PFI announces campaign to ‘defend democracy’

[email protected] (CD Network)
October 4, 2015

Mangaluru, Oct 4: Popular Front of India will launch a national campaign to defend the democratic rights of people to eat what they like and speak what they like. The decision was taken in the joint meeting of Central Secretariat and the Zonal and State leaders of Popular Front of India at Bangaluru earlier this week.

pfi
The resolution passed by the National Leadership Meet opined that policies and actions of Narendra Modi government are proving that it is only protecting the interests of big corporates and RSS, and not the people of India. BJP’s tall promises such as Sab ka saath Sab ka Vikas, return of black money within hundred days, corruption free governance etc. have been proved to be just that, empty promises.

The government’s withdrawal from service sectors like education and public health in favour of big business houses are going to seriously affect the common people. Narendra Modi’s much publicised world tours with the slogan “Make in India” have not brought any economic gain for the nation. Sooner or later people of India have to pay a high price for the crony capitalist policies of the NDA regime.

The meeting also found highly disturbing the increasing role of Sangh Parivar in running the government. There is strong evidence that even cabinet ministers and high level bureaucrats queue up to meet the higher ups in RSS. It is involved in creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation among the Dalits, backward castes and secular circles.

The meeting has expressed deep concern over the rise of attacks, both verbal and physical, against minorities ever since new government came to power. The innocent Muslims are paying the price for the extreme communal hatred inflamed by campaigns against the imaginary increase of Muslim population.

Latest incidents show that communal fascist elements are emboldened to carry extreme brutalities hitherto unheard of and impose their will upon helpless Muslims as seen in attempts to prevent Qurbani during Eid and the brutal killing of an innocent old man close to the national capital allegedly for eating beef.

People who are vocal in their opposition to Hindutva politics are being exterminated systematically. The killing of the free thinker M M Kalburgi in Karnataka is only the latest in the series of permanently silencing critics.

The meeting has observed that the recent agitation by forwards castes such as Patels in Gujarat for reservation is a clear ploy to undermine the very system reservation meant for the empowerment of backward classes. The leader of the agitation has admitted that he draws inspiration from extreme rightist leaders. The cat is out of the bag with RSS supremo Mohan Bhagawat calling for a review of the system of reservation itself.

The meeting urged central and state governments to take a principled stand in the matter of reservation which has proved to be an effective means for achieving justice and equality among the depressed classes.

Popular Front has appealed the secular democratic forces and patriotic citizens at large to join hand to defend democracy by standing up for people’s right to freedom of food and freedom of thought. As a step towards this goal, Popular Front will undertake a campaign across the country under the caption Right to Eat; Right to Speak from 9 to 18 October. The National Leadership Meet appealed support from all sections of society for making the campaign successful.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
April 26,2024

A 91-year-old woman passed away minutes after casting her vote in Karnataka's Hunsur on Friday, April 26. Hunsur comes under Mysuru Lok Sabha constituency. Despite her advanced age, Puttamma exercised her democratic right.

Voting held on Friday in 14 constituencies in Karnataka. Polling began at 7 am and will ended at 6 pm.

Chende artiste Manohar dies 

artistemanohar.jpg

Chende artiste Manohar (58) died of cardiac arrest after exercising his franchise in Kodagu district.

He had cast his vote at B Shettigeri polling station in Ponnampet taluk. Later, Chende artiste Manohar (58) reportedly collapsed after coming out of the polling booth. Though he was rushed to hospital, doctors declared him brought dead.

Ponnampet Tahsildar Mohankumar said “Manohar had come out of the polling booth and collapsed 200 metres away from the booth.

For the uninitiated, Chende (also known as Chenda) is a cylindrical percussion instrument widely used in cultural events in Tulu Nadu of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in India.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
April 25,2024

Bengaluru, Apr 25: Former union minister C M Ibrahim, who was expelled from Janata Dal (Secular) for protesting against party’s alliance with BJP, has stressed on need for a third front not just at the national level, but also in Karnataka. 

Addressing a news conference in Bengaluru on Wednesday, he said he’s planning to form a third front in Karnataka along with Lingayat Seer Dingaleshwar Swami.

Ibrahim said that he will tour the state between April 27 and May 4 and that he would meet Dingaleshwar Swami on April 29. “There is a need for the third front in this country. We will try to establish a third front in association with the seer and we hope we will be successful in those efforts,” he said.

Expressing disappointment with the Congress for not doing enough to gain the full confidence of Muslims, Ibrahim said that Congress is concentrating only on certain communities for votes, and ignoring Muslims. 

“The Congress is not even caring for Muslims and Dalit votes. In some Muslim areas they did not even hold campaigns seeking votes and trying to convince the communities which never vote in their favour. I fear this may lead to low turnout and Congress may lose its vote base,” he opined.

Mentioning about guarantees on which Congress is strongly relying during this election, Ibrahim said, such things won’t work all the time. “Guarantees will not work anymore. Every election you need to give something new to the voters,” he added.

On Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that Congress is trying to appease minorities for votes, Ibrahim requested both Congress and BJP parties not bring Muslims between them. “I request both parties. Leave us alone. Don’t make us sandwiches for your political sake. We are living with peace and hope even the Prime Minister will understand this,” Ibrahim added.

Launching a broadside against Prime Minister Deve Gowda, Ibrahim said, “Deve Gowda has sold his personality itself. Whatever I have told about JD(S) has come true. I pity, a former Prime Minister should not have come to this stage,” he said. 

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
May 1,2024

Mangaluru: The Bengaluru-Mangaluru air route has recently surpassed the Mumbai route to become the busiest for Mangaluru International Airport.

According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s city pairing data for March this year, 51,734 passengers travelled between Mangaluru and Bengaluru, while 50,340 passengers flew on the Mangaluru-Mumbai route.

In January and February, the Mumbai air route had the highest passenger flow with 60,306 and 52,732 passengers, respectively, compared to 53,509 and 47,530 for Bengaluru during the same months. However, the trend shifted in March, with the Bengaluru-Mangaluru route surpassing Mumbai.

An official from MIA explained, “The first reason for Bengaluru taking over Mumbai is that flights that almost fly full to Mumbai were reduced from March, after the ministry of civil aviation suggested easing air traffic congestion at Mumbai airport. The air carrier IndiGo, which used to operate four flights a day from MIA, reduced it to three. Air India Express, which operates two flights a day, has made no changes. As a result of this, Bengaluru has taken over Mumbai. A total seven flights operates per day to Bengaluru.” 

The official added that despite the reduction in flights, the Mumbai route still experiences high demand. DGCA data for 2023 shows that the Mumbai and Bengaluru sectors have experienced growth of 11.9% and 19.3%, respectively.

The Mangaluru-Mumbai sector has seen a total of 5,52,767 passengers, followed by Bengaluru with 5,52,500 passengers in the same calendar year.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.