Popular Front Leaders Meet calls for broad alliance against ‘lynch politics’

coastaldigest.com news network
July 11, 2017

Malappuram, Jul 11: The National Leaders Meet convened by Popular Front of India Monday at Malabar House, Malappuram in Kerala called upon the people to resist growing incidents of mob lynching and other atrocities against weaker sections by making best use of all democratic and legal means. The Meet reminded Muslims and Dalits who are the prime victims of communal and casteist onslaughts and the secular civil society at large that building broad alliances at different levels by burying all petty prejudices among them is the timely responsibility bestowed upon them.

pfiThe Chairman E Abubacker who presided over the Leaders Meet stated that lynching of human beings by communally frenzied mobs in the name of protecting cow, marks yet another phase of communal fascism in democratic India. While witnessing the past three years of India under RSS controlled BJP government with Narendra Modi as prime minister, mob lynching of Muslims and Dalits has become the new dimension of lawlessness. The way how the 16 year old Hafiz Junaid was brutally killed and thrown out from a running train, while hundreds of fellow citizens remaining mute spectators, was not an isolated happening. As per the data collected and published recently, 28 people were killed in the name gorakhsha, out of which 23 are Muslims. 32 out of the 63 lynching incedents happened in BJP ruled states. He added that the real cause is not love for cows, and the crime is not trading cattle and eating beef, but it is the faith or the caste. It is the state of being a Muslim or a Dalit that makes them deserve lynching. It is the result of nearly a century long divisive and poisonous propaganda of RSS and its open and shadow armies. E Abubacker criticized the central and state governments under BJP for leading India to a civil war and cautioned the prime minister that his constitutional responsibility is not over, by simply uttering some evasive words such as killing people in the name of Cow bhakti is not acceptable and cowardly mentioning the names of Mahatma Gandhi and Baba Saheb Ambedkar occasionally. “Modi ji, please leave Gandhi and Ambedkar, till you are not ready to leave the legacy of Savarkar, Godse, Golwarkar and the like”, he told.

The Meet which was attended by national, zonal and state functionaries and council members of the organisation reviewed the activities during the past six months after the election of new leadership. The General Secretary Mohamed Ali Jinnah presented an analysis of the achievements during the period followed by inputs from state leaders. He noted that what we have achieved during this period as expansion, growth and interventions have exceeded the targets. He mentioned the sacrifices of countless cadres and remembered the martyrs who are our real leaders and role models. While concluding the discussion Mohamed Ali Jinnah urged the delegates to stand steadfast amidst all odds around and be in forefront of the masses, and we can feel their faith and hope in our movement across the country.

In a resolution adopted in the Leaders Meet, Popular Front expressed apprehensions over the reports about the ongoing preparatory work of Ram Mandir and asked the centre and U.P. state government to stop moves against the status quo ordained by the apex court. The Meet sought urgent intervention of Hon’ble Supreme Court and ensuring that the court directions are not violated in the Masjid site. This juncture of the 25th anniversary of the martyrdom of Babri Masjid reminds us the national responsibility of facilitating the rebuilding of the demolished Masjid. Popular Front expressed its concern over the turn of the situation that, now it has made an issue of the deprived Muslim community only. The secular parties have found it convenient to side line the Masjid rebuilding issue, which is a question mark on their very commitment to the secular values.

In another resolution, the Meet expressed the view that the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel has ended up in seriously deviating from the traditional Indian stand of supporting the cause of Palestine. The visit also indicates that the sovereignty of India is on the path of complete surrender to the unholy and hegemonic designs of US-Israel vicious combine.

A panel consisting of national functionaries, vice chairman O.M.A. Salam, secretaries Abdul Wahid Sait and Anis Ahamed, treasurer Mohammed Shahabudin and central secretariat members K.M. Shareef and E.M. Abdul Rahiman moderated the discussions.

Comments

Jeevan
 - 
Thursday, 13 Jul 2017

Really sad, what reason make them to do suicide. police please investigate the report clearly, some faulty smell coming in this case.

Mahesh
 - 
Thursday, 13 Jul 2017

Preplanned Murder all i can say! they doesnt look like taking this extreme step.

s
 - 
Thursday, 13 Jul 2017

for RSS worker they bring experts? not for others?

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News Network
February 22,2020

Bengaluru, Feb 22: President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday said an ideal trade-off needs to be reached between new media -- which is fast and popular -- and traditional media which has developed skills to authenticate a news report, which is a costly operation.

