Kerala - Kozhikode   

`Blaming IUML will affect communal ties'

Special Correspondent

Kunhalikutty and Mohammed Basheer say it will be a setback to efforts to prevent `more Marads'

KOZHIKODE: The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has warned that portraying it as the wrongdoer in the Marad massacre will adversely affect communal harmony in the State.

P.K. Kunhalikutty and E.T. Mohammed Basheer, leaders of the party, told presspersons here on Saturday that a "smear campaign'' against the League, following some observations against it in the Marad judicial inquiry commission's report, would be a setback to efforts to prevent "more Marads."

In the League's assessment, the observations about the party's role in the massacre were "not based on facts, but on conjectures and assumptions."

They complained that while the debates on the inquiry report were targeted only at the League, critical references to the role of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) had been ignored.

The report stated that workers of that party had shouted provocative slogans against the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh at Vellayil, near Marad, and it had appeared to be unhappy with the good relationship between the Araya Samajam and the Mahal Committee in the coastal village.

Alleging "contradictory" statements in the report, they said on page 128, it was said that there was no evidence to show that the IUML was involved in the incident, though in another place, it was written that the incident might have had the blessings of the IUML local committee.

Though the report said Mayin Haji, a League leader, had known that there was tension before the massacre took place on May 2, 2003, it did not give proof to show that he knew of the conspiracy.

Mr. Kunhalikutty, a Minister at the time of the massacre, said the League had led the initiative to restore peace between the two communities after the first massacre at Marad.

Even after the second incident, it had played a major role, with the help of the Gandhi Peace Foundation, in evolving a peace formula, which made possible rehabilitation of Muslim families, a sensitive issue with potential to develop into another major social conflict.

Promise not kept

But Mr. Kunhalikutty acknowledged that the League had failed to keep its promise given during its peace initiatives after the first Marad killings on January 4, 2002, that there would not be anymore violence and enduring peace would be maintained.

When the second incident occurred, Hindu organisations became hostile to the League. It was understandable, Mr. Kunhalikutty said.

He had wanted to publicly apologise then, but abandoned the idea as it was felt that the gesture would have no beneficial effect at that point of time.

Mr. Basheer said the commission had only raised questions about the circumstances that led to the Government not ordering an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation instead of finding answers.

On this count, he felt the report read like a "suspense thriller."

The two leaders said there was no mention in the report about Minister of State for External Affairs and party leader E. Ahmed's connections with Hilal Mohammed (being referred to as FM in media reports these days).

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