The Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama headquartered at Chelari and its subsidiary Sunni organisations have served an ultimatum on the United Democratic Front (UDF) government for not taking action against the rival Sunni group led by Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar.
Addressing presspersons here on Tuesday, Samastha vice president M.T. Abdulla Musliar and other office-bearers said the Samastha would launch an agitation if the government failed to act against the Kanthapuram Sunni faction before April 30.
The Samastha leaders said the police and revenue authorities had looked the other way when the rival Sunni faction created problems at several Mahals in Malabar. The Samastha leaders, who supported the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), had approached Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala two months ago seeking justice against the rival Sunni group.
ADVERTISEMENT
“The Chief Minister and the Home Minister had promised us justice when we met them. But no action has been taken till now,” said Samastha secretary Kottumala T.M. Bapu Musliar.
Factional feuds between the Sunni groups generally known under the ‘EK’ and ‘AP’ banners increased in recent times, and some mosques and madrasas were closed down in the wake of skirmishes.
The Samastha leaders accused the police of favouring the rival group when factional fighting took place at several places in the district such as Thachanna, Mudikkode, Pallikkal Bazar, and Aakkode.
ADVERTISEMENT
The mosque at Pallikkal Bazar still remains closed as both factions stuck to their respective stand.
The fight has apparently been over the rights of property such as madrasa and mosque. The Samastha leaders said that they would chalk out an action plan in the coming days.
The Samastha demand has significance in the coalition politics of the UDF as the Kanthapuram faction maintains close contacts with the Congress leadership. The Samastha appears to be frustrated at its failure in getting an upper hand over the Kanthapuram faction in spite of the IUML being in power.
Even when the IUML insists that justice should be done to the Samastha, some leaders within the Congress view the issue as a means to sideline the IUML.
Although the IUML supports the Samastha, several leaders of the party are of the opinion that the party should treat both groups equally.
Feuds lead to closure of several mosques
Kanthapuram faction is said to be close to Congress