Kochi (Kerala): Condemning Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt's statement of "love and narcotic jihad" while addressing devotees in Pala, working President of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) PT Thomas on Friday said that the Bishop's statement will adversely affect the social fabric of the state.
Speaking to ANI, Thomas said that the deliberations made by the Pala diocese Bishop are unfortunate. "He is a well-known thinker, educationalist and deeply studied theological person. But we don't know on what ground, he made such deliberations regarding the narcotic jihad issue," he stated.
"I am humbly requesting everybody not to give too much support to destroy our national concepts about communal harmony. That is why we deeply condemn this statement. It will badly affect Kerala's communal harmony situations and we all have to try to keep up communal harmony in our state. That's why we are opposing this," he added.
Earlier on Thursday, while addressing devotees at a church in Pala, Bishop Kallarangatt alleged that young girls were largely falling prey to "love and narcotic jihad" in Kerala and said that these tactics are being used to destroy non-Muslims.
"They have realised that in a democratic country like India, taking up weapons and destroying others is not easy and have adopted various tactics to target non-Muslims. In the eyes of jihadis, non-Muslims should be destroyed. Two weapons are being employed and that includes love jihad and narcotic jihad," the Bishop had said.
Kallarangatt also claimed that the increase in the selling of drugs is ample proof of 'narcotic jihad' where the life of a non-Muslim youth is being destroyed under the influence of drugs.
Police complaint lodged
Meanwhile, the Muslim Coordination Committee at Kottayam filed a petition demanding registering of a non-bailable case for Bishop’s remarks.
Addressing the media at Kottayam on Friday, the office-bearers said they have filed the petition before the Kottayam Police as not a single agency has ever said with any conclusive proof about such a thing happening in the state and, hence his statement is with communal overtures.
Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan said the statement of the bishop crossed all levels of civility.
“Statements like these should be best avoided, especially by religious leaders as it only helps to fan trouble. The need of the hour is that religious leaders should be one who will help to face the troubles in the society and what has happened has happened and this should end here,” said Satheesan.
