P.P. Ummerkoya was an excellent parliamentarian on whose integrity even the Opposition could not find fault with, said Minister for Power Aryadan Mohammed.
He was speaking after conferring the P.P. Ummerkoya memorial award on Congress leader V.M. Sudheeran here on Saturday. The Minister said Ummerkoya was noted for his honesty and secularism. “He was an all-rounder, who made his mark felt not only in politics, but in social and cultural spheres as well,” Mr. Mohammed added.
He said that Mr. Sudheeran was the most qualified person to receive an award in memory of Ummerkoya since they could be considered equals in matters of honesty and integrity. Mr. Sudheeran was afraid of no one, and had no qualms about speaking his mind. “He is close to the common man and spends a lot of time dealing with their problems,” the Minister said.
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Vice-president of the P.P. Ummerkoya Foundation K. Moidu introduced the award winner. District Congress Committee president K.C. Abu presented the citation. Dr. Moidu said Ummerkoya was a leader who did not hesitate to criticise his own party.
He was in the forefront in the fight against the land and liquor mafia in Kozhikode. Like Ummerkoya, Mr. Sudheeran was an untainted leader, Dr. Moidu said.
Writer R. Surendran delivered the P.P. Ummerkoya memorial lecture. President of the foundation K.V. Kunhahammad presided.
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