The reaction of the Urdu newspapers to the recent bomb blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad has been more of dejection and helplessness than just anger. Rashtriya Sahara, in an editorial on July 28, wonders why after the Bangalore blasts, when high alerts were declared in various places and the Central Government had expressed apprehension of terror acts in Gujarat only three days earlier, the state government and its intelligence wing were not alerted. Given the low intensity of the blasts, the paper expresses the view that a new terrorist group has been activated that wants to spread fear and panic. It writes that POTA is no solution for an end to terrorism: “some political interests can indeed be served by such a measure and innocents between eight and eighty years of age can certainty be sent behind bars.” Delhi-based Hamara Samaj (July 28) says that the government should effectively deal with the persons or groups involved in organised terrorism, or the chain of bomb blasts would get longer. It has also taken note of the fact that both the states concerned are ruled by the BJP. Hind Samachar, in its editorial on July 27, writes that following the earlier blasts some persons were held, but none of the real culprits and their apex leaders could be caught and the police and intelligence agencies are going about dissipating their energy. The paper opines that the Indian government would also have to take steps taken by the US after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Somnath Chatterjee’s expulsionThe Lok Sabha Speaker, Somnath Chatterjee, has received compliments from most of the Urdu papers following his expulsion from the CPM. The expulsion has been termed ‘Karat’s Authoritarianism’ by the Delhi-based Daily Milap (July 25). The paper writes: “The attitude of Prakash Karat with regard to the role of the Speaker is extremely shameful. He kept on saying from the beginning that the Speaker would take his own decision, but alongside, quietly, he kept on sending his messengers so that orders could be passed on to the Speaker. If Karat really wanted Somnath Chatterjee to take the decision himself, there was no sense in expelling him from the Party.”Delhi-based Sahafat, in an editorial on July 24 writes that “if Somnath Chatterjee, in his capacity as Speaker of Lok Sabha, considers himself above party line, he cannot be faulted for this. Anyway, at least in this context, there has been a glorious history of Parliament and no Speaker has ever been accused of acting under the influence of his party.” Delhi-based Jadeed Khabar, in a different vein, writes: “Legally, there is no problem in Chatterjee remaining in the Speaker’s chair. But, morally, he may have to face the question as to how can he hold his post that he achieved as the representative of the party that has expelled him.” Who won, who lost?Sarkar jeet gaee, democracy haar gaee (the government won, but democracy lost), was the title of an angry editorial on the vote of confidence in the Lok Sabha, in Hind Samachar (July 23). The editorial says, “accusations and counter-accusations were being hurled all over. But this episode (wads of currency notes being shown) was seen by the entire world, and our democracy was stripped before the world.” The paper has also pleaded for a provision for life ban on elections for opportunist politicians like these rebels. ‘Kis ki jeet, kaisi jeet?’ (whose victory, what type of victory?) was the title of the editorial in Sahafat (July 25). The paper writes: “Obviously rebellion at such a big scale would not have been for free.The vote has brought up the worrisome reality that there does not appear a way to stop the efforts of the Central Government from acting for the interests of the US.. In the post-confidence vote scenario, Jamaat-e-Islami’s organ, Daawat (July 28) writes that following the “success” of the vote of confidence, conditions have changed in the country. It wonders where the “culture of make-and-break politics” in taking the country. The tape recorded by CNN-IBN reportedly depicting activities surrounding alleged bribing of three MPs has been the subject of considerable comment. Hindustan Express, published from Delhi, asks why news channels that violate the privacy of individuals at the drop of a hat and show even minor episodes of bribing and corruption endlessly did not show “even a slight glimpse of the tape or let the people listen to the voice of any of the accused persons?” Sonia’s mannat?According to a front page report in Sahafat (July 26), the 118 kalasas in Indore’s Mahakaleswar Temple are being washed with golden water. This is being done to fulfil the wish of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi who had offered an amount of Rs. 1.51 lakh for this purpose after a yatra of the temple in June last. The temple’s administrator Shubh Karan Sharma, told a news agency that the cheque for Sonia Gandhi’s offering has been received, commenting that her mannat has been answered.
