‘Left cannot ensure minority protection like Congress can… We can never abandon Congress or reject it’: Kerala IUML chief

The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has been a longtime partner of the Congress-led United Democratic Front in Kerala. It is also a member of the Opposition’s INDIA alliance. In recent days, the IUML’s relationship with the Congress has come under strain over various issues, even as the CPI(M) tries to woo it away from the UDF, and the BJP launches constant attacks on it. Kerala IUML president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Thangal speaks to The Indian Express about the perception that the Congress is going soft on its Citizenship (Amendment) Act stand, its relationship with the party, the CPI(M)’s outreach to Muslim groups, and the recent The Kerala Story controversy. Excerpts:

Q) The CPI(M) has made CAA its main campaign plank in Kerala, and is questioning the Congress silence on the Act that is opposed by the Muslim community. How do you view this?

The Kerala Assembly passed a resolution against the CAA with the support of the UDF. We should understand that the CAA is not a state issue and that a state government cannot take a stand against it. Our role is to fight against the CAA in Parliament. It is not an issue affecting Muslims alone.

Q) LDF leaders, including Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, have even called the Congress’s silence as reflective of its ‘pro-Sangh Parivar’ stand.

It is unfair to blame the Congress. If the Congress had a pro-Sangh Parivar mindset, they could have enacted the CAA or other such draconian rules in Parliament during their regime. We believe that in the future too, the Congress will not support the CAA. Our aim is to unseat the government that has vowed to implement the CAA.

Q) But the Congress manifesto is silent on CAA…

Congress leaders including Rahul Gandhi have repeatedly asserted that