A physical fitness program popular in north Kerala has been embroiled in controversy after the CPI(M) alleged that Jamaat-e-Islami, the political wing of the banned Popular Front of India, and SDPI were using the platform to advance it. Your political agenda.
The fitness program in question is a multi-exercise combination (MEC-7) launched in Malappuram in 2012 with the aim of combating “lifestyle diseases”. Started by former CISF constable Salahuddin P, the half-hour program has grown to over 1,000 groups, mainly in Malappuram and Kozhikode. Salahuddin, who was in the CISF for more than 20 years before retiring as an assistant sub-inspector, dismissed the allegations saying there was no “organizational structure or membership” for the program in which people from all communities participate voluntarily.
Every morning, thousands of people from these two districts gather early in the morning at their local grounds for a fitness session that combines yoga, simple exercises, deep breathing, acupressure, facial massage and meditation. Both men and women from different communities attend the sessions, according to people who attend them. The popularity of the fitness sessions has led to more groups coming to villages and towns in both districts.
CPI(M) Kozhikode district secretary P Mohanan recently raised concerns about MEC-7, alleging that Jamaat-e-Islami and SDPI had “intruded” on the programme.
According to people associated with the fitness program, participants only pay for a white T-shirt with the MEC-7 logo that they must wear during daily sessions. (express)
“Lifestyle diseases have to be fought and being physically fit is important for everyone. However, Jamaat-e-Islami and SDPI are using MEC-7 for their narrow politics. Jamaat is using it as a shield for its campaign for an Islamic state. A secular society must be vigilant against such attempts. Earlier, Jamaat had a practice of using environmental movements and human rights issues to advance its agenda. Activists of these outfits have infiltrated MEC-7,” Mohanan said at a party meeting in Kannur last month.
Sunni cleric Peroday Abdurahman Saqwafi recently weighed in on the issue, warning “for the faithful not to attend the event… it is against the faithful”. Another local Sunni leader, Muhammad Ali Kinalur, wondered why so many Muslims were involved. “NDF (earlier form of PFI) was also started like this with physical training. MEC-7 has acquired an organizational nature and is focusing on Muslim areas,’ he said.
Salahudin said he started an exercise module in his village in Malappuram in 2012. Thus, I started yoga in 2010 and developed a module two years later. After the participants responded well with relief from lifestyle diseases, I decided to start the program in other villages, which gained momentum in 2022 after the Covid-19 pandemic. Now we have around 1,000 units, where 50 to 100 people volunteer to participate in the program every day,” he said.
Salahuddin asserted that no party can ‘hijack’ the programme. “Participants belong to all parties and religions,” he said. MEC-7 has no organizational structure or membership. At various places people come forward to start fitness programs, after training some become trainers. Political leaders are worried about popularity and religious leaders or clerics fear that they will not get men and women for the religious classes. People are aware of the health consequences and hence the popularity of MEC-7.
According to people associated with the fitness program, participants only pay for a white T-shirt with the MEC-7 logo that they must wear during daily sessions. Recently, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) MLA and former minister in the Pinarayi Vijayan government, Ahmed Devarkovil inaugurated the MEC-7 session in Kozhikode.
The BJP has targeted the Pinarayi Vijayan government over the allegations. “Why did the state government not inform the Center about the extremist links behind MEC-7? It is now clear that the government has helped the extremists,” said state BJP president K Surendran.
BJP leader and former Union minister V Muraleedharan alleged that there were good reasons to believe that PFI and Jamaat were behind the programme. “That’s why the state should be aware,” he said.
It is good that the CPI(M) understands the reality. We do not oppose the CPI(M) on every issue they raise, but they understand some facts only too late,” Muralidharan was quoted as saying by PTI. He claims that due to this delay, many people from the left party have joined the BJP.
The CPI(M) has made these allegations against the Jamaat-e-Islami in line with its recent political stand. The ruling party tried to reach out to the Muslim vote bank in the recent Lok Sabha elections, opposing the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act as its central electoral plank. But, as a result, the CPI(M) faced a Hindu backlash in the elections and has since had to recalibrate its strategy.
During the recent by-elections, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan targeted IUML state president Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal and accused him of working as a Jamaat worker. Vijayan also accused Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra of contesting the Wayanad Lok Sabha by-election with Jamaat’s support.
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