A district office bearer of the Minority Morcha, a feeder organisation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has alleged that he has been ostracised by the local Mahal committee because of his political affiliation.
Akkiliyath Kasim Haji, district general secretary of the Minority Morcha, told media persons here on Thursday that he was denied a membership on the Mahal committee of Badariyya Juma Masjid at Koodalottu, as he was a member of the BJP.
“The committee has denied my religious rights for the last two years. The president, who is Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) local leader, abuses me by asking why you need to come to the mosque if you are a member of the BJP, ” he alleged. The Haji, who stayed at Changaroth grama pancahayat, said that the decision to refuse mahal membership was “politically motivated.” “I had no problems with the previous mahal committee. The issue cropped up when I shifted residence to a new locality two years ago,” said the Haji, who has been a member of the BJP for the last 10 years.
He, along with his family members, would stage a satyagraha in front of the district Collectorate from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on December 22. “I have approached the district administration and the Wakf board chairman M.C. Mayin Haji, who is also a State office bearer of the IUML. But I got no positive response,” he added.
The BJP district president P. Reghunath said the IUML leadership should clarify this political ostracism against a Muslim. “The BJP has members from all faiths. But this is a blatant violation of individual freedom,” he said adding that the SHRC should initiate action in this regard.
