(An interview
with KM Shareef, Popular Front Chairman)
> This is your second term as the chairman of
Popular Front of India. You are from Karnataka and. Your newly elected general
secretary is from Tamil Nadu. Is it an
indication that the leadership of the organization is spreading across
Kerala? At the same time, no one is
found in the National executive council from outside of these three south
Indian states. How long will it take for
Popular Front to become an organization with a nation-wide representation?
- Ours is
an organization which practices internal democracy. Our National Executive
Council is selected by delegates from different states of the country. 15
members are elected through an election process which is carried out
democratically and transparently in every two years. Representation from
different states are given enough importance while electing capable members. In
the 2015 - 2016 election people were elected not only form southern states but
even from Manipur which is a North-eastern state. Our national treasurer is from Manipur which
in the last term was from West Bengal. Of course, Popular Front has to grow
more nationally representative and it is growing.
> It is right that your national treasurer is
from Manipur. But this is just a nominal presence. South India is still far
ahead in growth development. It has been eight years since you commenced your
advent to north India. Is this much
talked about north-south distinction a reality? Could you make expected
advancement in those areas? Are there still any insurmountable obstructions
there?
- It is
true Popular Front has more strength in south India. But that does not mean we
are not any strong in north India. Our presence in Assam, West Bengal, and
Bihar, Andhra and Manipur and many other states is not just nominal any more. Now
we have grown so much in North India that they are able take up whatever
decisions of organization and implement it throughout the state. In this term
we declared our organization in Bihar and Jharkhand and formed state committees
there. We are strong enough in north now that almost all the programmes and
protests we hold in south, we are able to hold in north too. We have enough
manpower for that in North too. We have only one India; an India that has no
north south distinctions. Although With slight ups and downs its detail,
fundamental problems of Indian Muslims are the same. They all need to be
empowered. It is true that in the states with more Muslim population they are
more backward in all fields compared to South Indian states. Social empowerment
is a new experience for north India Muslims. They have to be taught it. They
have to be invited for political empowerment. It will take time.
> The recently held area-level popular
gatherings i.e. area conferences were well received as village festivals. It
also appears that organization is now active more in social service. Is this not a diversion of organization from
its earlier position which focused on resistance to fascism and protection of
human rights?
- We are
still a popular resistance movement. Our resistance to fascism and colonialism
will always be there. We will keep opposing them without any compromise. We
will continue to expose the treacherous tactics of Hindutwa forces to destroy
the pluralistic environment of the country for mere political gains. We will continue to resist their scare
tactics. We will share platform with likeminded people for this purpose.
Protests, public meetings, seminars, press statements and poster campaigns all
are part of our programmes.
Along
with that we also put forth the activities for the empowerment of Muslims and
other backward classes. Our agenda have been extended by our growth and
development of the and our responsibilities have been increased by the growing
assaults on the fundamental rights of the people. The village get-togethers
successfully held across the nation has strengthened our confidence to go down
to people and work.
> ‘Together for a bright future’ this was the
slogan of the village Gramotsavs. Many share the view that it is the long term
plans in view of the future which has to be the next step. Has Popular Front
taken this seriously?
- Indian
Muslims who have passed their 67 years of Independence and their
self-proclaimed leadership keep proving their failures and degeneration in
independent India. They are content with whining about the problems all the
time. There is no change in society. Those who have to lead Indian Muslims
ahead have no enough connection with the people to be led. There is no any particular
concern for their future or no projects. The intelligentsia, they write books
and articles, hold seminars and present statistics. No one is able to determine
what should be the future plan for Indian Muslims. At least now we should be able lead Muslims to
their future. We should have a long term view. Muslims from various fields
should have their agendas determined to be accomplished. Popular Front is thinking of a long term plan
for what future India should be like and what should be the state of Muslims
and backward classes in future India. Having travelled throughout the country,
we have started our discussion with various people in this regard.
> Why popular Front is targeted more than any
other organization? Governments create obstacles to Popular Front. Parties keep
distant from Popular Front. Media propagate stories. Not only them, why even
some Muslim groups still continue to oppose Popular Front? How will you
overcome this situation?
