Hakeem has placed Muslims in disastrous position - Azwer

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader Rauff Hakeem by playing his traditional musical chair tactic in Parliament has plunged the whole Muslim community into a disastrous position, Presidential Advisor A.H.M. Azwer said.

He took up portfolios from President Mahinda Rajapaksa, when the same problems which he is now crowing about were existing, he said.

He said President Rajapaksa was a statesman who has rendered a yeoman service to the Muslim community in Sri Lanka and the Middle East. "The President has always stood firm for the rights of the Muslims. He has championed the Palestine cause for decades.

He is the only political leader ever to have a road in Palestine named after him. His recent visit to Iran has brought him closer to the Muslim world."

Azwer said the Muslims were grateful to him for liberating the East from the LTTE as the LTTE inflicted untold suffering on the Muslim community. The President has always been supportive of the needs and aspirations of the Muslim community.

"In this light, it is sad to note that Hakeem is conspiring with international agents to topple the Government," Azwer said.

History has never recorded any incident of Muslims trying to topple the Government. During the eras of Sinhalese Kings Muslims displayed their loyalty to the King. That is why the Sinhalese Kings loved the Muslims and donated them land and other benefits. Muslim physicians were accepted as Royal physicians, Azwer said.

Then, during the struggle for independence it was that a national leader and renowned educationist, Dr. T.B. Jayah, who made a historic speech in the State Council by declaring that it was the religious right of the Muslims to defend their Motherland, Azwer said.

Jayah in fact has set the guidelines for us generations of Muslims to follow Muslim leaders like Sir Mohamed Macan Markar, Sir Razik Fareed, Dr. M. C. M. Kaleel, Dr. Badiu-d-din Mahmud.

They have left the legacy of a healthy political culture for generations of Muslims in this country to follow, he said.

It has been this healthy political culture that inspired even the founder of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress the late M.H.M. Ashraff to help save Governments in the past, but not be a partner to topple Governments. Hakeem has even betrayed his own leader in this aspect, Azwer said.