Panakkad Thangal was 74 years old and had been ill for the past several days. He breathed his last at a hospital in Angamaly in Ernakulam. Panakkad Sayed Hyderali Shihab Thangal, president of the Indian Union Muslim League and a well-known religious leader, passed away on Sunday.
He was 74 years old and had been ill for the past several days. He breathed his last at a hospital in Angamaly in Ernakulam. Here he was undergoing treatment. He was suffering from cancer for some time.
Thangal was also a prominent leader in the United Democratic Front (UDF) of Congress. He also served as the Vice President of Samasta Kerala Jamiatul Ulema, an influential body of Muslim scholars in Kerala. He was the eldest member of the Palakkad Thangal family based in Malappuram.
A senior IUML official said that he passed away around noon on Sunday. State ministers V Shinkutty and S Cherian expressed grief over the death of the IUML leader.
Cherian, in his message, said that as a senior figure in state politics, he had close relations with everyone and respected everyone. Thangal's demise is a great loss to the socio-cultural life of Kerala.
At the same time, Rahul Gandhi also condoled the death of Thangal. Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi described him as a strong secular voice of the UDF. Rahul took to Twitter to say that Syed Hyder Ali Shihab Thangal, President of the Kerala unit of IUML and beloved spiritual leader, has passed away. My condolences to his family and supporters.
The Congress MP from Kerala's Wayanad said Thangal used to support brotherhood, respect for all and progress. He will be missed. Senior Congress leader and former Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad has also expressed deep grief over Thangal's death.
The former Union Minister said on Twitter that he was a very humble person. I have been in close communication with him over the years. This is a personal loss for me.