Popular Front of India Annual Report 2007

The Popular Front of India was declared as a federation of social organizations in three states – Kanataka Forum for Dignity, Manitha Neethi Pasarai and National Development Front - on 9th December 2006. With the completion of organizational elections in the National General Assembly held in the next month and the historic Empower India Conference followed, we started our caravan in an atmosphere of confidence and enthusiasm. We have been moving ahead in the areas of expansion and consolidation of the organization and mobilization of masses. Empower India Conference It was an unparalleled event in the recent history of Indian Muslims, a massive display of strength and brotherhood. The three-day Empower India Conference saw an ocean of people overflowing the Public Meeting at the Palace Grounds, Bangalore on Saturday 17 February 2007 evening. The meeting had started at 4 pm, with Allama Iqbal's "Sare Jahan Se Accha Hindustan Hamara". The public meeting went forward with precision and as planned with utmost discipline. More than 50,000 people had arrived in morning itself by buses from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and distant parts of Karnataka to attend the mammoth historic event. The total number of participants who attended the meeting is estimated as in between 65000 and 75000. The distinguished guests who addressed the public meeting include Hodari Abdul-Ali, Afro-American social activist and journalist who has reverted to Islam, Alan Hart, the British journalist specializing in West-Asian affairs and Ms. Gowri Lankesh, Chief Editor, Lankesh Weekly. Chairman E. Abubacker presided over the meeting. Moulana Mohammed Wali Rahmani, Secretary of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board delivered the inaugural address. K.M. Shareef, President of Karnataka; Abdurahman Baqvi, President of Kerala; Moulana Syed Kaleemullah Rashadi, State Executive Member in Karnataka; M.Ghulam Mohammed, State Executive Member in Tamil Nadu also addressed the gathering. The Empower India Conference formally began at Shaheed Tippu Sultan Nagar (Palace Ground), Bangalore on the 15th morning with the Chairman of Popular Front hoisting its tri-color flag. The first day morning of the conference was devoted to four different dialogue sessions on Human Rights, Legal Defense, Reservation and Media Intervention. The discussions were based on the back ground papers circulated among the participants. Prof. Hassan Mansoor, Mr. Sadatullah Khan, Professor M. Basheer and Adv. K. P. Mohammed Shareef were the moderators. The after noon session witnessed an eye-opening national seminar under the theme “Development and Empowerment: Quest for alterna-tives.� Mr. Alan Hart delivered the keynote address. Prof. P. Koya presented the theme paper. Dr. Arshi Khan, Dr. M. S. Jayaprakash, Mr. V. T. Rajshekar, Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, Prof. Nagari Babbaya and Mr. Pervez Bari presented papers on various topics. E. M. Abdurahman was the moderator of the seminar. On 16th Feb morning there was a get-together of social activists from various states. The delegates agreed that a national platform be formed for ensuring the rights of the backward communities. An ad-hoc committee under the chair of Adv. K P Mohamed Shereef was formed to carry the proposals forward. On the same day after-noon a seminar on “The challenges of fascism in Karnataka� was held in Kannada language. Retired judge Co Chenna Basappa, Mr. Pattabhirama Somayaji, Mr.Yasin Malpe, Mr. Chandra Shekara Toranagatta and Mr. Shiva Sunder spoke on different topics. K. M. Shareef was the moderator. The Conference approved the following resolutions:- Unit in the struggle against Neo-Colonialism Defeat the nefarious designs of Hindutva fascism Give Tippu Sulthans name to the airport Introduce reservations for Muslims in employment and education Unity of the Muslims and the Dalits is the need of the hour The government should enact laws to make judiciary more accountable Implement equitable distribution of Cauvery water Call to fight against the saffronisation of Baba Budangiri Rebuild Babri Masjid expeditiously The audience consisting largely of young men was galvanized by the spirited but thought-provoking speeches delivered in Kannada, Urdu, Malayalam, Tamil and English by our leaders and guest speakers, leaving spiritual imprints on their hearts and minds. The conference campaign reached different parts of the three states. The campaign inauguration functions were held at Calicut and Mysore. On 2nd February Flag Day was observed everywhere. The conference was telecast live by Etv (Urdu) and later special programs on conference were telecast by Etv (Urdu) and (Jeevan TV) Malayalam. As a follow up of the Empower India Conference, a meeting of the ad hoc committee constituted during the conference was convened at Bangalore. This meeting decided to create a broader platform to fight for human rights and to provide legal defense. The conference CD in English, Urdu, Kannada, Tamil and Malayalam “Naya Karvan Naya Hindustan� was released later. A souvenir in English namely “Resurgence� containing reports, speeches and papers of the conference was also published. Publications Our affiliate organizations either own or support the following periodical publications and book publishing units in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Karnataka – Prasthutha Monthly in Kannada. Sthuthi Publications Total books published - 3 Kerala - Thejas Daily (3 editions ) and Fortnightly. Thejas Publications Total books published - 12 Tamilnadu – Veidial Velli Monthly Elakiya Cholai and Puduyugam Total books published - 75 Community Development As per the request from Calamity Relief Foundation Assam, we have helped the victims of recent floods in Assam. Our teams accomplished visits to the different effected areas. We have collected 48 tons of dress items (about 1,44,000 pieces) mainly sarees and sheets from the three states on a prescribed day (4th November 2007). All these materials have been distributed in the affected areas. We have organized an educational promotion campaign “School Chalo� (Go to School) in May 2007 to motivate children and their parents and locate and readmit school drop outs. This campaign was very effective in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. In Karnataka 181 Masjid / Mohalla visited, 5574 houses visited, 11 parents orientation programs conducted. 