'Due to Marxist party's influence Muslim girls abandoned hijab': CPI(M) leader's remark sparks row

 

While speaking at a recent event organised by an atheist outfit in Thiruvananthapuram, CPI(M) leader Anil Kumar reportedly said that it was due to the influence of the Marxist party that the women of the Muslim-dominated Malappuram district had abandoned "thattam", the headscarf.

"Look at the education system in Malappuram. Was it created by some religious organisation? Malappuram district was formed by CPIM. As part of changes taking place in Malappuram, look at the new women of Malappuram. We believe that there are girls in Malappuram now who will say no to wearing Hijab on their heads as part of the communist party existing in Kerala and as part of the education system," the CPI(M) leader said.

 

Abdusamad Pookkottur, a prominent leader of Samastha, alleged that apostasy was the crux of the Left party and that it was approaching minorities for votes.IUML leaders K M Shaji and KPA Majeed also joined the scholars' body in denouncing the CPI (M) over Anil Kumar's statement.

 

In a hard-hitting Facebook post, Shaji, a staunch critic of the Marxist party leadership, alleged that the party has prepared two teams-one to go among rationalists to speak against the believers and another to take part in the meetings of believers and praise them.

 

He asked the religious community whether they "still want to believe that Communism is innocent?". Majeed also slammed the Left party through his social media handle, saying Anil Kumar's remarks had exposed the real intentions of its leadership.

 

The IUML leader questioned the rationale behind linking free thinking with the abandonment of the headscarf.He also alleged that the atheist event, in which the controversial speech was made, was organised by a "Sangh Parivar-sponsored" person."Our headscarf-clad children are enough to expose your (CPI-M's) hypocrisy," he added in the FB post.

 

IUML state general secretary PMA Salam accused the Marxist Party of 'infringing' on religious beliefs and wondered who had abandoned "thattam" in Malappuram. Even those belonging to the current generation were wearing headscarves, he told reporters in Malappuram.

 

Meanwhile, independent LDF MLA and strong Left sympathiser K T Jaleel rejected Anil Kumar's claims and said not wearing "thattam" could not be considered as a sign of progress.

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