ISSUES AND VIEWS INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL Urges international community's intervention to stop carnage in Syria

Popular Front of General Secretary M. Muhammed Ali Jinnah has urged the United Naons and the internaonal community to intervene and stop the harrowing carnage of children and civilians in Syria by the Basharul Assad forces backed by Iran and Russia.

What is happening in Syria right now is one of the worst humanitarian tragedies of our me while the world is watching silently. The city of Ghouta, where nearly 4,00,000 residents are trapped, is being pounded with the most sophiscated weapons supplied by Russia. Even hospitals and medical centers were not spared from the bombing. Nearly 700 civilians have been killed ruthlessly so far, of which nearly half are children. Even aid workers are labeled as terrorists and targeted. Amnesty Internaonal has stated that the aack amounted to war crimes.

Only people with conscience across the world can stop further escalaon of this crisis and ensure the safety of the people besieged in Ghouta. Every individual who is opposed to the war can play his or her part by creang awareness and being part of the relief campaigns. We request the Indian government to exert its diplomac pressure on Syria to stop the inhuman killings of the civilians. We also urge the United Naons to bring to account Russia, Iran, and Assad for the war crimes and take a lead role for finding a polical soluon to ensure peace, democracy and jusce in the war-torn country. (Issued on 28 February 2018) Condemns ISIS killing of Indian workers in Iraq

Popular Front chairman E. Abubacker strongly condemned the heinous killing of 39 Indian workers in ISIS custody and conveyed condolences to the hapless relaves of the vicms. It is tragic that they have to wait nearly four years in uer uncertainty to get a final confirmaon of death once they went missing in June 2014 from Mosul in Iraq. Since then, the External Affairs Ministry has been lying to the naon that they are alive and efforts to rescue them are in progress. E. Abubacker called for a thorough enquiry into the whole episode. He also demanded maximum compensaon to the families of those who met with the tragic mass death. (Issued on 28 February 2018)

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 04 INTERNATIONAL Condemns Israeli carnage in Gaza

Popular Front of India Chairman E Abubacker in a statement has strongly condemned the brutal violence unleashed by Israeli army on unarmed Palesnians in Gaza who assembled near the fence with Israel. “Innocent Palesnians are being massacred and their lands stolen on a daily basis while America connues to support Israel financially and militarily over the past many decades. Around 60 people have died and 2000 wounded including women and children in Israeli firing at Palesnian people who gathered to protest near the fence with Israel in Gaza. As usual, this me too Israel has jusfied carnage by calling it “self-defence” even though there was no casualty on Israeli side from the protesters. In fact, Israel is proving that it does not even tolerate Palesnian people protesng when they are being made to live like in an open prison with Israel controlling and shrinking all their spaces from all sides.”

E Abubacker has also condemned American decision to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. “This is yet another shameful betrayal of Palesnians, especially when the country has always presented itself as the mediator of the peace talks between Israel and Palesne. It can only be viewed as an open display of disregard for internaonal law and UN resoluons. It will further deteriorate the already volale situaon in the region.” “We urge UN and internaonal community to come out against Israeli crimes and human rights violaons and call upon world countries to take necessary steps to restore the rights and dignity of Palesnian people. (Issued on 15 May 2018) India must not bow to US pressure

A statement issued by the Central Secretariat meeng of Popular Front of India has asked Government of India not to bow to the pressure threats from United States to halt our oil imports from Iran. Such dictates from a third foreign country with regards to our internaonal relaons with another country can only be deemed as interference in our naon's sovereignty. Besides, U. S move against Iran can only be viewed as part of expanding their tyrannical hegemony in the region by destroying countries that refuse to surrender to their threats. This latest U.S dictate to India amounts to undermining the dignity of our 1.35 billion cizens. The meeng reminded the central government that if we fail to overcome these pressures from U. S., we would be opening the doors for more direct U. S. intervenons in future. (Issued on 29 June 2018)

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 05 HUMAN RIGHTS HUMAN RIGHTS Warns against attempts to suppress

Popular Front of India Chairman, E Abubacker in his statement has condemned the aack on Dalits who were celebrang the 200th anniversary of the Bhima Koregaon bale. The situaon shows that the aacks were pre-planned. This is part of the aempt being made by Hidutwa forces in the state to suppress Dalits by turning the Marathas against them. Failure of the state governmentand the police in stopping the hooligans who were preparing to aack the people who gathered for the anniversary celebraon has resulted in the death of an innocentand caused the violence to spread. Now the police, instead of going aer the criminals who aacked unarmed people, are falsely implicang innocents who aended the programme including leaders like Jignesh Mewani MLA and Omar Khalid.

This is yet another instance of the casteist violence on Dalits who are struggling to assert their rights and dignity against the Brahminist oppression that has connued for thousands of years. Such violence has intensified ever since Hindutwa came to power in 2014. laborers were brutally beaten for skinning dead cows in Gujarat; Dalit children were burned alive in Haryana by Upper castes; an elderly Dalit man was burned to death in UP for entering the temple, and the list connues. People who protest against these are charged with draconian laws and locked up. Bhim Army Leader Chandra Shekhar Azad is sll in prison charged with draconian secons of the NSA.

We demand that the state government should idenfy and book culprits responsible for this heinous act and to adequately compensate the family of the deceased and all vicms who were injured in this atrocity. We urge fellow cizens of this country to stand with the struggles of the Dalit community for their dignity and human rights. (Issued on 03 January 2018) RSS General Secretary challenges Judiciary

The NEC meeng demanded acon against RSS General Secretary Bhaiyaji Joshi's inflammatory remarks that “Ram temple will be constructed at that place (Ayodhya) and nothing else can be built there”. He also reported to have claimed that Mandir will be built there immediately aer Supreme Court verdict. Such remarks, while Supreme Court order on the issue is sll pending are indicave of the disdainful atude of Sangh Parivar towards Judiciary and the democrac system of the country at large. From this threat to build Ram Mandir at any cost, it becomes clear that Sangh Parivar either doesn't care the apex court or they are pressurizing Supreme Court to have a verdict in their favour. The meeng appealed to the Hon'ble Chief Jusce of India to iniate legal acon against RSS general secretary and other RSS-BJP leaders who repeatedly subdues the autonomy of Supreme Court in pending Babri Masjid – Ramjanm Bhoomi tle case. (Issued on 15 March 2018)

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 07 HUMAN RIGHTS Welcomes life sentence in Jharkhand lynching case

Popular Front of India Chairman E. Abubakcer has welcomed the judgment by a fast track court (FTC) in Ramgarh which awarded life imprisonment to 11 of the 12 Sangh Pariwar men convicted in Alimuddin Ansari's lynching that took place in Jharkhand last year. The judgment is a ray of jusce and a relief to poor people who sll live under the threat of criminal gangs formed in the name of cow protecon called Gorakshaks, associated to Sangh Pariwar. Increasing number of mob lynching incidents by these gangs has created an atmosphere tantamount to lawlessness in the country and the state of Jharkhand witnessed several such incidents in recent months. The central government policies like beef ban and restricons on cale trade provided the criminals the moral support and impunity to commit any such act on innocent people. Mostly poor Muslims who find their living from cale trade or dairy farming were the vicms. A situaon was created that anyone can be publicly lynched merely on the accusaon of carrying beef, regardless of whether it is true or false. It is the first me the accused is punished with life imprisonment in a lynching case. The judgment is a warning to the cow vigilantes. It will help restore people's faith in jusce delivery system. We appreciate all those who worked for ensuring jusce to Alimundhin Ansari. (Issued on 22 March 2018) Killers and rapists emboldened by impunity under BJP rule

Popular Front of India Chairman E Abubacker in a statement has strongly condemned the brutal gang rape and killing of 8-year-old Asifa from Kathua district in Jammu and rape of a girl in Unnao in Uar Pradesh by BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar along with others.

The way some officers in J&K police along with communal polical mafia from the area gang raped and killed Asifa must open our eyes to the crimes being commied jointly by the security agencies and fascist forces. The incident cannot be seen separately from the rape of women, killings and forced disappearances of thousands of youths that have been going on with impunity in Kashmir valley since decades. The fact that Asifa was held capve in a Hindu temple for days before she was finally murdered and the support these killers received by local Hindu community show the mean level of their moral depravity and hatred for the other. Therefore, it is disingenuous to treat this as an isolated case of gang rape; rather it is to be seen as part of polical agenda of revenging Kashmir Muslims. There are also accusaons that BJP minister Lal Singh's unholy aempts to encroach land driving out the Muslims being the move behind the crime. The callousness on the part of the local people, including the BJP leaders and even lawyers at Jammu Bar who tried to shield the culprits

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 08 HUMAN RIGHTS

points to the higher level conspiracy. E Abubacker demanded an imparal enquiry under judicial supervision to unearth all facts including the role of local BJP minister Lal Singh.

E Abubacker expressed deep resentment over the increase of polically backed atrocies against weaker secon in U. P. under Yogi Adityanath. He pointed out that the impunity being enjoyed by the Hindutwa gangs led by local BJP leaders all over the state has emboldened criminals like BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar to commit despicable acts like gang rape. The subsequent custodial death of the vicm girl's father again shows that the state administraon and police are under control of criminal BJP gangs. E Abubacker called upon all secular forces and peoples' movements in U. P. to work out a joint strategy to save the state from the clutches of communal fascist mafia rule. (Issued on 13 April 2018)

Demands to probe Maharashtra encounter killings incident

Popular Front expressed concern over the mass killing in the name of encountering Maoist militancy in Gadhchiroli in Maharashtra. It is shocking that decomposed dead bodies of alleged Maoists are found floang in Indroli river along Maharashtra-Chhasgarh border. Reportedly, around forty dead bodies including that of women have so far been found. Police explanaon that they were killed in 'encounter' is difficult to be taken in the face value as we have a long history of fake encounters under the pretext of encountering terrorism. Zero casuales on the part of police also suggest of a possible unilateral mass killing and human rights violaons. It is a shame for a progressive and democrac society to unquesoningly accept such killings and army excesses. The meeng demanded immediate acon against responsible police personnel and a judicial enquiry about the incident. (Issued on 30 April 2018) Welcomes Shamsuddin Ansari lynching case verdict

Popular Front welcomed the trial court judgment which awarded life sentence to 10 accused in Shamsuddin Ansari lynching case in Bokaro district of Jharkhand. Shamsuddin Ansari's lynching falsely accusing him of child-liing was one in the series of horrific lynching happened in the state. The judgment gives a clear warning to the racist and fanac elements that are spreading a lynching culture across the country against innocent Muslim labourers and cale traders. Such judgments are rays of hope for the vicms in their fight for jusce. (Issued on 30 April 2018)

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 09 HUMAN RIGHTS Urges U.P. government to withdraw cases against Dr.Kafeel Khan

The Secretariat of Popular Front expressed relief in the release of Dr.Kafeel Khan from his 8-month- long imprisonment in Gorakhpur Jail aer being granted bail by Allahabad High Court. What was done by Yogi Adityanath character like him who struggled against all odds to save lives of newborn infants of impoverished families, was made scapegoat for the ghastly systemic failures of a corrupt government shows the degeneraon of Yogi Government. Now, when for want of evidence, Allahabad High Court has granted bail to Dr. Khan, Yogi Government must withdraw cases against him, apologize to him and compensate for the me he served in jail and the humiliaon it brought to him and his family. Chairman E Abubacker presided over the meeng which was aended by M Muhammed Ali Jinnah, EM Abdul Rahiman, K M Shareef, OMA Salam and Abdul Wahid Sait. (Issued on 30 April 2018)

Attempt at Dr.Kafeel Khan's brother shows the gravity of hate politics and lawlessness in the Uttar Pradesh

Popular Front of India chairman E Abubacker, in a statement, has strongly condemned the gruesome aempt at the life of Kashif Jameel who is the younger brother of Dr.Kafeel Khan at Gorakhpur.

Though the identy of the assailants is yet to be found, the incident points to larger law and order problems prevailing in the state aer Yogi Adityanath government assumed power in the state. It is well known that U.P. government is angry with Dr.Khafeel Khan since the deaths of 63 babies at BRD Medical College in Gharkpur, due to lack of oxygen. Despite the fact that Dr. Khan did his best to save lives, he was made a scapegoat for the systemic failures of the government and was sent behind bars for six months. The shoong at his brother shows that whoever is angry with Dr.Kafeel Khan has not stopped targeng him and his family. This is a highly inmidang situaon in terms of security, especially for minories and whoever the government finds unfavorable to their interests. All peace- loving people of the state should come out against this deepening lawlessness and insecurity. E Abubacker demanded judicial intervenon in the killing spree in U. P. against polical opponents with support of police and goons.

Meanwhile, Sangh Parivar goons connue to target minories in various parts of the country. In a recent incident, Maulana Azharul Islam and his brother Maulana Imran were brutally aacked by a mob while they were returning from mosque aer late night prayer in Agdu village of Ratu in ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 10 HUMAN RIGHTS

Jharkhand. E Abubacker stated that the studied silence on the part of Prime Minister and his cabinet colleagues amounts to approving the criminalizaon of state machinery by the governments in different BJP ruled states. (Issued on 11 June 2018)

Stop cow terrorist attacks on minorities

The Naonal Execuve Council (NEC) of Popular Front of India stated that central and state governments have failed in providing basic right to security of life to Muslim community against the communally frenzied mobs inspired by the propaganda of cow terrorism. Even aer the culprits were punished by the court in a lynching incident in Jharkhand state, repeated occurrences of mob lynching at various parts of the country show that hooliganism in the name of cow protecon is sll on the rise. A situaon has been created that at any me a mob might take a Muslim's life in broad daylight and can freely get away with it. The latest images coming from Uar Pradesh show that state police would only help the mob instead of saving the life of vicms. Within a fortnight three different incidents took place in Assam, Jharkhand and Uar Pradesh. The meeng urged the Prime Minister to stop hollow rhetoric and act upon his party chief ministers in states like UP, Jharkhand and Assam. (Issued on 25 June 2018)

Jharkhand High Court suspending punishment in lynching case unfortunate

A statement issued by the Naonal Execuve Council meeng of Popular Front of India held at Bangalore has expressed dissasfacon on the Jharkhand High Court ruling that suspended the life sentence and granted bail to 11 of the 12 accused convicted in Alimudhin Ansari lynching Case. Around 30 people have so far been brutally lynched by violent mobs in broad day light in the country over the allegaons of cow slaughter, of which the first case where the accused were punished was Alimudhin Ansari's case. The punishment given to them has brought hope of jusce and relief to the families of the vicms while giving a clear warning to the fanac mobs who have become a threat to the life of cale traders and minories. The Jharkhand High Court's decision to grant bail to them will only encourage cow terrorism and mob lynching further. Meanwhile the meeng condemned Union Minister Jayant Sinha for felicitang the convicts at his residence aer their release. It has been proved that most of the cow terrorism incidents were insgated by Sangh Parivar sponsored cow protecon gangs and BJP funconaries were involved in many such cases. The government has always washed their hands off the increasing number of such brutal mob killings calling them merely aberraons of isolated nature. But a unionminister felicitang criminals convicted for lynching an

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 11 HUMAN RIGHTS

innocent Muslim, is not only the endorsement of the inhuman act but also giving the impression that the criminals have government backing for their crimes. (Issued on 07 July 2018) 'Mob lynching spree turns India into a wild nation’

Popular Front condemned the new mob lynching incident in Bidar district of Karnataka in which a soware engineer Mohammed Azam was killed and three others were injured aer alleging them as child kidnappers. During one year about 30 innocent human lives were lost in the country at the hands of frenzied mobs accusing the vicms as cow traders or child kidnappers. In more than 20 incidents fake WhatsAppsrumors played key role in organizing violent mobs. Both the exisng laws and the agencies responsible for implemenng the laws have failed to check this mob-lynching spree. Many cow terrorist lynching incidents happened with explicit polical patronage. The meeng demanded to enact a new law to deal with mob lynching. (Issued on 07 July 2018)

Latehar lynching case verdict a victory of legal fight

Popular Front of India General Secretary M. Mohammed Ali Jinnah has termed the sentencing of eight GauRakshaks to life imprisonment for killing of cale traders, Mazloom Ansari and Imyaz Khan at Latehar in Jharkhand in March 2016, a victory of legal fight. He has hailed the verdict which was issued today by the Latehar District Court.

Jharkhand is a state most hit by the atrocies on innocent Muslims by mobs insgated by Hidutva forces in the name of cow protecon. This is the second lynching case in which GauRakshaks have been convicted. In March this year, a fast track court in Jharkhand convicted 11 accused including a BJP leader for killing Alimudheen Ansari in Ramgarh, Jharkhand.

Mohammed Ali Jinnah pointed out that it was due to the courage and persistent follow up of the Latehar case by the relaves, jusce was brought to the vicms. There were aempts to inmidate them to withdraw from the scene. He remembered that Popular Front was in support of the families at various stages of their legal fight. It is hoped that the punishment awarded to the culprits would act as a deterrent to repeon of such lynching incidents. He also told that this legal victory is movaon for the families of other lynch vicms also for remaining steadfast in legal fight. (Issued on 21 December 2018)

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 12 SOCIO - POLITICAL ISSUES SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES Expresses concern over the issues raised by senior Supreme Court judges; Says politicization of the judiciary threat to democracy

The Naonal Secretariat of Popular Front of India in a statement has expressed serious concern over the issues raised by four senior Supreme Court judges before the media against the working of the apex court.

It is highly concerning that four of the topmost judges in the country had to take maers about the funconing of the Supreme Court out to the public as they are unable to air their views properly within the system. Nor could they find a just soluon inside the fraternity. The honourable judges have brought to the naon's aenon the nadir of degeneraon in the apex court and are poinng to the polical influence on the judges. The allegaon that there was an interference from the part of CJI while assigning a number of cases of naonal importance sends a grim message to the people of this country about the neutrality of the apex judiciary. These cases include the assassinaon of Jusce Loya in which BJP president Amit Shah is one of the prime accused.

Even though Jusce Deepak Mishra can jusfy his acons technically, they will remain ethically suspicious in the eyes of the people. If the issue is not cleared now, it will destroy people's faith in the judicial system. The Chief Jusce of India owes this naon an explanaon as to what is happening in the Supreme Court. The ruling party BJP should desist from destroying the judiciary through various means of interference and stop protecng leaders accused of comming crimes.

The meeng urged that the people and polical pares must take the current developments seriously and come forward to protect the independence and neutrality of the Supreme Court. (Issued on 14 January 2018) Leave Hajj to believers; end all subsidies to religious events

Referring to the Central government move to scrape off Hajj Subsidy, Popular Front of India Central Secretariat has, in a statement, said that government shall leave religious funcons to believers and end all the subsidies currently being granted to various religious events in and out of the country. The sudden removal of the Subsidy for Hajj Pilgrim which has been in place since decades fails to answer many quesons. Muslim community will have no difficulty to agree that Hajj is not something to be performed with financial aids from outside. Yet due to the way it is administered, the much

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 14 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES

talked about HajjSubsidy has not been of any help to Muslims. With the monopoly of Air India on the Hajj travels, the subsidy has been meaningless. For years, the government has been charging pilgrims extra, more than the amount they are granted by way of subsidy. Once the monopoly of Air India and government control on Hajj travels are lied, cost of the Hajj will get reduced more than what it is now with subsidy. Therefore, government must stop helping Air India's exploitaon of Hajj pilgrims and engage other airline companies who can provide the same service at lower costs.

