Abdu Rabb sticks to his stand on lighting the lamp

Malappuram: Muslim League leader and Education Minister P K Abdu Rabb on Sunday reiterated his stand on lighting the ceremonial lamp at public functions, an issue that saw some of the party leaders expressing divergent views.

“I will stick to my stand of not lighting the lamp. I am just following the path of my forerunners. The controversy has not affected me in any manner. The party has also not been put in a position where it had to come for my defence,” he said.

Rabb said he did not think the issue isolated him in the party.

The refusal of Rabb to light the lamp at the P N Panikkar commemorative function recently had reignited the controversy. Actor Mammotty, who was present on the dais, said it had no religious implications and advised the Muslim League to end its intolerance against such practices.

Party leaders like K N A Khader MLA and K M Shaji had said they had nothing against the practice while Social Justice Minister M K Muneer said the party had not taken any official decision either in favour or against the practice.

However, party national secretary E T Muhammed Basheer MP said that the IUML would continue with its convention of not lighting lamp at public functions.