MALAPPURAM: The congress leadership on Saturday asked KPCC general secretary Aryadan Shoukath to relinquish all party-related activities for one week. The punitive action comes just a day after Shoukath conducted a Palestine solidarity rally defying Congress's order.

Aryadan Shoukath said he would abide by the party’s decision. Earlier, the KPCC leadership was unconvinced with the explanation given by Shoukath for conducting the solidarity march despite Congress denying permission. The party is of the view that Shoukath's explanation to KPCC president K Sudhakaran for holding the program in violation of the ban is not satisfactory.

The KPCC has left the matter to the disciplinary committee headed by Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, which judged Shoukath’s action as an “open challenge” to Congress leadership. The committee will also hear the explanation from Shoukath’s side. The report will be submitted within a week and disciplinary action will be decided based on the report.

KPCC's ban was on the grounds that the Aryadan Foundation's program led by Group A was promoting sectarianism. Shoukath meanwhile questioned the leadership, asking them how a rally promotes sectarianism.

In Malappuram, factionalism is raging in the Congress, as it is alleged that the names suggested by the A group were cut by the official DCC president VS Joy and AP Anilkumar MLA. Amidst this feud, the Aryadan Foundation organized a Palestine solidarity rally in Malappuram as a show of strength. There was a large participation of activists in the rally.