Addressing the fourth edition of ‘the Huddle’ – the annual thought conclave of the Hindu here, he asserted that the internet and social media had democratised journalism and revitalised democracy, but had also led to many anxieties.

While the new media was fast and popular and people could choose what they wanted to watch, hear or read, traditional media would have to introspect on its role in society and find ways to earn the reader’s full trust again as "the project of democracy was incomplete without informed citizens – which means, without unbiased journalism."

Debate and discussion were internalised in India’s social psyche to arrive at truth since time immemorial, he said.

"There is no doubt that perception of truth is conditioned by circumstances. The conditions that cloud the truth’s positions are effectively dispelled by a contestation of ideas through debate, discussion and scientific temper. Prejudices and violence vitiate the search for truth."

Expressing happiness to attend ‘The Huddle’ organised by The Hindu, he said the Hindu group of publications had been relentlessly aiming to capture the essence of this great country through its responsible and ethical journalism. He commended them for their insistence on sticking to the five basic principles of journalism – truth-telling, freedom and independence, justice, humaneness and contributing to the social good, an official release here said.

Mr Kovind said dogmas and personal prejudices distorted the truth. In the 150th year of Gandhiji’s birth, he asked all to ponder over this question: "will it not be proper to pursue truth itself as the ideology? Gandhiji has shown us the path by walking ceaselessly in search of truth which would ultimately encompass every positive attribute that enriches the universe."

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News Network
July 12,2020

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 12: At least 66 children have ended their lives in Kerala since the Covid-19 lockdown began on March 25 with youngsters facing stress unable to bear the unprecedented situation where schools are shut and friends are out of reach to share their woes.

According to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, there has been an increasing instance of suicidal tendencies among children in the state due to various reasons, including parents scolding them over mobile phone use and failure to attend online classes.

This has prompted the government to launch a teleconsultation facility for children facing stress and also cautioning parents against hurting their sentiments while being concerned about welfare of their wards. It has also ordered a study into the issue. "Among the children an increasing instance of suicidal tendency is being witnessed which will become an extremely serious social issue.

Since March 25, when the national lockdown was imposed, 66 children, below 18 years of age, have ended their lives due to various reasons", Vijayan said. A mother scolding her child for not attending the ongoing online classes, or a parent questioning a child for downloading a sleazy video on the smartphone or the constant rift between the parents were among the reasons which triggered the suicidal tendency, he said on Saturday.

As the schools have not yet re-opened due to the lockdown, the children are unable to meet their friends and share their problems. Vijayan said though the parents were intervening keeping in mind their child's welfare, it was essential to ensure that the young minds were not hurt in the process. To helpthe children facing issues relating to mental pressures, 'Chiri'atele-counselling initiative has been started by the government under its Our Responsibility to Children Programme (ORC), a planned community intervention that connects with people between the age of 12-18 years. The state health department has also launched "Ottakalla Oppamundu" (You are not alone,we are with you) programmeto help children facing any kind of mental distress and to prevent the suicidal tendencies among them.

Health Minister K K Shailaja said under the psychosocial support assistance, her department has so far reached out to 68,814 children and 10,890 children have been given counselling. The changes in the behaviour of their children should be noted by the family members and if they find something amiss, the district psychosocial help desk should be informed, she said. A 15-member team of Students Police Cadets will be constituted in each of the 14 districts to help the children needing any assistance,police sources said. Education should not be a competition, but a means to gain knowledge, Vijayan said.

A society's future lies with the children and it is the duty of the society and the government to ensure their physical and mental well being. Taking a serious view of the situation, the state government has constituteda committee headed byFire and Rescue Services DGP R Sreelekha to conduct a study on child suicides in the state. The aim of the ORC was also to create a multi collaborative platform for government and professional agencies, parents and teachers to equip youth with appropriate know-how to face challenges, officials said. 

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Ram Puniyani
February 29,2020

Like most of the political phenomenon, even the practice of Nationalism is not a static one. It changes with the changing political equations of the political forces and assumes the expressions which are very diverse. As such the phenomenon of Nationalism has a long journey and various state policies in particular have used it for purposes which relate more to the power of the state ‘vis a vis’ its people, power of the state ‘vis a vis’ the neighboring countries among others.

