I. Threat of Fascism and Consolidation of Secular Forces:

The National Executive endorses the policy of selective support to and cooperate with the Chandra Shekhar Government on its initiative to resolve major national problems such as the Babari Masjid dispute, the political impasse in Punjab, J & K and Assam and the communal situation. The National Executive identifies the RSS-VHP-BJP axis as a serious threat to the secular order and to national integrity and calls for the consolidation of all secular forces to meet the creeping challenge of fascism, rising above partisan and personal considerations. The National Executive authorises the President to take all possible steps to accelerate such consolidation.

 II. Babari Masjid Dispute

The National Executive reiterates its view that since negotiations at various levels have not discovered any meeting ground between the parties, both sides must commit themselves to, and await the final judicial verdict on, the question of title and in the meantime eschew all agitation. The National Executive demands that the State must protect the Babari Masjid as well as the disputed land adjacent thereto, in accordance with the injunction of the High Court. The National Executive also demands that the Central Government should enact a legislation to protect the status of all places of worship as on 15 August, 1947.

The National Executive considers it an unprecedented and generous offer on the part of the Muslim community in the interest of national unity that it would hand over the Babari Masjid site if it is found that a Ram Mandir was demolished to construct the Babari Masjid on its site, even if the title suit is decided in its favour. In this context, the National Executive generally supports the Rajiv Gandhi formula provided both parties commit themselves to accept the finding of the Commission and the final verdict on the question of title subject only to the finding of the Commission, and suspend all agitations and a central law is enacted as mentioned above.

 III. J & K Situation

The National Executive feels that the political situation in J & K cannot be resolved by brute force but by political negotiations with the genuine representatives of the Kashmir people on the question of autonomy. In order to create a suitable environment, the policy of reprisal and crackdown, of encounters and detention must be abandoned and life in the valley must become normal. In the meantime a sincere effort must also be made by all national parties to evolve a national consensus on a scheme of autonomy within the Union which would satisfy the legitimate aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

 IV. Punjab, Assam, Bihar and Tamil Nadu

The National Executive favours elections to be held in Punjab at an early date. While welcoming the President's rule in Assam, the National Executive is of the view that no further extension of President's rule should be sought by the Central Government.

The National Executive cautions the Government against imposition of President's rule in Bihar or Tamil Nadu as such a step would be totally unwarranted and anti-democratic.

 V. Communal Violence

The National Executive expresses its deep concern and anguish at the wave of communal violence precipitated by the Ramrath Yatra, the Kar Seva and the on-going so-called Satyagraha as well as the Kalash Yatra and incited by the inflammatory speeches and incendiary slogans and their video and audio cassettes.

The National Executive has also noted that the police machinery in general and the state Armed Constabularies in particular, have openly collaborated with the Hindu militants in planning and attacks, by providing fire cover, by committing atrocities and by erasing evidence, thus eroding the confidence of the Muslim community.

The National Executive is of the view that the loss of faith by the minorities and weaker sections in the political system and the administrative machinery shall have disastrous consequences, with the target groups inevitably taking to self-defence.

The National Executive, therefore, demands that:

a) All militant Senas, particularly Bajrang Dal, should be banned;

b) Organisations like the VHP and its leaders and spokesmen should be brought within the discipline of the laws of the land;

c) Offensive audio and video cassettes and publications should be banned;

d) Those making inflammatory speeches and organising provocative processions should be prosecuted;

e) State Armed Constabularies, particularly the PAC of UP, should be restructured, reorganised and retrained and, until this is done, they should not be deployed in Muslim localities;

f) Muslims and other weaker sections should be given due representation in the police force, the intelligence machinery and the armed constabularies so that they are composite in character and develop a national and secular ethos;

g) Special anti-riot force with 50% representation of Muslims and Harijans and Adivasis should be formed both at Central and State levels.

All places of worship damaged/destroyed or adversely occupied should be repaired/constructed by the State and restored to the community to which they belong. Without such drastic measures, the National Executive is of the view that social violence shall become endemic and the country shall soon be reduced to a state of civil war and anarchy, in effect, become ungovernable.

