Hindustan Express in its editorial on January 22 entitled, ‘The truth about Bilkis’ writes, “all wounds of Bilkis cannot be healed, nor is it possible to compensate the damage suffered by the family of Bilkis, alongwith the motherland. If, despite this, she is saying that she is grateful to the court, it is necessary to understand the truth that is speaking, disguised in Bilkis’s purdah.” The paper says, “the truth is such that it provokes introspection by everyone, especially those in power.”

Lucknow’s Qaumi Khabrein in an editorial on the same day says, “The Indian judiciary’s head is held high again”. The paper has also praised “those social organisations who provided legal, emotional and moral support at every step.” National Herald’s Qaumi Awaaz says, “Bilkis has held a mirror to us, do we have the courage to face the truth?”

The paper also brings in the proposal to give the Bharat Ratna to A.B. Vajpayee: “it is being discussed in civilised societies whether the Bharat Ratna should be awarded to a mahapurush who behind closed doors and openly in the political arena has supported those who enabled atrocities to be perpetrated against innocents in Gujarat.”

Kolkata and Delhi-based Akhbar-e-Mashriq on January 20 says, “Bilkis’s case demonstrates that Gujarati Muslims should not look behind, but try hard to make conditions favourable to them instead of running away from there. They must try to learn how to stay as the tongue does with 32 teeth. India is a secular and friendly country that has welcomed with open arms, people from all religions and communities. We have to live with them, cordially.”

... contd.