AK Balan criticised at Palakkad District Secretariat; Leaders urged to be cautious

PALAKKAD: Senior leader AK Balan criticised for controversial remarks related to Jamaat-e-Islami. The criticism was from the CPM Palakkad district secretariat. The criticism is that leaders should be careful when making statements in the context of the upcoming assembly elections. The district secretariat has expressed the opinion that many statements made during the elections have backfired.

"Such statements made by leaders during the election season are backfiring. It puts the party in a crisis. Leaders should be careful in their response. Do not create misunderstandings among the people," criticism was raised at the district secretariat. It is noteworthy that the criticism was raised in the presence of leaders including A. Vijayaraghavan. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan took a stand that did not reject the statement made by A.K. Balan. The Chief Minister clarified that whoever speaks communalism will be opposed and Balan was speaking by pointing to Kerala's past experiences.

"Communal forces are still present in Kerala. They are not raising their heads today. The present government can deal with them. That is the difference between the LDF and the UDF. Any communalism is a danger to the country. That is what Balan was trying to say. How is pointing out the experience of Kerala appeasing the majority communalism? That is the propaganda method of Jamaat-e-Islami, which is part of the minority communalism. Opposing the RSS. Are you opposing Hindus? Opposing Jamaat-e-Islami and SDPI. Does that mean you are opposing Muslims?" the Chief Minister asked.

"During the Marad riots, A.K. Antony did not take Kunhalikutty with him because he was afraid of the RSS. I did not visit Marad after consulting anyone. The UDF was in a state of submission to communalism at that time," Pinarayi Vijayan said.

A.K. Balan's statement that the Home Department would be controlled by Jamaat-e-Islami if the UDF came to power had sparked a major political controversy. Jamaat-e-Islami had alleged that the CPM was trying to create communal divisions with the aim of the elections.