By Fazeel Mohamed Hussain –

It is disgusting to see how the Mustaphas are doing politics in Sri Lanka. The PAISA Mustapha, who is still holding on to his deputy ministerial portfolio and sticking to his God Mahinda Rajapaksa, while Father Mustapha was seen at the Solis Hotel meeting in Kotte in support of the common candidate, Maithripala Sirisena. The senior Mustapha intervened in support of the president’s third term at the Supreme Court and now has pledged his wholehearted support to the common candidate Maithripala Sirisena. What kind of hypocrisy is this?

Deputy Minister Faizer Mustapha,

Faizer Mustapha abandoned the voters of Kandy after creating a historic win on the Sri Lanka Freedom Party ticket. He took the Colombo Central electorate with the hope of being re-elected to parliament with the large number of Muslim votes, but the hate campaign undertaken with impunity by the Bodu Bala Sena and other Buddhist groups with tacit support of the government made sure that his dreams are not realized. His showmanship and big talk of rebuilding the Grandpass mosque, that was promised with the full approval of Defense and Urban Development Secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa at a public meeting at the Prime Ministers office (Ministry of Buddha Sassana and religious affairs) in the presence of Hon. Dinesh Gunawardena, Patali Champika Ranawaka, the Secretary to the Prime Minister, Muslim ministers and parliamentarians, the Inspector General of Police, along with several members from Muslim and Buddhist civil society has to this day not materialized. The Mosque remains closed. Further, Faiszer Mustapha’s assurance of ensuring justice to the victims of the Aluthgama and Beruwela is a real puss-wedilla and made him the laughing stock of the Muslim community. His unwavering support for President Rajapaksa and his macho brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa is at the butt end of Muslim jokes. Does the Rajapaksa’s value him or is he also a condom to be flushed and discarded after use?

This is how the Muslim parliamentarians continue to divide their loyalties between the two main presidential candidates and ensure their survival, come what may. This has been the typical style of Muslim politics during the last two decades and the Muslim community is made political orphans by their politicans. Do successive Muslim politicians undertake this with the tacit support of the governments, so that they can be used to retain power?

Faizer Mustapha gave an ultimatum to the government at the press briefing of the UPFA in support of Mahinda Rajapaksa to dare take the Bodu Bala Sena on board as a partner. He vowed to quit the government if he was provided any evidence of support to this government by the Bodu Bala Sena. He claimed that his community interests supersede his loyalty to the party. Is this also another puss-wedilla? Sadly, neither the Bodu Bala Sena, the President nor the Government has censured him on this challenge. Is it because the BBS handlers do not want to cause further damage by driving away the minority votes by taking on Faizer Mustapha by Bodu Bala Sena on his statement? Are the President and the Government so desperate for the Muslim votes that they chose to ignore the breaking of ranks by an individual MP who has had all the perks and privileges of public office? There is absolutely no doubt that the Bodu Bala Sena is the creation of this government and is handled by defense intelligence

I would like to quote an interesting face book comment on Faizer Mustapha’s challenge – “ Mr Mustapha, please leave the government now, because BBS is the creation of the current regime that you fail to see. Are you waiting for Gnanasara to lift his robe and show the Mahinda Rajapaksa tattoo?”

The street brawl at temple tress between Sri Ranga MP and Minister Rishard Bathiudeen has been the news of the day. Is this evidence of the family conflict between Namal Rajapaksa and Basil Rajapaksa? Rishard Bathiudeen is a diehard supporter of Basil Rajapaksa and Namal has continued to target Badurdeen through Sri Ranga’s television programme” Minnal” which was the cause of the argument between Sri Ranga and Bathiudeen. It is interesting that none of the “representatives” of the people have made police complaint against each other over this violence?

The going price for Hakeem seems to be running in to several million dollars. Who is going to pay this price? Of course, the Rajapaksas have the resources but if Hakeem sticks on, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress would be sent to the trashcan of Muslim politics. He is probably waiting for the US Embassy or Norway to offer him the right price to cross., so that he could portray himself as the savior of the Muslims in Sri Lanka.

The fact remains that the political leadership of the Muslims have absolutely no influence on the average Muslim voter. The Muslim community has decided to vote against the incumbent due to his unwavering support for Buddhist racist elements and the violence caused to them during the last three years. In the absence of any hope for the Muslim community under the present regime, it is time for the Muslim representatives to abandon the sinking ship of Mahinda Rajapaksa and help the common opposition to build a country where all communities could live as one. Will the likes of Mustapha see this reality or sink with the sinking ship?