Kerala Muslim Jamath chief denies calling for mourning as PM Modi is sworn in

Mangalore Today News Network

Kerala, May 30, 2019 : The Kerala Muslim Jamath Council has denied reports of calling for a statewide mourning on Thursday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi gets sworn in for his second term. Media reports had claimed that Council President M Poonkunju had called for a ‘black day’ to be observed on May 30 as the NDA government is sworn in, Yahoo reported.

 

However, speaking to TNM, the president outrightly denied having made the statement. “I disown this statement. This was a deliberate attempt to malign me and the council by some of the media. In fact, I said that I stand in solidarity with the Prime Minister. I hope under his governance all people are seen equally and development is for everyone,” Poonkunju stated.

The Jamath Council president also added that he is currently undergoing treatment for liver cirrhosis and once he is discharged from the hospital, he would take action against the media and newspapers which, according to him, had published the news in a deliberate attempt to malign him.

A press note published by the Council leaders also made it clear that they have nothing to do with the statement made. "We stakeholders of the Kerala Jamath Council have nothing to do with the news that a mourning day will be observed when the central government is sworn in. We condemn this stance, solidarity and support any move by the Prime Minister to bring minority communities into confidence," the statement read.

According to reports, Poonkunju had called for statewide mourning on May 30. Poonkunku had allegedly made the announcement at a press conference in Alappuzha on Saturday. The statement kicked up a controversy with BJP state president PS Sreedharan Pillai condemning the statement and calling it a deliberate attempt to create a communal divide. The move is aimed to destroy communal harmony and the public realise such hideous attempts, Pillai reportedly stated.