World · India Bureau
Kerala opposition leader flags attempts to sow communal discord
Senior Congress leader P.C. Satheesan has alleged that efforts have been made over the past five years to create divisions between Christian and Muslim communities in Kerala. He credited Islamic leader Sadiqali Shihab Thangal with playing a crucial role in preventing such communal rifts.
LSN India ·
Kerala's main opposition leader P.C. Satheesan on Tuesday raised concerns about attempts to create religious discord in the state, pointing to a concerted effort to stoke tensions between Christian and Muslim communities during the past half-decade.
Satheesan, who heads the Congress-led UDF alliance in the state assembly, attributed the prevention of such communal discord to the efforts of IUML chief Sadiqali Shihab Thangal. The religious and political leader has, according to Satheesan, actively resisted initiatives aimed at fragmenting Kerala's traditionally pluralistic society.
The remarks underscore ongoing concerns in Kerala about maintaining communal harmony, a defining characteristic of the southern state's social fabric. Kerala has long been regarded as a model of religious coexistence compared to other parts of India, though sporadic incidents have periodically tested its secular credentials.
Satheesan's comments reflect broader anxieties among secular and minority political groups about external forces and ideological movements that may seek to polarize Kerala's diverse communities. The Congress leader's acknowledgement of Thangal's role highlights the significance of religious and community leaders in safeguarding the state's tradition of interfaith cooperation and social peace.