Muslim League leader kicks up row

Choosing which events to attend in the run-up to the crucial Lok Sabha elections could be tricky, as some of Kerala’s political leaders are finding out. Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) legislator and national secretary M P Abdussamad Samadani has found himself in a spot after sharing the dais with Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leaders at an event in Kottakkal in  northern Malappuram district.

Samadani, who represents Kottakkal, inaugurated Viswam Vivekanandam – a programme held on Saturday as part of Swami Vivekananda’s 150th birth anniversary celebrations – organised by Balagokulam, an RSS-backed children’s cultural movement. Samadani’s presence at the venue, along with that of local leaders of the BJP and the RSS, has led to criticism from within the Muslim League and its youth outfit, the Muslim Youth League.

Sources said the IUML was set to seek an explanation from the MLA in this connection.
Meanwhile, Samadani has come out in defence of his presence at what he said was a cultural event. Samadani said he was at the event to speak about the visions of Swami Vivekananda, and that no political reasons were involved.