SSF Karnataka objects to Speaker UT Khader’s remarks, seeks immediate withdrawal
Writes to Speaker highlighting displeasure over allegations at Harmony Walk
Bengaluru: The Sunni Students’ Federation (SSF) Karnataka has objected to remarks made by Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker UT Khader during a recent public event, accusing him of making sweeping and unfounded statements against its members. The SSF state committee has sent a formal letter to the Speaker demanding that he withdraw his comments immediately, expressing dissatisfaction over the tone and content of his speech.
The controversy stems from Khader’s address during the valedictory of a ‘Harmony Walk’ held in Bengaluru on Friday, June 5, organized by SSF Karnataka. In his speech, Khader acknowledged the positive contributions of the organization but also remarked that certain activities by a few members were damaging the image of the SSF. He urged the leadership not to tolerate such behaviour and even offered to chair a discussion with SSF representatives to address the concerns.
However, the SSF leadership has responded sharply. In a letter signed by SSF State President Hafiz Muhammad Sufiyan Sakhafi, General Secretary B Muhammad Ali Turkalike, and Treasurer Irshad Haji Goodinabali, the committee expressed that many members were hurt by what they termed a "false message" suggesting that SSF members had indulged in actions that brought disrepute to the organisation.
The SSF, in its letter, reminded the Speaker that India is a democratic country where citizens have the right to question elected representatives. It said that social media posts or public queries raised by SSF members towards politicians especially those who claim to be secular and remain silent during incidents of communal violence were well within democratic norms and should not be viewed as acts of disrespect or shame.
The committee took strong exception to what it viewed as an attempt to stigmatise legitimate criticism from young members of the Muslim community. “Labeling these concerns as shameful for the community is not only unfair but also irresponsible,” the letter read.
The SSF also pointed to what it sees as a lack of action in Khader’s own constituency of Mangaluru. Referring to instances where individuals accused of hate speech or promoting violence reportedly went unpunished, the committee questioned whether the community did not have the right to ask tough questions in such circumstances.
“It is the Speaker’s responsibility to receive feedback and objections from the people positively. Using a public platform like SSF’s Harmony Walk to level such serious allegations without basis only casts the organisation in poor light,” the letter added.
Dismissing the Speaker’s implication that SSF members have behaved inappropriately, the committee clarified that the organisation has never violated any laws, never hosted unlawful gatherings, and has never delivered hate-filled speeches. It also sought clarity on whether any official complaints or actions had ever been initiated against the organisation to warrant such remarks.
Concluding the letter, the SSF reminded the Speaker of his own offer to hold discussions and urged him to set a date for such a meeting. The committee expressed its intention to share broader dissatisfaction within the Muslim community regarding Khader’s leadership.
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Sabarimala gold issue: UDF alleges CM's office interference, disrupts Assembly
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Alleging interference by the Chief Minister’s office in the SIT probe into the Sabarimala gold loss cases, the Congress-led UDF opposition disrupted Assembly proceedings on Tuesday, declaring that it would no longer cooperate with the House.
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, V D Satheesan, informed Speaker A N Shamseer about the UDF's decision as the House proceedings commenced.
As the opposition protest continued in the House amidst the question hour, Congress MLA Anwar Sadath suddenly attempted to climb onto the Speaker's dais, leading to Shamseer stopping the assembly for around half-an-hour and leaving for his chambers.
Subsequently, when he returned at around 10 am, state Law Minister P Rajeev submitted in the House that the opposition was trying to subvert a proper probe into the Sabarimala gold case.
As the minister began speaking, the opposition started shouting and re-started its protest.
Rajeev alleged that it was the opposition which brought prime accused Unnikrishnan Potty into the picture to subvert the Global Ayyappa Sangam organised by the government.
"It is the opposition which knows who stole the gold from the shrine," he contended.
Dramatic scenes were witnessed in the House, after Shamseer said it was not right that some UDF MLAs tried to climb onto the Speaker's dais, as Sadath again tried to do the same and was pushed back by the watch-and-ward personnel of the assembly.
Subsequently, the watch-and-ward staff also forcibly pulled away the banner held up by the opposition MLAs in front of the dais.
Following the action by the watch-and-ward staff, more UDF MLAs tried to climb onto the dais, forcing the Speaker to again briefly adjourn the House as the ruling front legislators laughed at the actions of the opposition.
At 9 am when the House began, Satheesan alleged that the probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) was not going anywhere and conditions were being created for more of the arrested accused in the two Sabarimala gold loss cases to come out on statutory bail.
He said that soon prime accused Unnikrishnan Potty and three CPI(M) leaders, also arrested in the case, would be out on statutory bail.
"All this is happening due to the pressure and interference from the Chief Minister's Office. So, we would like to inform you (Speaker) that we are intensifying our protest by bringing it into the House and we are not going to cooperate with the assembly proceedings," the opposition leader said.
Opposition MLAs trooped into the well of the House and held up placards -- some of which claimed CPI(M) was protecting those accused in the two cases and that the Left party leaders stole Lord Ayyappa's gold -- in front of the Speaker's dais, shouting slogans against the government.
The question hour of the House, subsequently, proceeded amidst the opposition protest.
Responding to the opposition protest, state Health Minister Veena George said that not cooperating with the House proceedings shows the irresponsibility of the UDF.
The opposition intensified its protest a day after a vigilance court on Monday granted statutory bail to former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) executive officer D Sudheesh Kumar in two cases related to the loss of gold from the Sabarimala temple.
Former TDB administrative officers B Murari Babu and S Sreekumar are already out on statutory bail in the matter.
Sreekumar has not been made an accused in the second case involving the loss of gold from the doorframes of Sreekovil.
Potty has got statutory bail in one of the cases and once he gets the same relief in the other, he too will come out of jail.
The cases relate to the alleged loss of gold from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idol plates and from the gold cladding on the door frames of the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum).
The SIT has made 12 arrests in the matter till date.
