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| National Development front in an |
National Development front (abbreviated as N.D.F) in an organization in ], ] that claims to focus on the "socio-enonomical issues of minorities giving a focus to ]". NDF claims to be a ] 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 ], founded in ].<ref > NDF in ties with Confederation of Human Rights Organisations </ref> However, they stand accused by judicial inquiries, the ] and various political parties in India of fomenting ] in ] and being involved in the ]. | ||
| == History == | == History == | ||
| The National Development Front or NDF started in 1993 in northern Kerala, India. |
The National Development Front or NDF started in 1993 in northern Kerala, India. It claims that it's main focus is to ensure the rights of all the citizens with a focus to oppressed and minorities. The organization is one of the organizations that took over the political vacuum when the ] (ISS) of ] was banned in 1993 for being a cover for ].<ref>A. Vinod Kumar, ''Is Kerala Emerging as India's New Terror Hub?'', IDSA Strategic Comments (August 2006), Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses accessed at Dec 29, 2006 </ref> | ||
| == 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.<ref name="CHRO"/>. | |||
| NDF has worked very closely with great Human Rights Activist ] and ], which is closely tied with ] International<ref>HRW Report </ref>. | |||
| == NDF and Social Activities == | |||
| NDF has a main focus on socio-economical issues in Dalits and Muslim community in ]. 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 <ref> NDF to widen organizational set-up </ref> | 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 <ref> NDF to widen organizational set-up </ref> | ||
| NDF has conducted different movements, demonstrations, rallies and other democratic strikes to achive: |
NDF has conducted different movements, demonstrations, rallies and other democratic strikes to achive: | ||
| == Declared Ideologies and Positions == | |||
| * To defend the human rights atrocities from Police, Millitary, Goverment and non govermental agencies. | |||
| The NDF, in their website, claims to be a "Human Rights Organization" that is actively working for the emancipation of minorities in Kerala such as Dalits, Tribals and Muslims. | |||
| * Special Recruitments for Jobs and Educational posts where they were denied the seats according to the govermental rules. | |||
| According to them, their main focus is to ensure the rights of all the citizens with a focus on "oppressed and minorities" (sic).<ref>NDF - What is it?</ref> | |||
| * For implementing the reservation and allowances for the backward communities for bringing them up to the main stream society. | |||
| * The rights of OBC minorites enforcing the goverment and its agencies to help the downtrodden in the society. | |||
| They further try to propitiate their activities by alleging that the main cause for the formation of the NDF organization was the "threat and alienation that the] demolition caused among Kerala's Muslims"{{fact}}. They also claim to "give guidance to all such outfits and fight for social justice"<ref> NDF for Social Justice </ref> | |||
| ⚫ | NDF claims to work very closely with all Muslim organizations and co-operate in all the movements for the empowerment of Muslims.<ref>NDF and Muslim Personal law board</ref> | ||
| == Minorities Issues and NDF == | |||
| NDF has recently decided to bring what they claim are "like minded organizations" together for expanding their activities "for the oppressed and the minorities to the rest of the country" <ref> NDF to widen organizational set-up </ref> | |||
| NDF feel that all repressed sections should have their own separate organisations. This is because the problems people are facing are not common. For example, the dalits. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar called them the untouchables. In the job and ruling fronts they still continue as untouchables. Their basic problem is social inequality. Ambedkar told "Ours is a battle not for wealth or for power. It is a battle for freedom. It is a battle for the reclamation of human personality." <ref> A battle for freedom </ref>. | |||
| ⚫ | ==Criticism== | ||
| 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; and that only by forging partnerships with like-minded groups they can begin to have real impact on the perception of their faith and also on policies that affect them. | |||
