Opinion Helicopter Scam

Rashtriya Sahara,in its editorial on the same day,writes: “It has been reported that in 2003,some changes in the nature of the helicopters were permitted by the IAF,the National Security Agency,the Special Protection Group and,above all,the PMO — the last through then National Security Advisor,Brajesh Mishra. This has been revealed by none other than a respectable leader of the BJP,Jaswant Singh… Obviously,this is not pleasant news for the BJP.”

Jadeed Markaz,in its front page commentary on February 17,emphasises the fact that the UPA government that came to power in 2004 did not review this deal or consider if a dozen costly helicopters should have been purchased for the use of the president,the PM and some top bureaucrats in a poor country like India. Nai Duniya,edited by former SP leader Shahid Siddiqui (February 25),opines: “The Congress had achieved considerable success in diverting the people’s attention from price rise and scams by hanging Ajmal Kasab and Afzal Guru but,with the approaching elections,another defence scam has created trouble for the Congress.”

RAIL BUDGET

On the railway budget,the daily Hamara Samaj writes: “The general opinion was that this year’s budget would aim to please the people because nine state elections will take place this year,and the parliamentary election is due in 2014. But this budget can’t be termed ‘populist’. It is a solid step towards improving the financial position of the railways.”

Inquilab,in its editorial,writes: “From a non-partisan perspective,Pawan Kumar Bansal’s budget can unhesitatingly be described as unpleasant,the most important reason for which is that railway travel has become costlier,despite there being no increase in the basic fare. This will hit the people of all classes and regions. Increase in freight charges will lead to a rise in the prices of different items,leading to increased inflation.

Sahafat’s front page report on the budget has been headlined as: “Intekhabi track par dauri Pawan Express: Rail kiraya naheen barha magar safar hua mahenga (The Pawan Express runs on an electoral track: travel becomes costlier without an increase in basic fare)”. The paper has highlighted the opposition’s remark that this is a “Rae Bareli budget,not a railway budget” and will be the “farewell budget” of the UPA.

Hyderabad Blasts

Rashtriya Sahara (editorial,February 26) writes: “The investigation into the recent bomb blasts in Hyderabad is creating a lack of confidence among the people instead of generating confidence. There is little hope of any clear leads from the arrests made so far. The most worrying news is that some of the young persons who have been taken into custody had been honourably acquitted by the court and given certificates of good character by the Andhra Police. These developments are intensifying concern. Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde’s statement that this is the last act of disorder and terrorism,implying that no such incident would take place again,is inexplicable.”

The editor of Inquilab,Shakeel Shamsi,on February 23,writes: “Anybody may have set off the bomb blasts but the country’s media has hurriedly described it as an Indian Mujahideen (IM) act. Apparently there was no basis for this suspicion… [And even though the terrorists of Abhinav Bharat had played with blood in this very city’s Mecca Masjid,as usual,the media did not mention this organisation even once. It seems to us that it is only because of such speculation that the police has not been able to reach the truth behind most bomb blasts.”

Compiled by Seema Chishti