‘Left can’t protect minorities like Congress...we can’t reject them’

THE INDIAN Union Muslim League (IUML) has been a longtime partner of the Congress-led UDF in Kerala. It is also a member of the Opposition's INDIA alliance. In recent days, the IUML’S relationship with the Congress has come under strain over various issues, even as the CPI(M) tries to woo it away from the UDF. Kerala IUML president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Thangal speaks about the perception that the Congress is going soft on its Citizenship (Amendment) Act stand, its relationship with the party, the CPI(M)’S outreach to Muslim groups. Excerpts:

The CPI(M) has made CAA its main campaign plank in Kerala. How do you view this?

The Kerala Assembly passed a resolution against the CAA with the support of the UDF. We should understand that the CAA is not a state issue. Our role is to fight against the CAA in Parliament.

LDF leaders, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, have even called the Congress’s silence as reflective of its ‘pro-sangh Parivar’ stand.

If the Congress had a prosangh Parivar mindset, they could have enacted the CAA or other such draconian rules in Parliament during their regime.

But the Congress manifesto is silent on CAA…

Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi have repeatedly asserted that they will not implement the law. We cannot ask a party to include everything in their manifesto.

The CPI(M) seems to be getting closer to the Muslim community. They have fielded candidates acceptable to PRO-IUML organisations…

As a ruling party, the CPI(M) may be doing many things for these (PRO-IUML) organisations within their limits. But the IUML continues its good relationship with all Muslim organisations. We don’t think that the CPI(M) has helped or reached out to the SAMASTHA (a PRO-IUML body of Muslim clerics). SAMASTHA is well aware of IUML politics. Our relationship is long-standing.

The Left is trying to win Muslim support by saying that the Congress is weak and cannot face the BJP.

We don’t agree that the Left can ensure minority protection in the way the Congress can. We can never abandon the Congress or reject it. Everybody understands that only the Congress can lead an alliance against the BJP. The Congress is very significant for the IUML because we have been following secular politics. Our role is to politically strengthen the Congress.

There was a row recently about IUML flags not being displayed at Rahul Gandhi’s roadshow.

Rahul’s roadshow in Wayanad (the constituency he is contesting from) was devoid of all flags, including that of the Congress.

Recently, The Kerala Story was screened by the Catholic Church in many places to ‘enlighten teenagers against love jihad’. How do you view this?

This is a crucial time when all sections of minorities should stand together and raise their voices against fascism. We require friendship to strengthen pluralism. There are issues between Muslims and Christians, but these can be solved through discussions and dialogue. Both Muslims and Christians are the strength of the UDF.

Your statement asking members of the Muslim community to not protest against the Ayodhya Ram Temple consecration had left some sections angry...

When such issues arise, we take a clear stand for harmony. When the Babri Masjid was demolished, my brother Syed Muhammedali Shihab Thangal (then the IUML chief) wanted no tension and requested community members to stand guard at temples. We have to move ahead and look at how issues can be solved in an amicable manner.