From the Urdu Press: ‘PM must update House on Manipur’, ‘Don’t run down NDA’s 38 vs INDIA’s 26’, ‘Shinde should beware Ajit Pawar’

Referring to the video of two Kuki-Zomi women being paraded naked and sexually assaulted in Manipur, the multi-edition Roznama Rashtriya Sahara, in its editorial on July 21, writes that PM Modi had finally spoken about what was happening in Manipur just before the start of Parliament’s Monsoon Session, though the Northeastern state had been on the boil for over two months.

The daily goes on to note that even while speaking about how the Manipur incident “filled my heart with sorrow and anger” and promising strict action, Modi made a reference to incidents in the Congress-ruled Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. The editorial adds that the Congress completely rejected the PM’s analogy, calling it a bid to “divert attention from the colossal governance failures and humanitarian tragedy in Manipur by equating its systemic violence with incidents of crimes against women in other states, especially those ruled by the Opposition”. The daily also points out that the Supreme Court too had taken suo motu cognizance of the Manipur development, and adds: “It is imperative that an all-party delegation visit Manipur. The PM should apprise both Houses of Parliament of the Manipur situation so that it can lead to a thorough discussion on ways to restore peace and normalcy in the strife-torn state.”

SALAR

In its editorial published on June 20 with the headline ‘INDIA bamuqabla NDA‘ (INDIA versus NDA), the Bengaluru-based Salar says it was interesting that on July 18, when 26 Opposition parties were meeting in Bengaluru to brainstorm about the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP mobilised 38 parties for its NDA meeting in Delhi. It naturally pitted the two coalitions against each other, but it was also about the optics, the editorial says, pointing out that the entire public focus would have been on the Opposition’s show if the BJP had not convened the NDA meeting the same day. “In politics, every party keeps a close watch on its rival’s moves. So if the timing of the NDA meet was fixed so as to overlap with the Opposition’s conclave, it was not surprising — and it could not be called improper. The Opposition is claiming though that the BJP is getting jittery over its intensifying unity efforts and is therefore swelling the number of its NDA allies, even though the PM had already declared that he outweighs all his political adversaries.”

The daily notes as “remarkable” the fact that 26 Opposition parties rose above differences and closed ranks to announce an Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance or INDIA, for a united fight against the BJP in the 2024 polls. It notes that in their joint statement the parties resolved to safeguard the idea of India “as enshrined in the Constitution” and rued that “the character of our Republic is being severely assaulted in a systematic manner by the BJP”.

The editorial says that politics is a dynamic game in which its players keep reviewing their strategies and alignments depending on the changing situation and their own interests. For instance, not only had parties like the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction and the Ajit Pawar-led NCP group joined hands with the BJP, but also the saffron party’s erstwhile allies — such as Jitan Ram Manjhi, Chirag Paswan and Upendra Kushwaha in Bihar — had returned to the NDA fold. Although a number of 38 parties do not have any representation in Parliament, even smaller parties could not be written off given their social bases in their respective pockets, the edit says. “So, whether it is the ruling BJP or the Opposition, the two camps’ attempts to broadbase their respective coalitions are clearly aimed at boosting their prospects in the 2024 polls.”

URDU TIMES

In its July 23 editorial headlined ‘Kya Ajit Pawar ka khwab pura hone ja raha hai (Is Ajit Pawar’s dream going to come true)’, the Mumbai-based Urdu Times writes that there are signs of a fresh churn in Maharashtra politics amid a growing buzz that rebel Shiv Sena faction leader Eknath Shinde might be soon eased out of his Chief Ministerial post. It says the continuing political developments in Mumbai and Delhi are fuelling such speculation. Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has been claiming that the BJP would jettison Shinde and install Deputy CM and rebel NCP faction leader Ajit Pawar in his place, it states. “Now, the Ajit NCP’s MLC Amol Mitkari’s statement has reinforced such a buzz. Mitkari has tweeted that Ajit will take over as the CM very soon.”

The daily notes that Shinde had gone to Delhi to meet PM Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. “There were some indications of a possible change of guard in Maharashtra after the NDA’s July 18 meeting following which Ajit and his close aide Praful Patel met Modi, Shah and BJP chief J P Nadda,” it states. “In the eyes of some political pundits this signals that Ajit’s elevation might be on the cards.”

The editorial says the BJP camp has maintained though that Shinde will continue to be the CM. In contrast with its approach towards the Shinde group’s legislators, the BJP has however shown alacrity in rewarding Ajit’s MLAs with ministerial posts, the edit says.

“Interestingly, July 22 marks the birthday of both Deputy CMs, Ajit and the BJP’s Devendra Fadnavis. On this occasion, at several places in Maharashtra Ajit was projected as the CM-to-be,” the daily says, noting that Ajit, who has already been a five-time Deputy CM, has highlighted his chief ministerial dream again now. This should prompt Shinde to wake up to the reality about the BJP’s fresh options and goals, the edit adds.