Opinion Colonel’s end

A hard-hitting editorial in Inquilab,published from Mumbai,Delhi,Lucknow,Kanpur and Bareilly,calls Gaddafi Libya’s “iron man”,writing that “his most significant quality was that he had long talked to the US on an equal footing (aankhon mein aankhen daal kar). This was the reason that he was always on its hit-list. Cowardly US presidents kept conspiring against him and even tried to kill him,but they never succeeded. This was the reason that the US and its allies took the first opportunity to shamelessly exploit the country’s changing domestic situation. It is known that popular protest and unrest was not confined to Libya: after starting in Tunisia,it spread to Algeria,Jordan,Egypt,Bahrain and other countries. Yet the US and its allies did not resort to action in any of these countries. Only Libya was chosen for this cowardly act.”

Hyderabad’s leading daily Munsif writes in its editorial on October 23: “It is most important that… the civil strife between Gaddafi supporters and those opposed to him is controlled,and a working democracy is brought about…Libya’s (rich) oil resources must benefit its people,and it is imperative that NATO is removed from the internal affairs of the country,and people get a chance to elect their own government and control their own affairs.”

Interestingly,while Inquilab on October 26,among other Urdu papers,led with an explosion in an oil field in Sirte in Libya shortly after Gaddafi’s secret burial,leading to about 100 deaths,there was virtually no mention of this in the non-Urdu press.

Just a by-election

The results of the recent by-elections to the Hisar Lok Sabha constituency and several assembly seats have been the subject of much debate. Delhi-based Hamara Samaj writes in its October 19 editorial: “Following the by-election results,the Congress is being attacked from all sides… It should definitely try to identify reasons for its defeat,so this trend can be reversed in future elections.”

On the impact of Anna Hazare’s campaign in Hisar,Mumbai’s prominent daily Urdu Times,in its editorial on October 18,expressed its agreement with J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s remarks on Twitter: “Omar has said that since Hisar was not a Congress seat,the result is not an indication of any trend. And he is right.”

Delhi-based Jadeed Khabar,in its October 20 editorial,writes: “Generally,political parties consider by-election results held in a few constituencies on which they focus all their resources as the indication of a general trend. Actually,that is not the case. The results of the five state elections due next year can indicate the mood of the people and the political scenario of the future.”

The other corruption

Inquilab,writes on October 17: “The arrest of former Karnataka chief minister B.S. Yeddyurappa is a cause for shame for the BJP,which has been crying itself hoarse over recent scams and scandals… And why talk only of financial corruption? Every departure from orderly conduct,or illegitimate use of the system of governance,is corruption. From this point of view,L.K. Advani — riding his rath,running for prime minister — is in the same league as Murli Manohar Joshi,Uma Bharti and others considered responsible for the destruction of the Babri Masjid. Likewise,Gujarat CM Narendra Modi is in the same category,as he made illegitimate use of governmental machinery in 2002 and abused constitutional norms.”

Compiled by Seema Chishti