New Delhi: This week, Urdu newspapers Inquilab, Siasat, and Roznama Rashtriya Sahara have prominently featured news and editorials opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The newspapers have also highlighted the opposition to the CAA in the context of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
Additionally, the newspapers discussed the Supreme Court’s order to hand over data related to electoral bonds to the Election Commission, after the State Bank of India (SBI) requested for more time for disclosure. The bank had put in a plea seeking an extension on providing details about the bonds.
On Friday, Siasat in an editorial titled ‘One Nation, One Election’ said that the BJP, in power at the Centre, was attempting to eliminate the Opposition through its push for simultaneous polls.
Here’s a round-up of the major news that kept the Urdu press abuzz this week.
Also Read: Modi, BJP CMs undermined secularism: Urdu press on states declaring public holidays for consecration
CAA and electoral bonds
On Thursday, two days after the central government announced the implementation of the CAA and notified the rules, Siasat criticised the Centre for allegedly rigging votes through the CAA and accused the BJP of using the law to instil fear among Muslims.
Its editorial talked about the discriminatory nature of the CAA, which grants Indian citizenship to undocumented religious minorities from neighbouring nations but excludes Muslims. It also emphasised on the unprecedented use of religion as a basis for citizenship, contrary to past traditions.
Siasat further expressed concern over the psychological pressure on Indian Muslims created by the law and its potential connection to a potential nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC), which would aim to weed out illegal immigrants.
The editorial condemned the BJP’s “divisive politics”, attributing it to the party using negative tactics for electoral success, and suggested that this was evidence of the “poor performance and failure of the Modi government”.
On Wednesday, Siasat reported on its front page that the Congress had staged a major protest against the CAA in Assam. Additionally, the newspaper published a statement by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in which she said the CAA would divide the states.
On Wednesday, Inquilab‘s front page also focused on the anti-CAA protests. Opposition to the act has led to demonstrations across states, including shutdowns announced by 30 indigenous organisations in Assam. Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Karnataka, and Himachal Pradesh have also criticised the government’s move to implement the law, which has been challenged in court.
Banerjee questioning the four-year delay in implementing the act — it was passed in December 2019 — was also reported in the newspaper.
On Tuesday, Inquilab in an editorial emphasised the importance of transparency in a democracy. It applauded the Supreme Court’s decision declaring electoral bonds to be unconstitutional and ordering the disclosure of donations.
The editorial also addressed concerns surrounding the CAA, particularly in states like Assam and West Bengal, where it has been a contentious issue during elections. It urged citizens to strengthen democratic institutions and expressed confidence in judicial intervention to address concerns regarding the law.
On Monday, the Urdu newspapers highlighted the Communist Party of India (Marxist) filing a contempt petition against the SBI in the Supreme Court. This followed a similar plea by the Association for Democratic Reforms, in which it accused the SBI of “wilful disobedience” of SC’s order on electoral bonds.
BJP ‘destabilising state governments’
Siasat‘s Friday editorial on ‘one nation, one election’ criticised the BJP’s alleged attempt to eliminate the Opposition via simultaneous polls.
“The BJP aims to almost eradicate the opposition in this country, even though it initially started with the slogan of Congress-free India. Many regional parties opposed to the Congress welcomed this proposal and allied with the BJP, but now it is true that many regional parties have been assimilated into the BJP, and many are on the verge of extinction,” read the editorial.
It further highlighted the fluidity of power in Indian democracy, where unexpected outcomes often occur, and questioned the BJP’s tactics to create an electoral atmosphere in its favour.
In an editorial Wednesday, Siasat underlined the BJP’s “record of destabilising state governments” upon assuming power at the Centre, citing examples from Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, among others.
The editorial noted the BJP’s move in Haryana, where it refused to cede any of the 10 parliamentary seats in the state to its partner Jannayak Janata Party (JJP), leading to the end of their alliance this week. Then Haryana chief minister and BJP leader Manohar Lal Khattar has resigned, and Nayab Singh Saini sworn-in as his replacement.
The editorial said: “The BJP has now maintained the same tradition by ending its alliance with the regional party JJP and forming its government in Haryana.”
Lok Sabha elections
On Thursday, Inquilab reported on the front page that protests against the CAA were held in Assam, and at Jamia Millia Islamia and the University of Delhi. Alongside this, the newspaper also printed a statement by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, wherein he said there was no threat to Indian Muslims from the CAA.
In its Tuesday editorial, Siasat criticised BJP leaders for “making provocative statements to influence public opinion” and potentially amend the Constitution. A statement earlier this month by a BJP MP calling on the public to ensure a two-thirds majority for the party in order to change the Constitution drew condemnation.
While the BJP distanced itself from it, such rhetoric undermines democratic principles. With elections nearing, the party should take disciplinary action to uphold responsible discourse, the editorial said.
On Monday, Siasat‘s editorial criticised the Telugu Desam Party’s (TDP) alliance with the BJP for the Lok Sabha polls, stating that despite hoping for power, minorities in Andhra Pradesh were likely to distance themselves from the TDP due to its alignment with the BJP.
The editorial highlighted TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu’s “previous defeats by the BJP” and suggested grim prospects of gain from the alliance.
“The TDP may have made a good decision based on its own strength and hopes to gain power in the state, (but) the reality is that even the minorities in Andhra Pradesh will distance themselves from the TDP,” read the editorial. “The decision taken under pressure and the temptation of power, as a result of the alliance with the BJP, is akin to disappointing the minorities in Andhra Pradesh.”
On Monday, Urdu newspapers reported on their front pages that the Trinamool Congress had given Lok Sabha election tickets to Yusuf Pathan, Mahua Moitra and Shatrughan Sinha. Inquilab made this its lead report.
Siasat‘s editorial was titled ‘The Reality of BJP’s Claims’ highlighted that the “Opposition is uniting” and pointed to the “party’s struggle to maintain dominance” as it forms alliances with regional parties but faces resistance in states like Punjab, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.
“Despite BJP’s efforts, challenges persist in forming alliances in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. In Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the BJP is wooing Congress leaders. This reflects the BJP’s waning confidence in winning elections independently, leading to dependence on other parties and leaders,” it said.
Israel and Gaza
On Thursday, Inquilab published an editorial under the headline ‘Israeli Insensitivity and Biden’s Sympathy’, in which it stated that in his 7 March State of the Union address, US President Joe Biden rightly said that this Ramadan had come at a very difficult time for the Palestinians, but highlighted that there was “less compassion and more pity in this statement”.
“If the leader of any powerful country in the world behaves in a biased manner despite being fully aware of the devastating wars and disasters, then we do not think it is necessary to express sympathy for the people of Gaza,” the editorial said.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
Also Read: ‘Mere claims without tangible outcomes can’t resolve poverty’ — Urdu press on NITI Aayog report