01-06-2007, 04:29 AM
<b>'Secular' way to inflame passions </b>
Pioneer.com
Shyam Khosla | Chairman, India Media Centre
<i>Media is shedding more tears for Saddam Hussein than the whole Iraqi nation. Ultimately, it has ended up rousing Sunni passions in Uttar Pradesh, which may be good news for the 'secular' parties in the upcoming Assembly election </i>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Television channels behaved in an equally irresponsible manner. Protests by even small groups of Sunnis were repeatedly shown on TV channels creating the impression that the entire country was on the roads protesting against Saddam Hussein's death. While more than 70 per cent of Iraqi citizens are rejoicing that the dictator that persecuted them is no more,<b> "secular-liberal" brigade is in mourning. "Secular" political parties - the Communists, the Samajwadi Party and Ram Vilas Pawan's LJP - are the midst of thick competition to mobilise Muslims against the hanging of the dictator with an eye on the Muslim vote-bank</b>.
The Samajwadi Party is on the forefront of the protests in Uttar Pradesh - a State that is slated to go to polls later this year - <b>to consolidate its hold over Muslims and neutralise the Congress' attempt to win back the community's votes through the Prime Minister's atrocious "Muslims first" statement.</b>
The Government and the Congress have, however, taken a soft line on the hanging of Saddam Hussein<b>. Although the ruling party is worried about Sunni Muslims drifting away because of its stand on the issue, it doesn't want to do anything that may cause annoyance to Washington.</b>
The principal Oppo-sition party - the BJP - chose to remain silent. The Shia-Sunni divide over the hanging will not hurt the BJP politically. The Hindutva forces, too, are comfortable with the party not joining the "secular" pro-Saddam Hussein chorus.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Pioneer.com
Shyam Khosla | Chairman, India Media Centre
<i>Media is shedding more tears for Saddam Hussein than the whole Iraqi nation. Ultimately, it has ended up rousing Sunni passions in Uttar Pradesh, which may be good news for the 'secular' parties in the upcoming Assembly election </i>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Television channels behaved in an equally irresponsible manner. Protests by even small groups of Sunnis were repeatedly shown on TV channels creating the impression that the entire country was on the roads protesting against Saddam Hussein's death. While more than 70 per cent of Iraqi citizens are rejoicing that the dictator that persecuted them is no more,<b> "secular-liberal" brigade is in mourning. "Secular" political parties - the Communists, the Samajwadi Party and Ram Vilas Pawan's LJP - are the midst of thick competition to mobilise Muslims against the hanging of the dictator with an eye on the Muslim vote-bank</b>.
The Samajwadi Party is on the forefront of the protests in Uttar Pradesh - a State that is slated to go to polls later this year - <b>to consolidate its hold over Muslims and neutralise the Congress' attempt to win back the community's votes through the Prime Minister's atrocious "Muslims first" statement.</b>
The Government and the Congress have, however, taken a soft line on the hanging of Saddam Hussein<b>. Although the ruling party is worried about Sunni Muslims drifting away because of its stand on the issue, it doesn't want to do anything that may cause annoyance to Washington.</b>
The principal Oppo-sition party - the BJP - chose to remain silent. The Shia-Sunni divide over the hanging will not hurt the BJP politically. The Hindutva forces, too, are comfortable with the party not joining the "secular" pro-Saddam Hussein chorus.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->