Kozhikode, Kerala—A significant rift is emerging between Kerala’s ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) and the Kanthapuram-led Sunni Muslim faction, a group that has traditionally supported the party. The tension is centered on what the Sunni group claims is a “soft Hindutva” shift in the CPM’s political approach.
The conflict has become public through social media. The Sunni Students Federation (SSF), the student wing of the Kanthapuram Sunnis, posted a message critical of the CPM’s youth organization, the DYFI, telling them to “learn politics.” The post added, “Pseudo secularism is more dangerous than communalism.”
The immediate cause of the dispute was a recent protest led by the DYFI. The protest took place at a school in Thrissur run by the Sunni group after a voice note from a teacher surfaced, urging Muslim students to stay away from Onam celebrations. Following the DYFI march, the school suspended the teacher and police filed a case against him.
This action has caused division within the Sunni community. While some accept the school’s decision, others argue that the teacher was wrongly punished for expressing a religious opinion. There is a growing demand among some members to take legal action to quash the police case against the teacher. The Sunni group’s leadership is also being criticized for “bending its back” to appease the political party in power.
With input from TNIE
For more details: Navamalayalam.com
