Every time the chief Muslim party, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), flexes its political muscles and seeks more representation in the Congress-led government, the focus shifts to 'radical Islam'. None other than the state Congress president, Ramesh Chennithala, recently accused the recalcitrant ally of being a "liability".
The state's self-government department, held by IUML, had issued a circular that legalised marriages of Muslim women in the age group of 16 to 18 and men below 21.
Among all communities in the state, only Muslims have positive population growth - something that has prompted the Church to discreetly encourage more than two children per family.
The real problem now, says a senior state police officer, is the growing "extremist" tendencies among Muslim youths. "It is leading to a major law-and-order situation in the state known for its progressive edge," he adds, asking not to be named.
Even as various Islamist recruits have been charged with wooing girls from other religions in an effort to convert them, senior PFI leader EM Abdurahman dismisses charges of "love jihad" "It is absolutely false and it is just a creation of rightwing elements," he says. "Muslims are now aware of their identity and are proud of it. Unfortunately, this prosperity has invited jealously from right-wing sections and vested interests," he said.
In certain pockets in north Kerala, CPM cadres have joined hands with those in the BJP to take on what they call "threat from Islamist forces such as PFI". While Narayanan calls this "a very dangerous trend", Abdurahman downplays it, saying, "People of northern Kerala are very emotional compared with those down south. This is true of all cadres, including those in the CPM, RSS and our own." For his part, Narayanan blames the CPM in the state for encouraging radical Islamic elements so as to corner votes and batter the IUML. "That strategy has misfired in the state, causing this deep polarisation," he says.
The PFI was accused by the central agencies of being involved in creating bulk SMSes that led to the exodus of Northeasterners from Bangalore last year. Earlier, the PFI had come under scanner on several occasions over various communal clashes across Kerala. Political leaders, especially those from the CPM, have charged the PFI with double standards. "Organisations such as this (PFI) are engaged in nefarious activities. If Kerala isn't as progressive as it used to be, it is because of outfits like the PFI," CPM politburo member and former home minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told ET, citing the hand-chopping incident of a teacher on charges of "blasphemy against Prophet Mohammed". The PFI has denied any wrongdoing.
The IUML, which has 20 MLAs and five ministers in the 140-member assembly, has often come under attack - even from defence minister AK Antony - for using its "bargaining power" in a minority government to secure ministerial and other administrative perks. The party has come under sharp criticism for nominating a former long-time security guard of industries minister and IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty as the regional passport officer of Malappuram - the CBI has initiated a probe into irregularities in issuing passports by this former gunman, K Abdul Rasheed, whose "out of turn" appointment itself had generated controversy. It has also been demanding bifurcation of the Muslim majority district of Malappuram to gain an additional Lok Sabha seat in the 2014 general elections.
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