The Urdu press seems to believe that the UPA government is likely to continue for a while longer. Qaumi Awaz, quoting the Left, writes on October 10, “UPA hukumat ko koi khatra nahi, — the UPA is not in danger”. The lead story of Rashtriya Sahara on the same day says, “talks inconclusive, but government to stay, an agreement on ceasefire.” Akhbar- e- Mashriq, a Kolkata and Delhi-based daily said on Wednesday, “Left aur Congress, apni zid par qaayam — still stubborn — yet, the UPA to continue in office.” The paper says, “Lalu Prasad played the role of the referee, and calmed down both sides.” Hindustan Express, on the same day too, says “Left parties ka gussa phir kafoor ho gaya (Left parties anger, again like camphor, vanishes into thin air).” The paper writes “those queering the pitch on the nuclear deal said there is no danger to the government.” In its editorial, the paper opines, “this parallel between the BJP keeping its Hindutva issues on the back-burner, and the Congress going slow on the nuclear deal — how valid is it? Apart from this, it remains to be seen what price the common Indian has to pay for this game of hide and seek, and that is more important. Leaders of both, the Left and the Congress are fully aware of this reality.”

Maya memsaheb

The proposed partition of UP into three smaller states — Bundelkhand, Poorvanchal and Western UP — mentioned by Mayawati in her rally, but not reported adequately in the English press, has been widely covered in Urdu papers. Mayawati had said that if the Centre agreed, she would ensure the passage of such a resolution in the assembly. Rashtriya Sahara played this up in a four column box, on page 1, with her photograph, on October 10. Hindustan Express on the same day, in a prominent page one display said, “Maya mem, is ready for mid-term polls.” The paper said that in the rally on Kanshi Ram’s death anniversary, “it was raining gifts and bounties.” Incidentally, National Herald’s Qaumi Awaz has chosen to not publish even a report on her rally, just a small photograph in the inside pages.

... contd.