Opinion ‘PM’ as president

The daily Sahafat,published from Delhi,Mumbai,Lucknow and Dehradun,in its editorial on July 15,writes: “an assessment of Pranab Mukherjee’s role presently is related to the fact that he has had a long association with the Congress,and the Central government is dominated by this party. He can put the brakes on any waywardness on the part of the government without any action in this regard being in the public domain.”

Regarding the new president’s likely attitude to the death sentence,the paper writes: “it is thought that following a policy of liberal reconciliation (sulah-e-kul),he too would follow the policy of pardon adopted by former President Pratibha Patil. But,then,the question would arise whether the provision of death sentence in the Indian Penal Code would have,somehow,to be dispensed with.”

Assam’s cauldron

Describing the recent killings in Assam as a repeat of the Nellie massacre,Jamaat-e-Islami’s bi-weekly,Daawat,in an editorial dated August 1 writes: “The manner in which this game of killings and destruction has been played clearly proves this was an organised and planned action,which could not have been possible without elaborate preparation… The reports and… recent surveys make it clear that the fire of hatred had been simmering for some time,and it was nothing new. The problem of illegal migrants that had come up years ago,leading to a powerful movement,still persists. A view has been spread against Muslims,in an organised manner,that a large section of their population in the affected area had illegally migrated,especially Bangladesh,and settled there in the 1960s and 1970s. It should be remembered that in 11 of 27 districts of Assam there are large populations of Muslims,and it is being said if this matter is not taken seriously these would become Muslim majority districts… It is said that a vast number of them had run away to Assam during the India-Pakistan war of 1971. But it should be remembered that the Indian government had given shelter to these “oppressed” people at that time. And it is also a fact that almost all of them had returned… after the formation of Bangladesh.”

Rashtriya Sahara,in its editorial on July 27,points out: “Bodo tribals have been demanding a separate state… and a section of the Assamese people does not want a new state to be carved out at any cost.” The paper says that,as a result of the communal colour given to the separatist demand in Assam and the subsequent Bodo movement,Muslims who had not migrated from Bangladesh but were settled there for centuries became victims of oppression.

Anna and his movement

Rashtriya Sahara,in an editorial on July 31,writes: “The common people find substance in the issues raised by Anna Hazare but consider the methods adopted by Anna and his team,by converting these into demands and pressuring the government for their solution,quite unreasonable… Unlike Mahatma Gandhi’s method in his fasts… although the Central government has on many occasions assured Anna and his team about considering their demands,they have all along insisted on the acceptance of their demands in toto. This is a non-democratic attitude.”

The daily Inquilab,in an editorial on the same day,“Anna’s movement,then and now”,writes that last year the electronic media played a major role in highlighting the impact of the movement in a cavalier manner,resulting in exaggerated publicity for it. “Anna’s team took it as its own popularity,which enhanced its superiority complex. This gave rise to their contempt for one and all… visible now are differences among members of Anna’s team. Moreover,there are also indications of political motives.” Delhi-based daily,Hamara Samaj,in its editorial on July 31 is very critical of Anna for “ignoring the problems of the Muslim community” and “not making any sincere effort” to involve Muslims in

his movement.

Compiled by Seema Chishti