2nd Lead (Adds corrections)

Dissident SLMC parliamentarians reject charges

[TamilNet, Saturday, 29 May 2004, 14:42 GMT]
Three dissident parliamentarians of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC), Risard Badiudin, Najeeb Abdul Majeed and Hussain Baila, Saturday rejected allegations leveled against them by the party disciplinary committee for carrying out anti-party activities, political sources said. Mr.Inamullah, a leading party activist also denied that he was involved in anti-party activities.

The disciplinary board of the SLMC served charge sheets Thursday on the four dissidents and requested them to show cause why they should not be expelled for violating party discipline. The disciplinary board wanted them to submit their explanation before 5.p.m. Friday.

In response, the four SLMC members sought two week's time to send in their explanation for the charge sheets served on them, in a letter to SLMC General Secretary, political sources said. The dissidents asked for an extension.

Four dissidents were suspended from the SLMC two weeks ago following allegations that they had been involved in a political plot to oust Mr.Rauff Hakim from the leadership of the SLMC, sources said.

Meanwhile the SLMC disciplinary board is scheduled to meet Saturday night to consider the letter of the four dissidents, party sources said.