Opinion View from the right

Both Sangh Parivar journals have used the resignations of two Union ministers,Pawan Bansal and Ashwani Kumar,as vindication of their misgivings about the UPA government.

The Indian Express

May 16, 2013 03:41 AM IST First published on: May 16, 2013 at 03:41 AM IST

CAGED UPA

Both Sangh Parivar journals have used the resignations of two Union ministers,Pawan Bansal and Ashwani Kumar,as vindication of their misgivings about the UPA government. The cover story and editorial in the Organiser recount the events leading to the resignations to highlight the total collapse of governance,which has become a national shame because the UPA has turned into a government of dealers and brokers. Panchjanya also has a cover story and editorial,and paints Congress president Sonia Gandhis attempt to project a brave front as arrogance akin to that of the Godfather from Mario Puzos novel.

KARNATAKA LOSS

While both weeklies have consigned the BJPs defeat in Karnataka to the inside pages,they are unanimous in their admission that it was the state BJPs infighting that led to the debacle. A report in the Organiser has blamed serious infighting and the ouster of people like former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa from the party. An analysis in Panchjanya acknowledges the importance of Yeddyurappas ouster,but claims that it was peoples frustration with the infighting that alienated the electorate from the BJP.

While Panchjanya opines that the Congresss victory didnt diminish corruption as an issue in elections,the Organiser projects the verdict as a warning to the BJP to set its house in order,given that the BJP lost in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh also for the same reason. The journals,however,suggest the need to bring Yeddyurappa back to the BJP fold. The Organiser report advises the BJP that it must try to bring under its fold all such mass leaders who have either left the party or [been expelled in the manner Kalyan Singh was brought back in Uttar Pradesh. As an aside,Panchjanya is critical of attempts to run down Narendra Modis political charisma after the partys defeat in Karnataka.

MEEK INDIA

The Chinese incursion in Ladakh and its handling by the Union government has come in for serious criticism from both journals,with both blaming the UPA for being meek against China. A two-page report on the incursion in Panchjanya,with graphics,expresses apprehensions that India might have retreated from its position in order to make China pull back. It also criticises External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshids silence on this issue during his recent Beijing visit.

A two-page report in the Organiser calls the development and the Indian handling of it a surrender before China and cautions the government about the mistakes of 1962. RSS functionary Ram Madhav,in an accompanying article,advises India to treat China as it treats other neighbours on issues that concern its national sentiments. Madhav,in fact,suggests India to unilaterally call off the forthcoming visit of the Chinese premier.

Compiled by Ravish Tiwari