Congress-Muslim League war and Chennithala, CK Govindan Nair and NSS

The cold war between Congress and Muslim League, major partners in Kerala’s ruling United Democratic Front has erupted into a full fledged war. Major fighters for Congress in this war with league are KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala, power minster Aryadan Muhammad and former KPCC psdt K Muraleedharan, while Chief minister Oommen Chandy is the peacemaker in his own personal interest.

 The war formally began with Ramesh Chennithala’s firing the first salvo with his speech at C.K Govindan Nair memorial held at Kozhikkode recently. CKG was former psdt of KPCC.

At the meet, Ramesh reportedly stressed the need for keeping Communal forces at bay and added that Muslim League has become a liability to Congress in Kerala. Aryadan Muhammad who spoke at the meet offered full support to Chennithala and said now he feels Ramesh has really become KPCC psdt. K Muraleedharan, son of K Karunakaran who used to support League earlier also offered support to Ramesh, saying that in the Congress-League alliance has been beneficial to League mainly and Congress should end kowtowing to Leagues’ increasing demands. Muraleedharan also pointed out that pressure groups won’t have anywhere to go if Congress distanced them.

New realities in Congress

The fight against Mulsim league and Coming together of Chennithala, Muraleedharan and Aryadan against League reflects the new developments in the Congress and changing political situation in Kerala. Chennithala who was bête noire of Muraleedharan recently declared ceasefire with him and joined hands to face the increasing domination of Christians and Muslims in Congress and UDF. There have been reports that the deal was brokered by Nair Service Society. Though publicly NSS still takes a tough posture at Chennithala, it is believed that the organization has a soft corner for Chennithala who is a Nair.

After Sukumaran Nair took charge as NSS general secretary, Muraleedharan had built bridges with NSS realizing that in the changed political situation in Kerala his earlier approach of soft support to Muslims won’t help him. After his successive defeats at Northern Kerala constituencies where Muslim vote is significant and recent victory at a Nair majority Thiruvananthapuram assembly constituency, Muraleedharan seems to have realized that it would be better if he has his own Nair community’s support. Muslim League is a now a force on its own and don’t need to support Nair leaders. NSS meanwhile seems to have advised all Nair leaders in Congress to join hands.  In the wake of Nair-Ezhava unity it also aims to bring all Hindu leaders on a platform.

Muslim League and Nationalist Muslims

Meanwhile for nationalist Muslim leaders in Congress increasing power of Muslim League is a threat to their ambitions. This is a situation similar to the period of independence struggle and Muslim League Congress alliance then. Leaders like Aryadan Muhammad have realized this. As Muslim League’s strength is increasing manifold in Kerala, it would demand more assembly and parliamentary seats and minister posts. A stage would come when league would demand monopoly of Muslim representation.

When a large number of Muslims get position under League banner, Congress will have to give seats mostly to Hindus and Muslim leaders in Congress will be left in lurch. In this situation Muslim leaders in the Congress are forced to oppose league tooth and nail. This was the situation that resulted in Chennithala’s speech at Govindan Nair memorial.

Chennithala’s speech and aftermath

 But situation in Kerala is not as simple as Chennithala thinks. It is clear that by his speech Chennithala wanted to give a rap to League without creating any backlash. He aimed to control League not destroy it. But Muslim League has grown so strong that Chennithala was forced to issue statement that his speech at CK Govindan Nair memorial was not against League. Chennithala clarified that he only quoted the views of Nair who as KPCC president in 1962 tried to implement the Durgapur resolution of AICC that there won’t be any electoral alliance with communal parties. The stand of Nair had lead to Muslim league walking out of tripartite alliance of Congress, PSP and Muslim League then. Meanwhile CM Oommen Chandy has come out with strong support to League. Chandy who is under the cloud of corruption allegations against his office needs league of existence.

Result of the controversy reflects the murky state of affairs in Kerala politics. Rise of League has become a reality. Frantic realignment of leaders belonging to Nair community and nationalist Muslims is taking place in Congress. Other Hindu community leaders may join them. Christian leaders in Congress will be divided with some seeking NSS support and others siding with League.

The emerging Muslim League centred politics may give an opportunity to BJP to gain a foot hold in Kerala. Demographic changes in Kerala means Muslim League will play a different role in future. Extremist groups may gain influence among Muslim League changing its present character. Anyway Kerala seems to be heading for a more communal era.

Story of Indian journalist Exploited and Tortured in Oman

Hundreds of Indians workers are being denied their legal rights in business firms and other institutions across GCC nations. Workers ranging from labourers, domestic helps to professionals like engineers, journalists and even doctors are no exception.

