National Muslim Youth Meet is being organised by the Kerala State Muslim Youth League, the youth wing of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), from February 17 to 21 to highlight ‘Kerala model of Muslim development, the most striking feature of which has been the empowerment of the Muslim community through political mobilisation’.

The main function in connection with the meet would be held at the Tagore Centenary Hall in Kozhikode on February 20. It would be inaugurated by IUML State general secretary P.K. Kunhalikutty. There would be discussions on Muslim politics and the reports of the Sachar Committee and the Ranganath Misra Committee.

“The event has been designed to give the members of the Muslim community in other States a feel of the ‘Kerala model of Muslim community development’ by political empowerment and how it could defeat forces that are trying to lure the youth to the path of terrorism,” Muslim Youth League State president K.M. Shaji and general secretary N. Shamsudhin said at a Press conference here on Wednesday.

The programme would begin in Kochi on February 17 at the Rajendra Maidan. Delegates from 20 States would attend the function, to be inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Railways E. Ahamed, who is also the all-India president of the IUML.

The delegates would then embark on a journey through places that are symbols of Muslim pride and achievement in Kerala. Their first stop would be the Cheraman Juma Masjid at Kodungalloor. It would be followed by visits to places that witnessed the struggles against the British rule. The MES Engineering College, Kuttipuram, and MES Medical College are also there in the itinerary.

In Malappuram, the Muslim League stronghold, the delegates would attend a meeting along with senior League leaders of the State. On February 19, they would visit the University of Calicut, Farook College, the Wagon Tragedy Hall, and the PSMO college.

A massive public meeting, which will be inaugurated by IUML State president Hyder Ali Shihab Thangal will be held on February 21 on the Kozhikode beach to mark the conclusion of the youth meet.

Mr. Shaji and Mr. Shamsudhin said the convention was an expression of the growing realisation that there was an urgent need for a national leadership for the Muslim community as Muslimswere still stuck in social and educational backwardness .