Opinion Liberhan report
Predictably,Urdu papers have not expressed any surprise at the findings of the Liberhan Commission that enquired into the issues connected...
Predictably,Urdu papers have not expressed any surprise at the findings of the Liberhan Commission that enquired into the issues connected with the demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya on December 6,1992,as the conclusions about leaders of the sangh parivar being responsible for the demolition of the Liberhan Commission is on expected lines. Kolkata and Delhi-based daily Akhbar-e-Mashriq,in its editorial (November 26) wonders: It cannot be said if the Central government would have tabled the report in Parliament or not,if its contents were not revealed by a newspaper and a TV channel. Patna and Ranchi-based daily Qaumi Tanzeem (November 25) has noted with sarcasm the observation of Justice Liberhan that the then Prime Minister,P.V. Narasima Rao kept on daydreaming and waited for a report from the (Uttar Pradesh) Governor after which he could get activated. About Liberhan Commissions observation about Atal Bihari Vajpayees role in the process of demolition,the paper writes: He was not present in Ayodhya at the time of the demolition and perhaps his presence there was not needed because he had given a particular direction to this matter (by giving a provocative speech in Lucknow on December 5,1992). His job was completed and future work was to be done by those who were present there as kar sevaks.
Most papers have an apprehension that no action will be taken against those held responsible for the demolition. Delhi-based daily Hamara Samaj,in its editorial on November 25 writes: Based on the Action Taken Report (ATR),prepared by the government,it is not difficult to conclude that in the light of this report the government does not intend to take any action to punish those responsible for the demolition of Babri Masjid… The 68 held responsible for the demolition by the Liberhan Commission do not find mention anywhere in the 13-page ATR of the government.
Dubai jitters
The anxiety felt in India due to the $59 billion debt rescheduling crisis of Dubai World is amply reflected. Rashtriya Sahara,in an editorial (November 30) writes: It is true that India has achieved success to a great extent in keeping its economy unaffected by the economic crisis of the US. In spite of that the reports of the possible Dubai World crisis are causing worry because many big Indian companies in the real estate sector had made announcements,in recent months,for large-scale investments in Dubai. Hindustan Express (November 30) writes: Experts opine that in case effective steps are not taken to deal with this crisis,if nothing else,a large number of Indians employed in Dubai will be affected and it does not need to be said that lakhs of Indians are working in Dubai…
Wahabism and Jethmalani
Former Union Minister and well known jurist Ram Jethmalanis recent statement at a conference in the capital that Wahabi ideology was at the root of terrorism in the world and his allegation that Muslim countries like Saudi Arabia were promoting terrorism (resulting in the walkout of the Saudi envoy from the conference hall) has been the subject of much ridicule and anger. Akhbar-e-Mashriq,in its editorial (November 23),clarifies: What is generally called Wahabi movement was actually an Islamic movement of the seventeenth century whose objective was to espouse adoption and practice of a purist Islam by Muslims in their lives. This movement was linked with the philosophy of Imam Taimia who worked for eradication of heresy and un-Islamic practices and distortion in religion. Hindustan Express,in its editorial on the same day writes: There cannot be two opinions about the fact that the Wahabi movement (launched by Sheikh Mohammad Bin Abdul Wahab) was not against non-Muslims. The world knows that he had started the movement for reform among Muslims and even if he took part in any armed struggle it was in that part of Arabia where,at least during his time,there was no population of non-Muslims… Qaumi Tanzeem (November 24) wonders how Jethmalani,who wrote sometime ago an article in a leading English daily where he praised Islam and its leaders profusely describing them as broad-minded (roshan khayal),could now describe Islam as a religion promoting terrorism and put the blame for its spread on Muslim countries.
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