Hounded on false beliefs: SDPI

P. Abdul Majeed Faizi, State president of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), claims his party is being victimised in the wake of the Abhimanyu murder case. In an interview , he asserts that the SDPI is being looked down upon because of the ‘Islamophobia’ created by parties such as the BJP.

Your organisation has been facing a volley of allegations of late, including that of sponsoring ‘Islamic extremism’

This allegation is being raised mainly by the CPI(M). None of their alliance partners seems to have aired such a view. The IUML is forced to join the chorus as they are doubtful of being misunderstood if they don’t oppose us. Why corner us with the bogey of extremism when the real culprits are yet to be arrested? Our ideology is social democracy and we stand for representative democracy espousing the interests of Dalits, minorities and the exploited sections. If we were an extremist organisation, we would not have participated in elections.

Why is it that your own organisation has given only marginal representation to Dalits and other backward classes despite your claim to profess Bahujan politics?

Right now, the representation of non-Muslims in the party must be between 10% and 20%. Because of the Islamophobia unleashed by the BJP and others, Dalits and backward classes are suspicious towards organisations with a Muslim leadership. There are parties with a Christian base such as the Kerala Congress, wonder why they are not being branded ‘Christian fundamentalists’...

For a long time, the IUML has been championing the cause of the minorities in the State. How do you position yourself vis-a-vis their politics?

The IUML has lost its idealism and principles over a period of time. They are no longer championing the cause of their core constituency. One of the examples could be their failure to take up the issue of bifurcation of Malappuram district in the Assembly. The problem lies in seeing the IUML or the Indian National League as the sole representatives of the community.

During a press meet earlier this month, you had claimed that you are being victimised. How fair is that argument?

That statement should be viewed against the backdrop of the attitude of the police towards us. Until our involvement in any activity promoting religious extremism is proved, how can they brand us as extremists and hound us like this?