Kozhikode: Kerala Nadvathul Mujahideen (KNM-Madavoor faction) is outraged at the denial of appointment to Muslim leaders with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his two-day visit to Kozhikode for the BJP meet recently. All India Islahi Movement general secretary Dr Hussain Madavoor and All India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulema general secretary Kanthapuram A.P Aboobacker Musliyar were the two Muslim leaders who sought PM’s appointment.
At the same time, Kozhikode archdiocese Bishop Varghese Chakkalakkal and Thamarassery diocese chancellor Abraham Kavilpuredam got met the PM at Easthill government guest house on September 24 night. Another prominent religious figure who called on Modi was Swamy Chidanandapuri of Kolathur Ashramam. What irked the Muslim leaders was the discrimination towards them which they think had a clear political signal.
“We had sent the appointment request letter on time to PMO with copies to state BJP leadership. That the PM had no time to respond was not justifiable,” said Dr Madavoor. He added that they want to apprise Mr Modi of the community’s concern over various issues including the uniform civil code, the plight of imprisoned youth without trial, cow slaughter, etc. The BJP move was targeting Christians in Kerala on the lines of its successful Goa experiment.
However, sources close to Aboobacker Musliyar said they had no complaint as they sought appointment on September 22 only. The Musliyar has been considered lenient towards BJP, and he was the lone leader from Kerala to attend the World Sufi Forum in March. “Several appointment requests were denied due to the hectic schedule of the PM,” responded BJP leader P.S. Sreedharan Pillai.
