NATIONAL POLITICS

Samata Party (Shahabuddin Group): Statement on Dissolution, 31 March, 1996

"The Samata Party was born out of Janata Dal in June, 1994 in protest against the maladministration by Laloo Prasad Government in Bihar and the abdication of responsibility by the national leadership. When the Party President George Fernandes, in violation of the Party's Constitution and Ideology and Resolutions of Foundation Conference and National Executive entered into negotiation with the BJP in November, 1995, there was a split in the Samata Party. Our group, christianed as Namata Party(S), then enjoying the support of 8 out of 14 MP's, approached the National Front on 19 November, 1995, for admission to the Front. All the leaders of the Janata Dal as well as those of the Left Front repeatedly reassured us of a positive response. However, the matter was never considered formally by the National Front which has been in disarray since the passing away of its Chairman, N.T. Rama Rao.

Our request was considered by the PAC of the Janata Dal and rejected summarily on 23 March, 1996.

This decision was bereft of all ideological considerations and reflected political vindictiveness at its worst and betrayed the utterly anti-democratic working of the Janata Dal. Apparently on becoming President, Shri Laloo Prasad Yadav has introduced his own characteristic - arbitrary and whimsical - style of functioning in the Party affairs.

On 29 March, 1996, the Election Commission of India decided to recognize the Fernandes Group as the real Samata Party on the ground that it enjoyed the support of 8 out of 14 MP's. The Election Commission was kind enough to express readiness to register us as a new political party. But to register a political party when the election process had already begun appeared to have little meaning and purpose. We have, therefore, decided to dissolve Samata Party (Shahabuddin), so as to leave our workers free to join a party of their choice.

I take this opportunity to thank all my colleagues the Parliamentary Party particularly our leader Shri Chandrajit Yadav and in the National Executive as well as our workers in various States and districts for extending to me their full cooperation and support. I have every hope that all those associated with the Samata Party(S) shall continue to work for strengthening the forces of Democracy, Secularism and Social Justice.

I fervently appeal to the secular voters to rise above religion, caste and party to adopt TACTICAL VOTING, and support the strongest winnable candidate against the BJP in each Constituency and thus defeat the BJP's game plan."

Shahabuddin on Kishanganj Contest

On a paternal plane, in keeping with my repeated promise to the people of my Constituency Kishanganj. Bihar to contest the next election from Kishanganj and Kishanganj only. I propose to file my nomination in Kishanganj Parliamentary Constituency on 2 April, 1996.

Thanks to the kindness of my old friend Dr. Subramaniam Swamy, President of the Janata Party. I shall be contesting on the symbol of the Janata Party - 'Farmer with a plough within a Circle' (Chakar Haldhar).

In 1991, the BJP was the runner-up in Kishanganj. Therefore, my contest is against the BJP. My political record is an open book. I have consistently opposed the BJP since its creation in 1980 as I consider its ideology to be divisive, anti-democratic and anti-secular. Today for the first time, it has entered the political arena on its own with the claim of forming the next government at the Centre. I, therefore, appeal to all secular parties to extend me their support, and withdraw their candidates in my favor, in order to consolidate the secular vote and defeat the BJP in Kishanganj.

New Delhi, 31 March, 1996

 Shahabuddin's Views on National Code for Minorities

The term minorities in the Indian context should be applied to any identifiable social group, whether based on

religion, language, caste or race, which at a given decision-making level is numerically inferior.

There are five operational levels in our country, namely, the Centre, the State, the District, the Block, and the Panchayat at which decisions are taken which affect

the life of the people living in their respective jurisdiction. Therefore, minorities have to be identified at each of these levels.

blocks or panchayats in the country by any criterion. every religious, linguistic, caste, racial or geographical community in the country forms a pattern of majority in some jurisdiction at some level, and of minority in many other jurisdictions and levels. So every community will be a minority.

Since there are no homogeneous states or districts or be a minority.

What is therefore needed is a National Minorities

Code which should apply to all groups of people in all jurisdictions at all levels where they form a minority. The code should apply equally in their favor wherever they have legitimate grievance against the state, the administration, or their neighbors.

In this view of the matter, minority rights emerge as legitimate human rights as applied to groups and entire minority problems in decommunalised.

(Source: Letter to the Pioneer, New Delhi)