A K Balan responds to P V Anwar's allegations: Claims ulterior motives at play

NEW DELHI: CPM Central Committee member AK Balan has publicly addressed allegations made by fellow politician PV Anwar, suggesting that Anwar is resorting to inflammatory tactics. Balan criticized Anwar’s approach, describing it as unexpected and indicative of a deeper agenda.

In a recent media interaction, AK Balan denied allegations that Anwar faced opposition due to his religious practices, stating, "The claim that anyone has a grudge against Anwar for praying five times is a blatant lie. No one is against namaz." He further asserted that Anwar's actions appear to be a calculated attempt to undermine the reputation of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan among religious minorities.

He highlighted that an investigation is currently underway regarding the issues raised by Anwar, and emphasized that the best officers have been assigned to the matter. "A report is expected within a week," he noted, questioning the urgency of Anwar's claims and suggesting that he could have waited for the investigation's outcome.

The CPM leader reiterated that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has not insulted Anwar and accused Anwar of attempting to portray the Chief Minister as a villain. "Anwar is trying to mislead a segment of the population," he added, asserting that the allegations are part of a longstanding agenda by the UDF to tarnish Pinarayi's image, which he claimed has been in the making for the past eight years.

Balan defended Vijayan's commitment to communal harmony, recalling the Chief Minister's proactive role during the Thalassery and Marad riots. He concluded by affirming the resilience of both Pinarayi and the Left, stating that such tactics will not succeed in undermining their efforts.