Opinion Report card

The editorial seeks solace in the “surveys and forecasts” that the Congress was “losing power” because of the “misdeeds of Sonia,Rahul and their team”. In fact,the report on the UPA celebrations in Panchjanya asserts that “surveys” have already “rejected” the government. The report seeks to puncture the government’s report card by contrasting its claims of achievements with the reality on several issues. The editorial in Panchjanya invokes one of the quick comments in FMCG advertisements that for the UPA government “daag achchhe hain”.

Mourning IPL

Panchjanya puts the spotlight on the IPL spot-fixing. Its cover story wonders if the“Don’s dacoits” have taken control of the IPL,with an image of Dawood Ibrahim occupying the front page with Sreesanth. Projecting speculations of Ibrahim’s involvement as the ultimate truth,the cover story claims that the henchmen of the “Don” may be using coercion and threats,as they used to in Bollywood,against IPL cricketers to facilitate spot-fixing.

“While some people used to convert their black money into white through cricket,Dawood Ibrahim has made it a route to fill his coffers,” the report says,arguing that this net is spread wide across Dubai and Pakistan and the money earned may be used to help India’s enemies. Describing the arrested cricketers as gullible “pawns” in the games being played from “Dubai and Karachi”,the report laments the alleged failure of government agencies to keep track of hawala transactions and other unfair means being used in the IPL. While Panchjanya has refrained from demanding the resignation of BCCI chairperson Srinivasan,the article demands that the BCCI take effective measures to restore people’s confidence in cricket.

Malegaon’s shadow

The Sangh Parivar’s obsession with issues related to terrorism and Muslims uses two separate developments in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra to give itself a vent. The NIA chargesheet in the 2006 Malegaon blasts case has given not only partial relief to the Parivar but also an argument with which to highlight the political motivations behind the investigation. A report in Panchjanya has sought to emphasise the fact that,while charging Hindus for the blasts,the Muslims accused and arrested in the case also remain in jails. The report wonders how come “neither Muslims are innocent,but Hindus are also guilty” to find fault with the investigation. “Who is telling the truth: the CBI and ATS or the NIA?” it asks,given that the NIA has chargesheeted Hindus while Muslims have been arrested by the ATS. But the highlighting of the fact that “no nationalist organisation” has been named reflects the Parivar’s relief. It also helps Panchjanya ask about the whereabouts of theorists of “saffron terrorism” after this development.

Meanwhile,another article in Panchjanya takes strong exception to the UP government’s decision to register a case against a former DGP and 42 policemen over the death of an accused Muslim individual,facing trial in a serial blasts case. The article wonders whether the Samajwadi Party would have done the same over the death of a “Hindu prisoner”. It seeks to argue that “Akhilesh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh has publicly come out in support of Muslim terrorists”.

Compiled by Ravish Tiwari