Archive · 15 Sep 2026
Urdu Press Weighs UCC, BRICS Diplomacy, Punjab Congress Challenge
Several Urdu newspapers discussed three important political stories.
They praised India for helping BRICS countries agree on a common declaration.
The declaration talked about peace, Gaza, terrorism, and fairer global trade.
The newspapers also discussed Amit Shah’s support for a Uniform Civil Code, or UCC.
A UCC would create common personal-law rules across communities, but the editorials said it could affect minorities and should involve broad consultation.
They said allies Nitish Kumar and N. Chandrababu Naidu must explain their positions because they have promised secularism and minority rights.
Another story concerned Sachin Pilot becoming the Congress leader responsible for Punjab.
He must try to reduce disagreements inside the party before the 2027 election.
Urdu dailies praised India’s role in securing a unanimous BRICS declaration involving Iran and the UAE.
Editorials questioned whether Amit Shah’s Uniform Civil Code push is genuine reform or a move to redirect political debate.
The UCC debate was described as a test of Nitish Kumar’s and N. Chandrababu Naidu’s commitments to secularism and minority rights.
The BRICS declaration addressed Gaza, supported a two-state solution, condemned terrorism, and opposed unilateral trade restrictions.
The Congress appointed Sachin Pilot as Punjab in-charge to address factionalism ahead of the state’s 2027 Assembly elections.
- Who
- Amit Shah, Narendra Modi’s government, Nitish Kumar, N. Chandrababu Naidu, BRICS members, and Sachin Pilot are central figures in the coverage.
- What
- The editorials examined the UCC proposal, the BRICS declaration, and Congress’s effort to address factionalism in Punjab.
- When
- The coverage included editorials dated September 10, September 14, and September 15; the Punjab Assembly election mentioned is scheduled for 2027.
- Where
- The issues concern India, the BRICS summit in New Delhi, Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and the Congress organisation in Punjab.
- Why
- The UCC is being debated because of its possible political, social, legal, and minority-rights implications; Pilot was appointed to improve Congress’s electoral prospects by managing internal conflicts.
UCC Critics and Caution
UCC Advocates and Reform
Purpose of the UCC
UCC Critics and Caution
Critics cited by Inquilab questioned whether the announcement is genuine personal-law reform or a diversion intended to change the political discourse and create unease among minorities.
UCC Advocates and Reform
The BJP has long treated the UCC as an ideological objective, and Amit Shah presented its implementation as a policy initiative.
Process and consultation
UCC Critics and Caution
The editorial argued that a decision affecting India’s social and legal systems should follow widespread consultation with all sections of society and reflect constitutional principles, rather than rely only on parliamentary numbers.
UCC Advocates and Reform
The government’s stated approach, as reported, is to implement the UCC in BJP-led NDA-ruled states before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
Position of coalition allies
UCC Critics and Caution
The editorial said JD(U) and TDP could face pressure to resist the UCC to protect their stated commitments to secularism and minority rights.
UCC Advocates and Reform
Remaining aligned with the BJP-led government would allow the allies to avoid opposing a major policy objective, although the articles do not state their final positions.
- UCC target
- Amit Shah said the Uniform Civil Code would be implemented in all 21 BJP-led NDA-ruled states before the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
- UCC political test
- The editorials said the proposal would test the positions of Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) and N. Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP.
- BRICS declaration
- The declaration was described as a 45-page document containing 140 paragraphs and adopted unanimously.
- Gaza position
- It expressed concern over Gaza, called for a ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access, and supported a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
- Terrorism position
- BRICS condemned the April 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam and said terrorism should not be linked to any religion, nationality, civilisation, or ethnic group.
- Punjab Congress assignment
- Sachin Pilot, 49, replaced Bhupesh Baghel as Congress general secretary in charge of Punjab.
- Election timetable
- Pilot’s appointment came before Punjab’s Assembly elections, which the editorial identified as taking place in 2027.