law hasn’t been retracted,” it said.
(Edited by Uttara Ramaswamy)
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