Marking Milad un-Nabi, Muslims in Kerala held processions across the state on August 25 and 26, during which some youths were reportedly seen wearing military attire, according to reports published by Malayalam daily Janmabhoomi. Reacting to the reports, K.P. Sasikala Teacher, chief patron of Hindu Aikyavedi, expressed deep concern and demanded an inquiry by central agencies, saying the development did not appear to be simple and could be a continuation of what had been initiated by the National Development Front (NDF) and the outlawed Popular Front of India (PFI).
According to Janmabhoomi, images of youths participating in the processions in military attire were published by the newspaper.
K.P. Sasikala Teacher, on social media post, referred to a statement by a religious scholar that Keralam would become an Islamic state in ten years, saying it was presented as an assurance. She also referred to statements by certain organisations that they would control Kerala in 2035 and Bharat in 2047.
“When these statements came out, several people wondered how this would be possible in a country having a strong Constitution, democratic systems and an efficient judiciary,” her post said.
She said Milad un-Nabi was celebrated under the patronage of children’s Madrassas, but youths in several places carried out parades wearing military attire. She questioned whether “something” was taking place behind the curtain and whether training was being conducted or any plot for sabotage was being planned.
She urged the authorities to wake up, saying that what the NDF and PFI had started now appeared to be taken over by mainstream society. She said the development was “not as simple as it appears” and alleged that governments ruling the state alternatively would not pay attention to it because they were the “spokespersons” of vote-bank politics.
Sasikala further said central agencies should examine the matter seriously and that people’s vigilance was also essential. She criticised those who repeatedly opposed Sreekrishna Jayanthi Shobhayatras featuring bhajans and tableaux but remained silent over the reported military-style processions.
According to the reports, the NDF had organised parades on Independence Day in 2004, 2005 and 2006. On some other occasions, marches were held under the slogan, “Be the Sentinels of Islam”.
The NDF, or National Development Front, was reported to be a radical-leaning Muslim socio-cultural organisation based in Kerala. It later initiated the formation of the PFI.
