From the Urdu Press | ‘Rahul Gandhi bounces back as Oppn face’, ‘Nuh question for BJP double-engine’, ‘hate killings’ aboard train

SIASAT

In its editorial on August 8, headlined “Rahul Gandhi ki wapsi (Rahul Gandhi’s return)”, the Hyderabad-based Siasat notes that that Rahul has returned as an MP following the restoration of his membership of the Lower House on August 7 in the wake of the Supreme Court’s August 4 order staying his conviction in a defamation case. Rahul was disqualified as an MP on March 24 this year, a day after a Surat court sentenced him to two-year imprisonment over his Modi surname remarks made in Karnataka’s Kolar during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The daily writes that Rahul’s membership was restored with the same alacrity with which it was revoked, pointing to a “remarkable public solidarity that has swelled in favour of the Congress leader during this episode”. Rahul returned to Parliament to a hero’s welcome from MPs of his party and allies, it says. “This showed the Opposition MPs’ move to rally round Rahul against the injustice meted out to him. He was targeted but he conducted himself with quiet dignity while abiding by law through his disqualification affair, which has enhanced his political stature.”

The editorial says political differences are an integral part of democracy, and that had always been the case in India too. “But in recent years our country has seen a different trend, with political differences being branded as anti-national or seditious. It has also got tinged with colours of personal hostility,” the edit states. “Rahul was subjected to an organised and sustained campaign on social media that was aimed at damaging his image. But he faced these challenges with grace and determination without making any compromises, which has increased Rahul’s political capital in the eyes of people and even his critics. The warm welcome accorded to him on his return to Parliament is a testimony to it,” the daily says, adding that Rahul has emerged as the de facto leader of the Opposition bloc, which has raised hopes from him.

SALAR

Referring to the violence and arson that erupted in Nuh in Haryana’s Mewat region during a procession led by the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad, which spiralled to some neighbouring districts like Gurgaon, the Bengaluru-based Salar, in its leader on August 4, points out that the Supreme Court directed Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh to ensure that there are no hate speeches against any communities in the rallies organised by Hindu groups to protest against the Nuh clashes. The apex court also asked the administration in these states to ensure that there is no violence or damage to properties, and to deploy adequate security forces wherever required during these protests, the daily states. It says a government must be competent enough to uphold law and order on its own without any intervention from a court, and that “if every time a court has to issue orders to the government in this regard, then that reflects poorly on the executive’s role”.

“Several people have lost their lives in the Haryana violence. Over 100 have been arrested. Many are trying to vitiate the atmosphere. The government must ensure that not a single accused is shielded, otherwise many such extremists would be born,” the edit says. “Both Haryana and Manipur are ruled by the BJP, which has also been in power at the Centre,” it notes, adding that the flare-up and spread of violence in these states put a question mark over the BJP dispensation’s handling of the situation.

The daily points out that Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has said that the rioters will be made to pay for the damage they have caused. “CM Khattar is right, but its test would be the identification of those involved in the violence and not targeting of innocent people. For these days, in BJP-ruled states, only Muslim youths are booked for every incident of violence, which violates our democracy,” the edit says. “It is hoped that the Haryana government will identify the real culprits and make all efforts to restore harmony and peace in the state.”

ROZNAMA RASHTRIYA SAHARA

Commenting on the killings aboard the Jaipur-Mumbai Central Superfast Express near Mumbai on July 31, when an RPF constable on escort duty, Chetan Singh, shot dead his senior, ASI Tikaram Meena, and three passengers – Asgar Abbas Ali from Bihar’s Madhubani, Abdul Kadar Mohamed Hussain Bhanpurwala from Nalasopara in Maharashtra’s Palghar, and Syed Saifullah from Hyderabad’s Nampally — the multi-edition Roznama Rashtriya Sahara, in its editorial on August 2, writes that the incident was a manifestation of an atmosphere of strife and violence in the country which, it says, has been fuelled by the politics of polarisation and hate speech in recent years. “It has undermined communal harmony and social amity, devastated our Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb (syncretic culture), and upended nationalism.”

The daily says the damage this atmosphere is inflicting on youths’ minds is reflected in the purported video shot by the fellow passengers of Chetan Singh’s rant after gunning down his victims. “Although this is not the first time such a hate crime, especially the one targeting Muslims, has occurred in the country, this kind of violence is unprecedented.”

The editorial says the RPF constable’s alleged crime reflects the destruction wreaked on our social fabric due to the politics of hate in the country. “It is imperative for the sake of our nation to launch a campaign against this toxic atmosphere and hate speech so that our youths can take the route to becoming national assets instead of being pushed onto a destructive course.”