Opinion Gadkaris appeal to Muslims
BJP President Nitin Gadkaris appeal to Muslims to facilitate the construction of a Ram temple at the site of the demolished Babri Masjid at Ayodhya has attracted critical comments from most papers.....
BJP President Nitin Gadkaris appeal to Muslims to facilitate the construction of a Ram temple at the site of the demolished Babri Masjid at Ayodhya has attracted critical comments from most papers. Rashtriya Sahara,in an editorial on February 20 asks: Why Gadkari finds it difficult to reach a satisfactory solution to this problem through a court decision and what he means by a satisfactory solution is better known to himself. But as far as Indian Muslims are concerned,they have full confidence in the countrys judiciary and their stand on the Babri Masjid controversy from the beginning has been that they are bound by every decision of the court. It is not a question of only Muslims. Everyone having faith in the Indian judicial system,irrespective of the religion they subscribe to,are of the view that the decision of the court on this should be accepted.
Delhi-based Hindustan Express,in its editorial terms the BJPs plea laughable. It writes on February 19: The mosque was demolished with a demonstration of force. Now,if,by using force an effort is made to actualise the dream of building a grand Ram temple on the site of a make-shift Ram temple,there is nothing we can do about it. But so far as giving up the claim is concerned the Indian Muslim can in no case give up the claim for Babri Masjid. The paper exhorts the BJP President,who is now giving lessons in mutual friendliness (ukhuwat) and camaraderie (bhai chara), to introspect about the role of his party in performing the most serious act of terrorism.
Jamaat-e-Islamis Daawat,writes: It is surprising that those who created feelings of hatred and hostility between Hindus and Muslims through the Ayodhya campaign… are now talking of friendliness and camaraderie. They have neither repentance nor any regret.
Indo-Pak talks
In the run-up to the Foreign Secretary-level talks between India and Pakistan,most papers supported the scheduling of the talks at Indias initiative,ignoring provocations from some Pakistani leaders. Delhi,Kolkata and Ranchi-based daily Akhbar-e-Mashriq,in its editorial on February 16 wrote: Wisdom demands that we show open-mindedness and,ignoring LeT and its past terrorist attacks,talk to Pakistan in a south-Asian perspective… During the talks,the Indian Foreign Secretary,Mrs Nirupama Rao,can clearly tell her Pakistani counterpart that India is prepared to listen to all its grievances and find appropriate solutions under the condition that it gives up its path of terrorism and dismantles the terrorist camps,etc.,now operating on its soil. The issue of water is not a serious one and can be sorted out amicably through negotiations.
On the issue of Kashmir being brought up by Pakistani leaders on every occasion,a commentator in Delhi-based daily Hamara Samaj,on February 14 writes: …If we have to talk (about Kashmir),Pakistan should be asked what pleasure it is getting by shedding bloods of a large number of common Kashmiri people and when will its thirst be quenched?… The entire world knows that the people of Indian J&K are more prosperous than those in the Pak-occupied Kashmir.
The daily Jadeed Khabar,published from the capital,in its editorial on February 9,writes: It is possible that use of terrorism against India is a part of Pakistans policy. But if Pakistan is kept engaged in talks,it cant evade the truth that its land is being used for activities against India.
Lucknow-based daily,Aag,in an editorial (February 9),wrote: The situation today is not such that one can pin much hope on the Indo-Pak talks. But following a worsening situation and publication of bitter statements,the talks have been scheduled. So the beginning would be said to be good.
Quota for Muslims
The setting aside of the Andhra Pradesh governments provision of 4 per cent reservation for backward Muslims by the high court and announcement by the West Bengal government of 10 per cent reservation for Muslims have been subjects of much discussion.
Dawaat,in a front page commentary (February 13) writes: Left parties were very loudly making the demand for implementation of the Sachar Committee report whereas the largest number of backward Muslims are in the state of West Bengal ruled by them. Ultimately they had to take the initiative of implementing the recommendation of the Ranganath Mishra Commission for putting an end to the backwardness of Muslims.
Hyderabad-based daily Rahnuma-e-Deccan,in an editorial on February 10 wonders how the recommendation of a commission headed by a senior judge of the Supreme Court was negated by the Andhra Pradesh High Court. It writes: It is astonishing how this recommendation and some obvious and clear decisions and a firm opinion were ignored by some judges of the high court while other judges gave their verdict in favour of reservations. The logical and natural response to this lack of consensus is that this issue should be considered by the Supreme Court. It is encouraging to note that the state government has taken a spontaneous decision to take this matter to the Supreme Court.
Compiled by Seema Chishti
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