The IUML state committee perceived electoral intentions behind the CPI(M) invitation to a national seminar on UCC skipping the Congress.
IUML's Kerala unit president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal, considered to be the last word on party affairs, addressing a meeting in Malapuram. (Najeeb Shah)
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) on Sunday, 9 July, rejected outright an invitation to join the Left vanguard against the proposed legislation on a Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
As a result, attempts by the ruling CPI(M) in Kerala to weaken the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in the Opposition and divert Muslim votes in its favour in the fast-approaching Lok Sabha election came to a stuttering halt.
While extending the invitation to IUML, the CPI(M) had made it clear that it would not invite the Congress to the seminar as its position over the controversial proposed legislation was sketchy.
Political observers then started speculating that the CPI(M) was using the civil code debate to weaken the UDF by isolating the IUML in the state.
In that process, CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan even amended the party’s longstanding position that the IUML was communal, and bestowed on it the tag of a secular party working for the welfare of minorities.
The IUML is the second-largest constituent of the UDF, and enjoys considerable clout among minorities in Kerala and some pockets across South India.
Its state committee met at its president Sadique Ali Shihab Thangal’s residence in Malappuram on Sunday.
After the meeting, it categorically declared that it would not join any anti-UCC movement that excluded the Congress and other alliance partners in the UDF.
The party also turned down an invitation from the CPI(M) to take part in a national seminar on the civil code convened for next week in Kozhikode by the Left party.
“They invited only the IUML to their national seminar. No other constituent of the UDF was invited. We feel the decision of the CPI(M) to keep the Congress away from such a crucial seminar involves malicious and selfish political intentions. So we decided not to be a part of any move that would destabilise the Congress and the UDF,” said Thangal when contacted by South First over the phone, adding that the party would continue to be a trusted ally of the Congress.
In the meantime, he clarified that any Muslim organisation could participate in the seminar as it was their prerogative, and the IUML would not be a party to their decisions.
His explanation was in the context of the pro-IUML religious body Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama deciding to send its representatives to the seminar.
In the case of this scholarly body, it said it would cooperate with whoever was organising protests against the civil code legislation, and its representatives would attend seminars to be organised by both the Congress and the CPI(M).
Meanwhile, IUML general secretary PK Kunhalikutty warned the CPI(M) against using the UCC issue as a political tool aimed at election victory.
“We are also organising a seminar on the subject by ensuring the participation of academics, politicians, religious leaders, social leaders and opinion makers. The IUML believes it is not a religious issue, as the proposed move would also affect the interests of Christians and tribals,” he said.
“The real might must be held in the parliament, and all secular forces must join together under Congress to fight the legislation. Then what is the point in participating in a seminar that wants to belittle Congress,” he added.
Speaking to reporters in Thrissur, Govindan termed the development as the result of pressure tactics by the Congress on the IUML.
He also refused to consider the IUML decision a setback to the larger political game of the CPI(M) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) headed by it.
The IUML decision, however, infuriated CPI(M) Central Committee member AK Balan.
He said the Congress in Kerala was anti-Muslim as the Muslim representation among its Parliament members was very low. He also accused the IUML of falling victim to the power tactics of the Congress.
The IUML decision appeared to be a severe jolt to the CPI(M), which hoped to regain a foothold in the Lok Sabha by winning Muslim votes to compensate for the prevailing strong anti-incumbency wave against the Pinarayi Vijayan government in the state.
The UCC was the focus of a major overture of the CPI(M) to the IUML against the backdrop of an influential splinter faction of the Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama deciding to rejoin the parental body with the blessings of the IUML to increase the bargaining power of the Muslim community amidst adversities created by the aggressive Hinduta and its proponents.
On Sunday, Govindan and Kerala’s General Education Minister V Sivankutty were hopeful that the IUML would join the series of seminars held across the state by the Left party to build resistance against UCC.
Govindan said the Congress could not be invited to its seminars as the grand old party had no clear stand on the UCC, with a different approach to it in each state.
A strong political debate had been kicked off in the state over the UCC after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a strong push for implementing the UCC last week by asking how the country could function with dual laws that governed personal matters.
He advocated for the UCC while addressing BJP workers in Bhopal in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh.
(With inputs from PTI)
