Now, anti-IUML faction leaders express regret

Kozhikode: A day after IUML state president Panakkad Sadikali Shihab Thangal expressed his displeasure over Samastha anti-IUML faction's failure to publicly apologize for its members' statements against him, as agreed upon at the reconciliation meeting, the leaders issued a public statement expressing regret on Wednesday.In a joint statement Samastha secretary Umar Faizi Mukkam, Samastha leaders Vakkom Moideen Kutty Musaliyar, SYS state secretaries Abdul Hameed Faizi Ambalakkadavu, Mustafa Mundupara, and former SKSSF state general secretary Sathar Panthaloor said they are ready for a compromise to ensure unity and progress in the community and organizational fields."Leaders are trying to resolve existing issues within the organization. We express regret over some remarks that were construed by the media as being against Thangal and that caused him difficulties," said the statement.It added that a meeting was held at Panakkad to resolve organizational issues under the leadership of Samastha president Jifri Muthukoya Thangal. The subsequent news conference was held as per the decision taken at the meeting. They stated that during the conference, they had mentioned that certain remarks had caused difficulties for Thangal, but that the issue was resolved through talks and they expressed regret over it.The leaders said harmony and unity within the organization and community were essential and they were willing to make any organizational-level compromises and express regret. The leaders expressed hope that further discussions would lead to a permanent resolution, as agreed at the meeting.On Tuesday, Thangal had said that Samastha leaders didn't do justice to what transpired at the meeting when they explained about it at the news conference. Samastha leaders, who are part of the anti-IUML faction, had expressed regret to Thangal at the meeting for their remarks. Thangal had then suggested that they openly say this in public. Thangal said though they agreed to do so, it was not done.He said that the essence of the discussion should have been communicated openly to the public.