Wednesday, 19 May 2004  
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SLMC MPs call for Hakeems sacking

by Manjula Fernando and Asanga Warnakulasuriya

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Members of Parliament yesterday demanded the sacking of their party leader Rauff Hakeem.

MPs Rizzark Badudeen, Najeeb Mujeed and Ashiek Inamullah accused their party leader for conspiring with the UNP to cause harm to the President and Cabinet Ministers, putting the interest of the party at stake. "What we want is not a dictatorship but a collective leadership that will bring the three Muslim factions, NUA, Ashraff Congress and SLMC under a single banner," MP Inamullah said at a media briefing held at Taj Samudra Hotel yesterday. The three MPs accused Hakeem of pursuing his own agenda in Parliament to the detriment of the Party.

The dissident MPs said that five of the nine SLMC parliamentarians, including Hussein Bhaila who crossed over to the Government yesterday wanted Rauff Hakeem to go.

In response to questions by the Media the dissidents said they had no intention of leaving the party but on the contrary they wanted all Muslim factions to unite together to strengthen the voice of the Muslim community.

"We want an independent body consisting religious leaders (Ulemas) to investigate the whole conspiracy to malign Government leaders and some of our own party members in this scandalous conduct," they said adding that they had no faith in the ongoing investigation initiated by the present leadership.Denying involvement of any blackmail of their leader, Badudeen said what they wanted was to settle the matter "behind the curtain" to save the party's image.

The MPs who met Kumari Cooray at a hotel room said they went there at her request so as to negotiate a settlement. "We believe that the whole thing was staged in order to involve us in the conspiracy," Badudeen said.

They alleged Rauff Hakeem wanted The Sunday Leader to manipulate the story and a twisted version tailor made to suit his ends and save his skin by pre-empting the publishing of the truth."Since the twisted media reports we have been receiving anonymous death threats and our families have to live in constant fear.

Even our supporters in the East are being intimidated by organised groups," the MPs said.

They said a proper investigation should be carried out by an independent committee of Muslim religious leaders so as to allow the accused members to clear their names.

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