Police Action Inside Mosque Exposes UDF Government’s Anti-Minority Mindset, V D Satheesan Govt Faces Criticism

Kozhikode: The recent police assault inside a mosque has exposed the anti-minority mindset concealed by the UDF government. There is no surprise that VD Satheesan and his colleagues, who are eager to act according to the interests of the Sangh Parivar and appease it, are adopting such a position towards minorities. The hypocrisy of the UDF government's professed concern for minorities was exposed in the issue concerning Waqf Board members. Now, the government is also adopting, without hesitation, the Sangh Parivar's approach of deploying the police against minorities. The incident at Kannookkara in Kozhikode district is a clear example of this approach.

Strong protests have erupted against the state government over the incident in which police entered the Madakkara Juma Masjid in Kannookkara wearing boots and resorted to a lathi charge. Chombala police, who reached the spot following a dispute between some individuals, created a tense atmosphere inside the mosque. People were sitting inside the mosque to discuss arrangements for the Milad-un-Nabi programmes when armed police personnel led by the Chombala inspector forcibly entered the mosque.

The situation did not lead to further untoward incidents because those inside the mosque maintained restraint. Widespread criticism has followed the emergence of visuals showing police entering the mosque and resorting to violence. Strong protests have also erupted on social media.

Former minister PA Mohammed Riyas said that a police lathi charge inside a mosque was unacceptable in a civilised secular society. If there are disputes inside a mosque, they should be resolved through legal procedures and discussions, he said in a Facebook post.

In several north Indian states currently governed by the BJP, religious clerics are being imprisoned and mosques are being attacked. The police under the VD Satheesan government is attempting to implement the same communal agenda in Keralam. The police have been given all the permission necessary to do so.