New Delhi: The souring ties between India and Canada over the killing of a Sikh separatist and the bill reserving 33 percent seats for women in Lok Sabha and state assemblies kept the Urdu press abuzz this week.
The killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the chief of pro-Khalistan outfit Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF), and a designated terrorist in India, by unidentified assailants in Canada on 18 June sparked off a diplomatic standoff between New Delhi and Ottawa.
In its editorial on 22 September, Roznama Rashtriya Sahara — one of three leading Urdu dailies in India — said that India’s stand on the subject has shown the world that the country will not “bow down to anyone”.
But India should first identify those elements within the country that support this movement at an international level, the editorial said, adding that this becomes especially vital in view of the upcoming elections.
Apart from the row and women’s reservation bill, activities from the opposition INDIA bloc also made it to the Urdu press.
ThePrint brings a roundup of what made it to the front pages and editorials of Urdu newspapers.
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India versus Canada
In its editorial on 21 September, Siasat wrote that diplomatic relationships are not only in the interest of individual countries but are also important for global affairs. Progress, it said, is only possible when countries cooperate with each other.
Canada certainly has an obligation to protect and improve the lives of its citizens, but it also has an obligation under international law to ensure that its territory isn’t used against any other country.
“Canada needs to amend its approach and position so that mutual relations are not affected,” the editorial said, adding that Ottawa should guard against its land being used against another country.
Women’s reservation bill
Urdu newspapers widely reported that Parliament passed the women’s reservation bill, dubbed the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam’. It also reported the Opposition’s demand that the bill be implemented immediately.
The Bill has been passed in both Houses of Parliament by an overwhelming majority and is now pending the President’s assent.
In an editorial on 20 September, Siasat said an attempt was being made to portray the tabling of the bill as a historic occasion. This, the editorial said, is far from true — especially since the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had already tabled a similar bill.
That bill had been passed by the Rajya Sabha but was repeatedly obstructed by the now ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Lok Sabha, the editorial said.
“Now, in view of the changing political situation of the country and public displeasure, this bill has to be introduced in the Lok Sabha,” the editorial had said then.
Significantly, five state assemblies are due to hold elections later this year. Meanwhile, the general election is due next year.
However, the government has maintained that the bill is unlikely to be implemented so soon, especially since the Constitution mandates a delimitation exercise after each new Census. It’s unclear when the new Census exercise — due now for two years — will be held.
In its editorial on 20 September, Sahara wondered if the bill could be implemented before the upcoming elections. The Congress, according to the editorial, argues that the bill can’t be implemented immediately because of the mandatory delimitation clause. This, according to it, means that the bill can be implemented only after 2026 — once the new census is conducted and the data is available.
On 20 September, Siasat reported on its front page that for the first time in American history, the US national debt has exceeded $33 trillion.
INDIA bloc
The Urdu press also gave prominent coverage to the opposition INDIA bloc, with newspapers reporting the Congress party’s “six guarantees” for the upcoming assembly election in Telangana.
In an editorial on 16 September, Siasat called ‘India’s fight against Hindutva’, the newspaper said that the political situation has begun to improve across the country and people have started having hopes in the opposition alliance.
The BJP, it said, is once again trying to exploit religious sentiments.
In such a situation, everyone needs to be alert and not fall prey to these attempts but “thwart the forces exploiting religious sentiments by showing political understanding and insight”, the editorial said.
On 19 September, Siasat said that ever since the opposition parties forged the INDIA bloc to fight the BJP in the 2024 general election, there have been conspiracies to create a rift among parties in the alliance. Efforts are being made to sow fear in their minds against each other and rumors are being spread, especially by some corners of the media, the editorial said.
“An attempt is being made to create doubt among the public by spreading some baseless news,” the editorial said.
(Edited by Uttara Ramaswamy)
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