What is IUML and how it is different from Jinnah's Muslim League; an explainer

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi sparked debate on Friday after insisting that the Indian Union Muslim League was a completely secular party. BJP leaders have since alleged that the Kerala-based organisation was 'guided by the same mindset as Mohammad Ali Jinnah's All India Muslim League'. The Opposition party meanwhile recalled veteran BJP leader L K Advani's praise for Mohammad Ali Jinnah during his 2005 Pakistan visit.

The Indian Union Muslim League, is an ally of the Congress-led UDF in Kerala. The controversial remarks had come during the former MP's recent trip to the US. Answering a question about the alliance, Gandhi had asserted that the Muslim League is a completely secular party and there is nothing non-secular about it.

The opposition party also noted that Hindu Mahasabha president Shyama Prasad Mookerjee aligned with Jinnah's Muslim League to form the government in Bengal during the British rule.

What is the Indian Union Muslim League?

The political group is recognised as a state party in Kerala by the Election Commission. It is a major member of the Congress-led opposition United Democratic Front and its party leaders have previously served as state cabinet ministers. 

The league also has had lawmakers in Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Maharastra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Assam. It won a record 20 out of 23 contested seats in 2011 Assembly Elections.

BJP leaders meanwhile linked the regional party to Jinnah's outfit. 

"These are the same people who had stayed back after partition. They formed the Muslim League here after partition and became MPs. They advocated for Sharia law, wanted separate seats reserved for Muslims. They are the same people who are part of the same Muslim League. It is Rahul Gandhi and the Congress that sees Hindu terrorism but feels Muslim League is secular," Union minister Anurag Thakur said.

(with inputs from agencies)