Latest news with #JEI
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
LDF free of dubious links unlike UDF with JEI: Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan
Kozhikode: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan launched a scathing attack on UDF for accepting the support of Welfare Party, the political arm of Jamaat-e-Islami (JEI) in Nilambur. Calling it a highly opportunistic move, he accused UDF of allying with anyone opposing LDF, regardless of the dangers it poses to society. At LDF campaigns in Chungathara and Moothedam on Friday, he said a desperate Congress and UDF, rattled by the growing public support for LDF, had abandoned their earlier positions. He said it's hard to digest that Congress leadership took the stand without the knowledge of IUML leadership and asked what was the reason for the party to ditch its earlier stand on the matter. "For nine years, they were not in power and now they are willing to join hands with anyone for votes," he said. "Some sections were kept away because of their stand on various issues. JEI is one such organization. When they (UDF) reached a point where they can no longer hold ground on their own, they chose to blatantly align with anyone," alleged Vijayan, adding that our society is capable of recognizing the same. Vijayan said everyone knows that LDF would not venture into such unholy agreements. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "We have always made it clear that LDF does not need the support of divisive, sectarian or communal forces," he added. Vijayan said it would be good for IUML's leadership to remember why the then heads of Panakkad Thangal family did not attend the programmes organized by institutions affiliated to JEI. "It was because they knew what JEI is," he added. Vijayan came down heavily on AICC general secretary KC Venugopal for his alleged comment that LDF govt was trying to turn the distribution of welfare pensions into a bribe before bypolls. "What kind of bankruptcy is that? It reflects the anti-poor mindset of Congress. But LDF govt will go ahead with whatever it announced and disburse amounts at appropriate time," he added. Vijayan reiterated his 'betrayal' remarks in a reference to former Left-backed independent MLA PV Anvar saying that the byelection was forced on the people due to his actions. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Nilambur bypoll: CPM indulging in communal politics, says opposition leader VD Satheesan
Kozhikode: Opposition leader VD Satheesan accused CPM of openly indulging in 'communal politics' in Nilambur. He also challenged chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan to present the govt's achievements over the past nine years. Speaking to reporters in Nilambur, Satheesan alleged that the CPM cadres have been asked to go to houses and seek votes by raking up communal politics. Satheesan added that sensing the strong public resentment against the LDF govt, CPM was now trying to shift focus by invoking Palestine among other issues. "During the last parliamentary election, they raised issues like CAA and Palestine only to go silent after the polls. Congress, in contrast, has consistently shown solidarity with the people of Palestine," Satheesan said. Satheesan also hit out at the chief minister over the latter's criticism of the UDF's decision to accept support of Welfare Party, the political arm of Jamaat-e-Islami (JEI). "It was Pinarayi Vijayan himself, as party secretary, who had earlier welcomed support from JEI and PDP, calling it a strong and principled stance. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like I Tried the $0.87 Generic Viagra and Here's What Happened! fridayplans Learn More Undo No other chief minister in Kerala has contradicted himself like this. In 2011, JEI's support helped them come to power. Will the CPM now ask the two MPs from Tamil Nadu, who won with JEI's support, to resign?" Satheesan asked. Satheesan said that the decision to accept Welfare Party's support was a collective one taken by the UDF. He added that in 2021, when the Welfare Party supported LDF in Nilambur, the CM had no objections. "Like a chameleon, both the party and its leader are changing colours, insulting the intelligence of the public," he added. Meanwhile IUML state president Panakkad Sadikali Shihab Thangal said that Vijayan was trying to divert attention from the failures of LDF govt by criticizing IUML. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
UDF seeks to avoid fallout over Welfare Party support
Kozhikode: Opposition leader V D Satheesan's explanation of Welfare Party's support to UDF—saying its parent group Jamaat-e-Islami (JEI) has changed its stance on a theocratic state—did not sit well with Sunnis and other Muslim groups. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now To prevent any backlash, Congress has started efforts to manage the situation. On Thursday, KPCC chief Sunny Joseph met Samastha president Jifri Muthukoya Thangal in Kozhikode. Although they did not discuss Welfare Party's support to UDF, the meeting's timing is politically important. Thangal said Samastha does not back any party and that its members are free to vote as they wish. Meanwhile, Samastha leader Ummer Faizi Mukkam, who is close to CPM, criticized Satheesan, saying he has no right to issue 'fatwas' on Islam. "That is the job of the ulema and we are here for that," he said. He also accused JEI of promoting ideas against Islamic teachings. On a more measured note, AP Sunni faction leader Abdul Hakim Azhari said Sunni groups do not interfere in political alliances or elections but added that its criticism of JEI is based on ideology. "JEI's ideology is built on the idea of a theocratic state. There is no sign they have given it up. Explanations from other political leaders aren't enough," he said. We evaluate secular and democratic values and development policies of each side and inform our members of our position. Raising opinions and criticisms is a sign of political awareness and democratic alertness, helping society develop in many ways. This should continue. Seeing these opinions as political support or opposition shows a misunderstanding of how democratic discussion can work, he said. With LDF increasing criticism of Welfare Party's support for UDF and even groups like Catholic Congress unhappy, UDF is moving cautiously to avoid any impact in Nilambur. Joseph later told the media that Thangal gave advice in good spirit. "We will accept it and move ahead," he said. When asked if his advice was related to Nilambur, Joseph said that topic was not discussed.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
LDF & UDF trade barbs over support
Kozhikode: Welfare Party's support for UDF and PDP's backing of LDF have triggered a sharp political clash between rival fronts in Nilambur as they compete for electoral gains. Welfare Party is the political wing of Jamaat-e-Islami (JEI), while People's Democratic Party (PDP) is led by Abdul Nazar Madani, an accused in the 1998 Bengaluru serial blasts case. JEI and PDP announced their support for UDF and LDF respectively on Monday. CPM state secretary MV Govindan termed JEI a communal organization with global ties and an agenda to create an Islamic theocratic state. He slammed UDF for accepting JEI's support but defended the LDF's acceptance of PDP's backing, claiming PDP had suffered mistreatment in Kerala. Govindan slammed UDF for aligning with JEI, calling it 'a coalition of communal elements'. "They've followed this pattern in several elections, including Palakkad bypoll. UDF has become an alliance of communal forces and will face the consequences," he added. When asked about LDF accepting PDP's support, Govindan said PDP does not aim to establish a theocratic state. CPM leader Elamaram Kareem also attacked UDF, saying JEI promotes an ideology that supports terrorism. "How can the Congress claim to be secular while joining hands with them?" he asked. Opposition leader VD Satheesan accused CPM of double standards, saying it had previously held talks with JEI and accepted its support in past elections. "How is it okay for LDF to get support from Jamaat-e-Islami but not UDF? Those who criticize Welfare Party's support for UDF stay silent when PDP backs LDF. People will see through CPM's double standards—they once called JEI's support 'hopeful and exciting'. So why is Congress being targeted for accepting it now?" he asked. Satheesan also reminded Govindan of chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan's earlier comments about JEI, in which he described it as "one of the Muslim organizations with a clear political stand on national and international issues." Satheesan said that in all six elections he contested, JEI and Welfare Party had backed the LDF candidate. He added that after 2019, they shifted to support the Congress at the national level to fight communalism. "When they supported CPM, they were called secularists. Now that they support UDF, they're branded communalists? This is typical CPM hypocrisy," he said. BJP leader K Surendran accused UDF and LDF of seeking support from religious extremist and terror-linked groups just to win elections, warning that such alliances would harm society.
