Date:15/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/15/stories/2008091559631000.htm

New Delhi

E. Ahamed elected IUML president

Special Correspondent

K. M. Kader Mohideen will be national general secretary

E.Ahamed

NEW DELHI: Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed was on Sunday elected all India president of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) at the party’s national executive here. He takes charge of a position which fell vacant in June following the death of former Lok Sabha member G. M. Banatwala.

Mr. Ahamed, who was IUML’s national general secretary, will be succeeded by Lok Sabha member K. M. Kader Mohideen. Besides these two Lok Sabha members, the other new office-bearers are Ahmed Baksh and Iqbal Ahmed (vice-presidents) and Dastgheer Agha (treasurer). The five new secretaries are M. P. Abdus Samad Samadani, Naeem Akhtar, Mohammad Ismail Banatwala, Khorrum Anis Omer and Shahansha Jahangir. Addressing the national executive, party leader Syed Mohammed Ali Shihab Thangal condemned the serial blasts in the capital on Saturday and said “the people who commit these dastardly acts do not belong to any religion or community.”

Lamenting the attack on Christians in Orissa, Mr. Thangal criticised the Orissa government for its apathy to the plight of the community. Satisfied with the measures adopted by the United Progressive Alliance of which the IUML is a constituent for the welfare of the minorities, he urged the government to enact a comprehensive legislation to provide reservation for the Muslims as a backward community.

Four resolutions were adopted at the meeting echoing the points raised by Mr. Thangal. Besides condemning the blasts in the capital and the violence against the Christians, the IUML passed a resolution expressing grief over the flood situation in Bihar. It reiterated the demand for a 10 per cent quota to the Muslims in education and employment.