Eighteen chief ministers in the State who had held the reins of power have belonged to two predominant castes, while Dalits who constitute 24 per cent of the population and Muslims who constitute 12.5 per cent of the population, have had no say in the government. Similarly, OBCs who constitute 42.5 per cent of the population have never been given a chance to form a government, said Popular Front of India Treasurer A M M Shafi.
Presiding over the public meet organised as part of the people’s march programme and vehicle jaatha at Surathkal Maidan on Monday, he said though the Dalits and minorities are tax payers, they are neglected. While big companies like Reliance are kept away from the tax net, the government has shown indifference towards waiving farm loans, which may require just about Rs 300 crore. Just a single vote can fetch a corrupt politician about Rs 50,000. Hence, the minorities and Dalits must unitedly fight to bring a person from their community to power, he pointed out.
Tax imposed on commodities is quite high in the State, compared to other states. This is in fact a deathly blow on the poor, he explained. Speaking about the agriculture sector, he said the Green Revolution was a ploy of the US to sell its banned pesticides and outdated agricultural equipment. While the yield increased, the expenditure on fertilisers, pesticides and equipment too increased. This actually drove the farmers to avail huge bank loans, which they could not repay. Even in the era of globalisation, farmers in our country are not in a position to compete with farmers of European countries, he added.
Kerala Imam Council Chairman Maulana Ashraf Moulvi said the BJP has claimed to form a government in the State on the Gujarat model. If such a government comes to power in the State, the minorities will not feel secure here. BJP is trying to establish Brahminism and not equality, he added.
Leader Anwar Sadath said multinational companies have displaced both farmers and the common man. Prices of commodities and land have skyrocketed due to these companies, leaving the poor in dire straits, he said. The nuclear treaty is being signed by the UPA government without much contemplation over the consequences, he warned.
A vehicle jatha was taken out from the venue to Ullal at 2 pm, which was followed by a Jaajagriti Samavesha at Ullal. The jatha and convention being organised in different parts of the State to oppose communalism and political exploitation and to strengthen the minorities and DSS, will conclude with a mass convention at Bangalore on February 22.
KFD, Mangalore convenor Aboobakker Kulai, Karnataka Dalita Sangharsha Samiti convenor Rajaram, DSS district president P Anand and KFD member Ibrahim Addoor were present.
