Opinion Cowardly Attack
The army had claimed that this operation had put an end to more than 90 per cent of terrorist activities in the North Waziristan region.
Describing the attack by the Pakistani Taliban on Peshawar’s Army Public School as “a savage and nerve shattering attack on humanity”, the daily Inquilab, in its editorial on December 17, writes: “Following the attack on Karachi airport in June, in which over three dozen persons were killed, the Pakistani army had started a massive operation called ‘Zarb-e-Azb’ to finish off terrorists and destroy their bases. The army had claimed that this operation had put an end to more than 90 per cent of terrorist activities in the North Waziristan region. But the savage attack on the children of the Army Public School has proven how hollow this claim was… The Pakistani army has great expertise in dislodging popularly elected governments… Is dislodging a few terrorist organisations difficult for it?”
Rashtriya Sahara, in its editorial on the same day, writes: “Is not the action of those spreading violence in the name of Islam an agonising lesson for those who have been supporting them in Pakistan or the outside world?”
Roznama Khabrein writes on the same day: “There is no similarity between the Sydney and Peshawar incidents. The Australian government had clearly stated that the episode in the Sydney café was an individual act… This is somewhat comforting because the threats of attacks on Western countries by the ISIS has caused immense anxiety in the world community”. Quoting Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir, the paper says that when the Nobel peace prize was awarded to Malala Yousafzai, the Taliban had threatened such an attack, and “it is possible that by attacking a school, it is indicating its opposition to education.”
Against ‘Ghar Wapsi’
The daily Siasat, in its editorial on December 12, writes: “As part of the intense effort to bring about Hindutva in India, Muslims are being deprived of their independent right with regard to religion and being forced to convert through force or coercion. This is against constitutional and legal provisions. In Agra, there was an open celebration after Muslims were admitted into Hinduism and there have been announcements about repeating this in the near future. There cannot be a clearer demonstration of the violation of the Constitution, but the government is avoiding taking action against those responsible. And the Central government is directly or indirectly helping such violators of the law and BJP members of Parliament are announcing their participation… The prime minister and the Union home minister should clearly state whether the government would keep quiet if hundreds of persons are converted to Islam or Christianity by missionaries in similarly organised functions.”
Jamaat-e-Islami’s bi-weekly, Daawat, in a commentary on December 13, writes: “The RSS, Bajrang Dal and other such organisations are out to fulfil their ‘Rashtriya Dharm’ given the changed picture of the country, the change in the power centre and the emergence of a friendly new political scenario. In such a situation, these activities are not unexpected. But in this environment, Muslims themselves have to be extremely conscious and have to devote themselves to reforming their present social order.”
Recalling the hue and cry made by the RSS and other such organisations when a large number of oppressed Dalits converted to Islam in Meenakshipuram in 1981, the daily Jadeed Khabar on December 14 writes: “Undoubtedly the Indian Constitution allows any citizen to adopt the religion of his choice and propagate it. But, there is a also a provision in the Constitution to punish those who force or offer inducements to anyone to convert to another religion. The Agra incident comes in this very category of conversions.”
Putin’s India Visit
Rashtriya Sahara, in its editorial on December 14, writes: “Russian President Vladimir Putin came to India and left quickly. His visit did not cause the kind of buzz that once used to be seen on a Russian leader’s visit to this country. Putin entered into a very important nuclear agreement with India. Incidentally, even this agreement did not generate much interest in the media. If this agreement had been done during the time of the UPA government, the media would have criticised the government for making an ‘unwise move’ in the face of the overall decline in Russia’s stature in the world due to a huge decline in the value of the rouble against the US dollar, and certain economic sanctions imposed on it by the US and certain European countries. But since the agreement was signed by the new Indian government, the media thought it better to keep silent… Not only the president of Ukraine but also the US government has raised eyebrows at the invitation extended to Crimean Prime Minister Sergei Aksyonov along with Putin… A doubt is being expressed here that US President Barack Obama might even change his decision to be the chief guest during the Republic Day celebrations, even though no such indications have been officially given by either country. If there is any change in Obama’s programme, the invitation to Obama — which was seen as a revolutionary diplomatic move — may turn into a diplomatic tsunami.”
Roznama Khabrein, in a commentary on December 16, notes that “the agreements signed between India and Russia touch upon various concerns in different fields, including some aiming at structural development. But India, looking for some of its defence purchases in markets other than Russia, is more interested in the fulfilment of its specific needs rather than following its traditional friendship with Russia.” Russia is quite aware of the present situation, but in spite of its unhappiness on this score, it has not expressed any adverse view on any decision of the Indian government in the realm of foreign policy.”
Compiled by Seema Chishti
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