Days after the Pran Pratistha of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, a video featuring Kerala’s Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) chief Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal surfaced on Sunday, where he referred to the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and the proposed mosque in lieu of the Babri Masjid as “examples of India’s secularism that must be imbibed.”
Thangal, a member of Kerala’s influential Panakkad family, addressed a meeting in Malappuram on January 24, two days after the Ayodhya ceremony. The IUML, a Congress ally, stated that Thangal’s words reaffirmed their commitment to harmony. However, political rivals claimed he borrowed language from the RSS, predicting protests from party supporters.
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Reflecting on the Pran Pratishtha ceremony in Ayodhya, Thangal stated, “A major development has taken place in our country. The Ram Temple, which the majority community of the country had desired, has become a reality. The country cannot now go back. That was a necessity of the majority community in the country. We need not protest that the temple has come up in Ayodhya. In a pluralistic society, everybody has the freedom to go ahead as per their faith,” according to The Indian Express.
Thangal highlighted, “The Ram Temple and the Babri Masjid, which is under construction following a court verdict, are the best examples of secularism. We should imbibe that. Both are the best symbols of secularism. It is true that kar sevaks had destroyed the masjid, and we had protested against it in those days. But Muslims in the country could face that situation with tolerance, especially in Kerala where the Muslim community is very sensitive and active.”
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In 1992, when the Babri Masjid was demolished, the IUML led by Panakkad Syed Muhammedali Shihab Thangal appealed for peace, saying not a single stone should fall on a Hindu house.
The Panakkad family and IUML’s moderate stance post the Babri Masjid demolition led to a party split, with Ebrahim Sulaiman Sait leaving to form the Indian National League (INL), later becoming an ally of the CPI(M)-led LDF in Kerala.
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Thangal defended the family’s 1992 approach, stating,“The political center of Muslims had then intelligently handled the situation. Time has ratified the stand taken by the then leadership. Had the leadership adopted a different stand, the community would have had to pay a heavy price. History would have been different. Yesterday also, there were provocations and many waited. But the IUML took a stand for peace and harmony.”
Thangal said there are several historical realities about the Babri Masjid. “But certain people think that the community can be tied to the issue and made to mill around it. The future is important. We should not forget history. By imbibing that historic reality, we should think about how that can be turned beneficial for the community and the minorities as well. The IUML policy is to frame the future against the backdrop of the experiences of the past,’’ he said.
Criticism from rivals in the Muslim community followed Thangal’s stance on the issue. INL state secretary Kassim Irikkur predicted IUML cadres would hit the streets against Thangal, accusing him of borrowing the language of the RSS.
Senior IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty defended Thangal, stating that his statement aimed to prevent falling into the BJP’s trap and should not be distorted for political gains. Opposition leader V D Satheesan commended Thangal for speaking for harmony and peace amid attempts to foment hate, aiming to prevent extremists on both sides from exploiting the issue.