10 April, 2019
Dr Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas is contesting the Lok Sabha election from Murshidabad’s Jangipur constituency in West Bengal. He is the President of Welfare Party of India. The seat was previously held by former president Pranab Mukherjee’s son Abhijit.
Dr Ilyas has consistently opposed state-organised communal violence and state terror. Welfare Party of India (WPI) and Lok Raj Sangathan (LRS) have been a part of several joint rallies in Delhi demanding punishment of the guilty in the genocide of Sikhs in 1984, in the destruction of Babri Masjid in 1992 and other incidents of state-organised communal violence and state terror. Together with other organisations, WPI and LRS have boldly spoken up against the attempts to create a climate of hatred and anarchy against minority communities.
In a press statement on April 7, 2019, Dr. Ilyas declared that none of the parties who ruled the state did anything for the constituency in the past decades.
Speaking to the press, he said that when the party fought the by-poll for the first time in 2012, they got 42000 votes. The party which also contested the 2014 Lok Sabha election, will be in the fray for the third time in the 2019 general election.
Shedding light on his constituency, Dr Ilyas said that Jangipur is one of the backward constituencies of the state. He also alleged that though Pranab Mukherjee hails from the area, he did nothing for the people despite the expectations that people had from him.
He added that the employment opportunities are minimal in the area because of which people have migrated to other cities. He also stated that there are no primary health centers or universities in this region.
Dr. Ilyas is of the opinion that democratic institutions and democratic rights are being attacked in the name of nationalism. He also alleged that people who are fighting for their rights are being challenged and harassed.
Lok Raj Sangathan extends its full support to the campaign of Dr. Ilyas and wishes him all success in the elections.
Lok Raj Sangathan supports such people’s candidates who have boldly come forward to use the platform of elections to advance the struggle for people’s empowerment. They are challenging the politics of divide and rule by the parties of the establishment with their immense money and muscle power.
