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‘Cong not invited’: IUML refuses to participate in UCC seminars
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a long-standing ally of the Congress in Kerala, on Sunday declined the invitation of the state CPM to take part in a series of seminars planned against the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) proposal of the BJP
KOCHI: The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a long-standing ally of the Congress in Kerala, on Sunday declined the invitation of the state CPM to take part in a series of seminars planned against the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) proposal of the BJP.
The decision was taken at a meeting convened by IUML state president Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal in Kozhikode attended by top leaders of the party.
“The CPM has invited only the Muslim League to the seminar. No other constituents of the UDF including the Congress have been invited. We are one of the main constituents of the UDF and we believe that the strongest opposition to the UCC in the country can be done by the Congress. On this issue, we cannot move forward without the Congress. In such a scenario, the Muslim League cannot participate in the seminars called by the CPM,” Thangal told reporters after the meeting.
The decision will come as a relief for the Congress in the state which had slammed the CPM’s invite to its ally and termed it as a move to capture the Muslim votebank in the name of UCC in the general elections next year. Muslims comprise nearly 26 percent of the population in Kerala and wield influence to decide electoral outcomes particularly in the Malabar region.
“On the issue of UCC, everyone should join hands and come together. This is a national issue and affects all religious communities, not just Muslims. Such a law should not be passed in Parliament,” underlined Thangal, adding that Muslim outfits in the state are free to participate in any seminar called by any party to voice opposition to the UCC.
The CPM invite to IUML, seen as part of its moves to eventually bring the party into its fold, had triggered debate within the Congress ally as several Muslim outfits including the influential factions of the Samastha Kerala Jemiyyathul Ulama have nodded yes to the CPM’s seminars. There were fears of erosion of its core votebank ahead of elections next year. But the IUML stand to stick with the Congress has strengthened the hand of the grand old party.
“The CPM has no right to hold seminars against the UCC. It must first denounce the stand taken by its late leader EMS Namboodiripad who had spoken in favour of UCC. Even if we are invited to the seminars, we will not go. Our stand is to oppose the UCC and we have made it clear in the Parliament standing committee as well. There can be no joint protests with the CPM in Kerala against UCC,” Congress MP K Muraleedharan told reporters.
At the same time, CPM state secretary MV Govindan said the IUML’s rejection of its invite is not a setback.
“They are part of the UDF and they have taken a decision as a political party. We have not invited the Congress because it has often adopted a soft Hindutva stand. Some of their own ministers in other states have supported the UCC,” said Govindan.
Both the Congress and IUML have declared that they will not take to the streets to protest against UCC. Instead, they will hold united and separate seminars and discussions against the controversial proposal in the weeks to come.
