SDPI support to Congress, not unexpected

Congress once again stands exposed. Two developments in Kerala have demonstrated how Congress could stoop to a low level out of the compulsion of politics of appeasement. In the process, Congress did not have any hesitation to make serious compromises with national interests and security.

 

SDPI Kerala president Muvattupuzha Ashraf Moulavi recently offered its support to the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). Moulavi stated that the SDPI would not contest any parliamentary seat in Kerala, and would instead support the Congress as the de facto leader of the INDIA bloc. He said that no discussions were carried out with Congress and added that the support extended was voluntary.

 

 

Congress was expected to take an absolute nationalist stand on SDPI support. However, it went softly as usual as the issue involves Muslim vote banks. Congress-led UDF convenor M.M. Hassan said that nobody would say no to any party voluntarily offering support. Congress campaign committee chief Ramesh Chennithala refused to reject the SDPI support, stating it was individuals who voted in an election rather than the party. Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan stated that the Congress did not seek alliance from “extreme elements” but he did not outrightly reject the SDPI offer.

 

In a nutshell, Congress does not have any hesitation in accepting support from SDPI, which according to its leader is an 'extreme element’. A lot of debate is taking place over the issue but it is mainly surrounded electoral politics or election mathematics. However, elements like PFI and SDPI need to be seen above narrow political considerations. They have to be scrutinized from the perception of national interests and security. Congress has once again struck its habit to protect its Muslim vote bank at the cost of national interests and security.

 

 

If one considers a mere name, one may get the impression that SDPI (Social Democratic Party of India) is a leftist radical organization. SDPI website describes itself as the party founded for the advancement and uniform development of all the citizenry including Muslims, Dalits, Backward Classes and Adivasis. To portray itself as a leftist organization, SDPI calls itself – the party is here to fight the neo-colonial and neo-liberal incursions in our country. Social Democratic Party of India was formed and declared in June 2009 in New Delhi and was registered with the Election Commission of India in April 2010. SDPI has used leftist terms to mislead the people but it is a well-known reality that it is a political front of banned PFI. It is said that SDPI activists were at the forefront when some violent incidents took place in Karnataka over the issue of the Hijab.

 

To understand SDPI, it is necessary to know what PFI is. The Popular Front of India (PFI) and its associates or affiliates or fronts were found involved in serious offences, including terrorism and its financing, targeted gruesome killings, disregarding the constitutional set-up of the country, disturbing public order etc. which are prejudicial to the integrity, security and sovereignty of the country. Therefore, the Ministry of Home Affairs found it necessary to curb the nefarious activities of the organization and was declared the Popular Front of India (PFI) along with its associates or affiliates or fronts including Rehab India Foundation (RIF), Campus Front of India (CFI), All India Imams Council (AIIC), National Confederation of Human Rights Organization (NCHRO), National Women’s Front, Junior Front, Empower India Foundation and Rehab Foundation, Kerala as an “unlawful association” under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. Ban on PFI was announced in September 2022. The Modi government’s decision was upheld by the tribunal and the ban has been extended.

 

It is believed that SDPI offered its support as a reciprocal, anticipating that the Congress-led INDIA block would come to power. SDPI will work to lift the ban on PFI if the INDIA block comes to power. Congress, which has been going softly, would not hesitate to lift the PFI, which is involved in anti-nation activities. Significantly, Congress has asked for a similar ban on ‘extremist Hindu organizations’ and tried to divert attention from the anti-national activities of PFI. The most serious aspect is that SDPI found Congress as the most trustworthy to extend its support. This would not have happened unless some sort of understanding has evolved. SDPI is sure that Congress is the only party, which can compromise with national interests and security, suiting its agenda. This has certainly happened because of Congress’s past.

 

Congress’s compromising position in Kerala can be judged by another fact. Congress had decided to stay away from using its own party flag in Wayanad, where Rahul Gandhi is contesting the election. The announcement was made by Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee President M M Hassan. Curiously, Hassan refused to offer any explanation for the party's decision. Congress's decision is surprising as the use of the party flag is considered inevitable in electioneering. Congress's decision on the flag is restricted to Wayanad only. It uses party flags in other parts of the country. In Wayanad, Congress will use only party symbols and not the flags.

 

Congress’s decision is laughable as it is trying to run away from reality. Congress's decision is hypocritical as it wants to project itself as a secular party on one hand while not wanting to take any risk to anger its Muslim vote bank. The decision is the outcome of the 2019 experience. In the 2019 roadshow in Wayanad, a large number of workers of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) participated along with their party flags. The IUML party flag reminds one Pakistani flag. Roadshow photos created an impression that Rahul’s procession was some event in Pakistan. IUML workers had then outnumbered Congress activists. Such was the crowd of IUML workers that the Congress flag was hardly seen in the procession. Congress seems to have become cautious this time as such photos will affect party prospects in other parts of the country.

 

However, Congress can no longer try to fool the people. The entire nation knows that Rahul Gandhi shifted to Wayanad as it is a Muslim-dominated constituency. According to a rough estimate, the Wayanad constituency has around 45 per cent Muslim voters. Hindu voters are in the minority. Congress has never given a satisfactory explanation on whether Rahul's decision was obvious as he feared Hindu anger in any other constituency. For him, Wayanad was the safest constituency as it was Muslim dominated. Congress is using various methods to fool Hindus by using various tactics.

 

The reality is that Congress's DNA cannot be separated from minorities. Congress has made a serious compromise with its self-esteem by deciding not to use the party flag. Congress has made a serious compromise with national interests by accepting support from SDPI.