VI. Minorities Welfare

The National Executive also demands the urgent implementation of the recommendations of the Gopal Singh Panel, the Gujral Committee on Urdu, the Minorities Commission and the National Integration Council by the Central Government and the presentation of an annual report to the Parliament on the implementation of the Prime Minister's 15-Point Programme for the Welfare of the Minorities which should be revised to give it a quantitative orientation.

VII. Reservation

The National Executive demands reservation in public employment and higher education for all social groups, identified by caste or tribe or religion (in the case of religious minorities) to the extent of 50% of the population, subject to the Constitution that the candidates fulfilling a uniform economic criteria shall have priority in filling the quota available to their social groups.

VIII. Bofors Investigation

The National Executive demands that the Bofors investigation be taken inexorably to its logical conclusion without fear or favour and without any delay.

 IX. Economic Situation

The National Executive urges the Central Government to make every possible effort to control inflation and to bring down the prices of essential articles of mass consumption. The National Executive welcomes the policy of reduction in non-productive expenditure and import in order to tide over the financial crisis and to maintain foreign exchange reserves at a safe level.

X. Decentralization of Power

The National Executive demands that the Central Govt. initiate consultation with political parties as well as other voluntary organisations and institute of national importance on the formulation of a Scheme of Decentralisation of Political and Administrative Power, based on devolution from the Union to the States, from the States to the Districts, from the Districts to the Blocks and from the Blocks to the Panchayats.

XI. External Affairs

The National Executive welcomes the progress made by the SAARC Summit towards economic integration of the Sub-continent. It urges the Chandra Shekhar government to concentrate on improving bilateral and multi-lateral relations among the states of the subcontinent and transform into a Zone of Peace, Cooperation and Friendship. The National Executive also expresses the hope that India shall make effective contribution towards national reconciliation in Afghanistan, restoration of democracy in Burma, vacation of Kuwait by Iraq, of Arab Occupied Territories by Israel and the dawn of democracy in South Africa, the defence of human rights all over the world and finally the reduction of disparities between the developed and the developing countries through restructuring of international economic relations.

INSAF PARTY DEMANDS WITHDRAWAL OF PAC, RESTORATION OF MOSQUES IN ALIGARH AND REORGANISATION OF POLICE MACHINERY

"The communal violence in Aligarh has taken a very serious turn. Trains and buses are being stopped and persons identified as Muslims are being killed in cold blood. PAC and Bajrang Dal are jointly attacking Muslim mohallas and shooting down innocent persons in their houses. Mosques have been attacked, illegally occupied and converted into temples. The Aligarh Muslim University is besieged and its teachers and students are apprehensive of their security.

We demand that:

1) The Central and State Governments withdraw PAC immediately from Muslim localities and from the University and replace PAC by the Central para-military forces or by the Army.

2) Effective steps be taken for the security of rail and railway passengers;

3) The PAC personnel against whom there is a prima facie case of murder be suspended, arrested and prosecuted;

4) The mosques be restored immediately;

5) The State Government take steps to identify the missing;

6) The State Government announces and implement a Scheme of Relief and Rehabilitation.

We warn the government that if the Muslim community continues to feel insecure and to be the target of the PAC and the Hindu militant organisations, it shall lose not only its confidence in the good faith of the Government but its faith in the political system. Such a loss of faith and confidence shall have dire consequences for the country.

In the long term, the only solution is the reorganisation of the UP police and PAC in UP as well as other states, with proportionate representation of the Muslims and other weaker sections so as to create a composite force to be deployed composite in mixed areas. Apart from this Special Battalions of the CRPF should be formed for riot control with at least 50% representation of the minorities. This proposal has been on the national agenda for too long. Time has come for the Central government to take immediate steps to implement this proposal."

New Delhi, 10 December, 1990

(Source: The Times of India, 13 August, 1990)