The government presents the Supreme Court judgment as the reason for the decision. This claim cannot be taken at the face value because we don't see the same diligence on the part of government in implemenng several other more important court orders. Moreover, there is no explanaon as to why a sudden end only to Hajj Subsidy while there are many other religious events that are sll being funded, like Kumbh Melas, Amarnath, Kailash, Manasa, etc. Hence the decision can only be viewed as discriminatory and divisive. Popular Front, therefore, demands that, along with Hajj Subsidy, central government take immediate steps to end all other ongoing funding to all religious events. (Issued on 18 January 2018) Budget 2018: claims don't match realities

A resoluon adopted by the meeng stated that Modi government has failed in fulfilling a single one of the numerous promises it had made to the people. It has brought economic disasters to the country with absurd exercises like note ban and demonezaon. The claims about 2018 budget don't match with the realies of the country. It serves interests of the rich and adds further difficules to vast majority of poor Indians. With announcement of various schemes for health care, agriculture and rural development, the budget is being celebrated as pro-poor and pro-farmer. But the insufficient allocaons to the schemes prove that those are mere populist announcements of lile substance. It should also be menoned that there isn't any announcement of loan waivers while farmers sll connue to suffer to pay off their loans. Instead of measures for strengthening public health care system on which the poor mostly depend, the budget declares health insurance schemes. It will only cater to the insurance companies and private hospitals. Instead of increasing direct taxaon to the ny percentage of ultra-rich, the budget has cut down corporate taxes. Meanwhile it announces addional indirect taxes, which will have direct effect on common people. The cut down in the allocaon for educaon is also a sinister trend. There has been a steady decline in budget allocaon for educaon since Modi government has assumed power. It is a clear sign that government is withdrawing from educaon giving way for more privazaon in the sector. (Issued on 06 February 2018)

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 15 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES Mohan Bhagwat projects RSS above India: E. Abubacker

Popular Front of India chairman E. Abubacker stated that for RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, his organisaon is above Indian naon. He was responding to the controversial speech of Mohan Bhagwat claiming RSS as more efficient than Indian army. Mohan Bhagwat while addressing an RSS meeng in Bihar had said that while 6 months are needed for Indian army to get ready for war, for RSS it takes merely 3 days. E Abubacker told that these words were not casual, but reflecon of the real RSS mindset. RSS thoughts and acts during the period of freedom struggle and aer independence are enough proof that their communal and divisive agenda was dearer to them than the survival and flourishing of the naon.

In fact, Mohan Bhagwat, more than eulogising his organisaon, insulted the military which is guarding our naon from enemies. But the irony is that while the army fights against external enemies, RSS fights against our own cizens: their marked internal enemies such as Dalits, religious minories and secularists.Though any patrioc Indian cizen cannot subscribe to the ideology and approach of RSS, there is a single point in the speech of Mohan Bhagwat of which we may desperately await implementaon by them. He had boasted that RSS which is having discipline like military is ready to fight enemies on borders if required. E. Abubacker wished that the naon could witness Swayamsevaks being deployed on our borders immediately, since it is the most required me as our soldiers are being killed daily on the borders under the Modi government. (Issued on 13 February 2018)

Seeks withdrawal of controversial statement of Army Chief

A resoluon passed by the Central Secretariat meeng of Popular Front took serious noce of the polical remarks made by the Chief of Army Vipin Rawat expressing concern over the growth of Assamese polical party AIUDF. It is highly objeconable and unbecoming of his posion and gives a wrong signal about the role of the army. There is nothing to worry for an army chief about a democracally funconing polical party. We have watched in the past, when democracy was being destroyed in our neighbouring countries by interference of the army in polics, we took pride in the strength of our democracy and integrity of our army by keeping a line of control between them. Though it might please present government and the forces behind it, he has actually set a dangerous precedent for the army to interfere in polics. The meeng demanded the withdrawal of the controversial statement.

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 16 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES

Chairman E. Abubacker presided over the meeng, which was also aended by General Secretary Muhammed Ali Jinnah, Vice Chairman O.M.A Salam, Secretaries Anis Ahmed and Abdul Wahid Sait, E.M. Abdul Rahiman and K.M. Shareef. (Issued on 27 February 2018) Secular parties should learn their lesson from North East election results

Popular Front of India Secretary Abdul Wahid Sait has stated that the bier defeat incurred by secular pares in Tripura assembly elecon presents a great lesson for the secular pares in India. Administrave failure of the incumbent, disunity, ideological dogmasm and reluctance to deal with the opportunisc elements within the party folds, all contributed to the result. Unfortunately, even while secular and democrac system of the country is on the verge of being replaced with fascist authoritarianism, other than usual the rhetoric, secular pares including the Congress and Le pares have failed to unite and come up with an elecon strategy that can put up a serious challenge to the BJP. Unless they learn their lesson at least now, it will put their very own survival at serious risk.

The statement condemned the violence unleashed by Sangh Pariwar in Tripura against their polical rivals as well as the minories. Fascists are showing their true colour in the state as soon as they got power. At the same me, the result in the North Eastern states cannot be seen as reflecon of the senment of enre naon.

The statement welcomed the decision of BSP and SP to join hands in the upcoming by elecon in Uar Pradesh against the an-people rule of Yogi Government. Both pares are showing the way for others to follow. As responsible polical pares, they signal that, rather than coming to power, there are more important dues for secular pares to perform for the country and that they can play crucial role in preserving the constuon and saving democracy. (Issued on 07 March 2018) FIR against Maulana Sajjad Nomani, an attempt of intimidation

Popular Front Chairman E Abubacker in a statement took strong excepon to the FIR lodged by the Hazratganj police against All India Muslim Personal Law Board spokesperson Maulana Sajjad Nomani alleging sedion. He rubbished the accusaons made by UP Shia Waqf Board Chairman, Waseem Rizvi against Maulana.

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 17 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES

Maulana Nomani is known for his integrity and commitment to the constuonal values and has never spoken against any religion or community. At the same me, he has been a vocal cric of Sangh Pariwar's divisive polics. Cricizing RSS and its ideology of hatred is not cricizing a community. It seems that Mr. Rizvi working as a tool of RSS and taking his cue from Sangh Pariwar in their plan to inmidate Muslim leaders cricizing RSS into silence. This FIR is detrimental to the freedom of expression guaranteed by the constuon. We express our solidarity with Maulana Nomani. RSS has to stop using individuals like Rizvi to defame Muslim leaders. (Issued on 10 March 2018) Left parties should stay with struggles of the poor

The NEC meeng of Popular Front observed that Le pares even aer their defeat in Tripura elecon have proved capable of playing a significant role in bringing change in the country. Even though it lost elecons in Tripura, the vong paern in the state indicates CPIM remains a major force in the state, that too when the Congress party came up with a dismal results. It is to be noted that the enre populaon of the North-East except Assam is below 150 lakhs and hence taking the results as reflecve of a naonwide trend is misleading. The lead role played by All India Kisan Sabha in the recent farmers' protest in Maharashtra shows that it is sll too early to write off le pares and that they can sll carry the voice of the poor in the country. The meeng hoped that le pares dispense with their parliamentary ambions and stay with the marginalised classes and their struggles against an-people government policies. Chairman E Abubacker presided over the meeng held at Malappuram in . Those who aended the meeng include vice chairman O M A Salam, general secretary M. Mohammed Ali Jinnah, secretaries Abdul Wahid Sait and Anis Ahmed, E M Abdul Rahiman, K M Shareef, Adv. Mohammed Yusuf, Prof. P Koya, A S Ismail, Mohammed Roshan and others. (Issued on 15 March 2018)

Opposes FIR against Maulana Sajjad Nomani

The NEC of Popular Front quesoned the validity of the FIR against All India Muslim Personal Law Board spokesperson and Islamic Scholar Maulana Sajjad Nomani. All the allegaons contained in the complaint are baseless. Maulana Nomani is a leader who has always stood for constuonal values against the forces that try to undermine the same. This is part of the aempt to silence Muslim leaders and acvists who speak against Sangh Parivar using their obedient lackeys within the community. The meeng expressed solidarity with Maulana Nomani and reminded that such gimmicks are not going to stop him from speaking the truth. (Issued on 15 March 2018)

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 18 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES Applauds rising political unity against fascism

The Central Secretariat meeng of Popular Front of India held at Calicut applauded the Lok Sabha by- elecon results in UP and Bihar. The meeng observed that the willingness expressed by the regional pares SP and BSP to stand together is exemplary at a me when the Congress and Le pares hesitate to act jointly. This unity has proved that BJP is not invincible if secular pares are ready to unite. The defeat of BJP in its long-held basons like Gorakhpur reflects how much people are disillusioned with the policies of Prime Minister Modi and Chief Minister Yogi. The Bihar elecon result is a warning against opportunisc polics of Chief Minister Nish Kumar who betrayed people of Bihar by joining NDA despite the fact that they voted him to power for his earlier stand against BJP. (Issued on 16 March 2018) Asks not to withdraw Muzaffarnagar cases

Popular Front of India chairman E. Abubacker in a statement issued here today urged the Uar Pradesh government to refrain from the moves to withdraw cases against BJP leaders involved in Muzaffarnagar riots. It is alarming to know that the state government has sent leers to DM and SSP asking for their views on the withdrawal of 131 criminal cases including 13 of murder and 11 of aempt to murder in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts of U. P.

E. Abubacker told that the wounds of the Muzaffarnagar riots of 2013 in which 63 lives were lost and 50,000 were rendered homeless sll bleed and traumaze lives of people there. The moves of the Yogi Adityanath government to save the culprits from jusce procedure are adding insult to injury. He also termed it an aack on the jusce delivery system. (Issued on 23 March 2018)

Witch-hunting of Maulana Sajjad Nomani: Joint Protests held all over the country: Hundreds of protesters courted arrest in New Delhi

Naonwide protests were held demanding to withdraw the false case against the All India Personal Law Board spokesperson Maulana Sajjad Nomani registered in Hazratganj police staon at Lucknow. The protests were jointly conducted by Popular Front of India and Bharath Mukthi Morcha. Hundreds

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 19 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES

of people including women aended all protest programmes. They demanded that FIR against Sajjad Nomani alleging hate speech must be quashed. In the naonal capital, U. P. Bhavan March was held demanding withdrawal of the false case. Hundreds of protesters belonging to different organisaons were arrested and kept in police custody ll late night.

Protest programmes were held in different parts of Karnataka like Kundapura, Chamraj Nagar, Davangare, Ram Nagar, Bangalore, GangavathiKoppal, Hubli, Yadgirshahpur, Jamkhandi, Bijapur, Gulbarga, sindagi, Mahalingapur Bagalkot, Mudhol and Bagalkot. In Rajastan, sit in dharna was staged in Koa, Udaipur, Chiorgarh, Ajmeer, Baran and Bilwara. Memoranda were submied through District collectors. In Bihar hundreds of people parcipated in protests held at different places like Muzafarpur, Vaisali, Darbanga, Jamoi, Araria and Poornia. Protests were held at Lucknow and Meerut in which leaders of Popular Front and BMM addressed the gatherings. In Andhra Pradesh a huge protest was held at Nellore jointly by various Muslim organisaons. In Maharashtra, leaders of Popular Front, Bharat Muk Morcha and other organisaons along with Ulema and Imams addressed large gatherings throughout the state. Many protest programmes were held in places like Mumbai, Pune, Nanded, Aurangabad, Jalna, Parbhani, Karad, Bheewandi and Beed. Popular Front of India acvists protested against the witch-hunng of Maulana Sajjad Nomani in other states also.

These protests held in different states jointly by Popular Front of India and Bharat Muk Morcha conveyed the message that any aempt to inmidate their leaders and scholars will be jointly resisted by Dalits and Muslims. (Issued on 24 March 2018) Condemns killing of journalists; stands for minority status to JMI University; demands to curb rioters in West Bengal

The Central Secretariat meeng of Popular Front of India in a statement has said that the growing number of journalists being killed in the line of duty in the country is alarming and demanded urgent measures to ensure the security of media persons.

“In the past one week itself, at least three journalists were killed in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh states. There is a strong indicaon that their murders were related to their work as journalists. This is an alarming situaon that has made our country one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists. The murder of prominent Kannada journalist Gauri Lankesh sll remains unresolved. The criminal gangs involved in unlawful businesses and the communal ouits who thrive on misinformaon possibly feel threatened by the existence of true journalism. As these forces are helped by their cronies in power, together they are strangulang press freedom in the country by repeatedly targeng and killing courageous media persons. We call the aenon of the civil society ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 20 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES to the situaon and urge the authories for serious measures to ensure a safe atmosphere for journalists to work.”

The meeng also demanded the central government to withdraw from moves against the minority status of Jamia Millia Islamia University. The counter affidavit filed by the central government in Delhi High Court against minority status of Jamia Millia Islamia can only be viewed as yet another an- minority move. Jamia Millia Islamia University was established and is being run by Muslims. Any move against its minority character is tantamount to blocking the educaonal empowerment of the Muslim community, which according to various studies is sll one of the most backward communies in the country. It is quite unfortunate that even the university authories are not defending its minority character.

The meeng also condemned the aempts by Hindutva forces to orchestrate communal riots in West Bengal. “Under the pretext of Ram Navmi marches, Hindutwa forces entered Muslim villages and unleashed aack on them in a few districts. This can be viewed as in line with the mob violence unleashed by Sangh Parivar aer its elecon win in Tripura.” The meeng urged West Bengal government to curb violence and to secure lives and properes of minories. Chairman E. Abubacker presided over the meeng. (Issued on 29 March 2018) Expresses solidarity with Dalit protests against dilution of SC-ST Act; Condemns the atrocities on protesters

Popular Front of India chairman E. Abubacker has stated that the organizaon stands with the Dalit community in their ongoing protests against Supreme Court ruling which diluted Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevenon of Atrocies) Act. The main reason for such verdicts is that the depressed classes are under-represented and upper castes are over-represented in Indian judiciary. He blamed the BJP government at the centre for not intervening in favour of SCs and STs, when the case came before the Supreme Court.

Even aer 7 decades of independence, atrocies on Dalits are rampant across the country. In the last few years alone, the country has witnessed inhuman crimes commied on Dalits for no other reason than that they are Dalits. Owning a horse, entering a temple and falling in love are reasons for a Dalit man or woman to get killed by the upper castes. Naonal Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data says the rate of crimes against Dalits is on the rise in recent years. These are happening in spite of the stringent provisions of the exisng SC-ST Act which are not being followed by administraon and police. Because of further diluon of the provisions of the law, the life and dignity of Dalits will be more in peril. ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 21 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES

E. Abubacker congratulated various Dalit groups for the large-scale success of the protest day demonstraons on 2nd April. He also condemned the killings of protesters and wide atrocies inflicted on them by casteist and communal elements and police forces in states like Uar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. (Issued on 03 April 2018)

Acquittal in Makkah Masjid blast case is a failure of justice: Questions NIA's credibility A statement issued by the Central Secretariat of Popular Front of India has observed that that the acquial of all the accused in the Makkah Masjid blast case by an NIA special court strengthens the suspicion over the credibility of Naonal Invesgaon Agency that it funcons as the polical tool of the BJP government.

It is vital for the democrac future of the country that the accused in cases such as Makkah Masjid Blast are punished. This case is one among in the series of blasts where Hindutwa extremists tried to create terror and destabilize the country. Not only did they kill 9 innocents and injured at least 58, but made it look like an aack by Muslims. Further, they tried to create a communal divide and managed to get innocent Muslim youth implicated in the case. Many Muslim youths falsely implicated in the case had to spend years in prison becoming vicms of this Hindutwa conspiracy in connivance with state support.

The recent acquial strengthens the exisng observaon against the Naonal Invesgave Agency in its style of dealing with terror cases in which Sangh Parivar affiliates are involved. It is strange that all the five were acquied despite the fact that one of them, Swami Aseemanand had voluntarily confessed to the crime. There were also reports of important files including witnesses' statements going missing from the court. The prosecuon on behalf of NIA officials did not take interest in challenging the bail applicaon by the accused despite sufficient grounds to do so. The mysterious death of one of the key accused, Sunil Joshi, sll remains unresolved.

NIA has taken a U-turn in several cases where the accused has relaons with Sangh Parivar. It is noteworthy here that, on June 2015, Rohini Salian, a senior public prosecutor had accused the NIA of asking her to “go so” on the group of Hindu extremists accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. It looks as if NIA has intenonally allowed Hindutwa criminals to get away with one of the gravest crimes commied against the naon. The abrupt resignaon of the NIA court judge immediately aer pronouncing the judgment is also a maer of serious concern. This act cannot be brushed away as mere personal issue and warrants independent probe into the circumstances that led to his resignaon.

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 22 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES

While the acquial of criminals is happening on one side, voices of dissent like in the case of Mr. Chandrashekar of the Bhim Army who is implicated under the NSA are being suppressed. He has been on a fast since the last fortnight to protest against his false implicaon, but is not being heard by the government. The central secretariat demands his release and absoluon from the false charges framed against him.

The overall deterioraon of the law and order situaon in the country, parcularly with respect to women and the recent cases which emerge from Unnao and Khathua, are only further ascertaining the fact that a decadent jusce dispensing system only strengthens criminal elements in civil society. The meeng pointed out that aer the reporng of these two cases in the media, several new cases of sexual assault and murder of minor girls are emerging from Surat and other places, and this is becoming a maer of discussion even in internaonal forums. Chairman E Abubacker presided over the meeng which was aended by General Secretary M Muhammed Ali Jinnah, OMA Salam, KM Shareef, Abdul Wahid Sait and EM Abdul Rahman. (Issued on 17 April 2018)

Defeat Hindutva politics: Calls upon people of Karnataka

The Central Secretariat meeng of Popular Front of India has appealed to the people of Karnataka to defeat Hindutva polics in the upcoming Assembly elecons and vote for secular candidates and representaves of people's polics, to defeat the BJP.

