PRESS RELEASE
A discussion on “Options in Present Political Scenario” was organized on 12-01-2014 under the banner of Intellectuals Forum for Secular Democracy & Social Justice (IFSDSJ) in the teaching staff club, Aligarh Muslim University. The event was attended by large number of intellectuals representing wide cross section of the society including AMU teachers, Engineers, Doctors and Social Activists. In the opening remarks Prof. Shamim Ahmad, National President, IFSDSJ threw the light on the working of various political parties including Congress, BJP, SAPA, BSP DMK and ADMK etc. He was of the view that most of these parties are deeply involved in corruption and none of them is serious about countering the communal forces.
He cited the statements of so called secular party SAPA leadership that:
i) Party worker should learn discipline from BJP cadre and that
ii) only N.K. Modi can manage the majority for BJP in 2014 elections. These statements indicate that SAPA wants to keep its options open to align with NDA if situation requires. In his opinion AAP could be the only secular Alternate Option for the people. During the discussion Prof. S. Hamid Ali,president of AMU Teacher’s Association stressed on the need of extending full support to AAP. Dr. Mohd. Shahid spoke about the betrayal of the Muslim community by SAPA citing Muzaffarnagar communal riots. Dr. Arshi suggested that a team of Intellectuals from Aligarh should go to Delhi to meet Mr. Arvind Kejriwal under the leadership of Prof. Shamim Ahmad.
The team will discuss various matters related to the society as a whole and especially Muslims community. Prof. Ariful Islam suggested that the discussion with Kejriwal should not be Aligarh specific but for all other regions of the country. Prof. Razaullah Khan pleaded for the strong Lokpal Bill. Some of the participants were of the view that we should not be in hurry and should watch working of AAP for sometime but the overwhelming majority was of the view that there is not much time left so we should take AAP membership immediately and working to strengthen AAP. The participants were of the view that there is every possibility of AAP winning 75 – 100 parliamentary seats and Kejriwal as the next PM of India. Dr. M. S. Rahi offered to provide a bus to carry the Aligarh team to meet Mr. Kejriwal in Delhi. Finally it was resolved:
1. That Prof. Shamim Ahmad shall be AAP spokes person of the community and he would take any responsibility entrusted by the central leadership of AAP.
2. That the best option for the Muslims and all secularists is AAP for 2014 elections.
Some of those present included Er. Rashid Husain, Vishwajeet Singh, Prof. Razaullah Khan, Prof. Raees Akhtar, Er. T. A. Khan, Dr. Shadab Khursheed, Tariq Wali, Ishrat Firoz, Er. Habib Khan and Saeeda Khatoon.
Hillele 
Copycat Congress ?
After Congress defeat in Delhi , Rahul Gandhi did say ,
” We have a lot to learn from AAP ”
For a change , he meant it too !
At the recently concluded AICC session , he outlined Congress Strategy for 2014 elections
He said ,
> We will ask people to tell us what they want . People will prepare our
Election Manifesto
( AAP did it first )
> We will let Congress workers to ” elect ” their candidates in 15
constituencies ( ala , American Primaries )
( AAP did it in all the 70 constituencies of Delhi )
> In many states , we gave responsibility to YOUNG and we will do so in
many more
( AAP is THE party of young ! )
> We will pay special attention to the ” NEW MIDDLE CLASS ” of 700 million
people
( Narendra Modi has already capitalized on this fact for 1 year ! )
> In the first 3 months of being voted to power , we will aggressively
attack inflation and corruption
( 1 year ago , AAP came into existence on exactly this premise ! )
It appears that after bulldozing the wishes of ordinary people for the past
66 years , Congress is about to re-invent itself !
Not bad for a party of 128 years to learn , a thing or two , from a party which is 1 year old !
Or is it merely a case of
> a ” Re-Active Rahul ” ( as opposed to ” Pro-Active ” )
instead of
> a ” Copycat Congress ” ?
* hemen parekh ( 20 Jan 2014 / Mumbai )