SPECIAL MEDIA REPORT: INDIAN MEDIA HAILS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 NEW DELHI 001009

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USDOC FOR 4530/IEP/ANESA/OSA FOR BILL MURPHY

E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: SPECIAL MEDIA REPORT: INDIAN MEDIA HAILS
VERDICT 2009; WISHES CONGRESS PARTY LUCK ON PATH TO

REFORMS, STABILITY; NEW DELHI.

Summary: The Indian media hailed the sweeping victory
of the Congress Party and its allies in the country's
general elections, saying India had voted for peace,
stability and secularism. THE TIMES OF INDIA
editorialized that "voters rejected pretenders and
chose to reward political parties and candidates that
offered a positive agenda for governance." THE HINDU
opined that voters "rebuffed small-time practitioners
of unethical politics." The pro-Congress Party
HINDUSTAN TIMES said, "[Congress Party President]
Sonia's maturity, [son and party general secretary]
Rahul's youth and [Prime Minister] Manmohan's integrity
proved a magic combination."

Why did the Hindu nationalist BJP and the communist
parties "Left Front" fail? Because their ideologies do
not reflect the aspirations of the voters, the media
said. THE TIMES OF INDIA editorialized that "the BJP
proposed a national agenda that appeared to be socially
divisive." On the rejection of the Left, THE HINDUSTAN
TIMES said: "Its hidebound dogmas no longer excite the
Indian voter, especially the youth."

Mentioning the U.S.-India nuclear initiative as a
significant factor, Sanjaya Baru, noted media
personality and former press advisor to PM Singh,
wrote: "Returning to the ideological center [by not
giving in to the Left on the nuclear deal], enabled the
Congress to return to the Center [i.e., national
governance]." Noted editor Vinod Mehta said Indians
rejected politics of extreme, as embodied by the
Leftists and the rightists (BJP),and voted for
centrist governance (Congress). The media are now
expecting the Congress party to push ahead with further
market and other reforms "now that the Left is out of
the way." Commentary from India's leading English and
language newspapers follows. End summary.

"WHAT IS TO BE DONE" - THE TIMES OF INDIA


1. Excerpts from an editorial in the May 18 centrist,
independent THE TIMES OF INDIA English daily: (BEGIN
EXCERPTS) "New challenges are shaping up that require
urgent action.... The economy will not recover on its own
but will need action by the government on multiple
fronts: roads, power, education, reforming land and
labor markets, efficient targeting of subsidies,
balancing the budget through disinvestment and other
measures, initiating more investment-friendly regimes
and slashing red tape....


2. The outcome is that 21st century India is a much
savvier country, with voters plumping for governance
and development rather than the identity issues of old.
The UPA needs to appoint its cabinet with care, weeding
out non-performers...while inducting younger faces to
make the cabinet more representative of the nation."
(END EXCERPTS)

"AFTER THE COUNT" - THE TIMES OF INDIA

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3. Excerpts from an editorial in the May 18 centrist,
independent THE TIMES OF INDIA English daily: (BEGIN
EXCERPTS) "Verdict 2009 has been rightly read as a vote
for stability and continuity. Voters rejected
pretenders and chose to reward political parties and
candidates that offered a positive agenda for
governance. The mandate for the UPA is as much an
endorsement of the Manmohan Singh government's record
in office as a rebuttal of political visions that
appeared divisive and outdated....


4. The BJP, while losing ground in states that it swept
in 2004, has maintained its national profile. However,
it seems to have failed to attract new voters. This
holds true of the Left also. Why did the BJP and the
Left fail? Because their ideologies do not reflect the
aspirations of the voters and the tactics they followed
during the campaign alienated even supporters. The BJP
proposed a national agenda that appeared to be socially
divisive, whereas the Left's idea of nation-building
was perceived to be at odds with the spirit of the
times."

"MOVE ON REFORMS, BUT PROTECT POOR" - THE ASIAN AGE


5. Excerpts from an editorial in May 18 nationally
circulating, centrist THE ASIAN AGE English daily:
(BEGIN EXCERPTS): "One could almost hear the collective
sigh of relief in business and trade circles on
Saturday when it became clear that Dr Manmohan Singh's
new government will no longer be dependent on the
support of the Left parties for its survival....
Corporate India has a long wish list: it expects an
avalanche of reforms to be announced without much loss
of time. It points out that with the market-unfriendly
Left out of the way, the government has no excuse left
for not pushing ahead with reforms....


