Urdu press roundup
By IndianMuslims.info Staff

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s recent statement about minorities’ first claim on national resources has raised debates and discussions in the various sections of society. While some Muslim Ulema and leaders are eulogising the PM for making such a ‘sincere’ and ‘just’ statement and some others casting serious doubts on the implementation of the programme, the RSS and its political wing BJP are charging the PM of Muslim appeasement and of talking in the Jinnah-like tone, and thus asking him to make public apology for this.

Urdu dailies of the week are replete with views and opinions sought from different community leaders or statements released by them as well as reports and articles, comments and editorials on the subject.

On December 10 all Urdu dailies covered PM’s inaugural speech at the 52nd session of National Development Council held in the Capital to discuss the 11th 5-year plan. Dr. Singh said it is the government’s duty to provide the minorities, particularly Muslims, with the opportunities of development and advancement on preferential basis. His remarks were important in the sense that he was addressing a very important meeting attended by the members of the Planning Commission, many Union Ministers and Chief Ministers of all States.

RSS and BJP called these remarks another example of Muslim appeasement on the part of Congress, raised the issue in both Houses of Parliament and launched a massive countrywide protest from December 15 onwards.

On December 12 Urdu papers reported BJP-led Opposition in Parliament raising objections to and slogans against the PM’s remarks, which invited counter slogans and resulted in adjournments of proceedings thrice and finally till the next day – all at the cost of public exchequer. They demanded apology from the Prime Minister.

Taking serious note of BJP members’ objections, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Priyaranjan Das Munshi said the entire House save and except BJP and Shiv Sena members is in support of the PM’s stand. Charging BJP of adopting divisive policy in the country, Munshi stressed that the PM would never seek apology for his remarks, neither inside Parliament nor outside thereof.

In its editorial entitled “Why hue and cry of PM’s statement?� the Hindustan Express of December 11 has come rather heavily down upon the RSS and its hate-Muslim agenda.

Calling their objections to the PM’s statement ‘unfortunate’, the Express editorial writes: “The fact is that for the partition of the country much more responsible than Jinnah are these narrow-minded, conservative, bigoted, blinkered and dogmatic elements whose leaders had imported the theory of renaissance from Germany. When these disciples of the Nazis did not hesitate in getting their hands stained with the blood of Mahatma Gandhi just to implement their unholy fascist designs, how can they bear Manmohan Singh’s speaking the truth?�

It further says: “The Chief Ministers who welcomed this statement of the Prime Minister did the right thing but Chief Minister of Gujarat Narendra Modi gave the proof of his being adverse (to progress) by calling this statement of the Prime Minister ‘unfortunate’. He says that poverty does not know religion but he should be asked that people are made victim to communal violence only on the basis of their religion. And what is his opinion about the oppressed persons who have been rendered homeless and hearth-less in the length and breadth of Gujarat since February 2002?

The Awam editorial of the same date is comparatively mild. Though it begins with heavy sarcasm: “To speak the truth is a sin! This seems to be the case with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh,� it concludes with sincere advice to RSS and BJP: “Placing this truth under cover may please a few persons but it will cause a great damage to the country. For, the dream of including the country in the list of developed countries cannot be translated into reality while keeping a large chunk of population away from development. Therefore, the communal political leaders of the country should also accept the truth that Muslims too have the same right to national resources as others do.�

The Qaumi Awaz, in its editorial of December 12 issue writes: “No conscientious person and patriot should have objected to the strategy the Prime Minister emphasised to remove the political, social, educational and economic backwardness of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Muslims. But the BJP and Sangh Parivar, taking undue advantage of the wrong and objectionable interpretation made by the electronic media, raised such a provocative mischief that would have caused serious misapprehension about the intention of the government had the P.M.O. not clarified it. It cannot be ignored that in the BJP-ruled States minorities particularly Muslims and other backward classes are being neglected. The fact that a large chunk of population has been ignored due to the trends of bias and hatred in the name of religion and casteism prevalent even in the 21st century, can not be ignored. If the development and welfare schemes are implemented on the basis of bias and hatred in such a vast country like India where peoples belonging to the various faiths, languages and cultures live, not only the country will lose its internal power and self-confidence but the very feeling of deprivation will cut apart the communities from national mainstream.�

The Rashtriya Sahara (December 15) editorially questions: “Will our country emerge as a big power in a state when a big part of its population is backward and unemployed and is living a life of abject poverty? If not, then how long will such a game and drama in the name of (removing) their poverty and backwardness be played at every election time? Will a time ever come when our political parties and politicians rise above their personal and political interests and think of the good and welfare of this great country and all her citizens, and these unfortunate classes ever be able to feel that they too have claim on the resources and fruits of development of this great country?�

Lok Jan Shakti Party supremo and Union Minister for Steel Ram Vilas Paswan, while addressing a press conference at his residence in the Capital on December 12, said: “We not only support the Prime Minister’s remarks but also demand enactment of a law to implement this plan…. The Prime Minister has said nothing to be opposed. For, every citizen has claim on national resources and he/she must get it. Now if the socio- economic and educational condition of Dalit, backward classes, minorities and particularly the Muslim minority is alarming, then they cannot be uplifted without giving them special privilege. The Sachar Committee Report has pointed out the condition of Muslims as worse than Dalits. Then it is but natural that Muslims too should be given the same privileges that Dalits are enjoying.�

The Express of December 14 reports president All India Tanzeem Ulema-e-Hind Maulana Anzar Shah Kashmiri welcoming the PM’s said remarks.

“The positive attitude the PM has expressed towards the welfare of minorities particularly Muslims is befitting to his personality and position both. We believe that all the necessary measures will be taken forthwith to solve Muslim problems,� he said in a meeting of the organisation.

On December 15 Urdu papers report general secretary All India Milli Council Dr Manzoor Alam’s letter to the PM welcoming his remarks and demanding a comprehensive package for Muslims.

“The objections to PM’s remarks raised by communal parties are not unexpected; for, these parties represent such a class of society which does not want anyone else to share national resources. So the government should not care even a bit for their opposition (to welfare schemes for Muslims),� the letter said.

Other Muslim leaders who have welcomed the PM’s remarks include Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Dr. Abdul Haq Ansari, Imam Shahi Masjid Fatehpuri Mufti Mukarram Ahmed, Shahi Imam Jama Masjid Delhi Maulana Syed Ahmed Bukhari, general secretary Jamiat Ahle Hadith Hind Maulana Asghar Ali Imam Mahdi Salafi, general secretary Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind Maulana Fuzail Ahmed Qasmi and the Jamiat’s spokesperson Maulana Abdul Hameed Noamani.

December 17, 2006

[photo by aardvark]