The president of the Karnataka Farmers’ Association(Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha), JM Veerasanghayya said that Shishunala Shareef and KM Shareef were men from different eras who worked for the harmony and peace of the country. “Their ideals should be honoured by further spreading them in the society”, JM Veerasanghayya expressed.
He was the chief guest at the “K.M Shareef – Life and Struggle” event held in Bangalore.
Former President of the Backward Classes Commission, senior advocate Dr. CS Dwarkanath spoke at the event and said that resistance was a rule of nature, as every creature resists in self-defence. “It is not wrong to resist injustice and atrocities”, he said.
“In the present day, when the basic tenet of secularism in the Constitution was being destroyed, KM Shareef delivered the ideology of the organization to every corner of the country. Resistance naturally began when neither the government, the politicians, nor the police provided any protection to the minorities when they were being subjected to atrocities. For this purpose, an organization called KFD was established under the leadership of the activist K.M Shareef. As soon as resistance emerged, some started viewing it as communal. Is it wrong to resist? “, he questioned.
“Regrettably, even the so-called progressives have closed their eyes to the false allegations made against the PFI. Starting now at least, the progressives must try to understand the truth”, said Dwarakanath.
“The only way we can honour K.M Shareef, who possessed great knowledge about the constitution, is by continuing his visionary struggle”, he said
Yasir Hassan, President of the Popular Front of India, who presided over the speech, said, “KM Shareef, the voice of the oppressed community, was instrumental in giving the Muslim community the confidence to live a life of dignity and self-respect. He had tremendous organizing power and went to the villages and through his speech, he provided confidence to the Muslim youths who were frustrated. The thousands of activists and leaders created today are all a result of this superior personality, K.M Shareef’s sacrifice.”
K.M Shareef, who had a keen taste in Kannada literature, was a very versatile, gentle, and very courageous leader. Yasir Hassan said that the loss of his role as the frontline leader of the fight against the fascists was insurmountable.
PFI’s National Secretary-General Anees Ahmed spoke at the event and said that K.M Shareef had all the qualities a fighter should have. Speaking about the late leader’s life’s struggle, he described it as a lure of inspiration.
The leader of the Naave Karnataka organization, Parvathish Bilidale said, “K.M Shareef, who was a visionary leader did not just bring hope to the Muslims, but also inspired hope among people like us. K.M Shareef had certain qualities of Shishunala Shareef, Daasas, Sharanas, while he also possessed Tippu Sultan’s stubbornness, and Nazeer Sahab’s temperament”, he illustrated.
Journalist Ra Chintan, who spoke at the event said that all the problems could be solved with the political empowerment of Muslims. He said that thinking must be done in this regard.
Abdul Razak Kemmar, the editor-in-chief of the Prasthutha fortnightly magazine, spoke on the occasion and commemorated his past association with K.M Shareef.
