Opinion Mission UP

Hyderabad’s Munsif writes in its editorial: “Even though Congress leaders are supporting their young leader’s statement,there doesn’t seem to be a firmess in these words,as Congress leaders also feel that Rahul Gandhi has,in his enthusiasm,spoken a bit too much,providing a chance (for criticism) to the opposition parties… We want the real extent of truth in Rahul’s statement to be established.” Mumbai-based daily,Urdu Times,in its May 13 editorial,writes: “The problems of the Mayawati government have definitely increased. She captured power on the basis of promises of welfare for the socially backward sections. Now,if the farmers are alienated,it will not be easy for her to win the election in 2012.”

Attack on Pakistan

Reacting to the terrorist attack on the naval base in Karachi,Rashtriya Sahara,in its editorial on May 24,writes: “Obviously,what can we call but a ‘fixed match’ (noora kushti) can be given to this beautiful love-hate relationship between the United States and Pakistan? Perhaps the terrorist outfits active in Pakistan also understand this situation. Otherwise,what is the meaning of directing anger over Osama bin Laden’s death at the Pakistani navy and paramilitary recruits? Osama has been killed by the American Naval Seals. Therefore,if Osama’s followers had to avenge his killing,it should have been against the Americans. But that the attacks have taken place on Pakistani soil and against the Pakistani navy and paramilitary forces,means that there is something,not easily understood by outsiders,behind these attacks.” The paper predicts that the worst in Pakistan is yet to come.

‘Most Wanted’ muddle

Munsif,in its May 19 editorial,writes: “Including Indian national Wajhul Qamar Khan in the list of ‘Most Wanted’ persons (while he is in custody in Mumbai) has exposed the ignorance and callousness of our security and investigative agencies… They need to learn a lesson and change their way of functioning. The tendency to implicate certain people without solid proof and evidence amounts to a violation of secularism,democracy and human rights. It will not only bring a bad name to the country; our claims are also likely to lose credibility at the global level.”

Rashtriya Sahara writes in its May 11 editorial: “The government should try to reach the bottom of this whole case… Who prepared the list first? Was Wajhul Qamar’s name in the first list given by the Maharashtra government? If not,where was this name included? What necessary steps were taken by the NIA and CBI before forwarding this list?” The paper has objected to the Union home minister’s casual dismissal of the error. Sahafat says: “Whatever the reason,the Wajhul Qamar episode definitely shows that India’s intelligence agencies are not very competent (bahut pukhta naheen hein). We have had to suffer great humiliation and disgrace because of this goof-up.”

Electoral leap

Delhi-based daily Jadeed Khabar,in its editorial on May 18,writes that Muslims have recorded unprecedented successes in the recent assembly elections. “In West Bengal,the number of successful Muslim candidates from different parties has risen from 49 to 60 (TMC: 29; CPM: 13; Congress: 12; others: 6)”,according to the paper. In Kerala,the paper says that Muslim League candidates have won 20 seats from the Malabar region alone,becoming the second largest party in the ruling coalition. In Assam,the number of successful Muslim candidates is 28 (16 of the 18 AIUDF MLAs are Muslims) in a 126-member assembly. The rest are from the Congress.

According to an agency report published in Sahafat (May 20),out of 824 seats,Muslim candidates were elected in 130,compared to the corresponding figure of 105 in the elections of 2006 — an increase of about 24 per cent. In Kerala,according to the report,a total of 36 Muslim candidates were elected,compared to the equivalent figure of 25 in 2006.