Startling reports from Thrithala, Palakkad, state that pictures of Hamas terrorists were displayed on the backs of elephants during a procession held in connection with the mosque Uroos (festival) on 16 February 2025. The banners bore the titles “Tharavadis, Thekekebhagam” (Ancestrals, Southern Side) along with images of Hamas and Hezbollah terrorist commanders Yahya Sinwar, Ismail Haniyeh, and Hassan Nasrallah. Interestingly, all three have reportedly been killed by the Israelis.
The entire spectacle was enacted in the presence of CPM and Congress leaders, further fuelling controversy. The organisers of the event have not yet responded. However, the participation of Congress leader V.T. Balaram and CPM Minister M.B. Rajesh has drawn the ire of right-thinking and nationalist individuals. The procession was part of the annual Uroos festival at a mosque in Thrithala and attracted around 3,000 people. However, the installation of the aforementioned posters has triggered widespread controversy.
One year ago, when @BJP4Keralam warned against a rally in Kerala where a Hamas leader virtually participated, the LDF govt took no action. Now, in Palakkad, at a Urus festival, terrorists who killed thousands were glorified—pictures of Ismail Haniyeh & Yahya Sinwar were paraded… pic.twitter.com/eBRfTJvMX9
— K Surendran (@surendranbjp) February 17, 2025
This incident highlights the fanatic and communal mindset of certain religious extremists who do not uphold the principle of ‘Nation First’. Both Hamas and Hezbollah reject democracy and have declared Bharat their enemy.
Former Hamas chief Khaled Mashal had delivered an online address at a conference organised by the Solidarity Youth Movement, the youth wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, in Malappuram on 27 October 2023. BJP and other Sangh-inspired organisations had protested against the event, but no case was registered. Similarly, no case has been registered in relation to the Thrithala incident, where images of Hamas leaders were displayed on elephant backs.
Critics often argue that Indian Muslim leaders frequently assert their loyalty to India, and any demand for them to demonstrate it through actions is labelled as an insult to their religious rights. However, when incidents such as the glorification of Hamas terrorists in public processions occur, there is a conspicuous silence from these very leaders. Their reluctance to condemn such acts sends a dangerous message to ordinary Muslims, reinforcing extremist narratives instead of countering them.
ഇണ്ടി സർക്കാരിന് കീഴിൽ കേരളത്തിൽ തീവ്രവാദികൾ ആഘോഷിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു. പാലക്കാട് തൃത്താലയിൽ മുസ്ലീം പള്ളിയിലെ ഉറൂസിൻ്റെ ഭാഗമായുള്ള ആന എഴുന്നള്ളിപ്പിൽ ഇടംപിടിച്ച് ഹമാസ് ഭീകരരുടെ ചിത്രങ്ങൾ pic.twitter.com/rmDuEMw496
— BJP KERALAM (@BJP4Keralam) February 17, 2025
The role of Communist governments in enabling such radicalisation cannot be overlooked. In West Bengal, during its decades-long rule, the Communist regime not only turned a blind eye to large-scale illegal infiltration of Bangladeshi Muslims but actively facilitated their settlement. Today, this has snowballed into a severe law and order crisis, with demographic changes threatening national security.
Similarly, in Kerala, the unchecked rise of Islamist extremism under Communist governance allowed organisations like the Popular Front of India (PFI) to flourish. For years, the state government ignored its radical activities, permitting it to operate with impunity. It was only the intervention of the central government that led to the nationwide crackdown and subsequent ban on PFI. It is no secret that Kerala had become the epicentre of PFI’s radical activities, thanks to the Communists’ appeasement-driven politics.
The Communist regimes in both Kerala and West Bengal have fostered an ecosystem that actively challenges India’s internal security and communal harmony. They have not only shielded radical groups but also provided them with a safe haven under the guise of secularism.
The responsibility also lies with Muslim leaders who claim to be peace-loving and patriotic. Yet, their reactions to developments in the Middle East often outweigh their concern for national issues. They are quick to voice outrage over conflicts involving Israel or Western nations, but when terrorist groups openly operate within India’s borders, they choose to remain silent. This double standard raises serious questions about their true priorities.
This hypocrisy becomes even clearer when we look at the pattern of radical Islamist activities in India. Organisations like the Students’ Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, and the now-banned PFI have openly supported radical elements, either through ideological backing or direct involvement in terror-related activities.
Despite undeniable facts, these so-called “peace-loving” organisations and their leaders refuse to condemn Islamic terrorism in clear terms. Instead, they deflect, justify, or conveniently remain silent when it suits their agenda.
The ideological alignment of such Communists elements with global jihadist networks cannot be ignored. How can an individual running terrorist camps and orchestrating genocidal campaigns against Jews in the Middle East be regarded as a hero by sections of Indian Muslims? This disturbing glorification forces right-thinking citizens to ask justified questions about the intentions and loyalties of such forces operating within the country.
