K.T. Jaleel, former minister in the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, known as a devout Muslim, said that most of the drug traffickers caught red-handed are Madrasa-groomed Muslims. He said the Muslim community should unite against drugs. He was addressing a meeting in Malappuram on March 14.
Jaleel, the former SIMI worker, said that most of the drug traffickers caught while holding MDMA are Madrasa-groomed. The same is the case with ganja traffickers. These Madrasa-groomed individuals are trapped by greed and a craving for money. Since they receive money, they believe that drug trafficking and distribution are not wrong. In fact, they should serve as role models for others because members of no other community receive opportunities for studying religious lessons and moral values as Muslims do. It should be investigated why such people move in the wrong direction.
Jaleel added that, although non-Muslim children do not receive religious lessons and have no one to teach them moral values—such as honesty, abstinence from alcohol, and avoiding drugs—nor are there priests to guide them, they still do not engage in such activities. However, he criticised that, in contrast, Madrasa-groomed Muslims lack the moral consciousness that followers of other religions, despite not receiving formal religious education, inherently possess.
Jaleel said that he had taught in a college for 12 years. He asked, “Can anyone say, from the bottom of their heart, that Muslim students are at the forefront of following discipline and respecting teachers?” He added that Muslim students receive all sorts of religious and moral lessons. However, students who do not receive those privileges are more disciplined and knowledgeable in schools and colleges.
Jaleel said that something is wrong somewhere. It should be investigated and addressed; otherwise, the consequences will be grave. Greed for money leads people in the wrong direction. Why do they handle MDMA? Why is gold smuggled? All for money. The common Muslim community does not see these actions as crimes.
Jaleel opined that religious movements should address the aforementioned issues. It should be explained in Friday prayers. The only way to stop the above-mentioned crimes is to put an end to greed and the craving for wealth. Every Muslim should behave as a role model. Nowadays, young people do not trust anyone. Those who are expected to be role models for others lead the wrong lifestyle. People do not accept religious speeches in high esteem. Lakhs of rupees are paid for such speeches. Therefore, the people do not have even an iota of respect for the speakers. People should keep away from the wrong paths to the maximum possible extent.
K.T. Jaleel was a SIMI worker during his college days. Later, he joined the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and rose to the position of national general secretary of the Muslim Youth League, the youth wing of IUML. Later, he left IUML, reportedly due to differences of opinion with former minister P.K. Kunjalikkutty, the most powerful leader in IUML. Then he joined LDF and became an MLA. He was the Higher Education Minister in the first Pinarayi Vijayan government (2016 to 2021). He has been in the news due to numerous controversies. He had to resign from the government in April 2021 as the Lok Ayukta found him guilty of nepotism. In August 2022, Jaleel invited the wrath of nationalist forces for calling PoK “Azad Kashmir” in his Facebook post. He was also in controversy in 2020 when gold smuggling and his free distribution of the Quran were in the news.
Now, his reference to the drug trafficking of Madrasa-groomed men is again controversial. Does he really blame the Muslim clergy? Or is he targeting someone else? Is he trying to be an exemplary Muslim? Or is he attempting to appease some Hindus and wear the secularist mask to serve some larger purpose? Is he warning Muslims to be careful?
Though these comments appear to be intended for introspection on wrongdoing, it is hard to trust his statement given his contradictory political stance and past remarks.
