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| Sunday, 4 July 2004 |
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| News Business Features Editorial
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DUA condemns betrayal The Democratic Unity Alliance in a recent press release has referred to the issue of Sri Lanka Muslim Congress President and its Constitutional Affairs Director joining the UNP and condemned the act as a destruction brought upon the Muslim Congress. The press release is as follows: Sri Lanka Muslim Congress President Basheer Segudawood and its Constitutional Affairs Director N. Nijamudeen have obtained UNP membership a few days ago. The media gave this news a wide publicity. The current line of action of the Muslim Congress is glaringly evident. The moves of Muslim Congress Leader Rauf Hakeem are open under the pressure of the UNP. "Rauf Hakeem's future strategy is crystal clear in the light of the two senior members of the Muslim Congress joining the UNP. "Basheer Segudawood and N. Nijamudeen have betrayed the Muslim Congress by joining the UNP in order to take oaths as Members of Parliament on the UNP National List. Under the Memorandum of Understanding entered into between the Muslim Congress and the UNP, Muslim Congress has been promised four National List slots in Parliament. But in the MoU between the two parties, there is no mention that the National List MPs so nominated, should necessarily become members of the UNP. Under those circumstances, one cannot understand as to why two senior members of the Muslim Congress have volunteered to join the UNP. They have either sacrificed the interests of the entire Muslim community for the sake of two Parliamentary seats or they have obeyed the UNP dictates like puppies. "Rauf Hakeem entered Parliament in the year 1994 as a National List MP of the People's Alliance. Nevertheless, he did not obtain the membership of the People's Alliance. The late A.H.M. Ashroff, the Founder of the Muslim Congress, though contested parliamentary seats under diverse alliances, never made Muslim Congress members obtain membership of those alliances. The Muslim Congress which so zealously safeguarded its identity is today totally betrayed to the UNP under the leadership of Rauf Hakeem. "The Muslim Congress, in conjunction with the UNP contested in 14 Districts at the last General Election. Accordingly, the aggregate of votes won by the UNP included a certain percentage of Muslim Congress votes. With the motive of obtaining the proportionate number of National List seats, Muslim Congress President Basheer Segudawood and its Constitutional Affairs Director N. Nijamudeen obtained the UNP membership thereby betraying the people who voted for the Muslim Congress at the last General Election. "The Muslim congress President and the other senior member by accepting UNP membership, in the same breath have agreed to abide by the UNP code of conduct. They cannot act independently as Muslim Congress members in future. They have no voice to raise on behalf of the Muslim community. "Their obstinate surrender to the UNP in the absence of any notice to the Muslim Congress Supreme Council or its politburo, we see as a clear betrayal. We have already mentioned that Rauf Hakeem sold the Muslim Congress to the UNP. Once we said that the Muslim Congress was under pawn to the UNP. Now we say that Rauf Hakeem has despotically sacrificed the Muslim Congress for nothing. "We vehemently condemn this destruction brought upon the Muslim Congress." |
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