The fitness programme in question is a multi-exercise combination (MEC-7) that was started in Malappuram in 2012 with the objective of fighting “lifestyle diseases”. Launched by ex-CISF soldier Salahudheen P, the half-an-hour programme has grown into over 1,000 groups mainly in Malappuram and Kozhikode. Salahudheen, who was with the CISF for over 20 years before retiring as an Assistant Sub-Inspector, dismissed the allegations saying there is no “organisational structure or membership” for the programme in which people from across communities participate voluntarily.

Each morning, thousands of people in these two districts gather at their local ground early morning for a fitness session that blends yoga, simple exercises, deep breathing, acupressure, face massage, and meditation. Several women attend these sessions, according to people who participate in them. The popularity of the fitness initiative, cutting across class and community lines, has resulted in more and more groups coming up in villages and cities across both districts.

According to people associated with the fitness programme, participants only pay for a white T-shirt with the MEC-7 logo that they have to wear to the daily sessions. (Express Photo)

Mohanan, the CPI(M) Kozhikode district secretary, recently expressed concern about the MEC-7, alleging that Jamaat-e-Islami and SDPI had “infiltrated” the programme.

“Lifestyle diseases should be fought and remaining physically fit is important for everyone. However, the Jamaat-e-Islami and the SDPI are using MEC-7 for their narrow politics. The Jamaat is using it as a shield for its campaign for Islamic nation. Secular society should be vigilant against such attempts. Earlier, Jamaat had a practice of using environmental movements and human rights issues to further their agenda. Activists of these organisations have infiltrated MEC-7,’’ Mohanan said at a party meeting in Kannur last month.

With the controversy gathering pace over the weekend, Mohanan softened his position on Sunday and claimed that his criticism was directed at the “possibility” of forces such as the SDPI, the Jamaat, and the Sangh Parivar infiltrating such public initiatives to spread their “communal ideologies”. “We have no issue with MEC 7 itself,” he said, adding that MEC-7 operates in an “inclusive public space where people gather beyond barriers of religion, caste, or political affiliation. This makes it vulnerable to infiltration by communal forces, he said.

Asked if Sangh Parivar outfits were also involved, Mohanan said the RSS, like the others, was also part of the problem, describing them as “two sides of the same coin”. He added that the MEC-7 initiative should be encouraged.

What others have said

After the CPM leader’s initial comments, Sunni cleric Perode Abdurahman Saquafi had weighed in on the issue, warning the “faithful not to get trapped into the programme … it is against the faithful”. Another local Sunni leader, Muhammadali Kinaloor, wondered why more Muslims were involved in it. “The NDF (an earlier form of the PFI) was also launched in this manner with physical training. MEC-7 has gained an organisational nature and is focusing on Muslim areas,’’ he said.

Salahudheen said he launched the exercise module in his village in Malappuram in 2012. “Post-retirement from CISF, I wanted to do something for my village. Thus, I started with yoga in 2010 and two years later developed a module. After participants reported good feedback with relief from lifestyle diseases, I decided to launch the programme in other villages, which gained momentum in 2022 after the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, we have around 1,000 units, where people ranging from 50 to 100 voluntarily participate in the programme daily,” he said.

Salahudheen claimed no party could “hijack” the programme. “The participants hail from all parties and religions,” he said. “There is no organisational structure or membership for MEC-7. People in various places come forward to start the fitness programme, once they are trained, someone from among will turn into a trainer. Political leaders are worried about the popularity and religious leaders or clerics fear they will not get men and women for religious classes. People are aware of health consequences and hence the popularity of MEC-7.”

According to people associated with the fitness programme, participants only pay for a white T-shirt with the MEC-7 logo that they have to wear to the daily sessions. Recently, Indian National League legislator and former minister in the Pinarayi Vijayan government, Ahammed Devarkovil, inaugurated an MEC-7 session in Kozhikode. Devarkovil said he could not see anything religious or political at the fitness session. “Why should a particular section of society be singled out on account of fitness programmes? It is open to all and more people are joining it because they benefit from it,” Devarkovil, who represents Kozhikode South in the Assembly, said as the political row continued.

Congress’s Palakkad MP V K Sreekandan on Sunday supported the MEC-7 after Inaugurating a new session of the fitness programme in Pattambi, Sreekandan said MEC-7 should be expanded across India. “It is a short fitness programme, where I could not find any religion in it,” he said.

The BJP, however, targeted the Pinarayi Vijayan government over the allegations. “Why did the state government not inform the Centre about the extremist links behind MEC-7? It is now clear that the government has helped the extremists,” said state BJP president K Surendran.

BJP leader and former Union Minister V Muraleedharan alleged there were sufficient reasons to believe that the PFI and the Jamaat were behind the programme. “Hence, the state should remain vigilant,” he said.

“It is good that the CPI(M) has recognised the reality. We don’t oppose the CPI(M) on every issue they raise, but they only realise certain facts very late,” PTI quoted Muraleedharan as saying. He claimed that due to this delay, many from the Left party were joining the BJP.

Mohanan’s initial comments targeting the Jamaat-e-Islami were in line with the party’s recent political stand. The ruling party attempted to reach out to the Muslim vote bank in the recent Lok Sabha elections, making opposition to the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act its central poll plank. But, as a result, the CPI(M) ended up facing a Hindu backlash in the polls and it has had to recalibrate its strategy since then.

During the recent by-elections, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan targeted IUML state president Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal, accusing him of working as an activist of the Jamaat. Vijayan also alleged that Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra contested the Wayanad Lok Sabha bypoll with the Jamaat’s backing.

— With PTI inputs