Leaders of Hindu and Muslim organisations will meet in Kozhikode (Calicut) on Thursday to create a congenial atmosphere for the rehabilitation of Muslim families that fled Marad after the May two carnage, which claimed nine lives.

Disclosing this in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday after a meeting with Kerala Chief Minister A K Antony, Indian Union Muslim League general secretary and Industries Minister P K Kunhalikutty said both sides had expressed their willingness to hold talks in a friendly atmosphere without any mediators or preconditions.

With this, the rehabilitation of Muslim families, for which the government had set October two as the deadline, is likely to be delayed further.

Leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party, IUML, Hindu Aikya Vedi, Araya Samajam and representatives of Muslim organisations would take part in the meeting, the minister said adding he, along with E Ahmed, MP, and PWD Minister M K Muneer, would be representing his party at the talks. IUML supremo Panakkad Syed Mohammedali Shihab Thangal would attend the meeting if required, he said.