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], calling for solidarity with ]]] ], calling for solidarity with ]]]


National Development front, abbreviated as ], is an organisaiton in ], ] established in 1993, focusing on socio-enonomical issues of minorities giving a focus to ], ]s and ] in ]. Its slogan is ''Swathantryam - Neethi - Surakrsha'' which means Freedom, Justice and Security. NDF work for the total empowerment of the oppressed communities and it seek to build alliances with all sectors of the society for achiving this goal. In 1997 it stood behind the formation of the ], founded in ].<ref name="CHRO"> NDF in ties with Confederation of Human Rights Organisations </ref> The '''National Development Front''' ('''NDF''') in an organization in ], ], established in 1993. It claims to focus on the "socio-enonomical issues of minorities giving a focus to ]". 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 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 ==
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.<ref>NDF - What is it?</ref><ref>NDF Kerala: Overview</ref> The main cause for the formation of this organization was the threat and alienation that the Babri Masjid demolition caused among Kerala's Muslims.Then the ] report opened the doors of power to the backward castes and minorities and made them conscious of their rights. <ref> Mandal Commission</ref> This consciousness 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.


== NDF and Human Rights Movements == == 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.
NDF intervene in many of ] violation incidents happening in ].<ref> NDF for Social Justice </ref> 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.<ref>CHRO Website </ref>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"/>.
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>


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|date=February 2007}}. They also claim to "give guidance to all such outfits and fight for social justice"<ref> NDF for Social Justice </ref>
NDF has worked very closely with great Human Rights Activist ] and ], which is closely tied with ] International<ref>HRW Report </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>
== NDF and Social Activities ==


⚫ 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 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.<ref name="Campign"> NDF Minorities Campign </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.
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 is a widely accepted among ] 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. It greatly pushes for implementing the ] report and ] report to ensure the educational-social-economic privileges. <ref name="Campign" />


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 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>


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
NDF has conducted different movements, demonstrations, rallies and other democratic strikes to achive:<ref>NDF for Social Justice </ref>
| last = Ahamkaari

| first =
* To defend the human rights atrocities from Police, Millitary, Goverment and non govermental agencies.<ref>Widespread protests against death sentence</ref>
| authorlink = Ahamkaari
* Special Recruitments for Jobs and Educational posts where they were denied the seats according to the govermental rules.
| title = Will I Be Killed?: (for Writing the Following Contents...) P331
* For implementing the reservation and allowances for the backward communities for bringing them up to the main stream society.
| url = http://www.forbesbookclub.com/BookPage.asp?prod_cd=IT84N
* The rights of OBC minorites enforcing the goverment and its agencies to help the downtrodden in the society.
| year = 2003

| publisher = iUniverse
== Minorities Issues and NDF ==
| language = English

| isbn = 0595275915
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>.
| 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"
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.
}}</ref>. ] political scientist ] lists the NDF as a "fundamentalist and subversive group"<ref>{{cite book

| last = Bukay
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>.
| first = David

| authorlink = David Bukay
⚫ NDF works very close with all muslim organisations and co-operate in all the movements for the empowerment of Muslims.<ref>NDF and Muslim Personal law board</ref>
| title = Muhammad's Monsters: A Comprehensive Guide to Radical Islam for Western Audiences P177-178

| year = 2004
== Empower India Conference & Popular Front ==
| publisher = New Leaf Press

| language = English
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.
| isbn = 0892215763
<ref>PFI's 'Empower India Conf.' in Bangalore from Feb. 15 - 17, 2007 </ref><ref> Main Events of Empower India Conference. </ref>
| 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 the slogan''Be the sentinel of freedom''.<ref>''Be the sentinel of freedom </ref> in major cities of Kerala in 2004, 2005 <ref>Freedom Parade 2005 </ref>, and in 2006<ref>NDF Freedom Parade Report from The Hindu</ref>. The parades have become one of the major activities on the ] <ref>Major Indian Independence Day Activities In Kerala</ref>. NDF has conducted Freedom Parades with the slogan''Be the sentinel of freedom''.<ref>''Be the sentinel of freedom </ref> in major cities of Kerala in 2004, 2005 <ref>Freedom Parade 2005 </ref>, and in 2006<ref>NDF Freedom Parade Report from The Hindu</ref>. The parades have become one of the major activities on the ] <ref>Major Indian Independence Day Activities In Kerala</ref>.


⚫ ==Criticism==


⚫ ==See also==
NDF is accused of illegal activities by many political and fascist individuals <ref>Terrorism, a political weapon </ref>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>.


⚫ ==See Also==
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* ] * ]
* NDF Minorities Campign

⚫ * CHRO Website


==References== ==References==
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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
* '']'' addressing in Empower India Conference * 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 ]
* - Ajai Sahni
] ]
] ]

Revision as of 09:54, 27 February 2007

File:Kerala2006 (18).JPG
NDF poster in Alappuzha, calling for solidarity with Palestine

The National Development Front (NDF) in an organization in Kerala, India, established in 1993. It claims to focus on the "socio-enonomical issues of minorities giving a focus to Kerala Muslims". 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 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.

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 Freedom Parade 2006

NDF has conducted Freedom Parades with the sloganBe the sentinel of freedom. in major cities of Kerala in 2004, 2005 , and in 2006. The parades have become one of the major activities on the Indian Independence Day .


See also

References

  1. 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
  2. NDF in ties with Confederation of Human Rights Organisations
  3. NDF - What is it?
  4. NDF for Social Justice
  5. NDF and Muslim Personal law board
  6. NDF to widen organizational set-up
  7. R. Krishnakumar, Marad shocks, Frontline (magazine), Volume 23, Issue 20, Oct. 07-20, 2006 accessed at Dec 29, 2006
  8. ^ Marad massacre: Kerala govt for CBI probe Times of India - September 27, 2006
  9. Communalism Combat March 1999
  10. Marad: Pinarayi pinpoints NDF involvement The Hindu - July 17, 2004
  11. The Bharatiya Janata Party seeks inquiry into NDF-ISI links The Hindu - May 20, 2005
  12. Congress' anti-terrorism campaign in Malappuram,The Hindu
  13. UDF Slept As Marad Burned, by Aboo Backer, CPI(M) weekly
  14. 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"
  15. 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
  16. Be the sentinel of freedom
  17. Freedom Parade 2005
  18. NDF Freedom Parade Report from The Hindu
  19. Major Indian Independence Day Activities In Kerala

External links

Categories: