Priyanka’s absence at Waqf debate disappoints Muslim community in Kerala

Kozhikode: There is growing discontent within Kerala's Muslim community regarding Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi's absence during the discussion of the Waqf Bill in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Many feel that Priyanka should have shown greater responsibility while the House was debating such a crucial matter.

T.K. Ashraf, the general secretary of the Wisdom Islamic Organisation, expressed disappointment, stating that it is highly regrettable that Priyanka, who was elected from Wayanad to fight the Sangh Parivar, was not present in Parliament.

He described her absence as a betrayal of the voters, particularly the Muslim community, who had supported her in large numbers, leading to her significant victory, he wrote in a Facebook post, TNIE reported.

Ashraf, however, praised the Congress leadership for working with other allies of the INDIA bloc to present a united front in the Lok Sabha. He acknowledged the efforts of Rahul Gandhi and Congress in ensuring that 232 members voted against the Bill, a contribution that should not be overlooked. Nevertheless, he emphasized that Priyanka and the Congress must remember that the people of Wayanad fully understand the responsibilities of an MP.

Sathar Panthaloor, the former general secretary of the Samastha Kerala Sunni Students Federation (SKSSF), expressed disappointment in Priyanka at this critical moment. He thanked UDF leaders from Kerala, including K C Venugopal, N K Premachandran, and E T Muhammad Basheer, for their efforts. Sathar pointed out that Priyanka had been elected with a margin of over four-and-a-half lakh votes to take on the Sangh Parivar.

In his Facebook post, Sathar stated that it would be naive to think that the Muslim voters of Wayanad, who make up about 48% of the population, would be satisfied with just a greeting on Eid.