6. But there is a parallel view, both within the
government and outside it, that while economic reforms
must move ahead, the social impact of any proposed
change - particularly on the millions of poor and
marginalized Indians - must be taken into account and
that the government should not move too fast in
allowing foreign ownership of nationalized banks and
insurance companies."
(END EXCERPTS)

"UPA'S AGENDA OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION" - OP-ED IN ASIAN
AGE


7. Excerpts from an op-ed in May 18 nationally
circulating, centrist THE ASIAN AGE English daily by
Arjun Sengupta,
Economic adviser to former Prime Minister Indira
Gandhi: "Pakistan is now facing an enormous crisis. The
challenge to Indian foreign policy is how to help
democratic forces and oppose the fundamentalists.... In
the current international situation, a mature

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relationship between India and the US is essential to
promote our external interests. We cannot bypass the
US, not only in the context of Pakistan, but also in
developing our position with the West Asian countries,
even China. That was the lesson of Jawaharlal Nehru's
foreign policy, which was independent, non-aligned and
friendly to the then Soviet Union, but also never
against the US."

"OBLIGATIONS OF THE NEW MANDATE" - THE HINDU


8. Excerpt from an op-ed in May 18 South India based,
leftist influenced THE HINDU English daily by deputy
editor Harish Khare: (BEGIN EXCERPT): "The voters have
defied conventional wisdom and rebuffed the small-time
practitioners of unethical politics. The recipients of
the new mandate have an obligation to re-invent healthy
governing practices.... Voters have now spared the
Congress leadership the necessity of bad bargains with
unsavory allies. The voters have left the Prime
Minister no excuse for putting up with practitioners of
bad governance, even if they happen to be part of the
new compact coalition.


9. The 2009 vote can also be interpreted as a rejection
of the politics of negativism and exclusion.... Inherent
in the 2009 mandate is a yearning for stability and
coherence at the very core of the Indian state.... The
2009 mandate has mandated Dr. Manmohan Singh to restore
the moral elements in governing processes and
practices." (End excerpts)

"LASTING FRESHNESS" - INDIAN EXPRESS


10. Excerpts from an editorial in May 18 nationally
circulating centrist English daily INDIAN EXPRESS:
(BEGIN EXCERPTS): The Congress party has been given an
unequivocal mandate to govern. And make no mistake:
this is a fresh mandate. It isn't, in any way, a
continuation or an extension of the 2004 result. The
Congress, in its post-victory enthusiasm, should not
lose sight of that....


11. The Human Resources Development Ministry, which
must be given to someone willing to take on the hardest
of tasks, reforming India's antiquated educational
system, in the teeth of both entrenched interests and
with a deadline - the demographic transition waits for
no one. India's single most pressing task is to develop
the human capital of today's enormous set of young
people, or the very real fear is that it will have
missed the boat as a great power.... The mandate reveals
the country is willing to try new things. The Congress
must start giving India new faces, new ideas, and new
reform. Now." (END EXCERPTS)

"TURNING A PALER SHADE OF RED" - THE HINDUSTAN TIMES


12. Excerpts from an editorial in May 18 nationally
circulating centrist THE HINDUSTAN TIMES English daily:

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(BEGIN EXCERPTS) "The gentle Manmohan Singh showed that
he was made of sterner stuff when he refused to back
down in the face of ultimatums from AKG Bhawan [leftist
headquarters) and carried the day. He has carried the
day again and Mr Karat [leftist party supremo] has been
left whistling in the dark.


13. Thanks to his obduracy and much-hyped stance that
he would not support either the Congress or the BJP,
the Left is today up the creek without a paddle.... The
writing on the wall for the Left is clear. Its
hidebound dogmas no longer excite the Indian voter,
especially the youth. Mr Karat would do well to try and
reorient the Left's philosophy to reflect the aims and
aspirations of today's Indians. Verdict 2009 is quite
clear. The shibboleths of the past have been rejected."
(END EXCERPTS)

"VERDICT 2009: THE GAME-CHANGER" - DECCAN HERALD OP-ED


14. Excerpt from an op-ed in May 18 South India
circulating centrist DECCAN HERALD English daily by
senior political columnist M.J. Akbar: (BEGIN EXCERPT)
"The most important result of this election is that the
elimination of regional parties from national space has
begun. This was the message in north, south, east and
west where Congress expanded its space at the cost of
both friends and foes....