Modi government which came to power 4 years ago promising 'Ache Din' has made life unbearable for a large majority of Indians by all means. Communal polarizaon and hate crimes against minories and Dalits reached its peak. Their hate polics have now reached the mean level of rape polics as illustrated by recent incidents like Unnao and Kathwa. The lives of people have become insecure. All voices of dissent are being brutally repressed and acvists and intellectuals opposed to Sangh Pariwar were gunned down. People of Karnataka should not allow these forces to replicate the same situaon in the state by elecng them to govern Karnataka. The Central Secretariat called upon the people to use this opportunity to give the communal forces in Karnataka and an-people communal-corporate government at centre a clear message that India stands for democracy and constuonal values. The meeng also reminded that it is high me the voices of religious minories and depressed classes also should be heard in the assembly and hence SDPI candidates who are contesng in 3 constuencies be given opportunity to be in the next assembly as people's representaves. (Issued on 30 April 2018)

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 23 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES Denounces government attempt to prevent Justice K M Joseph from Supreme Court

The Central Secretariat meeng of Popular Front of India in a resoluon has termed the Central government's reluctance to elevate Uarakhand High Court Chief Jusce KM Joseph as a Supreme Court judge a polically movated decision. The meeng observed that the reasons put forth by BJP government such as regional representaon and SC/ST representaon, do not hold water. Their distaste with KM Joseph arises from his verdicts that were unfavorable to right wing polics, parcularly his order that struck down the imposion of president's rule in Uarakhand in 2016. Such an open display of polical interference with judiciary will undermine the sancty of the apex court and destroy people's trust in judiciary. The meeng appealed to Supreme Court Collegium to stand by its recommendaon for Jusce KM Joseph. (Issued on 30 April 2018)

Save higher judiciary from erosion of values, dignity and credibility Popular Front of India, in a resoluon adopted by its Naonal Execuve Council meeng, has expressed serious concerns over the erosion of values in higher judiciary and appealed to people of India to come forward against moves that undermine its dignity and credibility.

A series of incidents in recent mes have brought to limelight the growing ri between senior most judges in the country and the accusaon of polical interferences in higher judiciary. It is to be remembered that a group of judges had to go public with their concerns with no other opon le within the system. The issues they raised have not yet been properly addressed. Such a situaon has given way for suspicion in the minds of the cizens about the fairness in the working of the judicial system and mutual trust among Supreme Court judges. The present government sees the constuon, statute books and the state principles such as secularism, democracy and equality before law, the largest obstrucons to implement their sectarian agenda. In an aempt to make judiciary to follow their steps, BJP Government is trying to divide judges on communal and polical lines. The primary onus to avoid such a situaon is on the Chief Jusce and other judges in Supreme Court themselves. We appeal to all judges in the apex court to demonstrate integrity of judiciary by staying united in the face of such evil designs. They must not get influenced and subsequently get defeated by any polical agenda to create an embedded judiciary. The meengs also called upon people of the naon to come out against moves that undermine judiciary as it has to remain as our ulmate hope even under an authoritarian regime. (Issued on 08 May 2018)

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 24 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES Stop targeting AMU

Popular Front strongly condemned the brutal violence against the students of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) by Hindu Yuva Vahini goons and U. P. police. Popular Front extended support to the struggle of the students to save the university from the evil designs of RSS. It is ridiculous to aack an instuon over a portrait that was installed in 1938. In fact, the aacks unleashed on Aligarh Muslim University is in connuaon with the ongoing aempts by Sangh Parivar against minority instuons and any iniave that focuses on empowerment of the marginalized Muslim community. Instead of protecng minority instuons, by quesoning the minority status of Jamia Millia BJP Government has already created a situaon that made those instuons vulnerable to such aacks. The meeng called upon the central and state governments to maintain an atmosphere of peace at AMU campus and bring communal goons who aacked the students to book. (Issued on 08 May 2018) Governments asked to facilitate freedom of worship

The NEC meeng of Popular Front asked Haryana government to control goons who aacked Muslims in the name of offering prayers in public places. On 4 May, some Hindutva groups in Gurugram disrupted Muslim Friday prayer in at least 10 places channg provocave slogans. Haryana chief minister, instead of taking acon against the perpetrators for creang communal hoslies, responded with comments that validated the criminal act. There are illegal construcons in public places by different religious secons in most towns. One or other religious procession or fesval takes over most of Indian streets every week. If acons are to be taken, it has to be taken against all such religious acts, that too as per statutes by law enforcement agencies and not by communal vigilantes. In many urban areas, Muslims are compelled to pray on way sides, because successive governments not only rejected their requests to build new mosques, but even prevented them from repairing the dilapidated ones. The meeng urged the central and state governments to remove unnecessary restricons in the construcon of mosques and help the urban Muslim communies to find a viable soluon to the problem of adequate places for Friday prayers. (Issued on 08 May 2018)

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 25 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES Central Government's move to alter UPSC cadre allocation system is a threat to the inclusive and democratic values

Popular Front of India Chairman E Abubacker in a statement has condemned the central government's proposal to change the present UPSC cadre allocaon system and make it on the basis of performance in the Foundaon Course. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has sent a communicaon to concerned departments to examine the feasibility of cadre allocaon based on the performance in the Foundaon Course, instead of the exisng process of allocang cadre immediately aer clearing the UPSC civil service examinaon.

Candidates who successfully cleared the three stages of UPSC civil services exam - Preliminary, main and interview - have to go through a 15 week long Foundaon Course at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Naonal academy of Administraon (LBSNAA) in Mussoorie. Currently, services like IAS, IPS, IFS and other central services are alloed by the UPSC, based on the marks secured in the wrien test and interview, before the Foundaon Course.

The exisng system has proved transparent and credible since its formaon. Under the Modi government, when many of the instuons have lost its credibility, the UPSC is the one among the few, the integrity and imparality of which has never been doubted. If the selecons to the services are to be done aer the foundaon course, then the UPSC examinaon would be reduced to just a qualifying examinaon . Arcle 320 of the constuon clearly entrusts the UPSC with the duty to conduct examinaons to the services of the union. Allotment of cadre is a logical extension of the conduct of examinaons. Any move to dilute the role of such presgious instuon should be resisted.

The proposed change will encourage corrupon, malpracces, favorism and give chances to policians and bureaucrats to influence selecon. It will, in turn, bring down the quality of the public administraon over me. It is very essenal for the public administraon to remain non-polical for India to be truly democrac. Also, it will pave way for discriminaon on the basis of caste, community, religion and region, which is a threat to inclusiveness and will favour majoritarianism.

E Abubacker called upon all those who believe in democracy to raise their voices against this undemocrac move by the government. (Issued on 27 May 2018)

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 26 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES Recent election results reflect people's sentiment against BJP rule; Provide lessons for secular parties

Popular Front of India Central Secretariat meeng, in a resoluon, has stated that recent Assembly elecon results in Karnataka and by elecon results in some states provide lessons for the secular polical formaons in the country and underlines the message that their survival as an alternave to BJP lies in their unity and broad alliance building.

The willingness expressed by Congress and JDS in Karnataka to stay together seng aside their differences for the larger good of the people against fascist forces is exemplary. Had they managed such an alliance before the poll, they could have delivered a very big blow to BJP in the state. The by- elecon results in UP reflects people's dissasfacon and disillusionment with 'maximum fanacism, minimum governance' style of Chief Minister Yogi Adithyanath. The defeat of BJP at the hands of a united opposion in Kairana is clear warning against the communal polics of BJP that previously polarized Jats against Muslims in West U. P. The fact that people voted against BJP in most of the Lok Sabha by-polls since 2014 is reflecon of the prevailing senment in the country against an-people Modi Government. (Issued on 04 June 2018) Address concerns of farmers

Popular Front extended support to the farmers' agitaons across the country called by All India Kisan Maha Sangh with various demands including remunerave prices for their produce, implementaon of the Swaminathan Commission recommendaons and farm loan waivers. The meeng urged central and state government to immediately address their concerns. (Issued on 04 June 2018) Four years of BJP rule left India in destitution and fear

In a resoluon adopted by its Naonal Execuve Council (NEC) meeng, Popular Front of India observed that four years of BJP government headed by was a failure in economic and developmental fronts and having none of the promises made to people redeemed, le the country's economy in ruins. It is no secret that economic measures like demonezaon and GST destroyed the livelihood of millions of poor Indians. The price of fuel and all essenal commodies are going up day

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 27 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES

by day, further hardening the life of ordinary cizens. The rate of unemployment and incidents of corrupon have increased. There is a serious allegaon that a bank controlled by BJP president Amit Shah exchanged currency worth ₹745.58 crore within five days of declaraon of demonezaon. Unable to answer the quesons regarding administrave and economic failures of the government, BJP is now trying to divert people's aenon by creang communal polarizaon which is the only opon for them to face 2019 Lok Sabha elecon. For India to thrive and prosper as a secular democrac naon with equality and social jusce, it is essenal that these forces are kept out of power. Only when the secular forces in the country set aside their differences for the greater good of the country and come up with a united strategy in the upcoming elecons, the country can be saved from this an-people and communal government. (Issued on 25 June 2018)

Condemns use of repressive laws to suppress political dissent

The NEC meeng of Popular Front of India expressed deep concern over the liberal use of repressive laws like UAPA and NSA against civil rights acvists, intellectuals and polical opponents. In the past, human Rights acvists across the country had warned on numerous mes that existence of such repressive laws gives way for the denial of fundamental rights and that there is a high possibility for them to be misused by those in power to suppress voices of dissent. Yet that is exactly what is happening in the country now. The arrests of five acvists from Maharashtra, linking them with Bhima Koregaon violence is the latest example of this menacing trend. Aer the arrests, police came up with contradictory stories and imposed provisions of UAPA upon them. All of them are known for their involvement in democrac struggle and their strong stand against state violence against deprived secons of the society. It is to be noted that those who created violence on the day of Bhima Koregaon commemoraon and those who were caught in the video while firing at the Dalit protesters on the day of Bharath Bandh have not yet been arrested. Bhim Army leader Chandrashekhar Azad has been incarcerated for long without any acceptable reason and he is charged with NSA. Arbitrary arrests and indiscriminate imposion of Sedion charges are also frequent in the case of Thoothukudi protesters in Tamil Nadu. The meeng opined that this worst situaon of severe right's violaons and misuse of state power call for vibrant civil rights movement across the country. (Issued on 25 June 2018)

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 28 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES Demands Kerala Government to stop repressive measures

The Naonal Execuve Council of Popular Front expressed deep concern over the an-democrac and repressive measures being adopted by LDF government in Kerala against the acvists of Campus Front of India and Social Democrac Party of India aer the tragic death of an SFI leader in a campus clash. The state police instead of conducng a fair and full invesgaon about the circumstances that led to the loss of life and to bring the culprits before law, is acng as a tool of CPM to fulfil its agenda of eliminang polical opponents and demonizing newly emerging voices of dissent from among the marginalized secons. The name of Popular Front of India is unnecessarily being dragged into the issue with the ulterior move of communal polarizaon for electoral gains. Unfortunately, a secon of the media is blowing up the incident out of proporons as if it is first and only one incident of campus violence so far in Kerala. We call upon LDF state government and CPM leadership to refrain from the ugly agenda of communalizing the incident and to stop police witch-hunt of neo social movements. (Issued on 09 July 2018)

One-time election to Parliament and State Assemblies will lead to more centralisation of powers

Naonal Execuve Council (NEC) meeng of Popular Front of India has expressed its disagreement about the proposal to have simultaneous elecons to Lok Sabha and State Legislave Assemblies. A resoluon adopted by the meeng stated that the new system which is against the spirit of federalism would ulmately lead the naon to Presidenal System with more centralisaon of powers. The arguments such as it will save public money, make electoral system more stable etc. are only meant to conceal this imminent danger from public aenon. In a vast country like India with mul-er elecon system from local bodies to parliament, it is also not praccal. Hence Popular Front requested the Law Commission and Elecon Commission to give up the proposal and polical pares to build pressure for the same.

'Prime Minister asked to stop indulging in communal canvassing' In another resoluon adopted by the Naonal Execuve Council, Popular Front has asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop indulging in communal canvassing just for electoral gains. By virtue of the dignity of the constuonal posion he holds, PM should refrain from frequently making baseless allegaon referring to minority Muslim community of India. Being unable to address the people with

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 29 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES

government's developmental achievements, he has accused Congress a Muslim party.That is a party for Muslim men also. The socio-economic backwardness of Muslims repeatedly being established through so many studies, are enough to convince what Congress government has done for Muslims and what BJP government is doing for Muslims. The meeng pointed out that o-quoted gender issues like child marriages, divorced or abandoned wives, polygamy, domesc violence etc. are not the monopoly of Muslims; rather they are prevalent also among Hindus. (Issued on 16 July 2018)

'Campaign against baseless and unethical media trial'

The NEC meeng of Popular Front decided to reach out to people through various propaganda means to expose the allegaons repeatedly levelled against the organisaon by a secon of the media. Chairman E Abubacker presided over the meeng. Vice Chairman OMA Salam, General Secretary M Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Secretaries Abdul Wahid Sait and Anis Ahmed presented reports of acvies. (Issued on 16 July 2018) Condemns Sangh Parivar attack on Swami Agnivesh and office of Shashi Tharoor

Popular Front of India Chairman E Abubacker has strongly condemned the brutal aack by Sangh Parivar goons on reputed acvist Swami Agnivesh in Jharkhand and BJP vandalism at the office of Shashi Tharoor in Kerala.

In an aempt to yield polical gains, mob aacks are clearly insgated and encouraged by BJP in different parts of the country. So far defenceless innocent people, mainly Muslims, have been the target of the Sangh Parivar vigilansm. There hasn't been any serious measure to control mob violence and bring jusce to the vicms. Even union ministers came forward to felicitate those who were involved in gruesome lynching of innocents. Shockingly, Sangh Parivar driven mobs have now stretched their hands towards a parliamentarian Shashi Tharoor and veteran social acvist Swami Agnivesh. Their intenon is to inmidate and silence even the last person who voices against them.

In the context of alarming rise of cow related killings, Popular Front had earlier called for law-making against mob lynching. In the light of Supreme Court direcve on the issue, we reaffirm the same demand that the parliament should immediately enact a mob lynching prevenon law. (Issued on 18 July 2018)

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 30 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES Assam NRC: Cautions to avert humanitarian traged

Responding to the 2nd final dra of the Naonal Register for Cizens (NRC) released today Popular Front of India chairman E Abubacker, in a statement, cauoned about a very big humanitarian tragedy that has emerged in Assam. He has called for urgent intervenons of the government, judiciary, naonal polical pares and human rights agencies to prevent a large populaon of Bengali speaking Indian cizens in Assam becoming refugees in own homeland.

It is deeply shocking that above 40 lakh people, mostly Bengali speaking Assamese, have been excluded from the 2nd final dra of NRC. If the decision is allowed to stand, they are almost doomed to be declared illegal immigrants in the land they were born. What is waing for them is the denial of all kinds of cizenship rights, violaon of polical and human rights, followed by police and army excesses.

The assurances by the central and state governments that they would not be immediately deported or sent to camps are not indicave of any intenon to solve the problem. Official claim is that they sll have a chance of geng into the list if they succeed in proving their cizenship within a month from August 30 to September 20. This amounts to cruel joke since it is praccally impossible for such a large number of people to finish the process in such a short period. Besides being vicms of negligence and torture, a large secon of Bengalis in Assam, hit by frequent calamies, doesn't even have a seled life and have to keep moving from place to place. Such people cannot produce any documents proving their cizenship.

Neither Bangladesh, nor West Bengal state is ready to accept those deported from Assam. No refugee camp or open jail will be enough to hold even half the number of people who are declared by NRC as foreigners. Hence it is important to realise the real agenda of the racist and fascist forces that is behind this move. It is to deny cizenship rights, mainly vong rights to majority of Bengali populaon who are mostly Muslim well before 2019 Lok Sabha elecons. At this hour of threat to their very existence as Indian cizens, E Abubacker expressed solidarity with the vicmised people of Assam. (Issued on 31 July 2018) Undeclared emergency being enforced in the country

The Central Secretariat meeng of Popular Front of India has strongly condemned the series of arrests and raids in houses of prominent human rights acvists and academics simultaneously in

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 31 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES

different parts of the country by Pune police. The meeng observed that this latest move is yet another example that an undeclared emergency is being enforced upon the people of the country by central and state governments by misusing police and invesgaon agencies.

The targets of the ongoing crackdown are lawyers, intellectuals and acvists widely respected and loved by people for their human rights acvism among the most depressed secons of the society and for their academic contribuons. They have never been known to be even remotely linked to anything that goes against the spirit of the constuon. The way police carried out the arrests and the raids amounts to a cruel abuse of power. Some of them were reportedly interrogated in a shameful manner in the presence of their students and relaves. The charges against them look farfetched by any stretch of imaginaon and people will reject them outright.

It is as clear as daylight that this is a horrific misuse of power, reminiscent of the callous days of Emergency, to inmidate and silence dissenters. The Central Secretariat meeng of Popular Front urges Supreme Court to use its power to prevent such an open degeneraon of the system. The meeng also asked opposion pares to speak up the truth before the centers of power.

Chairman E Abubacker presided over the meeng, which was aended by M Muhammed Ali Jinnah, EM Abdul Rahiman, KM Shareef, OMA Salam and Abdul Wahid Sait. (Issued on 30 August 2018) Gay marriages made legal will expedite moral and cultural ruin: E Abubacker

Popular Front of India chairman E Abubacker in a statement issued in the context of the Supreme Court legalising homosexuality and gay marriage, cauoned that it would expedite moral and cultural ruin of the society. By striking down Secon 377 of Indian Penal code, the court has unfortunately acted against natural laws that are as old as human race. Not only humans, but even all animal species, exist as male and female. And by the very nature of the living world, sex between male and female is the normal way and sex between same sex is only a perversion. All religions and cultures of past and present consider marriage as the only legimate system responsible for the healthy upbringing of progeny and survival of human race through generaons. He reminded that in a society when homosexual marriages get protected by law, destrucon of family system and triumph of anarchy and immorality will be the ulmate result.

E Abubacker stated that those who laud legalizaon of gay marriage as a bold step in protecng individual freedom are ignoring the fact that every freedom is bound to be with reasonable restricons. Our constuon put reasonable restricons in the interest of public order and morality while guaranteeing each and every freedom under fundamental rights. It is ironical that while the

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 32 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES

basic rights of all people like freedom to eat what they like and speak what they like are widely threatened and curtailed, adequate intervenons from judiciary are found missing. He also observed that once this sexual perversion acquires legal sancty, lives of women would become more miserable.

E Abubacker requested the Supreme Court to review the verdict and reinstate its previous posion of treang homosexuality and gay marriage as criminal offences. (Issued on 08 September 2018) Decision to link Pravasi Bharatiya Divas to Kumbh Mela is part of divisive agenda

Popular Front of India Chairman E Abubacker has stated that the decision of the External Affairs Ministry to move the date of 15th Pravasi Bharaya Divas conference to link the event with Kumbh Mela is part of communal divisive agenda.

When External Affairs Ministry links it to Kumbh Mela, a Hindu religious event, it disregards the diverse nature of the India diaspora and imposes a pracce of a religion upon all against their will. Such a decision goes completely against the secular spirit of our constuon. This aempt to manipulate PravasiBharadiya Divas by creang communal divide among the diaspora is shameful. It points to the agenda of the Hindutva regime to saffronize and give a religious colour to the public events sponsored by the government. E Abubacker demanded the central government to withdraw the decision immediately. (Issued on 18 September 2018) Triple Talaq ordinance political interference in Muslim religious affairs

Popular Front of India General Secretary M Muhammed Ali Jinnah has stated that the cabinet approval of Triple Talaq Ordinance was not driven by any genuine concern for the well-being of Muslim women; rather, it was a polically movated move and part of the undemocrac interferences in the religious affairs of Muslim community in the country.

