Opinion Baba Ramdev

The Hyderabad-based daily,Siasat,in an editorial on June 6,writes: “There can certainly be differences with Baba Ramdev’s persona,and if he has any hidden agenda,it must be condemned… But if the government believes only in suppressing dissent by force,it would have to take action against all those Indians who stand up in support of any effort to root out corruption… When it adopts such a posture,the resolve that it expressed for fighting corruption becomes suspect.”

Akhbar-e-Mashriq,(from Delhi,Kolkata and Ranchi) writes: “The government has taken a big hit. Whether Baba is a fraud or has been propped up by the RSS,apparently he has come forward with an issue that is getting support and approval in the entire country. …The hangman-like act (jalladi amal) of the government cannot be considered democratic under any circumstances.”

For the bill

The draft of the Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to Justice and Reparations) Bill,2011 has generally been welcomed. Delhi-based daily Jadeed Khabar,in a commentary on May 29,writes: “The new draft has not even been presented to Parliament but communal forces have been making a hue and cry against it. The main reason is that if this bill becomes a law,stringent sentences will be given to elements provoking riots against minorities,playing with their lives and property.”

Siasat,in its editorial on May 28,writes: “Keeping in view the incidents in the past,it can be said that the bill is a great need for India,and every principled and justice-loving political party should support it.”

Jamaat-e-Islami’s biweekly,Daawat,in a front page comment on May 28,observes that the proposed National Authority “will have as its objective,the preparation of a mechanism that will enable the administrative and criminal justice system to act free from bias,communal prejudice and ill intentions,and prepare a roadmap for holding officials responsible and answerable in a court of law.” The paper wonders if “this draft bill will take legal shape” or be sabotaged.

Reacting to Headley

Hyderabad’s Munsif,in its editorial on May 27,writes; “It has become clear from the confessions of David Coleman Headley that not just terrorist organisations but also Pakistan’s intelligence agency,ISI,was responsible — rather,mainly responsible — for conspiring to attack Mumbai. In such a situation it has become necessary that not only America but every country fighting against terrorism should talk to Pakistan and pressure it to hand over those really responsible for this attack on India. But the experts say that nothing of this sort would happen,because Western countries have double standards regarding terrorism. If there is a terrorist act in a Western country,they would ignore all principles and laws for the sake of arresting and punishing the accused (like what the US did for acting against Osama). And when the same type of situation is faced by any developing country,the matter rests with merely issuing statements.”

The daily Sahafat,published from Delhi,Mumbai,Lucknow and Dehradun,in its June 4 editorial,titled ‘David Headley awwal number ka jhoota hai’ (‘David Headley is a liar of the first order’),writes: “When he himself was being prosecuted,he made many sensational revelations. The most important was that the ISI had a hand in the attack on Mumbai,and its high command was involved in the conspiracy… But in the proceedings against Canadian-Pakistani Tahawwur Hussain Rana for his involvement in destructive activities,he suddenly took a somersault. Now he completely denies the involvement of senior ISI officials. saying that only some lower-level workers were involved. Obviously,he was lying either earlier or now. What is thus clear is that he is undoubtedly an agent of the FBI and whatever he had said was what it wanted him to say. But one puzzle remains unsolved. If the American court had known that Headley was involved in the conspiracy for the 26/11 attack on Mumbai,why did it not order the American administration that the criminal should be handed over to India?”

Compiled by Seema Chishti