Muslim League Leader Panakkad Sadik Ali Thangal Slams Saji Cherian’s Remarks, Affirms Commitment to Communal Harmony
Malappuram: Muslim League leaders have strongly reacted to the controversial statement made by Minister Saji Cherian. State President Panakkad Sayyid Sadik Ali Shihab Thangal stated that Saji Cherian needs to gain a deeper understanding of the Muslim League, emphasizing that the party’s history and current stance are firmly rooted in communal harmony and secularism. He reiterated that the League’s objective is not to create communal polarization for electoral gains.
‘Saji Cherian needs to study more about the League. The history and present of the League are of religious harmony and secularism. The League has always upheld this tradition. It is not the League’s aim to create communal polarization for four votes. Instead, the Muslim League has the courage to ask for votes from the people while maintaining harmony. Those who lack this confidence are attempting to worsen the situation by making such statements,’ Thangal asserted.
The All India General Secretary of the Muslim League further added that Minister Saji Cherian’s statement clearly reflects a lack of confidence within the government and its constituents. He criticized the targeting of a specific community with communal rhetoric, likening it to practices heard only in North India.
‘The lack of confidence in the government and its supporters is very evident. They have never before uttered such blatant communalism. Now that confidence is gone. That is why these Malappuram statements are being made. He even asked to check the names of the people’s representatives in Malappuram. No one in Kerala has ever said this before. Advocate Smiji, the Vice President of the League in Malappuram, won from a general seat; you cannot judge by a name alone. This campaign, targeting a specific community with communal rhetoric, clearly demonstrates a lack of confidence in facing the upcoming elections. The government and its supporters are making these statements,’ the General Secretary elaborated.
He further explained, ‘They are resorting to communal rhetoric, targeting a specific community, something only heard in North India. The people of Kerala will understand this. Before the last parliamentary election, they tried to appease minorities. It was a minority card then. Did it yield any results? The UDF still won. In the panchayat elections, they played the majority card. The UDF still won. This is Kerala, these are Malayalis on this soil. This will not work.’