Hyderabad-based Siasat in its editorial, ‘Effective plan of action necessary’ (April 2), wrote that this is the best opportunity for political parties to derive political benefits. But what really demands attention now are the difficulties of the common man (aam aadmi) who is not in a position to face the onslaught of rising prices. Among the strong steps suggested by the paper are making the public distribution system effective and providing essential commodities at concessional prices to the 22 per cent people of the country who live below the poverty line. Patna and Ranchi-based Qaumi Tanzeem in its editorial (April 3) reminded the government of past experiences of rising prices of onion resulting in the fall of the BJP government of Delhi in 1998 and the hike in price of diesel by the Chandra Shekhar government at the Centre and its adverse impact.

A book for a book

Eminent Urdu litterateur, Hasan Kamal, in his column, Kaheta Hoon Such, published in Rashtriya Sahara (April 5) raises this question in the context of the Dutch Member of Parliament Gerrit Wilder’s controversial film, Fitna, “Are we giving an appropriate reply to enemies of Islam?”

He asserts that Muslim protests, demonstrations and boycotts of goods of the concerned countries cannot stop the continuing onslaught against Islam and the Quran. He writes: “The campaign of enemies of Islam cannot be stopped merely by protest. Reply to a book can be given only with a book. No Muslim writer came up with a rejoinder to Salman Rushdie’s book — Satanic Verses — with a book. It was a Christian nun, Karen Armstrong, who replied through her book, Muhammad.”

Kamal wonders if those who are familiar with Rushdie’s book and agitated against it have heard of Armstrong’s book. The fact is that her book is a rare document on all aspects of the life and character of Prophet Muhammad, the like of which has perhaps never been written in English. It became a bestseller in the United States and Europe and the people in those countries could understand the reality of Islam and the character of the Prophet, writes the columnist. Kamal also talked of a film made by Mustafa Aiqad, The Message — originally made in Arabic, entitled Al-Risala many years ago. The film presented both sides of Islam, but cleared many misunderstandings about Islam. But when a dubbed version of the film was released in

India, the “so called” ulema raised a hue and cry saying that many venerated figures in Islamic history were shown in the film and the book presented a distorted picture of the religion, says Kamal. “This despite the fact that Al-Risala was released officially and was well-received in Kuwait, Bahrain, Malaysia, Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Iran, even in Pakistan. Large numbers of Muslims saw it during the days before its screening was stopped and its DUDs and CODs are still selling here like hot cakes.”

Expressing similar views, the usually conservative Akhbar-e-Mashriq, in its editorial (March 30), described the response of Muslims of Holland to Wilder’s film as “an achievement worth emulating”. Instead of losing their balance at the “provocation of the worst enemy of Islam and a Member of Parliament belonging to Holland’s right wing, Gerrit Wilders, they stood, stoic as a rock of patience and integrity”, it said. The paper also lauded the role of the Dutch government in preventing a general release of Fitna. In a similar vein, Munsif of Hyderabad (April 3) wrote: “these cartoons or short propaganda films cannot bring about the sunset of Islam’s sun (sic). It has to be seen that Muslims do not serve the interests of those groups that are spreading hatred against Islam and instead devote their time to spreading the message of Islam in the whole world while following the ideals of the Prophet.”

Congress-Mayawati spat

A few newspapers have commented on the spat between Congress leaders and UP Chief Minister Mayawati. Akhbar-e-Mashriq, in an editorial, carrying an unprintable title (April 9), wrote: “Tikait showed his sharafat and bhalmansahat (gentlemanliness) by withdrawing his remark against Mayawati. But Mayawati did not learn any lesson from this. As the popularity of Congress General Secretary, Rahul Gandhi, is on the rise in Uttar Pradesh and, feeling the pain and agony of Dalits, he has tried to move closer to them, Mayawati is seeing her boat shaking”.

Stung by “jealousy”, she has directed a despicable attack at him — oachha war kiya hai — which translates into ‘low attack’. In its editorial, Hamara Samaj, wrote: “Rahul Gandhi’s effort to get justice for Dalits has caused discomfort to Mayawati. Feeling that the Dalit votes were shipping away, she is agitated and is making low attacks.

As for Rahul, the newspaper says his efforts will have a “good effect” on the Lok Sabha election.