New Delhi: Election-related news continued to dominate the Urdu press this week, with at least two editorials worrying about the voter turnout during the polls.
The Election Commission of India has put the voter turnout at 66.1 percent in Phase 1 and 66.7 percent in Phase 2 of voting. This is compared to 69.4 percent in the first phase and 69.2 percent in the second phase of the 2019 general election
While Inquilab‘s editorial on 29 April highlighted a significant drop in voter turnout during the first two phases of elections, Roznama Rashtriya Sahara lamented how, despite the din of election meetings and roadshows, there’s “silence” when it comes to actual voting.
Low voter turnout is a matter of concern for all parties, the editorial said.
“People should also consider that low voter turnout weakens the democratic process, and can also lead to an unwanted candidate winning, so they should actively participate in voting,” it said.
Other topics covered this week include reservations for Muslims, the Congress’s delay in announcing candidates for Raebareli and Amethi, and the cyber trolling of Prachi Nigam, the topper in Uttar Pradesh’s Class 10 board exams. The news about pharmaceutical major AstraZeneca’s admission that its COVID-19 vaccine, sold in India as Covishield, could cause a rare but potentially life-threatening side-effect called Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome (TTS) also made the news this week.
Here’s a roundup of all the major topics in the Urdu press this week.
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Elections
Election fever burned hot all week, with Urdu newspapers speculating why the Congress had delayed announcing its candidates for two of its most crucial seats — Amethi and Rae Bareli — and demanding accountability from the ruling BJP for the work done in the past 10 years.
Inquilab’s 3 May editorial weighed in on why the Congress hadn’t announced candidates for Amethi and Rae Bareli — both considered the Gandhi family bastions.
The Congress did announce its candidates for both these seats hours after this editorial was published. While Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi will contest from Rae Bareli — a seat that his family has held for most of the past seven decades — Congress leader Kishori Lal Sharma will contest the polls from Amethi.
In its editorial on the morning of 3 May, Inquilab quoted Congress sources as saying that neither Rahul nor his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wanted to contest the polls from the constituencies.
“Rahul Gandhi prefers Wayanad, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to leave it after winning Amethi. Similarly, Priyanka Gandhi has made significant contributions to other constituencies, and it wouldn’t be good if she left those after winning Rae Bareli,” the editorial said, adding that the Gandhi siblings also appear to want to dispel the perception that certain constituencies are the exclusive domains of the Gandhi-Nehru family.
The newspaper’s editorial on 30 April said that the “slogans” that rent the air in 2014 and 2019 are not being heard this time. Among these are the promises to turn the country into a five-trillion dollar economy and the government’s Smart Cities and Smart Village initiatives. “People are wondering what happened to the promise of achhe din? Why are the leaders of the ruling party silent?” it asked.
An editorial in Sahara on 2 May also weighed in on the Supreme Court’s 26 April decision to reject pleas seeking a return to the ballot paper. This editorial questioned the efficacy of the arguments put forth by advocate Prashant Bhushan, who was representing the Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR) — an electoral reforms non-profit — in the case, arguing that instead of showing evidence of EVM tampering, the lawyer merely said such tinkering was possible.
“There have been complaints of marks on VVPAT papers coming from the EVM but the BJP has remained silent, deepening concerns. Senior lawyers should have raised this issue in court with solid evidence, proved the allegations, and tried to bring the culprits to book,” it said, adding that much of the court’s time was “wasted” in the case.
May Day and the trolling of Prachi Nigam
Sahara’s editorial on 1 May focused on workers’ rights. The editorial, titled ‘We demand the world’ and published on ‘May Day’ or ‘Labour Day’, said that while global temperatures soar due to climate change, no laws have been made to ensure workers’ safety under such conditions.
“More than 80 percent of the world’s workers are at risk of serious illness and death due to an increase in body temperature. Workers around the world not only need to be kept safe (from the effects of) climate change but also must be ensured equal opportunities and fair treatment,” the editorial said, adding that if not, there will be a rebellion against capitalism.
Inquilab’s 2 May editorial condemned the cyberbullying that UP Class 10 board exam topper Prachi Nigam had to endure over facial hair.
Calling the trolling “extremely unfortunate”, the editorial advised people to “think before they speak” and consider how their behaviour affects those around them.
“When there was no social media, everyone used to think before speaking. Now, since the person being trolled is not in front of them, this trend of speaking whatever comes to mind has become common,” the editorial said.
Reservation for Muslims
Two editorials in Siasat advocated for reservations for Muslims, calling them among the most marginalised sections of society. These editorials came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it clear that he wouldn’t “allow” any religion-based reservations.
“I will not let reservations of Dalits, Adivasis, OBCs be given to Muslims based on religion as long as I am alive,” he said in his speech in Telangana’s Zaheerabad.
In its editorial on 3 May, Siasat urged the central government to implement the recommendations of the Sachar Commission. Set up in March 2005 to study the social, economic, and educational condition of Muslims in India, the commission recommended taking measures to increase the representation of India’s largest minority in public life.
“Despite opposition from the BJP, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana have implemented 4 percent reservation for Muslims,” the editorial said, adding that if viewed impartially, Muslims are “rightful claimants” of such quota.
The newspaper’s 1 May editorial criticises the Narendra Modi government for “neglecting public welfare and relying on religious extremism to divert attention from real issues”.
“It’s alarming that leaders are targeting Muslims to secure votes despite their significant contributions to the country,” the editorial said, adding that the prime minister and home minister of the country should prioritise the well-being of all India’s citizens “regardless of their religious affiliation”.
In its editorial on 28 April — two days before Modi’s Zaheerabad speech — Siasat said that a real and impartial examination of society would reveal that reservation has only been granted to the Hindus. It also accused the BJP of intending to do away with quotas entirely.
“Reservation is based on religion. Since those who benefit from reservation are Dalits and backward classes, this fact unsettles the BJP, leading them to plan to abolish reservations entirely to appease the upper castes,” the editorial said, adding that reservations are enshrined in the Constitution, which the BJP.
“Yet the BJP talks about amending the Constitution behind closed doors. It’s essential for all citizens to be aware of its designs,” the editorial said.
On 27 May, Siasat urged the Election Commission of India to take “immediate action against the blatant use of religion during elections”.
“In addition, voters need to consider that those who exploit religion instead of seeking votes to serve the people will always resort to divisive politics and communalism instead of serving the people,” it said.
Urging voters to be wary of such leaders, the editorial said: “While supporting development and construction plans, you (the voter) should also demonstrate your political acumen”.
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