– Mohammed Atherulla Shariff
Kozhikode: A physical fitness programme that has become popular in north Kerala has run into controversy after the CPI(M) alleged that Jamaat-e-Islami and SDPI, the political wing of banned Popular Front of India, were using the platform to further their political agenda.
The fitness programme in question is a multi-exercise combination (MEC-7) that was started in Malappuram in 2012 with the objective of fighting “lifestyle diseases”. Launched by ex-CISF soldier Salahudheen P, the half-an-hour programme has grown into over 1,000 groups mainly in Malappuram and Kozhikode.
Salahudheen, who was with the CISF for over 20 years before retiring as an Assistant Sub-Inspector, dismissed the allegations, saying there is no “organisational structure or membership” for the programme in which people from across communities participate voluntarily.
Each morning, thousands of people in these two districts gather at their local ground early morning for a fitness session that blends yoga, simple exercises, deep breathing, acupressure, face massage, and meditation. Both men and women from across communities attend the sessions, according to people who participate in them. The popularity of the fitness sessions has resulted in more and more groups coming up in villages and cities across both districts.
CPI(M) Kozhikode district secretary P Mohanan recently expressed concern about the MEC-7, alleging that Jamaat-e-Islami and SDPI had “infiltrated” the programme.
“Lifestyle diseases should be fought and remaining physically fit is important for everyone. However, Jamaat-e-Islami and SDPI are using MEC-7 for their narrow politics. The Jamaat is using it as a shield for its campaign for Islamic nation. Secular society should be vigilant against such attempts. Earlier, Jamaat had a practice of using environmental movements and human rights issues to further their agenda. Activists of these organisations have infiltrated MEC-7,” Mohanan said at a party meeting in Kannur last month.
Sunni leader Perode Abdurahman Saquafi recently weighed in on the issue, warning the “faithful not to get trapped into the programme… it is against the faithful”. Another local Sunni leader, Muhammadali Kinaloor, wondered why more Muslims were involved in it.
“The NDF (an earlier form of PFI) was also launched in this manner with physical training. MEC-7 has gained an organisational nature and is focusing on Muslim areas,” he said.
Salahudheen said he launched the exercise module in his village in Malappuram in 2012. “Post-retirement from CISF, I wanted to do something for my village. Thus, I started with yoga in 2010 and two years later developed a module. After participants reported good feedback with relief from lifestyle diseases, I decided to launch the programme in other villages, which gained momentum in 2022 after the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, we have around 1,000 units, where people ranging from 50 to 100 voluntarily participate in the programme daily,” he said.
Salahudheen claimed no party could “hijack” the programme. “The participants hail from all parties and religions,” he said. “There is no organisational structure or membership for MEC-7. People in various places come forward to start the fitness programme, once they are trained, someone from among will turn into a trainer. Political leaders are worried about the popularity and religious leaders or clerics fear they will not get men and women for religious classes. People are aware of health consequences and hence the popularity of MEC-7.”
According to people associated with the fitness programme, participants only pay for a white T-shirt with the MEC-7 logo that they have to wear to the daily sessions. Recently, Indian National League legislator and former minister in the Pinarayi Vijayan government, Ahammed Devarkovil, inaugurated an MEC-7 session in Kozhikode.
The BJP targeted the Pinarayi Vijayan government over the allegations. “Why did the state government not inform the Centre about the extremist links behind MEC-7? It is now clear that the government has helped the extremists,” said state BJP president K Surendran.
BJP leader and former Union Minister V Muraleedharan alleged there were sufficient reasons to believe that the PFI and the Jamaat were behind the programme. “Hence, the state should remain vigilant,” he said.
No eyebrows are raised when thousands of girls and women are being provided arms training under ‘self-defence’ by Mission Prahar and several other outfits to a particular community people.
