National Development Front: Difference between revisions

The '''National Development Front (NDF)''' was a Non-Sunni Muslim organisation set up in [[Kerala]]. It was established in [[India]] in 1994 and merged with [[Popular Front of India]] in 2006 and stated that its objective was to "focus on socio-economical issues of minorities giving a focus to [[Islam in India|Kerala Muslims]] in Kerala".<ref>[http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/apr/30keral.htm ''The Jihad Within''], [[Rediff.com]].</ref><ref>[http://www.insaf.net/pipermail/sacw_insaf.net/1999/000008.html The Muslim Rightwing in Kerala] M G Radhakrishnan ''[[India Today]]'', 15 February 1999</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/america/2007/07/a_kerala_professor_praises_ter.html |title=A Professor Praises Terrorism |author= Amar C. Bakshi |date=20 July 2007 |work=The Washington Post |access-date=16 February 2011}}</ref>

NDF announced a plan to adhere to the ''[[dawah|dawa]]'' (missionary work) of aggressively propagating Islam among other communities. P. Koya, NDF supreme council member, wrote an article in ''Thejas'', the organisation's magazine, magazine, that "many Muslim organisations hold the view that ''dawa'' work is fundamental to Muslims. But the same organisations pay scant attention to the work".<ref>[http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IER20080505213656&Page=R&Title=Kerala&Topic=0 'Major Muslim outfits not good missionaries' – Newindpress.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

Inspired by pan-Islamic reactionary movements across the country after 1992, the NDF gained a firm footing in the [[Malabar (Northern Kerala)|Malabar]] region after the proscription of the Islamic Sevak Sangh (ISS) organisation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/jul/28isi.htm |title=Rediff.com |publisher=Rediff.com |access-date=11 May 2012}}</ref> Kerala police alleged that the National Development Front (NDF) is another re-incarnation of the ISS.<ref>[http://www.idsa.in/publications/stratcomments/VinodKumar220806.htm IDSA Strategic Comments:: Is Kerala Emerging as India's New Terror Hub? ::] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070712222907/http://www.idsa.in/publications/stratcomments/VinodKumar220806.htm |date=12 July 2007 }}</ref> NDF actively publicized its claim to «represent the rights of minorities».<ref name="Campaign">{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/12/21/stories/2005122112160300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001061854/http://www.hindu.com/2005/12/21/stories/2005122112160300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 October 2007 |title=NDF Minorities Campaign |date=21 December 2005 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=11 May 2012}}</ref><ref>[http://www.humanrightskerala.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 CHRO Website]</ref>

In 1997 NDF conducted the National Human Rights Conference in [[Kozhikode]]. Based on discussions and understanding, a new organisation was formed called [[Confederation of Human Rights Organisation]] (CHRO).<ref name="CHRO">[http://www.humanrightskerala.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28&Itemid=4 NDF in ties with Confederation of Human Rights Organisations]</ref> NDF worked closely with journalists associated with Thejas [[Mukundan C Menon]] and the CHRO, who is closely tied to [[Human Rights Watch]] International.<ref>[http://www.humanrightskerala.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4341&Itemid=5 HRW Report]</ref>

The NDF conducted Parades with the slogan "Be the sentinel of freedom"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/08/16/stories/2005081609430400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070427130211/http://www.hindu.com/2005/08/16/stories/2005081609430400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 April 2007 |title='&#39;Be the sentinel of freedom |date=16 August 2005 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=11 May 2012}}</ref> in major cities of Kerala in 2004, 2005,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ndfindia.com/content/view/111/56/ |title=Freedom Parade 2005 |publisher=Ndfindia.com |access-date=11 May 2012}}</ref> and in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/08/16/stories/2005081609430400.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070427130211/http://www.hindu.com/2005/08/16/stories/2005081609430400.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=27 April 2007 |title=NDF Freedom Parade Report from |date=16 August 2005 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=11 May 2012}}</ref> The parades became one of the regular activities on the [[Indian Independence Day]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/08/16/stories/2005081610450300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060909092606/http://www.hindu.com/2005/08/16/stories/2005081610450300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 September 2006 |title=Indian Independence Day Activities in Kerala |date=16 August 2005 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=11 May 2012}}</ref>

NDF is in coalition with [[Popular Front of India]] and co-operated in the [[Empower India Conference]], which was held at Bangalore in February 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/18/stories/2007021820880100.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070220172047/http://www.hindu.com/2007/02/18/stories/2007021820880100.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 February 2007 |title=Create broad-based alliance of all oppressed sections |date=18 February 2007 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=11 May 2012}}</ref>

