The Welfare Party of India has called upon the Kerala state government to establish a company for mobilizing investment from Indian expats working in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries to finance the state’s development projects.

“Although NRKs (non-resident Keralites) send huge amounts of money to the state in foreign transfers, the money is not constructively utilized,” said Abdul Hameed Vaniyambalam, president of the party in Kerala.

He said successive UDF and LDF governments in Kerala were not doing justice to NRKs in the Gulf, who play an important role in strengthening the state’s economy.

“Gulf transfers of NRKs exceed the total Kerala output,” he pointed out.

Speaking with Arab News, Hameed also emphasized the need to reinstate the Pravasi ministry to take care of expat welfare and interests.

The new NDA-government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has nullified the Pravasi ministry.

The party’s branches in the Gulf countries intend to launch a series of programs for the welfare of NRKs and their families, including an insurance scheme and the opening of higher educational institutions for their children. “We will also press for the Air Kerala project to facilitate travel.”

He said the Welfare Party would present a memorandum to the central government on the need to introduce a new system to ensure the representation of all communities and places in the decision-making process.

“The BJP came to power receiving 31 percent of votes and they are ruling on the majority (69 percent) who do not agree with the Hindu extremist party’s policies and programs. This is not real democracy,” he added.

Welfare Party held a convention in New Delhi to discuss the issue, Hameed said, adding that the two Communist parties and the Muslim League have backed the idea. “Our central committee is working on the project with the support of experts and will be presented to the government shortly.”

He denounced the Modi government’s move to rewrite the Indian history, saying it would be a big threat to the country’s secular and democratic credentials.

“We will work for unifying secular forces to unseat Modi and fight fascism and communalism. We will also strive for the release of Muslim youth arrested on the basis of draconian laws,” he said, while stressing the need to abrogate such inhuman laws. Hameed opposed moves made by individuals and groups to condone and appease fascists when they are in power.

“We should use all possible means to oppose such fascist forces instead of supporting them,” he said while referring to the issue of Shashi Tharoor, a Congress MP from Kerala who praised Modi’s programs.

“We should fight against Modi and mobilize public support against him. Those who support him are following politics of convenience to achieve their vested interests.”

He said Modi’s economic policies are against people.

“He recently lifted a law that prevents charging exorbitant prices for medicine, especially those for chronic disease such as cancer. As a result people have to pay Rs100,000 instead of Rs8,000 for some medicines.”

He said terror groups such as ISIS, Al-Qaeda and other terror organizations are the creation of foreign powers, which wanted to sell their weapons, undermine security and stability in the Middle East and tarnish the image of Islam.

The Welfare Party will continue its campaign against terrorism and extremism, he added.

The Welfare Party was established three years ago and is active in a many Indian states including Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. “We formed the party when other political parties drifted away from their principles and policies and after recognizing the need for a party to protect the rights of common people,” he said.

The Welfare Party is a secular organization formed by activists, social workers and members of social and religious organizations.

“It is a forum of like-minded individuals and groups who stand for pro-people politics,” Hameed said, adding that the BJP, Congress and even communists are following a corporate-friendly politics, ignoring the interests of people.

“We want to liberate people from corporate hegemony,” he added.

Hameed said his party would work as a pressure group on governments and other political parties.

“We called for the distribution of land for those who do not have land in Kerala and now, other political parties are supporting the program. We put forth a proposal to ban alcohol in the state within 10 years and the government has since decided to ban alcohol,” he explained.