Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (CLP)
Mangaluru, Jan 11: Samasta Kerala Sunni Students Federation (SKSSF) Dakshina Kannada unit held a district-level convention at Nehru Maidan on January 11.
The convention was held as a preparation for the silver jubilee event of the federation which will be held in Thrissur (Kerala) on February 19.
Addressing the gathering, Shaikhuna Syed Muhammad Jifri Muthukoya Thangal condemned the interference of politicians and others in religious matters and said, "Ulama associations are there to deal with any issues related to fiqh in Islam. There is no need for political leaders or experts from other fields to interfere. The Wakf Board's action in giving fatwa against offering Friday prayers in Ullal mosque is indeed condemnable. Who gave this right to the Wakf Board? What is their eligibility to issue fatwas?"
He further said, "The SKSSF is free of all greed. The Samasta Kerala Jamiyyatul Ulama does not even have a bank account. All should join hands to support such a clean organization," he urged.
Twaka Ahmed Musliyar, Qazi of DK presided over the function.
K Ashraf, the former mayor of Mangalore and president of welcome committee, SKSSF district-level convention was honoured for his contribution towards the religious field.
In his address, district-in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai said, "I have never shown partiality in my service to any community. I am grateful to the Muslim community for showing great trust on me. I have supported the Muslim community in the past and will continue to support in future. I wish a grand success to the silver jubilee function of the federation."
MLA J R Lobo addressing the gathering said, "Only when we respect each other can we have unity in India. I have always shown great heed to the needs and concerns of the Muslim community. Whenever you face any problem, do not hesitate to come to us, we are always ready to help."
Khadar, Bava not invited
Though Ramanath Rai and J R Lobo attended the event, health minister U T Khadar and Mangaluru North MLA Mohiuddin Bava were suprisingly not invited.
K Ashraf, former mayor of Mangaluru and president of welcome committee, SKSSF district-level convention, prior to welcoming the guests explained the reasons for not inviting U T Khadar and Mohiuddin Bava and said, "We are deeply disappointed with U T Khadar for hailing SSF as the best association. He should not mix politics with religion. We all voted for his victory but he has hurt our sentiments.
"Politicians should not be biased. When everyone wanted the appointment of Qazi in Soorinje mosque, U T Khadar and Bava were not in favour of it and supported SSF. They were not invited because of a collective decision of SKSSF and not because of any political intention. So do not pass personal remarks on me, I have left politics long back since then I have never looked back."
Memorandum
SKSSF also submitted a memorandum to minister Ramanath Rai which contained request to scrap the Netravati river diversion project, to reject Kasturirangan reports on Western Ghats and save the nature, to provide proper drinking facility in DK, False cases against the Muslim youths to be withdrawn, all those who create tension in the society to be arrested etc.
Shaikhuna Haji K P Abdul Jabbar Musliyar, SKSSF vice-president Sadakathullah Faizi, Mayor Mahabala Marla, MLC Ivan D'Souza, former mayor Shashidhar Hegde, Haji K S Mohammed Masood, president of the Muslim central committee, vice-president Haji Ibrahim Kodijal and many others were present.
More than 5,000 people were present for the convention.