Shankaracharya comment that Rahul didn’t say anything against Hindus shows change in tide — Urdu press

ThePrint’s round-up of how the Urdu media covered various news events through the week, and the editorial positions some of them took.

Illustrated by Prajna Ghosh | ThePrint

New Delhi: The country’s situation has changed, a 10 July Siasat editorial noted, highlighting that the Shankaracharya of the Jyotir Math in Uttarakhand dismissed allegations against Rahul Gandhi over his parliamentary speech on the BJP spreading communal hatred, with his statement that Rahul didn’t say anything against Hindus.

Other Urdu press news and editorials this week discussed what to expect in the first Budget of Narendra Modi’s third-term government, the implications of Modi’s Moscow visit, and the cases of hit-and-run and assault caused by some youths under the influence of substances.

Here’s a rundown of all these top news and editorials.

Shankaracharya, Budget, Modi’s Moscow visit

The 10 July Siasat editorial on the Shankaracharya supporting Rahul said that the BJP could not gain political advantage by distorting Rahul’s comments because people want their problems solved and don’t have patience for the BJP’s rhetoric. People, it further said, are now listening to the Opposition and comparing its position with the government’s, helping them understand who is genuinely addressing their issues or exploiting religious sentiments for political gain.

The editorial said that with the Shankaracharya supporting Rahul Gandhi, it is now clear that Rahul did not target Hinduism but opposed those exploiting religion — a recognition that is growing.

With Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman slated to present the Budget before the Lok Sabha on 23 July, a 12 July Siasat editorial said the BJP formed the government with the support of its allies and should respect people’s views. People, through their votes, have expressed their displeasure with the Modi government, which must address their problems such as inflation and cess, said the editorial. The BJP, it added, has repeatedly promised to control inflation over the past two terms.

The editorial further said that the government should take steps to fulfil its promises made to farmers, highlighting that instead of their incomes doubling, farmers’ debts have doubled while their incomes slide down further. Another issue the editorial raised is the non-implementation of the promised legal minimum support price, with the government yet to start consultations. It asserted that farmers’ poor economic condition negatively impacts the country’s economy.

A 12 July Sahara Roznama editorial discussed how the Prime Minister’s Moscow visit, five years after the first, has led to India securing permission to open consulates in two additional Russian cities. Moreover, Modi has also expressed concerns over the Indians forced into fighting the Russia-Ukraine war with the Russian side, the editorial said, calling the visit crucial for bilateral ties. Modi’s visit, it added, has signalled India’s commitment to a multipolar world based on equality in global politics amid challenges such as COVID-19 and wars.

An 11 July Siasat editorial discussed the impacts of war and how Modi, during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, called the deaths of children in the war in Ukraine deeply painful. Similarly, in Austria, Modi said that today’s era is not one of wars and that dialogue should resolve all conflicts. The editorial agreed with the PM’s stance, saying wars bring destruction and loss to all involved, and the deaths of children make the situation more tragic as they have no connection to war or international politics.

Youth and drugs, Manipur and Manusmriti 

A 9 July Siasat editorial discussed the growing problem of drug addiction, especially among the youth, referring to the news of a boy high on drugs stabbing his friend in Hyderabad. Despite government efforts, the crisis is worsening and affecting the Muslim youth as well, the editorial said, critiquing the easy availability of drugs.

“Pub culture is not a part of our society. It is neither a part of Islamic nor Indian culture; it belongs to Western civilisation. We have become so accustomed to pretending to be educated and leading a high standard of living that we have forgotten our core traditions and civilisation,” the Siasat editorial said.

“Our youth are falling prey to addiction and drugs. Their lives have become confined to materialism. They neither care about Islamic teachings nor are they willing to consider the country’s cultural traditions,” it added.

An 8 July Siasat editorial highlighted incidents of recklessness among youth from wealthy families, pointing out that they often harass others after drinking, showing no regard for the law. With powerful businessmen or politicians as their fathers, they believe they can evade justice, said the editorial.

A 10 July Inquilab editorial commented on the political maturity of Rahul Gandhi. Discussing his Manipur visit, the editorial said that Rahul responded to a question at a press conference at the end of his visit, saying, “I have said what I had to say, let’s not try to drag this out,” and when a journalist persisted with, “What do you see in Manipur?”, Rahul said, “Manipur is one of our most beautiful regions.”

This episode, according to the editorial, demonstrates Rahul’s cautious approach to handling potentially controversial statements, indicating he has matured politically over the years.

A 9 July Inquilab editorial noted that even though Congress and other Opposition leaders have visited Manipur, some several times, Prime Minister Modi has not visited even once. During a thanksgiving ceremony for the President’s address in the Lok Sabha, Modi delivered a two-and-a-half-hour speech in which he did not mention Manipur despite Opposition members interrupting his speech asking about Manipur, it further noted. Discussing the controversy over a proposal to introduce the Manusmriti in the Delhi University law syllabus, a 12 July Sahara Roznama editorial focused on how the Manusmriti governs the Hindu social structure, justifying the caste system for societal organisation and order. The DU Vice-Chancellor has since rejected the proposal by the faculty of law.

A 8 July Sahara Roznama editorial discussed Iran’s new president Masoud Pezeshkian and his challenges amid the war on Palestine and regional tensions. Iran’s negotiations with the United States on nuclear programmes present another major challenge, said the editorial.

(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)