Opinion Ayodhya — appeal or accord?

Delhi-based Hamara Samaj,in its editorial on October 18 writes,“The All India Muslim Personal Law Board by announcing its decision to challenge the verdict…has closed the doors on all types of speculations…Even though the Board says it has kept the door open for negotiations,the most complicated matter is that those who believe in an out-of-court dialogue have never put forth any proposal; at what level would a dialogue be conducted,which party would be prepared to give up its claim to the title,and even if one party does,what would be the alternative given to it? At the moment,no one wants to give up any claim.” The paper says that the fact that anyone can now lay claim to anything on the basis of aastha “the most dangerous outcome” of the Allahabad verdict,and it is concerned about the “impact of this on the security of temples,mosques,gurudwaras and churches.”

Hyderabad’s leading daily,Siasat,in an editorial titled ‘Babri masjid’s acceptable formula’ (October 10) writes,“If the oldest litigants in the Babri Masjid case,Hashim Ansari and Nirmohi Akhara’s Maha Mahant are preparing a formula for compromise on their own,not caring about the various efforts of other parties,it would be only a surface accord. The verdict is (likely to be used as) a sharpened weapon by communal elements to rip apart any compromise formula … the manner in which the verdict has been given can prove to be destructive for the situation..only the Supreme Court can give a legal answer. Until then,people are hesitating to express their opinions either way.. As far as a pleasant (khushgawaar) solution is concerned,its ultimate outcome is uncertain.”

The editor of the Jamaat-e-Islami’s bi-weekly,Daawat,Parvez Rehmani in a signed piece on the front page on October 16 says,“A large section of Muslims are in favour of taking the issue to the Supreme Court..the real issue here is not just a land dispute,but a matter of the welfare of Muslims and their survival with dignity and self-respect.”

Good Games

Rashtriya Sahara (October 16),in an editorial,writes “It’s a matter of satisfaction for the entire country,proving wrong all apprehensions and criticisms of any sort that we were able to successfully host the Commonwealth Games.”

Delhi-based Hamara Samaj,in an edit on the same day entitled Dilli mein hai dum (loosely translated as Delhi can do it),has credited the Delhi government with the success: “The chief minister and her cabinet… for having worked day and night …in the face of serious criticism.” Delhi-based Hindustan Express,in an editorial on October 15 says,“Our joy would have been much greater had we got a gold in our national game,hockey… but given the controversies chasing hockey during the preparations and just before the beginning of the event,the results were not disappointing,in fact they were way above expectations and encouraging.” The paper has also questioned,“If we can ensure our security on special occasions,then why not in normal times?”

Daawat though,has picked on many shortcomings during the Games. On October 19,it called for a “thorough and impartial probe”,despite congratulating the government for “accepting a challenge and emerging successful.”

Karnataka — punya ya paap?

In an editorial entitled ‘Tum karo to punya aur hum karein to paap’ (If you do it,it’s okay,but if we do it,it’s a sin) in the Delhi,Mumbai,Lucknow and Dehradun-based daily Sahafat on October 16,the paper quotes a Lingayat supporter of CM Yeddiyurappa saying,“What is wrong if one tries to help the leader of one’s community to move ahead and bring about unity? In a crisis,it is your community and not any party that comes to your rescue.” This was apparently in the context of the top mahants of the Lingayat community using MLAs belonging to the Lingayat community,across parties,to help the CM in his hour of political crisis. The editorial emphasises that the above justification given for putting the community over party was “not given by any Muslim leader.” Describing in great detail the Lingayat-Vokkaliga and Lingayat-Brahmin schisms in Karnataka,the editorial sarcastically lauds the BJP’s kamala (achievement) in “absorbing all such communities into a party dominated by the upper castes.”

Compiled by Seema Chishti