Lamp row haunts Indian Union Muslim League again

KOZHIKODE: Lighting of the traditional lamp at public functions has once again sparked off a controversy in the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) after two of its senior leaders took divergent stands.

On Sunday, its national secretary E. T. Mohammed Basheer MP told reporters here that the party had taken a stand against it. Hours later, state social justice minister M. K. Muneer “corrected” him saying it had not taken such a stand.

“There are individuals in the party who light the lamp and those who don’t. The party has not taken any decision on it,” he clarified.

The different views follow legislator K. M. Shaji’s speech in the Assembly that he believed there was nothing wrong in lighting the lamp at public functions and many of his leaders shared the same view. During a debate in the House last week, Mr Shaji said, similarly, there were also leaders who don’t light the lamp.

Senior legislator K. N. A. Khader had also lighted a Nilavilakku in public and later justified it saying it is up to the individuals to take a decision.

Abdurrahman Randathani MLA is also with this group, but P. K. Kunhalikutty and P. K. Abdu Rabb, Basheer and others are against it.

Sources said the party state committee meeting on August 2 is likely to make the party’s stand clear.