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National Development front in an organisaiton in Kerala, India focusing on socio-enonomical issues of minorities giving a focus to Kerala Muslims. NDF claims to be a human rights organization, and claims to seek to build alliances with non-Muslim sections. Its slogan is Swathantryam - Neethi - Surakrsha which means Freedom, Justice and Security.In 1997 it stood behind the formation of the Confederation of Human Rights Organizations, founded in Kozhikode.

History

The National Development Front or NDF started in 1993 in northern Kerala, India. Its main focus is to ensure the rights of all the citizens with a focus to oppressed and minorities. When the Mandal Commission report opened the doors of power to the backward castes and minorities and made them conscious of their rights, it created a consciousness among these classes of the society and it led to a lot many social organizations coming up. The onslaught against the backward people and religious minorities wasn't the kind that could be met by isolated responses. The NDF came up to give guidance to all such outfits. Basically NDF is a Human Right Organization. NDF intervene all Human right violation incidents happening in Kerala.

NDF and Human Rights Movements

As a social organization, NDF have been more successful in raising awareness in the media and in political circles about human-rights abuses and other injustices in our society. NDF work along with other oppressed communities like Dalits, Backward classes, Tribals and Human Rights Organizations to ensure social justice. NDF has always considered the reservation issue as an ideological and fundamental one for the empowerment of the socially deprived communities. The organization took a firm stand on this issue affecting the Backward Classes.

NDF and Social Activities

NDF has a main focus on socio-economical issues in Dalits and Muslim community in Kerala. NDF work along with other oppressed communities like Dalits, Backward classes, Tribals and Human Rights Organizations to ensure social justice. NDF has always considered the reservation issue as an ideological and fundamental one for the empowerment of the socially deprived communities.

But as far as religious minorities like Muslims are concerned, it is a question of their religious identity. One promising development, however, is the belated realization among Muslim groups that they are part of a wider community.

NDF is a widely accepted among Muslim common mass and it has tens of thousands of volunteers all over Kerala from different sectors of Muslims. NDF works hard to unite the minorities in the society and it give a high importance to bring the Muslim minorities on a common ground.

NDF has recently decided to bring the like minded organization together for expanding its activities for the oppressed and the minorities to the rest of the country

NDF has conducted different movements, demonstrations, rallies and other democratic strikes to achive:

• The rights of OBC minorites enforcing the goverment and its agencies to help the downtrodden in the society.

Minorities Issues and NDF

NDF has a broader vision on empowerment of the country. NDF works for the upliftment of all the down-trodden classes in the society like Muslims, Dalits, Ezhavas and many others who are suffering from discrimination in the society and are denied of getting enough rights and public facilities. There are many Dalits, Ezhavas and other OBC organizations working closely with NDF..

NDF also works very close with many of the muslim organisations and co-operate in all the movements for the empowerment of Muslims.

Criticism

The NDF is largely seen as a communal outfit and members of the organization have been implicated in violent incidents like the 2002 Marad massacre.The Central Bureau of Investigation report found that "activists of IUML and NDF, a Muslim outfit, were actively involved in the massacre" NDF has also been blamed for inciting violence against moderate Muslims in Kerala, in opposition to liberal and reformist Islamic movements and individuals. and that "involvement of fundamentalists and terrorists" was behind the incident.

Two members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) were murdered by the NDF in early 2004 and there have been many reports of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh workers and Hindus in Kerala being hacked to death by NDF death squads.

The BJP have put forward allegations that NDF maintains links with Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence.

NDF Freedom Parade

NDF every year conduct freedom parade with a slogan Be the sentinel of freedom.. For the last three years NDF conducted freedom parade peacefully in the major cities of kerala. It is now one of the major activities on the Indian Independence Day . NDF has conducted Freedom Parade in 2004, 2005 , and in 2006.

See Also

• Popular Front of India
• Thejas
• Confederation of Human Rights Organizations
• NDF Minorities Campign
• Court Rejects Anti-National Charge Against human rights leader
• CHRO Website

References

1. NDF in ties with Confederation of Human Rights Organisations
2. Mandal Commission
3. NDF to widen organizational set-up
4. Paper on Dalit and Muslim organization from Dalit Voice
5. NDF and Muslim Personal law board
6. R. Krishnakumar, Marad shocks, Frontline (magazine), Volume 23, Issue 20, Oct. 07-20, 2006 accessed at Dec 29, 2006
7. ^ Marad massacre: Kerala govt for CBI probe Times of India - September 27, 2006
8. Cite error: The named reference CC was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
9. Marad: Pinarayi pinpoints NDF involvement The Hindu - July 17, 2004
10. The Bharatiya Janata Party seeks inquiry into NDF-ISI links The Hindu - May 20, 2005
11. Be the sentinel of freedom
12. Major Indian Independence Day Activities In Kerala
13. Freedom Parade 2005
14. NDF Freedom Parade Report from The Hindu

External links

• http://www.ndfindia.com/
• Rajeev Pi, In Kerala bastion, CPM fights hardline Muslim violence, Sunday Express, August 20, 2006 accessed at Dec 29, 2006

• Kerala
• Organizations based in India