Nilambur bypoll CPI M slams UDF over Jamaat-e-Islami backed support

Malappuram (Kerala), Jun 10 (PTI) The support extended by the Jamaat-e-Islami-backed Welfare Party to the Congress-led UDF for the upcoming Nilambur bypoll triggered a row on Tuesday, with the ruling CPI(M) criticising the opposition front, saying it had lost the moral right to speak against communalism.



The UDF hit back at the Marxist party, pointing to the support offered to it by the People's Democratic Party (PDP) led by controversial cleric Abdul Nasar Ma'dani.

The BJP lambasted both the LDF and the UDF, alleging that the both the fronts were "appeasing" terrorists and communal outfits for political gains in Nilambur.

CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan alleged that the support extended by the Welfare party for the UDF candidate reflected a continuing communal trend in the Congress-led alliance in the state.


He defended the support extended by Ma'dani-led PDP to the Left candidate in the Nilambur bypoll, saying it was a party which has suffered "several persecutions" in the state.

Addressing reporters here, Govindan alleged that the UDF has become an "alliance of communal forces" and so it has no right to utter any word against communalism now.

"Not just in Nilambur, but throughout Kerala, they (UDF) will suffer its consequences," he said, adding that in the recent elections also, the UDF forged alliances with communal forces.

Asked about the PDP, Govindan said it cannot be equated with Jamaat-e-Islami.

"Jamaat-e-Islami is one of the biggest communal outfits in the world. It is like RSS. It is an outfit which demands the formation of an Islamic nation. PDP has never taken such a stand," the Marxist veteran said.

CPI (M) leader Elamaram Kareem also vehemently criticised the Congress-led front over the Jamaat-e-Islami's support.

He alleged that Jamaat-e-Islami espouses an ideology that supports terrorism.

Sunni Yuvajana Sangham (SYS) a prominent Sunni youth organisation in the northern part of the state, also voiced opposition to the support extended by the outfit to the UDF in the upcoming bypoll.

A SYS leader said UDF bypoll candidate Aryadan Shoukath was a person who had earlier taken a stand that Jamaat-e-Islami was similar to ISIS, the global terror outfit.

"In such a circumstance, it is ridiculous for the Jamaat-e-Islami to go to him and extend their support. It is a move to create news headlines," he told a TV channel.

Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan challenged the CPI (M) stance and wondered how the left party could justify accepting Jamaat-e-Islami's support, but condemn the UDF for doing it.

Those who expresed concern over the Welfare Party's support for the UDF have no issues with the PDP's support in the bypoll, he told reporters here.

People would expose the hypocrisy of the CPI(M), which had once said that Jamaat-e-Islami support was "promising and exciting", the LoP said, recalling statements of various Left leaders, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

"Let's not talk too much about the hypocrisy of the CPI(M)'s anti-communal stance," he said, adding that the ruling party, which speaks of anti-communalism, had a secret agreement with the BJP in Nilambur.

Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) veteran P K Kunhalikutty also slammed the CPI(M) over the issue and alleged that all the communal forces have been with the LDF in all these years.

He said the UDF has no role in individual parties announcing their support for the front in the elections.

"It won't affect the UDF's programmes and policies. The UDF is contesting as a political front in Nilambur. It has no responsibility in answering to the support extended to it by other parties," Kunhalikutty said here.

Meanwhile, senior BJP leader K Surendran accused both the LDF and UDF of accepting support from religious, terrorist outfits to win the by-poll.

While the UDF has accepted support of the international terror outfit Jamaat-e-Islami, the LDF received support from the PDP, an ISS outfit, he alleged.

The main contest in the bypoll is between CPI(M) state secretariat member M Swaraj, and the Congress nominee Aryadan Shoukath.

The by-election is scheduled for June 19.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)