SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem

This has been made effective from the midnight on Wedlnesday.

He said considering his capacity as a party leader and also as a minority leader from the east, special security arrangements were made for him by the government even when he was in the opposition.

When he was in the opposition, there were twelve officers attached to his security but the number has now reduced to two which is alarming, he said.

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) Leader Rauff Hakeem, General Secretary Hasan Ali, Chairman Basheer Cegu Dawood and MP Faisal Cassim have crossed over to the opposition.

They resigned from their portfolios and crossed over to the opposition in parliament two days before the third reading of the budget.

SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem giving reasons for the crossing over told parliament that he had misgivings about the capability of the government to address the grievances of the minorities; both Muslims and Tamils.

New issues daily

He said Muslims are facing new issues everyday and SLMC is concerned of the growing restlessness among the Muslim community.

“There are huge issues pertaining to land, security, economic interest and our rights to exercise our religious freedom”, Hakeem said.

There are huge issues pertaining to land, security, economic interest and our rights to exercise our religious freedom SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem

Referring to the land issue, SLMC leader Hakeem said, “ Muslims people are facing problems they had never faced before making them feel that they are outcasts in their own land”

The northern Muslims have been languishing in Puttlam and neighbouring areas for nearly seventeen years and now expected to return to their original places without any security guarantee, he added.

This is due to fear psychosis of some members of the government that long time presence of Muslims in Puttlam would disturb the traditional demographic pattern of the area, SLMC leader Rauf Hakeem added.

Govt. reaction

Reacting to the SLMC’s decision to crossover to the opposition, Chief government whip, Jeyaraj Fernandopulle said that it would not affect government’s position or the thid reading of the budget on the 14th of December.

“The government is sure that the Budget will be passed by a majority of votes”, Minister Fernandopulle said.

The reason for the SLMC to take this decision is not the land or any other issue but the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) which Rauf Hakeem had been demanding since he became a minister.

Telecommunications Regulatory Commission which issues TV, radio, digital and satellite licences is under the President.

Warning

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) warned last Sunday that the party would leave Rajapaksa administration within days unless Muslims farmers' land dispute resolved.

The Environment ministry has designated Muslim farmers' paddy fields in the east as uncultivating land.