Congress, IUML to hold talks on scholarship distribution

KOZHIKODE: Congress and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), two principal partners in the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), decided to hold bilateral talks to iron out differences between two parties over the minority scholarship distribution issue. Opposition Leader VD Satheesan had welcomed the decision of the Let Democratic Front (LDF) government to distribute minority scholarship mainly between Muslim and Christian communities based on 2011 census.

He had to withdraw his comments ater IUML leaders openly criticised Satheesan.

As the Assembly session is due to begin on Thursday, it became imperative for both to formulate a unified stand on the scholarship issue.

Congress Kerala chief K Sudhakaran spoke to Muslim League leaders over phone.

He will also speak to the leaders of other UDF constituents.

IUML leaders believe that Satheesan’s initial reaction supporting the government decision had created the problem. However, Satheesan contended that some Muslim League leaders reacted in haste ater hearing the news on TV channels and without understanding his statement in its full context, thus resulting in the confusion.

Following a court verdict and ater an all-party meeting state cabinet decided to restructure minority scholarship based on population ratio.

Muslims who have been receiving 80 per cent share of the budget allotment would now get only 55 per cent, while Christian community share would go up to 44 per cent from existing 20 per cent.

So far only the Latin Catholics and converted Christians used to get the scholarship among Christians.

But with the latest cabinet decision, all Christian communities would be entitled to scholarship.

UDF partner Kerala Congress, backed mainly by Christian community, hailed government decision.

It will be a tough task for Congress to strike out a balance between IUML and Kerala Congress on the issue.

The government assured Muslims that their share would not go down as feared.