Members of the Sunnath Jamath Federation from Coimbatore met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M.K. Stalin in Tiruppur just before the elections in the state and submitted their demands, besides extending support to the INDIA bloc in the Lok Sabha election.
Who or what is this Islamic Federation?
The Islamic Federation of Tamil Nadu (IFTN), a non-governmental organization, emerged in October 2022 in Coimbatore. Comprising members from various Islamic organizations like the Social Democratic Party of India and the Islamic Law Research Council, IFTN aimed to address socio-economic issues faced by Muslims in Tamil Nadu.
Led by M. Rahamathullah, IFTN outlined five key objectives: providing accessible education, reclaiming unlawfully occupied Waqf Board properties, establishing arbitration centers for marriage issues, offering interest-free loans through a bank, and creating a law university.
While denying any affiliation with banned groups like the Popular Front of India (PFI), IFTN assured that its activities were transparent and monitored by intelligence agencies. He said, “All our activities are properly informed, and intelligence officials are also part of WhatsApp groups that we have created.”
However, suspicions arose regarding IFTN’s political ties and intentions. It drew attention from central intelligence agencies due to concerns about emerging Islamist movements. Critics questioned the organization’s motives, especially amid government scrutiny of PFI and similar groups.
Despite its assurances, IFTN’s protests against government policies like the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Population Register (NPR), and National Register of Citizens (NRC) fueled skepticism. The organization’s involvement in political activities, particularly its support for certain parties in the Lok Sabha elections, raised eyebrows.
Critics warned against the alliance between IFTN and political parties like the DMK, suggesting potential consequences for the country’s stability. They highlighted the need for scrutiny and vigilance to prevent any subversive agendas.
Federation morphed form of PFI?
Although the new organization claimed it had no connection with PFI or other banned outfits, the organization was definitely under the scanner of the central agencies as several reports emerged earlier that many such organizations would emerge with Muslim interests and under the guise of NGOs and Human Rights organizations to start with. This is said to be a trick that Islamist organisations employed in Kerala after the ban on the Student Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). Sources keeping tabs on such organisations and Islamic movements stated that such organisations would enroll “former ultra-left activists, and will also invite leaders of the left parties and some Dravidian outfits as well as Dalit movements to get a semblance of respect from the society and we are keeping a close watch on that.”
It is noteworthy that in Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore has been the hub of Islamic terror movements with 58 people being killed in a series of bomb explosions on February 14, 1998. It is noteworthy that the serial bomb blast was aimed at the then Deputy Prime Minister of the country, L.K. Advani. Following the bombings, numerous Islamic figures, including Abdul Nasser Madani and S.A. Basha of Al Umma, were apprehended and detained in prison.
The DMK taking support of such suspicious organisations is something that patriots must question. It is worth remembering that the DMK is an I.N.D.I Alliance member and hand in glove with the Congress which is also promoting a leftist agenda. Imagine if these parties come to power and what havoc will be wrecked in the country that we have built over the past 10 years.
