Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) Interview with Popular Front Chairman EM Abdul Rahman

Thursday, July 15th, 2010

Q: Reports say Popular Front activists are the main culprits in the hand chopping incident of Prof. Joseph, who was punihed by the government and university for preparing a question paper with derogatory remarks against Prophet Mohammed. Is it true? Can you justify it as a morally and religiously correct way of act? Why don't you own the responsibility of the incident?

A: Popular Front do not justify the above act. We cannot own the responsibililty simply because we are not responsible for it. Popular Front is a social movement with origin in the Muslim community which strives for human rights and social justice. We stand for democratic values and rule of law. Hence we will not allow anybody associated with us taking law in their hands and disturbing peace and harmony. It is true that the question paper under mention has hurt the sentiments of Muslims and it might have provoked someone to take revenge. If anyone related to our organisation is found locally involved, we will take appropriate disciplinary action and will cooperate with the police to bring them to book.

Q: Do you agree that the hand-chopping incident was an act of terror?

A: It is a criminal act. What makes an act of terror different from an act of crime. I don't know. If it means criminal acts by organised groups, it has become a routine in Kerala state, particularly between RSS/BJP and the ruling party CPI(M). They have chopped many hands and heads each other. They were investigated by the police as incidents of crime and legal steps followed. If somebody feels that all the previous incidents were simple acts of crime and the only the new incident is an act of terror, let me say, the problem is with the yardstick.

Q: As some political leaders said do you have any agenda to Talibanise Muslim society in Kerala?

A: I have stated our agenda. Let me repeat, our agenda is equal empowerment of all sections of the socieity which is also fulfilment of a democratic value. We demand justice to Muslims, tribals and dalits because they are discriminated, marginalised and exploited. 'To Talibanise' is an insult to our organisation and Muslims in India. To use the term in a derogatory manner is an insult to Taliban itself. They are local people of Afganistan fighting invasion of US and allied forces. They are only checking the cruelties of the foreign forces. Do you term brutal acts or foreign forces as "Americanism" or "Obamaism" ? . But it doesn't mean that we approve every act of Taliban or any other group. We have linked only to our acts and responsible only for our acts.

Q: One serious allegation against the Popular Front is that you have al-qaeda and Taleban connections. Some of the documents and CDs, recovered by the police from raids at your activists' residence, reportedly revealed the Taliban model training being given to your cadres. weapons including bombs and guns were also recovered by the police during their raid at your places.

A: They are cooked up stories. Either some section of police are misleading media or some sections of media are misquoting police. There is strong communal influence in police as well as media in the state of Kerala. These allegations will not stand long. Let them prove it in the court. Again let me add that all these types of recoveries are made by the police from the strong holds of RSS/BJP and CPI(M) in Kannur districts on a regular basis.

Q: Moreover, questions are raised about your funding source also.

A: We are a low budget organisation when compared to others who are levelling allegations against us. We have thousands of cadres from whom we collect monthly subscription. also we openly approach people for funding our activities. We enjoy the generosity of the masses.

Q: How do you see this? Why do you provide armed training for your youth? What forced you to opt the bloody way in Kerala where the people live harmoniously and peacefully?

A: I am sorry to answer these absurd questions. We do not provide armed training. We are for harmony and peace. Bloody way is the way of Stalinist party politics and RSS brand Hindutva fascism.

Q: It seems that you are rejected by all the political parties, including the Congress and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), to whom you had helped during the general elections last year, after the hand chopping incident. Congress leaders even went on to say that they have not made any electoral tie-ups, directly or indirectly, with you.

A: We don't mind the utterances of opportunist politicians. We value the will of people. The public opinion, especially among the Muslims and other weaker sections are in favour of us. We know the pulse of the people. We are living with them. As regards elections, these parties have proved time and again that they are power mongers with least concern for ethics. We take political stand during elections based on the merit of the issues.

Q: How do you see the changes in the attitude of the main-stream political parties?

A: We don't find any change.

Q: Who are the both UDF and LDF leaders who met you during the general elections last year?

A: You may better ask UDF and LDF.

Q: How will you face, if government decides to ban your organisation?

A: This question if hypothetical. There is not even a single reason to ban our organisation.