Hindi newspapers
8 April, 2019
Amar Ujala’s editorial analyses the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) civil service exam results. It finds a continuing dominance of science students, a fall in the dominance of the South and a rise in non-upper castes toppers from the Hindi belt. The topper, this time, is from a scheduled tribe and in the top 25, there are 15 men and 10 women candidates.
9 April: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s manifesto is up for comment, Tuesday. Dainik Jagran writes that the party has focused on security, good governance and prosperity. No surprise that it talks of Ram temple, Article 370 and 35A but questions remain on why it did nothing on a uniform civil code. Its Kisan Credit Card, the promise of pensions to farmers and traders can be “its ace” and a counter the Congress’s NYAY, writes Jagaan but it will have to explain where it will get the money for these schemes.
Amar Ujala says the party has realised that without winning over rural India, it cannot think of returning to power. It says BJP has focused on nationalism, upliftment of the poor and good governance — “rashtrawad, antyodyay aur susashan”.
10 April: Dainik Bhaskar comments on the neutrality of the Election Commission in “Aam chunav ke beech chunav aayog ki saakh par sawal”. More than 60 civil servants had written to the President expressing concern over the credibility of the EC. They have given examples of abuse of the model code of conduct but the “non partisan” and “independent” EC has done nothing beyond issuing a notice. Bhaskar talks of tough decisions taken by former chief election commissioner T.N. Seshan and suggests the time has come for EC to introspect.
Dainik Jagran says the Naxal attack in Dantewada Tuesday, which killed five people, including a BJP MLA, indicates that the Naxals remain active and have the capability to challenge law and order in Chhattisgarh. The Maoists have called for a boycott of the elections and are using violent means to stop the process. Security needs to be tightened and the Naxals need to be given the message that “they will not be spared” if they don’t mend their ways, writes Jagran.
11 April: Jagran urges the Supreme Court in light of its Rafale verdict which has allowed “secret” papers to be presented in court, to give its decision in the review petition case at the earliest — there is no logic holding up the judgment on a case of national importance on an important deal. Also, the court should decide the case quickly because political parties are making the Rafale “scam” an election issue. Rahul Gandhi should provide evidence in SC of his claims that Anil Ambani was given Rs 30,000 crore in the deal, Jagran writes.
Tamil newspapers
9 April: The Hindu Tamil’s editorial welcomes the debate on the Congress’s manifesto by other parties and the media. It advises BJP to have a productive discourse around this. It adds that “the path shown here (in the manifesto) gives us hope”.
10 April: Dinamani’s editorial is also on the BJP’s manifesto. It says it has been “cleverly” drafted just focusing on Modi’s leadership, “national security” while ignoring the “unfulfilled promises”.
11 April: The Hindu Tamil comments on the BJP’s election manifesto. It highlights promises on Ram temple, the NRC states and the Citizenship Bill. It says the manifesto is “Modi-centric” — it mentions BJP 20 times, Modi 32 times. However, there is no mention of Modi’s demonetisation or ‘achhe din’ — the “prime slogan in the last elections”.
12 April: The Hindu Tamil’s editorial is on the recent Dantewada attack by Maoists. It says the Maoists’ “radical sermons” work with the people. At the same time, people living in the forest lands are being evacuated and this needs to stop. As does exploitation of the mineral wealth of the land by corporates. “Only with the help of these tribals, can the Maoists be brought down,” writes the newspaper.
With inputs from Shailaja Bajpai.
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