Kannur: The latest book written by senior CPI(M) leader P Jayarajan – “Muslim politics, political Islam” has open a heated discussion and protest by the PDP and the Muslim league who has openly criticised the content of the book by stating that the CPM leader through the book is trying to undermine the Muslim community by creating divisions within the community. The Indian Union Muslim League, a significant partner in Kerala’s Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), has responded strongly to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s recent statements linking the party to communal groups like Jamaal-e-Islami where it accused the Chief Minister of attempting to divide communities for political gain.
“Chief minister is trying to create rift within the community and create unnecessary issues. It was the CPM which had aligned with the PDP and the Jamat E Islami multiple times. We don’t feel that the Jamat E Islami is a communal group”, said a senior Jamat leader who spoke to the regional media in Kannur.
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan while unveiling the book in Kannur had equated the Jamat E Islami as a radical group that has connections with terror groups in Syria. He also said that the Muslim league which was a progressive party had aligned with the Jamat E Islami and the SDPI for political gains. Hours after the book was unveiled, there was a massive protest
The party’s national organising secretary, E T Mohammed Basheer, described the Chief Minister’s comments as “dirty politics” to create societal divisions. Mohammed alleged that the statements were a deliberate attempt to shift focus away from the ruling government’s own failings.
“This is completely false. We have no alliance with the SDPI and firmly reject such claims. While it is true that in 2019, we previously engaged with Jamaat-e-Islami, it was not a secret,” said Basheer while speaking to reporters in Malappuram. In fact, the CPM itself has received support from Jamaat-e-Islami in several past elections.
The Muslim League has never regarded Jamaat-e-Islami as a terrorist group, which is why the UDF accepted their support in the 2019 election. However, it is ironic that Vijayan’s party, which once benefited from their votes, now suddenly sees them as a terror threat,” the Malappuram MP added.
CPI(M) distanced itself from the controversy over the book
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister and the senior CPI(M) leaders have decided to distance itself from the contents of the book where it equates political parties like PDP, its supremo Abdul Nazar Madani as the perpetrators of radical ideology and compare Jamat E Islami as a terrorist group. Chief Minister played it extremely safe during his speech at the book unveiling function where he said that ‘unveiling the book does not mean that I am endorsing the contents in the book’.
Various other CPM leaders remained tight lipped on the contents of the book. CPI(M) is of the view that any comments made on the matter could have adverse effect on the up coming By-polls in the state. Meanwhile, Congress and the BJP have refrained to comment on the book yet.
