Haasan to Nandy

The editorial, in fact, reminds readers that the newly appointed secretary of state is "the author of the Kerry-Lugar-Berman bill that provided more than USD 7.5 billion in five years to Pakistan" and highlights that it is John Kerry who maintained that "Pakistan 'has not got sufficient credit for its help in getting bin Laden... Kerry is one of the most fervent supporters of Pakistan, sometimes he almost sounds like the Pakistani foreign minister..."

The editorial claims that the Headley case should serve as evidence as to which way "the US would tilt if there is a serious confrontation between India and Pakistan" and consequently it is time India "took a serious call on this issue and showed America the mirror".

"America is nobody's friend. but it is friendlier to all terrorist regimes in the world and inimical to democracies everywhere," the editorial concludes.

Lokpal Blues

The Lokpal, which the government seeks to get approved during the forthcoming budget session of Parliament, has attracted the Sangh Parivar's attention. The editorial in Panchjanya highlights the BJP's "objections" to and Anna Hazare's "disapproval" of the revised proposals as an indicator of the "government's disinterest in providing clean and corruption free governance..."

The editorial objects to the government's decision to not bring the entire CBI under the Lokpal on the pretext of maintaining its autonomy. It also faults the proposal to not grant the Lokpal the last word on the transfer of officers investigating graft cases referred by the Lokpal itself. These two factors, the editorial suggests, will make the Lokpal a "toothless body", which will be nothing but a "betrayal" of the popular demand.

Compiled by Ravish Tiwari

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