Aryadan’s ‘remark’ provokes IUML

Senior Congress leader and Minister for Transport and Power Aryadan Mohammed provoked the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) once again when he described party leader E.T. Mohammed Basheer, MP, as a communalist during a chat with Congress workers before entering the stage at a district conference of the NGO Association at Valanchery on Thursday.

The Muslim League reacted sharply to Mr. Mohammed’s remarks, asking whether the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee agreed with him.

Clarification sought

IUML State general secretary K.P.A. Majeed said KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala should make his stance clear about Mr. Aryadan’s remarks.

Mr. Aryadan, however, denied that he had called Mr. Basheer a communalist.

Mr. Aryadan reportedly made the remarks while chatting with Congress workers He reportedly told the party workers that the IUML was of the opinion that it did not need Congress backing in Malappuram and Kozhikode districts.

He said Mr. Basheer was spearheading such an opinion.