Kerala: Muslim League Leader KM Shaji Unleashes Diatribe On LGBTQ Community, Calls Them 'Shame' And 'Worst Kind Of People'

Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader KM Shaji is caught in the eye of a storm after he launched a diatribe against the LGBTQ community, calling them a "shame" on society and the "worst kind of people".

The controversial Muslim leader made these remarks while addressing a meeting held on Saturday in remembrance of the late E. Ahmad, a Muslim League stalwart who served as Union Minister of State for External Affairs in the Congress-led UPA ministry headed by Manmohan Singh.

Shaji's party, the Indian Union Muslim League, is the principal alliance partner of Congress in Kerala.

"The word LGBTQ sounds something important, but those are uncouth local activities. They are the worst humans. They are projecting it as colourful, but the term itself is dangerous, it creates anarchy in society. Deciding one's gender after growing up is just silly," he said.

"It is also a matter of faith. No believer in the world will accept this. When you hear LGBTQ, it sounds like something serious, but it's not. Those who practice it are the worst kind of people, even this term is dangerous. There are many ways to solve this hormonal disorder including counselling," Shaji further said.

Shaji also accused the state government of attempting to destroy religious communities 'beliefs and culture 'by creating 'gender confusion'.

“When you hear LGBTQ, don’t think it is something very big. It is an ugly business. Those who indulge in this are promoting homosexuality. Now, attempts are on to give some colour to this,” Shaji said. “Even the usage of the word LGBTQ is dangerous. The people behind this campaign are trying to create chaos in society,” he added.

“There are many methods, including counselling, to treat it. It is foolish to say that gender should be decided only after the person becomes a major. It is equally dangerous to let people decide their gender,” he said.

Mired in Corruption Cases

A prominent face of the Muslim League, Shaji is on the radar of the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB). He has been accused of receiving a bribe of ₹25 lakhs from an aided school management at Azhikode in 2014 for sanctioning additional Plus Two courses.

The vigilance team raided Shaji's residence as part of the money laundering case and over allegations that he has accumulated wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income.

During a raid in April 2021, the VACB seized unaccounted cash of Rs 47.35 lakhs and about 60 sovereigns of gold ornaments, 475 gm of gold ornaments and foreign currencies of various countries from his house in Kozhikode.

A case was registered against Shaji under Section 13 (criminal misconduct by a public servant) of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 13 ( Attachment and forfeiture of property) of the Prevention of Corruption Act ( Amendment) Act.

In its preliminary report submitted to the Vigilance court, the VACB stated that Shaji had amassed an extra income of Rs 1.4 crore in the last nine years.

In the 2021 state assembly elections, Shaji, who contested as a part of the Congress-led UDF, lost from Azhikode constituency in Kannur, with LDF candidate K V Sumesh wresting the seat.

In 2018, the Kerala High Court declared Shaji's victory in the 2016 assembly polls void. The court upheld charges of losing LDF candidate Nikesh Kumar that Shaji indulged in blatant communal mobilisation to defeat him.

The court barred Shaji from contesting elections for six years. He was ordered to pay Rs 50,000 as a cost to Nikesh Kumar. The verdict, however, was stayed by the Supreme Court of India.

Shaji is currently the president of the Muslim Youth League.