What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
KOZHIKODE: Amidst the ongoing political discussions and rallies in Kerala surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict, the Muslim League (IUML), a key ally of the Congress, appears to be forging closer ties with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M).
The CPI(M) has openly expressed support for both Palestine and Hamas in its recent rallies and marches. Meanwhile, the Congress leadership in the state views these actions as mere political posturing by the CPI(M).
Recent statements by IUML leader ET Mohammed Basheer in Kochi, indicating that IUML is willing to cooperate with the CPI(M) in a rally supporting Palestine, suggest a political shift.
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This comes barely 12 hours after Former #Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal surfaced in Kerala over a virtual address ata pro-Palestine rally in… pic.twitter.com/2xdfhLfXMQ
— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) October 29, 2023
Over the past five years, the IUML has been aligning with the Left Democratic Front (LDF) on various issues, including opposition to the National Register of Citizens (NRC), the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), and the protest against the Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
IUML leader ET Mohammed Basheer defended the decision, stating, “There is nothing wrong in joining the LDF rally as it is a matter concerning humanitarian concerns.” However, some leaders within the Congress are concerned that this move may allow the CPI(M) to gain further ground within the Muslim community, especially in IUML’s strongholds in north Kerala.
Responding to the IUML’s statement, Kozhikode district secretary P Mohanan announced that the CPI(M) will officially extend an invitation to the IUML. He stated, “We welcome the decision wholeheartedly. Palestine is an issue that concerns everyone, not just the CPI(M) or IUML.”
The CPI(M) plans to invite cultural and social organisations and notable figures to the event, with representatives of religious organisations, including Samastha Kerala Jem-Iyyathul Ulama, expected to attend the rally on November 11.
Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president K Sudhakaran has conveyed that the United Democratic Front (UDF) has collectively decided not to share the stage with the CPI(M) on any issues.
The statements by senior IUML leaders, who are allies of the UDF, have raised concerns within the Congress party in Kerala. A recent speech by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor in Kozhikode, where he criticised the attacks by the Hamas terrorist group on Israel in October, has caused a division within the UDF, particularly among IUML leaders who expressed dissatisfaction with the statement made by Tharoor.
