Kochi, July 31: Former Kerala Minister K.T. Jaleel has launched a scathing attack on the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and its State president, Panakkad Syed Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal, demanding a public apology for what he described as the spread of “communal misinformation” among the Muslim community over the Centre’s PM SHRI school scheme.
In a strongly worded Facebook post, Jaleel alleged that the Muslim League had portrayed the PM SHRI scheme as being hostile to the interests of Muslims and had misled the community through its campaign against the programme. He said the League and Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal owed the public an apology if they had now changed their stand on the issue.
Jaleel argued that Thangal’s statements carry greater weight because he is not only the president of the Muslim League but also serves as a Qazi in several mosques. According to him, members of the Muslim community regard his words as authoritative religious guidance rather than ordinary political statements. He questioned Thangal’s suitability to continue in the religious position if he failed to maintain consistency in his public positions.
The former minister further said that the office of a Qazi was one that demanded credibility and integrity. If Thangal’s stand on PM SHRI had shifted to align with the position of the UDF and the State government, Jaleel said he would no longer recognise him as a Qazi. He also asserted that religious rulings issued by someone who lacked consistency would not command respect.
Jaleel also accused the UDF, particularly the Muslim League, of previously campaigning that PM SHRI funds were “anti-Muslim” and therefore unacceptable. Referring to the League’s present support for implementing the scheme, he claimed that the party had contradicted its earlier position.
He also maintained that Kerala’s government schools had already undergone significant infrastructure development under the Pinarayi Vijayan government without relying on PM SHRI funds, and said that fact should not be forgotten in the ongoing political debate over the scheme.
