Indian Union Muslim League puts ‘lamp’ issue on the backburner

KOCHI: The state-level working committee meeting of the Indian Union Muslim League has put controversial issues such as lamp lighting and suspension of a PWD official on the backburner as part of its efforts to focus on the forthcoming elections to the local bodies.

IUML leaders stonewalled all questions on the lamp lighting controversy during a press conference after the meeting here on Monday.

“The committee did not discuss the issue. It is not such an important matter,” IUML general secretary E.T. Mohammad Basheer told mediapersons.

IUML treasurer P.K. Kunhalikutty also refused to answer any questions on the topic saying that the leaders would respond to only issues discussed in the meeting. “We will not fall into the trap of lamp lighting,” he said in a lighter vein.

On the suspension of a PWD official by the home department without the knowledge of the PWD minister, the IUML leaders said such matters would be sorted out at the appropriate level.

“We have not discussed such small things,” Mr. Basheer said. The meeting finalised a roadmap to prepare the party for the civic body elections. District- level meetings will be completed before August 15.

The committee also authorised the parliamentary board of the party to select candidates for the local body elections.

It adopted several resolutions, including on the performance of the state government, which stated that more efforts should be taken to convey the achievements of the government to the people.