Opinion Attacking cricket

Hyderabad-based Rahnuma-e-Deccan,in a hard-hitting editorial on March 4,writes...

March 13, 2009 12:16 AM IST First published on: Mar 13, 2009 at 12:16 AM IST

Hyderabad-based Rahnuma-e-Deccan,in a hard-hitting editorial on March 4,writes: The Pakistani security agencies can definitely be held responsible for this episode (attack on Sri Lankan cricket team at Lahore),who let not one,not two,but 12 terrorists enter the high-security area and the extraordinary situation (turfa tamaasha) was that the attackers had their bags and baggage hanging on their shoulders as if they were on a mission. How did the terrorists succeed in their plan despite claims of high security?

Rashtriya Sahara,in its editorial (March 4) described the attack as a cowardly and condemnable act. Hyderabad-based Siasat (March 5) writes: Undoubtedly it is a reality that the totally pro-American Pakistani government has raised the morale of terrorists by adopting a soft policy towards Taliban. Its front organisations want to create a vacuum in Pakistan,which may help them achieve power easily. The policies of former President Musharraf had tied the hands of some forces in Pakistan. But it seems that under the presidentship of Asif Zardari,efforts are being made to weaken Pakistan gradually.

Delhi-based Hindustan Express (March 4) is of the opinion that it is possible that behind the attack on Sri Lankas cricket team in Lahore are those forces that do not want to see the efforts of the Pakistani government for peace negotiations with Taliban in the Swat valley being successful.

Jamaat-e-Islamis organ,biweekly Dawaat (March 10),seems to agree with the view of some commentators that the danger to Pakistan is from Pakistani rulers themselves,their foreign masters and their allies and associates to whose tunes they dance and who compel them for mass killing of Pakistani people,keep on issuing orders and threatening them. And the Pakistani rulers,devoid of patriotism,self-respect and a conscience,keen on clinging on to power and amassing excessive wealth,put everything at stake,it says.

Election time

Amidst moves and counter-moves to form all sorts of coalitions before the Parliamentary elections,no definite opinions are being expressed about the possibilities of victory or defeat at the hustings. Patna and Ranchi-based Qaumi Tanzeem (March 4) however,seems certain about one thing: The meaning of the alliance between Congress and Trinamool Congress in West Bengal is that in the near future,there is no scope now of any understanding between the Congress and the Left Front either during the election or after it.

Delhi-based Jadeed Khabar,in an editorial on March 4 has some sane advice for voters in the coming Lok Sabha elections: Lok Sabha elections do not only decide the fate of the country,but also decide the fate of the people. Therefore,it is the responsibility of the voters to think before they go to vote if the support for the candidate they are voting is better for the country and the nation or not. Expressing full faith in the foolproof system of elections the paper says that the issue now is not about free and fair elections. The issue is who is going to hold the reins of power in the country after the elections.

Rebellion in Bangladesh

The rebellion by the personnel of Bangladesh Rifles resulting in the killing of a large number of officers and soldiers has been looked at with concern. Describing the rebellion as a dangerous trend, Rahnuma-e-Deccan in an editorial on February 26 goes into the causes of the unrest among the ranks of BDR. It points out that the sixty five thousand-strong BDR force has no rank for its chief; instead a general of the armed forces is posted as its head on deputation. The feeling of being treated as second class members of security forces,and their gruelling duty schedule compared to the cosy life of the mainstream armed forces has resulted in unrest among the BDR personnel.

Delhi-based Hamara Samaj (Feb 28) has held the insensitive and complacent bureaucracy,coupled with rampant corruption responsible for the disgust of its personnel. The complacency of bureaucracy has destroyed many countries,the paper writes. It has drawn satisfaction from the fact that India was spared of any harm coming to it from the disgruntled soldiers across the border.

Compiled by Seema Chishti