While the ordinance is being celebrated as a historic step in ensuring jusce to Muslim women, neither their organizaons nor their legimate representaves were in any way consulted before the hasty move. It is to be noted that Muslim organizaons and community leaders did not oppose the Supreme Court order that struck down Triple Talaq or instant divorce. But making it a non-bailable criminal offence punishable with jail terms would be illogical and only make things worse for the

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 33 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES

affected women. In fact Indian women face grave injusce within and outside family, and remain in a pathec state according to all development indices. The harassments against them including rape, murder, fecide etc. are alarmingly on the rise. The communal and casteist forces target Muslim women in parcular during communal violence. With women facing so many problems in the country, Muslim women being no excepon, by going for an ordinance turning a deaf ear to other concerns of women, prompts us to think that government has ulterior moves. With this kind of increasing interference in the religious affairs of Muslim community, BJP government's only intenon is consolidaon of Hindu communal votes in its favour. Mohammed Ali Jinnah has demanded the central government to withdraw the controversial ordinance. (Issued on 21 September 2018)

Judgment on Masjid in Islam: Asks to remove apprehensions of Muslims community

The Central Secretariat meeng of Popular Front of India held at Calicut took a strong excepon to the Supreme Court judgment that upheld 1994 Allahabad High Court verdict which opined that Mosque is not essenal part of Islam and that Namaz could be offered anywhere. The meeng termed the Supreme Court refusal to refer the case to a Constuon Bench as unfortunate.

It seems that the apex court did not pay enough heed to the far reaching consequences the judgment might have in future. The importance of Masjid in Islam is evident from the fact that Muslims are prescribed to aend congregaonal prayers five mes a day and Jumma prayers on Fridays in a Masjid. The meeng observed that giving an opinion or passing an order about the importance of the place of worship in any religion, be it in Islam, Chrisanity or Hinduism, does not come under the jurisdicon of Indian judiciary which is secular in character. There is a need of more clarity in the explanaon that the judgment will not affect Babri Masjid case since the every peon in queson was primarily related to Babari Masjid. And there is sll possibility to use the judgment of Allahabad High Court further in the case as a binding precedent. Further, Hindutva forces, who challenged Supreme Court and declared they would build Ram temple, has already started celebrang the present judgment as their victory. The court has not taken any step to stop these fascist forces from polically misusing such naonally important case under its consideraon. Therefore, Popular Front appeals to the apex court to review the present judgment and remove the apprehension of Muslim community in this regard.

The meeng termed Supreme Court judgment rafying Aadhaar as disappoinng. Popular Front is of the view that Aadhaar is an extreme measure of the government that is detrimental to freedom and privacy of cizens. However, the meeng welcomed striking down of Secon 57 of the Aadhaar Act that barred private companies and banks from mandang Adhaar for providing services. But it failed to see how linking cizenship rights and government welfare schemes and services to a single card is ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 34 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES

a double-edged weapon in the hands of government against the cizens.

Central Secretariat also observed that Supreme Court judgment decriminalizing adultery will erode the sancty that placed upon marriage and weaken the family values. It is sad that the judgment does not take into account the trauma adulterous people can cause to their partners and their children.

Chairman E Abubacker presided over the meeng, which was aended by M Mohammed Ali Jinnah, OMA Salam, EM Abdul Rahiman, KM Shareef and Abdul Wahid Sait. (Issued on 21 September 2018)

Supreme Court dismissal of Public Interest Litigation against Pune Police disappointing

Popular Front of India Chairman E. Abubackar has in a statement expressed disappointment over the Supreme Court judgment that allowed Pune Police to connue their fishy invesgaon against prominent acvists Gautam Navalakha, Sudha Bharadwaj, Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira and Vernon Gonsalves linking them with Bhima Koregaon violence under the draconian provisions of UAPA.

The majority judgment of the Supreme Court seems to have taken the narrave of Pune Police at face value despite the existence of ample evidence against it and dismissed genuine concerns raised in the Public Interest Ligaon filed by Romila Thapar, Devika Jain, Sash Deshpande, Prabhat Patnaik and Maja Daruwalla. It is quite unfortunate that SC failed to see the systemac aempts being made in the country to quell democrac dissent by those in power by using police and right-wing goons. Pune Police had used unconstuonal ways including fabricang evidence criminal acons against Sangh Parivar leaders who are engaged in such criminal and an-naonal acvies.

While people as well as pares await the final judgment in Babri Masjid case, it is to be remembered that the Babri Masjid – Ram Mandir issue is primarily an ownership dispute, not a maer to be decided as per either Hindu or Muslim faith. The meeng pointed out that any approach to the issue o t h er t h a n t h at b a s ed o n fa ct s a n d reco rd s will lea d to d en ia l o f j u s ce. It was the failure of our democrac instuons in prevenng Sangh Parivar organizaons from taking the law into their hands that worsened this issue in the past which finally led to the demolion of centuries old Babri Masjid on 6 December 1992. The demolion was done defying exisng court orders to maintain status quo on the site, while all the democrac apparatuses of the country stood watching. Hundreds of innocent Muslims lost their lives in the an-Muslim riots that followed in various parts of the country. By further deepening the communal divide in the country, BJP sll connues to exploit the issue in their polarizing campaigns in the face of every successive elecon.

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 35 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES

With next Lok Sabha elecon approaching, BJP leaders are making provocave statements that not only threaten Muslim community, but the very status of the Supreme Court as the highest instuon of jusce in the country. They pay zero respect to the democrac instuons in the country, openly denounce the Constuon, and try to influence the final judicial verdict by using threats and pressures in public and media.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, with least respect for judiciary, demanded that an ordinance should be promulgated to build Ram Temple at the site of demolished Babri Masjid. BJP President Amit Sha is dictang terms to the courts in the country. He cricized the Shabarimala temple verdict allowing entry for women as impraccable and threatened that courts should not pass orders that cannot be implemented. Interesngly, RSS always demanded strict execuon of court verdicts whenever pracces of minority communies are outlawed.

Since judiciary is the last resort of jusce to the cizens of this country, Supreme Court has to rise to the occasion and illustrate its high esteem and constuonal powers in the face of ongoing threats. The meeng appealed the apex court to prosecute those who undermine the role of judiciary through public statements. (Issued on 01 November 2018)

National Executive Council appeals judiciary to protect religious freedom and personal laws

The Naonal Execuve Council(NEC) meeng of Popular Front of India held at its headquarters in New Delhi stated that a series of seemingly liberalist and progressive judgments came from the apex court in recent months intensifies the apprehension among the religious minories that they may pave the way for Uniform Civil Code.

A highly impacul judgment given by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India was on the issue of religious conversion of Akhila to Hadiya and her subsequent marriage with a Muslim. On 9 April 2018, seng aside a Kerala High Court judgment which annulled the marriage, Supreme Court said that “the right to marry a person of one's choice is integral to Arcle 21 (right to life and liberty) of the Constuon”. It was one of the most important judicial intervenons in recent history of the country to protect the fundamental rights of ordinary cizens against powerful right-wing forces that tried to block it.

The state interference in religious affairs is against the spirit of Indian constuon. Consequently, every community has the freedom to pracce their religious customs and personal laws. However, the judgment that upheld the 1994 Allahabad High Court verdicton the status of Mosque in Islam and

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 36 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES

on the entry of women in Shabarimala temple in Kerala were alarming interference in the religious affairs of the respecve communies. At a crical juncture when the country is awaing jusce for the illegally occupied and demolished Babri Masjid,a judgment negang of essenality of Masjid in Islam does not give a posive message. The concern that such judgments would be misused by a communally movated government was reaffirmed by the passing of Triple Talaq ordinance in the name of Supreme Court verdict. Hence it is high me the Supreme Court come forward taking a clear stand that the Ayodhya Masjid-Mandir tle suit would be dealt with as per records and not according to any religious faith. This has become an onus on the part of the highest judiciary in the context of consistent statements by some unscrupulous leaders that Ram Mandir would be constructed on the site of demolished Babri Masjid at any cost. The judgments decriminalizing homosexuality and adultery claim to protect individual freedom and privacy. It may be interpreted that Supreme Court is merely imitang permissive values and concepts, which have already resulted in the decline of family and other social systems. The same enthusiasm was not seen in protecng personal freedom and privacy of individuals while rafying the government decision on Aadhaar. The majority judgment failed to see the danger in linking cizenship rights and availing of government welfare schemes and services with Aadhar. Though most of the recent majority judgments were presented in the superficial language decorated with liberalism and progressiveness, they are borne with far reaching consequences ruinous to individual, family and society.

The Naonal Execuve Council of Popular Front applauded the commitment of the Supreme Court that is being repeatedly shownin all available contexts that the Indian constuon and its values are supreme. The meeng observed that at a me when overt calls and covert aempts are being made by those who control the centres of power to subvert the democrac and secular foundaon of our constuon, this uncompromising constuonal commitment must be seen as the ulmate hope of India.

The three days meeng of the apex body of the organisaon discussed the socio-polical situaons prevailing in the country. The meeng also reviewed the acvies of the organisaon in different states. The determinaon and steadfastness shown by Popular Front leaders and acvists of Jharkhand state in the aermath of the organizaon's ban was commendable. The meeng has applauded the High Court decision that revoked the ban and urged the state government to ensure freedom of associaon in Jharkhand. The proposal by the Community Development Department to allot Rs. 15 million for post-metric scholarship during the academic year 2018-19 was approved. Chairman E Abubacker presided over the meeng. Vice chairman O M A Salam, General Secretary Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Secretaries Abdul Wahid Sait, Anis Ahmed and other NEC members aended the meeng. (Issued on 09 October 2018)

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 37 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES NIA findings reaffirm that “Love Jihad” was a manufactured myth

Popular Front of India General Secretary M Muhammed Ali Jinnah has, in a statement, stated that the NIA findings regarding the non-existence of “Love Jihad” is a triumph for truth and a big blow to the forces that survive on falsehood. Aer invesgang the 11 cases of inter-faith marriage the NIA could not find any evidence of the planned conspiracy of forceful conversion which was hyped by the media and fascist forces as love jihad.

It is to be remembered that Kerala and Karnataka police had earlier found such allegaons asbaseless. NIA's latest findings reaffirm the fact that the 'Love Jihad' myth was a clever vicious campaign with dire and far-reaching consequences, launched by right wing Hindutva forces to create religious polarizaon in the society. Some secons of the media are also responsible to create the hype about love jihad and defame the Muslim community and organizaons. It was also an aempt to curb the rights of an individual guaranteed by the constuon of the country. Hadiya was one of the vicms of the campaign. It was the unique and relentless struggle for jusce put up by Muslim organizaons and Human Rights groups and acvists that helped Hadiya get jusce and freedom. Therefore, NIA's findings are a source of relief for them all. Though NIA has brought out the truth, it must be pointed out that the way the agency dealt with the case has caused a severe damage and disrepute to the individuals and the groups who stood for Hadiya's fundamental rights as well as Muslim community's at large. Aer the examinaon of 11 cases of conversion to Islam, NIA now admits that there is no conclusive evidence for Love Jihad and coerced conversion but unfortunately the arguments of NIA advocate in the Supreme Court were quite contrary. NIA's stand oen fell in line with that of propaganda of the right-wing forces and Hadiya's father Ashokan. It is an undeniable fact that NIA's intervenon in the case delayed jusce to Hadiya. The lack of transparency and the 'sealed cover' reports submied by the agency in the court created mystery around the case, which catered to vicious vilificaon campaign against Muslim community.

Now that NIA has found the truth, we hope that it prompts the agency for serious soul-searching so that it's stands are not misused by fanac forces for their divisive campaigns. In the light of these findings, we call upon the media, administraon and the people of the country to be cauous of such malicious propaganda in future which aims to polarize the country and creates enmity between communies for the polical benefits of the communal forces. (Issued on 20 October 2018)

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 38 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES Seeks Supreme Court intervention to prevent Sangh Parivar from humiliating judiciary

The Central Secretariat meeng of Popular Front of India held at Bangalore has sought urgent Supreme Court intervenon to prevent Sangh Parivar from humiliang Indian judicial system in the name of Ram Mandir construcon on the site of the demolished Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. The leaders of RSS, BJP and other related ouits are undermining Supreme Court of India by their repeated asserons and calls in public that Mandir would be constructed irrespecve of cases pending before courts. It must also be a maer of serious concern of the apex court that they are misusing a dispute which is under its consideraon for naon-wide communal polarizaon merely as a means to win elecons. The meeng demanded the Supreme Court to iniate criminal acons against Sangh Parivar leaders who are engaged in such criminal and an-naonal acvies.

While people as well as pares await the final judgment in Babri Masjid case, it is to be remembered that the Babri Masjid – Ram Mandir issue is primarily an ownership dispute, not a maer to be decided as per either Hindu or Muslim faith. The meeng pointed out that any approach to the issue other than that based on facts and records will lead to denial of jusce. It was the failure of our democrac instuons in prevenng Sangh Parivar organizaons from taking the law into their hands that worsened this issue in the past which finally led to the demolion of centuries old Babri Masjid on 6 December 1992. The demolion was done defying exisng court orders to maintain status quo on the site, while all the democrac apparatuses of the country stood watching. Hundreds of innocent Muslims lost their lives in the an-Muslim riots that followed in various parts of the country. By further deepening the communal divide in the country, BJP sll connues to exploit the issue in their polarizing campaigns in the face of every successive elecon. With next Lok Sabha elecon approaching, BJP leaders are making provocave statements that not only threaten Muslim community, but the very status of the Supreme Court as the highest instuon of jusce in the country. They pay zero respect to the democrac instuons in the country, openly denounce the Constuon, and try to influence the final judicial verdict by using threats and pressures in public and media.

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat, with least respect for judiciary, demanded that an ordinance should be promulgated to build Ram Temple at the site of demolished Babri Masjid. BJP President Amit Sha is dictang terms to the courts in the country. He cricized the Shabarimala temple verdict allowing entry for women as impraccable and threatened that courts should not pass orders that cannot be implemented. Interesngly, RSS always demanded strict execuon of court verdicts whenever pracces of minority communies are outlawed.

Since judiciary is the last resort of jusce to the cizens of this country, Supreme Court has to rise to the occasion and illustrate its high esteem and constuonal powers in the face of ongoing threats.

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 39 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES

The meeng appealed the apex court to prosecute those who undermine the role of judiciary through public statements. (Issued on 01 November 2018)

Hashimpura case verdict a slap on the face of state terrorism

The Central Secretariat meeng hailed the Delhi High Court judgment that awarded life imprisonment to the accused belonging to Provincial Armed Constabulary of Uar Pradesh in the killing of 38 Muslims from Hashimpura village in the Meerut district of UP in 1987. The High Court As far as the minories in the country are concerned, they are going through the worst situaon in history. Building Ram temple at the site of demolished Masjid is not the soluon to the ongoing lynching, violence and other hate crimes spearheaded by Hindutva ouits. E Abubacker blamed that even the shadow of the present head of Minority Commission is not seen on such occasions. He reminded that since NCM is meant for the protecon of minority interests, its chairman would rather urgently engage in ensuring jusce to the vicms of such aacks. (Issued on 13 November 2018) Babri Masjid Case: To sue Sangh Pariwar leaders over incriminating moves challenging judiciary

The Central Secretariat meeng of Popular Front of India held at Calicut has decided to iniate legal acon against Sangh Pariwar leaders who create communal polarizaon by using Babri Masjid case and challenge the supremacy of the judiciary by threatening to build Ram Mandir irrespecve of Supreme Court verdict.

The meeng pointed out that several of the recent statements and moves made by RSS, VHP, BJP and other leaders with regards to Babri Masjid issue openly challenges the democrac system and the supremacy of the judiciary. Bajrang Dal recently claimed that it was going to recruit and give arms training to 25,000 volunteers who can build Ram Temple on short noce. Overruling the apex court decision on the issue, RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat demanded that that an ordinance should be promulgated to build Ram Temple. BJP president Amit Sha asked courts to pass judgments that can be implemented. This amounts to incriminang behavior that can no way be tolerated in a democracy with independent judiciary.

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 40 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES

Popular Front had earlier sought urgent Supreme Court intervenon to prevent Sangh Parivar from humiliang Indian judicial system in the name of Ram Mandir construcon on the site of the demolished Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. With next Lok Sabha elecon approaching, BJP leaders are making provocave statements that not only threaten Muslim community, but the very status of the Supreme Court as the highest instuon of jusce in the country. They try to influence the final judicial verdict by using threats and pressures in public and in media.

It is unfortunate that the secular forces and opposion pares have not taken these steps seriously. A situaon where such behavior goes adequately unopposed threatens our future as a democrac naon. Therefore, the organizaon has decided to iniate legal proceedings against those who have made incriminang statements and other moves that create communal polarizaon and queson the supreme status of Judiciary and Constuon.

Chairman E Abubacker presided over the meeng, which was aended by M Mohammed Ali Jinnah, OMA Salam, Abdul Wahid Sait and E M Abdul Rahiman. (Issued on 23 November 2018)

“VHP Siege of Ayodhya”: Approaches President and Supreme Court Chief Justice

On the eve of Dharma Sabha called by the VHP on 25th November “to clear the hurdles for the construcon of Ram Temple”, the Naonal Execuve Council meeng of Popular Front of India has urged the President of India and the Supreme Court Chief Jusce to take urgent steps to prevent any illegal construcon on the site of demolished Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, while the final verdict of tle suit is pending before the apex court.

As per latest media reports, VHP and other ouits have created a warlike situaon in Ayodhya with many frenzied mobs brought in from outside taking over the streets. The reports say that the situaon has put the local Muslim populaon in panic and under threat of insecurity; thousands of people are fleeing from the city. This scenario reminds of the highly sensive, inflammable and communally charged atmosphere prevailed prior to the destrucon of Babri Masjid in December 1992.