English newspapers published from Muscat are among those who  violate rights of journalists with impunity and many Indian journalists have been subjected to abuse and arbitrary sacking.

However rarely one protests or files a complaint in courts there. Being in an alien land where official language is Arabic and foreign citizen and even locals have limited rights prevents them from approaching courts. Many also fear of their own safety and safety of family to fight a case. While a section of Arab Businessmen are to blame for exploitation of expatriates, a section of Indians act as abettors. Indian political leaders have financial relation with many Arab firms and they have benami investments there. So these people don’t interfere for Indian workers.

Though what I wrote is the norm, One Indian Journalist at Oman Tribune fought against abuse and illegal retrenchments. His open letter to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin  Said says it all.

(This is not against Sultan who is a benevolent administer who treats his subjects well and allows different religions to exist. This is also not against Omanis who consider Indians as friends and who have relations with India for hundreds of years. Let me clarify that Arabs and Indians are friends but crooks should not be allowed to subvert justice, whether they are Arabs or Indians)

To

HONORABLE HIS MAJESTY SULTAN QABOOS BIN SAID

THE SULTAN, SULTANATE OF OMAN

THROUGH: Citizens of Oman; expatriates and others

Your Majesty

I’m Hari Narayanan, journalist, fighting a legal case against Al Watan/Oman Tribune Media Group for more than two years against breach of contract (I joined Oman Tribune English daily on 17^th Nov 2008 as Deputy Chief Sub-editor, copies attached, but my official designation on Resident Card was linguist); illegal termination (my contract was abruptly terminated on March 30, 2011, no reason was cited, copy attached; cheating and Human Rights Violations (three complaints were filed against Indian journalist Ajith Das (my complaint no. 311/2011) in August 2011 with Oman NHRC.

Our experience (with my wife and two small kids) since my termination on March 30, 2011 and till our troubled exit from Oman and back to India on May 6, 2013 (25 months) had been very horrifying, threatening, tiring and to say the least inhuman on the part of my employers.

To start with, The Manpower (labour dept) kept a blind eye when I moved complaint against the illegal and unjust termination on April 13, 2011; Manpower forwarded the complaint as case to the Primary Court in Muscat (case no. 467/2011).The Honorable Judge Emad Abdul Munim Ibrahim delivered the verdict in favour of Al Watan/Oman Tribune Media Group on May 29, 2012.

An appeal has been made to the Supreme Court (Case no. 118/2013) on March 23, 2013 against the Appeal Court’s judgment. Here, I would appeal to Your Majesty that my case at the Oman’s highest court be heard only by the honorable Omani judges.

Having struggled in Oman for last 25 long months without job in an effort to seek fair justice; we were literally drained out physically, mentally and financially. (I salute to all those Omanis and expatriates who stood with us in tiring times and also to those who wanted to share with our pain and agony, but, unwillingly opted out due to the threat posed by Al Watan/Oman Tribune Media Group.

Coming straight to the core issue; my contract was terminated on March 30, 2011, no reason was cited. When I asked the Al Watan/Oman Tribune management, they shot back, “how dare you ask the reason.”

In the case of Human Rights complaints against Ajith Das, Oman NHRC member and investigating officer of our complaints, Jehan Al Lamki, tried her best to seek an appointment with Mohammed Suleiman Al Taie a number of times to take up the issues against Ajith Das, but on all occasions Mohammed Suleiman Al Taie let her down. With no option left, Jehan submitted her report to Oman NHRC in Feb, 2012, stating that Mohammed Suleiman Al Taie had refused to cooperate with the Oman NHRC.

We were told that the only option left was that these files would be sent to “His Majesty” for final disposal! What happened thereafter only God knows? Every time we approached Oman NHRC, we got stereotyped answer that something would be done.

Why I was terminated? I joined Oman Tribune as Deputy Chief Sub-editor, thinking that the Oldest Media house would be transparent in their recruitment process, but soon my conscience proved wrong. After 10 months of my joining, I came to know that my designation mentioned in Arabic (violating the government norms and contradicting their own contract letter) was not that of a journalist, but linguist, stated on my official Resident Card, issued by the Government of Oman.

I asked Ajith Das why this faux pas! He told me that it might be due to some mistake and would be rectified in my next renewal i.e. November 2010. Shockingly, I got the same “linguist” designation on renewal of my Resident Card and soon I was after Ajith for cheating me, which finally led to my termination.

During that period I came to know that some 99 per cent expatriate journalists working with Oman Tribune had been cheated. Most of their designations are linguist, mentioned on their resident cards; some are page makers and designers.

