‘Move on to communalise case against Soofiya’

KOLLAM: Efforts are on to communalise the case against Soofiya Madhani, PDP leader Abdul Nasser Madhani alleged at Anwarsseri on Monday.

Madhani also reiterated his allegation that his family was a victim of the conspiracy hatched up by Hindu communal elements in both the Congress and the BJP.

He specially mentioned the name of KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala in this regard by branding him as a “Hindu communalist.’’ Madhani even went to the extent of saying that these forces were trying to “deport’’ him and his family.

Another point raised by Madhani is that Soofiya was being attacked as she was wearing a burqua (veil). He interpreted it as an “attack on Islamic values.’’ The speeches and the slogans at the `satyagraha’ pandal at Anwarserri were also very provocative. The PDP workers started a relay `satyagraha’ on Sunday demanding a probe into the alleged conspiracy against Madhani.

Certain Muslim organisations have also come out with a statement supporting Soofiya. A joint meeting of the Dakshina Kerala Jam Iyyathul Ulama, Jama’ath Federation and Lajnathul Mu Allimin was held here on Sunday.

In a statement issued after the meeting, they said that the Muslim community would not remain mute spectator against the moves to ``denigrate a Muslim woman by arresting her.’’ They alleged that the move to arrest Soofiya Madhani and to put her in jail was part of a hidden agenda. While Sangh Parivar leaders like Uma Bharathi, who led the demolition of Babri Masjid, and young sanyasin Pragna Singh, who was involved in the Malegaon bomb blast case, were moving around freely, there was no point in arresting Soofiya in the name of a busburning case, says the statement issued by the leaders of the Muslim organisations.

Interestingly, some of the Muslim leaders who signed the statement are known supporters of the IUML. However, the IUML sources said that they had nothing to do with the party.

An IUML leader told `Express’ that “these leaders are known for their vacillations.

They used to carry Chandrika daily on one hand and Veekshanam on the other while the UDF is in power and carry Madhyamam daily on the one hand and Deshabhimani on the other whenever the LDF comes to power.’’Anti-climax at Anwarsseri The situation at Anwarsseri, where Madhani and his wife are camping, turned tense again on Monday as a van full of police, including women constables led by ACP Sunil Jacob, arrived there from Kochi. Large number of policemen from the district were deployed in and around Anwarsseri. PDP workers from various parts of the state had also assembled there and all were expecting the imminent arrest of Soofiya.

However, uncertainty prevailed after Soofiya’s petition for anticipatory bail was posted to December 17 by the High Court.

The situation turned into anti-climax when the police team, including the women constables from Kochi, returned around 3 p.m.

However, the PDP workers are continuing their satyagraha. Police, including those in plain clothes, are still camping in the area.

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