KOZHIKODE: Amid the controversy over his anti-women remark, Sunni leader Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musaliyar urged his followers to exercise restraint and not give in to any form of provocation. In a Facebook post, he said it was important to identify those with vested interests who deliberately sought to divert spiritual discussions into controversy and divisiveness.He said discussions should serve as healthy platforms for objectively evaluating ideas and gaining knowledge. He urged his followers to avoid emotional reactions and respond to the situation with maturity and discretion. “Attempts to undermine the pursuit of knowledge and create discord in society must be approached with utmost caution and vigilance,” he wrote.Kanthapuram said traditional Sunni believers had a tradition of confronting all forms of evil with goodness. “We must remain steadfast in our core objectives and move forward with discipline and composure,” he wrote.While speaking at a programme in Thrissur on Thursday night, Kanthapuram had rejected the contention that women were accorded a second-class status and highlighted efforts to provide education to women. However, his remarks that women should remain confined to their homes led to a controversy.CPM politburo member Brinda Karat too condemned his remark, saying that religion cannot be invoked to impose a social code contrary to the Constitution. “This is a particular interpretation of religion which many people, who believe in that religion, do not accept,” she said.
