From the Urdu Press: ‘BJP thrives on nationalism… faces litmus test over its MP minister’, ‘Opp must back diplomatic strike on Pak’

SIASAT

Referring to MP minister Vijay Shah’s comments saying that India had targeted terrorists “using unke samaj ki behen (a sister of their community)”, alluding to Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, the Hyderabad-based Siasat, in its May 15 editorial, says it is unfortunate that attempts are being made to divide communities on religious lines in a country like India which has always been an emblem of communal harmony. “The poison of hate is being injected into body politic with several leaders of the ruling party at its forefront, who indulge in divisive remarks even on sensitive national issues,” it states.

Shah’s remarks on Qureshi — the face of the government’s media briefings on Operation Sindoor, along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri — are not only “disparaging” but also “disgraceful and cynical”, the edit says. This is more disturbing since persons holding high public offices have the responsibility to foster communal amity and strengthen the Ganga Jamuni Tehzeeb or pluralistic culture of our country, it says.

The daily points out that in the wake of India’s Operation Sindoor against terror emanating from Pakistan, the entire country has rallied round the armed forces. “Colonel Qureshi and Wing Commander Singh have emerged as powerful symbols of women empowerment, bravery and leadership. In this atmosphere, Shah’s bid to target Sofiya Qureshi is an outrage,” it says, noting that an FIR against Shah was filed only after the high court took suo motu cognisance and ordered the same. It was then that Shah apologised, says the daily. “However, beyond an FIR or an apology, the real issue is about a bigoted mindset that finds an expression in such remarks,” the editorial notes. “The BJP is a party that thrives on its nationalism plank. It must set an example by cracking down on such leaders. This is a key test for the BJP.”

URDU TIMES

Highlighting the Narendra Modi government’s move to constitute seven multi-party delegations as part of its efforts to rally global support for India’s war against terror from Pakistan, the Mumbai-based Urdu Times, in its May 19 leader, says India’s efforts had caused “Pakistan to buckle… and seek a cessation of military action”. “However, even after the ceasefire, Islamabad has been trying to spread misinformation against New Delhi at the international level.”

The editorial states that the Modi government’s announcement of the multi-party global outreach teams comes against this backdrop. These teams comprise leaders and MPs from both the ruling BJP-led NDA and the Opposition parties. “This bipartisan diplomatic push is a prudent move by the government. It was necessary to expose Pakistan’s deep nexus with terrorism before the world community,” the edit says, adding that the task of these teams is cut out.

Referring to objections raised by some Opposition parties like the Congress that the government has not consulted them or ignored their suggestions while inducting their members into these delegations, the daily says notwithstanding their criticism, everyone must rally behind the government’s diplomatic strike against Pakistan.

SIASAT

Pointing to the Congress leadership’s uneasy equations with high-profile party leader and four-time Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, Siasat, in its May 16 editorial, says the Congress has always struggled with leaders deviating from the party line on issues. “This often lands the Congress in a spot while providing ammunition to its rivals, especially the BJP,” it says, adding that there are many such instances. Former Congress heavyweight Ghulam Nabi Azad was showered with praises by PM Modi when his term as the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha was coming to an end, the daily notes. “Azad later started questioning the Congress and went on to quit the party while tearing into its leadership, which had not renominated him to the Upper House. Subsequently, he floated his own party (Democratic Progressive Azad Party) in Jammu and Kashmir, which however failed to take off,” the edit states. “Now, the BJP seems to be using the same playbook to warm up to Shashi Tharoor. A renowned intellectual and ex-UN diplomat, Tharoor has insight into global affairs and seems to prefer his individual takes over the party’s stand on a range of issues.”

Referring to Tharoor’s remarks endorsing the Modi government’s position in the wake of the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, the editorial says this has caused a disquiet among the Congress brass, with some party leaders feeling that he crossed the “Lakshman Rekha”. Addressing an event in Kerala earlier, PM Modi, in an oblique swipe at the Congress, suggested that Tharoor’s presence at the event would “disturb the sleep of some people”, the edit notes.

There could be a possibility, it says, that Tharoor might be trying to put pressure on the Congress leadership to secure a better deal in the Kerala party politics in the run-up to the Assembly polls slated for early 2026. “Tharoor may be attempting to boost his prospects in the Kerala Congress politics. He is a chief ministerial aspirant. The Congress leadership needs to rise and deal with the situation.”