Various aspects of the Gujarat election have been discussed in the Urdu press. Kolkata and Delhi-based Akhbar-e-Mashriq (December 16) has condemned both the BJP and Congress for mud-slinging in the campaign. “Itni bhondi, bhaddi aur gandi intikhaabi muhim maazi mein kabhi nahi chalayi gayi thee” — such a farcical, filthy election campaign was never seen in the past.

Delhi’s Hindustan Express in an editorial dated December 18 says that Narendra Modi’s posture indicates that he is either paranoid about the fact that he may be defeated, or he is so confident about his victory, that he is unable to control the high that power brings — “iqtedaar ka nasha sambhale nahi sambhal raha hai.”

Jamaat-e-Islami’s mouthpiece, Daawat, on December 19 in an editorial describing the two major leaders in the BJP, Vajpayee and Advani as ek sikke ke do rukh, two sides of the same coin, asks, “why was the appeal of Vajpayee calling for support to the party that stands for promoting communal harmony, development and prosperity withheld before the first phase of the Gujarat elections?’

Rashtriya Sahara (December 10) has “called for a check on irresponsible statements during elections.” Delhi’s Jadeed Khabar (December 18) has congratulated the Election Commission for conducting a free and fair election in an atmosphere of “fear and terror”.

Dream merchant

National Herald’s Qaumi Awaz has described the newly anointed PM candidate of the BJP a “sapnon ke saudagar” saying that “it isn’t surprising that the merchant of dreams, Advani, is also speaking the language of Narendra Modi”.

... contd.