The Hindu : CM's remark: IUML leaves it to Sonia

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 17, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala

CM's remark: IUML leaves it to Sonia

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JULY 16. The Kerala Chief Minister, A.K. Antony's statement on minorities having put it in a "crisis greater than the demolition of the Babri Masjid'', the Indian Union Muslim League ((IUML) is understood to have told the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, that the party would be "constrained'' to take a decision and may find it difficult to continue "in the present position''.

This was the sum and substance of what the IUML general secretary and Lok Sabha MP, E. Ahmed, and the Kerala Industry Minister, P.K. Kunhalikutty, communicated to Ms. Gandhi when they met her at 10 Janpath here this morning. However, apart from apprising her about the embarrassing situation the League had been put in by Mr. Antony's statement, the two made no demands; maintaining that it was for the Congress to decide how to defuse the crisis situation.

Though they had a long interaction with Ms. Gandhi and the AICC general secretary in-charge of the State, Ahmed Patel, both IUML leaders were non-committal about the outcome; insisting that a final decision would be taken after the party secretariat's meeting in Kozhikode on July 21.

Later in an informal interaction with the media, Mr. Ahmed said "the League was hoping for the best and preparing for the worst.''

Here on the invitation of the Congress, the IUML leaders said their brief was to explain the party position in the wake of Mr. Antony's controversial remarks. Reluctant to specify the issues they raised during the hour-long meeting, Mr. Ahmed said "matters relating to the main issue were also discussed.'' However, he refused to confirm whether Marad and the trident distribution programme of the VHP were discussed.

Refusing to speculate on how Mr. Antony's statement would impact the ruling coalition--the IUML is the second largest group in the Congress-led UDF--Mr. Ahmed echoed his president, Panakkad Mohammed Ali Shihab Thangal's observation that the Chief Minister's contention could have "serious political consequences''.

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