Kozhikode: Muhammad Jifri Muthukoya Thangal, president of Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, walked out of a 'mushawara' meeting convened in Kozhikode on Wednesday to discuss the factionalism in the religious organisation.

Jifri Thangal expressed his displeasure when Samastha secretary Umar Faizi Mukkam referred to the gathering as 'thieves' when his statement against Indian Union Muslim League's Kerala state president Panakkad Sadiqali Shihab Thangal was taken up for discussion.

After Jifri Thangal's walkout, the meeting was abruptly concluded without a decision on issues such as the dispute between pro and anti-Muslim League factions in Samastha, the CPM's advertisement in the Samastha's publication Suprabhathamn on the day of the polling, and the ethics-protection committee formed by members supporting the Muslim League.

Jifri Thangal later said he did not wish to react to the reports about his walkout, and Samastha General Secretary K Alikutty Musliyar referred to such reports as false.

Other items on the agenda included discussions on Samastha's position on the Munambam land issue and impleading in the case related to the Places of Worship Act, 1991.

When the meeting started, the president said that a complaint against Umar Faizi was part of the agenda and that he should leave the venue when the item was discussed. After conversing about other matters for about an hour and a half, the meeting took up Umar Faizi's issue. He told the meeting that his controversial speech did not target Sadiqali Thangal. When he was asked who his target was, Umar Faizi remained silent.

Jifri Thangal also asked Faizi to leave the venue until the discussion ended. However, Umar Faizi remained at the venue, after which another 'mushawara' member, Bahauddeen Muhammed Nadwi, asked him why he disobeyed the president. Umar Faizi replied, "I cannot obey thieves like you," which provoked Jifri Thangal, who walked out of the meeting.

While leaving the venue, Jifri Thangal commented, "If you consider everyone here a thief, that includes me too."

TAGS

Google News Add as a preferred source on Google
The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Onmanorama. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.