By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Thiruvananthapuram: The UDF Government in Kerala is facing a tough time with regards to maintaining good relations with two major Sunni factions. The Kerala Chief Minister is under pressure from the Samastha Kerala Jam’iyyathul Ulama leaders to announce an investigation into the alleged ‘holy hair’ fraud by Kanthapuram AP Abooacker Musalyar.
Earlier a Vadakara native named UC Abu had submitted a PIL in the Kerala High court accusing the AP Sunni leader of making use of the religious sentiments for his spiritual business in the name of Holy Hair [Sha’ere Mubarak].
The petitioner had also accused the Kerala government of not taking appropriate actions against this fraud. Based on this PIL, the Kerala HC division bench, including acting Chief Justice Manjula Chellur and Justice AM Shafeek issued notices to both AP Abubacker Musalyar and the state government.
The affidavits in reply to the HC notice, submitted by AP Aboobacker Musalyar and the Kerala government were subjected to some serious criticisms by Samastha and other Muslim organisations in the state because the AP Sunni leader camouflaged suddenly by stating that Masjid to be built in Kozhikode is not meant to preserve the ‘holy lock of hair.’
The Markaz run by AP Aboobacker Musalyar including its top leaders had earlier made clear statements asking believers to support the cause of building a mosque at Kozhikode to preserve the ‘the lock of Prophet Muhammad’s [SAW] hair’ and the notices, flexes and every sought of campaigns to raise funds for the Masjid had clearly stated that, ‘the Masjid will be an ideal centre for preserving the holy hair’.
The affidavit submitted by the Kerala government was of a shock to these Muslim organisations as it said that the government doesn’t want to create law and order problems by initiating an unwanted probe regarding the controversial hair and that there is no specific system in place to test the authenticity of ‘holy hair’. The Police report too turned controversial as it stated that ‘no fund collection was carried out to build the Sha’re Mubarak Masjid [Mosque to preserve holy remains].
The Samastha since decades has been the main stay and vote bank of IUML in Kerala and the Kanthapuram faction of Sunni’s though branded as having allegiance with the CPIM has the history of standing by the ruling front always. So they were in a way getting close to the UDF government through few Congress leaders like Aryadan Muhammed and this new friendship was observed as a Congress attempt to challenge the supremacy of IUML in Kerala Muslim Politics.
The Kerala government’s affidavit in support of AP Aboobacker Musalyar, had provoked the Samastha leadership and based on this they had planned a march to the Kozhikode City Commissioner office in order to protest against the Police report submitted by him and had decided state wide protests targeting the govt for their support to Kanthapuram’s ‘spiritual business’. The Samastha Mushavara asked the govt to withdraw the affidavit warning them of some serious consequences if not.
IUML didn’t involve in the controversy until recently as they didn’t want the Kanthapuram Sunni’s to come up against them and were confident of not losing the Samatha’s support despite being silent. It is believed that under these circumstances the Samastha had sent in a strong message to the IUML leadership and it is under the wake of this threat they took initiatives to arrange a meeting of the Samastha leaders with the Kerala Chief Minister at the CM’s chamber.
The meeting held as two phases in the CM’s chamber was attended by IUML leader and state Industries Minister PK Kunjalikutty, state Home Minister Tiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan and top Samastha leaders including Dr Bahavudheen Nadvi, Onampilly Muhammed Faisy, Mustafa Mundupara and Nasar Faisy Koodathai.
It was in this meeting the Kerala CM assured the Samastha leaders of carrying out a high level investigation into the alleged spiritual fraud. He told them that the Kerala govt will submit an additional affidavit in place of the earlier affidavit which the Samatha leaders termed as baseless and unacceptable. The leaders said that the CM had accepted to their argument that the earlier submitted affidavit lacked factual base.
It was only after this assurance from the Kerala CM, the Samastha leaders decided to step back from their plan to hold a massive rally to the Kozhikode City Police Commissioner office on 31st January.
Though Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musalyar or any Sunni leaders haven’t responded to the decisions taken in the meeting the Govt as well as IUML will be devising strategies, not to disrupt their recent cordial relations with the Kanthapuram faction of Sunni’s who with their organisational setup and strength are a crucial factor in determining Muslim votes in Kerala and their allegiance back to the left front will be one among the worst things to happen for the ruling front in Kerala.
Related:
1. Rs 40 crore Masjid not to preserve ‘holy hair’: Kanthapuram
2. Foundation stone of Rs 40-crore mosque to be laid amid controversies in Kerala
3. No one has right to burn holy hair: Kanthapuram
4. Holy Hair: HC issues notice to Kanthapuram and Kerala Govt