In 2012, the NDF conducted different movements, demonstrations, rallies and other democratic strikes to protest against police brutality and government abuse,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/07/stories/2006110702230300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001050610/http://www.hindu.com/2006/11/07/stories/2006110702230300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 October 2007 |title=Widespread protests against death sentence |date=7 November 2006 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=11 May 2012}}</ref> claim more working rights in government employment,<ref name="Reservation_rally">{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/02/10/stories/2004021001860500.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071202182929/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/02/10/stories/2004021001860500.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=2 December 2007 |title=NDF to take out '&#39;black march'&#39; |publisher=Hinduonnet.com |access-date=11 May 2012}}</ref> implement [[Reservation in India|reservation]] and allowances for the [[Backward classes|backward communities]] (OBC) to bring them up to the level of mainstream society, and overall enforce the rights of OBC minorities by forcing the government and its agencies to help the downtrodden in Indian society.

In 2012, the NDF was also involved in helping tsunami victims of Kerala and Tamil Nadu by providing necessities and shelter, and providing food and drinks to the victims.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/29/stories/2004122915140300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041231123237/http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/29/stories/2004122915140300.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 December 2004 |title=Relief activities in progress |date=29 December 2004 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=11 May 2012}}</ref>

The NDF is alleged to be involved in efforts to push the Islamic [[Sharia]] code among the moderate and cosmopolitan Muslim society in Kerala, an act viewed by moderate Muslims and secularists as "[[Talibanization]]". NDF was accused of targeting liberals in the community – those who do not strictly follow Islamic laws like abstaining from liquor, fasting during [[Ramadan]], and wearing the [[makhna]] or [[purdah]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insaf.net/pipermail/sacw_insaf.net/1999/000008.html |title=[sacw&#93; The Muslim Rightwing in Kerala |publisher=Insaf.net |access-date=11 May 2012}}</ref> Fakir Uppappa or Siddhan was killed in June for indulging in "un-Islamic spiritualism".<ref name=autogenerated1>[http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/full_story.php?content_id=66573 Kerala's extremist outfit of many faces<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929122031/http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/full_story.php?content_id=66573 |date=29 September 2007 }}</ref>

 

A Muslim was murdered in Punalur for binding with Leftist organisation [DYFI]. Media reports about the killing of CPI(M)'s Ashraf in Punalur in [[Kollam]] district points towards this.<ref name=autogenerated1 /><!--{{Dead link|date=October 2010}} -->

 

 

The NDF denied involvement in the Marad massacre. It alleged that the perpetrators arrested for the acts were not members of their organisation<ref name="Hindu">{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/01/16/stories/2002011603360300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020816013344/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/01/16/stories/2002011603360300.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=16 August 2002 |title=NDF denies accusation in Marad massacre |publisher=Hinduonnet.com |date=16 January 2002 |access-date=11 May 2012}}</ref> and blamed the incident on the [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] and other "Fascist Hindus".<ref name="ndfcruft">{{cite web |url=http://www.ndfindia.com/content/view/481 |title=NDF welcomed CBI Probe |publisher=Ndfindia.com |access-date=11 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20070928100442/http://www.ndfindia.com/content/view/481 |archive-date=28 September 2007}}</ref> They made veiled threats implying that there would "be trouble" if "innocent Muslims were persecuted by the police".<ref name="Hindu"/> They declared that they "welcomed the CBI investigation" into the Marad riots.<ref name="ndfcruft"/>

The NDF criticised the media and the authorities for their portrayal of the organisation as a militant outfit. An NDF spokesperson said:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/01/16/stories/2002011603360300.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020816013344/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/01/16/stories/2002011603360300.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=16 August 2002 |title=News from The Hindu |publisher=Hinduonnet.com |date=16 January 2002 |access-date=11 May 2012}}</ref>

:"Media persons have been misled by Intelligence authorities to believe that the NDF was a militant organisation. They had said the same thing about Congress during the freedom struggle."

* [[Confederation of Human Rights Organizations]]

* [[Students Islamic Organisation of India]]

* [[Thejas]]

* R. Krishnakumar, ''The Maudany factor'', Frontline (magazine), Volume 19, Issue 22, 26 October – 8 November 2002 accessed at [https://web.archive.org/web/20050329132153/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1922/stories/20021108002603800.htm Hinduonnet.com], 29 December 2006

* R. Krishnakumar, ''Concern in Kerala'', Frontline (magazine), Vol.15, No.05, 7–20 March 1998 accessed at [https://web.archive.org/web/20021124134028/http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1505/15051230.htm Hinduonnet.com], 29 December 2006

* Court Rejects ''Anti-National'' Charge Against human rights leader [http://www.pucl.org/Topics/Religion-communalism/2002/anti-national.htm PUCL.org]