Muslim League to portray CM's criticism against Thangal as religious hatred; criticism that CM wanted to create golden opportunity for BJP

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The attempt of league-Congress leaders to inflame chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan's criticism against Muslim League state president Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal just before the kottikalasam of the Palakkad assembly by-election as Muslim hatred has put the CPM in a tight spot. CPM state secretary MV Govindan and minister Muhammed Riyas coming out in defence as the move to take advantage of the chief minister's political criticism by portraying it as religious became stronger, is interpreted as a fear of backlash.

The League was angered by the chief minister's criticism that Sadiq Ali Thangal was behaving as if he was a follower of Jamaat-e-Islami. It is being said that the chief minister was expressing his displeasure over BJP leader Sandeep Warrier reaching out to the UDF camp and later to the Panakkad family seeking blessings. The Chief Minister, who criticized Sadikhali Thangal, did not say anything against Sandeep Warrier. The UDF has criticized that it is the ulterior motive to help the BJP, even if it is a setback to the LDF in the Palakkad by-election.

Unforgivable Wrong

CPM had raised the allegation during the last parliamentary elections that the Muslim League was at the behest of Muslim extremist organisations like Jamaat-e-Islami and SDPI. With the left's traditional Muslim vote banks also collapsing in that election, the accusation against the League intensified. Even then, a direct attack on the Panakkad family, which is considered to be the life and soul of the League and a symbol of secularism, was avoided. League leaders, including Kunhalikutty, were remaining soft even when controversies were raised against the chief minister and the government.

The allegation is that the chief minister who praised Panakkad Muhammed Ali Shihab Thangal for trying to cool the anger of the party workers during the demolition of the Babri Masjid has tried to brand Sadiq Ali Thangal as a communalist by making him a follower of Muslim religious extremist organisations. That is why Kunhalikutty hit back saying that Panakkad Thangals do not need the good certificate of the chief minister or CPM and their place is in the hearts of the people.

Munambam issue active

Sadikhali Thangal, who came in person to amicably resolve the Munambam eviction issue, had met Archbishop Joseph Kalathiparambil in this regard. However, no significant action has yet been taken at the government level in this regard. An all-party meeting is scheduled to be held on the 22nd. League and Congress leaders criticized that the Chief Minister, who wanted to create a golden opportunity for the BJP again by creating riots in Munambam, had turned against Sadiq Ali for trying to eliminate it. Their calculation is that this will be reflected in the Muslim voters in Palakkad, where the by-election is slated to be held on Wednesday. The concern over this is also evident in the responses of the CPM leaders.