Jatiya Party is branded as criminals and collaborators if the party seeks the barred Awami League’s votes but not the BNP, Jamaat or the National Citizen Party, said its Chairman GM Quader.
“This is nothing but extreme political discrimination,” said Quader in a press briefing at the party office in Rangpur on Saturday evening.
Quader is contesting in the election from Rangpur-3.
“The Awami League has not yet been banned as a political party. Even if there are restrictions on its political activities, there is no example anywhere in the world of stripping its supporters of their voting rights as citizens. Yet, the Awami League supporters are being told, ‘if you want to vote, you may do so, but you cannot vote for Jatiya Party’. So, what is the crime of Jatiya Party?”
After the July uprising, the head of the interim government himself said that the student coordinators of the quota reform movement are their appointing authority.
“Again, the government is the guardian of the student coordinators’ party, the NCP. Later, Jamaat said that the student coordinators belong to them -- and no one opposed or challenged that statement.”
So, in reality, Jamaat, the NCP and the interim government together are running the country and elections are being held under them.
“In such a reality, no neutral election is possible. Neutrality cannot be expected from the government and its guardians. We have been obstructed in politics by branding us as collaborators of the Awami League. But ignoring those obstacles, we are still in the field. If necessary, we will shed blood, but we will continue to fight to establish people’s rights.”
If people do not vote according to the government’s wishes in the referendum, they are being threatened and humiliated, Quader said.
“This cannot be called a neutral vote in any way. Those who do not vote ‘yes’ in the referendum are being labelled as collaborators of autocracy. I would say those who are trying to forcibly impose a ‘yes’ vote are collaborators of Nazism.”
The interim government came to power by taking an oath to protect the Constitution. According to the rules, reforms will be implemented through parliament after the election, and if necessary, a referendum may be held later.
“But why is campaigning for a ‘yes’ vote being done in advance?”
Labelling the referendum unconstitutional, he said: “Therefore, it is illegal and unlawful. The appointment of government officials engaged in this process is illegal. The expenditure of government funds for the referendum is also illegal.”
“Given the way the government is exerting influence, using force, issuing threats and spending public money on the referendum, we will not be able to accept the results of such a vote. By manipulating the vote to ensure a ‘yes’ victory, there is an attempt to form a so-called revolutionary government, where members of parliament will have no role.”
Among those present were Jatiya Party Presidium Member SM Yasir Ahmed, Vice-Chairman Abdur Razzak, District Jatiya Party Convener Azmal Hossain Lebu, central leader Hasanuzzaman Nazim, Metropolitan Jatiya Party Senior Vice Chairman Lokman Hossain, Jahidul Islam and other party leaders.
