Malappuram remarks: IUML accuses SNDP leader of trying to please BJP

Kozhikode: Criticising SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan for his remarks on Malappuram district, the IUML on Sunday accused him of attempting to please BJP and gain national attention.

SNDP represents the numerically strong Ezhava community in Kerala.

The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) sought to know under what circumstances the prominent Ezhava leader made certain remarks "against" the Muslim-dominated district and asked him to explain the difficulties being faced by the other communities there.

How are the Muslims of Malappuram posing a threat to the Hindus living there, senior IUML leader M K Muneer asked while talking to a TV channel.

"There is an agenda to please the BJP. People have become too narrow-minded to think that they would get national attention if they spoke something against Malappuram," he said.

Describing Malappuram as a land of communal harmony, the leader wondered why the district has been targeted by certain people for some time now.

The IUML leader accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of launching negative propaganda against Malappuram and recalled a few recent statements of the left veteran that turned controversial.

When asked whether the party would initiate legal action against Natesan, Muneer said not just IUML but every community should stand united and check such propaganda against the district.

"It is a matter to be dealt with legally," he added.

While addressing a convention of Ezhava community members at Chungathara on Friday, Natesan said, "I think, you (community members) cannot live here speaking your independent opinion. Malappuram is a separate nation or a separate state of certain people." He said that people of this backward community are living in constant fear in Malappuram and they could not even breathe freely here and are treated just as "voting machines".

He further said that was the reason for the continued backwardness of the Ezhava people in Malappuram.