Kerala: CPM digs up UDF affidavit against JEIH

KOZHIKODE: An affidavit filed in the high court in 2014 against Jamaat-e-Islami-Hind (JEIH), by the then UDF government, has become a point of contention in the last leg of campaigning for elections to local bodies in the state.
LDF has been milking the issue to put UDF and JEIH, which are in a pre-poll arrangement, on the defensive.
The affidavit was filed on the direction of the court after a person approached it demanding an impartial investigation into the functioning and financial sources of JEIH.Abdul Samad also sought seizure of literature published by the organization.
The affidavit, filed by the home department, read, “On verification of the constitution of the JEIH in Malayalam published in 1957 it is seen that JEIH wants its followers to relinquish any key posts which he/she holds under an ungodly government system or the membership of its legislature or a judicial officer under its judicial system.”
According to the affidavit, “Article 9 of their (JEIH) constitution states that in case of being any part of an ungodly government system or being instrumental in giving effect to its laws the person should be ready to part with that sustenance.”
It added that the content in the constitution was disregarding and contemptuous of the democratic system in the country. It said JEIH strictly asks its followers to reject any employment under constitutional institutions in India.
Jamaat had come out strongly against the UDF government for filing the affidavit. In a public function, then Kerala amir of the organization, T Arifali, said the affidavit ‘problematizes’ the belief of Muslims in the country.
“If the Kerala government feels that Hinduism is the official religion of the country and all other faiths have no place in India, then it is a more dangerous position than that of the Hindu Rashtra argument of Narendra Modi,” Arifali had said.
Asking the government to withdraw the affidavit, Arfiali posed a question to then chief minister Oommen Chandy and home minister Ramesh Chennithala whether a person who beliefs in Islam has any place in the state.
Speaking to TOI on Tuesday, JEIH secretary Sheikh Muhammad Karakkunnu said the issue was being raked up with an eye on the elections. “The high court had appointed a two-member panel to study our publications. I think the committee submitted its report three years ago,” he said.
Sheikh Muhammad said Jamaat had also produced before the HC the Supreme Court order withdrawing the ban imposed on the organization.