Kannur: CPM leader and former Kerala Assembly Speaker AN Shamseer criticised Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar over his remarks concerning women.

Shamseer said Kanthapuram had made a statement that was not appropriate in India. “None of us supports Kanthapuram’s statement. There is no dispute that he is a scholar known across the world. However, the statement he made is not one that can be made in India today,” Shamseer said.

He said Kanthapuram’s remarks were not appropriate in the present global context. Kanthapuram had said that women should not enter the mainstream. “Men and women are equal. Islam also recognises this. However, Kanthapuram’s statement cannot be justified,” Shamseer said.

He added that Islam and the Prophet have taught that every believer should be willing to abide by the laws of the country they live in. “Grand Mufti Kanthapuram should also be willing to accept the Constitution of this country,” Shamseer said.

Shamseer added that they were only asking everyone to accept the Constitution of the country. He said the CPM would oppose such statements regardless of who made them.

Meanwhile, there are differences of opinion among CPM leaders over Kanthapuram’s remarks. Leaders including KT Jaleel and TK Hamsa had come out in support of Kanthapuram, while leaders including MA Baby had criticised his comments.