‘Ram temple will promote secularism, no need for protests’: IUML Kerala chief’s comments spark controversy

Congress party’s ally in Kerala and Indian Muslim League chief Panakkad Syed Sadiq Ali Shehab Tangal’s recent remarks on Ayodhya Ram Mandir caused controversy.

Speaking at an event in Manjeri near Malappuram on January 24, Thangal said, “There is no need to protest against the construction of Rama temple in Ayodhya as the new temple and the proposed Every mosque built in the country will strengthen secularism in the country.” A video of his speech went viral on Sunday, news agencies reported. PTI the report said.

While the Indian National League (INL), alliance partner of the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF government in Kerala, lashed out at the IML leader, the Congress party and the IML came to Thangal’s defense and said He was trying to stop any movement against the Marxist-Leninist movement in India. Hatred and attempts to divide society.

Speaking at an event in Manjeri, Thangal said the Rama temple “worshipped and revered by a majority of the people” in the country “is realistic”.

“We cannot look back. There is no need for us to protest. This temple was built on court orders and Babri Masjid is about to be built. Both are now part of India. The Ram Temple and the proposed Babri Masjid are Two of the best examples of strengthening secularism in our country,” Tangal said in the video.

“We knew that it (Babri Masjid) was destroyed by the Karsevaks and we protested against it at that time,” he said, adding that Indian Muslims handled the matter in a mature manner.

Indian National League (INL) Kerala secretariat member NK Abdul Azeez said in a Facebook post that political leaders are not unaware of the relationship between Gandhi’s Ram Rajya and RSS’s Ram Rajya different from this fact.

“The spiritual Hindutva of the devotees is different from the political Hindutva of the RSS and the political leaders are not unaware of this fact. Yet they are fooling their ranks. It is impossible to believe that the rank and file of the IUML will accept this stance,” Aziz said.

Meanwhile, Opposition leader VD Satheesan and senior IUML leader PK Kunhalikutty came out in support of Thangal and said his words had been misunderstood.

The consecration of the Rama Temple in Ayodhya is a grand event celebrated by millions of Hindus not just in India but across the world. The temple is built on 2.67 acres of land within a 70-acre complex and only the first phase has been completed. The second and final phase is expected to be completed in December 2025.

The temple, which was opened to the public after the Pran Pratishtha ceremony on January 23, attracted around 18.75 lakh devotees from across the country. A staggering 500,000 people visited on the first day alone, and the numbers have remained high, with daily average attendance exceeding 200,000.