Thiruvananthapuram | CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan on Friday alleged that the "double standards" of the IUML has been exposed by the Kerala government's stand on appointing two non-Muslims to the State Waqf Board.

In a press conference here, Govindan alleged that the UDF government's functioning over the past two months showed that it was increasingly moving in line with BJP policies and weakening Kerala's secular tradition.

Govindan alleged that the BJP and the UDF were together attempting to push Kerala towards communal polarisation.

"We cannot refrain from opposing these saffronisation measures where the BJP and the UDF are moving forward with the same slogans and perspectives," he alleged.

On the Waqf issue, Govindan alleged that the UDF government had abandoned the stand taken by the previous LDF government against the Waqf (Amendment) Act.

He said the Kerala Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution opposing the appointment of non-Muslims to the State Waqf Board and that the previous LDF government had challenged the amended law before the Supreme Court.

According to him, while the matter remained pending before the apex court, the present UDF government recently informed the Kerala High Court that it would reconstitute the State Waqf Board by including two non-Muslim members under Section 14 of the amended law.

"The Congress, the Indian Muslim League (IUML) and the UDF government are surrendering to the policies of the BJP-led Centre. The IUML's double standards have been exposed," Govindan alleged.

He alleged that the CM had falsely claimed that the Supreme Court had dismissed the state's petition challenging the Waqf law, even though the matter was still pending before the court.

Govindan claimed that senior advocate Jaideep Gupta, appearing for the Kerala government before the Supreme Court, had submitted that the State Waqf Board would be reconstituted by including non-Muslims in accordance with the amended law.

He further alleged that an IUML nominee, a member of the Panakkad family and part of the state's legal team, had appeared alongside Gupta in the proceedings, raising serious questions about the League's stand.

Referring to the league's earlier stand against interfering in the Waqf Board matter, Govindan alleged that it was now supporting the inclusion of non-Muslims in the Waqf Board.

"This is the exact meaning of double standards. The IUML is adopting an approach supporting the appointment of non-Muslims to the Waqf Board," he alleged.

Govindan said the party had decided to convene an extended state committee meeting in Kozhikode from September 13 to 15 to undertake a comprehensive organisational and ideological review.

He said suggestions and opinions had been collected from party units, affiliated organisations and thousands of party supporters across Kerala. A report incorporating these findings would be presented before the extended state committee.

According to him, the meeting would undertake a comprehensive organisational and ideological review to strengthen the party at all levels, expand its organisational interventions, rebuild its public outreach and reinforce the functioning of its mass and class organisations.

Govindan said the exercise was intended to bring about necessary organisational and ideological changes and further strengthen the CPI(M)'s links with the people across Kerala.

Turning to national issues, Govindan alleged that the ongoing agitation at Jantar Mantar in Delhi against the country's "chaotic education system" had become a historic movement despite attempts by the Centre to suppress it.

He said the protests led by students and youth had disproved the widely held perception that the younger generation was apolitical.

"Our general perception, shaped by right-wing narratives, was that the new generation was not interested in politics. But despite severe repression, students and youth are coming forward and continuing their struggle with political slogans," he said.

Govindan welcomed expressions of solidarity from prominent personalities from Kerala's cultural sphere, including actors Mammootty, Manju Warrier, Dulquer Salmaan, Tovino Thomas, Asif Ali, Joju George, Bhavana, Kunchacko Boban, Indrajith and Vismaya Mohanlal.

The CPI(M) leader alleged that the Sangh Parivar had launched attacks against such personalities, including attempts to organise protests against them, and asserted that Kerala would effectively resist such intimidation.

He alleged that Chief Minister V D Satheesan, after participating in the Delhi protest alongside Rahul Gandhi, returned to Kerala and adopted the same stand as that of the Centre.

Govindan referred to the police case registered against a protest organised in Kochi under the leadership of rapper Vedan, expressing solidarity with the students agitating in Delhi.

He said that the event was also attended by footballer C K Vineeth, singer Alosy and writer Navami.

Demanding that the Kerala government withdraw the cases, Govindan said action against prominent cultural personalities merely for supporting the student agitation was unacceptable.