Mangaluru: In a dramatic turn of events, several Muslim Congress leaders from Dakshina Kannada district have tendered their resignations from various party posts, citing the state government's failure to control the rising violence in the coastal region, inaction by the Home Department, and continued neglect of Muslim leadership within the party.
An emergency meeting was held on Thursday at the Shadi Mahal convention hall in Bolar, Mangaluru, where elected representatives and Muslim leaders of the Congress party convened. The tense and emotionally charged gathering ended in a collective decision to resign from party positions.
Key resignations included KPCC General Secretary M.S. Muhammad, Dakshina Kannada District Congress Minority Cell President K.K. Shahul Hameed, and District Vice-President Abdul Rauf, among others. The leaders alleged that the Congress party had failed to address the concerns of the Muslim community, particularly in light of a spate of communal murders in the region.
Addressing the gathering, Shahul Hameed expressed frustration over the party's silence on hate speeches and inflammatory remarks by leaders of the Sangh Parivar, as well as the police department’s inaction. He also criticized the lack of concrete steps against the perpetrators of the recent killings.
As his speech progressed, a large number of party workers raised slogans demanding justice. Tensions escalated when some surged toward the stage, prompting leaders to intervene and calm the crowd.
The immediate trigger for the resignations appears to be the murder of Abdul Rahman in Bantwal by unidentified assailants. Several leaders had faced backlash from grassroots workers for what was perceived as an inadequate response. Some had already hinted at resigning on social media following Rahman’s funeral.
Frustration grew when it appeared that a few leaders were hesitating to follow through. However, former corporator Abdul Rauf and Suhail Kandakk reassured the gathering that the resignations were final and non-negotiable.
Eventually, formal resignations were announced: Abdul Rauf from the post of District Vice-President, M.S. Muhammad from KPCC General Secretary, and K.K. Shahul Hameed from the Minority Cell President post. Other leaders followed suit, exiting the venue after publicly declaring their resignations.
Police were deployed outside the hall to ensure security and prevent any untoward incidents as emotions ran high.