From the Urdu Press: ‘Badlapur to Baba Siddique – NDA govt in dock’, ‘Omar must work in tandem with Centre’

The editorial notes that earlier this month, another NCP leader, Sachin Kurmi, was stabbed to death in Mumbai’s Ghodapdeo area, when he went out for a walk, and asks what were the law-enforcement and intelligence agencies doing when it came to Baba Siddique. The accused had been conducting the recee of the area, following Siddique’s trail for over a month, the edit claims. “This is clearly the government’s failure. The administration must promptly carry out a thorough probe into the killing transparently. It must expose the faces behind the murder. Otherwise, the government’s image would be tainted for abdicating its responsibility in ensuring justice in such chilling cases – from the Badlapur outrage to the Bandra killing.”

SIASAT

As National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah gets set to take over as the Chief Minister of the NC-led government in J&K, the Hyderabad-based Siasat, in its October 12 leader, points out that the NC-Congress-CPI(M) alliance, which has a clear majority, has also got the support of four Independents in Assembly elections held after a period of a decade.

“While the task of any new government in any state is cut out, as it has to review the policies and programmes of the previous regime and change them if deemed necessary, besides taking new initiatives in light of its poll pledges, the incoming J&K government would face formidable challenges of a different kind,” the editorial says. “In light of the mandate for the NC-led alliance, the Omar dispensation will have to kick off its work immediately in order to fulfil public expectations from the elected government. It will have to leave no stone unturned to ensure ease of living for the common people and bring normalcy in J&K.”

A key question would be related to restoration of statehood to J&K, writes the daily. “Although this is a major political issue that is not expected to be resolved anytime soon, the elected government must take it up with the Centre on a sustained basis,” it states, adding that the new government should also start taking measures to kickstart J&K’s economy and create jobs for its youth. “Just depending on tourism would not be enough for J&K which needs an all-round, robust development based on new technology and industries. The Omar government should work in coordination with the Centre to achieve these targets.”

While the new government will have to strive ceaselessly in public interest, the people should also “show patience”, the editorial says. An elected government being formed after 10 years would need some time to take stock of the administrative situation which has undergone a drastic change under Central rule, it notes. “The government would also need to work out its agenda and roadmap, taking a consultative route. No magical solutions should be expected overnight, but the government must get off the blocks right away.”

INQUILAB

With the Congress suffering a loss in the Haryana polls at the hands of the incumbent BJP, which returned to power for a third consecutive term, the New Delhi edition of Inquilab, in its October 12 editorial, says the former has already started facing the music due to its shock defeat in the state where it was widely expected to win. “While the Congress is yet to review its debacle in Haryana, its INDIA allies have started turning the heat on the party,” the daily says. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav went ahead and named six candidates for the upcoming UP Assembly bypolls. AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal made a comment about the perils of “overconfidence” and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut took a swipe at the Congress for paying the price for its decision to go solo. Omar Abdullah asked the grand old party to introspect deeply about its Haryana blow, the edit says. “Such reactions from allies following a poor poll performance is natural. This is a function of coalition politics. It is done by an ally to put pressure on its partner to claim a bigger space in the coalition and more seats in the polls.”

Referring to the high-stakes Maharashtra elections, the daily adds that INDIA allies should “rise above their self-interests in a spirit of sacrifice for their larger goal of winning this crucial state”. “The Congress is the INDIA’s lead player, whose allies must focus on strengthening their unity. By targeting the grand old party in a bid for one-upmanship, they would dent the INDIA bloc, given that in several states it is the Congress which takes on the BJP in direct fights,” it says. The Congress should also not try to play the role of a “big brother” vis-a-vis its junior allies. “All of them must not lose sight of the point that in the final analysis, what matters is the common purpose of their coalition,” the edit says. “Maharashtra is a key state that the BJP would go all out to retain. The INDIA bloc must remain united if it wants to wrest the state from the NDA.”