The tragic demolion of Masjid and the arson and killings connected to the incident happened previously, because the government machinery did not act in advance to prevent unlawful assemblies aimed at the act of demolion. Now with the declaraon of starng Ram Mandir construcon immediately irrespecve of what the Supreme Court would decide about it, Ayodhya and neighbouring areas of UP are dragged into violaon of law and order as well as possible

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 41 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES

causalies of human lives and properes. The meeng pointed out that since all these nefarious acvies seem to enjoy polical patronage, the protecon of the site under ligaon and security of the minority populaon in the city under siege could be accomplished only through immediate and effecve intervenon of the President of India and Chief Jusce of the Supreme Court. The Naonal Execuve Council of Popular Front of India expressed hope that these topmost constuonal authories would exercise their exceponal powers in averng the open assault on rule of law and jusce system in the name of Ram Mandir construcon in Ayodhya. (Issued on 24 November 2018) Simplify NRC filing and extend deadline

The NEC of Popular Front of India expressed deep concern over the very low turnout of re- applicaons for inclusion in Naonal Cizens Register (NRC) in Assam with only three weeks le for the closure of the exercise. It is reported that out of 40 lakh people excluded from the final dra of NRC, only 3.5 lahk could manage to file claims and objecons so far. This situaon validates the apprehensions carried by the linguisc-religious minories and other concerned cizens that ongoing NRC process would ulmately strip large chunk of populaon of their cizenship. Among the many reasons for this low-level response is the complicated requirements sought for filing their claims. Now it is evident that majority of those remaining excluded from the list can in no way file their claims within the next three weeks. Hence the NEC meeng appealed the Supreme Court of India to extend the deadline for filing claims and objecons to another six months and to make the filing process simple and people-friendly. (Issued on 24 November 2018) Declare Tamil Nadu cyclone a national disaster The NEC of Popular Front of India demanded the central government to declare Gaja cyclone that severely hit Tamil Nadu a naonal disaster and provide adequate financial support for the rehabilitaon of the vicms. The disastrous cyclone has swept four districts, taken away 63 human lives and demolished nearly 3 lakh houses, besides causing much havoc in agricultural and fishing sectors. The meeng has appreciated the role being played by Popular Front Rescue, Relief and Rehabilitaon Volunteers in the affected areas and appealed to people to extend financial support for relief and rehabilitaon. Popular Front has donated Rs.20 lakh towards rehabilitaon of the vicms.

Chairman E Abubacker presided over the meeng, which was aended by M Mohammed Ali Jinnah, OMA Salam, Abdul Wahid Sait, E M Abdul Rahiman, K M Shareef, Prof P Koya, Mohammed Roshan, AS Ismail, Md Shahabudheen and A Sayeed. (Issued on 24 November 2018) ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 42 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES Ayodhya imbroglio: Chairman sends urgent message to President and Chief Justice

In the context of worsening situaon in Ayodhya and adjoining regions due to communal and provocave moves spearheaded by RSS, VHP and other Hindutva ouits, Popular Front of India chairman E Abubacker sought urgent intervenon of President of India and Supreme Court Chief Jusce through messages sent to both today.

He invited their aenon to media reports that a warlike situaon is being deliberately created by frenzied mobs brought in from outside. This situaon has put the local Muslim populaon in panic and under threat of insecurity; thousands of people already fled from the city. He reminded that a similar scenario prevailed prior to the destrucon of Babri Masjid in December 1992.

The leer by Popular Front chairman pointed out that since all these nefarious acvies seem to enjoy polical support, the protecon of the site under ligaon and security of the minority populaon could be accomplished only through immediate and effecve intervenon of the President of India and Chief Jusce of the Supreme Court. (Issued on 24 November 2018) End step-motherly attitude towards Tamil Nadu; Declare Gaja Cyclone a national disaster: Urges central government

Popular Front of India General Secretary M Mohamed Ali Jinnah who was vising the cyclone affected areas of Tamil Nadu urged central government to end its 'step motherly atude' towards the state and declare the calamity a naonal disaster to address the large-scale destrucon suffered by the state. Upon vising Adirampanam, Sedubavacharam and other areas in Tanjore district devastated by Cyclone Gaja, Mr Jinnah met the affected people, assessed the losses and consoled them.

In the statement issued aer the visit he said: ''Cyclone Gaja has caused huge damage to the state, taken dozens of lives, and destroyed the houses, properes and livelihood of tens of thousands of people, majority of whom are poor farmers and fishermen. It's sheer display of disregard for the people of the state that the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not even offered a word of condolence, let alone vising the affected areas. Weeks passed since the disaster, Central Government has not yet even made a single step towards relief and rehabilitaon in the areas. They say that the relief can be allocated only aer receiving the assessment report. But the same

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 43 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES

government was quick to offer Rs. 500 crores immediately aer two districts in Gujarat were hit by the floods in July 2017. Modi had even visited the areas personally. This clearly exposes the step motherly atude towards Tamil Nadu. We call upon the central government to end this double standard and allow the Rs. 15,000 crore aid as requested by the state government. It is also very unfortunate that such a large-scale disaster received very dismal coverage in the naonal media. The media has the duty to inform the naon of the damages and prompt the authories to act immediately.”

“There is a general feeling among the affected that the compensaon being provided by the state Government is inadequate. I also request the Tamil Nadu Government to provide a reasonably adequate compensaon to them and ensure that it is distributed undue delay.”

“I would like to tell the people of Tamil Nadu that Popular Front will be with you doing everything we can to rebuild the lives of our affected brethren. We express our deep condolences to the family members of those who had lost their lives.” Nearly 1000 trained cadres of Popular Front of India have been involved in the rescue and relief operaons since the beginning. The state unit of Popular Front so far distributed basic relief materials worth nearly 90 lakh rupees. Popular Front naonal commiee contributed Rs. 20 lakhs to the relief fund set up by the state commiee.

Popular Front of India State Execuve Council member Nasirudeen, Tanjore South District President Haja Alaudeen, All India Imams Council State President Abirudeen Manbayee and SDPI District President Ilyas accompanied the Naonal General Secretary during the visit. (Issued on 27 November 2018)

Extends support to farmer's agitation

The Naonal Execuve Council meeng of Popular Front of India has extended support to the farmers' protest that has emerged all over the country with various demands including loan waivers and beer crop prices. A study in 2015 showed that over 15,000 farmers in India had been taking their own lives each year over financial burdens. The data compiled from 1995 to 2010 revealed that over a quarter of a million farmers have killed themselves. Farmers act as backbones of India's agricultural economy. Yet successive governments failed to listen to their problems. It is me for the governments to shi their priority from corporates to farmers. Why a government which can write off the debts of the corporates to the tune of billions could not address the issues of farmers. The meeng expressed solidarity with the demands of the over 200 farmers' organizaons that led a march to the parliament. (Issued on 04 December 2018)

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 44 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES Abandon discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Bill

A resoluon passed by the Naonal Execuve Council meeng of Popular Front of India has stated that the Cizenship Amendment Bill 2016 being considered by the parliament to be passed is openly discriminatory to Muslims and is therefore against the basic principles of the constuon. According to the bill, the illegal migrants belonging to the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi or Chrisan religious communies from Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan would not be imprisoned or deported. They can gain permanent cizenship aer six years of residency in India instead of 11 years as menoned in the Cizenship Act (1955). Though the bill liberalizes condions for gaining cizenship and relaxes its procedure considerably, what makes it unacceptable and unjust is that it makes religion a major factor for the conferral of cizenship. The proponents of the law claim that it is indented to provide shelter to the persecuted minories from neighbouring countries. The queson remaining unanswered is why these select religious communies from the select neighboring countries exclusively as deserving of the privilege, while minories in many other neighbouring countries are also subjected to persecuon and human rights violaons of the worst kind. Moreover, the persecuted people seeking asylum are generally considered refugees, not as immigrants, and would have to return to their home country once normalcy is restored. However, the proposed bill offers all religionists other than Muslims permanent cizenship. This is in fact an invitaon for non-Muslim cizens of the listed countries to come and sele in India. Thus, it goes against the constuonal principles of secularism, social jusce, and human rights. First in the history of legislaon in our republic, this bill prescribes religion as the criterion for granng cizenship hence it is plainly an an- Muslim bill. We call upon all members in both houses of the parliament to prevent the bill from being passed. (Issued on 04 December 2018) Rebuild Babri Masjid

The NEC of Popular Front reaffirmed its long-standing demand to rebuild Babri Masjid at the spot where it was demolished by Sangh Parivar on 6 December 1992. The demolion was an act of war against the democrac system of the country and the authories who failed to prevent it have failed the naon itself. The wound le by the demolion sll connues to bleed. And jusce to Babri Masjid sll remains betrayed. In the context of the 26th anniversary of the shameful event, the meeng called upon the people to spread the message of Babri demolion and reconstrucon since memory is the best defence. (Issued on 04 December 2018)

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 45 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES Holds Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath responsible for Bulandshahr violence

Popular Front of India General Secretary M. Mohammed Ali Jinnah in a statement issued here today held Uar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath responsible for Sangh Parivar violence and killing of the police officer Subodh Kumar Singh and a youth named Sumith in Bulandshahr.

What happened there is not an isolated incident, but it is the latest in the series of cow terrorist acts that has become a roune ever since Yogi Adityanath government has assumed power in the state. It is also not first me that the Hindu YuvaVahini goons, founded by Yogi himself are in the forefront of mob lynching of humans in the name of protecng cows. He has degraded Uar Pradesh of the Indian Republic into an Animal Farm where Jungle Raj is the system, cows only are safe and human lives are the targets.

The Sangh Parivar sponsored cow terrorism has created a dangerous situaon where any Muslim or Dalit can get killed by communally frenzied mobs merely on an allegaon of cow trade or beef eang. In this context, the complaint raised by the relaves of the officer that Subodh Kumar Singh was killed in a conspiracy as he was probing Akhlaq lynching case cannot be dismissed away. This new phase of cow terrorist killing spree has conveyed an added message that those police officers who honesty probe lynching cases also would not be spared.

The preliminary invesgaons by police officials and eyewitnesses accounts of the Bulandshahr tragedy point towards a pre-planned aempt at spreading communal tension. All available evidence point to the hands of Hindutva elements themselves in hanging cow car casses in the sugar cane field. The report of their ulterior move to be foiling the Muslim congregaon held in the locality has also to be probed.

Mohammed Ali Jinnah has demanded judicial enquiry by a panel of sing judges to unearth the conspiracies involved in the incidence. He also sought the intervenon of President of India to save the state form the misrule of Yogi Government. (Issued on 05 December 2018) Assembly election results herald return of political wisdom

Popular Front of India General Secretary M. Muhammed Ali Jinnah in a statement termed the results of Assembly Elecons held in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telengana, Chasgarh and Mizoram as “return of the lost polical wisdom”. He congratulated the voters in these states fortheir wise verdict.

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 46 SOCIO-POLITICAL ISSUES

The defeat of BJP in all these states illustrates that people rejected the corporate-communal rule controlled by Modi-Amit Shah- RSS nexus. This is an opportunity for the opposion pares to build a united fight against BJP in the forthcoming 2019 Lok Sabha elecon. He reminded the Congress party that it is a verdict against the an-people policies of BJP and not a mandate for Congress to connue their old policies of corporate service, state terrorism and Hindutva appeasement.

Muhammed Ali Jinnah hoped that by taking lessons from these assembly elecon results, Congress and regional pares like BSP, SP, RJD, TDP etc would form a pre-poll alliance todefeat the BJP in 2019 Lok Sabha elecon. (Issued on 11 December 2018) “Extend NRC deadline; Avoid citizenship disaster”: Urges SC to extend deadline

The Central Secretariat meeng of Popular Front of India has sought urgent measures by the Supreme Court of India to avoid colossal cizenship disaster that has affected millions of people in Assam whose names have been excluded from Naonal Cizens Register (NRC).

The deadline set by the Supreme Court for filing claims and objecons is 31 December, 2018. Yet, out of 40 lakh people excluded from the final dra of NRC, only around 20 lakhs are reported to have filed claims and objecons so far. As admied even by the NRC Coordinator before the Supreme Court itself, the major reason for this low-level response is the complicated requirements sought for filing their claims. There are reports from the ground that NRC centres are pung the applicants to troubles in the name of legacy documents. It is certain that the about 20 lakh people that remain excluded from the list can in no way file their claims within next 5 days. The meeng apprehended that in case the date for filing is not extended, these many cizens will not be able to parcipate in the next Lok Sabha elecon.

Sadly, even our opposion pares are not seriously raising the issue in the parliament. There are unscrupulous pares and groups that want to draw the polical benefit out of such a colossal tragedy. But it will be totally against our principles of cizenship enshrined in our constuon. And it is the hope of the naon that the apex court will not let such an injusce happen. We urge the Supreme Court of India to simplify the process and extend the deadline for filing claims to another six months.

Chairman E Abubacker presided over the meeng, which was aended by General Secretary M Muhammed Ali Jinnah, Vice Chairman OMA Salam, Secretary Abdul Wahid Sait, K M Shareef and EM Abdul Rahiman. (Issued on 25 December 2018)

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 47 ORGANISATION ORGANISATION Leaders visit Kasganj victims Popular Front of India leaders visited the vicms of the communal violence broke out in Kasganj, Uar Pradesh. A team including Popular Front North Zonal president AS Ismail, UP State in-charge Moulana Mui Mohamed Shazad, All India Imams Council UP West State President Moulana Mohamed Shadab, Azeez Qasimi, and Dr.Nijamuddin visited the injured at hospital. The leaders offered to stand with them in their fight for jusce.

The leaders learned from the vicms that the aack was pre-planned to create communal riot. Muslims were celebrang Republic day on the 26th of January when a group of ABVP goons entered that area raising provocave slogans against Muslims. They compelled Muslim to hoist saffron flag instead of Indian naonal flag. This led to a commoon between Muslims and the group, following which a large number of people joined the group with deadly weapons including firearms and swords, and unleashed aack on the Muslims. 2 persons were severely injured in this incident and the violence connued ll next day. They also looted Muslim shops and set them on fire. The Police not only failed to control the mob but also arrested many Muslim men. The injured Muslims one Naushad and Akram were admied in Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College. Secon 144 has been invoked and outsiders are restricted from entering Kasganj. (Issued on 30 January 2018) To hold massive reach-out programmes

Popular Front of India Naonal Execuve Council meeng has decided to hold a week-long reach-out campaign marking the 11th anniversary of the announcement of the organizaon as a naonal level movement. 'Popular Front Day' will be observed on17th of February with the slogan “We with People; People with Us”. The preceding 6 days will be observed as PR week in which wide variety of programmes will take place across the country for conveying the message of the organizaon to maximum number of people. The campaign includes public gatherings, flag hoisng at unit level, unity marches by volunteers, social service acvies and social media campaign. On the 11th of February, units will undertake house visit all over India and have interacons with the households for introducing the organizaon. (Issued on 06 February 2018) Reach-out campaign becomes massive success

On Public Relaon Day (11th of February), leaders and members of Popular Front of India, from unit level to naonal level, paid house visits in villages and cies across the country for meeng people and conveying the message of the organizaon. They interacted with people from all walks of life on

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 49 ORGANISATION

the day and introduced the organizaon. The organizaon units have undertaken this house to house campaign prior to celebrang Popular Front Day on 17th of this month, marking the 11th anniversary of its declaraon as a naonal level movement. Around 5million people across 16 states were met by the representaves of Popular Front on the Public Relaons day. Other than house visits, social service acvies and social media campaigns were also part of the P R Day acvies. In many places, members paid visit to hospitals and old age homes.

P R Day campaign was held in Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Uar Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar and Jharkhand states. (Issued on 12 February 2018)

Celebrates Foundation Day in different states

Popular Front Day was celebrated all over India on 17th Feb marking the 11th anniversary of its launching as a naonal organizaon. Various programmes such as Unity March, public conference, corner meeng and flag hoisng were held at various places in 18 states. The Foundaon Day programmes were held in Manipur, Assam, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Kerala.

Popular Front Chairman E. Abubacker inaugurated the grand public conference held at Tirur in Kerala. He called upon people to join hands in the interest of our naon and its people, against communal fascist forces that are determined to demolish the secular, socialist, democrac idea of India. Sangh Parivar is pung pressure to ban Popular Front because they have least respect for democrac rights and tolerance to minority rights enshrined in our constuon. “Is it our fault that we have been trying to empower the backward Muslim community through educaonal and economic upli projects? Is it a crime that we have been upholding Indian constuon and rule of law, while RSS consistently violates the same?” He warned that Sangh Parivar once again intensifies its campaign for building Ram Mandir on Babri Masjid site, not because of any religious commitment, but to fulfil its agenda of power polics.

In Kerala, Unity March by the volunteers followed by grand public conferences were held in Kasaragod, Muvaupuzha and Pandalam also. Unity March and public conferences were held at Erode, Vellore, Trichi and Theni in Tamil Nadu and at Sullia in Karnataka. These rallies were aended by thousands of people including women, in addion to Popular Front volunteers in uniforms. In Karnataka, public meeng was held in Davangere also. Naonal leaders of Popular Front,

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 50 ORGANISATION

Mohammad Ali Jinnah (General Secretary), O.M.A. Salam (Vice Chairman), Anis Ahmed (Secretary) and state leaders aended these southern states programmes.

In Goa, state president Sayed Iiyaz hoisted Popular Front flag at state office, followed by a get together aended by acvists, associates and dignitaries. In Manipur, state president MoulanaWaheedur Rahman hoisted the flag at state office campus. Local programmes were held in 44 places in Manipur. The public meeng held at Pranpur in Kahar district of Bihar was aended by a huge gathering. The meeng was addressed by State president Mehboob AlamNadvi and an array of guests. Get together programmes were held in many other places in the state. In Rajasthan, state president Asif Mirza and other leaders addressed a huge rally in Bundi. In Maharashtra, programmes were held in all major cies like Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad and Nanded.

State President Pervez Ahmad addressed a public meeng held at Shaheen Bagh, in the vicinity of Popular Front headquarters. Earlier Dr. Mohammad Shamoon, Director Public Relaons hoisted the flag at the headquarters.

The flag hoisng ceremony in Hyderabad was disturbed by police and zonal secretary Mohammed Arif Ahmed and other leaders were detained in police staon ll evening. A case was also registered against them under Cr. P. C secon 151.

Popular Front has been celebrang the day for a few years in memory of its declaraon on 17th February 2007 in the Empower India Conference held at Bangalore. (Issued on 18 February 2018)

Holds press meet in Hyderabad

A press meet was held at the NSS Press Club, Hyderabad on 20th February 2018 to protest against the biased police acon of banning the Popular Front Day celebraon on 17th February, and arresng its leaders without any reasons.

Mohamed Arif Ahmed, Popular Front Deccan Zone Secretary, Mohmmed Abdul Ahad, Telangana State President, Rafiq Ahmed Rashadi, Vice President, Jerusalem Puaih, Secretary, All India Chrisan Dalit Samaikhya, Hyderabad were present at the meet.

The leaders, aer the meet, submied a memorandum to the Home MInister of Telengana and the Hyderabad City Police Commissioner demanding legal acons against the Chandrayan Gua police officers. (Issued on 21 February 2018)

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 51 ORGANISATION Ban on Popular Front of India in Jharkhand: Statement issued by Central Secretraiat

It is reported Jharkhand Government has banned Popular Front of India (PFI), in the state under secon 16 of the CLA Act, 1908. As the reason for the ban, the Chief Minister of the state has alleged that members of PFI are influenced by the now defunct ISIS. Surprisingly the state government has quoted some unverifiable reports about people who have allegedly gone to Syria. The decision to ban Popular Front of India is highly prejudiced and a clear expression of polical vendea of the Hindutwa regime known for using draconian laws to curb the struggle of the marginalized secons of people in the state and it is a clear violaon of the fundamental rights protected by the constuon.

