Opinion From The Urdu Press: Assam fire

BJP’s PM candidate, Narendra Modi, declared his intention to ‘throw out’ illegal migrants from Bangladesh.

May 9, 2014 12:05 AM IST First published on: May 9, 2014 at 12:05 AM IST

Commenting on the killings of members of the minority community in Assam, Jadeed Khabar writes in an editorial (May 5): “Bodo organisations are targeting Muslims because some communal leaders had run their election campaigns with the slogan of ‘teaching a lesson to migrants’. The BJP’s PM candidate, Narendra Modi, declared his intention to ‘throw out’ illegal migrants from Bangladesh. The bloodcurdling acts of Bodo extremists soon after the end of polls are a slap in the face of security arrangements and security forces.” Rashtriya Sahara, in its editorial, also on May 5, says that, apart from Modi, “the BJP president, Rajnath Singh had also said that if a BJP government comes to power at the Centre, the issue of Bangladeshis would be among the most important items on its agenda. The memory of the Nellie massacre is still fresh. Following that, on several occasions, there have been largescale killings in the name of Bangladeshis” in Assam.

Inquilab, in its May 5 editorial, says: “This violence has caused anxiety. The affected families of Kokrajhar have said that they had apprehensions of being attacked because a large number of Muslims of the area voted in favour of former ULFA leader Nabakumar Sarania.”

TEESRA MORCHA

In its April 28 editorial, Siasat says: “As the possibility of success for the Congress and BJP is being seen to be reduced compared to early expectations, the role of a third front after the election results could become important. Mulayam Singh Yadav wants to emerge as the most important partner in such as an alliance. The communist parties can also join the front, as can other regional parties. But an important party, the Trinamool Congress, is presently a victim of suspicions with regard to a third front, even though it is anxious to play an important role at the Centre… The BJD and JD (U) have not yet shown any decisiveness. And in UP, between the BSP and SP, only the one getting most seats can become an important member.”

Rashtriya Sahara, in a May 1 editorial, writes: “Even though Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh has expressed his opposition to the party supporting to a third front from outside, Ahmad Patel’s opinion that the Congress could extend support to a secular front from outside to keep communal forces away from power, carries more weight. Even though the Congress would be far from a majority, due to its wide experience in power-play it would try to get its trusted players in crucial positions… It would have no hesitation in bringing adown the government when it suited the party.”

EGYPTIAN SUMMER

In its April 30 editorial, Rashtriya Sahara writes: “The situation in Egypt, due to the deposition of President Mohammed Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood government and the takeover of the country by the army, is chaotic. The ruling military government has taken control of all constitutional institutions and the oppression and atrocities against the Brotherhood continues. The presidential election due later this month will only be a formality, and it is almost settled that military ruler Abdel Fattah el-Sisi will be declared elected as the next president… Sisi has the support of the military, which wants to maintain its control over the government.” Roznama Khabrein wrote on April 30: “The oppression of the military is inhuman… But it is regrettable that democratic countries have not reacted to the situation in Egypt. The silence of the Arab countries is understandable because they cannot tolerate a democratic government anywhere near their territories.”

Inquilab, in its May 4 editorial, writes: “A Muslim who would be delighted by the award of the death sentence to the Brotherhood chief (and hundreds of his supporters) is King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, whose hereditary rule is greatly threatened by the reformist Muslim Brotherhood…”

Compiled by Seema Chishti