Former Minister Rishad Bathiudeen told Parliament yesterday that he would resign from his MP post and quit politics if UPFA MP Wimal Weerawansa can prove the allegations he has made linking him, Bathiudeen, to a terrorist group.
“In his attempt to link me to this terrorist group, MP Weerawansa said in Parliament that the suicide bomber at the house in Dematagoda was the daughter of my mother’s sister. This is a blatant lie. My mother has no sister. I am challenging MP Weerawansa to prove his allegations.
If he can do so I will not only resign from my post as an MP but I will quit politics altogether,” said Bathiudeen, leader of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress (ACMC).
He challenged Weerawansa to quit politics if he cannot prove the allegations he had made against a fellow MP. “MPs have every right to speak freely in Parliament but this does not mean that they have the right to character assassinate others and spread hatred among communities. He has been continuously slandering me and the Muslim community,” Bathiudeen said in a statement to the House. He said that the ‘hate speech’ by Weerawansa was affecting not only him but also others connected to him.
“I am the father of three children. I have a family and there are people who are with me including my supporters. They too are being affected by the false statements that are being made against me. We will never support terrorists. We want to live in peace and unity in this country,” he said adding that according all religious teachings, truth will prevail in the end.
(Daily News)