KOZHIKODE: Union Minister for State for External Affairs E. Ahamed has said that the Jamaat-e-Islami and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) have never supported the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) in any of the elections in the State.

Replying to queries at a `meet-the-press' programme organised by the Calicut Press Club here on Wednesday, Mr. Ahamed said the IUML had a political perspective aimed at preserving the multi-ethnicity and plurality of Indian society, whereas the objective of the Jamaat and the PDP were not known.

The Nayanar Government had listed Jamaat as one of the extremist organisations in the State. Jamat was an organisation that supported a Government, which had BJP leaders Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L. K. Advani in the Ministry, he said.

On media reports

He said the media reports based on the unpublished report of the Marad Judicial Inquiry Commission that probed the massacre of nine persons on Marad beach were deliberately aimed at defaming IUML candidate M. C. Mayin Haji who is contesting from the Thiruvambady constituency in Kozhikode district. The Government was yet to table an Action Taken Report in the Assembly, Mr. Ahamed said.

He said the State had made tremendous progress during the rule of the United Democratic Front (UDF) Government. This Government should return to power to continue the development programmes in the State. "We are not saying that there are no factors working against the UDF," he said.

Asked about the IUML candidates facing tough contests in its traditional seats in Malappuram district, he said that the IUML had been facing stiff opposition ever since it was a major player in the political arena of the State. The party had also overcome these hostilities, he said.

Mr. Ahamed criticised the opinion polls and exit-poll surveys conducted by several media. These surveys were pre-planned to help the LDF. However, the people would reject these surveys and exit polls, he said. The exit polls were a serious matter to be debated if it had to be banned or not in future, Mr. Ahamed said.

Reacting to the recent developments in the neighbouring country of Nepal, Mr. Ahamed said India would render all support to the people of that country in whatever way they wished to see a prosperous Nepal.

The citizens of Nepal also needed to be congratulated for their unity and extraordinary courage to their commitment to democracy, he said.

Nuclear issue

On the stand of India between the face-off between Iran and the U.S. on the nuclear issue, Mr. Ahamed said India would not support any sanction through the use of force against Iran. India, along with other friendly nations, wanted to make an amicable resolution of the outstanding issues through patient dialogues, he said.

The Minister said India and Iran had traditionally good relationship. India's support to that country had been reiterated during his meeting with Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. It was the responsibility of Iran to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. It should have international commitment and obligation, Mr. Ahamed said.

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