UDF-Jama’at tie-up: Now, Kanthapuram Sunnis raise concern

Sunni Yuvajana Sangam criticises UDF’s alliance with Jama’at, questions its stance on Maududi ideology

As Sunny Joseph and Adoor Prakash pose with a copy of the UDF manifesto, V D Satheesan points at his watch indicating to P K Kunhalikutty that it was time to leave for the next event, in Kochi on Monday Photo | A Sanesh

KOZHIKODE: Yet another Muslim organisation has come forward to oppose the UDF’s ‘adjustments’ with the Welfare Party of India, the political front of the Jama’at-e-Islami, in the ensuing elections to the local bodies in Kerala.

In an article published in Siraj daily, Sunni Yuvajana Sangam (SYS), the youth wing of the Kanthapuram faction of Sunnis, Rahmatullah Saqafi questioned the UDF’s claim that the Jama’at has discarded its ideology of the Islamic state. Saqafi said that till now the Jama’at leadership has not openly said that they no longer subscribe to the ideology.

He said Jama’at publishing house has republished the book authored by its founder Abul Ala Maududi that asserted the ‘theocratic and anti-democratic’ stand. “Can the leadership of the front that accommodated the Jama’at produce any proof to show that the organisation has withdrawn the book,” Saqafi asked.

He said the Sunnis will be happy if the Jama’at decides to backtrack from their position because they (Sunnis) have been campaigning against the stance from the beginning itself. But the Jama’at is selling the books of Maududi and has even conducted a campaign on his ideology last month. This proves that the Jama’at can never discard Maududi, Saqafi said.

The Sunni leader questioned the Jama’at argument that the aim of Muslims should be to establish divine rule. “Muslims have ruled India for about 650 years and none of them declared the country as an Islamic land,” he said, adding that Muslims in Kerala have cooperated with the non-Muslim rulers and even fought for the land. No Muslim scholar in Kerala including Sheikh Zainuddin Makhdum called for the establishment of Islamic rule, he said.

“The unholy understanding for temporary electoral gains will cause irreparable damage to the nation. It will also make certain political parties irrelevant,” Saqafi said.

‘Selling Maudadi books’

• In an article published in Siraj daily, Sunni Yuvajana Sangam, youth wing of Kanthapuram faction of Sunnis, Rahmatullah Saqafi questioned the UDF’s claim that the Jama’at has discarded its ideology of the Islamic state

• He also pointed out that the Jama’at was selling the books of Maududi and had even conducted a campaign on his ideology last month.