The Left Government in Kerala has been drawing flak from various Muslim groups and other political parties after P Mohanan, Kozhikkode district secretary of the CPI(M) claimed at a party function in Thamarassery, that some Muslim extremist outfits are supporting Maoists in the state.
“We have information that some Muslim extremist outfits are supporting Maoists in north Kerala. There is a new-found bonhomie between them. Some Kozhikkode-based extremist organizations are behind this. We need police to probe this,” said P Mohanan.
While stating that Kerala has been witnessing an unprecedented rise in the incidents of violence, the CPI(M) leader furthered: “Muslim extremist outfits are providing water and manure to Maoists.”
The controversial comment came at the backdrop of the death of four Maoists in an encounter with the police last month and the arrests of two student CPI(M) activists- Taha Fazal and Alan Shuhaib- by the Left government under the anti-terror Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for their alleged Maoist links.
This statement drew immediate condemnation from various political fronts and Muslim groups. The Muslim League demanded that the government name the Islamic groups that Mohanan alleged is acting in favour of Maoism in Kerala. “Let the party first examine its cadres before blaming others,” said Muslim League leader P P Ummer Koya.
Many self proclaimed liberals and intellectuals have also criticised the CPI(M). “No wonder, once they fall from grace they turn extremists in no time,” said writer and thinker Prof M N Karassery. The leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala also urged the government to clarify on the alleged presence of Islamic terrorism in the state. He also asked not to give the terrorist activities any communal angle.
Following the backlash, Mohanan later came up with a clarification that he never intended to slam Islam as a religion.
