1. India: Domestic Situation
Thirty people were killed when two gunmen attacked a Hindu temple in Gujarat. The gunmen were later killed in a commando strike. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) blamed Pakistan for the attack. Pakistan condemned the attack and called Indian allegations of Pakistan's role in the attack "highly irresponsible." About 3000 Indian army troops were moved into Gujarat to prevent anti-Muslim violence in areas around Ahmadabad, the capital of Gujarat and the site of the attacked temple. The daily Hindu called upon "the entire political class .. [to] .. reach out to the masses with the message of communal amity and harmony, [and] not seek to drive a wedge between different religious groups for narrow partisan gains."
"Temple siege ends"
"BJP blames Pak, Govt more subtle"
"Indian allegations ridiculous"
"Army brigade moved to Ahmedabad"
"No Godhra-II: Modi is given the message"
"A heinous act"
Amulya Ganguli (Hindustan Times) points out the links between the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and writes that a "multireligious country is unacceptable to the RSS which roots for a Hindu rashtra. And it doesn't care for democracy either."
"Dubious disciples"
The global credit-rating agency Standard and Poor's (S&P) has downgraded India's local currency rating to junk bond status. Indian Finance Ministry believes that S&P's poor rating will not affect India's economy. A Hindustan Times editorial states that S&P's rating "reflects the terrible absence of 'good governance' and the abject failure of the ruling coalition to push forward economic reforms."
"Reforms stuck, India's credit rating tumbles"
"Govt trashes S&P's verdict"
"Junk juggernaut"
Rajeev Dhaven's essay in the daily Hindu criticizes the forced eviction of Indian tribal people from their land following a recent Indian Supreme Court decision.
"Evicting 10 million tribals"