Thiruvananthapuram: IUML leader and Kerala Minister MK Muneer on Friday rejected CPM's demand for his resignation following WikiLeaks revelation suggesting that he had told US consular officials that his party had divisions about the approach towards Kerala-based radical outfit NDF.
Dubbing the content of the diplomatic cable, quoted by the whistle blower, as "mere imagination of the US officials", Muneer told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram IUML has always stood firmly against extremist outfits.
"Our party's stand towards extremism as well as imperialism are known to every one. We are opposed to both and there is no change on that...I am not bound to go by CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan's call for my resignation. It was not Vijayan who made me a minister," Muneer, who hold the Local Administration portfolio, said.
A diplomatic cable sent to Washington by US consulate in Chennai a few years ago quoted Muneer that party leaders like PK Kunhalikutty "shielded" National Development Front (NDF) activists to secure his "selfish" interests.
Muneer and Kunhalikutty refuted the charge, holding that the party never had any difference on its firm stand against extremism.
Following the reports, Vijayan had on Thursday demanded resignation of the two IUML ministers from the Congres-led UDF cabinet.
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