A Delhi move by the ‘Grand Mufti’

Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar, a prominent Sunni leader and general secretary of the All India Jamiyyathul Ulama, met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi ahead of the Kerala Assembly elections. The meeting, held during the centenary year of the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, was seen as a strategic move to reinforce his position within the Muslim community and highlight concerns about minority issues. While the public relations exercise was welcomed by some, others criticized Aboobacker Musliar for his statements regarding the BJP government's policies towards minorities. The meeting served as a reminder that he remains a significant socio-political force in Kerala despite his non-committal stance on political alliances.