KOZHIKODE: Muslim League in trouble for Shashi Tharoor's Hamas 'terrorist' statement. Shashi Tharoor's remarks in the Maha Rally held in Kozhikode on Thursday, declaring solidarity with the Palestinian people and as a prelude to the Lok Sabha elections, is what is causing trouble for the league now.

Congress Working Committee member Shashi Tharoor's remarks in the rally that Hamas had carried out a terrorist attack in Israel has led to a huge protest from Muslim community organizations and party workers towards the League leadership.

Samasta demanded that Tharoor retract the remark and express regret. Shashi Tharoor orated that the killing of Israeli civilians by Hamas terrorists and Israel's brutal counter-attack against it was unjustifiable. Even when Shashi Tharoor completely rejected Israel, he described Hamas as terrorists, which angered the League members and community organizations. Abdussamad Samadani and MK Munir corrected Tharoor even though Tharoor left the stage.

CPM's M Swaraj and KT Jalil came forward with severe criticism. Swaraj remarked that Tharoor was showing solidarity with Israel at the expense of League and that Congress is still unable to call Israel a terrorist nation. Jalil's criticism was that the rally appeared like a pro-Israel conference after listening to Tharoor's speech.

Tharoor with justification

Meanwhile, Shashi Tharoor told the media yesterday that his remarks were the stand of Congress. His and his party's support is towards the Palestinian people. No one should interpret his speech in favour of Israel. Tharoor also said that he does not agree with spreading just one sentence from the speech. League leader Kunhalikutty made it clear that Tharoor said that he was with the Palestinian people and that Shashi Tharoor was asked to participate in the Kozhikode rally to gain international attention.

It is also noteworthy that CPM State Secretary MV Govindan did not criticize the League or Tharoor even though Swaraj and KT Jaleel lashed out. He walked away saying that Israeli aggression in Palestine was condemnable and that Tharoor's statement should be clarified by Tharoor himself.

Palestine solidarity event: Tharoor removed

After Tharoor's remarks at the Muslim League's Palestine solidarity forum about Hamas being a terrorist organization sparked controversy, MP Shashi Tharoor was been dropped from the Palestine solidarity event in Thiruvananthapuram. Tharoor was removed from the event organized by the Mahalle Empowerment Mission which is happening on Monday. Earlier, CPM leader MA Baby and Shashi Tharoor MP were decided as chief guests. Mahalla Empowerment Mission is a joint association of 32 Muslim Mahalla Jamaats working in one hundred wards of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation.

Complaint against Tharoor

Thiruvananthapuram Cantonment Police filed a complaint against Shashi Tharoor for making remarks against Hamas during the league rally. Vembayam Naseer, an INL worker, filed a complaint yesterday demanding that a case be filed for accusing Hamas of being a terrorist organization.