Are fundamentalist Islamic forces expanding their base in Southern India once again with a special focus on Kerala after the Islamic State suffered severe blows as their modules were unearthed and most of their cadres were arrested?

Though the radical outfit vowing to establish “khilafat” or the caliphate in India succeeded in luring away some Muslim youths and sending them to Syria and Iraq to fight there, it lost its appeal and base soon and most of the youths sent to foreign countries have either returned or got killed there.

Fundamental Islamic Forces Resurface In Kerala

With the IS losing its relevance, the fundamentalist force appears to have resurfaced and joined the ranks of the Jamaat-e-Islami and the SDPI, the political wing of now banned PFI.

The alleged expansion of the base of radical Islam and deepening of its roots in the form of outfits like the Jamaat-e-Islami and the SDPI hit the headlines when the CPIM Kozhikode District Secretary P Mohanan said that the fundamental outfits were behind the MEC-7 groups.

What Is MEC-7?

The Multi Exercise Combination is a cocktail of seven workouts- yoga, meditation, breathing exercise, physical exercise, face massage, acupressure and aerobics. Launched by former CISF Assistant Sub Inspector P Swalahuddin in 2012, it claims to improve the physical condition and fight the lifestyle diseases.

It is also claimed that 21 exercises from these categories are performed in 21 minutes and 1,750 body movements take place during the exercise.

1 Lakh MEC Activists Gather Daily

A group of 50 to 100 men a and women gather at an open space like a field early in the morning and perform the exercise under the guidance of an expert. Not less than 1,000 such groups take up this exercise daily through the length and breadth of the state, but more such groups are active in Northern Kerala, particularly in Mallapuram, which has the highest Muslim population in Kerala.

Is it just a coincidence that the MEC-7 groups are most active in the districts of Mallapuram, Kozhikode, Palakkad, Thrissur, Kasarhod and Alapuzza, which have considerable Muslim population? It is interesting to note that the Jamaat-e-Islami and the SDPI are more active in this part of the state.

MEC-7 More Popular In Muslim Areas

The alleged menace of the spread of the MEC-7 can be understood by the fact that opposing forces like left-wing CPIM and right-wing BJP have joined hands in attacking it.

CPIM leader Mohanan was the first to raise the red flag, though he withdrew it a day after, perhaps coming under the pressure of his own party, which is ruling Kerala.

MEC-7 Comes Under Attacks Of Left And Right

His dilemma can be gauged by the fact that the Kerala BJP exploited the opportunity to attack the Kerala government under Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. He accused the Left Democratic Front of encouraging the spread of Islamic fundamentalism by allowing it to flourish under its nose.

Muslim Outfits Slam MEC-7

The left and the right are not the only forces to flag off the spread of radical Islam in the state, even some Muslim organisations have come out in the open to attack the people behind the MEC-7.

Sunni Yuvajana Sangham (SYS) head Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musaliyar and its Kozhikode District Secretary have openly slammed the exercise and appealed to the Muslims to keep away from the MEC-7.

Echoing the sentiments of the CPIM and the BJP, they said that the intentions behind the seemingly innocuous physical exercises appeared suspicious.

Another Sunni leader, Perode Abdurrahman Saqafi, also came out against the MEC-7 and said that the Jama’at-e-Islami was using the exercise programme as a means to “undermine Sunni ideals”.

Congress Backs MEC?

However, the MEC-7 activists have found supporters too.

Palakkad Congress MP V K Sreekandan declared that he had taken part in these exercises and there was nothing wrong in it. He also said that these exercises should be expanded across the country.

MEC-7 Rejects Allegations

Rejecting the claims of the CPIM, the BJP and the Sunni outfits, MEC-7 ambassador Bava Arakkal claimed that its participants are from all religions including Hinduism and there is nothing to hide. Asking the opponents of the exercise to participate in its, he said, “MEC 7 provides a platform for everyone, regardless of caste, religion, or political beliefs.”

IS Modules Busted In Kerala

Earlier, the NIA busted many IS modules in Kerala in as late as last year and arrested many of its members. The Kerala Police joined hands with the NIA and arrested Ashif, Sayid Nabeel Ahmed, Shiyas TS from Thrissur, and Riyas from Palakkad.

The NIA said that the Kerala IS modules were engaged in recruiting people, raising money and planning and executing terror attacks. They have contacts with the UP IS modules in Aligarh and the Jharkhand IS modules in Lohardagga.

Will Kerala government and the NIA once again join hands to investigate and crack down on the IS modules?