Battlelines are drawn now in Bihar. With the Election Commission (EC) announcing a two-phase Assembly polls next month, which will see a keen contest between the incumbent NDA and the Opposition Mahagathbandhan, the Urdu dailies too switched gears — from tracking the EC’s contentious Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls in the state, to focusing on the electoral showdown now, whose outcome would have a crucial bearing on national politics. On the front pages of the dailies, the EC’s announcement was overshadowed by the outrage over a bid to throw a shoe at Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai in the Supreme Court.After an advocate aimed a shoe at CJI Gavai during court proceedings, the Mumbai-based Urdu Times, in its October 7 leader, says that with the judiciary considered “the protector of law and temple of justice”, the incident has caused the people of the country to hang their collective head in shame. It has also tarnished India’s global image, the editorial says. The lawyer who perpetrated this reprehensible act alleged that some remarks made by CJI Gavai, who is a Dalit, had insulted Sanatan Dharma. “This unprecedented incident also highlighted caste-based prejudice. Mahatma Gandhi fought against caste discrimination and B R Ambedkar framed the Constitution of India to eradicate it, but the menace still looms. Rather, it has been fuelled in recent years,” the editorial says.AdvertisementReferring to CJI Gavai’s “calm and gracious” handling of the incident, the daily points out that he ignored it and carried on with hearing a separate matter. He also directed the top court’s registry not to take any action against the lawyer and to release him, it notes, adding that the Bar Council of India (BCI) later suspended the lawyer for violating the dignity of the court.The editorial notes that the lawyer defended that any “insult to Sanatan Dharma” would not be tolerated. “This incident should not be treated as an isolated case as it has come on the back of the politics of hate and division being practised by certain forces,” it states. “While the CJI has sent a powerful message through his magnanimity, the accused lawyer should be brought to justice,” the edit says, adding that a critical challenge would be “how to transmute the venom of hate into the elixir of love”.INQUILABWith RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat pitching for communal harmony and social responsibility during his Vijayadashami address at the Sangh headquarters in Nagpur, which also marked its centenary event, the New Delhi edition of Inquilab, in its October 3 editorial, says that the Republic of India is based on the principles of equality, liberty and fraternity, where the Constitution has given equal rights to every citizen regardless of religion, class, caste, region or language. “However, when these rights are not implemented effectively on the ground and remain just on paper, it has a bearing on the moral foundation of the country,” it says. “If any religious or social community is attacked, vilified or othered, it not only violates that group’s rights but raises a question mark on the entire society.”AdvertisementThe editorial notes that the RSS is a flagbearer for Hindu nationalism in the country, which champions social cohesion, cultural unity and public service. “However, there is a chasm between the RSS’s words and deeds. Scores of incidents of hate, injustice and violence targeting Muslims have been reported from across the country in recent years. In several cases, false allegations of cow slaughter and extremist activities have been slapped against them. The RSS should condemn such incidents and rise in defence of the Muslim community,” it states.The daily mentions the protests and violence over the “I love Muhammad” poster row, leading to arrests of Muslims. “It is imperative for the government to probe such incidents fairly and ensure justice for the victims. If the government fails in this duty, it would undermine the Constitution and rule of law, creating an atmosphere of fear and division in society,” it states. “The RSS should also harmonise its words and action. If it is really dedicated to the cause of national unity, it should stand up to protect the Muslim rights too.”SIASATmost readWith the EC sounding the bugle for the Bihar Assembly elections to be held on November 6 and 11, the Hyderabad-based Siasat, in its October 7 editorial, points out that most parties sought two-phase polling and that they are already in poll mode and would now step up finalisation of their seat-sharing deals and selection of candidates. “The polls will see a direct fight between the incumbent Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led NDA and the RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav-led Opposition Mahagathbandhan. Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Party is going all out to contest solo, but in the complex electoral landscape of Bihar, the party is not likely to pull off an upset in its Assembly poll debut,” it writes.In their campaigns, says the daily, the contenders are going to shower a variety of promises and sops to woo various sections of voters. “There would also be an escalation in bids to polarise the people along communal and caste lines. The Hindu-Muslim narrative has already been built up. The people of Bihar would need to display their prudence and sagacity in deciding the polls,” it says.JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar has been at the helm of Bihar for two decades, the daily notes, adding that the elections would show how the people see his performance and whether the state needs a power shift to bring about a change in its situation. Referring to a raft of cash doles given by the NDA government for various sections, the edit says the state faces a larger challenge of development. “Bihar’s youth need jobs and a future, even as the state continues to be mired in poverty and backwardness,” it says, adding that the Assembly polls would determine the state’s roadmap ahead.