Kerala CM supports A K Balan’s statement ‘if UDF comes to power, Jamaat-e-Islami will handle Home Department’

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday came in to support his party colleague A K Balan’s statement that if the UDF comes to power, the Home Department will have to be given to Jamaat-e-Islami and that the Marad riots will repeat.

Speaking to the media here on Thursday, Vijayan said Balan was just reminding the Marad riot. He added that there was no mistake in his observation that the UDF, which is working with organizations like Jamaat-e-Islami to gain power, would create a dangerous situation in the state. If Balan said anything against Jamaat-e-Islami, it was not against minorities.

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“Today’s Kerala is a model for the country. Earlier, the picture was different. That is what AK Balan has reminded us,” Pinarayi Vijayan said.

He said the UDF was unable to take a clear stance in dealing with communal conflicts. Even today, there are communal forces in Kerala. But the current situation is different, due to the uncompromising stance taken by the LDF government. A K Balan had only pointed out the situation that will arise if the UDF comes to power, he added. “After the Marad riots, when the then Chief Minister AK Antony reached the area, the RSS took a stand that Kunhalikutty should not be taken with him. He went to the area after taking permission from the RSS. Why did the then chief minister of Kerala take such a stand,” he asked.

He exuded confidence that the LDF will return to power with more seats in the upcoming assembly elections. He said there are enough reasons for the confidence in the LDF. “The LDF suffered a setback in the local body elections in a special situation. In the assembly elections, the people will evaluate the ten years of LDF rule. The people are the backbone of the LDF. If we compare the situation of Kerala with that of ten years ago, it will benefit the LDF,” he said.

Claiming that Kerala is a state with the least corruption, he said bribes in appointment have now been eliminated. “Earlier rates were fixed for many things. The LDF has played a big role in changing the situation. Amazing change is evident in every field,” Vijayan claimed.