The first phase of India’s general elections began on April 19. In its potential third term, the BJP-led NDA government is hoping to secure more than 400 seats. On the other side is the INDIA bloc that started with a coalition among 26 members, led by Congress. The Pakistani media believes it to be an “India vs Hindutva” (The Nation, April 19) contest.
News International (April 20) says, “At this point, the question of which party will be victorious is meaningless. The way the BJP has taken over India’s political landscape indicates that it is not going anywhere.” Speaking to the present state of democracy in the country, and hinting at its interference abroad, the editorial states: “India has fallen from its status as an impressive democracy to a bloodthirsty authoritarian rule. Its intolerance of dissent is not limited to its borders.”
The Nation (April 19) discusses BJP’s relationship with the southern states saying, “If the BJP gains control over southern state assemblies, it can use its power to further strengthen its nationalist agenda. This would exacerbate tensions surrounding the issues of identity, religion, and the rights of the minorities in India.”
But it holds out hope for a change: “If they can be overthrown, the entire political landscape of India can be flipped on its axis instantly.”
Movement to protect the Constitution
Following claims that the current PML(N)-PPP government “stole” the February 8 elections, several political parties led by PTI have formed an opposition alliance termed the Tehreek-i-Tahaffuz-i-Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP), or Movement to protect the Constitution. The media warns against yet another toppling of an elected government and advises the parties to deal with this issue “politically” (Dawn, April 15).
Express Tribune (April 16) mulls over the option of the ruling PML(N) appointing an investigation agency to probe the opposition’s claims. It says a commission to examine rigging allegations “would be akin to the government signing its own death warrant” unless it is a “partisan fact-finder”. But the opposition won’t “settle for anything less than a transparent inquiry into the ‘mandate theft’”.
Deferring to the democratic process, Dawn (April 15) believes, “As long as protests stay political and remain within the bounds set by the law, they ought to be welcomed as part of the democratic process. Meanwhile, the government should desist from resorting to any unlawful or extra-legal means to keep the political challenge at bay.”
President’s address on democracy and dissent
President Asif Ali Zardari delivered his first address to the joint session of parliament this week. He emphasised the importance of democracy, dialogue and constructive disagreement. During his address, the PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) raised slogans of protest. The media praised the forward-looking and impartial nature of the president’s speech.
Daily Times (April 19) says, “In a political arena marked by turbulence, Zardari’s plea for unity deserves attention… The significance of this parliamentary session extends beyond mere rhetoric. It symbolises the resilience of our democratic fabric, with the house completing its third consecutive term despite challenges… [and] the record seventh address of a president.”
News International (April 20) believes that the PTI, which “thrives in a politics of chaos and anarchy rather than dialogue and engagement” should “pay heed to Zardari’s words of caution”. It says PTI has “turned politics into a personal feud”. The editorial seemingly addressed the party when it said, “It is not too late to hold a dialogue with the government and its allies so that parliament is strengthened, democratic procedures take precedence, and the people’s faith is restored in the electoral system.”
Iran-Israel attack
In the last week, Iran attacked Israel in response to the latter’s attack on a diplomatic facility in Damascus that killed a number of senior Iranian generals. In turn, Israel seems to have retaliated with strikes on Iranian facilities in Isfahan. Even as some Israel supporters are celebrating, the Tel Aviv administration has not officially confirmed the strike.
The Nation (April 20) claims that a larger conflict in the region has been “averted”. However, it points to a potentially worse attack in the making on Rafah since “Israel has spent the last six months herding the population of the Gaza Strip”.
The editorial quotes an Israeli newspaper as saying, “Washington has agreed to go along with Israel’s planned assault on the city of Rafah so long as Israel doesn’t launch a large attack against Iran.” If this is true, “A full-on invasion would be more horrific than anything we’ve seen in Gaza so far.”
Dawn (April 20) mentions the economic consequences of a larger conflict in the Middle East that would cause “oil prices to skyrocket, and global trade to be upended. To avoid this, Washington, London and Brussels need to check Israel’s destabilising behaviour.”
adya.goyal@expressindia.com
