View source for 2011 Popular Front of India social justice conference

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox event
|image=File:SocialJusticeConference.jpg
|alt=Poster of Social Justice Conference
|caption=Poster advertising the conference
|location=[[New Delhi]], India
}}
On 26 and 27 November 2011, a conference based on the theme "Build the Nation  on Justice" was held at the [[Ramlila Maidan]] in [[New Delhi]], India.<ref>{{cite web |title=Popular Front of India says Dilli chalo |url=http://www.allvoices.com/news/10562006-popular-front-of-india-says-dilli-chalo |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408214832/http://www.allvoices.com/news/10562006-popular-front-of-india-says-dilli-chalo |archivedate=2014-04-08 |accessdate=2014-04-15 |website=allvoices.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=PFI campaign |url=http://www.ifp.co.in/imphal-free-press-full-story.php?newsid=1963&catid=2 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120804201115/http://www.ifp.co.in/imphal-free-press-full-story.php?newsid=1963&catid=2 |archivedate=2012-08-04 |accessdate=2011-10-20 |website=ifp.co.in}}</ref> The event was organized by [[Popular Front of India]], an [[Islamist]] organisation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/pfi-public-meeting-on-october-2/189483-60-121.html |title=PFI public meeting on October 2 |website=ibnlive.in.com |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408214133/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/pfi-public-meeting-on-october-2/189483-60-121.html |archive-date=8 April 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Naya Caravan Naya Hindustan! |url=http://www.popularfrontindia.org/pp/story/social-justice-conference-popular-front-kick-national-publicity-campaign-mangalore |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120914080915/http://www.popularfrontindia.org/pp/story/social-justice-conference-popular-front-kick-national-publicity-campaign-mangalore |archivedate=2012-09-14 |accessdate=2011-10-20 |website=[[Popular Front of India]]}}</ref> The Conference became a get together of like minded organizations and movements which strive for the common goals of justice, security and empowerment. The first day of the conference had two separate seminar sessions on the topics ‘Together for Empowerment’ and ‘People’s Right to Justice’. The second day centered on a large public meeting, witnessed a large flow of masses for the Grand Public Meeting.<ref>{{cite web |title=Social Justice Conference by PFI |url=http://bearyvillage.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=987 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425081846/http://bearyvillage.com/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=987 |archivedate=2012-04-25 |accessdate=2011-10-20 |website=Beary Muslim Village}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Naya Caravan Naya Hindustan! |url=http://www.popularfrontindia.org/pp/story/chairmans-introductory-remarks-during-social-justice-conference-office-inauguration-get-togeth |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120906203401/http://www.popularfrontindia.org/pp/story/chairmans-introductory-remarks-during-social-justice-conference-office-inauguration-get-togeth |archivedate=2012-09-06 |accessdate=2011-11-11 |website=[[Popular Front of India]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Archived copy |url=http://www.popularfrontindia.org/pp/sites/default/files/4%20Booklet%20design.pdf |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425080615/http://www.popularfrontindia.org/pp/sites/default/files/4%20Booklet%20design.pdf |archivedate=2012-04-25 |accessdate=2011-11-11 |website=[[Popular Front of India]]}}</ref>

== Planning ==

The decision to host the conference was made at the two-day meeting of the National Executive Council of the [[Popular Front of India]] in New Delhi. An organizing committee was constituted for the conference, with [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]] as general convener and Muhammad Shafi and Muhammad Roshan as conveners. A PFI Press release said K. M. Shareef, General Secretary of Popular Front, PFI Chairman E.M. Abdul Rahiman, Moulana Usman Baig, Moulana Kalimullah Rashadi, Adv. K. P. Muhammad Shareef and others participated.<ref>{{cite web |date=13 September 2011 |title=Popular Front to hold Social Justice Conf. In Nov |url=http://twocircles.net/2011sep13/popular_front_hold_social_justice_conf_nov.html |website=twocircles.net}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Popular Front to hold Social Justice Conf. in Nov. |url=http://www.siasat.com/english/news/popular-front-hold-social-justice-conf-nov |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405205642/http://www.siasat.com/english/news/popular-front-hold-social-justice-conf-nov |archive-date=2012-04-05 |website=siasat.com}}</ref>

=== Inauguration ===<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:InaugurationMangaloreSJC.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Inauguration Program in Mangalore|Inauguration Program in Mangalore]] -->
The inauguration ceremony of Social Justice Conference campaign was conducted at the Nehru Maidan, Mangalore on 11 October. K M Shareef, National General Secretary, inaugurated the programme by way of waving the flag of [[Popular Front of India]]. Dr. C. S. Dwarakanath, the former chairman of the State Backward Classes Commission, Ilyas Mohammed Tumbe, PFI state president; Venkataswamy, the president of [[Samata Sainik Dal]]; and P. B. D’Sa, the district [[PUCL]] president; and many others were also present.<ref>{{cite web |title=Publicity campaign of PFI's social justice conference inaugurated |url=http://mangaloretoday.com/mt/index.php?action=mn&type=4134 |website=[[Mangalore Today]]}}</ref>

