IUML wants Congress high command to intervene

Party wants UDF’s and Congress’s internal problems to be sorted out

IUML secretary E.T. Mohammed Basheer and State general secretary K.P.A. Majeed at a press conference in Kozhikode on Thursday. Photo: K. Ragesh

The ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) is going through a lot of internal problems and putting an end to these problems is necessary for the effective functioning of the front, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) secretary E.T. Mohammed Basheer has said.

Speaking to reporters after a secretariat and legislature party meeting of the Muslim League here on Thursday, Mr. Basheer demanded that the Congress high command intervene and hold meetings to discuss the problems within the Congress and between the Congress and its allies, including the IUML.

Strategy

The future strategy of the IUML will be devised on the basis of the outcome of these meetings, Mr. Basheer said.

The meeting was held against the background of some remarks made by Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala about the relations between Congress and the IUML.

Mr. Basheer said that all the mudslinging had not been from the Congress alone, but there were undercurrents in the Congress against the IUML.

However, he denied the allegation that Mr. Chennithala was taking revenge on the IUML for thwarting his chances to become Deputy Chief Minister.

“We have nothing against Mr. Chennithala becoming Minister. But we oppose the post that they are planning to confer on him, since it directly affects the integrity of the League,” Mr. Basheer said. The League is a secular party and ‘‘we need to find a permanent solution to the mudslinging,’’ he added.

Mr. Basheer said the internal problems of the UDF had grown to such proportions that it was a major hindrance to the smooth functioning of the front.

He, however, clarified that the League had full confidence in Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and that he was innocent in the solar scam.

IUML State general secretary K.P.A. Majeed was present at the press meet.

Earlier, the League State secretariat adopted a resolution expressing anxiety over the state-sponsored terror in Gujarat and demanded that all persons responsible for fake encounter deaths in that State, the details of which had come out now, should be brought before the law.

The Secretariat expressed relief that the deadline for Nitaqat in Saudi Arabia had been extended by four more months.