Two years after the Government of India banned the Popular Front of India (PFI) for terror links, Kerala finds itself grappling with a controversial fitness programme, Multi-Exercise Combination 7 (MEC 7), a 30-minute workout routine that mixes yoga, aerobics, physiotherapy, deep breathing, acupuncture, and meditation, has been under intense scrutiny amid claims that it is being exploited to push radical Islamic ideology and recruit vulnerable individuals, particularly women, into extremist circles.
Developed in 2012 by P Salahudeen, a retired Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officer, MEC 7 now operates through over 1,000 units, predominantly in northern Kerala’s Muslim-majority districts of Kozhikode and Malappuram. Despite its innocuous-sounding name, the programme has been linked to terror outfits like Jama’at-e-Islami (JeI) and the proscribed PFI, raising serious questions about its real intent and activities.
Though marketed as a fitness initiative, MEC 7’s reach and methods have alarmed various factions, both political and religious. The programme is reportedly coordinated via WhatsApp groups, where local leaders with known PFI ties allegedly act as administrators, spreading ideological content alongside fitness tips. Women have been particularly targeted, with reports indicating that they are forcibly dragged out of their homes to participate in the sessions, often under social or religious pressure.
As these WhatsApp groups grow, so do suspicions that MEC 7 is not merely a grassroots exercise programme but a covert operation aimed at furthering radical agendas. Critics claim that the programme’s informal nature, lack of registration, and absence of promotional materials like pamphlets are indicative of its hidden motives—offering a veil of legitimacy to what could be an underground recruitment network.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)], traditionally the ruling party in Kerala, has raised alarms over MEC 7’s connections with extremist elements. P Mohanan, CPI(M) Kozhikode district secretary, initially condemned the programme, claiming it had deep links to Jama’at-e-Islami and PFI. However, he later backtracked, stating that his remarks were misinterpreted and that the programme itself was benign, merely aimed at addressing lifestyle diseases.
This flip-flop has raised questions about the CPI(M)’s true stance on the issue. Was this a political maneuver to placate Islamic factions within the state, or does the party genuinely believe that MEC 7 is just a wellness initiative?
The BJP, on the other hand, has taken a far stronger stance, warning that MEC 7’s operations should be treated with suspicion. V Muraleedharan, a BJP leader and former Union Minister, has highlighted the growing influence of PFI and its offshoots in Kerala, urging the state government to remain vigilant. Echoing the concerns raised by CPI(M), Muraleedharan stated that “there are sufficient reasons to suspect that MEC 7 is not just a fitness programme but a tool for radicalisation.”
In stark contrast to both the CPI(M) and BJP, the Congress has lent its full support to MEC 7. V K Sreekandan, Congress MP from Palakkad, publicly endorsed the programme, calling it “inclusive” and “beneficial.” His comments have sparked outrage, especially given the growing evidence of MEC 7’s potential connections to banned radical outfits. Sreekandan’s support for the programme has raised serious concerns, with critics accusing the Congress of legitimising radicalism under the guise of a wellness initiative.
MEC 7’s organisers, including Bava Arakkal, an ambassador for the programme, have dismissed these accusations as “baseless”. Arakkal insists that MEC 7 is open to people of all religions and castes, and that it fosters “unity” across communities. However, the lack of transparency surrounding the programme’s operations—especially its unregulated growth—raises alarms about its true nature.
MEC 7’s controversial rise comes on the back of the PFI’s troubling past. In 2013, a PFI-run terror camp in Kannur district was raided, leading to the recovery of explosives and live bombs. The PFI’s involvement in violent acts, including the infamous 2020 Bengaluru riots, has already drawn the attention of national security agencies. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has linked the PFI to a network of terror camps and international funding aimed at stirring religious violence and instigating jihadist activities.
In September 2022, the Indian government banned PFI and its affiliates for five years, citing its connections to terror activities and national security threats. Despite the ban, it appears that the outfit and its sympathisers have rebranded themselves, using initiatives like MEC 7 to recruit and radicalise youth under the guise of social wellness.
Even within the Muslim community, there are growing concerns about the programme’s ties to radical groups. Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musaliyar, a prominent Sunni leader, has questioned the real motives behind MEC 7, while Muhammadali Kinalur and Perode Abdurrahman Saqafi have accused Jama’at-e-Islami of using the programme to spread divisive ideologies and undermine Sunni values.
The fact that MEC 7 operates with no formal registration or promotional activities makes it even more suspicious. While organisers claim that the programme is a neutral platform for physical wellness, its informal, grassroots approach may very well be a calculated strategy to avoid detection by authorities and manipulate communities at the local level.
