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.”

... contd.