Statement against Kunhalikutty: Action against Mueen Ali Shihab Thangal, league leadership meet tomorrow

KOZHIKODE: Mueen Ali Shihab Thangal, son of Panakkad Syed Hyderali Shihab Thangal, is likely to be removed from the post of national vice president of the youth league. Disciplinary action will be taken against him for holding a press meet without the permission of the party. The party leadership will take a final decision after talking to Thangal. The League leadership meet will be convened in Panakkad tomorrow. Disciplinary action is expected to announce after that. Though Kunhalikutty returned without attending the assembly session, the meeting was adjourned to tomorrow due to the inconvenience of E T Mohammad Basheer.

Mueen Ali’s remarks at a press conference yesterday were a major setback for the party. Mueen Ali at the press meet convened lashed at Kunhalikutty in the name of a notice served to his father Hyderali Shihab Thangal, state president of the IUML.

He said the party shrunk to one person and that his father was going through severe depression following the case related to the party mouthpiece.

Chandrika's lawyer and Kerala Lawyers' Forum president advocate Muhammad Shah called the press meet. He was the first to speak as an explanation of the league. Later, when questions were asked Mueen Ali Thangal said that he too had something to say.

Mueen Ali said the party fund is not handled by its treasurer. It has been handled by Kunhalikutty directly for the last 40 years and alleged it was Kunhalikutty who has a role in the legal matter related to the party mouthpiece. Kunhalikutty appointed Shameer as the daily’s finance manager. I’ve never seen him coming to Chandrika. This kind of mismanagement brought the newspaper to a liability of Rs 12 crore. However, no one questioned Shameer's action for fear of Kunhalikutty. Mueen Ali said that in the history of the Panakkad family, there was no incident where they had to face a notice from the central agency.

During the press conference, some league activists led by Rafi Puthiyakadavu shouted at Mueen Ali and Mohammad Shah, but those in the office intervened and withdrew them. The press conference ended with that. Though journalists tried to meet Mueen Ali again in front of the League House, he quickly returned when a few League activists arrived to block him.