The Welfare Party of India strongly criticised the central government and the state governments, especially the Maharashtra government, for the indiscriminate picking up of Muslim youth, searching their houses and spreading fear and terror atmosphere in Muslim localities in the name of fighting terrorism. In the background of the recent blasts in Mumbai and the subsequent custodial death of Faiz Usmani, the party alleged all these were operated to hide the failure of the governments on so many fronts, divert the attention of the nation from the issues of corruption. The Congress-NCP rift was also known to everyone. It was ironical that the very police and investigating agencies that failed to control blasts or gather any clue regarding them, came out with details of individuals and organisations within minutes of the blasts.
Dr. S.Q.R. Ilyas, General Secretary of the party, while addressing media persons, called upon the governments to put an immediate end to the picking up of Muslim youths. In the name of fighting terrorism many innocent youth have been put behind bars for years. It has become clear now that most of the encounters, killing many youth, mainly Muslims, were fake. The party demanded a public apology from the governments concerned, immediate release of all innocent youth, due compensation to the relatives of fake encounter victims and of those acquitted by the courts, punishment to the law breakers to prove that we have a non-partisan democracy and judicial system and bring out a white paper on all the terror acts and blasts carried out after the Babri Masjid demolition. The party at the same time regrets to note that in spite of it becoming clear that many of the blasts were masterminded by Hindutva terrorists, the governments at the Centre and the States and the investigating agencies are half-hearted in making due pursuance.
He said the party was in the process of setting up its State Units throughout the country. The party intends to bring in a new political culture, where politics will be a path to serve the aam admi, not a medium to amass wealth. Indian politics has to be cleansed from criminalisation, communalisation, commercialisation and sectarian-isation and an alternative politics based on ethical values to be strengthened.
The party demanded that human beings must get precedence over economy and capital, and asked to bring an all-inclusive and humane face to our development.
Dr. Ilyas also asked the Government to implement the recommendations of Sachar Committee and Ranganath Misra Commission.
The UPA II government, while increasing the prices of diesel and petroleum, cutting subsidy of kerosene and cooking gas, appease Reliance and other desi-videsi corporates by presenting heavy excise duty cuts. The central government policy to allow FDI in retail sector will throw away millions from the sector bringing severe social chaos. The party demanded that the Central and State governments desist from such acts as will make the life of aam admi more miserable. The party also demanded to strengthen the PDS and identify the BPL category more realistically and factually.
With no prospective hopes, due to the farmer-foe policies the State and Central governments, the farmers have been resorting to suicide. With heavy price of seeds and fertilisers, agriculture is no more a profitable profession. Their lands are forcefully being taken away for peanut prices and are sold to land mafias and corporates for astonishing prices. The party demanded to repeal all anti-farmer laws and acts, to make seeds and fertilisers available at affordable price, to raise the MSP of all crops.
Though the numbers of communal conflicts have come down in the country, the fear of it erupting or occurring anywhere at any time is very strong. One of the reasons for this phenomenon is lack of adequate, powerful and effective laws. The culprits go scot-free. No penal action is taken against erring officials. The party demanded to pass the Communal Violence Bill with due considerations for the points noted by civil and human rights activists.
The party will launch massive awareness campaign highlighting the above points across the country. The party is sure of making a significant space and will try to make coordination among like-minded parties.
The press meet was also attended by Ilyas Azmi, Vice President, P.C. Hamza, General Secretary and Sheema Mohsin, Convenor, Women’s wing.
At its UP State convention on July 21 also, the party reiterated its demand to bring out a white paper on all the terror events and fake encounters that took place in the country during the last three decades.
The convention was attended by delegates from all districts of the state. Party president Mujtaba Farooq asked all like-minded parties to get united and make an alternative political front to fulfill the aspirations of the people disgusted with the communal fascism of the BJP and corporate-friendly and anti-poor policies of the Congress. “The party will continue to remain in contact with Left parties to fight against anti-people state policies,” he declared.
In his welcome address, Dr. SQR Ilyas welcomed the gathering and presented basic concepts of the Party. Lalita Naik, Dr. Zafarul Islam Khan, Ilyas Azmi and Moulana Abdul Wahab Khilji, all vice presidents, P C Hamza, general secretary, Adv. Javed Rasheed Amir, Secretary and Sheema Mohsin, Convenor, Women’s Wing presented the policy of the organisation on various topics. It was also attended by Akhilendra Pratap Singh, Kushal Kishore, Braham Prakash Pal and other dignitaries.
Dr. Tasleem Rahmani and Jamal Farooqui also addressed the gathering. The UP chapter of the party will be led by Dr. Abdul Bari (Convenor), and Adv. Satendar Singh of Allahabad High Court (Joint Convenor) comprising a team of 21 members.