Natural justice was denied to leaders of Haritha -— the women’s wing of Muslim Students Federation — on their allegations against MSF leaders, MSF national vicepresident and Haritha founding general secretary Fathima Thahiliya told reporters on Wednesday.
A day after the IUML froze the state committee of Haritha, Thahiliya said the Haritha leaders were deeply pained at the party decision without even seeking an explanation. “Seeking explanation from those who have made sexually insulting remarks before taking action against them is part of natural justice. We are pained that such natural justice was not followed while taking action against the Haritha state committee,” she said. Thahiliya said she along with the state leaders of Haritha were being subjected to character assassination, vulgar comments and falsehood over social media after the incident and this was causing them mental trauma.
The IUML decision to act against Haritha leaders while limiting the action against the accused leaders to explanation had drawn flak. Police had, meanwhile, registered a case against two MSF leaders under IPC sections 354 (1) (iv) (making sexually coloured remarks) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman). Thahliya said the leaders who raised the complaint have not violated party discipline in any way.
“They have not raised the issue anywhere else other than the party forum. We came up with even this response after we have tolerated beyond what is possible,” she said. She also justified Haritha leaders approaching the Women’s Commission, saying that they had done so due to the delay by the party in addressing the complaint. “I have a difference of opinion on whether approaching Women’s Commission would constitute an act of indiscipline.
It is a fundamental right and also human right for every individual to seek legal recourse. Has any IUML leader said that approaching Women’s Commission was wrong? I am seeking a clarification on that,” she said.
“I had conveyed my difference of opinion to IUML general secretary PMA Salam and I hope that it will be resolved. I don’t think that the disciplinary action announced yesterday was because of that,” she said. However, Thahiliya said the Haritha leaders had faith in the party. “The party authorities have asked them to wait for two weeks. I have trust that the IUML will take a model decision,” she said. Meanwhile, Salam said the party would move ahead with its decision.
“We have not expelled anyone from the party and don’t want to expel anyone but party discipline is of paramount importance,” he said. The issue has triggered a divide in the MSF, with reports of 11 district committees sending letters expressing solidarity to Haritha leaders and seven district committees issuing a statement denying any such letter.
