The announcement of the Bharat Ratna Award, India’s highest civilian honour, is prominently reflected on the front pages of most of the dailies today. On the award being conferred on former President Pranab Mukherjee, noted singer and musician late Bhupen Hazarika and RSS veteran late Nanaji Deshmukh, the Times of India writes, ” Government reaches out to many Bharats with three Ratnas; woos Bengal and North East, honours Sangh icon”. The Asian Age notes “Award announced after gap of four years”.
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley’s comments in the backdrop of the CBI naming top bankers in an FIR against ICICI CEO and MD, Chanda Kochchar and her husband Deepak Kochchar, are widely noticed in the press. The Times of India reports ” Jaitley cautions CBI against investigative adventurism”.
The Indian Express quotes Mr Jaitley as writing in a blog ” If we include entire who’s who banking, what cause are we serving or hurting”.
On the legal challenge in the Supreme Court to the Constitutional Amendment to bring in 10% reservation in jobs and education for the economically weaker sections or EWS , the Hindustan Times informs ” SC refuses to stay EWS quota, to assess validity”.
The press keenly tracks developments in the Ayodhya case in the Supreme Court. The Asian Age writes ” Chief Justice of India recasts SC bench in Ayodhya case, hearing on January 29″. The Times of India notes “Nazeer and Bhushan join 5 judge Ayodhya bench”.
President Ram Nath Kovind’s republic day message is prominently noticed in all the papers. The Pioneer writes ” Prez urges people to perform sacred act of voting during Lok Sabha polls
The passing away of eminent Hindi writer Krishna Sobti is also widely noticed in the press. In its obituary, the Hindustan Times writes ” Hindi literature loses one of its leading lights”.