The two-day-old Cabinet drew fire from the CPI(M) and BJP today on the inclusion of IUML leader E. Ahmed. While CPI(M) Politburo member V.S. Achuthanandan called it an ‘‘opportunist’’ move, BJP’s O. Rajagopal said the government was fanning Muslim fundamentalism in the state.Achuthanandan said the Congress leadership, by giving a berth to Ahmed, had gone against the mandate for a secular government at the Centre. ‘‘The people had voted against the BJP-led NDA regime to bring in a secular government at the Centre. But by inducting Ahmed, the Congress leadership has once again underlined its opportunistic stand,’’ he said.Rajagopal said ‘‘all patriots were worried by this frank acknowledgment accorded to the IUML by the Congress’’. ‘‘The Congress seems to state that such anti-Hindu moves are the true expressions of secularism. Any move against Hindus or Hinduism has become equivalent to secularism,’’ he said.
