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by A.H.M. Farook

"During my recent visits to the East I was able to meet party supporters of all ranks. All of them feel the actions of the dissident group with anger and revulsion, said SLMC leader and Minister Rauff Hakeem yesterday.

Even after court rulings in my favour coupled with mass support wherever I visit, these people are making desperate moves to redeem themselves from the precarious situation they are faced with. Party supporters have clearly understood their pretences which further the agenda of vested interests for whom they are acting as agents, said Minister Hakeem.

This dissident group is engaged in provocative and puerile actions which cast doubts of any reconciliation between the two factions. Yet I am exercising maximum restraint with the hope of effecting any such reconciliation.

Their first demand to the President and Prime Minister has been to strip my portfolio. But I don't want to stoop down to that level. I have shown my magnanimity towards them right throughout, said Hakeem.

I would however wait till the deadline is over and thereafter consult the party high command and take appropriate action against them, he added.

I am somewhat disappointed at these people's parochial agenda. They refuse to come to terms with reality. Their impulsive decision has set a serious setback for the community at this crucial stage, lamented Hakeem. The Athaulla faction's Deputy Minister Noordeen Mashoor when contacted, said that Minister Hakeem has no right whatsoever to invite them back to the party fold.

Our party high command is the proper decisions, making body. We cannot accept him as the leader of the party, Mashoor said.

Meanwhile Minister Athaulla said last Sunday that Minister Hakeem has been expelled from the party with immediate effect following a report submitted by a disciplinary committee headed by A.J.M. Muzammil.

Our party high command appointed a disciplinary committee to probe the charges against Hakeem. He failed to ignore all the requests made by the discipliarny committee. The high command considered the report by the discipliarny committee and decided unanimously to expel Hakeem from the party, said a member of the dissident group.

Earlier, both the District and Appeal Courts in Colombo gave two separate rulings which accepted Minister Hakeem's right to continue as party leader till the matter is finally decided in the District Court in Colombo. (AHMF)

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