New Delhi:
The Campus Front of India, a neo-social student’s movement which
aims to empower the campuses by developing a new generation of
activists, was formally launched at the “National Students
Convention” in the auditorium of India International Centre here on
Saturday.
Mohammed Yusuff of Tamil Nadu, General
Convener of National Students Convention, was unanimously elected
the national founder president of the Campus Front of India, (CFI),
in the presence of more than 200 delegates from 13 states. He is a
fresh law graduate from Madurai Government Law College. Anis Ahmad,
chairman of the organizing committee of the convention, facilitated
the unanimous elections and announced the names accordingly. He
administered oath to the newly elected leaders.
The other office-bearers elected on
the occasion are: Dr. Zaka-ul-Huda from Bihar, & P.A. Rauf from
Kerala (both vice presidents); Anis-uz-Zaman of JNU (general
secretary); Mohammad Shaheen of Delhi University, & Asif Qazi from
Rajasthan (both secretaries) and Mateen Ahmad from Bangalore
(treasurer).
Earlier, in his presidential remarks
Anis said in India development means development of the ruling class
only. The political power in the last more than 60 years has been
wrested in the hands of a miniscule group only by which ever
nomenclature they may rule the country while about 98 per cent of
the masses are just silent spectators to the plunders of the
resources by the ruling class.
Anis opined that there is a need for
change in the situation of India where capitalism is now ruling the
roost. There is need for change in attitude of people, situation of
tribals and the situation where human rights are openly violated.
There is need to change the situation where a Narendra Modi under
whose rule innocents were massacred is being projected as future
Prime Minister of India. He emphasized the need of a national
student movement and the role of students in fighting for social
issues.
E.M. Abdur Rahiman, chairman, Popular
Front of India, while delivering the inaugural address, called upon
students to inculcate the qualities of activist in themselves so
that they can propagate it to the society. He urged them to express
solidarity with depressed and exploited sections of the society.
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Anis Ahmad
administering oath to National Committee of Campus Front of
India at New Delhi in India International Centre |
Abdur Rahiman cautioned the students
not to become tools of violence and play into the hands of forces
that are inimical to social change. He asked them to strive for a
positive social change and build student power to utilize it to
build a better new India for one and all. At the end of his
inspiring speech he declared the National Students Convention
opened.
A. Saeed, general secretary, Social
Democratic Party of India, moaned that global forces are marketing
hatred and showcasing it in the form of development. Everyone is
speaking of development but the development is only aiming the
progress of business class.
Saeed hoped that CFI would swim
against the tide and reach to all sections of the society and strive
hard for all the marginalized sections.
Gautam Navlakha, Consulting Editor,
Economic and Political Weekly, speaking on occasion the said that
organizations which fight for social justice will be tested and only
movements with strong determination will survive. He also added that
“India is the only country which has used paramilitary forces
against its own people every single year for the past 62 years”.
Adv. Mohammed Yusuff presented the
background report. Anis-uz-Zaman presented the discussion paper.
Earlier, P. Nazar, Convener Organizing Committee, delivered the
welcome speech. The delegates session concluded with the vote of
thanks by M.K. Sharafuddin.
Meanwhile, in the afternoon session,
there was a seminar on the theme “Students for Social Change”. The
seminar started with introductory remarks by Anis Ahmed. He stated
“that the current situation existing in the country denies equity
and justice to weaker sections of the society and the struggle for
social justice will begin with empowering campuses”.
Chief guest Prof. P. Koya, Chief
Editor, Thejas Daily, Kerala, stated that media today has become a
stumbling block for social change. He exposed the low standards of
few sections of media which propagated lies in creating a issues
like "Love Jihad”. He lamented that Media has become watchdog of
powers that be rather than being the watchdog of human rights,
liberty, freedom and civil rights.
“Media in collaboration with the
Hindutva groups have recently created a shady, shadowy organization
"Love Jihad". Media creates images out of nothing as in this case
canard is being spread. They are spreading rumour that Muslim youths
are being trained to woo Hindu and Christian girls for marriage and
then convert them to Islam. After that, the Hindutva groups claim,
those girls are sent for terror training in Pakistan,” he said. Even
statistics have been produced and circulated on this count as this
is one of the form to spread lies, he added.
He advised students to jump the Media
bogey to achieve the target of social change. He hoped that this
small beginning will be the beginning of a great revolution not only
in campuses but in the entire country where hunger is rampant and
human rights are grossly violated.
“You will have to be determined and
ready to offer sacrifice as you will face such problems. If you do
not face any problem it means you are a useless organization,” Prof
Koya said. He hoped Campus Front will be beacon of hope for
millions.
Prof Tanikha Sarkar of Jawaharlal
Nehru University, appealed the CFI to evolve a rainbow coalition,
not one focused on uniformity of views or sectarianism. “Situation
is so tense that only good resolutions will not work. We should sit
and debate the ground situation,” she remarked.
Highlighting the enormity of the
spread of tentacles of Hindutva forces, Prof. Sarkar said: "With the
defeat of BJP, the political front of RSS, one should not think
Sangh Parivar has fallen. In fact they are spreading in every nook
and corner of the country. There is need to collect information as
to how and where they are working. There is a need to identify such
groups working at the grass roots.
Prof. Sarkar expressed the view that
the country which rules its people by using army cannot claim to be
practicing democracy. She said Britons did not rule India in the
North East with paramilitary forces as is being done in India by the
present rulers. She appreciated the efforts and initiation of Campus
Front of India to strive for social change.
During the convention Campus Front
passed 10 resolutions viz. (i) Resist the influence of globalization
on education, (ii) Defeat the nefarious designs of Hindutva fascism,
(iii) Strict implementation of education bill, (iv) Ensure
reservation to all backward communications, (v) Start more schools
and technical institution in Dalits and Muslim dominated areas, (vi)
Abolish entrance exams for admissions, (vii) Protect campuses from
becoming crime hubs, (viii) Stop political interventions in Aligarh
Muslim University, (ix) Stop targeting minorities and tribals in the
name of extremism and naxalism and (x) Ensure protection of cultural
identity and individual freedom of students.
The programme
concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by Mohammed Shaheen,
Secretary CFI.
(pervezbari@eth.net)
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