Endorsing BJP President Rajnath Singh’s statement to the effect that in 17 years following the demolition at Ayodhya, much water has flowed down the Ganga, Patna and Ranchi-based daily Qaumi Tanzeen (July 2) quips that “even after 17 years the sin of December 6, 1992 has not been washed off. Nor could the sacred water (pavitra jal) of Ganga wipe off the black and blood-red patches on the apparel (daaman) of the Sangh Parivar. Delhi-based Hamara Samaj (July 1) has laid emphasis on “questions raised in some quarters as to why the government has chosen this time to bring to the fore the Liberhan Commission report.” Most papers have demanded an early release of the report.

Section 377

Urdu papers have reacted very strongly against the judgment of the Delhi High Court decriminalising consensual gay sex, so far treated as a criminal act; “Legal sanction given to social sin,” is the headline of the lead story in Delhi-based Hamara Samaj (July 3). The paper has described the judgment of the Delhi High Court as unfortunate (badbakhtana). It views the situation created by the verdict as “playing with human values with the arrogance of modernity,” and wonders if the verdict has the silent support of the government. Strong statements against the verdict by religious leaders have been given prominence by almost all papers.

However, Sahafat, published from Delhi, Lucknow, Dehradun and Mumbai, in its editorial on the same day, has described the strong official statement of Darul Uloom, Deoband against the verdict as “an act in haste and out of impatience,” in view of the “government’s resolve for caution and taking measured steps” (phoonk phoonk kar qadam utha rahi hai) contained in the statement of the Union Law Minister, Veerappa Moily. The Darul Uloom has described homosexuality as “a crime and violative of religious norms (jurm aur haram), according to Shariat Law” and has opposed “any type of amendment” to Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code.

Union Budget

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s Budget, 2009-10, has evoked mixed reactions in the Urdu Press. In an editorial, Hindustan Express (July 7) calls the “General Budget, quite general.” The paper adds: “As far as giving minorities an adequate share in the Budget is concerned, one has got only disappointment on this score... No sweet dream could be seen, once again, of bringing about a ‘revolutionary change’ in the lives of Muslims..” Taking a contrary view, Rashtriya Sahara, in its editorial on July 7 writes: “The great increase of 74 per cent in the allocation for the welfare of minorities has to be welcomed, and it shows that the Congress recognises the huge support it received from the Muslims in the elections.”

Mumbai’s leading daily Inquilab, in its editorial entitled, ‘Strengthening of economic foundations necessary’, on July 8, writes: “Congratulations to Pranab for his budget. But it should be remembered that tall and solid buildings cannot be built on weak foundations. Determined action for strengthening the weak foundations resolved by the finance minister is the need of the hour.”

Political thanksgiving

The tradition of sending chadars to the revered Sufi dargah in Ajmer, writes the Delhi and Kolkata-based Akhbar-e-Mashriq (June 24), received a fillip with a record number of “political chadars” in the recently concluded Urs. This year saw chadars of Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan, Atal Behari Vajpayee, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Lalu Prasad, Ram Vilas Paswan, Ashok Gehlot and Shivraj Singh Chauhan among others — thanksgiving, post the election results, the paper speculates.