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Journalism of Courage
Battlelines are drawn for the high-stakes Delhi Assembly polls which will witness a triangular contest between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, BJP and Congress. While the AAP led by Arvind Kejriwal is aiming to clinch a hat-trick despite reeling from multiple crises, the BJP is looking to make a comeback in the Capital after a gap of nearly three decades. The Urdu dailies tracked the initial round of campaigning by the three contenders, capturing the fireworks between their key faces amid the growing winter chill.
Flagging Delhi BJP leader Ramesh Bidhuri’s alleged sexist and derogatory remarks against two top women leaders of the country – Congress general secretary and MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and the AAP’s Delhi CM Atishi — the Hyderabad-based Siasat, in its January 7 editorial, says that the ex-MP Bidhuri is known for his foul language. “The BJP always issues platitudes about Indian culture and tradition. Yet, it does not rein in its leaders who flout norms of decency and civility with impunity,” it states. “Bidhuri had even undermined the dignity of Parliament when on its floor he had made slurs against Opposition MP Danish Ali. He however did not face any disciplinary action and was let off the hook.” The editorial says when Bidhuri was denied ticket in the Lok Sabha polls, there was speculation that it was done in view of his offensive remarks against Ali. But the BJP has now fielded him against Atishi from the Kalkaji constituency in the Delhi polls.
The daily asserts that political differences cannot warrant the use of derogatory comments against opponents, which also violate the great political traditions and values of our country. “The BJP leadership should step in and condemn such remarks in no uncertain terms besides taking Bidhuri to task,” the edit says. “With the campaign for the Delhi polls gathering momentum, the BJP seems to be leaving no stone unturned to oust the AAP from power, but resorting to a crude pitch would be negative politics… Respect for women has to be followed,” it says, adding that there must not be any compromise with misogynistic behaviour.
Referring to the continuing turmoil in Manipur, the New Delhi edition of Roznama Rashtriya Sahara, in its January 2 editorial, says that CM N Biren Singh’s move on New Year eve to say “sorry” to the people of the state for the ethnic strife that has roiled it since May 3, 2023, killing over 250 people and leaving thousands homeless, marked a “significant political step”. But, it says, various questions have arisen out of it.
Hours after indicating his “sensitivity” by expressing his regret, Biren Singh lashed out at the Congress, accusing its “past sins” of being responsible for the current crisis in the Northeastern state, the daily says, adding that the CM even raked up the Naga-Kuki conflict in the 1990s. “This has made his apology suspect, rubbing salt into the wounds of the Manipur people.”
Noting that the conflict between the Meitei and the Kuki communities has been raging in the state since May 3, 2023, the editorial states that the CM’s apology would sound hollow unless concrete measures are taken to restore peace and harmony besides raising people’s morale. It says the Biren-led BJP government has failed to control the situation so far, with the state continuing to be rocked by violence. There have been chilling indents of sexual assault on women, which convulsed the nation, the edit says. “And yet, Biren is trying to shift the blame for a long list of his government’s failings onto a past regime rather than owning up his own responsibility. He should step out of the politics of past and focus on dealing with the current crisis effectively.”
The daily says the Centre’s “apathy” has fuelled Manipur’s unrest. “Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has pointed out that PM Modi has not visited the state since the crisis gripped it. In contrast, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has visited the state and met the affected people,” it says, stressing that the Centre must play a pro-active role and facilitate a dialogue between the two ethnic groups to help them resolve their differences. “The Centre should play the role of a bridge between Meiteis and Kukis. If it does not make a serious intervention, the goal of bringing peace to Manipur may remain a dream.”
Bihar politics has started heating up even though the state Assembly elections are still over 10 months away, says Siasat, in its January 4 leader. Referring to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, when the NDA, comprising the BJP, JD(U) and some smaller parties, bagged 30 seats out of 40 as compared to nine won by the INDIA bloc or Mahagathbandhan comprising the RJD, Congress and Left, the editorial says, “It was expected in the wake of the NDA’s resounding win that Bihar’s political scene would remain predictable until the Assembly polls. But a churn appears to have started with RJD chief Lalu Prasad saying that JD(U) president and CM Nitish Kumar is welcome if he decides to switch back to the Mahagathbandhan.”
Although Nitish doing any further such experiments seems unlikely at this stage, especially in light of the Lok Sabha poll outcome, the Assembly elections would be a different ball game, the editorial notes. “The JD(U) registered a good showing in the Lok Sabha polls riding on the coattails of the BJP, with even their smaller allies, Chirag Paswan-led LJP(RV) and Jitan Ram Majhi-led HAM(S), contributing to their success. There are however indications that the JD(U) might not be able to repeat it in the 2025 Assembly polls,” it says.
At the same time, the editorial says, by making an overture to Nitish, Lalu has taken a risk as it could be read as a signal of his side’s vulnerability.
The daily writes that there would be different issues at play in the Assembly polls. The row over the alleged paper leak in a Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) exam has snowballed, with Jan Suraaj Party founder Prashant Kishor joining the students’ protest and doing a hunger strike on the issue, it says. “Unemployment is a major problem in Bihar, and alleged irregularities in recruitment exams would impact public mood, which the Mahagathbandhan could tap.”
The editorial points out that Nitish might have brushed aside Lalu’s offer, but he is known for having switched loyalties multiple times between the NDA and Mahagathbandhan. “There may be apprehension in the JD(U) rank and file that Nitish may meet the same fate that Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde faced in Maharashtra,” it says. “The BJP propped up Shinde as the CM despite being his senior partner in a bid to keep the Opposition MVA at bay, but replaced him with its leader Devendra Fadnavis after leading the NDA to a landslide victory in the recent Assembly polls.”
