‘Scapegoating me as anti-Muslim to divert attention from another case’: Vellapally Nateshan

CHERTHALA: Vellappally Natesan, SNDP Yogam General Secretary, claims some Muslim League leaders are falsely labelling him as anti-Muslim distorting his secular stance. Speaking in Kanichukulangara, he alleged selective editing of his Nilambur speech to paint him as communal. He noted Muslims form 56% of Malappuram’s population, while the remaining 44% lack representation and basic facilities. Members from other communities are not even approved of being enlisted as a political candidate here. Natesan criticized the lack of educational, social, and economic justice for non-Muslims in the district, citing 17 Muslim-aided institutions and no Ezhava temples.

Those who claim to be secularists are uniting in the name of religion when it comes to their own affairs. This is the third accusative attack on me. This is happening because I am not standing with the league. Educational, social and economic justice is not there in Malappuram. There are 17 aided educational institutions belonging to Muslims. The Ezhavas here don’t have any educational institution. They live as slaves. Even after 77 years of independence, they have not been able to become owners. While the League is playing vote bank politics, other communities are getting forgotten. They are straw manning me as anti-Muslim, burning effigy.

Despite past collaboration with the League through a reservation front, he alleged betrayal once they gained power, including blocking unaided colleges in Malappuram under UDF rule. When the UDF came to power, not even an unaided college was allowed in Malappuram. There are many good people in the Muslim community. However, the experience gained from the League was not good. After coming to power, the League has insulted him. It is true that there is no social justice in Malappuram. There is not even a cemetery there. It should be reminded that Malappuram is not an empire belonging to anyone. I will stand firm on what I said. I will not back down. This is not religious hatred. It is a request for justice. When the League after losing its power, attacks the community with the next election in mind, it is impossible not to react. Equal justice should be implemented here for everyone. I have no religious hatred, I am not against any religion, I want religious harmony.

When Babri Masjid was demolished, the SNDP meeting was the first to react. It was also SNDP Yogam which took the initiative to build a mosque for Vavar at Nilakkal in Sabarimala. The Congress has become prisoners of the League. The present situation is such that those who are dissatisfied with League cannot enter the Congress leadership. Vellappally also said that he and the community are being made a scapegoat to divert public attention from the issue related to the ED raid in Gokulam.