Opinion From the Urdu Press: AAP Trouble
Commenting on the suicide of Rajasthani farmer Gajendra Singh at an AAP rally in Jantar Mantar, Inquilab, in an editorial on April 23, writes: “the suicide is shocking, as is the depth of the compulsion that leads harassed farmers to take such an extreme step. Every political party has sympathy for these agonised people but […]
Commenting on the suicide of Rajasthani farmer Gajendra Singh at an AAP rally in Jantar Mantar, Inquilab, in an editorial on April 23, writes: “the suicide is shocking, as is the depth of the compulsion that leads harassed farmers to take such an extreme step. Every political party has sympathy for these agonised people but a sincere effort to do something for them is non-existent.”
On the internal turbulence in the AAP, Rashtriya Sahara writes in its editorial on the same day: “It will take some time for a comprehensive analysis of who is right and who is wrong in the internal upheaval or who is actually responsible for the chaos… But there is no doubt about the fact that the AAP has not proved different from other democratic political parties in so far as the tradition of accepting the decisions of the top leadership or the high command is concerned… it is the responsibility of the high command not to ignore the voices and demands of strong sections of the party and prevent these types of situations.” In a front-page signed commentary, the editor of Roznama Khabrain, Qasim Syed, writes: “After the expulsion of moderate, mature, serious and balanced elements, the apprehension of control of extremist rightwing elements over the AAP has intensified.”
United Janata
The daily Jadeed Khabar writes in its editorial on April 15: “The defeat of the former constituents of the Janata Dal in the last parliamentary elections has opened their eyes. Now they have started feeling that they can ensure their future only by coming together. That is why they have decided on a merger… The parties of the Janata Parivar have taken this decision keeping in view their own future. But it can be said that if this merger proves effective and succeeds in getting the support of the people, it can lead to a new direction for democratic politics in the country.”
Sahafat, in its editorial on April 17, drew attention to the formation of the Janata Party 38 years ago and its decline in less than three years, paving the way for the return of Indira Gandhi. It writes: “Now that the Janata Parivar has again come together, it should learn lessons from the past and make serious efforts to avoid disruption.” While expressing discomfort about the future of these parties, Hamara Samaj notes in its April 13 editorial: “The unity of the Janata Parivar will not only put an end to rebellious voices within the merging parties, it can prove to be an effective hurdle in the BJP’s way.”
Voting on strategy
A Shiv Sena leader’s demand in an article in the party’s mouthpiece, Saamna, was the subject of much discussion. Jamaat-e-Islami’s bi-weekly, Daawat, in its front-page commentary on April 19, writes: “It was the founder of Shiv Sena, Balasaheb Thackeray, who had first talked of disenfranchising Muslims, something that attracted wide criticism… One should imagine that if, following the advice of Balasaheb Thackeray and Sanjay Raut, Muslims are disenfranchised, what would happen to those claiming to be leaders of the majority of the population? Whom would they oppose to mislead that section of the population?”
Hindustan Express, in a commentary on April 18, writes: “In the face of demands to disenfranchise Muslims… [they] have to devise strategies whereby even if the candidate supported by Muslims is defeated in an election, their political influence is not reduced. They will have to talk frankly to those parties that traditionally get their votes, and those that think they are not getting Muslim votes and are considered enemies of Muslims.”
Compiled by Seema Chishti
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