View From The Right: The Real Message

An editorial in Organiser comments on the “unprecedented interview by the sitting prime minister to a private news channel”. It says that “there were two types of people who reacted sharply on the interview” — those “who wanted to dissect what message was conveyed to whom while the other was ‘grapes are soar’ category who preferred attacking the very intent of the interview”. It notes that “in the race for this newsy struggle, the real message given to the people was missed out”. “Besides articulating views on foreign policy, flagship programmes,” a “significant note was delivered on the economic front,” the edit notes. “If we analyse the answers related to black money in tandem with the reformation in tax regime and opening up of a compliance window for black money disclosures, then we get the large picture,” it says.

“Domestically, promoting transparency and bringing tax-payers friendly environment is the real challenge,” it says, and notes that the “results of the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Bill are visible at the macro level”. “The government has unearthed tax evasion of around Rs 50,000 crore of indirect taxes and undisclosed income of Rs 21,000 crore through a series of measures in the past two years, at which some people would like to turn a blind eye,” it says.
The cover story in Organiser, “The Community of Titans”, records the life of the “role-model refugee community”, “the Zoroastrians, better known as Parsis”. It applauds them for “their assimilation with the host country”. “At a time when the world is grappling with refugee problem, we are fortunate to be the home of a small and enterprising community that has embraced and enriched their host land in such a manner that they have earned the title of citizen, nay worthy sons of Bharat Maa, purely on the basis of merit,” it says.
The article traces the history of Zoroastrians, and then details how “they reached the shores of Hindustan”. “Within no time, Parsis took to Gujarat and Gujarati like a fish takes to water,” it says. The article points out that “Islam did follow them even to India,” as the “Sultanate sacked and destroyed” their homes.
“Though they didn’t completely lose touch with the Persian language, Gujarati started to become their mother tongue,” it adds, noting that “they adopted many Hindu customs. Parsi women dressed like their Indian counterparts. They even wore nose rings.” Noting that they “contribute maximum, demand nothing,” it says that “Parsis create a beautiful mosaic assimilating the best of different cultures, religions, places, and practices and give it their unique signature touch”.

Pitying the Neighbour

An article in Panchjanya comments on the ways in which the deteriorating situation in Pakistan has affected the country’s children. Parents are known by the way they bring up their children, it says and notes that “after all a country is the guardian of its citizens and cradle of its ideologies”. It asks: “How did Pakistan bring up its children since 1947?” The article questions the “samsakars related to civilization and development of Pakistan”. It argues that it is now common knowledge that the Pakistani administration promotes Islamic terrorists and their network. The article then goes on to argue that “education institutes in Pakistan are used as melting pots of terrorism”. It notes that innocent kids in the country are taught the poison of hatred.

The article points out that many in Pakistan have pointed to the pitiable condition of their country. It quotes a professor at the Islamabad University who says that “by the time a student reaches Class V, he is taught the meaning of jihad and martyrdom”. “Kids are made to prepare speeches on eliminating kafirs from the world,” the article continues. It notes that the two-nation theory is the bedrock of Pakistan’s “education policy, Afghanistan policy, China policy, atomic and missile policy, even oil and gas policies”. Almost all policies in Pakistan are guided by “opposition to India”. The article concludes that all this has plunged Pakistan into a condition, which it cannot control.

Published on Indian Express