Retired cop launches anti-Congress Force One
The front will appeal to the minorities not to fall for the Congress’ ‘propaganda’ against Narendra Modi.
Samsher Khan Pathan, after his retirement as assistant commissioner of police on 30 April 2012, did not waste a single day before announcing his political ambitions. Today, he is the leader of 17 political organisations, which have come together as front, Force One. Its aim is to take on the Congress. “It is a front of Muslim, Dalit and Maratha organisations. The Congress always used us for the sake of our votes, but it never gave us a share in power,” Pathan said. “The Congress is frightening the minorities by saying that they would be in trouble if Narendra Modi becomes Prime Minister. We will ask people not to believe Congress’ false propaganda.”
Pathan, 60, also heads his own political outfit, Awami Vikas Party. Force One will contest the maximum number of seats in the state. “I know that we are not going to bring a sea change in the system, but at least we will try. Our front will continue even after the Lok Sabha elections,” he said.
The Congress alleges that Force One was formed with the BJP’s help to eat into its votes. Pathan rubbished the allegation. “I am spending from my own pocket to run the party. We are not into eating votes. We will ensure that the communities associated with our party do not vote for the Congress,” Pathan said.
He clarified that the name Force One has nothing to do with the Mumbai police’s commando wing with the same name. “We wanted an attractive name. A Hollywood film, Force One had impressed me. So I suggested the name. My colleagues accepted it,” Pathan said.
He declared that Force One will be a secular front even though most of its members are Muslims.
As one of the organisers of the Azad Maidan protest in August 2012 against the killing of Muslims in Assam, Pathan attracted much controversy when the some Muslim youth went on a rampage. Pathan was accused of inciting the mob to riot. “The fact is I cooled people down. No one present at the Azad Maidan was i nvolved in the riot. Those who were roaming outside the ground started the riot. It was a conspiracy to defame the protesters,” Pathan claimed.