- As an
organization which is persistently striving for truth and justice, we naturally
have enemies. Our s is an organization that is very powerful, has a cadre
nature and constantly spreading from one place to another. For that reason, we
are being watched and sometimes threatened by reactionary forces. We are going ahead by organizing Muslims
throughout the country, by creating network among them, by empowering them, by fighting
for their rights and by politically strengthening them. Only this provokes
those with hidden agendas and not that we have ever in our last quarter of
century’s history committed anything anti-national, anti-democratic or
anti-constitutional. Bothe the governments and all that keep distant from us
know this fact very well. Our activities are transparent. Opponents and government
agencies are using media against us. We have no other option but to hold on to
the truth stronger. The only way to overcome the manipulations is to convince
the truth, no other options.
> I noticed a news report recently that
Popular Front is going to be banned. Why such reports keep coming out from time
to time? Is such a threat of ban against Popular Front existent in actuality?
- Popular
Front is a social movement constitutionally working in India. The Media have
already banned Popular Front many times. But our two and a half decade’s
activities of empowering Muslims and backward classes have not stopped yet? Not
even a shred of evidence that we can be banned can be found from activities
either. At the same time divisive antinational forces including RSS are at work
here. We constantly expose such forces.
But not only government is not controlling them, but government themselves are
under their control. Understandably, for
those who even control the government do not need any particular justification
for banning dissident voices. But we believe that a democratic society will
defeat any such illegal unjust move.
> There were attempts to link your
organization with some of the terror incidents like bomb explosion. Stories
floated linking you with groups from LTTE to Al-Qaeda. Now it is your ISIS link which is taking its
turn in the media. Can the violent
activities that some Muslim named groups in India or in some Arab Muslim countries
are accused of being responsible be justified?
- We
strongly believe that the empowerment of Muslims or backward classes cannot be
done just by bomb explosions or by unleashing violence. Indian problems,
situations, challenges and situations are different. Illiteracy, poverty,
insecurity, injustice, unemployment, corruption and Hindutwa fascism are the
problems we are seeking solutions to. The problems of Indian society or that of
Muslims cannot be solved just by blowing up public places like markets and
trains and killing innocent people. We continue to caution against such
activities. The solution we propose for the problem is find manpower from
grassroots level, organise them and prepare them economically, educationally
and politically. Opposing assaults and exploitation through democratic means is
the method we have adopted.
We
don’t have any links to such mysterious groups. Moreover, why should Indian
Muslims seek help from such groups while there is no clear and accurate
information about them yet? Indian
Muslims are capable of organizing their activities in popular and legitimate
ways by understanding the ground realities. The strength of this soil is enough
for us. No foreign organization set any model for us to adopt.
> Although in isolated cases, in our country
too youngsters are being reported to be drawn to such groups. How can we
prevent such tendencies? Do you have any such agenda?
- Actually
youngsters are not attracted to them in any considerable number. Only some
isolated incidents of sorts may have happened.
It might have reasons from the Hindutwa fascist assaults to state
terrorism to denial of justice from the judiciary. The bottom line is people
are unsatisfied with the politics here. This situation has to be changed and
the reactions should be objective. Widespread awareness and right organizing
are required. This cannot be done by Popular Front alone. Other Muslim groups
and social groups must also take this responsibility. Government and political leadership also have
responsibility. Popular Front is alert
about this and does our part effetely.
> Moism is one of the major law and order
problem and a real challenge faced by the country. Instead of participating in
the democratic process they have adopted armed rebellion as their way. Popular
Front is seen to be cooperating with them in the platform of Human Rights. This
demands a clarification.
- We
don’t know exactly who Maoists are. Accusation of Maoism is also being used
falsely and unjustly just like Islamic terrorism is being used. Popular Front
does not have any links with any groups that are listed as banned. This is the
truth. But Popular Front has shared platforms with likeminded people who voice
against Hiduttwa fascism and violations of Human rights. We never supported any
groups or ideologies that do not believe in the democratic process are taking
arms against government. A democratic
and lawful solution; that is what popular front proposes.
> Popular
Front too has a politics. What possibility of the success of that politics?
- Popular
Front has a politics since its beginning. That is to defeat Hindutw Fascist
communal forces. What we propose is positive politics. Dalits and Backward
classes should have participation in power. Indian Muslims should gain their
adequate representation by making use of the space given by Indian democracy. That
is our message. Our politics is building up an India where every citizen enjoys
equal rights and each one is free from fear and hunger. We will continue to propagate this message
throughout the country. People will
identify this. Success might be delayed but it is inevitability.
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