Opinion Mars mission

Commenting on the controversy about the legacy of the first Union home minister,Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel,Rashtriya Sahara writes on October 31: “It is not proper to look at leaders of the freedom movement by associating them with any political party because no comparison can be made between the condition of the country at that time with today’s political situation,and national leaders cannot be treated as any particular party’s legacy… In an effort at portraying Sardar Patel as superior to Nehru,Narendra Modi forgot that Sardar Patel was the first to ban the RSS and if Sardar Patel had become the prime minister,perhaps Modi would not have been the Modi of today…”

The multi-edition daily Inquilab,in its editorial on November 2,writes: “In fact,only Nehru could have done full justice to the office of prime minister… There was a sense of harmony and responsibility for the priorities of the country’s interests between Nehru and Patel,despite some differences of views and ways of functioning. Narendra Modi,who demonstrates an artificial admiration for Patel,has not been gifted with even a fraction of these qualities… Modi should remember that getting statues erected is an exhibition of admiration,not admiration as such. Real admiration demands more.”

RAHUL AND ISI

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi’s remark that he had been told by an intelligence officer that ISI agents are contacting riot victims in Muzaffarnagar generated a lot of discussion. Siasat,on October 26,writes: “First,evidence to substantiate such a statement is needed. Second,if a junior intelligence officer gives such information,Rahul Gandhi,as a responsible political leader,should have discussed it with the concerned agencies and the state government instead of speaking about it at a crowded meeting,giving it a political colour. This is an act of political irresponsibility on Rahul Gandhi’s part for which Muslims might have to pay.”

The editor of Nai Duniya,Shahid Siddiqui,in his commentary (November 4-10) says: “Rahul Gandhi has strengthened the hands of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah,who say that encounters took place because Ishrat Jehan and other Muslims were acting on the instructions of Pakistan’s ISI.”

LEADING FROM FRONT

Rashtriya Sahara on November 2 writes: “The 14-party anti-communal convention sponsored by the CPM in New Delhi has sent the message that the NDA will face difficultly in searching for allies after the Lok Sabha elections of 2014. All parties who took part in the convention are small,except the AIADMK. Their combined number in the Lok Sabha is about 90,which may go up. This situation is worrisome for the NDA in general and Narendra Modi in particular. The NDA has known that it would be difficult to include any party other than the Akali Dal and Shiv Sena in it. But the absence of Mamata Didi and Maya Behenji can prove a speed-breaker.”

Sahafat in its editorial on November 2 writes: “The Third Front should be formed before the elections,and its constituents should contest the election jointly. If that happens,there is a possibility of considerable success in defeating the BJP and Narendra Modi. Why can the parties that claim to have supported the Congress and UPA to prevent communal parties from coming to power not play an active role in the formation of a secular Third Front when conditions now are more alarming than before…? If a Third Front is not formed now,it never will.” Inquilab in its editorial on October 31 says: “Whether the objective of the anti-communal convention is a move towards a Third Front or not,the coming together of so many parties against communalism is welcome in no small measure.”

Compiled by Seema Chishti