Multi-edition daily Inquilab writes in an editorial: There is nothing new in the communal riots in Kishtwar. Whatever happens in any communal riot also happened there. The state government… should have been doubly alert [given the intelligence warnings so that no one could dare disturb the environment of communal harmony for political gain… Having said that,the CMs terse reply to the BJPs allegations was spontaneous and truthful.
Rashtriya Sahara,in an editorial on the same day,writes: Normally,the religious affiliations of those killed in a communal riot are not revealed. But they were by P. Chidambaram in the case of Kishtwar; perhaps to avoid any misinformation about the killings being spread outside J&K.
Line of Caution
Delhi-based daily Qaumi Salamati,in an editorial writes: Whenever there is any plan for talks between India and Pakistan,a tragic incident takes place,or is engineered to take place,so that there is no advancement towards a fruitful dialogue. The editorial mentions incidents such as the Kargil episode,which sabotaged Atal Bihari Vajpayees Lahore initiative,and the recent mutilation of two Indian soldiers in January. The paper goes on to say: Pakistan should certainly guard its frontiers but must not create trouble for its neighbours. If there is a war between India and Pakistan,the latter will take more than 50 years to overcome the resultant damage.
Inquilab,in an editorial,wonders why the new government in Pakistan expressed its intention to befriend India immediately after assuming office,and then committed aggression against us. It asserts that these confidence-shattering activities are the handiwork of the Pakistan army,which targeted India to establish its superiority over the civilian government.
Delhi-based weekly Nai Duniya writes: The view of the external affairs ministry of the Indian government… is to let the Nawaz Sharif government settle down a bit. The government wants to assess the potential of the Sharif government and have a sense of the influence the army and the ISI have over it. Our relations with Pakistan can only improve when their civilian government acts independently.
The Telangana card
Hasan Kamal,in his column in Rashtriya Sahara,writes: By making the announcement about the formation of Telangana,the Congress has played its trump card. The BJP was undoubtedly in favour of the formation of Telangana,but did not want the Congress to take this decision. The Congress appears to be considerably strong following the decision about Telangana,as evidenced by the success it had in the Panchayat elections in the Telugu areas. On the one hand,there has been a break in the ascendancy of Jagan Reddys YSR Congress,and on the other hand,his influence in Rayalaseema is likely to be reduced with the inclusion of two of its districts in Telangana.
Hisam Siddiqui,in his column in the weekly Jadeed Markaz,has opposed the formation of the small states likely to be formed following Telangana,and which serve no purpose. He writes: The BJP tries to raise the passion of Hindus by giving the slogan of akhand Bharat on the one hand and on the other,it pleads for smaller states.
Delhi-based daily Aziz-ul-Hind,in an editorial,remembers the contribution of the Communist poet and legislator,Makhdoom Mohiuddin,as the founder and most important leader of the movement for Telangana. The paper pleads for the establishment of memorials for all those who worked towards and died for Telangana.
Lucknow-based daily Aag points towards the important role played by Muslims in the actualisation of a separate Telangana state and draws satisfaction from the assurance given by TRS leader K.C. Rao for 12 per cent reservation for Muslims under the new state administration.