| The NDF is largely seen as a communal outfit and members of the organization have been implicated in violent incidents like the 2002 ].<ref>R. Krishnakumar, ''Marad shocks'', Frontline (magazine), Volume 23, Issue 20, Oct. 07-20, 2006 accessed at Dec 29, 2006</ref>The ] report found that "activists of IUML and NDF, a Muslim outfit, were actively involved in the massacre" | |||
| <ref name="I"> Times of India - September 27, 2006</ref> NDF has also been blamed for inciting violence against moderate ]s in ], in opposition to liberal and reformist ]ic movements and individuals.<ref name="CC"></ref> and that "involvement of fundamentalists and terrorists" was behind the incident<ref name="I" />. | |||
| Two members of the ] were murdered by the NDF in early 2004<ref> The Hindu - July 17, 2004</ref> and there have been many reports of ] workers and ]s in ] being hacked to death by NDF death squads. | |||
| NDF has a broader vision on empowerment of the country. In order to have developed India, we have to focus first on the upliftment of the down-trodden in the society. Muslims, Dalits, Ezhavas and many others are suffering from discrimination in the society and they are denied of getting enough rights and public facilities. There are many Dalits, Ezhavas and other OBC organizations working closely with NDF.<ref>Paper on Dalit and Muslim organization from ''Dalit Voice''</ref>. | |||
| The ] have put forward allegations that NDF maintains links with ]s ]. <ref>] seeks inquiry into NDF-ISI links] The Hindu - May 20, 2005</ref> The ] (who are politically opposed to the ]) has also raised doubts about the true nature of their activities. On ], ], the Congress launched a campaign against terrorism in Malappuram district in Kerala, labeling NDF as an organization that promotes ].<ref>,''The Hindu''</ref>. In addition, the State secretary of the ] in Kerala, ], has said that NDF was involved in the ] and referred to them as a "terrorist outfit" that executed a "planned mass murder".<ref>, by Aboo Backer, ''CPI(M) weekly''</ref> | |||
| ⚫ | NDF |
||
| The NDF has been heavily criticized for recruiting the largely moderate and progressive ] ]s into extremist ideologies. The organization, while superficially a "Human Rights Group", has attracted numerous ] to their ranks, and, as such, stand compared to several more well-known militant ] groups such as ], ] and others<ref>{{cite book | |||
| == Empower India Conference & Popular Front == | |||
| | last = Ahamkaari | |||
| | first = | |||
| NDF is in coalition with ] and has co-operated in the ], which is held at bangalore in February 2007.<ref>Create broad-based alliance of all oppressed sections</ref> ] is an organisation with a agenda to bring the underprivileged and the marginalized sections like dalits, backward classes and minority communities to come on one platform. The conference is expected to motivate the underprivileged and marginalized sections like dalits, backward classes and minority communities to work for human rights and social justice, he emphasized. | |||
| | authorlink = Ahamkaari | |||
| <ref>PFI's 'Empower India Conf.' in Bangalore from Feb. 15 - 17, 2007 </ref><ref> Main Events of Empower India Conference. </ref> | |||
| | title = Will I Be Killed?: (for Writing the Following Contents...) P331 | |||
| | url = http://www.forbesbookclub.com/BookPage.asp?prod_cd=IT84N | |||
| | year = 2003 | |||
| | publisher = iUniverse | |||
| | language = English | |||
| | isbn = 0595275915 | |||
| | chapter = 4 | |||
| | quote =Kerala is witnessing more and more recruits into this extremist Islamic ideology". When the names are the alarming "Lashkar-e-Toiba" and "Hizbul Mujahiddeen" in the "uneducated North", it is very humorously garbed as "National Development Front" in the south" | |||
| }}</ref>. ] political scientist ] lists the NDF as a "fundamentalist and subversive group"<ref>{{cite book | |||
| | last = Bukay | |||
| | first = David | |||
| | authorlink = David Bukay | |||
| | title = Muhammad's Monsters: A Comprehensive Guide to Radical Islam for Western Audiences P177-178 | |||
| | year = 2004 | |||
| | publisher = New Leaf Press | |||
| | language = English | |||
| | isbn = 0892215763 | |||
| | chapter = | |||
