M. K. Muneer Explained

Dr. M. K. Muneer
Birth Date:26 August 1962
Birth Place:Kozhikode, Kerala, India
Residence:Kozhikode
Nationality: Indian
Office:Minister for Social Welfare and Panchayath Affairs,
Government of Kerala
Term Start:23 May 2011
Term End:20 May 2016
Successor:K. T. Jaleel
Office2:Deputy Leader of Opposition in Kerala Legislative Assembly
Term Start2:22 April 2017
Term End2:7 May 2021
Leader2:Ramesh Chennithala
Predecessor2:P. K. Kunhalikutty
Successor2:P. K. Kunhalikutty
Office3:Member of Kerala Legislative Assembly
Term Start3:24 May 2021
Predecessor3:Karat Razak
Constituency3:Koduvally
Term Start4:1 June 2011
Term End4:3 May 2021
Predecessor4:constituency created
Successor4:Ahamed Devarkovil
Constituency4:Kozhikode South
Term Start5:1996
Term End5:2006
Predecessor5:Younus Kunhu
Successor5:M. Ummer
Constituency5:Malappuram
Office6:Minister For Public Works Department,
Government of Kerala
Term Start6:26 May 2001
Term End6:12 May 2006
Predecessor6:P. J. Joseph
Successor6:P. J. Joseph
Party:Indian Union Muslim League
Spouse:Nafeesa Vineetha
Children:Two sons and one daughter

M. K. Muneer is an Indian politician, physician, social worker, singer, poet and author from Kerala.[1] [2] He was the Minister for Social Welfare and Panchayat in the last (May 2011 – May 2016) UDF Ministry, headed by Oommen Chandy and represented the Kozhikode South constituency in the legislative assembly. He was also the Minister for Public Works in A K Antony Ministry 3.[3] Muneer is a State secretary of the Indian Union Muslim League and[4] was the Chairman of the Malayalam TV channel Indiavision. He has written ghazals and books including Fascism and the Sangh Parivar.[5] He is a qualified medical doctor and patron of MCC-THAS-Haemophilia Society.[6]

Muneer is the only son amongst the three children of C. H. Mohammed Koya, veteran Muslim league politician and former Chief Minister of Kerala and Amina. In March 2017 he was elected as Deputy opposition leader in Kerala Legislative Assembly. He did his MBBS in a private medical college in Karnataka.[7] With a special order by the Government of Kerala post his father's death, he was allowed a transfer to Government Medical College, Kozhikode and eventually completed his course from there.[8] This became a controversy after he questioned the state aid given to a leader from Nationalist Congress Party.[7]

Minister in different ministries

No. Head of the Ministry Period Portfolio
1 2001-04 public work dept
2 2004-06 public work dept
3 Oommen Chandy 2011-16panchyath, social welfare

Kerala Legislative Assembly election, 2021

In the 2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election, he contested from Koduvally. He defeated Karat Razack by a margin of 6344 votes.[9]

Controversies

Muneer put a pro-LGBTQ post in Facebook during the pride month in 2021, only to be withdrawn later following severe criticism from party members.[10] Once popular as the progressive face of IUML, Muneer later became a staunch supporter of patriarchal and conservative form of Islam.[11] His strange argument that gender neutrality will make POCSO Act redundant stirred up a massive political controversy.[12] [13] More recently, he is known for delivering negative speeches against the LGBT+ community including a controversial article published in Suprabhatam daily where he accused homosexuals of being violent and demanding rights for child sex abuse.[14] Despite being a former Minister who implemented transgender policy in Kerala; for the first time in an Indian state, Muneer stirred controversy by questioning the gender of the first trans man in India who gave birth to a baby.[15] [16]

He also described the 7 October attacks by Hamas as 'resistance' at an IUML rally after Shashi Tharoor called it an act of terrorism.[17]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Criticised for supporting homosexuality; Muneer withdraws post congratulating LGBT community .
  2. Web site: MK Muneer's weird argument on gender neutrality triggers row .
  3. Web site: Dr. M.K. Muneer To Host Amrita TV's Sangeetha Samagamam | Kerala Television . Keralatv.in . 2010-08-01 . 2011-07-01.
  4. Web site: Kerala / Kannur News : 'CPI(M) pursuing dangerous politics' . https://web.archive.org/web/20121108033013/http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/29/stories/2009032953940500.htm . dead . 2012-11-08 . 2009-03-29 . . 2011-07-01.
  5. Web site: Irfan . CC April 2008 . Sabrang.com . 2007-09-21 . 2011-07-01.
  6. Web site: | MCC-THAS-Hemophilia Society | . Pedblood.org . 2011-07-01 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110727170404/http://www.pedblood.org/whoiswho.html . 27 July 2011 .
  7. Web site: മുഖം രക്ഷിയ്ക്കാന്‍ പുതിയ വാദവുമായി കെ എം ഷാജി: വെട്ടിലായത് കൂടെയിരുന്ന എം കെ മുനീര്‍. 2020-06-12. Deshabhimani. ml.
  8. Web site: Web Desk. കള്ളം പറയലാണോ രാഷ്ട്രീയം? അതും ഈ മരണകാലത്ത്? എ.എ റഹിം. 2020-06-12. MediaOne News Latest Malayalam News from MediaOne Tv. ml.
  9. Web site: 2021 Koduvally Constituency Assembly Election Results. Election commission of India.
  10. News: Criticised for supporting homosexuality; M K Muneer withdraws post congratulating LGBT community. Kerala Kaumudi.
  11. News: IUML's new voice of conservatism. The New Indian Express.
  12. News: Gender neutrality will render POCSO Act redundant: M. K. Muneer. New Indian Express.
  13. News: M K Muneer's weird argument on gender neutrality triggers row. Mathrubhumi.
  14. News: Gender neutrality: M. K. Muneer said that he will stand with morality. Media One.
  15. News: Kerala becomes first state to introduce policy for transgenders. NDTV.
  16. News: IUML leader MK Muneer makes hate comment on Kerala trans man who gave birth. The News Minute.
  17. News: At IUML rally, Shashi Tharoor calls Hamas action 'terrorist attack', MK Muneer terms it 'resistance'. Mathrubhumi English.