BHOPAL, 19 April 2004 — A joint cultural front of litterateurs, artistes and thinkers, “Sanskritik Morcha” (Cultural Front) has released a “manifesto” calling upon fellow culture activists in Madhya Pradesh to ensure the defeat of communal and fascist forces in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections and keep on intervention for a long-term political cleansing.
The eight-page document released here at a press conference is part of a nationwide action by writers/artistes/culture activists in view of the Lok Sabha poll. The manifesto analyzes the present political situation in the country from a secular perspective and pledges to work for safeguarding democracy and secular values. It calls upon artistes to do this through their media.
While the target of the manifesto is unmistakably Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the “Sangh Parivar”, the cultural front has refused to lend overt support to any political parties, saying that it would only act as catalyst to ensure people choose right alternatives, irrespective of political affiliations. Noted cultural personalities of the state including poet Rajesh Joshi, Prof. Aafaq Ahmed, Dr. Kamla Prasad and Ajay Tiwari addressed the press conference.
They emphasized that they are not supporting any political party but would attempt to ensure that people choose right candidates with impeccable secular credentials and desire to work for social development.
