THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: All-India Rawther Association president and Adikkattukulangara Muslim Jamaath president P M Shajan said on Saturday that the allegations against BJP state president Kummanam Rajasekharan that he had stated that Muslim merchants doing business on temple premises should be evicted was wrong and politically motivated.
Addressing a news conference here, he said that those behind the controversy had vested interests to claim minority votes by triggering communal spite.
“We have been conducting business near temples for more than 75 years. So far we have not faced any threat or ill-treatment from the part of Hindu organisations. In fact, it was the RSS and VHP workers who come to our rescue when someone creates problems during festivals,” he said. Shajahan said that there were over 1,500 Muslims working in over 50 shops run by Muslims in Sabarimala.Even at Sannidhanam, Muslims had faced no problem in conducting business or working in shops. He said that in Travancore region, at Pattazhi, Aranmula and Oachira Padanilam, several Muslims had been running business.