The state conference of the Muslim Students Federation (MSF) will be held here on September 15 and 16. It is for the first time in the history of the outfit, which is the student feeder organisation of Indian Union Muslim League, that such a meet is being held in the state capital.
MSF state president P K Firoz told mediapersons here on Thursday that the theme of the conference will be
‘’Bold move for a new society’’. The conference is being held here with an objective to spread the reach of the outfit to the southern parts of the state and checkmate the clout of Campus Front.
‘’In our strongholds in the northern districts, the Campus Front was never allowed to take roots. It is in the south, especially where the SFI and ABVP are strong, that there is a growing presence of the Campus Front,’’ he said. He also said that with a view to give more prominence to girls in MSF, a wing named ‘Haritha’ has been launched.
‘’MSF stands for pluralism and secularism and also adopts a tough stance against communalism,’’ Firoz said. He said that the outfit had been consistently fighting against anti-student polices of the government, irrespective of political affiliation. ‘’We were strongly opposing the faulty policies in the self-financing education sector and CBSE schools,’’he said.
To a query, the MSF chief said that all secular-minded student outfits in the state should unite to uproot organisations like the Campus Front.
‘’If necessary, a ban itself should be imposed on the Front,’’he said. Asked whether the criticism levelled against the style of functioning of Education Minister P K Abdu Rabb and various policies have been toned down, he said that the organisation was only interested in taking up issues and not in tarnishing image.
Taking exception to the campaign to target a particular community in the name of ‘Love Jihad’, he said that all concerned should ponder whether anyone will move out of a religion if its teachings were instilled in the right spirit.
The flag for the state conference will be hoisted by the state president at the Putharikandam grounds on Friday at 4 pm. A rally will be held on Saturday from the Museum junction at 3 pm. Panakkad Syed Hyderali Shihab Thangal will later inaugurate the public meet at Putharikandam maidan. Home Minister Tiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan will be the guest of honour.
IUML Ministers, Forest Minister K B Ganesh Kumar and Shashi Tharoor MP will also address the public meet.
The delegates session, in which 1,500 representatives including 100 girls will participate, will be held at the University Senate Hall on Sunday from 9.30 am.
Union Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahmed will inaugurate it. The topic of the session will be ‘Towards a positive future’, which will be dealt by select panelists and experts.
MSF state general secretary T P Asharafali and others were also present.