15. The BJP realized that development and governance
were the decisive issues. But although its venerable
leader L K Advani tried to define the party around
modern needs, he was tripped by the rhetoric of those
who thought that the country still wanted to hear the
war cry of social conflict.... This is the major lesson
for the next leader of the party: India wants peace
with prosperity because Indians realize that prosperity
cannot come without peace." (END EXCERPTS)

"VOTE FOR PLURALISM" - DAILY NEWS & ANALYSIS


16. Excerpt from editorial in May 18 Western India
circulating centrist DAILY NEWS & ANALYSIS English
daily: (BEGIN EXCERPT): "Most of all, it is the larger
inclusive agenda of the Congress and UPA government...
that has done the trick. Where the others offered
identity politics, based on caste or religion, the
Congress had a vision of pluralism and development... the
country voted for a combination that promised
stability." (END EXCERPT)

COMMENTARY IN THE COUNTRYWIDE LANGUAGE PRESS:


17. "RETURN OF CONGRESS," editorial in right-of-center
DAINIK JAGRAN Hindi daily: "India voted for progress.
If price rise and security were issues, then Congress
wouldn't have won... If is now time to think of a two-
party system in India."


18. "FUTURE CHALLENGES," editorial in centrist

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NAVBHARAT TIMES Hindi daily: "Reagonomics proved no
good for U.S. and Britain. If Manmohanomics saved
India, then let us not forget to give some credit to
the leftists for their relentless pressure. This
restraint will now have to come from within."


19. "MESSAGE OF ELECTION RESULTS" editorial in May 18
RASHTRIYA SAHARA Urdu daily: "The election results have
proved that the Indian voters have rejected communal
parties who believe playing hate politics. The venomous
anti-Muslim speeches of Bhartiya Janta Party leaders
didn't cut any ice. This shows India is secular!"


20. "CONGRESS IS BACK TO ITS GLORIOUS PAST," editorial
in May 18 AKHBAR-E-MASHRIQ Urdu daily: "Some of the
credit for Congress Party's victory goes to the Muslim
voters too, who had distanced themselves from the party
after the demolition of Babri mosque in 1992. Now we
should hope that the new Congress party government will
implement Sachar Committee recommendations for the
welfare of the Muslim community."


21. "WIND CHANGES DIRECTION," editorial in May 18
nationalist Kolkata Urdu daily AKHBAR-E-MASHRIQ: "The
revival of the Congress not only in UP (Uttar Pradesh,
the largest Indian State) but throughout India has been
made possible by the Muslim electorate in the country
and this support will continue...."


22. "WELCOME DEPARTURE," editorial in May 17
independent Kolkata Bengali daily, ANANDABAZAR PATRIKA.
"Indian voters have placed national political issues
above regional politics. The result of this election is
decisive and it clearly shows that regional parties
have become weaker...."


23. "VOTER IS KING" editorial in May 18 largest
Assamese daily left-of-center ASAMIYA PRATIDIN: "No
matter what the political parties' had thought or done,
it was the people who took the ultimate decision. And
they know what is good for them and for the country as
well."


24. "MANDATE FOR STABILITY," editorial in May 17,
Bangalore-based left-of-center Kannada daily PRAJAVANI:
"The electorate has voted for stability and
development. They have rejected divisive policies of
BJP on the lines of religion."


25. "SATISFYING RESULT," editorial in May 17,
Bangalore-based, independent Kannada daily KANNADA
PRABHA: "It is really satisfying that finally the
electorate voted a stable government at the center. Now
the Congress has got a great opportunity to build a
cabinet, which can really bring positive change to the
country."


26. "BIG BLOW ON THE EGOS," editorial in May 17
Chennai-based Tamil daily, DINAKARAN: "People have
inflicted a big blow on the egos of opportunist

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leaders. People have thrashed political opportunism."


27. "STRONG AND DECISIVE VERDICT," editorial in the May
18 right-of-center Gujarati daily MUMBAI SAMACHAR.
"Left leaders that tried to stymie the bilateral Indo-
U.S. nuclear deal failed to convince the smart voter
why the deal was not necessary for meeting India's vast
energy requirements..."


28. "A CLEAR WIN OF THE MIDDLE-OF-THE ROAD APPROACH"
op-ed article by senior editor Suresh Dwadashiwar in
the May 17 centrist Marathi daily LOKMAT. "Indians have
shown a complete lack of interest in the abrasive
religion-based politics of the BJP, and they have also
disapproved the Left stance which obstructed the
Congress-led government's efforts to ink the landmark
Indo-U.S. nuclear deal... The popular vote is therefore
against extremist blinkered thinking."
BURLEIGH