Leaders of major Muslim bodies in the state, including the Kerala Muslim Jamaat led by Kanthapuram AP Abubakar Musaliar (left) and senior leaders of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) like PK Kunhalikutty (right) criticized Jamaat-e-Islami for talks . With RSS | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The Jamaat-e-Islami has drawn sharp criticism from other Muslim organizations in Kerala for its recent talks with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Several Muslim leaders in the state expressed displeasure over a group of Jamaat-e-Islami leaders holding talks with their RSS counterparts in New Delhi in January. The talks were conducted in secret and the news was kept secret until it leaked a few days ago.
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‘closer to RSS’
Some Muslim organizations in Kerala even went so far as to say that the Jamaat-e-Islami was seeking rapprochement with the RSS because it was afraid of the Hindu nationalist organization and that it had some vested interests to protect.
Samasta Kerala Jamiathul Ulama, the largest body of Islamic scholars in Kerala, has said that Jamaat-e-Islami has let down the Muslim community by talking to the RSS. Umar Faizi, a member of Samast Mushwara, said that the Jamaat is afraid of the RSS.
Although all office-bearers have not made any formal comments about the development, Mr. Faizi’s comments represent all. Shri Faizi is one of the staunch leaders of Samast, who always opposed any deviation from the traditional religious path.
historical error
Kerala Muslim Jamaat, a prominent Muslim organization headed by Kanthapuram AP Abubakar Musaliar, said that Jamaat-e-Islami has committed a historic mistake by holding friendly discussions with the RSS.
According to the Muslim Jamaat, the RSS has been an enemy of India and Indian secular values and any dialogue with such an organization would be tantamount to embracing the enemy. “Theocracy is something that binds both the groups. Jamaat-e-Islami is becoming a tool to whitewash anti-India fascist forces,” said the Muslim Jamaat.
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leaders PK Kunhalikutty and MK Muneer said there was no special situation in the country for Jamaat-e-Islami to hold talks with the RSS.
Kerala Nadavathul Mujahideen (KNM) state president TP Abdullakoya Madani alleged that what happened between the Jamaat and the RSS was a one-way communication, and it was natural to suspect that the Jamaat had some vested interests.
Sunni Yuvajan Sangham leader Abdussamad Pukkuttur said the Jamaat’s stand on holding talks with the RSS cannot be accepted at any cost.
Nearly a month after the controversial talks in New Delhi, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind general secretary T. Arif Ali has revealed that the discussion focused on mob lynchings and repression of marginalized sections in several parts of the country.