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The Idea of Popular Front of India.Indd 2 The Idea of Popular Front of India The Idea of Popular Front of India are enough reasons for us to be proud of being Indian citizens. India is a democratic and secular nation. Our constitution and legal Theresystem guarantee equal justice to all citizens and reject all kinds of discrimination. We the people of India vote for governments at the centre and states hoping that they will fulfil this constitutional obligation. But unfortunately around 70% of people in the country do not enjoy fruits of development or growth. Even after 66 years of independence Muslims remain most backward and underprivileged along with tribals and Dalits. In fact they are victims of purposeful discriminations by those who have monopolized the centres of power - the ruling class constituted by the corporate capitalists, upper castes and political families. When basic rights are denied to any class of citizens, it is the duty of the concerned to stand up and raise their voice for justice. Self initiative only can bring empowerment to any deprived community. This is the idea of Popular Front of India. It was evolved two decades ago. It has spread its wings throughout the length and breadth of this vast country because of this very simple reason. It remains to be the right answer to the longings of hapless masses. Thus Popular Front has right now become the pioneering neo-social movement with a cadre network and quite a large number of sympathisers, from Tamil Nadu to Delhi and Rajasthan to Manipur. This people’s movement stands for freedom, justice and security of all sections of the society. Seeds of renaissance It was in early 1990s that signs of an awakening appeared mainly in the southern parts of our country. Small yet highly motivated groups conveyed the message of survival and empowerment to Muslims and other depressed communities. The victims were exhorted to come out of the hellhole of fear and helplessness created by growing Hindutva fascism and its influence in governance. That turbulent period saw the rise of two evil powers expanding their brutal tentacles in the 3 The Idea of Popular Front of India country. On the one side the ideology of respective states as their long experience in communal fascism was propagated in the fighting for people’s rights. They subsequently name of cultural nationalism. The fascist forces became the fore-runners of a cadre-cum-mass used their entire strength to divide the Indian movement at the national level. The state level society on religious lines. The Ram Janmbhoomi neo-social organisations of Kerala, Tamil Nadu movement launched by Sangh Parivar acted as and Karnataka jointly announced the formation a catalyst to polarize the society and it resulted Popular Front of India at the Empower India in the demolition of centuries old Babri Masjid Conference held in Bangalore on 17th February on 6th December 1992. This was preceded 2007. It was crucial to the resurgence of not and followed by a wave of anti-Muslim riots in only Muslims but also people suffering from different states. Thousands of innocent lives highly pro-rich and anti-poor economic policies. were lost in the pogroms run by the Sangh Within next two years, we saw the message Parivar. The Hindutva groups were successful in of Popular Front being accepted by different gaining the much needed political momentum organizations in five more Indian states. This out of this dirty game to acquire power. Since led to their merger with Popular Front of India then even the so-called secular political parties during the National Political Conference held at have followed their footsteps and employed a Calicut Kerala in 2009. Many states from the soft, rather hidden version of Hindutva. north, east and north-east have joined Popular On the other side, the imperialist and Zionist Front. At present the organisation has around forces were successful in making inroads 80,000 cadres along with more than 3 lakhs into the economy of our country. In the associates. In addition to 11 states where the name of economic reforms the multinational organisation has full-fledged network, it is fast corporations were given red carpet welcome to growing in another 7 states. our country. Ignoring the sentiments of millions, This journey has been fascinating with the government initiated diplomatic ties with some major milestones. Among them, the the terrorist state of Israel. These events have Social Justice Conference (SJC) held at Ram completely changed the future course of India. Leela Maidan, Delhi in November 2011. They also drew a road map of oppression and exploitation of the society, especially the marginalized sections like Dalits, tribals and Empowerment mission minorities. The fundamental right of any citizen is freedom. The stigma of terrorism was also put on the An individual can enjoy freedom only when shoulders Muslim community that had already the nation is free. Corruption, casteism, lost life, dignity, and wealth due to depressingly communalism and capitalism haunt India regular riots. Draconian laws were enacted and and destroy the nation’s fabric of secularism, used for detaining mostly innocent Muslim democracy and peace. Popular Front focuses and tribal youth. Fake encounter killings had on people’s unity for strengthening the values become a highly convenient tool in the hands of Indian constitution and protection of human of security agencies in some states. rights. The Popular Front of India is known for As a positive response to these developments, its earnest struggles for the rights of the people. state level organisations emerged in southern The Front carries an alternate vision of part of India during 1990s. These organizations development having emphasis on equal proved to be very dynamic and active in their empowerment of all classes of people in India. 4 The Idea of Popular Front of India It is reflected in its vibrant slogan: A Naya • Political mobilisation of marginalised classes Caravan for a Naya Hindustan. It looks forward • Media and publishing activities to a New India of Equal Rights for all Indians. • Empowering women and families While the neo-colonial and fascist forces • Guiding students and youth conspire to control the country. Popular Front • Campaigning on current social is creating awareness among the people to and political issues rally for the republic. Promoting harmony and fraternity among different sections of society is needed for this long drawn out struggle. Saga of activism Movement for Reservation Focus Areas Since the very beginning the movement has taken up the issue of reservation in government The goal of empowering the community, the services and educational institutions through society and the nation calls for a comprehensive various agitations. A National Campaign for initiatives and actions. Popular Front motivates Muslim Reservation was launched to carry people at the grass roots to learn, realise and this message across the nation. The Front organise themselves to bring about change in questioned the discrimination against Muslims self and society. This work involves the two in providing quota reservation even after the equally important tasks: finding of Sachar Committee that they are more A. Networking of Cadres: backward than any other community in India. Thousands of members who have joined the Front are organised into local units and higher Remembering Babri Masjid functional bodies. It brings commitment and discipline to their lives. Various programmes are The destruction of Babri Masjid was not only organised for the education and development an assault on minority rights, but a death blow of members and leaders at different levels. to secular values of the nation. Popular Front’s B. Mobilising of Masses: Babri Masjid campaign on December 6 every More than building up a network of cadres, year during the past two decades has been the Front is spearheading a mass movement. very successful in defeating this plan in keeping It plays a lead role in taking up the issues and alive the demand for the reconstruction of finding solutions to the people’s problems. Babri Masjid. It is heartening to note that this It also mobilizes masses in right direction on campaign has gained more support from many issues of regional and national importance. civil rights and minority organisations. Popular Front of India has given particular attention to the following: Celebrating freedom Popular Front joins the Independence Day • Building self confidence and sense of security celebrations to revive the legacy of our freedom • Fight against human rights violations struggle. The Freedom Parade which was held as • Struggles for social justice an expression of patriotism in the three southern • Legal support to innocent victims states for the past several years was stopped • Calamity relief and rehabilitation by the administration mainly to prevent the • Supporting primary education growing influence of the organization. It seems • Scholarship to poor and meritorious students somebody could not digest the spectacle of 5 The Idea of Popular Front of India people coming out raising the national flag and of these anti-democratic laws. Thousands of singing national anthem. However, the Front innocents are incarcerated on false charges continues to be in forefront of the celebrations without trials. Demanding to repeal the through various other programmes. draconian law of UAPA, Popular Front of India played a lead role in the campaigns of ‘Peoples Foundation Day Movement against UAPA’. These campaigns Popular Front Day is being celebrated all over reached out to different sections and brought India to commemorate its formal launching as the issue into public discourse. Now it is a a national movement on 17 February 2006. welcome sign that many more organizations The day witnesses large scale participation of and activists who were silent so far have come people in the rallies and volunteer parades.
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