Injustice and Instability: Urdu Press Lashes Out at EC and Bihar Government

This past week, editorials in India’s prominent Urdu newspapers raised critical concerns about democratic accountability, institutional neutrality, and rising lawlessness. Two primary issues dominated commentary across the pages: the Election Commission’s perceived bias and recent controversies, and the growing unease in Bihar over the state government’s failure to rein in a wave of violent crimes.

The tone of the editorials was direct, even grim, signaling the mood in sections of the Urdu media that often give voice to minority perspectives and grassroots anxieties. What’s clear is that both the Election Commission and the Nitish Kumar-led government in Bihar have come under intense scrutiny—not from political opponents, but from a media that is increasingly vocal about democratic decline and institutional apathy.

A Fading Faith in the Election Commission

Several Urdu dailies, including Inquilab and Siasat, have sharply criticized the Election Commission of India (ECI), questioning its neutrality and ability to uphold the sanctity of democratic processes. Following the recent elections, editorials have pointed to a growing perception that the Commission has strayed from its constitutionally mandated impartiality.

One editorial stated bluntly that the EC must “read the writing on the wall” and initiate a serious course correction if it wishes to restore public trust. It noted how certain poll decisions, including the alleged leniency shown toward ruling party figures accused of violating the model code of conduct, have cast a long shadow over the Commission’s credibility.

The press also flagged what it saw as selective enforcement—where leaders of opposition parties were swiftly reprimanded or penalized, while similar or worse offenses by ruling party candidates were overlooked. The result, according to Roznama Rashtriya Sahara, is an erosion of public confidence in electoral fairness—something that has profound implications for the future of Indian democracy.

Course Correction or Crisis?

Commentaries in the Urdu press argue that the Election Commission stands at a crossroads. It can either reclaim its reputation by acting firmly and equitably in future elections or risk becoming irrelevant in the eyes of the people. What is especially worrying to these editorial writers is the silence of the institution in the face of blatant hate speech, electoral malpractice, and misuse of state machinery.

Etemaad Daily, in a strongly worded piece, urged the Supreme Court to intervene and strengthen institutional checks on the ECI, reminding readers of its earlier observations that the Commission must act as a referee, not a player.

Some dailies linked this institutional drift to a larger pattern—a weakening of constitutional bodies that once formed the bedrock of Indian democracy. As one editorial put it: “When guardians become complicit, whom should the people trust?”

Bihar’s Law and Order Crisis

Parallel to the criticism of the Election Commission, another major theme in the Urdu press this week was the deteriorating law and order situation in Bihar. The recent spike in violent crimes—including a string of murders and communal skirmishes—has led to widespread fear and anger across the state. The Nitish Kumar government, which once enjoyed praise for bringing relative stability to Bihar after years of chaos, now finds itself under fire.

Sahafat, a Lucknow-based Urdu daily, lamented that “the killings are not isolated incidents but a pattern.” The editorial accused the state government of downplaying the crisis and failing to hold local police accountable for lapses. It went on to state that unless decisive action is taken, the gains made in law and order under Nitish Kumar’s earlier tenure may unravel completely.

Political Realignments, Governance Paralysis?

The Urdu press also explored how political uncertainty and constant realignments in Bihar’s corridors of power have weakened the state’s administrative resolve. Nitish Kumar’s recent flip—from being an ally of the BJP to rejoining the INDIA alliance—has, according to some editorials, led to a governance vacuum where officials are unsure of their political footing and thus reluctant to take firm action.

This indecision is said to be especially dangerous in a state like Bihar, where communal tensions can escalate quickly. A number of recent incidents in towns like Sitamarhi and Muzaffarpur have prompted calls for urgent preventive measures, including more visible policing, early community interventions, and curbs on inflammatory social media content.

Minority Communities and Fear

Another angle that featured prominently in Urdu media was the impact of Bihar’s lawlessness on its minority communities. Muslim neighborhoods, in particular, are reportedly feeling increasingly unsafe, especially in mixed-population districts where tensions run high. Urdu editorials cited firsthand accounts and local reportage to claim that fear is growing, and that the state government has failed to offer even symbolic reassurance to these communities.

One editorial in Avadhnama asked, “If the government cannot even protect lives, what purpose does it serve?” The sentiment echoes a broader feeling of alienation among sections of Bihar’s electorate, who once placed their faith in Nitish Kumar’s brand of good governance.

The Call for Accountability

There was a common refrain running through these critical editorials: accountability. Whether it was the Election Commission being urged to restore its impartiality, or the Bihar government being called upon to protect its citizens, the Urdu press this week voiced an urgent demand for transparency and responsiveness.

Several publications called for civil society organizations and judiciary bodies to step in and monitor the situation more closely. Some even floated the idea of independent law-and-order audits or citizen panels to ensure proper oversight in states where political loyalties keep shifting.

 Institutions in the Spotlight

At a time when India’s political landscape is increasingly polarized, the Urdu press has taken a firm stance on issues that go beyond partisanship. The focus on the Election Commission and the Bihar government underscores a deeper concern—about the health of Indian democracy and the reliability of the institutions that sustain it.

By shining a light on these failures and demanding corrective measures, these editorials serve not just as critiques but as urgent calls for reform. In a democracy, silence from the institutions meant to safeguard the system can be more damaging than outright collapse. The Urdu press, for its part, seems determined not to stay silent.