Today’s Newspapers’ Headlines
The passage of the bill banning instant triple talaq in the Lok Sabha dominates front page headlines. Commenting on the issue, the Hindustan Times reports “Bill sails through via voice vote, rejecting several proposed amendments ; passage in Rajya Sabha to hinge on support from Congress”.
The condemnation in Parliament of the manner in which Pakistan conducted the meeting between Kulbhushan Jadhav and his wife and mother in Islamabad is highlighted in all the papers. The DNA writes “Pak forced them to look like widows : Sushma in Parliament on humiliation of Jadhav family”. Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu’s cautionary note against spoiling the chances of getting Jadhav back is flagged by the Hindu as it reports “Naidu cautions MPs on remarks against Pak”.
All the papers take note of the apology tendered by Union Minister Anantkumar Hegde who has been under Opposition fire for his remarks that the BJP would change the Constitution. The Indian Express states “Prodded by Speaker, Hegde says I apologise, Constitution supreme”.
The successful test firing of an interceptor missile by India is widely noticed. On its possible implications for India’s security architecture, the Times of India states “Domestic missile shield a step closer as test launch hits bullseye”.
In economic news, the decision of Mukesh Ambani led Reliance Jio to buy out the wireless assets of younger brother Anil Ambani’s debt-ridden Reliance Communications on the 85th birth anniversary of their father Dhirubhai Ambani gets top billing. The Times of India notes “On Dad’s birthday, Mukesh gives Anil 23,000 crore rupee relief”.
On the terrorist attack in Kabul in Afghanistan, the Tribune observes “41 dead in IS-claimed attack on Shia centre ; Gathering was organised to mark the 38th anniversary of Soviet invasion in Afghanistan”.