KOZHIKODE: Despite releasing a pro-minority

manifesto and offering compensation to victims of those acquitted in terror-related cases, the

has failed to win the hearts of major

Muslim

organisations in Kerala.

In its manifesto released in New Delhi on Thursday, the CPM has offered rehabilitation of all those acquitted in cases of terror and steps to punish officials responsible for implicating them in false cases. The party has also promised to set up fast track courts to try all such cases.

But Muslim organisations refuse to give any significance to the manifesto in the contemporary political scenario where the CPM is nowhere near assuming power in the capital. “It is like promising the moon to the voters and making fun of them. The CPM is contesting not even in 10% of the total seats. Such a party can promise anything as it does not have the burden of fulfilling them,” said M C Mayin Haji, state vice-president of the IUML.

The Left party promises to provide compensation for all victims of mob lynching and implement the Rangnath Mishra Commission report, which has recommended 10% reservation for Muslims in government jobs.

The manifesto vows to make the minorities commission a statutory body with enhanced powers and jurisdiction. Other pro-Muslim promises in the manifesto include earmarking 15% of priority sector lending by banks for the Muslims, subsidised credit for the self-employed Muslim youth and special emphasis on the education of Muslim girls.

“The issues are genuine, but how can a party that has no chance of coming to power give such assurances,” asked

, the assistant Amir of Jamaát-e-Islami. He said the CPM should prove its sincerity by implementing the suggestions where the party is in power. “There are Muslim youth in Kerala who are falsely implicated in terror and later let off by courts. The party can begin from here,” Sheikh Muhammad said.

Abdul Majeed Faizi, state president of the SDPI, said the promises will remain on paper as CPM will never come to power at Centre on its own. “It was the CPM government which first invoked the UAPA in Kerala. The party doesn’t have a sincere approach to Muslims in Kerala,” he said.

“No action was taken against the police officers for the firing in Beemapalli in which six Muslims were killed,” he said.