Edits In Short: February 8
Didn’t get time to read the edit pages in today’s papers? Don’t worry. We’ve read them for you!
The Hindu, February 8, 2013
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ContributeNothing straight about this line – Editorial
The Hindu edit expresses dismay that the UPA government who instituted an award to make gram sabhas in villages function more effectively, is now disempowering them and steamrolling ahead with infrastructure projects in forest areas.
“The Ministry of Environment and Forests, in the face of sustained pressure from the Prime Minister, has acted in unseemly haste to modify a circular it issued in 2009 and allow building activity in forest areas without the need for gram sabha consent.” Which essentially means that construction of roads, canals, laying pipelines, transmission lines etc can now happen without any input from the grassroots. It’s also a complete turnaround by the Ministry for Panchayati Raj and Tribal Affairs who had earlier asked for States to make a full video and audio record of proceedings of these grassroots bodies when they convened to discuss sensitive, contentious and controversial issues including those relating to land acquisition, mining and use of natural resources.
Stop diluting this due process, demands the edit, and restore powers to the gram sabha.
Stretching the limits – Editorial
The edit comments on the Supreme Court’s hauling-up of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) on why the directions spelt out in its August 31, 2012 order against the group have not been executed. That landmark order had directed the two Sahara companies that had raised Rs 24,000 crore through obscure instruments known as optionally fully-convertible debentures (OFCD), to return the money and also furnish the identity of its investors, both within stiff timelines.
Strangely enough, feels the edit, this never happened despite a Supreme Court order, which for anyone else would be the final law. Sahara seems to have got another bench of the Supreme Court to give it till February to repay the depositors. The Supreme Court has now directed SEBI to seize the group’s assets. Good luck to them!
The man who would rule India – Main Article
Writer and historian Ramachandra Guha writes in his piece today that “Indian democracy must see off both Modi and Rahul. One is aggressive authoritarian and the other reluctant to take responsibility.” He goes through the achievements as well as the shortcomings of Narendra Modi, and comes to the conclusion that although Modi government is largely corruption-free, has conducted an active search for investment into Gujarat, spearheaded impressive infrastructural projects and made a brave attempt to do away with power subsidies for rich farmers, there is an uneven development model in districts of Gujarat and environmental degredation is rising while educational standards are falling.
The big problem, Guha feels, is Modi’s resemblance to Mrs Gandhi. “Like Mrs Gandhi once did, Mr Modi seeks to make his party, his government, his administration and his country an extension of his personality. The political practice of both demonstrates the psychological truth that inside every political authoritarian lies a desperately paranoid human being.”
Guha cites the example of Modi boasting that he has a “chappan inch chaati – a 56-inch chest…and therefore all other men (if not women) must bow down to his power and authority.” Ergo, both Rahul the reluctant and Modi the masculine authoritarian – must go.
The Hindustan Times, February 8, 2013
Next door clean-up – Editorial
The ghosts of the Bangladesh liberation of 1971 still linger there, and the edit feels that India needs to take a more pro-active role in the events folding next door. Riots that have broken out over the harsh sentences passed down by the Bangladesh war crimes tribunal, are an indication that the politics between Sheikh Hasina and Khalika Zia (who’s soft on Islamic fundamentalism and has flirted with Pakistan) are going to intensify as Bangladesh moves towards elections. Thanks to Mamata Banerjee a path-breaking settlement of almost every outstanding issue between the two countries was shot down. Now India needs to make a bigger effort to engage Bangldesh.
It’s noise not news – Main Article
Rajdeep Sardesai, editor-in-chief, IBN 18 network, writes on the media’s role in amplifiying controversies, and feels that “Where once the aim was to shed light on a news story, now the dominant agenda is to ‘manufacture’ heat in the stuido”. Taking the recent examples of controversies like Nandy, Rushdie, Viswaroopam and the rock-band from Kashmir, he writes, “The result is a qualitative change in the way news is now disseminated and perceived by viewers, and more worryingly, in the way in which it can shape the national agenda”. He says that the media needs to make a genuine attempt to isolate the voices of extremism instead of amplifying their shrillness. Maybe he could lead the way.
The Indian Express, February 8, 2013
The 5% question – Editorial
The government’s toning down of its expected growth rate makes it to the first edit of the day. The Express holds on to its stand that the answer is “wider reform and urgent focus on investment”. It reiterates that short-term stimuli are just that – short-term, and “fundamental changes can only take place if the environment for strong policy action at the Centre is also carried forward to the states over a sustained period”.
Less equal – Editorial
The edit calls the Equal Opportunities Commission Bill a “cop-out” because it addresses only religious minorities. The Bill’s ambit hasn’t included those who are disadvantaged due to caste, gender or other factors. It states that the “apprehension of turf battles” led to this watered-down version. However, it also says that those battles could have been avoided had an effort being made. It was done in UK where existing commissions were merged.
“It may still be a worthwhile way of checking the bias faced by religious minorities, but it is far from being a genuine equal opportunities legislation.”
Main Article: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/less-equal/1071107/
An idea on Telangana – Main Editorial
Indian Express’ Seema Chishti comments on Congress’ dilly-dallying on the Telangana issue. She begins in an interesting way, comparing the party’s approach to homeopathy, and then allopathy – “A watcher of India’s oldest political party may find that it has a touching faith in homeopathy. The Congress believes in slow cures, and in first exacerbating the symptoms. But its approach to Telangana would suggest the party has a fascination with surgical procedures and allopathy too. After all, deadlines are handed out and then withdrawn until numbness sets in. Finally, you wonder what the Centre really hopes to achieve on Telangana.
Despite starting on that note, she spares the leadership, saying that a strong leadership is a dodgy idea anyway. However, she adds that the Centre must give out firm signals on what it intends to do.
The Times Of India, February 8, 2013
Modi’s Soft Launch – Editorial
The edit states that Modi’s soft launch on the national scene at the Sri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) seems to be a success despite the fact that student protestors had to be restricted with barricades and the use of water canons. It seems that Modi made “the right noises, at the right places” and his “prescriptions were spot on”. However, what remains to be seen is whether he can reconcile the regressive slogans of Hindutva with the contemporary politics of development.
Sexism Interrupted – Editorial
The horrific Delhi gang-rape and the aftermath have not quite touched the country’s political class as much. This is probably why we have Khadi and Gramudyog minister Rajaram Pandey still making crass remarks about women in public. Akhilesh Yadav rose to power on the promise of providing a clean administration. If he fails to keep his promise, he may be voted out just like the Samajwadi Party was in the last election.
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