Congress faces backlash as Jamaat student body to launch campaign backing Islamic theocratic state
The tagline of the programme by Solidarity, the student wing of Jamaat E Islami says, "Syed Maududi, Sheikh Gardavi: Political Islamic thoughts and developments'. The group is looking to conduct seminars and discussions on it across the state in the coming days. However, the CPM, Left and various organizations say that spearheading the ideology of Maududi is equivalent to spread the idea of 'Theocratic Islamic State' in Kerala.
Malappuram: The Congress leadership, in Kerala is facing massive backlash from the CPI(M), BJP and a section within the Kerala Congress factions in central Kerala over its open endorsement for Jamaat E Islami endorsed Jamaat-e-Islami's latest move to familiarize people with the ideals of Abdul Maududi, the founder and parent of Jamaat E Islami who had endorsed the ideal of creating an Islamic theocratic state.
On Friday, the Malappuram district committee of Solidarity (Youth wing of Jamaat E Islami) is organising a debate on ‘Sayyid Maududi and Sheikh Qaradawi: Islamic political thought and development’. Maududi propagated political Islam and theocratic nationalism while Yousaf al-Qaradawi, an Egyptian Islamic scholar, is widely viewed close to the Muslim Brotherhood.
CPM leader and activist KP Anil Kumar while speaking to ‘Kairali’ channel harshly criticised the Congress leadership in the state and the earlier statement of VD Satheeshan who had openly endorsed the Jamaat E Islami and its political outfits in the state.
"It is shocking that the Congress party has not spoken a single word against the organizers of the event or on the ideology of Maududi who is the founder of Jamaat E Islami. This clearly shows the communal agenda of the Congress party and the Muslim league who is busy attacking the CPM over its understanding with communal parties”, said Anil Kumar.
The Jamaat-e-Islami, of late, has been closely associated with the Congress-led UDF. It had extended support to the Opposition front in recent elections, and the bonhomie its political wing, the Welfare Party, shares with the Congress is no secret.
With the state set to witness two crucial elections over the next few months, the Jamaat’s move has placed the Congress, which is getting increasingly estranged from influential Hindu groups like the NSS and the SNDP over alleged minority appeasement, on a sticky wicket.
VD Satheeshan, the senior Congress leader had endorsed the Jamaat E Islami and its feeder groups in Malappuram and stated that the Jamaat E Islami is not a communal group and the Congress will continue to have an alliance with the party. However, this statement had received support from the organization who had been critical with the CPM government in the state.