Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal, the state President of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) in Kerala and ally of the Congress party, has ignited a controversy with his remarks on the Ayodhya Ram Mandir.

Addressing an event on January 24 at Manjeri near Malappuram, Thangal stated, “There is no need to protest against the construction of the Ram temple at Ayodhya as both the new temple and the proposed mosque would strengthen secularism in the country.” The video of his speech went viral, leading to a heated debate.

While the Indian National League (INL), a coalition partner of the ruling CPI(M) led-LDF government in Kerala, strongly criticized Thangal’s statement, the Congress party and the IUML defended him. They asserted that Thangal was attempting to prevent any campaign of hatred and efforts to divide society.

Thangal, during the event, emphasized that the Ram temple, “worshipped and revered by the majority of the people” in the country, is a reality. Leaders of the Opposition, V D Satheesan, and senior IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty came out in support of Thangal, stating that his words were misinterpreted.

The controversy adds a new dimension to the ongoing discussions surrounding the Ayodhya Ram Mandir. The consecration ceremony of the temple, celebrated by millions of Hindus worldwide, took place recently. The temple, situated on a 2.67-acre site within a 70-acre complex, opened to the public on January 23 after the Pran Pratishtha ceremony. The first phase is complete, with the final phase expected to be finished by December 2025.

The temple’s opening drew an estimated 18.75 lakh devotees from across the country, with the first day alone witnessing 5 lakh visitors. Daily visits have consistently remained high, averaging more than 2 lakh.