In India there has been a certain change in the practices of the state which have transformed the meaning of Nationalism during last few years. Particularly with BJP, the Hindu Nationalist outfit gaining simple majority, it has unfolded the policies where one can discern the drastic change in the meaning and application of Nationalism in regard to its citizens, particularly those belonging to minority community, with regard to those who are liberal, and with those who stand with the concept of Human rights.

Our former Prime Minister of Dr. Manmohan Singh hit the nail on the head when he said that “Nationalism and the "Bharat Mata Ki Jai" slogan are being misused to construct a "militant and purely emotional" idea of India that excludes millions of residents and citizens. Former Prime Minister recently stated this in an apparent attack on the BJP.” The occasion was the release of a book, ‘Who is Bharat Mata’, edited by Purushottam Agarwal and Radhakrishna. This is a compilation of significant extracts from writings of Nehru, and important assessments of and contributions of Nehru by prominent personalities.

Dr. Singh went on to add "With an inimitable style…Nehru laid the foundation of the universities, academies and cultural institutions of Modern India. But for Nehru's leadership, independent India would not have become what it is today," This statement of Dr. Singh has great importance in contemporary times, as Nehru is being denigrated by Hindu nationalists for all the problems which India is facing today and attempts are on to undermine his role and glorifying Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel. This is also significant as it gives us the glimpses of what Nationalism meant for Nehru.

As Singh’s statement captures the present nationalism being practiced by BJP and company, the Hindu nationalists, immediately shot back saying that Dr. Singh is supporting the anti India activities at JNU and Jamia and his party is supporting the anti India nationalists. They asked whether Singh likes the nationalism of the likes of Shashi Tharoor or Manishankar Ayer who are provoking the Shaheen Bagh protest rather than making the protestors quiet. Whether he likes the anti national protests which go on at JNU or Jamia? As per them there is no Nationalism in Congress. One more example being cited is the private visit of Shatrughan Sinha who talked to Pakistani President during his visit there recently!

Most of the arguments being used to oppose Dr. Singh are very superficial. What is being referred to; is not opposition to Indian nationalism and its central values which were the core of anti colonial struggles. While ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ may not be acceptable to a section of population, even the book he was releasing has the title ‘Who is Bharat Mata’. What is being stated by Singh is the twist which slogan ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ has been used by Hindu nationalists to frighten the religious minorities.

Indian nation came into being on the values, which later were the foundation of Indian Constitution. Indian Constitution carefully picked up the terminology which was away from the concepts of Hindu or Muslim nationalism. That’s how the country came to be called as ‘India that is Bharat’. The freedom of expression which was the hallmark of freedom movement and it was given a pride of place in our Constitution. It respected the diversity and formulated rules where the nation was not based on particular culture, as Hindu nationalists will like us to believe, but cultural diversity was centrally recognized in the Constitution. In addition promoting good relations with neighbors and other countries of the World was also part of our principles.

JNU, Jamia and AMU are being demonized as most institutions so far regard the freedom of expression as a core part of Indian democracy. These institutions have been thriving on discussions and debates which have base in liberalism. Deliberately some slogans have been constructed to defame these institutions. While Constitution mandates good relations with neighbors, creation of ‘Anti Pakistan hysteria’ is the prime motive of many a channels and sections of other media, which are servile to the ideology of ruling Government. They also violate most of the norms of ethical journalism, where the criticism of the ruling party is an important factor to keep the ruling dispensation in toes.

A stifling atmosphere has been created during last six years. In this the Prime Minster can take a detour, land in Pakistan to have a cup of tea with Pakistan PM, but a Congress leader talking to Pakistani President is a sign of being anti National. Students taking out a march while reading the preamble of Indian Constitution are labeled as anti-national; and are stopped while those openly wielding guns near Jamia or Shaheen Bagh roam freely.

Nationalism should promote amity and love of the people; it should pave the way for growth and development. Currently the nationalism which is dominant and stalking the streets has weakened the very fraternity, which is one of the pillars of our democracy. Nehru did explain that Bharat Mata is not just our mountains, rivers and land but primarily the people who inhabit the land. Which nationalism to follow was settled during the freedom movement when Muslim nationalism and Hindu nationalism were rejected by the majority of people of India in favor of the Nationalism of Gandhi, Nehru, Patel and Maulana Azad, where minorities are equal citizens, deserving affirmative action. In today’s scenario the Hindu nationalists cannot accept any criticism of their policies.

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