By

Faizer Shaheid

Had the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) supported the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the country would have been divided already, SLMC Leader and Justice Minister, Rauff Hakeem, proclaimed at an election rally in Minuwangoda yesterday.

Lashing out against the comments made by Minister of Public Relations and Public Affairs, Mervyn Silva, Hakeem claimed the reason the Muslims were chased out of the North and East, was because the SLMC had always stood against the LTTE.

“They killed Muslims, chased us out and robbed our belongings, all because we stood against them,” he said.”We did not bring shame to the country by making a marriage proposal to Navanethem Pillay like Mervyn, or marched in front of the UN compound in Colombo with people carrying placards for the mere promise of a food parcel. Most of the people who would protest in exchange for a food parcel are from Kelaniya,” Hakeem said.

He claimed the real culprits who had brought shame to the government were people such as ‘Dr. Mervyn Silva.’ “We don’t conspire like others, we speak out and we have the audacity to speak of these human rights issues while being in the government. We have the respect of the masses, and we can work independently if we are asked to leave.

“The government ought to consider the strength of the provincial governments too, or it all might start crumbling down. We are not stating that we will leave the government, but what would happen if we leave the government?” he questioned.

COURTESY:CEYLON TODAY