Pinarayi, Kanthapuram ignite holy hair row

KOZHIKODE: The ‘holy hair’ row has taken political dimensions as the AP Sunni faction, on Monday, came down heavily on CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan for his remark that the hair claimed to be prophet’s could also be burnt like any other hair.Referring to the comment made by Pinarayi on the veracity of the ‘holy hair’ during a seminar organised as part of the CPM Party Congress at Onchiyam in the district on Sunday, All-India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulama general secretary Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliar said that the interference of politicians in religious matters would lead to communalism.Speaking to reporters here on Monday, the leader of the AP Sunni faction, who has always been inclined to Left parties, said Muslim scholars and clerics discused about the holy hair inside the boundaries of Muslim community.Kanthapuram said that they would oppose anyone who speaks against the community. He added that the AP faction had never been linked with any particular political party.However, political observers believe that the fresh row over the holy hair kicked off by the CPM after the poster controversy is intentional. “The CPM is intentionally kicking up controversies aiming the support of the Hindu community, who are dissatisfied with the domination of Muslim and Christian communities in administration,” said political observer N M Pearson. Consolidation of Hindus is happening in the state against the domination of minorities in the administration and politics and this might be the cause behind Pinarayi’s statement on the issue, he added.“This is for the first time that the holy hair row has entered into the political level,” said writer M N Karassery. The EK Sunni faction was the only outfit which expressed its difference on the issue so far. “AP Sunni faction has completely changed its stance towards the Left and they are coming close to the UDF, especially the Muslim League in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts. The statement of Pinarayi may be the result of the displeasure over this move, he added.The AP Sunni faction landed in a controversy over its plan to build a huge mosque and museum in Kozhikode to keep what they claimed was the holy hair of the Prophet with the EK Sunni faction launching a propaganda campaign questioning its veracity.