Kozhikode: Amid widespread criticism over senior CPM leader A K Balan’s remarks against Jamaat-e-Islami, the state chapter of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind on Wednesday sent a legal notice to him, demanding ₹1 crore as compensation for his alleged defamatory statements against the organisation.

It was on Tuesday that Balan, former minister for Law, Electricity and SC/ST Development, made controversial remarks claiming that if the UDF comes to power in the state, Jamaat-e-Islami would “rule the Home department” and that one or more “Maradu riots” would be repeated in Kerala. He had also alleged that Jamaat-e-Islami and the RSS were trying to create a communal divide in the state.

The legal notice, issued by Shihab Pookkottur, state secretary of the organisation, said the statements that defamed the organisation were “false, baseless and made with the clear intention of damaging the reputation and goodwill of Jamaat-e-Islami and its leaders and workers.”

The notice says the CPM leader was attempting to propagate false narratives against the organisation with the intention of creating communal polarisation in society for the political benefit of his party in the upcoming Assembly elections. It said the statements were “aimed at defaming the Jamaat-e-Islami and securing electoral gains by spreading Islamophobia.”

The notice further stated that Balan tried to “create communal polarisation by promoting communal hatred against the Muslim community and by disturbing communal harmony, with the intent of gaining votes from the Hindu and Christian communities in the upcoming elections.”

It pointed out that the statements, which were widely circulated in the media and on social media platforms, have caused "loss of reputation and goodwill of the organisation among its members, well-wishers, associates and the general public."

The notice warned that the organisation would initiate legal action against Balan if he failed to comply with the demand for compensation.

Earlier, Ameer (State President) of the organisation P Mujeeb Rahman and Razak Paleri, state president of the Welfare Party of India (WPI), the political arm of the organisation, had strongly criticised Balan for his remarks. The statements also drew sharp criticism from UDF leaders inclduing Opposition Leader V D Satheeshan and AICC general secretary K C Venugopal.