The dilemma of Indian politics: The missing right

Siyasi Taqdeer writes in its editorial: "The Congress has won an election in the name of MNREGA, which is now taken as a synonym for 'scam' and its leaders were looking for a similar prescription and it has stumbled upon that successful or rare prescription that it wants to use for having a monopoly on the political chessboard..."

For honour

THERE are sharp responses to the killing of young Abdul Hakeem of Bulandshahar district for marrying a woman of a so-called high caste. The daily Siasat, on November 30, comments: "The most important thing is that there exists today in Muslim society extremist traditions with belief in caste discrimination. After all, if they (Hakeem and his wife, Mehwish) had married out of choice, how does the question of loss of pride for a family crop up? One wishes the Muslim community showed broad-mindedness, instead of its antiquarian mindset, and moved with the times... so that innocent lives are not lost in this manner."

Jadeed Markaz says: "Despicable acts of killing in the name of false family pride have been taking place through khap panchayats. Now this disease is being spread among Muslims too. Killing in the name of false pride is common in the tribes of our neighbouring country, Pakistan. But no one can be allowed to commit such a wretched crime in a democratic country like India." In contrast, Inquilab has blamed the "media" for "maligning Islam and Muslims" in its coverage of the Hakeem case. It writes: "The khap panchayats of Haryana, Rajasthan and western UP have openly killed couples (in the name of honour). But have you ever seen anyone spitting venom against the Sikh or Hindu community...? The police investigation revealed it was not a case of honour killing and the murder was committed due to personal enmity. But the media raised questions about (the credibility of) the police."

... contd.

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