IUML yet to decide over support

MALAPPURAM, Dec 29: Indian Union Muslim League all-India president G M Banatwalla has said the party has not yet decided on its support to any political parties in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.Disclosing this he told The Indian Express here yesterday that such a matter would come only after the current political situation becomes crystal clear. “The pre-electoral situation is fluid,” he said.

Banatwalla stressed the need of secular forces coming to power. However, he said that past experiences show that secular fronts after getting power forgot the issues faced by minorities.“A mere defeat of fascist forces was not sufficient now. There has to be a strong group for continuous struggle to implement the secular polity as envisaged by the Constitution of India,” he said.It is a hard reality that one party rule is over. In fact the future of the country lies in coalition. I feel the art of managing coalition should have to be perfected, he said.

The IUML president strongly disagreed with the statements made by some prominent Muslim leaders at a meeting organised by Islamic Council of India at New Delhi on Saturday. The participants had reportedly said they were ready to discuss issues relating to problems faced by the Muslims and their partnership in power even with the BJP. “These leaders don’t know the Muslim psyche,” he commented.Banatwalla said the BJP stood for liquidating the cultural identity of minorities.