Abu Dhabi: Indian Cultural Society, an NRI body of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), organized a membership campaign recently at New City Palace Restaurant, Abu Dhabi.
The program was presided over by Nasir Karaje, President of Indian Cultural Society, Karnataka Chapter. The chief guest of the event was Hassan TM, National President of Indian Cultural Society, UAE. The Main speaker of the event was Shakir Haq Nellyadi. Majeed Aladka, President of Indian Cultural Society, Abu Dhabi Region, welcomed the guests and audience with a short introduction.
Nasir Nandavara in his Presidential address explained the services rendered by ISC in the Emirates among expatriate community. He said that ICS is a socio political platform of expatriate Indians dedicated for the welfare of the Indian expats. The sole intention of this forum is to unite the expatriate Indian community cutting across cast, creed and religion and to politically educate them.
Delivering the key note address Shakir Haq Nellyadi said, political parties across the spectrum should ponder seriously the rise of fascist forces to grab political power. They should plan out ways and means to stop meteoric rise of these forces as it can prove to be very disastrous for the plural society in the country. He said that the people in India have lost trust on so called secular parties.
He said SDPI wanted to unite Muslims, Dalits, Adivasis and other backward community who counts more than 80% of Indian population to make them a force to reckon to lead the dignified life. SDPI is the party of marginalized sections of India which include minorities, Dalits and other backwards. It is setting its foot out for a struggle to recapture the country’s stolen fruits of freedom, sovereignty and development. The party has put forth the slogan of ‘Freedom from Hunger, Freedom from Fear’.
In a democracy, specific interest groups have the liberty to participate in democratic processes to struggle for their fair share, to influence government’s policies and to defend and advocate their interests, provided they are within the Constitutional framework. There have been quite a few parties that represent interests of specific community or caste for all practical purposes.
Muslims do not need polarization; they want democratic representation of their interests and contribute to nation building without essentializing their community based identity. Polarization and any efforts to construct Muslim vote banks in fact reduces their representation as is evident from both Lok Sabha and recent concluded assembly elections. What we need is politics to be based on social justice where the marginalized come together to transform the state to make it more accountable and human rights compliant. We do not need communal consciousness; we need cultural ethos of equality, liberty and justice which is need of all the marginalized – religious minorities, linguistic minorities, Dalits, Adivasis, women and working people.
Hassan TM said that Kannada Language and its culture bring people together irrespective of their religion and cast. He said that today by accepting membership of SDPI you have accepted the challenge to live dignified life and keep on hope for a socio democratic county of India where all the people shall live in peace, without fear and hunger.
Naseer karaje entrusted SDPI membership form to Nasir Kankanady, Addul LathifNala and Jakir Hussain of Petra Gulf, Abu Dhabi. Shareef Sarve, General Secretary of Indian Cultural Society, Karnataka chapter, UAE, proposed vote of thanks. Ashraf Machar compered the program.
A team including Rasheed Nala, Mubarak Parangipete and Abbas Bantwal and Executive Members of Indian Cultural Society, Abu Dhabi Area, helped to make the event a grand success.
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