Rahul’s sibling Priyanka Gandhi-Vadra’s meeting with Nalini, in Vellore jail after being convicted for Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination, too has been the subject of comment. Akhbar-e-Mashriq has described it (April 19) as an example of “decent behaviour” of a mother and daughter that is worth emulation. Nalini’s death sentence was converted into life imprisonment at Sonia Gandhi’s instance, and the latter has been keeping herself informed about Nalini’s welfare all these days, the paper notes.

Maoist win

Rashtriya Sahara, in its editorial entitled, ‘Maoists’ victory’ (April 15) writes that the people of Nepal have rejected outright all political forces linked with the king and have demonstrated that they are not prepared to maintain ‘Raj Shahi’ even in a symbolic manner. Their attitude to the Koirala family has been the same. Delhi-based Hindustan Express in its editorial on April 15 writes that the success of the Maoists in the election for the Constituent Assembly in Nepal gives the message that the people are willing to support them in their new peaceful political role as they had done in their armed campaign earlier. “The Maoists (there) had taken to arms to provide the people with the right to equality. Indian Maoists too make a similar claim. Can the Indian Maoists too not follow the path shown by their Nepalese counterparts and join the mainstream of politics?” the paper asks.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s organ, biweekly Daawat, in a front-page piece notes Maoist leader Prachanda’s clarification that equidistance would be maintained with India and China. But there is little chance that they would not tilt towards China or China would not make efforts in this direction, it says. The paper also says there was little hope of Maoists giving up the path of violence and has warned India about the need for greater caution.

... contd.