Manmohan Singh releases commemorative stamp on Muslim League leader

New Delhi, Aug 2 (ANI): Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Monday released a commemorative stamp in honour of late Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader Syed Mohammed Ali Shihab Thangal here Monday.

On the occasion, Dr Singh said: "I am very happy to release this stamp in commemoration of the life and work of Mohammed Ali Shihab Thangal on his first death anniversary.

"Thangal was a great son of Kerala. He was an influential spiritual leader and a widely respected politician. As a political leader he contributed to the first successful experiment of coalition politics in India in the form of the Congress - IUML combine," he added.

Dr Singh further said Thangal's genius was versatile. Apart from having a deep knowledge of Arabic Linguistics, he was known for his scholarship of the Sufi traditions, which represent the best of our composite culture.

"Though a great religious leader, he will long be remembered as the voice of democratic secular principles and a practitioner of secular solidarity. During the difficult period of country-wide communal unrest in 1992, his appeal for peace worked wonders in Kerala," he added.

"The postage stamp that I have just released is a small token of our love and respect for a towering personality of our times," he said. (ANI)