Hindutva leaders in Jammu claim that the revocation of the land transfer is an affront to Hindu ‘religious rights’ — a claim as bizarre as that of Islamists who claimed the transfer was part of a conspiracy to alter Kashmir’s Muslim-majority character.
It is not as bizarre as it sounds. For one thing, the land transfer was originally agreed upon owing to the reasonableness of the request. The opposition to the transfer was no doubt bizarre but once the transfer was revoked under pressure from the Kashmiri far right, why is it so unusual to suggest that it was not an affront to minority Hindu rights? If the majority in Kashmir did not hold the key to power in the state, would the government have revoked it nonetheless in deference to a regional sentiment? Let us take an easier case. When Mulayam Singh announced a 27% OBC quota throughout the then-undivided UP, a strong anti-quota agitation was launched in Uttarkhand. The result? Absolutely no concession. Mulayam refused to even consider the idea of lifting the quota in response to it. The reason the reverse happened in this instance is precisely because of the power that Kashmir enjoys. And when that power is used to advance a xenophobic agenda, why do the minorities not have a right to resist? They most certainly do.
It is a reflection on the Bharatiya Janata Party’s cynical political agenda that it refused to call for calm or endorse Governor N.N. Vohra’s appeals for dialogue. BJP leaders must reflect on the grave implications of the course they have taken in India’s most troubled and vulnerable State.
Of course the BJP which has no base in Kashmir is not going to endorse a call for calm if nothing is conceded by the government. If you want change, asking people to calm down amounts to endorsing the status quo. Its that simple. Yes, the state is vulnerable but does pandering to extreme and false propaganda of the kind witnessed recently in Kashmir make it any less vulnerable? The Islamist far right will declare victory and become emboldened to demand even more. Where does that leave anyone?
The Hindu is out advising and criticizing everyone it can find - BJP, PDP and the Congress. All except the venerable Left are of course to blame (the lone CPI(M) MLA Mohamed Yusuf Tarigami has surprisingly not been getting the big coverage he got earlier in The Hindu).
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Ironically, Muslims tend to be more respectful towards assertive Hindus like Bal Thackeray and Narendra Modi than to the tail-folding clan that Comrade Ram belongs to. Timidity and self-loathing always go hand-in-hand.
Since comrade editor is an ardent supporter of the minority cause, he should in all fairness support the cause of the Jammu agitators, who are after all, minorities in their own state.
Hope I saw this from here http://newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IE720080808032033&Page=7&Title=TheOped&Topic=0
Interesting analysis from a fellow media rival. However, the New Indian Express does not lag behind Chindu in its espousal of pseudo-secular causes.
Today's New Indian Express carries a vicious, blatantaly anti-Hindu centre page article by Aditya Sinha, the Editor-in-Chief (haven't we heard this tilte before?!).
http://www.newindpress.com/newspages.asp?page=m&Title=Main+Article&
Anons,
Thanks for the links.
I think criticizing The Hindu's stance vis-a-vis the Tibet question is more than justified whatever else the ideological orientation of any paper may be. This is not just about a paper's sympathies but a fundamental violation of journalistic ethics. When N.Ram receives Chinese government hospitality and in exchange, writes editorials in its support, he is committing a cardinal violation of the first principle of honest journalism by refusing to disclose the blatant conflict of interest. There is no difference between being a party mouthpiece and being an independent journalist if that premise is not respected. The Indian Express is fully justified in criticizing his actions in this respect.
Guys: You may have already picked up on this:
http://wokay.in/2008/08/08/mirror-images-of-greatness/
I am a little sad that Aadisht does not even mention your effort...
I have suggested on his blog that he has a look at your site.
Shantanu
You know, I have always wondered how can The Hindu talk so highly of China - a country where the freedom they enjoy in India and which allows their very existence a "free press" is non-existant.
you know, I often wonder how yall can be so dumb and antihindu and plagriastic.
N Ram blames the west for racism,alienation and what not...
China does the same thing!
I was surprised to read the following sentences in a Chindu article! (N Ram losing power ?)
See today's article
http://www.hindu.com/2008/08/12/stories/2008081254680900.htm
To quote from the article :
(quote)
On the train from Kashgar to Urumqi, regular checks were conducted almost exclusively on travelling Uighurs, while many of the Han Chinese and foreigners were exempt.
............
..........
The recent terror attacks have also increased monitoring of migrant Uighur communities outside Xinjiang. In certain Shanghai public buildings, tenants were issued notices last week for “safety measures during the Olympic period” asking them to report “anyone that can be identified as Tibetans, Xinjiang Uighurs and Qinghai Hualong Huis [who] enter the building to the security department.” The notice said “security guards will persuade them to leave the building, or follow them till they do so.”
(unquote)
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