| | quote = Evidence of these processes is mounting throughout India, and is reflected in the number of fundamentalist and subversive groups that exist, and the geographical spread of their activities. The most prominent of these include the ], the All India Milli Council, All India Jihad Committee, The People's Democratic Party, Muslim United Front, Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazagham, National Development Front, ], among others | |||
| }}</ref> | |||
| == NDF Freedom Parade == | == NDF Freedom Parade == | ||
| ] | ] | ||
| NDF every year conduct freedom parade with a slogan ''Be the sentinel of freedom''.<ref>''Be the sentinel of freedom </ref>. 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 <ref>Major Indian Independence Day Activities In Kerala</ref>. NDF has conducted Freedom Parade in 2004, 2005 <ref>Freedom Parade 2005 </ref>, and in 2006<ref> |
NDF every year conduct freedom parade with a slogan ''Be the sentinel of freedom''.<ref>''Be the sentinel of freedom </ref>. 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 <ref>Major Indian Independence Day Activities In Kerala</ref>. NDF has conducted Freedom Parade in 2004, 2005 <ref>Freedom Parade 2005 </ref>, and in 2006<ref>NDF Freedom Parade Report from The Hindu</ref>. | ||
| ⚫ | ==Criticism== | ||
| NDF is accused of illegal activities by many political and fascist individuals and organizations. An example is ISI Connection as accused by BJP and ]<ref> BJP seeks inquiry into NDF-ISI links </ref>. Apart from this accusation, nobody is able to bring any clear evidence or clue for it <ref>ISI Connections!</ref>. The police individuals like Neera Ravath has raised allegations against NDF and NDF has filed a case against her misunderstanding statements<ref>ISI paranoia on Kerala Muslims </ref> | |||
| ''Marad massacre & NDF '': NDF condemns this unfortunate and cruel incident happened in Bepur which killed 8 ''ARAYAN''s. Not only NDF has no involvement in this unfortunate event, but in fact, NDF had welcomed the CBI inquiry <ref> NDF welcomes CBI Prbe</ref> and in the report they didn’t find NDF's involvement <ref> NDF's Involvement in Marad massacre </ref>. There are news in media says NDF is accused in CBI Report <ref>NDF is accused in Marad massacre </ref>, but the fact is among the accused individuals, there were people from many social and political parties including CPM, IUML, RSS, INC and also NDF. This doesn’t mean that these parties are involved. The individual culprits were behind the unfortunate event. NDF has denied this accusation <ref>NDF denies accusition in Marad massacre </ref>. | |||
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| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| * National Development Front Website | |||
| * Popular Front Of India Website | |||
| * CHRO Website | |||
| * | * | ||
| * Rajeev Pi, ''In Kerala bastion, CPM fights hardline Muslim violence'', Sunday Express, August 20, 2006 accessed at Dec 29, 2006 | |||
| * Court Rejects ''Anti-National'' Charge Against human rights leader | |||
| * | |||
| * Empower India Conference 15-17 February | |||
| * '' |
* R. Krishnakumar, ''The Maudany factor'', Frontline (magazine), Volume 19, Issue 22, Oct 26 - Nov 08, 2002 accessed at Dec 29, 2006 | ||
| * R. Krishnakumar, ''Concern in Kerala'', Frontline (magazine), Vol.15, No.05, March 7-20, 1998 accessed at Dec 29, 2006 | |||
| * - The ] | |||
| ] | ] | ||
| ] | ] | ||
Revision as of 20:50, 24 February 2007
.JPG){kind=link}
National Development front (abbreviated as N.D.F) in an organization in Kerala, India that claims to focus on the "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. However, they stand accused by judicial inquiries, the Central Bureau of Investigation and various political parties in India of fomenting Islamic Fundamentalism in Kerala and being involved in the Marad massacre.
History
The National Development Front or NDF started in 1993 in northern Kerala, India. It claims that it's main focus is to ensure the rights of all the citizens with a focus to oppressed and minorities. The organization is one of the organizations that took over the political vacuum when the Islamic Sevak Sangh (ISS) of Abdul Nasser Madani was banned in 1993 for being a cover for terrorism.
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:
Declared Ideologies and Positions
The NDF, in their website, claims to be a "Human Rights Organization" that is actively working for the emancipation of minorities in Kerala such as Dalits, Tribals and Muslims. According to them, their main focus is to ensure the rights of all the citizens with a focus on "oppressed and minorities" (sic).
