The Urdu press seems to believe that the UPA government is likely to continue for a while longer. Qaumi Awaz, quoting the Left, writes on October 10, “UPA hukumat ko koi khatra nahi, — the UPA is not in danger”. The lead story of Rashtriya Sahara on the same day says, “talks inconclusive, but government to stay, an agreement on ceasefire.” Akhbar- e- Mashriq, a Kolkata and Delhi-based daily said on Wednesday, “Left aur Congress, apni zid par qaayam — still stubborn — yet, the UPA to continue in office.” The paper says, “Lalu Prasad played the role of the referee, and calmed down both sides.” Hindustan Express, on the same day too, says “Left parties ka gussa phir kafoor ho gaya (Left parties anger, again like camphor, vanishes into thin air).” The paper writes “those queering the pitch on the nuclear deal said there is no danger to the government.” In its editorial, the paper opines, “this parallel between the BJP keeping its Hindutva issues on the back-burner, and the Congress going slow on the nuclear deal — how valid is it? Apart from this, it remains to be seen what price the common Indian has to pay for this game of hide and seek, and that is more important. Leaders of both, the Left and the Congress are fully aware of this reality.” Maya memsahebThe proposed partition of UP into three smaller states — Bundelkhand, Poorvanchal and Western UP — mentioned by Mayawati in her rally, but not reported adequately in the English press, has been widely covered in Urdu papers. Mayawati had said that if the Centre agreed, she would ensure the passage of such a resolution in the assembly. Rashtriya Sahara played this up in a four column box, on page 1, with her photograph, on October 10. Hindustan Express on the same day, in a prominent page one display said, “Maya mem, is ready for mid-term polls.” The paper said that in the rally on Kanshi Ram’s death anniversary, “it was raining gifts and bounties.” Incidentally, National Herald’s Qaumi Awaz has chosen to not publish even a report on her rally, just a small photograph in the inside pages.Another small but interesting report connected with Mayawati is that she is supposedly, “wooing Mulayam’s people”. Hindustan Express writes on October 10, that, “for iftaar, she specially sent invites to Moradabad Muslim MLAs, including those from the Samajwadi Party.” This, the paper concludes has “caused a stir in local political circles”. Jadeed Markaz (a Lucknow, Mumbai and Delhi Urdu weekly in Devanagri script) writes in a page one anchor, that “now, the Congress will not walk behind the BSP, uske peechhe nahi chalegi.” The paper says, “The party has realised in just four months of Mayawati’s rule, that supporting Mayawati instead of SP, is a bad idea”. The change of the UP PCC head has been welcomed, and the paper writes, “Rahul ke aane se chaaploos (sycophants) Congressi pareshaan.” Killer busesHindustan Express, in an editorial on October 9, writes that it is “murder, not an accident.” It says, “if the same bus is repeatedly challaned, after the same driver commits the same offence, and they escape through corrupt means, in such a situation, the passenger and pedestrians cannot be safe from the terror of Blueline buses”. Akhbar-e-Mashriq, in its October 10 editorial questions, if, “the murderous Blueline buses are a way of reducing the population of the city?” The paper alleges that “many political figures, including even ministers are amongst the owners and run the buses on contract. The owners are simply not in touch with drivers. So what else can be expected?”Myanmar A couple of Urdu papers have interestingly urged the Indian government to come to Myanmar’s help — Jamaat-e-Islami’s bi-weekly Daawat (October 7) writes, “the whole world is concerned about Myanmar today. India’s government is not ready to do anything about offering any relief to the ordinary people, as it did in 1971, in East Pakistan, to help the people there free themselves from the domination of West Pakistan.” Akhbar-e-Mashriq on September 29 has also urged the Indian government to “play an important role — ahem role — as a neighbour.”Shoaib’s apologyAfter losing the T20 final to India, the Pakistani captain’s apology to the “Muslims of the world” continues to attract comment and criticism. Akhbar-e-Mashriq, in an editorial on September 27 writes, “A game is a game, what has it to do with religion?” The paper has described Shoaib’s remark as a “badbakht (wretched) remark”, and says that “after hearing Shoaib’s remark, Hindu players in his team — Danish Kaneria and Yousuf Youhana, who was a Christian till yesterday — would have felt very hurt.” The same paper the next day too, writes, “Syed Kirmani has condemned the remark as Pakistan does not represent world’s Muslims and if somebody takes recourse to religion for playing well, he is a jaahil (illiterate and an ignoramus). Hockey star, Aslam Sher Khan has also found no place for such talk in games, he says, maybe as the interview was in English, he was unable to express himself appropriately”.
