Opinion From the Urdu press

Taking a clear line against the objectives of the bill,Delhi-based Hindustan Express writes: “The apprehension of the political and social leaders of backward classes and minorities and different political parties that their representation will be affected if 33 per cent seats are reserved for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies is not baseless,because women of these sections would not be able to stand up in the contest.”

Writing before the presentation of the bill in Rajya Sabha,Delhi,Mumbai,Lucknow and Dehradun-based daily,Sahafat (March 5) commented: “It is possible that the opposition that got united on the issue of price rise will get divided on the women’s reservation bill and the government will be at peace. Later on,this matter will be put in cold storage on the pretext of (lack of) consensus.”

Delhi-based daily Hamara Samaj commented: “If the government allocates spaces for Muslims,Dalits,and OBCs and accords reservation to them proportionate to their populations in the 33 per cent quota for women,the (stated) objective of this step would be fulfilled. But if it is not done,the government’s objective will be aborted. In particular,the doors to politics will nearly be closed for Muslims.”

The Saudi Arabia connection

The likely fillip to relations between India and Saudi Arabia with the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Riyadh and the expression of anxiety about “terrorism,extremism and violence” by leaders of the two countries have been welcomed by most papers. The various agreements pertaining to economic cooperation signed by the two countries during the PM’s visit and the agreement on extradition and exchange of accused criminals have been hailed.

Akhbar-e-Mashriq,published from Delhi,Kolkata and Ranchi (March 3),has laid emphasis on the fact that the prime minister described Saudi Arabia as a “strategic partner” and invited it to make investments in various fields in India.

Sahafat,in an editorial on March 1,writes: “An opinion is gaining ground that the Wahabi group has close relations with Taliban and Al-Qaeda because the financial help to these organisations does come from Arab countries,in one form or another. But it is also a fact that Saudi Arabia too is affected by dangers of terrorism. In spite of this,being the most important centre of Islam,Saudi Arabia occupies a special position among the Islamic countries and an appeal by it is significant. Perhaps Manmohan Singh has gone to Saudi Arabia after 28 years (the last time an Indian prime minister visited) with these hopes. What could not be achieved by US pressure may now be possible with the help of Saudi Arabia.”

Art and exile

The editor of Hindustan Express,Ahmad Javed,in his Feb 28 column writes: “The exile of Maqbool Fida Husain is not merely the exile of an individual; it is the exile of an ‘India’ that lives in this great artist.” Javed adds: “You can say that Fida Husain has himself opted for this exile. He should stay in India and face the communalists. When persons like Taslima Nasreen and Salman Rushdie can get protection in this country why can’t Fida Husain get it ?”

Editor of Delhi-based daily Jadeed-Khabar,Masoom Moradabadi,in his column on the same day,wrote: “If MF Husain actually gives up citizenship of India and becomes a citizen of Qatar,it will be a black day in the history of India,because the world will see with eyes wide open that a democratic country like India did not provide protection to life and property of an artist it is proud of.”