New Delhi: Last week week, Urdu newspapers scrutinised the state of the Indian economy, questioning the impact of government initiatives and pointing out the limited results of corporate tax cuts meant to encourage investment.
With upcoming assembly elections in Jharkhand, Maharashtra, and bypolls in Uttar Pradesh and other states, one editorial urged voters to reject leaders who exploit religious sentiments and, instead, support public servants genuinely tackling critical issues.
International affairs also found mention in Urdu newspapers with Siasat discussing the unusually combative tone of this year’s US presidential race and Inquilab raising concerns over Israel’s alleged long-term territorial ambitions.
Here’s a wrap of the news and editorials in the Urdu press last week.
‘Corporate tax cuts have not produced significant results’
On 31 October, Siasat claimed, in its editorial, that India’s economy, once driven by agriculture, faces significant challenges today in both the agricultural and manufacturing sectors. In many states, farmers have not been receiving minimum support prices (MSPs) with crops left unsold and wasted, it said, adding that the manufacturing sector and job market are also struggling.
Rising unemployment and limited self-employment opportunities are creating anxiety among the youth, it added.
“This growing unease among the young must be addressed as a priority. The government should act on the negative trends in domestic economic activities and respond to the Opposition’s concerns about economic stability. If the economy is indeed stable, the government should clarify this to assure both the Opposition and the public, particularly young people, through discussions in or outside of Parliament,” the Siasat editorial said.
On 28 October, in an editorial about the country’s economic situation, Inquilab emphasised India’s appeal among developing nations as an investment destination due to its youth population and large consumer market. It said international agencies, such as Moody’s, taking interest in India’s GDP growth over the next decade, underscores the country’s global importance. However, foreign observers have highlighted issues like high inflation and unemployment.
Furthermore, it said, current data reveals that manufacturing is at an eight-month low and GST collection has declined, raising questions about the effectiveness of government initiatives like Skill India and Make in India. The editorial criticised the government’s corporate tax cuts, which were aimed at boosting investment but have not produced significant results.
“Why is this the case, especially in manufacturing, when the slogans of Skill India and Make in India still resonate? The finance minister must answer this. The government had given special favour to the corporate sector in the sense that it had reduced the corporate tax. The objective was to make this sector invest. But it doesn’t. Now who will ask her for an answer?” said the Inquilab editorial.
Voters urged to ‘choose wisely’
On 30 October, Siasat’s editorial discussed the upcoming Uttar Pradesh by-elections and Jharkhand Assembly elections. It said political parties often rely on empty promises and emotional manipulation to win votes, only to remain inactive later. The editorial urged voters to choose wisely—pick candidates who are addressing real issues and avoid those who push divisive tactics.
Highlighting, what it said, were the nationwide issues of unemployment, inflation, and economic instability, which have worsened despite government promises, the Siasat editorial said voters should reject leaders exploiting religious sentiments for gain and instead support public servants focused on resolving these pressing problems.
On 28 October, Roznama Rashtriya Sahara’s editorial highlighted the complex political dynamics of the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections. Disagreements over ticket allocations, which were due by 29 October, turned certain seats into prestige issues in, both, the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi.
The Samajwadi Party announcing candidates for 20 seats further complicated the situation with the MVA only willing to concede a few. The struggles offer an insight into the intensity of the upcoming electoral battle, the editorial concluded.
Risk of broader regional war
Siasat’s 28 October editorial said Israel’s attack on Iran was aimed at diminishing Iran’s nuclear potential, a goal it shares with the US and other Western countries.
Highlighting Israel’s offensive in Gaza and Lebanon, the editorial claimed, Iran is the primary regional opponent to Israel’s expansionist plans and the ongoing tension could escalate into a broader regional war with catastrophic consequences.
“The United States continues to threaten Iran as a puppet of Israel. This is a very dangerous situation that requires effort for resolution,” the editorial claimed. “Impartial nations and global organisations need to take the initiative to prevent Israel’s expansionist ambitions from causing regional wars and leading the world into severe destruction.”
On 30 October, the Inquilab editorial criticised the Israeli government’s indifference to global calls for peace. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems determined to continue the war to maintain his power while assuring the public that his actions are for their safety, it said. It commended, what it called, the bravery of the Palestinian people who continue to resist and protect their homeland despite massive destruction.
Strains between Congress and its allies
On 31 October, Sahara’s editorial discussed the precarious state of the Congress in India’s current political landscape.
Recent election results from Jammu and Kashmir and Haryana have diminished Congress’s strength and bargaining power, affecting its relationships with opposition leaders. Smaller parties like the Samajwadi Party and Aam Aadmi Party are now negotiating on equal terms with Congress, it said.
In the upcoming by-elections, despite the previous alliance that helped defeat the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, Congress has failed to secure an agreement on seat sharing. Congress’s relationship with the Samajwadi Party and AAP are showing signs of strain, it said.
‘US presidential candidates breaking tradition’
On 1 November, the Siasat editorial said this year’s election campaign in the upcoming US presidential elections was “distinctly different, with each candidate breaking tradition to target their opponent on every issue, no matter how minor”.
The editorial said, “In this year’s campaign former president Barack Obama has also joined Harris’s campaign with vigour, while Trump’s approach remains centered around his core support. This 2024 US presidential election is crucial not only for America but for the world, which awaits the outcome with anticipation.”
(Edited by Sanya Mathur)
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Manufacturing is low because of socialism. Any ills of India can be attributed to socialism