Arun Lakshman
The Kerala Government led by the Congress is shying away from taking action against the notorious Islamist organisation Popular Front of India even after the state intelligence has given a report against them in July 2012.
With serial bomb blasts rocking Hyderabad and killing sixteen people ,and injuring 119, it is high time that the state Congress government take action against an organisation on which its intelligence department has already given a detailed report on its involvement in 27 political murders and also its direct connection with the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). The Additional Director General Of Police (ADGP) , Intelligence ,Kerala T. P. Senkumar had given a report to the state government regarding the PFI which was presented by the government in Kerala high court.
The senior government pleader of the state government in the High court of Kerala, Advocate C.S. Manilal had given a counter affidavit following a petition by the Popular Front of India (PFI) seeking permission to conduct “Freedom Parades” in various districts on August 15th , 2012 . The senior pleader has in his counter affidavit stated that the Popular Front of India is a “resurrection” of banned Student Islamic Movement of India(SIMI) and that this organisation and its erstwhile formation, the National Democratic Front( NDF) had active involvement in 27 murder cases . Most of these murders were committed on RSS and CPI-M workers .
The counter affidavit has also stated that most of the PFI leaders were identified to be erstwhile leaders of the SIMI and that PFI was indeed a camouflage to the banned SIMI.
It may be noted that SIMI was banned by the Government of India following various intelligence inputs on it being a rabid communal organisation.
PFI national chairman Abdul Rehman was the former national secretary of SIMI while its state secretary Abdul Hameed was the former state secretary of SIMI.
The state pleader has also then stated in the counter affidavit “the prayer of the petitioner seems to be innocent and innocuous , but there is a grave danger in considering the request from the standpoint of sovereignty and security of the country” .The objectives of NDF and PFI were similar . However NDF felt that if it were to remain confined to Kerala it would be branded as any other communal outfits and to spread its activities to other states the PFI was formed on December 19th, 2006 by merging NDF ,Manitha Neethi Passrai( MNP –Tamil Nadu) and Forum for Dignity –Karnataka . The state government pleader has also submitted that though the PFI claimed that it was formed to safeguard human rights and protection of minority, they were “clandestinely” engaged in wholetime criminal activities with the object to defend Islam.
It may be noted that the National Investigative Agency (NIA) has already given reports to the state government and to the government of India on the activities of PFI and is deeply involved in the study of the funds the organisation is routing to the country . The NIA is already investigating the case related to the chopping of the hand of Prof T.J. Joseph of Newman’s college ,Thodupuzha . The Kerala police had earlier arrested eight people who were all identified with the PFI and raids on the premises of those accused has led to incriminating documents including CD’s which showed brutal killings of Westerner’s by the Al-Queda . Sources in the NIA however refused to divulge the details of the investigation but however added that the investigation on the case is on.
There has already been reports by the NIA and various other intelligence agencies that the state of Kerala is becoming a safe haven for terror operatives and sources in the top intelligence agency has also revealed that the planning for several bomb blasts outside the state is being conducted in Kerala.
Even after such revelations and brushing aside steady intelligence reports , the Kerala government is not taking action owing to political consideration as the state government is having a majority of three legislators and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is a major constituent of the Congress led coalition with a massive tally of 23 MLA’s.
The state Congress leadership as well as the state Chief Minister is very much aware that if there is any action like ban of PFI or other actions , the Muslim League will try to destabilise the government .The PFI has already been campaigning in the state that it has been the true champions of the Muslim cause and that it is fighting for the Muslim cause . This has led to a clandestine understanding with the Muslim League as in several Muslim pockets PFI is turning to be of some strength.
Aluva Shivarathri Manappuram
T Satisan, Kochi
Aluva Manappuram (since manal in Malayalam means sand, the reference is to sandy bank of the river) on the banks of Periyar river has been a divine pilgrimage spot for Hindus since time immemorial . One hundred fifty two acres of sandy bank, with a modest Shiva temple, attracts lakhs of believers on Sivarathri days every year. Sivarathri is an auspicious day for offering bali tharpan for the ancestors. People from all over Kerala throng the manappuram on those days. They do have darshan at Shiva temple and offer bali tharpan. Approximatey 6 to 7 lakh pilgrims are visiting manalppuram for this ritual every year. On top of this several lakhs come to manalppuram to participate in and enjoy the one month long trade fair, celebrations and illuminations. Periyar alias Poorna river is the same one which caresses Kaladi, the birth place of Adi Sankaracharya. Kaladi is a few miles away from manappuram. Such an established Hindu pilgrimage centre all on a sudden turned a “disputed” site couple of weeks before. Authorities of Aluva municipality permitted Indian Muslim Youth Movement to conduct their 3 day camp on the manappuram. When Hindu organisations protested against this action, the authorities maintained that only 13 acres of land are under the custody of Devaswom Board and the remaining land belongs to Aluva municipality. Hindu organizations staged protest marches and observed a days’ hartal in Ernakulam district. By that time the Muslim outfit had performed their programme and left. Now, the matter is in the court.
HIindu organisations argue that the whole land belongs to the temple. Therefore, they would not approve if land is made available for non Hindu programmes and purposes. They believe that the authorities’ stand to permit the land for non Hindu purposes and programmes is the kick off of a larger design to limit the Hindus’ rights within the temple land. The Shivarathri trade fair has been run by Aluva municipality since long; municipality had been paying the power charges for the fair’s illumination. But, 2005 onwards they passed the bucks to Devaswom Board despite enjoying the proceeds from the fair ! Believers donate (offer) bullocks to the temple and they used to live on manappuram without hindrance. And, 2008 onwards municipality has been auctioning these bulls at meat rate, that is, around Rs 65,000. When Hindu organisation protested they spent the proceeds came from bull sales for constructing comfort stations near municipal bus stand. Then they constructed a temporary bridge to cross the river from manappuram to Sri Krishna Tempe during Shivarathi days. And, they charged the commuters exorbitant rates for crossing the river. Again, Hindu Aikya Vedi and RSS were in the forefront of the protests. So, they reduced the rates a bit. The same time there were several attempts from the authorities’ side to encroach the manappuram. When famous Malayalam film maker Lohitha Das died, municipality decided to build a memorial for him; Hindu organisations opposed it saying that it was against the rituals of Temple; so the idea was dropped. Then comes Football Club of Kochi led by Congress fellow traveler and lucrative business man Shafi Mather. The municipality gave a good portion of manappuram for 2 years lease against a payment of Rs 7,000 per month. Municipality even made fencings for the court. When Hindu organizations protested Mather & team left the place for good. Most dangerous step from the municipal authorities was giving manappuram to infamous Islamic outfit, Popular Front, for conducing their camp. When they left manappuram after the completion of the camp what they left behind was a flag platform reading Zaheed Tipu Sulthan Nagar. Hindu organisations found it an attempt to grab the whole manappuram. Moreover Tipu is considered by Kerala Hindus as a persona non grata since during his military campaigns, temples and idols were broken and looted and thousands of Hindus were converted to Islam by force.
When Vishswa Hindu Parishad and Hindu Aikya Vedi came out with strong protests the matter came before the court. Initially Dewasvom Board maintained that they had only 12 plus acreas out of 152 acres of manappuram. But, after couple weeks, It looked like they changed their stand. Now, they claimed before the court that the whole manappuram belongs to the Devaswom. Hindus are really happy about this new affidavit.
Now it looks like manappuram attains the status of an Ayodhya controversy in making ? Hope, political parties will shed their pseudo secular attitude in these sorts of matters of national importance.
