The continuing turf war between the two Sunni groups over the control of mosques in Malabar has become a major headache for the IUML.
Recently , the Kanthapuram faction had issued a veiled threat to the IUML not to use its political clout in favour of the rival Sunni group. Now the pro-IUML EK faction has come out in the open alleging that the Kerala Wakf Board is succumbing to pressure from Kanthapuram.
“Our only demand is that justice be delivered. We have many court orders in our favour, which need to be implemented.The Wakf Board, for reasons unknown to us, are delaying implementation of orders,“ said Abdul Hameed Faizi Ambalakkadavu, state secretary , Sunni Yuvajana Sangham and Samastha Kerala Jam-Iyythul Ulema leader.
“The case pertaining to Pallikkal Bazar is an example.Courts and the Wakf Tribunal have rejected petitions by the rivals many times but the order is yet to be implemented. In another mahal there are 43 cases against our workers,“ Hameed Faizi said.
The Malappuram district unit of the Sunni Yuvajana Sagham will take out a march to the collectorate on Thursday as a mark of protest. A seven-member committee has been formed to spearhead the agitations.
Interestingly, IUML state president Panakkad Syed Hyderali Shihab Thangal is the president of the SYS and Panakkad Syed Rasheedali Shihab Thangal is the chairman of the Wakf Board. IUML national treasurer P K Kunhalikutty is the minister in charge of Wakf.
There was intense pressure on the SYS from the IUML not to protest during the election time, but the leaders of the organisation were unrelenting.“We told the IUML leadership that if things are moving like this it would be detrimental to both the organisations. We don't want to spoil the chances of IUML in the polls, but we want to send our message loud and clear,“ a leader of the Samastha told TOI.
The EK faction of the Sunnis believes that Kanthapuram is playing delaying tactics and some in the Wakf Board are helping him clandestinely . “Kanthapuram wants to delay the implementation of the orders as he thinks LDF will come to power and things will turn in his favour. That is why the organisation headed by Hyderali Thangal was forced to launch agitation,“ the source said.
The Kanthapuram group also will take out a march to the regional office of the Wakf Board in Manjeri on Thursday alleging partisan attitude on their part.
The dispute over the control of mosques is an emotional issue that had led to clashes between two Sunni groups. It will be a tight rope walk for the IUML, for any perceived tilt towards one side would automatically antagonise the other.
IUML state general secretary K P A Majeed said that the party has nothing to do with the issue as the Wakf Board is an independent body. “The Board has its own system to resolve the issues and the party or its leaders will not intervene,“ said Majeed.
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