Muslim League ‘getting stronger’ in Kerala

The Muslim League, a member of the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) coalition in the south Indian state of Kerala, is gaining power, says Syed Sadikali Shihab Thangal, president of the organization in the Malappuram District, largely because of the strong support of young members including non-Muslims.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the ITL office inauguration here, he said the new generation does not like old-style politics. “This is the main reason for the failure of the Marxist Party’s recent strikes in Kerala, including for the contributory pension scheme.”
Sadikali, a former president of the Youth League, said his organization was going forward with new welfare programs considering the requirements of the younger generation. “We have been receiving good response from the new generation,” he said.
He emphasized the importance of adopting development-oriented politics. “The Muslim League promotes education and human welfare projects and calls for creating an investment-friendly climate in the state,” he added.
Sadikali commended the UDF government for taking bold steps to attract foreign investment by organizing the Global Investor Meet and the Emerging Kerala Forum.
“The popularity of Muslim League has increased in recent years,” Sadikali said, adding that a large number of educated young men and women have joined the organization, despite anti-league smear campaigns. Sadikali denounced the move by some quarters to give the Muslim League a communal color. “We work for promoting communal harmony all over India. Our leaders attend Hindu and Christian religious programs and we support humanitarian projects of non-Muslims.”
He highlighted the party’s humanitarian activities and their snowballing impact. “The Bait Al-Rahma housing scheme, which we began in Malappuram, has now become a big welfare project. Our plan was to establish a home in every Panchayat of the district at an estimated cost of Rs300, 000.
Now we have completed 360 homes at a cost of Rs700,000 each.” He thanked Keralite expatriate workers in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states for their support.
Sadikali stressed the need to make effective endeavors for the rehabilitation of returning non-resident Keralites (NRKs) and solve the various problems they are facing. “The Muslim League will take up this matter seriously with the support of the Kerala Muslim Cultural Center (KMCC) and Pravasi League,” he pointed out.
Meanwhile, the Alumni Association of Malappuram College gave a reception to Sadikali, who is an old student of the college, and Saidali Kutty, a former history professor of the college, at Shifa Jeddah Polyclinic in Sharafiya.
Speaking at the function, Sadikali noted the alumni’s role in strengthening relations among the college’s old students. PA Abdul Rahman, managing director of Shifa Jeddah and president of the Alumni, chaired the function. Konnola Iqbal, chairman, Ashraf Unneen, secretary, Aziz Mullampara and other members spoke at the reception.