M. K. Muneer
{{short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Dr. M. K. Muneer
|image = MK_Muneer.jpg
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1962|08|26|df=y}}
|birth_place = Kozhikode, Kerala, India
|residence = Kozhikode
|nationality = {{Flag icon|India}} Indian
|death_date =
|death_place =
|
|office = Minister for Social Welfare and Panchayath Affairs,
Government of Kerala
|term_start = 23 May 2011
|term_end = 20 May 2016
|predecessor = Paloli Mohammed Kutty
|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
|website =
|footnotes =
|date =
|year =
|source = }}
M. K. Muneer is an Indian politician, physician, social worker, singer, poet and author from Kerala.{{cite web | url=https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=564415&u=criticised-for-supporting-homosexuality-muneer-withdraws-post-congratulating-lgbt-community | title=Criticised for supporting homosexuality; Muneer withdraws post congratulating LGBT community }}{{cite web | url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/mk-muneer-s-weird-argument-on-gender-neutrality-triggers-row-1.7795773 | title=MK Muneer's weird argument on gender neutrality triggers row }} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.keralatv.in/2010/05/dr-m-k-muneer-to-host-amrita-tv%E2%80%99s-sangeetha-samagamam/ |title=Dr. M.K. Muneer To Host Amrita TV's Sangeetha Samagamam | Kerala Television |publisher=Keralatv.in |date=2010-08-01 |access-date=2011-07-01}} Muneer is a State secretary of the Indian Union Muslim League and{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/29/stories/2009032953940500.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108033013/http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/29/stories/2009032953940500.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-11-08 |title=Kerala / Kannur News : 'CPI(M) pursuing dangerous politics' |date=2009-03-29 |work=The Hindu |access-date=2011-07-01}} was the Chairman of the Malayalam TV channel Indiavision. He has written ghazals and books including Fascism and the Sangh Parivar.{{cite web|author=Irfan |url=http://www.sabrang.com/cc/archive/2008/april08/cover4.html |title=CC April 2008 |publisher=Sabrang.com |date=2007-09-21 |access-date=2011-07-01}} He is a qualified medical doctor and patron of MCC-THAS-Haemophilia Society.{{cite web |url=http://www.pedblood.org/whoiswho.html |title=| MCC-THAS-Hemophilia Society | |publisher=Pedblood.org |access-date=2011-07-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727170404/http://www.pedblood.org/whoiswho.html |archive-date=27 July 2011 }}
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.{{Cite web|title=മുഖം രക്ഷിയ്ക്കാന് പുതിയ വാദവുമായി കെ എം ഷാജി: വെട്ടിലായത് കൂടെയിരുന്ന എം കെ മുനീര്|url=https://www.deshabhimani.com/special/k-m-shaji-s-defense-lands-m-k-muneer-in-trouble/866253|access-date=2020-06-12|website=Deshabhimani|language=ml}} 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.{{Cite web|author=Web Desk|title=കള്ളം പറയലാണോ രാഷ്ട്രീയം? അതും ഈ മരണകാലത്ത്? എ.എ റഹിം|url=https://www.mediaonetv.in/kerala/2020/04/16/a-a-rahm-against-k-m-shaji-and-m-k-muneer|access-date=2020-06-12|website=MediaOne News {{!}} Latest Malayalam News from MediaOne Tv|language=ml}} This became a controversy after he questioned the state aid given to a leader from Nationalist Congress Party.