The office of the Social Justice Conference was inaugurated at Vardhaman City Plaza 2, [[Asaf Ali]] Rd, Near Ramleela Maidan, New Delhi on 16 October by [[Moulana Nawabuddin Naqshbandi]], Chairman [[Muslim Muthahida Mahaz]]. According to a press release issued by Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the Convenor of the Conference, the first copy of manifesto of the Social Justice Conference was issued by [[E. Aboobacker]], the National President [[Social Democratic Party of India]] and the theme of the Social Justice Conference was delivered by [[Popular Front of India]] Chairman, E.M Abdul Rahiman.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.indianmuslimobserver.com/2011/10/popular-front-of-indias-social-justice.html |title=Popular Front of India's Social Justice Conference office inaugurated &#124; IndianMuslimObserver.com |accessdate=2011-10-28 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405125836/http://www.indianmuslimobserver.com/2011/10/popular-front-of-indias-social-justice.html |archivedate=2012-04-05 }}</ref>

==Conference events==

=== 26 November ===
The Chairman of the Popular Front of India, E M Abdul Rahiman, flagged off the first day of the two-day conference. 
The showcase of the day was the Milli Convention christened "Together for Empowerment". In his inaugural speech by the Fathehpuri Shahi Imam, Mufthi Muhammed Mukharram, underlined the fact of continued exploitation of Muslims in India, irrespective of political party.{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}}

=== 27 November ===
Like the previous conferences, viz. the Empower India Conference in 2007 (Bangalore) and the National Political Conference of 2009 (Calicut), the SJC was populous. The conference drew citizens from across the nation, including both political and religious leaders.{{fact|date=July 2025}}

Several prominent personalities attended. The former MP and president of the All-India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarath, Syed Shahabuddin, rightly recognized that the state of Muslims could not progress without adequate representation in Parliament and Assemblies. He further stated that the government represents merely 15-20% of the population; and they seem least concerned about the general problems and hardships of the commoner; he described the situation as "Government of the elite, for the elite". He demanded reservation for Muslims in Parliament and Assemblies.{{fact|date=July 2025}}

The Shahi Imam of Shahi Masjid Fathepuri, Mufti Mukarram Ahmed said "When Justice Rajinder Sachar Committee and Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission reports have said that Muslims are even more deprived than the Scheduled Castes in the country and recommended reservation for them, there should be no reason for delay. The present regime is not willing to give Muslims their due. The need of the hour is to assert our right. We cannot afford to bear this injustice any longer."{{fact|date=July 2025}}

The Samjawadi Party head, [[Mulayam Singh Yadav]], claimed that the intention of present regime was not good. Committees and reports have been formed, but they shy away from implementing them. "If Muslims are united & awakened, the government will be forced to accept their demands."{{fact|date=July 2025}}

The Ajmer Shareef Khadim, Syed Chisty said that Muslims have preached and practiced [[secularism]] for ages, and lambasted the accusation of terrorism on the community as a whole. He asked community leaders not to go into defensive mode during any “terror” incident. He also asked the Muslims not to simply blame the government for all woes; an introspection into the Muslim household should be done citing the high percentage of school drop outs. Education, he said, is the key – ensuring it is a need.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article2666578.ece| title = Front seeks greater representation for Muslims - NATIONAL - The Hindu| website = [[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

The gathering ended with the Delhi Declaration.

==Delhi Declaration==

The leaders who gathered in Delhi on 27 November spoke of the contemporary and pressing matters of the common Indian citizen, especially the minorities.

Prominent points from the Declaration:<ref>{{cite web |date=28 November 2011 |title=Delhi Declaration urges PFI to build the Nation on justice |url=http://twocircles.net/2011nov28/delhi_declaration_urges_pfi_build_nation_justice.html |website=twocircles.net}}</ref>

* Detailed overhaul of the current neo-liberal & pro-rich economic policies with a view to restore the concepts of welfare state where in the state is not merely a passive observer.
* Building up of an inclusive people's movement for the eradication of corruption at all levels.
* Development of eco-friendly development programmes which will not contribute to global warming and environmental desolation.
* Implementation of Justice Ranganatha Mishra Commission report, to ensure proportionate representation in constitutional organs, bureaucracy public undertakings and education.
* Legislation for proportional representation instead of the existing first-past - the post system
* Reformulation of the foreign policy with avowed objective of establishing peace and cooperation on the subcontinent along with the revival of the Non-Aligned Movement

The delegates at the Conference also reiterated their commitment to establish a New India of Equal Rights to all Indians. This was the same pledge made on the occasion of the launch of Popular Front of India in the Empower India Conference held at Bangalore in 2007.

== References ==

<references />

[[Category:2010s political conferences]]
[[Category:Social justice]]
[[Category:2011 conferences]]
[[Category:21st century in New Delhi]]
[[Category:November 2011 in India]]