Malappuram (Keralam), Nov 8 (PTI) Former Keralam Minister K T Jaleel on Sunday accused the IUML of using religion for political purposes and questioned its secular credentials over a prayer ceremony held at the inauguration of the Muslim Youth League’s state conference in Kochi.
He was responding to an editorial published in the Indian Union Muslim League’s mouthpiece Chandrika on Sunday, titled ‘The Communality of the Loser’, which criticised his earlier remarks against the party.
In a Facebook post, Jaleel pointed out that the flag-hoisting ceremony marking the commencement of the conference was followed by a ‘dua’ (prayer), alleging that the League was using religious practices to further its political interests.
He questioned how non-Muslim leaders associated with the League could participate in the prayer ceremony at the conference.
Jaleel asked whether any secular political youth organisation in the country, other than the BJP’s youth wing, began its conference with a religious ceremony.
Comparing the League to a leopard that cannot change its spots, he said its religious character could not be concealed behind its claims of secularism.
“The League should either become a political party or a religious organisation. It should stop trying to sail in two boats and misleading people,” he said.
Jaleel argued that the IUML’s support for non-Muslim UDF candidates A K Antony in Tirurangadi, V S Joy in Thavanur and A P Anilkumar in Wandoor in the Assembly elections did not, by itself, establish the League’s secular credentials.
He challenged the IUML to field a Hindu or Christian candidate on its ‘ladder’ symbol and ensure the candidate’s victory in its strongholds—Malappuram, Kondotty, Manjeri, Tirurangadi and Kottakkal.
Jaleel, who contested the recent Assembly election as an LDF-backed independent candidate, lost from Thavanur.
He joined the CPI(M) in June this year.
Jaleel and IUML leaders have frequently traded barbs on social media. PTI TBA SSK
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