PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
Commenting on the scenario before the presidential election,Rashtriya Sahara (June 17) writes; now that the picture is clear,issues that can affect politics after the presidential election deserve attention… the NDA has become meaningless. So long as there was suspense that Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mamata Banerjee were opposing the UPA candidate,there was the possibility of a role for the NDA. But Yadavs support has the NDA dumbfounded. The NDA has become a lifeless political organ.
On the statesmanship of A.P.J. Abdul Kalam,the editor of the daily Inquilab,Shakeel Shamsi,wrote on June 19: the decision of Kalam (to keep away from the contest) is based on great wisdom and statesmanship. He would have been reduced to a mere vessel of Banerjee,without any vegetable [sic. However,we wonder why the RSS and BJP are so insistent on Kalam? Has love for Muslims awakened in their hearts? Or are these preparations to make the ex-president a sacrificial goat merely to show the Congress down?
In an oblique criticism of P.A. Sangma,Siasat on June 10 writes: those doing politics
in the name of Dalits,minorities,tribals or women should not play with a constitutional position. The president of a democratic country,should,with regard to the Constitution,be respectable.
WELCOME MEASURE
The recent circular issued by the Union home ministry to all state governments asking them to appoint at least one Muslim inspector or sub-inspector of police in areas with large Muslim population has been generally welcomed. Siasat on July 12 writes: with Gods grace,following the instruction by the Union home ministry,appointments will be made to ensure posting of Muslim police officials in Muslim-minority areas. The written order will result in the employment of thousands of Muslim inspectors and sub-inspectors… state governments have been asked to report to the Centre on this matter by the end of June. The appointment of Muslim officials would help in preventing communal acts of oppression and strengthen Muslim confidence that they will not be subjected to excesses.
Rashtriya Sahara in its editorial on June 9 was more cautious. This instruction appears wonderful,and it can be used to get a positive message across to the common Muslim. But analysed deeply,the implementation of only one of the many Sachar Committee recommendations can have negative effects. A bigger question is if state governments are bound to accept any instructions of this type from the Centre,as law and order are state issues.
Sacking the Pak PM
Hailing the decision of the Pakistan Supreme Court disqualifying Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani,Inquilab writes on June 20: it is true that the court had ordered him to start new cases against his political master. It is also true that by not acting on this order he was guilty of contempt of court. Having served a symbolic sentence for contempt of court,if Gilani considers himself oppressed,rather than a criminal,it is his guilt (that is to blame).
Rashtriya Sahara on June 21,has described the judgment as a political earthquake. It finds it ironic that Gilani has been punished for protecting (Pakistan President) Asif Ali Zardaris crimes. The paper does see a positive side to the verdict: it will now be understood in Pakistan that confronting the judiciary will invite great difficulty.
Mehdi Hasan RIP
Amongst the innumerable tributes to ghazal king Mehdi Hasan,a newspaper on June 19 has quoted the Emperor of emotions Dilip Kumar on the late Hasan,the Emperor of ghazals. The paper quotes him as saying that he (Hasan) had the power to unite every section of society with his magical voice… I can recall his silken voice as if it was just yesterday.
Compiled by Seema Chishti
