(UTV|COLOMBO) – Resigned Muslim Ministers are not in any hurry to return to their latent Ministries. “Both the Prime Minister and President called us to return to our Ministries and take back our portfolios,” the Leader of the All Ceylon Makkall Congress (ACMC), Parliamentarian Rishad Bathiudeen on Tuesday (02).
Former Minister was addressing the media after giving a statement to the Organised Crimes Prevention Division (OCPD) in Colombo.
” #SriLanka ‘s resigned #Muslim Ministers not in a hurry to return” reveals .@rbathiudeen -“We stepped down to preserve the unity of #lka – Both H.E .@MaithripalaS & .@RW_UNP also have called us to rejoin”https://t.co/OLU9LYDInK#Riishad #lka #parliamentaryselectcommittee pic.twitter.com/RHJADMxW8F
— Rishad Bathiudeen (@rbathiudeen) July 2, 2019
“I previously complained about false media statements published against me and today they called me to come and give more details about them.
“For example false media reports on Sathosa vehicles used by suicide bomber Zahran. I have not committed any offences and despite this various people accused me,” said Bathiudeen.
When the media questioned him on the Opposition’s allegation that the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) worked to clear him of allegations made against him, Bathiudeen pointed out he had always maintained the stance that those guilty of the Easter Sunday attacks should be punished.
“Both the Ruling and Opposition parties called on the Speaker to establish this PSC focused on Easter Sunday bombings. Since I was also invited to give evidence at the PSC, I appeared before it and answered their questions.
“I am a Parliamentarian who has not committed any of the alleged offences. I stress that all persons guilty of the bombings should be legally punished. This is what my community too is believing in. However, allegations linking us to the bombings are made, and for narrow political gains. At a time when Defence Authorities and sections are conducting investigations and at a time when such investigations are progressing well with many terrorist arrests, it is inappropriate to make such allegations against us -that too, for political gains. People will understand the truth about these accusers in future.
“But people who accuse me with a political bias have so far failed to file any complaints against me with the Police or the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
“They accused me saying that I took over 3,000 acres in my name and later said it was over 8,000 acres. At the PSC I clarified that that neither I nor my family own 3,000 or 8,000 acres as claimed by them, and if they find that I own such, I invite the Government to take possession of it.
“Rather than claiming in media on a daily basis that I took over lands, why can’t they file a police complaint and prove it in the Courts of Law?
“We resigned from our Ministries for the sake of our country and its unity. We are not in any hurry to return to our portfolios.
“Both the Prime Minister and President also called us to return to our Ministries and take back the portfolios – both the Prime Minister and President also know that we, the Muslim Ministers, have not committed any alleged offences. In fact the entire country is aware of our innocence too.”
Previously on 28 June, ACMC Leader Bathiudeen testified before the PSC.
After his statement was concluded on 28 June, quoting a letter sent by Acing Inspector General of Police (IGP), Senior DIG C. D. Wickramaratne, to the Secretary General of Parliament Dhammika Dasanayake, the Deputy Speaker and Chairperson of Committees of Parliament J. M. Ananda Kumarasiri announced, “No evidence has been found to link Minister Rishad Bathiudeen to the series of bomb blasts of 21 April 2019 nor any terrorist activity, in investigations conducted so far by the Investigations Committee comprising of CID, Financial Crimes Investigating Division (FCID), and Colombo Fraud Investigation Bureau (CFIB), established to investigate complaints against Minister Bathiudeen and Governors M. L. A. M. Hisbullah and Azath Salley.”
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