On UP poll-eve

The CPM Minority Charter (whose demands include reservation for Dalit Muslims) has been praised by almost all mainstream Urdu papers — including Siasat, which in an editorial on March 7, has “welcomed” it. The paper makes particular mention of the party’s demand for “prompt action” on perpetrators of violence against minorities.

Nandigram

But the CPM has been strongly criticised on Nandigram. Rashtriya Sahara writes, in an editorial entitled, ‘Kya baayabazoo bhi ab sarmaayadaar-haami hai?’ or ‘Are the Leftists now pro-capitalist too?’ that “the Left-Front government in West Bengal should realise that it is considered the messiah of the poor, workers and farmers. If they, in the name of development and industrialisation of the state, would mete out this treatment to poor farmers, then, what would be the difference between them and pro-capitalist political parties?” Delhi-based Hindustan Express reflects the views of other political parties, some of whom described the incident as “worse than Jalianwala Bagh”.

Naxalites

Urdu papers devote considerable space to Naxalite violence. In an editorial dated March 6, Hyderabad daily Siasat criticises the government for “not tackling the Naxalite issue in a serious manner.” It says, “the government is involved in serious dialogue with dissenting groups from J&K to the north-east, in an effort to deal with the problems in those regions. The same resolve is not seen with regard to problems arising out of Naxalite violence, which too can be resolved through a serious dialogue with various groups.” Kolkata and Delhi based Akhbar-e-Mashriq in an editorial on March 7 concedes “The police has got considerable success in meeting the challenge of Naxalism in AP, and if dealt with an iron hand, peace can be established even in Jharkhand, Bihar… Laaton ke bhoot, baaton se nahin bhagte (those accustomed to force, won’t come around by words alone)”.

SRK ko Urdu aati hai?

Delhi-based Hindustan Express in an editorial on March 6, writes on comments made by Shah Rukh Khan on Amar Singh at a film function (he used a deprecatory Urdu term for Singh). The paper “wonders whether to laugh or weep at the pitiable situation of young people like Shah Rukh Khan. They want to use beautiful Urdu words, but are ignorant of the spirit and idiom of these words.” The paper asserts that “Shah Rukh even on KBC, makes a fool of himself, as Woh Urdu ke alfaaz ki taangein todte rehte hain” —uses Urdu phrases inappropriately.

Compiled by Seema Chishti