Radicalisation, whether Muslim, Christian or Hindu, is danger to the democracy. Democracy cannot survive in a radicalised society. Secularism put forward by Gandhiji, Nehru and Kalam is what is needed. The tragedy of Pakistan is that it is a theocratic state. Similarly, democracy does not in Iran, as there is a supreme religious council with the power to veto the laws and policies passed by their parliament. The country’s name is Islamic Republic of Iran. Republic denotes power of people.

 

 

 

 

People should have the freedom to criticise beliefs and practices of all religions. Our organisation, Mathethara Samajam (Secular Society) was the first to protest against chopping of Prof. Joseph’s hand. MF Husain’s paintings are derogatory to Hindu Gods and I have written and spoken against it. However, I do not approve of the actions of some people who made him flee the country.

 

Hindu Rashtra is a theocratic concept hence it cannot rub the shoulders with democracy. Religion and religious practices should be subject to changes according to changing times and places. No practice should be everlasting simply because it is preached by Prophet, Christ or any Hindu God. He cited the example of child marriage.

 

Jamaat-e-Islami’s Kashmir unit has been working as a separate organisation since long. Members of that unit have been more fanatic, militant and radical compared to that of other units in the country. In 1960s and 70s, they made high-voltage propaganda that Kashmir was not a part of the country. They promoted fissiparous tendencies in militant style and raised slogans like “Indian dogs quit Kashmir”. The group was milder in other states. But, now, they consider RSS, BJP and Sangh-oriented movements are theirmain enemies. They say ‘Sangh Parivar’ is the Enemy No: 1. The launch of Welfare Party, its political wing, in 2011 gave a powerful impetus to them to put forward their anti-RSS tirade. Those days, they joined hands with CPM-led LDF in Panchayat-Municipality elections. In 2010, a woman candidate of Jamat-e-Islami won municipal election in Mukkam Municipality, Kozhikode. As a result, CPM ruled the municipality for five years with JeIsupport. Next time, in 2015, they won three seats, two with their own might and one with the support of CPM. At that time, LDF was short of 2 seats to get the majority. So, these three seats gave them comfortable majority.

 

But, later on CPM realised that further link with the extremist outfit would alienate Hindus hence they severed the ties. Therefore, in the Malabar region, Welfare Party is a part of Congress-led UDF. This new honeymoon is facilitated by Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the major partner in the Front. The stakeholders believe that this marriage of convenience would bring them good fortunes in the imminent local body elections.

 

 

 

 

It was me who first wrote an article in Mathrubhumi weekly criticising Jamaat, from a secular point of view, some 40 years ago. Later, I wrote a Malayalam book,‘Daivathinte Rashtreeyam’ (Politics of God), on the same theme.

 

Jamat-e-Islami shot into prominence in 1970s, thanks to the Gulf money flowed into Kerala. They spent the money for helping the needy cutting across party, caste or religious lines. It helped them to grow. The same money power helped them to launch Madhyamam Malayalam daily. They tried to wear a secular mask to popularise it. They tried to draft Hindu intellectuals and writers as editors. They tried Krishna Warrier, Sukumar Azheekode, etc., but in vain. Then they got writer PK Balakrishnan. In Muslim areas, they kept on propagating that Madhyamam is filling the vacuum of a Muslim daily. They said, Chandrika belonged to IUML party, not to all Muslims. C. Radhakrishnan edited its weekly for some time. But, KamalramSajeev, the controversial former editor of Mathhrubhumi weekly later gave a facelift to the magazine. It succeeded in attracting all sorts of readers as it contained Dalit issues, environment matters, women’s liberation and anti-RSS contents.

 

CPM’s appeasement politics helped them a lot to develop separatism among the people. In a bid to appease Muslim community, CPM played up sentiments against anti-US imperialism, Saddam Hussein’s execution, Iraqi war, Afghan war, etc. This helped Jamat ideologically. But, they did not say anything about the Communist regime’s torture against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang, China. Hapless Uyghurs are lodged in inhuman camps. CPM rationalised that the camps are for reforming them. And, they kept on shouting, during the anti-CAA agitation that Indian Muslims would be put in prison camps.

 

Now, Jamaat goes ahead with its Islamic radicalisation drive using their media houses. Their Prabhodhanam weekly and Madhyamam daily propagate the need for establishing Islamic rule, the duty of each and every Muslim.

 

However, their propaganda is not as powerful as it used to be 25 years ago. Now the BJP rule is a reality. They are afraid of stringent action from the Modi regime. The members of my community have ostracised me for my strong stand against the fundamentalism. I get threat letters from radical elements.

 

 

 

The Uttar Pradesh government has told the Supreme Court recently that shocking findings have emerged in the investigation so far in the case in which Kerala-based journalist Siddique Kappan was arrested on his way to Hathras, where a young Dalit woman had died after allegedly being gang-raped.Kappanhad claimed that he is working as a journalist in a Kerala-based daily but that newspaper was closed two years ago, the UP Police had told a bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde.

 

 

Investigation conducted so far has found some shocking findings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench, which also comprised Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian.The apex court, which was hearing a plea filed by Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) questioning Kappan’s arrest, asked the petitioner as to whether they would like to move the high court.

 

Kappan was associated with the Popular Front mouthpiece Thejas, which carried a cover story on Osama bin Ladan projecting him a martyr. The UP Police said Kappan was on his way to Hathras to create communal disturbance. He was arrested along with three other Popular Front activists.