Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam

Background

The objective of TMMK is to protect the rights of the Muslim community in a democratic manner. TMMK has its branch offices in all the districts of Tamil Nadu and in several villages of the state. It also has its foreign offices in Malaysia, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and other Persian Gulf countries and has more than 1 lakh members. It was involved in Tsunami relief work and does social services including blood donation camps, eye camps and free ambulance services for the poor.

Activities

Rallies and protests

TMMK invites public to hold peaceful protests and demonstrations for demanding rights of Muslims. In February 2005, the TMMK urged the then-Chief Minister Jayalalithaa Jayaram to direct the Wakf Board to send all its communications only in the Tamil language to the administrators of mosques. A March 2007 rally organised by the TMMK in New Delhi drew support from the Association of Indian Muslims (AIM) of America. The TMMK has campaigned for the reservation of seats in educational institutions and the ear-marking of entrepreneurship schemes for Muslims in Tamil Nadu as per the recommendations of the Sachar Committee. The Tamil Nadu Thawheedh Jamaath (TNTJ) has been termed "a breakaway group" of the organisation.

Every year TMMK observes the anniversary of Babri Masjid demolition in a peaceful manner. These protests draw huge number of people from across the Tamil Nadu state and demand the arrest of 68 perpetrators including Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Balasaheb Thackeray, LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi as implicated by Liberhan commission. The organisation has also stages many protests for the protection Tamil Nadu fishermen and dalits.

Manithaneya Makkal Katchi

In early 2009, a new political party Manithaneya Makkal Katchi was launched after an amendment to the bylaws. The party contested in the parliamentary election the same year in 4 constituencies and polled 68,346 votes. But in the 2011 Assembly election, MMK allied with AIADMK and won 2 of 3 seats contested.

Views on terrorism

TMMK has condemned several acts of terrorism in India and in foreign lands. When the Al-Qaeda released a video related to Indian sub-continent, TMMK condemned it and advised Indian Muslims to ignore such hate messages. The leader of TMMK said “this (message) will only help security agencies in country to further target Muslim youth in case a terrorist act does take place.” In several occasion, TMMK has also condemned Israel for its brutality against Palestinian People. It has also raised voices for UN intervention to stop genocide of Palestinians. Similarly, TMMK has protested the genocide of Tamil people in Sri Lanka.

Criticism

On 6 December 2003, 450 activists of the TMMK were arrested for attempting stage a protest rally. Similar arrests were made earlier in 2000 where TMMK members were implicated.

References

References

1. "Home".
2. TMMK [[news release]]. (5 December 2004). "2004: Indian Muslim Statements". The Milli Gazette.
3. "Navigation News - Frontline". frontline.in.
4. "When helping mattered most - Hindustan Times".
5. (7 January 2013). "Blood donation". The Hindu.
6. (31 July 2011). "Free eye camp held by TN Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam". The Hindu.
7. (7 December 2012). "Babri Masjid anniversary passes off peacefully at Tiruchi". The Hindu.
8. Staff reporter. (20 February 2005). "TMMK demand". [[The Hindu]].
9. (7 March 2007). "American Muslims Support Muslim Welfare Rally at the Indian Parliament".
10. United News of India. (16 June 2007 }}{{Dead link). "TMMK appeals to Centre, state to stick to reservation". Webindia123.com.
11. Staff reporter. (30 August 2006). "Wakf Board takes possession of mosque; tension at Melapalayam". [[The Hindu]].
12. (7 December 2009). "TMMK holds peaceful rally in Chennai against Babri Masjid demolition". TwoCircles.net.
13. (24 Nov 2009). "68 people indicted in Liberhan report". IBN.
14. (3 December 2011). "Fishermen strike enters fourth day".
15. (6 August 2010). "TMMK, MMK leaders call on Jayalalithaa". [[The Hindu]].
16. [https://web.archive.org/web/20231128201149/https://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/hyder-ali-be-mmk-candidate?-539]
17. http://expressbuzz.com/Cities/Chennai/dmk-men-attack-mmk-cadre-six-injured/66815.html {{dead link. (October 2016)
18. (8 March 2009). "Manithaneya Makkal Katchi wants more than one seat". [[The Hindu]].
19. "MMK polled 68k votes across 4 parliamentary seats". eci.nic.in.
20. (September 10, 2014). "Muslim outfits lash out at al-Qaeda video". The Hindu.
21. (16 July 2014). "TMMK condemns Israel's action". The Hindu.
22. (29 July 2014). "Parties press for UN intervention to stop genocide of Palestinians". The Hindu.
23. (20 June 2014). "Tamil Nadu Muslims protest against genocidal Sri Lanka".
24. {{usurped. [https://archive.today/20130125054405/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/2003/12/07/stories/2003120705180100.htm Anniversary ends peacefully] [[The Hindu]] - 7 December 2003
25. [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20001212/nation.htm Bandh against attack on mosque] The Tribune, Chandigarh - 12 December 2000