Jamaat-e-Islami slams Pinarayi Vijayan: Carrying RSS’s arguments in Kerala

After repeated criticism by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Jamaat-e-Islami’s state unit on Tuesday hit out at him, saying that honesty is necessary in public life and that he was carrying the “Sangh Parivar’s arguments” (RSS arguments) in the state, which is dangerous.
The strong words by Jamaat-e-Islami’s Kerala unit came after Vijayan’s heavy criticism, accusing the body of “not believing in democracy” and supporting the Congress-led UDF.
Responding to Vijayan’s words, Jamaat-e Islami Jamaat-e-Islami’s Kerala Amir P Mujeeb Rahman said that in past elections, like in the 2000 and 2011 assembly elections and in the 2009 Loksabha elections, they have supported the LDF.
“The support to LDF was given after talks between both sides. So, why does Vijayan have a problem with Jamaat only now?” Rahman said.
The Islamic body also said that it supported the CPI (M)-led LDF in several elections.
Earlier in an event on Monday, November 25, Vijayan had said, “Jamaat-e-Islami is saying that they supported us (CPIM) in the past. Jamaat had a policy in the past. The policy was to extend support by looking at the candidate. They adopted that policy once. They were not part of any party. I am reminded of an election in Ponnani. Our candidate was TK Hamsa and the Congress candidate was MP Gangadharan. Jamaat-e-Islami announced that their support is for MP Gangadharan. I am not going deep into it. You can just think about the basis for that support…”
“Is that the situation now? Jamaat e Islami publicly announced support for Priyanka Gandhi. What had Congress got to say about it? Shouldn’t they respond when SDPI and Jamaat support is declared publicly? In elections, the contest is to get votes. But is it that those votes can come from anywhere?” Vijayan had said.