Tremors continue

REGIONAL ROUNDUP

Though the week's newspapers were naturally dominated by coverage of the earthquake in both India and Pakistan, and the death toll in the two countries, the aftershocks of the Supreme Court verdict on the Bihar dissolution continued to be felt the week after the verdict.

In the north, Dainik Bhaskar had a front page story on how Speaker Somnath Chatterjee was quite unhappy with what had happened and had spoken to some ministers, though unofficially.

It had an inside page statement by Home Minister Shivraj Patil saying he was prepared to have a debate on the matter in Parliament; another day, there was a front page story on the turmoil within the Congress on the Buta Singh decision.

Punjab Kesri had a lead story on how there was increased pressure on President APJ Abdul Kalam to resign given his role in the matter. Punjab Kesri also had a two-column picture of Laloo Prasad with wife Rabri Devi doing puja with the caption, "He Durga maiya, chunav mein meri paar lagade naiya" (Oh Mother Durga, help me win the elections).

The newspaper had another front page story on the tension in the Congress on the episode. Rajasthan Patrika had a small item on the front page on how the President was reduced to just keeping quiet on his role "" the story gave details of a meeting at the Indian Women's Press Corps where the President was asked for his comments on the Supreme Court ruling, but chose to duck the question.

Given the time of the year, in the normal course, all the Bangla newspapers book their lead report slots on the front page with stories and colourful pictures on Puja festivities. So, when the Supreme Court order was passed on October 7, the newspapers were in a bit of a dilemma.

So, in spite of its significance and impact on the UPA government, Ananda Bazar Patrika carried the story as the second lead, while the lead story was devoted to Puja festivities. Aajkaal carried the report in the bottom half of the front page, though it got a three-column display. Bartaman, too, subjected the development to a none-too-prominent display.

Ananda Bazar Patrika pointed out how the Supreme Court verdict will cause a major embarrassment for the Congress leadership, who were all assembled at Chandigarh for a conclave of chief ministers of Congress-ruled states.

The other two newspapers sought recourse to vanilla reporting. The earthquake in Muzaffarabad, killing in its wake thousands of Pakistanis and Indians, also was partly responsible for the scanty coverage of the Supreme Court verdict. Ananda Bazar Patrika also carried an editorial the very same day the order was passed, endorsing the apex court's view and lambasting the politicians and the ruling party.