Samastha Mouthpiece Backs Kanthapuram, Attacks VD Satheesan
The editorial said Satheesan had prepared his response to Kanthapuram's controversial remarks on women based on an "experience of the blind men and the elephant" fed to him by some among Muslims themselves
Thiruvananthapuram: In an unusual show of solidarity between two Sunni factions, Suprabhatam, the mouthpiece of the EK Sunni faction of Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, has strongly criticised Chief Minister V D Satheesan for his remarks against Islamic scholar Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar, who heads the other AP Sunni faction.
The editorial said Satheesan had prepared his response to Kanthapuram's controversial remarks on women based on an "experience of the blind men and the elephant" fed to him by some among Muslims themselves.
"They also failed to read the Prophet, who arrived as a liberator from an era when women were treated as slaves and baby girls were buried alive if they were born, in the right manner," the editorial said.
Kanthapuram's remarks that women being brought onto public platforms would lead to "great destruction" had triggered a strong response from Satheesan, who described the view as an idea from the 19th century.
The Suprabhatam editorial, however, said Kanthapuram had the freedom to express such views at his own religious centre, just as Satheesan had the freedom to criticise them.
The backing for Kanthapuram is significant as he is the leader of the AP Sunni faction, which has differences with the EK Sunni faction led by Samastha president Jifri Muthukoya Thangal.
The editorial went beyond the immediate controversy and launched a broad political attack on Satheesan, questioning his record and positions on several issues.
It referred to Satheesan's opposition to the entry of young women into Sabarimala and contrasted it with his present stand on women's freedom.
It also criticised his positions on the Munambam Waqf land issue and the PM SHRI scheme.
The editorial said Satheesan had been a legislator for nearly 25 years but had never become a minister despite the Congress-led UDF being in power for 10 years during that period.
It also claimed that younger-generation MLAs had backed Satheesan and that he later played a key role in determining the course of the Congress and the UDF in Kerala.
The editorial said the Left had made efforts to portray Satheesan as a "liar", "Jamaat" supporter and "Sanghi", while also recalling his prediction that the UDF would return to power with more than 100 seats.
The editorial also appeared to draw a subtle contrast between Satheesan and Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, noting that while Satheesan reads 75 pages a day, he has never written a novel, whereas Chennithala, whose political ambitions have included the chief minister's post, has written one titled Niyogam, a word that can mean destiny or calling.
"Ramesh has not said how many pages he reads a day. But he has written a novel--Niyogam," it added.
The reference to novel Niyogam- - appears to carry a subtle political message about Chennithala's prospects for the Chief Minister's post.