Opinion From the Urdu press

Akhbar-e-Mashriq,published from Delhi,Kolkata and Ranchi,in its editorial (April 16),has been more severe in its criticism of Tharoor: “Like how one gathers the impression about a daughter-in-law,after staying for some time in her in-laws’ home,whether she can manage a stable family,similarly,it can be said about Shashi Tharoor that he is not cut out to shoulder ministerial responsibilities”.

In the run-up to the resignation of Shashi Tharoor,IPL Chairman Lalit Modi has been the recipient of very angry comments. The daily Sahafat,published from Delhi,Mumbai,Lucknow and Dehradun,in an editorial entitled “Cricket shareefon ka khel naheen raha” (Cricket no longer a gentlemen’s game),on April 17 writes: “It can be said without any fear of contradiction that Lalit Modi has transformed the beautiful game of cricket into a dirty business,which can also be the cause of its decline. He has indulged in some activities which have created the scope for trickery,dubious alliances and bribery”.

Delhi-based daily,Jadeed Khabar (April 15) writes: “If the government wants to do something,it should find out the sources and objectives of money coming to and going from IPL. In reality,Lalit Modi has promoted brockerage and black money in cricket. The IPL should be finished.”

Manmohan-Obama meet

The daily Qaumi Tanzeem,published from Patna and Ranchi,in its editorial on April 15,writes: “Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Washington will be considered successful from the standpoint that US President Barack Obama has declared as true and justified India’s concern and anxiety over cross-border terrorism,and has said that the Indian Prime Minister is correct to say that he is prepared to talk with Pakistan,but prior to that terrorist activities have to stop.” The paper adds: “About two hours after meeting Dr Manmohan Singh,President Obama also met the Pakistani prime minister,Yousuf Raza Gilani… [and told him that the continuing terrorist activities should now be stopped,and his country’s welfare depends on it”.

Lucknow-based daily,Qaumi Khabrein,in its editorial (April 13),has noted with satisfaction President Obama’s stance towards India. It writes: “According to reports,President Obama,keeping in view India’s concern (connected with her relations with Afghanistan),has given an assurance to the prime minister that America will not do any thing as part of its Af-Pak policy that may harm Indian interests…”

Delhi-based daily Jadeed Khabar,in an editorial on April 13,has taken a dim view of India “complaining” to the US with regard to cross-border terrorism. It observes: “Obama has assured Manmohan Singh that he would put pressure on Pakistan to take stern action against extremist organisations. But the important question is whether India needs to request America for stopping terrorist activities being conducted from Pakistan?”

It’s not cricket… in Pakistan

Raees Mohammed,the only one amongst the famous five Mohammed brothers in Pakistan who never made it to test cricket,has raked up a controversy going back to the fifties. Akhbar-e Mashriq reports on April 13,from an interview given to Abdur Rasheed Shakoor in a Pakistani newspaper that he (Raees,now 77 years old) was kept out of the test squad because of pure “partisanship “ of the selectors,despite the fact that he was “in very good form”.