Kolkata and Delhi-based daily, Akhbar-e-Mashriq, in an editorial on June 22 says, “The nuclear deal is a guarantee for the development and prosperity of the country whereas the Left parties’ opposition to it is merely a blackmail and expression and pronouncement of their allergy to the United States. Therefore, when the government would go to the people’s court on this issue, it would certainly get their support.” The paper is of the view that the numbers in the Lok Sabha would be in the UPA government’s favour with the support of Samajwadi Party and some others, if Left deserts the UPA.

Delhi-based Jadeed Khabar (June 25) writes that there is a negative message inherent in the Bush administration’s “now or never” argument about the nuclear deal. “If despite consistent efforts of the Bush administration to create a favourable opinion, the majority of members of the US Congress have objections to the deal, who can give a guarantee of its usefulness for India in the future?” the paper asks.

Lens on Kashmir

The Urdu press has taken on various constitutional authorities and political groups for the controversy surrounding land allotment for Amarnath yatra pilgrims. Akhbar-e-Mashriq, in a June 28 editorial writes, “J & K Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad chose to play an ill-timed symphony (bey waqt ki ragini). After a long time Kashmir has seen peace and the daily life has been normalised... On the eve of elections, the state government unnecessarily resorted to this stunt to woo the Hindus.” The paper says that the issue has benefited the extremists, and the Hurriyat has got a new lease of life. Delhi-based daily Sahafat (June 28) has held the former governor, S.K. Sinha squarely responsible for the controversy. When the matter reached a very delicate stage, the CM was compelled to pay his attention to it, according to the paper.

... contd.