KOZHIKODE: The national leadership of the Muslim Students’ Federation (MSF) approached the issue of harassment allegations raised by Haritha, its women’s wing, against MSF state leadership based only on its merit and a report was submitted to the Muslim League leadership nearly a month ago, sources with the national leadership said.
Haritha state committee leaders had recently come out with allegations that MSF state leadership made sexually coloured remarks, kicking up a controversy.
MSF national president TP Ashrafali said though he has come across a copy of a complaint reportedly filed to the Muslim League leadership against the MSF national leadership, it didn’t seem genuine to him. “I got a copy of this so-called complaint and it didn’t have a name or a letterhead. It seemed fake to me. MSF doesn’t have any factions, like an official faction and an unofficial one, as they allege. Whoever is behind it, doesn’t know much about the organisational setup of MSF,” said Ashrafali.
Sources said that the national leadership of the MSF did find merit in the allegations raised by the Haritha leaders and recommended action against the accused.
“I have only approached the issue based on its merit. I got a copy of their complaint and as national president, I heard them. MSF state president P K Navas also explained his side. An accurate report on the issue was then submitted to the Muslim League leadership,” said Ashrafali.
As many as 10 Haritha leaders had submitted a petition to the state women’s commission, which was forwarded to the Kozhikode district police chief. In their complaint, the leaders said Navas, during the MSF state committee meeting in Kozhikode on June 22, had asked their representatives to explain their opinion about an organisational matter with a remark, “even a prostitute” have opinions and the Haritha wing leaders can share theirs.
The Muslim League had on Tuesday froze the state committee of Haritha for making public its allegations. There are reports that even the lower rank and file of Haritha was also upset about the way the party handled the issue. Against this backdrop, the League leadership would likely take action against MSF leaders facing the allegations.
Chemmanagad inspector Anita Kumari on Friday said that the investigation into the case has been progressing steadily. “We have begun the investigation. The probe is in its nascent stage and more details cannot be divulged at this point,” she said.
