Kottayam: The Imam Council of India has softened its earlier decision remove Saduq Maulavi, chief imam of the Kottayam Settuppally Juma Masjid for attending a Christmas celebration organised by a frontal organisation of the BJP as the issue snowballed into a controversy. Arshad Meduvi, a state committee member of the Imam Council, told this newspaper that the council had received an explanation from the imam and he would be reinstated accordingly. The council was upset with the Maulavi for attending the Christmas celebration organised by the Minority Morcha of the BJP.
In the letter the Maulavi stated that he had attended the fete without knowing that it was organised by the BJP Minority Morcha, said Meduvi. “He was invited by someone else and not the organisers. On the basis the explanation he will be reinstated into the council,” Meduvi said. He said the council is not against participation in Christmas celebrations, but is ideologically opposed to the BJP, he added. The Imam was suspended by the Council dominated by the Popular Front of India.
The PFI, however, retraced the decision following the possible backlash it would have created, sources said. PFI which has argued vociferously for the freedom of expression and the agency in the case of Hadiya was at the receiving end following objections raised against the flash mob performance by a group of Muslim girls. Christmas celebration organised by the BJP minority morcha was held on December 17. Jose K. Mani, MP, inaugurated the meeting attended by Metropolitan Mar Mathew Mor Adimos and slew of BJP leaders including former state president P.S. Sreedharan Pillai. The imam addressed the meeting and gave his message on the occasion.
