MDP & DRP backed by businessmen – Qasim

Sunday, August 31st, 2008

Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and Dhivehi Rahyithunge Party (DRP) are backed businessmen and that businessmen contribute to DRP more than any other party, according to Jumhoory Party’s (JP) presidential candidate Qasim Ibrahim.

Responding to a question posed by Miadhu Daily at a news conference held to brief the media on JP’s presidential manifesto, Qasim said DRP’s allegations that JP is a party of businessmen makes no sense. Qasim said JP’s members who are engaged in various businesses were former DRP members and that if JP is to be branded as a party of businessmen then DRP should be too. He went on to say MDP is also backed by prominent businessmen.

“Who is behind DRP, they may have a front but who are actually backing them, otherwise how can they continue their operations so lavishly, I don’t want to say that Christians are behind them” JP’s leader said responding to DRP and MDP.

Qasim on the subject of businessmen in DRP highlighted running mate Ahmed Thasmeen Ali and Sun Travels Shiyam. Qasim also said DRP consists of many other businessmen who either in ‘front or behind ‘the party. The success in leading a country does not depend on being businessmen or on the experiences gained as businessmen but rather on the individual’s sincerity and his good intentions to serve the country, Qasim said. He further said it also is dependent on the individual’s capacity to find out conditions of the less privileged.

“A lot of promises can be made, but the actual fulfillment depends on having a vision free of personal bias, courage and conviction” former finance minister said.

People to day wants a person who is caring, capable and experienced and that even if such people were elected in yester years, people to day are more aware, said Qasim.

Qasim went on to criticize presidential candidate of MDP Mohamed Nasheed (Anni). According to Qasim , Anni has so far never succeeded in anything. He further portrayed Anni as a failure.

Qasim said people talk about removing DRP leader Gayoom from power because they no longer support and trust him. Qasim said Gayoom has lost the support and love of the people and that people will not want for him as they used to. Qasim went on to say that things have changed and intimidation tactics will not work anymore.

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