Popular Front of India has been working in some parts of Jharkhand since 2015. Unfortunately, the Front has been witnessing highly prejudiced response from the govt officials. We think that the reason for this is the acve involvement of our members in legal struggles to bring to trial culprits involved in several cases of lynching for which the state has become notorious. It has to be noted that the declaraon of a ban on Popular Front coincides with the day of the deposion by the witnesses in the trial court in the Saraikala lynching case in which four innocent people were killed last year. Also there is an ongoing case against the S P of Pakur District who foisted false cases against our members for protesng against the hate speech of a local BJP leader Hisabi Roy.

We hereby categorically make it clear that the allegaons levelled against Popular Front of India are totally baseless and there is not even a single reason to proscribe the organizaon. We hope to overcome this acon by democrac means and through legal recourse. (Issued on 21 February 2018) Revoke ban; Stop harassment: General Secretary urges Jharkhand Governor, Chief Minister

In the context of Popular Front ban by the state government in Jharkhand, M. Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the general secretary of the organisaon has sent urgent leer to the governor and chief minister urging them to revoke the ban and restrain from targeng and harassing members in the name of ban.

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 52 ORGANISATION

Excerpts from the leer: “We would like to clarify that Popular Front of India is a recognised and registered organizaon working in 17 states of India for more than a decade now, with a grass-root level cadre base and enjoying the support of millions of people from different secons of society cung across religious, caste or other affiliaons.

We have always believed and subscribed to the values of democracy and secularism enshrined in the constuon of India. We have been engaged in acvies, legal, democrac and peaceful, to secure the rights of Adivasis, Dalits, Chrisans, Muslims and other weaker secons and minority communies. Empowerment to us is not merely a slogan.

Our acvies are only in India. And we neither subscribe to the ideology of any other movement outside or inside the country nor do we have any connecon with any organisaon in foreign lands. We have been connuously educang all our members and campaigning among public to stay away from mysterious ouits like ISIS as we strongly believe ideologies of such enes are against the ethos of our great homeland. A small secon of media has speculated and cooked up stories of our members joining ISIS, but no invesgaon agency in the country has proved the veracity of such reports.”

A day aer release of the ban informaon through a press release, the reports received from the state reveal that police has started targeng and harassing Popular Front members in regions were the organisaon was acve. There are reports of offices being raided, sealed and acvists being haunted. Mohammed Ali Jinnah stated that the police high handedness is not jusfiable as it is against all norms of democracy and all laws of the land. He urged the chief minister to act fairly:“We, therefore, appeal to your government to restrain from steps being taken on the basis of misinformaon or speculave inputs and to revoke the ban with immediate effect. Since our acvies are now stopped in your state and our recourse is to seek legal remedy as per the law, we expect your government not to target and harass our members in the name of ban.” Mohammed Ali Jinnah also sought an appointment to meet both of them in person to clarify any misconcepons.

Against the ban in Jharkhand, Popular Front acvists are holding mass protests today and tomorrow all over India except Jharkhand. (Issued on 22 February 2018)

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 53 ORGANISATION Nationwide Protest against Popular Front ban in Jharkhand: Jharkhand Bhawan March held in New Delhi

People's rallies were held across India protesng against the ban of Popular Front of India in Jharkhand by the state government. Popular Front acvists and general public including women parcipated in demonstraons held in various states, including Manipur, West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, New Delhi, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Goa, Karnataka, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

In the naonal capital New Delhi hundreds of people including women parcipated in the Jharkhand Bhawan March. The protesters raised slogans demanding the withdrawal of the ban imposed by Jharkhand government and an immediate end to the police harassment in the state. Zonal secretary Anis Ansari, State President Parvez Ahmed and SDPI Naonal General Secretary Muhammed Shafi addressed the rally. A delegaon of leaders of the organisaon met the officer on duty and handed over the memorandum addressed to Jharkhand Chief Minister and Governor. He assured the delegaon that the maer would be brought to the aenon of Chief Minister and an appointment with the Chief Minister is sought to discuss the maer.

In a statement Popular Front General Secretary M Muhammed Ali Jinnah appreciated the solidarity of the masses which was expressed through protest demonstraons across the country. He further stated that the voices of the people raised against undemocrac move of Jharkhand government is a warning to the forces that are behind targeng Popular Front of India. (Issued on 23 February 2018) Ban in Jharkhand, an attempt to eliminate anti-fascist activism

A resoluon passed by the Central Secretariat meeng of Popular Front of India held at Mysore stated that the ban imposed on the organizaon by the BJP Government of Jharkhand is intended to eliminate the kind of acvism the organizaon has demonstrated in the state through legal and democrac means against the fascist forces and their government agencies. Ever since the declaraon of the organizaon in the state in 2015, our members have stood in the forefront of fight against human rights violaons such as hate speeches, lynching incidents and police atrocies. When the ban was imposed, the organizaon was fighng dozens of cases including the six lynching incidents and two cases against police atrocies, one against SP of Pakur and the other against SP of Jhamtara. By enabling vicms to fight by democrac and legal means, Popular Front was building confidence among the vicms and the weaker secons and was also seng a new example ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 54 ORGANISATION

for the fight for jusce. It is because of this reason that Popular Front is targeted in Jharkhand. Finding our organisaon an obstacle in courts, their calculaon is to destroy the cases by eliminang the very peoners. The meeng warned that such moves will only endanger our jusce delivery system, the last hope of the vicms. The Jharkhand government is, in fact, trying to overthrow the judiciary through indirect means by the misuse of CLA Act, 1908.

The meeng expressed concern over the reports that false cases are being slapped in the name of connuing the acvies aer the ban against innocent people.

The meeng of Central Secretariat reaffirmed that, the acvies of the organisaon being stopped in the state; we will resort to legal recourse as per provisions of the constuon and law for the removal of the ban. (Issued on 27 February 2018) Seeks withdrawal of controversial statement of Army Chief

The Central Secretariat meeng of Popular Front took serious noce of the polical remarks made by the Chief of Army Vipin Rawat expressing concern over the growth of Assamese polical party AIUDF. It is highly objeconable and unbecoming of his posion and gives a wrong signal about the role of the army. There is nothing to worry for an army chief about a democracally funconing polical party. We have watched in the past, when democracy was being destroyed in our neighbouring countries by interference of the army in polics, we took pride in the strength of our democracy and integrity of our army by keeping a line of control between them. Though it might please present government and the forces behind it, he has actually set a dangerous precedent for the army to interfere in polics. The meeng demanded the withdrawal of the controversial statement. Chairman E. Abubacker presided over the meeng, which was also aended by General Secretary Muhammed Ali Jinnah, Vice Chairman O.M.A Salam, Secretaries Anis Ahmed and Abdul Wahid Sait, E.M. Abdul Rahiman and K.M. Shareef. (Issued on 27 February 2018) Community Leaders demand withdrawal of Popular Front ban in Jharkhand

As the BJP government in Jharkhand is proceeding with raiding the houses of Popular Front acvists and registering false cases against them following the official announcement of the ban of the organizaon, a group of community leaders and scholars in a statement have termed the ban undemocrac and demanded its withdrawal.

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 55 ORGANISATION

The signatories of the statement include Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan (Chairman, Delhi State Minories Commission), Adv. Zafaryab Jeelani (Secretary, All India Muslim Personal Law Board), Syed Mustafa Rifai (Asst Sec General, All India Milli Council), Mui Arif A Mehkri (Chairman, Waqf Board, Mysore), Maulana Dr. Yaseen Ali Usmani (Vice President, All India Milli Council), Muhammed Naseem (Principal, Madrasa-e- Ashraful Uloom, Mysore), Muhammad Saeed AsadQasmi (Asansol, West Bengal),and many others. The statement said that they strongly opposed the ban by Jharkhand government as it scoffs at the laws of the land and opens doors to the violaon of fundamental rights respected by the constuon. They said: “We understand that Popular Front of India is a neo-social movement acvely involved in developmental work and comprehensive empowerment of the poor and the downtrodden, especially Muslims.”

They alleged that the Hindutva government of Jharkhand and its Police have been unhappy with the acvists of Popular Front for highlighng the mulple lynching cases in the state. The ban is a ploy used by the government to inmidate people and suppress democrac forms of protest and dissent. They also requested the human right groups, polical pares and minority organizaons to rally up for liing the ban of Popular Front of India. (Issued on 27 February 2018)

Revoke Ban in Jharkhand - Withdraw false cases

Jharkhand state government has banned Popular Front of Indiain the state under secon 16 of the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1908. The press release appeared in the official website of the state chief minister on 20th February 2018 cites as the reason for the ban, the alleged influence of ISIS of Syria/Iraq on some members of the Front in southern states. Since the ban, the acvies of the organizaon are stopped in Jharkhand. But it is reported that our members are being harassed and new cases were registered against some leaders and members alleging connuaon of the acvies. We condemn the harassment carried out by police and demand the state government to revoke the ban and withdraw the false cases on our cadres.

The Jharkhand government had nothing to cite against the organizaon in the state of Jharkhand and had to rely on some fake reports about the organizaon pertaining to the southern states. It is worth nong that the governments of Kerala and Karnataka had recently stated that there is no reason to ban Popular Front and no request to ban Popular Front was sent to the central government. Hence the Jharkhand government imposing a ban based on reports from southern states is unreasonable. As for the allegaon of IS influence, Popular Front, since its incepon, has me and again warned its members and public of the danger of the mysterious groups like IS.

What is the real reason behind Jharkhand government banning Popular Front of India? Ever since the

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 56 ORGANISATION

declaraon of the organizaon in the state in 2015, our members have stood in the forefront of fight against human rights violaons such as hate speeches, lynching incidents and police atrocies. It is well known that the Hindutva Government of Jharkhand and its police have been unhappy with the acvists of Popular Front for highlighng the mulple lynching cases in the state. Popular Front was instrumental in filing cases by the relaves of the vicms in lynching incidents like that in Jamtara, Latehar, Ramgarh and Seraikela. AnFIR was filed against the hate speech of BJP Leader Hisabi Roy in Pakur. At the me of the declaraon of ban, the organizaon was fighng several cases including the sixlynching incidents and two cases against police atrocies, one against SP of Pakur and the other against SP of Jamtara. By enabling vicms to fight by democrac and legal means, Popular Front was building confidence among the vicms and the weaker secons and was also seng a new model for fighng injusces. It is because of this reason that Popular Front is targeted in Jharkhand. Finding our organisaon an obstacle in geng away with their crimes, the state police plan to end the cases against them by eliminang the very peoners.

The ban is a ploy used by the state government to suppress democrac forms of protest and dissent. The Jharkhand government is, in fact, trying to fail the judiciary through indirect means by the misuse of CLA Act. The act of imposing ban on parcular organisaon that stands for people's rights is a warning to all civil groups and mass movements that any voice of dissent would not be tolerated. Popular Front believes in the great ideals of our constuon such as democracy, secularism and fundamental rights. We respect rule of law and role of judiciary. We will resort to legal recourse for geng the Jharkhand ban lied. We hope that ulmately the truth will triumph and people's right will be restored. (Issued on 01 March 2018) Activists and intellectuals demand revoking of Popular Front ban in Jharkhand

A joint statement issued by acvists and intellectuals has stated that the ban imposed by Jharkhand government on Popular Front of India in the state is an-democrac and demanded that it be revoked immediately.

The present ban on Popular Front under secon 16 of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1908 in Jharkhand is part of the polical vendea unleashed on the organizaon due to its intervenons with regards to human rights violaons, hate speeches, mob lynching incidents and police atrocies. It seems that the BJP government of Jharkhand is unhappy with members of the organizaon in Jharkhand because they helped the vicms' families for filing cases in lynching incidents like those in Jamtara, Latehar, Ramgarh and Seraikela. Also they have filed cases in a few incidents of police atrocies.

There are not any known criminal cases in the state against the Popular Front members. But the

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 57 ORGANISATION

organizaon is fighng 14 cases in the state including against mob lynching and police atrocies. It is amidst this that the press release with official seal announcing the ban appeared on the government website.

It is learned that following the ban the police are targeng and harassing Popular Front members in certain regions of Jharkhand. The office was sealed and extensive police raids were conducted. Since the ban, the acvies of the organizaon are stopped in Jharkhand. But it is reported that new cases were registered against some leaders and members.

By targeng or proscribing a parcular organisaon that stands for people's rights and jusce, a repressive government sends the message to all civil rights groups and mass movements that any voice of dissent and any act of empowerment would not be tolerated. This is bare infringement of constuonally guaranteed rights. Hence, we request all human rights groups, polical pares and minority organisaons to come forward against such fascist moves. We also demand Jhakhand government to withdraw from such repressive moves on organizaons based on rumours and false allegaons.

Prof. K. Sachidanandan, Journalist O. Abdullah, KEN Kunjahammed, AppukkuanVallikkunnu, NP Chekkuy, Dr. J. Devika, KK Kochu, Jamal Kochangadi, A. Vasu, A.Sajeevan, Gopal Menon, K K Baburaj, Rupesh Kumar, A S Ajith Kumar, V.R Anoop, Dr. Varsha Basheer, AA Wahab, Dr.Dhanya Madhav, V. Prabhakaran, Reny Ailyine etc signed the statement. (Issued on 02 March 2018) Ban in Jharkhand: Seeks intervention of President and NHRC

In the context of the ban on Popular Front of India by Jharkhand government, General Secretary of the organisaon M. Mohammed Ali Jinnah, through a memorandum, has sought immediate intervenon of President of India and Governor of Jharkhand to get the undemocrac and unethical ban lied forthwith.

“As a social movement from the backward minority community," says the memorandum, "Popular Front's focus is on developmental acvies like literacy, educaon, public health and comprehensive empowerment of the poor and the downtrodden masses, especially the Muslims.”

Urgent leers were also sent from Popular Front General Secretary to Union Home Minister, Union Law Minister urging them to intervene in the maer as it was a case of violang fundamental rights including minority rights. In addion, Popular Front naonal leadership has approached Naonal Human Rights Commission, Naonal Minority Commission, Jharkhand Human Rights Commission and Jharkhand Minority Commission through separate memorandum for revoking the Jharkhand

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 58 ORGANISATION

ban since it involved violaon of freedom of expression and freedom of associaon as against the provisions of Indian constuon.

Mohammed Ali Jinnah has categorically denied the accusaons linking the organizaon with ISIS. "The allegaon of ISIS connecon leveled against Popular Front by the state government is devoid of any substance. Popular Front has warned of the danger of mysterious extremist groups like ISIS luring young people through social media and by other means, since the very beginning of its appearance. Time and again we have educated and instructed our members not to get into their trap. This message was conveyed to the public as well on different occasions. Popular Front acvies are only within India. The Front neither subscribes to the ideology of any other movement outside or inside the country nor do we have any connecon with any organisaon in foreign lands. Popular Front has hundreds of thousands of acve members across India and none has joined ISIS.” In all the submissions, Popular Front General Secretary has reaffirmed that Popular Front is a democracally and lawfully working Indian movement. "We are a naonal organisaon which respects the Indian constuon and abides by the Indian laws", he said. Mohammed Ali Jinnah further stated: “The present ban on Popular Front in Jharkhand is part of the polical vendea unleashed on the organizaon due to its intervenons with regards to human rights violaons, hate speeches, mob lynching incidents and police atrocies.” He asserted that there is not even a single valid reason to impose ban on Popular Front of India anywhere in the country. (Issued on 05 March 2018) Justice Sawant and other dignitaries from Maharashtra demand to revoke Popular Front Jharkhand ban Press Release issued by Amjad Shaik, General Secretary, Movement for Jusce and Peace

The opposion against the state government ban of Popular Front in Jharkhand is becoming stronger and more wide spread, as per reports being received from different parts of the country. The Jharkhand Government on 20th February 2018 has imposed a baseless ban on the Popular Front of India in the state using Arcle 16 of the CLA Act 1908 through a post on Jharkhand CM website. Today a group of 26 cizens that include former judges, ex-bureaucrats, social acvists, polical leaders and religious scholars in Maharashtra has come up against the ban order through a joint statement. Those who joined in raising the demand to withdraw the ban and stop harassments in Jharkhand include Jusce P. B. Sawant (Rered Judge, Supreme Court), Jusce Kolse Patel (Rered Judge, Mumbai High Court), S. M. Mushrif (Rered I.G. Police), Mujtaba Farooque (Ex-Naonal President, Welfare Party of India), Shamsher Khan Pathan (Naonal President, Awami Vikas Party), Niranjan Takle (Chief Editor, Caravan Magazine; reporter, CNN, IBN), Nawab Mallik (State Spokesman, Naonalist Congress Party), Sarfaraz Arzoo (Editor, Hindustan Urdu Daily), Shivaji Humberday, Shivraj Mukesh, Ganesh Shinde (Maratha Seva Sangh) and others.

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 59 ORGANISATION

They stated that imposing of ban is not only against the freedom of expression and freedom of associaon but also is against the arcles of the constuon of India. They also stated that the ban on Popular Front of India by the Jharkhand Government is an open act of polical vendea against the organizaon, as the organizaon has been taking legal acons and raising voice against the hate speeches, acts of human rights violaons, incidents of mob lynching and atrocies by the police in the state of Jharkhand.

Popular Front of India, as a response to the ban in Jharkhand, has been organizing naonal level agitaons and campaigns. In Maharashtra State, Popular Front of India acvists have been meeng different polical, social, secular organizaons and other dignitaries. The leaders belonging to various strata of society shared the view that the ban is intended to threaten the mass and to weaken dissent, protests against government and the power of judiciary. They called upon all democrac and secular forces who respect our constuon and rule of law to build united protests against the polics of banning dissenng voices and movements. (Issued on 09 March 2018)

Opposition builds up in North-East against Popular Front ban in Jharkhand

More than a fortnight aer the ban on Popular Front of India in Jharkhand, different organizaons, acvists and intellectuals in several parts of India are raising their opposion against it. In the North- East states like Manipur, Assam and also in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, several protest meengs were held against the ban.

Social acvists and representaves of several polical and social organizaons aended a special get together held at Lilong in Manipur and released a joint statement against the ban. They said that the ban order violates the laws of the land and suppresses the fundamental rights respected by the constuon. They have called upon the government of Jharkhand to li the ban immediately. They pointed out that ban was imposed on baseless allegaons against the organizaon.

The followings persons aended the get-together and signed the statement: Adv. Muhammed Jalaluddin, Adv. Muhammed RamijuddinAzaz, Muhammed Abdul Wahid - Joint Secretary, Social Upliment Development Organisaon (SUDO), Muhammed Hakim Ahamed - President, All Sangaiyumpham Development Org.(ASDO), Muhammed Abdul Salam - Secretary, Irong Social Development Org. (ISDO), SM. Jalaluddin - President, All Manipur Muslim Org. Co-ordinang Commiee (AMMOCOC), Muhammed Mujibur Rahman - State Execuve member, All India Tanzeem-e Inshaf (AITI), FM. Abdullah Pathan - President, Manipur Muslim Welfare Org. (MMWO), Alhaj Muhammed Hassan - Treasurer, Lilong Sport Associaon (LSA) , Farooque Khan - Treasurer, Integrated Development Org. (IDO), Wahidur Rahman - General Secretary, All Manipur Muslim Org.

