'Kafir' post: CPM finds itself on the defensive; Lathika committed mistake by sharing screenshot, says KK Shailaja

KOZHIKODE: The CPM has found itself on the defensive after the 'Kafir' screenshot which circulated in the Vadakara constituency during the time of the Lok Sabha elections backfired against the party. The CPM cyber groups had initially alleged that the UDF centres had circulated a communally loaded message on social media to create religious hatred against the LDF candidate KK Shailaja. CPM leaders also made similar allegations against the UDF. Former MLA KK Lathika also shared the screenshot of the purported WhatsApp message on her social media page.

However, the party found itself on the defensive after the report submitted by the Vadakara police in the High Court stated that the message had its origin in CPM sources. Opposition Leader VD Satheesan said that the CPM's strategy to win the election was similar to the terrorist act of creating religious rivalry in the country. Shafi Parambil MP stated that his victory in Vadakara proved that the voters of Vadakara had already realised the truth. KK Shailaja MLA said that KK Lathika committed a mistake by sharing the screenshot of kafir post without a genuine source.

"Whoever created the kafir post should be nabbed. True left-wing thinkers would not do this," Shailaja said.

When quizzed about why she shared the screenshot of the kafir post, Lathika replied it was something that the public should know.

The 'Kafir' usage broke out during the last lap of the fierce election battle between KK Shailaja and Shafi Parambil in Vadakara. The purported WhatsApp message portraying Shailaja as a 'kafir' was circulated in many groups. Following this, both parties lodged a complaint with the police demanding that the truth should come out. During the first phase of the investigation, the police received information that the screenshot was circulated in the name of MSF Kozhikode District Officer PK Muhammad Kasim. However, the turning point in the case came after Kasim handed over his phone to the police and clarified that he was not behind the message. As the investigation got delayed, a petition was filed in the High Court. Following this, the court directed the police to submit a report on the incident. The report submitted to the High Court by Vadakara CI Sunilkumar stated that the fake screenshot originated and circulated from a CPM group.