Minister in different ministries
| class="wikitable" | |||
| No. | Head of the Ministry | Period | Portfolio |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A. K. Antony | 2001-04 | public work dept |
| 2 | Oommen Chandy | 2004-06 | public work dept |
| 3 | Oommen Chandy | 2011-16 | panchyath, 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.{{Cite web|url=https://results.eci.gov.in/Result2021/ConstituencywiseS1131.htm?ac=31|title=2021 Koduvally Constituency Assembly Election Results|website=Election commission of India}}
{{Election box begin | title=2016 Kerala Legislative Assembly election: Kozhikode South}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Indian Union Muslim League
|candidate = M. K. Muneer
|votes = 49,863
|percentage = 43.13%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Indian National League
|candidate = A. P. Abdul Vahab
|votes = 43,536
|percentage = 37.66%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Bharath Dharma Jana Sena
|candidate = Satheesh Kuttiyil
|votes = 19,146
|percentage = 16.56%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = None of the above
|candidate = None of the above
|votes = 788
|percentage = 0.68%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Social Democratic Party of India
|candidate = U. K. Deysi Balasubrahmanyan
|votes = 593
|percentage = 0.51%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Bahujan Samaj Party
|candidate = Kamala Pavithran
|votes = 480
|percentage = 0.42%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent (politician)
|candidate = A. P. Abdul Vahab
|votes = 287
|percentage = 0.25%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent (politician)
|candidate = A. K. Sajan
|votes = 227
|percentage = 0.20%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent (politician)
|candidate = Abdul Sathar
|votes = 211
|percentage = 0.18%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent (politician)
|candidate = Muneer Davari
|votes = 190
|percentage = 0.16%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent (politician)
|candidate = Premanand T.
|votes = 166
|percentage = 0.14%
|change =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
|party = Independent (politician)
|candidate = Abdul Muneer
|votes = 130
|percentage = 0.11%
|change =
}}
{{Election box margin of victory|
|votes = 6,327
|percentage = 5.47%
|change =
}}
{{Election box turnout|
|votes = 1,15,617
|percentage = 77.57%
|change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
|winner = Indian Union Muslim League
|loser = Indian National League
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
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.{{Cite news|url=https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/mobile/news.php?id=564415&u=criticised-for-supporting-homosexuality-muneer-withdraws-post-congratulating-lgbt-community|title=Criticised for supporting homosexuality; M K Muneer withdraws post congratulating LGBT community|website=Kerala Kaumudi}} Once popular as the progressive face of IUML, Muneer later became a staunch supporter of patriarchal and conservative form of Islam.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/editorials/2022/aug/06/iumls-new-voice-of-conservativism-2484655.html|title=IUML's new voice of conservatism|website=The New Indian Express}} His strange argument that gender neutrality will make POCSO Act redundant stirred up a massive political controversy.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2022/aug/19/gender-neutrality-will-render-pocso-act-redundant-mk-muneer-2488984.html|title=Gender neutrality will render POCSO Act redundant: M. K. Muneer|website=New Indian Express}}{{Cite news|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/mk-muneer-s-weird-argument-on-gender-neutrality-triggers-row-1.7795773|title=M K Muneer's weird argument on gender neutrality triggers row|website=Mathrubhumi}} 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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.mediaoneonline.com/kerala/gender-neutrality-politics-mk-munir-said-that-he-will-stand-with-morality-188799|title=Gender neutrality: M. K. Muneer said that he will stand with morality|website=Media One}} 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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/kerala-news/kerala-becomes-first-state-to-introduce-policy-for-transgenders-1243420|title=Kerala becomes first state to introduce policy for transgenders|website=NDTV}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/iuml-leder-s-transphbic-remark-and-political-campaign-against-lgbtqia-persons-173198|title=IUML leader MK Muneer makes hate comment on Kerala trans man who gave birth|website=The News Minute}}
He also described the 7 October attacks by Hamas as 'resistance' at an IUML rally after Shashi Tharoor called it an act of terrorism.{{Cite news|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/at-iuml-rally-tharoor-calls-hamas-action-terrorist-attack-later-mk-muneer-terms-it-resistance-1.9017946|title=At IUML rally, Shashi Tharoor calls Hamas action 'terrorist attack', MK Muneer terms it 'resistance'|website=Mathrubhumi English}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|M. K. Muneer}}
{{Oommen Chandy Cabinet 2011}}
{{United Democratic Front (Kerala)}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Muneer, M}}
Category:Politicians from Kozhikode
Category:20th-century Indian medical doctors
Category:Indian Union Muslim League politicians
Category:Kerala MLAs 1991–1996
Category:Kerala MLAs 2016–2021