Ajith Das, had been instrumental in the exit of more that 70 journalists since the launch of Oman Tribune English daily in September 2004. On an average one journalist was either sacked every month; forced to leave or made to sign his/her resignations, with the Al Watan/Oman Tribune Media Group knowing fully well the atrocities journalists’ suffered at the hands of Ajith Das.

It is worth mentioning that not a single Oman Tribune journalist was shown the door (in last 25 months) since I took up the case with Al Watan/Oman Tribune Media Group and till my exit from Oman on May 6, 2013, though, Ajith Das had recommended to sack many and even advised not to renew their contracts.

Legal Case! Al Watan/Oman Tribune Media Group had tried to justify my termination in court, stating that my post was Omanised and given to a young Omani girl Laila as part of Omanisation Policy.

The suspicion arose when Al Watan/Oman Tribune Media Group submitted documents in Manpower’s Labour Dept that Laila had replaced me (hari) on March 1, 2011 in Oman Tribune. My contract was terminated on March 30, 2011, that means going by what  Al Watan/Oman Tribune Media Group had claimed, Laila should have worked with me for 30 days (from March 1 to March 30, 2011.

In each and every documents submitted by Al Watan/Oman Tribune Media Group in Primary and Appeal courts, the management strongly claimed that Laila had replaced me (Hari) in Oman Tribune English daily newspaper.

Months passed by and no one knew in Oman Tribune who this Laila was? We pressed our claim legally and strongly in Primary Court that Al Watan/Oman Tribune Media Group had cheated the court, but the verdict went against me. 

I moved Appeal Court (case no. 372/2012) against the Primary Court judgment in June 2012. For six months, I and my lawyer went all out in search of Laila. Soon, by the grace of Almighty and with the support of some trusted Omani friends, we were able to track this young, truthful and dynamic Oman girl.

Laila was shocked to know that her name and documents were used against me in the name of Omanisation. For a few seconds, she was speechless. She said “I never worked with Oman Tribune newspaper.” “I started as a trainee journalist in Futoon (Arabic weekly magazine, part of Al Watan newspaper) in June 2010 and was confirmed employee on March 1, 2011. I resigned from Futoon on 17^th September 2011,” she clarified.

When we were very sure that Al Watan/Oman Tribune Media Group had cheated the courts by producing Laila’s documents against me without her consent or knowledge, we pleaded the Honorable judges to summon Laila in court and unearth the truth.

Thankfully, despite strong protests by Al Watan/Oman Tribune Media Group lawyers in court, our plea was accepted by the honorable Chief judge Mohammed Attiah and summon was sent to Laila to appear in court on Jan 29, 2013. My lawyer took a daring stand and told the honorable judges that if Laila says that she had worked in Hari’s place in Oman Tribune daily newspaper, we would accept defeat and won’t pursue the case further. My lawyer even told the honorable judges that he had spoken to Laila on this matter.

On Jan 29, 2013, Al Watan/Oman Tribune Media Group claim was fully exposed when Laila told the honorable judges that she had worked in Futoon (Arabic statement copy attached). The court went in pin drop silence as Laila began her testimony, spilling the beans against the Al Watan/Oman Tribune Media Group.

Al Watan/Oman Tribune Media Group lawyer tried to defend an indefensible, but in vain. Chief judge Mohammed Attiah told Al Watan/Oman Tribune lawyer Hussain that whatever he has say, he should give in writing in 10 days time. (by feb 8, 2013).

We were told to give our reply based on Laila’s testimony within five days (by feb 3, 2013). The Chief judge Mohammed Attiah fixed Feb 26, 2013 for judgment.

In the meantime, we submitted our reply within the time frame but Al Watan/Oman Tribune Media Group failed to do so.

On the date of judgment, Feb 26, 2013, some 20 cases were listed for judgment and mine was 15^th in the list. As soon as the names were called in my case, Chief judge Mohammed Attiah asked the court official Majid for the file. The judgment was postponed exactly for a week i.e March 5, 2013.

I asked my lawyer why this has happened to us only because five other judgments were announced after our hearing. He said: “the judges might need some more time to study the case.”

On March 5, 2013, despite the strong cool air conditioners in court, my full body began to sweat when the honorable judges passed through the corridors towards the court room. I tried to close my eyes and open again and again, thus, trying to prove myself wrong, what I had just seen.

The full bench was changed and the court had three new honorable judges to deliver the judgment.

Judgment announced. My lawyer sat on his chair in utter dismay. His face turned pale and that was enough for me to understand what was said in Arabic. “Case dismissed; claim rejected….”

Few days later when we went to read the full judgment in court office, the judgment said it all ???.