Kerala   

IUML to vote for UPA regime

KOZHIKODE: The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has decided to support the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government when it seeks a confidence vote in the Lok Sabha.

However, a meeting of the national leadership of the party held at Panakkad on Thursday decided to convey its ‘grave concern’ over the India-U.S. nuclear deal at a UPA coordination committee meeting scheduled on Friday.

The strong reservations that the Muslim League seems to have about the nuclear deal have triggered speculation that it would ask its lone nominee in the Council of Ministers to resign. After the meeting, held at the residence of State president Panakkad Syed Mohammedali Shihab Thangal, it was announced that the Muslim League’s two MPs would vote for the UPA government. Besides Union Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed, the other party MP is Tamil Nadu unit president Khader Moideen.

Mr. Ahamed said after the meeting that he would meet UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and leaders of other constituents of the UPA on Friday to discuss the ‘grave concern’ his party had about the nuclear agreement. Mr. Ahamed would then convey to Shihab Thangal the response he received. “Mohammedali Shihab Thangal would then take a decision on the League’s final stand on the Indo-U.S. nuclear agreement,” Mr. Ahamed said.

A few League managers believe that some of the UPA government’s decisions on foreign policy, especially those related to Islamic countries, are being used against the party by its critics. They opine that these forces have been trying to erode the party’s support base in the Muslim community and Mr. Ahamed’s presence in the Ministry might turn out to be an embarrassment to the party in such an event.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Port workers to go on strike
e-literacy
Hitting the road to woo domestic tourists
Treat for bibliophiles, in measure
Daily ride
Always at the receiving end
Victim of a protest
Rolling sideways
Scorpio V-Series from Mahindra
Škoda Fabia
Police training centre in Kollam
New rule, same result
Cinema
Miscreants damage ACP’s vehicle
IUML to vote for UPA regime

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu