Elections in J & K

The wide participation in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections has been heartily welcomed by Urdu papers.

Rashtriya Sahara, in its editorial entitled, ‘Dialogue, the only solution to the problem’ (Jan 6) writes: “Appointment of Omar Abdullah as the Chief Minister is perhaps the most welcome change that has taken place in the state after a very long time. Omar Abdullah, not only represents the young generation of the state, he is also extremely popular among the people of J&K for his broad-mindedness and modern outlook and thinking. He demonstrated these qualities by expressing his willingness for talks with separatists for the betterment of the lot of the State’s people on Sunday. He said that the Central government should re-start talks with the separatists that had been discontinued in 2008. He made it clear that the state government would also play its role fully as a facilitator.”

Delhi-based Sahafat (Dec 30) pleads for serious action on the part of the Centre, to make use of the new environment and resolve the problems of the Kashmiri people and reassuring them about the equality of their rights ... The separatists should also feel that “this state is theirs and they should take part in the democratic process and form the government by winning the confidence of the people”, it opines.

A new era in Bangladesh?

In a front page commentary, Jamaat-e-Islami’s biweekly Daawat, writes:  “(Bangladesh election) results have surprised everybody because the voters have given a very clear verdict. In their view not only the country needed the voter’s clear verdict; there was also the need for exerting full weight in favour of one party.”

... contd.