From the Urdu Press: ‘INDIA needs to put up a common front’, ‘Siddaramaiah must walk the talk over hijab’

Referring to the INDIA bloc’s fourth conclave held in Delhi on December 19, the Hyderabad-based Siasat, in its editorial on December 23, writes that with barely four months left for the Lok Sabha elections, the alliance’s formidable task — to take on the ruling Narendra Modi-led BJP unitedly — is cut out. It is crucial for the alliance to present to the people a common programme based on a consensus as an alternative to the BJP’s agenda, the edit says.

“Since the INDIA bloc was formed, different quarters have mounted various attempts to drive a wedge between its constituents. These politically-motivated bids are aimed at undermining the grouping’s objective and action plan. It is thus imperative for the INDIA allies to dispel any such doubts or misgivings in public mind and project an image of unity and common purpose,” the editorial says.

At the bloc’s meeting, West Bengal CM and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee proposed the name of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge as their Prime Ministerial candidate. Although Kharge distanced himself from the proposal, pointing out that the question of a PM face would arise only after the alliance would have adequate number of MPs after the polls, but the issue turned into a row, and was fuelled to create rifts in the bloc, the editorial states. “It is another matter that none of the alliance leaders has so far staked claim over this position himself or herself and that they have also not really deliberated on this subject,” it says, adding that the INDIA partners need to remain alert to any bids that could cleave their unity.

The daily writes that the grouping should step up their efforts to complete their seat-sharing so that their candidates would have enough time to make their outreach to the people of their constituencies. The alliance parties should close their ranks and set a common narrative for the people in their poll campaign, it adds.

ROZNAMA RASHTRIYA SAHARA

Noting that the BJP has brought new faces to the helm in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh following its Assembly poll triumph, sidelining heavyweights like Vasundhara Raje, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Raman Singh, the multi-edition Roznama Rashtriya Sahara, in its editorial on December 25, says that Congress president Kharge also effected a reshuffle of the AICC following his party’s poll rout. “In his new team, Kharge appointed 12 general secretaries and 12 state in-charges, retaining Jairam Ramesh and K C Venugopal as general secretaries in charge of communication and organisation, respectively,” the editorial notes. “But Kharge made the biggest change by relieving Priyanka Gandhi of her UP charge while naming her general secretary ‘without any assigned portfolio’. Why was it done remains unclear. Perhaps she would lead the party’s campaign at the national level, so she has not been given the charge of any specific state. Avinash Pande will replace Priyanka as the general secretary in charge of UP.”

The daily points out that Kharge has also appointed Sachin Pilot as the general secretary in charge of Chhattisgarh. “This is a clever move as Pilot’s arch rival in Rajasthan Congress, former CM Ashok Gehlot, has also been shifted from state politics through his induction as a member of the party’s National Alliance Committee. After the Congress’s defeat, they were eyeing the posts of the state party president or Leader of Opposition,” it says. “The leadership did not lose the opportunity to prevail upon both Pilot and Gehlot. Now, the party would look for new faces for its top positions in the state. Interestingly, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has been retained as the Rajasthan in-charge. The new situation would help the leadership set its divided house in order in the state.”

The edit says, ”Any party’s success in the polls would depend on the robustness, prudence and efficacy of its team, strategies and campaign,” adding it is to be seen how far Kharge’s new team could fulfil the grand old party’s expectations.

SIASAT

Commenting on the hijab issue that has roiled Karnataka since the previous BJP government banned hijab in government schools and colleges last year, the Hyderabad-based Siasat, in its leader on December 24, writes that the row was stoked by some forces to create rifts between communities and extract political dividends. “It seems this issue would be now resolved soon… The Congress had opposed the ban on hijab from the outset. Following the party’s return to power in the state in May, it was hoped that its government would revoke the ban. Now, CM Siddaramaiah has made clear his government’s intention to do so, although no formal government order has been issued in this regard so far,” the editorial says. “The CM has asserted that people can eat what they want, dress up in what they like, and that everyone can opt for food and clothes of their choice… All governments must pay heed to Siddaramaiah’s views — that it is not their job to decide food and clothing for the citizens, and that they should rather direct their focus and energies on the welfare and development of the people and the country.”

The daily says the BJP might have benefited in North India by practising hard Hindutva politics, but this strategy has not really worked for the party in the South. “The BJP had come to power in Karnataka and saw the state as a gateway for its foray into other southern states. But, the party lost even Karnataka. It also could not really come into reckoning in the Telangana polls,” the editorial states. “Any government’s responsibility lies in ensuring redressal of the problems faced by the people, and most parties also make such claims. The BJP however gives primacy to its Hindutva policies both for coming to power and while ruling a state.”

The edit says that the BJP tried to make Karnataka “a laboratory of its Hindutva agenda”, but could not succeed. “Siddaramaiah has said his government will discuss the matter of revoking the ban on hijab and take a decision. The Congress government should walk the talk on the issue and resolve it soon,” it adds.