64 students were adopted for continuing studies and 670 students were given school fee / scholarship. In Tamil Nadu 215 awareness rallies were held as part of the campaign, a handbill and a career guidance book was published. Also career guidance camps and examination guidance camps were also held. Though a separate campaign was not announced in Kerala, we have convened various guidance and counseling programs for students and parents during summer vacation. / Mass Awareness Campaigns 150th Anniversary 1857 war of Independenc We have convened a few public programmes to mark the 50th Anniversary of 1857 War of Independence. Indoor seminars were held in Bangalore and Palakkad. Public meetings were held in Chennai and Mangalore. We have highlighted the role of Muslims in our freedom struggle and the plight of Muslim in independent India. Justice Mishra Commission Report Following the much celebrated Sachar Committee report, National Commission for Linguistic and Religious Minorities (Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission) has submitted its report to Govt. of India. But the report which contains specific recommendations including reservation for Muslims is neither table in the Parliament nor its contents published. In this context, we have convened a Round Table Conference, participated by about 50 invited delegates from all the south Indian states at Calicut on 2 September 2007. The day long discussion was followed by a public meeting. Seyd Shahabuddin, Ex M P and Dr. Ejas Ali (Patna) attended the programme as resource persons. Our programme was the first of its kind in South India on Justice Mishra Commission Report. A Demand Declaration Conference was held at Gulbarga in the context of Sachar and Misra reports. Against Double Standards (Mumbai and Coimbatore) In the context of court verdicts severely punishing the accused in Mumbai and Coimbatore riot cases and letting free the culprits of anti- Muslim killings preceding the riots in Mumbai and Coimbatore, we have undertaken a campaign in the three states. A wall poster and a brochure which exposed this double standard of administration and judiciary were released in five languages. 15th Anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition We have published a wall poster with the message “Lest We Forget – 15 Years of Betrayal� in English, Urdu, Kannada, Malayalam and Tamil which was pasted in the three states on the eve of 6th December 2007. A book let prepared by the headquarters was also published in 5 languages and distributed as part of house campaign. Imams Council Kerala have convened sit in dharnas at Thiruvanthapuram and Calicut on the day. A sit in dharna convened jointly by Popular Front and Muslim Majlise Mushawarath at Jantar Mandir in New Delhi on Babri Day hit news headlines due to the Shiv Sena attack. On 15th anniversary occasion we have released a video documentary in five languages. This documentary named “A Nation on Trial� is available as CD in English, Urdu, Malayalam, Tamil and Kannada languages. It is a healthy sign that the memories of the Babri issue are not fading away in the passage of time. Resolutions, Statements and Submissions We have aired our views on current issues, national and international through resolutions, statements and submissions. A few of them are listed below: Central Secretariat resolution against the stay order imposed by Supreme Court on the government order granting OBC reservation in higher education. NEC resolution demanding the withdrawal of Indo-US Nuclear Deal. NEC resolution condemning the double standards of judiciary in the context of blast cases and riot cases related to Coimbatore and Mumbai. Press statement demanding separate sub plan within 11th five year plan and budget allocation for Muslims. Press statement demanding the dismissal and prosecution Narendra Modi in the context of Tehelka exposure. Central Secretariat resolution asking the government to redraft Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitations of Victims) Bill, 2005. Press statement demanding publication and implementation of Justice Misra Commission Report. NEC resolution cautioning the infiltration of Hindutva forces into various intelligence agencies. Press release demanding an impartial and unprejudiced probe into Hyderabad Mecca Masjid attack and police firing. Letters to the Members of Parliament belonging to Muslim community and Backward Class parties to discuss Sachar and Misra reports in the winter session of the Parliament. Letters to Prime Minister, Minister of Minority Affairs, Minister for HRD and UPA Chair Person regarding extension of last date for the receipt of Minority Scholarship applications. Letters to Prime Minister, UPA Chair Person and Minister for Home Affairs to clean up police intelligence machinery by removing Hindtuva elements Legal Defense We have initiated legal proceedings against a few periodical publications for publishing defamatory news items and articles against us. We have sent legal notices to some news papers and magazines. We have filed criminal cases against Radiance weekly, New Delhi and Times of India, Bangalore. State level Issues, Campaigns and Public Programs Our state affiliates have launched various campaigns and undertaken different developmental projects during this term. A few among them are cited below: Karnataka Campaign – Terrorism Exposed:- Public meetings held in 10 places Legal Awareness Program in Bangalore. Protest Processions held in 9 places demanding the arrest of Narendra Modi in the context of Tehelka exposure Dowry free simple mass marriage programs were held in 3 places, several marriages were held. Kerala Freedom Parade held on 15 August 2007 in four places on the independence day. Continuous campaign for the release of the under-trial prisoners from Marad. Protest march to State Secretariat and district Collectrate. Signature campaign collecting more than ten lakh signatures. Marad Samara Yathra, a caravan of 5 days duration from Kasargod to Thiruvanthapuram was also held. Campaign – “Defense is not a Crime�. Five regional caravans, 240 corner meetings and 44 large public meetings. Tamil Nadu We have organized a good number of corner meetings on different occasions as follows: Campaign – “Why Afsal Guru not to be hanged ?� Campaign against police encounter deaths. Campaign on Sachar Committee Report. Campaign for Sedu Samudhram canal project :- 72 street meetings and five large public meetings. Dharnas against Narendra Modi in the context of Tehelka exposure. (Summary of the Annual Report presented before National General Assembly held on 26 & 27 January 2008 at Green Valley campus, Manjeri, Kerala)