JEDDAH, 24 February 2007 — The visit of Panniyan Ravindran to Saudi Arabia was extraordinary. As a Parliament member and a popular Communist leader, he utilized his weeklong visit to meet with Keralites and other Indians working in different parts of the Kingdom to know how they live and what problems they face.
The leftist MP promised to take up their issues with higher authorities in New Delhi concerning their right to vote, welfare fund and air fares.
Speaking to Arab News during his recent visit, Ravindran said it was unfair on the part of Air-India and Indian Airlines to exploit non-resident Indians (NRIs) in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries by charging exorbitant rates. He said the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala, of which his Communist Party of India is a coalition partner, would suppress communalism and would not allow it to grow in the state.
Ravindran arrived in Jeddah while communal tension reached its peak in his home state Kerala, which was hitherto known for its religious harmony as Hindus, Muslims and Christians lived together in peace and harmony, setting a good example to other Indian states. He said the LDF government would not allow BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and its Hindu extremist allies to create communal tension in the state for political gains.
“Indian Muslims have played a significant role in the country’s freedom struggle and nobody should be allowed to push them to the corner and brand them terrorists. On the contrary, the government should fulfill their legitimate demands,” Ravindran said, adding that the country’s secular forces should work for protecting the rights of Muslims.
The Keralite MP cautioned Muslims against taking an extremist line, saying it would not serve any purpose. “It is wrong to believe that Muslim extremist organizations can take on their Hindu counterparts. Such a move will cause more harm to Muslims. Nobody should ignore the fact that secular forces are the strength of Muslims.”
Ravindran claimed that the former UDF (United Democratic Front) government was responsible for promoting communal bias among Kerala police. “Sangh Parivar wanted to cause communal hatred and violence during the visit of (Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra) Modi but the government intervened to foil their plan by deploying secular-minded police forces near the conference hall,” he said referring to Modi’s recent visit to Trivandrum to attend a Hindu conference. He said the Sangh Parivar in Kerala was planning to rally Hindus’ support by triggering communal violence. “But their machinations will not succeed in Kerala. Even in Tirur when a Hindu was attacked, a Muslim trader came to his help. So, I don’t think communalism will work in our state,” he said, adding that Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan have vowed to crush any communal violence.
Ravindran was all praise for the Sachar Report, saying it unveiled the true, pathetic condition of Muslims in India. “The report refutes the claim of Hindu extremists that Muslims were economically, politically and socially dominating the country and were occupying most of its wealth. There are 13.4 percent Muslims in India, but they did not make considerable economic and social progress. They are educationally backward compared to other communities including Dalits. India cannot make progress by ignoring its vast Muslim population. We should provide them necessary support and care,” the MP said, adding that secular political organizations have called for implementing the report.
According to the report presented to the Parliament on Nov. 30, 2006, Muslims’ share in government employment is 4.9 percent, in security agencies — CRPF, CISF, BSF and SSB — 3.2 percent, and in lower judiciary a mere 2.7 percent. The report was prepared by the Prime Ministers’ Committee, set up in March 2005 and headed by former chief justice of the Delhi High Court, Justice Rajinder Sachar.
In towns with a population ranging between 50,000 and 200,000, Muslims’ per capita expenditure is less than that of India’s scheduled castes and tribes. Not more than three percent of Muslims are able to get subsidized loans, and only 1.9 percent benefit from the Antyodaya Anna Yojana Scheme (program to prevent starvation among the extremely poor). Only 2.1 percent Muslim farmers own tractors, and just one percent own hand pumps for irrigation.
Speaking about the ticket fare issue, Ravidran said Indian Aviation Minister Praful Patel had promised to solve the problem. “This is a legitimate demand as the majority of NRIs in the Gulf receive a monthly salary of less than SR1,000,” he said and emphasized the need for Keralite ministers and MPs in New Delhi to make joint efforts for solving this matter once and for all. “We should also set up a welfare fund for expatriates to help them when they return home,” he added. He called for the equal treatment of all NRIs. He objected to the practice of charging for the transportation of bodies of NRIs back to their home country by the Indian missions in the Kingdom.
In the interview, Ravindran criticized India for maintaining strong relations with the United States. “India has always adopted an anti-colonialist policy,” he said, adding that Leftist parties have urged the government to change its present pro-US stand in accordance with the policy of non-alignment. “Muslims have always stood for truth, justice and goodness and fought against colonialism and exploitation.”
Moinkutty Vydyar, a Keralite poet, mobilized the public against British colonialists by singing his famous Badr Padappat (battle song). “The colonialists have always tried to destroy Muslims and what is happening in Iraq and Afghanistan today is a repeat of the past,” he pointed out.
He said he found happiness by helping his fellow humans and compatriots. Ravidran said the visit helped him to change some of his wrong notions about Saudi Arabia. “I am now leaving the Kingdom with good impressions. People here are enjoying more freedom. Public meetings are taking place and cultural programs are held without any restrictions,” he said.
