The Hindu : CM's remarks stir up a hornet's nest

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jul 11, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

CM's remarks stir up a hornet's nest

Our Special Correspondent

KOZHIKODE JULY 10. The Samastha Kerala Jam Iyyathul Ulama, the National Development Front (NDF) and the Muslim Service Society (MSS) have reacted sharply to the Chief Minister, A.K. Antony's statement to the effect that the majority community was unhappy with the minorities for having cornered more benefits than them through their organised bargaining power.

The NDF general secretary, Nasaruddin Elamaram, said Mr Antony should not continue in office. NDF activists held a demonstration to protest against the statement.

For the Samastha Kerala Jam Iyyathul Ulama, the protest was voiced in a joint statement issued by Syed Abdu Rahman Albukhari, president, Samastha Kerala Jam-Iyyathul Ulama, Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musaliar, president, Sunni Yuva Jana Sanghom, and M.A. Abdul Khader Musaliar, president, Sunni Education Board.

The Muslim leaders alleged that the Chief Minister's statements were capable of generating anti-minority sentiments and contrary to facts, when seen in the light of the finding of the Justice Narendran Commission .The Commission's finding had been that the social achievements of Muslim community had been inadequate.

"There is reason to suspect that the CM's statement is part of a conspiracy to avoid implementation of the Narendran Commission's recommendations,'' the leaders alleged.

They said that contrary to what the CM had stated, the economic development of the backward Muslim community facilitated by employment opportunities in the Gulf countries had not created any economic disparities in the State. On the other hand, it had contributed substantially to the overall social and cultural development of the State. Examples of development on account of the Muslim community's contacts with the Gulf countries were the Karipur and Nedumbasserry airports and the recent Global Investor Meet (GIM).

The Samastha Kerala Jam-Iyyathul Ulama leaders also reminded the CM that the minorities had certain constitutional rights and these could not be seen as concessions and privileges.

In its statement, the MSS said that by expressing such views the Chief Minister had abandoned his responsibility to safeguard the interests of minorities. The MSS State president, P.M. Mohammed Koya, also asked the UDF parties to clarify their views on Mr Antony's observations.

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