They further try to propitiate their activities by alleging that the main cause for the formation of the NDF organization was the "threat and alienation that theBabri Mosque demolition caused among Kerala's Muslims". They also claim to "give guidance to all such outfits and fight for social justice"
NDF claims to work very closely with all Muslim organizations and co-operate in all the movements for the empowerment of Muslims.
NDF has recently decided to bring what they claim are "like minded organizations" together for expanding their activities "for the oppressed and the minorities to the rest of the country"
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. The Indian National Congress (who are politically opposed to the BJP) has also raised doubts about the true nature of their activities. On October 31, 2006, the Congress launched a campaign against terrorism in Malappuram district in Kerala, labeling NDF as an organization that promotes Islamic terrorism.. In addition, the State secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, has said that NDF was involved in the Marad massacre and referred to them as a "terrorist outfit" that executed a "planned mass murder".
The NDF has been heavily criticized for recruiting the largely moderate and progressive Kerala Muslims into extremist ideologies. The organization, while superficially a "Human Rights Group", has attracted numerous Islamic Fundamentalists to their ranks, and, as such, stand compared to several more well-known militant Islamist groups such as Lashkar-e-Toiba, Hizbul Mujahideen and others. Haifa University political scientist David Bukay lists the NDF as a "fundamentalist and subversive group"
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
- CHRO Website
References
- NDF in ties with Confederation of Human Rights Organisations
- A. Vinod Kumar, Is Kerala Emerging as India's New Terror Hub?, IDSA Strategic Comments (August 2006), Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses accessed at Dec 29, 2006
- NDF to widen organizational set-up
- NDF - What is it?
- NDF for Social Justice
- NDF and Muslim Personal law board
- NDF to widen organizational set-up
- R. Krishnakumar, Marad shocks, Frontline (magazine), Volume 23, Issue 20, Oct. 07-20, 2006 accessed at Dec 29, 2006
- ^ Marad massacre: Kerala govt for CBI probe Times of India - September 27, 2006
- Communalism Combat March 1999
- Marad: Pinarayi pinpoints NDF involvement The Hindu - July 17, 2004
- The Bharatiya Janata Party seeks inquiry into NDF-ISI links The Hindu - May 20, 2005
- Congress' anti-terrorism campaign in Malappuram,The Hindu
- UDF Slept As Marad Burned, by Aboo Backer, CPI(M) weekly
- Ahamkaari (2003). "4". Will I Be Killed?: (for Writing the Following Contents...) P331. iUniverse. ISBN 0595275915.
Kerala is witnessing more and more recruits into this extremist Islamic ideology". When the names are the alarming "Lashkar-e-Toiba" and "Hizbul Mujahiddeen" in the "uneducated North", it is very humorously garbed as "National Development Front" in the south"
- Bukay, David (2004). Muhammad's Monsters: A Comprehensive Guide to Radical Islam for Western Audiences P177-178. New Leaf Press. ISBN 0892215763.
Evidence of these processes is mounting throughout India, and is reflected in the number of fundamentalist and subversive groups that exist, and the geographical spread of their activities. The most prominent of these include the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, the All India Milli Council, All India Jihad Committee, The People's Democratic Party, Muslim United Front, Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazagham, National Development Front, Students Islamic Movement of India, among others
- Be the sentinel of freedom
- Major Indian Independence Day Activities In Kerala
- Freedom Parade 2005
- NDF Freedom Parade Report from The Hindu
External links
- Probe into Marad riots, Times of India, Sept 28, 2006
- Rajeev Pi, In Kerala bastion, CPM fights hardline Muslim violence, Sunday Express, August 20, 2006 accessed at Dec 29, 2006
- Communal tension high in Kerala, BBC, Dec 10, 2001
- R. Krishnakumar, The Maudany factor, Frontline (magazine), Volume 19, Issue 22, Oct 26 - Nov 08, 2002 accessed at Dec 29, 2006
- R. Krishnakumar, Concern in Kerala, Frontline (magazine), Vol.15, No.05, March 7-20, 1998 accessed at Dec 29, 2006
- In Kerala bastion, CPM fights hardline Muslim violence - The Indian Express