Posters depicting leaders of extremist groups, including Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar, along with Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah, sparked a political storm in Kerala on Monday, several media houses reported. The controversial banners were paraded during a mosque procession at the Uroos festival in Thrithala, a town in Palakkad district.
The Uroos festival, a traditional annual celebration held at the local mosque, saw more than 3,000 attendees this year. As part of the event’s procession, banners featuring the faces of Haniyeh, Sinwar, and Nasrallah were carried atop elephants by young participants, each of whom wore slogans with the words 'Tharavadis, Thekkebhagam' – which roughly translates to 'Ancestrals, Southside.'
Notable figures were reportedly present at the procession, including Kerala Minister MB Rajesh and Congress leader VT Balram, according to The Free Press Journal.
Meanwhile, the organisers of Thrithala Fest have distanced themselves from any religious affiliation. The organisers have clarified that the event was not linked to any mosque but was part of Thrithala Fest, a local celebration that saw participation from several community groups, India Today reported.
The controversial posters that became the focal point of criticism, particularly from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which swiftly condemned the event.
Tulla Veerender Goud, the official spokesperson for the Telangana BJP, was one of the first to raise alarm, accusing the state of becoming a “breeding ground for terror sympathisers.” He wrote on X: “Shocking but not surprising! Kerala has become such a breeding ground for terror sympathisers that posters of Hamas terrorists Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar, and Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah are openly displayed on the streets! Will the so-called secular brigade remain silent now, or will they speak up against the so-called Kerala Model that glorifies the terrorists openly?”
BJP leader Charu Pragya blamed the Kerala's Left Front-led government, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for the controversial posters. “Under Pinarayi Vijayan ji’s rule, Kerala sees open glorification of Hamas terrorists! Posters of Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar & Hassan Nasrallah were brazenly displayed during a Uroos procession in Thrithala. CPIM’s silence enables such chaos and it shows their support for such terrorist organisations!” she stated.
Similarly, Zubin Ashara, media co-head of the Gujarat BJP, also criticised the Kerala government. He claimed, “Under Kerala government rule, Kerala has become a hub for extremist glorification! Posters of Hamas kingpins like Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar & Hassan Nasrallah were brazenly paraded in Thrithala. CPIM’s silence is complicity! Shielding terror sympathizers exposes their true face!”
The BJP's criticism of the Kerala Left government was not just limited to the Uroos event. Kerala has witnessed several incidents in recent years that have raised alarms about rising Islamist sentiments and pro-Palestinian activism. In 2023, the Kerala University youth festival found itself embroiled in controversy over the term 'Intifada,' which was later removed from promotional material after public outcry.
The state also witnessed a high-profile incident in October 2023, when former Hamas leader Khaled Mashal addressed a virtual rally in Malappuram, organised by the Jamaat-e-Islami youth wing. The event triggered strong opposition from the BJP, with Kerala BJP president K Surendran labeling the event as “extremist” and calling for an investigation into the involvement of Hamas figures in such public rallies.
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