By Pervez Bari, TwoCircles.net,
Bangalore: The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) has demanded for electoral reforms leading to the adoption of proportional representation as the form of election system which is already in vogue in many democracies of the world.
This demand is contained in the 15-point resolutions which were adopted by voice vote on the second day in the two-day National Representative Council (NRC) meeting of the SDPI on May 22. The resolution appealed to the party workers of all levels to remain ever more active and committed to the august cause of the desired political empowerment and work more frequently for the politics of agitation round the year, without bothering much on the outcome of the electoral politics which may be sometimes encouraging and sometime disheartening.
The resolution noted that although no candidate of the SDPI won in the recent Assembly elections held in five states of the country in April and May 2011, wherein the party fielded candidates in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Pondicherry, the presence of the party has created great enthusiasm in its rank and file and the unsatisfied common men of the country saw in it a promising alternative for political empowerment of the weaker sections of the country.
The other 14 resolutions passed at the NRC included:-
1. International Situation: The SDPI expressed its grave concern over the explosive situation in the world in which the hegemonies of the USA and allies constantly violate national freedom, sovereignty, right to self-determination and co-existence, and thus threatening peace and harmony. The SDPI expressed its anxiety over the transformation of the UN Security Council into a body which gives propriety to such actions of some authoritarian nations while ignoring altogether constant threat to the world peace from US and Israel. It also felt that the foreign policy of India has lost its esteem and direction and the country was steadily being turned into protégé of powerful nations.
2. Economic Policy: The SDPI warns in strong words the prevalent economic policy of the central and many state governments which is detrimental to the sovereignty of the country, inflammatory, a departure from the widely accepted mixed economy, anti-people and anti-farmer, increasing unemployment and disparities among people and regions, disastrous for the environment, and a stumbling block in making India a world economic power. The SDPI feels that India should pursue a balanced and inclusive economic development and shape its economic policy independent of the global pressures.
3. Communalism: The SDPI is of the opinion that the communal politics in the country is unabatedly targeting minorities, SCs, STs, OBCs, and regional aspirations. The communal organizations are also encouraging terrorism and communal conflict in different parts of the country and using their strong influence in administration and media for generating prejudice and mistrust against minorities, SCs STs, and OBCs.
4. Human Rights Violations: The innocent youths implicated in Malegaon, Makkah Masjid, and Samjhauta Express blasts and other terrorist cases should be released immediately, since these sordid events have been proved the handwork of communal organizations. The SDPI demands that the government should institute a national commission of enquiry to document all terrorist events in the country in a comprehensive manner. The SDPI demands for disqualifying Narendra Modi as the Chief Minister since several instances are now on record which indicates that he has misused his authority in unleashing a reign of terror, during 2002 genocide.
5. 15-Point Programme: The SDPI is of the opinion that the much publicized Prime Ministers 15-Point Programme (New) is delivering no good to people in the absence of any structured and valid mechanism for achieving its set targets. The party appeals to the central government to come out with a feasible mechanism for ensuring a just outcome.
6. Caste Census and Poverty Survey: The SDPI welcomes the central government’s decision to undertake caste census and survey of incidence of poverty with new parameters and expect that it will take every care to ensure the achievement of stated objectives of these national level exercises.
7. Women and Child Development: SDPI feels concerned at the decreasing population of women as revealed in the current census. Women have still not been provided equality in social and public life including education, jobs, and respect. The children are exposed to exploitation. The minors are being forced as laborers. The dropout of children particularly among Muslims and Dalits are still high. SDPI demands immediate correction measures to protect the rights of women and children.
8. Environment: The extensive use of polythene, unrestricted and illegal cutting of trees, and digging of mines have posed a new challenge, besides the danger of nuclear plants and SDPI demands that healthy environment friendly atmosphere must be promoted by the concerned citizens, organizations, and the government.
9. Land Reforms: SDPI feels that the tenure-holders must be restored their rights against force acquisition of agricultural land for commercial and industrial purposes. The allocation in GDP must be increased for the agriculture and irrigation and the investment must sufficiently be made to enhance the growth rate. The party also calls upon the government for comprehensive land reforms.
10. Constitutional Crisis in Karnataka: SDPI feels that present Karnataka government has been made captive of opportunists, communalists, criminals, and mine grabbers. The government is surviving on cheap political calculations and has lost the mandate of electorate. The Assembly must be dissolved and fresh elections must be held.
11. Non-Functioning of Government Bodies: A hunt must be made to eliminate the unscrupulous communal, caste-based and corrupt elements from government bodies and key positions. The secular credentials must be checked of officials and the performance of the government bodies must be put under the monitoring of suitable committee.
12. Waqf Act: SDPI feels that the central government has totally failed to do justice with the Waqf affairs even after the exposure of the ills by the Sachar Committee Report (Volume-2). SDPI takes strong exception to the move of central government to constitute central Waqf agency without consulting the Muslim representatives.
13. Minority Ministry in States: SDPI strongly demands that Minority Affairs Ministry must be formed in each state with capable persons having understanding of minority issues. The ministry must be provided sufficient staff and paraphernalia to effectively function and to properly deliver justice to the members of the minorities.
14. Revoke AFSPA: SDPI vehemently voices to revoke the AFSPA and extends solidarity with Irom Chanu Sharmila who is on struggle raising the same demand.
Two papers were presented in the first session on the second day of the NRC meeting. Abdul Rashid Agwan, SDPI’s NWC member, made a PowerPoint presentation on “Proportional Election System: The Remedy against Elective Dictatorship”. The second paper was presented by Prof. P. Koya, also a SDPI NWC member, on the subject “Is There A Different Model of Development?”
EM Abdul Rahman presided over the valedictory session in which Bhai Tej Singh, president of Ambedkar Samaj Party, was the chief guest. The 15-point resolutions were read out and passed in this session.
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