AIMIM protests Purdah remarks; abstains from polls

Hyderabad, July 20: A day after abstaining from the Presidential elections, the All India Majilis-E-Itihadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) today said it took the decision to protest against UPA-Left Presidential candidate Pratibha Patil's controversial remarks on the origin of Purdah (veil) system in the country.

Ms Patil's remarks were against ''Shariat,'' AIMIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaise said, while taking part in a short discussion in the State Assembly on land-related issues.

''We are not sailing with the Congress party unlike the Communists, who have voted for Ms Patil,'' he said taking a pot shot at the Left parties for toeing the Congress line in the polls and denied the CPI(M)'s charge that AIMIM was praising the Congress government in the state.

UNI