Don't hurt sentiments and faith of others, cautions IUML chief Thangal
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Coming under sharp criticism for the inflammatory slogans raised by its workers at a save Manipur march held recently, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) state president Panakkad Saiyyad Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal on Friday said no one has the right to hurt the sentiments and faith of others.
Thangal's reaction came in the wake of the incident of hate slogans raised by a section of party workers during the rally organised by the Muslim Youth League in Kasaragod the other day. The rally was held to demand action against the perpetrators of violence in Manipur.
The police had arrested half a dozen IUML workers and registered cases against several of them for allegedly raising inflammatory slogans targeting the majority community. The party had also expelled the person who raised the slogans.
The open threat issued to the majority community through hateful slogans had triggered protests from the BJP. The incident led to huge embarrassment for the IUML which is considered to be a moderate political organisation. In a damage control measure, the League leadership decided to crack the whip against its workers.
"We have a culture; we have a character. Our party has a proud history and rich tradition. No matter how extreme the provocation is, we have never chosen the path of intolerance or hatred," Thangal said in a social media post.
He said the poisonous seeds of hatred have not taken root in Kerala's soil because of the tradition of harmony and peaceful coexistence that existed in the state. "We will plunge into extreme danger the day these values come to an end," he said.
Political observers say the reaction of Muslim League was on the expected lines. Even after Babri Masjid demolition when several states were in the grip of communal tension, the League played a major role in ensuring peace and peaceful coexistence in Kerala.
Similarly, it has prevented the hardline Muslim organisations from gaining a wide acceptance among the community.