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 60 ORGANISATION

Co-ordinang Commiee (AMMOCOC), Dr.Badaruddin - All India Tanzeem-e Inshaf (AITI), Md Ismat Khan – Execuve Member, Integrated Development Org. (IDO), Alhaj Nooruddin – Mohatamin Madrassa Alia - All India Muslim Personal Law Board Member, Muhammed Riyajuddin – General Secretary, Social Democrac Party Of India (SDPI), Muhammed Nazimuddin - UP Adhyaksha, KakchingZilla Parishad, Rafi Shah General Secretary Popular Front of India, Manipur State.

In Assam, Protests were held against the ban imposed on Popular Front of India in Jharkhand. The social acvists, polical leaders and minority leaders condemned the ban and called upon the Jharkhand government for immediate liing of ban. In a statement Adv. Aminul Islam, AIUDF General Secretary strongly demanded to revoke the ban.

Acvists protest in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh A joint protest march was held in Kurnool against ban on Popular Front of India in Jharkhand and demolion of statues of Lenin, B R Ambedkar and Periyar. The following persons belonging to different organisaons parcipated: PinaakaPahani (Virasam state Gen Secretary), Som Shekar Sharma (State convener, Rayalaseema Vidiya Wantula Vedika), Srinivasa Rao (Naonal president, POP), Abdul Waris (State President, SDPI), Abdul Latheef (State Gen Secretary, Popular Front of India), Balanna (Convenor, Pads co), Shehupani (State Vice President, BC's Janasabha), Roja Ramani (President, Manila Shrawan, Kurnool), Jayanna (RTI, State Gen Secretary), Ratnam Esup (Democrac Teachers Federaon, Kurnool), SomSundarm (MRPS), Nagi Reddy (Praja Pari rakshana Hakkula Samithi, Kurnool), Allah Bakhash (Andhra Pradesh Civil Liberes Commiee) Subha Rao (Senior Communist leader, Kurnool). (Issued on 11 March 2018)

Hails emerging public opinion against ban in Jharkhand

A resoluon passed by the Naonal Execuve Council meeng of Popular Front of India welcomed the growing public opinion against the an-democrac ban on the organizaon in BJP ruled Jharkhand. The meeng expressed gratude to all organisaons and leaders who have openly spoken out against the ban. It is quite hopeful that a large secon of Human Rights acvists, Muslim organizaons and polical leaders have idenfied the increasingly intolerant and repressive moves being adopted by Sangh Parivar against any form of dissent and are ready to extend their support to Popular Front of India. The meeng urged the Central government and Jharkhand state government to take these responses as a serious reminder against their unconstuonal ways and withdraw the undemocrac decision of Popular Front ban immediately. (Issued on 15 March 2018)

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 61 ORGANISATION Banning Popular Front in Jharkhand is nothing but an act of fascism: Muslim leaders Courtesy: Muslim Mirror

New Delhi: Aer the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) and Islamic preacher Dr Zakir Naik's Islamic Research Foundaon, it seems that the south-based social organizaon 'Popular Front of India' is the latest “chopping block” for the present BJP-led NDA government. Taking the advantage of the shrill propaganda unleashed against the PFI, the Jharkhand government has declared it 'unlawful' under an archaic law in the state. However, BJP-led state government's decision has invited sharp cricism and condemnaon from renowned Muslim organizaons and Muslim leaders. On the other hand, public opinion is growing against the ban on the PFI unit in this tribal-dominated state.

Prominent Muslim organizaons and leaders as well as non-Muslim acvists and intellectuals have flayed the Jharkhand government for declaring the social organizaon as “an-democrac and an- constuonal.” They also demanded immediate revocaon of the ban.

The Jharkhand government has imposed the ban on Popular Front under secon 16 of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 1908. Talking to Muslim Mirror, Front leadership said “the ban is part of the polical vendea unleashed on the organizaon due to its intervenons with regards to human rights violaons, hate speeches, mob lynching incidents and police atrocies in the state.

It seems that PFI's social and welfare acvies have become an 'eyesore' for the communal forces in the state, said Anis Ahmed, Naonal Secretary, PFI.

Muslim groups also reacted sharply on the Jharkhand government's decision. They even released a joint statement demanding the immediate revocaon of ban without any delay.

JamaateIslami Hind chief Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari said the Jamaat never supported the move to proscribe any organizaon as such decisions of the government violate the fundamental rights enshrined in the constuon. In principle, Jamaat is against banning any ouit, if it indulges any wrongful acvity, there are a number of criminal laws to deal with it, Maulana Umari told Muslim Mirror.

Echoing his views, Navaid Hamid, president of All India Muslim Majlis-e- Mushawarat (AIMMM) said there is no jusficaon whatsoever for pung a ban on PFI in Jharkhand. It is unfortunate and totally unjusfied and it is nothing but an act of fascism meant to garner votes by polarizing the society, he told to Muslim Mirror.

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 62 ORGANISATION

AIMMM is an apex body of prominent Muslim organizaons in the country.

Jamiat-i- Ualma Hind, which is one of the oldest Muslim organizaons also flayed the ban. Jamiat's general secretary and former MP Mahmood Madani said labelling any organizaon as a 'terror ouit” is not a joke. The government must twice-think on such sensive issue and revoke the ban on PFI in Jharkhand, he said.

Welfare Party of India described the ban as “unconstuonal and unlawful”. “It is deplorable that the Indian government selecvely, and unilaterally only targeng the Muslims organizaons and groups while ignoring and not taking any acon against Hindu militant organizaons which have been openly indulging in terror, and violent acvies, Party president Dr SQR Ilyas told Muslim Mirror.

He also pointed out that the state government has no right to ban any organizaon as the draconian unlawful acvies prevenon act 'UAPA” only authorizes the central government to declare any organizaon unlawful. State government can request the Center for banning any organizaon which it wants, he added.

Asking to PFI to challenge the ban in a court of law immediately, Dr Ilyas also suggested that if Muslim organizaons have any doubts or misunderstandings, their leadership should talk to the PFI leaders and we must not fall prey to the propaganda unleashed by the government agencies and corporate media.

Another prominent leader and Delhi State Minority Commission chairman Dr Zafarul Islam Khan said it is totally wrong to declare the PFI unlawful by the Jharkhand government. It is unfortunate that jusce has become illusive in India; we have bier experiences in the past, he said while referring to the ban on SIMI. First, they banned SIMI and rendered it redundant, even they are not ready to hear the case for the last 17 years, he told Muslim Mirror.

He urged Muslims and their organizaons to collecvely raise voice and protest against this unjust ban by the BJP government in Jharkhand. If the government aacks any Muslim group or individual, it should be considered as aack on all the Muslim organizaons and they should come out to streets and protest, he said.

It is to be menoned here that PFI is acve in rehabilitaon work in Jharkhand in addion to offering legal help to vicms of mob lynching there.

The government in Jharkhand has proscribed PFI under provisions of Criminal Law Amendment Act 1908 vide order dated February 20, 2018. Social Democrac Party of India Vice President and noted lawyer Sharfuddin Ahmad said the law was used by the colonial Brish government to scare and suppress the democrac aspiraons and acvies of Indians.

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 63 ORGANISATION

The law is invoked in the three condions against an associaon when the associaon in queson, (1) interferes in public life (2) endangers public peace and (3)obstructs in maintenance of law and order, he underlined.

It is unfortunate that this law now being “misused by the BJP government to crush its ideological adversaries as no allegaons covering any of three essenal condions for applying the provisions have been made against PFI by the Jharkhand Government, Adv. Sharfuddin said.

The ground cited in ban order is allegedly related to the state of Kerala where it has not been banned on that ground and no reason from Jharkhand is menoned in the impugned order, he added.

It must be menoned that the Kerala and Karnataka governments have clarified that there are no proofs to support a ban on PFI. The allegaons by the Central Government of PFI's relaons with ISIS were also proved wrong while the apex court has rejected the allegaons of PFI's indulging in the so- called “Love Jihad”. (Issued on 18 March 2018) Fight politics of ban: Press meet held in Mumbai

The naonal and state leaders of Popular Front of India, in a press meet held at Mumbai Press Club urged all those who are against the ideologies and acvies of Sangh Parivar to fight the polics of ban started from Jharkhand state. Naonal Execuve Council memberE. M. Abdul Rahiman, State President Syed Yusuf Sadath, State General Secretary Meraj Ansari, Mumbai city convenor Mazhar addressed the press meet. They have called the press meet in the context of banning Popular Front in Jharkhand by the state government.

E M Abdul Rahiman pointed out that Jharkhand government could not cite any valid reason from the state for banning Popular Front there. Instead they have referred to certain allegaons pertaining to southern states that too are not proved. Meanwhile, state governments of Karnataka and Kerala had made their stand clear that Popular Front was not an organisaon to be banned, he said.

The state leaders announced that as part of the naonwide campaign against the polics of ban, an acvist's get together will be held on 27th March at Mara Patrakar Bhavan, Mumbai at 5 p.m (Issued on 22 March 2018).

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 64 ORGANISATION Popular Front holds “People's Conference” in Assam

Popular Front of India Assam state commiee organized a grand conference called "People's Conference" at Barpeta Road in Assam on 31 March, 2018. Thousands of people, including women and children, drawn from various parts of the state, gathered to witness the programme. Popular Front Chairman E. Abubuckar inaugurated the programme. Addressing the gathering, he asked people of Assam and the country at large not to be swayed by the divisive policies of Sangh Pariwar.

"The BJP government is creang an environment of hate and insgang people against each. They are in fact playing divide and rule policy. People should defeat them using their democrac power and teach them a lesson. Popular Front of India has been asking this for past many years to the Muslims, Dalits, Adivasis and all other backward classes to unite and demand their rights and jusce, and against fascism, which is the common enemy of all of us”.

Kokrajhar MP Naba Kumar Saraniya appreciated the acvies of Popular Front in his address and advised people not to lose hope and connue working democracally for India and all Indians. Many prominent leaders and social acvists also addressed the programme. Aminul Haque, Assam State president of Popular front of India, Dr Md Minarul Shaikh, West Benagal State general Secretary of Popular Front, Abdus Samad, President, SamajikNyaiManch, KaziNakeib Ahmad, President, Assam Sangram Parishad, Hareswar Barman, Convenor Sanmilito Janagosthiyo Oikya Manch, Popular Front of India Assam State general Secretary Rafiqul Islam, Shah Kamal Khandakar, President, ABMSU and many others represenng various organizaons also addressed the gathering. (Issued on 01 April 2018).

Hails NBSA warning to Channels

Popular Front welcomed the warning issued by News Broadcasng Standards Authority to news channels Republic TV, Times Now, India Today and AajTak in the complaints filed by Popular Front of India against defaming the organisaon. NBSA has ordered to remove the contents published by both channels denigrang Popular Front of India from YouTube and their websites. The order stated clearly that both channels violated the code of ethics in reporng and published their biased opinions as facts, which amounted to media trial. The order is a blow to the kind of unethical and propagandist journalism introduced in India by these T V channels. (Issued on 04 June 2018)

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 65 ORGANISATION NBSA issues warning to Republic TV TimesNow, India Today, AajTak; Also orders to remove controversial contents against Popular Front News Broadcasng Standards Authority (NBSA), in a significant order seling a complaint made by Popular Front of India, has issued stern warning to four news channels, Republic TV, Times Now, India Today and AajTak for publishing false news about the organizaon. The order has also directed the channels to remove concerned news items from their websites, YouTube and other links, observing that the broadcasters, by carrying false informaon as news, violated secons of Code of Ethics and Broadcasng Standards and Guidelines, Specific Guidelines Governing Reportage and Specific Guidelines for Reporng Court Proceedings.

Rered Jusce R V Raveendran in his order has directed the News Broadcasters Associaon to publish the order on its website and in its annual report, to send copies of the order to the channels, the legal heads of NBA, editors and other members and also to release to media. Earlier, Popular Front had complained to NBSA that media trials by various media organisaons were deliberately aimed at misleading the audiences and bringing disrepute to the organisaon, which is working within the ambit of law and constuon.

NBSA considered the complaint submied by Popular Front of India General Secretary M Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Naonal Women's Front president A.S.Zainaba on 5 December regarding the news items broadcast by India Today and AajTak. The complaint was against a sng operaon about alleged conversion factory in Kerala. Mr. Mohamed Ali Jinnah had complained that channels' airing of an interview with a Calicut based journalist, falsely portraying him as a founder member of Popular Front was done with an intenon to malign the organizaon. Aer examining the records submied by each party, the Hon'ble Judge made it clear that the Channels' use of descripons like "Love Jihad Ka Zaaher", "DeshDrohi" in the absence of such findings from a court or competent authories bordered on the violaon of NBSA Code of ethics.

Popular Front had also filed complaints to NBSA against the programme broadcast by Times Now on October 7 and November 5, 2017 with hash tag "BanPFI" and the Republic TV program broadcast on February 7, 2018 with the hash tag "BanPFI". Disagreeing with Times Now and Republic TV's coverage, NBSA found that there is only charge-sheet and no finding by any tribunal that claims Popular Front is an incubator of hate or is a hate group nor had government declared it as a terrorist organisaon or an organisaon indulging in unlawful acvies. “NBSA is therefore of the view that the broadcaster had violated the NBSA/NBA guidelines relang to the need of maintaining neutrality, imparality and fairness and reporng of maers which are subjudice or under invesgaon”, the report added.

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 66 ORGANISATION

NBSA warned the broadcasters to exercise more care and cauon while reporng about maers pending trial/invesgaon and in using objeconable hash tags in regard to such reports which may give an impression that broadcaster is indulging in media trial/ prejudice against the person/organisaon being reported upon. NBSA has also directed the Times Now that the video of the said programme if hosted on Times Now website, YouTube or any other website or any other link should be removed immediately and same should be confirmed to NBSA. Besides, it has asked India Today group to submit complete evidence pertaining to its sng operaon that alleged the PFI of 'forceful conversions'.

Popular Front of India Central Secretariat has welcomed the warnings issued by News Broadcasng Standards Authority to news channels Republic TV, Times Now, India Today and AajTak in the complaints filed against defaming the organisaon. The order is a blow to the kind of unethical and highly prejudiced sort of propaganda carried out in India by these T V channels against marginalised and minority classes and their movements. The Central Secretariat expressed hope that these channels will comply with the orders issued by NBSA. (Issued on 05 June 2018)

Propaganda that Popular Front is a security threat is nonsense

The Central Secretariat meeng termed nonsense, some media reports allegedly linking Popular Front with threat to the life of our prime minister. The reported threat, if it has support of evidence, is indeed a serious naonal security concern and should be dealt with accordingly by police and intelligence agencies. At the same me the possibility of it being only propaganda in view of 2019 elecons has also been discussed in a secon of media. While the government is duty bound to take all precauons for the security of prime minister, it must be ensured that the situaon is not misused to demonize some secons of the society and intensify communal divide in the country. The meeng observed that Popular Front, which is a people's movement that works within democrac system and upholds rule of law is being made a scapegoat in ongoing polical games. The organisaon is approaching Union Home Ministry for clarificaons regarding the reports that it is allegedly kept under surveillance. The meeng reiterated organizaon's commitment to the constuon and democrac system of the naon. Popular Front's acvies are in the lime light among the public for everyone to see, feel and evaluate. The Central Secretariat hoped that this new round of filthy vilificaon campaign also would fail in misleading people.

Chairman E. Abubacker presided over the meeng. O. M. A. Salam, Abdul Wahid Sait, E. M. Abdul Rahiman and K. M. Shareef parcipated in discussions. (Issued on 29 June 2018)

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 67 ORGANISATION Popular Front chairman visits family of lynch victim Rakbar Khan

Popular Front of India chairman E. Abubacker yesterday visited family members of Rakbar Khan at Koalgaon in Haryana about 150 kms from New Delhi who was lynched by cow terrorists. He was lynched to death in Alvar 4 days ago on 21st July. This town has gained notoriety because of 4 incidents of lynching in the last 11 months.

Rakbar is survived by an aged father who is sll in a state of shock. His 22 year-old wife does not understand what happened and her 2 year old daughter is awed by the presence of so many people vising them suddenly. His mother and sister lost control when they remembered the mulated body of their family member. Haroon, the brother of vicm, who reached home from his workplace in Kerala shared their feelings with chairman. Haroon expressed firm resolve to fight for jusce and sought the support of the organizaon. The village men were found vigilant about aempts of the administraon to protect the killers by just suspending 3 policemen claiming that it was death due to police negligence and not by lynching. E. Abubacker stated that the state support to cow terrorists is responsible for repeated lynching of Muslims in the region. It is shocking that even aer a brutal mob aack; Alwar police refused to provide treatment to the vicm and kept him in custody for hours while they ensured the cow is safe.Chairman also condemned the statement by RSS leaders Indresh Kumar which suggested if beef eang is stopped then lynching also would be stopped. He is either encouraging mobs to take law into their hands to kill people over beef or is jusfying such killings. E. Abubacker demanded to arrest such people for insgang violence against innocents and put them behind bars.

Popular Front Naonal Secretary Abdul Wahid Sait and North Zone president A. S. Ismail and local leaders accompanied the chairman during the visit. (Issued on 26 July 2018) Popular Front announces Higher Education Scholarship – 2018

Popular Front of India has announced its Scholarship programme-2018 in New Delhi today. This scheme supports poor and meritorious students who wish to pursue higher studies aer compleng the Higher Secondary (12th). Applicaons are invited from students who are pursuing their course in the academic year 2018-19. Popular Front is implemenng this naonal scholarship scheme for higher educaon for the 8th consecuve year.

Students pursuing PG Courses, Degree, Diploma or other higher studies whose course duraon is not less than a year are eligible for the scholarship. Priority will be given to students studying Journalism, ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 68 ORGANISATION

Law and Social Work. Applicaon should be submied on www.popularfronndia.org The applicaon form will be available online from 31st July 2018 and the last date for submission is 31st Aug 2018. Popular Front began the scholarship distribuon in the 2011-12 academic year at the naonal level. So far 6.4 Crore rupees worth of scholarships have been distributed to 7366 students (4114 boys and 3252 girls), across India's 13 states. Popular Front educates students to contribute back to the society through social service once they complete their courses and are employed. (Issued on30 July 2018) National General Assembly begins The Naonal General Assembly of Popular Front of India began at Malabar House at Puthanathani in Kerala. The Assembly started when Chairman E. Abu Backer hoisted the tricolour flag of the organizaon.

While inaugurang the programme, E Abubacker stated that, under BJP rule, the democrac process in the country had been shrunk into holding elecons and its spirit and pracce had been abandoned in the funconing of the government. The mainstream opposion pares, who have forgoen their dues to the people, are growing more and more subservient to fascist agenda that is being promoted by the ruling party. Under BJP rule the common cizens are suffering due to wrong economic policies which are only corporate friendly. He reminded the delegates that people in every state are idenfying Popular Front as a ray of hope and coming forward in support of our acvies. He called upon them to take the mely message of the movement to every nook and corner of this country and work to fulfill people's hopes.

General Secretary M. Muhammed Ali Jinnah presented the mid-term report of naonal level acvies. About 200 delegates from different states are aending the programme, which will conclude on Sunday. (Issued on 11 August 2018) National General Assembly concludes The Naonal General Assembly (NGA) of Popular Front of India held at Malabar House in Mallapuram, Kerala during 10-12 August 2018 concluded with a call to all secular, democrac forces and depressed class movements for building a joint polical resistance in every state and constuency to Keep RSS away from power aer 2019 Lok Sabha elecons. Other resoluons highlighng various naonal issues of current importance were also passed in the concluding session of the Assembly.

The Assembly observed that the 2019 Lok Sahba elecon would be very crucial and decisive in the history of India as a secular democrac naon. The emerging situaons in the country under the BJP government remind us that it may be the last chance before the rightly thinking people to save our

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 69 ORGANISATION

naon from the control of communal and fascist Sangh Parivar. Since the central government has been a total failure in all the areas of governance, BJP has now returned to its original agenda of communal polarizaon which is an aack on the democrac structure of the country. The Assembly observed: “It is need of me for all polical pares to keep aside their differences and form a united plaorm to challenge the BJP in the 2019 general elecons. There have been statements by various leaders regarding a united opposion but unfortunately it is not being translated into acon. There have been few instances where the opposion pares have showed their unwillingness to compromise and come together for the larger good of the country. It is indeed a litmus test for all the secular pares to prove their commitment towards secularism. The NGA of the Popular Front urges all the secular pares to be ready for polical sacrifices to orm a united secular plaorm for the 2019 general elecon.”

Another resoluon adopted by the Naonal General Assembly extended support to the demand of Assam people for an imparal and fair exercise of NRC in the state and to stop manipulang the NRC procedure to deliberately exclude linguisc and religious minories. The Assembly also demanded to dissolve all systems and exercises connected to D-Voters and to include all of them in NRC process. The resoluon states: “The publicaon of dra Naonal Register of Cizens (NRC) in Assam on 30th July 2018 has created a very serious situaon in the state with imminent repercussion also in other parts of the country. Out of the total populaon of Assam, more than 40 lakh people have been made stateless ll proved otherwise.” It has also urged central government to withdraw the Cizenship (Amendment) Bill now on the table of parliament because, in contravenon of the leer and spirit of Indian constuon, it spulates religion as the criterion for granng cizenship.

The Naonal General Assembly expressed shock and deep concern about the increasing number of cow terrorist lynching in the country especially in northern state ruled by BJP. The Assembly called for grassroot level popular resistance and coordinated legal fights to bring an end to mob lynching incidents. The Assembly demanded an independent probe into Rafel scam in which the role of prime minister and central government are allegedly involved. In another resoluon the meeng has appealed Supreme Court intervenon to prevent Hindutva forces from taking polical advantage of Babri Masjid Issue. The Assembly also urged members and sympathizers of Popular Front to come in support of flood vicms in Kerala.

The NGA, which was inaugurated by Chairman E. Abubacker, evaluated the acvies of the organizaon in past one year and a half and discussed future course of acon of the organizaon. General Secretary M. Mohammad Ali Jinnah presented the acvies report upon which detailed discussions were held. The report appreciated the efforts and sacrifices of Popular Front members and associates for the recent growth in membership strength and expansion of the reach of the organisaon especially in new regions of northern states. The NGA aended by about 200 delegates drawn from different states was concluded with the valedictory speech of Vice Chairman O M A Salam. (Issued on 13 August 2018)

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 70 ORGANISATION Declare Kerala floods a national disaster: Popular Front appeals for nationwide support

The Central Secretariat meeng of Popular Front of India has demanded the central government to declare Kerala floods a naonal disaster and appealed to people all over the country to help their best in rebuilding the state.

The floods that have hit Kerala is worst in the last 100 years and the state is totally devastated by it. Though, rescue mission being carried out by the authories, shoulder to shoulder with social polical religious organizaons, local groups and general public sll connues, thousands are sll feared stranded in their houses and buildings, with all communicaons lost with outside world, awaing the rescuers to reach them. As per the inial reports, more than 350 people have lost their lives and more than 6.5 lakh people are in relief camps. The total loss has been esmated to be around 20,000 crores. However, the actual loss might be higher manifold. Across 13 districts, thousands of villages have been affected. Once the floods are over, even a bigger challenge awaits the people of the state with regard to rehabilitaon and rebuilding of the lives.

Unfortunately, central government response to the situaon in the state is cold and apathec. Relief fund declared is far from sufficient. It reflects the step motherly atude the central government has been following towards the South Indian states. We demand the central government to declare the floods a naonal disaster and allot to the state an inial aid of minimum Rs. 2000 crore as demanded by state government. A mely and effecve response of central and state governments would have greatly reduced the casuales and brought the situaon under control much earlier.

The Central Secretariat meeng appreciated the exemplary involvement of Popular Front members and people of Kerala from different walks of life in relief and rehabilitaon mission to bring the state back to normalcy. An amount of Rs. 25 lakhs from the central fund of the organizaon has been donated to the “Kerala Flood Relief Fund” started by State Commiee of the organizaon. Every member of the organizaon across the country will contribute their oneday income to the fund. Also, Popular Front members across the country will approach public to collect funds for this relief mission. Central Secretariat meeng appealed to the people of the country in all states to earnestly support Popular Front's Flood Relief mission.

Chairman E Abubacker presided over the meengwhich was also aended by General Secretary M Muhammed Ali Jinnah, OMA Salam, Anis Ahmed, Abul Wahid Sait, KM Shareef and E M Abdul Rahiman. (Issued on 19 August 2018)

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 71 ORGANISATION Hails High Court order revoking ban in Jharkhand

Popular Front of India chairman E. Abubacker has welcomed the Jharkhand High Court order which revoked the Jharkhand government decision of banning the acvies of the organizaon in the state.

He stated that the observaons made by the High Court expose communal and fascist agenda of BJP government in Jharkhand which imposed ban on the organizaon.

The court brought to light the undemocrac moves of state government by nong that it didn't follow the procedures to ban an organizaon u/s 16 of the CLA Act. The court also observed that the ban noce of the government violated the principles of natural jusce and Arcle 19 of Constuon of India. The court also pointed out that the government failed to produce any evidence material to jusfy its decision.

The Jharkhand High Court judgment is a major setback to the authoritarian measures the state government has adopted against people's movements and voices of dissent. The order by the bench led by Rongon Mukhopadhyay upholds the spirit of the constuon and will undoubtedly serve as warning against the aempts to undermine democrac values and freedom of associaon in the country. (Issued on 27 August 2018) Derogatory Remarks against Kerala: Popular Front complaints to NBSA against Arnab Goswami Popular Front Kerala state general secretary, CP Muhammed Basheer filed a complaint to News Broadcasng Standard Authority against the derogatory remark made by Republic TV Editor in Chief, Arnab Goswami, against people of Kerala. CP Basheer, in his complaint, alleged that Arnab racially insulted Malayalis and violated journalisc ethics. He said that according to NBSA rules, the first complaint had to be made to Channel Broadcaster and that had done accordingly. If acon is not taken within a week, he would file the second complaint. Arnab made the derogatory remark against Kerala in Republic TV prime me discussion on August 25 with the hashtag “Flood Aid Lie”. "Most shameless bunch of Indians I have ever seen", said Goswami referring to Malayalis during the discussion. It was clear that Arnab Goswami who serves as the megaphone of the Central government held the discussion with the sole intenon of establishing that 700 crore aid offer of UAE was bogus. He tried to create the impression that people who disagreed with him received foreign fund to work against the country. (Issued on 06 September 2018) ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 72 ORGANISATION Leaders visit Bhim Army chief Chandrasekhar Azad A naonal delegaon of Popular Front of India led by North Zone President & Naonal Execuve Council member A S Ismail visited Bhim Army chief Chandrasekhar Azad Ravan in his village Chhutmalpur in Saharanpur district of Uar Pradesh. He was accompanied by Popular Front zonal secretary Anis Ansari, All India Imams Council state president Maulana Muhammad Shadab and other state leaders. The delegaon congratulated Chandrasekhar Azad for his long fight for Dalit rights and against state repressions. Azad came out of jail in this week aer remaining in prison for many months under NSA imposed by UP government. A S Ismail stated that the persecuons undergone by Bhim Army brothers and sisters will be instrumental in transferring power to the hands of the oppressed secons, by defeang communal and casteist forces in the very near future. Azad thanked Popular Front for its campaigns against implicang him under sedion charges, while he was in jail. (Issued on 16 September 2018)

Expands Educational Empowerment Programme Popular Front strives for the empowerment of our country through total empowerment of marginalized secons of our society. Educaonal Empowerment is one of the most important steps towards total empowerment. Popular Front works for an India where there are no illiterate people, where every child gets an opportunity to complete elementary educaon up to the secondary school (10th standard) as per the Right to Educaon (RTE) Act and also support students from weaker secons to pursue higher educaon.

As part of this noble effort, we have been working on mulple projects from the year 2011 at the naonal level to achieve our objecves and to empower marginalized communies. Our major projects include the "School Chalo" campaign to ensure 100% school enrolment, the "Sarva Shiksha Gram" to educaonally empower the most backward villages and the "Naonal Scholarship Scheme" to provide scholarships for higher educaon.

Popular Front plans to expand ongoing Sarva Shiksha Gram (SSG) projects in rural Bihar to form first model SSG cluster for achieving block level educaonal empowerment of the most backward secon of our country. Popular front Chairman, E Abubacker will inaugurate the first model Sarva Shiksha Gram cluster in Mansahi and Barari blocks of Kahar which are the two most educaonally backward minority concentrated blocks in India. On October 14th aernoon, E Abubacker will be accompanied by hundreds of Community Development volunteers of Kahar district to inaugurate Sarva Shiksha Gram projects in Saheb Nagar, Bandh Tola and Miyapur village of Mansahi and Barari blocks.

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 73 ORGANISATION

Popular Front urges its cadres and well-wishers to exert efforts to help the marginalized communies to help them excel in the field of educaon, through steps we take through these programmes. (Issued on 13 October 2018) Condemns arrest of Waman Meshram

Popular Front of India general secretary M. Mohammed Ali Jinnah in a statement issued today condemned the illegal arrest of Bharat Muk Morcha and BAMCEF leader Mr. Waman Meshram in Ahamedabad. The denial of permission to hold a rally as part of Parivartan Yatra held by Bahujan Kran Morcha and subsequent arrest of its leader by state police is a direct violaon of freedom of expression and freedom of associaon enshrined in the constuon. This incident is yet another illustraon of the Hindutva hate polics carried out by BJP against the Bahujan Samaj. Mohammed Ali Jinnah expressed solidarity with the cause undertaken by Waman Meshram through the Parivartan Yatra. He warned BJP governments in Gujarat and elsewhere that the uprising of oppressed secons could not be stopped by any repressive measures. (Issued on 24 October 2018) Visits Madarsa Jamia Faridia Begampur

A delegaon of Popular Front of India met with Moulana Mohammad Ali Jouhar Ameeni, the teacher of lynched child Mohammad Azeem (8) at his madarsa Jamia Fareedia, Begampur and offered to extend any kind of legal support aer listening to the details of the incident. State President Parvez Ahmed said that they strongly condemn the incident. He also expressed his concern over growing incidents of lynching in Delhi and demanded to conduct fair invesgaon and to take severe acon against all those who are involved in this case. He said, "we appeal to all the cizens of Delhi to come forward to prevent this kind of lynching cases. State secretary Mohammad Ilias, K.P. Kamal (Office Manager, Headquarters, Popular Front), Delhi state commiee members Abdlul Muqeet, Danish Khan and Sameer Khan and Sameer Ahmed were in the delegaon. (Issued on 29 October 2018)

Condemns Andhra Police abuse at minority educational event Popular Front of India General Secretary M Muhammed Ali Jinnah has strongly condemned the disturbances created by some police officers at a scholarship distribuon programme in Andhra Pradesh organized by the Popular Front and the arbitrary unjust arrest and torture of its zonal secretary and district leaders on false charges. He demanded the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Shri. Chandrababu Naidu to immediately intervene in this issue of minority rights violaon in the state. ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 74 ORGANISATION

What happened today at Punganur, in Chioor district of Andhra Pradesh was sheer abuse of police power on students and innocent people at an educaonal event. It was a scholarship distribuon programme at Sumaiya Hall, a full day event with different movaonal, counselling and skill development sessions for the beneficiary students. When the Sub-inspector and Head Constable from Punganur Police staon tried to disturb the programme and inmidated the parcipants by taking their photographs, the organizers intervened and informed the police that it was a public event and that they were happy to give photographs taken by themselves, which they did. While the maer should have ended there peacefully, the officers were not ready to let go. To the shock of the organizers and the students, officers came back aer a lile while and defiled the hall arrangements and arrested innocent people. The arrested include Popular Front Zonal Secretary Muhammed Arif Ahmed and Popular Front Punganur district president Fayaz Ahmed among others. They are presently under judicial custody under false charges of obstrucng police duty.

Popular Front Scholarship is unique scholarship scheme in the country and it is in existence since more than a decade. Thousands of poor meritorious students belonging to the Muslims and other deprived secons have benefited from it. This kind of police hooliganism on an educaon programme can only be viewed as aack on the efforts for educaonal empowerment of backward secons in the country. It is shameful for a civilized society and for a government that claims to uphold secular democrac values. We call upon Chandrababu Naidu government to take acon on the officers who are responsible for the abuse and take necessary steps for the uncondional release of the four innocent people arrested. Popular Front will connue the struggle against the police high handedness through democrac and legal efforts. We appeal to the civil society to come out against this police excess. (Issued on 10 December 2018)

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 75 CONDOLENCES CONDOLENCES Homage to Stephen Hawking

The Central Secretariat meeng also paid homage to world renowned physicist Stephen Hawking who passed away on 14th of this month. The disability since the prime of his youth that le him paralyzed throughout his life never stopped him from actualizing his dreams which came to us in the form of works that revoluonized theorecal physics. The meeng put on record that the world not only lost a scienst that enlightened human mind but also a humanist who spoke out against U.S. colonial aggressions and Zionist invasion of Palesne. (Issued on 16 March 2018)

E. Abubacker condoles the demise of Maulana Abdul Wahab Kilji

E. Abubacker, chairman, Popular Front of India has conveyed deep condolences over the sad demise of the renowned Islamic scholar and Milli leader Maulana Abdul Wahab Kilji sahib. By the demise of Maulana Abdul Wahab Kilji, Indian Muslim community has lost a powerful voice for jusce and peace, that too at mes of frequent atrocies and rights violaons. Maulana Abdul Wahab Kilji, while leading the Ahle-Hadith movement in the country, was acve in the leadership of Muslim joint plaorms like All India Muslim Personal Law Board and All India Milli Council. While for many Muslim scholars, commitment to parcular viewpoints on certain religious aspects happened to prevent them from joining hand with other maslak groups, Maulana was an excepon. For Maulana Abdul Wahab Kilji, commitment to his religious viewpoint provided him strength to work for the unity of the Ummah and to align with all Muslim organisaons.

E. Abubacker has recollected his affeconate associaon with late Maulana in various Milli plaorms and described his demise a personal loss. E. Abubacker has stated that Maulana Abdul Wahab Kilji sahib was happy to cooperate with acvies of Popular Front and remembered his parcipaon in some of the milestone conferences held by the orgnaisaon. (Issued on 14 April 2018).

Demise of Justice Sachar: Nation lost a great champion of people's rights Popular Front of India chairman E. Abubacker has conveyed condolences in the sad demise of Jusce Rajindar Sachar. He described Jusce Sachar as a great personality who will be remembered as the architect of the Prime Minister's High-Level Commiee report on Indian Muslims, popularly called Sachar Report. His name has become so familiar in community circles and acted as a source of

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 77 CONDOLENCES

inspiraon for many developmental projects, due to this report. This comprehensive analycal study has established the relave backwardness of Muslims in the light of official stascal data alone and even crics could not queson its objecvity. Jusce Sachar was always the champion of not only minority rights, but the democrac and constuonal rights of all deprived secons in India. He was acve in human rights movements and led many fact-finding missions. E Abubacker consoled bereaved family members of Jusce Sachar. (Issued on 21 April 2018) General Secretary M. Mohammad Ali Jinnah condoles the demise of Kalaignar Karunanidhi

The demise of former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, DMK patriarch and Tamil scholar Karunanidhi has deeply saddened us. He was in public life for more than eighty years and his impact on the Tamil Nadu and naonal polics for more than half a century was highly valuable. He was the torch bearer of social jusce. The mul- talented life of Mr. Karunanidhi was an apt illustraon of commitment and hard work. The younger generaon has a lot to learn from his life. His demise is a great loss for the people of Tamil Nadu and India. On behalf of Popular Front of India, I extend my deepest condolences to his family members, party leaders, cadres and Tamil people all over the world. (Issued on 08 August 2018)

Kuldip Nayar: Fearless defender of civil rights

Popular Front chairman E Abubacker stated that with the demise of veteran journalist and columnist Kuldip Nayar, India has lost a fearless defender of civil rights and a strong advocate of peace among naons. For Mr. Nayar, media was a means of fighng against state terrorism and tyranny of governments. Following his tradion of standing up against emergency imposed by Mrs.Gandhi, he was equally worried about the recent state of undeclared emergency under present BJP rule. Born in Sialkot which is now in Pakistan, he was forced to migrate to India. But his bier experiences with Paron made him an ambassador of not only Hindu-Muslim Unity, but also Indo-Pak friendship. Mr. E Abubacker conveyed deep condolences to his bereaved family. (Issued on 23 August 2018)

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 78 CONDOLENCES Condoles the death of M I Shanavas

Popular Front of India Chairman E Abubacker expressed deep sorrow on the demise of Member of Parliament and KPCC Working President M I Shanavas. E Abubacker stated that M I Shanavas was a leader who maintained honesty and integrity throughout his public life. He was a man blessed with deep knowledge, clarity of vision and simplicity in behavior. He was able to accommodate all social secons and organizaons and keep closeness with them all. E Abubacker remembered Shanavas calling him requesng to pray for him when his condion got worse and surgery became necessary.E Abubacker conveyed his condolences to the family, friends and party colleagues of M I Shanavas. (Issued on 21 November 2018)

Chairman condoles demise of Maulana Asrar-ul-Haque Qasimi

Popular Front of India chairman E. Abubacker has conveyed deep condolence on the demise of Maulana Asrar-ul-Haque Qasimi, MP. By his demise, we have lost a great Islamic scholar and polical leader. Maulana Qasimi was the real representave and the leader of the people in Kishanganj in social, educaonal and economic fields also. E. Abubacker remembered his support to the acvies of Popular Front of India. Maulana Qasimi has addressed public programmes of the organizaon including Naonal Polical Conference held at Calicut. E. Abubacker prayed for his hereaer life and joined in the grief of the family. (Issued on 07 December 2018)

ISSUES AND VIEWS | Page. No: 79